The next few days were like a storm, filled with destruction. However, unlike a storm, it wasn't the weak-rooted trees or old houses getting destroyed. In this storm, only a small blue-haired boy seemed to face its destructive impacts. I guess the storm itself wasn't your ordinary rain and thunder either. No, this storm took form in a blond-haired boy named Min Yoongi along with his fellow 'side-kicks'. Every time Taehyung walked near the presence of Yoongi and his goons he would get tormented.

The morning after athletics day, Taehyung walked to his locker and opened it, only to find all his books ripped to shreds and a single note saying, "hope you die, fag."

Taehyung managed the situation quite well, he cleaned out the messy locker, threw away the hate-filled note and went to the bookstore and bought new books. He tried not to grimace over the thought of all the notes he lost and attempted to continue on with his day as normally as he could. He knew that giving any reaction to the bullying would only tempt them to act even more vicious towards him.

The day after, those boys decided to pull another petty little prank on poor Taehyung. As Taehyung sat at his lunch table, chatting away with his friends, Yoongi marched up to him with a narcissistic smirk and poured a whole cup of yogurt on him. Taehyung sat there in shock while Jimin started raging. The other boys tried to calm Jimin down because the blond was ready to throw hands at the older boy. Taehyung, despite having a cup of strawberry yogurt running down his face, smiled at the blond's action, grateful that he has friends that are willing to stand up for him.

On Thursday, Taehyung was doing his bible studies assignment in the library when the group of boy's came up and started messing with him. Taehyung tried his best to ignore them and continued with his work but this seemed to have aggravated the boys because before Taehyung could even process, his computer was snatched out of his hands and his work was deleted. Taehyung sat there feeling absolutely distraught. He was speechless, he had spent 3 hours of his free time working on that assignment since his partner, Jungkook, wasn't exactly helping with the project but now all his hard work was gone. Poof, just like that. The blue-head took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He decided that instead of making a scene he would just leave. His heart was heavy but what was he supposed to do, cry in front of everyone and be named the sensitive gay boy?

Finally, Friday rolls around. This week has been rough for Taehyung and he really needed rest from everything. He hopes that today would be a better day.

But of course, luck has never been acquainted with Kim Taehyung. 

Taehyung wakes up to the sound of ringing but for once it isn't his obnoxious alarm waking him up. It's the sound of his ringtone.

His parents are calling.

Taehyung gulps as he rubs the sleep out of his eyes. For the first time since he entered this godforsaken school, his parents are calling him.

"Hello," he answers after clearing his throat.

"Taehyung," his father's gruff voice greets him. The man sounds awfully formal for someone having a conversation with his son, almost business-like. But then again, when hasn't he sounded so business-like. Taehyung and his dad have always had more of a boss and employee relationship rather than a father-son one. "How're things going in school?"

Taehyung almost gasps in surprise. Did his father just ask him how things at school are? Is this a dream? Is Taehyung really still sleeping and imagining all this. The boy pinches his arm, flinching at the pain but eyes widening at the realisation. He isn't dreaming. This is real. His father really did ask him how school was.

A small smile flicks onto the boy's pink lips as a trickle of hope sparks within him. Maybe they missed him. Maybe they really do care.

"Thing's have been a little rough but all and all everything is pretty good." The boy says, happily clutching onto his phone. "How's everything at hom-"

"How are your studies?" The old man speaks up, interrupting his son.

Taehyung's smile drops ever so slightly but he continues, "It's going well father, I've been excelling in all my classes."

The line is silent for a bit but then the old man speaks once again. "That's good to hear, son."

Taehyung beams at the praise, his heart feeling warm. This makes up for his horrible week. His father, for almost the first time in forever, praised him. He smiles widely as he speaks. "Thank you, father! I've been working very har-"

"But your studies aren't what we sent you there for."

His heart stops, anxiously awaiting his father's next words. 

"Your mother and I want to know, after spending a few weeks in this school have you finally stopped pretending to like boys?" 

Taehyung's throat goes dry. Pretending to like boys. And just like that, that inkling of hope he had extinguishes. It dies down and opens up the hopeless dark abyss that thrives within the boy's broken walls.  

"F-father," the boy calls out, voice ever so meek and fragile. "I-I was not pretending to like boys."

A scoff is heard from the other side. "Don't be silly Taehyung, you were only confused. You like girls and that's final." The man's voice holds so much authority and finality that Taehyung almost agrees. 

But he can't agree. His sexuality is the one thing he can't change. His parents can rip him apart, put a new face to his name, detach his weak libs and stitch them back on. But to force him to change his sexuality? To change who he will love? 

 He can't do that. So despite how authoritative and firm his father sounds, Taehyung decides to take a stand for himself. 

"Father, I'm not being silly. I don't like girls and I never will. I'm already 18 years old and should at least be able to make some of my own life choices, like who I love. So please, don't try to force me into being someone I'm not. I'm Kim Taehyung. Your gay son. Accept me for who I am, o-or just don't. Y-you can always disown me if you can't accept that." 

The line is silent for a while. Taehyung almost thinks his parents hung up on him but then that gravelly voice of his father resounds through his ears once again. 

"We won't disown you." Taehyung would have jumped in surprise if it wasn't for what the man says next. 

"That would be too kind of a punishment."

Taehyung's heartbeat accelerates, his whole body fearing the man's next words. 

"You will continue to attend this school but from this point on, you will have to pay for all your expenses. We will not provide you with any money what so ever. We will only pay for the school fee but everything else you will have to pay. It shouldn't be a big deal since you're so grown up now. Since your 18 and can make your own life choices. Make all the choices you want but we won't pay a single penny. Just know that you're a fucking disappointment and we regret ever calling you our son."

And with that, the line goes dead. 

Taehyung feels like he just ran headfirst into a brick wall. His head throbs painfully as he tries to accept his fate. 

Even the thought of paying for all his expenses is horrifying but to actually do it? With absolutely no source of income?! How is Taehyung supposed to survive?

The small boy turns around in his bed and puts his head in his hands. He tugs harshly on his blue strands of hair as he tries to think. He so lost in his depressing thoughts that he doesn't even notice the black pair of eyes staring at him curiously. 

Jungkook heard the whole conversation. Well, at least Taehyung's side of it. So Taehyung is gay? I mean, Jungkook always kind of knew this fact but the blue-head had never verbally confirmed it. Jungkook is known in this school for being homophobic. He is known to torment anyone who even remotely rubs off as being homosexual. But something about the smaller boy always made Jungkook refrain from his vicious actions. Guilt. Anytime Jungkook says something or does something to hurt him, he feels this overpowering wave of guilt wash over him.

He stares at the small boy slouched in his bed, head in his hands. Being his roommate, Jungkook should probably ask him what's wrong. But he doesn't. Instead, truly acting out the heartless role he opts to play, he walks off. Completely ignoring his roommate's distraught state. 

And as he closes the door to the room behind him, he feels it again. That wavering feeling of guilt washing over him, telling him to turn around and go back to him. But he doesn't. He lets the sick feeling consume him because Kim Taehyung shouldn't make him feel guilty. Because after all, Kim Taehyung is just a boy. A boy. 

~

Taehyung walks through the school grounds with a determined look. After a lot of deep thinking, he had decided that he wasn't going to let some pesky money issues bring him down, he was going to find a job! 

"Hi," Taehyung chirps with a broad smile. The cashier looks at him. "Uh, what do you want, kid?"

"I would like 1 job please."

The cashier scoffs, "would you like some sauce with that?" He asks sarcastically. 

Taehyung furrows his eyebrows in confusion. "D-do I need sauce for a job?"

The man rolls his eyes, "look, kid, it's a busy day and you're wasting my time. We aren't looking for any more employee's right now so either get something you need or fuck off."

Taehyung shy's away at the rude remark. He nods his head and slowly trudges off, determination a little faltered but not yet demolished. He goes to the next store, the school pharmacy. 

A tall middle-aged woman working at the pharmacy looks up at the boy and greets him as he enters.

"Hello, how can I help you?" She asks with a forced smile. 

"H-hi, I was looking for a job and-"

The woman laughs obnoxiously. "You know you can't just march into any store and hope to get a job. You actually need some qualifications for one."

Taehyung nods with an excited smile, "I do have qualifications! Look."

He hands over his blue portfolio to the lady and waits anxiously as she reads over it.

The woman looks up with a scowl before harshly shoving the folder back into Taehyung's arms. "Volunteering at the animal shelter isn't a qualification. If your only here to joke around, I would suggest getting the hell out because I'm in no mood for jokes."

"But ma'am-"

"Out!" The lady yells, pointing a crooked finger towards the exit. Taehyung apologizes and slowly heads out, feeling a bit disappointed. 

Taehyung uses the rest of his energy to go around asking more stores for positions but he faces the same fate. Some stores kick him out while others just cruelly laugh at him. 

Taehyung feels absolutely deflated as he sits down at an empty cafe stool. He doesn't want to order any food because he can't waste any money despite his stomach rumbling in protest. Taehyung's so tired and lost in his thoughts that he doesn't even notice a middle-aged man coming in to take his order. 

"What would you like, sir?" He asks politely. Taehyung looks up, dull eyes sparkling with a tiny ounce of hope. "U-uh, can I please get a job here?"

The man looks taken aback. "Uh, sorry kid, there's enough positi-"

"Please," Taehyung begs. "This place is really busy and could use another hand. I promise I will work har-"

"I already told you. We have enough peop-"

"I'll work for half the minimum wage," Taehyung calls out desperately. 

Now the man quirks up his eyebrow, a twisted expression sliding onto his face. "Well maybe in that case..." he pauses to pretend to think. "consider yourself hired." 

Taehyung's eyes widen in surprise. "R-really? When should I come to work?" 

The man pretends to think again, letting that evil smirk rest on his chapped lips. He looks around the crowded cafe and then back at Taehyung. "How 'bout now?"

Taehyung jumps up immediately. "Y-yes! I would like that."

"Okay, follow me," the man says while gesturing for the small boy to follow.

Taehyung does so and walks after the man. 

Taehyung doesn't realise he was walking into the pits of hell. But then again, even hell would probably pay more than $5.45 an hour. 

~

"Carry this order to table nine," a red-haired boy (his coworker) instructs. He has cold eyes and an expressionless face. 

Taehyung stares at the boy with hesitance, "u-uh, isn't this too big to carry all in one g-"

"I'm training you here so do as I say," he states lowly, causing Taehyung to cower. He nods and balances the meal in his hands. With slow steps, Taehyung carries the large order to table nine. He feels his heartbeat palpitate as everything around him seems to buzz with chaotic energy. He slowly nears the table, face locked into concentration. 

The table is mere inches away, he is so close to accomplishing this near impossible ask but then... 

"Taehyung!"

The blue head turns around to look at his coworker who called out his name but just as he does so, his hand slips and the plates of food he holds crashes down. 

Bang!

The whole cafe seems to quieten down and look over at Taehyung. The small boy shrinks away at all the negative attention. 

He hears thundering footsteps approach him. "Taehyung!" The man from earlier (who also happened to be the manager) booms.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I-it was an accident." The boy stutters in fear. 

"That doesn't matter, look at this mess! I want you to clean it right away!"

Taehyung looks down at the mess on the floor. There was food everywhere and the sticky drinks start to form murky puddles on the ground. He looks back at the man and nods, "y-yes sir."

The man grumbles and starts to walk off but then pauses and turns back to face the boy. "Oh and newbie, don't think you got away with this. All this damage will be taken off your paycheck."

Taehyung's heart drops. "Y-yes sir." 

The small boy watches as the man stalks off, his eyes then trail over to his coworker. 

The red-haired boy stares at him with a devious smile, his dark eyes shimmering with fake sympathy. 

"Guess you were right,"  he mouthes as he gestures towards the mess of food on the floor. 

~

The sky bleeds with an inky black as Taehyung finally gets out of work. Exhaustion takes a vice grip on his tiny figure causing the boy to slightly sway as he walks, akin to a drunkard. This day- no this whole entire week- actually no, this whole entire school year has been like hell for Taehyung. 

He's being pushed around like a worthless rag doll for the entirety of his life but Hellvile high took the extra step to rip the head off of that worthless ragdoll. He's like a clown put out in the middle of a massive stadium. People laugh at his every action, mock his every move. 

He can't help but feel as if his entire existence is pointless. He looks out the glass windows of the hallway and into the night sky. He stares miserably at the deceivingly peaceful beauty of the world outside. The world that hates him. 

God has put everyone on this earth for a reason, right?

But Taehyung just can't help but question, what is my reason?  Why am I here?

Taehyung continues to walk along the empty hallways, asking that question over and over in his head. He slowly turns the corner and continues walking but suddenly comes to a halt at the sight in front of him. 

He gasps and stops, his eyes bulging open. 

"H-hey, stop!"

-

A/N: this chapter was literally all over the place wtf. oh also, the last two chapters were kinda filler chapters and didn't have much Taekook but the next chapter will!! I promise. (P.S, sorry i couldn't update yesterday, I was super busy these past few days.)

Thank you for reading, i love you! ❤️