Third person's pov

The smell of fresh toast and coffee lingered in the air as Taehyung descended the stairs, his bag hanging loosely off one shoulder. His footsteps were quiet, almost careful.

Namjoon, sitting by the table with his sketchbook open, looked up from his coffee and greeted him with a warm smile. "Good morning, Tae."

Yoongi, dressed up in his doctor's coat, was already seated with a newspaper folded beside his untouched breakfast. "Taehyung, good morning," he said gently.

Taehyung paused, meeting Yoongi's gaze briefly before looking away, his expression distant and unreadable. He dropped into his seat and picked up a piece of toast, eating in silence, his eyes fixed somewhere beyond the table.

Namjoon exchanged a glance with Yoongi, then reached over, placing a comforting hand on Taehyung's head. "Eat up, Tae," he murmured, patting him gently, though he knew there would be no reply.

Taehyung finished his toast, stood, and slung his bag back over his shoulder without a word. He headed toward the door. Namjoon and Yoongi watched as he closed the door behind him, leaving the house quiet once more.

The moment they heard the soft click of the door, Yoongi let out a long, shuddering sigh, his shoulders slumping as he removed his glasses. He pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes, the exhaustion and worry catching up to him.

His voice wavered as he muttered, "I don't know how much longer I can keep watching him like this..."

Namjoon stood, his footsteps soft as he moved to Yoongi's side. He rested a comforting hand on his older brother's back, gently patting in a steady rhythm.

"He'll come around, hyung. It'll take time, but he will," he murmured, offering what little hope he could find.

Yoongi nodded, but his hands trembled as he put his glasses back on, his gaze hollow. "I just want to see him smile again," he whispered, almost to himself.

Namjoon tried to muster a smile. "At least finish your breakfast. You've got a long day ahead."

But Yoongi shook his head, pushing his plate aside. "I'm not hungry," he muttered.

With that, he stood, brushing a hand through his hair before moving towards the door. Namjoon stayed in the quiet kitchen, his heart aching as he looked at the untouched food, the empty chair, and the silent house.

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The lecture hall was quiet, humming with low whispers as students shuffled into their seats. Taehyung sat near the window, his gaze distant, fixed on the world outside. He was there but not there, floating through the minutes like a leaf on water.

No one bothered him, and he preferred it that way-silent, undisturbed, invisible. The lingering ache inside him felt a little easier to bear when he was alone, lost in his own thoughts.

A sudden murmur rose as the classroom door creaked open, pulling Taehyung's attention. He looked up, faintly curious, as the professor entered with someone trailing behind him-a face Taehyung had never seen before.

The boy by the professor's side seemed almost out of place. He was... beautiful. Taehyung blinked, slightly taken aback. The stranger was delicate in a way that felt otherworldly, with pale skin that caught the classroom's harsh fluorescent light, making him look even softer, almost fragile. His dark hair framed a face too pretty to ignore, falling messily over a pair of wide, doe-like eyes that flickered uncertainly around the room.

Taehyung could see a faint tremble in the boy's posture, a thin hand clenching the strap of his backpack as he stood beside the professor. He looked... tired. There was a haunted look in his eyes, as if he'd dragged himself out of a place most people never had to visit.

"Good morning, students," the professor's voice cut through the murmurs. "Today, we have a new classmate joining us. This is Jeon Jungkook."

Jungkook dipped his head in a quick bow, eyes lowered, and when he finally spoke, "Hello," he murmured, barely audible.

"Jungkook, you can take that empty seat next to Taehyung," the professor continued, gesturing in Taehyung's direction.

Taehyung's chest tightened as Jungkook's gaze finally settled on him. For a split second, their eyes met- it was peaceful.

Then, as if understanding he was welcome nowhere, Jungkook broke the glance and walked over, slipping into the seat beside Taehyung without a sound.

Taehyung tried not to stare, but he couldn't help the way his gaze drifted to Jungkook out of the corner of his eye. He was close enough to notice the faint shadow under Jungkook's eyes, the way he held his hands slightly clenched in his lap, like he was bracing himself against the world. He could smell a hint of soap, something fresh and clean, as if Jungkook had scrubbed himself raw just to feel awake.

As the professor started his lecture, Taehyung dropped his attention back to his notebook, willing his mind to focus.

Midway through the class, a small hand reached over, pausing just on the edge of Taehyung's desk. "Excuse me," Jungkook whispered, his voice so soft it was barely a breath, "do you have an eraser I could borrow?"

Taehyung didn't look up, didn't answer. He simply pushed his eraser across the desk, his fingers brushing against Jungkook's ever so slightly. The touch was brief, but enough to feel the coldness in Jungkook's hand.

Jungkook accepted the eraser with both hands, clutching it carefully, as though it were something precious. For a moment, he just stared at Taehyung.

"Thank you," Jungkook murmured.

Taehyung didn't respond, didn't even look up. His eyes remained fixed on his notebook, pen still in hand, as though he hadn't heard a word. But the truth was, Jungkook's voice lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.

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The cafeteria buzzed with the usual midday chatter, students crammed into tables, laughter echoing through the large room. Taehyung sat alone at a corner table, silently picking at his food. Across the room, Jungkook was doing the same, head slightly lowered as he quietly ate his lunch, his back to the crowded cafeteria.

Jungkook was about to lift his drink to his lips when he felt something cold and sticky splash over his head, trickling down his hair, soaking his shirt. He froze, his fingers tightening around his cup before glancing up.

A group of students loomed over him, sneering and laughing. The leader of the group-a tall boy with sharp eyes-leaned forward, his mouth curling into a smirk. "Hello newbie."

Jungkook met his gaze for a split second before lowering his eyes, his face carefully blank. He reached for a napkin, dabbing at his damp hair, wiping his face and neck with quiet, deliberate movements. He didn't react, didn't flinch. His silence was calm, almost unsettling.

Annoyed by the lack of response, the leader's smirk twisted into something darker. "Oh, are you ignoring me?" he sneered, leaning even closer, "Guess you didn't get the memo. I'm kind of the one in charge here."

Jungkook didn't answer. He merely folded the soggy napkin, placed it neatly beside his plate, and continued eating, his posture relaxed, as though the taunts and spilled drink meant nothing.

The leader's face reddened, his jaw clenching. He reached forward and shoved Jungkook off his seat, sending him sprawling onto the floor, his tray clattering beside him. Gasps filled the cafeteria as every head turned to watch the scene.

"How dare you ignore us!" the leader hissed, his voice rising, "Do you even know who you're dealing with?"

Jungkook pushed himself up, brushing his hands over his clothes, expression still calm, his gaze steady as he looked up at them. His silence, more than any words, seemed to ignite something in them-a need to break him, to shatter the calm he held onto so tightly.

The leader laughed, looking down at Jungkook with contempt. "What's the matter? Too scared to speak?"

Jungkook didn't respond. He simply straightened, gathering his tray and utensils, ignoring the lingering liquid on his clothes. He sat back down, his eyes fixed on his food as though nothing had happened.

One of the leader's friends scoffed. "What a freak. Doesn't even know when to stand up for himself."

"Come on," the leader said, rolling his eyes. "He's not worth the time."

With one last sneer, they turned and walked off, leaving Jungkook alone amidst the whispers and stares of the other students.

Across the room, Taehyung watched the entire scene in silence, his eyes lingering on Jungkook's expressionless face. Taehyung didn't move, didn't look away, a flicker of something he didn't quite understand stirring within him as he took in the boy who didn't break, who held his ground with a quiet strength even when others tried to tear him down.

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I hope you enjoyed it!