#Tae's POV…
I rubbed my eyes and sat up, awoken by the rays of golden sunlight pouring through my window. I heard voices outside my door, and so I went to investigate.
❝I'm going to his house and you can't stop me! I don't want to stay here anyway,❞ Jennie shouted angrily at our parents.
❝Young lady, you listen to me right now! You will do as you are told and right now that is to stay exactly where you are,❞ My Appa spat, even more anguished than my Noona.
I saw Papa move to grab his arm when he pushed him out of the way. ❝Both of you, stop yelling,❞ Papa attempted, futilely.
As Jennie stormed out of the front door I disappeared to find my Abeoji. Soon I saw him, sitting in his usual spot, eyes fixed on the window.
❝Hey Abeoji, I took your advice with Kookie,❞ I said nervously. A grin grew on his face.
❝And?❞
❝And it went... Actually, it went better than anything! But that's not exactly why I wanted to talk to you,❞ I continued. Oh buddy, if only he knew how well it went with Kookie.
He nods. ❝I know. If you're here to talk about your parents, I apologise in advance.❞
Apologise? Why? ❝What are you apologizing for?❞
❝I have to leave for a while to go to a friend's funeral. And I feel as though you probably shouldn't be here by yourself with your father.❞
❝Wait, have he and Papa been fighting like this More!?❞ I must not have noticed. How could I not have noticed? They're my parents! For God's sake!
Abeoji looked anxious. ❝Yes...they have been, and I'm sorry son, but I don't know if it's going to get better any time soon. There's something brewing below the surface of your father's facade, and I'm not sure how wonderful it is.❞
I wanted to cry. ❝Are you sure? Like absolutely certain? I thought they loved each other!❞
❝So did I,❞ he said solemnly. ❝And I wouldn't normally tell you this, but you're becoming a young man. Sometimes love just doesn't last forever. Sometimes people drift apart, and there isn't anything we can do about it.❞
Was it possible that it would happen to Kookie and me? That he would stop liking me and break up with me and end things forever? He wouldn't. Would he? I decided, then, that I would always care for him. I couldn't lose him too, not when he's irreplaceable. ❝Does it happen with everyone?❞
❝No. Your grandmother Renèe and I met in high school. At first, she did nothing but annoy me.❞
❝But you guys got married?❞ I asked, confused. Where was he going with this?
❝Yes, I wasn't finished telling the story,❞ he replied with a stern look. ❝Eventually, she grew on me and we became practically inseparable. She was my best friend and my wife.❞
❝That's a really nice story.❞ It felt awkward. Almost as if he was implying something that I was too exhausted to figure out. After all, I just woke up! ❝Well, maybe I'll see if I can go over to a friend's house later today or something.❞
❝Good idea.❞
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Having memorized it, I was intending to dial Kookie's house number when a deep voice called me from the kitchen.
❝Taehyung, get over here now.❞
❝Coming, Appa!❞ I called as I hurried down the hall.
He looked unhappy. ❝I got a call from one of your teachers. About your maths grade.❞
Of course, the one class I struggled in. ❝Oh, Appa, I can explain-❞
❝There's nothing to explain! You'll either fix that grade or face the consequences!❞
I wanted to run off to my room and hide from him. It felt like he didn't understand that I don't excel at every single thing. Before I knew it, I had dialed the number.
❝Hello, this is Jungkook from Jeon's residence,❞ a voice said through the receiver.
Thankfully he answered the call. I replied, ❝Hey Kookie, it's Taehyung, I really hope this isn't too much but can I ask for a huge favour?❞
❝Sure, what's up?❞ He said Uncertainty.
And suddenly I was telling the story, in full detail, into the transmitter. But instead of laughing at me or making fun of me, he sympathized.
❝I'll go ask my parents if you can spend the night.❞ It was what I heard before receding footsteps and inaudible conversation. A few minutes later he returned. ❝My parents said that it's all right. You can come over and stay until Woozi's uncle gets back. And I'm shocked they said it was fine!❞
❝Thank you so, so much! I'll be over in a bit, I just need to get my stuff!❞
❝See you soon,❞ and a dial tone. I rushed to pack a bag and heard my parents fighting, again.
I poked my head into their room. ❝I'm going to spend a few nights at a friend's house. We'll work on the math stuff, and I'll let you guys...figure this out?❞ Then I noticed a look of worry on my Papa's pale face. He nods and I leave, partially wanting to help him but knowing I couldn't.
I knocked lightly on Jeon's front door and it swung open soon after. ❝Hello Tae, come on in,❞ said Jimin Uncle.
❝Hi, Mr Jeon,❞ I replied politely, offering a hand to shake. He took it and I grasped it firmly, attempting to seem put-together.
❝I heard about what's happening at home, is everything alright?❞
❝N-not exactly. My parents haven't exactly been getting along very well,❞ I explained without detail.
Just in time to save me from confessing what I had witnessed, Kookie appeared next to his Papa. ❝Hey hyungie, my room's over here if you wanna put your stuff down.❞
I smiled and nodded, following him down a hallway of paintings. It struck me that I had never been here before, and that I knew these people. But I was determined to change that. ❝Your Appa's paintings are really pretty,❞ I said softly.
❝Oh, thanks, I think so too. He spends so much time on them, it's no surprise that people are willing to pay such good money for his art. Aren't they beautiful?❞ Kookie elucidated, glowing with pride.
❝They are,❞ I said with a teeny smirk. ❝Like you.❞
His face flushed red as we entered his room. It was about the same size as mine, with a double bed in the center and a painting of the sycamore tree suspended on the wall. ❝Aw..
Thanks...❞
❝I'm only stating the facts,❞ I replied with a laugh.
He gave out a giggle, and I felt as though I had made it a bit too awkward.
❝Anyways,❞ Kookie diverted, composing himself. ❝Since I only have one bed, we set up the air mattress over here.❞ He pointed to the side of his bed.
❝I guess they trust me to an extent,❞ I teased.
Kookie hit me playfully on the shoulder. ❝Shut up,❞ he added with a smile.
Was the home situation really that bad after all?