TW// Implications of abuse

=

Jaegeun was right. Yoongi was most definitely not happy.

"Come on, Yoongi. You're really giving me the silent treatment right now?"

The said male ignored him, continuously stabbing the piece of carrot rolling around his lunch tray with a plastic fork.

"What happened?" Felix finally questioned. Him and Chan had been quietly observing the tension between their two friends who came out of their shared class refusing to talk to one another.

Well... it was mainly Yoongi who refused to talk to Jaegeun.

"My halmone wants to see me—" Jaegeun answered, settling with his dad's lie. "So I'm going over to visit her in the afternoon with Jimin."

"Jimin? Your appa?"

The older nodded.

"You call your appa by his real name?"

Jaegeun shrugged. "He's fine with it. Jimin's my appa but he's also like an older brother and best friend to me."

Felix hummed, nodding.

"Okay... I don't see the problem with you visiting your halmone." Chan raised a confused brow, leaning back against the bench.

"I was supposed to work on the project with Hoseok and Yoongi after school but now I'm unable to." The blonde continued to explain.

Yoongi huffed, throwing the baby carrot toward the male, accidentally hitting Chan instead who gawked in disbelief. "What did 'as long as you don't leave me alone with that cocky bastard' did you not understand, Park?!"

"You'll be fine." Jaegeun rolled his eyes, uncapping his water bottle to take a quick sip. "Hoseok's actually doing his work. If anything, he's working the most on this project by going all three days."

"Well then he can skip today and let me work alone— makes it even for all of us."

"Hyung." Jaegeun sent him an unamused look.

The older scrunched his nose, going back to harrassing another piece of stray carrot in his lunch tray. "I told you to stop calling me hyung, brat." He mumbled defeatedly.

"You're working on the project with Hoseok."

"Fine. Whatever." Yoongi released another huff.

"Be nice." Jaegeun reminded the elder for the ninth time that day.

It was the end of their last class, most students already scurried out of the campus and it hadn't even been a minute since the bell rang. Three boys, on the other hand, stayed behind— two of them talking amongst themselves while the emerald-eyed male waited next to the door on the other end of the room.

"Yeah, yeah. Repeatedly telling me to be nice isn't gonna magically make me nicer." Yoongi snickered. "And have some respect, brat. I'm older than you."

"Yet you don't want me using honorifics with you." The blonde rolled his eyes though his cherry lips decided to betray him when they couldn't help but form a soft smile.

"Didn't you say your appa's already waiting outside?"  The shorter male changed the subject, laughing fondly at the other who's orbs widened in realization.

"Oh, shoot. You're right." Jaegeun hurriedly slung his bag over his shoulder and grabbed his textbook from the desk. He saw Hoseok walking closer from the corner of his vision, probably waiting for the male to leave since he knew it was only going to be him and Yoongi working on the project.

"You're leaving?" The orange-haired male questioned and Jaegeun nodded.

"Yeah."

"Alright. Text you later, sunshine." Hoseok winked with a cheeky grin. The blonde scrunched his nose in disapproval though his cheeks turned the faintest of red roses.

Once the hint of ocean was out of sight, the emerald flames turned around to solely focus its attention on the sand.

"Is there something going on between you two?" Yoongi asked, clear distaste in his tone.

"If there is, how does it concern you?" Hoseok teased, hands in his pockets as he leaned forward. "You jealous, Min?"

The older's cold expression didn't falter even when those emerald eyes were in close proximity from his own brown ones. Instead, he pushed the male away, ignoring his obnoxious laughter.

"It concerns me because Jaegeun's my friend and I don't want him to have anything to do with you other than this project." Yoongi stated where anyone could tell he wasn't lying about his words.

"Sheesh, loosen up a bit. You hadn't even known him for a week and you're already acting like he's your son or something. You can't control who he can and can't hang out with." Hoseok snickered, taking a hand out of his pocket to adjust the bag over his right shoulder. "And what if I do have a thing for him? Got a problem with that, babe?"

The other's jaw clenched, brown orbs throwing imaginary daggers toward the direction of the male. Yoongi wasn't sure why he was so aggravated by the younger's words. Maybe it was because he always had this surge of protectiveness when it came to Jaegeun. Even back then, in foster care when he'd silently watch other children pick on the ball of sunshine, he wished he had the power to stop them without leading the bullies' attention toward himself.

Nonetheless, he didn't plan on spending more time with the green-eyed, cocky bastard than he already had to.

"Let's just get this damn afternoon over with."

=====

Play this song while reading cuz it helps set the mood :)

It's up there too if this one doesn't work for you☝🏼

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Song: Spaceland by chloe moriondo

=====

"You're the one with a mansion yet you insist on working on the project at my place." Yoongi complained, slamming the expensive car door shut as he waited for the younger to step out of the vehicle. "Fucking hell, I don't even have a place. I live in this shithole of a facility."

"Just be grateful for what you already have, Min."

"Easy for you to say when you have access to all the money you could ever ask for."

"The money's not mine." Hoseok chuckled, closing the driver side's door before locking the car. "Just trying to waste as much of it before I leave." He started strolling toward the entrance of the building, a lazy grin on his face.

"What the hell is he talking about?" The older muttered to himself, catching up. He walked ahead of the male since he knew the place better than anyone— even more than most of the workers— especially after spending his whole life living there.

The two boys entered the lobby, green jewels scanning the room and taking mental note of small details. It wasn't a secret that Min Yoongi was a foster kid. Choi Hangyeol found out a couple years ago and tried to humiliate the brown-eyed student in front of the whole school.

It aggravated him when the older failed to give a proper response so the peach-haired male definitely received a beating that afternoon. Hangyeol expected tears and a red face after his public humiliation stunt but all he received was an eye roll and a snicker from the shorter.

Yoongi wasn't ashamed of being a foster kid. If anything, he was thankful. He thought a lot about it during his lonely childhood and he came to a conclusion that he'd rather be parentless than live with a mom and dad who despised their own son enough to even consider giving him up.

Plus, he would have never met his little brother if it were any other outcome.

Speaking of the munchkin, Kwan ran into the lobby with a big, toothy grin, ready to tackle the older boy.

"Yoonie-Hyung!" The child giggled as he was swept into a pair of arms before he even had the chance to initiate his original plan. He didn't complain, instead going in for a tight hug.

Hoseok watched the scene, caught a little off guard by the kid's big, chocolate eyes.

"Hey, don't get too hyper. Your nap time's in an hour, bubba." Yoongi reminded the little one, reaching a hand up to ruffle his little brother's brown locks. Kwan whined, pushing his arm away since he didn't like the thought of nap time being just around the corner.

The munckin finally noticed the other male when Hoseok cleared his throat. He looked up, brown, doe eyes meeting the guest's emerald ones. Kwan quickly shied away, burying his head under his older brother's chin while still peaking from the side to see if the stranger was still looking at him.

"Y-Yoonie-Hyung, who's dat?" He asked in a small voice, a tiny finger pointing toward Hoseok's direction.

"He's someone from my school, bubba. His name's Hoseok and we're gonna work on a project." Yoongi explained monotonously. He was hoping he wouldn't have to introduce the guy to his little brother.

Kwan showed a sheepish smile after the orange-haired male caught him taking another peak.

Hoseok fondly laughed. He had always loved kids. Back when his parents weren't so high up in their own asses about having a green-eyed son, he actually got to goof around and play with his little cousins.

But they had blue eyes and that was back then.

"Why do all yew fwiends haf pwetty eyes, Hyungie?" Kwan questioned, clearly talking about Jaegeun and Hoseok.

"He's not my friend, bubba." Yoongi tsked, dismissing anything that would give a wrong idea to the munchkin.

"Well he stiwll has pwetty eyes." The little brunet pouted.

Hoseok crouched down so he'd be eye level with the boy. "Thanks, little man. I think your eyes are just as pretty too. Prettier than mine even."

"Thank yew." Kwan giggled and a wide smile made it's way up the emerald-eyed boy's face.

Yoongi stayed silent after hearing the other's words, chocolate orbs focused on his little brother's happy expression. He didn't bother looking at Hoseok, but from the corner of his eye, he could tell that the guy had a similar grin plastered on his lips.

"Wat happened to yew hand?" Kwan curiously asked, pointing at the bandage-wrapped hand that the male used to prevent his bag from slipping off of his shoulder.

Hoseok lifted it up, almost forgetting about his injury. Yoongi finally averted his gaze back to the younger high schooler, watching him showcase it like it was some sort of trophy.

"I punched a bad guy." The emerald-eyed boy lied, laughing when the munchkin's eyes widened at the statement.

"Weally?!" Hoseok nodded, the little boy was too gullible for his own good. "Woah! Awe yew like— a supewhewo?!"

"Him? A superhero? He's the exact opposite actually." Yoongi butted in, laughing humorlessly.

"But Yoonie-Hyung superheroes punch bad guys." The munchkin informed him like the little know-it-all he was.

"Apparently bad guys punch their own kind too." The peach-haired male refuted.

Hoseok simply refrained himself from responding, forcing down that horrible feeling of being called something that he knew he wasn't.

Kwan suddenly gasped, coming to a realization about whatever was going through his head. "Yoonie-Hyung, he has Mistew Billow's eyes!"

"Mister Billow?" The emerald-eyed student questioned with interest.

"His stuffed bear." Yoongi explained. "It's supposed to be Mister Pillow but he couldn't properly pronounce it back then so Mister Billow just stuck."

"Oh, that's cute."

"C-can I show him Mistew Billow, Hyungie?!" Kwan excitedly wiggled himself out of his older brother's arms until he was back on his own feet.

"No, bubba. We have work to do."

"Pweaasee. It'll be qwuick!" Kwan begged, big doe-y eyes pleading.

"It's okay, Min. I can spare a few minutes." Hoseok assured and the other deeply sighed as he watched the younger squat down to be able to properly talk to the tiny brunet. "What's your name, little man?"

"Kwan!"

"Well, Kwan, I'd love to see Mister Billow!"

The orange-haired male sounded so genuine and enthusiastic that Yoongi came to a realization that he had never seen this side of Hoseok.

Hoseok was the bad guy.

But as much as the older boy hated to say anything positive about the other, Hoseok was also good with kids.

The emerald-eyes boy walked out of the farthest bathroom stall. He left Yoongi and Kwan in their room while he excused himself to go use the bathroom.

Yoongi was thankfully decent enough to tell him directions so he wouldn't get lost. He actually didn't expect the bathroom to look like a public restroom with blue stalls and multiple sinks. There weren't any urinals so he had to use a toilet which wasn't a big deal.

He had been receiving numerous looks from the workers and children since he arrived at the place but it didn't bother him. Receiving unwanted attention had become a normality in his every day life.

He eventually learned to ignore them.

But what he couldn't ignore was Yoongi's words.

In a way, Hoseok was able to see why the male insisted that he was a bad person. He understood why Jaegeun and their other two friends thought the same if they were to base his whole existence off of the way he carried himself through his actions and words. But he wished at least one of them would try to get to know him and his inner demons.

Maybe it would help change their perspectives.

Hoseok took a deep breath, looking at himself in the mirror. He was pathetic. That's what he was. If he was a bad guy, then he could've at least attained the confidence of one.

He couldn't even talk back to his father after arriving home on Tuesday. The man kept yelling and lecturing while his wife sat comfortably on the couch, watching her son lower his head in defeat.

The emerald-eyed boy clenched his jaw at the memory, carefully unwrapping the bandage around his hand. The sight of cigarette burn marks littered the back of his palm. The wounds where still a little fresh since it'd only been two days since they existed.

He grimaced while looking at his own hand, despising himself for easily letting his father inflict pain as a punishment. It was one of the reasons why Hoseok always acted high and almighty while he would be away from his parents.

It let him trick his own mind— made him believe that he wasn't as weak as he truly was.

The door opened, startling Hoseok out of his thoughts. When he saw Yoongi's figure entering the restroom, he cursed too himself. He felt stuck in place with his wounds out in the open for the other to see.

"Hoseok, Kwan wants to say bye before nap—... time." Yoongi lost his train of thought after seeing the younger's hand.

Hoseok quickly twisting the bandage back around, ignoring the sting of the gauze rubbing against the burns due to the careless wrapping he did.

"Are those— are those cigarette burns?" The brown-eyed boy mindlessly questioned, too shocked to even realize what he was saying and whether the matter was too personal to ask about.

The other didn't answer, instead attempting to walk past the male and leave the room before he would be interrogated any further. Yoongi stopped him, blocking his path and preventing him brushing the situation off.

"Who did that, Hoseok?"

"No one, Yoongi. You saw nothing, yeah?" Hoseok felt like he had no other choice but to resort back to his cold exterior.

"I can't just ignore what I saw, Jung."

"Okay, fine." The younger's brows scrunched together as he thought of what to respond without giving out any information. "Let's just say that..."

He tried to form the right words while those brown-orbs pierced through his own emerald ones.

"We're more similar than you think."

=

Holy shit, this was a long update 😅

This is probably the most I've written for a single chapter for one of my books in a while. I was planning to split it into two updates but I haven't updated this book in nearly a month so I decided to let you guys have all of it at once LOL