Jin
Taehyung was the kind of person people used to envy. He was good at sports, at studies- even though he slacked off in assignments and talked back to the teachers, his grades were always good- and I had heard he was great at art too.
He was always cheeky and retorted at every small thing- he used to flirt shamelessly and hosted parties now and then.
But something happened a few months ago. He became a bit closed off. Though I heard that he still used to go to parties, he never hung out with people that much. Just with Yoongi.
Our lockers were always close to each other's for the past few years (though not this session, sadly). So whenever he used to stop for taking out his books and his friends used to surround him, I used to be there too- with Jimin or alone. Though I was popular, it was only in status. I never really had friends as Taehyung did, I never bothered to.
I remember after last year's summer holiday, the first morning of school always meant crowded hallways with people ranting to each other of how they spent their vacations with their family or where they went or about their summer romances.
Jimin had gone to Miami with his family that year, and like everytime, he had asked me to come along with him, but I said no. Vacations with family were supposed to be personal- even though they treated me like a family, I would have just been an outsider.
I had spent my summer vacation with the new home theatre Mr Kim had installed "because I had been a good boy and had got good grades" and I had designed my own coat and had had pizzas and home cooked noodles for food as all the chefs had gone for their own breaks. I didn't have a family to spend the month long holiday with so I spent it with Gossip Girl and Riverdale and Friends.
That morning, when I was taking out my history book from the lockers- Taehyung was talking to his friends about how he had stayed at a five star resort in Hawaii and had the best of food. That he had also "spent the nights with hot Hawaiian chicks". How is mother had her own shopping line and his father was a very famous businessman who spent most of his time in America. And that he had a Mercedes but he never brought it to school. As most typical high schoolers- the people surrounding him had drunk that information without ever questioning it.
It was just a fact.
Taehyung was good at everything, was rich, had a good family and lived in a penthouse where he invited no one as he was a private person.
No one ever bothered to question it.
He was, after all, the most popular guy- and people who were once in high school would know that there were just some guys who you should never mess with.
So, it was quite a shock to me when Aunt Park mentioned that Taehyung was tight on money and that is why he was working in the art store.
He must have been really short of money if he had to work in an art store which also sold various random things- there was no staff here before him. Aunt Park never needed it.
Though now that the new community art college had opened, there were more customers so a helping hand was appreciated.
I could feel Taehyung's stiff shoulders and nervous stance as he led me to the backroom to help unpack more boxes.
And though I wanted to ask him questions, I decided to keep quiet for now.
"This is the box for soft toys, you can start unpacking it while I start with the notebooks". Taehyung says while handing me a small cardboard box while he took the larger one.
We walked to the back shelves of the store where soft toys, diaries and stationery were placed.
"You like the store?" I ask, trying to make conversation while I open the tape of the box and start taking out plushies in the shapes of koalas and stars and bears holding red hearts.
Taehyung starts stacking the notebooks color wise. I would have preferred arranging it based on size but I let him do his work without interfering.
"Yes, I do. It's a nice place. Colourful and full of....", He looks around the store with shining eyes- the kind that Aunt Park used to have while talking about this shop. "It's...great". Taehyung finishes, looking at me for a second then resuming his work.
A silence falls upon us which should have been expected. We had never talked before and suddenly, from two days ago we start to see each other everywhere.
I look at him while he starts putting the notebooks on the shelf. His skin is a golden caramel shade- yet not dark. Taehyung's features are sharp unlike mine which are a bit more feminine- something that Mr Kim had pointed out a lot of times. I haven't seen Taehyung smiling at anyone for a long time. Especially with teeth.
That was a theory Jimin and I came up with. If someone smiles with the teeth- it means it's a genuine smile. Though the theory is a bit questionable....not everyone likes to show their teeth while smiling.
I look away and start arranging the plushies before Taehyung catches me staring.
I see a heart shaped red and blue soft toy with the name Tata on it and giggle at the wide eyes and the small bow tie it's wearing.
Taehyung turns and raises an eyebrow at me.
"Hello! My name is Tata!" I say in a nasally voice while putting the toy in front of me and waving it's small hands.
Taehyung shakes his head and returns to the notebooks.
Five minutes later, when I am done- but Taehyung isn't (something I have realised, he is very slow at work), I sit down on my back and wonder what else I can do.
In the end, curiosity wins and I blurt out the question I wanted to ask. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
Taehyung looks at me with a questioning glance. "Tell what?"
"That you are.... not as rich as you tell other people. Why do you lie?"
Taehyung rolls his eyes. "And why do you care? Are you recording this conversation somewhere so you can make the whole school hear my financial condition?"
Eyes wide, I shake my head. "No! Why would you think that? I...I wouldn't say this to anyone unless you want me to. I just wanted to know why you lie. No one is going to....judge you, you know?"
"That's what everyone says. But guess what? It's easy to say something than actually do it and feel it. You aren't short of money and you don't have to work for it either, so you don't know what the fear of being judged is like". Taehyung says in a low voice.
"Yes, I don't. But who cares what other people will think? It's your-".
"Can you shut up with the motivational talk and let me work?" Taehyung snaps and I go quiet, lips pursed.
I was only trying to help.
°°°°°
15 minutes later, Aunt Park and I have looked for the cloth patches I wanted to get and now I am calling James to pick me up.
"Do visit soon, dear. Along with Jimin. I know we meet often when I come to my sister's house but meeting here in this store is different, don't you think?" Aunt Park says with a hand on my shoulder.
She was as kind as the rest of the Park family and had welcomed me in open arms the very first time I had met her.
They were the only kind of "family" I had.
"I will, promise. In fact, Jimin and I wanted to come to the arcade in this city the next weekend, so we can visit you then".
Aunt Park smiles at me. "That's great! Oh, your car has come". She says, pointing at the sedan that just pulled up in front of the store.
I look around once again, trying to subtly search for Taehyung, who I hadn't seen after he had snapped at me. Just one last look and I will go.
"He is in the backroom, I just gave him the money. He will leave any second now". Aunt Park winks at me and goes back to the counter.
I bite my lip and wait for Taehyung to come out. I can see James getting impatient and drumming his knuckles on the steering wheel.
Finally, Taehyung comes out, putting the money bills safely in his pocket and taking out some notes from the other pocket and counting them with a frown.
I see him throwing a bus ticket in the dustbin, bowing to Aunt Park and then coming towards me, still looking at his hands.
So, he was counting the money for another bus ticket.
I quickly rush to my car and get inside, asking James to not start the engine but wait. He looks at me from the headboard mirror.
"Why?"
"Just wait". I say instead of answering.
Taehyung comes out of the store with the same sad frown and I lower the car window and scream- "Taehyung!"
A couple of people who were passing by glance at my car but move ahead whereas Taehyung stares at me with an annoyed look.
"What?" He asks, coming closer to the car. "Why haven't you left?"
The sun is right behind him so I squint to see his face clearly. "I can drop you home".
Taehyung looks like he is considering it for a second but it changes to a glare. "Are you pitying me?"
"No! Why would I? I just thought it would be easier that way as we are both going to the same direction. Why do you want to waste money?"
"If you-".
"Hey, boy!" James voice cuts through Taehyung's words. "Get in quick or I am going to leave right now".
Taehyung clenches his jaw but walks over to the other side and gets in nevertheless.
"You shouldn't pity me". Taehyung states, looking ahead.
"I am not". I tell him.
James shakes his head from the driver's seat and starts the engine.
*****
A/N:
A sort of short chapter.
Sorry for not updating soon!
Will update (try to) regularly from now on.
Love you!!
💜🌈💜