I closed the dorm room door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, the crooked duck plushie still warm in my hand. The photobooth strip with those goofy pictures of me and Taehyung peeked out of my pocket proof of a night I never thought I'd have. For once, I'd done something just for myself. Something fun.

I giggled and stared at the pictures. I couldn't believe it, I actually did things outside of my comfort zone. A smile spread across my face as I remembered the fun I had with Taehyung.

Flashback

After the claw machine triumph, Taehyung tugged me toward the back corner of the student center, where a photobooth stood blinking with bright neon lights. The kind of booth you see in movies, the ones with goofy props and a countdown timer.

"Photobooth time," he announced like it was a prize more valuable than any plushie.

I raised an eyebrow. "You really want to do this?"

He grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Come on, when's the last time you did something this stupid and fun?"

I hesitated. My world was always so controlled like classes, practice, meetings, expectations. But right now, the chaotic buzz of this place, the warmth of the duck in my hand, and the ridiculous grin on Taehyung's face made me want to say yes.

We climbed inside. The air smelled like vinyl and cheap fabric. There was a basket overflowing with silly hats, fake glasses, feather boas.

"Pick your weapon," Taehyung said dramatically.

I scanned the props. A sparkly crown caught my eye.

"Royalty?" I teased, plucking it out and plopping it on my head crookedly.

Taehyung laughed and grabbed a giant pair of heart-shaped glasses. "Can't let the queen have all the fun."

The small bench was tight, so we squeezed close. The camera's little red light blinked, warning us the photos would start in three seconds.

"Three... two..."

I felt my cheeks heat up. Somehow, this felt nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time.

"One!"

We both froze, trying to pull our silliest faces.

The camera clicked.

Two more shots.

On the last one, Taehyung leaned in and whispered, "Promise me something?"

I glanced at him, surprised.

"Promise me we'll do this again. Not just the photobooth. All of this, the dumb, the fun, the mess."

I blinked, then smiled, a real smile that felt like it belonged to me.

"Deal."

When the strip printed out, we stared at it. Taehyung looked like a goofy heart-eyed goofball. I looked like the crown was about to fall off my head.

He stuck the photo strip on the glass wall next to the claw machine, right beside a sticker that said: "Fortune favors the bold."

"See? Already making memories," he said.

I looked at the photos again and thought maybe, just maybe, I could get used to this.

End of Flashback

When all of a sudden the buzzing phone in my pocket shattered the calm. My mother's name flashed on the screen.

I swallowed hard, then answered.

"Seokjin! Where have you been? Why didn't you answer my calls?" Her voice was sharp, full of accusation.

"I was out."

"Out? Out where? You missed fencing practice again. Your coach called me, Seokjin. He said you didn't even show up."

I could feel her disappointment crackling through the line like static. "I needed a break," I said quietly.

"A break?" Her voice went icy. "You're throwing away everything your father and I have worked for. Do you think this is a game? You think you can just do whatever you want without consequences?"

I swallowed, my throat tight. The anger I'd buried all day bubbled up, raw and desperate. "No, I don't think that. I'm just tired. Tired of being controlled, told what to do every second of every day. Like I'm not allowed to be anything other than what you want me to be."

There was a pause. I imagined her scowling, eyes narrowing. "What exactly are you saying?" she hissed, voice sharp enough to cut glass.

"I'm saying maybe I'm tired of living your life instead of mine. Maybe I'm tired of being perfect on the outside but broken on the inside."

"Ungrateful," she spat. "You don't know how lucky you are. You don't get to throw this all away. You will respect your responsibilities, or don't come home."

That hit harder than I expected. The word ungrateful felt like a punch to the gut. But something inside me hardened.

"Maybe I won't," I said quietly, voice steady but full of everything I'd been holding back.

The line went dead.

I dropped the phone onto the bed and stared at the crooked duck plushie. It was silly, imperfect...just like me.

Kim Taehyung Pov

I slipped inside the apartment, my steps slowing as the door clicked shut behind me. The picture folded and tucked neatly at my back pocket, I wanted to hide it, away from his disgusting sight.

The grin I'd been wearing all night started to fade as the weight of the silence settled around me. I knew what came next.

A heavy voice broke through.

"Taehyung."

I froze.

The footsteps grew louder, heavy boots thudding across the floor.

"Where were you? Who were you with?" His voice wasn't just angry, it was accusing, threatening.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Out... with a friend."

"A friend?" His laugh was bitter, sharp. "Like I'd believe that."

The next words hit me harder than his fist smashing against the wall near my head. The plaster cracked and crumbled, dust drifting down like ashes from a fire I couldn't put out.

"You're nothing but trouble. Can't even keep yourself out of danger for one night."

I shrank into myself, wrapping my arms tight around my ribs as if to protect my heart. The bruises on my arms from last week's fight with him ached, but I dared not cry. Not here. Not now.

"Why can't you just listen? Why do you make this so hard?" His voice dropped low, venomous.

"Because I'm scared," I whispered, though I knew he wouldn't care. "Because I'm scared of you."

Silence fell like a suffocating blanket.

I wanted to tell him about Seokjin, about the way his laugh made my chest feel lighter, about the way I could almost believe I belonged somewhere else, somewhere safe. But those words stuck in my throat, too fragile to say aloud.

Instead, I stared at the picture with a smile and looked toward the window, where the city lights blurred like distant stars bright, but so far away.

I promised myself: one day, I'd get out. One day, I'd live for me, not for his rage.

One day, I'd laugh without fear.

And maybe, just maybe, I'd get to do all the stupid, fun things Seokjin and I had started tonight, I want to be first at everything.

Authors Pov

The next day at school was bright and buzzing, the usual hum of footsteps, lockers slamming, and chatter filling the halls. But something felt different, lighter, somehow.

Seokjin and Taehyung walked side by side through the campus like they owned the place, their easy camaraderie unmistakable. They moved like two halves of a whole, always close, always in sync. Taehyung had his arm slung casually over Seokjin's shoulder, while Seokjin matched his pace, sometimes leaning just a little closer like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Yoongi, walking just a few steps behind with Hoseok, shook his head with a smirk. "Those two? Like glue."

Hoseok chuckled. "More like superglue. No one's pulling them apart anytime soon."

Seokjin caught their teasing glances but didn't bother to defend himself. Honestly? He liked it. Liked how natural it felt to be with Taehyung with no pretenses, no walls.

"You really are stuck with me now," Taehyung grinned, nudging Seokjin playfully. "Hope you don't mind."

Seokjin raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. "I might mind... sometimes."

"Pfft," Taehyung snorted. "You love it. Admit it."

"Maybe a little," Seokjin confessed, cheeks warming just the tiniest bit.

Their first class together was a minor subject, one that Taehyung had been struggling with quietly for weeks. After the lecture ended, they retreated to the corner of the library, textbooks sprawled across the table.

"Alright, what's the problem?" Seokjin asked, sliding Taehyung's notebook closer.

Taehyung sighed, pushing up his sleeves. "These equations might as well be ancient hieroglyphics."

Seokjin chuckled softly. "They're not that bad. Let me show you."

He pointed to a complicated formula, breaking it down slowly, his voice patient and gentle. Taehyung watched his fingers trace the numbers and symbols, his brows furrowed in concentration.

"You just move this term here, like that..."

Taehyung's tongue peeked out in focus. "Okay, got it! Wait, no, I messed up..."

Seokjin laughed, a warm sound that made the library feel a little less intimidating. 

"You're doing fine. Try again."

His reassuring smile and gentle voice put Taehyung at ease. He never liked being lectured about things like this, he was always afraid of embarrassing himself. But Seokjin was different. He was kind, patient, and never made Taehyung feel small for not knowing something.

Minutes passed with back-and-forth corrections, silly jokes, and quiet encouragement. Taehyung leaned back finally, exhausted but triumphant.

"You're like a genius at this," he said, breathless. "I owe you big time."

Seokjin shrugged, eyes shining with a quiet pride. "Just don't forget who helped you when you're topping the class." Seokjin said boastfully and Taehyung agreeing with his hands up in the sky.

Meanwhile, across the room, Yuri's gaze flickered between the two. Her lips pressed into a tight line, her hands clenched into fists inside her jacket pockets.

She had liked Taehyung first. She'd been there through the awkward silences, the half-smiles, the quiet moments no one else noticed. Now, watching him and Seokjin laugh together, play off each other like they'd been best friends forever, a bitter knot twisted in her chest.

Trying to hide her feelings, Yuri walked over with a forced smile. "Helping you with homework now, Taehyung? I didn't know you needed a tutor."

Taehyung looked up, face lighting up with enthusiasm. "Seokjin's the best tutor ever! You should try it too. Maybe then you'd finally get those calculus problems right."

Yuri's smile faltered, but she laughed quietly. "I'll think about it."

Seokjin noticed the sharp edge in Yuri's voice and the flicker of something unreadable in her eyes, but he chose not to respond. Not now. Instead, he turned his head toward Taehyung, lowering his voice.

"I think she's mad at me? Or am I imagining things?" Seokjin asked, frowning slightly.

Taehyung's smile faltered for a moment, and he glanced away, a flicker of discomfort crossing his face. "No, you're not imagining it," he admitted quietly. "Yuri... she likes me. A lot. She's confessed to me more times than I can count."

Seokjin blinked, surprised. "Really? why did you reject her?"

Taehyung hesitated, his usual confident mask flickering for a moment. He ran a hand through his hair, looking anywhere but at Seokjin. "It's not because Yuri's not nice. She's actually really sweet and has told me she likes me more times than I can count."

Seokjin raised an eyebrow, waiting for the rest.

Taehyung swallowed hard, voice dropping to a whisper. "But I just... can't, I've got things going on at home. My stepdad is... not someone I want to drag anyone into. He's harsh. Sometimes he yells, sometimes it's worse."

Seokjin's heart tightened. "That bad?"

Taehyung gave a small, almost sad smile. "Yeah. It's not easy. I've never really told anyone this before." He looked up suddenly, eyes wide with surprise at himself. "Wait, I just told you all that. Please don't tell anyone else. It's... my secret."

Then, without thinking, Seokjin reached out and ruffled Taehyung's hair gently, a bright smile lighting up his face. "You don't have to carry all that weight alone. I'm here."

Taehyung blinked, cheeks warming as a shy smile tugged at his lips. "Thanks, Jin."

For a moment, the noisy hallway around them faded, and all that mattered was the quiet warmth passing between them a fragile trust, and something quietly blooming.