The Boy Next Door {vmin}

🏡🏡🏡

The next morning, Jimin woke up to tapping on his window.
And there was Tae standing on the fire escape, smiling through the window.

"Oh! Hi, Tae!" Jimin fought back the urge to laugh at the younger boy. Tae looked so drowsy and Jimin was afraid he'd fall.
So he opened the window and pulled him inside. "Hey! What was that for?" Tae pouted, pushing Jimin away.
"You were gonna fall, silly!"
"No..." Tae mumbled. It bothered him when people constantly wanted to help him, but Jimin, that was different. For some reason, it didn't bother him as much.

A knock came from the bedroom door. "It's my mom! Quick! Hide under the bed!" "What? Why-" Jimin shoved him under the bed, ignoring him.
"Honey? Are you up?"
Jimin sighed and got back onto the bed. "Yes, I am."

"How was your sleep?"
"Fine." Jimin fought the urge to roll his eyes. How could Mom act like everything was fine when they were literally getting divorced?! His whole life would change!

Mom sat down on the bed and Tae whimpered from underneath at the extra weight on top of him.
Jimin quickly got off the bed.
"Jimin, why's your window open? It's too cold! You know that, you'll get sick." Mom got up and closed the window.

A small keychain fell off the window ledge and Mom bent over to pick it up.
Oh shit.
"Huh?" She got down lower and peered underneath the bed.
Tae's cute eyes stared back at her.
"Ahhh!" Mom screamed and jumped up. "There's something under your bed!"

"Aish, Mom! It's not an animal!"
Tae crawled out from under the bed, his hair a mess.
"Uh, honey? What is this? And why is he under your bed?"
"Well, Mom, this, would be my friend, Tae."
"I didn't think you had any friends, Jimin."
"Ouch. Thanks Mom, but I just met him yesterday-"
"And he's already under your bed?"
"Mom!" Jimin flushed red and Tae giggled.
"That's not what I meant, honey, but either way, why's he here?"
"He came to woke me up."
Jimin knew that sounded weird, not many friends do that, but Tae was weird!

"Well," Mom went closer to Tae, looking him over. "He's very handsome," she said as if Tae wasn't even there. "And adorable!"
She squished his cheeks and he blushed lightly, squirming to get away.

Jimin curled up into a ball, embarrassed.
"Ugh! Come on, you adorable boy!
Let's get some food in your tummy. I made breakfast."
Mom took Tae's hand and pulled him downstairs where Jimin dragged himself down after them.

"This is really good!" Tae's eyes were massive and shining with happiness. He looked so cute.
Jimin caught himself staring at him again. Quit it, Jimin.
Tae looked over at him and motioned to his plate. "You gonna eat that?"
"Huh? Oh, no."
"Yay!" Tae grabbed the plate and dug in.

"Why aren't you eating, Jimin?"
Mom asked.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just not hungry."
Suddenly, Tae put down his fork.
He swallowed hard and got up from his chair, holding his stomach.
"Tae! You okay?!" Jimin jumped up and grabbed his arm.
"I-I'm fine. Just-" Tae ran off to the bathroom and Jimin and Mom could hear sounds of throwing up.

Mom looked afraid. "Was it the food?" Jimin didn't answer. He was afraid. He had heard Tae coughing last night when he had saved him.

Jimin went over to the door.
"Tae? Are you alright?" Jimin asked softly.
He could hear loud coughing from inside. "I'm fine! Please just give me a few minutes."
Finally, Jimin had enough.
He pushed the door open to see Tae pushing blood-soaked cloths into the garbage.
"W-what are you doing in here?"
He quickly closed the lid and ran out of the bathroom.

Jimin grabbed his shoulder.
"Tae! What's wrong!"
Tae whipped around and tears were rolling down his cheeks and dripping off his chin. Jimin could see literal pain in his eyes.
"Leave me alone!" Tae rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and sniffled, choking back sobs.

Jimin could feel his heart break.
He had never really cared for anybody, but Tae was different.
So, he pulled Tae into a warm hug and held him close.

Tae sobbed into his shoulder, trying to hug him back but he was shaking to much.
Jimin could see his mother's face over his shoulder. She looked afraid, worried, and even sad.
Jimin went to pull away and Tae practically dug his nails into Jimin's back. "Please don't let go, please."

Jimin quickly wrapped his arms around Tae again. "Shh, it's ok. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving."