Through the Glass k.th [HYYH pt.1]

25

"Hey, you're going to get hurt--Move, you're going to get hurt. Sometimes being too courageous is the problem. Shout out, Shout out to ask to save you. If not, from now on, watch closely..."

~FACE-Nu'EST

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Orange. That's what color they'd dyed his hair. Sunday morning, Jungkook had come over again, and helped color Taehyung's hair a vibrant orange, and Taehyung had stared in the mirror for the longest time wondering who he was looking at. He knew it was him, he still looked as sad in the eyes as he did before, maybe not as tired as he used to, but it was him, still him. And then there was that orange.

Walking down the school hallways, he wasn't sure if everyone was staring at him because of the color, or because of what Jae-hwa had said. Taehyung found himself absently fingering the charm Hana had given him. Mrs. Park had given him a chain to hang the charm on, and Taehyung had wanted to wear it around his neck. He liked having a place for it besides his pocket.

He followed Jimin down the hallway, still not quite knowing where his locker was by heart, Jimin had to show him.

When Jimin lead him to his locker, he leaned against the one next to it, giving Taehyung a grin. "You notice everyone looking, right? Or are you just so modest it's stupid?"

Taehyung entered the combination. "I've noticed." He couldn't understand them looking at him for that, his hair was a different color, was more teased, but otherwise he wasn't any different. He could understand them staring and judging because of the things Jae-hwa had said and done, but he couldn't picture them staring because of that.

Jimin rolled his eyes. "Just remember, don't listen to Jae-hwa, you can ignore the attention if you want, since you've got a girl in mind, but make sure to ignore Jae-hwa, or at least look like you are."

Taehyung swallowed, that would be hard. Just the thought of her made him feel somewhere between vulnerable and angry. Jimin was asking a lot, Jimin was asking for Taehyung to throw everything he thought out, at least what he thought about Jae-hwa, what scared him, the mental hospital. He didn't know if he could do that, especially not so fast.

"Dude, stop staring off into space, Hana's coming." Jimin said, elbowing Taehyung in the ribs.

Taehyung looked up. Hana was walking with her head down, a sling on her right arm, her eyes watching her feet. Don't be sad, Hana, don't be sad, I don't want to see you sad... Almost like she could read his thoughts, she looked up. When she her eyes met his, she smiled big. Don't fake a smile, I know it hurts...

Jae-hwa had hurt her then. Taehyung felt terrible as soon as he saw the sling, like he'd swallowed a rock, and it ate away at him from the inside, bit by bit, turning his inside to fragile crystal, pieces breaking off constantly.

Then she walked up to them, waving to Jimin before pointing to Taehyung's chest then pointing to her smile, then she continued with a hand gesture Taehyung didn't understand.

"Ah...I..." Taehyung started. He couldn't even remember what she'd done with her hands, she'd done it so fast. Let alone try to guess what she'd meant.

"She said she's glad you're back." Jungkook came up from the other side, giving him a pat on the back before leaning on a locker. "I'm sorry, Hana, I didn't get a chance to show him any signing."

Taehyung blinked. Signing... "Oh..." He licked his lips. "Hana-ssi...Could you teach me...?"

Hana's eyes widened, then she grinned and nodded. Taehyung could see Jimin smirk in the corner of his vision.