varsity | vmin

35

     Never in a million years did Taehyung think he'd be awake this early on a Sunday morning, fully dressed, trying to convince a man to let him into a hospital room since it was only about twenty minutes until non-family visiting hours were permitted, yet here he was doing just that.

      He cracked his knuckles to the extent of causing the area on his skin to turn red, gliding his tongue across his bottom lip that he had been sinking his teeth into for the past few seconds as he completely ignored what the man had to say. "Look, dude, I know it isn't eight o'clock exactly, but you've gotta let me in. I told my boyfriend I'd be here as early as possible last night. Please, just let me check on him and his mother, and I'll be no trouble." Taehyung was already getting antsy after being turned down the first two times, and he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer again.

     The man clad in a white lab coat cocked a disapproving eyebrow at the teen, removing his glasses to speak. "While I appreciate being called 'dude' by a disrespectful teenager, I cannot compromise the rules. You'll have to wait twenty more minutes like the rest."

     Taehyung rolled his eyes again. The mans sarcasm was just the cherry on top of the whole situation, causing the silver-haired boy's blood to boil.

     "And I wouldn't mark you as one of those, if you know what I mean." The man looked Taehyung up and down.

     "Excuse me?" He fired back, genuinely confused on what the man was referring to. The judgmental look that came along with it only made the boy even more puzzled.

     The coated man replaced his glasses upon the bridge of his nose. "You said 'boyfriend'." He sighed. "It's disappointing to see a good looking young man like you get brainwashed into that mess. This is what's wrong with today's youth." The older man finished with a shake of his head, looking down to the clipboard he gripped tightly.

     Taehyung's mouth gaped open. That was the last straw.

     The smug look on the man's face was quick to disappear the second Taehyung stepped closer, snatching the clipboard right from the man's clutches, forcing his attention to be on his words.

     "I just so happen to know a countless number of people who wouldn't be too pleased to know some homophobic cuntbag just verbally degraded an innocent patient who was only trying to visit a dying loved one! Now, if you don't want me to put your ass on blast and get you fired, I suggest you let me into that goddamn hospital room, and I'll pretend none of this ever happened. If not, you can go ahead and say goodbye to this very job of yours! The choice is up to you." Taehyung stepped back, smiling cunningly at the man who's eyes were wide with fear now, taking his clipboard back with caution.

     "Um... I-I guess I can make arrangements." The man stuttered, taking the threats into consideration. "Perhaps I was being a bit too uptight before! Why don't I escort you to the room now?"

     Taehyung traded his devilish smirk for a smile of satisfaction, nodding in agreement to the man's sudden change of heart. Who knew such a softie could be so scary?

     The walk down the headache inducing lighted hallway was tension filled, Taehyung habitually cracking his knuckles every few seconds to fight the urge to punch the rude man in the face. Even though he got his way, the man's previous in-compliance and uncalled for comment still had Taehyung's blood pressure at a high, showing no signs of letting down any time soon.

     Eventually, the heated venture down the hallway came to an end when the pair arrived in front of a grey door after about two minutes of unspoken hostility, Taehyung no longer faking a smile.

     "I'll let myself in. I don't want you anywhere near this room again." The silver-haired boy cut his eyes at the man who simply exhaled out of frustration, gladly leaving in the opposite direction. Finally being rid of the man, Taehyung twisted the icy knob to enter the hospital room.