A/n: Please before reading this chapter make sure to read the disclaimers in the first one (Disclaimers & Introduction).
This chapter contains mentions of violence.
--
~
Another day. Another blank, empty one similar to yesterday. What made days so different from each other to other people? Taeyong felt like he was living the same nightmarish reality over and over again. There were some things that made this routine bearable but they didn't last for long. These things were transient, and Taeyong knew that. But so was everything, transient and non-permanent, so when the teenage boy thought about this fact it made him want to know when his life would change.
"We're here." His mother announced and the car that was earlier moving stopped.
Taeyong, who was facing the ground earlier looked outside of the window. In front of him was his school, an imposing, huge building, that was painted with light shades of white and gray. There was an enormous yard, courts, and some parts of it were decorated with real, freshly-planted grass.
A beautiful place, really.
But Taeyong thought otherwise.
"I know..." The boy exclaimed and hesitantly exited the car.
"Have a nice day!" His mother announced and he turned around to see her.
'I won't.' Was what he wanted to say, but instead he smiled and waved.
The car left and Taeyong had no other choice but to enter his school.
He walked in the corridors, heading to his locker, his gaze always facing the ground. Maybe if he didn't look up, nobody would be able to see him. When he reached his locker he opened it and put his back inside. However the moment he was about to close it himself someone else did it from behind.
The metallic door closed abruptly in front of him, causing him to close his eyes, surprised by the sudden noise that was produced.
He should have seen this coming though...
'Shit.' He thought.
"Are you going to stand there with your back facing us forever loser?" One of the kids that stood behind him said.
He clenched his fist. He wanted to do something but knew he couldn't.
When he told his mother that he was being bullied she said:
'Don't do anything.'
'It will destroy your image and false rumors will start going around.'
'Just ignore them.'
So the best Taeyong could do was take a deep breath and turn around to face them.
"What do you want now Namgi?" Taeyong asked, trying to sound as uninterested as he could.
"Ha. Look at him Namgi, he doesn't even care about us. He only cares about himself, how narcissistic."
"He didn't even flinch. Is he even a human?"
The other two kids that were standing in front of Taeyong said.
These words pissed Namgi even more so he grabbed Taeyong's collar and raised him slightly from the ground.
"You think you're better than us just because you're pretty?" He asked angrily. Taeyong tried his best to keep a poker face, he couldn't let them know how scared he felt inside. He was more annoyed and pissed but at the same time scared, because of the fact that he couldn't fight back.
"Someone needs to teach you a lesson." Namgi said and threw a punch on Taeyong.
This was happening only because he ignored them, only because they knew that he couldn't defend himself.
If only he could show them that he was strong...
Stronger than what everyone thought at least.
~
Now he was standing in front of a house, not a familiar one, ready to complete Simon's mission.
~
"H...hello?"
"Hello Taeyong, I'm Simon and this is your 2nd mission and the 10th one in total."
"Wh...what?!" Taeyong didn't know about what to feel more surprised and anxious, about the fact that he was going to do one more mission, or about the fact that it was the 10th mission?
"Yes Taeyong. This is the 10th mission, I wonder why you sound so surprised about this. Didn't you keep your mission a secret? Did you expect from the others to just bluntly say their missions?"
He didn't know what to answer to this.
"Your first mission is to meet one of your family members. The one that you regretted abandoning and leaving behind." Simon announced. "You have to meet-"
~
Taeyong knocked the door in front of him. Waiting from the person who lived there to answer.
After some time a young woman opened the door and Taeyong smiled. Even though he had no right to.
"Hello?" The woman asked.
"Hello Yumi." He said, and felt the earth disappearing under his feet.
"Excuse me sir do I know you?" The girl asked confused and Taeyong laughed awkwardly.
"It's only normal if you don't..." He exclaimed and continued speaking. "I'm Taeyong." And when he said that the girl's eyes widened. She finally understood why this stranger looked so familiar. "Your brother."
--
~
"Mum!!!" The little boy shouted, holding a small notebook in his hands.
His mother was reading a book, sitting on the sofa. When she heard her son, she took out her glasses and saw the boy running excitedly towards the place she was sitting at.
"Yes Mark?" She asked and smiled.
"Look mum!" He said and showed her the notebook. "I wrote this can you read it?"
The woman took the notebook in her hands and put her glasses back on. "What is it Mark?"
"It's a book I wrote." He answered. "I know that you read and write a lot of books so can you please read it mommy?" He asked cutely, holding both of his hands together.
The woman smiled. "Of course Mark. I will definitely read your book."
"Thank you mum!!" He said and hugged her. "When I grow up, I want to be an author like you."
"That's very nice Mark!" The lady pointed out. "I'm sure you will become a great writer."
Then the door opened. His father entered the house.
"Welcome home honey." His mother said and he just looked at her, without saying anything in return.
"Dad I wrote a book! Mum will read it, do you want to read it too?"
"A book?" The man furrowed his eyebrows.
"Yeah, I want to be an author when I grow up like mum."
The man rolled his eyes and turned his full attention to the woman. "Did you tell him to write this?" He asked angrily. "Are you trying to stuff his mind with artistic bullshit?"
"What are you talking about?" The woman said offended.
"I'm just stating facts. Do you think the kid can become an author just because you're one yourself? He needs to find a real job."
The woman laughed bitterly. "Are you telling me that my job is not a real one?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
"Ha. You're unbelievable. Don't you want your son to be happy?!'
"I want him to know what he can do and what not. He is going to take over my position in the hotel."
"Don't you care about his dreams?" The lady asked softly, feeling sad this time.
"The only dream he can have is working at my hotel."
"But-"
"This conversation is over."
The man said and stormed into his bedroom.
"M...mum?" The boy grabbed the edge of the dress she was wearing. "Is what dad says true?" He asked and the woman tried to smile as genuine as she could.
"Of course not Mark. You can be anything you want."
~
"And then my parents broke up." Mark said and took a sip from the beer he was holding. "They were constantly arguing after all."
"Oh..." Haechan said. "I'm sorry Mark..."
But Mark smiled and looked at the night sky above them. "It's fine..." He closed his eyes and let the cool wind caress his face. "It was bound to happen after all."
Both of them were sitting on a rooftop. To be exact at the rooftop of Mark's house. His shift was over and the teenager insisted of coming.
"What happened to her though?" Haechan asked. "Have you seen her since then?"
"Hmmm..." Mark thought for a bit. "I haven't seen her since I was 10. My dad gained full custody of me, leaving my mum devastated...He didn't even let her visit me as he thought that she was a 'bad influence'" He said and felt his heart break a little at the thought of his mother.
"Do you know where is she?"
"Probably not here." Mark said and looked at the ground before looking at the night sky again. "She loved travelling." He smiled. "She even promised me that one day we were going to travel around the world together."
"I see..." Haechan looked down, feeling bad for Mark.
The other boy must have noticed it, so that's why he asked:
"What do you think about the stars Haechan?" Mark announced as he pointed to the sky. "All of them shine brightly don't they?"
"Yeah they do..." Haechan looked up and then Mark again. "What do you think stars are Mark?"
"I think that they are just stars...stars that exist on the outer space, in our solar system." He laughed a little. "I don't think of them as something special."
"Oh..."
"Why Haechan?" Mark turned his attention to him. "What do you think stars are?"
"I think..." He hesitated a little before answering. "I think that they are persons that died. I think that everyone becomes a star and looks down on the people they love."
"Oh." Mark was surprised by his answer.
"Or at least that's what I would like to believe."
"That's beautiful Haechan." Mark pointed out. "So...you think that Jungwoo and Sicheng are stars now?"
"Yes..." He thought they were stars alongside his grandmother...
"Then...some day we maybe meet them again." Mark announced and smiled softly.
"Yeah but not soon Mark." Haechan strictly said.
"Yeah...." His friend said. "Not soon." He looked at the sky again. He had a bad feeling that really couldn't shake off. He wanted to believe for the best but...
Maybe Jaehyun was right. Maybe all of them were fated to meet the same outcome. Which was death-
"Hey can you pass me the beer?" Haechan asked, waking him up from his thoughts.
"No!" He said. "Haechan you're a minor!"
"Pfff...you're no fun."
--
"Jaehyun take this order to table 4."
"Ok."
And Jaehyun took the plate, heading to the table.
"Enjoy your meal." He smiled and left the order in front of the couple that was sitting there.
"Thank you."
Both of them said, Jaehyun nodded and went back to the kitchen, in order to repeat the same thing over and over again.
But this was his job and he couldn't do anything to change it.
"Jaehyun order."
"Coming."
Or at least that's what he thought.
"You're a talented player Jaehyun."
"You have a bright future in front of you."
These phrases echoed in his mind as he took the order to the right table.
They were wrong...or maybe they weren't.
There was a possibility that Simon could help him fulfill his dreams.
He just had to reach the end.
~This chapter is literally 80% of flashbacks....idk how to feel about this😂😂. Also WayV's comeback 💀💀💀~