Taeyang didn't know what to expect from Pilseung anymore. Aside from the fact that he had been looked down on by his entire family, he thought the sangria-eyed male's life couldn't get any worse. 

He learned the hard way he was dead wrong when the two headed out to have some lunch together the next day. 

(And no, no matter how much Jihae teased him in the Detective group chat that it was a date, it was not. It was definitely not that. Nope. That wasn't it.)

"Haaaaaa, look at who has a new friend," an arrogant voice suddenly said as they were chatting while waiting for their food. 

Taeyang turned, while Pilseung, who had been facing the source of the voice, growled quietly.

"Jeon Iruk," he greeted coldly. 

"Why so cold?" the pink-haired male smirked. "Scared you'll lose more friends?" 

He then held his hand out to Taeyang who had turned his body over, "Jeon Iruk. The coolest kid in town, instead of that loser over there." 

Taeyang frowned and didn't take it, saying, "Kang Taeyang. I'd rather not shake your hand, though. You seem like the type of person I don't like." 

"What did you say?!" his eyes narrowed as he tried to grab his shirt, only for Pilseung to get up and swat his hand away. 

"Leave Taeyang alone, Jeon Iruk," he snarled. "Whatever you want with me, can't you wait till school to do it?" 

"Why would I when you're right here?" he rolled his eyes. "You, me, the usual alley tomorrow at this time. If you're not there... Pada gets it when we get back to school." 

Taeyang could see Pilseung shake, and a part of him knew that it wasn't because of the weather. 

It was fear. A feeling he knew all too well. 

Observation Six: He's being bullied to protect his loved ones.... kinda like me.

Iruk then laughed as he turned around, "Well, you know what to do, okay? Smell ya tomorrow. Get ready for the beating of your life." 

Once he was gone, Pilseung turned around and gave Taeyang a pained smile, "Sorry about that, Iruk is usually quite nasty. He likes Pori, but she doesn't like him, so he lets it out in a different way." 

"Pilseung, you are NOT going tomorrow," Taeyang shot down without hesitation. "The scars from the Demonseu fight haven't faded off, right? Pada told me." 

Pilseung's eyes widened slightly, but they were soon back to normal as he laughed, "Nah, I'm good now. Pada's always been a worrywart, so don't take everything he says to heart. Plus, whoever said that I was going to go down without a fight-" 

"You would if it meant Pada's safe," Taeyang cut in, eyes staring at the other before he continued, "I saw you shake in fear, Pilseung. You're not going to hide it from me." 

"It's fine," he gritted his teeth slightly. "It's nothing special Taeyang. I'll be fine. Fear is normal in every human, right? Jeon Iruk is just something I have to get over." 

That sentence made Taeyang stop and look into his eyes. 

A brave front hid the true despair and fear within. 

"Pilseung..." 

"Drop it, please," he shook his head. "It'll be fine, Taeyang. It's nothing." 

And the look in his eyes... made him drop it, against his better judgment. 

But that very night, as he stared at the ceiling of the guest room, he decided that he wasn't about to let Jeon Iruk do what he wanted with Pilseung. 

Pilseung was still his friend, and he was going to keep him safe as he promised.

(A decade later, a child with dark brown hair, a red streak in his hair, and brilliant blue eyes would say, "This story is scary..." 

"It's okay. It gets good, Taepung." 

"Yeah, we get to the hopeful part the next day."

"Oh, okay!" )

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