Taehyung walked slowly down the quiet street, his cane tapping gently on the road, he was smelling like a fresh flowers a reminder of his long day at the flower shop but his leg throbbed where he had some injury, he reached his home he felt the familiar rough wood of the gate under his hand but before he could knock, the door creaked open and his grandpa came from the house and stood there.

"Taehyung, you're late is everything okay?"

He said in warm and concern full tone while looking at him Taehyung smiled faintly, though he winced as he shifted his weight.

"I'm fine, Grandpa just a small scratch on my leg nothing serious."

He said while smiling and his grandpa stepped forward, and wrapped his hands around his shoulder and guided him inside.

"A scratch, huh? Let me take a look you should've called me to pick you up."

He said while scolding him little on which Taehyung chuckled softly.

"I'm not a kid anymore, Grandpa I can handle it."

He said softly while patting grandpa's arm on which he just shook his head on his grandson's behavior, they came inside the house and the house was filled with the comforting smell of food, Taehyung let out a quiet sigh of relief as he sat back on the couch, his hand resting on the armrest as he felt the warmth of the room surrounding him.

"Don't worry Grandpa I had already bandaged it don't worry.."

He said in assuring tone when he felt his grandpa's eyes on him.

"Are you sure?"

Grandpa's voice was still in concern on which he smiled and nodded his head in assuring way Grandpa nodded and gently placed a hand on Taehyung's shoulder.

"Good. You've had a long day, and I know it's not easy getting around. But you're always too stubborn to ask for help just like your father..."

Grandpa again complaint which he always did and Taehyung couldn't help but shook his head softly.

"I just don't want to be a burden Grandpa."

"You're never a burden to me I'll always be here for you even if you don't ask for help, I'll always be ready to give it You're still my little boy, no matter how old you get you may be independent, but it doesn't mean you don't need help sometimes."

Grandpa said firmly and Taehyung felt a warmth in his chest on his grandfather's words, he might not be able to see his grandpa's face, but he could always feel the love in his voice, in the way he cared for him, Taehyung also nodded his head appreciating the concern, he understood that his grandpa worried about him more than anyone else, being blind meant that sometimes the world felt a little more dangerous, a little more uncertain, and he knew his grandpa always tried to protect him from that.

"I'll be fine, Grandpa I can manage."

He said quitely and his grandpa placed a hand on Taehyung's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I know you can, but I'm here, always. Don't forget that but leave it let's go yummy soup and fried chicken is waiting for us.."

Grandpa said excitedly and he chuckled and stood up from the couch and held his cane which was beside him and they both walked towards small wooden dining table Taehyung inhaled the fresh aroma of food that made his stomach churned in hunger, he sat down on chair and Grandpa carefully placed a bowl of soup in front of him.

"Thank you, Grandpa."

He said usually feeling a deep sense of love and appreciation for the man who had been his guide through life, even when the world was dark.

"You're welcome now, eat up, Taehyung."

Grandpa replied with so much affection and too sat down beside him and they shared a quiet dinner together, after dinner when he was standing up from chair he heard Grandpa saying.

"Taehyung do you remember my friend Jordan?"

"Yeah I remember him what happened with him?"

Taehyung said while frowning because his Grandpa rarely talked about his senior citizen's group.

"Today when he was coming to join us that psychopath of our city attacked on us."

Grandpa was narrating the whole story and he was listening him with grave expression, because did he need to know??

"Good thing is that he is safe now."

Taehyung stood up from chair while saying and grandpa nodded his head, Taehyung turned to go but his leg froze after heard his grandpa's word.

"He is making everyone's life hell God knows who's son is he? He is surely a shame for his family.."

Grandpa said in loathing tone while cleaning the table Taehyung titled his head over his shoulder and without saying anything he went towards his room, tapping the wooden floor with his cane.

✧◍✧◍✧

Agent Black was pacing back and forth across the office like a pendulum her heels were clacking loudly against the floor and she was continuously muttering one thing.

"That bastard psychopath is very interested to break my record and I will tear him apart."

Meanwhile, on the far end of the room, Agent Red was laying on the office sofa like a Emperor with zero concerns, he lazily peeled a banana, and took a bite while looking at the frantic movement of Black in boredom.

"You've been pacing for twenty minutes and thirty five seconds and at this rate, you'll wear a hole in my precious office's carpet."

Agent Red said between his munching and Black spun around on her heel while glaring him.

"Why are you just laying there? How can you be so calm? Don't you care about this mission?"

Disbelief was visible in Black's words but Agent Red shrugged while taking another bite of banana, chewed, and replied.

"Potassium is necessary because stress isn't good for heart."

He said in dead serious tone and she groaned loudly, throwing her hands in the air.

"You're impossible!"

Agent Red shrugged and tossed the banana peel onto the coffee table with and mumbled.

"And you're exhausting."

"You're really not going to help?"

After some seconds Agent Black asked him while glaring on which he raised an eyebrow, chewing in slow motion just on purpose.

"Help with what? The mess you made?"

He said, pointing at her with the banana like it was a weapon, and after heard him black looked at him in disbelief.

"Not I ok We were both made."

"Technically, you were the one who started to dying because of lavender."

Red replied in serious tone while stretching his legs like a man who had all the time in the world, and she looked at him in disbelief because at that time he was the one who was speaking heroic lines, but she just tried to calm down herself because she was well aware he was just purposely doing with her to get some reactions, but the silence that followed was only broken by the sound of the banana peel hitting the trash can with a casual toss.

"I can't believe this... Do you have any idea how bad this is? We let a psychopath escape! Headquarters is going to kill us, especially Chief."

She almost yelled on him but he was still unimpressed and uninterested.

"You are overthinking?"

"How are you so calm about this?!"

He smiled lightly on her question and leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head.

"Trust my I'm devastated but stressing out won't glue him back into custody, will it? Plus, you're doing enough of that for the both of us."

He said and reached for another new target, Red apple, she let out a strangled noise of frustration and threw herself into a chair, glaring daggers at him.

"I can't believe I'm stuck working with you."

Black said and rubbed her temples in frustration, Agent Red gave her a lazy salute and said.

"Pleasure's all mine My Majesty."

"Why God just why do I always get the worst partner."

She said while glaring him but he was entirely focused on a apple like he was going to prove another law of Newton, he was chill as he was at tropical vacation buffet.

"You know, if you hadn't acted so fragile during that chase, we wouldn't even be in this mess."

Agent black clearly gasped on his accusation.

"If you're so smart, why didn't you stop him why you came to me huh and why you said that so called cringe lines huh."

She said while shooting daggers on his soul, and he shrugged his shoulder.

"Just some hormonal effects."

"You're impossible! Red How can you be this calm when the Chief is going to skin us alive? What about my reputation my record I can't let that moron ruin my years of hard work and name."

"Eh, the Chief will yell, we'll nod and look sorry, and life will go on."

He said calmly and she almost threw a file on his direction which he gladly catched.

"I don't know what's worse him escaping or me being stuck with you."

Agent Red smirked on her words and spoke.

"Definitely me I'm the gift that keeps on giving."

Just then, the office phone rang making them froze, Agent Black dove for it, practically knocking over a lamp in the process and he just shook his head on her enthusiasm.

"Hello? Yes Sir, Of course, Sir. We're on it, Sir."

As she hung up she turned to him her face was red in anger.

"That was headquarters they said that bastard already sent them a thank-you card for not catching him."

She said punched the table Agent Red's lips twitched into the faintest smile after listen her.

"Well, at least he's polite."

But he immediately regretted when she grabbed a nearby vase and threw it at him with all her might, of course, he didn't even flinch, as he was habitual of this type of attacks, the vase hit the wall behind him.

"Next time, I'm taking the psychopath you can babysit yourself, I hate you."

She said in pure anger and barged out of the room he watched her go and sighed because he knew now if he would not be serious so she would definitely kill him.

"Ugh My woman and her tempers......"

✧◍✧◍✧

A boy who was 14 years old, sat nervously at the kitchen table, staring at his report card, his hands trembled slightly as he waited for his mother to notice, who was standing by the sink, her back was facing him.

"What's that in your hand?"

She snapped without turning around, he gulped after heard his mother sharp and flat tone he glanced at his report card and blinked his eyes to prevent tears.

"It's...my report card."

He said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper his mother spun around and walked towards him and snatched the report card from his hand, her eyes scanned the paper, and he could see her jaw tighten.

"C's and D's? Is this some kind of joke?"

She barked, slamming the paper on the table, he trembled on her voice and looked down.

"I-I tried my best."

He stammered, shrinking into his chair but his eyes got teary when he heard his mother mocking laugh.

"Your best? Your best is pathetic! Do you know how hard I work to keep this house running? And this is how you repay me? By being a failure?"

She said while shouting and tears welled up in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall. He had learned that crying only made things worse.

"You're so lazy do you even care about your future? About this family?"

"I'm sorry."

He whispered in his broken tone but maybe the other one is so cruel for her own son.

"Sorry isn't good enough! You're just like your father useless."

She spat while leaning down to glare at him, he clenched his fists under the table, his nails digging into his palms he felt trapped, powerless, and alone. All he wanted was for the yelling to stop, but he knew it wouldn't, not today, not ever.

As the boy sat silently, trying to hold back his tears, the front door opened and his elder brother walked in who was four years older than him, his presence lighting up the room like it always did, he was holding a stack of papers, his latest test results, no doubt.

"Mom, I got my grades."

His brother said cheerfully and their mother's expression instantly changed her scowl melted into a wide smile as she looked at the perfect scores printed on the paper.

"That's my boy!"

She beamed, wrapping an arm around him and kissed his cheeks one by one.

"See? This is what success looks like you could learn something from your brother."

She said while shooting a sharp glance at him his heart sank further and he looked down at his hands, ashamed and invisible in the shadow of his brother's achievements.

"Why can't you be more like him? He works hard, he cares about his future, and he makes me proud. And you? All you do is disappoint me."

She said in bitter tone without even realizing that her each and every words were slicing his heart like knife, his brother glanced at his sibling, his smile fading slightly, he seemed to want to say something but he knew he couldn't. His chest tightening as his mother always did this with his younger brother.

"Do you see the difference between the two of you?"

She said, waving the perfect report card like a trophy.

"He actually has a future he is going places, while you you will be lucky to even get a job flipping burgers."

She said in sharp tone while glaring at him his brother shifted awkwardly and looked at him who's head was still down.

"Mom, maybe we should...."

"Don't interrupt me this is exactly what your brother needs to hear he is too lazy and unmotivated to change otherwise."

She said in disgust and stormed out of the room, he felt a lump rise in his throat, but he swallowed it down, he had heard these words so many times before but every time it hurt more than usual his brother sat down across from him, avoiding his gaze. The silence between them was heavy, filled with everything neither of them could say.

"It's fine you don't have to say anything."

The younger one cut his brother off, before the older one could say anything, his brother gulped, the younger one grabbed his report card and headed to their room, closing the door quietly behind him.

He sat on his bed, staring at the paper in his hands, the grades stared back at him, mocking him, as if they were proof of everything his mother had said he crumpled the report card and threw it in the corner and lay down on bed, he stared at the ceiling, wondering if things would ever change. But deep down, a part of him already knew the answer.

The next morning, he woke up feeling heavy, like a dark cloud was still hanging over him he slowly got out of bed, hoping maybe today would be different, as he walked downstairs, the smell of delicious food hit his nostrils for a moment, he felt a small spark of hope, maybe his mother had forgiven him, maybe she was in a better mood today, But as he reached the kitchen, his heart sank his mother was at the stove, humming to herself as she flipped pancakes, stirred a pot of soup, and prepared other dishes. She was in a cheerful mood, something that he hadn't seen in a long time.

On the table, plates of food were already laid out, fluffy pancakes, golden eggs, crispy bacon, and his brother's favorite dessert apple pie. It wasn't for him. It was for his brother.

"Good morning."

He said softly, but his mother barely glanced at him and replied in flatly and cold tone.

"Morning Your brother is coming down soon I'm making all his favorites to celebrate his grades because he deserves it."

He stood there awkwardly, his stomach growling at the sight of the food but he didn't dare ask for anything because he knew it wouldn't help.

"Why are you just standing there? Go clean your room or do something useful don't just stand in the way."

She said sharply, finally looking at him breaking his little heart again with her cruelty he nodded silently and turned to leave, but not before hearing her mutter.

"At least one of my kids makes me proud."

And her words hit him like a slap, but he didn't react he had learned to keep his feelings locked away as he walked back upstairs.

He closed the door and sat on his bed, feeling the familiar ache in his chest, it wasn't the food he wanted, it was her love, her approval but deep down, he wondered if he would ever get it.

His mother always compare him with his brother always treat them unequally and he himself didn't know why because they both were her children but still his mother hated him.

As he was sitting on his bed, lost in his thoughts, there was a soft knock at his door and before he could answer the door opened and his brother walked in holding a plate of food with his genuine smile.

"Mom made a lot of breakfast. I brought you some."

The older one said in kind tone and set the plate down on the small desk by the bed, he looked at the plate, pancakes, eggs, and a slice of apple pie, the same food their mother had made to celebrate his brother achievement and his stomach churned up.

"I'm not hungry."

He mumbled but his stomach growled softly the older one chuckled lightly and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Come on you didn't eat anything last night, did you?"

He asked with concern on which the younger one shook his head.

"It doesn't matter. It's not for me anyway."

He said in flat tone like he was fed up with his life his brother sighed heavily.

"Taehyung my brother sometime mom just overreacts so please leave it.."

He said softly while patting his shoulder and for a moment, Taehyung didn't move the slowly, he reached for the plate the first bite tasted warm and sweet, but it did little to fill the emptiness inside him.

"Thanks."

Taehyung said quietly avoiding his brother's eyes his brother smiled faintly and patted his head.

"Anytime."

But he paused for a moment, then added said again.

"You're not as bad as you think, you know just believe yourself."

Taehyung didn't respond he just kept eating, the words hanging in the air as his brother stood to leave, he knew his brother loved him very much but he also knew he still didn't get the love he wanted, as he took another bite, he couldn't stop the tears from welling up in his eyes the weight of everything, his mother's harsh words, the constant feeling of never being good enough felt too much to bear before he knew it tears were spilling down his cheeks his brother noticed immediately and placed hand on his shoulder.

"Taehyung, it's okay, sometimes hurdles come in life my brother."

His brother said softly but he shook his head, wiping his eyes quickly embarrassed.

"I just... I don't know what's wrong with me."

" You're not the problem Mom's just... she's hard on you but that's on her, not you you're trying your best."

His brother voice was steady yet calm he looked up at him, feeling vulnerable one more time.

"But she's always disappointed. I'll never be good enough for her Vincent and it hurts."

Vincent hurt ached and he immediately pulled him into a hug, wrapping his arms around him.

"You don't have to be perfect for her you're good enough the way you are..."