(Tao's POV)

Chen and Xiumin dropped me off at home after school, but only after making sure I still didn't want to watch the Soul Eater marathon with them.

"Yes guys I'm sure, I have too much homework to do tonight,"

"Okay fine," Chen said as if I could change my mind at any minute.

"Well text me or Chen if you finish early," Xiumin commented in his always thoughtful manner.

"Alright I will, thank you guys," I called to them as I ducked out of the cramped back set of Chen's old Kia. I waved back at them as they drove away.

As soon as I got in the door of my home I quickly left my shoes at the entrance and made my way upstairs to my room. I half-hazardly slung my school bag on the floor as I plopped onto my bed, thoroughly exhausted from everything that had happened today.

Not too long after I got home I heard a timid knock on my bedroom door,

"Come in, umma," I didn't even have to ask who it was because my mother was the only one who had ever knocked on my door.

"Hello honey, are you okay? Don't you have homework?" I understood her confusion, usually by this time today I was downstairs at the dining table completing the day's schoolwork

"No I didn't get assigned much work today, umma," I said despite what I had told my two friends.

"Well how was your day then?" She chirped, somewhat changing the subject,

"It was uh... Okay I guess,"

"Why? What happened?" She questioned, not even trying to hide the motherly concern in her voice.

"Well, um, today in chemistry, Mr. Wu paired us up for a long term project and I was partnered with," I paused, feeling my heart beat faster with the anxiety that just saying his name created, "Baekhyun."

"Oh, my sweet boy, will you be okay? I can talk to Seonsaeng- nim for you and ask for you to switch partners," she said, trying to resolve things, my mom knew I was tormented by Baekhyun but she didn't know to what extent, I think she saw it simply as merciless teasing, but it was much more, I don't think she understands the toll it has taken on me to have three people that I was so close to and trusted so much, suddenly turn on me and treat me like I am nothing, but a worthles