This particular week hadn't been great. It seemed fucked up to say things like he had gotten used to the regular bullying, but he had. This week was worse. Maybe Min-hyun and the other boys were in bad moods because they seemed to take it out on Woo-bin. And today was the perfect cherry on top: he came to his desk with the occasional note of him telling him to kill himself, and at lunch, someone threw their entire lunch tray at him. He didn't even have his gym clothes to change to because someone broke into his locker a week ago to cut it up.
So today he felt extra exhausted as he unlocked the door to his house. He was ready to go up to his room and lock the door as he always did. His parents were home already and he was a little surprised. Had he come home late or did they get off work early? Today he realized it had been a while since he'd greeted them. Nevertheless, he still didn't do it.
He laid in his bed with his headphones in. Maybe an hour had gone by since he came home. He still hadn't changed and he could still smell the kimchi stain on his chest occasionally if he moved his head. But suddenly he heard a soft knock on the door.
"Woo-bin? I've placed your dinner out here again. Please eat it this time. You should at least eat dinner," Woo-bin's mother spoke in a timid voice. He could hear the sound of a plate being placed on the wooden floor.
"Hm," Woo-bin murmured just at the right volume for her to hear him.
"I love you," her voice quietly shook.
He didn't respond. Instead, he just closed his eyes and turned up the music. If the music was too quiet he'd be able to overshadow it with his thoughts and he didn't like that. No sound came from him other than the occasional hum of the tune. But after another while, he heard his mother's footsteps and a sigh as she probably saw the plate still being full and untouched. She walked back down the stairs. He turned down the music completely for a moment to see if he could hear her murmuring to his father. And indeed he could. He felt bad but couldn't get himself to do anything.
He noticed the sound of heavier footsteps walking towards his door and he sat up from his bed, putting his feet to the floor and taking out his earphones completely. He was almost waiting for the faint knock on the door.
His father spoke shyly, "Woo-bin, can you please open the door?"
Woo-bin paused before answering, "Why?"
"We have barely seen you these past couple of days," his mother said softly, "We just wanted to talk to you—"
"I'm fine!" Woo-bin suddenly yelled. "Don't bother! Just go. Please."
"Woo-bin, we just—"
"I said I'm fine! Nothing is wrong! Just leave me alone!" Woo-bin stood up from his bed but felt his legs shake as he walked closer to the door.
"Seo Woo-bin! You're making your mother and I so worried!" Woo-bin's father desperately raised his voice, "You haven't been eating these past few days. You haven't been acting the same these past few weeks. You haven't brought a friend home in months! Woo-bin, we're just so worried. Please unlock the door."
Woo-bin suddenly noticed he was crying, something he hadn't done in weeks. He quickly wiped his cheeks and noticed they were drenched. His hands were all wet now. His voice shook and broke without intending on it, "You guys just won't understand."
"Woo-bin! Open the door! Please!" his mother started banging her hand on the door as she heard his cries.
"I don't want you to see me like this," Woo-bin's voice trembled as he stepped back.
"Please just open the door!" his father started grabbing the door handle, but to no avail.
Woo-bin noticed how worried they sounded. He didn't want to tell them the truth, but it seemed as if he was bad at hiding it these days. As he heard their pleads and his tears just kept on falling. He finally stepped up closer to the loud door and heard the noise stop as he unlocked the key. He slowly opened the door and felt instant pain as he saw the terrified looks on their faces.