Letters ||Choi Beomgyu✔️

6

Dear Haein,

I've been having some goods day.
The nightmares have lessened but I know it's only about time that they hit me hard.
Do you ever sit in silence and find that all the things you ran from never really left?
I'm... okay.
I think. - Haein

Beomgyu ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. What the hell is she running from?

He had so many theories, so many questions he wish he could simply ask Haein but he knew that couldn't happen.

As guilty as he felt reading her personal thoughts, he was too far in to stop now. He felt like a fish caught on a hook he couldn't escape from.

"What's going on with you?" His best friend, Soobin, appeared by his locker. Fast as the speed of light, Beomgyu shoved away the letter before Soobin could notice it. That was the last thing Beomgyu needed.

Beomgyu feigned an innocent look. Casual as ever, he asked, "What do you mean?"

Soobin tossed his friend a bland look. He was the one person in the world who knew Beomgyu, really knew Beomgyu beyond what was displayed on the surface. He was also perhaps, the one person in the world Beomgyu could trust. Yet, when it came to Haein, Beomgyu didn't dare risk it.

"Come on, man. You've been-weird. On edge or something, lately. Not to mention lost in your own head and all-weirdly quiet and distant. What's going on?"

Beomgyu shut his locker, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He started walking down the halls towards his classroom, Soobin following beside him. "It's nothing. I just haven't been sleeping well. Must be the nicotine."

Beomgyu thought that would be enough to get Soobin off his tail.

"That's bullshit. I know you better than that, man!"

"I's nothing," Beomgyu snapped, growing frustrated. "-just leave it. Would you?" He sighed softly, shaking his head as he stopped walking and turned to look at his friend. "Please." Soobin's eyes narrowed, gnawing on the inside of his cheek. "Is it a girl?"

"No," Beomgyu rolled his eyes. "I told you-"

"Yeah, yeah. You haven't been sleeping." It was Soobin's turn to roll his eyes. "Seriously, it has to be about a chick. God knows you're well off in the academic and athletic categories."

"It's not-"

"It so is! I knew it!" Soobin beamed a smile, slapping Beomgyu's shoulder. "Come on, who is it? Tell me, then. I've never seen you this flustered-hung up-over some girl! God, she must be good."

Beomgyu cut Soobin off by grabbing his arm and pulling him aside in the hallway, away from the middle of the corridor and all the people that could overhear them. "Shut the fuck up, would you!" Beomgyu cautiously glanced around to ensure there were no snarky eavesdroppers nearby. "Jesus, dude. I said drop it."

He knew was the kids in this school were like. He knew what his own "friends" were like, aside from Soobin. The last thing he wanted was anyone to start taking note to or talking about Haein, judging, making their own stories and rumours, or butting their heads into business that didn't belong to them. For Haein's sake.

He knew what she was like. He knew more about her than even she knew-and Beomgyu knew she was comfortable in her spot away from the drama and the crowds. She was more than shy. She was anxiety-ridden and nothing good could come from certain people learning of Beomgyu's infatuation. While Beomgyu trusted and depended on Soobin, who he had been best friends with his whole life, it was their other friends and peer who Beomgyu knew would only cause trouble and more problems that Haein didn't deserve to deal with. He also refused to believe that he was "flustered" or hung up over Haein - because he was not. He simply worried for her and wanted to look out for her, even if she didn't know that was what he was doing. With each letter he read, he only wanted to learn more about her. He only wanted to protect her more and more. Sure, he was intrigued and in awe, but how could you not be? She was too pure and precious and kind for Beomgyu to want to see her hurt. He wanted to make all her hurt go away.

Soobin's eyes widened. "It's a girl. You're so whipped!"

"Oh, shut up." Beomgyu groaned, running a hand down his face. "It's nothing like that. I'm not-whipped, for Christ's sake."

Soobin quirked an eyebrow, smirking. "I call B.S."

Beomgyu stared at his friend blankly, not amused. "Too bad!"

Soobin rolled his eyes. "Come on, dude. It's me. You can tell me. I want to who you're crushing on- who has got you all riled up and-"

"There is no crush."

"Really?" Soobin crossed his arms over his chest. "Then why are you being so defensive? Why have you been so weird lately?"

Beomgyu gave Soobin a flat look before he started walking down the hall again.

"Come on," Soobin kept whining. "I want to know the tea, sis."

Beomgyu ignored him.

"Tell me, tell me, tell me." Soobin's childlike manner was no surprise to Beomgyu. This is how Soobin had always been, since birth, and not once had he grown out of it. While typically Beomgyu could find some sense of endearment in it, right now, he wanted to whack Soobin upside the head.

"Dude, shut up."

Soobin pouted guilelessly. "I just want to know who's won-"

"Nobody's won anything, alright!" Beomgyu halted, turning towards Soobin. "She's just-someone. Someone I am trying to understand and-there's no-" Flustered, Beomgyu ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. "There's no crush or being riled up or whatever bullshit you're going on about."

Soobin held his hands up in defence until Beomgyu turned and began walking again. "Whatever, man," he mumbled. "Stay in denial." He cracked a grin. "It's adorable."

Soobin laughed as Beomgyu's groan sounded down the hallway.