Doodlebug | Beomjun, yeongyu |

Chapter no.4

The whispers followed Yeonjun like a swarm of flies, buzzing with morbid curiosity about Yeji, Zico, and, unfortunately, himself. He tried tuning them out, focusing on the dull rhythm of his own footsteps against the polished floor. Two lectures done, and Beomgyu still nowhere to be seen. Skipping class before finals? Uncharacteristic, to say the least. His worry warred with a flicker of irritation. It was like Beomgyu was determined to test the limits of his sanity.

Suddenly, a paper crane materialized in front of him, its wings spread wide, defying gravity. Soobin, ever the origami enthusiast, beamed at him. "Hey, how's it?"

Yeonjun forced a smile. "Good." His eyes, though, scanned the hallway, searching for a flash of familiar blue hair.

Soobin pouted. "You didn't even look!"

"Huh?" Yeonjun blinked, momentarily lost in his search.

"Looking for someone?" Soobin's face was etched with knowing, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

Yeonjun's cheeks burned. "Yeah... I mean, no?" The stammer betrayed him.

Suddenly, a familiar mop of brown hair materialized in the distance. Beomgyu, head down and shoulders slumped, shuffled through the crowd like a lost puppy. Yeonjun's heart lurched, a mix of relief and concern warring within him. He started to sprint But then, Soobin's words cut through the haze. "He missed classes? I doubt he'll be able to pass at this rate."

Yeonjun's steps faltered, his feet rooted to the spot. He watched as Beomgyu passed them, a ghost of his usual self, his eyes downcast and shadowed. The sight ripped at Yeonjun, leaving him mad at him for behaving like tis even though he had made this very cear that bemgyu needs to be by his side.

The paper crane in soobin's  hand crinkled, a reminder of his presence. The image of the delicate bird, folded with such precision, brought a flicker of clarity to Yeonjun's mind. 

With a deep breath, Yeonjun waited for Beomgyu to pass. Then, he called out, his voice soft but firm, "Beomgyu, wait!"

The words echoed in the hallway, pulling Beomgyu's head up. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, then something else, something deeper and more vulnerable.

As Yeonjun approached Beomgyu, a ripple of curiosity spread through the hallway. Heads swiveled, conversations hushed, replaced by the soft murmur of whispers. After all, seeing Yeonjun – the popular, confident one – initiating contact with Beomgyu, the quiet, often overlooked knucklehead, was as rare as a blue moon on a Tuesday.

Yeonjun, ignoring the sudden spotlight, walked towards Beomgyu, his voice dropping to a murmur as he reached him. "I told you to stay by my side, didn't I?"

Beomgyu's eyes widened, his usual stoicism cracking under Yeonjun's unexpected closeness. "Oh," he stammered, "I thought you weren't serious about it..."

Yeonjun, caught off guard by his own actions, hesitated for a moment. Then, surprised by the urge, he placed a hand on Beomgyu's shoulder. The gesture, simple yet intimate, sent a tremor through both of them.

Soobin, who had been watching the scene unfold with a bemused expression, finally chimed in. "Hey Beomgyu, wassup?" He looked suspiciously at Yeonjun, his brow furrowed in amusement.

The unexpected attention jolted Yeonjun back to his senses. He quickly pulled his hand away, a blush creeping up his neck. "Nothing, just beomgyu asked me to tutor him maths for finals" he mumbled, hoping to deflect the scrutiny.

Beomgyu, however, seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on the spot where Yeonjun's hand had rested. 

 Yeonjun, desperate to break the tension, cleared his throat. "So, uh, ready for finals?" he asked, forcing a smile.