Doodlebug | Beomjun, yeongyu |

Chapter no.4

Beomgyu blinked, his attention returning to Yeonjun. "Yeah," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. "I guess."

Soobin's playful voice cut through the awkward tension, "Hey, if Yeonjun's gonna tutor you, it probably means you'll be staying with us for the time being, right? We were going to eat with our group, you wanna come?"

Beomgyu's stomach lurched. The thought of joining their group, a constellation of the school's brightest stars, filled him with a mix of dread and a strange, tingling curiosity. He stole a glance at Yeonjun, his face unreadable beneath his usual mask of cool indifference.

Before Beomgyu could stammer out a refusal, Yeonjun answered for him, a faint smile playing on his lips. "He'll come."

And so, Beomgyu found himself seated at a table dominated by the most popular, and arguably brattiest, people in their school. Yeonjun, of course, was there, radiating an effortless charm that made Beomgyu feel like a flickering candle in a supernova's glow. Then there was Soobin, his sunshine smile masking a sharp wit, and Yuna, the queen bee with eyes as sharp as diamonds. Lee Heesung, the brooding heartthrob, and Wooyoung, the effortlessly cool jokester, completed the picture. yeji was of course a part of their group too.

Beomgyu felt like a pale, washed-out watercolor amidst their vibrant oil paintings. Their conversations swirled around him like a whirlwind of inside jokes and references, leaving him feeling like a forgotten footnote. He ate his food in silence, content to fade into the background, a ghost at their feast.

Except, Yeonjun wouldn't let him. He'd catch Beomgyu's eye across the table, offering a reassuring smile or a playful nudge that somehow managed to bridge the chasm between their worlds. He'd subtly steer the conversation towards topics Beomgyu could contribute to, a small spotlight cast on his hidden self.

Beomgyu, despite his initial trepidation, found himself drawn into their orbit. He chuckled at Wooyoung's jokes, debated Yuna on the merits of a new indie band, and even surprised himself with a witty retort to Lee Heesung's sarcastic jab.

Beomgyu realized that beneath the polished veneer of popularity, these people were just... people. Messy, complex, and surprisingly relatable.

As the meal progressed Yuna and Heesung engaged in a veiled verbal spar. Wooyoung, usually the charming peacemaker, seemed withdrawn, his gaze often lingering on Yeonjun with a curious edge. Beomgyu felt lost in a labyrinth of unspoken jealousies and unspoken affections, longing for the familiar quiet of his dorm room.

Just when he thought he might implode from the overwhelming social overload, Yeonjun excused himself to grab another drink. Beomgyu seized the opportunity. "I think I'll, uh, head back," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Yeonjun's brow furrowed, concern etching lines on his forehead. "But- you just got here," he protested.

"It's okay," Beomgyu forced a smile, "I'm tired. You guys can have fun."

Yeonjun hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay, but let me walk you back."

yeonjun announced that he'd be tutoring beomgyu in his dorm to which no one gave much attention as it was already off time.

Beomgyu stopped outside Yeonjun's dorm room, a tangle of nerves and a strange sense of relief. 

"So," Yeonjun said, his voice tinged with a question, "what are you doing now?"

Beomgyu blinked, surprised by the unexpected query. "Uh," he stammered, "I was going to go back to my dorm."

Yeonjun's smile faltered. "But I told them I'd be tutoring you," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "If you head back and they notice..." He trailed off, leaving the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air.