Heesung, usually the quiet observer, broke the silence, his voice barely audible. "But what if it's not...? What if it's connected?". Yuna shivered, pulling her jacket tighter around her as if warding off an unseen chill. "No, don't say it, Heesung, please," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm scared."
It was nearing 6 pm, yet the usual bustle of the lounge had faded, leaving only their small group huddled together.
Soobin, ever the optimist, tried to dispel the gloom. "Bro, I really don't think there's anything like that," he said, his voice carrying a forced cheer. "We're in a secure, prestigious school, right? Zico ran away for sure, and Yeji... her death was an accident, we know that. She had asthma, it was in the report. Xiyeon, well, she... might have actually taken her life on her own. Why are we overreacting? Right, Beomgyu?"
Beomgyu offered a hesitant nod to Soobin's question, his voice barely above a whisper, "Yeah, I... I also think it's just a coincidence." The lie tasted bitter on his tongue, the weight of the hidden photos in his drawer, a suffocating secret. He stole a glance at Yeonjun, expecting some form of agreement, but he remained silent.
Wooyoung, ever the restless one, pushed himself up from the table. "Well, whatever," he announced, stretching dramatically. "I'm heading home for vacations after these finals. Peace out!"
A collective groan filled the room, but it wasn't entirely devoid of relief. One by one, they stood up, stretching and yawning, ready to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Yuna and Heesung, usually the most reserved, surprised everyone with a quick, awkward half-hug. "Stay safe," Yuna whispered, her voice barely audible. Heesung nodded solemnly, a flicker of fear in his eyes.
"I'll be coming after grabbing something from the kitchen!" Soobin declared, his voice echoing in the empty hallway as everyone else filed out.
"Okay, Soobin, alright, we can hear you!" they shouted back, a hint of laughter returning to their voices. Despite the lingering unease, the familiar routine of heading to their rooms brought a small comfort.
As the last person disappeared, Yeonjun approached Beomgyu, his gaze steady. "You wanted to tell me something this morning," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Beomgyu's heart hammered against his ribs. He had almost backed out, convinced the fear was better left unshared.
He swallowed hard, his throat tight. "Yeah," he croaked, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "Well, can you come to my room?"
As they entered the room, the familiar warmth of Beomgyu's space offered little comfort. Yeonjun's gaze immediately scanned the room, searching for the usual sight of Taehyun hunched over his iPad. "Where's Taehyun?" he asked, a crease forming on his brow.
Beomgyu frowned, confusion mirroring Yeonjun's. "He's... not here?" He glanced at the empty chair where Taehyun usually sat, a knot of unease twisting in his stomach. "He never leaves his room unless it's an emergency."
Ignoring the growing apprehension, Beomgyu approached his desk, drawn to the drawer where he'd hidden the photos. His hand trembled as he pulled it open, his breath catching in his throat.
Empty.
Panic surged through him, sharp and icy. He frantically rummaged through the drawer, desperation rising with each passing second. The pictures, the damning evidence, were gone.
Yeonjun, sensing his friend's escalating panic, stepped closer. "What are you looking for?" he asked, concern etching lines on his forehead.
Beomgyu's voice, barely a whisper, betrayed his mounting terror. "Pictu... pictures."
Yeonjun frowned. "What pictures?"
Beomgyu swallowed hard, the words scraping against his raw throat. "Our pictures... someone took our pictures while we were burying..." his voice trailed off, the chilling implication hanging heavy in the air.
"...Zico's body," he finally forced out, his gaze locked on Yeonjun's, searching for some reaction, any reaction, to confirm his worst fears.
Yeonjun hesitated, his gaze flickering around the room as if searching for hidden eyes, hidden ears. "Whoever sent this" he finally breathed, his voice low and dangerous. "They know about Zico..."
Beomgyu's confusion deepened. "saw us? But how? Did they see us that night?"
Yeonjun shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. "No, not directly. But the pictures... they show things, things that could connect us..." His eyes met Beomgyu's, dark and troubled. "And if someone has those pictures, then..."
Yeonjun's jaw clenched tighter, his eyes mirroring the horror dawning in Beomgyu's. "They might be the real killers," Beomgyu whispered, the words catching in his throat like dust.
A sudden thud echoed through the room, the sound of their dorm door slamming open. Both boys froze, their hearts hammering against their ribs.
***
Author's note:
hehe hiii
my instagram:
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
