Doodlebug | Beomjun, yeongyu |

Chapter no.7

Both their heads snapped towards the entrance, hearts hammering against their ribs. In the doorway stood Taehyun, his expression unreadable, a dark secret lurking in his eyes.

"So," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, "you finally figured it out."

"Taehyun?" Beomgyu croaked, his voice trembling. "What's wrong? Where have you been?"

Taehyun tilted his head, a chilling smile playing on his lips. "Playing a little game," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "And guess what? I found your little treasure."

He held up a hand, and in his grasp, glinting under the dim light, were the stolen photos. Beomgyu's heart sank. Their secret, laid bare, a weapon aimed straight at their hearts.

He flicked his wrist, and Beomgyu gasped as the missing photos tumbled onto the bed, landing in a scattered array. Their secret, their burden, now bared for all to see. Yeonjun, his face pale with disbelief, stammered, "Did you... did you kill him-"

Taehyun cut him off with a chuckle, devoid of humor. "No," he said, his eyes locking with Beomgyu's. "But I'm interested in who did."

Beomgyu's throat went dry. How did Taehyun know? Panic gnawed at him, making his voice barely a whisper, "Then how do-"

"The pictures," Taehyun finished, his grin widening. "I saw them in your drawer, Beomgyu. Curiosity got the better of me." He shifted his gaze to Yeonjun, who remained frozen in disbelief. A sly smile played on Taehyun's lips. "I know you guys didn't kill him, but I'm certainly interested in who did."

His mischievous grin deepened, further confusing Beomgyu. "What?" he barely managed to squeak out.

Taehyun leaned back, his eyes twinkling with an unsettling gleam. "Remember that package delivered yesterday? The one I handed you? Your reaction afterwards... hmm, let's just say it piqued my interest. The pictures only confirmed my suspicions. You see, I don't know who killed Zico, but I'm willing to bet you do. So... is there anything unclear?"

The weight of Taehyun's words hung heavy in the air. He wasn't accusing them, not directly. But his knowledge, his veiled threats, created a new layer of fear, a new dimension to their already terrifying secret. Beomgyu glanced at Yeonjun, their shared apprehension mirrored in each other's eyes.

Was Taehyun a friend or foe? Was he offering help or playing a twisted game?

Yeonjun stepped forward, his voice tight with suspicion. "How can we trust you, Taehyun?"

Taehyun's gaze flickered to Beomgyu, a playful glint in his eyes. "He isn't... he was here all night when Zico died and why would he kill him anyways?" Beomgyu's voice held a desperate edge.

Yeonjun sighed, frustration etched on his face. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Suddenly, Taehyun stood up, stretching languidly. "My problem is," he began, his voice light and almost mocking, "I'm a very bored person in this very boring building studying boring subjects. And frankly, all this... murder stuff is really my cup of tea." He paused, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Oh, sorry, your girlfriend died. Um, anyways, it's fun, you know? Finding out who's behind all this. Aren't you curious? Who took those pictures?"

His words hung heavy in the air, the flippant tone contrasting starkly with the gravity of the situation. Beomgyu's anger flared. "Curious? You think this is some kind of game?!"

Taehyun's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of something akin to pain crossing his eyes. "Not a game, Beomgyu," he said, his voice softer now. "But there's more to this than meets the eye. Don't you see? These deaths, they're connected. Someone's orchestrating this, and I want to know why."