Doodlebug | Beomjun, yeongyu |

Chapter no. 12

Yeonjun, a ghost of a smile still playing on his lips from the unexpected hug with Beomgyu, turned towards his own room. He was lost in thought, strategizing their next move, a single green object tumbled unnoticed from his pocket, fluttering silently to the floor like a forgotten leaf. It was a folded sheet of emerald green paper, but Yeonjun continued on, oblivious to the silent harbinger of danger that had just fallen behind. He disappeared into his room, the heavy oak door closing with a soft thud, leaving the crumpled green paper abandoned in the deserted hallway.

The morning sun, usually a welcome sight, cast a grim light on the locked dorm building. A tense silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the low murmur of worried conversations. Gone was the usual hustle and bustle of students rushing to class. Instead, anxious faces peered out from behind dorm windows.

News of the lockdown had spread like wildfire. Parents of the students, many of them influential figures in the city, were in an uproar. Calls were flooding into the school's administrative office, each more demanding than the last. How could they keep their precious children cooped up while a murderer roamed the halls? The school, already under intense pressure, was struggling to contain the outrage.

 The media, feasting on the sensational story of a serial killer targeting a prestigious school, had descended upon the campus like vultures. The police, under intense public scrutiny, had no choice but to prioritize apprehending the culprit.

The lockdown, thankfully, wasn't absolute. After online classes ended for the day, a tense freedom settled over the dorm. Students roamed the halls, a shadow of their usual carefree selves. Nervous laughter mingled with hushed whispers, everyone casting suspicious glances at everyone else. The killer could be anyone – the quiet kid in the corner, the seemingly harmless prankster, even the overly friendly student council president, yeonjun.

Yeonjun and Soobin were sprawled on their beds in their room, both lost in thought.  A knock on the door startled them, and before Yeonjun could respond, it creaked open to reveal Taehyun and Beomgyu.

Soobin, the ever-optimistic one, managed a genuine smile. "Hey guys, come in!" he said, patting the empty space beside him on the bed. Beomgyu, his face etched with worry, shuffled in and hesitantly sat down. Soobin, noticing his friend's unease, reached out and squeezed his shoulder in a reassuring hug.

"You okay, Beomgyu?" Soobin asked softly.

Yeonjun and Beomgyu exchanged a silent glance, a secret language passing between them in the brief eye contact. 

Taehyun, who had been about to hold back, visibly relaxed. Taehyun hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting between Soobin and Yeonjun. "Actually," he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper, "can I talk to Yeonjun alone for a second?"

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity crossing his features. "Sure, Taehyun. It's okay to talk in front of Soobin, you know."

Taehyun shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's kind of... private."

Soobin, sensing the urgency in Taehyun's demeanor, nudged Beomgyu towards his own bed. "Go on, Yeonjun. We'll be here when you get back."

Stepping out of the stifling dorm room, Taehyun and Yeonjun found themselves bathed in the cool twilight air. 

Taehyun stopped walking, his face etched with worry. "Look, Yeonjun, I know this sounds crazy," he began, his voice barely a whisper, "but I think we need to consider Soobin."

Yeonjun's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with anger. "Soobin? What are you talking about?"

Taehyun flinched at the icy tone, but held his ground. "The origami pages found at the crime scenes... remember?"

Yeonjun's anger simmered, tinged with a flicker of confusion. "So? Soobin's good at origami. It's his hobby."

"Exactly," Taehyun pressed on, his voice gaining a touch of urgency. "But why would the killer leave behind Soobin's signature? It doesn't make sense. It's like a taunt, a dare."

Yeonjun crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "Are you suggesting Soobin's involved in this? That's insane!"

Taehyun shook his head, his voice filled with pleading. "No, not like that! But... what if Soobin's being used? Maybe the killer is someone close to him, someone who knows about his origami habit."

Yeonjun stared at Taehyun, his anger slowly giving way to a grudging understanding. The idea of suspecting Soobin, their friend, their confidante, was a bitter pill to swallow. But the weight of Taehyun's words resonated within him.

"Look," Yeonjun finally said, his voice low and strained, "I know you wouldn't say this lightly. But accusing Soobin... that's serious. We can't just jump to conclusions."

Taehyun nodded fervently. "I know. But what if we could... test him? See how he reacts to certain things?"

Yeonjun sighed, running a hand through his hair. The idea of testing their friend felt like a betrayal, yet the chilling possibility Taehyun raised gnawed at him. He couldn't dismiss it entirely.

"Alright," Yeonjun finally conceded, the word heavy on his tongue. "But we have to be very careful. We can't let Soobin suspect anything. And if he's truly innocent, we can't damage our friendship."

A flicker of relief crossed Taehyun's face. "I wouldn't dream of it. We'll be subtle, just observe his reactions. If he's innocent, there's nothing to worry about."

Yeonjun nodded, a heavy weight settling in his gut. The once clear lines of trust were blurring, and the thought of losing another friend, on top of the ever-present danger, filled him with dread. But in the face of the unknown killer, they had no choice. They had to test the waters, even if it meant navigating a treacherous sea of doubt.

Pushing open the dorm room door, Yeonjun and Taehyun were met with a sight that sent a jolt through Yeonjun. Soobin sat on the edge of yeonjun's bed, their heads bent close together as they laughed at something Beomgyu had said. Soobin, usually reserved with physical contact, had a hand resting playfully on Beomgyu's shoulder. The sight of their easy camaraderie, the undeniable closeness between them, hit Yeonjun like a physical blow.

A possessive anger, something he hadn't even acknowledged existed within him, flared in his chest. He cleared his throat forcefully, the sound harsh in the quiet room. Both Soobin and Beomgyu whipped around, startled. The laughter died on Beomgyu's lips, replaced by a look of awkward confusion.

Soobin's smile remained, though it faltered slightly. "Hey guys, back already?"

Yeonjun managed a curt nod, forcing his expression into a semblance of normalcy. "Yeah." He felt Taehyun's worried gaze burning into him, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Beomgyu.

Beomgyu shifted uncomfortably on the bed, his usual playful demeanor subdued. "What's wrong, Yeonjun?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. Yeonjun felt a pang in his chest. Beomgyu's concern, usually directed solely at him, now seemed pointed towards Soobin.

Yeonjun opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. The fierce possessiveness churning within him felt irrational, especially given their current circumstances. He forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to regain control of his emotions.

"Nothing," he finally managed to mumble, his voice tight. "Just... tired."

With that, he threw himself onto his bed, pulling the covers over his head, desperate to hide the turmoil within him. He didn't miss the worried exchange between Soobin and Taehyun, or the hesitant way Beomgyu glanced towards him before turning back to Soobin. The room, once a haven, now felt suffocating, the air thick with unspoken tension.

As he lay there, his face buried in the pillow, Yeonjun wrestled with the unexpected surge of possessiveness. Was it just the fear and uncertainty of the situation making him cling to those closest to him? Or was there something more, something he hadn't allowed himself to acknowledge before?

He couldn't deny the warmth that spread through him whenever Beomgyu looked at him with concern, the way his heart leapt whenever their fingers brushed. He'd always thought of Beomgyu as a classmate, someone he cared for deeply. But perhaps, buried beneath layers of strangeness, there was a flicker of something more, something he was just beginning to discover, something he had always resisted.