Doodlebug | Beomjun, yeongyu |

Chapter no. 13

Pushing open the creaky door, Beomgyu froze. There, slumped on the sofa, was Yeonjun. His face, usually full of youthful defiance, was etched with exhaustion. Beomgyu's first instinct was to retreat, to melt back into the shadows.

"Beoms?"

Yeonjun's voice, raspy from disuse, startled him. Beomgyu hesitated, his hand hovering on the doorknob. Shouldn't he leave? But then, something shifted within him, a pang of concern overriding his earlier reluctance. He stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him.

Yeonjun looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and puffy. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the silence thick with unspoken emotions. Finally, Beomgyu broke the tension.

"Hey," he said softly, offering a weak smile. "Didn't know anyone was using the sofa."

Yeonjun gestured towards the empty space beside him on the worn sofa. Beomgyu hesitated for a moment, the invitation hanging heavy in the air. Finally, with a quiet sigh, he lowered himself onto the worn cushions. Silence settled once again, heavy with unspoken emotions.

Beomgyu couldn't hold back any longer. "How have you been, Yeonjun?" he asked tentatively, his voice barely above a whisper in the dimly lit kitchen.

"Fine," Yeonjun replied, his voice devoid of conviction. He looked at Beomgyu, their eyes meeting in the dim glow of the single overhead bulb. The contact was intense, holding a depth that made Beomgyu's breath hitch.

"Remember when I told you to stay by my side?" Yeonjun finally asked, his voice barely a rasp.

Beomgyu remained silent, a knot forming in his stomach.

"It wasn't because I was worried about you messing up," Yeonjun continued, his gaze unwavering. "It was... an excuse."

Beomgyu's eyes widened in surprise. An excuse? What did he mean?

Sensing Beomgyu's confusion, Yeonjun sighed, a sound laden with exhaustion. "Everything I do... every reason I give... it's all a way for me to keep you close," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.

Beomgyu's heart hammered against his ribs. He felt a warmth rise in his cheeks, a mixture of confusion and something he couldn't quite define.

Yeonjun's confession hung in the air, heavy and raw. "But even with all my excuses, I still couldn't keep you by my side," he finished, a hint of sorrow lacing his voice.

Beomgyu stared at Yeonjun, his brow furrowed in confusion. The intensity of Yeonjun's gaze and the raw emotion in his voice had thrown him completely off track. What was Yeonjun trying to say? Was he confessing some kind of fear, some deeper reason for their constant togetherness?

A flicker of something shone in Yeonjun's eyes, a vulnerability Beomgyu had never witnessed before. But then, just as quickly, Yeonjun looked away. Beomgyu, bless his heart, was never the sharpest tool in the shed, but even he could see the glistening sheen on Yeonjun's cheeks.

"Are you crying?" Beomgyu asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"No," Yeonjun replied gruffly, wiping a hand roughly across his face. "I'm sweating."

It was such a blatant lie that Beomgyu couldn't help but snort, a small sound filled with nervous energy. Yeonjun's attempt at humor only confirmed Beomgyu's suspicions.

Yeonjun knew Beomgyu wouldn't readily grasp the complex tapestry of emotions swirling within him. There and then, he decided a different approach was needed.

"Beomgyu," Yeonjun started, his voice regaining a semblance of control, "just stay by my side, okay?"

Beomgyu, still processing the situation, could only manage a questioning "Why?"

Seeing Beomgyu's confusion, Yeonjun closed the distance between them. He was close enough now that Beomgyu could feel the warmth radiating from his body, could hear the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Look in my eyes," Yeonjun whispered, his voice husky with unspoken emotions. Beomgyu, hypnotized by the intensity in Yeonjun's gaze, met his eyes head-on.

"Just trust me," Yeonjun pleaded, his voice barely audible.

Beomgyu, caught off guard by the sudden shift in their dynamic, could only nod dumbly. The air crackled with unspoken desires and a confusion that left him feeling like a deer in headlights.

"Are you hungry?" Yeonjun asked, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Beomgyu, still dazed, could only manage another nod.

The tension seemed to break slightly with Yeonjun's smile. He ruffled Beomgyu's hair playfully, a gesture so familiar it brought a small jolt of warmth to Beomgyu's chest.

"Let me feed you," Yeonjun declared, his voice lighter now, almost playful.

Beomgyu nodded again, content to follow Yeonjun's lead, the confusion temporarily pushed aside by the unexpected turn of events. As Yeonjun rummaged through the fridge, pulling out bread and eggs, he threw a playful jab at Beomgyu.

"Don't rely on snacks okay? Eat healthy," he teased, a hint of his old self returning.

Beomgyu, a bewildered smile spreading across his face, simply watched as Yeonjun took charge, filling the previously tense silence with the comforting sounds of clattering pans and a low hum as he started prepping their meal.

Beomgyu fidgeted with the corner of the worn sofa, the silence stretching between him and Yeonjun thick with unspoken words. He understood now why Yeonjun's confession had thrown him off balance. The revelation that Yeonjun's possessiveness wasn't just about fear, but about something deeper, something Beomgyu couldn't quite grasp, filled him with a confusion that bordered on fear.

The truth was, Beomgyu had been avoiding Yeonjun not because of his intensity, but because of his own crippling self-doubt. He'd always seen himself as a burden, a walking, talking goofball who constantly messed up and needed looking after. Soobin's quiet patience and Taehyun's sharp wit were qualities he deeply admired, qualities he felt he lacked entirely.

Beomgyu, oblivious to the effect he had on Yeonjun, simply assumed everyone found him tiresome. Everyone, except maybe Yeonjun. But could someone like Yeonjun, someone he considered practically perfect, truly care for him?

Little did Beomgyu know, Yeonjun found his gloominess endearing, his clumsiness strangely endearing. He secretly relished the way Beomgyu could light up a room with his smile, the way his eyes sparkled with mischief during their playful banter. For Yeonjun, Beomgyu's "stupidity" wasn't a flaw; it was a unique charm, a quality that set him apart and drew Yeonjun in like a moth to a flame.

As Yeonjun began cracking eggs, a playful glint reappeared in his eyes. "So, Mr. I'm-not-hungry," he teased, glancing at Beomgyu with a smirk.

Beomgyu sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I could use some fuel," he mumbled, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

Yeonjun's smile widened. "That's the spirit!" he exclaimed, flipping the eggs with a practiced flick of his wrist. "You know, you might be a walking disaster sometimes, Beomgyu," he started, his voice softening, "but you also happen to be the most annoyingly lovable person I know."

Beomgyu's heart skipped a beat. "Lovable?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Yeonjun glanced at him, his gaze lingering for a moment too long. "Yeah," he said finally, a hint of something deeper flickering in his eyes. "Annoyingly, ridiculously lovable."

Beomgyu, still trying to process the unexpected turn in their conversation, could only manage a small smile. Maybe, just maybe, there was a place for him in Yeonjun's world after all. Maybe, just maybe, his goofiness wasn't a burden, but a light that Yeonjun actually craved.