Missing your presence | Yeongyu | Beomjun |

7 |Confusing|

Author's POV

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The days following the encounter with Heeseung brought a subtle shift in the atmosphere between Yeonjun and Beomgyu. Though they tried to brush it off and return to their usual light-heartedness, the conversation they avoided hung like an invisible barrier between them.

That morning at school, Yeonjun and Beomgyu decided once again to skip class. The tension needed an escape, and a day of fun seemed like the perfect distraction. They headed to a quiet part of town—a small bookstore and café tucked away from the noise of the city. It was the kind of place where they could just be themselves, away from prying eyes.

Yeonjun grinned, pulling Beomgyu by the hand as they wandered through the narrow aisles of books. "You've got to see this," he whispered conspiratorially, leading him to a section filled with old, dusty volumes of poetry.

Beomgyu rolled his eyes, amused. "You're such a nerd, Yeonjun."

Yeonjun dramatically gasped, clutching his chest. "Excuse me, appreciating literature makes me cultured!"

Beomgyu laughed softly, the sound easing the knot in Yeonjun's chest. For a moment, things felt normal again. But it wasn't long before the quiet caught up with them, and the weight of Heeseung's words returned to hang in the air.

They settled into a cozy corner of the café, nursing their coffees as the playful mood slowly faded into something heavier.

"Yeonjun..." Beomgyu's voice was tentative, as if testing the waters.

"Yeah?"

"Do you... do you think we're okay?"

The question caught Yeonjun off guard. He stared at Beomgyu for a moment, searching his face for the meaning behind those words. "Why do you ask that?"

"I don't know," Beomgyu said softly, fidgeting with the sleeve of his jacket. "Ever since we ran into Heeseung... you've been quiet. Like, something's on your mind, but you don't want to tell me."

Yeonjun let out a soft sigh, leaning back in his chair. "It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just... complicated."

Beomgyu looked at him expectantly, waiting.

Yeonjun shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Heeseung and I... we used to be close. Not as close as you and me, but... there was something there. I didn't realize how much of it was still unresolved until I saw him again."

Beomgyu nodded slowly, processing the revelation. "So... did you guys date or something?"

"Not really," Yeonjun admitted. "We were almost something, but it never really happened. Things got messy, and we just... drifted apart."

Beomgyu sat quietly for a moment before speaking again. "Does it bother you? Seeing him again, I mean?"

Yeonjun hesitated before answering. "Honestly... yeah, a little. It just brought back a lot of memories I didn't expect. But," he added quickly, reaching for Beomgyu's hand, "that doesn't change anything about how I feel about you. You're the one I want to be with, Beomgyu. Heeseung is in the past."

Beomgyu looked down at their intertwined hands, his expression thoughtful. "I trust you, Yeonjun. But I can't help feeling a little... insecure, I guess. Like, what if there's still something between you two? What if he tries to come between us?"

Yeonjun squeezed Beomgyu's hand gently. "There's nothing between us anymore, Beomgyu. I promise you that. Whatever we had is over. You're the one I'm in love with. And I'm not going to let anyone get in the way of that."