75 days || YeonGyu / BeomJun

e

Soobin sat on the edge of the bed, fists clenched, his jaw tight. Kai leaned forward, brows furrowed as Yeonjun finally started talking — voice shaky, eyes swollen.

"I heard him," Yeonjun whispered. "That day I dropped him off. He was talking to Soobin."

Soobin blinked in confusion. "Me?"

Yeonjun nodded. "He said... he didn't love me. That I was just a deal. That he was waiting for the 75 days to end so I'd get off his back."

The room fell silent.

"I was holding his socks, man. I came back just to return his stupid socks," Yeonjun laughed bitterly, wiping a tear with the back of his hand. "And then I heard that."

Kai's expression softened, but Soobin's was unreadable — frozen in place, like he was replaying the memory.

"I didn't want him to feel bad. I didn't want him to feel guilty for using me or whatever. So I figured if I just... made him hate me instead, he'd have an easier time letting go."

Kai let out a small, breathy "hyung..."

"I thought I was protecting him," Yeonjun added quietly. "But now I just feel like a fucking idiot."

For a long moment, neither of them said anything. Then—

"You are a fucking idiot," Soobin snapped, standing up so fast the bed creaked. "You didn't think to just talk to him? You went straight to fake cheating? What are you, a K-drama villain?!"

Yeonjun flinched. "I didn't think he'd believe me if I said I heard it—"

"So what?" Soobin cut in. "You'd rather traumatize him than admit your feelings?! You think that's noble? You think that's love?"

Kai reached out, grabbing Soobin's sleeve gently. "Soob... calm down."

Soobin shook his head, eyes glossy now. "He cried, you know. Beomgyu cried in front of us like a kid. Said he felt like he'd been thrown away. Like maybe he wasn't enough."

That hit Yeonjun harder than the punch.

"He does love you, dumbass," Soobin continued, softer this time. "He just doesn't know how to say it. That whole 'he's annoying and clingy' thing? That's Beomgyu-speak for 'I don't know how to handle someone caring about me this much.'"

Yeonjun's lips parted, but no sound came out. His entire chest hurt.

Kai finally spoke up, voice low and warm. "You've both been protecting yourselves in the worst ways possible. You love him. He loves you. And now you're both standing in the ruins of what could've been the happiest thing in your lives."

Yeonjun looked down at his hands. "Do you think... do you think I still have a chance?"

Soobin exhaled. "I don't know. But if you don't fight for it now, you'll regret it forever."

Kai nodded. "We'll help you. But no more lies. No more dumb plans. Just be honest."

Yeonjun nodded slowly, tears welling again. "Okay. I'll fix this."

Soobin sighed and muttered, "God, you're lucky Beomgyu likes idiots."

Kai grinned. "He really is."