Syncopation | Yeongyu TXT

17

Silence that brings no peace—only space for unwanted thoughts to flood in faster.

He snatches up his phone, ignoring the notifications burning hot across the screen, the chaos he created spilling into every corner of campus. Instead, he finds himself typing without thinking.

@beomnote

Still nothing. Silent. Not even a breath of acknowledgment of the chaos swirling around his name.

Dammit, Princess. Answer. Fight back. Say something.

Frustration tightens his chest, his thumb hovering over the empty space below their last DM exchange, words unspoken hovering on his tongue.

Are you okay?

He almost sends it. Almost.

Instead, he locks his phone sharply, dropping it on his bag as if it burns. He can't afford this—this distraction, this strange, unfamiliar ache. Not now, not when RhythmWorks hangs just within reach.

Yet the silence mocks him, amplifies the question again.

What happened to you yesterday?

He shakes himself fiercely, fingers clawing through his damp hair, inhaling sharply as if to physically push the thought from his body. This isn't supposed to happen. He's supposed to be untouchable, unbothered, unbreakable.

Not like this. Not because of him.

Yeonjun lifts his head again, gaze meeting his reflection once more—this time hardened, cold, sharpened with resolve. He'll regain control. He has to.

Because if he lets himself slip again, he isn't sure he can pull himself back.

Beomgyu stumbles back into the practice room for the second time today, hoodie pulled tightly around him like a shield. Taehyun trails behind, smirking faintly as if he hadn't dragged him forcibly back to the dorm earlier.

He's cleaner now—hair combed, clothes fresh—but the hood stays stubbornly up, casting shadows over his pale features. His guitar case feels heavier, even though it's the same battered leather it always was.

He takes a hesitant step inside, freezing when four pairs of eyes instantly snap toward him.

"Finally," Kai drawls, twirling a drumstick lazily between his fingers. "Silent treatment isn't cool, bro."

Beomgyu squints, defensive. "Silent what?"

"Group chat?" Yujin chirps, grinning softly from behind the keyboard. "You literally ghosted us for like...twenty-four hours."

"Oh, that," Beomgyu mutters. "Phone's off."

"Yeah," Taehyun chimes in, dropping his own bag carelessly beside the sofa. "Because I confiscated it."

Jay arches an amused brow. "Damn, mom energy."

Taehyun shoots Jay a dry look, unbothered. "Someone's gotta keep this ghost boy alive."

Taerae laughs softly, strumming an idle chord on his guitar. "Not that you look much more alive now, Beomgyu. You good, man?"

Beomgyu sighs, sinking into a chair and unzipping his guitar case. "Alive enough."

Kai leans forward, grinning teasingly. "Better than last time, at least. You looked like you were about to audition for a horror movie."

Beomgyu glares, but his lips twitch faintly. "Shut up."

The tension eases, but Jay suddenly clears his throat. "By the way, have you guys seen the internet?"

Taehyun immediately stiffens. "Let's skip that conversation."