Syncopation | Yeongyu TXT

17

Kai laughs, spinning his drumstick happily. "Well, Syncope finally has its composers, huh?"

Jay smirks softly. "Glad we recruited them."

"Or kidnapped," Taerae corrects gently, making everyone laugh.

But under the teasing and laughter, Beomgyu feels something fragile and hopeful building again. Maybe—just maybe—he can reclaim a little control in this music, even if it means trusting Taehyun's annoying genius.

The band dives deeper into their now-evolving track, the room humming alive with music, laughter, and occasional banter.

Beomgyu's fingers dance over guitar strings with a practiced ease that even surprises himself. He's still tired, yes, and a little too brittle—but the comfort of the music wrapping around him feels reassuringly solid.

"Okay, Beomgyu, your turn!" Kai calls excitedly, spinning a drumstick between his fingers like it's second nature. "Hit us with something flashy!"

Beomgyu rolls his eyes but obliges, strumming a series of sharp chords—then abruptly transitions into a fast, intricate riff. His movements are fluid, effortless, and so focused that he doesn't notice the hood slowly slipping back from his head, revealing his face fully for the first time tonight.

A sudden silence follows, heavy enough that he glances up in confusion.

Jay blinks slowly. "Damn."

Taerae's eyes widen slightly. "Whoa."

Yujin whispers reverently from behind the keyboard, "How do you look like that and still look half-dead?"

Taehyun snorts, hiding his amusement poorly behind his hand. "It's his special talent."

Kai nods solemnly. "He's like...a gorgeous ghost. An ethereal corpse."

Beomgyu stares blankly, ears reddening. "Are you guys done?"

Taerae smirks softly. "Yeah, we're done. But damn, bro. The hair change was genius."

"Yeah," Jay agrees, grinning widely. "No wonder you were trending."

"Enough," Beomgyu mumbles, pulling his hood back up defensively. But the warmth in his chest is unmistakable, even as embarrassment claws at him.

Taehyun leans closer, voice softer, hidden beneath the layers of conversation. "You good now?"

Beomgyu meets his gaze and nods slightly, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I'm good."

The group eventually takes a brief break. Yujin stretches his fingers dramatically, groaning, "Okay, that track is actually coming alive now. Composer twins are no joke."

Kai beams proudly. "I told you guys! The Syncope genius formula: two geniuses, one band!"

Jay snickers. "And three suffering victims."

Beomgyu finally cracks a genuine smile, quietly amused by their antics. The room feels warmer now—less like a stage and more like a refuge.

Then Kai's eyes suddenly light up. "Wait, Beomgyu—what about your contest song?"

Beomgyu hesitates slightly. "That's personal stuff. Not really for the band."

"Yeah, but we're your band now," Jay insists casually. "Share something. Just a snippet."

Beomgyu chews the inside of his cheek, suddenly defensive. "I already posted a snippet. Just check my account."

Kai dramatically gasps. "Wow. The gatekeeping is real."

Taehyun nudges Beomgyu lightly, voice gentle. "At least show us the lyrics. You've been hiding them all day."

Beomgyu sighs reluctantly, pulling his notebook closer. "They're still not done yet. Almost though—I planned to finish writing today if...someone didn't interrupt me."

Taehyun raises an eyebrow knowingly, mouthing 'Yeonjun?' with a teasing smirk. Beomgyu rolls his eyes but flips the notebook open anyway, slowly revealing the scribbled words.

Taehyun scans them quickly, brow furrowing slightly. Quietly, he reaches over, fingers brushing the corner of another page. "What's this?"

"Oh," Beomgyu mutters, flipping it over. "It's the new verse I wrote earlier."

Taehyun's eyes widen slightly as he reads aloud softly.

Close my eyes
I want to escape to somewhere far away
I'm left here in this silent room
All alone

You can't pick up
The pain that has drifted away
It still remains the same
These nights are growing deeper
What if it had been you?

The room falls silent again, this time heavy with a different kind of tension. Taerae whistles softly, eyes darting toward Beomgyu. "Damn, Beomgyu. That's... dark."

Kai shifts uncomfortably, suddenly serious. "You good, dude?"

Beomgyu waves it off with a forced shrug. "It's just lyrics."

But Taehyun's gaze sharpens, holding Beomgyu's eyes knowingly, his voice quiet and firm. "They're not 'just lyrics.'"

The band glances uncertainly between the two, sensing a deeper meaning but choosing not to press further.

Kai finally breaks the silence, attempting a lighter tone. "Well, dark or not, it's good stuff. Your fans are gonna eat this up."

Jay smiles, nudging Beomgyu lightly. "Maybe next time don't ghost us though? We might think you actually joined a cult or something."

Beomgyu sighs deeply, exaggeratedly resigned. "Not this cult talk again."

Taehyun smirks, resting a reassuring hand briefly on his shoulder. "Face it, Gyu. You're stuck with us now."

Despite himself, Beomgyu's lips curl faintly. "Tragic."

Kai grins, twirling his drumstick again. "We love you too, gorgeous ghost."

The laughter ripples around him softly. Beomgyu's chest feels lighter, his heartbeat steadier. But beneath it all, Taehyun's worried eyes and quiet words linger in his mind.

He glances at his notebook again, the lyrics stark against the pale page. He knows exactly what he's singing about. And, for now, only Taehyun understands the depth of that quiet confession hidden behind music and metaphor.

But maybe, just maybe, he's not alone in this after all.

•••••

TAEGYU MY SHAYLASSSS