''~°.HIDE AND SEEK.°~'' | YEONGYU

THE VISITOR #2

The fragile air between them shattered in an instant, splintering under the weight of Kai's question.

Yeonjun's head snapped toward him, eyes sharp, but Beomgyu didn't move. Didn't blink. It was as if every sound had been sucked out of the room, leaving only the faint buzz of the lamp and the pounding of his pulse.

Kai seemed to realize what he'd just said, but the silence pressed too heavy for him to take it back. His fingers fidgeted against the edge of his jacket. "I just meant—there were...rumors," he said softly. "People talked..."

Yeonjun's expression hardened.

Kai hesitated, glancing at Beomgyu, he said finally. "About how the other students thought he might've snapped. That maybe he couldn't take it anymore."

Beomgyu's breath hitched. The color drained from his face.

"They said..." Kai's voice grew smaller, "...you were the last one he messed with. That you had every reason to—"

"Stop." Yeonjun's voice cut through the air, low and warning.

But Beomgyu wasn't looking at either of them. His gaze had gone distant, unfocused. The weight of old whispers clawed their way back. The sideways looks in the room, the half-finished sentences when he walked past, the word murderer hissed behind hands.

Yeonjun's stomach twisted. He could see it...the guilt, the exhaustion, the disbelief, all fighting for space in Beomgyu's eyes.

And Kai, though quiet now, kept darting glances toward the window. Nervous. Maybe guilty. Maybe scared. No one could tell.

Yeonjun's jaw flexed, but he forced his voice steady. "That's enough, Kai."

Kai blinked, startled by the tone...soft, but edged with something sharp. "I didn't mean—"

"Yeah," Yeonjun muttered, standing a little straighter, "you did."

Beomgyu hadn't moved. His eyes were still fixed somewhere on the floor, body stiff, like if he breathed wrong, the world might tip over.

The silence that followed was unbearable, thick with everything none of them wanted to say.

Finally, Kai spoke again, quieter this time. "I just thought...maybe if someone saw something that day, we could—"

Yeonjun's eyes flicked up. "That day?"

Kai hesitated. His fingers tapped nervously against his thigh. "Yeah. When it happened. I was in the hallway...I heard shouting. Just...nevermind."

Something flickered across his face...regret? fear? It was impossible to tell.

Beomgyu's throat bobbed. "You heard shouting?" he asked, voice paper-thin.

Kai looked up. "I heard someone. I didn't— I couldn't tell who."

Yeonjun watched the exchange in silence, every nerve alert. The way Kai avoided Beomgyu's eyes...the way his gaze darted toward the window again, like he was checking for something outside.

The air grew colder somehow.

Beomgyu finally lifted his head, his expression fragile but searching. "People really thought I did it?"

Kai's lips parted, but he didn't answer. He didn't have to.

Yeonjun stepped closer to Beomgyu, the movement quiet but firm.

Kai took the cue, clearing his throat. "I just...wanted to check in. Bring food. Make sure you're okay." His tone was almost apologetic, yet his eyes still carried that jittery, unreadable glint.

Yeonjun forced a thin smile. "Appreciate it. We're fine."

Kai nodded slowly, glancing once more toward the window before heading for the door.

The second it shut behind him, the tension snapped like a stretched wire.

Beomgyu sank back into his seat, shaking. "They all really think I did it..." he whispered.

Yeonjun crouched beside him, his voice low but steady. "Let them talk. We'll find out who really did."

But even as he said it, Yeonjun's gaze lingered on the window. The reflection showed only him and Beomgyu...yet the night beyond felt alive, shifting. Watching.