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"Don‘t you think this is a little much Taehyun?“ the younger glanced at him with doubtful eyes.
"It‘s just a love letter Kai.“
"Say that again. But slower.“
"A dare is a dare.“ Taehyun rolled his eyes.
"I know but he looks like he might puke any minute now.“
"He‘ll be fine. He‘s a big boy.“
"Another thing I doubt.“ Kai remarked with a mischievous grin.
"You know I can hear you two, right?“ the talked-about-boy himself snarked at his so called best friends.
"Yes.“ They answered at the same time with matching smiles, not an ounce of shame to be found.
Beomgyu sighed and looked down at the small paper that was laying in front of him on the table of the school's cafeteria. It already looked quite… used. The edges were smudged and a few lines from keeping it folded inside of the pockets of his pants were obviously visible. At the right top corner was a small brown stain. That might‘ve been coffee.
Nevertheless in the center of it, (well as much the center as Beomgyu had been able to hit) was a carefully with a black pen drawn heart, that Beomgyu would never admit to have put in any effort into creating.
"Why didn‘t you write his name on it?“ a way too happy Taehyun asked. "Because,“ Beomgyu leveled him with a stern stare, "it‘s already embarassing enough to have a paper with a heart on it in my vicinity! It doesn‘t have to be visible right away who it‘s for.“
"Right, it‘s not as if you have to walk up to him in the middle of the cafeteria or anything where everyone will see it anyways.“ Kai piped in this time and received a glare that should‘ve been deadly in Beomgyu's opinion. "Kai I swear, if you don‘t stop basking in my misery I will-“
"Oh look who‘s here!“ Taehyun saved the youngest before the longer haired boy could finish his threat, pointing at the entrance of the big hall where a small group of seniors just entered. Between them, their supposed victim: Choi Soobin.
Beomgyu shut up immediately and followed the older with his eyes until he sat down a few tables away, at his side just as always his best friend Choi Yeonjun. Who was not only one of the most popular students but also a member of their school's Volleyball team. Just like Beomgyu. So, no matter what would happen in the next few minutes, there would be a lot of teasing that afternoon. Yeonjun was a really nice dude and Beomgyu liked talking to him but the boy was also a sucker for any sort of gossip. Especially if it involved the people he was close to. Like Soobin.
Choi Soobin.
Beomgyu thought that the dare would be a lot easier if he didn‘t actually harbor a crush on the senior for the past half year. He could just ask someone out on a date and try to make the date not good enough to fall for him, which Beomgyu assumed would‘ve been hard considering his endless charms, but after that the person could‘ve let him down and he would‘ve moved on as well.
He would've felt guilty to lie to a person like that but it would've been easier. He knew that Taehyun loved to give out a good dare but this one actually surprised Beomgyu. Usually they didn't get other people's feelings involved.
But no. This time Taehyun had to go over the top apparently. He wanted to see his best friend suffer and now he would have to give a letter with a heart on the outside and Soobin‘s name at the top of it inside to the boy. The clumsy, dimpled, gentle giant that was much too cute than it made sense to Beomgyu.
Although Beomgyu saw Soobin quite often, for example in the library, books laid out in front of him and an adorable pout on his lips when he was thinking, a pout that looked like someone should put a kiss on it (preferably Beomgyu), Soobin had talked to Beomgyu just a total of seven times. Mostly because Beomgyu happened to be faster in getting ready after volleyball practice than Yeonjun when Soobin waited for him. But Beomgyu had immediately fallen for the soft brown eyes that crinkled at the sides when he smiled his disarming smile that on top also revealed his bunny like teeth. He was without doubt the most handsome person he had ever seen.
Although he was two years older than Beomgyu he treated him like he would his classmates.
Just a week before he actually dared to ruffle Beomgyu‘s hair and call him cute.
Beomgyu still blushed when he thought of that.
It was the first time Beomgyu had ever felt like that about someone. Especially a boy. It wasn‘t as if he had been sure to be straight but he just had never really questioned what the people around told him: that he‘d fall in love with a girl at some point in his life and start a family with her. The idea of a family never really appealed to him until he imagined himself with Soobin and a puppy in a small apartment, waking up next to each other when the sun was just rising about the roof tops. Another thing he‘d never say out loud.
When he agreed to the bet with Taehyun that he could actually talk their maths teacher out of giving the class homework over the weekend (with his endless charms of course), he for sure didn‘t expect the younger to demand such a cruel thing from him when he lost (only because Mrs. Thatcher had had a really bad day).
"So what do I have to do, you son of a demon?“ Beomgyu grumbled into his sandwich while looking at Taehyun expectedly. The latter cupped his chin with his fingers as if to think and looked around the cafeteria. "Hmm, I say you have to write a love letter.“ Beomgyu gaped and even Kai, that usually refused to get involved in their little games, looked up at that, but Taehyun continued to look around undeterred. “For...“ was he being serious? Tahyun seemed to settle his gaze at a point behind Beomgyu before he nodded lightly and anounced "Choi Soobin.“
Beomgyu hadn‘t told anyone about his crush so getting that as a punishment was really his type of luck. If it‘d go after his own plan, he‘d never confess to the older and just continue to pine from afar until Soobin would eventually graduate or Beomgyu would get over it. Because how could such a great person as Soobin even want something from him?
So here he was. Palms sweating , food almost untouched on his plate and his eyes nervously flicking between the paper in front of him and Soobin just a few meters away from him.
If he could somehow will the ground under him to swallow him whole or at least create a minor earthquake so Taehyun might at least forget what he was supposed to do, he would do it.
"If you don‘t do it now you have to do it tomorrow and you‘ll be even more nervous then.“ Taehyun, apparently not only an evil mastermind but also the voice of reason, supplied.
With a last deep breath and the reluctant knowledge that the younger was right and the want to somehow prove himself to his friends, Beomgyu finally stood up. The few steps he had to take to cross the distance to the chatting seniors seemed to be way too far and way too short at the same time. But he couldn‘t back out now. He was the bravest man he knew. A simple crush. As if that could bring someone like him, Choi Beomgyu, down. Tss.
"Beomgyu?“
Dammit. How could a voice sound so pleasant that it made your knees go weak? Beomgyu cleared his throat and hoped that his cheeks didn‘t look as red, as they felt.
"Choi Soobin.“ He declared with a determined tone.
Soobin just continued to blink up at him "What‘s up?“
The nervousness came back full force when Beomgyu realised what his next step had to be. Screw you Kang Taehyun. "Uh, I just… wanted to give you this.“
"A letter? For me?“ Beomgyu nodded. Soobin‘s eyes were widened in surprise and he tilted his head a little before he finally stretched his hand out to accept the paper with curiosity written all over his face. When he saw the heart at the front he stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened even more if possible. With a last uncertain look at the younger, as if he couldn‘t believe the implecations that the heart very obviously made, he, as carefully as possible, opened it and read the content with his typical pout on his mouth. It was quiet for a while.
"Um, thanks?“
Before Beomgyu could respond anything to the more than underwhelming response, Yeonjun interfered "Soobin, how can you be so cruel? He gathers all his courage to confess to you and you just say 'thanks'? Shame on you!“ he remarked and Beomgyu looked surprised at the older.
"Wait, confess? Is this a love letter?“ Soobin looked up confusedly, his gaze switching between his best friend and Beomgyu.
"Yes! Obviously.“ defended the boy his carefully written piece of expression of his honest feelings. A little bit more of a reaction wasn‘t too much to ask for was it? If he wanted to reject him he could‘ve at least looked uneasy to do it but Soobin really just looked confused.
"Soobin, what does the letter say?“ Taehyun, that had somehow teleported himself and Hueningkai to sit at the table right behind Beomgyu (hadn't there been sitting some girls before?).
The seniors didn‘t seem shocked by their appearance, most of them kind of at least knew each other through some shared clubs and it was no secret that Bemgyu, Taehyun and Kai stuck tohether as much as Yeonjun and Soobin did. The latter started to read out loud upon the request.
"Well, it says:
Dear Soobin.
You‘re really nice. And handsome.
Greetings, Beomgyu“
"Beomgyu! Is that all you could come up with?“ asked a very indignant Taehyun.
"What? It's very sincere! From my heart and stuff. It has a heart on it!“
Everyone present at the table stared at him with a frown.
"What was I supposed to write? Was I supposed to tell him how much I like him and then ask him out?“
"Well, that would`ve been a great start.“ pointed Kai out.
Oh. Beomgyu looked at his feet. Now this was embarassing. Why was it so hard to write a stupid love letter. "As if he would‘ve said yes, it‘s bad enough that I have to embarass myself by just standing here.“ he grumbled.
"Of course I woud‘ve said yes you idiot.“ at the sound of his voice, Beomgyu finally raised his head again and it was his turn to widen his eyes and blush at the sight of the fond smile on Soobins face. Wait, what!? That was nothing like the situation Beomgyu had expected and he was at a complete loss what he was supposed to do. Soobin, his crush Soobin just stated that he would‘ve agreed to go on a date with him and now he was smiling at Beomgyu. His heart was doing somersaults in his chest.
But did that also mean that he had lost his chance, considering what a trashy (in hindsight, Beomgyu kind of understood what his friends meant) letter he had given him ? Several moments passed in which Beomgyus mind went in full alarm mode, trying to figure out how to proceed and how to normally function again. He stood as still as an ice statue and was also as quiet as one.
"I think you broke him Soobin.“ Taehyun looked concerned at his best friends. It was no secret that Beomgyu wasn‘t the best at dealing with his feelings, well at least it wasn‘t a secret to literally all of Beomgyu's friends. The boy himself insisted that he was 'absolutely awesome at the whole thing with feelings'.
"Beomgyu,“ Soobin started softly, sensing that the conversation and the younger needed some kind of push "do you wanna go out with me?“ he smiled his warmest smile that was able to melt the shock-frozen boy.
"Really?“ his eyes sparkled with genuine hope and if Taehyun wasn‘t adamant on finding his friend annoying, even he would‘ve admitted that it looked damn cute.
The older assured him "Yeah. Hey have you eaten already? You can sit with us if you want.“
Taehyun handed Beomgyu his plate, that he had mindfully taken with them and the three sophomores joined the others. Even though he would‘ve prefered to spend some time with Soobin alone it wasn‘t as if he had eyes for anyone else at the moment anyways. And Soobin was looking right back at him (!).
"So, Soobin,“ Dammit Taehyun, was just one minute of peace really too much to ask for? „How did this tragedy of anything ever written by anyone,“ he held the paper up for demonstration, Beomgyu rolled his eyes, Kai and Yeonjun snickered, "convince you to go out with this dork?“ he pointed at Beomgyu.
The boy chuckled and a hint of red appeared on his cheeks. Oh my god, Soobin was blushing! Calm down Beomgyu, calm down!
"Actually I always thought he was really cute. I probably would‘ve asked him out sooner, if I would‘ve known he was even interested in me.“ Soobin shyly glanced at Beomgyu and gave him a small smile. Beomgyu melted a little more.
Taehyun shook his head incredulous "You two are lucky you‘ve got friends that helped you.“
Yeonjun looked up that "Help? How did you help these idiots?“ (the idiots in question huffed offended) Tahyun had just taken a bite of his sandwich and Kai answered in his stead "He dared Beomgyu to write a love letter to Soobin.“
The seniors looked surprised at each other and Yeonjun nodded in understanding at Taehyun "So that‘s why you asked me if Soobin was into boys.“ "Yea, not as if it wasn't obvious anyway but I had to make sure." Yeonjun smirked at that and Soobin looked surprised again. Beomgyu decided to dwell on that new information later more because that somehow made the dare even more questionable in Beomgyu's eyes so decided to get the question off his chest. "Honestly Taehyun, I would‘ve never expected such a dare from you. If a confession isn‘t sincere, couldn‘t hurt the other later on? I mean you were lucky you chose someone I actually,“ Beomgyu blushed again (or just more?) and gulped "liked.“ Wow, he really said it.
"What do you mean I got ‚lucky‘? I knew you had a crush on Soobin for months. You‘re a lot of things Choi Beomgyu, but subtle isn‘t one of them.“ the other three laughed at that but Soobin also patted his back, so it wasn‘t that bad. Still.
"What do you mean?“ Beomgyu asked pouting.
Taehyun put his sandwich back down and raised his hands as if countimg, the rest finally started eating again. "Incident number one: Tuesday, first week of school, black board at the entrance of the school about eight o‘clock...“
What followed was a recital of Beomgyu‘s seemingly endless attempts to pine secretly from afar that made Kai laugh histerically, Yeonjun add some of his own observations and took a furiously blushing Beomgyu several minutes to finally stop it by shoving Taehyun‘s sandwich back in his mouth.
But it also captured Soobin's undevided attention and at the end of it he smiled endeared down at Beomgyu so he couldn‘t be that mad. Somehow he balanced his annoying friends out a little bit.
◇ ◇ ◇
On their way to their next period, that conveniently took place in the same direction, Beomgyu and Soobin were walking next to each other and chatting about whatever came to their minds. Talking with each other seemed to be one of the easiest things in the world for the both of them but even if they didn‘t talk, like when they met at Soobin‘s house to eat lunch and hang out at the weekends the silence was more than comfortable.
Beomgyu knew he‘s had a crsuh on him but he didn‘t expect that they would actually be that compatible. They even found out that they had pretty much the same taste in music which made Beomgyu believe in soulmates (don‘t tell Kai and Taehyun!).
In the breaks the group of five mostly spent their time all together. Seemingly, they all got along right away now that two of them didn't have unspoken feelings between them anymore.
Beomgyu and Soobin often walked each other to class and today was no different. Beomgyu looked at Soobin when he was laughing heartily at a joke that Beomgyu had just made when he felt like his laugh was too pretty to just be looked at once and he took a picture with his phone as fast as he could manage. It was incredibly blurry but you could see Soobins scrunched up eyes and how his head was thrown back. But since Soobin was the definition of handsomeness it was impossible for a picture to turn out bad no matter what. It was perfect to Beomgyu.
"Hey what are you doing? warn me before you take a photo!“ the older punched his arm softly, glaring with as much malice as a piece of toast could have, still smiling widely. And Beomgyu smiled back, barely believing how he could have so much luck to be in that exact situation in that moment.
Beomgyu felt like just speaking his mind "I could always take a photo of you. You know, in my letter, I really think you‘re super handsome, those words weren‘t empty.“
"Unlike the paper of your letter.“ Taehyun passed by them, mischievously smirking at the lovebirds, Kai next to him grinning at his best friend's misery before the newcomers took off. Yeonjun joined Soobin at his other side.
"Hey, it even had a heart on it! Kang Taehyun you evil demon get back here! Just wait until you like someone! Kai you idiot, stop laughing!“ and with those words and a last squeeze of Soobins hand, Beomgyu strated to chase after his best friends that were running along the hallway and dodging the other students. All of them cackling with glee.
And even if he was annoyed sometimes, he couldn't wish for better people at his side and another one that even held his hand (Soobin, obviously). He didn't see a future for himself in writing letters, like ever, but he sure was thankful to have written one.
And maybe he was also a little thankful for the friends that made him do it. (But don't tell them.)