Work Text:
The subway was packed that Friday morning, Yeonjun cursing himself for not waking earlier to avoid the rush. He’d gone to sleep rather late last night, binging the newest drama on Netflix and now regretted it. He didn’t even have the time to stop for coffee, irritation clawing at the back of his mind. He could not go without his daily caffeine fix.
Thankfully, Beomgyu was already in the office, raising an iced americano for Yeonjun, like the best friend he always proved to be.
“You are a lifesaver.”
“Figured you would skip out this morning after you left me that commentary for the most recent episode at nearly four in the morning.”
“Tell me she isn’t being outlandish! She should have suggested long distance.”
“It’s not as easy as you think.”
“No, but it’s the romantic in me.” Beomgyu laughed, genuine, as he set down his coffee on the desk.
“Speaking of romance, I have an update for you.”
“Oh?” Yeojun forced his voice not to waver. “See lover boy again today?”
“He is not my lover boy.” Beomgyu chided, but it was clear he got a kick out of the nickname. “But yes, I did see Soobin this morning.”
“Any luck?”
“No,” whined Beomgyu, lips jutting out in a pout that could have any man falling at his feet. “I can’t tell if he’s that dense or if my flirting is just that bad.” Yeonjun offered a noncommittal hum. “Hello? This is the part where you say, ‘You bad at flirting? Pssh no way. Soobin must be an idiot.’”
“Then I would be lying.”
Beomgyu spluttered. “You could at least pretend!”
“Please, I am very much aware of the skills you possess. The company parties?”
“Those things are always so awkward! You shouldn’t hold them against me.”
“What about that time we went clubbing?”
“He had a boyfriend!”
“I think he just said that to get you off his back.” Beomgyu’s pout returned. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? Of course it is! How am I meant to make it obvious to Soobin that I’m interested when I can’t flirt.”
“It’s simple.” Beomgyu leaned forward waiting for Yeonjun’s answer. “You tell him.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“Love isn’t a game, Gyu.”
“I know!” he insisted. “But half the thrill is in the chase.”
Yeonjun sighed. “Let’s talk about this later.” he said, noticing the increase in volume now that the rest of his coworkers had trickled in. “We have work to do.”
Said work for Yeonjun meant designing a mock up for the social media ad campaign he’d been assigned. It was mostly busy work, some of the design already handled by others on his team. He was mostly there to work on the bulk of the text, skimming through bullet points to add to the final product.
Hours later, he was greeted once more by his best friend.
“Hypothetically, if I asked you to be my wingman, what would you say?”
Yeonjun tried not to drop his lunch tray on the floor. “What?”
“Let’s be real here. Between the two of us, you’re the one with the most game.”
“That’s not true!”
“Yeah? Then why are all the girls here so smitten by you?” As if to prove his point, a gaggle of secretaries pass by, waving and batting their lashes as they gave cheery hellos. Yeonjun awkwardly waved back. “See!”
“They were just saying hello.” Yeonjun hissed, worried they might overhear Boemgyu’s dramatic ass. “Besides, they’re like that with everyone.”
“Act ignorant all you want, that doesn’t change the fact that you have people here fawning over you left and right.” If only that could extend to one person in particular… “Teach me your ways!”
“There’s nothing to teach.”
“Fine, if you don’t want to share your methods, you’ll just have to do it for me.”
“Do what?”
“Flirt with Soobin.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Come on, you would be doing it in my stead!” Beomgyu held him by the shoulders, shaking him to get his point across. “Do it for me.”
Yeonjun wouldn’t admit this to his face, but secretly, anything Beomgyu asked was his command. Everything. Even this request, while nonsensical, Yeonjun would agree to it.
And he did. “Thank you! You’re doing me a huge favor.” Beomgyu wrapped himself around him like a leech.
“Yeah, yeah. Get off of me now, would you? I would like to enjoy my hoagie in peace.” Beomgyu’s arms went back to his side and the rest of their lunch was spent with his best friend reenacting his morning conversation with Soobin.
°•. ✿ .•°
There was one secret Yeonjun had that he never dared share with anyone.
His feelings for Beomgyu.
They were easy to dismiss at first, given the nature of their friendship. Starting at the same entry level job with no prior work experience made them outcasts from their highly esteemed colleagues, often left without direction until someone took pity on them. Because of this, they rallied together to get through their probation period, encouraging each other despite their less than enthusiastic workmates
Eventually, their three months were up and they got hired on part-time, leading to more time spent together, more time for Yeonjun to fall.
It wasn’t obvious at first. The way Beomgyu fit into his life so seamlessly. From work emails to shared memes through text. From spending lunches together in between their work day to nights in, usually to study, sometimes a movie. Slowly, but surely, Beomgyu became a part of Yeonjun’s everyday and with it, came feelings that were hard to ignore.
For the sake of their friendship, Yeonjun remained tightlipped about the whole thing, choosing instead to be by Beomgyu’s side, even if only as a friend. However, since Soobin’s arrival, it’s been hard not to act on impulse, these feelings of his conflicting with Beomgyu’s crush on Soobin. He couldn't have known. Soobin worked in a different department, He hardly saw the man unless it was in passing.
He never would have imagined, on a rainy day in April, his world would be turned upside down.
“Have you heard of Choi Soobin?”
“The IT guy? What about him?”
“I don’t know. Rumor has it that he shot down Shin Ryujin.”
“Who’d you hear that from, Mr. Park in the cubicle across from yours?”
“No, dummy, I heard it from Taehyun.”
“Right, I forget you have other friends besides me.” That earned Yeonjun a whack on the shoulder. “Ow!”
“Deserved.” Beomgyu stuck another fry in his mouth. “Anyway, that’s not the point. Don’t you think it’s odd he doesn’t accept any confessions?”
“Why would he? With the amount he gets everyday it must be tough on the guy.”
“Or maybe…” Beomgyu leaned in ominously. “He likes boys.”
Abrupt laughter tumbled out of him faster than he could stop it. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. It’s just, can that really be the only reason he rejects everyone else? I’m sure a few guys have tried to shoot their shot.”
“Surely he’d be cuffed by now if that were true. But he isn't, so I’m going to be the first boy to confess to him.”
Those words alone were the reason for Yeonjun’s mood souring. Beomgyu picked up on it (as his best friend) but Yeonjun insisted it had more to do with his piling work than anything else. He couldn’t admit that Beomgyu’s determined heart was the reason for his pain.
°•. ✿ .•°
On Monday, Yeonjun wanted to skip class. If only to avoid the inevitable. There was already a spam of messages from his best friend on his phone, reminding him this was day one of Beomgyu’s grand plan.
“You share a class with him, don’t you?”
“Yeah…”
“So the next time you see him, introduce yourself.”
“Won’t that be weird?”
“It’s weird only if you make it weird.”
Beomgyu went on to explain—in explicit detail—what Yeonjun should expect when speaking with Soobin.
Mind filled with useless points and countermeasures, Yeonjun stepped into his Data Visualization class and tried not to make it obvious that he was searching the crowd. On a normal day, he would plop down in the first available seat, avoiding all eye contact whatsoever. Today, though, he was sent here on a mission and he would make good on his promise.
He spotted a familiar mop of brown hair, studiously bent over a notebook, most likely preparing for the notes they would have to take. Yeonjun heaved in one more sigh before making his way down the steps, avoiding the few curious glances thrown his way as he approached the campus heartthrob.
“This seat taken?”
Soobin jumped at being addressed, eyes peering up at the person who spoke.
“N-no.” Seemed rather shy for a man whose heart everyone was after. “Go ahead.”
“Thanks.”
He sat down, acting oblivious to the stares directed at the both of them. He rummaged around in his school bag, trying to find a pen, but his bag was so messy, his hand only brushed against more and more paper.
“H-here.” Soobin held a pen between them. “I’ve got extra.”
“Thanks,” he repeated. For some reason, that small gesture caused his cheeks to flare.
Yeonjun was saved from any more embarrassment when their professor entered the room, asking the students to settle down so class could begin. Yeonjun spent the hour sneaking glances at the boy beside him, wondering what all the hullabaloo was when it came to Choi Soobin.
Sure, Yeonjun could admit he was handsome, cute even, with those black frame glasses slipping down his nose. He pushed them up when they got a little too low and Yeonjun cracked a smile at how endearing that looked.
He quickly wiped that smile off his face.
No, he wasn’t here to fall into Soobin’s charm. He was simply doing what was asked of him and the opportunity to do so came right as the prof went to dismiss them.
“I’d like for you to pair up for your next assignment. I will be assigning each pair a topic and you will create a visual map for all of us here in this class to better understand the data you’ve researched. Once you’ve chosen a partner, come to the front and I’ll write your names down before handing you a topic. Are we clear?”
The class nodded. “Great, get to it.”
Most of the students present turned to their seatmates for convenience, a few seen rushing down the steps to get to friends. Yeonjun knew no one in this class besides the guy sitting next to him and even then, they weren’t exactly friendly.
“Do you,” Yeonjun whipped his head around when Soobin started speaking, “want to be partners?”
Yeonjun gaped.
Behind Soobin, he could see a few stranglers, looking like they were there to ask him the exact same question. It made Yeonjun nervous, how suddenly all the attention was on him as they all awaited his answer.
“Sure?” He heard a few huffs of disappointment, but they faded into the background when Soobin smiled his way. Dimples appeared on both sides of his face.
“Can I get your number?” Soobin’s eyes went round as saucers. “Not for anything weird! Just so we can make plans, for what days you’re free to work on the project.”
His spazzing got a giggle out of Yeonjun. “Relax, I got that.” He motioned with his hands. “Phone?”
“Yeah, yeah. Here.” Yeonjun was handed Soobin’s phone, having to stifle laughter when he saw the little charm dangling from it. Try as he might, he wasn’t convincing anyone, especially not Soobin. “My brother made me that.”
“It’s cute.” assured Yeonjun. He saved his number under ‘Yeonjun 😎.’ “There, you’ve got my number now.” His phone pinged on the desk. “And I texted myself so I have yours.” He put his hand out for Soobin. “I’m Yeonjun, by the way.”
“I know.” Yeonjun raised a surprised brow. “I-I mean, Soobin. My name is Soobin.”
Making Soobin flustered might be his new favorite thing. “I know,” he chorused. “I have another class, so I’ll leave first.” He gave a salute, not leaving without saying, “You know where to find me!”
°•. ✿ .•°
Yeonjun considered this morning a success. Beomgyu agreed.
“You got his number?” he shouted, baffled by how fast his best friend worked.
“It was up to chance. We got stuck as partners.”
“Stuck? Please, there must have been at least a line a mile long to be paired up with the Choi Soobin.”
Yeonjun thought back to the dozen or so hopefuls Soobin blatantly ignored. “Maybe…Whatever the case, you’ve got an in.”
“Yes!”
Seeing Beomgyu happy reminded him why he went along with this stupid plan.
Since classes resumed in the fall, Yeonjun had been coming into the office later in the day, cutting his work hours in half to accommodate his school schedule. Even so, there were times when his projects absolutely needed him to work overtime, such was the case today. Beomgyu long went home, calling it a day when the clock struck six.
Yeonjun had been sitting in the same position for the last two hours, back protesting from the angle. He shifted in his seat, leaning over the back of his chair to stretch out his sore muscles with a resounding crack. He slumped into the chair with a pout, glancing at the clock. 8:54 p.m.
In desperate need of a break, he slipped out his phone from his pocket to check over missed notifications. He found a few messages from Beomgyu, mostly his own commentary to the drama they’re both still watching. Then, right above that, he saw Soobin’s name. He tilted his head in curiosity when he noticed just how many messages the other had sent.
Hi!
It’s Soobin
But you knew that already 😅
Um
When are you next free?
To work on the project!
Felt like I should make that clear
😁*
And hell if Yeonjun wasn’t endeared. He laughed to himself as he read the messages over, thinking how flustered it must have left the other. Eager fingers typed a reply.
It’s been clear, Soobin.
This is strictly business!
However, I feel the need to point out that the usage of emojis makes this just a tad more personal.
Should I not use them?
Don’t stop on my account.
I think it’s cute 🥰
Oh okay 🥰
Yeonjun kicked his legs out under his desk. Okay, Yeonjun was definitely seeing the appeal. Soobin was adorable! Though, he imagined that most of his admirers were due to different reasons. Yeonjun was sure Beomgyu referred to Soobin as hot, “sex on legs” were his exact words. Soobin was conventionally tall, long legs and a tapered waist. Said waist was almost always hidden under baggy t-shirts and cardigans, sometimes oversized hoodies that Beomgyu liked to gush over, wishing he could steal one to wrap himself up in Soobin’s warmth.
Beomgyu.
He should probably reply to his text.
I’m wrapping up a work project this week so maybe we can plan for next week?
Sure!
We could also
Um…
Use some of our break time?
In the office
We don’t have to!
Just a suggestion.
. . .
Those three dots of doom were enough for Yeonjun to rush in, before Soobin could talk himself out of it.
We can!
I don’t mind.
Better to be productive, I think.
How about we start tomorrow?
I have one class tomorrow so I’ll be in the office by noon.
I can meet you at 2!
If that’s okay? 🥺
Yeonjun might not survive this.
He agreed to 2 p.m., assuring Soobin that it wasn’t a problem despite his attempts at canceling prior plans. This project wasn’t that deep.
When that was done, he bid the other a quick goodnight, sending him an outdated “ttyl” that Soobin merely hearted. Yeonjun quickly opened up his chat with Beomgyu.
Good news
We have a date with Soobin tomorrow
Asjkldhsjdhasdk ❤️
I owe you lunch!
°•. ✿ .•°
Come Tuesday, all Beomgyu could talk about was Soobin, reliving memories he’d already ingrained into Yeonjun since he spoke of them so often. Yeonjun listened with a smile on his face, surprisingly okay with the topic unlike some other times Beomgyu had gotten like this. He supposed that it came with meeting Soobin. Beomgyu was right about him. He was a hard man to hate.
Eventually, the hour they were both waiting for came and Beomgyu was the first to notice Soobin’s arrival.
“Soobin! Over here.”
He shyly waved at the two as he approached, a backpack slung over his shoulder. Unlike their college campus, their office did require a dress code. Soobin had ditched his oversized hoodie for a form-fitted turtleneck, gray blazer hanging over his ridiculously wide shoulders. His hair was pushed away from his face, allowing Yeonjun to notice every little detail as Soobin took notice of the fact that Yeonjun wasn’t alone.
“I hope you don’t mind,” said Yeonjun, placing a firm hand on Beomgyu's shoulder. “He would have come to find me anyway. Thought it might be easier if I just invited him along.”
“Yes, of course! You’re good.”
He didn’t seem nearly as bothered as Yeonjun might have imagined. He didn’t have much experience working in pairs, but the one or two times he did, they were always a little apprehensive when Beomgyu tagged along. It’s not like Yeonjun couldn’t be considerate. Like he told Soobin, Beomgyu always came to find him, so it was better to have him join from the start than to let him come bother them halfway through. Trying to chase him away only made his best friend more stubborn to do so.
“I promise to be extra quiet!” Beomgyu emphasized, already a tad too loud for the office. Soobin just waved him off.
“It’s no problem, really.” Soobin settled.
With that, they went to take residence in one of the private meeting rooms. Yeonjun opened his laptop to the last page he’d been on, detailing to Soobin the numbers he’d come up with so far. He wrote them down in a notebook, circling the ones they would use for their visual map.
“I was thinking we could do a graph, it’ll be easier.” Soobin said, already pulling up the program.
“I agree, anything else and we might be at it for days.” He leaned over his open laptop. “Not that I mind if it’s with you.” His words get the desired effect, a pretty pink surfacing on the apples of Soobin’s cheeks.
Yeonjun chanced a glance toward his best friend, seeing his jaw practically on the floor from his quick wit. Once he caught Yeonjun staring, his mouth formed a straight line, an indignant eye roll to follow.
“We should, um,” Yeonjun’s attention jerked back to his partner, the ever so present blush still not willed away, “split the data research that’s left. I feel bad that you’ve done the bulk of it so far.”
“Sure,” Yeonjun said easily. “Though, I won’t lie, I was hoping to use this against you so you’d do all the presenting by yourself.”
Soobin looked offended. “You would really leave me floundering up there all by myself?”
“No,” Yeonjun’s grin turned wicked. “I’d be cheering you on from the sidelines. Go, Soobin, go!” He mimicked holding pompoms, pumping his fists to a beat like he’d seen cheerleaders do.
“Don’t mind him.” Beomgyu butt in, reminding Yeonjun of his presence. “He was dropped as a child.”
“Oh, we’re playing that game, are we? Well then—”
“So, Soobin,” Beomgyu easily redirected the conversation, ignoring his best friend’s glare. “I don’t think I’ve ever asked. What do you major in?”
“Computer Science.”
“Right! You work in the IT department. Should have put two and two together. Haha.” The awkward laugh at the end kept Yeonjun from swooping in to save him. He wanted to see where this would go. “So, are you doing anything after this?”
“I have a few things to run over with my boss.”
“And after that?” Yeonjun could see Beomgyu was really trying.
“Stuff for the project.”
Maybe he was that oblivious. “Hey, how about we meet up after? No work talk. Dinner’s on me.” Yeonjun finally cut in.
Simultaneously, there were two very different responses.
“Hell yeah!” “No, I couldn’t possibly trouble you!”
Accustomed to Beomgyu’s enthusiasm over free food, he regarded Soobin first.
“It’s no trouble! Think of it as a bribe. Food for speech.” He smirked at the older man.
“You're really serious about this.” Soobin’s tone was lighthearted, almost teasing. Surprise was written over both Yeonjun and Beomgyu’s faces.
“Er, I guess?” For once, Yeonjun found himself floundering.
“Break is almost over anyway.” Soobin stood, packing his things back into his bag. “I’ll meet you two in the lobby?” He held onto the strap of his bag with anxious fingers.
There he was, the normally shy demeanor Soobin wore was back. Yeonjun smiled.
“See you then!”
The first thing Beomgyu did when Soobin was no longer in the room was thump back against the chair.
“I was embarrassing!” Beomgyu shouted.
“You were.” Yeonjun agreed, his arm was smacked again for his efforts.
“You were meant to rescue me!”
“I did rescue you.”
“Yeah, only after I already made a fool of myself.”
“You have to let me have a little fun.”
It was fun, Yeonjun realized. Helping Beomgyu was fun. The hurt that plagued him when this started had fizzled away into something else. Something Yeonjun couldn’t quite name.
“Whatever, I have to hurry up and finish my mock up.” Beomgyu wrapped his arms around Yeonjun. “Thank you again, for this.”
“You know you can always count on me.”
And Yeonjun meant it too.
°•. ✿ .•°
Dinner was… nice, actually. Yeonjun had worried about the logistics of it. He had suggested it mostly for Beomgyu’s sake, allowing him and Soobin to meet outside of the school/office setting. He thought he’d make some lame excuse toward the end of the meal to leave them be, but Beomgyu always read too much into his words, reeling him back in until the end of the dinner had already come and the two were on their way back to the dorms. Soobin lived in the opposite direction.
“You should have offered to walk him home.” Yeonjun scolded, though a part of him was happy that he had the honor over Soobin.
“And embarrass myself even more? No thank you.”
“You were fine all throughout dinner.”
Beomgyu managed more than a few stupid questions this time around. He even shared a few stories of his own, loosening up with every long winded sentence and making Yeonjun smile.
“That’s because you were there with me!” he emphasized.
“I don’t recall that being the case earlier today.”
Beomgyu frowned at him. “I can admit I was a little… nervous, earlier, but that was because you were so smooth! Did you see the way you made him blush?”
Some sick pride festered inside him. “What can I say, I was born with a gift.” Beomgyu shoved him.
“This is my own fault.” Beomgyu bemoaned. “I’ve stroked your ego.”
“That’s not the only thing you could be stroking.”
“Yeonjun!”
He could admit, comments like that were uncommon between them. Mostly because Yeonjun worried his best friend might see right through him. Realize that with this stupid ass innuendo, Yeonjun was hinting at something else. Something more than just sex.
“You’re gross.”
“I’m literally the reason you went out with Soobin tonight.” He made a point to remind him. “I think you ought to be nice to me.”
“Oh, Yeonjun, you’re so cool~” Though it was said with sarcasm, Yeonjun couldn’t help the elated little skip his heart gave at the words. “You’re, like, the hottest person I’ve ever met.”
“Okay, okay. I fold. You win.” Beomgyu’s smile was everything.
“Same time tomorrow?”
“We’ll see.”
°•. ✿ .•°
So it went: Yeonjun confirmed a time with Soobin to meet during their breaks, invited him to late dinners with him and Beomgyu, then finally, the brute of their work was done and over with and Yeonjun no longer had an excuse to spend time with him.
It was stupid. How upset it made him. Before, he was doing all this for Beomgyu, but now he wasn’t so sure. His feelings for Soobin had changed. It wasn’t yet clear where he stood.
He sat at his desk, staring down at his phone, expectant. He wasn’t sure what he was waiting for. (That was a lie, he knew, but he didn’t want to think about it.) So he stared. And stared. And stared some more.
When it trilled, he nearly sent himself flying along with his phone, scrambling to catch it before it met its doom with his hardwood floor. He closed his eyes involuntarily, suddenly afraid to see what had caused the notification.
(yawnzzn): hybelabels started a live video.
“Fuck!”
“Guess I should have knocked first.”
Yeonjun abruptly spun around, faced with Beomgyu in his doorway, an evil grin spreading across his lips.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to bother.” He pushed off the doorway, moving forward to peek over Yeonjun’s shoulder. “Why are you staring at a blank screen?”
“I wasn’t!”
“So you admit you were doing something else?”
“No!” Yeonjun fought to explain. “It’s nothing.” He knew it was a weak protest, but he couldn’t think right now. His fast thinking had been compromised.
“You’re not acting like yourself.”
“Tell me about it.” he mumbled. “Anyway, are you going to tell me why you’re here?”
Beomgyu had come over to invite him to a party. “Really? Since when were you the type of guy to get drunk on a Friday night?”
“It’s Jeongin’s surprise party! His friends invited me and I didn’t want to disappoint them. Will you please go with me?”
Yeonjun, like Beomgyu, was not a fan of parties. They were both more the types to stay in, watch a movie, chat over light wine (that was more of a Yeonjun trait.) But like many other things in the past, Beomgyu’s puppy-like pleading was bound to sway hearts, Yeonjun his number one victim.
“Fine! I’ll go, but! You have to promise not to ditch me.”
“Deal!”
°•. ✿ .•°
He should have known better than to trust his best friend.
To be fair, he’d gotten whisked away the moment they’d entered, Jeongin’s friends collecting those who were closest to him at the door to, in their words, “better surprise the birthday boy.”
Now alone, Yeonjun wandered through the crowd, darting his gaze on the other dozens of partygoers in the hopes of finding someone he knew.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to look for long before someone was shouting his name, cutting through the crowd with every intention of reaching Yeonjun.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Wooyoung greeted, his boyfriend a few steps behind him, following after him like some kind of lap dog. “You hardly show your face at these things.”
“Unlike you, I have responsibilities to upkeep.”
“Boring!” Wooyoung sang. “You act like we aren’t the same age. You should be getting out there, having fun! If you let loose a bit more, I’d bet you’d have already made Beomgyu your boyfriend.”
Yeonjun’s eyes turned to slits. “You did not just go there.”
“Oh, but I did. Here,” He stuck his arm out toward San, his boyfriend handing him a red solo cup. “You need this more than I do.”
He took one whiff and nearly hurled. “This smells awful.”
“It’ll be good for you.” Wooyoung pushed the cup into Yeonjun’s hands. “Now drink. I’m not leaving until you do.”
“Works for me. I needed someone to rock this party with anyway.”
“And that person won’t be me.” Wooyoung’s hands came down to wrap around Yeonjun’s, forcing the cup to his lips. “You know what you could do? Make some new friends.”
In a moment of weakness, Wooyoung was able to tip the cup far enough to where it splashed over Yeonjun’s lips, the gasp it elicited making it so some of the liquid slid down his throat. He coughed with the suddenness of it, pushing at the hand Wooyoung had yet to move and groaning.
“Why are you such a menace?!” he shrieked, wiping the bit that didn’t make it into his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Because it’s fun to tease.” He gripped Yeonjun’s shoulders, twisting him so he faced the other way. “Now get out there and mingle!”
Yeonjun got pushed into the flurry of bodies, tripping over his shoes as he hurried to regain balance. He meant to send a glare over his shoulder but Wooyoung had already disappeared, lost in the sea of dancing people, never to be found again if he knew what was good for him. Yeonjun sighed.
It was going to be a long night.
An hour into the party, Yeonjun wanted to go home. He was fed up being all by his lonesome, having already done a search of the entire floor and having nothing to show for it. Beomgyu had vanished into thin air. (Or more than likely, was busy hound dogging Jeongin. It was his birthday, after all.) He fished out his phone from his pocket, typing up a quick message to Beomgyu that he would be heading out first. He reminded the younger man that if he needed help getting home, he could call Yeonjun. He yearned for it, even. Wanted Beomgyu to call him in the dead of night, drunk off his ass and confess he’d had feelings for Yeonjun this whole time.
The alcohol might be getting to him.
He hit send, ready to slip out unseen, when a body collided with his, the only thing keeping them standing were the masses of people around them.
He went to glare at who he thought was some drunk college goer, but instead, was greeted by a tall boy in a denim jacket. A familiar tall boy in a denim jacket.
“Soobin?”
“Yeonjun.” Upon recognition, Soobin’s face lit up. “It’s so nice to see you!”
“Likewise.” He took in the rest of Soobin’s outfit. Plain white t-shirt, black jeans, his glasses weren’t slipping down his nose like they usually were, not even on his face for that mattered. “Where are your glasses?”
“At home. They’re not really suitable for a party like this.”
“I suppose you are, then?” Yeonjun bantered, the corners of his lips unconsciously raising upwards.
“Parties aren’t really my speed,” he admitted. “I was dragged here by a friend of a friend.”
“Looks like we’re in the same boat. Beomgyu forced me here and then ditched me two second in.” Soobin laughed. “Where were you headed before we bumped heads?”
“I was trying to find the kitchen.” His expressions turned to one of concern. “Did I really bump your head?”
It was almost infuriating how endearing this man was. “No, you didn’t. I was just teasing.”
“Oh, okay.” Yet his eyes kept flickering over his face, like he was looking for a point of injury.
“Why don’t I help you? I don’t think you’d want more people falling for you while you find your way.” Soobin blushed as soon as the words left him, giving Yeonjun that warm fuzzy feeling again.
“That would be bad.” Soobin agreed. “Lead the way.”
Feeling bold, Yeonjun took hold of Soobin’s wrist, tugging him along in the direction of the kitchen. So they don’t get separated, he thought. Had this been Beomgyu, he would have done the same. They were friends . Soobin was his friend.
They landed right at the edge of the kitchenette, beside the fold-up table housing all the alcohol. Soobin gave it a cursory glance before frowning at the choices.
“Not seeing anything you like?” Yeonjun asked.
“Do you think they have water? I think I’m done drinking for today.”
“Yeah.” Yeonjun let go of the hand holding Soobin to reach behind the coolers. He came back with two water bottles. “Here.”
“Thanks.” Soobin took a long sip, Adam's apple bobbing and oddly keeping Yeonjun’s attention.
“Good?” he asked, after Soobin had already finished the entire thing.
“Just what I needed.” Soobin sighed.
Yeonjun could hear the buzzing of the speakers over Soobin’s voice and he realized someone had just cranked up the music. His head was starting to hurt with all the bass.
“Want to go somewhere quieter?” he offered, seeing Soobin wince when a new guitar riff played through the speakers.
Soobin nodded.
Out in the early February night air, Yeonjun felt like he could breathe again. He inhaled loudly, obnoxiously, mostly as an ice breaker as they started walking without purpose.
“Yang Jeongin is living the high life.” Yeonjun mused. “Started at the dorms last fall and ended up in the nicest part of town for spring term.”
Soobin chuckled. “I think one Bang Chan has everything to do with that.”
Ah yes, the ever so elusive boyfriend. Yeonjun had yet to meet him, but Beomgyu said he was a total package. He would have totally gone for him if he hadn’t had his sights set already on Choi Soobin.
Beomgyu did have a thing for nice guys. Soobin was a nice guy. He was sure that if he looked up the definition for a nice guy, Soobin’s picture would pop up. So unlike Yeonjun who liked to poke fun at his best friend any chance he got. That was just his love language okay? Endless teasing like a fourth grade boy with a crush. He was pathetic.
“Something else on your mind?”
Nothing he’d ever admit out loud. He tried to think of something to say.
“I heard you get confessed to a lot.” Why his mind went there, he didn’t know. Yeonjun could only assume it was the jungle juice talking.
“Um, yeah. I guess… sometimes.”
“You don’t seem so sure.” Yeonjun couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I do.” he finally said honestly. “It just feels weird admitting it.”
“Why?”
“It feels like bragging.”
“Bragging implies you want to rub it in my face. I don’t think me asking you about it constitutes as such.”
“Still,” Soobin mumbled.
Soobin was a good guy and maybe he should date Beomgyu. He would be good for him.
“Have you ever thought about dating?”
Soobin stopped breathing. “Why are you asking me that?”
“No reason, really. The whole school talks about it. About you.” Yeonjun’s brain-to-mouth filter failed him. He cursed himself for being so stupid.
“Does that include you?” Soobin’s question caught him by surprise.
“Yeah,” He didn’t think to mention Beomgyu, even if he was the sole reason he ever spoke about Soobin. “Sometimes.”
That familiar pink dusted Soobin’s cheeks and Yeonjun tried to make sense of his reaction.
“Do you,” Something like deja vu hit Yeonjun with the way Soobin started that sentence, “want to sleepover? My dorm is right here.” Yeonjun hadn’t realized they'd stopped walking.
He stared off in the direction Soobin had pointed. If Yeonjun wanted, he could end the night here, make up some lame excuse and walk the thirty minutes to his dorm. But something about the way Soobin watched him made him think the other man didn’t want things to end. And Yeonjun didn’t want to walk all the way home by himself anymore.
“You don’t have to,” Soobin wouldn’t meet his eyes. “I just thought—”
“Lead the way.”
°•. ✿ .•°
Soobin’s dorm wasn’t all that different from Yeonjun’s. The layout was similar, minus the hallway they walk through to get to Soobin’s room. Soobin didn’t dally, inviting Yeonjun right into his bed without so much as a glass of water.
He was awkward about it, at least, ears burning red as he went searching in his drawers for clothes Yeonjun could wear.
The one drink Wooyoung forced onto him had completely worn off by now and Yeonjun was very much sober while sitting on Soobin’s bed. He tried to gauge Soobin’s own level of intoxication, watching as he fumbled a little while pulling out clothes. That could very well just be nerves, though. Soobin looked like the type to get nervous. Especially for situations like this.
“The pants might be a little long.” he warned, handing off his clothes for Yeonjun to change into.
Yeonjun took them with hesitant hands, suddenly finding this situation much more intimidating when faced with changing clothes. In front of Soobin.
“You take the first shower. I can wait.” Soobin encouraged. So Yeonjun went.
He hid away in the bathroom for as long as humanly possible, possibly raking up the water bill with how long of a shower he took. He wasn’t yet ready to face the music.
You can do this, he told himself. With one last deep breath, he stumbled out.
Wistfully, he’d hoped his long excursion would have meant Soobin fell asleep waiting. Instead, his head whipped toward the open door, too much like a puppy eager for its owner and Yeonjun cursed himself for making the comparison.
“You’re back!”
“Sorry I took so long.” Yeonjun was only sorry Soobin stayed awake.
“No worries. I won’t be long.” He grabbed a fresh towel and sauntered in for his own turn in the bathroom.
Left alone, Yeonjun thought about running. He had the time. Soobin was showering. Yet the idea of Soobin coming back to an empty room, all sad doe eyes and frowns…Yeonjun held on.
Or rather tried. Next thing Yeonjun knew, the morning light was streaming in from an open window, landing directly in his eyes and being the reason Yeonjun stirred. That and his need to use the bathroom.
Something was holding him in place. Or rather, someone. The dawning realization hit Yeonjun like a train, eyes flying open and body flailing as he moved out from under Soobin’s arm in a panic. Fortunately, his rushed escape didn’t wake Soobin, the man still appearing to be deep in slumber as Yeonjun made a hasty exit, disregarding the fact that he was still dressed in borrowed clothes. He sprinted all the way back to his dorm, nearly having a heart attack when he saw a human shaped lump on his bed. He was only pacified when he caught sight of their face, breathing coming easier once he saw it was just Beomgyu.
His entrance woke his best friend. Beomgyu blinked tired eyes at him until he realized someone was standing in front of him. He shot up, grumbling with the motion and fell back just as fast.
“Are you okay?” Yeonjun fretted, coming to Beomgyu’s side as the man attempted to sit up.
“Am I okay? I should be asking you that! What happened to you last night?”
“What do you mean?” Yeonjun remembered sending Beomgyu a text.
“You said you were headed back. I went to find you before you left but couldn’t so I thought to stop by after the party, but you weren’t here either. If I wasn’t so drunk and exhausted last night I would have been up all night from the worry alone.”
Yeonjun had told him he was headed back to his dorm. Never did he think to send an update. “I’m sorry, Gyu. I—” The words got stuck in his throat.
Spending the night with Soobin hadn’t been wrong. They hadn’t even done anything! Yet admitting out loud that he spent the night alone with Soobin felt like betrayal somehow. It should have been Beomgyu in his shoes. His best friend should have been the one to go home with his crush. That was how things were supposed to be.
“I ran into Changbin.” Yeonjun lied. “I ended up crashing at his place.”
Beomgyu’s frown faltered, eyeing Yeonjun’s disorganized appearance.
“Are those his clothes you’re wearing?”
They both know they weren't. Changbin was shorter than both of them. “He let me borrow some of Hyunjin’s clothes.” Yeonjun was digging himself deeper with every little white lie.
Beomgyu studied him a moment longer before giving up with his interrogation. “Whatever, I need to pee.” He clambered out of the bed to the bathroom, leaving Yeonjun to his thoughts.
°•. ✿ .•°
Over the next two days, Yeonjun took a hard look at his life. He befriended the man he should have hated for the sake of his best friend’s love life. He spent time with said man, alongside his best friend, working to guide them along until they could be together on their own.
Yet that still hadn’t happened.
Beomgyu made it hard to leave with those pleading eyes of his. Anytime Yeonjun started to make excuses to go, his best friend was giving him that look, the one that rendered him incapable of moving, suddenly fused with the ground beneath him as Beomgyu defended his case. Clearly out to torture Yeonjun by allowing him to bear witness to his advances on Soobin. They weren’t often received, Soobin oblivious as ever, but Yeonjun saw progress between them. Friends . The next step would logically be dating.
It should have been easy. It would have been easy. If Yeonjun just hadn’t come between them…
No, he reminded himself. He did nothing wrong. He slept over at a friend’s. Plain and simple.
So why had he lied about it?
Soobin had sent him a text some hours after Yeonjun had made it back, asking him if got home okay. Yeonjun looked at the message, thought about what to text back, then left it ignored. He felt bad. He felt even worse when Beomgyu sauntered back into the room and he hurried to hide his phone. As if it were incriminating.
“Were you looking at something naughty?” his best friend teased, because of course Yeonjun was suddenly a blushing maiden. “You should have let me see.”
His pout almost worked to get Yeonjun to reveal everything. He quickly shifted his attention back to the television.
“It was nothing.” His voice cracking did not convince anyone. Especially Beomgyu.
“Mhm, fine. We’ll pretend that didn’t happen.”
And that was that.
Yeonjun was dreading his Monday morning class, knowing he’d have to face Soobin. There was no way around it, unless he wanted to skip the lecture, but he’d already left Soobin on read. That alone was eating him up.
He walked into class with his head down, dreading the moment his eyes would meet Soobin’s. If he was keeping an eye out for him, that was. Yeonjun imagined he was since the second he chanced a quick scan of the room, Soobin was already looking at him, offering a small wave to him from where he sat in the middle row. If Yeonjun were an asshole, he’d duck into the furthest row and pretend Soobin hadn’t just greeted him. But he wasn’t. So he waved back, albeit awkwardly.
After the first time, it was easier to dismiss the eyes that followed him as he took the empty spot next to Soobin. What worried him more was what Soobin would say to him after his sudden disappearance.
“Hey,” he whispered, a little unnecessary since class hadn’t even started yet. “Did you get my message? I was worried, you know. You left without saying anything, I just thought—”
“No, I’m sorry. For bailing on you.” For running away. “Beomgyu needed me and you were still sleeping so—”
“It’s okay!” Soobin cut in, looking almost… relieved? “I was dumb. I was worried it might have been something else.”
Something else? What did Soobin mean by that?
Soobin's words lingered all the way to the office. Beomgyu was already waiting since his afternoon class was canceled.
"Something on your mind?" Because of course his best friend knew. Beomgyu could see right through him.
"Just…things?” It came out sounding like a question. Beomgyu gave him a funny look.
“Things?”
“Yeah, stupid things.” Like whether or not he should be worried about his feelings for Soobin. Fuck, where did that thought come from?
“If you say so. I told Soobin we’d meet him on our break, same time okay?”
“You what?!”
“What?” Beomgyu looked genuinely confused. “Did you have a meeting I forgot about?”
“Well, no—”
“So what gives?” Nothing. Not a single excuse came to mind.
“Nothing.” he said out loud. “I’ll see you then.”
Worry settled heavily on Yeonjun as he read through his work emails, heavy conscience not allowing him to think straight. Soobin and Beomgyu. Soobin and Beomgyu together. Soobin and Beomgyu together after Yeonjun spent the night in Soobin’s dorm.
This couldn’t be good.
Doubt began seeping under his skin. Their conversation earlier should have quelled any doubts Soobin had, right? Right?!
His bottom lip was bitten raw by the time it was time to meet Soobin. Yeonjun held his breath as they approached the other man, Soobin having yet to notice the pair. When he did, he waved shyly, still the same person despite whatever tales his mind was spinning.
“Soobin!” Beomgyu called loudly. “It’s been a while.”
“You saw me a few hours ago.” the older man pointed out.
“Semantics.” Beomgyu headed right for the open spot next to Soobin, closer than Yeonjun had ever seen from him since they’d all started hanging out. “What did you bring for lunch?”
“Oh well,” Soobin fidgeted with the bag in his lap, not uncommon, but odd for the situation. Usually, his lunch would already be out on the table. “Actually, there was a mix up at the restaurant when I went to pick up my order.”
Instead of the single boxed meal Soobin always got, there were three. “They gave me two for free.”
“No way!” Beomgyu was already taking one from the top of the stack. “Two whole meals? For free?” he emphasized.
“Yeah.” Soobin paused to laugh. “They said they were just going to throw them away if I didn’t take them, so I thought, ‘Who better to share them with than you two.’”
“You’re the best Soobin!”
Beomgyu was already two bites in, speaking around a mouthful of rice. Yeonjun stared at the unopened one, wondering if what Soobin was saying was true. If it was, great, free food. If it wasn’t… If it wasn’t, Soobin purposely brought them all food. The implications of those actions send a weird feeling down Yeonjun’s spine.
He tried not to think about it as he ate his meal, eyes betraying his mind as they found Soobin’s every so often. Whenever they made eye contact, Soobin would give him the smallest of smiles, like he was pleased. Like he was really happy to watch the two eat. He didn’t say much during their meal, allowing Beomgyu to talk his ear off like it wasn’t slightly annoying that the younger man’s mouth had no off button. He droned on and on, to a point where Yeonjun tuned him out, busied by his own thoughts as they finished their food.
They said goodbye when their lunch hour was up, Soobin headed for the elevators while the other two headed for their work stations.
“Earth to Yeonjun!”
“Huh?” Yeonjun stopped in his tracks. Beomgyu crossed his arms over his chest.
“You’re seriously out of it.” Beomgyu sounded annoyed, but his tone turned concerned in a second. “You okay? You’ve been weird all day.”
“Me, weird? Aren’t I always?”
“This isn’t your usual weird. Is something going on?”
There was a lot going on inside Yeonjun’s head, but the thought of ever voicing it made his heart sink to his stomach.
“No, nothing’s going on. It’s fine. I’m fine.” He forced a smile. “See?”
Like many times before, Beomgyu could read the room. Or at the very least, understood that Yeonjun did not want to talk about it.
“Whatever it is, you know you can come to me, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” Except this was one conversation he wasn’t sure he was ever prepared to have.
°•. ✿ .•°
Yeonjun sat his ass down in his desk chair, paper and pen in hand. At the very top of the paper he wrote two names. Beomgyu. Soobin. Briefly, he wondered if what he was doing went against the laws of romance. Considering how inexperienced he was in that department, it only made sense that his brain would succumb to this as the best form of reasoning when it came to solving his own feelings.
Beomgyu. Best friend since forever (read:college), attentive (even if that meant getting spam texts when Yeonjun didn’t immediately answer), pretty (he’d been told at least a dozen times that he suits long hair really well.)
Soobin. Met a few months ago (though Yeonjun was aware of him for longer), sweet (it was almost disgustingly so), tall (the few centimeters he had on Yeonjun really did something for him.)
Yeonjun read back over his list and groaned.
“This isn’t helping!”
He didn’t know what came over him. Just last week he was completely sure about his feelings for his best friend. Now, sat at his desk, scrambled thoughts put to paper, there was a chance those feelings extended to Soobin. He screamed.
When had his brain decided this? When did it become not just Beomgyu in his daydreams, but Soobin too. Soobin with his gentle words and black rimmed glasses. Soobin who, despite being popular, had this humble air about him. Yeonjun likened him to a prince, straight from a fairytale. Obviously, the role of princess went to Beomgyu. So who was Yeonjun in this story?
Friday afternoon, Yeonjun arrived at the office to a sight. Beomgyu and Soobin huddled together over Beomgyu’s desk. Soobin was giggling cutely to whatever words were leaving Beomgyu’s mouth. The surge of affection that ran through Yeonjun was unexpected.
“Yeonjun!”
He snapped out of his daze at the shout of his name. “Yeonjun, look what Soobin did!”
Yeonjun walked up to the desk, peering over Soobin to the monitor.
“You know how I’ve been complaining about my data files and how I can never sync them to the right folder. Well, Soobin fixed it for me! Apparently I had my settings all wrong.”
“It’s not that big of a deal.” Soobin interjected. “ Anyone could have done it.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, mister!” Beomgyu chided. “You helped me out a lot.”
Soobin burned pink with the praise, waving off the compliments that were still falling from Beomgyu’s lips. More affection rushed through him.
“Hey, it’s been a while since we last hung out after work.” Beomgyu suddenly sprung on them. “Let’s get drinks tonight!”
“So you can get shitfaced? I don’t think so.” Yeonjun rejected.
“I’ll behave!” Beomgyu pleaded, giving Yeonjun the puppiest of eyes. “Promise! It’ll be fun.”
Beomgyu looked to Soobin, then, pleading with those very same eyes to get him onboard.
“S-sure. I could go for a few drinks.”
Beomgyu’s entire face lit up as he turned back to Yeonjun. “Don’t be a spoil sport.” he warned.
“Fine! We can go.”
“Yay!”
They dispersed after that, Soobin having to go to a meeting and Yeonjun headed to his own desk. He didn't make it very far when there was a harsh tug on his wrist, Beomgyu moving them away from the open space to one of the meeting rooms.
“Tonight’s the night.” he started excitedly. “I’m going to officially ask Soobin out.”
Yeonjun suddenly found it hard to breathe. “T-that’s great!”
He explained to Yeonjun that he wouldn’t need to be present for this occasion. “I think I’m more than capable of doing this part on my own, so we can just act like something came up and you couldn’t make it.”
Finally, the master plan Yeonjun had wanted was being set in motion. So why did it feel like a punch to the gut?
“Sure, whatever you want.” Beomgyu squealed.
“Thank you so much for all your help, Jun! You’ll see! By the end of tonight I’ll have a hot new boyfriend to show off.”
Yeonjun tried for a smile, but he wasn’t sure how convincing it looked. It was enough to fool Beomgyu, it seemed, as he skipped his way out of the room, leaving behind an even more muddled Yeonjun.
°•. ✿ .•°
It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Yeonjun fell into the open seat across from Soobin, out of breath and sweaty from sprinting to the bar.
His night was meant to be spent alone, secluded under blankets, a tub of ice cream in hand, and all the romcoms his pained heart could consume. He had every intention of sobbing for all the missed opportunities, regret heavy and conflicted feelings as his mind wandered to Soobin and Beomgyu on their date.
That was the plan.
Ten minutes before his shift was meant to end, Beomgyu was sending him an influx of messages. Yeonjun, assuming it was Beomgyu overthinking, let the texts sit as he wrapped up his project for the day. It was when he hit save for the last time that he chanced a brief glance, reading over the word HELP! And rushing to unlock his phone.
Jun 😭
Jun please answer!
Jun!!!!!
We have a problem
My boss is keeping me here until I finish the mock ups for the new buyer campaign.
I don’t think I’ll be out before 9
I told Soobin to meet ‘us’ at the bar at 7
Yeonjun?
Please! I can’t have him thinking we bailed.
I promise I’ll go to the bar as soon as I’m finished, so please just show up!
So Yeonjun ran. It was already half past seven. He spotted Soobin in a booth, looking completely lost and oh so alone. Beomgyu owed him Big Time™.
“It’s fine.” Soobin waved off. He glanced to Yeonjun’s side, then somewhere behind him. “Where’s Beomgyu?”
“Running late,” He nodded to the bar. “Need a refill? I’m paying.”
Sooner than Soobin could decline, Yeonjun was already up and out of his seat, ordering himself an Old Fashioned and Soobin’s usual, a Mojito. While he waited for the drinks, he did his best to calm himself down.
This was fine. It would only be for an hour. After that hour, Beomgyu would arrive and his plan could go on as scheduled.
Except, that didn’t happen.
Yeonjun and Soobin spent the hour waiting with idle chatter, Yeonjun doing his very best to not appear affected. Something about realizing potential feelings for the man in front of him flustered him to no end, meaning his usual quick wit was compromised. Instead, he was all flushed cheeks and hesitant laughter, feeling worlds of dumb for being like this. So unsure of every little thing.
Soobin appeared unbothered, besides the few glances at the door. Yeonjun couldn’t fault him. It was already leaning toward the second hour without Beomgyu.
During a lull in conversation, Yeonjun picked up his phone.
“I think I’ll call him. See what’s taking so long.”
“Sure.”
Yeonjun stood up, twisting around dancing bodies as he made his way outside. He hurriedly dialed his best friend just as the first burst of fresh air hit his skin.
“Junnie!”
“Don’t ‘Junnie’ me, where the hell are you?”
“I’m so sorry, Yeonjun. I thought we’d be finished by now but the boss says we might be here all night and—”
“All night? What happened to tonight being the night?”
“I know, I know, but can you blame me? I finally worked up the courage to ask Soobin on a date and it just so happens to be the day the boss wants everything redone.” He sighed into the receiver. “I’ll pay you back for tonight. Just…just let him know that I’m sorry and that we’ll do something together really soon.”
Sometimes, Yeonjun hated how much he loved Beomgyu. “I will. Please get some rest after this.” Because even if he was annoyed, he wasn’t mad. He could never be angry with his best friend.
“I’ll let you know when I’m home.”
Having said their respective goodbyes, Yeonjun hung up, ready to face the music once more. He wasn’t prepared to crash straight into another body, nearly toppling his ass to the pavement had the stranger not caught his waist.
“Oops.” Scratch that. Not a stranger.
“Oh, um.” Yeonjun wiggled out of Soobin’s grasp, standing firmly on his own two feet.
“You were taking too long.” Soobin explained. “I finished both our drinks.”
Yeonjun nodded dumbly. “Is Beomgyu on his way or?”
“He’s…stuck at work.” No use lying now. “He said he was sorry for missing this and offered a rain check.”
“Sure. Just let me know.” The end of the night had come. “Can I walk you home?”
“Oh, uh, yeah. Okay.” Yeonjun was a stuttering mess. Get a grip!
Yeonjun’s dorm was luckily only a few blocks from the bar, meaning Yeonjun would only have to endure a few more minutes with Soobin alone. His heart was still hammering against his ribcage, alarmingly similar to the tune that used to play when he first started hanging out with Beomgyu.
“Thanks for the drink.”
“Huh?”
“The Mojito that you bought me. Thanks, though, I could have paid for myself.”
“Nonsense! We invited you out.” It was the least Yeonjun could do after wasting his time.
“I like spending time with the two of you. No need to bribe me.” Soobin chuckled.
“Not bribing, spoiling. Two very different things.” Yeonjun’s flirting was making a comeback.
“Do you and Beomgyu do this a lot?”
“What? Buy people drinks? Only if they're cute."
Soobin went scarlet. “N-no I meant— this.”
Yeonjun frowned. “I don’t think I understand.”
“Going out with other people.” Soobin was giving him this look that Yeonjun couldn’t decipher.
“Sure, when we’re feeling up for it.”
Soobin halted where they walked, making Yeonjun stop with him. Yeonjun could tell he was nervous, fingers flexing and unflexing at his side. He tilted his head in curiosity, wondering if there was something Soobin wanted to say.
“Is that what’s happening now?” Soobin finally said, moving again so he stood right in front of Yeonjun.
“What?”
“You and Beomgyu…with me?”
This close, it was hard to think straight, Soobin leaning closer, shy demeanor suddenly tossed out the window.
“Um?”
The question fell on deaf ears because suddenly, Soobin’s lips were on his. It was a mere press, just a pair of lips touching before Soobin was pulling away, somehow managing to leave Yeonjun breathless. Yeonjun was sure he was wide-eyed, caught between wanting to push forward or away. The sound of a car horn in the distance made him jump.
“W-what are you doing?” Yeonjun managed, grabbing at his chest in a panic.
His alarm must have been obvious. Soobin went ramrod straight, moon-eyed and fumbling.
“I-I thought…Was that not okay?”
Yeonjun didn’t know how to respond. He wasn’t against the kiss they shared, but Beomgyu…Oh shit, Beomgyu.
“I… should go.”
Soobin didn’t try to stop him. He took off. Away from Soobin. Away from everything he had yet to understand.
He slammed the door shut when he arrived at his dorm, hunched over himself from the excursion. He coughed, lungs burning, head dizzy with everything that just happened. He never would have imagined…Him and Soobin? That wasn’t—he shouldn’t have—frustrated, he hit the wall, slumping forward as he thunk, thunk, thunked until his limbs grew heavy.
He’d done the worst thing imaginable as Beomgyu’s best friend.
How could he ever face him?
°•. ✿ .•°
Like a coward, Yeonjun shut off his phone, locked his bedroom door, and prayed that Beomgyu wouldn’t come searching. He had no idea how he was meant to speak to his best friend after kissing Soobin first. He shouldn’t have been kissing Soobin to begin with.
He rolled himself up his blankets and screamed for the nth time, wishing he could take it all back. If he hadn’t done as Beomgyu said, none of this would have ever happened. He should have gone straight home that night. Forget best friend duties. He broke every rule in the best friend code that night by simply being there. Imagine if he hadn’t run when he had.
Guilt simmered heavily in his chest, remembering the face Soobin had made when Yeonjun freaked out. He hadn’t meant to act so rash, but what was he meant to do after a stunt like that, act normal? This was Yeonjun we’re talking about. He may be known as a class A flirt, but when it came to feelings...Yeonjun was just like everyone else.
Yeonjun decided to take a personal day on Monday, fearing a run in with Beomgyu and his morning class with Soobin. Hell. he might as well skip the whole week else he have to confront the two people he was desperate to avoid.
While the idea had seemed tempting, he wasn’t able to escape the clutches of his best friend for long.
“Choi Yeonjun!” Yeonjun’s worst fear came alive. “You open this door right now, mister or I will beat it down.”
Yeonjun couldn’t help but snort at his best friend’s words. They both knew Beomgyu had the strength of a butterfly. It, sadly, did not go unnoticed by the person on the other side of the door.
“You have the audacity to laugh at me!” His smacking grew in volume, a little part of Yeonjun wondering if he would make good on his words. “Dammit Yeonjun, why won’t you just open the door?”
“Leave me alone!” Yeonjun shouted back.
“Never!” More force against the door. “If you don’t open up, I’ll tell the RA you’re hiding a portable grill in here.”
“You wouldn’t dare!”
“Try me.”
Fuck, knowing Beomgyu, he would do something as childish as tattling. Just to prove his point.
Reluctantly, Yeonjun unlocked the door. Right as the click sounded, Beomgyu was pushing his way inside with more force than necessary, sending them both in a tumble to the floor.
"Ohmygod," Beomgyu raised up on his arms to get a better look at Yeonjun, "you look awful."
Yeonjun offered a grunt. "Seriously. Are you sick?" The back of Beomgyu’s hand met Yeonjun’s forehead.
He smacked it away. "I'm fine."
"Are you? I haven't seen you all weekend and then you skip your morning lecture…Something's wrong."
"Nothing is wrong."
Beomgyu fixed him with a death glare. "I don't believe you."
Yeonjun pushed at Beomgyu's shoulders but the other man wouldn't budge.
"Would you get off me?"
"Not until you tell me what's bothering you." Yeonjun was never destined to win this argument.
He met Beomgyu’s eyes. Saw the different emotions running through them. Annoyance. Concern. Hurt…Staying hushed still meant hurting his best friend.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I don't want you to hate me."
Instantly, Beomgyu sat up, no longer pinning Yeonjun down. “Why would I hate you?”
His brows pulled together.
That face alone made it hard to say anything else. Running the risk of ruining their friendship was already bad enough. Having Beomgyu hating him too…
“Jun, we’re best friends. Nothing you could ever do would make me hate you.”
“Even if I broke your trust?” Beomgyu’s expression turned serious.
“Did you say something to Soobin?”
“No! I-I—”
“What then? What could you have possibly done to break my—”
“I kissed him.” Beomgyu went stock-still.
“...You kissed him?”
“It was a misunderstanding, Gyu! I swear!” Yeonjun flew up to grasp at Beomgyu’s shoulders, pleading with him. “I should have made things clear, but he caught me off guard—”
Beomgyu tugged himself free from Yeonjun’s grasp. He fell on the floor beside him, avoiding Yeonjun’s eyes.
“Gyu?”
His gaze lifted from the hardwood floor, treacherous. “Gyu—”
“You knew I liked him!”
“I do know!” Yeonjun emphasized. “I know you do and if I had realized sooner what was happening, I would have stopped it.”
“So you just let it happen?”
“He sprung it up on me!” Beomgyu’s stare morphed into something icy.
“Why, Yeonjun? Why in the world would Soobin have kissed you?”
“Hey, when you say it like that you hurt my pride.”
Wrong time to crack a joke. Beomgyu was armed with deadly cat fighting skills, slapping at Yeonjun’s chest in retaliation. Yeonjun didn’t have it in him to complain.
“Fucker, don’t make me laugh.” Realizing that Beomgyu was holding back a smile, Yeonjun felt some of the tension escape his body. “I’m supposed to be mad at you.”
“I never said you couldn’t be. Punch me if it’ll make you feel better.”
When Beomgyu immediately pulled his arm back as if to make good on the offer, Yeonjun shut his eyes tight, bracing for impact. The punch never came.
He opened his eyes, unprepared for the sight of Beomgyu breaking down, tears spilling over, hand rubbing his snotty nose. Because Yeonjun was his best friend, he went to comfort, placing a careful hand on Beomgyu’s check. Beomgyu didn’t pull away.
“I’m sorry.” Yeonjun apologized, recognizing he hadn’t done it sooner. “I’m so sorry, Beomgyu.”
His best friend threw himself into Yeonjun’s open arms, whatever anger he harbored was long gone. In its place was heartbreak. Yeonjun hated to see Beomgyu cry.
“You’re an asshole.”
“I know.”
“You don’t deserve to be my best friend.”
That one hurt a bit. “I won’t be…if you really want it.”
Beomgyu sniffled as he pulled away. “I think I would hate you more if you gave me up that easy.”
Yeonjun couldn’t help the small smile. “Still…I think I need some time.”
“Sure, take all the time you need.”
Beomgyu left the apartment with one last hug from Yeonjun and a promise to respect his space, even if that meant Yeonjun’s anxiety spiking the second the door closed behind him. Worried that it also meant a close on their friendship.
He tried everything not to think about Beomgyu, his overactive imagination imagining the worst. After a full day of restless fussing, he figured going back to work would be the only solution to his hyperactive brain.
Yeonjun arrived at the office with zero expectations. Soobin waiting by his desk was the last thing he anticipated. Although, maybe it shouldn’t have been. Since he was avoiding his texts and calls too. At the same time Yeonjun noticed Soobin, the other man was lifting his head, alarm briefly settling over his features before it switched to nerves. Soobin waved.
It was now or never.
“Hey…” Yeonjun greeted, awkward in front of the man he had yet to speak to in four days.
“Hi, “ Soobin mumbled, “Can we talk?”
Yeonjun nodded, following Soobin after he said he wanted more privacy.
“Look,” Soobin said, once they were away from everyone else, “I want to apologize. I totally misread the signals Friday night.”
“It’s not your fault.” Yeonjun rushed to clarify. “I was being an idiot. You were trying to tell me…well, no, actually.” He tried to place Soobin’s exact words. “You asked about me and Beomgyu.” Yeonjun tilted his head curiously. “Why?”
“This is so embarrassing.” Soobin wailed, so unlike himself Yeonjun almost couldn’t believe it. “I thought that you and Beomgyu, t-that—you we, um—I thought all those times after work were dates!”
Yeonjun.exe failed to comprehend. “Huh?”
“You were bringing me along to all these places and I wasn’t sure why, being that you and Beomgyu were together. I couldn’t understand why you would want me tagging along, unless…”
“Unless?”
“Well, unless you were interested in me.”
It took a minute for Yeonjun to process everything Soobin had said, brain working overtime to understand what it was Soobin was implying.
Wait.
“Hold on,” Yeonjun’s eyes darted up to Soobin, “did you say Beomgyu and I were together?” He choked on air.
“I won’t say anything to the higher ups if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Yeonjun shook his head. “This is absurd! Beomgyu and I are not together.”
“You’re not?”
“No? Why would you think that?”
“Well…When I first started here, I didn’t have many friends. Beomgyu was the first person to approach me. I thought he was just being friendly, but then he started making a few comments here and there, mostly silly lines that I wrote off because Beomgyu was pretty and he could have anyone he wanted, yet he kept coming onto me and because I was confused, I decided to ask Huening Kai about him.”
The mere mention of that name already slotted some of the missing puzzle pieces into place. “Go on.”
“He said Beomgyu was spoken for, so I acted like every time he asked me out, it was meant as a joke.”
“You weren’t oblivious?”
“I was guarding my heart.” Soobin confessed. “That was when I started seeing the two of you together and I figured you were who Huening was talking about. Seeing you two together all the time…it was easy enough to assume.”
Yeonjun’s jaw was on the floor. He couldn’t believe his ears. This whole time…
“So you were just being polite? Why weren’t you just honest with Beomgyu?”
“Because I liked him.” Soobin sighed, suddenly avoiding Yeonjun’s gaze. “I still like him. And…I like you too.”
Those words stole Yeonjun’s breath away.
“That day, when you sat next to me, all I could think was ‘he knows, he knows I like his boyfriend.’ But then you didn’t say anything and when the prof told us to pair up, I thought this was my chance. I could explain everything when we were alone.” Soobin played with a thread on his cardigan, still not meeting Yeonjun’s eyes. “Then Beomgyu was there and I couldn’t do it. As if that wasn’t enough, you started flirting with me too.”
Yeonjun remembered the lines he gave Soobin during their first meeting.
“Now, here I was being attacked from both sides and I thought” —he went quiet for a moment— “I thought, maybe, you had agreed to pursue me together.”
Words escaped Yeonjun. Months had gone by. Months wherein Soobin believed he was being courted by two people. Two! And he was just okay with it?
“Let me get this straight. You like Beomgyu?”
“Yes.”
“And you like me?”
“Yeah.”
“And you were willing to date us both?”
“I mean, yeah. At first, I couldn’t really wrap my head around it. As if liking Beomgyu wasn’t enough, I had to go and catch feelings for his boyfriend—sorry, not boyfriend. I spent so much time in my head and yet every time I was with the both of you, it was easy to forget why I cared so much. You both just made it so easy to like you.”
Yeonjun had to sit down. He fell into one of the rolling chairs, fingers going for his temples. He felt a headache coming on.
“I realize now how big of an idiot I was,” Soobin continued. ”You were both just being nice, but my brain immediately went ‘they like you!’” His own words caused a chuckle. “I don’t know why I would think that.”
“Maybe because it’s true.”
It was Soobin’s turn to malfunction. “What?”
“It’s true. I like you. Beomgyu likes you. Beomgyu might even be in love with you and I was trying to help him get with you. I never would have thought that, along the way, my own heart would be swayed.”
He stood, taking determined steps toward Soobin. Face to face.
“I felt like I couldn’t tell you. Not when Beomgyu liked you first. He was the one who wanted a relationship with you.”
“Does that mean you don’t?” Yeonjun shook his head.
“It means we need to talk about this with him.” Yeonjun suddenly remembered where they were. “We can talk after. We can do it at my place.”
Soobin nodded.
The entire rest of the day, Yeonjun worried over what to text Beomgyu. He knew they were meant to be on a break, but Yeonjun had big news to share. News that involved Beomgyu and he knew his best friend would want to hear it.
I know we aren’t meant to be speaking rn, but there something I have to tell you
So say it
In person
It’s a lot to say over text
…
Yeonjun worried his bottom lip as he waited for Beomgyu to say something. Anything.
Your place?
After work
Say 8ish?
👍
He exhaled the breath he didn’t even know he was holding.
°•. ✿ .•°
The knock came at exactly 8 p.m. Soobin snapped his head to the door, clear fear masking his otherwise handsome features.
“Relax,” Yeonjun soothed. “Everything will be okay.” Soobin nodded.
The oldest went to open the door. “I hope.” he mumbled, out of earshot. Yeonjun only wished this would go the way he planned.
Door now opened, Yeonjun saw Beomgyu for the first time since they parted and he looked…like he needed a hug. His eyes were red and swollen. He was dressed like he’d just left his bed, sweater rumpled and scarf half hanging off.
“Well? Are you going to let me in?”
“Yeah, sorry.” Yeonjun moved aside for Beomgyu to enter.
His reaction to seeing Soobin came late, after the younger man had tossed his shoes by Yeonjun’s and draped his scarf on the coat rack. He finally let his gaze travel upward and when he did, he met Soobin’s eye. There was a sharp intake of breath. Their stare down lasted only a moment, Beomgyu suddenly darting his eyes back at Yeonjun. His stare was cold.
“Did you invite me over to gloat? I can’t believe you!”
“It’s not like that!” Soobin went to amend. “There’s something we have to tell you.”
“Congratulations, Yeonjun! You got the guy. What more do you want? My blessing?”
“Could you just sit down?” Yeonjun tried. “I promise you’ll want to hear this.”
Reluctantly, the younger man forced himself into the armchair, putting distance between them all. Yeonjun knew Beomgyu was upset, but he tried not to let it get to him. He could comfort him later. Once they’ve said their piece.
“I talked to Soobin today.”
“I see that.” Irritation gnawed at the back of his words. “Is that all?”
“Would you please just let me finish!” begged Yeonjun, exasperated.
“Oh now you’re angry with me? Now you know how I feel.”
This was going to be a lot harder than Yeonjun imagined.
“Beomgyu, please.”
“No, you know what,” Beomgyu was suddenly on two feet again, revving up to leave, “I don’t have to sit through this.”
Abruptly, Soobin stood, most likely tired of their bickering. He blocked Beomgyu’s path, a hand reaching out, placed carefully on the back of Beomgyu’s head. Yeonjun saw the moment his best friend lost his spark.
“Please, stay.” Soobin was staring down at him with those earnest eyes of his.
Yeonjun could see his best friend cracking. The hand in his hair was helping.
“F-fine. Five minutes. I’ll entertain this for five minutes.” Soobin let him go and they went back to their respective seats.
It was back to business.
“Soobin admitted something to me today.” The corner of Beomgyu’s lips fought to stay in a straight line. “He told me likes you.” Time ceased.
Beomgyu looked like a still picture, unmoving as the words washed over him. “Soobin likes you, but he likes me too.”
At that, Beomgyu finally sprung to life, frown overtaking his lips. “I don’t understand.”
“Maybe I should be the one to say this,” Soobin cut in, giving Yeonjun a glance. The oldest nodded for him to continue. “I’m an idiot. Don’t you dare deny it!” He wagged a finger at the two of them, noticing them going to protest. “I’ve caused a riff between you and I want to make this right.”
“Beomgyu, I like you. I’ve liked you since the moment that stupid pick up line left your mouth. You had shorter hair back then.” Soobin smiled, “All those times you asked me out, I always said no because I thought you were with Yeonjun.”
“What?!”
His outburst was so similar to Yeonjun’s that the oldest ended up cracking a smile.
“To be fair, there was some divine intervention.” Yeonjun supplied. Beomgyu looked to his best friend. “Huening Kai.”
“Huening Kai? What does he have to do with it?”
The time had come. “He’s kind of a smart cookie if you didn’t know.” Beomgyu still appeared confused. “Huening saw right through me.”
“Through you?”
“He easily picked up on my feelings for you no matter how hard I tried to deny them.” He’d said it. “I guess Soobin wasn’t the only oblivious one.”
“Hey, I thought we agreed I was not being oblivious.” Soobin pouted.
Yeonjun directed a smile at him. “Sorry, you were being cautious.”
“Hold on,” Their attention went to Beomgyu. “Did I hear that right, you have feelings for me?” His eyes were solely on Yeonjun.
“Beomgyu, for almost as long as we’ve been friends, I think I may have been a little in love with you.” Saying it out loud was terrifying. “You were too busy with Soobin to notice.”
“Now that’s not fair!” Beomgyu challenged. “You could have said something at any time.”
“And run the risk of losing you, I don’t think so.”
“You wouldn’t have lost me.” Beomgyu murmured, not nearly low enough to go unnoticed.
Pink rose to his cheeks, progressively getting stronger until Beomgyu resembled a boiled shrimp. No one dared to say anything, anxiously waiting for the youngest to speak further. Admit to what he meant.
“Would you have stayed his best friend?” Soobin eventually asked, when all Beomgyu did was curl in further on himself.
“Yes!” argued Beomgyu.
“What if that wasn’t enough for him?”
“Soobin—”
“No, let him answer.” He glanced at a cowering Beomgyu. “He needs to work through this like we did.”
They waited for what felt like hours, Yeonjun on the edge of his seat.
“I think I could try.” Yeonjun lost his breath for the nth time that day. “Yeonjun, I care for you and if you like me…I want to like you too.”
“But Soobin—”
“Soobin likes us both, doesn’t he?”
Their attention was redirected to the man in question. Soobin gave them a small nod.
“Instead of one boyfriend, I could have two.” Was this real? Was Beomgyu actually suggesting they all date?
“Let’s try an actual date first.” Soobin suggested, though he was smiling. Bright and beautiful.
“Let’s!” Beomgyu rushed to his feet, reaching out to the both of them.
“Right now?” Soobin grabbed his right hand while Yeonjun’s fingers locked with his left.
“This very second! I don’t want to waste anymore time.”
Laughing came from the youngest as he pulled them up, dragging them toward their shoes. “Hurry up!”
“So impatient.” Yeonjun chastised.
Beomgyu shoved him, Yeonjun losing balance, one second away from meeting his hardwood floor. Luckily, Soobin was there to catch him, chuckling at their antics.
“Are you two always like this?”
“Shouldn’t you know, lover boy?”
The nickname making a comeback was unexpected, especially coming from Beomgyu’s lips. Yeonjun saw why he used it though, the pretty blush decorating Soobin’s face always well worth it.
“Where are we even going?” Yeonjun asked once they were all outside.
“Anywhere as long as it’s the three of us together.”
Still holding each of their hands, Beomgyu began to run, Soobin scrambling to keep up and Yeonjun giggling alongside them.
°•. ✿ .•°
Another weekend morning rolled around. Yeonjun stirred, groaning when he felt a very cold nose pressing into his skin.
“Morning.” Soobin whispered, giggles louder than his words. “It’s time to wake up.”
“Five more minutes.”
“You said that already.” Beomgyu’s words sounded further away and Yeonjun whined.
“It’s a Saturday, we should be sleeping in!” he croaked.
Still, he made the effort to sit up, blinking tiredly.
“What’s up with the two of you, anyway? You both wake up later than I do on a daily basis.”
Quiet enveloped them and Yeonjun fought to open his eyes again. He was met with two idiots trying to hide their smiles. “Something’s up.”
Right then, a pop echoed in the room, little pieces of confetti and streamers making a slow descent before his very eyes.
“Happy birthday to you~”
The two begin to sing, Beomgyu finally coming fully into the room holding a tray of breakfast with a single rose laid beside it.
“Happy birthday dear Junnie, happy birthday to you~” Soobin leaned over to press a kiss to his cheek, Beomgyu doing the same once he was close enough.
The breakfast platter they prepared consisted of all his favorite pastries (which was easy to do when Yeonjun wasn’t a picky eater) and Yeonjun lit up in glee.
“Are these from the bakery down the street?”
“Only the best for our Yeonjunnie.” Soobin answered cutely, stealing the rose off the tray. “A rose for our rose.”
“Cheesy.” Yeonjun pretended to grimace.
“You’re the one who dyed your hair pink.”
“To match with you!”
Soobin had went on a bit of spiral since they started dating, some of those boy-next-door charms getting lost as Yeonjun and Beomgyu’s influence came to light. He was still Soobin, but with a bit more…style.
Blue was Beomgyu’s idea. He talked Soobin into dying it just after their last year of college. Everything was set in motion, but on the day of the appointment, Soobin grew worried he’d stand out at work. So Yeonjun, like the good boyfriend he was, volunteered to do it with him.
“Pink and blue. Like cotton candy!”
“Maybe I should dye my hair.” Beomgyu lamented, running fingers through his overgrown mane.
“You said you wouldn’t after you had the blond.”
“Maintaining it was such a chore!” Beomgyu shivered as he remembered the hassle. “How about some highlights?”
“They’d suit you.” Soobin said honestly, then his smile turned smirk. “But you know what suit is better.”
Both Beomgyu and Yeonjun had already caught on to his line of thinking. A resounding pair of groans left the two as Soobin finished his lame ass line, “Your birthday suit—Hey! That was a good one.”
“The best, baby.” Yeonjun assured, leaning up to press a kiss to his jaw. “How about you show me yours then?”
Soobin went scarlet. You’d think after nearly a year with these two he’d have grown accustomed to their teasing. No such luck.
“Oh, me too, me too!” Beomgyu bounced onto the bed at their feet, already lifting his t-shirt.
“Now, hold on. What happened to breakfast?”
Soobin was raising the tray away from his lap, placing it off to the side on their bedside table.
“I think there’s something else both of us would rather be eating, isn't that right Gyu?”
“Definitely.”
Yeonjun squealed as he was pushed back down on the bed.