Work Text:
To be honest, Beomgyu was a person who prided himself on living like there was no tomorrow. In fact, he never dreamed of labor. So imagine his surprise when his dreams of being unemployed vanish in the blink of an eye. It all started on his 18th birthday, which, to be honest, he hadn't ever imagined would come, considering the number of times he lived a little too recklessly and had more near-death experiences than one could even count. He had been dreading the fateful day, considering he felt like everything was about to change. For the first time in 5 years, he had been inconsolable and sobbing about what could be. Everything was about to change, but just never in the way he expected.
On the morning of his 18th birthday, he wakes up to the house being uncharacteristically quiet. A little too quiet. It unnerves him, and he goes downstairs only to nearly jump out of his skin when his parents stand there with mischievous smiles on their faces, a massive cake with 'Happy 18th Birthday, Beomgyu' smack in the middle, written hastily and clearly handmade, sitting proudly on their kitchen table.
"Happy birthday, Beomgyu!" His mom yells, popping confetti. Beomgyu screams as the sound assaults his ears, but then he nearly cries. He's a little embarrassed when he remembers how thin their walls are and how they most definitely heard him crying yesterday.
"Happy birthday, Gyu-yah. Make a wish." His dad smiles kindly, pushing the cake towards him. Automatically, his eyes close as he clasps his hands together. It takes him an embarrassingly long time to think of a wish, but then suddenly it comes: I want to have a love like the one in the movies.
His parents smile at him when he opens his eyes, and Beomgyu can’t help but smile back. However, he's quickly brought down to earth when he finds out—
"What do you mean I'm a cupid?!" He screams, almost hysterical, "Is this some kind of sick, cruel joke? Okay, fun's over. You guys can come out now!"
His parents exchange concerned glances, almost communicating telepathically.
"Beomgyu," His father starts, putting a hand on his shoulder in what he probably thinks is a reassuring manner, "I know this is probably a lot for you to process, but cupids aren't just a fairytale or a mythical movie character. They exist, and we're cupids. And you're a cupid now too. Maybe you always thought your good match-making skills were mere coincidence, but it's your calling. And whether you like it or not, I'm afraid you can't just ignore it."
"And why not?" Beomgyu demands, "Will some mysterious entity strike me down?"
"Beomgyu! Why would you say that?" His mother's face pales. "Being a cupid is one of the most rewarding joys of life!"
"But it's still a job! A job that I never wanted. I don't care what you have to do. I'm not doing it." And with that, Beomgyu marches out of the house and slams the door behind him. Completely forgetting he was still in his pajamas until people gave him weird looks, but whatever. He was never going to see these people again.
Admittedly, Beomgyu comes around to it a lot quicker than expected, especially when he hears how much he's being paid. But of course, another part of him was still skeptical. So who else was he to go to but the voice of reason, his best friend since he was practically the womb— (no joke, their parents met in a prenatal class and had been best friends since which naturally extended to their children) Choi Soobin.
"Oh, yeah, it's true," Soobin says, deadpan.
Beomgyu stares at his best friend in shock and horror, utterly dismayed. "This is terrible… I thought mom and dad were playing some kind of weird joke on me."
Soobin raises an eyebrow. "I mean, it's not the worst job in the world. I think it could be fun! At least you're not alone; we're cupids together, right?"
"I guess," Beomgyu grumbles.
—------------
Another day of the same routine had Beomgyu feeling lethargic. He was starting to get tired of witnessing everyone else's love stories. What about him? Where was his own perfect half that would complete him wholly and truly?
Soobin sighs when Beomgyu relays this to him. "Gyu, we've been over this. As cupids, we're doomed to be forever alone. The sooner you make peace with it, the happier you'll be."
Beomgyu scoffs at that. "Like you've ever been a stickler for the rules. Personally, I think we should date and prove them all wrong."
Soobin laughs. "Be serious."
Beomgyu turns to look at him sharply, "I am being serious, though?"
Soobin blushes and bashfully hits his shoulder, "Gyu, come on. Stop playing around. Like we would ever work out."
"And why wouldn't we?"
Soobin sighs as if exasperated, this conversation already making him feel like he's losing brain cells. However, since Beomgyu's his best friend, he feels like he has to entertain this conversation because it's Beomgyu. "We've known each other since we were little."
"Which already makes us perfect! You know everything about me, and I know everything about you. We already have a bond unlike no other, and we don't have to waste time with all the small talk and trying to get to know each other."
"Okay, well, we don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things and bicker a lot. There are a lot of things you like that I can't stand and-"
"Okay, I get it, Soobin. You don't have to make up excuses for why you wouldn't date me.” Beomgyu cuts in, getting up and gathering his things.
"Wait, Gyu, I didn't mean it like that!"
"Then how did you mean it?"
Silence.
"Yeah," Beomgyu laughs bitterly, "That's what I thought."
"Gyu, we can talk about this! Where are you going?"
Beomgyu shrugs and, with that, leaves their apartment and slams the door shut behind him, leaving a bewildered Soobin in his wake. He didn't understand where he'd gone wrong. Beomgyu would always ask questions like that out of the blue, 'Would you still like me if I was a worm?', 'What if I hated Kara? Would you stop being friends with me?' amongst other random things.
And when Soobin would actually entertain him and give him an answer, Beomgyu would laugh and roll his eyes at him, saying, "Hyung, I was just kidding. You don't have to answer so seriously." So, was he so wrong to think this was another one of those moments? Sure, it did seem a bit more serious this time, but Beomgyu? Like him? In a way more than something platonic? He couldn't help but believe it was another test to put him in a situation and observe him like one would an ant under a microscope.
Beomgyu would relentlessly tease him in everything he did. It was a miracle they'd stayed friends all those years, but at the end of the day, Beomgyu was his person—the one person who always enabled him and was always on his side, supporting him and advocating for him even though it was clear to any unbiased party that Soobin was in the wrong.
Honestly, Soobin and Beomgyu always argue about something, and then Beomgyu ends up storming off and blowing him off for a few days. But this time, even as many times as Soobin texted him apologizing and just begging for him to talk to him. He even tried to tempt him by saying he got that new game that Beomgyu had been waiting to be released for over a year, trying to coax him to talk to him. Still, all of his messages remain unread for the next two weeks. Their other mutual friends had yet to hear from him (apparently). Even his parents seemed to have no clue about his whereabouts but reassured Soobin that whatever it was, Beomgyu would come around eventually.
So Soobin worries day and night, missing classes and going to PC rooms to see if he can find Beomgyu there, but sadly, all he finds at one of them are some rookie idols playing together and filming content. He promptly gets chased out apologetically by a kid who probably isn't that much younger than him, who apologizes for the inconvenience and explains that the PC room is closed today due to a reservation. Soobin gives a tight smile and thanks him. He wasn't ever really sure he'd had a type before, but this guy seems like he would fit it. On his way out, he takes note of his name tag, Huening Kai, and commits his face to memory, just in case he never sees him again.
When he finally arrives at his apartment and turns his key in the lock, he's feeling extremely dejected, wondering if a fight like this was truly the end of their friendship. He was willing to grovel and do anything just to be right with Beomgyu again. Sure, they could both be as stubborn as each other and had their pride about them, but more often than not, Soobin would be the first to give in, admit his faults and shortcomings, and their friendship would go back to normal. He's so deep in his pessimistic brooding that he almost doesn't notice another presence in his apartment and grabs the closest thing he can (an umbrella).
"W-who’s there?" He calls out uncertainly.
"Where were you?"
Soobin breathes a sigh of relief at the familiar tone and turns on the light, throwing his umbrella to the side and almost knocking Beomgyu over with the force of his hug. "Get off me!" Beomgyu protests weakly, barely putting any effort into pushing Soobin away.
"I thought I lost you forever, Beomie." He pointedly ignores him and annoyingly squeezes him in an even tighter bear hug. He pulls away only when Beomgyu frantically taps his arm.
Beomgyu breathes a sigh of relief. "It's gonna take a lot more to get rid of me, you big oaf."
"Hey!"
"Anyway, who’s that guy?"
"Huh?"
"The tall blondie you keep seeing…" Beomgyu trails off, embarrassed at how his red cheeks reveal his true feelings.
"Oh, Kai?"
"That's such an ugly name," Beomgyu mutters.
"Huh?"
"I said that's a cute name."
"You'd definitely like him. He reminds me a lot of you, and he's really sweet and kind. He wanted to help me find you."
Beomgyu could feel bile rising in his throat as he took in his best friend’s lovesick puppy-like expression. How many nights did he wish Soobin would have that look in his eyes when talking to or about him? He doesn't want to start a fight, considering he just got back, and a grovel session from Soobin is in order. Still, his overwhelming sense of jealousy, quite frankly very unbecoming of a cupid, can't help but erupt like a volcano would, "Isn't he a human though?" He spits.
The light seems to dim from Soobin's eyes, and Beomgyu feels like an asshole, but it's just not fair. How could Soobin turn him down without a single smidge of remorse and then go and fall for a fickle human at that? Kai could never measure up and understand Soobin the way he did. And if Beomgyu couldn't have him, Kai sure as hell wouldn't get him either. He'd make sure of that.
"Beomgyu, don’t be mad." Soobin placates.
Beomgyu huffs and turns away.
"I'm sorry for hurting your feelings, truly. I didn't know you felt that way about me. I thought it was just a test and-"
"It's really not that deep, Soobin." He sneers, "Just forget about it." There's silence as Beomgyu turns on the TV and loads up a game.
Soobin eventually gives in with a sigh, "Okay, fine. I need to do some grocery shopping. Will you be okay on your own?"
Beomgyu waves a hand dismissively, "Just leave already."
Soobin shoots him another look of concern before grabbing his umbrella and stepping out into the pouring rain. Beomgyu waits a bit before he gets up. Soobin, you're going to love me whether you like it or not. He thinks to himself deviously. As soon as the door slams shut, Beomgyu pauses his game, a plan already coming to mind. HQ might just kill him for this, but he's sure there's some kind of loophole in Cupid Law that will get him out of this.
He throws on a raincoat and dashes out after Soobin, making sure to follow at a far enough distance so that Soobin doesn't suspect anything. He feels a little silly now that he's out in the chilly Seoul air at night, but he can't back out now. His mom didn't raise a quitter (although he quits anything he's not immediately good at, he wants to live a stress-free life). So he tries to stay as innocuously hidden as possible as he trails Soobin and eventually ducks into a bush when he can sense Soobin turning, almost as if he knows he's being followed.
Soobin stops briefly, and Beomgyu watches the gears turn in his head. He looks around before he shrugs and keeps on walking. As Soobin approaches the grocery store, Beomgyu hurriedly fumbles for his arrows in his bag and gets ready to aim the first one. He can't let this one chance get away from him. Watching closely through one closed eye, he prepares to take a shot and lets it go. He smiles as the arrow lands right in the middle of his back, a very satisfactory shot if he does say so himself.
When he stands from the bush, however, he realizes that it is NOT, in fact, Soobin, but some random ass (handsome) man. Unconsciously, he lets out a little gasp. This guy must have the ears of a bat because he turns sharply in his direction. Oh no, Beomgyu thinks, his thoughts starting to spiral. This can't be good. I've ruined my chances of finally getting Soobin to fall for me. HQ is going to kill me! What if I robbed this guy of his soulmate?
"…-llo?" A voice breaks Beomgyu out of his spiral, and he can't help but gasp again when he realizes the stranger is closer than he thought. He can't help but rove his gaze over the stranger's face as if committing it to memory. His plump heart shape, lips, and feline eyes make everything about him perfect. The stranger's beautiful face now melds into a frown, making his lips naturally pouty and a little like a duck, with a furrow in his brow that makes his forehead wrinkle. Beomgyu wants to smooth it out so badly, but he doesn't want to weird him out any more than he probably already is.
An uncharacteristic giggle makes its way out of Beomgyu's mouth, which he quickly quiets by slapping a hand over his mouth and looking again at the stranger. Great, he's definitely weirded him out now. He looks extremely concerned. These arrows work fast, huh?
"Um, h-hi." Beomgyu tucks a strand of hair behind his ears and bats his lashes. Beomgyu, snap out of it. He tells himself. This is so embarrassing. He wishes the ground would swallow him whole.
"Hi... I asked if you were okay? You just kind of emerged from that bush. Are you safe? Are you running away from someone? Do you sleep here?" The stranger talks about a million miles a minute, and Beomgyu can already feel himself getting a migraine. He puts a hand up to silence the stranger and stops his rambling, taking a step back.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He lies, "I just dropped something in the bushes and was looking for it. You don't have to worry about me."
The stranger looks skeptical. "Okaaaay, if you say so."
Beomgyu nods, "Uh huh! I'm sure!"
"Well, do you live around here?"
"Oh, not too far-"
"Great. Let me walk you back."
"Oh, you really don't have to-"
"You shouldn't walk around by yourself at night. You don't know what kind of people you'll run into." His tone is no-nonsense, and Beomgyu, for some reason, feels compelled to obey, but he's not that easy.
"I said it's fine.” He argues back. "I'm a black belt in Taekwondo. These people have nothing on me, trust me."
"Lead the way."
"Are you serious? How do I know if I can even trust you? What if you're one of those said strangers, huh?"
"My name is Choi Yeonjun, and I'm 25 years old. I work as a model for Bighit Models."
"Okay? What am I supposed to say? Congratulations?"
Yeonjun rolls his eyes, "You brat. By the way, I'm giving away personal information about myself, which you could literally misuse to a stranger. Huening Kai would kill me if he knew I was being this careless."
"Okay. Thanks, I guess. Wait, your manager is Kai ?"
"Oh? You know him?" Yeonjun's interest is piqued.
"Kinda? I know him through a friend of a friend." Beomgyu lies with a smile, praying that Yeonjun buys it.
Yeonjun nods, "Right, okay. And you are?"
"Doesn’t matter."
Yeonjun rolls his eyes again, "I gave you my name and told you practically everything you need to know about me. The least you could do is tell me your name."
"Not everything."
"Huh?"
"You didn’t tell me your social security number."
"You’re pushing it."
"Fine. It’s Gyu."
"Gyu…?"
"Choi Gyu. That’s all you’re getting from me."
"Fine. We have the same surname, though. What are the odds?"
Beomgyu scoffs, "I mean, so does my best friend. You're not special."
"Oh?"
"Whatever. If you're going to walk me home, you'll have to catch up with me first." And with that, Beomgyu takes off running. When he looks behind him, Yeonjun is already hot on his trail. Beomgyu shakes his head and continues to run.
They arrive at his and Soobin's apartment in no time. "Well, this is me," Beomgyu says with a weak smile.
Yeonjun looks around in awe. "What kinda work do you do to afford to live in a neighborhood like this?"
Beomgyu shrugs. He fumbles in his pocket to find his keys but can't find them. As if he sensed his presence, Soobin throws open the door, arms folded crossly. "And what time do you call this?" He fusses.
Beomgyu gives his best puppy eyes, "Sorry, Binnie hyung, Yeonjun kept me longer than expected."
Soobin furrows his brows, and then his eyes land on the stranger. His eyes widen. "Gyu, get inside."
Beomgyu looks between the two, confused. "Huh?"
"Now, Beomgyu." Beomgyu huffs and pushes past Soobin, his bedroom door slamming shut.
"What I do?" Yeonjun asks innocently.
"Stay away from him." Soobin hisses.
"Wait, do you know me?"
The door slams in Yeonjun's face before he can even get in a word edgeways. Huh. What a weird day. But whatever, he'll just brush it off. Although, he is a little miffed by that reaction. He may be a little more well-known nowadays, but he's never met a hater in real life.
When Soobin turns around, Beomgyu sits on their couch, arms folded, looking like an angry puppy. "What the hell was that, Choi Soobin." He demands through gritted teeth.
"Stay away from him," Soobin warns.
"But why?" Beomgyu whines, "He's nice, if not a little weird, but he's harmless! Did you know his manager is Kai?" He teases.
Soobin blanches at that. "Poor guy."
"Is Yeonjun really that bad?"
Soobin sighs, "He's HQ’s worst nightmare, seriously."
Beomgyu unfolds his arms and crosses his legs, pulling his feet up, now intrigued. "Oh? How so?"
Soobin sighs before turning to face Beomgyu. "He got nicknamed the demon of heartbreak." He says in a whisper. "Seriously, his reputation proceeds him. He's the worst person ever, and you can't fall for him. I don't want you to end up like everyone else he’s dated."
Beomgyu laughs, "Are you sure you're not just cooking up some story to keep me away from him because you guys dated? You know I wouldn't go after one of your exes."
Soobin huffs. "No, it’s really true. Ask anyone." He pulls out his phone and types 'Choi Yeonjun' into Twitter. Almost immediately, different news publications and hit tweets people have made about the model appear.
Pannchoa: Knets are once again protesting that Bighit Models should drop model Choi Yeonjun after another confession from an ex-fiancée goes viral on theqoo.
Koreaboo: Behind BigHit’s Playboy model Choi Yeonjun - the nation's heartthrob and heartbreaker
Hani (@fxhvhj265): Fxxck, did you guys hear about Choi Yeonjun's breakup with Hong Yeaji? Why does that loser keep dating if he's going to break up almost a week later? They were even engaged, but he broke it off for 'personal reasons'? What a joke. Hey, Choi Yeonjun, don't you have any shame? Just be single until you die KKKk
AllKpop: BigHit Model Choi Yeonjun once again goes viral as influencer ex-girlfriend Jeon Min-ji posts a letter on Instagram claiming he's a shitty boyfriend who only cares about himself
Soompi: Who is Choi Yeonjun? South Korea’s Nationwide Heartthrob Heartbreaker
Ayeon (@ayeonluvsu): Can anyone even save Choi Yeonjun? I worry that he is on the road to destruction. Guys, please don't misunderstand. I'm a fan of his, too, but his behavior is extremely concerning… F*ck, why doesn't BigHit do anything about this!? They just let him get hated on and stay silent. They posted the notice about suing for defamation, but nothing happened. Isn't Yeonjun also preparing to debut as a soloist? His reputation is already so poor I'm worried about him. Is it possible to bounce back from such scandals?
Beomgyu takes a second to process all this new information. It may be naïve of him, but he wasn't getting that impression from Yeonjun. As if sensing his thoughts, Soobin cuts in, "Oh no, no, no, girl, don't even think about it."
"But I can fix him!" Beomgyu whines.
"Yeah, right. I'm serious, Beomgyu. He's bad news.”
Beomgyu cracks his knuckles and tilts his head until he hears a satisfying crack.
"Gross, you know I hate when you do that!"
"Whatever, you've always known that I like myself a little challenge."
—------------
Despite Soobin's warnings that Beomgyu has pushed to the far back of his mind, he continues to observe Yeonjun (but from a distance). Of course, his pride was still hurt, being rejected by his self-proclaimed soulmate and all, but something about Yeonjun drew him in like a moth to a flame. He couldn't help but be fascinated by him and wanting to peel back his complex layers like one would an onion to lay him bare and discover the truth about him.
In his eyes, Yeonjun was misunderstood, just like him. He saw a lot of himself in the older. Despite the bad reputation that precedes him when it comes to his love life, he treats everyone around him with respect, and Beomgyu bears witness to it. Like the time he happens to find himself at the airport, and as luck would have it, Yeonjun saunters through the airport, no doubt just having disembarked from his flight and followed by a mob of fans screaming his name. The way he walks commands attention, and Beomgyu, who is never really one to ever get speechless, can't help but watch from behind a pillar.
He sees the star accept gifts and interact with fans who are a little too close for comfort with a gentle smile, happily posing for pictures before security steps in and ushers him away. In another instance, he's just sat down with his food at an all-you-can-eat buffet when in strolls in Yeonjun with his entourage. He can't help but eavesdrop and discreetly move himself closer to find out what's going on.
He finds out that Yeonjun is out celebrating something called a "First Win" and announces to the patrons that everything is on him today, to which he gets a resounding cheer that ripples through the restaurant, everyone excited to find out that their bill is being footed for free. The atmosphere at Yeonjun's table is very easy-going. He's happily cracking jokes and interacting very animatedly with everyone.
No one seems uneasy or like they want to go home, and Beomgyu can't help but feel more confident now that Soobin and HQ are most definitely wrong about Yeonjun. There's clearly more to him than he's supposed to know. Beomgyu is determined to uncover the truth about him, even if he suffers greatly. He can't help but think that someone who treats everyone around him so well could be as bad as the supposed legendary stories about him.
—------------
"Binnie hyung," Beomgyu sidles up to his friend, who is currently watching some anime on the TV, making sure his tone is sickly sweet.
Soobin looks at him once before looking right back at the TV and saying, "No," in a deadpan tone.
"What the fuck! You haven't even heard me out yet!" He can't help but stomp his feet childishly.
"Whenever you try to butter me up before asking anything, I already know nothing good is coming from whatever scheme you wanna rope me into," Soobin retorts.
"Let's go out tonight." Beomgyu powers through, not one to be deterred.
Soobin, knowing he must regrettably accept his fate, pauses his show and (finally) gives Beomgyu his full attention. "Go where."
"Yeonjun's party!"
"Oh, absolutely not,"
"What if I told you Huening Kai was gonna be there?" He's playing dirty, he knows, but he needs to see Yeonjun.
Immediately, he straightens his posture at the mere mention of him, hearts practically shining in his lit-up eyes. Pathetic. Beomgyu thinks, feeling a sick twist of dread in the pit of his stomach, but pushes it down. Seriously, what does fuck ass Huening Kai have that I don't?
"You should've just said that! Of course, I'll go!" And before Beomgyu can even blink, Soobin dashes upstairs, most likely to get himself ready. You're too easy. Beomgyu thinks, smirking as he hears the shower turn on upstairs.
—------------
By the time the pair arrive, dressed to the nines, the party is in full swing, and the doorman(?) bouncer(?), whoever the guy was, had no qualms about letting them in. The moment he took in the pair, he let them through with no preamble. It was clearly an event to host A-list celebrities (who Beomgyu could care less about). Still, Soobin would excitedly point out some of his favorite celebrities that, until now, he'd only had the pleasure of seeing on the big screen. Beomgyu pretends to pay attention, but he only cares about seeing Yeonjun.
Just then, Soobin gasps, and Beomgyu is at attention, "What?"
Soobin nudges him, "Holy shit, it's Huening Kai," He breathes.
Beomgyu can feel his mood souring in real-time when his name is mentioned, but he tries to put aside his ill feelings to play the role of a supportive best friend.
"You should go and talk to him!" He simpers.
Soobin turns to him with shining eyes. Again, Beomgyu's heart pangs, and he can't help but feel a sense of injustice. Why can't you look at me like that?
"Really?" Soobin asks eagerly, metaphorical tail thumping against the shiny marble floor.
"Mmm. I'm sure he'd love to see you," Beomgyu replies through painfully gritted teeth. Soobin doesn't ask again and dashes in his direction, leaving Beomgyu to resign himself to the kitchen and nurse a bottle of wine he'd found in the fridge. After a while, he gets bored and decides to see if he can find Yeonjun when he suddenly bumps into a firm chest and nearly spills the contents of his drink on the poor stranger. The apology on his lips dies instantly when he looks up to see Yeonjun himself.
"We meet again," He says in lieu of a greeting.
"Huh, I guess we do," Beomgyu replies meekly, ducking his head in an uncharacteristically shy manner and trying to will his beating heart to calm down.
"Where’s your friend?"
"Huh? Oh… Binnie hyung. He's probably with Kai." He deflates visibly, and Yeonjun feels a weird sensation in his chest.
"You don't look very happy," He says carefully, not wanting to set him off and cause a scene at his own celebratory party for his successful solo debut.
Beomgyu huffs, "It’s whatever, I guess."
"Ah, I got it."
"Got what?"
"You like him, right? This Binnie guy."
"What?" He sputters. "No way! He's my best friend, and we've known each other since we were little. Why would you- why would you even think that…" He trails off, words already losing ammo as they sound less and less convincing even to him.
Yeonjun chuckles at that, "Dude, I wasn't born yesterday. I can see how you seem to have this glow about you when you talk about him. You can't fool me."
"Whatever. So I like him. He already rejected me. I have to give up and accept that I have no chance with him."
"Oh?"
"What do you mean 'oh'?"
"Who says you have to give up?"
Beomgyu shoots him a withering look. "If it was gonna happen between us, it would've happened by now."
Yeonjun gives him a look of mock pity, "I guess you just don't want it bad enough."
"Fuck off. You don't know me."
"You're right. I don't, but you're already so predictable."
"Am not."
"Anyway, what if I told you there was a way to get him to fall for you?"
"Have you met Binnie?"
"Briefly, when he oh so kindly slammed your apartment door in my face. I could've sued him for emotional damages, but well. He seems like a joy to be around." Yeonjun replies sarcastically.
Beomgyu turns over his preposition in his head, and Yeonjun smirks, seeing the gears turn in his head. What do I have to lose at this point? I've already come so far. What's one more shot at this before really giving up on him? He shakes his head as if those thoughts would dissipate too before returning to himself and narrowing his eyes at the older, "What's in it for you?" He asks. Because as much as he wants to give Yeonjun the benefit of the doubt, he also knows that those stories circulating the internet must have some semblance of truth to them. Otherwise, his company would've done everything possible to shut down the claims, considering he was their biggest money-maker.
Yeonjun puts his hands up in surrender, "Nothing. What's wrong with having a bit of fun?"
"I guess… Okay, so what's your big idea then?"
"What if you make him jealous?"
"Soobin doesn't get jealous. If he did, I would've tried that ages ago."
Yeonjun's smile seems to sharpen around the edges, and Beomgyu feels a shiver run down his spine. It feels sinister now, and he feels like prey caught in the trap set for him by a predator. "But if you threw me into the mix, he'd definitely feel something. Since he thinks I'm not good for you or whatever, wouldn't he be forced to confront if he really feels something for you if he feels like I'm stealing you away?"
Beomgyu thinks it over, imagining how Soobin would react to seeing them hanging out and getting closer and likes what he conjures up in his mind. "Okay, fine. We'll try it your way. But if this backfires somehow and doesn't work, you owe me."
Yeonjun looks over at something and smirks, "Oh, it'll work, alright. And perfect timing, Soobin's here."
"Huh?" Beomgyu tries to turn, but Yeonjun snakes an arm around his waist, and he melts, his touch feeling like a branding iron.
Yeonjun leans in closer, and Beomgyu gets a whiff of his cologne, making him feel dizzy. His head spins, "Shh, just play along. He's coming over. Pretend I just said the funniest thing ever and laugh."
Beomgyu feels weird, but as Yeonjun commands, the moment Yeonjun opens his mouth, he pretends he just told the funniest joke and almost doubles over as he laughs. He can see Yeonjun look quite chuffed with himself from the corner of his eye.
Before long, he's practically ripped from Yeonjun's warmth by a familiar presence and pulled behind Soobin's back. Soobin glowers at Yeonjun, "What the hell are you doing? Stay away from Beomie, Yeonjun. I'm warning you."
Yeonjun looks like the pinnacle of innocence as he makes himself look as small and pathetic as possible. "I didn't do anything. We were just talking."
Before Soobin can interject and give Yeonjun a piece of his mind, Huening Kai seems to materialize and clutches at his knees, breathing heavily. The trio turns to look at him. He gestures to give him a minute before standing and pushes up his specs to sit comfortably on his nose. "Wh-what's going on here?" He pants.
"Hueningie," Yeonjun moans dramatically, dashing to grab onto his arm like a damsel in distress and almost wailing, "Save me. Your boyfriend came and attacked me for no reason!"
The pair blush profusely. 'What the fuck are you doing?' Beomgyu mouths at him, but Yeonjun just winks.
"He-he's not my boyfriend, hyung. What the fuck." Kai breathes out, punching his arm, "Shut up."
—------------
Beomgyu is almost halfway out the door when Soobin calls out, "Where are you going?"
Beomgyu sighs and yells back, "I'm going out with Yeonjun hyung!"
Soobin is next to him in a flash. "You can't."
"Why not?"
"He-he's bad news!"
"Thanks for your concern, but I'm old enough to make my own decisions, hyung," Beomgyu replies curtly. Soobin's eyes flicker with hurt, but Beomgyu doesn't allow him another word before he steps out of the door and lets it slam behind him.
He's still in a bad mood when he finally reaches the cafe where he's meant to meet Yeonjun, who can immediately tell that something happened the moment they make eye contact. He wordlessly pulls out a chair for him, and Beomgyu plops himself down, not even trying to hide his annoyance.
"What happened?"
"What do you think? Soobin heard we were meeting up today and tried to stop me."
Yeonjun nods sagely, "It sounds like it's already working."
"I doubt it. Soobin just gets weird when it comes to you."
"If you say so."
Beomgyu feels his phone vibrate in his pocket and sighs tiredly as he pulls it out and checks who tried to contact him. He rolls his eyes when he sees Soobin's name on the lock screen.
Binnie hyung: Do you need me to come there?
Binnie hyung: You should've at least let me come with you
Binnie hyung: I heard it's going to rain. Make sure you have an umbrella or buy one from the convenience store.
Binnie hyung: Beomie, please don't be mad at me. I'm just looking out for you.
Binnie hyung: Stay safe
Mom: When are you bringing a boyfriend or girlfriend home? We don't judge, honey
He rolls his eyes and giggles at the message that comes in from his mom, shaking his head.
"Who was that?"
"Just Soobin, and then my mom said something crazy. I'm fine, though, don't worry."
—------------
"You're going out with him again?"
Beomgyu exhales slowly before turning around to face a clearly pissed-off Soobin, "Good evening to you too, Soobin."
"I seriously don't understand what you see in him. You've been seeing that man every day for the past two weeks now. I barely see you at home anymore. It's like I don't even have a roommate anymore!"
"Well, you have Kai, so."
Soobin's eyebrows furrow in confusion, "What does Kai have to do with this? You're still my best friend, and we literally live together. I don't even know the last time we hung out together!'
Beomgyu continues to get ready for his outing as if Soobin had never spoken and grabs his scarf from their coat rack before putting on his boots. He and Yeonjun were going ice skating today.
"Hello?" Soobin snaps.
Beomgyu rolls his eyes, "Just stay out of my business, Soobin. Go hang out with Kai or something and leave me alone."
—------------
The pair skate in silence, a clear contrast to happy couples on the ice soaking up each other's company and holding hands, evident love that can be seen from even the highest skyscrapers.
Yeonjun skates to Beomgyu and lightly playfully nudges his shoulder, "Something on your mind?"
Beomgyu sighs as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. "I’m starting to feel like maybe this was a bad idea."
"Oh? Did something happen with you and Soobin?"
"Ugh, don't get me started. I don’t even know. He's already so weird when it comes to you, but these days, he's so standoffish. He doesn't even mention you by name anymore. It's weird because when I bring you up, he instantly changes the topic, and he looks like he just sucked on a lemon and-"
"But isn't this what you wanted?" Yeonjun interjects.
"I mean, I guess? But I don't know, it just doesn't feel as satisfying as I thought it would."
Yeonjun shrugs, "I mean, at least it's working. He doesn't really mention Kai these days, right?"
"Not unless I bring him up first."
"Kai hasn't really talked about Soobin in a while either. But then again, since I'm getting more schedules and opportunities these days, he's been putting in overtime at the company. I feel a little bad, though. It's clearly more than he ever expected when he first became my manager," Yeonjun scratches his neck sheepishly as the cold brings out the redness in his cheeks.
Beomgyu giggles. "You're so mean, flexing about you being a top star like that to a non-celebrity."
Yeonjun pretends to be wounded, "You hate meeee."
"I don't think I could ever hate you." And with those words hanging in the air, Beomgyu realizes how true that statement is. It feels a little too raw and authentic to throw out there, and it's as if Yeonjun feels a shift in tone as he stops smiling. They both look at each other for a while as if stuck in a trance, the world coming to a standstill before Yeonjun seems to snap himself out of it, and their bubble is broken as he clears his throat.
"Right. Anyway. It's getting late. I should probably get you home before Kai or, even worse, Soobin has my head."
Beomgyu nods, and they skate a little longer before finally stepping off the ice. Yeonjun doesn't even think before helping Beomgyu to untie his skates, and Beomgyu's breath catches in his throat. What are we even doing? He thinks. It feels dangerous now, the way Yeonjun naturally looks after him before he does himself. It's like they're playing the role of a couple now a little too well, and Beomgyu's fragile heart is starting to confuse this as something real.
—------------
They drive back to Beomgyu and Soobin's shared apartment in silence, nothing playing on the radio, just the sound of Yeonjun's car on the icy road, and the sound of muted traffic outside. As soon as Yeonjun pulls up to Beomgyu's apartment complex and turns off the engine, he wordlessly exits the car first as if on autopilot and walks over to the other side to open the car door for Beomgyu. "Thanks," Yeonjun nods with a tight smile and walks him to the front door.
"So today was fun–"
"I don’t think I can do this anymore."
"Oh. Wait, what?"
Yeonjun nods as if trying to convince himself. "Yeah, this was fun and all, but I think this," He gestures between the both of them,"Has to end."
"What the hell are you talking about, Choi Yeonjun?" Beomgyu can feel himself about to explode. Just who does he think he is?
But Yeonjun doesn't answer.
"What the fuck?"
"Good night, Beomgyu." And with that, Yeonjun starts back to his car, not even sparing Beomgyu a second glance despite him yelling after him and raining curses down on his head. Beomgyu continues to scream and shout until Yeonjun is but a dot in the distance. And like that, he feels his strength leave him, completely depleted, as he sinks to the ground knees first. His heart aches, and tears rush to his tear ducts and form pretty pearls on the ground. It hurts. It hurts so much. He feels like someone just ripped his heart out and put it in a blender. He never knew he could feel pain like this. Even a broken arm would hurt less than this. And to make matters worse, the heavens open, and down comes a torrent of rain. Beomgyu howls all the louder as he turns his gaze skywards, begging for someone, anyone, to put him out of his misery.
As if summoned, Soobin is suddenly right there. "Beomie…" He takes in his distressed state, and when Beomgyu looks at him with tearful red-rimmed eyes, he feels his heart shatter in two. "It's okay, you can rest now." He whispers as he bundles him up in a blanket and carries him princess-style back to their apartment.
He manages to unlock the door one-handed and lays Beomgyu on their couch, tucking him in and drying his hair as best as he can. Beomgyu genuinely looks quite angelic when he sleeps, which Soobin had never noticed until tonight. He seems free of worries and looks even more youthful. But as he observes his best friend in the state that Yeonjun was no doubt responsible for, he can't help but feel murderous.
Beomgyu was strong, independent, and slightly overbearing at times, but that was his charm. No one deserved to be able to take that away from him. Sure, he may have warned Beomgyu about him a dozen times, but that didn't mean he wanted his best friend, his soulmate, someone who truly meant everything to him, to be reduced to this state by a man no less.
Just as Soobin grabs his phone, ready to give Yeonjun a piece of his mind through Kai, his phone starts ringing. "Turn it off,” Beomgyu whines sleepily, turning over and covering his ears with his hands. Soobin apologizes and steps out of the sitting room to go to the kitchen. When he sees Hyuka on the caller ID, he quickly picks up. "Just the person I wanted to speak to."
"Hyung. Um, is Beomgyu hyung with you?"
"Yeah? Why?"
"Whatever you do, please make sure he doesn't check his phone and lays low for a few days. I'm really sorry Soobin hyung."
"What are you talking about?"
"You haven't seen the news?"
"What news?" Soobin puts Kai on speaker and frantically scrolls on his homepage until he gets to Twitter. His fingers shake as they hover over the app, and he has to take a deep breath before finally pressing it. The moment he does, he feels sick to his stomach.
Pannchoa: Knets react to new viral video of YEONJUN mistreating new alleged ex-girlfriend
Koreaboo: SHOCKING! Yeonjun Leaves New Ex-Girlfriend In Tears Near Apartment!
AllKpop: #Yeonjun leaves netizens shocked once again by shocking ruthless behavior to ex-girlfriend!
Rui (@tokkirui): Aigoo… Yeonjun-ah, you've really done it now… It gets to a point where you have to accept you're the problem.
Hina (@hinabina): Eh? Isn't that “girlfriend” a guy, though? He looks familiar…
ㄴ Heol! Since when was homosexuality allowed in this country ㅠㅠ
ㄴ Replying to @hinabina: You're right. I definitely know him. We went to high school together.
ㄴ Lol, stop lying.
ㄴ @bamgyuuu < I'm sure that's him lol. It's the same username on Instagram. He's definitely posted that outfit on his account before
ㄴ It's really him… How the fuck did he land Yeonjun wtfffff
ㄴ Their visuals are unmatched, though… I would fall for him, too. It's a shame Yeonjun can't treat anyone right, man or woman. Bighit needs to terminate his contract.
ㄴ I feel bad for his handsome manager ㅠㅠ He must be working overtime because his artist is a mess… Fighting manager-nim…
Bubbles (@bubbles4hanni) {Video attached} BRO IS CRASHING OUT LOLLLLLLL TS IS SO CRAZY LMAO
ㄴ HAVE SOME SHAME! HE IS NOT WORTH IT… GIRL, YOU NEED TO STAND UPPP!! CRYING OVER YEONJUN LIKE BFFR
The more comments he reads, the sicker he feels. He eventually has to stop and exit the app with a shaky exhale. "Soobin hyung? Are you still there?" Kai’s voice feels so far away, and he can hear phones faintly ringing from his side. No doubt reporters are calling to confirm these rumors.
"Y-yeah. I'm still here, what the fuck."
"I'm seriously so sorry, hyung. I wish I could make it better. Ah, I really have to go now. Reporters keep calling me. I'm so, so sorry. Please ensure Beomgyu hyung privates all his SNS accounts for now or deletes them since so many people are digging for him right now. I wish there were something more I could do. Again, I sincerely apologize." And with that, the line goes dead.
Soobin looks over at Beomgyu's sleeping form again and can't help but feel helpless in this situation. He should've been more diligent in protecting him. He should've insisted harder and pulled out all the stops to make sure he couldn't start anything with Yeonjun. He feels an overwhelming amount of dread and failure for being a hyung who couldn’t even protect his dongsaeng from the horrors of the internet.
He tiptoes over to Beomgyu’s side to grab his phone. The screen lights up, and he feels even worse seeing the long string of notifications from Twitter, unknown numbers wishing death on him, 'old friends' hurling insults at him, others even asking if he could get them an autograph from Yeonjun or saying they didn't know he was gay. But the most heartbreaking messages came from his parents. Frantic messages begging Beomgyu to call them and that they hope he's okay following the news. This wouldn't do. Soobin couldn't just do nothing.
He knows Beomgyu would probably resent him once he found out. Still, as advised, he completely deletes Beomgyu’s social media accounts, and once he's deleted the influx of messages (so many more are still coming in), he takes out the SIM Card. He powers the phone off, pocketing it and praying that Beomgyu wouldn't be too mad at him. It's difficult for him to sleep that night, guilt gnawing at him, his mind plaguing him with reminders of how much he failed to protect his so-called best friend. He does eventually manage to fall asleep, but nightmares plague his sleep, all of them ending with him losing Beomgyu in some way.
"Hyung,"
Soobin groans as he turns over, "Just five more minutes… I'll get up for school soon," He murmurs. He yelps when his covers get yanked off him and expose his feet to the cool breeze of their chilly apartment and his face is suddenly exposed to the sunlight. "Ugh," He groans, covering his face with his arm. "Too bright."
"Hyung, get up." Beomgyu tries again.
"Mmm… Don't wanna."
And suddenly, Soobin finds himself on the floor. He's more than awake now, his eyes flying open.
"What the hell?"
"Hyung, have you seen my phone? I've looked for it everywhere."
"Maybe you lost it? I don't remember seeing your phone on you when you came home last night." He lies through his teeth, "We can buy you a new one later."
"Oh, okay. You look like shit, by the way."
Beomgyu narrowly avoids a pillow being thrown at his head as he leaves Soobin to stew in his thoughts some more.
Breakfast is an ordeal in itself. Soobin notices how worn down Beomgyu looks. He's not exactly in the mood to make small talk either, but he knows he has to say something. Anything. He's saved from trying to find the words by Beomgyu himself. "You were right." He says quietly, spoon loudly scraping his cereal bowl as he quickly shovels a mouthful of cereal into his mouth.
"About?"
"Him. Gosh, do you really have to make me say it out loud? It's like you have some sick kind of kink for me humiliating myself."
"I didn’t mean it like that. I'm sorry, Gyu. It was a long night, and I didn't sleep well."
"Oh, sorry for jumping the gun, I guess."
"It’s okay."
Silence.
"Are you not gonna tell me 'I told you so'?" Beomgyu pushes.
"No? Why would I? Do you want me to?"
"Crazy. The Soobin I know would loveeee to rub it in my face."
Soobin rubs a hand over his face tiredly. "I told you so." He replies flatly, "Happy now?"
"Eh. Not really, but I'll take it."
More silence.
"I guess I just don't understand what you were thinking," Soobin says finally.
"And there it is…"
"I mean, you clearly wanted to talk about it, so we are. You already knew how it would end for you. You can't change someone who isn't willing to change even a little bit."
"I wasn't even seeing him in the first place!"
"Huh?"
"You're so dense, holy fuck! I never fucking got over you. Yeonjun and I were only 'dating' to make you jealous." Beomgyu bursts.
"I-I don't understand."
"That's how it started. But I don't know, the more time I spent with him, the more I started to get over you, and that's when I realized that holy shit, maybe I actually like Yeonjun. I didn't even get to tell him because he's like a bloodhound and sniffed out my feelings before me. He just broke it off without a single regard for me. The way he looked at me, I'd never seen that side of him before, as if we were nothing. As if I were nothing. And it hurt, Bin. It hurt so fucking much I wanted to die."
"Holy shit… I'm going to kill him."
"Why bother? It wouldn't bode well for HQ if one of their cupids turned out to be murderous. I'll be fine, hyung. I'll get over it. Eventually."
"He's such a piece of shit. I can't believe him."
"You can, though. You knew what he was like. It was my fault for falling for his charms. I hate how easy it is to love him. Even now, I just want to go back to him and grovel for forgiveness. I'm so pathetic."
Soobin rushes over to his side and envelops him in a warm hug, "Don't say that, Gyu. You are not pathetic for falling for someone. It may be against the rules, but falling in love isn't a crime."
Beomgyu can't help the tears that well up in his eyes, and his nose embarrassingly starts to run. He sniffs and laughs, "I wasn't expecting that from you, hyung."
Soobin pulls away and rolls his eyes, "Hey, you know how good I am at giving advice. I'm not the therapy friend for no reason."
—------------
Over the next few days, the pair of cupids spend almost every waking moment together, playing games, binging new animes and dramas released, and basking in each other's company. Soobin takes care of the groceries or ordering in and is relieved when Beomgyu doesn't question where his phone is or try to leave the house at all. He knows they can't stay like this forever, but he's just enjoying it for now.
He's made sure to hide Beomgyu's phone somewhere where he'd never find it and is content with how things are more or less back to normal between them. He can't help but feel responsible and wishes he loved Beomgyu the way he once loved him, but unfortunately, his heart belonged to another. As if he knew Soobin had been thinking about him, his phone chimed with a text. Beomgyu was so engrossed in this new drama that they were binging together to tease him, so he discreetly picked up his phone to check the notification on the lock screen.
Hyuka: You're still home, right? Could you spare some time?
Me: Time? What for?
Hyuka: I'm here with Yeonjun.
Me: What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you bring him here after the mess he's caused?
Hyuka: I know it looks bad, but I promise he's been feeling extremely remorseful about how he treated Beomgyu hyung. He only wants to apologize and explain himself!
Me: Go home. I can't believe you, Kai. Why would you even think it would be a good idea for that man to see Beomgyu? You have no idea what he's gone through at the hands of your careless artist. I had to pick up the pieces and try my best to get him back to himself, and now you wanna undo all that progress? Fuck you, don't contact me ever again.
Hyuka: Hyung! It's really not like that, I swear! Please hear me out!
He sees the text bubble appear, then disappear, reappear, and disappear again, and decides he's had enough. He blocks Kai impulsively and locks his phone with an agitated huff.
"You good, Binnie hyung?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, it was just spam. Nothing important, we can go back to watching now."
The drama they're watching is reaching its climax when a sudden loud bang startles them so much they grab each other for dear life. "What the fuck! We're so gonna die… I didn't even get to tell my parents I loved them for the last time," Beomgyu blubbers.
"My Kara albums and figurines… I'm doomed…"
"I promise you, no one cares about either of those things, hyung."
"You don't know that! What if they're a Kara fan and also big into anime?”
"Could you be serious for once in your life?"
Another loud bang causes them to squeal and hold onto each other even tighter. Soobin's phone starts to ring, and an unknown number flashes on the screen, "H-hello?" He tries to put on a brave front, but the way his voice wavers gives him away.
"Hyung, open the door. We're outside." Kai says before hanging up.
"Chat, are we cooked?"
"Who taught you that?"
"I see it all the time on Twitter. Why?"
Soobin rolls his eyes, "Of course, I should've known. And anyway, no, it's Kai. He's outside."
Beomgyu blanches at that but says nothing.
"Stay here. I'll go and see what he wants."
He makes his way to the door as slowly as possible, prolonging the short distance because he doesn't want to see either of them right now. So after psyching himself up, he unbolts the door, twists the lock, and opens the door. His heart already betrays him the moment he sees Kai, but he's quickly brought back to himself when he sees an unsure-looking Yeonjun right behind him. He takes a second to take him in. Surprisingly, he looks entirely devoid of life, almost sickly, and he feels bad for him. Almost. But remembering how much Beomgyu suffered by his doing, he doesn’t feel a lick of sympathy for him. "Kai." He says shortly, "And co." He extends his distaste for the older male as his only acknowledgment that he exists.
"Hi, Soobin hyung. I'm sorry if I scared you, but Yeonjun hyung really wants to apologize sincerely to Beomgyu for his behavior and offer an explanation. I know it's really a tall ask considering what happened a few weeks ago, but please hear him out just this once." Kai pleads, grabbing Soobin's hands and turning on his best puppy eyes to the max. And Soobin, always weak to such displays, can already feel his resolve melting.
"It's not up to me."
"Hyung, what's taking you so long?" Beomgyu says from behind him, and Soobin stiffens. He peers over his shoulder curiously and nearly faints when he sees Yeonjun. "What is he doing here?"
"I promise I had no idea they'd both show up. They're just leaving, I swear."
"Wait!" Yeonjun cries.
"I don't want to talk to you," Beomgyu says coldly, already turning away from the door and starting to make his way back into the apartment. He gasps, however, when Yeonjun manages to reach and clasp his arm. It's like electricity flows through them both.
"What the hell was that?" Beomgyu demands, turning to Soobin after he shakes himself free.
"I have no idea…"
"Beomgyu, please. I know I'm asking for a lot. You don't have to forgive me, but please just hear me out this once. If you never want to see me again, I get it. But I don't think I'll be able to forgive myself if I don't tell you the truth.”
Beomgyu, unfortunately, feels himself softening and turns back to look at Yeonjun. And he really does look terrible. Deep eye bags, skin pulled taut, he seems as though he's aged considerably, and he doesn't look like the Yeonjun who's the life of the party. His appearance now scares him, but a sick part of him feels like maybe this is his karma for messing with a cupid. "Fine. But make it quick."
Which is how they find themselves sitting at a swing set in a secluded kid’s park. Yeonjun assures him that no one knows about this place, and despite his lack of disguise, there's no way they'll be photographed or recorded here. Beomgyu is skeptical, but for the sake of keeping the peace, he goes along with it.
Yeonjun shudders out a breath as he looks down at his feet. He doesn't dare to look Beomgyu in the eyes. He doesn't feel worthy or like he's earned the right to gaze at him like he once did, "I want to start by saying sorry, truly from the bottom of my heart. What I did was despicable, and I promise it was never my intention to hurt you. Considering my reputation, it probably seems like the opposite, but I wanted to save you from me. It's not an excuse, and it's cliche. But there's just something about you that's so different from everyone else. I only wanted to show my best side to you, but I got scared because I hadn't felt this way about anyone since her. I was insecure and hated everything about myself, but you were so easy to fall for. I felt bad because the whole point of us doing this whole fake dating thing was to make Soobin realize his feelings for you, but I ended up being the one to fall for you instead. I didn't feel like I deserved you or could measure up to the perfect boyfriend you needed. I'm not Soobin. I don't know you the way he does, and I can't protect you the way he does. I'm just a guy. And you deserve better than that, better than me. With everyone else, I never cared what they thought about me, but with you, I just couldn't stop thinking about you. I regretted how I left you that day, and thoughts about you have plagued my mind since. I even tried talking to other people, but none felt right because they weren't you. I couldn't eat or sleep knowing you were hurting because of me, so I thought I should try to make it right. I can learn to accept it if you never want to talk to me again after this, but I thought I should at least try one more time."
Beomgyu's heart, devoid of warmth since the day Yeonjun left him, felt whole again, and he was so surprised that tears burst from his eyes. "You idiot," He sniffs, "I hate you, I hate you so much." He hits Yeonjun's chest weakly.
"I know and I deserve it. I'm so sorry, Beomgyu. You can take your anger out on me all you want. I deserve it."
"I should hate you, I really want to hate you but I can't. I just wish you'd spoken to me instead of deciding by yourself that we had no chance."
"Wait, so what are you saying?" Yeonjun tilts his head in confusion, daring to let a flicker of hope spark in his chest.
"I'm saying I like you, even though I probably shouldn't. So much it hurts."
"Can I kiss you?"
"I'll literally kill you if you don't."
Yeonjun giggles as he leans closer to cup Beongyu's cheek and gives him a gentle peck on the lips. It felt like life was restored to both of them as they smiled into the kiss. As the snow began to fall around them, it felt as though everything had fallen into its rightful place.
Beomgyu pulls away first, eyes twinkling in wonder as he catches a snowflake in his palm. "The first snow! Wow! It's so pretty.”
Yeonjun gazes at him fondly, "Yeah, super pretty."
—------------
That night seemed to be a turning point for the both of them. Yeonjun, who once believed he was doomed to be the demon of heartbreak forever, seems to have broken free from the said curse, and he and Beomgyu are even better than they were before. They take things a lot slower this time and go on fun-filled dates. Some of them unfortunately get interrupted by screaming fans and paparazzi, forcing them to hide in all kinds of wacky places, but honestly, Beomgyu couldn't care less. He's happy like this. And he can honestly say he's healed enough to fully root for Soobin and Kai wholeheartedly now and without any malice. Beomgyu and Yeonjun are nothing without their schemes, so they do a lot of the heavy lifting to get them together and put them in situations, but it's all worth it in the end. They occasionally even go on double dates sometimes.
HQ was furious when they found out about Soobin and Beomgyu canoodling with humans but were quickly appeased when they saw how genuinely happy they were. In the end, Beomgyu found love like the ones he had always seen in movies, and he couldn't be more content than he was right now. Honestly, he never thought he’d ever be happy with someone, believing that he was destined to help everyone with their love stories and remain forever alone, but his story was proof that he could prove the naysayers wrong. And although his parents weren’t the hugest fans of Yeonjun at first, considering all the pain and heartbreak they’d caused their beloved son, they soon came around and seemed to love him even more than Beomgyu.