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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

THE BOY IN THE DARK

you chose to say home

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

after saying goodnight to huening kai, who left the room stumbling around in a pretty hilarious state of tipsiness, you do your best to tidy up the mess you both left behind. but let's face it, grandma's got this uncanny ability to sniff out chaos no matter how well you try to hide it. with a shrug, you figure you'd deal with the inevitable scolding when the time came and finally head up to your room.

you're itching for a shower—it's the perfect remedy to shake off that lingering smell of travel and feel fresh and clean before going to sleep. it isn't all that late, and lucky for you, your room had its own bathroom. so, you decide to treat yourself to a late-night shower without worrying about waking anyone else up.

before cranking up the water, you do a quick sound check, making sure your playlist won't blast through the house. thankfully, the coast is clear, and you can shower to your heart's content with some music. as you shower, you don't hear a thing coming from any other part of the house... but the door bell rings without you noticing it. six times.

done with the shower and back in your room, you finally get comfy and snuggle up in bed. but then it hits you – you have those cigarettes tucked away in your bag. you hadn't planned on smoking inside the house, not really sure about which the consequences would be grandma-scolding-wise, but with everyone knocked out and your room leading to a balcony, why not?

so, you grab your smokes and throw on a hoodie, sneaking out onto the balcony for some alone time. you're glad to discover that, unlike in seoul, the stars are perfectly visible here.

however, as you're about to light up your cigarette, something suddenly whizzes past your face, making you jump. you flinch, thinking it could be a bird or some disoriented bat. but then, another object grazes your cheekbone, and when you look down, there's a pebble chilling on the ground. weird.

you're just about to lean over the balcony to see what's going on when you hear a voice, a bit desperate sounding, saying, "huening-ah, come on! i never ask for anything!"

and from the content of the message, it could've been yunjin. but the voice was male.

your curiosity all fired up, you lean in, trying to catch every word as the voice shifts from a whisper-yell to a full-on shout. "huening, i know you're awake! fucking quit ignoring me!" more pebbles come flying, this time with better aim, landing near huening's room, which just happens to be adjacent to yours.

then, a frustrated "screw it" is followed by rustling in the nearby tree branches. your eyes go wide as you see a hand emerge from the foliage, gripping the fence of kai's balcony. slowly, a figure emerges—a boy, his features all shadowed by the night. you squint, trying to see better, but all you can make out is his silhouette against the moonlit sky.

"are you trying to rob us?" you blurt out.

in the darkness, you get to distinguish his eyes going wide in surprise as he meets your gaze. all from the shock, he slips and disappears back into the foliage. you hear the unfortunate thud of his fall and his pained groans from the ground.

you lean over the balcony, trying to get a better look. "shit, are you okay?" you call out. "wait, i'm coming down!"

without wasting a moment, you dash down the stairs and out of the house, where you find the boy, grimacing and clutching at his knee.

"is it bad?" you ask.

he meets your gaze. "agonising."

"let me take a look," you offer, even though you know your medical skills are pretty much non-existent. it's just something people say, right? you breathe a sigh of relief when you realize it's just a bloody wound – painful, yeah, but nothing too serious.

"thank goodness," you mutter, "i'd probably pass out if it was worse, like a bone sticking out or something."

"oh, it was," he says, wincing a bit. "but i managed to shove the bone back in myself. a real man wouldn't shed tears over a scratch on the knee… it was major. like medieval torture kind of pain..."

you chuckle. "well, wanna come inside? i'm definitely no doctor, but I can at least offer some sanitizer or slap a band-aid on that."

"um… y-yeah. sure, yeah," he stammers before following you into the house.

as you step into the room, the warm glow of the lights falls gently across his face, revealing features you hadn't fully appreciated until now. that's when you recognise him. he got hot during our senior year. he's mellowed out since then. and there he stands, his deep brown eyes catching the light, bangs brushing softly over his eyebrows, pretty lips. this is isn't a normal type of hot. it´s manhwa character hot, or promising young actor hot, or disney prince kind of of. definitely not beomgyu, that one shy kid from middle school.

you see him standing there, kinda awkward, like he's not sure what to fo or where to go, probably waiting for a cue on where to sit down. It's kinda cute, you think, this boy dressed like he's in the bassist of an indie band, looking all lost. "please, get comfortable," you finally say, breaking the silence. "i bet you've spent more time in this house more than me in the past few years."

"you know who i am?" he asks, sounding surprised. he doesn't seem thrilled about it. like he doesn't like being recognised, specially by you, who knew him only during middle school. you get the feeling.

"yeah, i remember you swingin' by to help grandma with her garden when she got the injury... and we used to be in the same class. plus, yunjin mentioned you... she gave me a brief introduction to huening's friends, really. so I just kinda put two and two together..." you start explaining, but then you spot a trickle of blood on his leg. "oh, hold on, let me grab the first aid kit... i'm sure grandma keeps it in the same spot..."

as you shuffle your way to the kitchen, he remains standing still in the middle of your living room, mentally pinching himself at this reunion that means way more to him than it does to you. but, of course, you're completely clueless. he's some cute boy you met years ago.

"take a seat, take a seat..." you instruct him, pointing at the couch, and he obeys. he settles onto the cushions as you make your way towards him, rummaging through the first aid kit. your fingers skim over all sorts of stuff as you try to figure out what might help with his scrape. getting yourself situated at his feet, you plonk the kit down next to you for easy access to whatever you might need.

with a cotton pad and iodine in one hand and a wet cloth in the other, you pause, momentarily unsure of the proper procedure. "huh. do you have any idea how to tend to a wound like this?" you ask, but get no answer. you decide that the correct step is to clean it with water, selecting the wet cloth as your working tool. "beomgyu? did you hit your head too?" you ask, glancing up at him. but he seems lost in thought, his gaze distant and unfocused.

he breaks away from his trance, his eyes refocusing on you, perhaps by you calling your name, perhaps by the wet cloth touching his skin. "i... sorry," he mumbles softly, "i'm not usually this quiet. seeing you is just like... being the middle school me again."

"is that a good thing?"

"i don't know yet,"

"well, I'm not that fond of my middle school self either," you confess, a wry smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you focus on cleaning the blood from his leg.

he watches you work in silence, his thoughts swirling beneath the surface, until he finally speaks up. "you were cool," he says, his voice soft. "i always thought you were cool. i'm sorry nobody else saw that. It sucks, feeling so powerless… and getting picked on all the time. i should've stood up, done something but i was too shy. it sounds kinda shallow, but that's just... how i feel."

you offer him a reassuring smile. "they would've targeted you too. just like what happened to kai," you say, and your words keep coming out, fueled by the soju. "actually, the worst part wasn't even the bullying. it was everything that came after, how it changed me. i spent the rest of my life trying to prove to everyone that i was cool and smart and not the kind of person who should get bullied. but it broke me, all that work... striving for nothing. what good did it do? i stepped in here now as an adult and i felt just as small and helpless, like i was back to being a twelve-year-old girl again... i'm sorry, i kind of overshared...."

"you're good," he said, offering a warm smile. "and you're too hard on yourself. you know, huening and yunjin were always there to lay anyone out if anything happened..." he hesitates, then adds, "but now i am, too." he says, and you mutter a thanks, before he continues, "you probably don't remember me too well..."

"but i do–" you try to say, but he cuts you.

"not as much as i remember you." he says.

you're a bit flustered at this, not really knowing what he means, so you focus back on your medical duties. when you're done cleaning and disinfecting the wound, you tap his knee, "there you go, done. didn't even shed a tear, you're a tough guy… oh, and would you look at this!" you say, holding up a treasure you just found in the aid kit: a box of hello kitty band-aids. you slap two on his knee, forming a cross. "cutified war scars."

"it's a look, honestly," he replies with a smile, and he means it. and he does look pretty adorable, you think to yourself. but you quickly shake the thought away. you're not big on catching feelings. you grew up thinking nobody would ever like you, so you taught yourself not to like anyone. but funny thing is, he grew up with the same mindset. your coping mechanisms might've been different, but the sentiment was shared.

"anyway, i should get going. i've got work tomorrow," he suddenly announces, getting up from his seat.

"yeah, same here."

"oh, you got a job? where at?" he asks with sudden interest.

"just this bookstore near wavecrest beach..." you reply, noticing his face light up for reasons unknown to you.

"cool, that's cool! you gotta grab your coffee at the cuppa corner," he says with a sparkle in his eye. "they make the best one around."

"i will," you respond. "oh, by the way... not trying to pry, just curious... what brought you here in the first place?"

he tilts his head, a grin playing on his lips as he gestures towards his car parked outside. "oh, I was hoping to drag kai along to this... well, let's call it a spontaneous hangout."

you share a knowing chuckle. "well, he's completely knocked out. soju got the best of him."

his laughter fills the hallway, and you stare at him with a fool's smile. you think he's even more handsome when he's laughing. "it´s alright. i'll catch him next time," he says with a shrug, a twinkle in his eye.

"well, it was nice talking to you." you say.

"yeah, likewise. sleep well," he smiles, already making his way towards his car. there's a fleeting moment where he seems like he wants to say more, but he ultimately decides against it.

so that just happened.

so that just happened. you're gonna go to bed thinking of beomgyu, but you better fall asleep; first day of work tomorrow !!

(coming soon...)

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

MY GIRL

you chose to stay home

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

after bidding goodnight to huening kai, who was in a pretty hilarious state of tipsiness, you tackled the aftermath of the mess you both left behind. as you're hustling to tidy up, your phone starts ringing non-stop, slicing through the peace of the house. thanks to the soju you've been sipping, your guard's down, and you don't immediately clock how risky it might be to pick up a call from an unknown number.

"hey pretty girl..." the voice on the other end is unmistakable. jintaek. you roll your eyes and pull the phone away from your face, giving yourself a moment to mutter every curse word you know before reluctantly bringing it back to your ear.

"hm, yeah?" you answer cautiously.

"it's jintaek… just wanted to give you a heads up about this party tonight. thought we could hang out there…"

"tonight?" you stall, racking your brain for an excuse. "i'm really sorry but…"

"no buts, pretty girl. come on, i can swing by to pick you up… just give me your address."

sure, and my social security number too. "listen, jintaek, it's getting late and i was just getting ready for bed… i'd have to get dressed…"

"you trying to play hard to get?" he asks. "don't worry about it, i'll give you enough time to doll yourself up for me…"

"i really can't, jintaek... sorry–"

"i'm not taking no for an answer," he interrupts, his tone suddenly firm. "if you hang up, imma keep calling you. i know we're meant to be..."

you resist the urge to hurl your phone across the room in frustration. fucking brick wall of a dude. as you start to run out of excuses, the doorbell's chime cut through the tension like a savior. "wait a second, will you? the door just rang..." you say hastily, phone still glued to your ear.

you open the door, and there he is. he got hot during our senior year. he's mellowed out since then. his deep brown eyes catch the light, bangs brushing softly over his eyebrows, pretty lips. this is isn't a normal type of hot. it´s manhwa character hot, or promising young actor hot, or disney prince kind of of. definitely not beomgyu, that one shy kid from middle school.

he's standing there, staring at you like he's just seen a ghost, eyes wide with surprise. you figure he has recognised you.

"uh... hi?" you say.

"hi," he breathes out.

from the other end of the line, jintaek's voice chimes in, "you got a boy over? you're not trying to make me jealous, are you, baby girl?"

"you don't even know my name, jintaek," you retort.

at this, beomgyu's dumbfounded expression grows even wider. mouth hanging open, he points at your phone as if to ask; "is that the park jintaek?"

you nod, irritation clear on your face, and gesture for beomgyu to come inside. "oh, uh, i can… i can wait if you're busy," he stutters, "come later or something. i'm here for huening, anyway, so…"

but you're not really listening; you're too busy explaining to jintaek that you have no intention of leaving your house, and that it definitely doesn't mean you're inviting him over.

beomgyu steps into the house all awkward-like, not sure where to plop himself or if he should even sit down at all. you catch him sneaking peeks in your direction, but he quickly looks away whenever your eyes meet. you nod towards one of the armchairs, silently telling him to get comfortable. and so he does finally take a seat, but his fingers can't seem to sit still, tapping nervously against his knees.

you pace around, responding to jintaek with nothing more than grunts and short replies as he rambles on about how he's the ultimate boyfriend material and the life of the party, throwing in pet names like "princess" that make you want to roll your eyes into another dimension. you've endured his bragging before, but this time it's like he's cranked it up to eleven. and with beomgyu there, it's just adding a whole new layer of awkward to the mix.

you try to explain to beomgyu what's going on, but every time your face separates from the phone in the slightest, jintaek throws another question your way, dragging your attention back to the call. until you've had enough, that is.

you stride over to beomgyu and plunk the phone down on the coffee table, putting jintaek on speaker. beomgyu raises an eyebrow and you gesture for him to hold on for a sec.

"...come on, i'll treat you right. let me convince you," jintaek says, launching into a monologue that's been running for the past ten minutes.

"go on, convince me," you reply, shooting a look at beomgyu, who shoots back an amused grin.

from then on, the both of you listen to jintaek trying to convince you to go with him to the party, saying that he'll treat you right, that he'll make you feel good and getting cornier by the second. and as jintaek goes on and on praising himself, you discover that enduring his blabbering is more fun when there's someone with you to laugh at him. the more he speaks, the cringier he gets, and the more beomgyu and you struggle to keep from bursting into laughter.

that's when jintaek decides to step his game, absolutely crossing the line while at it. "come on, grant me that wish, baby girl. can't get you out of my head," he says. "getting hard just from thinking about you... bet you give good head. quiet girls always do."

embarrassment creeps up your cheeks. it wouldn't have been a nice thing to hear form jintaek in any context, but beomgyu being here... you're just mortified.

but then beomgyu throws you this look, like he's silently asking if he can handle the situation. he curls his fingers, signaling for you to pass him the phone. beomgyu clears his throat, leaning in closer to the receiver. at first, you're puzzled, wondering what he's scheming, but it all clicks the moment he starts to speak.

"yo," he says, lowering his voice as deep as it can go, and you escape a dry laugh. "shhh," he signals to you, fighting back his own chuckles. "who the hell is this and why are you talking to my girl?" he says into the phone.

the line falls silent and you cover your mouth with your hands. partly to stifle the laughter threatening to burst out and partly out of surprise. beomgyu had actually managed to shut jintaek up.

"what do you mean your girl?" jintaek finally responds, but the confidence in his voice seems to waver.

"you better quit trying to contact my girlfriend, dumbass, or i'll find you and break your legs," beomgyu shots back, the laughter nearly bubbling over before he managed to deliver.

"me? your whore girlfriend is the one who gave me her phone. she's been after me, man, you've got a cock warmer, not a woman," jintaek retorts, causing beomgyu's jaw to drop in disbelief. "lying bitch!" he mouths to you.

clearing his throat once more, beomgyu slips back into character. "what did you just say about my girl? you're fucking dead, you hear me? dead." he says. jintaek hungs up, and both of you erupt into laughter.

"he was so quick to throw me under the bus, i can't believe it!" you exclaim between laughs.

"he's a piece of shit, he really is," he agrees, shaking his head.

but the laughter fades into an uncomfortable silence, you suddenly realising the oddity of the situation. here you are, standing in your own living room, with someone you clearly know but haven't properly acknowledged. "so, anyway... hi?" you venture, breaking the quiet.

"uh, yeah. hi," he responds, scratching the back of his head. "i guess you recognized me, otherwise you wouldn't have just let me waltz into your house," he quips.

"yeah, well, i did recognize you," you say. "yunjin said some things that really made me... uh, pin you down. but, uh, what are you doing here?"

he tilts his head, a grin playing on his lips. "oh, i was hoping to drag kai along to this... well, let's call it a spontaneous hangout."

"the party jintaek was talking about?"

"yeah, basically."

you share a chuckle. "well, sorry to burst your bubble, but kai's completely knocked out. soju got the best of him."

"ah, figures. he can´t hold his liquor," he remarks with a shake of his head. "but it´s still honors him, when he wasn't answering to my texts i thought he had gone to bed already like the toddler he is."

"um, yeah, well…" you begin, a hint of uncertainty creeping in as you assess the scene. it´s not like you want him to leave, but there's this nagging feeling that maybe he's expecting you to set him free after keeping him hostage during the jintaek situation. "have fun at the party," you say, and he reads it as a polite send-off.

"oh, sure… totally," he responds, his cheeks flushed. "i'm sorry, you probably wanna go sleep or… yeah, i'm probably being a nuisance right now, sorry." his voice trails off, almost lost amidst the shuffle of his own thoughts.

"no! what? what? no," you hurriedly interject. "i just thought maybe you'd prefer heading off to your party instead of sticking around here," you stumble over your words, feeling a bit flustered. "b-but it's cool, you know… jintaek already ruined my night, so anyone's company is an improvement. seriously, it's all good. you're good."

"oh, cool, 'cause i was actually having a good time," he responds, his words bringing a small smile to your lips.

"i've got some soju, if you wanna… hang out for a bit longer," you offer.

"i'd like that," he says.

as you stroll to the kitchen to grab the bottle, then back to the living room, you find him all sprawled out on the couch, taking up more space than necessary. you take it as a positive sign. after all, he's probably spent much more time in that house in the past few years than you have.

"why did jintaek have your number, anyway?" beomgyu questions, eyeing you as you pour him a shot.

you squirm a bit, feeling uneasy. "oh, i bumped into him on the train on my way here... and he was just so insistent. i tried giving him a fake one, but he wasn't buying it. it's a bit of a long story."

"he didn't recognize you, did he?" beomgyu probes.

"no," you admit, feeling a twinge of discomfort. growing up is just awkward. the idea that this beomgyu sitting right here knew you at your lowest makes you cringe. "but maybe it woud´ve been for the better if he had recognised me. i mean, when is he more of a nightmare: when he's bullying you or when he's chasing after you?"

"yeah... look, i'm probably preaching to the choir, but keep your guard up around jintaek. messing with him earlier was kinda cute and all, but he's not someone to take lightly... you don't want him fixating on you."

you nod slowly, recalling taehyun's serious warning as well. "yeah... i've been told"

beomgyu pauses, gazing down at his fingers for a moment before he speaks up again. "you know, i always thought you were cool. all through middle school," he says, his fingers fidgeting nervously. "i'm sorry nobody else saw that. It sucks, feeling so powerless… and getting picked on all the time. i should've stood up, done something but i was too shy. it sounds kinda shallow, but that's just how i feel."

you offer him a reassuring smile. "they would've targeted you too. just like what happened to kai," you say, and your words keep coming out, fueled by the soju. "actually, the worst part wasn't even the bullying. it was everything that came after, how it changed me. i spent the rest of my life trying to prove to everyone that i was cool and smart and not the kind of person who should bullied. but it broke me, all that work... striving for nothing. what good did it do? one run-in with jintaek and suddenly, i felt small and helpless, like i was back to being a twelve-year-old girl again."

he locks eyes with you. "hey, promise me one thing." he says. "if he bothers you again, give me a call. i'll have him know no one messes with my girl,"

"huh?" you blink, cheeks turning red.

"i mean– like in the bit we did on him," he rushed to clarify. "i meant... like the bit. pretend boyfriend... um... the pretend... yes. so... yeah." the air between us thickens with embarrassment, until he says. "anyway, i should get going. i've got work tomorrow," he suddenly announces, getting up from his seat.

"yeah, same here."

"oh, you got a job? where at?" he asks with sudden interest.

"just this bookstore near wavecrest beach..." you reply, noticing his face light up for reasons unknown to you.

"cool, that's cool! you gotta grab your coffee at the cuppa corner," he says with a sparkle in his eye. "they make the best one around."

"i will," you respond. "oh, by the way... not trying to pry, just curious... what brought you here in the first place?"

he tilts his head, a grin playing on his lips as he gestures towards his car parked outside. "oh, I was hoping to drag kai along to this... well, let's call it a spontaneous hangout."

you share a knowing chuckle. "well, he's completely knocked out. soju got the best of him."

"well, it was nice talking to you." you say.

"yeah, likewise. sleep well," he smiles, already making his way towards his car. there's a fleeting moment where he seems like he wants to say more, but he ultimately decides against it.

so that just happened.

so that just happened. you're gonna go to bed thinking of beomgyu, but you better fall asleep; first day of work tomorrow !!

(coming soon...)

27 notes · View notes

beomgyw · 1 month

Text

THE BOY IN THE DARK

you chose to say home

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

so, you grab your smokes and throw on a hoodie, sneaking out onto the balcony for some alone time. you're glad to discover that, unlike in seoul, the stars are perfectly visible here.

you're just about to lean over the balcony to see what's going on when you hear a voice, a bit desperate sounding, saying, "huening-ah, come on! i never ask for anything!"

and from the content of the message, it could've been yunjin. but the voice was male.

then, a frustrated "fuck it" is followed by rustling in the nearby tree branches. your eyes go wide as you see a hand emerge from the foliage, gripping the fence of kai's balcony. slowly, a figure emerges—a boy, his features all shadowed by the night. you squint, trying to see better, but all you can make out is his silhouette against the moonlit sky.

"are you trying to rob us?" you blurt out.

you lean over the balcony, trying to get a better look. "shit, are you okay?" you call out. "wait, i'm coming down!"

without wasting a moment, you dash down the stairs and out of the house, where you find the boy, grimacing and clutching at his knee.

"is it bad?" you ask.

he meets your gaze. "agonising."

"let me take a look," you offer, even though you know your medical skills are pretty much non-existent. it's just something people say, right? you breathe a sigh of relief when you discover it's just a bloody wound – painful, yeah, but nothing too serious.

"thank goodness," you mutter, "i'd probably pass out if it was worse, like a bone sticking out or something."

you chuckle. "well, wanna come inside? i'm definitely no doctor, but I can at least offer some sanitizer or slap a band-aid on that."

"um… y-yeah. sure, yeah," he stammers before following you into the house.

as you step into the room, the warm glow of the lights falls gently across his face, revealing features you hadn't fully appreciated until now. that's when you recognise him. he got hot during our senior year. he's mellowed out since then. and there he stands, his deep brown eyes catching the light, bangs brushing softly over his eyebrows, pretty lips. this is isn't a normal type of hot. it’s manhwa character hot, or promising young actor hot, or disney prince kind of of. definitely not beomgyu, that one shy kid from middle school.

you see him standing there, kinda awkward, like he's not sure what to do or where to go, probably waiting for a cue on where to sit down. It's kinda cute, you think, this boy dressed like he's in the bassist of an indie band, looking all lost. "please, get comfortable," you finally say, breaking the silence. "i bet you've spent more time in this house more than me in the past few years."

"yeah, i remember you swinging by to help grandma with her garden when she got the injury... and we used to be in the same class. plus, yunjin mentioned you... she gave me a brief introduction to huening's friends, really. so I just kinda put two and two together..." you start explaining, but then you spot a trickle of blood on his leg. "oh, hold on, let me grab the first aid kit... i'm sure grandma keeps it in the same spot..."

he breaks away from his trance, his eyes refocusing on you, perhaps by you calling his name, perhaps by the wet cloth touching his skin. "i... sorry," he mumbles softly, "i'm not usually this quiet. seeing you is just like... being the middle school me again."

"is that a good thing?"

"i don't know yet,"

"well, I'm not that fond of my middle school self either," you confess, a wry smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you focus on cleaning the blood from his leg.

he watches you work in silence, his thoughts swirling beneath the surface, until he finally speaks up. "you were cool," he says, his voice soft. "i always thought you were cool."

"not everyone thinks the same," you reply modestly, though a warmth blooms in your chest. "do you remember park jintaek?"

"do i remember beelzebub? yeah, how to forget..." he groans, a faint chuckle escaping him.

"well, i ran into him on the train earlier today, and it was like being thirteen and miserable again," you confess. "so, i think i understand what you mean. i just hope that's not the feeling i'm giving you... you know, of absolute horror."

"no way," he shakes his head, a genuine warmth shining in his eyes as he meets your gaze. "never." he adds with a smile, though his face then changes to a more serious one. "was jintaek that bad? i mean... he didn't cross the line, did he?" he asks. and that's just the gentler way to phrase it he could come up with. essentially, what he means is, "what did that dumbass say to you? i'll break his legs."

you wish you could find the right words to respond, but nothing seems to come out right. in your head, everything sounds like either self-victimization or demonizing jintaek, and you're too caught up in your emotions to figure out the right approach.

your expression must have darkened, because beomgyu mutters, "hey, don't let him ruin your summer. huening and yunjin are ready to lay him out if he tries anything..." he hesitates, then adds, "and now me too."

"thanks," you say, flashing a grin, and he returns it. neither of you can see how red the other's ears are under your hair.

when you're done cleaning and disinfecting the wound, you tap his knee, "there you go, done. didn't even shed a tear, you're a tough guy… oh, and would you look at this!" you say, holding up a treasure you just found in the aid kit: a box of hello kitty band-aids. you slap two on his knee, forming a cross. "cutified war scars."

"anyway, i should get going. i've got work tomorrow," he suddenly announces, getting up from his seat.

"yeah, same here."

"oh, you got a job? where at?" he asks with sudden interest.

"just this bookstore near wavecrest beach..." you reply, noticing his face light up for reasons unknown to you.

"cool, that's cool! you gotta grab your coffee at the cuppa corner," he says with a sparkle in his eye. "they make the best one around."

"i will," you respond. "oh, by the way... not trying to pry, just curious... what brought you here in the first place?"

he tilts his head, a grin playing on his lips as he gestures towards his car parked outside. "oh, i was hoping to drag kai along to this... well, let's call it a spontaneous hangout."

you share a knowing chuckle. "well, he's completely knocked out. soju got the best of him."

his laughter fills the hallway, and you stare at him with a fool's smile. you think he's even more handsome when he's laughing. "it’s alright. i'll catch him next time," he says with a shrug, a twinkle in his eye.

"well, it was nice talking to you." you say.

"yeah, likewise. sleep well," he smiles, already making his way towards his car. there's a fleeting moment where he seems like he wants to say more, but he ultimately decides against it.

so that just happened. you're gonna go to bed thinking of beomgyu, but you better fall asleep; first day of work tomorrow !!

(coming soon...)

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

SUMBEAM BEACH

you chose take a walk

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

the sun dips low, painting the suburban street in a warm, golden glow as you step out for a laid-back stroll. grabbing your headphones, you decide to head to the beach, the one you always loved, sunbeam beach. it´s a bit of a hike from your place, but that was the charm—it gives you time to saunter. plus, it holds a special spot in your heart, with its towering waves, silky sand, and a treasure trove of memories. it was the spot where you, kai, and yunjin used to hang out after school, back in the day.

as you meander down the sidewalk, taking in the familiar sights of unchanged houses and new spots replacing the old, a sudden whoosh pierces the air, followed by the unmistakable thud of a football hitting the ground just inches away from you. you nearly jump out of your skin.

glancing up, you caugtch sight of the ball rolling to a stop right at your feet. you look around, trying to searche for its owner, figuring that some kids might be missing it.

and that's when you see a familiar face approach, looking like he got stuck with the short end of the stick and now he's on a mission to retrieve the lost ball. "y/n! hey, sorry about that. passionate shot... did we hit you?"

"no harm done. you're playing soccer?"

"yes. just getting some practice in," he says. "where you off to?" he asks. but there's something else in his tone. you found strange that he was trying to make small talk in the first place.

"i'm just talking a walk, i was thinking about strolling down to sunbeam beach."

"oh, sunbeam?" his eyes light up. "could you do me a favour?"

"um, sure."

"i'm trying to contact my friend, he's probably out surfing there, at sunbeam... so caught up in it that he's not answering the phone." he says, seeming annoyed. "if you see him, could you give him a heads up? it’s important."

"yeah, of course." you tell him.

"oh, and keep an eye out . i haven't spotted jintaek around, and that´ not a good sign." he says. you chuckle, thinking he's laying it on thick, but he doesn't crack a smile. you bid taehyun farewell and carry on toward the beach.

no amount of tourist invasion could strip sunbeam beach of its magic. you near the water's edge, catching sight of a lone figure silhouetted against the setting sun, riding the waves with effortless grace. sure enough, it was the boy taehyun had mentioned.

you take a leisurely stroll along the sandy shore, making a mental note to keep an eye out for the surfer once they emerge from the water. but then, amidst the sound of crashing waves, a ringtone cuts through the air. you glance around, finding no one nearby, until your gaze falls upon something peculiar lying in the sand—a towel and an ancient flip-phone, the source of the persistent ringing.

intrigued, you approach the abandoned items, suspecting they were left behind by some forgetful beachgoer, probably on the older side. you scan the area, hoping to spot a lifeguard tower where you could leave the phone for its owner to retrieve later. however, the phone continues to ring incessantly, and you deduce that someone might be trying to locate it. with a shrug, you flip open the phone, revealing a lone contact: taehyun.

you answer the call. "taehyun?"

"who's this?" comes the familiar voice on the other end.

"it's y/n, i'm down at the beach. i think i stumbled upon your surfer, or at least his phone," you explain. "is he like, a septuagenarian or something?"

"he's a mess, that's what he is. just tell yeonjun to meet me asap," taehyun responds urgently. "gotta go now."

"wait… y-yeonjun?" you stammer, but taehyun has already hung up.

next thing you know, a shiver runs down your spine as you feel a gentle hand on your shoulder. "hey," a soft voice says from behind. you're reluctant to turn around, but you have to.

"hi," you manage to mutter. he hasn't changed a bit. well, except for those broader shoulders and that more chiseled jawline. but it’s not like that's a downgrade. choi yeonjun; your childhood crush and remarkable heartthrob.

"i am so sorry," you blurt out, practically thrusting the phone toward him. "i thought maybe some older person had forgotten it—like, not that you're outdated or anything for having a flip phone. I mean, it's kinda cool, you know? not letting high-tech companies win the battle. it's, uh, it's hot, actually… in a philosophical way," you stumble over your words, feeling your cheeks flush.

he just gazes at you with an amused smirk, and you're painfully aware of how much you're babbling, but he doesn't seem to mind, maintaining his cool demeanor. "the thing is, i was gonna answer to see if someone was looking for the phone, and then I saw that taehyun was calling you, and i know taehyun so i picked up, and now i'm sounding like a total weirdo, so, um, sorry for intruding on your call. i should probably head out; it's getting late, and i've got work tomorrow… so, yeah, i should– i should go sleep." you say.

"aw, cute girls are always in a hurry," he says with a smirk.

WHAT THE FUCK. your mind reels. you could've had a heart attack right then and there. but in a stroke of genius, you muster up a response. "i can slow down if you want," you tell him, his grin sending you into another dimension. "y-you should probably call taehyun back, though. he said it's important."

he looks like he had other plans for the next minute that didn't involve talking to taehyun, but duty calls, so he dials the number. you fiddle with your fingers as you listen in on his side of the conversation.

"sorry, you know i forget about everything else when i'm surfing," he says. "what do you mean he's not around? come on, it can't be that serious." he scans the area as if he's looking for someone. then, his gaze briefly meeting yours, a flicker of concern crosses his face. "alright, got it. i´ll get out of here."

he hangs up the phone and then looks at you. "i can't explain right now, or you'll get a wrong idea of me," he begins to say. "but we need to get out of here, like, right now."

"um, sure..." you say. you don't even care. this is yeonjun. the yeonjun. talking to you, flirting with you. not knowing who you are...

"mind if I walk you home?" he asks, and you can't help but nod enthusiastically. of course you don't mind. "i'm yeonjun, by the way," he smiles.

you return the smile, feeling a rush of excitement because, yes, he is indeed yeonjun, your yeonjun, and you've always liked him so much. but now you're horrified to realise it's your turn to respond with your name.

he looks at you, anticipation shining bright in his eyes. "and i—" you start to say. "—will tell you my name when you've convinced me you deserve it."

he liked that, you can tel by his smirlk. it´s his kind of game. and you can play it now. and so, the one and only choi yeonjun is now walking you home, fulfilling a childhood dream. this is everything little you had ever wanted. if you had stumbled upon a magic lamp at thirteen, your three wishes would've been to write a book that made more money than harry potter, to see park jintaek's go through some medieval torture, and to have choi yeonjun fall for you.

after some minutes of light banter, you start to wonder if you should tell him who you are. that girl he likely remembers with pity. that stupid little girl who confessed to him with naive hope. what were you even thinking at the time? that he'd suddenly want to date you? that he'd fall head over heels for you? you remember his face, the discomfort evident as he gently turned you down—the only time you ever saw him act awkwardly around a girl.

no, you can't bring yourself to tell him. not yet, at least. on one hand, you want to enjoy this for a bit longer, on the other hand, you don't think you can take the absolute embarrassment.

"say, are you sticking around here for the summer?" he asks, hands casually tucked into his pockets. he is and will always be the coolest boy you've ever seen. "because i happen to be an outstanding tour guide. i'll dish out anecdotes about every nook and cranny you won't find anywhere else."

"oh, no. i used to live here when i was a kid," you reply. "just came for the summer after some time away."

"guess everything that goes must come back," yeonjun says. "looks like you won't be needing a tour guide, then. is there anything else you need? because i'm racking my brain trying to come up with a not-so-lame excuse to see you again after tonight, but I'm drawing a blank."

"hmm, turns out you're not as smooth as you thought," you tease.

"well, you feel like a pretty big deal to me, so i don't wanna mess it up," he admits, flashing a smile.

"highly unlikely you will," you assure him. "so, are you just here for the summer, or are you stuck here permanently?"

"it´s pretty permanent, yeah," he confirms. "i really love this place, couldn't imagine leaving. i work as a lifeguard here, spend most of my time at the beach. that's just the way i like it. and i teach surfing too, if you ever fancy a lesson. i'll give you a masterclass, no charge."

"i'll consider it," you say, feeling a bit embarrassed. "i don't wanna sound like a loser, but i'm a little scared of going too deep into the sea."

"i can help you out," he says, narrowing his eyes playfully, and you can't help but feel your cheeks flush with heat.

but then you reach your house, and he raises an eyebrow, confused. "you live here?" he asks.

"yeah, it's my grandma's spot. my cousin is staying with us too, he—" but then, horror strikes as recognition flashes across his face. you realize your mistake; you'd walked there on autopilot, never considering that he might know the place.

"y/n?" he says, his voice betraying his surprise.

"please don't hate me." you blurt out, nerves gnawing at you.

"no… i'm just… i didn't expect—" he trails off, clearly thrown off guard.

great. you've managed to crack choi yeonjun's cool facade not once, but twice in your lifetime.

"i'm sorry i didn't tell you sooner. i was just so embarrassed. please, forget you ever knew me," you plead, feeling the weight of your mistake.

"yeah, you should have said something earlier," he admits, and you wish the ground would swallow you whole. until, unexpectedly, he continues, "now I've gotta rethink my whole strategy."

"w-what?" you manage to stammer out.

his warm grin returns, eyebrows relaxing. "think about the surf lessons, alright?"

"s-sure, i… wait, so you're not mad at me for not being upfront?"

"what do you mean, not being upfront?" he replies casually as he starts to walk away. "we just met."

and just like that, he leaves you there, cheeks flushed, absolutely melting.

so, that just happened.

you're gonna have to meditate, or hypnotise yourself to stop thinking about yeonjun and be able to sleep, but you better knock yourself out because tomorrow's your first day of work.

(coming soon...)

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

THE BOY IN THE DARK

you chose to take a walk.

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

and that's when you see a boy approach, looking like he drew the shorter stick and was tasked with recovering the ball. "hey, sorry about that. passionate shot... did we hit you?"

"no harm done," you assure him, taking in his messy, sweat-tousled dark brown hair and his undeniably handsome features. but it´s his eyes you fixate on. thise big round eyes that are just so familiar. you realise that he's also staring at you with a strange look, like he, too, sees something familiar in you.

"it's kinda late for you to be out," he suddenly remarks, and you bristle slightly at the presumption. this town is known for its safety, but he's not your dad to be doling out curfews. but before you can retort, he continues, his tone cryptic. "there's a party tonight. It's not exactly the safest time to be wandering alone if there´s a party. some people get wild."

his words send a shiver down your spine, but you manage a polite response. "sure, i'll be careful. thanks…" you trail off as he abruptly takes his leave.

shrugging it off, you resume your trek toward the beach. the sun is still casting its golden glow as you arrive, the shoreline nearly deserted save for the lone silhouette of a surfer against the horizon.

you spot a pretty shell nestled in the sand, and figure it could be a nice gift to your grandma to collect some and bring them to her, like the old times. as you amble along the shoreline, the gentle rhythm of the waves lulls you into a peaceful state of mind.

engrossed in your task, you lose track of time. before you know it, the sun has dipped below the horizon, enveloping the beach in darkness. the only illumination comes from distant streetlights, casting a faint orange glow over the surroundings. it's then that you realize how far you've wandered from the comforting lights of the beachfront, feeling small and insignificant under the vast evening sky.

as the lights in the distance offer a vague sense of direction, you find yourself uncertain which path leads back home. you remember the small forest that separates the beach from town—by day, a lively spot for picnics and play, but now, in the darkness, it's the last place you want to venture into. especially after the unsettling warnings from that boy with the big eyes. you curse him silently; he's made you far more jittery than you'd typically be.

you start walking on, only praying that luck will quickly get you on the right path home. but the crunch of sand underfoot sends a shiver down your spine. you're not alone. shit.

"hey!" a male voice calls out, prompting you to quicken your pace, eager to put some more distance between the two of you. but before you can evade him, a hand gently settles on your shoulder. "hi," he says. "you looked a bit lost, and i wanted to help. let me walk you out of here."

but you hesitate, feeling a bit wary. you're completely alone and some guy is offering to walk you somewhere in the dark… it sets off alarm bells. "no. i'm good, thanks. i can find my way just fine," you reply.

"please, don't be scared," he reassures you. "it's cool, i promise. i don't mean anything murky. i was out surfing earlier and noticed you veering off from the trail. you really need to head back that way or you'll end up lost in the wood. i just wanna lend a hand. it's kind of my job, actually, i'm a lifeguard here during the day. i'm yeonjun, by the way."

and that's when real panic hits you like a ton of bricks. you would have chosen to run into a serial killer. he's yeonjun. your yeonjun. choi yeonjun. that girl he likely remembers with pity. that stupid little girl who confessed to him with naive hope. what were you even thinking at the time? that he'd suddenly want to date you? that he'd fall head over heels for you? you remember his face, the discomfort evident as he gently turned you down—the only time you ever saw him act awkwardly around a girl.

but then, he's reaching for your hand, all gentle-like, as someone who's trying to feed an untrusting kitten. and ou don't even dare to say a word.

"is this okay?" he asks, his voice soft. "i'll walk you to the track path, then head the other way. i swear. please don't be scared of me."

"y-yeah," you manage to mumble.

after what feels like both an eternity and a blink of an eye because the choi ueonjun is holding your hand, the streetlights start to loom closer, and you can finally make out his features. he hasn't changed a bit. well, maybe his shoulders are broader, and his jawline is more defined, but it's not like that's a downgrade. choi yeonjun; your hildhood crush and certified heartthrob.

"we're already here," he says with a grin, but then his expression changes when he looks at you, like something's shifted in his gaze. and it's not because he's suddenly recognized you.

"hey… i know i said i would head the opposite way, and i don't wanna come off as a creep, but… you're really pretty."

"me?"

"you," he confirms with a chuckle. he's aware of how hot he is, his charm. he knows there's no way he could ever seem creepy to anyone with functioning eyeballs. you keep silent, he keeps talking. "i promise i've got game. it's just the context isn't doing me any favors right now."

"sorry, i'm just… caught off guard. i— i know you're not a creep." you mumble out.

"good," he grins. "because i really am not. if we'd met under normal circumstances instead of you getting lost and me being some guy insisting you to come with me in the night you would've fallen for me, like instantly.

you chuckle, but your smile fades when some ethical force whispers to you that you should tell him who you are. "well, actually, i..."

but then something, or rather someone, cuts you middle sentence. the kind of people who get wild when there's a party.

"CHOI FREAKIN' YEONJUN!" a voice booms out. "told you to stay the hell outta here, but you never listen." you glimpse one figure, followed by three more looming shadows. three big guys escorting the leading one. but it's not his size that sends a shiver down your spine, nor the threat; it's the familiarity. it's park jintaek, your middle school bully.

you instinctively avert your gaze, staring down at your feet, hoping to disappear. yeonjun steps forward, placing himself in front of you, slow and cautious, like he's facing down a raging bear.

"you did mention that," yeonjun says, his voice as calm as a still pond. "but i tend to tune out people who can't spell past ABC."

"dude thinks he's a comedian," chimes in one of jintaek´s buddies.

"he's just showing off beause he's got a chick here. gotta act all cool and manly, like i'm not gonna bust his legs," slurs jintaek, his words sluggish from booze. "lucky you brought a date, 'cause now we can send her to dial for help. you're gonna need an ambulance, choi."

they start inching closer, and you're scrambling for a plan, but there's no way other than running away to solve this. "come on, jintaek, don't let the booze write checks your ass can't cash. if you could take me alone, you wouldn't have brought these three idiots."

"you're so damn cocky, i can't freaking stand you."

you feel yeonjun's hand close around yours, his grip firm and reassuring. "run," he whispers urgently, his voice barely audible above the din of the argument.

you bolt towards the safety of your house, your heart pounding in your chest as you run. running away was the smarter option, jintaek and his bodyguards being drunk enough to never be able to catch up.

as the distance between you and the beach grows, you steal a glance at yeonjun running beside you, his expression determined yet strangely serene. "i'm not a coward, you know?" he says between breaths, "i'm just street smart. a mathematician of the street fight, if you will."

"be a mathematician of saving air and stop talking," you retort.

finally, you reach the safety of your house, the glow of the porch light casting a warm welcome.

gasping for breath, you collapse onto the stairs leading to the front door. you're so focused on getting your lungs to function properly that, you don't notice yeonjun staring at the at the house with an eyebrow raised.

"please don't hate me." you blurt out, nerves gnawing at you.

"no… i'm just… i didn't expect—" he trails off, clearly thrown off guard.

great. you've managed to crack choi yeonjun's cool facade not once, but twice in your lifetime.

"i'm sorry i didn't tell you sooner. i was just so embarrassed at first, and when i wanted to tell you jintaek showed up. please, forget you ever saw me today," you plead, feeling the weight of your mistake.

"yeah, you should have said something earlier," he admits, and you wish the ground would swallow you whole. until, unexpectedly, he continues, "now i've gotta rethink my whole strategy."

"w-what?" you manage to stammer out.

his warm grin returns, eyebrows relaxing. "when i come up with something i´ll hit you up, alright?"

"s-sure, i… wait, so you're not mad at me for not being upfront?"

"what do you mean, not being upfront?" he replies casually as he starts to walk away. "it´s the first time i'm seeing you in seven years."

and just like that, he leaves you there, cheeks flushed, absolutely melting.

so, that just happened.

you're gonna have to meditate, or hypnotise yourself to stop thinking about yeonjun and be able to sleep, but you better knock yourself out because tomorrow's your first day of work.

(coming soon...)

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

SOJU, ONE GLASS

quick recap; you confronted jintaek, which ended up in him humiliating you in front of his friends. taehyun intervened, ultimately punching jintaek. taehyun then apologized for his past behavior.

if you're new here; link back to the beginning

huening and you roll up to your place, dropping off yunjin along the way, and you can't help but feel a pang of guilt. you've pretty much devoured all the pastries you picked up, leaving just a crumbly evidence of our indulgence. grandma will probably be disappointed, having wanted to see your reaction to having those treats after so many years.

stepping into your childhood home, the scent of grandma's kimjicheon is the first one to greet you. the place hasn't changed a bit since you last left. pictures hang on the walls, frozen moments of family history, and the decor is still the same mishmash of patterns and colors that only grandma could pull off. there's also those jars of shells sitting on the shelfs, she has kept all of them, you smile to discover. huening and you used to scour the shore for the prettiest ones, just to see grandma's eyes light up when you handed them over.

"welcome home," kai says with a grin. "gran!" he calls out, his voice echoing through the house. "look who's here!"

from the kitchen, you catch sight of your grandma approaching, her arms wide open. her smile, though as wide as ever, tugs at your heartstrings a bit as you notice how age has begun to take its toll, shrinking her form and bending her back. you should have visited more often.

"y/n!" she exclaims as she pulls you into a tight hug. "you must be exhausted from the trip. come in, come in. kai, get her bag upstairs."

kai grumbles under his breath but does as he's told. you shoot him an apologetic look, to which he responds with a mouthed "whatever."

your grandma guides you to the dining table and practically forces you to take a seat. she cups your face so tightly she could've pierced your cheeks. "you look so thin, y/n," she says, eyebrows furrowed. "your mother hasn't been giving you a hard time, has she? you know you don't need to listen to her..."

"it's alright, grandma," you reassure her. "i'm sure you'll fatten me up this summer."

she chuckles. "no doubt."

your grandma goes back to the kitchen after making it crystal clear she doesn't need—or want—your help. she even implies that a murder might happen if you dare interfere. meanwhile, kai rejoins you at the table after throwing in a cozier sweatshirt. it’s somewhat worn out and faded, so you recognise the pattern. one thing about kai is that he's always got that one beloved sweatshirt he's practically glued to. like he'd sooner part with a limb than toss it out.

"hey gran, do you need a hand!?" he calls out as he settles into a chair.

"and risk my kitchen going up in flames? no thank you, kai," she fires back, earning a chuckle from you. you start to rise, with the intention of helping her, but her head pops out of the kitchen door. "and what did i tell you, y/n? stay put. you've had a long trip, you need to rest. keep an eye on kai, make sure he doesn't wreak havoc."

kai shoots you a pleading glance. "alright," you say, "from now on i'm cutting down on the teasing. you could definitely use some allies."

before kai even gets a chance to respond, your grandma swoops back in, balancing a tray of steaming rice bowls. she sets it down with a gentle clatter, her eyes stern as she addresses kai. "you ever wonder why they pick on you, kai?" she asks.

kai, caught off guard, raises an eyebrow. "hmm, i dunno. competitive market economy, possibly... there's natural selection, too." he quips.

"its because you're too sweet," grandma tells him.

"that's lovely, grandma. but could you maybe be nice to me in return?"

your grandma simply shakes her head, "absolutely not. tough love builds character. that's how i raised both your fathers."

"and what about y/n? she could use some character-building too!" kai protests, shooting you a playful look.

"y/n's had a long trip. she needs to rest."

kai lets out an exaggerated sigh, "unbelievable," but it's all in good fun as laughter fills the room.

you sit down through a lovely dinner with your grandma and huening kai, realizing how much you've missed them both. grandma had gone all out, whipping up all your favorite dishes just to give you the warmest welcome. eventually, she's the first to call it a night, but not before she showers you with advice for your new part-time gig at the bookshop starting tomorrow. from the best route to get there to where to grab the perfect cup of coffee nearby, and even which customers to keep an eye on – especially those tourists, she cannot stand the tourists.

after she's tucked into bed, huening heads to the kitchen and pulls out a couple of bottles of soju. "alright," he says, with a grin, "time to do what we've gotta do. we never got to celebrate our coming of ages together, did we?"

"like we had planned," you let out a soft chuckle, the memories of little huening kai and you planning your 18th birthdays bringing a warm nostalgia to your heart.

you raise your glasses in unison, the clear liquid inside catching the light as you clink them together. you tip back the first shot, the familiar burn of the soju spreading warmth through your chest. only then to you decide to ask about him.

"kai-ah, i met a friend of yours on the train today."

"soobin?" kai guesses.

"no, actually... taehyun." you say, and you witness his expression become slightly more serious.

"oh, got it… so, you talked?" he asks.

"yeah, you could say we did. he's not exactly the most talkative guy, but we had a quick convo," you explain. "honestly, i was kinda surprised to hear he's friends with you, you know, with him being into the jintaek sports cult and all..."

"taehyun is good." huening says, like it closes the case.

"i know. if he's your friend, then i'm sure of that… but, i'm curious, how'd you guys become friends?" you ask.

kai looks at you with an expression you find unfamiliar in him. he's never that stern, that secretive. "yunjin might've spilled some details to you… she's dying to know about that summer. but seriously, it's not a big deal. we just promised someone to keep it low-key. it's not about me, or else i'd tell you straight up. just leave it be," he says firmly, and it leves you speechless. huening pours more drinks, lightening the mood. "don't let yunjin blow it out of proportion. it's really not a big deal," he adds with a grin, softening the atmosphere, probably picking up on your guilt for meddling where you shouldn't have.

you're intrigued, obviously. how could you not be? but as the shots keep flowing, the heavy conversation turns into a heap of jokes, getting sillier as you get drunker. you can handle my liquor pretty well, so you're rational enough to suggest to stop when huening starts to look a bit woozy.

"yeah... i think I'm gonna call it a night," he slurs. "not 'cause i'm feeling sick, i'm good. just wanna throw up in my own bathroom. night."

"need a hand?" you ask.

"nope."

"promise you'll drink water?"

"yup."

"sleep well, then, huening-ah," you chuckle as he heads out. you linger for a while and hear a blow coming from the stairs. "need help getting you your room?!" you shout.

"all good!" he shouts back.

with the room to yourself, you check the time and realize it's not too late. you could go for a walk in the warm night air, but honestly, after the trip and all, you kinda just wanna kick back at home.

now that you're all alone, you check the time and realise that it´s not that late. you could go out for a walk. the night is warm, and you could enjoy some alone time with your hometown, but you're also a bit tired from the trip, as your grandma had very accurately been reminding everyone, and you kinda wanna stay at home as well.

how are you spending your night?

go take a walk. have some alone time with your hometown, go down to the beach, maybe reconnect with the natives...

stay home. indeed, you had a long trip and you need to rest. besides, huening and grandma are both asleep, someone needs to watch the fort in case there's visitors.

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

SOJU, ONE GLASS

quick recap; you met soobin on the train, and overheard him on a compromising call. still, he seemed nice, so you chose not to give it too much importance.

if you're new here; go back to the beginning !!

stepping into your childhood home, the scent of grandma's kimjicheon is the first one to greet you. the place hasn't changed a bit since you last left. pictures hang on the walls, frozen moments of family history, and the decor is still the same mishmash of patterns and colors that only grandma could pull off. there's also those jars of shells sitting on the shelfs, she had kept all of them. huening and you used to scour the shore for the prettiest ones, just to see grandma's eyes light up when we handed them over.

"welcome home," kai says with a grin as you give him a nod of acknowledgment. "gran!" he calls out, his voice echoing through the house. "look who's here!"

from the kitchen, you catch sight of your grandma approaching, her arms wide open in a welcoming embrace. her smile, though as wide as ever, tugs at your heartstrings a bit as you notice how age has begun to take its toll, shrinking her form and bending her back. you should have visited more often.

"y/n!" she exclaims as she pulls you into a tight hug. "you must be exhausted from the trip. come in, come in. kai, get her bag upstairs."

kai grumbles under his breath but does as he's told. you shoot him an apologetic look, to which he responds with a mouthed "whatever."

your grandma guides you to the dining table and practically forces you you yo take a seat. she cups your face so tightly she could've pierced your cheeks. "you look so thin, y/n," she says, eyebrows furrowed. "your mother hasn't been giving you a hard time, has she? you know you don't need to listen to her..."

"it's alright, grandma," you reassure her. "i'm sure you'll fatten me up this summer."

she chuckles. "no doubt."

your grandma goes back to the kitchen after making it crystal clear she didn't need—or want—your help. she even implied that a murder might happen if you dared to interfere. meanwhile, kai rejoins you at the table after throwing in a cozier sweatshirt. it´s somewhat worn out and faded, so you recognise the pattern. one thing about kai is that he's always got that one beloved sweatshirt he's practically glued to. like he'd sooner part with a limb than toss it out.

"hey gran, do you need a hand!?" he calls out as he settles into a chair.

"and risk my kitchen going up in flames? no thank you, kai," she fires back, earning a chuckle from him. you start to rise, with the intention of helping her, but her head pops out of the kitchen door. "and you, y/n, stay put. you've had a long trip, you need to rest. keep an eye on kai, make sure he doesn't wreak havoc."

kai shoots him a pleading glance. "okay," you assure him, "from now on i'm cutting down the teasing. you could definitely use some allies."

kai, caught off guard, raises an eyebrow. "hmm, i dunno. competitive market economy, possibly... there's natural selection, too." he quips.

"its because you're too sweet," grandma tells him.

"that's lovely, grandma. but could you maybe be nice to be in return?"

your grandma simply shakes her head, "absolutely not. tough love builds character. that's how i raised both your fathers."

"and what about y/n? she could use some character-building too!" kai protests, shooting you a playful look.

"y/n's had a long trip. she needs to rest."

kai lets out an exaggerated sigh, "unbelievable," but it's all in good fun as laughter fills the room.

you sit down through a lovely dinner with your grandma and huening kai, realizing how much you've missed them both. grandma had gone all out, whipping up all your favorite dishes just to give you the warmest welcome. eventually, she's the first to call it a night, but not before she showers you with a treasure trove of advice for your new part-time gig at the bookshop starting tomorrow. from the best route to get there to where to grab the perfect cup of coffee nearby, and even which customers to keep an eye on – especially those tourists, she cannot stand the tourists.

"like we had planned," you let out a soft chuckle, the memories of little huening kai and you planning your 18th birthdays bringing a warm nostalgia to your heart.

"kai-ah, i met a friend of yours... earlier today, on the train?"

"taehyun?" he asks.

"no... soobin." you say, and witness his expression become slightly more serious.

"right... and you talked or..."

"yeah, we did! and he was so nice, we really hit it off, i think." you say. "but then later, in the car, yunjin mentioned some things..."

kai looks at you with an expression you find unfamiliar in him. he's never that stern, that secretive. "of course she did... she's dying to know what happened that summer. and i promise it´s not that big a deal. but someone asked us to keep it secret, so we have to keep our word. if it was about me, I´d tell you. but it´s not. so just let it go." he says. and you nod, unable to find any words to say. huening pours a second shot into both your glasses. "don't let yunjin convince you it´s a big deal, because it´s not." he now smiles, becoming warmer, probably after noticing your shame for meddling where you shouldn't have.

you're intrigued, of course. how could you not be? but shot after shot, that tense conversation goes morphing into a mountain of jokes, increasingly stupid as you get drunker.

you can hold your liquor particularly well, so after a few shots, you feel perfectly sane. still, you decide to stop when huening begins to get dizzy. "i think... I'm gonna head to bed." he slurs out. "not because I'm feeling sick, I'm totally fine. i just wanna throw up in my own bathroom. good night."

"do you need any help?"

"nope."

"promise you'll drink water?"

"yup."

"sleep well then, huening-ah." you laugh as he exits the living room. you linger for a while and hear a blow coming from the stairs. "need help getting you your room?!" you shout.

"all good!" he yells back.

what are you gonna do?

how are you spending your night?

go take a walk. have some alone time with your hometown, go down to the beach, maybe reconnect with the natives...

stay home. indeed, you had a long trip and you need to rest. besides, huening and grandma are both asleep, someone needs to watch the fort in case there's visitors.

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

SOJU, ONE GLASS

quick recap; you met soobin on the train and overheard him on a compromising phone call. you chose to ask about it and found out that someone from middle school wants to talk to you but is too shy to do it.

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

stepping into your childhood home, the scent of grandma's kimjicheon is the first one to greet you. the place hasn't changed a bit since you last left. pictures hang on the walls, frozen moments of family history, and the decor is still the same mishmash of patterns and colors that only grandma could pull off. there's also those jars of shells sitting on the shelfs, she had kept all of them. huening and you used to scour the shore for the prettiest ones, just to see grandma's eyes light up when we handed them over.

"welcome home," kai says with a grin as you give him a nod of acknowledgment. "gran!" he calls out, his voice echoing through the house. "look who's here!"

"y/n!" she exclaims as she pulls you into a tight hug. "you must be exhausted from the trip. come in, come in. kai, get her bag upstairs."

kai grumbles under his breath but does as he's told. you shoot him an apologetic look, to which he responds with a mouthed "whatever."

"it's alright, grandma," you reassure her. "i'm sure you'll fatten me up this summer."

she chuckles. "no doubt."

"hey gran, do you need a hand!?" he calls out as he settles into a chair.

kai shoots him a pleading glance. "okay," you assure him, "from now on i'm easing up on the teasing. you could definitely use some allies."

kai, caught off guard, raises an eyebrow. "hmm, i dunno. competitive market economy, possibly... there's natural selection, too." he quips.

"its because you're too sweet," grandma tells him.

"that's lovely, grandma. but could you maybe be nice to be in return?"

your grandma simply shakes her head, "absolutely not. tough love builds character. that's how i raised both your fathers."

"and what about y/n? she could use some character-building too!" kai protests, shooting you a playful look.

"y/n's had a long trip. she needs to rest."

kai lets out an exaggerated sigh, "unbelievable," but it's all in good fun as laughter fills the room.

you sit down through a lovely dinner with your grandma and huening kai, realizing how much you've missed them both. grandma had gone all out, whipping up all your favorite dishes just to give you the warmest welcome. eventually, she's the first to call it a night, but not before she showers you with a treasure trove of advice for your new part-time gig at the bookshop starting tomorrow. from the best route to get there to where to grab the perfect cup of coffee nearby, and even which customers to keep an eye on – especially those tourists, she cannot stand the tourists.

"like we had planned," you let out a soft chuckle, the memories of little huening kai and you planning your 18th birthdays bringing a warm nostalgia to your heart.

"kai-ah, i met a friend of yours... earlier today, on the train?"

"taehyun?" he asks.

"no... soobin." you say, and witness his expression become slightly more serious.

"right... and you talked or..."

"yeah, we did! and he was so nice, we really hit it off, i think." you say. "but then later, in the car, yunjin mentioned some things..."

you're intrigued, of course. how could you not be? but shot after shot, that tense conversation goes morphing into a mountain of jokes, increasingly stupid as you get drunker.

"do you need any help?"

"nope."

"promise you'll drink water?"

"yup."

"sleep well then, huening-ah." you laugh as he exits the living room. you linger for a while and hear a blow coming from the stairs. "need help getting you your room?!" you shout.

"all good!" he yells back.

how are you spending your night?

go take a walk. have some alone time with your hometown, go down to the beach, maybe reconnect with the natives...

stay home. indeed, you had a long trip and you need to rest. besides, huening and grandma are both asleep, someone needs to watch the fort in case there's visitors.

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

SOJU, ONE GLASS

quick recap; you gave jintaek a fake number, and you would've gotten caught if it hadn't been for taehyun´s help. however, jintaek did get your number in the end (which is unfortunate).

if you're new here; link back to the beginning

"welcome home," kai says with a grin. "gran!" he calls out, his voice echoing through the house. "look who's here!"

"y/n!" she exclaims as she pulls you into a tight hug. "you must be exhausted from the trip. come in, come in. kai, get her bag upstairs."

kai grumbles under his breath but does as he's told. you shoot him an apologetic look, to which he responds with a mouthed "whatever."

"it's alright, grandma," you reassure her. "i'm sure you'll fatten me up this summer."

she chuckles. "no doubt."

your grandma goes back to the kitchen after making it crystal clear she doesn't need—or want—your help. she even implies that a murder might happen if you dare interfere. meanwhile, kai rejoins you at the table after throwing in a cozier sweatshirt. it´s somewhat worn out and faded, so you recognise the pattern. one thing about kai is that he's always got that one beloved sweatshirt he's practically glued to. like he'd sooner part with a limb than toss it out.

"hey gran, do you need a hand!?" he calls out as he settles into a chair.

"and risk my kitchen going up in flames? no thank you, kai," she fires back, earning a chuckle from ypi. you start to rise, with the intention of helping her, but her head pops out of the kitchen door. "and what did i tell you, y/n? stay put. you've had a long trip, you need to rest. keep an eye on kai, make sure he doesn't wreak havoc."

kai shoots you a pleading glance. "alright," you say, "from now on i'm cutting down on the teasing. you could definitely use some allies."

kai, caught off guard, raises an eyebrow. "hmm, i dunno. competitive market economy, possibly... there's natural selection, too." he quips.

"its because you're too sweet," grandma tells him.

"that's lovely, grandma. but could you maybe be nice to me in return?"

your grandma simply shakes her head, "absolutely not. tough love builds character. that's how i raised both your fathers."

"and what about y/n? she could use some character-building too!" kai protests, shooting you a playful look.

"y/n's had a long trip. she needs to rest."

kai lets out an exaggerated sigh, "unbelievable," but it's all in good fun as laughter fills the room.

"like we had planned," you let out a soft chuckle, the memories of little huening kai and you planning your 18th birthdays bringing a warm nostalgia to your heart.

"kai-ah, i met a friend of yours on the train today."

"soobin?" kai guesses.

"no, actually... taehyun." you say, and you witness his expression become slightly more serious.

"oh, got it… so, you talked?" he asks.

"yeah, you could say we did. he's not exactly the most talkative guy, but we had a quick convo," i explain. "honestly, i was kinda surprised to hear he's friends with you, you know, with him being into the jintaek sports cult and all..."

"taehyun is good." huening says, like it closes the case.

"i know. if he's your friend, then i'm sure of that… but, i'm curious, how'd you guys become friends?" you ask.

kai looks at you with an expression you find unfamiliar in him. he's never that stern, that secretive. "yunjin might've spilled some details to you… she's dying to know about that summer. but seriously, it's not a big deal. we just promised someone to keep it low-key. it's not about me, or else i'd tell you straight up. just leave it be," he says firmly, and it leves you speechless. huening pours more drinks, lightening the mood. "bon't let Yunjin blow it out of proportion. it's really not a big deal," he adds with a grin, softening the atmosphere, probably picking up on your guilt for meddling where you shouldn't have.

"yeah... i think I'm gonna call it a night," he slurs. "not 'cause I'm feeling sick, i'm good. just wanna throw up in my own bathroom. night."

"need a hand?" you ask.

"nope."

"promise you'll drink water?"

"yup."

"sleep well, then, huening-ah," you chuckle as he heads out. you linger for a while and hear a blow coming from the stairs. "need help getting you your room?!" you shout.

"all good!" he shouts back.

with the room to myself, I check the time and realize it's not too late. I could go for a walk in the warm night air, but honestly, after the trip and all, I kinda just wanna kick back at home.

how are you spending your night?

go take a walk. have some alone time with your hometown, go down to the beach, maybe reconnect with the natives...

stay home. indeed, you had a long trip and you need to rest. besides, huening and grandma are both asleep, someone needs to watch the fort in case there's visitors.

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

i promise ill update soon i'm gay and i have adhd

2 notes · View notes

beomgyw · 1 month

Text

AWAY TO OUR HOMETOWN

with every choice you open more timelines, so make sure you stay in your lane!

some of the scenes are common to all timelines, so if you go back to change one of your choices, be aware that you might have to reread some scenes. (it´s a formatting setback sowwy)

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

you pull out your phone, the screen lighting up with huening´s message. the text sits there, telling you that he has arrived, but as you glance around he's nowhere to be seen. you lean against a pillar, watching as the hustle and bustle of commuters gradually fades away. but there's no sign of him.

the train station buzzes with activity as you step off the train, the salty tang of the ocean air hitting you for the first time in seven years. it´s been so long since you left, but every sight, sound, and smell feels like it's been etched into your memory forever.

minutes tick by until your phone jolts you form your thoughts with a buzz. "kai?" you ask into the phone.

"hey, i'm here! where are you?"

"outside the station, waiting for you!" you exclaim.

"i'm... there too? are you sure you took the right train?"

"of course i did! i don't see..." you start, then freeze as your gaze lands on a figure a few meters away, waiting by his car—a blonde boy, talking on his phone. no way.

you begin to approach cautiously, trying to appear nonchalant in case this turns out to be some random stranger. but as you draw closer, his features become unmistakable —the almond-shaped eyes, the greek nose, that fair skin... absolutely no way.

and the closer you get, the more his face lights up in recognition, mirroring your own astonishment. before you know it, you're both running towards each other to finally merge into a tight hug.

"hueningie!? i couldn't recognise you! you... woah, look at you!"

"me? what happened to you?" he says, returning the hug. "are you cool now? why do you look good?"

"shut up! you´re the one who looks like a male model."

"aw, not a male model." he laughs, striking the zoolander pose, which of course, you return. your cousin and you are both apparently hot now, yes. but forever dorks.

you share a laugh before he hugs you again. "ugh, it´s been so long!"

"it really has..." you agree, pulling back to look at him again. "you're so grown... woah. and you're blond now?"

"it´s the beach trend, shut up." he mumbles, a hint of embarrassment colouring his cheeks.

"hey, but what was the surprise..."

and kai opens his mouth, but never gets to unveil the surprise, as the car door swings open with a bang, and a blur of orange comes hurtling towards you accompanied by a ecstatic, familiar voice.

"I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU!"

"YUNJIN," you screech back, heart leaping with joy.

she practically tackles kai away to embrace you in a tight hug that threatens to knock you off balance.

"she insisted on coming to pick you up..." kai mutters from his forcefully secondary spot. but you know their dynamic too well—it's all part of their frenemies routine.

"you look so pretty, yunjin!" you tell her. "doesn't she, kai?"

your cousin looks away and mumbles something impossible to decipher, but you're so hyped to see your best friend after so many years that you even forget to check how red his ears must have gotten so you can tease him about it later.

the three of you hop on the car, you taking the front passenger seat (honorary spot for the honorary guest!) and instead of praising kai for how much he's grown and how mature he looks, you and yunjin spend the whole trip making fun at his driving skills.

you enjoy every bit of the scenery, rolling down the window to breathe the summer air. you have nothing to do, for the first time in your life, you have nothing to do– no extra courses, no language lessons for extra credit, no nothing– and it feels as freeing as it is terrifying. that tranquility, you're gonna have to get used to it.

as promised, you pull up to dan's bakery, and of course, huening gets tasked in democratic election to be one to fetch the pastries. as he leves the car you hear him curse under his breath, something along the lines of "watch me turn forty and still be the errand boy."

as soon as he disappears through the bakery's door, you seize the opportunity to whirl around and face yunjin. "so. what's the deal?"

yunjin's eyes widen slightly before she puts on her best innocent face. "what are you talking about?"

"you and kai. don't tell me no advances were made in the past seven years."

"please, it was just a silly crush from middle school." she rolls her eyes, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "i'm way past that now."

"sure..."

"i am! what a masochistic i would be, to let old emotions get the best of me." she says. and not only did it rhyme, she added a certain tune to it, so you could only figure that she had just quoted a song. "hueningie is my best friend. i was a bit into him when i was, what, twelve?" she says. and you think to yourself eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen... but she continues. "it´s ancient history. totally extinct."

"alright, fine," you relent, not wanting to push her too far. but then a memory resurfaces, your expression getting a tad more serious. "you know, talking ancient history... i met this boy named soobin on the train..."

"oh, you met him already! yes, he's cool. he became close friends with us, first year high school." she says casually. "we promised to come back during the summer."

"well, do you know if he's friends with someone who... you know, bullied me during middle school or something... he arrived here after i left, so i guess it would make sense..." you trail off.

"soobin? nah, he's not that type. he hangs out with huening and beomgyu mostly... they keep to themselves, little cult of dorks. it´s cute."

"...beomgyu?"

"yeah, you remember him, right? he was in our class. quiet kid, he played guitar in the band,"

"ah, yes!" you exclaim after a few seconds of recalling. "he worked part-time for my grandmother when she broke her hip and couldn't work in the garden. he used to come over a lot."

"well, the three of them got tight in high school. but beomgyu went through this phase, got all cocky for a while. he got hot on our junior and started dating..."

"the three of them are pretty guys, come on..."

"yeah, but huening is a loser–"

"a man of a single woman, you mean."

"shut it." she says before continuing. "and soobin is..."

"not straight."

"not in the slightest. and it's not like a gay boy has got many chances to date in a small town like this." she says. "so beomgyu broke their cult dynamic, they had their fair share of arguments. but he's mellowed out since then. actually..." she leans closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. "i wanted to run something by you,"

"what's that?" you raise your eyebrow.

"a bit of a spy mission." she says.

"huh?"

"i think something went down the summer before we left for uni," yunjin explains. "they all changed a bit. huening clammed up, beomgyu went back to being a sweet kid, and soobin got even quieter. and then they started hanging out with that guy, taehyun, of all people. it's weird, right? taehyun's in with jintaek's rugby crowd, and they're like their own little clique."

"i guess it is weird. ill help you find out, definitely... woah i'm hang now."

"right? oh, and they also became friends with someone else..."

"...who?"

"well, he's got cool hair, cool necklaces and is married to his surf board..." she trails off, a playful smirk playing on her lips.

"oh no." you say, burying your face in your hands.

"come on," yunjin chuckles. "don't tell me you're still embarrassed because of what happened."

"i will always be embarrassed about it, christ..."

"why? it happened so long ago! i'm sure he doesn't even remember. you could go for it! he's practically glued to the beach so you'll definitely run into him and we both know he's a bit of a player, so, easy catch!"

you scoff at the idea. "i'll go for it if you go for him," you counter, nodding subtly in huening's direction as he returns from the bakery, clumsily balancing three boxes and a paper bag in his mouth.

yunjin's gaze turns murderous. "watch it."

you got the pastries and some lore from while you were away, now let's go home !!

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

AWAY TO OUR HOMETOWN

with every choice you open more timelines, so make sure you stay in your lane!

some of the scenes are common to all timelines, so if you go back to change one of your choices, be aware that you might have to reread some scenes. (it´s a formatting setback sowwy)

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

minutes tick by until your phone jolts you form your thoughts with a buzz. "kai?" you ask into the phone.

"hey, i'm here! where are you?"

"outside the station, waiting for you!" you exclaim.

"i'm... there too? are you sure you took the right train?"

"of course i did! i don't see..." you start, then freeze as your gaze lands on a figure a few meters away, waiting by his car—a blonde boy, talking on his phone. no way.

and the closer you get, the more his face lights up in recognition, mirroring your own astonishment. before you know it, you're both running towards each other to finally merge into a tight hug.

"hueningie!? i couldn't recognise you! you... woah, look at you!"

"me? what happened to you?" he says, returning the hug. "are you cool now? why do you look good?"

"shut up! you´re the one who looks like a male model."

"aw, not a male model." he laughs, striking the zoolander pose, which of course, you return. you're cousin and you are both apparently hot now, yes. but forever dorks.

you share a laugh before he hugs you again. "ugh, it´s been so long!"

"it really has..." you agree, pulling back to look at him again. "you're so grown... woah. and you're blond now?"

"it´s the beach trend, shut up." he mumbles, a hint of embarrassment colouring his cheeks.

"hey, but what was the surprise..."

and kai opens his mouth, but never gets to unveil the surprise, as the car door swings open with a bang, and a blur of orange comes hurtling towards you accompanied by a ecstatic, familiar voice.

"I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU"

"YUNJIN," you screech back, heart leaping with joy.

she practically tackles kai away to embrace you in a tight hug that threatens to knock you off balance.

"she insisted on coming to pick you up..." kai mutters from his forcefully secondary spot. but you know their dynamic too well—it's all part of their frenemies routine.

"you look so pretty, yunjin!" you tell her. "doesn't she, kai?"

as soon as he disappears through the bakery's door, you seize the opportunity to whirl around and face yunjin. "so. what's the deal?"

yunjin's eyes widen slightly before she puts on her best innocent face. "what are you talking about?"

"you and kai. don't tell me no advances were made in the past seven years."

"please, it was just a silly crush from middle school." she rolls her eyes, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "i'm way past that now."

"sure..."

"alright, fine," you relent, not wanting to push her too far. but then a memory resurfaces, your expression getting a tad more serious. "you know, talking ancient history... i ran into park jintaek on the train earlier."

yunjin furrows her brows. "oh, honey. are you alright?"

you nod, forcing a smile. "yeah, i'm fine. it was just... weird, you know? like being back in middle school all over again. i really hope i don't run into him again while we're here."

"it'll be okay," yunjin, reaches out to squeeze your hand. "because if you run into him, i will totally placate him."

you escape a soft laugh, "thanks, yunnie. just, don't tell kai, alright?"

"why? if it´s because you think he'll confront jintaek or something, no need to worry. little penguin would rather contact the UN to solve the conflict than throwing a fist."

"i know." you chuckle. "it´s not that. i just don't want him to worry, that's all."

"sure, honey." she says. "none of us have seen jintaek since last summer anyway, and let me tell you, we wouldn't be thrilled to encounter him as well."

"did he really not change one bit all throughout high school?"

yunjin let's out a sigh. "not at all," she says. "but you know, i think they actually confronted him once, huening and his friends."

"what?"

"yeah, the summer before we all left for uni. they won't talk about it, no matter how much i ask. but something definitely happened... and it had to involve jintaek, because he totally disappeared for the rest of the summer. and the tree of them changed all of the sudden, too... huening clammed up, beomgyu went back to his old self, and soobin got even quieter..."

"i don't know any of those people. only kai."

"oh, um... soobin, he's cool. he moved in right after you left and he became close friends with us, first year high school." she says casually. "we promised to come back during the summer, so you'll probably meet him soon. and beomgyu... girl, you do know beomgyu."

"i do?"

"yeah, you have to remember him! he was in our class. quiet kid, he played guitar in the band,"

"ah, yes!" you exclaim after a few seconds of recalling. "he worked part-time for my grandmother when she broke her hip and couldn't work in the garden. he used to come over a lot."

"well, the three of them got tight in high school. they kept to themselves, little cult of dorks. they still are, it´s cute. but beomgyu went through this phase, got all cocky for a while. he got hot on our junior and started dating…"

"kai got pretty handsome too, come on…"

"yeah, but he's is a loser–"

"a man of a single woman, you mean."

"shut it." she says before continuing. "and soobin is… well, he's gay. so he doesn't get to date much in a little town like this. beomgyu was the one who broke their cult dynamic. they had their fair share of arguments, i remember. but he's mellowed out since then. it all happened that summer, right before we left for uni. they all changed. they even started hanging out with that guy, taehyun, of all people. it's weird, right? taehyun's in with jintaek's rugby crowd, and they're like their own little clique. actually..." she leans closer with a mischievous look. "i wanted to run something by you,"

"what's that?" you raise your eyebrow.

"a bit of a spy mission." she says.

"huh?"

"i wanna know what happened, because something definitely went down, but they're so secretive about it..."

"woah i'm so curious now, i'm in, definitely."

"cool!" yunjin says. but then you see a naughty glint flicker in her eyes. "oh, and they became friends with someone else…"

"...who?"

"well, he's got cool hair, cool necklaces and is married to his surf board..." she trails off, a playful smirk playing on her lips.

you shake you head vehemently, cutting her off before she can say another word. "no way. i'd take a dozen jintaeks over running into him."

"why? you could go for it! he's practically glued to the beach so you'll definitely run into him. also, you and i both know he's a bit of a player. so, easy catch!"

you got the pastries and some lore from while you were away, now let's go home!

yunjin's gaze turns murderous. "watch it."

8 notes · View notes

beomgyw · 1 month

Text

AWAY TO OUR HOMETOWN

with every choice you open more timelines, so make sure you stay in your lane!

some of the scenes are common to all timelines, so if you go back to change one of your choices, be aware that you might have to reread some scenes. (it´s a formatting setback sowwy)

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

minutes tick by until your phone jolts you form your thoughts with a buzz. "kai?" you ask into the phone.

"hey, i'm here! where are you?"

"outside the station, waiting for you!" you exclaim.

"i'm... there too? are you sure you took the right train?"

"of course i did! i don't see..." you start, then freeze as your gaze lands on a figure a few meters away, waiting by his car—a blonde boy, talking on his phone. no way.

and the closer you get, the more his face lights up in recognition, mirroring your own astonishment. before you know it, you're both running towards each other to finally merge into a tight hug.

"hueningie!? i couldn't recognise you! you... woah, look at you!"

"me? what happened to you?" he says, returning the hug. "are you cool now? why do you look good?"

"shut up! you´re the one who looks like a male model."

"aw, not a male model." he laughs, striking the zoolander pose, which of course, you return. your cousin and you are both apparently hot now, yes. but forever dorks.

you share a laugh before he hugs you again. "ugh, it´s been so long!"

"it really has..." you agree, pulling back to look at him again. "you're so grown... woah. and you're blond now?"

"it´s the beach trend, shut up." he mumbles, a hint of embarrassment colouring his cheeks.

"hey, but what was the surprise..."

and kai opens his mouth, but never gets to unveil the surprise, as the car door swings open with a bang, and a blur of orange comes hurtling towards you accompanied by a ecstatic, familiar voice.

"I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU"

"YUNJIN," you screech back, heart leaping with joy.

she practically tackles kai away to embrace you in a tight hug that threatens to knock you off balance.

"she insisted on coming to pick you up..." kai mutters from his forcefully secondary spot. but you know their dynamic too well—it's all part of their frenemies routine.

"you look so pretty, yunjin!" you tell her. "doesn't she, kai?"

as promised, you pull up to dan's bakery, and of course, huening gets tasked in democratic election to be the one to fetch the pastries. as he leves the car you hear him curse under his breath, something along the lines of "watch me turn forty and still be the errand boy."

as soon as he disappears through the bakery's door, you seize the opportunity to whirl around and face yunjin. "so. what's the deal?"

yunjin's eyes widen slightly before she puts on her best innocent face. "what are you talking about?"

"you and kai. don't tell me no advances were made in the past seven years."

"please, it was just a silly crush from middle school." she rolls her eyes, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "i'm way past that now."

"sure..."

yunjin furrows her brows. "oh, honey. are you alright?"

you nod, forcing a smile. "yeah, i'm fine. it was just... weird, you know? like being back in middle school all over again. i really hope i don't run into him again while we're here."

"it'll be okay," yunjin, reaches out to squeeze your hand. "because if you run into him, i will totally placate him."

you escape a soft laugh, "thanks, yunnie. just, don't tell kai, alright?"

"why? if it’s because you think he'll confront jintaek or something, no need to worry. little penguin would rather contact the UN to solve the conflict than throwing a fist."

"i know." you chuckle. "it’s not that. i just don't want him to worry, that's all."

"sure, honey." she says. "none of us have seen jintaek since last summer anyway, and let me tell you, we wouldn't be thrilled to encounter him as well."

"did he really not change one bit all throughout high school?"

yunjin let's out a sigh. "not at all," she says. "but you know, i think they actually confronted him once, huening and his friends."

"what?"

"yeah, last summer. you know, before we all left for uni. they won't talk about it, no matter how much i ask. but something definitely happened... and it had to involve jintaek, because he totally disappeared for the rest of the summer. and the three of them changed all of the sudden, too... huening clammed up, beomgyu went back to his old self, and soobin got even quieter..."

"i don't know any of those people. only kai."

"i do?"

"yeah, you have to remember him! he was in our class. quiet kid, he played guitar in the band,"

"ah, yes!" you exclaim after a few seconds of recalling. "he worked part-time for my grandmother when she broke her hip and couldn't work in the garden. he used to come over a lot."

"well, the three of them got tight in high school. they kept to themselves, little cult of dorks. they still are, it’s cute. but beomgyu went through this phase, got all cocky for a while. he got hot on our junior and started dating…"

"kai got pretty handsome too, come on…"

"yeah, but he's is a loser–"

"a man of a single woman, you mean."

"what's that?" you raise your eyebrow.

"a bit of a spy mission." she says.

"huh?"

"i wanna know what happened, because something definitely went down, but they're so secretive about it..."

"woah i'm so curious now, i'm in, definitely."

"cool!" yunjin says. but then you see a naughty glint flicker in her eyes. "oh, and they became friends with someone else…"

"...who?"

"well, he's got cool hair, cool necklaces and is married to his surf board..." she trails off, a playful smirk playing on her lips.

you shake you head vehemently, cutting her off before she can say another word. "no way. i'd take a dozen jintaeks over running into him."

"why? you could go for it! he's practically glued to the beach so you'll definitely run into him. also, you and i both know he's a bit of a player. so, easy catch!"

you got the pastries and some lore from while you were away, let's go home !!

yunjin's gaze turns murderous. "watch it."

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beomgyw · 1 month

Text

AWAY TO OUR HOMETOWN

with every choice you open more timelines, so make sure you stay in your lane!

some of the scenes are common to all timelines, so if you go back to change one of your choices, be aware that you might have to reread some scenes. (it´s a formatting setback sowwy)

if you're new here, go back to the beginning !!

minutes tick by until your phone jolts you form your thoughts with a buzz. "kai?" you ask into the phone.

"hey, i'm here! where are you?"

"outside the station, waiting for you!" you exclaim.

"i'm... there too? are you sure you took the right train?"

"of course i did! i don't see..." you start, then freeze as your gaze lands on a figure a few meters away, waiting by his car—a blonde boy, talking on his phone. no way.

and the closer you get, the more his face lights up in recognition, mirroring your own astonishment. before you know it, you're both running towards each other to finally merge into a tight hug.

"hueningie!? i couldn't recognise you! you... woah, look at you!"

"me? what happened to you?" he says, returning the hug. "are you cool now? why do you look good?"

"shut up! you´re the one who looks like a male model."

"aw, not a male model." he laughs, striking the zoolander pose, which of course, you return. you're cousin and you are both apparently hot now, yes. but forever dorks.

you share a laugh before he hugs you again. "ugh, it´s been so long!"

"it really has..." you agree, pulling back to look at him again. "you're so grown... woah. and you're blond now?"

"it´s the beach trend, shut up." he mumbles, a hint of embarrassment colouring his cheeks.

"hey, but what was the surprise..."

and kai opens his mouth, but never gets to unveil the surprise, as the car door swings open with a bang, and a blur of orange comes hurtling towards you accompanied by a ecstatic, familiar voice.

"I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU, I MISSED YOU"

"YUNJIN," you screech back, heart leaping with joy.

she practically tackles kai away to embrace you in a tight hug that threatens to knock you off balance.

"she insisted on coming to pick you up..." kai mutters from his forcefully secondary spot. but you know their dynamic too well—it's all part of their frenemies routine.

"you look so pretty, yunjin!" you tell her. "doesn't she, kai?"

as soon as he disappears through the bakery's door, you seize the opportunity to whirl around and face yunjin. "so. what's the deal?"

yunjin's eyes widen slightly before she puts on her best innocent face. "what are you talking about?"

"you and kai. don't tell me no advances were made in the past seven years."

"please, it was just a silly crush from middle school." she rolls her eyes, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. "i'm way past that now."

"sure..."

"oh, you met him already! yes, he's cool. he became close friends with us, first year high school." she says casually. "we promised to come back during the summer."

"well, do you know if he's friends with someone who... you know, bullied me during middle school or something... he arrived here after i left, so i guess it would make sense..." you trail off.

"soobin? nah, he's not that type. he hangs out with huening and beomgyu mostly... they keep to themselves, little cult of dorks. it´s cute."

"...beomgyu?"

"yeah, you remember him, right? he was in our class. quiet kid, he played guitar in the band,"

"ah, yes!" you exclaim after a few seconds of recalling. "he worked part-time for my grandmother when she broke her hip and couldn't work in the garden. he used to come over a lot."

"well, the three of them got tight in high school. but beomgyu went through this phase, got all cocky for a while. he got hot on our junior and started dating..."

"the three of them are pretty guys, come on..."

"yeah, but huening is a loser–"

"a man of a single woman, you mean."

"shut it." she says before continuing. "and soobin is..."

"not straight."

"not in the slightest. and it's not like a gay boy has got many chances to date in a small town life this." she says. "so beomgyu broke their cult dynamic, they had their fair share of arguments. but he's mellowed out since then. actually..." she leans closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. "i wanted to run something by you,"

"what's that?" you raise your eyebrow.

"a bit of a spy mission." she says.

"huh?"

"i guess it is weird. ill help you find out, definitely... woah i'm hang now."

"right? oh, and they also became friends with someone else..."

"...who?"

"well, he's got cool hair, cool necklaces and is married to his surf board..." she trails off, a playful smirk playing on her lips.

"oh no." you say, burying your face in your hands.

"come on," yunjin chuckles. "don't tell me you're still embarrassed because of what happened."

"i will always be embarrassed about it, christ..."

yunjin's gaze turns murderous. "watch it."

you got the pastries and some lore from while you were away, now let's go home!

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