Chapter Text
As someone who works his ass off day and night, Yeonjun loves to make the most of his leisure time – spending his days mostly sleeping, or doomscrolling through social media.
He remains locked up in his room for most part – only stepping out into the communal space to grab something to eat or drink.
He’s not as energetic as the rest of the members – something he’ll never admit to, to spare himself the childish teasing about getting old – “ Rigor mortis setting in?” Beomgyu would joke.
It’s almost lunchtime, and Yeonjun knows that it’s probably just him in the dorm. Beomgyu said something about going to the arcade with Kai, and Taehyun’s perhaps holed up in the studio, recording his lines. And that leaves Soobin, who must be in his room, sleeping, or gaming, or whatever it is that he does to relax. Or maybe he’s not relaxing at all – maybe he’s in a meeting, or on a call with management.
Yeonjun takes a deep breath.
Their leader is never off duty, eh?
He’s about to kick the blanket off of his body and head over to Soobin’s room – to check on him, maybe scold him for working on a rest day, or simply drag him out to the hotpot place Yeonjun found a few days ago – when he’s stopped by the ring of his phone.
When he sees the name on the screen, he smiles.
“Eomma, good morning,” he chimes, and the lady on the other end of the line clicks her tongue, “Yeonjun-ah, it’s almost lunchtime! Are you only just waking up??”
Yeonjun cringes.
Damn.
Soobin's Mom is just as nagging as his mom.
“Give me a break, Eomma,” he whines, “I need my beauty sleep~”
And that seems to break the sharpness of her voice. Soobin’s Eomma giggles fondly, “Eung ~ Yeonjunnie is very beautiful indeed,”
Yeonjun chuckles softly, heat rising in his cheeks, “Ah, you’re making me blush,” he says, and the woman laughs gently.
It’s reminiscent of Soobin’s laughter – soft and mellow – like when he’s awoken by the smell of ramyeon first thing in the morning – er – afternoon– that Yeonjun cooks for the two of them. Yeonjun and Soobin are buddies – even in bad health.
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure, Eomma?” Yeonjun asks, sitting up. While the members are close to each others’ families, it’s rare for Soobin’s Eomma to call anyone else but Soobin. Like him, she’s an introvert too.
“Ah, I haven't been able to reach him. I wanted to let him know that he forgot his headphones at home,” she says.
Soobin had gone home over the weekend. He must've forgotten them, but it’s rather odd. For someone who games every chance he gets, forgetting the headphones is almost catastrophic. But Yeonjun figures the man is only human, and humans make mistakes.
“Ah, I’ll let him know, Eomma–” Yeonjun hops off the bed to start his day, but he’s cut off by Eomma’s words.
“And his girlfriend forgot her hairdryer here too. These kids – they can be so clumsy,” she adds nonchalantly towards the end. Like it’s a well-established fact that Soobin has a girlfriend.
Meanwhile, this is the first Yeonjun’s hearing of this. Of this girlfriend who forgot her hairdryer at Soobin’s parents’ place. Of this girlfriend he likely introduced to his parents. Of this girlfriend he essentially went away with for the weekend.
“Yeonjun-ah?” Eomma prompts, and Yeonjun swallows the knot in his throat thickly, “I-I, yes, I’m here. I uh, I’ll let them know, Eomma. Don’t worry,”
Them?
Yeonjun doesnt even know them.
Them is a mysterious girl he’s never heard of, and Soobin, who feels like a stranger now.
The fact that Soobin likely has a long-term girlfriend -– Yeonjun had no idea. For a second, he considers whether he’d been painfully oblivious to any signs. Yeonjun tends to get wrapped up in himself, his worries and his emotions. Sometimes, he becomes selfishly isolated from the rest. Perhaps that was the case – perhaps Soobin had mentioned it, but it slipped Yeonjun’s mind. But the possibility that Soobin categorically hid this information from him makes his stomach churn uncomfortably.
Yeonjun hears movement in the hall, and quickly disconnects the call after bidding Soobin’s Eomma a farewell.
Right now, his mind is swimming with undesirable thoughts. His heart is overcome by what feels like betrayal. A bitter taste spreads across his tongue, and he struggles to swallow the damning possibility that he had no clue about a major change in his best friend’s life.
Best friend?
Do best friends hide the fact that they’re dating someone?
Do best friends go behind each other’s backs?
Do best friends lie to your face when asked about weekend plans?
“Had dinner with my family,” Soobin had said when Yeonjun asked him about it, conveniently leaving out the part about this mysterious hair dryer girl.
Yeonjun, now wide awake, rushes outside into the hall – to confront Soobin? Yell at him? But what right does he have? He doesn’t even have the right to ask him about it, let alone reprimand him for keeping a secret.
It’s not like none of them have ever dated before. They've all had successful and unsuccessful relationships. What angers Yeonjun is that no one’s ever kept a relationship secret before. But then again, Soobin’s entitled to his privacy.
So what Yeonjun is feeling – this bitter mix of betrayal and sorrow – is completely invalid.
Yeonjun freezes in the hallway, his fingers tingling as a storm churns inside his gut. He flinches when the main door flies open, and he prepares to face Soobin – who it likely is. But he’s rather relieved to see that it’s only Beomgyu, Kai and Taehyun. Their conversation comes to a halt when they see Yeonjun standing in the hallway, watching them with a weary expression.
“Oh, good morning,” Taehyun greets and Kai hurries over to him, “You look haggard. Did you not get any sleep?”
Yeonjun swallows, unable to voice his thoughts. His eyes raise to meet Beomgyu, who seems to be the only one to pick up on the fact that something’s gone wrong. He walks over to Yeonjun, reaching for his hand, “Hyungie, is–”
“Why are you all here?” Yeonjun averts his gaze, overwhelmed by Beomgyu’s piercing gaze. He can feel Beomgyu studying his face, and Yeonjun feels like an exposed wire – vulnerable and raw.
“Ah, Soobinnie Hyung texted us and asked us to gather here,” Huening says. Taehyun scoffs as he walks over to them, now holding a glass of water in his hand, “I think we all know why he’s asked us to meet, eh?”
An ache erupts in Yeonjun’s heart, and he looks at the sheepish expression on his members’ faces with a tight chest. He feels clueless, isolated and…
“I can’t believe we finally get to meet her,” Kai chimes excitedly, and Yeonjun breathes out shakily. He turns to look at Beomgyu, who wears a worried expression on his face. His fingers gently squeeze Yeonjun’s bicep when they hear movement outside the main door.
“Don’t freak out,” Beomgyu whispers in his ear before the door flies open to reveal — Soobin….
Soobin and a girl – their fingers interlocked.
“You’re all here,” Soobin smiles handsomely, “Good,” he says as he, with his female companion, steps into the house. The girl, on the taller side, matches Soobin’s height and pace perfectly. Her sharp features complement his soft ones well, and the perfect smile on her face makes her instantly likeable.
Yeonjun’s stomach coils into itself as Soobin walks over to them, a pleasant smile plastered on his face, but not without a hint of nervousness.
“Guys, this is Miyoung,” Soobin says with restrained alacrity, “My girlfriend,”
And just like that, Yeonjun’s world shatters.