Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Look, Kai didn’t want to be the peacemaker.

People think it's fun, playing the sunshine friend. The glue of the friend group. The one who keeps two very specific people from killing each other at lunch.

But when you're constantly stuck between your best friend and his supposed arch-nemesis two seconds before a potential fistfight?

Not so much.

Kai stabbed at his meal, watching Soobin organize his tray with the kind of precision that told Kai he was only doing it to take his mind off something. Across from him, Yeonjun scrolled through his phone, occasionally snorting at something on his feed.

Normal. Peaceful. The kind of lunch Kai dreamed about.

"So," Kai said, because someone had to fill the silence, "dance showcase next month. Are you ready?"

"Obviously," Yeonjun said without looking up. "But I'm still helping Taehyun nail that turn sequence he's been complaining about."

"He's been stressed about it," Kai admitted, twirling his fork. "Keeps saying the timing's off, but I think he's just being a perfectionist again."

Soobin hummed in agreement. "He always does that before a performance, doesn't he?"

"Yeah, but this time he's got that new choreo with Jisung, and apparently he keeps-"

"-stepping on his toes," Yeonjun finished, finally glancing up with a grin. "He texted me about it at like, two in the morning. Full rant. I didn't even read half of it."

Kai laughed. That sounded about right.

"Speaking of dance," Soobin said, pulling out his phone, "we need to finalize the camping details with the dance club. I'm making a group chat for it tonight."

Yeonjun made a face. "Camping. In the woods. With sweaty overgrown toddlers."

"And bears," Kai added helpfully.

"Thanks, I hate it."

"You literally signed up for it."

"I was peer-pressured."

Soobin rolled his eyes. "You're their president."

"For now."

Kai was about to join in on the banter when he felt it. That shift in the air. That faint ticking sound.

You know that moment in movies, when the hero hears faint ticking and has exactly three seconds before the bomb goes off?

That hero was Kai. And the ticking was Beomgyu’s sharp and incredulous laugh. And the bomb was whatever Taehyun was about to say next.

From across the table, Yeonjun and Soobin exchanged a look. The kind of look that said, here we go again.

Kai turned just in time to see them arrive.

Taehyun and Beomgyu walked in together, fresh from their shared elective and apparently fresh from another round of whatever psychological warfare they'd been waging since freshman year.

"...not my fault your taste in music is just noise with a beat!" Beomgyu sneered, dropping his bag on a chair with more force than necessary.

"At least mine doesn't sound like a car alarm fell into a blender," Taehyun replied smoothly, not even looking at him as he set his water bottle down.

"I make real music. You just flail around to it."

"Says the guy who hits stuff with sticks and calls it talent."

It began. Again.

Kai sometimes forgot he was the youngest. Between those two, he felt like a tired kindergarten teacher waiting for them to stop fighting over who got a turn on the swing.

The two of them bickered like it was their native language.

And, unfortunately, the rest of the group had become fluent by exposure.

"Hi!" Kai tried, voice bright, gesturing at the empty seats with his fork. "You're both here! How nice. Please sit. Peacefully."

Beomgyu rolled his eyes but dropped into the seat beside Yeonjun, immediately stealing a fry off his plate. Taehyun slid in next to Kai, posture relaxed, like he hadn't just entered the cafeteria bickering with Beomgyu.

That was the thing about them.

Beomgyu argued with his whole body. His hands flailed around, the volume of his voice would increase, his expressions wildly animated.

Taehyun, on the other hand, argued like he was discussing the weather. Calm, detached, and somehow more infuriating because of it.

Their bickering was as stupid as it was entertaining.

"So," Kai said brightly, determined to steer this conversation somewhere civil. "How was class?"

He had about three seconds of peace.

"Oh, it was great," Beomgyu said, voice dripping with sarcasm as he accepted half a sandwich from Yeonjun.

"Except genius over here kept stealing my answers just to show off."

Taehyun took a sip of his water. "Not my fault you whisper your answers instead of raising your hand.

"Because Gaon already had his hand up!"

"And? Professor didn't call on Gaon."

"Yeah, because you blurted it out first. That's called being rude, Taehyun."

"That's called participation. You'd know that if you actually paid attention instead of doodling in your notebook."

"I was taking notes!"

"You drew a dog wearing sunglasses."

"That was one time."

Kai pressed his palms flat against the table and took a deep breath.

In front of him, Soobin closed his eyes like he was praying for patience. Beside him, Yeonjun slurped his soda loudly, clearly enjoying the show.

Kai felt like he was sitting on a landmine every time the group gathered for lunch.

It didn't always feel like this.

Well. Actually, it kind of did.

Back in freshman year, it was just him and Taehyun. Two boys fresh out of their hometown, clinging to iced coffee, late-night study sessions, and the blind hope that they'd survive a university that felt way too big for their combined social skills.

Then came the party.

Kai still remembered it vividly.

The music was too loud, the lights were terrible, and the drinks tasted awful, but they were free. So they went.

He'd left Taehyun alone for five minutes. Five.

He'd gone to refill their cups, got sidetracked talking to a kind junior named Soobin near the kitchen, and when he came back?

Taehyun was standing in the middle of the dance floor, flushed and holding a cup that definitely wasn't his, glaring at some other freshman who looked equally ready to throw hands.

Apparently, the other guy saw Taehyun alone and thought the best way to make friends while halfway drunk was to say, “You look like you write poetry in a graveyard.”

Taehyun, slightly tipsy, slightly petty, and very much in the mood to be childish, had taken that as an insult.

A drink was thrown. Voices were raised. Yeonjun, who'd been watching from the couch, started cheering like it was a sports match. Soobin ran over with a towel and a panicked expression.

And yes, that freshman was Beomgyu.

From that moment on, whatever hope of peace between them curled up and died.

Kai thought it would blow over. It was a dumb party argument, nothing serious. But then Soobin introduced Beomgyu to the group a week later, and the bickering just... never stopped.

That was two years and about a thousand arguments ago.

Now, he could only sigh.

"So!" Kai tried again, smile so bright he hoped it reached the divine so they'd be granted intervention.

"Midterms went well for everyone, right?"

"Taehyun probably failed," Beomgyu muttered into his sandwich.

Taehyun didn't even blink. "You'd know all about failing, wouldn't you?"

"I wasn't the one stealing answers in class today."

"That's called teamwork."

"It's called cheating."

"It's called being efficient."

"It's called-"

"Okay!" Kai said loudly, clapping his hands together. "New topic. How about that camp trip? Everyone's going, right?"

Arguing was like breathing to them. Constant. Effortless. Exhausting for everyone else.

But here's the thing.

Kai noticed stuff. Small things. Tiny details that no one else would catch unless they'd grown up with Taehyun and had seen him through every phase.

Like the way Taehyun's glare would linger on Beomgyu just a heartbeat too long. The way he'd bite back a smile, hiding it behind a smirk or a sarcastic comment. The subtle tilt of his head whenever Beomgyu said something particularly ridiculous.

And that flicker of warmth in his eyes when Beomgyu wasn't looking? Kai noticed that too.

Right now, for instance, Taehyun was pretending to be absorbed in peeling the orange Kai brought for him, but his gaze kept drifting. Just little glances. Nothing obvious.

Except it was kind of obvious. At least, to Kai.

He looked like he was either going to murder Beomgyu or kiss him. Possibly both. In that order.

Kai looked away quickly, pretending he hadn't noticed Taehyun watching Beomgyu take a bite of his sandwich. Pretending he hadn't seen the way Taehyun's expression soften for half a second when Beomgyu laughed at something Soobin said.

If this wasn't some weird, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers situation, Kai was going to demand a formal apology from the universe for how confusing this all was.

"We're going," Yeonjun said, breaking through Kai's spiraling thoughts, "and you two?"

"Only if he's staying home," Taehyun said, not looking up from his orange.

Beomgyu scoffed. "Trust me, I'd rather retake all my midterms than spend  a weekend seeing your dumb face."

Taehyun finally looked up, one eyebrow raised.

"Funny. I'm pretty sure I caught you staring at my dumb face in class earlier."

Beomgyu's ears went pink. "In horror, maybe."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"You-"

"Anyway!" Soobin interrupted smoothly, like a professional argument referee. "The trip is next week. Clear your schedules, pack appropriately, and please play nice."

"I'm calling a seat four rows away from them on the bus," Yeonjun announced, pointing between Taehyun and Beomgyu.

Kai laughed, but it came out a little weak. His brain was already spiraling into worst-case scenarios.

He remembered last year's beach trip. Taehyun had come home with a backpack full of sand. Not from the beach, but because Beomgyu had dumped it in there as revenge for something Kai couldn't even remember anymore.

They'd been finding grains of sand in their laundry for weeks.

And now a camping trip.

With bears. With fires. Knives. Rocks. Two boys with a history of passive-aggressive warfare, stuck together in the wilderness where bodies weren't easily found.

What could possibly go wrong?

Chapter Text

Every few months, the university's music and dance clubs would pack up and head somewhere scenic for a joint trip.

It could be by the sea, in the woods, or just anywhere inconvenient enough to have terrible Wi-Fi but great lighting for photos.

Officially, it was for "team-building."

Unofficially, it was a chance to escape academic responsibilities, over-commitments, and the lingering smell of the practice room after six straight hours of rehearsals.

It was supposed to be fun. Relaxing, even.

Not for Soobin, unfortunately.

Ever since the music club's old president graduated, the title had been dropped on him like a piano from the second floor. He didn't even remember accepting it.

He just woke up one day to thirty unread messages and a pinned comment in the group chat that said, "We're all rooting for you, Soobin!"

Which, in hindsight, should've been his first red flag.

And now here he was, sitting cross-legged in the middle of his dorm floor at eight in the morning, staring down at a clipboard like it held the secrets to world peace.

Four names left. Four people who still needed cabin assignments.

Gaon and Jooyeon from his club. Beomgyu, also from his club. And Taehyun from dance.

Soobin set down his pen and dragged a hand down his face, hoping the motion might somehow erase the problem.

It didn't. He groaned.

"Why did I agree to do this?"

From his bed, Yeonjun looked up from his phone, eyebrows raised in amusement. "What's with the suffering?"

Soobin wordlessly turned the clipboard toward him.

Yeonjun didn't even need to read the whole list before he started laughing. Loud, obnoxious, and entirely too pleased with the events.

Clearly, the dance club's president found the music club heir's dilemma hilarious.

"Oh, this is perfect," Yeonjun said, grinning like he'd just been handed free entertainment. "Keep Gaon and Jooyeon together. Taehyun's with Gyu."

Soobin blinked. "You do remember who Beomgyu is, right?"

"Tragically, yes."

“And you want to put Taehyun in a cabin with Beomgyu?” Soobin gave him a flat look.

Yeonjun shrugged, unbothered. "They'll bond. Whether they like it or not."

"And if they burn the cabin down?"

"Then we'll roast marshmallows on the ashes." Yeonjun flopped back onto his pillow, still grinning.

"Character development, Binnie. Think bigger."

Soobin exhaled through his nose. Slowly. Deliberately. Like a man preparing for a noble sacrifice.

With the heaviness of someone defusing a bomb, he scribbled the names onto the roommate sheet.

Cabin 6: Kang Taehyun. Choi Beomgyu.

Well. There went his peaceful trip to the woods.

The bus ride to the campsite was, predictably, chaos.

Soobin sat near the front with his headphones in, pretending to organize the schedule on his phone while actually just staring blankly at the screen.

Behind him, someone was singing off-key. Further back, Kai and a few others were playing some kind of card game that involved a lot of yelling. 

And in the very back corner? Taehyun and Beomgyu, sitting three seats apart, pointedly ignoring each other.

Which would've been fine, maybe even great since they'd become marginally quieter. Except that every five minutes, one of them would mutter something just loud enough for the other to hear, and then they'd be bickering again.

"Your playlist is giving me a migraine," Taehyun said at one point, not even looking up from his phone.

"Then stop eavesdropping on my music," Beomgyu shot back.

"Hard not to when it sounds like a fork in a vacuum cleaner."

"At least I have taste-"

Soobin tuned them out and glanced at Yeonjun, who was sitting across the aisle looking far too entertained.

"You're enjoying this," Soobin said.

"Immensely."

"They're going to kill each other."

Yeonjun just grinned and went back to his phone.

Soobin sighed and returned his attention to the window, watching the trees blur past.

Honestly, he'd give it fifty-fifty odds.

Either they'd come back from this trip acting how friends should be, or one of them would be missing and the other would have a suspiciously detailed alibi.

Soobin had a suspicion that it would be Taehyun leaving the woods in one piece if it ever came to it.

He knew the exact moment Beomgyu saw the cabin assignment list.

Soobin had just finished unpacking his bag in the cabin he was sharing with Yeonjun, humming to himself and enjoying the sound of birds outside, when the door slammed open.

Beomgyu stood in the doorway, shoulders squared, eyes wide with the kind of betrayal usually reserved for soap opera plot twists.

It was ridiculous. Yet, also entertaining.

"Why him?!" he whined, pointing dramatically toward the door like Taehyun was some kind of demon lurking just outside.

"Out of everyone, Soobin. Everyone."

Soobin didn't even flinch. He'd mentally prepared for at least five different complaints from Beomgyu alone.

"Because you and Gaon together would've woken the bears," Soobin replied calmly, folding a shirt. "And Taehyun would've committed a felony if Jooyeon made a single sound at night."

Beomgyu stormed further inside. “So, you’re sacrificing me instead?”

"Jooyeon is our only bass guitarist," Soobin said with mock solemnity. "Sometimes leadership requires hard choices. Like letting some people live."

"This is a hate crime."

"No," Soobin said, smiling slightly. "This is logistics."

Behind Beomgyu, Taehyun finally appeared in the doorway, duffel bag slung over one shoulder, expression carefully neutral.

Which, for Taehyun, meant he was actively swallowing whatever sarcastic remark wanted to come out, probably out of respect for Soobin's position as club president and an older friend.

They'd only been friends for two years, but Soobin would honestly hand Beomgyu over to the void if it meant staying in Taehyun's good graces.

He was reasonable, reliable, and didn't complain about cabin assignments.

Unlike some people.

"Thanks for being flexible, Taehyun," Soobin offered. "I owe you one."

Taehyun nodded once, then turned and walked right back out without a word.

Beomgyu watched him go, then whipped back around to Soobin, eyes wide.

"See that? He didn't say anything. That's scarier than yelling."

"He's being mature," Soobin said, patting Beomgyu's shoulder. The unlike you went unspoken but was definitely heard.

"You'll survive. Probably."

From the window, Yeonjun poked his head through. "Hey, did you tell them yet that the cabins don't have Wi-Fi?"

Beomgyu gasped, hand flying to his chest like he'd been shot. "So I'm stuck in the woods. With him. And no signal?!"

"It's called unplugging," Soobin said, already pulling out his noise-canceling headphones from his bag. He had a feeling he'd need them later. "It's good for the soul."

Beomgyu flopped dramatically onto Yeonjun's bed, face-first into the pillow.

"If I go missing," he said, muffled, "it was Taehyun. Check the lake."

Later that afternoon, Soobin made his first walkthrough of the campsite.

It was part of his presidential duties to make sure no one had set anything on fire. Yet. He also confirmed that people were settling in well, generally just being responsible while Yeonjun handled his own members.

He'd just finished yelling at Kai and Jungsu for trying to microwave an energy drink in the main cabin's communal kitchen (he didn't even want to know why), when he reached the cabin near the edge of the clearing.

Beomgyu and Taehyun's.

Except when he got there, he didn't see Beomgyu.

Instead, he found Gaon sitting on the front steps, guitar in hand, and Taehyun sitting beside him with his head tilted in interest.

Taehyun's eyes were fixed on Gaon's fingers as he demonstrated a chord progression, and he was nodding along like he was genuinely absorbing the information.

Soobin paused mid-step, eyebrows raising.

Huh. Not what he'd expected. But... interesting.

"Hey," Soobin called out, shifting his clipboard under one arm. "No roommate switching. That's official policy."

Taehyun looked up first, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Relax. He's just teaching me some stuff."

"Yeah," Gaon added, strumming something soft and melodic. "Trying to convince him to transfer clubs."

“Oh?” Soobin said lightly, keeping his tone casual. “Well, if you’re that desperate to escape Yeonjun's nagging, your roommate also plays guitar, you know."

He said it partly because it was true, Beomgyu was truly one of the best guitarists in the music club, but also because he was curious.

Would Beomgyu actually offer to teach Taehyun anything? Or would they just argue about until someone stormed off?

With those two, who could tell what would happen?

Taehyun just shrugged, grin widening slightly. "You know how we are together."

He said it like it was a badge of honor. Like he was weirdly proud of the reputation they'd built from two years of petty arguments.

Before Soobin could press further, a twig snapped behind him.

He turned to see Beomgyu standing a few feet away, hands jammed deep in his hoodie pockets, expression... unreadable.

Not angry, exactly. But guarded.

His eyes were fixed on the cabin steps, on Taehyun and Gaon sitting close together, and there was something tight in the line of his jaw.

The kind of tension you didn't get from a long walk or mild annoyance.

He looked... twitchy.

Soobin opened his mouth to say something, but in the blink of an eye, the expression vanished.

Beomgyu's face smoothed over like nothing had happened. Blank. Breezy. Totally calm.

"I call the top bunk," he announced loudly, stepping forward. "I want the window view."

"My stuff's already up there," Taehyun replied easily, leaning back on his hands. "Finders keepers."

"You're impossible," Beomgyu huffed, brushing past Soobin.

"Then sleep on the floor."

"You sleep on the floor."

"Why would I? I got here first."

Soobin glanced toward Gaon, who wisely decided this was a great time to leave. Rarely anything good came out of Taehyun and Beomgyu being in the same space, and both clubs knew it.

The guitarist gave a little wave and stood to walk down the trail, probably heading back toward his own cabin.

But just before Gaon left, Taehyun handed him back a guitar pick he'd been holding. Their fingers brushed briefly.

An accidental, meaningless touch.

But Soobin didn't miss the way Beomgyu's eye twitched.

There was a little too much force in the way he grabbed his bag. A little too much volume in the way he muttered under his breath. And his eyes kept flicking back to where Gaon had been sitting, like he was mentally cataloging something.

"Maybe he should just switch cabins," Beomgyu muttered, almost to himself but definitely loud enough for Soobin to hear.

"You okay?" Soobin asked casually, stepping closer.

Internally, he was trying very hard not to laugh. Because since when did Beomgyu get this... thrown off?

If Soobin let himself think about it for more than a second, he might start to suspect that Beomgyu was jealous. Of Gaon. Sitting next to Taehyun.

And if he pointed that out, Beomgyu would probably insist he wasn't sulking.

He'd say he was just concerned for Gaon's sanity after spending even one minute with Taehyun.

He'd be buzzing with nerves and he'd still argue that there was a huge difference between jealousy and concern for his co-member.

"I'm great," Beomgyu said quickly. Too quickly. "It's just hot out here. And loud."

Right. Totally. Definitely the heat.

"So sorry we don't have air conditioning, little prince," Taehyun smirked.

Beomgyu's shoulders tensed.

"Soobin," he groaned, turning back with a pout. "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

Soobin just smiled. Because yeah. Maybe he had. Or maybe he hadn't. Who could say, really?

He glanced down the trail where Gaon had disappeared, then back at Taehyun, who was still watching Beomgyu with an expression that was a little too focused to be casual.

Filing that away mentally, Soobin cleared his throat.

"Anyway. Since you two are free, mind helping me gather firewood? There's a clearing just past the field."

Beomgyu made an exaggerated show of protest, shoulders sagging like Soobin had just asked him to run a marathon.

"Why me too? Taehyun can do it alone!"

Taehyun was already heading down the steps, a smirk playing at his lips. "Are you saying I'm stronger than you?"

Soobin watched in amusement as Beomgyu's eyes dropped to Taehyun's exposed arms for a split second. Just a flicker of a glance, barely noticeable.

Except, Soobin noticed.

And he also noticed the faint pink creeping up the tip of his best friend's ears.

Beomgyu shook his head quickly, like he was physically shaking off the thought, and huffed.

"I didn't say that. Don't twist my words!"

He stomped off after Taehyun anyway, muttering under his breath the whole way.

Soobin hummed to himself, watching them disappear down the path.

"Interesting."

An armful of dead branches and a long string of complaints later, Soobin found himself sitting on a fallen log, supervising and... observing.

Maybe it was because it was just the three of them out here. Maybe it was the lack of academic pressure hanging over their heads. Maybe it was just the peaceful woods, the space, the way everything felt a little softer out here.

But Soobin found himself noticing things he hadn't noticed before.

Little things.

Like the way Beomgyu's movements seemed to mirror Taehyun's.

Every time Taehyun crouched down to pick up a branch, Beomgyu did the same a beat later, like there was an invisible string connecting them. When Taehyun straightened, Beomgyu's shoulders followed.

He even paused mid-step once when Taehyun laughed at something, like he'd forgotten how to move until Taehyun started walking again.

And the glances.

Gods, the glances.

If Soobin got a dollar for every stolen look he had to witness, he'd be lounging on a beach somewhere instead of babysitting two emotionally constipated idiots in the woods.

The bickering continued, of course. It always did with them.

"You're stepping on my foot!" Beomgyu yelped.

"You're standing in front of me," Taehyun shot back, not even looking sorry.

"Then move!"

"I was here first."

Despite the words, Soobin noticed the way Beomgyu smiled to himself when Taehyun wasn't looking.

A soft, private little smile that didn't match the irritation in his voice at all.

He noticed the way Beomgyu's steps unconsciously matched Taehyun's pace as they walked back toward the cabins, arms full of firewood, still bickering about something that didn't matter.

By the time they reached camp again, Soobin had come to a realization that was both alarming and deeply amusing.

The bickering hadn’t diminished their tension, but enhanced it.

Every sharp word was layered with attention. Every dramatic groan was followed by a secret glance. Every argument was just an excuse to be near each other, to focus on each other, to stay in each other's orbit.

Soobin's mental list of observations expanded.

Enemies? To be determined. Bickering constantly? For sure. Hyper aware of each other? Definitely. Gets flustered when the other does something? Yes. Mutual staring when they think no one's looking? Check.

He pulled out his phone and opened his notes app, typing quickly.

Gyu: Jealous of Gaon. Watches Taehyun too much. Mirrors his movements.

Tyun: Unbothered but also not? Keeps looking back. Smiles more when Beomgyu's around.

Conclusion: Something is definitely happening here and I'm 90% sure neither of them realizes it yet.

Soobin locked his phone and pocketed it, shaking his head with a small smile.

Maybe this camping trip will be worth his stress, after all. 

Chapter Text

Kai wasn't saying he was cursed.

But being stuck on kitchen duty with two people who bickered like it was a full-time job, three others who had no idea what they'd just walked into, and a pot of sauce that was definitely about to boil over?

Yeah. This was a personal attack from the universe.

"Okay, you stir this while I chop the onions," Jungsu said, tossing a ladle in Kai's direction.

Kai caught it with all the grace of a baby giraffe learning to walk. "I'm more of a supervisor," he muttered, already eyeing the door. "Moral support. You know."

"Nice try. Stir."

Kai sighed and turned to the pot, resigned to his fate.

Across the kitchen counter, Beomgyu and Taehyun glared at each other over a pot of boiling water.

So far, they’d argued about oil temperature, whether garlic should be minced or smashed, and somehow, salt too.

"Why are you using that much salt?" Beomgyu snapped. "Are you trying to embalm us?"

"It's called seasoning, Beomgyu," Taehyun replied without missing a beat.

"Maybe if you tried it sometime, your personality wouldn't be so bland."

Kai didn't even flinch anymore.

Their insults had officially joined the ranks of white noise. Background static he'd learned to tune out like traffic sounds or the hum of the refrigerator.

He stirred the tomato sauce absently, letting their bickering float around him like elevator music.

Well. Until he heard something weird.

"Didn't think you'd be this good at this," Beomgyu muttered.

It was quiet. Barely audible over the sizzling pan and the chatter from Gaon and Jooyeon experimenting with spices on the other side of the kitchen.

But Kai had a particular talent for sniffing out gossip, and his ears perked up immediately.

Taehyun glanced over, eyebrow raised. "What?"

"Nothing," Beomgyu said quickly. Too quickly. "I said the noodles are good. Not you. The noodles."

Taehyun's lips twitched, like he was fighting a smile. "Scared to admit I'm better than you at something?"

Kai's hand stilled mid-stir.

Did Beomgyu just... compliment Taehyun?

"Cut the vegetables thinner," Taehyun added, voice casual as he adjusted the heat on the stove.

"They'll cook more evenly that way."

And did Taehyun just give him helpful advice? Voluntarily? Without a single insult attached?

Beomgyu didn't even snap back. He just nodded and started slicing the carrots thinner.

Kai blinked.

It suddenly sounded like they were working together. Cooperating. Collaborating. Taehyun and Beomgyu. Like normal people. Like friends.

Kai didn’t trust it.

Then, because apparently the universe wasn't done messing with him, he watched as Beomgyu reached for a napkin and handed it to Taehyun without being asked.

Not because Taehyun said anything. Not because he gestured for it. Just... willingly. Naturally. Kindly.

Taehyun took it, wiped his hands, and said something under his breath that Kai didn't catch. Whatever it was, it made Beomgyu huff out a quiet laugh.

And Taehyun smiled.

Actually smiled. Not a smirk or a sarcastic grin. A real, soft smile that reached his eyes.

Beomgyu paused mid-chop, knife hovering over the cutting board, staring at Taehyun for half a second too long. Like the world had decided to hit pause until Taehyun resumed breathing in his general direction.

Kai's stomach twisted.

Oh no.

At this rate, they were either going to kiss or start a small kitchen fire.

Honestly, both seemed equally likely.

He tried to focus on the tomato sauce. He really did. But now that he'd noticed it, he couldn't stop noticing.

The way Beomgyu subtly mirrored Taehyun's movements when reaching for ingredients. Leaning left when Taehyun leaned left, stepping back when Taehyun stepped back.

The way they still bickered over whether the garlic was minced enough, but stood almost shoulder to shoulder while doing it, close enough that their elbows kept brushing.

The way their eyes would flick toward each other and then dart away too quickly to be casual.

It was like the rest of the kitchen had faded into the background, and their entire world had narrowed down to just each other.

Gaon and Jooyeon were experimenting with ingredients like mad scientists on the far counter, occasionally yelping when something sizzled too loudly.

Jungsu was watching Taehyun and Beomgyu with the delighted focus of someone watching a slow-burn drama unfold in real time.

And Kai was pretty sure his own staring wasn't exactly subtle either.

But Taehyun and Beomgyu? They didn't seem to notice any of it.

A nudge to his side snapped Kai out of his spiral.

“Did you know Taehyun’s learning guitar?” Jungsu asked with a smirk.

Kai paused mid-stir. “Wait, what? No?”

“Yeah, Gaon told me. Said he’s been showing him chords.”

“Did he say why?”

Jungsu shrugged, chopping an onion with suspicious enthusiasm. "Just said it was for fun."

Just for fun? Since when did Taehyun do anything just for fun?

Taehyun was a "skills need to serve a purpose" kind of guy. A "practice in secret, then dominate when ready" person. The kind of person who'd spend three weeks practicing a choreography alone before asking for anyone’s help, not because he was shy, but because he refused to be anything less than prepared.

And he definitely would've asked Kai for help first if he wanted to learn an instrument. Right?

Unless… he didn’t want Kai to know. Unless this wasn’t about the guitar at all.

Kai's brain started spiraling at record speed.

His gaze snapped back to the counter just in time to see Taehyun and Beomgyu passing a bowl of noodles between them.

Their fingers brushed. Just barely. Just for a second. But neither of them pulled away immediately.

Kai completely forgot the tomato sauce.

Yep. Something was definitely up. 

The long picnic table was set up outside beneath a string of glowing bulbs, the sky fading into deep purples and oranges as the sun dipped below the trees.

Dinner smelled amazing. Garlic, grilled meat, fresh vegetables, the kind of food that made you forget you were eating off paper plates in the middle of the woods.

Kai sat beside Yeonjun, but his attention was laser-focused across the table.

On Taehyun and Beomgyu. Who were sitting next to each other. Willingly.

"So," Kai whispered, leaning closer to Yeonjun. "Have you noticed anything weird about Taehyun lately? Or Beomgyu?"

Yeonjun didn't even glance up from his plate. "Define weird."

Kai frowned. "I mean... suspicious. Like they're hiding something. Or acting... nice to each other."

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow, finally looking at him. "Now that's suspicious."

"I'm serious!" Kai hissed, elbowing him. "Earlier in the kitchen, they were being friendly. Helping each other. It was unnatural."

"They are friends, Kai," Yeonjun said, spearing a piece of meat with his chopsticks. "I mean, I'd hope so. We've been hanging out for two years."

Kai ignored him.

If Taehyun wasn't going to tell him what the sudden guitar lessons were about, or what this weird chumminess with Beomgyu meant, then Kai would just have to figure it out himself.

Detective style.

He watched, with far too much intensity, as Taehyun said something that made Beomgyu roll his eyes. But Beomgyu was smiling while he did it, and Taehyun looked way too pleased with himself.

They were sitting close. Really close.

Granted, the table barely fit eighteen people, so some crowding was inevitable. But that close?

Their shoulders were almost touching. The side of their knees probably kept bumping against each other under the table, and neither of them seemed bothered by it.

And Kai was pretty sure the presidents hadn't said roommates had to sit together. Jungsu was all the way on the other end of the table, and Kai was sharing a cabin with him.

"Okay," Kai muttered under his breath, still staring. "They're totally into each other."

Yeonjun blinked. "Who?"

"Taehyun and Beomgyu. Look at them." Kai gestured subtly with his chopsticks.

"Hours ago, they could barely be in the same space without threatening bodily harm. And now suddenly they're sitting together? Smiling?"

"They're probably just in a good mood," Yeonjun said, way too casually for someone who was supposed to be Kai's ally in this.

"That's what happens during team-building trips."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "Or maybe they're flirting on the down-low and this is the beginning of a forbidden musician-dancer love story that's going to destroy our entire friend group."

Yeonjun looked deeply amused. "You're way too invested in this."

Kai opened his mouth to argue.

And then froze.

Because right at that moment, Taehyun leaned across the table. Not even looking, just moving on autopilot. Then, he used his chopsticks to place a perfectly grilled piece of meat onto Beomgyu's plate.

No words. No acknowledgment. Just a casual, automatic gesture.

Beomgyu didn't even blink. Just kept talking to Seungmin like nothing had happened, like this was completely normal.

A minute later, Beomgyu reached for the hot pot in front of him and ladled out a generous portion of soup. Way too much for one serving.

And then, without a word, slid it sideways. Directly in front of Taehyun.

Taehyun picked up the bowl, took a sip, and nodded slightly like a silent thanks before going back to his conversation with Gaon.

They were feeding each other. In silence.

Kai turned to Yeonjun, eyes wide, voice strangled. "Tell me you saw that."

Yeonjun snorted into his drink. "I see two friends sharing food, yes."

"That's not- No. That's not what that was."

Kai stabbed a piece of sausage with more force than necessary.

"That was domestic. That was intimate. That was the kind of thing people do when they've been married for ten years, not when they've spent two years trying to kill each other!"

Yeonjun just hummed, clearly entertained. Kai, meanwhile, was spiraling.

Either Taehyun was in the middle of a full-blown emotional crisis and hadn't told his best friend, or Kai had missed a very important memo.

And if there was one thing Kai hated more than being left out of game night? It was being the last person to figure out what was happening in his own friend group.

He watched them for another few minutes, cataloging every tiny interaction like evidence.

The way Beomgyu laughed at something Jungsu said and Taehyun's gaze lingered on his face for just a beat too long before looking away. The way they moved around each other when getting up to grab drinks.

Kai set down his chopsticks with a decisive clack.

"Okay. That's it," he announced.

"I'm calling an intervention. Or a meeting. Or a game of truth-or-dare with emotionally compromising questions."

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow. "Can you at least wait until after dessert?"

"Fine," Kai muttered, crossing his arms. "But we're doing it."

Because if his best friend was falling for his other friend, the very same Choi Beomgyu who once dumped sand in Taehyun's backpack, then Kai needed to know.

For science. And also, because he was nosy and emotionally invested in everyone's happiness.

Mostly the second thing.

Chapter Text

At first, Yeonjun didn't pay attention.

He had better things to do than monitor whatever weird energy was happening between their ever-bickering friends.

Like making sure his dance club members didn't accidentally set the forest on fire. Or kissing his boyfriend when no one was looking.

But then said boyfriend cornered him earlier that afternoon, right after making sure everyone was settled in their cabins, face tense like he'd just uncovered a major scandal.

"Something's going on," Soobin whispered, gripping Yeonjun's wrist. “Taehyun and Beomgyu. And Gaon. I think-”

Yeonjun rolled his eyes so hard he nearly gave himself whiplash.

"If you say 'love triangle,' I’m taking a nap.”

"I'm serious," Soobin hissed, leaning closer.

"Earlier, Taehyun was with Gaon, and Gyu looked jealous. And the way they were moving around each other...“

Yeonjun kind of zoned out after that.

Not because he didn't care. Because he did, kind of, in a vague, older-brother kind of way. But because Soobin looked really cute when he was trying to connect invisible dots, and who could blame Yeonjun for staring at his soft lips while he rambled?

Really, not his fault he got distracted.

Also, he thought that would be the end of it.

He thought Soobin would take note of it once then keep his observations safely tucked in his notes up until the next full moon. 

His boyfriend had a habit of taking note of the smallest things then forgetting them later, after all.

But then, at dinner, Kai spoke with the intensity of someone who'd just witnessed a miracle.

So, Yeonjun started watching.

Casually. Subtly. Like a nosy older brother who knew just enough to be dangerous. And what he saw wasn't alarming or dramatic.

Just... weird enough to be worth noting.

Because Taehyun, who usually looked at Beomgyu like he was mentally drafting a seventeen-step plan for his demise, had spent the whole dinner sitting close to him.

Closer than necessary, even with the crowded table.

And then, without a word, Taehyun had pushed a piece of grilled meat onto Beomgyu's plate.

Beomgyu didn't argue. Didn't shove it back with some snarky comment about Taehyun's audacity. He just... accepted it. Like it was normal. Like they did this all the time.

Then Beomgyu had quietly ladled soup into a bowl and slid it in front of Taehyun. Almost tenderly.

That got Yeonjun.

Because the Beomgyu he knew didn't share food. Beomgyu stole food.

Where was the passive-aggressive eye-rolling? The theatrical sighing? The stupid debates over who deserved the last slice?

Something was off.

And, unfortunately, he had two very invested people with him.

He didn't even get to finish washing the dishes when Kai burst into the kitchen like he'd just solved a murder.

"We need to play truth or dare."

Yeonjun blinked, setting down a plate. "You could start with 'hello.'"

"Hello. This is urgent."

Kai waved an empty bottle like it was a weapon. "Beomgyu and Taehyun are acting weird, and I can't sleep without knowing what's going on."

Soobin, who'd been drying dishes, looked up immediately. "Thank you. Finally. Someone else sees it."

Yeonjun sighed, amused despite himself. "You two are really doing this."

Kai turned, fully serious. "I thought you loved drama."

"I do. Other people's drama."

"Exactly," Kai said, pointing at him. "And this? This is ours."

It started light.

Both clubs gathered around the fire pit in a chaotic sprawl of blankets, hoodies, and way too much energy for this late at night.

The fire crackled warmly, casting flickering shadows across everyone's faces as they settled into a lopsided circle.

Jooyeon had already been dared to freestyle dance to a tragic ballad, looking less like a rock band frontman and more like a dramatic bird caught in a wind tunnel.

Yeonjun laughed so hard he had to physically lie down in the grass to recover.

Then Seungmin from the dance club was dared to hit the highest note he could reach. It was horrifying.

A noise that should not have been possible from a human throat echoed through the woods. Someone's water bottle fell over. A dog barked in the distance.

Yeonjun was pretty sure he heard glass crack somewhere.

"I think you just summoned something," Gaon said, wide-eyed.

"Yeah," Jungsu added. "A demon."

When it was Soobin’s turn, he chose truth and admitted that during his audition for the music club, he'd completely forgotten the lyrics halfway through. He had always been pathologically honest when put on the spot.

"I just made up words," Soobin said, looking mildly embarrassed. "Said they were in Latin."

The circle erupted in laughter.

"You lied?" Beomgyu said, scandalized. "You? Mr. Responsibility?"

"It was a moment of panic!"

"I'm so proud," Yeonjun said, grinning. "My little criminal."

Soobin shoved him.

When Yeonjun got his turn, he picked truth, because dares were for people with something to prove.

“Make it good.”

"What's your type?" Gaon asked, smirking.

Yeonjun didn't even hesitate.

"Someone tall. Taller than me, ideally. Soft cheeks I can pinch. A sweet voice that makes me feel like I'm in a fairytale. Textbook prince, but bonus points if they hated me when we first met."

He paused, grinning. "Extra bonus if they look like an oversized bunny."

"I'm not an oversized bunny," Soobin muttered, ears pink.

Yeonjun leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You say that like it's an insult."

Groans rolled through the circle.

And as the laughter and disapproving groans died down, Kai spun the bottle again and leaned forward with the focus of a hunter spotting prey.

"Okay. Gaon. Truth or dare?"

Gaon blinked like he hadn't been paying attention. "Uh. Truth?"

Jooyeon rubbed his hands together like a villain. "Perfect. Would you ever date someone from the other club?"

A ripple of ooohs went through the group. But Gaon just shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"

Kai's eyebrows shot up. "No hesitation?"

"Why would I hesitate?" Gaon said, genuinely confused.

"I've shared a room with most of you at some point. I've seen you all at your worst. If I can survive that, I can survive anything."

That earned a laugh, but Jooyeon wasn't done.

"Okay, but who would you date?"

"Hey!" Gaon protested. "That's a second question!"

"Answer it!" Yeonjun shouted, fully invested now.

Gaon considered for a moment, then smiled mischievously. "Maybe someone brooding. Snarky. Mysterious but secretly soft. Someone who'd balance me out."

Jungsu turned to him, completely deadpan. "So... Taehyun?"

The circle exploded. Laughter, shouts, someone falling backward off their log. Gaon groaned and threw a marshmallow at Jungsu, who caught it and ate it triumphantly.

Yeonjun saw Kai leaning toward Soobin, practically vibrating. "He didn't deny it."

“Yeah…” Soobin nodded solemnly. “But look at Gyu.”

Yeonjun glanced across the fire at Taehyun and Beomgyu.

Taehyun looked mildly amused, like this was all entertaining but ultimately irrelevant. Beomgyu, on the other hand, was staring very intently at the fire, jaw tight.

There was a mist to his eyes, like his thoughts were elsewhere even with the ruckus around him.

Huh.

The game continued.

More dares, more alarming confessions, more chaos, and Yeonjun was having so much fun he almost forgot why they'd started playing in the first place.

Almost.

"Wait," he said, leaning forward. "We haven't gotten to Taehyun or Beomgyu yet."

"Now we're talking," Jooyeon said, grinning.

Beomgyu groaned from his spot across the circle.

"The bottle didn't land on me. This is cheating."

"Well, you and Taehyun are the only ones who haven't had a turn," Soobin said, looking far too pleased with himself. "We believe in fairness."

"You're abusing your power," Beomgyu muttered.

Soobin smiled sweetly. "Maybe I am."

Yeonjun clapped his hands together. "Alright. Let’s get this over with. Rate each other's attractiveness. Out of ten."

Beomgyu choked on his hot chocolate. "Pass."

"No passing!" came a chorus of voices.

Taehyun raised an eyebrow, perfectly calm. "Is this really the best you've got?"

Kai seized the opportunity. "Fine. Tyun, rate Beomgyu first."

The group leaned in, expecting the usual snarky bickering.

Yeonjun watched Beomgyu's face carefully. There was tension there, something coiled tight, like he was bracing for impact.

Taehyun turned slowly, his gaze drifting lazily toward Beomgyu.

"One."

Beomgyu's expression flickered. "Just... one?"

"You'd be a nine," Taehyun said, taking a slow sip from his cup, "if you didn't talk."

The circle erupted in laughter. Yeonjun wheezed. Even Soobin was grinning.

But Beomgyu? Beomgyu smiled. Not a forced smile or a defensive one. A real smile, like he was trying not to laugh.

Then, Taehyun leaned forward slightly, resting his chin in one hand.

"Your turn. Rate me."

And that, that, was the moment Yeonjun had been waiting for.

Beomgyu's face did something complicated. Something soft and unguarded for just a split second before he schooled his expression.

It was like watching an actor put on a mask for the cameras. It also happened too fast, which only told Yeonjun that his friend may just be an actor himself.

Then, with obvious hesitance in his voice, "...negative one."

Kai's eyes lit up. "You hesitated."

"No, I didn't."

"You absolutely hesitated," Jungsu said.

"You definitely did," Yeonjun added, delighted.

Beomgyu's cheeks flushed pink. "Okay, new rule. We stop talking and go to bed."

"So you can dream about Taehyun?" Jooyeon teased.

Beomgyu aimed a pebble at him.

But here was the curious thing.

Taehyun was just listening and watching Beomgyu with this subtle, barely-there smirk that Yeonjun had yet to decipher.

Normally, he'd snark back at Beomgyu for even putting him on a negative scale. And normally, Beomgyu would take offense to being even rated by his arch-nemesis.

But now, strangely, they were being too quiet about it. No bark, no bite to each other.

Interesting.

As the group slowly began to disband, their voices fading into the crackle of the fire and the quiet rustle of the woods, Kai leaned in close.

"Did you feel that?" he whispered.

"Feel what?" Yeonjun asked innocently.

"The vibe. That they like each other. I think. Maybe. What do you think?"

Yeonjun glanced toward the fire.

Taehyun was folding blankets with careful precision. Beomgyu sat a few feet away, sneaking glances when he thought no one was looking.

Yeonjun smiled slowly.

"Who knows?"

Later that night, Yeonjun was this close to achieving full starfish mode on his bed, hoodie over his eyes, when the knock came.

Not a polite knock, either. But a frantic, hurried knock that screamed either someone died or forgot their charger.

Groaning, Yeonjun rolled off the bed and shuffled to the door.

He opened it. Blinked. Then blinked again.

“...You good?” he asked.

Because standing there, slightly out of breath and looking uncharacteristically panicked was Taehyun.

Panicked Taehyun. Taehyun, panicking. Yeonjun had seen the younger boy with his nerves up his throat in the practice room, but panicked? Never.

"I need a bandage," Taehyun said, voice clipped and urgent. "Now."

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow. "What, did you get in a fight?"

“No,” Taehyun snapped. Then, quieter, “Beomgyu.”

That made Yeonjun pause.

Okay. He probably should've expected that something would happen before the night was over.

This was a camping trip. People tripped over nothing. Walked into trees. Got attacked by mosquitoes the size of small aircraft.

But he didn't expect Taehyun to be the one frantically seeking help. Or to look like he'd sprinted the entire way from their cabin.

And on top of that, it was for Beomgyu.

"Alright," Yeonjun said, grabbing the first-aid kit from the shelf. He turned back with a smirk.

“Lead the way, Taehyunnie.”

The walk to their cabin wasn’t far, but Taehyun was pacing three steps ahead like he’d left Beomgyu bleeding out on the floor.

Yeonjun would have laughed then and there if Taehyun didn't look so stressed ahead of him.

“Okay, so,” Yeonjun drawled as they reached the door. “What did he do? Fell into a bush? Got attacked by a bear? Tried to wrestle a tree?”

Taehyun didn't answer. Just opened the door.

Inside, Beomgyu was sitting on the edge of the lower bunk, one sleeve rolled up, looking... perfectly fine.

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow.

"I told you I'm fine," Beomgyu said immediately, glaring at Taehyun.

"He tripped on a root and scraped his arm," Taehyun said flatly.

Yeonjun looked at the so-called injury.

It was… a scratch.

A pink, shallow scrape, barely worthy of a Snoopy band-aid, let alone a whole first aid kit and a midnight rescue mission.

He stared at it. Then at Taehyun. Then back at the scratch.

"I'm gonna need both of you to take a breath," Yeonjun said slowly. "He's not dying."

"He was bleeding," Taehyun said defensively.

Beomgyu huffed. "Barely."

"I touched it and you winced."

"Because you poked it like a maniac!"

Yeonjun sighed and knelt down, pulling out antiseptic and a bandage. He started cleaning the wound while they bickered above him like an old married couple.

This was what Taehyun ran for? 

"You know," Yeonjun said lightly, dabbing at the scratch, "for someone who supposedly hates Beomgyu's entire existence, you sure freaked out like he'd lost a limb."

"I didn't freak out," Taehyun muttered.

Yeonjun grinned. "No? You just came sprinting to my cabin for a glorified paper cut?"

Beomgyu's mouth twitched. "Wait. You ran?"

Taehyun glared. "Shut up."

"No, no, tell me," Beomgyu said, and there was something in his voice. Amusement, maybe, or something softer.

"Were you worried about me?"

"I'll give you something to actually worry about if you don't stop talking."

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

"I will knock you out right now."

Yeonjun bit back a laugh as he pressed the too big bandage into place.

There it was. The chaos. The chemistry. The way they slipped into bickering like it was second nature, like they'd been doing this for ages.

But what stuck with Yeonjun wasn't the words.

It was the way Taehyun had shown up at his door earlier. Genuinely panicked, like something serious had happened to someone who actually mattered to him.

And the way Beomgyu was looking at him now. Half annoyed, half amused, and something else that looked suspiciously like fondness.

"All done," Yeonjun announced, standing up and brushing off his knees.

"Try not to die before morning."

"No promises," Beomgyu muttered.

Taehyun was still hovering, eyes lingering on the bandage like he didn't quite trust that everything was fine.

Yeonjun watched them for another beat.

The way Taehyun hadn't moved away yet, even though the 'crisis' was over. The way Beomgyu was letting him hover without much complaint, even though he'd spent the last five minutes insisting he was fine.

The way they existed in each other's space like it was natural. Comfortable. Easy.

Maybe Kai and Soobin were right to be invested.

He couldn’t tell if Taehyun wanted to kiss Beomgyu or strangle him. Perhaps those two at once.

And honestly? Yeonjun couldn't wait to see which happened first.

Chapter Text

Soobin woke up earlier than he'd planned.

Which was a bummer, because the plan had been to sleep in, guilt-trip Yeonjun into leading the breakfast group, and ease into the day like he didn't just stay up late analyzing his friends' love lives.

But his body had other ideas.

And after fifteen minutes of tossing and turning while Yeonjun snored peacefully beside him, Soobin gave up.

He slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, pulled on a hoodie, and stepped outside.

The morning air bit at his cheeks and nose, sharp and clean. The sun was just starting to peek through the trees, casting everything in soft gold and shadow.

It was quiet.

Peace, Soobin thought fondly. All mine.

Until he heard voices.

Faint, muffled, coming from the direction of the kitchen cabin.

Soobin frowned. No one should've been up yet.

It was barely past five in the morning. Most of the group wouldn't surface until at least eight, and even then, only under threat of missing breakfast.

Curiosity won over comfort.

He padded toward the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes. The door was propped open slightly, warm light spilling out into the dim morning.

Soobin pushed it open the rest of the way and stopped.

Beomgyu was slumped over the counter, head buried in his arms like a sad, sleepy burrito. His hair stuck up in different directions.

And Taehyun stood by the small portable stove, hands wrapped around the kettle's handle, watching steam rise around him.

Soobin stared.

"Morning, Pres," Taehyun said without turning, voice low and warm. He lifted one hand in a lazy wave.

Beomgyu groaned something completely unintelligible into his arms and burrowed deeper into his jacket.

Soobin blinked. Then blinked again. "You guys are... up early."

"Your best friend over there was being cranky," Taehyun said, nodding toward Beomgyu.

His tone was teasing, but there was no sharp edge to it. No bite. Just... something else.

Beomgyu raised one hand, flipped him off without lifting his head, then let his arm flop back down.

Taehyun laughed softly.

And that made Soobin narrow his eyes.

Because since when did Taehyun find Beomgyu's attitude endearing?

He stepped further into the kitchen. Taehyun shifted slightly to make room at the counter, then slid an empty mug toward him without being asked.

"Thanks," Soobin mumbled, still watching them carefully.

The kettle started to whistle.

Taehyun lifted it off the heat, grabbed two mugs from the shelf, and poured hot water with the kind of easy confidence that came from having done this a hundred times before.

Then he reached for a packet of hot chocolate mix and coffee.

He stirred them slowly, methodically, then slid the mugs across the counter. One came to rest directly in front of Beomgyu's folded arms.

Soobin's hand paused around his own mug.

Beomgyu had always preferred hot chocolate in the morning. Everyone else went for coffee or tea, but not him.

It was one of those little things you picked up after years of friendship. The kind of detail Soobin and Yeonjun knew because they'd been making Beomgyu drinks since high school.

But Taehyun knew too.

And Soobin was pretty sure Beomgyu had never announced this preference out loud.

Interesting.

Soobin pretended to focus on pouring his own drink, but his eyes kept flicking back.

Beomgyu finally stirred, sitting up slowly and stretching his arms overhead like a cat waking from a very long nap.

Then, without a word, he shrugged out of his jacket and handed it across the counter.

To Taehyun.

Who took it without hesitation and slipped it on like this was completely normal.

Nope. I'm not imagining this. I'm definitely not crazy.

Soobin took a slow sip of his drink, mind racing.

Taehyun settled onto a stool beside him, cradling his own mug with coffee. Beomgyu, now jacket-less and looking marginally more human, rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand.

The kitchen was quiet.

Not tense, exactly. Just soft. Comfortable in a way Soobin wouldn't have expected from two people who'd spent the last two years perfecting the art of verbal warfare.

Soobin cleared his throat. “So… uh. You two are hanging out a lot lately.”

Beomgyu blinked slowly, still half-asleep. "Huh? Oh. Yeah, I guess."

"Guess?" Soobin echoed.

Taehyun raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like we're not allowed to be in the same room. We are friends. For some reason."

"That's not what I-" Soobin paused, choosing his words carefully. "It's just, you know. You two argue. A lot."

"We still do," Beomgyu mumbled, covering a yawn. "He called me stupid last night because I tripped."

"You were being stupid," Taehyun said, perfectly deadpan. "You insisted on not bringing a flashlight."

"I forgot!"

"Stupidly."

Beomgyu frowned, but there was no real heat behind it. "You still helped me up."

"Didn't say I wasn't also nice."

Soobin was far too sleepy to be dealing with this.

This was the most confusing version of them he'd ever witnessed. They were bickering, yes, but it felt... different.

He leaned against the counter, about to press further, when the door creaked open.

Gaon stumbled in, half-wrapped in a blanket like a ghost who'd given up halfway through haunting someone.

"Smells like hot chocolate," he mumbled, shuffling toward the counter.

Soobin perked up. "Morning!"

Gaon blinked blearily. "Why are you already awake?"

"I could ask you the same thing."

"Jooyeon snores," Gaon said flatly, reaching for a clean mug. Then, he turned to Taehyun with a lopsided smile. "Can you pass me a hot chocolate packet?"

Taehyun tossed one across the counter without looking.

Soobin observed this small, harmless exchange and then his brain lit up.

It gave him an idea. A potentially brilliant, possibly terrible idea.

Because if Beomgyu liked Taehyun, this would be the perfect moment to test it. Early morning. Cozy kitchen vibes. Hot drinks and sleepy conversation. Textbook romantic setup.

Maybe Soobin could stir up a little jealousy. In the name of science.

He leaned slightly closer to Taehyun, nudging his elbow with faux innocence.

"You know," Soobin said lightly, "you and Gaon made a pretty cute pair at the campfire last night."

Beomgyu froze mid-sip.

Taehyun raised an eyebrow, glancing at Soobin sideways. "Did we?"

"Yeah," Soobin pressed, watching Beomgyu out of the corner of his eye.

"All cozy with the guitar lessons and everything. Very sweet."

Taehyun blinked, then turned his attention to Gaon, who was now busy trying to stir his drink with a spoon that was bent in the middle.

"Gaon," Taehyun said calmly. "Did we make a cute pair last night?"

Gaon squinted at him. "...What?"

"Never mind."

Beomgyu let out a loud, suspiciously forced cough into his sleeve.

Soobin's eyes narrowed.

"It’s just an observation,” Soobin said innocently. "You two seemed to get along really well. I'm just saying. You know. In case you're interested."

Taehyun stared at him, expression completely flat. "In Gaon?"

"Yeah."

There was a pause. A long one.

Taehyun turned back to his drink, and when he spoke, his voice was perfectly even. "Gaon's great. But I don't really go for the half-conscious, undead look."

"I'm right here," Gaon grumbled, though he didn't seem particularly offended.

Soobin pressed harder.

"I just think maybe you'd make a good match. He's sweet. You're... less sweet. Balance, you know?"

"I'm fine with imbalance," Taehyun replied, unbothered.

"So, you're saying you're not into Gaon?"

Beomgyu suddenly became very interested in the wood grain of the counter, tracing patterns with one finger like his life depended on it.

Taehyun didn't miss a beat.

He stood, gave Soobin a friendly pat on the shoulder, and smiled slightly.

“Appreciate the matchmaking effort, Cupid. But I’m good.”

He walked through the aisle mug in hand, pausing only to ruffle Beomgyu's already-messy hair on his way out.

Beomgyu swatted at him, but he was smiling.

Soobin watched them, mind whirring.

It’s Taehyun. Definitely Taehyun.

By the time the rest of the group started filtering in for breakfast, Soobin had already replayed the morning's events about ten times in his head.

Yeonjun had woken up eventually, stumbled into the kitchen looking like a disheveled prince, and immediately launched into a detailed retelling of the bandage incident from the night before.

"He ran," Yeonjun had said, eyes sparkling with delight. "For a scratch."

Soobin had laughed so hard he'd nearly spilled sauce on his shirt.

Now, sitting at one of the long picnic tables with a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, Soobin found himself watching Taehyun again.

Specifically, watching the jacket Taehyun was wearing.

Dark navy. Stitched logo on the chest. Music club exclusive. He hadn't it earlier when he was half-asleep, but he recognized the jacket now.

Soobin raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting jacket."

Taehyun paused mid-twist of a water bottle. "Huh?"

Soobin tilted his head toward the hoodie. "Didn't know dance club members also wore our jackets."

Taehyun looked down at himself like he'd only just realized he was wearing a target on his back. "...It's warmer than ours?"

"Wait." Kai, who'd been shoveling food into his mouth, squinted across the table.

"Is that Gaon's?"

Soobin bit back a smile. Even without guidance or context, his youngest friend always knew which strings to pull.

"Mine, obviously," a voice said from behind them.

Beomgyu walked up with Yeonjun, looking perfectly casual. Too casual, maybe. Like he was working very hard to appear unbothered.

"Why would it be Gaon's?" Beomgyu added, sliding into the seat across from Taehyun.

Kai blinked.

"Wait. So Taehyun's wearing your jacket?"

"Is that a crime?"

"I mean... no, but-"

"Then there's our answer," Yeonjun swooped in, winking. “Let’s just be happy they’re not in a bickering mood, Kai.”

Still. Taehyun didn't throw the jacket off. He didn't look embarrassed or defensive either.

He just shrugged, like wearing his supposed rival's jacket was the most normal thing in the world.

Soobin exchanged a glance with Kai, who looked like his brain was about to short-circuit.

"You know," Beomgyu said suddenly, smirking at Taehyun over his toast, "for someone who rated me a one last night, you sure seem comfortable in my clothes."

Taehyun took a sip of his drink. "I said you'd be a nine if you didn't talk. The jacket doesn't talk. Simple math."

"And yet you're still wearing it."

"It's warm. I'm practical."

"You're impossible."

"So I’ve been told.”

Soobin watched this exchange with growing fascination.

Because here was the thing, they were bickering. But the energy was... off. Not hostile. Not even really annoyed.

It felt almost like... flirting? No. That couldn't be right. Could it?

And was Taehyun flirting back?

After breakfast, Yeonjun announced, with far too much enthusiasm, that they'd be doing trust fall exercises.

Was it safe to do after they’d just stuffed their stomachs? No. Did he look like he cared? Not in the slightest.

If Taehyun does transfer to the music club because of Yeonjun’s questionable choices, Soobin would understand wholeheartedly.

"It builds team cohesion!" he declared, clapping his hands together.

"It builds anxiety," Jungsu muttered.

"Same thing!"

The group gathered in the clearing, and through some kind of psychosis, Yeonjun actually managed to get everyone excited.

Jooyeon went first, falling backward with complete commitment and nearly taking Seungmin down with him when the catch went sideways.

Next, Gaon refused to fall until Jungsu literally pushed him, resulting in a very undignified yelp.

Then, Kai fell gracefully and was caught with ease, only to immediately ask if he could go again because it was "fun, actually."

And then it was Beomgyu's turn.

He stood with his back to the group, arms crossed, looking deeply skeptical.

"This is stupid," he announced.

"Just fall," Yeonjun called out. "We'll catch you."

"Will you, though?"

"Taehyun's right behind you. You'll be fine."

“That’s not as comforting as you think it is.”

Soobin watched as Beomgyu turn his head slightly, just enough to glance back at Taehyun, who was standing directly behind him with his arms already positioned.

"Don't drop me," Beomgyu said.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Taehyun replied, and there was something in his voice, something soft and steady, that made a crease appear between Soobin’s brows.

Where was the threat to let Beomgyu fall?

Beomgyu hesitated for another second, then let himself fall backward.

Taehyun was strong, that was true. Proven and tested by the many times he showed it off whenever he dragged Soobin to the gym with him.

But still, the scene looked odd.

Taehyun caught Beomgyu easily. Too easily. Smoothly. Like he'd been expecting exactly how much Beomgyu weighed, exactly how he'd fall.

The other members didn’t even need to do much but watch.

And he didn't let go right away.

For just a beat longer than necessary, Taehyun held him there, arms wrapped securely around Beomgyu's shoulders.

"See?" Taehyun said quietly. "Told you."

Beomgyu scrambled upright quickly, ears red. "Yeah, well. Don't get used to it."

Soobin looked at Kai. Kai looked at him. Together, they judged.

And when it was Taehyun's turn, Beomgyu stepped closer to the middle without being asked, positioning himself directly behind Taehyun like it was automatic.

"Ready?" Beomgyu asked.

"Are you going to let me fall just to prove a point?"

"Maybe."

"Reassuring."

"Just go."

Taehyun fell.

Beomgyu caught him, staggering slightly under the weight but holding firm.

Around them, the others didn’t bother hiding their interest in the whole scene anymore. Somehow, they knew their help weren’t needed.

"Got you," Beomgyu muttered.

"I know."

They stayed like that for a second too long.

Long and close enough for Soobin to see the way Beomgyu's fingers curled into the fabric of Taehyun's jacket. Or his jacket.

Soobin also saw the way Taehyun's head tilted back just slightly, like he was leaning into the touch.

Well, before Beomgyu shoved him upright. "Okay, enough. You're heavy."

"You said you had me."

"I did. Past tense."

Yeonjun appeared beside Soobin, arms crossed, looking far too pleased with himself.

"Well," he said quietly. "That was illuminating."

Soobin nodded slowly, still processing. His mental notes expanded.

Taehyun knew how Beomgyu liked his drink in the morning. Beomgyu lets Taehyun wear his jacket. They caught each other like they’ve had their weights and forms memorized.

And whatever was going on, it wasn’t one-sided.

He pulled out his phone and typed quickly into his notes app.

Update: Beomgyu is VERY aware of Taehyun. And Taehyun is... I don't even know. Comfortable? Fond? They're both acting weird. Need more data.

Soobin pocketed his phone and watched as Taehyun said something that made Beomgyu laugh.

Like really laugh, with his head thrown back and his eyes crinkling at the corners. 

They’d look sickening as a couple.

But it would be more sickening if they just continued pining like idiots.

Chapter Text

It was finally time for the hike.

After thirty minutes of arguing over who forgot to pack the granola bars (Jooyeon), who ate them all anyway (also Jooyeon), the group finally lined up in pairs based on cabin arrangements.

Which meant, naturally, Taehyun and Beomgyu ended up stuck together. Again.

"Try not to push each other off a cliff!"

Gaon called out cheerfully as his group set off down the trail first.

"No promises," Beomgyu muttered. Taehyun just smiled.

Kai hung back a few feet with Soobin, eyes locked on the pair ahead like a hawk tracking its prey.

"What do we think today's argument is going to be about?" Kai whispered.

Soobin tilted his head. “Bird names? Hiking boots? Altitude sickness?”

Right on cue, Beomgyu's voice drifted back.

"I'm telling you, that's not a parrot."

Taehyun didn't even look up from the trail. "And how would you know?"

"Because I own one back home!"

"Owning one doesn't make you a bird expert," Taehyun replied smoothly. "It makes you a pet owner with confidence issues."

“Hey! I know more about them than you do!”

"You can't even remember what kind of bird you own half the time."

"That was one time and I was drunk!”

"You called it a pigeon."

"Toto looks like a pigeon in the dark!"

Kai narrowed his eyes. “Are they flirting or fighting?”

Soobin hummed thoughtfully. “Both. Definitely both.”

The trail wound upward through dense forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves in golden patches.

It was beautiful, objectively. The kind of scenery people took photos of and posted with captions about finding themselves in nature.

Kai barely noticed any of it.

He was too busy watching Taehyun and Beomgyu.

Because every small interaction felt like a puzzle piece clicking into place, or maybe just making the puzzle more confusing. Kai wasn't sure anymore.

Like when Beomgyu muttered something about being hungry, barely loud enough to hear, and Taehyun wordlessly pulled a protein bar from his pocket and tossed it over his shoulder without looking.

Beomgyu caught it one-handed, ripped it open, and kept walking.

No "thank you." No acknowledgment. Automatic.

Or when Taehyun's foot slipped on a mossy rock, and before Kai could even register what was happening, Beomgyu's hand shot out, gripping Taehyun's elbow firmly.

"Careful," Beomgyu said.

"I'm fine," Taehyun replied, but he didn't pull away immediately.

"Yeah, well. Don't fall. I'm not carrying you back."

"You couldn't carry me if you tried."

"Watch me."

They stared at each other for a beat too long, and then Beomgyu let go and kept walking, ears slightly pink.

Kai exchanged a wide-eyed look with Soobin.

"Did you see that?" Kai hissed.

"I saw something," Soobin whispered back. "I'm just not sure what."

Then, another moment came about twenty minutes later.

Beomgyu stopped mid-trail, hands on his knees, breathing a little harder than usual. The incline had gotten steeper, and Kai's calves were feeling it too. 

Taehyun, who'd been a few steps ahead, paused.

He pulled a water bottle from his bag, uncapped it, drank some, then passed it over. Beomgyu took it, drank deeply, then handed it back.

No words. No hesitation. No fanfare.

Kai stopped walking entirely.

"Soobin," he breathed. "Soobin, did you just see..."

"The indirect kiss?" Soobin whispered, eyes wide. "Yeah. I saw it."

"They just- They shared a water bottle."

"Without even thinking about it."

"What does that mean?"

Soobin shook his head slowly. "I don't know, but I think we're watching a really weird nature documentary.”

Kai felt like his brain was short-circuiting. Because okay. Sure. Friends shared water bottles sometimes.

It wasn't that weird.

Except.

Except Taehyun was weirdly particular about sharing water bottles.

He never shared drinks. He'd once made Kai buy his own bottle of juice even though they were literally going to the same place and could've just shared. He wouldn't even share a cup of water with Kai.

And yet here he was, handing Beomgyu his water bottle like it was nothing.

"We're not leaving this trip without answers," Kai declared, voice low and determined.

Soobin nodded. "Agreed."

The trail evened out after a while, winding through a section of forest that felt quieter, more peaceful. Birds chirped overhead. Leaves rustled in the breeze.

Kai tried to enjoy it. He really did.

But then Taehyun drifted back to walk beside Yeonjun, and Beomgyu ended up next to Jungsu a few paces ahead, and Kai thought, finally a break from whatever that was.

He was wrong.

Because even separated, they still found ways to interact.

"Hey, Taehyun!" Beomgyu called out suddenly.

Taehyun glanced back. "What?"

"Jungsu just said you're bad at arcade games."

Jungsu's head whipped around. "I did not say that."

"I'm not bad at arcade games," Taehyun said calmly. "I just don't waste my time on them."

"That's what people who are bad at things say," Beomgyu replied, grinning.

"You want to test that theory?"

"Anytime."

"Careful. I'll make you regret it."

"Looking forward to it."

They held eye contact for a second longer than necessary, and then both turned away, smiling to themselves.

A few minutes later, Taehyun called, "Beomgyu, your shoelace is untied."

Beomgyu looked down, groaned, and crouched to fix it.

"How do you even notice these things?"

"Because you're going to trip and blame me for not warning you."

Kai turned to Soobin, exasperated. "They're not even near each other right now. How did they do that?”

Soobin just shook his head, looking equally baffled.

It continued like that for the rest of the hike.

Then, somehow, Kai found himself next to Beomgyu after a while and they talked about things that were completely normal.

Beomgyu's pet parrot back home, a song Kai was working on, the fact that Gaon had somehow managed to get three detentions in one day. 

But then, out of nowhere, he'd find a reason to say something to Taehyun.

And Taehyun, no matter who he was walking with, would respond immediately.

Kai looked back at Soobin again.

"They're insane," he whispered.

"They're... something," Soobin agreed from behind him.

They reached the scenic overlook just as the sun hit its peak.

The view was breathtaking. Rolling hills covered in trees, a valley stretching out below, the sky impossibly blue.

The whole group gathered near the edge, pulling out snacks and water bottles, everyone catching their breath.

Kai found a flat rock and collapsed onto it dramatically. "I'm dying," he announced.

"You're fine," Yeonjun said, not even looking up from his phone as he took photos.

"My legs are staging a rebellion."

"Tell them to wait until after we get back."

Kai groaned and let his head fall back, closing his eyes against the sun.

When he opened them again a minute later, his gaze landed on Seungmin filming something. Then, a distance to his right, Taehyun and Beomgyu.

They were standing a little apart from the group, near the edge of the overlook. Not together, not really, since there was a decent amount of space between them.

But not not together either.

Taehyun said something Kai couldn't hear.

Beomgyu laughed, shaking his head, then said something back that made Taehyun's lips twitch into a smile. Then Beomgyu pulled out his phone, angling it toward the view, and Taehyun leaned in slightly to look at the screen.

Their shoulders brushed. Neither of them moved away.

Kai sat up slowly, eyes narrowing.

Taehyun had always been hard to read. He kept his cards close, rarely let his guard down. Kai had known him for years, had been his best friend for most of them, and even he couldn't always tell what Taehyun was thinking.

But since yesterday, it looked like Taehyun had been letting himself go more.

His smiles were open and real. Softer. In a way that made something in Kai's chest ache a little. In a good way.

It was the kind of smile that meant Taehyun was happy.

Really, genuinely happy.

And every time Kai saw that smile, Beomgyu was nearby.

"Okay," Kai said slowly, piecing it together out loud.

"So, Taehyun definitely likes him. That's obvious now, right?"

Soobin nodded. "Extremely obvious."

"And Beomgyu..." Kai trailed off, watching as Beomgyu said something that made Taehyun laugh. "I think Beomgyu likes him too."

"You think?"

"I know." Kai turned to Soobin, eyes wide. "Oh my god. They both like each other."

"And neither of them realizes the other one feels the same way," Soobin added.

"This is a disaster."

"This is tragic."

"We have to do something."

"Agreed. But what?"

Kai thought about it, watching as Taehyun handed Beomgyu a handkerchief, and Beomgyu accepted it with a small, private smile.

"I don't know yet," Kai admitted. "But we're running out of time. The trip ends tomorrow."

Soobin sighed. "Then we'd better figure something out fast."

The group started moving again after a while, heading toward the lake that was supposedly another mile down the trail.

Kai fell into step beside Taehyun, deciding it was time for a more direct approach.

"So," he said casually. "How's the hike going?"

"Fine," Taehyun replied, glancing at him briefly. "Why?"

"Just wondering. You seem more... I don't know. Chill?"

Taehyun raised an eyebrow. "Is that surprising?"

"A little. You're usually more, uh..." Kai gestured vaguely. "Stressed? Brooding? Melancholic and pretentious? Mean?"

Taehyun rolled his eyes, lightly punching Kai’s shoulder.

"I'm on a camping trip. I'm allowed to relax."

"Right. Yeah. Totally." Kai paused, then added, "You and Beomgyu seem to be getting along better too."

Taehyun's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. "We're not fighting as much, if that's what you mean."

"It's more than that, though, isn't it?"

Taehyun was quiet for a moment, and Kai thought maybe he'd pushed too far. But then Taehyun smiled slightly.

"Maybe."

Kai's heart leapt. "Maybe? What does that mean? Do you-"

"Kai," Taehyun interrupted gently. "Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Whatever you're about to do. Don't."

"I'm not doing anything!"

Taehyun gave him a look that said I know you better than that, and Kai deflated slightly.

"Fine," he muttered. "But for the record, I think you should talk to him."

"About what?"

"You know what."

Taehyun didn't respond, but his gaze drifted forward, landing on Beomgyu, who was walking with Yeonjun and laughing at something.

And the look on Taehyun's face, soft and fond and maybe a little bit stupid, made Kai's chest tighten.

"I know you," Kai said firmly. "He’s the reason why you’re learning guitar, isn’t he?”

Taehyun didn't answer right away. Then, so soft Kai almost didn't hear it, another "Maybe."

Kai smiled to himself. He'd learned a lot today.

Taehyun liked Beomgyu. Beomgyu liked Taehyun. They were both too stubborn or scared or something to do anything about it.

Which meant it was up to Kai and Soobin, and maybe Yeonjun if he felt like meddling, to give their friends a gentle nudge.

Tomorrow was the last day of the trip. They'd figure something out.

They had to.

Chapter Text

The lake was shallower than Yeonjun expected.

It glittered under the sun, framed by dense trees and sun-warmed rocks, with just enough breeze to keep things from feeling unbearably sticky.

Half the group had already stripped off their shirts and were running straight into the water, laughter and splashing echoing across the clearing.

Yeonjun, meanwhile, found the nearest flat rock and claimed it for sunbathing purposes.

He'd considered swimming. For about ten seconds.

But then Beomgyu and Kai had teamed up to attempt drowning Soobin, and though the water was shallow, his beloved was flailing like he'd been thrown into the ocean.

They looked stupid. But also, adorable.

He shook his head fondly but kept one eye on the chaos, ready to intervene if actual drowning became a possibility.

Beside him, Taehyun sat cross-legged on a towel, watching the ruckus with mild amusement.

Yeonjun noted that he looked relaxed in a way he rarely did whenever a showcase was nearing.

Peaceful, almost.

Then Jooyeon appeared, shirt half-soaked and cradling an acoustic guitar like it was a precious artifact. He settled onto the rock beside them and immediately started strumming.

Very badly, off-key, clearly just to annoy people.

"Please stop," Gaon said, wading out of the water. "You're hurting her."

Gaon took the guitar with a dramatic sigh and, within seconds, made it sound like it belonged in a concert hall instead of a lakeside clearing.

He didn't sing, just played something soft and rhythmic, and the whole vibe shifted.

Taehyun hummed quietly in approval, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

Gaon glanced over, grinning.

"Wanna try again?"

“Again?” Yeonjun raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you played, Tyun.”

Taehyun hesitated, fingers hovering in the air like he was considering whether to accept the instrument or not.

"I don't. I mean... I'm trying. Gaon's been teaching me."

"Since when?" Yeonjun asked, genuinely curious now.

"Since recently."

Taehyun accepted the guitar carefully, shifting it onto his lap like it might bite him. He plucked a few slow chords. Hesitant, imperfect, but recognizable.

Yeonjun opened his mouth to tease him, but something made him pause.

Across the lake, Beomgyu had stopped tormenting Soobin. He was floating on his back now, eyes fixed on Taehyun.

Not at Taehyun and Gaon. Not at the guitar. Just Taehyun.

Beomgyu’s eyes met Taehyun’s long enough for it to not be a coincidence.

Yeonjun felt it. That subtle pull. The shift in the air, like gravity had rearranged itself just slightly.

Taehyun was the one to look away first, back down at the strings, suddenly very focused on not meeting Beomgyu’s eyes.

Beomgyu blinked, sank back into the water, and turned away like nothing had happened.

Too late. Yeonjun had seen it.

Fascinating.

"Not bad," Gaon said, leaning closer to adjust Taehyun's finger positioning. "You remember the chord transitions I showed you?"

"Mostly," Taehyun mumbled, and there was something almost shy in his voice.

Shy. Taehyun. Yeonjun's curiosity spiked immediately.

"So," he said lightly, resting his chin on his hand, "why the sudden interest in guitar?"

Taehyun's fingers stilled on the strings.

For a second, Yeonjun thought he might actually answer. Give some logical, Taehyun-like explanation about expanding his skill set or wanting to understand music theory better.

Instead, in an act that left even Yeonjun momentarily stunned, Taehyun lifted one leg and kicked Gaon straight off the rock.

Right into the water.

There was a splash.

Then there was Gaon.

“HEY!” Gaon surfaced, sputtering, hair plastered to his face. “WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!”

"Oops," Taehyun said flatly, handing the guitar back to Jooyeon like nothing had happened.

Yeonjun burst out laughing, absolutely delighted. Because that, that was deflection. Pure, obvious deflection.

He'd recognize it anywhere.

He used to do the exact same thing when he hadn't confessed to Soobin yet and people got too close to the truth.

Kai, climbing out of the lake with Soobin trailing behind him, shouted from across the water, "What'd Gaon do this time?”

"Apparently," Yeonjun called back, grinning, "exist."

Taehyun just smirked, but Yeonjun didn't miss the way his gaze drifted back toward Beomgyu for a second.

A little while later, after Gaon had exacted his revenge by splashing Taehyun until he finally gave in and dipped half of his body in the water, Beomgyu emerged from the water like some kind of lake creature.

"We're skipping stones," he announced, water dripping from his hair.

"We?" Taehyun raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. You and me. Competition."

"I'm not-"

"Scared you'll lose?"

Taehyun's eyes narrowed. "Fine."

Yeonjun’ eyes followed them. He watched, amused, as they made their way to a flatter section of the lake, both crouching down to search for the perfect stones.

They bickered the entire time, of course.

"That one's too round," Taehyun said.

"It's flat," Beomgyu argued.

"It's round and flat. It won't skip properly."

"You don't know that."

"I know physics."

"I know you're annoying."

And yet, every time Beomgyu found a good stone, he'd hold it up for Taehyun's approval before pocketing it.

Beomgyu went first, hurling a stone across the water. It skipped four times before sinking.

"Beat that," he said smugly.

Taehyun picked up his stone, aimed, and sent it skipping across the surface.

Five times.

"That doesn't count," Beomgyu said immediately.

"How does it not count?"

"You have dancer arms. It's an unfair advantage."

"That's not how physics works."

"It's how I work."

Taehyun shook his head, but he was smiling. Really smiling, soft and genuine and so different from his usual sharp-edged smirks.

Yeonjun tilted his head, watching them instead of keeping an eye out for Kai possibly trying to drown Soobin again.

Taehyun and Beomgyu stood close. Closer than necessary for a stone-skipping competition.

Close enough that when Beomgyu wound up for another throw, his elbow nearly hit Taehyun's ribs, and Taehyun just... let him. Didn't step back. Didn't complain.

"Okay, that one was definitely six skips," Beomgyu said triumphantly.

"That was five. Maybe."

"You're just jealous."

"Of your incorrect counting skills?"

"Of my talent."

They kept going, back and forth, until they'd run out of good stones and the competition had devolved into who could throw the worst stone the farthest.

When they finally called it quits, Beomgyu walked back into the water to cool off, and Taehyun stayed somewhere drier, sitting on a rock with his feet dangling in.

Yeonjun was about to look away when he saw Jooyeon standing on a higher rock, grinning mischievously, clearly about to launch himself into a massive cannonball.

Right where Beomgyu was now floating.

"Oi," Taehyun called out from his spot, voice sharp. "Not there."

Jooyeon paused mid-crouch. "Huh?"

"Move. You'll land on someone."

"I'm not gonna-"

"Move," Taehyun said again, firmer this time, and there was something protective in his tone that made Yeonjun pause.

Jooyeon blinked, looked down at where Beomgyu was floating (completely oblivious, eyes closed and probably humming), and shrugged.

"Okay, okay. Jeez."

He moved to a different spot and cannonballed there instead, sending up a massive splash that made half the group scream. Jungsu might have chased Jooyeon down with a rock after.

Beomgyu didn't even notice he'd been in danger.

But Taehyun had. And he'd stopped it without Beomgyu even realizing.

Yeonjun took note of that mentally, frowning slightly.

Because that wasn't “I tolerate this person." That wasn't even "we're becoming actual friends."

That was care. Immediate, instinctive care.

The hike back to camp started out loud.

Seungmin was yelling about mosquitoes. Jungsu was threatening to throw his water bottle at someone. Kai was trying to convince Jooyeon to race him downhill even though the trail was uneven and someone would definitely trip.

Normal chaos.

But then, about halfway back, things got quiet.

Yeonjun glanced over his shoulder.

Taehyun and Beomgyu were trailing at the back of the group, and they weren't arguing. Weren't even talking, really.

Beomgyu walked with his hands in his pockets, eyes on the ground, a faint smile tugging at his lips like he was replaying some private joke.

And Taehyun was sipping from his water bottle, expression unreadable but definitely... off. In a way Yeonjun couldn't quite pin down.

Then Gaon slowed his steps, falling back until he was walking alongside Taehyun.

The smirk on his face was unmistakable.

Yeonjun slowed his own pace slightly, just enough to stay within earshot without being obvious.

Soobin gave him a questioning look, but Yeonjun just grinned.

"Hey," Gaon said, drawing out the word like it had weight. "Nice strumming back there."

Taehyun didn't look at him. "Shut up."

Gaon laughed. "Really. Who knew you were the soft, sentimental type?"

"Not soft," Taehyun muttered, tugging the strap of his backpack tighter. "Just learning."

"Right, right." Gaon nodded, far too amused. "You know, if you ever need more help, I'm sure Beomgyu would love to teach you."

He turned just enough to grin at Beomgyu, who was close enough to hear.

"Right, Gyu?"

Beomgyu blinked. "Teach him what?"

"Guitar."

"Oh." Beomgyu's expression did something complicated. "I mean. Yeah. If he wanted."

Taehyun froze mid-step.

The muscles in his jaw flexed. His eyes narrowed. There was a flicker of… annoyance there. And a subtle shyness that Yeonjun was sure he saw.

Then, without warning, he lunged.

Within seconds, Gaon was trapped in a headlock, laughing and wheezing while Taehyun muttered something that sounded dangerously like, "It's going to be hard to find your body in these woods, Jiseok."

He’d even used Gaon’s real name for good measure. It was mildly terrifying.

"I'm just being supportive!" Gaon wheezed, stumbling sideways.

“Support my foot-“

"Stop flirting with each other," Beomgyu called from beside them, voice dripping with amusement.

Taehyun released Gaon immediately, shoving him toward Jooyeon.

"I hate all of you."

But Yeonjun saw it. The way Beomgyu smiled.

It wasn’t one of jealousy, contrary to what Soobin or Kai would have thought. It was a soft and secretive one, like Beomgyu knew something they didn’t.

Yeonjun also saw the way Taehyun adjusted the jacket he was wearing, pulling it tighter around himself.

The two slowly but surely drifted closer, their shoulders brushing as they walked.

Yeonjun turned back around, letting them have their moment alone.

He briefly wondered if he looked that stupid pining for Soobin back then.

Chapter Text

Back at camp, the fire crackled softly, pushing away the chill that came with early evening.

Some members lounged on logs and benches, sharing marshmallows and stories. Others wandered back and forth to the main kitchen cabin, restless but content.

Soobin sat at the edge of it all, a warm drink cupped in his hands, watching.

Beomgyu arrived moments later, damp towel still looped over his shoulder. He dropped down beside Soobin with a heavy sigh, all the drama of someone who'd just survived chaos.

"Still alive, I see," Soobin said.

"Barely," Beomgyu muttered. "You and Kai tried to drown me."

"Only after you tried to drown me."

"Details."

Kai soon wandered over, tossed a marshmallow at Beomgyu's head, missed, and collapsed on Soobin's other side like he belonged there.

The firelight flickered warm across their faces. Peaceful. Normal.

And then Soobin saw Taehyun.

He was walking toward the group, awkward but determined, clutching a guitar like it might explode in his hands.

The same one from earlier, Gaon's, if Soobin remembered correctly.

Taehyun paused behind Gaon for a moment, then offered the guitar out without a word. Careful. Measured. 

Gaon turned around slowly. Grinned.

"Aw," he said, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, "you brought this for me?"

Taehyun blinked, unimpressed. "You're the one who made me practice earlier."

"Right, right." Gaon took the guitar, then turned it around. Not to Taehyun. Not to the group.

But straight to Beomgyu.

"My hands hurt after someone kicked me into the water," Gaon said lightly, deliberately offhand.

"Beomgyu, do you mind playing something for our Taehyun here?"

Soobin leaned forward.

He watched as Beomgyu froze for half a second, caught off-guard. Then he shrugged and took the guitar.

"Sure. I guess."

Taehyun sat down between Gaon and Yeonjun, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the strings.

And then Beomgyu started playing.

It was slow. Gentle. The kind of melody that made the fire feel warmer, the stars feel closer.

Soobin watched his best friend's face soften under the firelight. The sharp lines that usually twisted into sarcasm smoothed out.

His expression turned careful, almost shy. Like he wasn't playing for the group at all.

Like he was playing for one person.

Soobin glanced at Taehyun.

He was completely still. Focused. Not in the analytical way he usually watched things, but in a way that looked almost...

Peaceful, Soobin realized. Taehyun looked at peace.

And Beomgyu looked nervous.

The song faded into a hum, then silence.

"Nice," Gaon said casually, taking the guitar back. "See, Tyun? That's what good playing sounds like."

"Shut up," Taehyun muttered, but there was a smile on his lips.

After too much staring on Beomgyu's end, Soobin stood, stretching.

"Alright. Time to prep for dinner before more of you falls asleep. Gyu, help me with the food?"

Beomgyu handed the guitar back and stood. "Please tell me you're not letting Kai near anything flammable."

"I'm right here," Kai protested, standing too. "And you'll be thanking me for my perfectly chewy instant noodles later."

"You burned the last batch."

"One," Kai pointed out, "out of six. That's still a passing grade."

They headed toward the kitchen cabin. Soobin didn't comment on the way Beomgyu glanced back toward Taehyun before leaving.

But he noticed.

Inside the main cabin, the three of them moved around in a rhythm.

"So," Soobin started, voice light, "I think something's going on between Taehyun and Gaon."

Beomgyu dropped a spoon, the steel clattering onto the counter and spinning in a circle like it was trying to escape.

Soobin bit back a laugh.

"Huh?" Beomgyu said.

Soobin raised an eyebrow. "I said, I think-“

"I heard you," Beomgyu muttered, turning away to retrieve the spoon. His shoulders were tight.

"Why would you think that?"

"I mean," Kai interrupted, leaning on the counter, "guitar lessons? Lake-side pining?"

"No one was pining," Beomgyu said, voice sharp and a little too quick.

“Really?” Soobin tilted his head. "Gaon might not be, but you sure are."

Beomgyu opened a drawer. Closed it. Opened it again. "I'm looking for the ladle."

"It's right there."

"I know."

Kai grinned. "Let's talk about that jacket."

Beomgyu sighed. "Seriously?"

“I’m just saying,” Kai said, holding up his hands in mock surrender, “at most schools, giving someone your jacket means something. Dating. Flirting. Claiming. Subtle signaling.”

The flush that crept across Beomgyu's cheeks was immediate.

"We're not at most schools," he muttered.

"Right," Soobin said, watching him closely. "But you like seeing it on him."

Beomgyu didn't answer.

Soobin let the silence stretch, stirring the pot slowly. Then, quieter, "When did you start liking him?"

Beomgyu went very still.

For a moment, Soobin thought he might deflect. Make a joke. Change the subject.

But then Beomgyu let out a breath and said, soft and honest, "A while."

"A while," Soobin repeated. "Like... how long is a while?"

Beomgyu shrugged, still not looking at him. "Long enough."

Kai made a noise that was somewhere between a gasp and a squeal. "You really like him."

"Okay," Beomgyu said, pointing the ladle at him. "How about we stop talking about this."

"Not a chance," Soobin said, grinning now. "Does he know?"

"Does who know what?"

"Does Taehyun know you like him?"

Beomgyu looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. "My lips are sealed.”

“He doesn’t?” Soobin asked carefully. “Why not?”

"Is it because," Kai began, suddenly thoughtful, "you argue about everything? You think he thinks you’re annoying? That it’s not going to happen?”

Soobin sent Kai a flat look, then he watched Beomgyu carefully.

Because here was the thing.

Beomgyu looked flustered, yes. Embarrassed, definitely. But he didn't look heartbroken.

He didn't look hopeless. He looked... resigned, maybe. But not defeated.

Which was strange, considering everything Soobin had seen since their first day at camp.

But before he could press further, the door swung open. Gaon walked in, followed by Jooyeon and Jungsu.

"We've been sent to help," Gaon announced. "Apparently, you three can't be trusted alone with food."

"We're doing fine," Beomgyu said.

"The noodles last night was atrocious.”

"It was yours and Jooyeon’s.”

"You’re guilty by association.”

Beomgyu glared at him, but there was no real heat behind it.

They fell into an easy rhythm after that. Gaon chopped vegetables. Jooyeon handled the rice. Jungsu taste-tested everything and provided unsolicited commentary.

And Soobin watched. Specifically, he watched Gaon and Beomgyu.

Because something was... off. Not bad-off. Just different.

Earlier, when Soobin had mentioned Gaon and Taehyun together, Beomgyu had dropped a spoon.

He'd looked tense. Defensive. But now?

Now, when Gaon made a comment about Taehyun kicking him into the water, Beomgyu just smiled. Amused.

When Gaon said something about teaching Taehyun more chords tomorrow, Beomgyu didn't flinch. Didn't bristle.

He just said, "Good luck with that. He's stubborn."

Like he wasn't threatened at all.

Soobin narrowed his eyes.

"Gaon," he said slowly, "you've been spending a lot of time with Taehyun lately."

Gaon shrugged. "He asked for help. I'm helpful."

"Very helpful," Soobin agreed. "Almost suspiciously helpful."

Gaon grinned. "I have no idea what you're implying."

But there was a glint in his eye. Something mischievous and knowing.

Soobin glanced at Beomgyu, who was suddenly very focused on stirring the pot.

"Wait," Kai said slowly, looking between them. "Do you know something?"

"About what?" Gaon asked innocently.

"About Taehyun and," Kai gestured vaguely, “feelings?"

"Maybe," Gaon said. "Maybe not."

Beomgyu snorted softly, and when Soobin looked at him, he was smiling. Not a jealous smile. Not a bitter one.

But a secretive, amused smile.

Soobin's mind raced.

Something had changed. Between this morning and the hike. Between the jealousy test and now.

Either Beomgyu had figured something out, or Gaon had told him something, or-

"Alright," Soobin said, pointing at both of them. "What happened?"

"Nothing," they said in unison.

"That's not suspicious at all," Kai muttered.

Dinner prep finished without any major disasters, and soon the group was gathering outside again.

Plates were passed around. Laughter echoed. The fire crackled warmly.

Soobin sat beside Yeonjun, watching Taehyun and Beomgyu across the circle.

They were sitting near each other again. Not together, but close enough that their knees probably kept bumping under the table.

The sight was sickening. In a ‘Cupid would be happy about this’ way.

Taehyun said something that made Beomgyu laugh. Really laugh, head thrown back and eyes crinkling.

And Taehyun looked at him like he'd just won something.

"They're so obvious," Soobin muttered.

Yeonjun hummed in agreement. "Painfully."

"Do you think they know?"

"That they like each other?" Yeonjun tilted his head. "Honestly? I have no idea anymore."

Soobin sighed. Tomorrow was the last day. If something was going to happen, it had to be soon.

Chapter Text

After dinner, while most of the group lounged on logs and benches, Yeonjun sat beside Taehyun by the fire.

"Hey," he murmured, voice low enough that only Taehyun could hear. "Beomgyu didn't hurt himself this time?"

Taehyun rolled his eyes. "I don't know. Ask him. He's stupid and careless."

"Right," Yeonjun said, grin widening. "But I'm starting to think you like stupid and careless."

Taehyun blinked.

Said nothing. Didn't deny it either.

Yeonjun leaned back, savoring the moment as a faint pink dusted the tips of Taehyun's ears. Victory.

"Oh?" Yeonjun said, feigning innocence. "No snappy comeback? That's not like you."

Taehyun glared at the flames he was currently poking with a stick.

"I'm just saying," Yeonjun drawled, voice syrup-smooth and mischievous, "if Beomgyu scrapes himself again, are you going to start feeding him by hand?"

That earned him a look.

Then, without a word, Taehyun grabbed a piece of marshmallow from a bowl and shoved it directly into Yeonjun's mouth.

"Shut up," Taehyun muttered.

Yeonjun let out a muffled noise of triumph around the food, chewing with exaggerated delight.

Worth it.

A little while later, someone suggested rock-paper-scissors to decide who'd handle dish duty.

Yeonjun lost. So did Kai. And, unfortunately for him, so did Taehyun.

"This is rigged," Yeonjun announced, standing and stretching. "I demand a recount."

"You threw paper three times in a row," Soobin said, not even looking up from where he was organizing the leftover food. "That's on you."

"It's a valid strategy."

"It's predictable."

Yeonjun sighed dramatically but followed Kai and Taehyun toward the main cabin anyway.

The night was quiet around them as they worked. Soft voices floated from the campfire nearby, carrying the occasional bark of laughter and the low strum of Gaon’s guitar.

The overhead light buzzed faintly.

It was almost peaceful.

Yeonjun scrubbed a plate, handed it to Kai to dry, and glanced at Taehyun, who was rinsing cups with unnecessary focus.

"So," Yeonjun said casually. "You and Beomgyu have been getting along better."

"We're not fighting as much," Taehyun replied, not looking up.

"That's what I said."

"Then why are you asking?"

"Because it's interesting."

Taehyun didn't respond. Just kept rinsing.

Yeonjun exchanged a glance with Kai, who was clearly biting back a grin.

Before Yeonjun could press further, movement outside the window caught his eye.

Beomgyu.

Hoodie half-zipped, hands shoved deep in his pockets, he broke away from the group by the fire and walked toward the trees. He glanced around once, failing to be subtle, and then he disappeared into the dark.

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow.

A beat later, Taehyun set down the cup he'd been rinsing and wiped his hands on a towel.

"I forgot something in the cabin," he said, voice breezy. Almost too casual.

Yeonjun watched as Taehyun's eyes flicked toward the window. Not toward the cabins.

Toward the trees.

"Uh-huh," Yeonjun said slowly. "Sure you did."

Taehyun ignored him and left.

The door swung shut behind him.

Kai turned to Yeonjun, eyes wide. "Did you see that?"

"Oh, I saw it."

"He didn't even try to be subtle."

"Nope."

Kai dried a plate a little too forcefully. "They're definitely up to something."

Yeonjun smirked, turning back to the sink. "Or they're finally doing something about it."

"About what?"

"The obvious mutual crush they've been dancing around for two days."

Kai groaned.

"It's been driving me insane. I asked Taehyun about it, and he told me not to do whatever I was planning."

"Smart."

"But he didn't deny it!" Kai said, gesturing with the towel. "He just said 'maybe' when I asked if Beomgyu was the reason he's learning guitar."

Yeonjun laughed. "That's basically a confession."

"Right?" Kai leaned against the counter, lowering his voice.

"So, what do we do? The trip ends tomorrow. If we don't do something soon, they're going to go home and keep pretending they hate each other for another year."

Yeonjun considered this, scrubbing another plate thoughtfully.

He'd been exactly where Taehyun was. Pining. Hopeless. Convinced the other person didn't feel the same way.

And if Soobin hadn't finally cornered him and forced the conversation, Yeonjun might've spent another year being an idiot about it.

"We could lock them in a cabin," Kai suggested.

"Tempting, but no."

"Truth or dare round two?"

"They'll just deflect again."

"Then what?"

Yeonjun dried his hands, thinking. And before he could answer, the door opened.

Soobin walked in, arms full of small branches for the fire, sleeves pushed up to his forearms.

But Yeonjun caught it immediately, the tiny crease between his brows. The way his eyes flicked toward the window.

"You saw them leave too?" Yeonjun asked.

Soobin set the branches down carefully. "Hard to miss. Beomgyu's about as subtle as a fire alarm."

"And Taehyun's not much better," Kai added.

“I think something happened between," Soobin said slowly.

"Because this morning, when I mentioned Gaon and Taehyun together, Beomgyu looked jealous. But by dinner prep, he didn't care anymore. He looked... amused. Like he knew something we didn't."

Yeonjun hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe they finally talked."

"Or maybe Gaon told him something," Kai said. "He's been weirdly invested in pushing them together."

"Either way," Soobin said, "something's different."

They fell into silence, finishing the dishes.

Still no sign of Taehyun or Beomgyu.

The fire was lower now, embers crackling soft and orange against the dark.

Yeonjun was halfway through a cup of hot chocolate when he spotted movement by the tree line.

He didn't even try to hide his grin.

Taehyun and Beomgyu strolled back into view. Not too fast, not too slow. Like they'd timed their re-entry perfectly.

They approached the fire like nothing had happened.

Beomgyu kicked a bit of gravel near the logs, muttering something under his breath. Taehyun rolled his eyes but didn't bite back as sharply as usual.

Their tone was lighter. Still bickering, but... less.

Yeonjun leaned toward Kai, who had taken a seat beside him and was very obviously watching their two friends with laser focus.

"They look suspiciously not homicidal," Yeonjun murmured.

Kai hummed in agreement. "That's what I'm saying."

Taehyun dropped into the space beside Gaon. Beomgyu sat down a beat later, maybe a little closer than necessary, legs stretching out toward the fire.

Soobin joined them last, sitting on Yeonjun's other side.

His expression was neutral, but his eyes scanned the duo like he was updating some kind of internal report.

Yeonjun let himself enjoy it. The soft glow of the fire, the occasional crackle of laughter, the warmth on his legs.

And the way everyone pretended not to care about what was right in front of them.

"I'm not gonna lie and say I predicted those two liking each other," Yeonjun said, handing his drink to Soobin, "but I think they do."

Taehyun was watching the flames, his profile sharp in the low light. When Beomgyu shifted beside him, their shoulders brushing slightly, Taehyun didn't move away.

No one mentioned it.

There was a quiet agreement in the air now. A pause. Like everyone knew something was happening under their noses, but no one wanted to be the first to say it out loud.

"Last night, huh," Jooyeon murmured from across the fire.

"Feels weird," Gaon said.

"I feel like I blinked and the trip's almost over," Jungsu added.

Soobin checked his watch.

"We should set up for the last activity soon. Everyone else will be back from packing."

Kai groaned. "Is this the one where we sit in a circle and trauma dump?"

Yeonjun snorted. "It's the one where we pretend to be emotionally well-adjusted in front of each other."

Soobin stood, brushing dirt from his pants. "Alright," he said, gentle but firm. "Let's get it set up."

Beomgyu groaned. "Can't we just jump in the lake again instead?"

"You can," Soobin said, already turning toward the circle of logs being rearranged nearby. "But you're still giving your reflection."

"I hate it here," Beomgyu muttered.

But he followed.

And slowly, the group began to gather.

Yeonjun watched as Taehyun and Beomgyu ended up sitting near each other again. Not beside each other, but close enough.

Always close enough.

Chapter Text

Soobin watched the firelight flicker across familiar faces as everyone took their seats, forming a lopsided circle around the logs.

It had taken some coaxing, but now that they'd settled, the energy had shifted. Softer. Slower. 

The night air was cool, brushing past Soobin's skin, carrying the scent of burnt marshmallows and pine.

The kind of night that felt like a hug, warm and safe despite the chill. It smelled like comfort, like a cup of tea shared between friends who didn't need words to understand each other.

Above them, stars scattered across the sky like spilled sugar, and the shadows from the fire danced across their faces in gentle, flickering patterns.

Soobin cleared his throat lightly and stood.

"We don't have to make this too serious," he began, offering a small smile.

"But since it's our last night, let's do a round where we share something we're grateful for. A person, a moment, anything."

Kai raised a hand. "What if I'm grateful for the chance to almost drown you?"

Soobin shrugged. "Then you're going first."

Kai groaned, but there was a smile tugging at his lips.

"Fine. I'm grateful for sleeping past 9 AM without Yeonjun waking me up by yelling. And also for the dance club not setting the forest on fire. And for Jungsu not blowing up the microwave."

Laughter scattered around the circle, light and easy. They continued, one by one. Some answers were sarcastic, others surprisingly heartfelt.

Jungsu thanked Kai for not snoring. Gaon said he was grateful he didn't fall off a cliff and just got pushed into the lake instead. Jooyeon announced he was grateful for Beomgyu "not poisoning the entire group with his cooking attempts."

Beomgyu threw a pine cone at him.

Then it was Taehyun's turn.

Soobin noticed how he shifted, slightly caught off guard.

Taehyun's eyes flicked to Beomgyu for half a second. Brief, but unmistakable. There was something soft in that glance, something unguarded.

"I'm grateful for quiet mornings," Taehyun said eventually, voice calm and measured. "And people who make them less quiet. In a good way."

Across the circle, Beomgyu's expression did something complicated.

His mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile, and he looked down at his hands, ears turning pink in the firelight. Soobin watched him like the moon.

Somehow, under the stars, the two had seemed to agree to a temporary truce.

Their usual banter was replaced by soft smiles and even softer glances. Soobin filed that away mentally. Noted it. Treasured it.

Then, when it was Beomgyu's turn, he was surprisingly bashful.

He scratched the back of his neck, glanced at the fire, then muttered, "I'm grateful for surprises. The good kind."

His voice was casual, and he didn't elaborate. But Soobin knew that tone. He'd known Beomgyu too long to miss the weight behind words that tried to sound light.

And when Beomgyu said it, Taehyun's shoulders relaxed. Just slightly. Like he'd been holding his breath and finally let it go.

A small, private smile ghosted across his lips before he hid it behind his hand.

Soobin watched them carefully.

He'd seen them in every phase since their friendship (if you could call it that) had started.

As enemies at that party two years ago. As classmates who couldn't stand each other. As reluctant friends who bickered more than they spoke kindly.

But this?

This new softness between them, the way they gravitated toward each other without realizing, the quiet glances when they thought no one was watching?

This was new.

And honestly? Soobin realized he didn't need to do anything about it.

Earlier, when he'd seen them slip away into the woods separately, then return together looking lighter somehow, he'd understood.

They were figuring it out. On their own. In their own time.

Maybe that was better than any meddling he or Kai or even Gaon could do.

He caught Kai's eye across the circle.

Kai raised his eyebrows in a silent did you see that? But Soobin just smiled and shook his head slightly.

Let them be.

No one pushed for specifics from Beomgyu. Maybe because no one wanted to break the spell.

Or maybe, like Soobin, they were all starting to understand the shape of what was happening and quietly choosing to let it bloom on its own.

Maybe, despite all the teasing and the ruckus the whole group brought with them like a whirlwind, the connection between Taehyun and Beomgyu was something they didn't want to disturb too much.

Like a fragile petal in the middle of a storm.

The fire popped, a burst of sparks rising briefly into the night before fading into the dark.

Soobin exhaled slowly, the quiet settling over them again like a blanket. He looked around at his friends.

Some leaning against each other, some blinking sleepily into the flames, all of them full of too much food and too many memories from just a few days together.

It was bittersweet, knowing they'd have to pack up tomorrow and return to campus. To assignments and showcases and the kind of busy that made moments like this rare.

But for now, they had this.

"I'm grateful," Soobin said at last, "for moments like this. Where nothing's perfect, but everything's still okay."

And no one said anything, but he felt the agreement in the silence.

Felt it in the glance Taehyun gave Beomgyu when he thought no one was looking. Felt it in the way Beomgyu nudged Taehyun's foot lightly with his own.

Soobin smiled to himself and let the moment settle.

But, like moth to a flame, the stillness of the air didn't last too long. It always swayed to chaos, somehow. 

"Alright," Gaon announced suddenly, breaking the peaceful quiet.

He stood and disappeared behind a log, returning moments later with Jungsu, both of them carrying a small cooler.

"Since it's our last night and we survived without major injuries, we thought we'd commemorate another successful trip."

Jungsu opened the cooler to reveal several cans of beer, condensation already forming on the aluminum.

"You brought alcohol?" Yeonjun asked, eyebrows raised.

"Just a few," Gaon said innocently. 

"We're not going to get in trouble?" Kai asked.

Soobin shrugged. "As long as no one does anything stupid, I didn't see anything."

Yeonjun grinned.

"That's the spirit, Mr. President."

The cans were passed around, and soon the circle had shifted again. Looser. Warmer. The kind of easy comfort that came from being tipsy under the stars with people you trusted.

Jooyeon was trying to teach Seungmin a harmonization that kept dissolving into laughter. Kai had his head on Jungsu's shoulder, looking half-asleep. Gaon was strumming his guitar softly, humming something that didn't quite have words yet.

And Taehyun? Taehyun had gotten noticeably looser.

Not drunk, but definitely tipsy.

His usual sharp edges had softened, his posture relaxed in a way Soobin rarely saw outside of late-night practice sessions when exhaustion overtook perfectionism.

He was talking more, too. Gesturing with his hands as he told some story about a dance competition that had gone horribly wrong.

His words came easier, his smile came quicker.

And Beomgyu sat beside him. Closer than before, close enough that their shoulders pressed together, and he was quieter now. Calmer.

Content to just lean against Taehyun and watch him talk, a soft smile playing at his lips.

The firelight caught in Beomgyu's eyes, and Soobin saw it clearly. The fondness. The affection. The way he looked at Taehyun like he was memorizing every detail.

"You know," Beomgyu said suddenly, interrupting Taehyun mid-sentence, "you still look like you write poetry in a graveyard."

Soobin's breath caught.

Taehyun blinked, processing.

Then he laughed. Not a bitter laugh or a defensive one. A real, genuine laugh that made his eyes crinkle at the corners.

"You said that to me the first time we met," Taehyun said, voice warm with the memory and the alcohol.

"I did," Beomgyu agreed. "And I was right."

"I don't write poetry."

"But you look like you do."

"Is that supposed to be an insult?"

"It's an observation."

"A rude one."

"An accurate one."

They stared at each other for a moment, and Soobin waited for the fight. For the spark that usually ignited between them.

But it didn't come.

Instead, Taehyun just shook his head, still smiling, and nudged Beomgyu's shoulder with his own.

"You're impossible."

"So you keep saying."

And that was it. No yelling. No drinks thrown. No sharp words. Just easy banter that felt more like flirting than arguing.

Soobin caught Yeonjun's eye. His boyfriend looked equally stunned. Kai looked like he'd just witnessed a miracle.

Because this, this was proof.

Undeniable proof that something had shifted between them.

Eventually, the fire burned lower, and one by one, people started drifting toward their cabins.

Yawns became contagious. The alcohol made everyone sleepy and sentimental. Goodnights were exchanged, along with promises to wake up early enough to finish packing.

Soobin stayed back, kicking dirt lightly into the edges of the pit to make sure it was safe.

The shadows stretched long across the ground, and the moonlight turned everything silver-soft.

Yeonjun appeared at his side, hands stuffed into his hoodie pocket, hair slightly wind-tousled from the breeze.

"You're making me look like a bad president," Yeonjun joked, nudging Soobin with his shoulder.

Soobin smiled faintly. "Someone's gotta make sure we don't set the forest on fire."

They walked slowly through the darkened paths between cabins, the light from the moon and the few scattered porch bulbs giving the campgrounds a soft, dreamlike glow.

The night felt impossibly gentle, like the world had wrapped itself in velvet.

It was quiet now. The kind of quiet that settles after a really good day. 

"I think they had fun," Yeonjun said after a while. "You did a great job."

"You did too," Soobin replied. "We planned this together, Jun."

Yeonjun reached for Soobin's hand, their fingers threading together naturally. The touch was warm, grounding, familiar.

They were halfway past the cabins when Soobin slowed.

A sound, soft and hesitant, floated in the still air.

The faint strum of guitar strings. Clumsy, uneven. Like someone trying to figure out where their fingers go, where the melody lives.

Soobin paused, glancing toward the source.

It was coming from Beomgyu and Taehyun's cabin.

The music continued, awkward but earnest. A few notes stumbled. A chord rang too sharp, the timing just slightly off. The kind of imperfection that came from being tipsy and brave enough to try anyway.

But then came the softest surprise.

A voice, quiet and shy, like it was being shared only with the moon and one other person.

Taehyun was singing.

Soobin couldn't quite make out the words, but the emotion behind them was enough. Warmth, softness, vulnerability.

A kind of secret that sounded like a lullaby.

And the melody, Soobin recognized it.

It was one of Beomgyu's songs. One he played alone in the practice hall late at night when he thought no one was around.

Soobin had heard it a handful of times, always by accident, always beautiful.

And here was Taehyun, trying to play it. Tipsy and imperfect, but real. Like a first love that didn't know how to be anything but honest.

Soobin's chest tightened.

Yeonjun squeezed his hand gently, and when Soobin looked at him, Yeonjun's expression was soft. Understanding.

They both knew what this meant.

Whatever was between Beomgyu and Taehyun, it wasn't a maybe anymore. Not just a suspicion or teasing fuel for Kai or material for Soobin's theories.

It was real.

And it was here, in the quiet pluck of strings, in Taehyun's voice as he tried to sing through his nerves and the alcohol and the fear of being vulnerable.

"Come on," Soobin said quietly, tugging Yeonjun's hand. "Let's give them their moment."

Yeonjun nodded, and for once, he didn't tease. Just offered a small smile, eyes still turned toward the sound as they walked away, hand in hand.

Behind them, the chords played on.

Clumsy, imperfect, and exactly right.

Chapter Text

Beomgyu woke up to the sound of birds that were way too cheerful for six in the morning.

He groaned, burying his face into his pillow for another few seconds before reality caught up with him.

Last day. Pack up. Go home. Back to assignments and rehearsals and Soobin's worrying.

Beomgyu threw his blanket to the side and stood up slowly, rubbing at his eyes as the cold floor stirred his thoughts awake.

And then he looked up.

Taehyun was still asleep on the top bunk.

He had one arm thrown over his face, blanket twisted around his legs like he'd fought it in his sleep. His hair stuck up in different directions, and there was a faint crease on his cheek from the pillow that Beomgyu could just barely make out from this angle.

Beomgyu moved closer.

He stood there for a moment, tilting his head up. Just looking.

A moment later, he reached for the blanket that had started to slip off the edge of the bunk and draped it back over Taehyun's sleeping form.

The other boy snuggled into the warm blanket immediately.

It was deeply, profoundly, annoying how pretty Taehyun looked when he slept. Unfair, even.

No one should look that good while drooling slightly onto their pillow. Especially when Taehyun stole the top bunk and the window view from him.

And yet, Beomgyu's chest did something stupid and warm.

Then, because he was stupid and half-asleep and concerned, he fished for the bottle of hangover medicine he knew would come in handy whenever Gaon was present. He climbed up the ladder just enough to set the bottle on the small ledge near Taehyun's pillow, along with a bottle of water.

Taehyun shifted slightly, mumbling something incoherent, but didn't wake.

Beomgyu stayed there for one more second, hand resting on the edge of the bunk. Watching. Treasuring. Memorizing.

Memorizing the way the morning light caught in Taehyun's hair, the peaceful expression on his face, the rise and fall of his breathing.

Then he turned away, grabbed his things, and started packing.

And by the time Taehyun finally stirred, Beomgyu had already showered, changed, and packed most of his stuff.

Contrary to what other people may say about him, Beomgyu, in fact, moved with efficiency when he wanted to. 

Or maybe he just wanted to take a quick shower and get changed faster so he could be close to Taehyun again.

Who knows?

"Morning, sunshine," Beomgyu said as he shoved a pair of pants into his bag.

Taehyun groaned, sitting up slowly and immediately reaching for the medicine and water like he'd known it would be there.

"You're up early," Taehyun muttered, voice still rough with sleep.

"Had to make sure they didn't leave us behind in case we slept in."

"I set an alarm."

"You sleep through alarms."

"Not always."

"Yeah, just most of the time."

Taehyun drank the medicine in one go, then glared at Beomgyu.

It would've been intimidating if his hair wasn't still sticking up like he'd been electrocuted. Or if he didn’t look like an annoyed cat.

A pretty cute cat, only mildly dangerous.

Beomgyu fought back a smile.

"You look like a grumpy cat.”

Taehyun threw a pillow at him. Beomgyu caught it. Tossed it back. Taehyun rolled his eyes.

This was their routine.

The bickering, the banter, the way they moved around each other like a well-choreographed dance. It had always been like this.

But now, there was something else underneath it.

Something softer that Beomgyu kept close to his chest, protected and precious. Something hidden, but real. Too real.

"Have you packed?" Beomgyu asked, watching as Taehyun jumped down from the top bunk with ease.

See? Beomgyu was right. He was a cat.  

"Almost."

Beomgyu looked at Taehyun's duffel bag on the floor. "You haven't even started."

"I said almost."

"That's not what almost means."

Taehyun just rolled his eyes again and started gathering his things, moving slower than usual. The alcohol from last night was probably still lingering in his system.

Beomgyu stared as Taehyun bent down to grab a shirt from the floor, all clumsy limbed and not with the usual calm and collected act he liked to play outside or on stage.

The way he moved, still half-asleep and unguarded, made something twist in Beomgyu's chest.

He stared a little too long.

Taehyun straightened up and caught him looking.

Their eyes met.

Beomgyu's face flushed immediately, and he whipped his head away, suddenly very interested in the zipper on his bag. His heart hammered stupidly in his chest.

Get it together, he told himself. 

But when he risked another glance, Taehyun was smiling. Just slightly. Like he knew exactly what he'd caught Beomgyu doing.

And he didn't mind.

The group gathered near the main cabin for one last photo.

Everyone squeezed together, arms slung over shoulders, faces pressed close. Yeonjun counted down from three, and they all smiled on cue.

Beomgyu found himself standing near Taehyun. Not next to him, but close enough that their shoulders almost touched. Close enough that Beomgyu was hyperaware of every inch of space between them.

"One more!" Yeonjun called out. "Soobin blinked."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

They reset, and this time, Beomgyu tried to focus on the camera. He really did.

But he could feel Taehyun beside him, warm and solid, and it took everything in him not to glance over.

His heart did that stupid thing again where it felt too big for his chest.

This whole trip had been like that.

Moments where he'd catch himself staring too long, feeling too much, wanting things he probably shouldn't want.

But that was fine. He'd gotten good at hiding it.

The walk down to the parking lot was loud.

Jooyeon was determined to sing off-key. Kai was complaining about how sore his legs were. Soobin and Yeonjun were doing a final headcount like the responsible presidents they were. 

Beomgyu walked near the middle of the group, trying not to think about how this was it. The trip was over. They'd go back to campus, back to their separate clubs, back to normal.

Except nothing felt normal anymore.

He glanced ahead and caught sight of Taehyun helping Gaon carry one of the heavier bags. His sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, and Beomgyu watched the way his muscles flexed under the warm light.

He looked away quickly, scowling at nothing in particular.

Stupid.

It was stupid how attractive Taehyun was when he was just... existing. Doing normal things. Being helpful and strong and annoyingly perfect. 

It was sickening.

And it was even more stupid how much Beomgyu wanted to be the one Taehyun was helping.

A hand squeezed his shoulder.

"You good?" Yeonjun asked, suddenly appearing beside him with a knowing smirk.

"Fine," Beomgyu muttered.

"You're glaring at a tree."

"It's an ugly tree."

"Sure it is."

Beomgyu shoved him away lightly, but Yeonjun just laughed and jogged ahead.

And when the bus came into view, parked and waiting at the edge of the lot, Beomgyu's pace quickened.

"Move, I called window seat yesterday," he said, pushing past Taehyun.

Behind him, Taehyun scoffed.

"You didn't call anything, dumbass."

"I literally said it at before we went to sleep."

"No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did."

"You're making that up."

Beomgyu spun around, walking backward now so he could glare at Taehyun properly. "I always get window on the last day."

"Since when is that a rule?" Taehyun asked, matching his pace.

"Since I made it."

"Well, that's a stupid rule.“

"You're-"

And then Taehyun stopped walking.

And so did Beomgyu.

Because he barely had time to register it before Taehyun closed the distance between them, grabbed him by the collar, and kissed him.

On the mouth.

In front of everyone.

Beomgyu froze.

His brain short-circuited. His heart slammed against his ribs. His hands hovered uselessly in the air because he didn't know what to do with them.

He couldn't even manage a gasp of surprise. No bark, and no bite either.

In front of him, Taehyun's lips were warm and soft and impossibly gentle despite the fact that he'd just yanked Beomgyu forward like they were in some kind of drama.

And then, just as suddenly, he pulled back.

Taehyun looked smug. Completely, infuriatingly, smug.

"There," Taehyun said, voice steady and unbothered. "I get the window."

Beomgyu's face was on fire. His ears were burning. His entire body felt like it had been plugged into an electrical socket.

He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

Nothing came out.

And Taehyun? Taehyun just smiled. Actually smiled. That soft and fond and stupidly beautiful smile.

"Come on," he said, tugging Beomgyu forward by the hand. "Let's go."

Beomgyu followed on autopilot, legs moving without his brain's permission, and climbed onto the bus in a daze.

Behind them, he vaguely registered the sound of someone gasping. A water bottle hitting the ground. Voices rising in confusion and shock.

But all Beomgyu could focus on was the fact that Taehyun had just kissed him.

In front of everyone.

In front of their friends.

After weeks of secret hand-holding and stolen kisses and carefully constructed walls.

Taehyun just kissed him.

And now, he was sliding into the window seat near the back, looking perfectly at ease.

Beomgyu dropped into the seat beside him, still too stunned to speak.

"You-" Beomgyu finally managed, voice strangled. "You just-"

"I know," Taehyun said simply.

"Why?"

Taehyun turned to look at him, and his expression was softer now. 

"Because I wanted to," he said quietly. "And because I'm tired of hiding."

Beomgyu didn't say anything, but only because he felt the same. 

Four weeks.

A month of keeping this quiet and hidden, keeping it safe, keeping it just theirs.

And now it wasn't. Now, everyone knew.

"You could've warned me," Beomgyu muttered, but there was no heat behind it.

"Where's the fun in that?"

Beomgyu wanted to argue. Wanted to shove him or call him impossible or do literally anything other than sit there with his heart doing somersaults in his chest.

But instead, he just sighed and leaned his head against Taehyun's shoulder.

"You're the worst," he mumbled.

Taehyun's hand found his, fingers threading together. "I know," he said softly.

And somehow, that was enough.

Outside, Kai's voice rose above the chaos.

"HUH?!”

Beomgyu closed his eyes and smiled.

He had been in love with Kang Taehyun for one year, two months, and approximately fourteen days. Have been dating him for four weeks too.

Though, he had been crushing on him longer than that.

Not that he was counting. (He was.)

It started the night they met.

The party, the terrible music, the awful lighting, and Taehyun standing alone looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

Beomgyu thought he was pretty.

No, scratch that. He'd thought Taehyun was beautiful.

Ethereal in a way that made Beomgyu's drunk brain go oh no and his sober heart go oh no oh no oh no.

So, he'd done what any reasonable person with a crush would do. He walked up to him and tried to flirt.

"You look like you write poetry in a graveyard," Beomgyu had said, grinning, thinking it sounded mysterious and interesting and maybe a little bit romantic.

Taehyun turned, eyebrows raised, and Beomgyu's brain caught up to his mouth about three seconds too late.

Oh.

Oh no. He was even prettier up close.

Sharp eyes, soft mouth, the kind of face that belonged in art museums instead of shitty college parties.

"Excuse me?" Taehyun said, and his voice was cold.

"I mean- Like, in a cool way? Brooding and mysterious?"

"So you're calling me depressing."

"No! I'm saying you look-"

And that was how it started.

A compliment taken as an insult  A misunderstanding that spiraled into an argument.

Drinks were thrown, voices were raised, and it resulted to bickering that Beomgyu had never quite figured out how to stop.

Because how do you tell someone you've liked them since the moment you met when they think you've hated them the whole time?

You don't.

You just... keep pretending.

Yeah.

This was going to be fun to explain.

Chapter Text

Eight months ago, Beomgyu got to class early.

He always did on Thursdays, because Thursdays meant Music Theory, and Music Theory meant Taehyun.

He slid into his usual seat near the window, and immediately put his bag on the chair beside him.

Not because he was saving it. Just because.

(He was saving it.)

Ten minutes later, Taehyun walked in. Late. 

His hair was slightly damp from the rain outside, his backpack slung over one shoulder, and he looked tired but focused in that way that made Beomgyu's chest do stupid things.

Their eyes met.

Beomgyu quickly grabbed his bag and moved it to his lap, scowling.

"Don't even think about sitting here."

Taehyun raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want to sit next to you."

"Your bag was literally saving the seat."

"It was not."

"Beomgyu."

"Fine. Sit. Whatever. I don't care."

Taehyun sat down, still looking amused, and Beomgyu stared very hard at his notebook to avoid looking at him.

But then Taehyun pulled out his own notebook and a pen, and as class started, his knee bumped against Beomgyu's under the desk.

Neither of them moved away.

And for the entire lecture, Beomgyu sat there, hyperaware of that single point of contact, heart racing, trying to focus on literally anything other than the fact that Taehyun was sitting next to him.

Again.

Like he always did.

Because no matter how many times the other boy came to class late, no matter how many alarms he must have slept through, there was always a spot for him waiting.

Because Beomgyu always saved him a seat.

Then, five months ago, Beomgyu was in the music room.

He'd been there for hours.

He skipped lunch, ignored texts from his club president-slash-best friend, fully committed to finishing an arrangement before his brain gave up on him.

And when he finally looked up, it was nearly dark outside.

He stretched, groaning as his back protested, and reached for his notebook to pack up.

That was when he saw it.

A tiny doodle in the corner of the page. A cartoonish star with a smiley face, and underneath it, was handwriting that definitely wasn't his.

good luck on your showcase. you'll kill it.

Beomgyu stared at it.

Then he flipped back through the pages. There were more.

Little drawings scattered throughout his notes. Stars, music notes, a tiny cat, none of them familiar to him.

Then, there were short messages. 

don’t push yourself too hard. you’re already good

eat something, idiot

your handwriting is terrible

Beomgyu's throat felt tight.

He knew exactly who'd done this.

Taehyun borrowed his notebook last week after he had to miss class. Beomgyu complained about it, saying "don't lose it" and "if you ruin my notes I'll kill you", but he'd handed it over anyway.

And Taehyun had filled it with tiny, secret encouragements.

Things he'd never say out loud.

Things that made Beomgyu's heart feel too big for his chest.

"I'm screwed."

And three months ago, Beomgyu and Taehyun found themselves waiting for the others in the parking lot.

It was late afternoon, the sun started to dip below the buildings, and they'd been standing there in silence for about ten minutes.

Not arguing. Not bickering. Just... existing in the same space.

It was weird.

"Want one?" Taehyun asked suddenly, holding out a pack of gum.

Beomgyu blinked. "Did you poison it?"

"Do you want it or not?"

"I- Sure. Fine. Thanks."

He took a piece, and Taehyun took one too, and they stood there chewing in silence.

A minute passed.

Then Beomgyu pulled out a bag of candy from his pocket, the sour kind that Soobin refused to eat because they were too aggressive.

"Want one?" he offered.

Taehyun glanced at the bag, then at Beomgyu, and took one without comment.

They went back to silence. But it wasn't uncomfortable.

It was... nice. Easy.

Like they'd been doing it for years.

And when their friends  finally showed up fifteen minutes later, neither of them mentioned it.

They just went back to their usual routine of bickering about where to eat, arguing about what to order, pretending like they hadn't just shared a quiet, peaceful moment that meant more than Beomgyu wanted to admit.

Then, it was four weeks before the retreat.

And Kai's apartment was packed.

Not too crowded, but enough that the living room felt warm and loud, filled with music and laughter and the kind of comfortable chaos that came with good friends and decent alcohol.

Beomgyu stood near the kitchen, nursing a beer he wasn't really drinking, watching Taehyun from across the room.

Taehyun was talking to Seungmin about something in the living room, probably dance-related, based on the way Seungmin kept gesturing wildly with his hands.

The light from the kitchen caught in Taehyun's blue hair, and he laughed at something, head tilting back slightly, eyes crinkling at the corners.

Beomgyu's chest ached.

Gods, he was so gone for him.

"You're staring," Soobin said, appearing beside him with a curious look.

Beomgyu jumped slightly.

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

"I'm just... observing. For science."

"Right." Soobin didn't sound convinced. "What's the hypothesis?"

That I'm hopelessly in love with someone who probably thinks I'm the most annoying person alive, Beomgyu thought.

"That Taehyun's an idiot," he said instead.

Soobin hummed, unconvinced, and wandered off toward the snack table.

Beomgyu let out a breath and was about to follow when he heard Kai's voice drift over from the living room couch.

"Wait, seriously? Another one?"

"Yeah," Kai said, laughing. "Someone confessed to Taehyun again yesterday. Third one this month."

Yeonjun whistled. "Damn. What'd he say?"

"Turned him down, obviously. He always does."

Beomgyu's stomach dropped.

Another confession.

Of course. Because Taehyun was perfect and talented and stupidly attractive, and people noticed.

People always noticed.

And Beomgyu? Beomgyu was just the guy who argued with him about everything.

The loud one. The annoying one. The one Taehyun probably only tolerated because their friend groups had merged and avoiding each other would be too complicated.

His chest felt tight.

He set his beer down on the counter. Too hard. Too loud. And he headed for the balcony.

He needed air.

The balcony was small, but it was quiet. Beomgyu needed quiet.

The city stretched out below, lights glittering like stars, and the cool night air bit at his cheeks.

He leaned against the railing and closed his eyes, trying to breathe through the ache in his chest.

Get it together, he told himself. You've been doing this for ages. You can keep doing it.

Except he wasn't sure he could anymore.

The door clicked open behind him.

He sighed. 

Beomgyu didn't turn around. He already knew who it was. Could feel it in the way the air shifted, the way his heart started beating faster without permission.

"You okay?"

Taehyun's voice was quiet. Careful.

Beomgyu swallowed hard. "I'm fine."

"Are you?"

"Just needed air."

There was a pause, and then Taehyun stepped up beside him, leaning against the railing too. Close enough that their shoulders almost touched. Close enough that Beomgyu could feel the warmth radiating off him.

"You looked sad," Taehyun said softly.

Of course Taehyun had noticed. He always noticed things.

But did he notice the little things that Beomgyu tried so hard to hide too?

Like the way Beomgyu always saved him a seat in their shared elective, shoving his bag onto the chair beside him and pretending to be annoyed when Taehyun showed up. 

Like the way Beomgyu's heart would stutter every time Taehyun did something unexpectedly soft like doodling a tiny "good luck on your showcase" in the corner of Beomgyu's notebook.

Or offering him his water bottle even though Taehyun hated sharing. Or the way Taehyun's gaze would linger on him sometimes, like he was trying to figure something out.

Beomgyu remembered those moments. Held them close. Wondered if maybe, maybe, they meant something.

But they probably didn't.

"I heard you got confessed to again," Beomgyu said, voice flat. He didn't look at Taehyun. Couldn't.

"When's the date?"

Taehyun was quiet for a long moment. Then, "Depends."

Beomgyu frowned, finally glancing over. "On what?"

Taehyun turned to face him fully, and there was something in his expression. Something soft and uncertain and maybe a little bit nervous.

"On when you're free."

Beomgyu blinked.

His brain stuttered to a halt. His heart slammed against his ribs.

"Don't- don't joke like that."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

Beomgyu's voice came out sharper than he meant it to, defensive and raw. "You're just trying to start another argument because that's what we do, right? We argue. We bicker. We annoy each other. So don't-"

He cut himself off, chest heaving, and looked away.

"Don't fuck with me like that," he said quietly. "Not when I-"

He stopped.

But it was too late.

The words were already there, sitting on the tip of his tongue, and he was so tired of holding them back.

"Not when I like you," Beomgyu finished, voice barely above a whisper.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Beomgyu squeezed his eyes shut, heart racing, waiting for Taehyun to laugh. To scoff. To tell him he was being ridiculous.

But Taehyun didn't do any of those things.

Instead, he let out a soft breath, one that sounded almost like a laugh. But gentle.

And when Beomgyu finally found the courage to look at him, Taehyun was smiling.

Not his usual smirk. Not the sharp-edged grin he wore when he won an argument. A real smile. Soft and fond and maybe a little bit relieved.

"It's perfect that I'm not just messing with you, then," Taehyun said quietly, turning to look out at the city lights.

"I like you. Even if you're stupid."

What?

Beomgyu's brain was short-circuiting. "You like me?"

"Have for a while, actually."

"But you- We- Huh?" 

Taehyun finally looked at him again, and his expression was so unbearably tender that Beomgyu thought his heart might actually stop.

"You think I offer my water bottle to just anyone?" Taehyun asked, voice teasing but warm. "Or doodle in people's notebooks? Or sit next to random people in class?"

Beomgyu stared at him, speechless.

"I thought you hated me," he finally managed.

"I thought you hated me," Taehyun said. "You called me depressing the night we met."

"I was trying to flirt with you!"

"Well, you're terrible at it."

"You're terrible at receiving it!"

They stared at each other for a beat, and then both of them started laughing. Real, genuine laughter that made Beomgyu's chest feel lighter than it had in months.

"We're idiots," Beomgyu said, still laughing.

"Yeah," Taehyun agreed. "We really are."

And then, before Beomgyu could overthink it, Taehyun reached out and took his hand.

Their fingers threaded together easily, naturally, like they'd been doing this for years instead of seconds.

"So," Taehyun said softly. "When are you free?"

Beomgyu's face was burning, but he couldn't stop smiling.

"Tomorrow," he said. "I'm free tomorrow."

"Good." Taehyun squeezed his hand gently. "It's a date."

The practice room was empty the next day.

Beomgyu sat on the floor, back against the mirror, watching Taehyun pace back and forth like he was trying to figure out a particularly difficult choreography.

"So," Taehyun said finally, stopping in front of him. "We should probably talk about... this."

"This?"

"Us."

Beomgyu's heart did a complicated flip. "Yeah. Us."

Taehyun sat down beside him, close enough that their shoulders touched.

"I like you," he said simply. "A lot."

"I do too," Beomgyu said quietly. "Two years, actually."

Taehyun's eyes widened. "Two years?"

"Since the freshman party."

"When you called me depressing?"

"I said I was flirting!"

"You were terrible at it."

"Shut up."

But Taehyun was smiling, and Beomgyu was smiling too, and it felt easy in a way nothing between them had ever felt before.

"So what do we do?" Beomgyu asked.

Taehyun was quiet for a moment, thinking.

"I want to be with you," he said finally. "Officially. Exclusively."

Beomgyu hoped he wasn't imagining the faint pink dusting Taehyun's cheeks. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." Taehyun reached for his hand, threading their fingers together. "But..."

"But?"

"I think we should keep it to ourselves. For now."

Beomgyu frowned.

"Why?"

"Because this," Taehyun gestured between them. "...is new. And fragile. And I don't want everyone else's opinions or expectations to mess it up before we figure out what we're doing."

Beomgyu considered it.

"Also," Taehyun added, lips twitching, "it'll be fun. Keeping it from our friends."

"You want to keep it secret because it'll be fun?"

"Don't you?"

And honestly? Yeah.

You know what? Yeah, Beomgyu kind of did.

"Okay," he said. "Secret boyfriends."

"Secret boyfriends," Taehyun agreed.

And when Taehyun leaned in and kissed him, soft and sweet and perfect, Beomgyu thought: This is worth protecting. This is worth keeping just ours.

At least for a little while.

Chapter Text

The bus ride to camp was torture.

Not because of the bumpy roads or the way Jooyeon kept singing off-key in the back. Not even because Kai had convinced half the group to play some chaotic card game that involved way too much yelling.

No.

It was torture because Taehyun was sitting three seats away from him, and Beomgyu couldn't turn to look at him without making it obvious.

They'd agreed on this. Keep distance in public. Don't sit together in the bus. Don't make it weird.

But gods did Beomgyu want to sit next to him.

He wanted to lean against his shoulder during the long ride. Wanted to share headphones and argue about whose playlist was really better.

Beomgyu wanted to hold his hand where no one could see.

Instead, Beomgyu settled for shifting in his seat and yelling back at whatever argument Taehyun came up with. Nothing serious. Just loud enough for people to hear.

Just normal enough to be expected.

And that was how they spent the bus ride. Bickering across seats, pretending to be annoyed with each other, when really Beomgyu just wanted to kiss Taehyun stupid.

Four weeks of dating. A whole month. And he still wasn't used to this.

The hiding. The pretending. The way his chest ached every time Taehyun smiled at him from across a room and he couldn't smile back the way he wanted to.

But it was worth it.

Keeping this just theirs, keeping it safe and secret and precious, was worth every moment of restraint.

Also, he had to admit that it was thrilling to hide it from their friends.

Seeing Kai's confused face made it even more worth it.

When they finally arrived at camp and Soobin posted the cabin assignments, Beomgyu nearly laughed.

He stared at the list, trying very hard not to show how pleased he was.

He wanted to laugh. Wanted to tell Soobin that he was secretly thrilled. That this was the best possible outcome.

He and Taehyun were sharing a cabin together.

No sneaking around. No carefully timed excuses just to see each other. Just them.  His chest felt warm and full and dangerously close to exploding.

But he couldn't let anyone see that.

So he did what he did best, and he put on a show.

And when Taehyun appeared in the doorway behind him, looking calm and unbothered as always, Beomgyu had to physically stop himself from smiling.

"Thanks for being flexible, Taehyun," Soobin had said.

Taehyun just nodded and left without a word, and Beomgyu watched him go with a mixture of fondness and frustration.

Later, Taehyun's expression had said. We'll talk later.

And Beomgyu couldn't wait.

The first real test came about an hour or two later.

Beomgyu was walking back to their cabin after helping out Seungmin set up the picnic table, when he spotted them.

Taehyun and Gaon. Sitting on the front steps. Together.

Gaon had his guitar, and he was showing Taehyun something. And Taehyun was watching with that focused, attentive expression he got when he was learning something new.

Beomgyu stepped on a twig and stopped walking.

He knew it was irrational.

He knew that Gaon was just being friendly. Knew that Taehyun was allowed to have friends and learn new things and exist in the world without Beomgyu hovering over him.

But still.

They'd only been dating for a month. Everything still felt new and fragile and a little bit terrifying.

And seeing someone else teach his boyfriend something, something Beomgyu could have taught him, something Beomgyu played... it made jealousy curl hot and uncomfortable in his stomach.

He could've asked me, he thought. If he wanted to learn guitar, he could've just asked me.

“I call the top bunk, I want the window view," was what he said instead.

He forced himself to keep walking. Forced his expression into something neutral.

Don't be obvious. Don't let it show. Especially not to Taehyun.

"My stuff's already there," Taehyun replied easily. "Finders keepers."

And just like that, they began bickering again. Safe. Normal. Expected.

Even if Beomgyu's heart was still doing complicated things in his chest.

Gathering firewood with Soobin and Taehyun should have been easy. Should have been fine.

Except, Beomgyu kept forgetting that Soobin was there.

He'd look at Taehyun, the way he wanted to when they were alone, and then remember half a second too late that they had an audience.

Then, when Taehyun bent down to pick up a branch and the afternoon sunlight caught in his hair, Beomgyu's brain went oh.

Oh, he's beautiful. Oh, I'm in love with him. Oh no, I'm staring.

So, he looked away quickly, focusing very hard on the pile of wood in his arms.

Dinner prep was better.

Mostly because there were more people around, and that meant it was easier to hide in plain sight.

Beomgyu and Taehyun ended up at the same counter, working on the same dishes, and it felt almost normal.

Almost like the secret dates they'd been sneaking.

The late nights at Taehyun's apartment, cooking together because neither of them wanted to order takeout again. The weekend mornings at Beomgyu's place, making breakfast and arguing about how much garlic was too much garlic.

Here, in the kitchen, surrounded by their friends, they fell into the same rhythm.

Taehyun got sauce on his hand. Beomgyu passed him a napkin without a fuss. Little things. Automatic things. Things that came from weeks of learning each other's habits.

He was smiling. And Taehyun was smiling. And for just a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.

Dinner was easier.

Taehyun placed a piece of grilled meat on Beomgyu's plate, and Beomgyu made sure to ladle out extra soup then slid it in front of Taehyun without a word.

Taehyun picked it up, took a sip, and gave him the tiniest nod.

Thanks.

I know.

All of that, in a single glance.

This was why they were keeping it secret. Not because they were ashamed. Not because they didn't want people to know.

But because moments like this, quiet, intimate, and just for them... it felt too precious to share for now.

They were still figuring out how to be together. Still learning each other's rhythms. Still building something fragile and beautiful that deserved to be protected.

Just a little longer.

The campfire and truth-or-dare game was... complicated.

Beomgyu had been fine at first. Laughing at Jooyeon's terrible dancing. Cringing at Seungmin's high note. Teasing Soobin about his audition confession.

But then Gaon's turn came.

And someone asked if he'd date someone from the other club. And Gaon said yes.

Then Jungsu said, "So... Taehyun?"

Beomgyu's stomach dropped.

It was fine. It was fine. Gaon was joking. Jungsu was joking. Everyone was joking.

Taehyun wasn't interested in Gaon. Taehyun was interested in him.

And yet...

The jealousy sat heavy and uncomfortable in his chest, and he hated it. Hated feeling like this.

Hated that he couldn't just reach over and take Taehyun's hand and make it clear to everyone that Taehyun was his.

And when it was finally their turn, when Yeonjun asked them to rate each other's attractiveness, Beomgyu's heart was pounding so hard he was sure everyone could hear it.

Taehyun went first.

"One."

Beomgyu blinked. "Just... one?"

"You'd be a nine," Taehyun said, voice steady and teasing, "if you didn't talk."

The group laughed, but Beomgyu saw the way Taehyun's eyes softened when he said it. Saw the hidden meaning underneath.

You're a nine. You're a ten. You're everything.

That was enough to make Beomgyu forget Gaon's answer completely.

"Your turn," Taehyun said. "Rate me."

Beomgyu panicked. Because how was he supposed to rate Taehyun?

How was he supposed to put a number on someone who made his heart race and his brain short-circuit and his entire world feel brighter? How was he supposed to say ten thousand without giving anything and everything away?

"...Negative one."

He immediately regretted it.

Because they called him out for hesitating. And everyone was laughing.

And Taehyun was looking at him with that knowing smirk that made Beomgyu want to kiss him and strangle him in equal measure.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to their cabins, Beomgyu and Taehyun went for a walk.

Just the two of them, finally, under the stars.

"You forgot your phone," Taehyun said as they wandered down a trail.

"I know."

"And your flashlight."

"I don't need one. I have you."

Taehyun huffed out a laugh.

They walked in comfortable silence for a while, hands brushing occasionally, shoulders bumping.

It was perfect.

Well, until Beomgyu tripped over a root he didn't see in the dark.

He stumbled, caught himself on Taehyun's arm, and hissed when his other arm scraped against the rough bark of a tree.

"Are you okay?" Taehyun immediately crouched down, trying to see in the dim light.

"It's fine. Just a scratch."

"Let me see."

"Taehyun, I'm fine."

"Let me see," Taehyun said firmly, and Beomgyu sighed before holding out his arm.

In the faint moonlight, they could barely make out the scrape. It was shallow. Nothing serious. Barely alarming.

But Taehyun looked at it like Beomgyu had been mortally wounded.

"We need to get back," he said. "I'll get a bandage."

"It's just a scratch," Beomgyu said, deadpan. 

And when Taehyun raised a finger to poke on the skin near the scratch, Beomgyu hissed.

"You're hurt."

"Because you poked it!"

But Taehyun was already pulling him back toward the cabins, and Beomgyu let himself be dragged along, heart warm despite the absurd reaction to his... injury.

This was Taehyun. His Taehyun.

Who worried too much and cared too much and loved him in ways that made Beomgyu feel like the luckiest person alive.

And after Taehyun sprinted to Yeonjun's cabin for a bandage, fussing over the world's tiniest scratch like it was a life-threatening injury, Beomgyu was exhausted.

But he was happy.

"You're ridiculous," he said as soon as Yeonjun was out of earshot.

"You're careless," Taehyun replied.

"It was dark."

"That's why I told you to bring a flashlight, stupid."

"I had you."

"I'm not a flashlight."

"You light up my life, though."

Taehyun threw a pillow at him.

But he was smiling. That soft, private smile that was just for Beomgyu.

And when Beomgyu climbed into the bottom bunk a few minutes later, ready to pass out, Taehyun leaned down from the top bunk.

"Hey," he whispered.

"What?"

Taehyun's face appeared over the edge, upside down. "Come here for a second."

Beomgyu sat up, confused, and Taehyun leaned down further.

Then kissed him.

Soft and sweet. Just a gentle press of lips that tasted like toothpaste and felt like a new beginning.

"Good night," Taehyun whispered against his mouth.

"Good night," Beomgyu whispered back, heart so full it hurt.

Taehyun disappeared back up to his bunk, and Beomgyu lay back down, touching his lips, smiling like an idiot in the dark.

Yeah.

This was worth protecting.