Pandora's Box

Chapter 11

A/N: Search youtube for Beomgyu's cover of the coming song if you haven't, highly recommend :))

One thing Taehyun had learned about his Friday music professor, Yoongi: he was not as forgiving as instructor Taehyung. The man was staring at Beomgyu, face completely deadpanned while Beomgyu tried to think of an excuse not to play for the class.

"We're all waiting." he stated, and Taehyun rolled his eyes. As if a) Beomgyu didn't already know that; and b) that made any difference whatsoever.

It apparently did, though, because out of what was probably embarrassment for taking so long, Beomgyu agreed to play a song. At Beomgyu's agreement, Yoongi's face completely brightened and he smiled.

"Great!" He slapped his hands together. "What'll it be?"

Taehyun watched as Beomgyu seemed to wrack his brain. He wasn't sure why the boy was acting like this was a life-or-death situation, but he felt his world go cold when the boy did decide.

"I'll... I'll play 'Today' by John Denver, if that's ok?"

No, Taehyun pleaded silently. First The Fray, now this? Please let it not be ok.

But to his horror, Yoongi just smiled and nodded; while Beomgyu prepared to play the song that Taehyun's mother used to sing to him every night before she was gone

The memory was still vivid, mostly due to the fact that it kept seeping into his dreams. As Beomgyu started to play, Taehyun found himself slowly closing his eyes and returning to the moment. Laying in her lap, her fingers stroking his cheek.

Beomgyu, for whatever reason, wasn't singing along. So Taehyun added the words in his head.

Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine,

I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine.

A million tomorrows shall all pass away, 'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.

I'll be a dandy and I'll be a rover, you'll know who I am by the songs that I sing.

I'll feast at your table, I'll sleep in your clover, who cares what tomorrow shall bring?

He could tell the whole class was loving it. But Taehyun's feeling wasn't simply appreciation for the boy's musical talent. Something was missing, something he was subconsciously aching for.

He didn't want to hear the words to the song just to hear them. He didn't even want to hear them from his mother anymore. He wanted to hear Beomgyu sing them. He needed to hear the boy. It struck him like Zeus' lighting bolt.

A million tomorrows shall all pass away, 'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.

I can't be contented with yesterday's glory, I can't live on promises winter to spring.

Today is my moment, and now is my story, I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing.

When the song was over, the class applauded loudly. Taehyun opened his eyes, having just woken up from his daze, and blinked at the boy putting the guitar back by his seat. He would have felt embarrassed at the effect Beomgyu's instrumentation just had on him, only it hadn't exactly worn off yet.

To the point where Taehyun was standing, and walking over to him. He was conscious about sitting down, and conscious about Beomgyu glancing up at him, surprise filling his features when he realized who it was.

With Yoongi droning on about how Love Yourself: Tear is the best album of all time, Beomgyu was staring at Taehyun, now more confused than surprised. Taehyun knew he had to say something. So he blurted out the first thing that he thought of.

"Why did you choose that song?"

He tried to keep the hostility in his voice small, but in reality he was more confused than restrained. Beomgyu's surprise grew for a moment, then he exhaled a laugh.

"Um...I don't know, actually. I guess I just love that song, and it was one of the first songs I learned on the guitar."

Taehyun nodded, now suddenly too aware of his position. He ran a hand through his hair, cursing himself for even approaching the other, when Beomgyu spoke.

"You know...I'm not what everyone thinks I am."

Taehyun glanced up and met Beomgyu's eyes, who were determined to communicate kindness. It made Taehyun's chest tighten, as he'd only shown the opposite. He had no doubt that Beomgyu's use of "everyone" was simply meant to replace "you".

Being the idiot he was, Taehyun could think of nothing to respond with other than a slow nod, and an "Oh. Ok."

Beomgyu sighed next to him. "It's just... Everyone expects me act like some stuck up prick. Like I want to show off who I am, but I really don't. I'd rather no one know."

Taehyun swallowed, hoping the other didn't notice his obvious nerves. "You don't like being the son of Apollo?"

He watched Beomgyu's expression carefully, the other seemingly relieved at the chance to have a normal conversation with him. "I don't like being the center of attention for shit like this. I hated art class. I hated today. I'm sure you did too." He laughed, and Taehyun found himself joining, for whatever reason.

"It is all sort of ridiculous." He finally admitted.

Beomgyu nodded, sighing again. He smiled softly at Taehyun, an expression so direct it made the other shift in his seat.

"I think we're the only two people in this whole school who realize that.", he then said.

We're the only two people. Something sparked in Taehyun's chest. The pair of them.

He imagined there was a lot they agreed on, now that he'd bothered to find out. It's what fueled his next question.

"Do you want to eat lunch with me and Kai today?"