ℙ𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕪 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕, Beomjun

014

Around noon the next day, Yeonjun visits Taehyun with the leftover snacks from last night in hand. Beomgyu insisted he take them since the younger helped set up Yesterday's surprise and deserved them as a thank you. Yeonjun didn't contest, thought made sure to steal a packet of sweets he'd found to enjoy, throwing them onto the kitchen counter for later.

Taehyun's mother answers the door. The curious expression on her face lights up in recognition and a pleasant smile plasters her face, causing the crow's feet around her eyes to deepen. Yeonjun smiles back. They've met multiple times now so that tense wave of unfamiliar holds neither of them, replaced with an easy smile and unburdened shoulders.

"Hey, auntie, is Taehyun home?" he asks with a small tilt of his head, eyes warm and kind.

A certain youth takes over him when he's in her presence. In the past, he theorised it's because she treats him like his other friends: a learning adolescent rather than the eldest Hyung. He's used to people pushing him to set an example even when he's unsure of things himself, but she allows him to make mistakes and doesn't condemn him when he does. He thinks she must know how it feels, being the eldest of her siblings, and it comforts him that he has an adult on his side.

She nods and steps aside, letting him in as she shouts up to her son. "Be careful not to slip, I mopped the floor earlier and Taehyun told me about your ankle."

Yeonjun would look confused but word gets around and he's sure Beomgyu told Taehyun all about his injury during their plotting. So, without questioning it, he nods and carefully takes off his shoes, placing them on the shoe rack before walking further into the house.

"I brought these for you guys." Yeonjun smiles as he holds up the sweet-filled plastic bag that rustles under his grip.

"Awe, how sweet of you." Taehyun's mother tuts in adoration and places a hand on her heart, accepting the bag with her free hand.

As she takes it, her son appears at the top of the stairs, bannister rattling as he clambers down each step. He swipes the bag from his mother like a greedy child and aims a boyish grin her way. She shakes her head at him and swats his arm, muttering something about his manners as he leaves them together.

"Thanks, Mom!" Taehyun yells as he rips open a packet of sweets, tips a bunch into his hand, and throws his head back as he pops them in his mouth. He extends the packet towards Yeonjun in a silent offer and the elder shakes his head.

Taehyun shrugs and continues eating the chewy gummies, not looking up as he speaks, "How did yesterday go?"

"It was fun! Apart from when I hurt my ankle." Yeonjun snorts out a laugh and lifts his foot, circling his ankle around a few times to relieve the pain that arises at the mention. "There's only a few colours left to show him now..." He smiles, wistful.

The past couple of weeks have become something unforgettable and his bond with Beomgyu feels like it's somehow strengthened too-which he didn't think was possible. However, a tinge of sadness comes with knowing the time stolen for just them is ending. Sure, in reality, things won't really change, they are best friends who live together, but he feels like he's losing something special.

"Does that bother you?" Taehyun questions, confused about why Yeonjun seems let down.

Yeonjun shakes his head and tells a half-lie, "No, it's been fun... I guess I'm a little disappointed it'll all be over soon since it's become so normal, but it's not like we'll suddenly stop hanging out."

Taehyun nods in agreement and breathes in, exhaling through his words. "Do you have any plans for the next theme?" he asks, finishing off the last of his gummies and crumpling the packaging. The bag on his arm ruffles as he abandons the sweet packet inside of it, hidden among the remaining sweets.