ℙ𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕪 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕, Beomjun

018

"Hurry up, Hyung!" Beomgyu's impatient voice echoes through the forest, causing the birds nearby to scatter into flight. Their startled wings stark in the otherwise quiet environment.

"I told him not to drink all his water in one go", Beomgyu grumbles. "But he wouldn't listen, now look what's happened." Yeonjun reckons that if he was to glance back Beomgyu's arms would be crossed over his chest and he'd have the biggest pout on his lips. So spoiled and unforgiving.

"Maybe his old age is causing performance issues," Soobin comments with an airy noise that sounds like he's holding back a laugh. Which he probably was given one of them snorts at his little remark, amused by the thought.

Heat flushes over Yeonjun's cheeks, painting them a gnome red. "I can hear you guys!" Yeonjun groans, wishing the ground would swallow him whole. Every word they utter makes him more embarrassed than the last, but how could he expect four young adult men to not tease him over this?

"Go on without me, I'll catch up!" he calls out, hoping it'd get them off his back and offer him some relief.

"What if you get eaten by something, Hyung?!" Hueningkai shouts, unhelpfully—though the concern in his voice reveal his comment was genuine.

Honestly, in a moment like this where Yeonjun's dignity has left him and his friends find fun in teasing him, that possibility isn't so off-putting.

Yeonjun rolls his eyes, adjusting his clothes as he finishes up, his face flushed with both embarrassment and frustration. "That'd be merciful," he mutters bitterly, though he knows it's the embarrassment speaking. He tugs his jacket into place, ready to meet up with his awaiting friends.

Yeonjun trudges back to the others, careful where he steps on the uneven ground. The mix of leaves, twigs and debris under his feet crackle and snap with every other step, signalling his return. Soobin and Beomgyu cheer, with the only reason being to embarrass Yeonjun further, and the older of the two wraps an arm around his shoulder.

"Long time no see, Yeonjun Hyung." Soobin grins with a glint of mischief in his eyes. Of course Soobin wouldn't give him a moment of redemption, that'd be too kind. Sure, he'll save him from embarrassing himself, only to betray him seconds later. Yeonjun eyerolls and mutters something unintelligible, poking his friend in the stomach as he pushes him away. Soobin laughs, clutching his stomach, lively and animated.

Yeonjun sends a warning glare over to his other friends, wondering when they'd lost respect for their eldest friend. Weren't elders meant to be respected? He can't think back to a moment when he was. These brats think he's an easy target.

He shakes his head, breaking into a grin.

He hates to admit it but they can be funny, though it's best that goes on unvoiced given their egos.

Beomgyu and Hueningkai decide not to join in on the teasing now that they're within arms reach and may face Yeonjun's irritation. However, the suppressed laughs and cheeky grins are a telltale sign that there's some bottled up comments they'd love to make his way.

"Zip it," Yeonjun mumbles through a frown, eyeing them both as he passes them.

The pair break out into laughter, turning their backs to Yeonjun like it magically conceals the noise and shushing each other. Hueningkai's high pitched laugh a loud and punctuated note in comparison to Beomgyu's more baritone chuckle.

"Should we head back now, Tae?" Yeonjun questions, tilting his head to see his friend's face better. Spaced out, Taehyun absentmindedly toes at a log that lies on the ground, rocking back and forth with each roll beneath his shoe and crushing plants under its weight.