ℙ𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝔾𝕣𝕖𝕪 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕, Beomjun

021

Yeonjun stares out at the lake, breathing in the salty air and listening to the soft lapping of waves. His nose scrunches. He wears an uncertain look on his face, features twisted with hesitation. It's clear something's on his mind, making him worry.

"Y'know, when we said about doing this, I thought there would be a guide..." Yeonjun comments out to whoever will listen, hands on his hips.

He sighs, watching the others scramble around their canoes, delegating responsibilities. He's never been canoeing before, and quite frankly, he's scared of the idea.

At first, it'd seemed like an exciting opportunity, adrenaline rushing to his heart and eyes widening with excitement. That was when he hadn't picked through the details. Now that he has, he's thrown by the lack of an expert to lead them and stray them for danger. What if something happens? He doesn't know what to do in a situation he hasn't been in before and he can't promise he'll make the right choices under the pressure and panic. And it's not only his safety at risk.

Beomgyu lifts his head from where he's stood with one foot pinning the canoe in spot, a paddle stick in hand that he holds like a cane. "Don't worry, you're with me, Hyung." Beomgyu smiles at him, the sun shadowing it from how it shines around his silhouette.

Yeonjun huffs, nerves running through his body and causing him to bounce on the spot. "That doesn't make me feel any better..." he mumbles through a pout, glancing at the other three.

They struggle to keep their canoe at bay before they're even in it. As Hueningkai steps in it, it starts to float off and he yells, loud and chaotic. Taehyun and Soobin are no help, using their paddle sticks to try and pull the canoe back to shore but putting no real effort or strength into it. They're hopeless. The water is shallow enough for Hueningkai to step into it and have the water barely reach his ankles, however Yeonjun isn't surprised he opts for dramatic screaming instead.

Beomgyu puffs out a laugh, approaching Yeonjun. The gravel shifts underneath his feet, it's crunching interrupting the soft rhythm provided by the sea. "I've been canoeing loads of times... you'll be fine, trust me."

"Since when?" Yeonjun frowns, curiosity in the knit of his brows.

"My parents used to take me and my brother when we were younger," Beomgyu explains, a smile on his face at the memory. "Seriously, Hyung, we'll be okay... Just trust me," Beomgyu coaxes, hand slipping into Yeonjun's and he leads him to the canoe.

Yeonjun hesitates at the edge of the canoe, watching as Beomgyu confidently steps into it, pressing his paddle stick down in the clear water to steady himself. The canoe gives a hollow thump for every step he takes, but stays relatively within the same place, unlike the other group's first few attempts.

When Yeonjun glances over to see how the others are getting on, he finds that Hueningkai and Soobin are situated in the canoe and Taehyun is checking on them, seeing if they're ready to take off.

"See, even they're getting it now." Beomgyu chuckles. Yeonjun glances at him to find he's now sitting, body twisted round so that he can face Yeonjun. A light-hearted smile and soft eyes on his face. "I promise I won't let anything happen to you, Hyung."

Yeonjun frowns, deciding to be brave. "Aren't I the one that's meant to say that to you?" he questions, stepping into the canoe. It sways a little under his shaky step but Beomgyu does his best to keep it in place.

The younger chuckles, facing forward when Yeonjun is sitting comfortably. "Aren't we meant to look after each other?"

"I suppose," Yeonjun mutters, grabbing the paddle stick in front of his seat. Beomgyu chuckles at him, guiding them away from the shore with a little push. The small waves lap against the hull and the water darkens the further away from land they get until Yeonjun can no longer see below the surface.