who are you? || taegyu || completed

~the third question~

Don't worry things will start to happen soon tehe
Also double update uwu
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When the four boys joined Beomgyu again for their lunch period, he was working on some unfinished homework from the night before, due to the fact that he had basically passed out on his bed after only finishing two subjects. When the boy looked up to greet them with a smile and wave he took special notice of Taehyun's small frown and dazed look.

"Beomgyu!" Yeonjun called, collapsing into his normal seat beside the younger. "Did you not finish your homework last night?" The addressed just shook his head, finishing up the last music comp question before putting it away and pulling out his English notebook.

"I fell asleep early last night and forgot to finish like half of my worksheets."

"Ah, I see," the older boy responded before pulling out his own music comp book. He turned towards his friend and flashed a pleading look, sticking his lip out in a pout. "Can I use it then, because I didn't finish it either." Beomgyu scoffed but pulled his answers out nonetheless.

"Aren't you mister good at everything and straight a's?" he murmured, earning an eye roll from the older.

"Shut up," Yeonjun murmured, nudging him lightly in the shoulder. "I didn't have time." Beomgyu just chuckled and nodded, focusing his attention back on English. After a few silent moments, he looked up, confused, at the rest of the group who seemed unusually quiet. Taehyung sat in front of him with his hands folded over the table and a permanent frown set on his lips, his eyebrows knitted together as he stared into nothing. Kai was, like Yeonjun and himself, rushing through his math homework in a slight panic, his tongue sticking over his lip in concentration as he worked each problem. And to Yeonjun's left sat Soobin, who had his phone pulled out and was watching something with his earphones plugged in.

Turning back to Taehyun, Beomgyu watched him for a second, slightly concerned, before tapping his desk, gaining the younger's attention. "You good?" he asked quietly, as to not disturb the peace that had fallen over their table. The younger looked a bit surprised at his concern but soon let a small smile replace his downturned lips. He nodded before leaning closer to the older boy, also in an attempt to keep his voice down.

"Yes, just thinking," he whispered back.

"About what?" Taehyung smiled a bit more. He didn't really know why his heart fluttered so much at the question, but seeing his hyung genuinely care for him made him a little too happy to be normal. The usually silent boy's eyes rested on him, his attention undivided and devoted to the younger in front of him and Taehyun couldn't help but feel comfortable yet nervous under that gaze. Beomgyu, in his oversized t-shirt covered by a large cardigan and topped with a choker, looked absolutely stunning and it was hard for the younger not to get lost in his beauty.

"The artist's identity," he stated after a small lapse of silence. Beomgyu's eyes lit up at that and leaned closer, leaning his face on his hand as he stared at the younger.

"Oh?"

"Yes. You know I really do wonder who it is," Taehyung muttered, playing with his fingers.

"I thought you knew who it was?" Beomgyu asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I thought I did too. But I guess that has changed a little bit. My suspicions aren't completely wiped but they are a lot less sure than they were before."

"Oh. Well, you'll figure it out soon one way or the other," Beomgyu murmured back, offering a small smile in comfort before sitting back to focus on his studies.

As he copied some notes from the textbook, the older couldn't help but feel relieved once again. He knew that once the younger figured out it was him all along he might be hurt, but Beomgyu wasn't prepared to have his eyes on him. Wasn't ready for the attention the knowledge of his identity would bring.

"Say, Beomgyu hyung?" Taehyun's voice cut through the older's focus and he glanced up from his notebook in acknowledgment, waiting silently for the younger to continue. "Can I ask you something?" Beomgyu sat up straighter, capping his pen, and twirling it between his fingers.

"Sure, what's up?" he responded, his full attention now captured by the boy in front of him.

"When you do your art, what's more important, the process or the product?" Beomgyu cocked his head in thought. He recognized the question from a piece of their conversations last night, and yet he felt the truth was important in this situation, not to mention it was a fifty, fifty answer so the 'unknown artist' wouldn't be the only one with a certain opinion.

"You really like these art questions don't you," he teased, grinning when a bright blush spread across Taehyun's face. "Anyways, um," he hesitated, "I'd say the process."

"Why?"

He chuckled a bit, placing his pen down on the table and running a hand through his hair, missing when Taehyun's eyes followed the movement. "I'd say it's like the saying where the journey is more important than the destination. Through your painting or drawing or whatever you are doing, you are growing and developing the image in layers. It's like the character development in a story and the image grows with you. The ending product is important, yes, but making the art. Spinning your own message and insight into the strokes, that is what makes the piece. The final product is just the gift for finishing it," he finished, nodding to himself. Beomgyu glanced back up to see the whole group was staring at him and he felt his face grow red. "I- I mean that's my op-opinion, I was j-just saying-"

"You know hyung, I think you hide a lot of wisdom in that head of yours," Taehyung interrupted, flashing the boy a small smile. Beomgyu blushed before smiling gently at the younger, once again lowering his head to focus on his notebook. He couldn't help but wonder if he built Taehyun's suspicions on him but from what he gathered by Taehyun's expression, it was neither built nor destroyed.

"I also feel as if you and the artist have a lot in common," Taehyun murmured, earning questioning glances from the rest of the group with the exception of a slightly concerned Yeonjun and a panicked Beomgyu. The artist tried to keep his composure as he slowly looked up towards the younger. Taehyun met his eyes with his piercing gaze, rendering the older boy incapable of looking away. Stay calm, keep your head. Think.

Beomgyu cleared his throat before, once again setting his pen down and sitting back in his chair, his body now fully turned towards the younger. "I'm honestly not surprised. I gather you are learning this from the notes you two are communicating through?" Taehyun nodded in affirmation, his eyes narrowed. "Honestly, I feel as if artists all have similar opinions on their work, though some are more different than others. Although I haven't personally written the guy a note, I'm fully aware of his responses to other questions and such. I'd say we have some things in common, although he does seem a lot more confident in his work than I am, which is a thing that I can admire."

He wasn't lying when he said this either. Beomgyu noticed when he became this artist hidden behind an anonymous mask, he grew in confidence and pride, unlike his alter ego who appeared to be buried in self-doubt and insecurity. Although he knew this mysterious artist's side of him was actually part of him, it just always hid away a bit more.

"I think that I respect him a great deal," Beomgyu continued, nodding his head in thought. He felt four pairs of eyes on him and he couldn't help but glance around the group. Yeonjun's eyes were burning into the side of his head, his expression neutral but his eyes in shock. He was well aware his best friend was not lying when he said these words. Soobin and Kai were simply listening with interest while Taehyun had more of a resolute expression across his face and his shoulders seemed a lot more relaxed than they had when he spoke earlier. He cast a sheepish smile at the older and nodded his head.

"There's a lot to admire. Although I do believe you should have confidence in your own work." Beomgyu just chuckled, acknowledging the comment before returning his attention to his homework. Maybe, just maybe, he destroyed Taehyun's suspicions and he couldn't help but feel relieved.