Clique (txtXitzy)

9. Day 21

"HYUNG I GIVE UP OKAY?" Beomgyu bellowed back. "WE JUST DID A COMEBACK MATCH FOR THE JAPANESE FANS AND YOU STILL EXPECT ME TO GET 100 POINTS FOR MY FIRST ENGLISH QUIZ? WHAT THE HELL HYUNG?"

"Yeonjun-hyung, 98 is not good enough?" Kai asked, scratching his chin. He had the test paper in his hand, holding on to the pole inside the bus with his other one, and he was observing the results completely mind-blown.

"He needs 100 points so that Dispatch doesn't chase Hitman Bang off a cliff," Taehyun whispered an answer for him so that Yeonjun didn't have to yell at the innocent baby as well, "I got an 89, but I'm okay because I'm already in the higher level."

"Okay, I see," Kai nodded, whispering back so that Beom and Yeonjerry didn't have to drag him into the argument. He was in all honesty extremely hurt that they always had to fight because of their work. It had so many ups and downs, for example being able to earn a generous living out of doing his hobby but also jumping through hoops to avoid anything that might ruin or stain their image. The K-netz think very highly of the athletes' reputation which must at all costs stay clean for the fans and the public. That includes being able to complete every match without looking a single nanosecond ugly or stiff or nervous, finishing their studies at school as kind and friendly class-topping ulzzangs*, wearing outfits that always look good, not getting inspiration from other athletes (because that would be 'impersonating'), not being seen somewhere or doing something foolish, and so much more it could make your head spin. It's easy, like riding a bicycle but everything is on fire because you're in hell. No, it was not easy at all because it's downright torture.

*ulzzang = the best face of the school, a term used among Korean students/people to name people with the most visually-pleasing features.

"Beomgyu, I have very high expectations from you because I know you're the most capable among us. And yes, I did expect you to get a 100 on your first English quiz because you also get private English class at the academy Suga-sunbae went to. It was two fucking points away to 100, Beomgyu. All because of that one missing capital letter for Nike in your essay," Yeonjun lectured, stomping away as much of his desire to shout at Beomgyu into the dump of emotions in his heart while displaying a forced patient face. "And because the sooner you level up and avoid Dispatch, the better."

"Hyung, what if I don't wanna level up?" Beomgyu asked him, cooling off moderately enough to talk like a normal person, "It takes too much responsibility and I would rather just have fun in my school years while I still have them than shorten my lifespan by a decade from stress. I had enough pressure, please?"

Yeonjun blinked. Then he lunged at Beomgyu like a Tom when seeing a Jerry, saying: "Chugoshippo?"

"Yeonjun, that's enough," Suga yawned and nudged his junior with his elbow. They were all inside one of BigHit's buses, heading to an appointment for the BigHit family photoshoot of 2021, already leaving early to be able to match everybody's training schedules. "It's okay to get disappointed as the oldest hyung of TXT, but this is kind of overboard."

They probably didn't hear them or something.

"Jimin-ah, he only listens to you, so can you tell him?" Suga pleaded Yeonjun's BTS bias. Jimin broke into a smiled that looked like an 'I got this, don't worry'.

Everyone in the artist bus half-pitied Beomgyu but also half-enjoyed the show. The Enhypen babies were just scared of Yeonjun while watching like it's a blockbuster movie.

Jimin stepped in and said, "Yeonj—"

"YES!" Beomgyu snapped, raising his voice again, "Actually, I would rather be dead than live only to fulfil other peop—."