Promise Me ➳ Taebin ✔

11. Hyung, I Can't Breathe

"Happy birthday to me!" Beomgyu exclaimed before taking a picture with the other four. ^^

Soobin smiled while looking at that picture. They were all sitting in Taehyun's room, trying to stay calm even though a tornado was currently in the city.

That picture was from the morning of Beomgyu's most recent birthday.

The day of the accident.

"I got bread, jelly, and peanut butter," his mom said, coming back in with more food and plates.

She was scared too. Her husband was stuck at work while they were all sitting here waiting it out.

They were all tired, Soobin now laying next to Taehyun, trying to fall asleep. But Beomgyu, being a nervous person, started hyperventilating when the radio said the tornado was in Hannam Dong.

"Beomgyu, it's okay. We're not in Hannam Dong," Yeonjun said, trying to comfort him.

"B-but we're close."

"It'll be okay."

Beomgyu shook his head frantically.

"Hyung, I can't breathe!" He cried, closing his eyes and trembling harshly.

"You're having a panic attack. You just need to breathe. Try to stabilize your breath for me, okay?" Beomgyu nodded and took a deep breath after doing so, squeezing Yeonjun's hands tightly. "Remember where you are, okay? You're just in Taehyunie's room. We're all here. Taehyun is here. Hyuka and Soobin are here. I'm here. We're all okay."

"B-but Taehyun's not okay," he started panicking again and Yeonjun shook his head.

"No, Taehyun is fine. Just focus Beomgyu," he said sternly, noticing the boy continuously rubbing his feet on the carpet. "Focus on me, okay?" Beomgyu opened his eyes and looked at Yeonjun, taking a deep breath and squeezing his hands again. "That's it. Imagine we're all at the pool. You remember the day at the pool? When you pushed me off the diving board?"

"Y-you chased me afterwards."

"Yeah. And who saved you?"

"Hyuka. Because he's my best friend."

"Yeah. Hyuka's here right now. He's here, so you're safe, right?"

"Mhm," he nodded softly, taking deep breaths as his body started calming down a little bit.

"It's just a little storm. Nothing can hurt Beomgyu. Not even Yeonjun," he smiled, leaning in to gently hug the boy. He placed his hands over Beomgyu's ears so he wouldn't hear the storm and he kissed the top of his head.

Soobin and Kai both stared at them with wide eyes.

"How did you stop a panic attack so easily?" Soobin asked.

"I've helped him through them a lot. Like when his dog passed away. He gets panic attacks regularly because of things that remind him of her."

Soobin frowned at the reminder of what happened and nodded, going back to laying his head on Taehyun's chest. The storm soon started dying down and Taehyun's mom looked outside, seeing the houses across the street torn apart.

"Oh my God," she whispered, placing her hand over her mouth.

"Come on guys, we should go help," Kai said and Yeonjun ran out. "Are you okay Hyung?" He asked, crouching down next to Beomgyu.

"Yeah... thank you Hyuka," he smiled softly. "Can I stay stay in here with Soobin and Taehyun for a little bit?"

"Yeah. Just rest." He ruffled Beomgyu's hair before standing up and leaving with Yeonjun and Mrs. Kang.

Beomgyu stood up from the floor and looked out the window, biting his lip and turning to face Taehyun.

"If the tornado hit us, what would we have done?" He asked.

Soobin shivered at the thought and hugged Taehyun tighter, wanting to cry out of relief that they were okay.

That Taehyun was okay.