like never before | beomkai

13 | the bus

_______________

Social media was still a miss for Kai. He lurks but barely interacts. Besides DMs, it's like he's not even there.

So, Soobin was quite surprised when he saw the PolSci major scrolling through his feed after an hour of studying. Out of fun and endearment, Kai was allowed to make his Unicorn Frappe on his own, and now he sips on the drink as his fingers cascade on his phone screen.

"I thought I was dreaming when you liked the post I tagged you in before," Soobin mumbled, and Kai rolled his eyes in a playful manner. It was no secret that Kai became a frequent face in Soobin and Yeonjun's accounts, but he didn't appreciate the ugly SNS stories they put up for entertainment.

Kai snorts. "You posted that sleeping picture you promised not to post."

"It was cute! Even my followers thought so. They kept asking for your name."

"And what did you tell them?"

"Huening Kai from Political Science, Class 1."

"I'll sue you if I get abducted. I swear to God, hyung."

Soobin winked. "Hyung will protect you, Hueningie."

Soobin can't even hurt a fly with those big ass hands, Kai snickers in his thought. He only agreed with a defeated smile.

They're in the cafe, at a similar time from the days before. Yeonjun and Taehyun fell asleep, high on hot chocolate. Soobin and Kai on the other hand are busy with their readings and rest times.

It was Kai's favorite part of the day, studying in a familiar place. Unlike the library, he felt less pressured in the cafe he worked in for weeks prior college. Soobin's mom, the one currently handling the cafe, gives them free treats despite their protest. It was cute seeing Soobin whine like a child whenever she kisses his cheek as a greeting.

choi.beomgyu: hyuka, are you in the cafe with the others?

The only person missing messaged Kai out of the blue. The last time he saw Beomgyu was a few days ago, when he was still studying in the library. He heard a couple of times from Yeonjun that Beomgyu kept canceling on them for extracurricular activities.

hueningkai: yup. are you coming, hyung?

Seen.

Rude.

"Beomgyu hyung's on his way—I think?" Kai announced even though Soobin was the only one awake to hear.

"After two hours? He's been flaking since last week because of club meetings."

Kai was about to respond with an agreement, but the vivid memory of seeing Beomgyu with his new friend in the library flashed before him. She's probably part of the small group Beomgyu sticks to if he's been spending so much time with her than—dare he say—them now.

"As if," He whispered, so Soobin wouldn't hear. It's unlikely that it's the club meetings keeping him busy so much.

Like on cue, his alarm went off, making Yeonjun and Taehyun jolt from the vibration on the table. They both groaned when they realized what it was in the form of Kai standing up to fix his things.

It was time for him to leave; 7:50pm.

His bus arrives at 8pm, and he doesn't want to miss it.

"Bye, best friend," Taehyun mindlessly said, still half asleep. Poor boy, tired from classes and studying. Although Kai was convinced that Taehyun was born smart, the high marks he gets in his records is no walk in a park. Behind parties and swimming pools in old high schools, Taehyun studied his ass to get into such a prestigious school.

Kai hugged him goodbye and sent the older two a kiss in the air.

Then, he left to catch a bus he would cry to miss.

_______________

On his way home, his phone buzzed. Once again tearing his attention away from the nothingness he found calming.

choi.beomgyu: you left without waiting for me >:(

Kai smiled and decided to reply with a sad face before focusing on the moving world in the bus again.