10 DAYS | Taegyu

013

Taehyun got up quietly from his seat, the boys too immersed in their talking, he joined Hueningkai's side by the counter,

"One more hour to go, I'm exhausted already" Hueningkai panted with a heavy sigh, just like the drama queen he is, never failing to make Taehyun's half smile appear,

He wouldn't be a bad friend for sure.

Taehyun's mind has been busy with the young lad next to him, his hesitation long gone about befriending him, instead, he's now excited to get to know this brunette more, he has even started wondering what would their hangouts be like,

Same as with Beomgyu?

He's curious, about him, his hidden sides and everything,

But again, who was Taehyun to make the first move? If Hueningkai wanted to befriend him, he would have asked already, guess he was just being nice.

'He's nice to everyone, Including m-'

"Hey," now this did get Taehyun out of his thoughts,

"Which school do you go to? we seem around the same age."

"It's Seungri high school," Taehyun replied excitedly,

but Hueningkai didn't need to know that,

"Oh too bad, I'm a 'Kirin high' student, but it's fine friendships don't know distance" The lad wore a huge smile on his lips bumping the redhead's shoulder,

"F...fri.. friendships?"

"Yes! Aren't we friends already?"

Taehyun broke into his usual soft smile, nodding his head in approval, not minding the arm that had just wrapped itself around his shoulder,

"So, when were you born?"

"2002"

"WOAH!! I KNEW WE WERE THE SAME AGE!!"
It would be a lie to say that Taehyun didn't get startled by the male's (un)surprisingly loud voice, but he still found it cute,

"Which day? Which day? Which day?" Kai shook his shoulders, legs making tiny jumps of excitement,

"5th February"

Hueningkai stopped his previous movement and pouted with a glint of disappointment at his not-fully-Korean features,

"I'm on the 14th of August, here goes another hyung"

"No, it's alright" Hueningkai widened his eyes at the older, "Really?"

Taehyun hummed in response, that tiny node making its comeback again

"The gap isn't even that big, it'll be awkward for both of us, won't it?"

"I mean...if you say so..." Kai leaned his face closer to Taehyun's

"Taehyun" he continued satisfied with the older's given permission,

Taehyun was happy, he missed making friends, and this few-months younger lad just made him give up on his rules again.

Again,

Beomgyu was the first to do so,

In remembrance of his best friend, he averted his gaze to him, only to find him doing the same, staring at him and Hueningkai's wrapped hand around him,

'I need to tell him the news'

Taehyun was busy admitting his gratitude for the older mentally, he would have never opened up if not for him,

This thought was enough, he didn't need to notice Beomgyu's not-so-satisfied stare, definitely didn't need to see the older's eyebrows drawn together, nor his slightly clenched jaw.

_

"Taehyun, I'm heading back now, remember to lock the doors or we're screwed"

Hueningkai yelled from the entrance, his apron folded neatly in the staff room before dashing out of the cafe,

Taehyun was left there alone, not much to do, he only had to get his apron off and lock the doors well before leaving,

Beomgyu and his friends left nearly half an hour ago, so it was just him again, and his peaceful night walk, more like his favorite part of the day,

Taehyun secured the silver-colored keys in his pocket, but as he was heading towards his house, his eyes caught sight of a dark-haired sitting cross-legged on the...floor?

The male stood up hurriedly at the sight of the tiny figure next to him,

"You're here"

"Beomgyu hyung, what are you doing here?"

"I'm walking you home?" Beomgyu lifted his shoulders with his response, making Taehyun realize what kind of a dumb question he has just asked,

"Hyung, you can't" he started turning the older around, grabbing his shoulders,

"But Taehyun, I've been waiting here since Yeonjun and Soobin left, wouldn't it be rude if y-"

"Hyung you just can't" Taehyun's words came out harsher than he intended, he sighed lowering his head, there was a wave of guilt rushing through his body, but again, he had nothing to do about it,

He turned around in an attempt to leave, but felt his wrist being grabbed back,

"Am I not trustworthy enough?" Beomgyu mumbled in his breathy voice,

"Hyung it's..."

"Have I not gained your trust yet, Tyun?"

Taehyun felt bad hearing these words coming out of the older's throat,

'It's not like that'

And just like always, Taehyun could only answer in his head, never loud for others to hear,

"I know everything about you being anxious, your worries, your fears, I can feel them all, Tyun" The grip on Taehyun's wrist loosened before sensing a hand holding his,

The smooth milky skin in contact with his own, the slender long fingers wrapped around his small tiny palm, he can recognize this hand everywhere, even when surrounded by a surging crowd, Taehyun can recognize this touch,

This was just how much Beomgyu meant to him,

But just how will he be able to tell him?

"I don't know about other people, but I, Choi Beomgyu, wouldn't care less about whatever cramped, antiquated, dull house you're living in, nor your low-income neighborhood and so on, I am here for you, the person that I befriended and couldn't help but love more as I got to know you better, you're my best friend, with your fears, with your anxiety, with your insecurities"

"You're still all that I want"

But again,

Beomgyu's eyes were windows to Taehyun's soul, He was never in need to be told,

he understands him too well,

When scared,

When satisfied,

When hesitant,

When excited,

Even when Taehyun's burying his face in his chest right now, the way he pats the younger's soft locks screams louder than any unsaid word.

__________________________
03/07/2023.