𝙁𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙉𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 ᵀˣᵀ

✮

It was a soft and warm late afternoon in June. The sun was shining brightly, warming the caramel skin of the young dark-haired boy. Yeonjun, with his head resting on Beomgyu's lap, watched his three other friends playing and laughing loudly in the distance. They were enjoying the present moments as best as they could.

With his eyes still fixed on his friends, Yeonjun felt a pang in his heart, knowing that all this carefree joy would eventually fade away. And that was what he dreaded the most. If there was one thing that frightened Yeonjun, it was the thought of having to say goodbye to his youth because of the obligation to become an adult.

Yet, this was already the case for Soobin and him. According to the law, they were both of legal age. But unlike the tall blond, Yeonjun refused to admit it. To accept it.

He felt as if he were in free fall, losing control of everything. Losing his footing. Time was passing against his will, and nostalgia was overtaking him. Yeonjun knew that he would have to become responsible sooner or later, but he didn't think it would happen so quickly. He didn't want to become a grown-up in society's eyes. Because being an adult meant responsibilities, but above all, it meant having to think about the future. And that was something that frightened the young man even more.

The Korean boy hated having to think about this perspective of "moving forward." You never knew in advance what surprises it could hold. He simply wasn't ready to accept this truth. All because he was afraid of being thrown into a world where he would have no bearings, a world where he would have to give up everything and constantly think about the future. A world where he would be forced into an endless routine. At least until his death. Becoming an adult was too rushed and too terrifying for him.

He admired Soobin. Because he wasn't afraid of moving forward; on the contrary, he seemed excited about what the future held for him. At least, that's the impression he gave. The tall blond accepted his fate with the utmost calm. And just for that, Yeonjun admired him.

He felt useless next to him. Not just next to him, but next to all his friends. They all had plans for the future, ambitions, dreams, duties, and desires to fulfill. Then there was him. Choi Yeonjun. Without desires, without ambitions, without dreams, without talents, and without any particular project. The only thing he knew how to do was to flee from reality as best as he could. He felt incapable and pulled in all directions. It was too much for him.

Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, he could no longer hold back his tears. They ran down his face before falling onto Beomgyu's lap.

Alarmed by the slight trembling of the dark-haired boy and the drops of water landing on his thighs, Beomgyu decided to gently and reassuringly run his hand through Yeonjun's jet-black hair several times. He smiled kindly, struggling to hide his worry.

Noticing that the dark-haired boy was finally calming down after ten long minutes -of pure distress for the younger one, who didn't know how to handle it - Beomgyu sighed in relief and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. A kiss that could easily replace a bunch of comforting words.

Knowing that Beomgyu wasn't very good with words, Yeonjun smiled at this gesture that meant so much. He wiped his still-wet eyes, sat up properly, and hugged Beomgyu, thanking him. They both smiled even more brightly.

Huening Kai, who had seen everything from afar, left Soobin and Taehyun to join his two friends. Without a word, he sat next to Yeonjun and offered gentle pats on his lower back. Yeonjun then rested his head on Kai's shoulder, sniffling a bit after his crying fit. Gestures spoke for themselves, and there was no need for words, creating a rather pleasant silence.

However, the silence seemed too loud, too oppressive, and increasingly worrying for Yeonjun, who took the initiative to break it before doubts and uncertainties overwhelmed him again.