The Choi Brothers

🍵Chapter 9🍵

Later that night, Beomgyu was engrossed in his homework on Vehicle Dynamics. The room was quiet except for the scratching of his pen against paper. Suddenly, a knock on the door broke his concentration. He responded with a distracted "Hmm?" before catching a whiff of Tom Ford Noir Extreme cologne. Recognizing the scent, he knew it was his eldest Hyung.

Yeonjun entered, his presence commanding as always. He walked over and stood behind Beomgyu, placing a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder. "Degrees of Freedom?" he asked, glancing at the notes scattered across the desk on the concept of Vehicle Dynamics.

Beomgyu nodded, not looking up. "Yeah, I've chosen Vehicle Dynamics as my individual project assignment for the first year."

"Must be a lot of work," Yeonjun said, nodded approvingly. "When's the submission?"

"In a month." Beomgyu replied. "I've already written the sections on the Introduction, The Tire and Its Importance, Axis Systems, Vertical Mechanics, and Loads and Moments. Just a few more topics and some drawings left. I should be fine. There's still plenty of time."

Yeonjun couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Despite Beomgyu's reputation as a prankster and troublemaker, he was diligent and responsible in his studies, always scoring well. Yeonjun ruffled Beomgyu's hair affectionately.

Soon he eyed the ladder propped up in the corner of Beomgyu's room. "So, about that ladder," he said, his tone making it clear he wasn't just making casual conversation. "I'll take it now."

Beomgyu sighed, knowing this conversation was inevitable. "Hyung, do you really have to take it away? I promise I won't sneak out again."

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow. "You said that last time, remember? And the time before that?"

Beomgyu looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, maybe I have a track record, but I mean it this time."

Yeonjun chuckled. "Sure you do. But rules are rules. You know Mom and Dad wouldn't be happy if they found out about your escapades."

Beomgyu huffed. "Fine. But you and Soobin Hyung aren't exactly saints either."

Yeonjun smirked. "True, and that's exactly why I'm just confiscating your ladder and not grounding you or something worse. Mom and Dad don't need to know everything."

He paused, looking at Beomgyu with a mix of fondness and sternness. "I'm taking the ladder for now. If you can show some restraint and maybe prove you've learned something from this, you might get it back."

Beomgyu pouted but nodded reluctantly. "Alright, Hyung."

Yeonjun ruffled his hair again. "Good. Now, get back to those Degrees of Freedom. You're doing great."

As Yeonjun was about to leave, Beomgyu called out, "Hyung, how long will I have to wait to get the ladder back?"

Yeonjun paused at the door, turning back with a thoughtful expression. "Let's see how you do over the next few weeks. If you keep your nose clean and stay focused on your studies, you might get it back sooner. But if you slip up, it might be a while."

Beomgyu groaned. "That's so vague."

Yeonjun shrugged. "You brought it on yourself—"

"—by looking like a disco ball," Soobin chimed in, appearing in the doorway with his signature sarcasm.

Yeonjun flinched, looking at Soobin with surprise. "Where'd you come from?"

Soobin shrugged nonchalantly. "Downstairs. I went to fill my water bottle for the night. Of course, I didn't just materialize out of thin air."