𝘓𝘢𝘣𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘩 ༄

chapter 7

So hey, let's be friends
I'm dying to see how this one ends
_____________

I arrived at the meeting place at exactly twelve noon. He was not there, as I expected. What I did not anticipate was for the place to be empty. The blinds of the shop are pulled down. Even the baristas in the counter are no where to be found.

I should have seen it coming though. The mysterious guard standing outside the shop looked absolutely terrifying.

If the shop is secluded, then were is he?

"Beomgyu told me he'll be here in a few minutes," a familiar voice said coming from the entrance door.

His hair that was once in the shade of earth's surface was now dark— jet black. It complements his eye color. I smile upon seeing a familiar face. "Taehyun!" I greet.

"Long time, no see, Shin." He pulls me into a quick hug, and observes me as I smile ear to ear.

His demeanor has not changed. He did mature, but if you have known him for long, you know that youth never left the man, that is much unlike his best friend, who seem gloomy off camera. The Beom that everyone knows shines brightly like the constellations in the sky, but off stage he is as dull as the gray sky, that everyone looks out for in case it burts a disastrous storm.

"Congratulations on your engagement," he tells me.

That reminded me of Soobin, who promised to pick me up in this very location at 2:00 PM.

"Thank you," I replied. "What brings you here?"

"Oh. I'm tasked to do your food and beverages today along with Yeonjun, who pleaded me to come because he doesn't want to stay for your 'boring' conversation."

Oh. Of course Yeonjun would expect that.

"Yeonjun's smart with that. I don't think Beomgyu and I would discuss interesting topics anyway—"

"Like the past?" Taehyun interrupts. He knows to himself that he shouldn't, but obviously, his mouth betrayed him.

"Something that definitely we should move on from, right Ryujin?" I look at the person who spoke behind Taehyun, and the star reveals himself.

"So much for being punctual?" I ask, hinting sarcasm, of course.

"People usually wait for me, and maybe that includes you," Beomgyu says, taking the seat nearest to where I am standing. Since when did the guy sounded so boastful?

I take the seat across where Beomgyu is. "Do not include me with your 'people' because I am the kind who has better things to do than talk to a man full of himself."

I hear Taehyun chuckle, slapping someone near him. "You told me this is going to be boring," he whispers, but all of us heard what he said.

"I can be wrong sometimes," Yeonjun replies and the two proceeded to take our orders.

It is extremely embrassing to let an old friend do tasks for you, but Beomgyu seemed used to it. Is he a king? Clearly he's not, but he's acting like one.