WEAK SPOT [YEONBIN]

✃51✁

"Yeonjun."

The words fall from Soobin's lips, and his feet stop, stuck to the ground before he can even rationalize what he's even doing.

Yeonjun looks back at him, steps slowing. They are right there, less than five feet away from Yeonjun's team. But Soobin can't walk any further. He has never approached Yeonjun's Football team in its entirety, and no way did he think he'd ever be at Yeonjun's side doing so either.

So casual, as if it were almost natural. But there is nothing natural about the way the footballers all smile, the way they look at Soobin with an unwavering gaze. Except for Taehyun. The boy's lip is between his teeth, and brows furrowed.

Soobin knows Yeonjun can sense it. Maybe "sense" isn't the right word. But he knows the older can tell the difference between genuine and disingenuous smiles. He knows Yeonjun has studied it before. But Soobin is unsure whether or not Yeonjun has experienced being the victim of such a gaze that scrutinizes them now.

"I forgot something. I'll be back," Soobin says, loud enough for the others to hear. Yeonjun's eyes hold Soobin's gaze, perhaps a beat too long, seconds feeling like minutes to Soobin. He wonders if the others notice.

Finally, "Text me," Yeonjun says under his breath. Soobin gives him a curt nod before turning away. Yeonjun pauses for a moment, watching Soobin's fleeting figure before straightening his posture and facing the group behind him.

He walks up to them in sure strides, his smile wide, a charming sparkle in his eyes.

"It better not fucking rain during our game," Yeonjun laughs, as he pats one of his teammates a little too hard on the back.

✃✁

Soobin's on his phone, tracking Beomgyu. The last he's heard from the boy was a text he received 28 minutes ago, stating:

"Soobster. Sorry. headingto school on my own. I know we always go together
:( there's something need to take care of."

It was, for lack of a better word, a bizarre text from Beomgyu.

He notices there's a text from Taehyun too that he missed.

"Are you coming today?"

Soobin opts for texting Beomgyu instead, as Taehyun had just seen him. That should be answer enough. But the anxiety Soobin feels only grows. Taehyun didn't look too happy to see me.

But before Soobin can overanalyze his past interactions with Taehyun, something catches his eye.

Past a group of kids potato sack racing, over a grassy hill, he sees a familiar figure.

Beomgyu.

Talking heatedly with someone. A girl.

Maybe the girl from his dance class? Soobin squints his eyes, walking around the individuals playing games, and he notices that there's no bright red hair in his vision- or anyone of familiarity. Instead-

She's blonde.

And Beomgyu looks like he's nearly about to fall to the floor, on his knees before her. Soobin pauses, eyes wide. Beomgyu tugs at the girl's blue sweater sleeve, face scrunched up in distress.

Soobin pauses. Realizing that this is, in fact, familiar.

I know her.

Suddenly, Soobin's running. He runs and runs, far away enough that he can still see the other kids in the distance but far away enough that the music and chatter are dulled.