Mixed Up | Yeonbin

12. awakening

Soobin found himself sat his friend's bed.

Taehyun and Beomgyu were sat at the bed across him, Beomgyu leaning on Taehyun's chest while the younger played with his hair.

"I have a question," Soobin suddenly spoke, phone in his hand as a random short video was playing on repeat.

The two boys turned their heads towards the blue-haired boy.

"Go on," Taehyun looked at Soobin curiously, the tall boy was absentmindedly staring at the edge of the bed.

Soobin gulped before actually continuing, "How... did you guys find out you—" Soobin felt his throat closed up as he turned to the two boys.

He could feel his face heating up and he was a little bit scared that he might came off in a wrong way.

"How do I say this— how did you know... like— uh..." Soobin fiddled with his phone case. He shut his eyes as he sighed frustratedly.

Taehyun and Beomgyu just waited patiently, confused why Soobin is so flustered.

"How did you guys found out you like men?" Soobin blurted out, not finding any courage to actually see the two boys.

Taehyun and Beomgyu exchanged a glance, they chuckled as they silently agree on how to approach the conversation. Beomgyu was the first to speak up.

"Well, for me... it wasn't that complicated, I guess," Beomgyu began, his fingers still threading through Taehyun's hair. "I kind of figured it out in early high school. I mean, I wasn't really into girls—most of them were just, I don't know, not my type. They were more interested in drama, and I found myself staring at the guys on the sports teams instead." He shrugged, a hint of nostalgia in his tone. "It was weird at first, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense."

Soobin listened intently, absorbing every word. His mind was racing, trying to connect the dots in his own experience.

He'd always known he was different, but he'd never really put a label on it. Hearing Beomgyu's story made him wonder if his own feelings toward Yeonjun were something more than just admiration or friendship.

Beomgyu paused, giving Taehyun a gentle nudge. "What about you? When did you figure it out?"

Taehyun smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at Beomgyu. "Honestly? You were my... gay awakening?" he admitted. "I'd never really thought about it before. I didn't have a specific 'aha' moment in high school like you did. But when I met you, everything just... clicked. I couldn't stop thinking about you. So I guess... that's when I knew."

Soobin felt a strange mix of emotions—relief, curiosity, and an undercurrent of anxiety. He'd never allowed himself to fully explore these feelings, but hearing Taehyun and Beomgyu talk so openly made him feel like he wasn't alone.

"So why did you ask, Soobin?" Taehyun asked, his tone gentle. "Trying to figure something out?"

Soobin hesitated, his thoughts swirling. "I'm... I'm not sure," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've always felt different, but I didn't really question it until recently."

Beomgyu nodded understandingly. "It's okay to take your time. Everyone's journey is different."

A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he leaned forward slightly, mischief dancing in his eyes.

"So, Soobin..." Beomgyu began, his voice laced with playful suspicion. "You've got us all curious now. Who's this boy that's got you all flustered?"

Soobin's eyes widened, and his heart skipped a beat. "W-what? No, it's not like that!" he stammered, his cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. He fumbled with his phone, suddenly hyper-aware of how close Beomgyu and Taehyun were, both of them grinning at him like they'd just uncovered a juicy secret.

"Oh, come on," Beomgyu pressed, his grin widening. "You're blushing! There's definitely someone on your mind. Spill it, Soobin, we won't judge."

Taehyun chuckled, nudging Beomgyu lightly. "Don't scare him off, Gyu. He'll tell us when he's ready."

Soobin forced a laugh, trying to play it off as nothing. "There's no one, really," he insisted, though the way his voice wavered made it less than convincing. "I'm just... still figuring things out."

Beomgyu raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it, but he let it go. "Alright, alright," he relented, though his tone was still teasing. "But when you do figure it out, we better be the first to know."

Soobin nodded, grateful for the slight shift in the conversation. "Sure, you guys will be the first," he said, though his mind was already wandering back to the one person who'd been occupying his thoughts more and more lately—

Yeonjun.

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a.n.

You know full well Beomgyu would just sit beside the school court and just stared at the basketball/football 'practice' for hours on end.