Mixed Up | Yeonbin

19. crowded room

a.n.

I was listening to "Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd and Ariana Grande as I wrote this chapter ✋😔 I suggest you do the same as you read it

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Soobin found himself standing at the entrance of a club. A freaking club. The loud bass thumped through the floor, and neon lights flickered in sync with the music, casting an almost surreal glow over the crowd.

This was so not his scene.

Soobin, the guy who grew up in a conservative home where drinking was frowned upon, much less clubbing. The guy whose first actual party was barely a year ago when Yeonjun had asked if he wanted to tag along. That day, the day he started feeling something more for Yeonjun, something he couldn't quite name at the time.

But now, here he was, trying to shake those thoughts out of his head. He wasn't here to think about Yeonjun. He was here to forget about him. Just for tonight. He wanted to let loose, stop thinking so much.

Before he could even process where to start, a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist, pulling him away from the bar and towards the dance floor. He looked up to see Hyunjin, smiling like a Cheshire cat.

"Soobin! Come on, dance with me!" Hyunjin's voice barely carried over the thumping music, but his intentions were clear.

"Hyunjin, I don't think I—" Soobin started, but Hyunjin just rolled his eyes, not taking no for an answer.

"Don't think. Just dance!" Hyunjin pulled him closer, his energy infectious.

Soobin stumbled a bit as Hyunjin guided him into the middle of the dance floor, the crowd swallowing them up. The beat was heavy, pulsing through his veins, and at first, Soobin felt awkward, stiff even. He wasn't exactly known for his dance moves.

"Hyunjin, I suck at this!" Soobin laughed, his voice barely audible over the music.

Hyunjin just grinned, leaning in so Soobin could hear him better. "Doesn't matter! Just move! Feel the music!"

Soobin tried, he really did. He moved to the rhythm, a bit unsure at first, but after a few minutes, he started to relax. The alcohol he'd consumed earlier must've been kicking in because suddenly, the beat didn't feel as intimidating, and the bodies pressing against him didn't feel so suffocating.

He actually found himself enjoying it. And Hyunjin—Hyunjin was right there with him, close, but not uncomfortably so.

Soobin didn't mind the touch, the way Hyunjin's hands occasionally brushed against his as they danced. There was something freeing about it, about not thinking for once, just... being.

"See?" Hyunjin called out, grinning as he twirled Soobin around. "Told you this was fun!"

Soobin chuckled, "Okay, okay! I admit, this isn't so bad!"

But just as he was starting to loosen up, something caught his eye. A figure, familiar even in the dim, flashing lights. Soobin's movements faltered as his gaze locked onto a pair of eyes across the room.

Yeonjun.

He was there, across the room, under the neon glow and strobe lights, staring directly at him.

Their eyes met, a moment of raw emotion hanging between them despite the distance. Hyunjin was clinging onto Soobin, pulling him closer, but all Soobin could focus on was Yeonjun.

And of course, Yuna was there too, practically glued to Yeonjun's side, acting like she owned him.

They just stared at each other, Soobin and Yeonjun, their so-called "partners" oblivious to the tension in the air. The music kept pounding, the crowd kept dancing, but for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of them in the room.

Soobin's heart twisted, a knot forming in his throat as he tried so hard not to let the tears spill over. This was supposed to be his night to forget, to let go, but now...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the club, Yeonjun's world had narrowed down to just one person. Soobin.

He couldn't look away, even though Yuna was practically draped over him, her voice calling out his name.

"Yeonjun? Hey, Yeonjun!" Yuna's voice was bright, cheerful even, but it barely registered.

Yeonjun was too focused on the way Soobin's body moved to the music, the way Hyunjin was so close, too close.

The way Soobin's eyes looked back at him, filled with something he couldn't quite place. Hurt? Longing? He wasn't sure.

"Yeonjun!" Yuna's voice cut through his thoughts, sharper this time.

He blinked, finally tearing his gaze away from Soobin to look at her. "Huh?"

Yuna pouted, though there was an edge to it. "I've been talking to you. What's got you so distracted?"

But before Yeonjun could respond, Yuna followed his gaze, and she didn't like what she saw. Not one bit. Soobin, dancing with Hyunjin, looking way too comfortable for her liking. And Yeonjun, her boyfriend, had been staring at them, at Soobin, with an expression she couldn't quite read.

She didn't get jealous easily, but this? This was different. Because it was Soobin. She knew there was something between him and Yeonjun, something that might take away Yeonjun from her. And she wasn't about to let that get in the way of what she wanted.

Without thinking, she grabbed Yeonjun's face and kissed him, hard, trying to pull his attention back to her. For a moment, it worked. Yeonjun's eyes fluttered shut as he kissed her back, his hands automatically going to her waist.

But as soon as his eyes opened again, his gaze was drawn back to Soobin, almost like he couldn't help it. And that's when he saw it.

Soobin, tangled up with Hyunjin, their lips locked, hands wandering over each other like they were the only ones in the room.

Heartbreak was a funny thing. You never really saw it coming until it was too late. And in that moment, Yeonjun felt something inside him crack.

Why would that hurt me?