Mixed Up | Yeonbin

23. spiral

Soobin wasn't supposed to be here. He'd told himself he wouldn't show up to another one of these after how things went down at the club.

But here he was, leaning against the wall with a drink in his hand, pretending like he was having fun while everyone else around him was actually doing just that.

He hadn't seen the others much lately. Not outside of class, at least. Too messy. Too much on his mind. But then Hyunjin had nudged him, eyes twinkling with mischief.

"C'mon, you've been clutched up in the library for daaays. Let's go to this party," Hyunjin had said, a smile that Soobin knew could get anyone into trouble.

And like that, he'd ended up back in this exact spot—heart heavy, brain foggy. Avoiding Yeonjun.

Hyunjin was somewhere else in the house. Soobin wasn't really keeping track. What was the point? Everything had already gone sideways after their kiss. A kiss that shouldn't have happened. A kiss Yeonjun shouldn't have seen.

But he did.

And now, Soobin was caught between wanting to stay invisible and trying to push all the memories down with every sip.

Across the room, Yeonjun wasn't doing any better. He wasn't even sure why he'd come. Maybe it was Yuna's insistence, clinging to him like they were still that perfect couple everyone thought they were. She was practically glued to his side, but his mind was anywhere but on her.

Soobin had been avoiding him, and that kiss kept haunting him. The one with Hyunjin. It played in a loop in Yeonjun's mind every time he tried to block it out. Yuna's voice was a distant hum in his ears. Something about "chilling," "having fun," but he wasn't listening.

His eyes kept darting to Soobin.

Soobin wasn't even dancing this time. Just... standing there. Still. Quiet. Almost detached.

What's going on with him?

"Yeonjun, babe—" Yuna's voice broke through his thoughts, but Yeonjun couldn't stop himself from glancing at Soobin again.

Yuna noticed. So her hand slid further up his arm, pressing her body closer to his, like that would help. She leaned in, lips too close, trying to pull him back in.

"Yeonjun, hello?" she repeated, a little more insistent.

His jaw clenched. Why couldn't he stop thinking about it? That kiss. That stupid kiss. His fingers tightened around his drink, and before he knew it, the liquid was gone. Another one. Then another.

Hyunjin wandered back into view, sending a carefree wave in Soobin's direction before making his way over. Yeonjun's face soured just at the sight of him.

"Oh hey, Yeonjun, right?" Hyunjin said, his tone cool, casual, like he hadn't just blown up Yeonjun's entire world. "Heard a lot about you."

Yeonjun's hand gripped his cup tighter, his eyes flicking between Soobin and Hyunjin, his blood simmering with something he couldn't quite place. Jealousy? Anger? The alcohol wasn't helping to clear it up, either.

Yuna, sensing the tension, tried pulling him closer again, wrapping herself around him, but Yeonjun shrugged her off slightly. It was like everything around him was blurry except for Soobin. Just Soobin.

What the hell is going on?

Soobin must've felt his stare because their eyes locked for a moment. And suddenly, everything from the club, from that night, came crashing back down on both of them.

____________

a.n.

Well shit about to go down 😌