After Midnight [Yeonbin]

5.✨️𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚✨️

The next few days were a strange blur for Soobin. The conversations with Yeonjun - both in the dream and in real life - stayed at the forefront of his mind. He found himself replaying them over and over, trying to piece together the puzzle of who Yeonjun really was.

At school, Yeonjun was still the same as ever - serious, focused, and distant. Yet, there was something different now, something that felt like progress. Every time Soobin caught Yeonjun’s eye in class or in the hallways, there was a brief flicker of warmth. It was subtle, but Soobin could feel it. He could sense that Yeonjun was slowly beginning to trust him, even if just a little.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep Soobin hopeful.

***

One afternoon, after school, Soobin found himself in the school courtyard, sitting beneath a large oak tree with his notebook open in front of him. He was supposed to be studying for an upcoming exam, but his mind kept drifting back to Yeonjun, as it often did these days. The dreams hadn’t stopped, and each night, Yeonjun seemed just a little more open, a little more willing to show his true self.

But in real life, things were progressing much more slowly.

Soobin’s thoughts were interrupted when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked up, surprised to see Yeonjun walking toward him. He hadn’t expected to see him outside of class, especially not here, where most students came to relax or chat with friends.

“Hey,” Yeonjun greeted, his voice casual but his expression a bit hesitant.

“Hey,” Soobin replied, trying to hide his surprise. “What brings you here?”

Yeonjun shrugged and sat down beside him, leaning his back against the tree. “I just needed some fresh air.”

Soobin smiled slightly, glad to have his company. He closed his notebook, deciding that studying could wait. “It’s a nice spot. I come here a lot when I need to think.”

Yeonjun nodded but didn’t say anything. They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of students laughing and chatting in the distance blending with the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Finally, Yeonjun spoke, his voice quieter than usual. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

Soobin glanced at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“About wanting to understand me better,” Yeonjun clarified, his gaze focused on the ground in front of him. “I’ve been thinking about it.”

Soobin’s heart skipped a beat. Was this it? Was Yeonjun finally going to open up?

“I don’t talk about myself much,” Yeonjun continued, still not looking at Soobin. “It’s just... easier that way. But I feel like I owe you an explanation. You’ve been patient with me.”

Soobin stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt. He could tell how hard this was for Yeonjun.

“When I was younger, I used to be a lot more... open,” Yeonjun said, his voice soft. “I wasn’t always like this. But things changed.”

“What happened?” Soobin asked gently, his chest tightening at the vulnerability in Yeonjun’s voice.

Yeonjun was quiet for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “I had a close group of friends back then. We did everything together. I trusted them completely. But... things fell apart. I won’t go into details, but I was betrayed by someone I thought I could count on. It hurt more than I expected it would.”

Soobin’s heart ached for him. He wanted to reach out, to offer comfort, but he held back, sensing that Yeonjun wasn’t finished.

“After that, I just stopped trusting people. It was easier to stay distant, to keep my guard up. If I didn’t let anyone in, I couldn’t get hurt again.” Yeonjun’s voice was steady, but Soobin could hear the underlying pain.

“So that’s why you act so serious all the time,” Soobin said softly, understanding finally dawning on him.

“Yeah,” Yeonjun nodded. “It’s just a defense mechanism. I guess I’ve been doing it for so long that it’s become a habit. But... with you, it’s different. I don’t know why, but I feel like I can relax around you.”

Soobin’s heart fluttered at those words. He had been waiting for this moment, waiting for Yeonjun to finally let him in. “I’m glad you feel that way,” Soobin said, his voice warm. “I just want to get to know the real you. The you that I see in my dreams.”

Yeonjun chuckled softly, though there was a hint of disbelief in it. “I still can’t believe you dream about me like that.”

Soobin grinned sheepishly. “I know it sounds weird, but it’s true. And the version of you in my dreams... he’s just like the real you. The you underneath all those walls.”

Yeonjun didn’t respond right away. Instead, he leaned his head back against the tree, closing his eyes for a moment. “I wish I could be that version of myself all the time.”

“You can be,” Soobin said quietly. “With me, at least.”

Yeonjun opened his eyes and looked at Soobin, his expression softening. “Maybe.”

For the first time, Soobin felt like he was seeing the real Yeonjun—the one he had been searching for all this time. The kindness and warmth from his dreams were there, just beneath the surface. It was still guarded, but it was there.

They stayed like that for a while, sitting in the shade of the oak tree, neither of them saying much. But the silence between them was different now. It was no longer filled with awkwardness or uncertainty. Instead, it felt like progress, like they were finally on the same page.

After a while, Yeonjun stood up, brushing off his pants. “I should get going,” he said, his tone back to its usual calm. “But... thanks for listening. It’s not easy for me to talk about this stuff.”

Soobin stood up as well, smiling at him. “Anytime. I’m here whenever you need to talk.”

Yeonjun nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As Yeonjun walked away, Soobin watched him go, feeling a mixture of relief and hope. He had finally broken through Yeonjun’s walls, even if just a little. And now, Soobin knew that the real Yeonjun - the kind, gentle person from his dreams - wasn’t just a figment of his imagination. He was real, and he was slowly beginning to trust Soobin.

And that, Soobin realized, was the beginning of something special.