After Midnight [Yeonbin]

6.✨️𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚✨️

The next day at school, Soobin found himself constantly glancing at Yeonjun. Even though the older boy had finally opened up to him a bit, there was still so much left unsaid. Every time their eyes met, Soobin felt a pull - something deeper than friendship, something more than just curiosity. It was as if their connection, rooted in both reality and dreams, was slowly shifting into something neither of them could ignore.

Soobin’s mind drifted back to the conversation under the oak tree. The way Yeonjun had shared a piece of himself, no matter how small, meant more to Soobin than he could express. But now that they had taken that step, what came next? Soobin wasn’t sure how to approach the new layer of their relationship. Would Yeonjun continue to open up, or would he retreat back into his guarded self?

As he pondered these questions, he didn’t notice Beomgyu approaching him until the boy sat down at the lunch table with a loud thud.

“Hey, earth to Soobin! What’s with you today?” Beomgyu teased, waving a hand in front of Soobin’s face.

Soobin blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. “Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just... thinking.”

“About Yeonjun, right?” Beomgyu smirked, leaning in closer. “You’ve been staring at him all day. It’s getting kinda obvious.”

Soobin’s cheeks flushed, and he quickly looked away. “No, I haven’t! I’m just... I mean, we talked yesterday. That’s all.”

“Talked, huh?” Beomgyu’s grin widened. “What kind of talk are we talking about? Something serious?”

Soobin sighed, knowing Beomgyu wouldn’t let it go. “Yeah, actually. He opened up a little about why he’s so distant all the time. It was... different.”

Beomgyu’s expression softened a bit, his playful demeanor fading. “Really? That’s surprising. Yeonjun doesn’t really talk about himself to anyone.”

“I know,” Soobin said quietly. “That’s why it felt important. Like he’s starting to trust me.”

Beomgyu raised an eyebrow. “Trust, huh? Sounds like you’re making progress.”

Soobin’s heart skipped a beat at the word “progress.” Was that what this was? Were he and Yeonjun moving toward something more than just classmates or friends? The thought made Soobin’s stomach flip, but he wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or nervousness.

“Well, whatever’s going on, just be careful,” Beomgyu said, his tone turning serious. “Yeonjun’s a good guy, but he’s been through a lot. If he’s opening up to you, that means something. Don’t hurt him.”

Soobin blinked in surprise at Beomgyu’s words. He hadn’t expected such sincerity from his friend, who was usually the one making jokes and teasing everyone. “I won’t,” Soobin promised. “I care about him. I just... I don’t know where this is going.”

Beomgyu smiled, though it was softer this time. “Sometimes, you don’t have to know. You just have to take things one step at a time.”

Soobin nodded, appreciating the advice. Maybe Beomgyu was right. Maybe he didn’t need to rush things or overthink them. If Yeonjun was beginning to trust him, that was enough for now.

***

After school, Soobin stayed behind to help Taehyun and Hueningkai with a club project. They worked in the art room, painting props for an upcoming event, while chatting about random things. It was a good distraction, keeping Soobin’s mind off of Yeonjun for a while.

“Do you think Yeonjun’s going to join the club event?” Hueningkai asked, dipping his brush into a bright red paint.

Soobin paused, looking up from his own brush strokes. “I’m not sure. He’s not really into school events, is he?”

“No, but he’s been hanging out with you more,” Taehyun pointed out with a sly smile. “Maybe you could convince him to come.”

Soobin shrugged, unsure of what to say. “I don’t know if he’s the type to enjoy these kinds of things. But I could ask, I guess.”

“Ask him!” Hueningkai chirped. “It could be fun, and who knows? Maybe he’ll surprise you.”

Soobin smiled at their enthusiasm, but he wasn’t holding his breath. Convincing Yeonjun to attend a school event was like trying to move a mountain. Still, the idea of spending time with Yeonjun outside of their usual school setting was appealing.

Later that evening, Soobin found himself staring at his phone, debating whether or not to message Yeonjun. They had talked more often lately, but Soobin still wasn’t sure where the boundaries were. He didn’t want to push Yeonjun too hard or make him feel uncomfortable.

After a few minutes of overthinking, Soobin finally sent a text.

Soobin: Hey, do you have any plans tomorrow?

He stared at the screen, waiting for a reply. It came a few minutes later.

Yeonjun: Not really. Why?

Soobin felt his nerves rise as he typed his next message.

Soobin: There’s this school event our club is hosting. I thought maybe you’d want to come?

He waited again, his heart racing. When Yeonjun finally replied, Soobin wasn’t sure what to expect.

Yeonjun: A school event, huh?

Soobin bit his lip, typing quickly before he could second-guess himself.

Soobin: It’s not anything crazy. Just some fun activities and stuff. I thought it could be a nice break from all the seriousness.

There was a longer pause this time. Soobin could almost imagine Yeonjun staring at his phone, debating whether or not to accept the invitation.

Finally, Yeonjun’s reply came.

Yeonjun: I’ll think about it.

Soobin exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no either. And for now, that was enough.

***

The next day at school, Soobin couldn’t help but feel a bit more anxious than usual. He hadn’t seen Yeonjun all morning, and he wondered if Yeonjun had made a decision about coming to the event. Soobin tried to focus on his classes, but his thoughts kept drifting.

During lunch, as Soobin sat with Taehyun, Hueningkai, and Beomgyu, they chatted about the event, going over last-minute details. The event was later that evening, and they wanted to make sure everything was ready.

“I hope we get a good turnout,” Hueningkai said, his tone hopeful. “It would be fun if a lot of people showed up.”

“Don’t worry, Kai,” Taehyun reassured him. “It’ll be great, no matter how many people come.”

As they talked, Soobin’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, his heart skipping a beat when he saw Yeonjun’s name on the screen.

Yeonjun: I’ll come.

Soobin’s heart soared. He couldn’t believe it - Yeonjun was actually going to show up.

He quickly typed a reply, trying to keep his excitement in check.

Soobin: Great! I’ll see you there.

As he put his phone away, Soobin couldn’t help but smile to himself. Things were finally starting to change. Slowly but surely, Yeonjun was letting him in.

And Soobin couldn’t wait to see where this would lead.