✔ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝑌𝑂𝑈𝐓𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐹𝐴𝐿𝐿 𝐏𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐎𝐍

Chapter 6.13 - Storm of emotions

"You're making a mistake, Beomgyu," Taehyun's voice pierced his ears. For several minutes, the black-haired boy had been trying to persuade Beomgyu, even making an effort to speak calmly despite the anger evident on his face.

Beomgyu felt the weight of the unconscious boy on his back as Taehyun's words cut through the air like sharp knives. The harsh tone in Taehyun's voice revealed the anger and frustration beneath. Still, Beomgyu kept putting one foot in front of the other, his gaze resolutely forward as he carried the burden. The conflict between friendship and responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders, and he knew that this path was uncertain and potentially dangerous.

"Don't be so stupid," Taehyun continued, nearly tripping over an object on the floor as he chased after Beomgyu. "Damn it, Beomgyu!"

Gray clouds gathered above them, and the first raindrops fell quietly to the ground.

The long-haired boy ignored Taehyun's urgent words, his gaze still fixed ahead. The large hall stretched out before them, with the sounds of their footsteps and the soft crunching of the floor accompanying them. The weight of the unconscious boy seemed to grow heavier with every passing second, but Beomgyu fought to maintain his balance. He was determined to help the stranger, even if it meant going against the resistance of his friends. A sense of obligation drove him, and he felt that he was making the right decision, even if it meant acting alone.

Even as they left the factory, with Kai and Soobin joining Taehyun to stop Beomgyu, it seemed hopeless. "Can't you come back when the boy wakes up?" Kai asked, while Soobin nervously muttered words to himself. The gentle drizzle quickly turned into a steady stream that enveloped them. The world around Beomgyu seemed to blur into shades of gray as he stubbornly pressed on.

"Leave him here if you want, but don't be so reckless and damn well don't go out there!" Taehyun's voice trembled, and the wind, now whipping the raindrops into their faces, made it hard for him to speak.

The conflict between the friends hung in the air as Beomgyu persistently continued on his path, still carrying the unconscious boy. It was difficult to listen to them, as it shook his resolve, but he was certain it was for the best. Beomgyu knew that Taehyun was only saying this because he didn't want them to part ways. At the same time, he knew that Taehyun would continue to feel uneasy if the stranger stayed. "Please. Stop trying to persuade me. It's just better this way," he muttered without looking at his friends.

Eventually, the boys stopped, watching Beomgyu motionlessly as the rain increased around them. The dark clouds above swallowed the daylight, and the atmosphere was filled with a sense of discomfort. Beomgyu's determination stood in stark contrast to Taehyun's emotional turmoil, and the other boys felt helpless amidst this difficult situation.

The rain falling from the sky intensified as if controlled by an invisible hand. The drops, now falling in a rhythmic drumming on the ground, no longer seemed like ordinary precipitation. It was as if Soobin's connection to nature had unleashed a peculiar force that amplified the storm, giving it an almost magical intensity. The sky unleashed a downpour, enveloping the surroundings in an impenetrable backdrop of gray and mist.

The feelings of the leader, hurt by Beomgyu's departure, made their impact felt, and it wasn't long before the first lightning bolts streaked across the sky. The loud rumbling of thunder seemed to amplify the unrest and tension in the air.

"Don't you understand how much you're hurting us?!" Taehyun shouted against the storm, trying to make it clear that the storm was a reflection of Soobin's emotions. Soobin stood silently, his hands clenched into fists, his face twisted in pain as raindrops drenched his body. Taehyun hoped that his voice reached Beomgyu, who was already several meters away. He stumbled over the wet ground, almost slipping, but managed to grab hold of a tree branch. His face was resolute, but his eyes reflected an inner conflict. The wind carried Taehyun's voice to him as he battled against nature and the emotions of his friends.

The lightning illuminated the gloomy landscape, while the rain mirrored the boys' turbulent emotions. Beomgyu shook his head, as if fighting the uncertainty within him. The ground beneath his feet became increasingly muddy, making it harder to move forward. As he climbed the small rise towards the edge of the forest, Kai shouted his name with all his might. The piercing cry was so intense that it knocked Beomgyu to the ground and made the earth tremble. He lay there motionless. The pain in Kai's voice was palpable, and it was surprising that his power merged with Soobin's at that moment. The roaring rain and the thunderous cry suggested that Beomgyu was on the brink of leaving his family behind. Soobin sighed deeply as he realized that the drama had reached its climax.

Kai had little control over his powers, and it was almost fortunate that the force was only affecting one direction. Even though Beomgyu's decision was painful, they had to face the situation now. Their friendship was possibly as shaken as the earth beneath their feet. They would find out once Beomgyu regained consciousness.

"Taehyun. Bring the two of them back," Soobin said with a somber look in his eyes and a rasp in his voice. It was clear that things had escalated, and while Kai desperately covered his mouth, Soobin's ability seemed unrelenting. The wind and rain whipped around them, and finally, Taehyun raised his hand to use his power to bring the two young men back to the factory.

For the rest of the day, Taehyun stayed by Beomgyu's bedside, drying him off and placing him on his mattress. He sat there, full of worry, regretting everything that had happened. They had wronged him, and it was painfully late that the black-haired boy realized it.

Meanwhile, Soobin had put the unconscious boy back in Beomgyu's bed and taken care of him. Once he was done, he went to Taehyun's room to check on things.

"It shouldn't have come to this," Soobin said finally, with regret. His eyes were glassy, revealing that while the storm outside had passed, it still raged in Soobin's heart.

"I know," Taehyun murmured softly, not taking his eyes off Beomgyu's sleeping face. He couldn't believe what they had been driven to, simply because they felt so betrayed by him. "I— I took it badly that he wanted to leave. I only thought of myself."

Soobin nodded sadly, as he feared what would happen when Beomgyu woke up. He would surely be angry, after all, they had driven him to the ground with their powers.

"We all only thought of ourselves," he agreed with Taehyun, hoping Beomgyu would be aware of this too. That he could forgive them.

Taehyun sighed before gently stroking Beomgyu's hand. It was cold, and he tried to warm it. A glance out the window revealed that it was already getting dark, and the gray clouds covered the moon. "What should I say to him when he wakes up?"

"Tell him what you feel. The truth," Soobin suggested, shrugging.

A hoarse laugh escaped Taehyun, as if he were mocking himself and his feelings. "As if it were so easy for me," he muttered sarcastically, the serious expression illuminated by a candle. The candle cast a golden glow on those present. "He already knows how I feel."

"Are you sure? And by that, I mean if you yourself know what you feel."

Taehyun's heavy breathing betrayed that this discussion was not easy for him. He had to turn inward to understand his feelings, and he hated it. He hated thinking about his emotions because it led to doubts—doubts about his past and the person he had become. He knew he had made mistakes in his life and that some terrible things had happened to him. But none of that justified treating Beomgyu the way he did, and he knew it now. "I think I was jealous."

That he tended to take people in out of fear of losing them.