Inanima - English version

1.13 Oasis

"You can't be really mad at me!" Beomgyu protested, beating his feet slightly.

Yeonjun refused to answer, continuing to write down the notes. It was from the previous day that he hadn't spoken to his best friend. Not only was he annoyed that he had preferred to spend time with a stranger, but he had even returned to the site only in the evening, completely skipping work. Yeonjun and Kai had to work for him too.

"Can we please clarify in a civilized manner?" Beomgyu continued, insisting. Kai threw a crumpled sheet of paper at Yeonjun's head, catching his attention. "Hyung, he's been talking to you- he said, when the archaeologist turned to him- you've been friends since practically the first day you arrived in the Ordos desert. It's really ridiculous to fight over such a matter".

"Is it really ridiculous that my best friend would rather spend all afternoon with my worst enemy?" blurted Yeonjun, pouting. Beomgyu rolled his eyes, "Again this thing? Jun, I didn't know it was a bet between you two. If you had made me understand it, I certainly wouldn't have accepted his offer. And Taehyun doesn't hate you, he's not your enemy, it's you who treats him badly". Yeonjun snapped up, turning to his friend . "Ah, now it's my fault? - he exclaimed, angry- I'm happy that you defend your new best friend, but I will not be deceived by him so easily". "Hyung, Beomgyu is right- Kai said- Taehyun is a good person, if you could know him better you would understand. He has always been kind to me". "Because he wants to win you all over, how can you not und erstand him! - cried Yeonjun, putting his hands in his hair- he thinks he can command the entire archaeological site just because he is a friend of Soobin". Beomgyu shook his head "Jun, I don't know why you started this absurd power play with Taehyun, but he doesn't want to take your place in any way. He only fights you because you tease him first". "Of course, poor innocent lamb," Yeonjun muttered, shaking his head and focusing on his notes. His friends were right, but also wrong. It was true that he was tremendously jealous of Taehyun, but certainly not for power issues within the archaeological site. Soobin was the real focus.

Beomgyu and Kai exchanged a concerned look, then Beomgyu decided to act. He threw himself at his friend, hugging him from behind and holding him tightly in his arms when Yeonjun began to complain, trying to free himself. "Forgive me, I didn't want to upset you. You're really my best friend," said Beomgyu, sincerely saddened. Yeonjun sighed, rolling his eyes. There was no escape, he was always too nice.

"All right, all right," he muttered, finally letting himself be hugged. Beomgyu uttered a small cry of joy, jumping as he continued to hold his friend. Yeonjun complained again, but this time in a playful way, without really trying to get rid of Beomgyu. Kai smiled at them. They were idiots, but they really loved each other.

"Yeonjun, can you come into my tent?" said a voice, which faded as he spoke those words.

The three boys turned, noticing Soobin a few meters from them. The boy had his gaze fixed on Beomgyu's arms wrapped around Yeonjun's body. He seemed confused and vaguely annoyed, as if he didn't expect to find himself in front of that scene. Beomgyu immediately walked away from the other archaeologist, seeing Taehyun a few steps behind Soobin. The boy as always had an indecipherable expression, sunglasses that shielded his eyes. He was sipping his coffee, without showing any emotion. "Of course, abso lutely," Yeonjun replied, fixing his clothes and approaching the leader of the expedition. He kept his eyes down, trying to calm the frantic beat of his heart. He hadn't exactly had the best behaviour the day before, when he had protested extensively with Soobin for the presence of Taehyun in the archaeological site. Yeonjun swallowed hard, thinking that maybe the dark-haired boy would fire him because of his personality.

Soobin turned immediately, without even waiting for the archaeologist, and went to his tent. Yeonjun followed him diligently, in a weird silence. Taehyun remained motionless for a few moments, his gaze seemingly fixed on Beomgyu. But it was hard to tell, since the dark lenses of the glasses made it difficult to understand what he was looking at. However, Beomgyu felt a shiver along his back, before Taehyun turned and followed the other two boys to the boss's tent.