[UNBREAKABLE BONDS] (Yeonjun X Beomgyu)

Chapter 5: Slipping away

Beomgyu barely noticed when the sun began to set. His room had been quiet for hours, the only sound the scratching of his pen against paper as he hurried to finish Yeonjun’s assignments. His own schoolwork lay abandoned on the desk, untouched, as he desperately tried to keep up with the college-level tasks his stepbrother had dumped on him.

His eyes were burning from the strain, his fingers cramping from writing for so long, but he couldn’t stop. Yeonjun had made it clear what would happen if he didn’t finish everything perfectly. The memory of Yeonjun’s furious outburst earlier was still fresh in his mind, and Beomgyu didn’t dare defy him again.

The clock on his wall ticked steadily toward midnight, but Beomgyu kept working, his body aching with exhaustion. Each hour felt longer than the last, and by the time he finished the last assignment, his head was spinning. His vision blurred slightly as he rubbed at his tired eyes, his body slumping in his chair.

He had to stop. He couldn’t go on like this.

Dragging himself to his bed, Beomgyu collapsed onto the mattress, his body too exhausted to move. His mind, however, wouldn’t let him rest. The pressure of everything—school, Yeonjun, the constant abuse—was weighing him down, crushing him under its relentless weight.

Sleep didn’t come easily. His thoughts raced, his anxiety keeping him awake long after he closed his eyes. It wasn’t until the early hours of the morning that exhaustion finally won, and Beomgyu drifted off into a restless sleep.

The next day ☀.

The next day was a holiday, and Beomgyu was grateful that he didn’t have to face school. But even though there were no classes, the house was far from peaceful.

Yeonjun was lounging on the couch in the living room, scrolling through his phone when Beomgyu stumbled down the stairs. The exhaustion from the night before still clung to him like a heavy fog, making his movements sluggish. His head pounded, and his vision swam slightly as he made his way to the kitchen.

He needed water. His throat was dry, and his body was screaming for hydration. But as soon as Beomgyu reached the sink, he heard Yeonjun’s voice call out from the living room.

Yj: Hey Beomgyu make breakfast for me.

Beomgyu froze, his hand halfway to the faucet. He turned slowly to look at Yeonjun, who was now sitting up, staring at him with that same cold, demanding expression.

Bg: I'm not in a mood to cook Yeonjun continued, his tone sharp.
Yj: so you do it.

Beomgyu’s mind was spinning, and not just from exhaustion. His body felt weak, shaky even, and the thought of standing over the stove, cooking breakfast for Yeonjun, was too much to bear.

Bg: I—I can't. Beomgyu mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
Bg: I'm not feeling well.

Yeonjun’s eyes narrowed.
Yj: what did you just say?

Bg: I said I can't.
Beomgyu repeated, his voice trembling slightly.
Bg: I feel sick.

In an instant, Yeonjun was off the couch, stalking toward Beomgyu with a look of annoyance.
Yj: you think you can just say no to me now? you've been getting really bold lately huh?.

Beomgyu shook his head, his body trembling as Yeonjun loomed over him.
Bg: I—I'm just tired. I did all of your assignments last night. pls I need rest.