The Name Chapter: Yours | YEONBIN

[11]

The next day, Yeonjun has his headphones on from the moment he leaves his room.

There's an atmosphere hanging over him, a dark cloud. Soobin knows it's because of the graphs, knows that Yeonjun feels hurt and betrayed, believes that Soobin's only been so close to him recently because management told him to, but he can't fix it when people won't leave them alone. From the moment they wake they're surrounded, various staff members swooping in to touch up their makeup and check their outfits and remind them of their schedule for the day.

Sure, Yeonjun sparkles for the cameras when they pose for photographs outside the airport, and he smiles and waves to fans as they walk through the terminal, but the moment no one's looking, it's like the light is switched off.

He's changed his soulband again, no longer the complementary colour to Soobin's own. Instead it's a shiny black material, almost impossible to differentiate from the black leather jacket he's wearing over a black turtleneck and jeans. The all-black look is good on him, but Soobin can't even begin to appreciate it when his own soulband is tight and uncomfortable around his wrist, soulmark sore like he's constantly pressing a bruise.

When they get to the waiting lounge near their gate, Yeonjun takes a few steps away whenever Soobin makes movement in his direction, repelled like some sort of magnet, and ducks behind any staff he can find to put bodies between them.

On the plane Hybe has actually shelled out for first class and Soobin's hopes of finding some time to talk are dashed when Yeonjun immediately takes one of the window seats and shuts the door to his cubicle, blocking them all out.

"Someone's grouchy this morning," Kai says to Soobin, flopping onto the seat in the middle aisle next to him.

"Yeah," Soobin replies. "Ha." His wrist throbs. "Wanna watch anime?"

+x+

They land early in the morning Eastern US time and are whisked straight off into a packed set of schedules.

The culture shock of being in the US always takes a while to get used to - the change in language, the relentless positivity, how loud Americans are - but they've visited enough times now that Soobin acclimatises quicker.

The weirdest thing to get used to when they're in America, the one thing that always catches him off-guard, is that not all musicians wear soulbands. Like, Soobin's always known that western artists are a completely different breed, but it's really fucking weird to see artists with their wrists exposed for the world to see, bare skin and soulmarks both.

As the day goes on, Soobin keeps trying to catch Yeonjun's eye, looking for any opportunity to be alone with him - even just for three seconds - but it's literally impossible when their staff, members, and what feels like every other human being in existence won't leave them alone.

During a break in a photoshoot, he decides to change tact and gets out his phone, opening up KakaoTalk. Yeonjun can ignore him all he wants in public and avoid sitting near him or talking to him, but he can't do that online.

(Well, he can if he blocks Soobin... but Yeonjun wouldn't do that.

...Would he?)

Soobin's breathing stills as Yeonjun's last messages to him load.

I like you best. I already told you that, didn't I?

Say it back.

But Soobin hadn't said it back, had he?

Instead, there's the selca Soobin took in the hair stylists's mirror. He remembers how vulnerable it had felt to take that photo and send it to Yeonjun. To type the message underneath: Just for you.