Mixed Up | Yeonbin

37. almost

The air between them felt different.

The space between them still buzzed with something electric. Even though Yeonjun had already stepped back, Soobin could still feel the heat of his body, the weight of the moment pressing against his skin.

Soobin's heart was pounding in his ears, but Yeonjun—who always had something smart to say—was dead silent.

Instead, he was just staring, lips slightly parted, eyes flicking between Soobin's own and—lower.

Oh.

Soobin smirked, crossing his arms. Interesting.

"Damn," he said, voice light, teasing. "Didn't know you had this in you."

Yeonjun blinked, as if suddenly realizing what he had just done. His ears turned a dangerous shade of pink, and he instantly stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Shut up," he muttered.

Soobin tilted his head, stepping forward just to close the space again. "Shut up? That's all you got? Thought you were about to say something."

"I wasn't."

"Really?" Soobin raised an eyebrow. "Because you sure looked like you were about to."

Yeonjun clenched his jaw, gaze darting away. His hands curled into fists at his sides, and for a moment, he looked like he wanted to run.

But he didn't.

Instead, he inhaled sharply and finally—finally—looked at Soobin again. There was something raw in his expression, something almost vulnerable.

"I just..." he hesitated, swallowing. "I don't know. Forget it."

Soobin's stomach twisted. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but the way Yeonjun was suddenly retreating—closing himself off—made something ache.

He sighed, deciding to lighten the moment. "You're being weird, hyung."

Yeonjun scowled. "You're being annoying."

Soobin just grinned. "You like it."

That got him a full-fledged groan from Yeonjun, who turned away as if trying to escape the conversation entirely. But Soobin wasn't letting him off that easy. He reached out and grabbed Yeonjun's wrist—just a brief touch, but enough to make Yeonjun freeze.

The silence between them stretched.

Soobin could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, could see the way Yeonjun's chest rose and fell a little too fast.

Don't chicken out now.

Slowly, Yeonjun turned back to face him. His gaze dropped to Soobin's lips for a split second—barely noticeable, but Soobin noticed.

For a second, just a second, Soobin thought—maybe this time.

Maybe—

The door slammed open.

Both of them jolted, springing apart as if they had just been caught committing a crime.

Hueningkai wobbled in first, looking completely gone—his eyes half-lidded, hair a mess, holding onto Beomgyu's arm for support. Beomgyu, equally drunk, was grinning like an idiot.

"We're home, bitches!" Beomgyu announced, loud enough to shake the walls.

Soobin closed his eyes, exhaling sharply.

Yeonjun cursed under his breath, running a hand down his face.

Hueningkai, meanwhile, squinted at them, his drunk brain seemingly just registering the way they were standing suspiciously close to each other. "Wait... were you guys... fighting?"

Beomgyu gasped dramatically. "Or kissing?"

Yeonjun looked horrified. "What the fuck? No!"

Soobin snorted, crossing his arms. "You sound offended."

"I am offended!"

Beomgyu fake-pouted. "Why? Soobin's cute."

Yeonjun sputtered. "That's not—"

"Oh my god," Soobin groaned, rubbing his temples. "You two are fucking wasted."

Hueningkai just blinked at them, then suddenly giggled. "I love you guys," he slurred, before dramatically collapsing onto Yeonjun's bed.

Yeonjun stared at him, then at Beomgyu, then sighed so hard his entire soul seemed to leave his body. "I hate my life."

Soobin, despite himself, laughed. The tension from before had completely evaporated, leaving behind something lighter, easier.

But as Beomgyu flopped onto Yeonjun's bed and Hueningkai started snoring, Soobin stole a glance at Yeonjun, catching the way he was still avoiding his gaze.

Even with all the distractions, something had shifted.

And this time, it wasn't going away.