tell me you love me // taegyu

love is

School ended soon, and Taehyun hadn't seen Beomgyu yet. He wouldn't lie to himself by saying that he wasn't worried, but he was a bit concerned about the fact that Beomgyu didn't tell him that he wasn't particularly respectful with teachers.

Kai sighed, looking to the left when they finally left the school building. "I can't find them…"

"Who?" Taehyun asked, turning to his younger friend.

Kai jumped in realization. "Oh. Soobin and Yeonjun hyung."

Taehyun raised an eyebrow. "Wait, are y—"

"Taehyun-ah!"

The voice actually almost wanted to make Taehyun roll his eyes. But he couldn't really do that because the person that had called him was none other than the boy that everyone loved, but it seemed it was for the wrong reasons. Beomgyu ran up to Taehyun, his blonde hair bouncing as he ran.

"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at the principal's office?" Taehyun asked, looking away from his boyfriend.

"We need to talk," Beomgyu said, skillfully avoiding the question. "You don't mind if I claim him, right, kid?"

Kai shrugged. "Well, you two are… you know. I can't stop you."

Beomgyu nodded. "Thanks, kid." He took Taehyun's hand in his own and they walked off. Taehyun actually wanted to pull away, but as Beomgyu's fingers intertwined with his, he was reminded that Beomgyu wasn't just a loudmouth that was popular. He was sweet, gentle, funny, adorably idiotic — and he was dating Taehyun.

"J-just talk," Taehyun stuttered out, gripping Taehyun's hand tightly for a moment to get his attention. Beomgyu sighed, slowling down the movement of his legs and facing the smaller brunette boy.

"I'm guessing you don't know what type of person I really am, huh?" he asked softly.

"Beomgyu, I can handle casual trouble, like talking too loud, or even talking too much, but swearing at a teacher is a bit much," Taehyun said, letting go of Beongyu's hand to cross his arms. "I never thought that you'd do something like that. I thought you were perfect—"

"No one's perfect, baby," Beomgyu stated bitterly. "No one is goddamn perfect in this fucked up world. But everyone seems to think that Choi Soobin is the light of the fucking world. He's the only remaining perfection in this entire universe, isn't he? Everyone loves Soobin, don't they? I'm in his fucking shadow and everyone only noticed that I'm alive when I make mistakes. Even then, I'm still in his shadow. Why the fuck should I try and become a better person when it won't even be recognized? I'd rather stay a fuckup so that at least people will know I'm around."

Taehyun widened his eyes as the pieces slowly clicked together. "Beomgyu, you're not in his shadow. He's just got a bigger presence. You need to find your potential and do your best. How can you reach a goal when you keep looking at an obstacle? And you're not a fuckup, or whatever you think you are. You're amazing. You're cute, handsome, really funny when it comes to it, and you have a smile of a god. It could be the love speaking, but I'm serious."

Beomgyu looked down, anger clouding his eyes. "Even so, I'm still underneath Soobin."

"Beomgyu, he's older than you! Of course everyone is going to think he's better!" Taehyun exclaimed. "But don't let it get to you. You're strong — I know you are. You're just… incredible. And that's what I love about you. The fact that you push on ahead, depsite being 'in someone's shadow'."

Beomgyu stared at him for a short moment before a gentle smile overcame his once dark features. "I love you so darn much."

Taehyun smiled. "I love you more."

Beomgyu nervously kicked a stone from its position on the ground. "I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I'll try to be more respectful to teachers."

Taehyun crossed his arms. "Do you bully people?"

Beomgyu hummed thoughtfully. "I'll stop that as well."

Taehyun gasped. "Oh my god, you're horrible!"

"I'm not an intense bully!" Beomgyu defended himself. "I do small stuff. Not enough to make them wanna kill themselves or something."

"You're a jerk," Taehyun shook his head. "Nonetheless, I'm stuck with you now."

"Stuck? That's a mean way to put it," Beomgyu pouted falsely. Taehyun kissed his cheek gently and a wide smile spread across Beomgyu's features immediately. "Fine — I'd rather be stuck with you than anything."

Taehyun held his hand out. "Let's get ice tea."

•

"Apparently, he's the worst person on earth — at school, at least." Taehyun slurped up more noodles and his mother raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.

"Only at school?" she asked, resting her head on the back of her hands as her elbows rested on the table.

Taehyun nodded as he finished his chewing. "Other than casually bullying people and swearing at teachers — which I'm still a bit upset about — he's the sweetest guy I've ever met. He's… he's just perfect. Gosh, Mom, you have no idea. Before we agreed to date, he used to write me letters, and hug me from behind a lot, and kiss my forehead — it was enough to make someone crazy."

"You have to consider who he really is, though," his mother replied, setting her chopsticks down. "What if fake Beomgyu is loving and kind, while real Beomgyu is rude and disrespectful?"

"Bit what if it's the other way around?" Taehyun sighed. "Mom, he's perfect. I don't want to let him go. I mean, he's one of the hottest guys in school and I have him wrapped around my little finger."

"I see no little fingers — you have your dad's huge hands."

Taehyun laughed a bit, wiggling his fingers. "Yeah, but the point is — I have Choi Beomgyu as my boyfriend, and he doesn't bother with anyone. I have all his perfection to myself. As selfish as it is, I'm fine with it."

His mother sighed as a smile formed on her lips. "My boy must be very pretty, then."

Taehyun smiled as well. "I'm the prettiest, according to Beomgyu."

His mother laughed a bit. "Of course you are, you're his boyfriend!"