A Wish Upon a Star | Yeonbin ✓

XXII

Seeing Kai's text, Taehyun instantly got into a panic and mentally cursed at himself for ever thinking up of the whole mess of the plan. Yeonjun and Beomgyu noticed the change in Tehyun's mood and Beomgyu came running to him, enveloping the younger in a back hug as he read the text from over Taehyun's shoulder.

"What happened? Are you two alright?" Yeonjun asked as he watched Beomgyu's face drop too.

"Oh no, it's nothing, hyung. It's just that we've apparently gotten way off schedule and we should really be calling Kai over and everything already," Taehyun said, bringing back his smile.

"Yeah, oml, they must be like, literally so tired," Beomgyu gushed putting up a jolly energy.

"I mean, we're all done preparing so that's sweet," Yeonjun happily exclaimed, cheering up at the fact that he'd soon be seeing Soobin.

Taehyun called Soobin,

"Oh, it's Taehyun, let me pick up real quick, yeah?" Soobin said to Kai and picked up the call, not even paying attention to Kai's soft "yeah, sure."

"Hey, Soobin."

"Yeah?"

"You know Beomgyu's house, right?"

"Yeah."

"Get Kai and come over, we've prepared a surprise birthday party for Kai but don't tell him."

"Yeah, alright."

"When you guys reach, text me so that we can get ready, okay?"

"Okay."

"Bye, see you there then."

"Bye."

After the call ended, there was an uncomfortable silence between Soobin and Kai. Though Kai wanted to at least ask what Taehyun had said to Soobin in the call, his spirit was crushed and couldn't even be bothered to at least try to act like he was okay. Kai quietly walked along, face hung low and eyes lost.

When Kai didn't say anything and as the silence grew suffocating, Soobin, trying to ignore all uncertainty, hesitantly spoke up, "Let's go to Beomgyu's."

"Beomgyu-hyung's? Why?"

"They're all apparently there."

"They?"

"Yeonjunnie and all."

"Yeonjunnie," the word hit Kai straight at the broken pieces of his heart. It really wasn't that deep, just a nickname. Even friends had nicknames between each other. But Kai knew that no matter what, what Soobin felt towards Yeonjun was different to what Soobin felt for him and that even if Soobin ever started to call Kai a nickname like "Ning Ning" or something, it'd never be with as much affection.

"Oh, cool," Kai replied, struggling to mask the pain he was feeling.

There was another brief silence.

"He can't even be bothered to start a conversation with me. Not even small talk. I'm the fool to think that I have a chance. I'm the fool for hoping even when it's clear as daylight to anyone that where I stand and where Yeonjun-hyung stands are two very different tiers, not even meant to be compared," Kai thought to himself miserably.

On the other hand, Soobin could feel the tense mood, the silence was cruel and Kai was looking absolutely glum. Soobin mentally scolded himself for not being able to keep up a good conversation.

Such an awkward silence was new to Soobin, he had never really had anyone else want to talk to the likes of him or wish to engage with him, except Yeonjun, of course. With Yeonjun, he had always felt wanted, he felt as though he really mattered, just as much as anyone. Soobin realized that with Yeonjun, the problem of having an aching silence had never really occurred. There had always been laughter or conversation filling the atmosphere and even if there was silence, it was always with warm comfort.