special. // taegyu

given.

taehyun slipped the envelope into the older's bag just as he left for his literature class, this time, with his teacher actually present.

ryujin smiled, "i knew it. that's why the tangerine was acting weird," she watched as taehyun waddled for his next class.

"beomgyu," ryujin pokes his shoulder, "choi beomgyu!" he sits up with a groan.

"what? isn't too early to be trying to flirt with me now, lady?" he asked jokingly, and ryujin stared in confusion.

"wait- wait a minute, now. you don't know?" she asked, voice hushed.

"know what? the fuck?" beomgyu looked at her in confusion.

then the girl laughed, and beomgyu wanted to jump into the deep depths of the marina trench, because what the heck was going on?

"gyu. i was never trying to seduce you when i got transferred. i transferred her because of my girlfriend,"

"fuck, that means-," and it was beomgyu's turn to laugh, "-you don't like dick?

"no, i do not. and i was tryin' to literally just be your friend, because you were the only familiar face,"

beomgyu facepalmed. well, everything seemed so clear now, "i'm a dumbass. sorry ryu,"

"it's fine. i understand. also, i kinda figured out something but it's not important. by the way, taehyun left a letter in your bag before he left. i don't think this is the ones you guys plan for,"

"jesus, you figured that out too?"

"i'm shin ryujin, of course. also, happy birthday, kageyama lookin' ass bitch,"

beomgyu really wanted to strangle the woman for not saying anything before, but then he remembered about the letter she was talking about.

gyu opened every possible zipper, looking, feeling, for the familiar black envelope. feeling the familiar material, he takes it out.

he handles it carefully, like how he did for all of the ones before. he opened the familiar blue paper.

••

hi hyung.
it's taehyun.

first of all, i want to say happy birthday. and i hope whatever happens after you read this, we can still go to the beach for your birthday celebration.

okay, here goes nothing.

i like you, a lot.

i like it when your eyes twinkle when you talk about how you finished learning a new song on the guitar, or how much you're dying to get the electric.

i like it when you eat anything, and everything, when you're hungry because your cheeks poof up like a cute chipmunk.

i like it when you say no, but end up doing it anyway, with that dumb smile on your face after thinking that you tricked the world with your words before your actual actions.

i like it when your hair sticks out in different directions after a nap in my bed. i like it when you snuggle up to me. i like it when you let me play with your hair, and vice versa.

you're just so likeable hyung, i couldn't help myself. everytime you look at me with those eyes, it's like my heart stops- it's like the world stops.

there's so many things i wish i could do, but we haven't established anything more than brotherhood. i want to say that i really love what we have now and wouldn't trade anythimg for it, but i want you.

i want you all to myself.
you know what i'm trying to say, right hyung?

happy birthday, beomie hyung. i love you.

- kang tae.

••

"go get your mans," ryujin swings her bag at him, "the fuck you still doing there, sitting down like a damn rock? can you be any more dumb? goddamn, look for him, stupid!"

"as much as i want to say i hate you for not saying anything, i gotta say thanks girl," beomgyu picked up his bag and ran out.

"baby," ryujin jumps into her girlfriend's arms in the hallway, smooching her cheek. finally, after two hours, she got to see her.

"unnie, i swear i will drop you,"

"don't be like that chae," and the younger just sighed, "love you too, you overgrown baby. let's go eat,"

••

"soobin hyung. yeonjun hyung. did taehyun come here today?" he panted, asking the seniors on duty.

"yeah he's at his usual spot,"

beomgyu, with quick steps, walked towards the familiar spot. he smells the faint, but familiar, scent of fresh linen and roses, and he knew that the younger was there.

but, "beomgyu hyung?" the younger knew it too. gyu's scent, out of all people, was unmistakable to tae. the smell of crisp air and smoky pines, it always screamed choi beomgyu.