TWO MONTHS LATER.
"you're really going to do that, hyun ah?" soobin asked, a hand propping up his chin while the other held onto his frappe. kai wasn't here today because of, well, he just didn't want to come, but yeonjun and soobin are sitting together while the frustrated male sat opposite to the couple.
taehyun sighed and nodded, "i don't really have another choice, do i, hyung?"
yeonjun looked over at soobin and soobin nodded, totally understanding what yeonjun wanted to say. "i'm going to get more desserts, you want some?"
taehyun nodded and after soobin left the table, yeonjun moved over to sit next to taehyun. he put a reassuring hand on taehyun's back, "hey, it's your choice. i respect it. but i don't want you regretting it and crying after it, hyun. i know how sad you get after things like these."
yeonjun directed a soft smile at the younger, who sighed. "i know, hyung." taehyun said, "but it's the correct decision. i know it is, hyung. plus, i'll always have your shoulder to cry on if i do cry, don't i?" taehyun let out a light chuckle, which yeonjun followed suite.
soobin came back with his mouth hung open and two plates of soufflé pancake in his hands, "i'm gone for three minutes and taehyun is smiling. what the hell happened when i'm gone?"
—
TWO DAYS LATER.
shouts and arguing could be heard all over the football pitch. it wasn't like anyone was arguing at the football pitch, it's just the people arguing were loud enough to cover an entire football field.
"what do you mean you're breaking up with me?" beomgyu yelled out, obviously frustrated with what taehyun said. taehyun sighed and looked up at beomgyu from where he was.
taehyun was sitting on one of the benches and beomgyu standing up, gripping his hair in anger.
"i'm breaking up with you! god, beomgyu, what part of it do you not understand?" taehyun muttered the last part and rolled his eyes. it was annoying. how could beomgyu not understand any of this?
beomgyu immediately gripped taehyun's shoulders and lifted the younger up, causing the two to be eye-by-eye. "but-but you promised! you promised i'd always have your attention. and-and didn't you love me! don't you love me, taehyun?"
beomgyu's grip on taehyun's shoulders became tighter and stronger with every word beomgyu spits out. taehyun tried to wiggle his way out, but was unsuccessful considering how strong beomgyu is.
"you've changed, beomgyu." taehyun tried to say this without letting any tears fall. it hurts, he thought, it really does. "you're not the choi beomgyu i fell in love three years ago, don't you understand? you're possessive and even ignores me when i try to spark a conversation with you in the hallways. when was the last time we had a decent conversation without me leaving wherever we were because you brought up how i couldn't be talking with anyone else except for you?
"i loved you, beomgyu, i really did. but you don't let me do anything on my own anymore, and that's concerning! i don't know whether you're being stupid, or sick, or both, but i hate not being free and not having the choice of talking to who i want to talk with! i'm sick of living by your rules! i am breaking up with you, choi beomgyu!"
with that, taehyun managed to get out of beomgyu's now loosened grip and ran out of the changing room, tears falling out of his eyes uncontrollably. beomgyu just stood there, frozen and tears forming.
"fuck." beomgyu muttered under his breath. he sat down on the bench and glared at the floor, "fuck! fuck, fuck, fuck!"
beomgyu was punching the lockers at this point, not caring about how much he bled and instead enjoyed the pain he was feeling. i deserve it, he told himself.
why did he let his phobia take over him? it's been so long since his father left him and it shouldn't resurface again. and because of his stupid phobia of losing those you love, the one and only love of his life, the boy that made him so happy and free these three years, left him because of it.
"fuck you!" beomgyu yelled, finally stopping the punches and leaned against the lockers, slowly sliding down onto the floor as he let his tears flow freely. he did not bother to wipe them away. he would get blood on his face if he did. and so he cried until he couldn't feel anything, until he couldn't muster another sob, until he was constantly reminded by the fact that he and taehyun's relationship was destroyed by none other than him.
"why did i let my phobia take over me?" beomgyu muttered as he sobbed once again into his hands.
—
taehyun ran out of the locker room and towards one of the empty classroom. all the classrooms were empty since it was the end of school about half an hour ago. taehyun ran in and cried. he cried so much that he couldn't stop.
why was he crying? he just got rid of beomgyu! he just got out of a toxic relationship! but why, why does it hurt so bad?
he couldn't stop the tears from falling. it just kept on flowing and hitting the floor beneath him as taehyun curled himself into a ball. why does it hurt so much? why does it feel like someone just killed the love of his life? why does he feel more trapped than he ever was?
someone came into the classroom, causing taehyun to silent his sobs. the someone came in front of him and let out a sigh. "here you are. come here, i'm here for you."
taehyun looked up and realised it was youngjae. taehyun let out his muffled sobs and hugged the older tightly. youngjae didn't know how to react, so he pulled out his phone.
"i-it's okay, taehyun ah, i'm calling soobin-"
"please." taehyun whispered, "but, please, stay with me. please."
and so youngjae did. youngjae stayed until soobin and yeonjun came. kai came a little later but the three best friends immediately engulfed taehyun in a big hug. they didn't say anything, they just hugged taehyun silently and securely. because they knew taehyun needed nothing more than comforting right now.
"soobin hyung," taehyun asked a few hours later. the trio of friends decided it was best to let taehyun just go to soobin's house for a while, at least until taehyun calms down. youngjae and kai had something to do and so already left an hour earlier and yeonjun was ordering some takeaways to be delivered to them.
soobin hummed. taehyun sniffed before continuing, "why-why does it hurt so much?"
taehyun looked at soobin with such confusion and sadness soobin would actually break in half. soobin sighed and opened his arms, gesturing that taehyun should come over. taehyun followed suit and hugged soobin loosely. soobin gently stroked taehyun's hair.
"yes, you just got out of a toxic relationship. and i'm so proud of you, hyun ah. but you also just got out of a three years relationship. you two were so in love for the longest of time. god, i really couldn't remember a time when you two weren't dating. while it is the best for you — and beomgyu — to be away from each other, remember that you two were in love. and it's always hard to move on from someone you loved so dearly and for so long. so it's okay if it hurts. if it hurts more than you could bare, i'll be here to share your pain, alright?" soobin said as softly as he could. taehyun nodded and snuggled up to soobin.
"thank you, hyung." taehyun whispered. soobin smiled, kissing the crown of taehyun's head and rubbing taehyun's back to comfort him. "you're always welcome, taehyun."
yeonjun looked at the two best friends with such adoration that when soobin looked over, yeonjun quickly glanced away to wipe his tears. yeonjun went over to his boyfriend, kissed him on the lips and kissed taehyun's forehead.
"you'll be alright, hyun ah." yeonjun reassured, "you have us. remember that, okay?"
taehyun nodded and managed to show a small smile, "okay."
