꒰🍒꒱ wowow chapter thirty already arent we !! next chapter will be very...special wink wonk (no not special like thatTT but more like special as innnnn we'll see next chapter !!). as usual, apologies for any mistakes !

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Ever since they became friends, Taehyun had set different ringtones for them so it would be easier to know who was calling without whipping his phone out. Yeonjun and Soobin's were set to their favourite songs- Sicko Mode by Travis Scott and Grace by Bebe Rexha respectively- and Huening Kai as a popular kid's song he had found on YouTube.

Kai's ringtone had started as a joke in the beginning. they had been playfully arguing on how childish he was and Taehyun had put his ringtone to the first kids song he had found on youtube just to spite him. but until now, he hadn't bothered to change it. it wasn't like the boy calls him a lot anyway.

Though it was an instant regret when he was woken right up by the repeated sound of the annoying song of the shark ringtone early in the morning of a saturday. a saturday. a saturday after a long week of stress, impulsive decisions that lead to regret and dreaded outcomes.

He picks up the call after the chorus of the fifth ring with reluctance and an angry "what do you want?!". Kai on the other line seemingly doesn't hear his snappy tone that had the hint of stop calling me. I want to sleep because he had started talking at a speed that Taehyun couldn't quite process yet.

"Kai," he exhales, "I just woke up. slow down,"

"Just woke up? That's so unlike you, Hyun!" the boy across the line says in shock, but quickly gets over it, "but anyway, we're hanging out and you're coming!" he sings, "and just in case it's unclear to you, that was a statement. not a question,"

Taehyun blinks and squints, pulling his phone back from his ear to check the time. it was ten in the morning. Kai was right, he wasn't one to wake up so late. the events he had encountered for the week had probably made him more tired than he thought he had been.

"Okay," he finally replies, his tone exasperated. he hears Kai's cheer before he asks, "With who?"

"Yeonjun and Soobinie hyung!"

"Where?"

"You ask too many questions. I'll head over and we can take the bus together! bye, love you! bye!"

And with that he hung up as soon as he said goodbye, leaving no room for Taehyun to protest. (not that he would, anyway. he had a soft spot for him, and he sounded too excited that rejecting the offer would probably hurt his pure soul)

So with a tired groan, Taehyun gets up to start the day.

.

With his friends, no matter how tough the week had been, he would never refuse an offer to hang out with them. they had made a promise to each other, that even if they were different in levels, they wouldn't drift apart. it was something Huening Kai had started, and something they had all agreed on. so every once and a while whenever they had spare time, they would be hanging out together, just the four of them.

And they almost always start at the same place, if their hang out session started around the morning.

"Taehyunnie! there he is," Yeonjun grins as he wraps his arms around his neck the moment he enters the dainty ice cream cafe, "what's up with you lately? you seem so lost these days. is Kang Taehyun finally joining the day dreamers club?"

"the what?" Taehyun mumbles as he rubs his face, sitting down on the chair where Yeonjun had guided him to, seeing the others already there waiting for him, the cold sweet in hands, "I'm just tired,"

"it's because of that Choi kid?" Soobin asks, spoon in his mouth and jacket zipped up. Taehyun assumes that he had spilled ice cream on his shirt again, a habit he couldn't get over with how much he talks while holding the spoon just before his mouth.

"there are a lot of things besides people,"

"Right, right," Soobin nods in faux agreement, looking at him with a grin afterwards, "so is it safe to say that a lot of things includes thinking about that Choi kid?"

"Hyung,"

"Kidding! Don't look at me like that, Tyunnie," laughter rings in the small corner they were seated at, a ring from the door and chatter around them making them blend right in the cafe "just chill out a bit today, Yeonjun hyung planned this for you,"

Taehyun looks over to the guy who had made his way back towards the counter, probably to order for him, leaning over the counter and talking to the worker with an flirtatious look, the girl unconsciously twirling her hair, "yeah, definitely seems like it,"

Truth be told, he was thankful for his friend's hangout; he had known by the tone of Kai's cheerful and eager voice that morning that this was for him, but there were a bunch of other topics that could be talked about besides the problems that had caused the downfall in his mood. like climate change or why they should all drop out of school altogether and maybe start a band or something instead.

"Oh, come on," Soobin nudges Taehyun by the shoulder playfully, "lay it off a little bit, Hyun. you're going to be absolutely fine!"

"That's because you don't know the actual story," Taehyun mumbles to himself, and Huening Kai, who had been sitting across him, grins. crap. he should really be mindful of his mouth, knowing how much Kai was more than willing to tell stories especially if it didn't happen to him.

"I can tell it!" he sings with glee, almost hopping out of his seat in excitement. Yeonjun comes over to their table with a small cup of ice cream and passes it on to Taehyun, the action thankfully preventing the younger one from jumping out of his seat.

"Hey there what's gotten you so hyper?" Yeonjun asks, and Kai simply grins, quirking his eyebrows at Taehyun.

"Taehyun had done something really crazy, you wont believe it, hyung!" he says eagerly, "i mean, I'd only tell if he allows it, of course," fluttering his eyelashes towards him as if he was an angel to which the latter rolls his eyes at.

There wasn't a problem with his other friends knowing, of course. it was embarrassing and something he'd like to forget sure, but it wasn't a secret. the only problem was that it made him uncomfortable to do it at the moment. because this was why he had been so upset for the week, and coming out of his house with a plan to hang out with his friends only to listen to Kai talk about it was something he didn't sign up for.

Being the observant person he was, Soobin takes Taehyun's silence as a red flag, "Maybe next time," he says kindly, easing his hands towards the youngest so he wouldn't be too disappointed, "hey, what's that new game you were talking about, Hyuka?"

Kai's eyes lit up once again at the mention of the game, "Oh, right! Genshin Impact! it's this really cool rpg game-"

Yeonjun smiles fondly, and Soobin sends Taehyun a reassuring nod, before realizing his ice cream was melting where he held it above his lap halfway to his mouth. Taehyun laughs. It was so easy to distract him.

.

Though, the happiness doesn't last long. you know how there was always that lingering feeling of sadness that will follow you everywhere if something was bothering you? that was exactly what Taehyun had felt throughout the day. whenever he spaces out, which was something he had tended to do a lot today, he always found himself remembering that tomorrow would be absolute hell for him and if he tries to run away from it further it would only catch up to him in a matter of time. and it being the deadline for the song submission, the errands he had to do for his music teacher and the fact that he wasn't allowed to do them alone.

Looking at his friends who were worry free, he thinks that either God probably had favorites or he had unconsciously done something terrible that he deserved this.

Eventually as they had arrived towards the arcade that was a long walk away (deciding to walk instead of using the bus had been Yeonjun's idea, and Soobin had whined about it saying he didn't want to do any exercise while Kai had just sided with Soobin. as he always had, anyway) and Kai finally comes up to confront him on something that seemed like had been bothering him the whole day as the other two exchanged money for tokens.

"Hyun! come on, what are you doing being such a sad sack?" Huening Kai frowns when he walks over to the boy who was sitting on the bench outside of the arcade, "are you okay?"

"Yeah," Taehyun replies with slight hesitance, although his tone a contrast to his words "I'm just worried, its nothing,"

"You can't say it's nothing after you say you're worried," Kai turns to face him with a sad pout, "Hyun, I know what you're thinking about, and you really shouldn't be concerned- wait, I'm not saying you shouldn't be concerned, but i mean, don't be now," he frowns, trying to think of an alternative way to tell him to have fun, seeing as his words probably sound different than what he intends to say.

he starts to pick out coins from the small pouch he had brought, grabbing Taehyun's hands and dropping a few on his palms, "c'mon! why don't we play that dance game? look, Yeonjun hyung and Soobin hyung are playing it right now!"

"I don't want to..."

"No, you see, that's exactly what wikihow would say not to do when you're out with your friends that wants to cheer you up," the youngest replies, moving to stand up and offering a hand towards him, "come onnnnnnnn, I hate seeing you so sad,"

"I'm not sad," Taehyun mumbles, shifting his gaze elsewhere. but Kai had none of that, so he opted to (very gently) grab at his wrist and pull him up and towards the bright and loud place.

Palpably he had definitely been with them. laughing at the way Soobin tries desperately to get the plushie from the claw machine just to prove to Huening Kai that he, in fact, is really good at it, only to waste all his tokens and getting nothing but a handful of teasing from the rest in return. winning second place after Yeonjun in a racing game that he didn't even know how to play. had teamed up with Kai to shoot basketballs only for them to miss every single one, play a bunch of other and probably every game offered and finally ending the day doing silly poses in the photo booth as Kai squeezes his way in between each one to put stickers over each of their faces before the strip gets printed out.

But in all honesty, Taehyun had felt like he was floating in space. his thoughts elsewhere throughout the night. everything had felt so distant despite the touch of his friends wherever he went. he winces as he feels the gum under the chair of the photobooth, pursing his lips as he sneakily wipes his hand on Kai's (whom was sitting beside him, busy giggling at the picture that had just came out) jeans.

"Here you go, Hyun," Soobin says after their fitful laughter, handing over the strip towards the younger andTaehyun mumbles a small sound of gratitude. he looks at the photo and at his smile. it seemed distant compared to the other's.

Huening Kai stretches and rubs his eyes sleepily the moment they step out of the arcade, a plushie in hand that he had traded for with the tickets he won from the basketball game.

"I cant believe its closing already, time really flies when you're having fun," He yawns out, a lopsided smile on his face, "Come on! if we hurry up, we can catch the bus!"

"We're not far from the stop, Kai ah, you don't have to worry," Soobin says, and Yeonjun laughs, lifting the hood of Taehyun's hoodie and covering his head, reaching out to hug the shorter male for a bit before pulling back, which odds him, "yeah! and as for you, you look like you're about to fall asleep anytime soon,"

"The bright lights from the arcade and the smell of pizza never fails to make me sleepy," he smiles lazily, slightly lifting the hoodie so he could see where he was going. he doesn't mention the fact that the gum had made him almost lose his mind at how he was desperate to get home.

As Soobin had said, the stop was right outside of the arcade, just a couple minute walk away. a few people were waiting as well. there was a young boy holding hands with an older, pale looking woman, a couple holding hands and sharing earpieces, one leaning on the other's shoulder, and a couple guys with skateboards and paint spray cans, hats that probably hid poorly dyed hair and smelled of smoke which had made Kai inch closer towards the tallest male in somewhat fear.

There was always something about bus stations at night. strangers who had their heads down looking at their own devices hoping the last bus would arrive sooner and that there would be no need to share a seat with someone else so they could avoid looking at other people and get to their places and never meet each other again was something so normal yet something that makes Taehyun feel so alive, if that made sense. maybe it had been the ambience of the night.

Soon enough, Taehyun was saved from having an existential crisis over people at the bus stop when the bus pulled up, the lights of the sign turning off to signal the last stop for the night. he digs his hand in his pocket.

Only for his hand to grasp at nothing but his phone.

"Come on, Hyun, what's keeping you so long?" Yeonjun asked from behind him, and a tired looking driver staring by his seat, the two of them being the only ones have not boarded yet. when did the other people board the bus? he really had to be careful of his surroundings more.

"My- my bus pass," he mumbles, looking up with a horrifying realization, "missing- it must've fell out,"

He had thought the bus driver would at least be a little understanding. I mean, would they really have the heart to abandon a kid in the middle of the night just because he had forgotten his bus pass? especially since they didn't have a lot of passengers and their stop was on the way anyways?

Apparently this bus driver would, seeing as the ahjussi looked very close to cussing Taehyun out. looking out at the open doorway with a scowl on his face as if a stray cat had just climbed on board the bus with muddy paws and started continuously meowing noisily.

"Wait, let me just get it-," he tries to insist, turning around back to the arcade, only to hear the sound of the roller shutters being pulled down over the already dark entrance. had they really finished cleaning up the store? it seems like the whole world was against him nowadays. Taehyun turned back towards the driver, and the button activated doors had already been closed shut. asshole.

"Guess they couldn't even wait for me," Yeonjun breathed out a laugh as he watched the bus start to move, probably a little behind now. Soobin had frowned out the window, Huening Kai seemingly sleeping on his shoulder. Yeonjun just sends a reassuring wave his way, as if telling him they'll be fine just walking home.

Taehyun is exasperated. nothing was going his way this week, he felt like a lost cause, "I'm so sorry hyung," he mumbles, feeling his eyes sting. just great. he starts to make his way back home the long route, just so he could have more time in thinking of a good excuse for his mother if she gets mad at him for coming home past curfew a couple of-

He checks his watch and curses

Coming home past curfew a couple of hours later.

"Hey," Yeonjun calls out from behind him, but he doesn't bother to turn around anyway. Whatever it was, it could definitely wait.

It evidently wasn't with how the older comes jogging towards him in quick steps, running in front of him and proceeding to walk backwards, "Taehyun ah, come on!"

"Hyung, isn't your house the other way?"

Yeonjun chuckles, stopping to walk by his side instead, "It is, but I want to walk home with you. besides, it's dangerous at this time,"

"I'm pretty sure i can handle myself," Taehyun replies, digging his hands into his pockets, "It's not my first time walking home alone,"

"And it won't be mine either after you reach home safely," he flashes him a grin, to which Taehyun has to suppress rolling his eyes at, opting to keep quiet at his adamant hyung.

He doesn't pay much attention to the older who was walking beside him. if Yeonjun had wanted a conversation, he could start one himself. but in all honesty, it was fine like this. he was a little glad that he didn't have to walk alone at a time like this, where he could have been left to just his thoughts. maybe Yeonjun had known that leaving him alone would have defeated the purpose of their hangout.

"Hey, listen," Yeonjun says, cold voice piercing the silent night and here it goes. of course there had been a reason he would come with him. there always was, wasn't there?, "so, you're going to hate me for this,"

"I already hate you for deciding to walk me home like I'm incapable," he tries to joke, but it came out a little harsh so he apologizes silently afterwards under his breath, probably too quiet for the other to hear but he doesn't repeat it. Taehyun burrows his hands into the kangaroo pocket of his hoodie deeper, "and I feel like I don't wanna know anymore,"

Yeonjun lets out a soft chuckle, letting the air hang silently before he speaks up, "trust me when i say i don't want to tell you either,"

"You really shouldn't lead whatever you're going to tell me with this, hyung," he laughs, but the action does not reach his eyes, and if Yeonjun was straining his ears, he would have heard the sound of anxiousness in his tone. something akin to fear was crawling at his skin, nipping much evident than the cold air of the night and suddenly, the street lamps felt much brighter. he had a quiet assumption on what could be, but he pushed the thought away. hoping.

"Look, I'm not here to tell you bad news, okay?"

Taehyun chuckles, albeit a little sadly, "Speak for yourself, I've got bad news for days,"

"Tyun," Yeonjun frowns, "don't you think you're too hard on yourself? you usually never hold things for so long, even when they upset you. what's going on?"

And there was the question again. he was really bad at masking his worries these days. Nothing's going on, was what he had wanted to say. to reassure him that he was absolutely fine, that he'll get over it soon enough like he does with everything else. but he couldn't find it in him to lie to him, so he settled for silence instead. the sound of their footsteps and occasional loud engines from cars passing by becomes louder, and he thinks he's probably really close to crying now.

He hears Yeonjun sigh and after a beat of silence, he speaks. and when he did, Taehyun swears his heart drops down his throat and right into the soles of his shoes.

"I contacted Beomgyu for you," he starts, and Taehyun halts in his tracks, "Wait, no, don't stop-"

"Hyung," he breathes, feeling his mouth getting dry and his jaw clenched, all feeling of sadness melting into one of anger, "I can take care of it myself! I c-"

"Listen, I know you're mad at me, but you have to hear me out, Taehyun-"

"I don't need your help, Hyung!" he yells, and the air stills.

It was bad enough that he was worried, but it was worse now that he had yelled at Yeonjun about it. the weight of the situation had been stressing him out to an extent that he couldn't even enjoy the day that his friends had claimed was for him, and they had probably tried their best to hide their disappointment at the failed day. not only had he been being rude to his friends but he knew he was, as well. and if that didn't make it worse then he wouldn't know what else would be.

He was becoming someone he wouldn't have liked, back before everything came falling down on him one after another.

An apology was at the tip of his tongue, but Yeonjun had grabbed his shoulders before he could voice them out to him.

"Look at me, Taehyun,"

He doesn't, deciding to glare at his shoes.

"Taehyun," Yeonjun repeats, "i didn't do this because i wanted to make you anxious, okay? I care about you, hyung cares about you, and hyung doesn't want to see you sad,"

Taehyun lets out a sigh, ignoring the fact that he had made himself seem condescending by pulling the hyung card. he knew the older would never do anything that he knew would turn out horrible, not to him. or not to anyone else. as idiotic as his choices could be, if Yeonjun knew where it lead would go bad, he would never put them in that position.

That fact had made his soccer team choose him as the leader. he was empathetic and despite having a slight greed for winning, he would never attempt anything that would stain their name awfully. Yeonjun was a good person, and Taehyun couldnt wholly be mad at him.

Especially when he had taken the time to walk home with him just to tell him the fact that he had possibly helped him with his music career and his future when his house was the opposite way, under the orange street lamps that shone over the two of them in the dark coated night. Taehyun exhales, shoulders sag.

"I know," he mumbles, throat so dry that he had to repeat again after clearing his throat, "I'm so sorry, hyung,"

"That's more like it," Yeonjun smiles, pulling the smaller into a short hug, "now stop worrying so much. Huening Kai looks so depressed whenever he's talking to you and you're just staring into space,"

At that, Taehyun winces. he should really work on finding the time to worry. maybe set out a schedule or something else that would help.

"How did you even manage to contact him?" Taehyun questions, "I didn't know you... have his contact?"

"Last week's match," Yeonjun explains, "My opponent's team has a member who has a friend who's friends with the friend of Beomgyu's friend," he grins.

"What? how did you even find that out?" Taehyun asked unbelievably, then he shakes his head, "actually, i don't want to know,"

With a finger to his lips, Yeonjun shushes him, "I have my ways," he winks- with both eyes. he really has to work on that, "anyway, I've managed to convince him to convince Choi kid to have lunch by the tree at the back of the school, so be there,"

"The back of the school? that place is packed," Taehyun says in slight disappointment, "I really dont want another video of me getting socked in the face to go viral again, hyung."

"I'm having another match that day and it starts at lunch," the older grins, beginning to start the walk back towards his own place backwards, " and trust me, there won't be anyone there. they'll be too busy looking at me,"

The younger scoffs, but he also breathes a sigh of relief. Yeonjun was truly a blessing.

"Well, I'm going back!" Yeonjun says just before he bumps his back right into a pole, wincing as he rubs his neck in hopes the cashier that worked at the seven eleven store next door saw, and waves to Taehyun "Goodluck, yeah?"

"Thanks, hyung," he smiles genuinely and the moment he turned around, he was filled with a sense of relief. or something akin to it, at least.

No, this definitely didn't mean that he had everything set together, but he had an option now. something he could cling to and hope would help him. and on top of that, he had his friends to support him and to turn to as well, and he knew despite their stupid antics, they were always going to be there for him.

Slightly, for the first time that week, he feels hopeful.

A distant hey! from Yeonjun made him turn around again, and when he did, his eyes landed on a particular card in between his fingers.

"After you do it come to me and I'll return it to you!" he laughs, walking backwards before running away with a final, "Good night, love you! don't kill me!"

Taehyun stands there in bewilderment.

"Is that my fucking bus pass?!"