Chapter Text
“Dude, did Beomgyu texted any of you? Why isn’t he here yet?” Yeonjun said as he had another look at his watch. It had been almost half an hour since their promised time, but Beomgyu hadn’t arrived to the café yet. The five boys, though live together and see one another nearly every day, made a promise to check out the new café that Huening wanted to visit so bad. The four of them had made it on time, but there was no sight of Beomgyu. “Is he not finished with his classes?” Taehyun asked as he took a sip of his strawberry milkshake. “Did he forget? He did leave an ‘ok’ emoji on our group chat earlier today though.” Huening added. “He’s not replying to me or picking up my call. Maybe he’s in class afterall.” Yeonjun sighed.
“I don’t think he’s still in class though. Isn’t that his classmate?” Soobin mentioned as he pointed at Beomgyu’s friend who they usually see hanging out around Beomgyu. “Eunho!” Yeonjun calls out to the boy. The boy walked towards the four. “Oh, hi Yeonjun-hyung! What’s up?”
“Do you know where Beomgyu is? He’s not responding to my calls and texts. I thought he’s in class, but you’re here.” Yeonjun asked.
“I’m not sure, hyung. He didn’t reply to my text as well. He ghosted me after sending me a text saying he’s skipping today’s class.” Eunho shrugged.
“He skipped?” Yeonjun frowned, wondering why Beomgyu didn’t tell anyone about it. And wonder what his brother could be doing. “Hmm, okay then, thanks Eunho.” Yeonjun mumbled and turned to Soobin as soon as Eunho left. “You’re his roommate. Didn’t he tell you anything today?”
“Yah, you’re his brother! He doesn’t have to tell everything if he doesn’t want to anyway. And I was getting late today, plus he was still asleep when I went out for my morning lecture today so I didn’t have a chance to talk to him.” Soobin defended himself.
“Now that I think of it, it’s kinda weird because I didn’t hear Beomgyu-hyung’s voice today.” Taehyun added.
“You’re right. I didn’t hear the motor running in his mouth today.” Yeonjun frowned. His brother was never quiet. Okay, maybe for the short period of time when Beomgyu first arrived to his home. But after that, it was never quiet. There’s always something wrong if his brother gone quiet. “My brother sense is tingling. I don’t feel good about this.” Yeonjun said as he tried to call Beomgyu again.
“Maybe he’s at home?” Huening said. “But he never says no to free food, that’s definitely weird.” Soobin reasons.
“Yeah, but it’s weird when a wild Choi Soobin treats us free food. Maybe Beomgyu-hyung got wary of you.” Taehyun joked.
“Yah! I’m just being nice because I’m in a good mood today. It’s been a while since I go home. Y’all gonna miss me when I’m gone tonight.” Soobin said. He was planning to go back to Ansan and returning the day after. The five boys were supposed to be hanging out before Soobin’s sister come to pick him up.
“I’m gonna go home to check on that brat.” Yeonjun said as he stood up. “Ah, it’s always cute seeing Yeonjun-hyung acting brotherly when they always try to annoy each other most of the time.” Huening teases. “Of course, he’s my baby brother.” Yeonjun said in a pout. “Even when he’s an annoying brat most of the time.”
Soobin chuckled at that. “Bye! Tell Beomgyu not to miss his roommate too much! I’ll be back tomorrow.” Soobin winked. “Ah, and let us know if you find him.” Soobin added, sincerely worried about his roommate. Yeonjun nodded, “Have fun boys. See y’all at home, and safe trip to you!” Yeonjun pointed finger guns at Soobin before waving goodbye.
He quickly rushes home, worried about his brother. Though Beomgyu and Yeonjun might look like regular friends in other people’s eyes, Yeonjun had always accepted Beomgyu as his own brother, adopted or not. But both of them really look like friends so most people got surprised when they found out that the two of them are actually brothers. They don’t really tell everyone that Beomgyu was actually adopted by Yeonjun’s parents, and their blinding visuals in campus didn’t make anyone doubt that they are brothers. But Beomgyu apparently told one of his classmates that he’s Yeonjun’s adopted brother, so the news got around and the whole campus eventually found out. Not that Yeonjun minded anyway, because Beomgyu is his brother, connected by blood or not.
Yeonjun kept calling Beomyu on his way to their apartment, but to no avail. When he reached home, he quickly rushes into Beomgyu and Soobin’s shared room and left a sigh as he saw Beomgyu softly snoring on his bed. The commotion must have awakened Beomgyu, because his eyes fluttered open as soon as Yeonjun got into his room. “I thought you went missing.” Yeonjun said.
Beomgyu sat up as he rubbed the sleepiness from his eyes. “Hyung?” Beomgyu’s eyes widened all of a sudden. “Shit. What time is it?” Beomgyu quickly reached out to his phone. “I overslept.” Beomgyu groaned, knowing that he slept through their appointment. “Yeah, you just missed out when Soobin’s finally paying.” Yeonjun chuckled a little, relieved now that he saw Beomgyu in front of him. “You should tell them that you overslept. Everyone’s worried.” Yeonjun added.
Beomgyu smirked at that. “I always know that I’m important in this house.” Beomyu winked.
Yeonjun rolled his eyes. “Why did you skip class today anyway? We saw Eunho at the café and he told us you skipped.”
“Are you going to snitch?” Beomgyu pouted. “I’m snitching on you as well if you do. I have plenty of cards on my hands too.”
“Yah! Don’t you dare! I’m not planning to tell mom and dad anything!” Yeonjun said as he throws a pillow at Beomgyu. “I’m gonna tell mom that you’re trying to suffocate me with a pillow.” Beomgyu stuck his tongue out.
“Oh yeah? I’m gonna tell mom you tried to drown me at the pool last week.” Yeonjun retorted. Beomgyu laughed at that. “Okay, you win this time. Just don’t tell mom or dad that I skipped. I’m just too lazy to move today. Being too famous is taking a toll on me. I’m too tired of hearing the compliments to my blinding visuals at campus.”
Yeonjun rolled his eyes again. “I should be saying that. Everyone knows I’m the better looking brother here.” Beomgyu made a gagging sound at that. Yeonjun lets out a chuckle. “Remember to tell them you’re fine. I’m going back to my room. Unless my baby brother wants his brother to sleep with him tonight in case he gets lonely without his roommate?” Yeonjun wiggled his eyebrows. “Ew, no thanks.” Beomgyu replied.
“I know you love me~” Yeonjun said in a sing-song voice as he left the room. Some might wonder why they aren’t sharing a room though they’re brothers, but the five boys had known one another for a long time, so when they decided to move into an apartment together, they decided based on a random lucky draw. That was how Soobin-Beomgyu ended up in one room, and the rest of three in another.
Yeonjun received a text message from Beomgyu in their group chat saying he overslept and smiled. It seemed like he got worried over nothing. Though Beomgyu’s voice sounded a bit scratchy, Yeonjun shrugged it off as Beomgyu had just awaken from his nap. He went on to take a shower and when he came out, the maknaes were already home. The three youngest were at the kitchen, with the two youngest busy making ramen for themselves and Beomgyu taking small bites at the bread in his hands. It was a habit of him since they were kids, always so active and running all around, but always looking so endearing when he’s eating or sleeping. “Hyung, you’re only eating that for dinner? You sure you don’t want some ramen?” Huening offered Beomgyu.
“Nah, not hungry.” Beomyu replied.
“I’m gonna tell mom~” Yeonjun teases.
“Don’t make me throw this bread at your face.” Beomyu retorted.
“Hyung, you sure you’re okay? You look kinda pale to me.” Taehyun said, as he took some glances at Beomgyu as he slurps his ramen.
Beomgyu shrugged. “I’m fine. Probably slept a bit too much today so my head feels kinda heavy.” He replied. “But, hey, you know what could fix this? Sleeping. Goodnight, y’all.” Beomgyu said as he puts away his half-eaten bread and headed to his room.
“Him and his dumb logic, I swear.” Taehyun shook his head, half amused at Beomgyu’s antics.
It was barely 8 p.m. but Beomgyu had retreated to his room to sleep. The three boys hung out on their own in the living room for around two hours until Yeonjun decided to check on Beomgyu. He couldn’t help but to be worried. Beomgyu had skipped class, missed out on their appointment, barely ate, and going to bed earlier than usual. He slowly opened the door to Beomgyu’s room. His brother was all curled up. But as he looked a bit closer, the boy was shaking hard, his hands gripping onto the blanket like his life depended on it. “Gyu?” Yeonjun frowned as he slowly turned Beomgyu to take a look at his brother’s face. He took in a gasp as he saw Beomgyu’s flushed cheeks and felt the heat off him. “Beomgyu, baby, wake up for me, hm?” Yeonjun shook the boy, a little too hard in his panicked state. The younger jumped in his sleep. His eyes unfocused as he quickly sat up and retreated to the corner of his bed. “I’m sorry. I’ll be g-good, dad. Sorry.”
“Beomgyu-ah, what are you talking about? It’s hyung. Let me look at you.” Yeonjun said as he tried to reach out to him.
But Beomgyu only scooted further away, his eyes filled with fears, his hands shaking even harder now. “I-I can take a good care of mom, please. I promise.” Beomgyu said, wincing at the pain in his throat as he spoke. Beomgyu pulled his knees towards his chest, his arms around his knees as if he’s protecting himself against the world. “It’s okay, it’s Yeonjun-hyung. I’m not gonna hurt you. Just let me look at you, okay? Please.” Yeonjun said, his voice trembling. It hurts him to see Beomgyu like this.
“I’ll be good, dad. I promi-“ Beomgyu barely croaks out as he threw moved to the other side of the bed before throwing up onto his bedroom floor. He didn’t throw up much, probably because he barely ate for the whole day. But even through his feverish mind, he quickly got up from his bed, reaching out for the tissues, desperately trying to clean up his own mess. “I-I’m sorry. I’ll clean this up, don’t be mad. Please, I’m s-sorry.”
Yeonjun quickly grabbed his hands. “Stop it. It’s okay.”
“N-no.”
Yeonjun only hardened his grip on Beomgyu’s wrists, he could see the way Beomgyu winced in pain. “Look at me!” he raised his voice out of desperation. And when he finally caught Beomyu’s attention, he softened his grip and his voice. “Look at me, gyu. It’s hyung. Yeonjun-hyung. You’re not there anymore. He’s not here anymore. You’re with me. You’re mine. Hm? You hear me?” He gently runs his finger into Beomgyu’s hair.
Beomgyu looks up at him, “Hyung?”
Yeonjun smiled sadly. “That’s right. It’s hyung.”
It was like Beomgyu regained his senses all of a sudden, because he slowly wiggled to free his hand from Yeonjun’s grip. “H-hyung. Sorry, I, uh, must have been a nightmare. I made a mess…” Beomgyu muttered awkwardly, avoiding eye contact with Yeonjun.
“It’s okay, Hyung will clean this up.” Yeonjun replied. “You’re sick.”
“Hyungs?” Taehyun and Huening are standing by the door, peeking into the room. “Is everything okay? We, uh, hear you shouting.” Huening mumbled.
Yeonjun sighed. “Beomgyu’s sick.”
Huening eyes widened at the news. “Beomgyu-hyung, are you okay? Is it bad?”
“I’ll help clean up.” Taehyun quickly left the room to get some supplies when he saw the pool of vomit on the floor.
Beomgyu smiled, “I’m fine, just a little sick, that’s all.” He reassured. “Hyung, I’ll clean this up myself. Go sleep.”
“Shut up if you don’t want me to tell mom.” Yeonjun said as he took the old cloth from Taehyun to clean up.
“That’s not fair.” Beomgyu mumbled.
“You know what’s unfair? You not telling me that you’re sick.” Yeonjun retorted. “Huening-ah, can you grab some fresh clothes for this dumbass here?”
Huening nodded and immediately ruffled through Beomgyu’s closet for a loose shirt before sitting on Beomgyu’s bed. “Okay, arms up.” Yeonjun said. “I can do it myself, hyung.” Beomgyu said in a pout. “I said: arms up.” Yeonjun rolled his eyes as he peeled off Beomgyu’s sweaty shirt off him. He grabbed his old shirt as well as the dirty cloth and headed out the room as Huening helped Beomgyu into his fresh shirt. Taehyun returned with some pills and water. “Yeonjun-hyung wants you to take these.” Taehyun said. “He’s mad?” Beomgyu looked at Taehyun, like a kicked puppy. Taehyun shook his head. “We all know how he looks like when he’s mad. He’s not mad.” Taehyun wasn’t lying about that, if anything, Yeonjun looked more hurt than mad. But Taehyun wasn’t sure what to say. Sure, the five of them have been friends for a while now. He knows about their relationship, but he knows that there’s some missing stories they never told, he doesn’t want to assume anything nor make them talk about it. So he’s just gonna go with the flow. He’s not in a position to do anything.
“Hey, you two.” Yeonjun poked his head out from the door, calling out to the two youngest who are still in Beomgyu’s room. “Come out, the teddy bear needs to sleep, and I don’t want you two to catch whatever he get.”
“But, hyung-“ Huening tries to protest.
“Let’s go, huening-ah.” Taehyun said. “Feel better soon, hyung.”
Beomgyu smiled, “Aish, don’t worry about me. Good night.” Beomgyu said.
When the two youngest finally leave, Yeonjun walked in to tuck Beomgyu back into his bed. “I’m not a kid, you know.” Beomgyu chuckled. Yeonjun ignored Beomgyu’s remark. “I’m taking Soobin’s bed tonight.”
“Ah, hyung. Just leave me alone. I’ll be fine.” Beomgyu whined.
“None of your opinion asked. That’s final. Now, sleep. I’ll sleep here tonight after I finish with my project.” Yeonjun said. Before heading out to the living room to work on his project, he turned back to look at Beomgyu. “You’ll tell me when you’re hurting, right?”
Beomgyu hummed in response. Because if he says it out loud, it would be a lie.