Vigilance

There isn’t really a tour committee, is there?

Beomgyu’s train of thoughts came to an abrupt halt at the question, rendering him thoroughly speechless. His eyes widened at the inquisition, lips parting in an attempt to speak an excuse. He felt like he was tumbling down the mountain on progress he’d made, all his attempts washed away just like that.

*What now*?

The claim that he was on the supposed tour committee was spoken on a whim, no extra through given when he faced Taehyun for the first time. He was so determined to put his plan into action as soon as possible. He hadn’t given himself the time he needed to conceive of a plausible excuse, leading him to where he was now. *Stuck*.

Taehyun watched him expectantly, doe eyes boring straight at him. When he noticed Beomgyu’s troubled state, a smirk compelled its way onto his lips. He knew he was right. There’d be no use in trying to lie again. With the way Taehyun peered at him smugly, Beomgyu was sure he was confident with his inquiry.

Still, he didn’t look necessarily mad.

“What?” Beomgyu belatedly uttered, mustering whatever came to his head first. He felt on the spot with the amount of attention Taehyun was giving him. He began fidgeting with his fingers under the table, rummaging through his thoughts to make him seem less like an idiot.

But, really, that’s what he was at this moment. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

“The tour committee for the university?” Taehyun repeated himself comfortably, leaning forward on the table as he grilled Beomgyu. “It doesn’t actually exist, does it?”

Alarms were being set off in Beomgyu’s head. Was this really the end of his short-lived game? Just like that, Soobin had won fifty dollars over Beomgyu. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to genuinely know Taehyun and lure him. Within a few days, not even a full week, he’d lost.

*It was that simple*.

“Uh,” Beomgyu blanked, dodging his gaze as he gave in, “no. It doesn’t.”

Taehyun hummed, sinking back into his seat. “Thought so.”

“How did you know?” Beomgyu queried. *What’s he got to lose*?

“People tend to research the colleges they attend, hyung,” Taehyun narrated him simply with a matter of factly tone. He didn’t seem phased by the lie, though. Something about him was completely off in this situation, as if he’d encountered something like this, someone lying to him, before.

“Ah,” Beomgyu nodded. He wondered if he should’ve gotten up and left. Maybe he would call Soobin to let him know he’d pay him by the end of the week.

“I checked the official website and there was nothing about a tour,” Taehyun further revealed. “Then, I asked Soobin-ssi yesterday after our class. He had no idea about a tour committee and when I told him you were part of it he said you made it up.”

Beomgyu felt his mood cloud at that. As if heavy rainfall was pelting down onto his state and driving him down. Of course, Soobin had a part in this. They hadn’t set any rules for the bet. He could sabotage Beomgyu in any way with no malicious feelings.

Only, Beomgyu wasn’t as mad as he should’ve been. It was reasonable and he didn’t give it as much thought. What he did focus on was Taehyun.

The boy was watching Beomgyu with an amused face, not one of hatred, resentment, or hurt. His expression was deadly neutral as if he found the situation rather amusing to begin with instead of undergoing any sort of suspicion. He had his lips in a small, playful smile and his eyes were soft.

He had dark, chocolate eyes, wide and unrevealing. The boy also had faint freckles dusted over his face, homing mostly his nose and cheeks. It was entrancing how many small features contributed to his endearing face. Everything fit so well and shaped him into such a pretty person.

The more Beomgyu looked, the more he noticed. He couldn’t deny Taehyun was attractive despite the hearts on his wrist.

“I’m just a bit curious,” Taehyun vocalized when Beomgyu didn’t, bringing the older boys' attention back to where it mattered. It mattered in the conversation. *Not his freckles*. “Why did you lie about that?”

“Uh,” Beomgyu looked down, blurting out whatever came first, “I wanted to talk to you.”

He didn’t get an immediate reply at that.

“Huh?”

“You seemed interesting and I… I needed an excuse to talk to you,” Beomgyu mumbled. He couldn’t decipher why he was so reluctant to address this or why he was abruptly toppling over his words. Maybe him being caught in the act was a deciding factor. Maybe it was the strong gaze Taehyun was giving him.

When Taehyun didn’t speak, Beomgyu mustered the courage to look up at him.

It seemed like the self-righteous, confident look had been wiped clean off of his face, substituted by one of wonderment. He was genuinely surprised, his pink lips were parted slightly, eyes confused at the response he’d gotten. Beomgyu didn’t know what he was expecting but it unmistakably wasn’t this.

He looked like an innocent child, one that had just been told something genuinely groundbreaking to the point where they couldn’t believe its authenticity.

“Oh, okay,” he eventually expressed, voice doubtful. “You could’ve just approached me with a hi or something,” he continued, trying to lighten the mood with a low voice.

Beomgyu almost had to ask what he meant by that, stunned his excuse had worked. “Yeah, that seems like a better idea now that you’ve said it.”

Taehyun smiled at him— it seemed honest. He smiled with his eyes. “Well, technically I’m still a new student,” he explained, “if you don’t mind, you could show me around some more? After we eat, at least.”

“Really?” Beomgyu simpered, dumbfounded at how easy it was. Maybe Soobin helped him by telling Taehyun.

“Yeah.”

Soobin had *definitely* helped him.

After that, they held an easy conversation, the revelation of the nonexistent tour committee long forgotten within seconds. Beomgyu felt the boy was still a bit weary with him, yet they could at least be considered friends feasibly.

Beomgyu didn’t let him pay for their food alone, adamant on paying for his own. They were on their way after that, continuing with the little tour he’d offered.

It wasn’t exactly a tour, per se. Majorly, it was more of the two boys wandering around aimlessly, Beomgyu leading him wherever he deemed worthy. They mostly discussed meager interests like music or show to things they enjoy in their major. They went off topic and off path multiple times, venturing to small shops and whatnot instead of around campus.

They’d stop at some spots as Beomgyu would find it necessary to introduce him to some of his favourite places and be on their way swiftly after that. From time to time, they’d spend a few dollars buying small, useless things from random stores, laughing after at their purchase for no specific reason.

Beomgyu had ended up buying a strawberry keychain for him.

He told him it reminded him of his hair.

Later on, they stood around the music department, close to where Beomgyu had most of his classes. The outside was modestly decorated, a scanty fountain surrounded by loitering students situated right in front of the huge doors.

The setup seemed to pique Taehyun‘s interest, pushing him to whip out his phone and snap an agile picture. Beomgyu couldn’t lie, he found it somewhat endearing with how easily the younger became captivated with such trivial things.

“It would look better if I took it with my camera,” Taehyun frowned, plush lips pouting at the picture he’d just taken.

“You didn’t bring it with you?” Beomgyu wondered aloud, glancing at the boys' full backpack.

Taehyun shook his head, his hair flowing with his movement as he zoomed into his picture. “I only have biology classes today. No need to carry equipment for photography everywhere.”

There he goes again with his molecular biology classes.

Perhaps Beomgyu was reflecting too deeply about it, but Taehyun’s participation in that major didn’t fit him. Sure, the boy seemed bright enough to take such a challenging class, but *why*? Why take a class like that alongside photography?

In addition, he never discussed it. Taehyun animatedly talked about photography. It seemed to be his passion, something he’d been doing for years and found comfort in. He mentioned it repeatedly, talking about his favourite things to take pictures off— the sky— to his least favourite pieces—people.

All in all, he never talked about his second major. In fact, he avoided it entirely. Even when Beomgyu pointedly asked, he managed to alter the topic, almost as if he was unfamiliar with talking about it.

It was intriguing, to say the least.

“Shit,” Taehyun cursed under his breath, grasping at Beomgyu’s attention. “It’s three already?”

Beomgyu flinched at the quick shift, throwing him a concerned glance. “Why? Do you have a class?” he asked, “I could walk you th—“

“No. No, no, I don’t have a class,” Taehyun faltered over his words, jostling his phone back into his pocket, “I… I just have something to do. Sorry.”

“Oh, okay,” Beomgyu furrowed his eyebrows, puzzled at his unexpected and haste, desperate mood.

“Thank you for showing me around, hyung,” Taehyun gave a short bow, barely-there as he was already backing away. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Yeah, see you,” Beomgyu mumbled, but the boy was already gone.

Something was different about him.

...__________________________...

Beomgyu was leaving his afternoon class with a bag full of assignments, dreading when he’d actually sit down to do them. The workload didn’t stop him from spending the day with his friends, though. He needed that kind of outlet right now with how much he was overthinking things.

He thought back to the day before where Taehyun had completely read through him. He thought back to the concerning things he’d said and quickly covered up. Beomgyu noticed that Taehyun didn’t give a second thought towards his hearts, acting as if they weren't permanently situated on his wrist. He never addressed them nor had he asked Beomgyu about his hearts— or, his lack of hearts.

Beomgyu regularly thought of how Taehyun strived to meet up again. They could be considered friends by now, right? It was a step closer to the bigger picture of things.

*What did the bigger picture look like, though*?

He didn’t give in to that thought. It wasn’t worth his mental energy to stress over something insignificant. It was simple and he was extensively overcomplicating it with the way his mind works. Get in, gain his trust, get out. That was how simple it should be.

Either way, it was a worry for another time. At this moment, he was looking for Soobin, Yeonjun, and Kai, who said they’d wait for him after his class ended.

In an instant, he saw the head of purple hair amongst the crowds of people. It was easy to spot him. Instantaneously, he saw Yeonjun by him, the two talking animatedly.

Well, Yeonjun was talking while Soobin stared at him with a look of genuine adoration and devotion. Beomgyu wasn’t sure if the taller boy was even listening to the continuous banter with the way he was so captivated by his face.

It wasn’t a secret that Soobin was in love with Yeonjun, no matter how adamantly he denied it. Beomgyu was glad he was able to feel that way without as much doubt and fear as him. He had it hard with the two hearts on his wrist, but not as hard as Beomgyu. It was sort of a relief that someone close to him wasn’t suffering.

“Hey,” Beomgyu called to them, smirking at how Soobin jumped at the new interval.

“Beomgyu,” Yeonjun grinned, engulfing him into a brief hug, “feels like I haven’t seen you in years.”

“We saw each other last week?”

“Same difference,” he ridiculed. “Let’s find Kai and go get some food. I’m sure I saw him around here.”

With that, the eldest went ahead of them, carefully weaving through the mass of busy students.

“Binnie, try being more lowkey when you’re staring at him,” Beomgyu teased him lowly as they trotted after him. “You look at him like he’s offering you more hearts.”

“I wasn’t staring at him,” Soobin gasped, face flushing an easy pink. “He—“

“Who’s that kid Kai’s talking to?” Yeonjun jumped into their conversation, unbeknownst to the effect he had on Soobin. Beomgyu didn’t give it much mind, finding it much more amusing at how desperately the boy was trying to hide the blush coating his cheeks.

He didn’t care much for what Yeonjun had asked until he saw a familiar head of red hair in the corner of his eyes.

Quickly averting his attention, he spotted Hueningkai talking enthusiastically with Taehyun.

Exactly what he’d tried to avoid was unfolding right before his eyes.

Why was he talking to Kai? He knew Kai was a music major too, but why was Taehyun here?

“Shit,” Beomgyu swore under his breath, unsure of how to approach the disappointing situation. He cowered behind Yeonjun, hoping the two younger boys wouldn’t spot him, for some unknown reason.

“Oh,” Soobin followed, glad to have the attention off of him, “Should we stop them?”

“What?” Yeonjun furrowed his eyebrows at their responses, looking at them expectantly. “Why? Who is he?”

Beomgyu keeps his eyes on them, mind jumbling at the sudden bump in his plan. “His name is Kang Taehyun. He’s a junior,” he explained all while keeping a side-eye on the two.

“And?” Yeonjun pushed, impatient with the suspense. “Why is it bad if Kai is talking to him? Is he an asshole or something?” He looked like he was a few seconds away from trying to save Kai. From what? He wasn’t sure.

“Probably, yeah,” Beomgyu glowered as he bit at his lip anxiously.

“Huh?” Yeonjun mumbled, looking back at the two younger boys who still haven't noticed their presence. “What are you talking about?”

“Listen, Taehyun has five hearts,” Beomgyu lowered his voice. With that piece of information, Yeonjun’s face dropped in distaste, abandoning the familiar confusion. “I bet with Soobin that I could break one of his hearts.”

Something clicked in Yeonjun’s mind, face morphing into one of mischief. Still, it didn’t stop him from homing the pitying look Beomgyu usually got. The blonde boy glanced at Beomgyu’s wrist— at his one heart— in concern, yet no words were spoken. He wouldn’t bring it up.

Beomgyu mentally thanked him for that. It was a sore topic.

“How much?” he urged instead.

“Fifty dollars.”

Yeonjun whistled lowly, a smirk playing at his lips. With that, Beomgyu knew he was already on board. “Good luck with that,” he joked. “Soobin, if you win you better take me out on a nice date,” he further teased.

Soobin seemed to take the joke to the heart, face flushing the same red it was a few minutes ago. The two had that kind of relationship. They weren’t dating, per se, but Yeonjun was overly flirty with Soobin and would say things he wouldn’t say to anyone else. Beomgyu had tried countless times to get Soobin to confess, but he’d argue saying the elder was only joking. Beomgyu wouldn’t delve into someone else’s relationship, though.

He believed everyone had to go at their own pace, no matter how much he despised the feeling.

“Shut up,” Soobin stammered instead.

Yeonjun didn’t seem to be phased by it. “How has Kai not convinced you back out?”

“Uh, he doesn’t know,” Beomgyu informed him, slightly anxious of what would happen if he’d know. “He wasn’t supposed to meet Taehyun.”

“Oh, shit,” Yeonjun gaped, raising both his eyebrows in realisation as he looked back at the two still talking.

“Yeah,” Beomgyu agreed with his concern, unsure of whether he should approach them or not.

It was concerning that Kai was talking to him in the first place, yet something else was troubling him.

What bothered him was the way Taehyun seemed somewhat relaxed talking to him. When Beomgyu had first approached him, the boy was unwilling and entirely closed off, visually confused at why a stranger had started talking to him.

In contrast, with Kai, Taehyun didn’t home the same concern. His shoulders were relaxed and his body wasn’t as closed in as before. He was talking with him comfortably, contributing to the conversation as much as Kai was.

Once again, what had Beomgyu done wrong? Was Kai just a more likable person than he had been, or did Taehyun prefer the younger over him based upon first impressions?

*Why was it bothering him*?

He felt something familiar, something he felt so very often. The same emotion he felt towards Taehyun’s five hearts. Not hatred, no. The one that pushed him to want to be in his place. To have that privilege.

Did he want to be in Kai’s place? Talking to him comfortably?

No.

No, he couldn’t want that. That was absurd. Beomgyu visibly frowned to himself for thinking of something like that. It was irrational and just something he thought of in the heat of the moment. He’d wanted it to go through with the little game he had going on.

“I think they noticed us,” Soobin suddenly spoke, thankfully distracting Beomgyu before he began spiraling.

True to his words, the two were looking their way. Beomgyu’s eyes met with Taehyun’s almost immediately, familiarity clouding between them. He gave Beomgyu a soft smile, one that was barely noticeable, and a small wave. The action stirred at his insides.

Kai was speaking directly to the red-haired boy, hands moving in an inviting motion. He was probably asking him to join them, which was natural with his considerate personality.

Taehyun seemed to decline his offer, though, slightly shaking his head as he adverted his attention back to the taller boy. Kai seemed to frown at that but he let him go.

Beomgyu watched as the two separated, Kai, walking towards him and Taehyun the opposite direction. He left without explanation as to why he was around the Music department in the first place.

“Don’t tell Kai,” Beomgyu reminded Yeonjun quickly.

Before Yeonjun could affirm, Hueningkai had already reached them, an innocent smile resting on his lips as he approached unbeknownst to their malicious plan.

“Hey, Hyuka,” Beomgyu greeted him as if the previous conversation hadn’t even happened, “you met Taehyun?”

Kai beamed, “Yeah, I recognised him because of the hearts and the red hair and thought I’d talk to him.”

“Do you know why he was here?” Beomgyu asked, looking over Kai’s shoulder as if to confirm that the boy was really there.

“He said he was looking for you, actually,” Kai informed him, shrugging. “He looked a bit lost so I approached him. I asked if he wanted to join us but he said he didn’t want to intrude and would see you another time.”

Beomgyu didn’t know what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t that. He felt a bit dumbfounded and stunned at the response he’d gotten. He wasn’t sure *why* he was genuinely stricken by it. Why was he looking for him? It made him a bit anxious and weary, to begin with.

Soobin seemed to notice his concern. “Let’s go eat now, please,” he diverted the conversation.

Beomgyu realised then that when he started overthinking, Soobin would jump in to distract him. It wasn’t a reliable antidote, yet it worked, to a certain extent. He was thankful for the effort.

Still, as they were on their way, his mind lingered on what Taehyun might’ve wanted.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***