In the dim stillness of his unlit room, Beomgyu lay unconscious on his bed, the air cold and unmoving. At first, he appeared tranquil, his breathing steady. But that peace soon fractured—his brow furrowed, a sheen of sweat gathering on his forehead. A soft, almost inaudible moan escaped his lips as his body began to shift restlessly, disturbed by unseen turmoil.
A haunting, fiendish laughter echoed through the depths of his mind, invading his fragile peace and transforming it into a nightmare.
In his dream, Beomgyu found himself restrained—his limbs locked by vile, monstrous figures. Their eyes gleamed with malevolence, red-tinted and soulless, their wide grins twisted and cruel. Their faces crept closer, becoming horrifyingly familiar, plunging Beomgyu into raw, paralyzing fear. He could feel their hands, cold and sinful, roaming across his body. All he could do was whisper, pleading softly—desperately—not to be touched again.
The jocks continued to laugh, unrelenting in their cruelty, taking pleasure in his helplessness. He cried for help, but no voice came. No matter how much he fought, his strength was no match for theirs. Then, a pair of hands wrapped around his neck. His eyes widened in terror, meeting Mingyu's gaze—cold, empty, and monstrous. He gasped, choking, the world around him beginning to distort as the jocks' laughter reverberated in his skull.
Just when he thought he would die, Beomgyu jolted awake.
He gasped, drenched in sweat, heart racing. Disoriented, he scanned the room for any signs of danger. No one was there. It had only been a dream—but one that felt horrifyingly real.
Since the day of the incident, sleep had become a battlefield. Every night, the same terror replayed in his dreams—jocks chasing him, hurting him, taunting him. The trauma clung to him like a second skin. He buried his face in his hands, running trembling fingers through his hair in an attempt to calm himself. But the fear still lived in him, festering.
It was a fear unlike anything he had felt before—not even his parents had frightened him this deeply.
He often found himself spiraling—overthinking, unable to escape the feeling that they were still out there. Watching. Waiting. Hiding in shadows, ready to strike the moment he let his guard down.
That thought alone made him shut his eyes tightly, covering his ears as he whimpered, "Just leave me alone. P-Please…"
The fear consumed him, a constant threat he didn't know how to defeat. Would it ever go away? Or was he doomed to live with it forever?
He curled beneath his pillow, his voice no louder than a whisper, praying for peace—praying for the nightmares to end.
Then, a soft beep interrupted the stillness.
His new phone—bought in secret without his mother's knowledge—lit up with notifications. He grabbed it sluggishly. Online posts flooded the screen, all about the incident, the growing rumors, and the still-ongoing manhunt for the missing jocks. Mingyu. Vernon. Junhui.
So many questions swirled in Beomgyu's head. Where were they hiding? What were they planning? Would they ever be found? Or would he have to spend the rest of his life waiting for the next attack?
He didn't know.
He could only wonder. Fearfully.
+×+
Elsewhere, Beomgyu moved through his days in a daze, everything around him muted and distant.
Ever since the incident, the school had been caught in a storm of backlash. Parents were outraged. Many questioned how Mingyu and his gang had been allowed to terrorize others for so long without consequence. The administration tried to assure them that everything was under control, but no one truly believed it.
Rumors circulated. Accusations flew. The school's reputation was crumbling.
Some parents pulled their children out immediately.
Beomgyu's own mother had been furious—not for his safety, but for the family's image. She wanted him transferred to a different school, and his father agreed. Beomgyu, devastated, had begged to stay just until the semester ended. Surprisingly, they allowed it—under strict conditions.
He had also confessed everything to them about Kai and Taehyun. At first, they were unsupportive, but he pushed—pleaded—and eventually won the right to remain close to his friends for just a little longer.
As for the incident, he had asked Mr. Park Chanyeol to keep everything secret. The police respected his wishes and kept the reports confidential. They even helped discreetly destroy Mingyu's phone, the one that held the incriminating photo of Kai and Soobin. No one could be certain if other copies existed, but Beomgyu held on to hope. That one phone had likely been the only threat.
The storm had passed… for now.
But Beomgyu hadn't fully returned to himself.
Two days from now, the exams would begin. He knew he needed to focus on his studies—but why? He was leaving anyway. Transferring. None of it would matter soon.
And yet… it did matter.
He couldn't let himself fail—not even in a minor subject. Studying wasn't just habit—it was his last form of control, the one thing he still felt good at. In a world of chaos, it was his only anchor. His pride depended on it. It made him feel like he had purpose—like he mattered.
His complicated mind clung to that one truth: Excellence was survival.
Then there was Yeonjun.
Beomgyu had barely seen him in the days following the attack. The distance between them had grown colder, heavier. It was like Yeonjun had vanished into a dream, becoming untouchable.
He knew why.
It was his mother.
She must have said something. Something cruel, something threatening—forcing Yeonjun to pull away. To protect him. But it only deepened the ache in Beomgyu's chest.
He missed him. Desperately.
All he wanted was one more chance. One conversation. One moment to make things right before it was too late.
He wished he could turn everything back to the way it was.
And he hoped—prayed—that Yeonjun still felt the same way.
Before time ran out.
+×+
Soobin sat across from Kai, utterly captivated. He was supposed to be helping the younger study for his exams, but all he could focus on was how adorable Kai looked. His brows were furrowed in concentration, lips slightly pouted as he tapped his pencil rhythmically against the table. The confusion written across Kai's face only made him more endearing.
Soobin's chest swelled with warmth. His eyes softened, tracing every detail—the tilt of Kai's head, the way his lashes fluttered when he blinked, the gentle scrunch of his nose. He couldn't stop smiling.
Kai looked up, noticing the way Soobin was staring. "Why are you laughing? Is there something funny?"
Soobin leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. "It's just that... you're so captivating to look at. I could watch you all day and never get tired of your face."
Kai's ears turned pink as he shyly looked away. "This test is so hard… I don't know if I'll do well. Even with your help."
"You will," Soobin whispered gently. "You always do. And besides, didn't I promise you a reward?"
Kai tried to focus on the paper again, but Soobin moved from his seat, coming to sit beside him. He leaned in close, close enough for Kai to feel his breath brushing against his cheek. The younger boy stilled, heart hammering in his chest.
"I-I can't concentrate when you're this close," Kai mumbled. "Is this part of the test too?"
Soobin chuckled and gently pulled him into his arms, burying his face against Kai's neck. "What do you think?"
Kai let out a small gasp, his pencil dropping from his fingers. His entire body warmed at the contact, his cheeks burning with embarrassment and something else—something deeper.
Then Soobin placed a delicate kiss on his cheek… and then another. And another. Kai's breath hitched with each one.
"S-Soobin… I'm not done with my test…"
But Soobin had already plucked the paper from his hands, glancing over it before smirking playfully. "You haven't answered half of it." He tossed it aside, then gently guided Kai back onto the sofa, pinning him beneath his gaze.
They lay there for a moment, eyes locked, the world around them fading to nothing. Soobin traced his fingers along Kai's cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over his lips.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered, awed. "Do you know what you do to me?"
Kai didn't respond. He was too lost in the way Soobin looked at him, like he was the only person that mattered. Like he was precious.
Soobin leaned in and kissed him—softly at first, reverently. Kai's fingers trembled against Soobin's shirt, holding on, allowing the kiss to deepen. When their lips parted, Soobin pressed his forehead to Kai's, his voice barely audible.
"I want you… but only if you want it too."
Kai's hands tightened around his. His voice was a whisper, shaky but full of resolve. "I want to… I really do."
Soobin pulled back, searching his face. "Are you sure? We can stop—"
But Kai kissed him, silencing him with trembling lips and unwavering eyes. "Don't hold back," he whispered. "Not tonight."
Soobin was breathless with awe, overwhelmed not by desire alone, but by the strength Kai showed. He watched as the younger slowly lifted his shirt, exposing skin like he was shedding fear itself. Soobin reached out, brushing his fingers along Kai's side with the utmost care, as if touching something sacred.
"Why are you so beautiful…" he murmured again, as if in a trance.
Kai blushed and looked away, but Soobin gently turned his face toward him. Their eyes met—one shy, the other full of devotion. "Are you really sure?"
Kai nodded, lips parting. "Yes."
And then they kissed again—longer, deeper, more urgent. They held each other like they were discovering something new. Like they were finally letting themselves feel it all—love, longing, safety, warmth.
Clothes were slowly removed, not with haste, but reverence. Every touch, every sigh, every heartbeat brought them closer. Soobin's lips trailed reverently across Kai's skin, planting kisses like promises—gentle on his collarbone, on his chest, along the curve of his neck. Kai whimpered softly, not from fear, but from the kind of vulnerability that came from feeling deeply loved.
When Soobin noticed Kai biting back sounds, he whispered against his skin, "Let go. I want to hear everything you feel."
Kai finally let himself be heard—soft, breathy cries that grew with every caress. He clung to Soobin like he was the only anchor left in the world. For the first time in so long, fear did not rule him.
Soobin worshipped him, not in haste but in rhythm, making sure every movement was filled with patience, love, and reverence. When they finally reached their peak, their bodies trembling, hearts racing, Soobin held Kai close, pressing kisses to his damp forehead as they both came down from the high.
Kai was crying softly.
Soobin looked at him in alarm, but Kai shook his head. "It's okay," he whispered, smiling through his tears. "I'm just happy… really happy."
Soobin wiped his tears away, his expression so full of love it nearly broke Kai open. "You're safe with me," he whispered. "Always."
Kai cupped his face, their noses brushing. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me… Thank you."
Soobin pulled him into another kiss—slow, deep, and full of silent vows.
That night, in the quiet of their shared warmth, Kai finally felt whole.