Beomgyu's POV:

A voice broke through the haze of my sleep, calling my name and gently shaking me awake.

"Beomgyu, wake up and take your medicine."

My vision was blurry, and for a moment, I thought I saw Yeonjun's face. My heart raced as I blinked to clear my eyes, only to see Kai standing beside me. Disappointment washed over me, but my pounding headache didn’t leave room for dwelling on the feeling.

I forced myself to sit up, my body heavy and sluggish. "You’re back?" I mumbled, my voice hoarse.

"Yeah," Kai said, his tone filled with worry as he handed me a glass of water and some pills. "Hyung, you still look pale."

I nodded weakly, taking the medicine and swallowing it with the water. It left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth.

"Where’s Yeonjun hyung?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Kai hesitated before answering, "Um... in his room, I guess. I haven’t seen him since I got home."

I frowned slightly, the answer sitting uneasily in my chest. "Can you call him here?" I asked, barely above a whisper.

Kai gave me a small smile and nodded. "Alright."

As he left the room, I pressed my fingers to my temple, trying to soothe the ache in my head. The fever had subsided somewhat, but the dull, throbbing pain lingered like an unwelcome guest. There was also this strange, heavy pressure in my head, almost as if it were warning me about something.

I waited, minutes ticking by. The door opened, and I looked up, expecting Yeonjun. Instead, Kai returned.

"Yeonjun hyung is sleeping," he said, his expression unreadable.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Sleeping? At this time?"

Kai nodded. "Yeah. Aren’t you guys supposed to go live?" I asked, confusion creeping into my voice.

"No. Manager Lee said we’d wait until you’re feeling better. There’s no rush," Kai said, his tone light as he smiled reassuringly.

I nodded, though the unease didn’t leave me. "Alright," I murmured.

Kai tucked the blanket around me before heading for the door. "Get some rest, hyung," he said softly before leaving, the door clicking shut behind him.

Alone again, I leaned back against the headboard. My thoughts spun, more from confusion than the fever.

Why is Yeonjun hyung acting like this? He’s never distant when I’m sick, if anything, he’s the first to hover, taking care of every little thing. He does it for all of us, not just me.

Something felt off, but my headache drowned out any attempts to think clearly. I closed my eyes, frustration gnawing at me. Whatever was going on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more than just bad timing.

Author’s Note:

Two days had passed, and Beomgyu was finally well enough to stand on his own and move around. During those two days confined to his bed, not once had he seen Yeonjun. Every time he asked one of the members to call him, they would return with an excuse: Yeonjun was either asleep, busy with dance practice, or tied up in song rehearsals.

Chaeyon had taken care of Beomgyu during his recovery, always attentive and kind. Beomgyu appreciated her efforts, but the lingering absence of Yeonjun left him feeling uneasy. Confusion turned to something heavier, a dull ache of betrayal.

He had wanted Yeonjun to be there, even if only for a moment, to check in on him, to show he cared. But Yeonjun’s absence spoke louder than any words. It felt as though Beomgyu didn’t matter to him, and that thought stung more than he wanted to admit.

Now that Beomgyu was finally able to stand, he couldn’t shake the weight in his chest.

Yeonjun’s POV:

I knew I was isolating myself too much, but I couldn’t stop. The silence I wrapped around myself felt suffocating, yet somehow comforting. It wasn’t just solitude I sought, it was escape.

The truth was, I couldn’t face Beomgyu. Even when I knew he was sleeping, I couldn’t bring myself to check on him. Seeing him lying there, vulnerable and unwell, only twisted the knife deeper in my chest. It reminded me of how much I wanted something I could never have.

I knew I was worrying Soobin, Kai, and Taehyun. They’d come into my room, their concern written on their faces. I’d nod, brushing them off with the same vague assurance. Taehyun, however, was more persistent. To him, I could only respond with, “I don’t know.” Because that’s exactly how I felt lost and directionless.

Watching Chaeyon care for Beomgyu from a distance, watching Beomgyu smile and laugh despite his fever, it was unbearable. Each moment chipped away at my resolve, leaving me raw.

I came to a painful conclusion: the only way to free myself from this turmoil was to create distance.

It hurt. It hurt more than I could have imagined. But it was necessary. It was unfair to feel more for him than I should.

And confessing? That wasn’t an option. I knew it would only ruin everything between us. So, I chose the only path I could, distance, no matter how much it shattered me inside.

I stepped out of my room, my throat dry and craving water. The moment I opened the door, I froze.

Beomgyu was there, standing just a few feet away.

For a second, I couldn’t move. He was supposed to be resting, was he feeling better now? Relief washed over me, but it was quickly overshadowed by a sinking dread. I wasn’t ready to face him.

“O-oh—” I started, fumbling for words.

But before I could say anything, his expression silenced me. The betrayal, the sadness, and the anger etched onto his face cut deeper than any words could.

"Where were you all this time I was sick?" he asked, his voice sharp and piercing.

I faltered, clearing my throat as I avoided his gaze. "I, uh... I needed water," I muttered quickly, brushing past him toward the kitchen.

"Yeonjun," he called after me, his voice firm. "I’m talking to you."

I didn’t stop. My legs carried me forward as if running would erase the guilt that gnawed at my chest.

"Choi Yeonjun!" he called again, louder this time.

I reached the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and twisted the cap off with shaking hands. Taking a long sip, I tried to ignore the weight of his presence behind me.

"Why are you avoiding me, hyung?" His voice cut through the air like a knife, laced with frustration.

I kept my back to him, refusing to look at his face. I couldn’t. I was afraid of what I’d see, afraid it would break me.

"...I’ve been waiting," he said, his voice quieter now. It cracked on the last word, sending a jolt through my chest. "I’ve been waiting for you to come to my room, to check on me. I needed you, hyung. I needed you the most... and you didn’t. You didn’t even ask how I was feeling."

The raw emotion in his voice was unbearable. My grip on the water bottle tightened as I fought the urge to turn around, to pull him into my arms and tell him everything.

But I couldn’t.

"Tell me," he continued, his voice trembling. "What did I do wrong?"

When he reached out, his fingers brushing my arm, I instinctively stepped back, retreating as if his touch burned.

I couldn’t let him see me like this. I couldn’t let him see the storm raging inside me.

Without a word, I turned and fled to my room, slamming the door shut behind me.

I leaned against it, my chest heaving as I clenched my fists, tears stinging the corners of my eyes. The ache in my heart was unbearable, and yet, I knew this was the only way to protect him, from me.