Beomgyu’s POV:

I stood frozen, tears spilling down my cheeks before I could stop them. His absence hurt more than I ever thought it could. My chest tightened painfully, a swirl of confusion and betrayal making it hard to breathe.

Why was he doing this to me? What had I done wrong?

I clenched my fists, trying to keep the sobs at bay, but my emotions betrayed me. Before I knew it, I was moving, my legs carrying me to Yeonjun’s door. I banged on it with trembling hands, tears streaming down my face.

"Hyung, open the door! Tell me what’s wrong!" I shouted, my voice cracking with desperation.

No response.

"Hyung, please... you’re killing me. Don’t shut me out!" I cried, my voice breaking as I hiccuped through my sobs.

Still, nothing.

I pounded on the door one last time, but the silence inside was deafening. My fists faltered, and I stepped back, my breath hitching as I wiped at my tears.

Why? Why was he doing this to me?

“Beomgyu?”

I turned at the sound of Soobin’s voice, startled by his presence. His expression was a mix of concern and confusion.

Quickly, I scrubbed at my face, trying to erase any trace of my tears. “Hyung...” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Soobin approached me, his gaze flickering between the closed door and my tear-streaked face. “What’s wrong?” he asked softly, his tone full of worry.

I swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in my throat as I shook my head. “Nothing,” I lied, my voice shaky and unconvincing.

Soobin didn’t look convinced. His eyes darted back to Yeonjun’s door. “Did Yeonjun hyung say something to you?”

I shook my head again, more vigorously this time. He wasn’t saying anything, and that silence was what hurt the most.

Soobin sighed, clearly unconvinced but unwilling to push further. He handed me a glass of water, his brows furrowed with worry. “You’re still recovering, Beomgyu. You can’t cry like this, it’s only going to make you worse.”

I shook my head, gently resisting as he pressed the glass toward me. “I’m fine,” I muttered, my voice hoarse and strained.

But the puffiness of my eyes and the tear tracks on my cheeks told a different story, one I couldn’t hide.

“Soobin hyung, why is Yeonjun hyung treating me like this?” My voice trembled, cracking under the weight of my emotions.

Soobin fell silent, his lips pressed into a thin line as if he was choosing his words carefully. Finally, he sighed, placing a comforting hand on my back.

“I don’t know, Beomgyu. I really don’t know what’s gotten into him,” he said softly, his tone apologetic. “But don’t take his behavior to heart. I’m sure he’s just going through something personal... something he might share with us later.”

I nodded weakly, but deep down, I knew Soobin’s words weren’t true. I knew Yeonjun. If it were a personal matter, he wouldn’t single me out like this. He wouldn’t treat me differently. Something was seriously wrong, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was at the center of it.

Yeonjun’s POV:

I sat on the floor, my arms wrapped around my knees, leaning against the door Beomgyu had been banging on just moments ago. His desperate cries echoed in my mind, each one slicing through me like a knife.

How could I be so heartless?

Tears streamed down my face, silent but relentless. The pain was unbearable, but I couldn’t let myself give in. This was the only way to keep everything from falling apart.

The ache in my chest grew heavier, and my exhaustion finally caught up with me. I hadn’t slept in over 22 hours, and it was starting to take its toll. But how could I sleep, knowing I was the cause of someone else’s pain? Of his pain?

Eventually, I forced myself onto the bed and willed my eyes to close, though the weight of guilt made it nearly impossible.

Time skipped.

“How could you do this to me, hyung?”
“I hate you.”
“You’re so cruel, hyung. I hate you now.”
“You’re selfish.”
“You gave me pain.”

My eyes snapped open, heart pounding as I jolted upright. My cheeks were damp, my breath uneven.

It was a nightmare. But his voice—it was Beomgyu’s voice—still echoed in my mind, haunting me.

I rubbed my eyes, wiping away the lingering tears, and glanced at my phone. Three hours had passed since I’d collapsed into bed. My body felt heavy, but my mind refused to let me rest. Sleep was impossible when the nightmares followed me, even into my dreams.

A knock at the door broke the silence.

“Who is it?” I asked, my voice hoarse and groggy.

“It’s me, Taehyun. Can I come in?”

I sighed, already bracing myself. “Yeah, come in.”

The door opened, and Taehyun stepped in, shutting it quietly behind him. His face was lined with concern as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Were you sleeping?” he asked, his voice gentle.

I nodded slightly, sitting up straighter.

“Can I talk to you, hyung?” he asked hesitantly.

I exhaled deeply, running a hand through my hair. “I know what this is about, Taehyun,” I said softly.

“Hyung,” he began, his tone careful, “please don’t treat Beomgyu hyung like this. He’s not okay.”

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze.

“Taehyun, you know the situation I’m in. I don’t have a choice,” I said quietly.

“It’s not like I want to treat him this way. I hate it. But I can’t let things spiral out of control,” I added, my voice cracking under the weight of my words.

Taehyun’s gaze didn’t waver. “Hyung, Beomgyu can’t tolerate this. He hasn’t been eating properly. He isn’t talking to anyone. It’s hurting him, and it’s obvious to all of us.”

His words hit me harder than I expected. The thought of Beomgyu suffering because of me made my chest tighten painfully.

“Taehyun, don’t you see? If I let my feelings take over, it’ll only hurt him more. Even if by some miracle he felt the same way, which he doesn’t, it would ruin everything. I can’t risk that,” I explained, my voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyun stared at me for a moment before speaking again. “At least talk to him, hyung. You’re pushing him too far.”

“I can’t,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“Hyung...”

“I just can’t,” I said again, my voice breaking as I turned away, unable to face him....