Pretty Like Poetry | TAEJUN

After arriving at the restaurant reserved for the students on their first night, Yeonjun and Taehyun found Beomgyu looking less than thrilled. He sat with shoulders slumped, his usual bright energy replaced by a dramatic scowl, the corners of his mouth twisted downward in an exaggerated frown. The air around him seemed heavy with his theatrics.

As he spotted them approaching, Beomgyu lifted a hand, palm out, his movements as exaggerated as his expression. "Don't even talk to me," he huffed, his voice carrying a dramatic edge. He threw himself into a chair, the fabric of the seat creaking under his weight, one step away from pressing the back of his hand to his forehead in a full damsel-in-distress routine.

Taehyun, unfazed by the display, broke the silence, his voice low but steady. "What happened?"

"Crystal bitch." Beomgyu's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering in his gaze. Yeonjun bit back a laugh, feeling the tension in Beomgyu's words like a taut wire ready to snap.

"She did a tarot reading," Beomgyu muttered, gripping the back of his chair as though holding onto something tangible to keep him from flying off into another rant. "Apparently, I'll never find my soulmate. She says we're destined to just miss each other—forever." His eyes sharpened, scanning Yeonjun and Taehyun with intensity. "I think she's onto me for talking smack about her and is just messing with me. One of you go get yours done and see what she says."

"No offense, but if it's positive, then she definitely hates me. No way I'd go down without dragging you with me," Beomgyu added, a pointed nod directed at Taehyun, who chuckled, though he couldn't quite tell if Beomgyu was joking.

"Fine, I'll go," Taehyun sighed, glancing around the room, his eyes skimming over the soft, dim lighting that cast everything in a warm, golden hue, looking for this "crystal girl." He had no idea what she looked like. "But if she says anything good, I'm lying to you."

Yeonjun smirked, catching Taehyun's glance. After some direction from Beomgyu, Taehyun set off, leaving Yeonjun to manage Beomgyu's theatrical despair.

He soon spotted her at a nearby table, finishing up another student's tarot reading. It was Rachel—he remembered her briefly from Beomgyu's party, her voice still echoing in his memory, teasing about the rumor between him and Yeonjun, and her dress that had shimmered under the lights like a pink butterfly in a crowd of muted tones.

Sitting across from her, Taehyun attempted to play it cool despite his skepticism, the clink of silverware and low chatter filling the background like a faint murmur as he settled into the chair opposite her.

Rachel smiled and tilted her head thoughtfully, her eyes scanning him with a glint of intrigue that almost felt like an electric spark across his skin. "Taehyun," she greeted, tapping her chin before laying out three tarot cards with a soft shuffle that echoed in the quiet space between them. "One for your past, one for your present, and one for your future."

"As for your past," she began, her voice smooth and calming, like the rustling of silk, "you were close with family, though there's been some recent tension." She offered a gentle smile, her eyes kind. "Don't worry—the relationship can reconcile if you allow it. If not, it might deepen."

Taehyun felt the sting of truth in her words, a tightness in his chest that made his fingers twitch slightly in his lap, the faint smell of burnt candle wax in the air mingling with the soft scent of fresh paper from the cards. The moment felt both surreal and real, and the weight of her words sank deep.

"Currently," she continued, her voice dropping a fraction, the hesitation in it like the pause before a storm, "you struggle with trust. This has probably caused some friction lately. But even small steps toward trusting others can make a big difference... You're doing well in school." She glanced up, aware of his diligence, but unaware of the storm she'd just begun to stir.

"Now, as for your future..." Her tone shifted, as though she was treading carefully, and Taehyun felt his heart skip a beat as she studied him. "I see a rough patch—mentally or physically. Maybe an injury or a personal struggle."

A sharp pang flared in his ankle at her words, the dull throb a ghost from the past. The old injury seemed to wake in response to her prediction. He rubbed his ankle, discomfort creeping up his leg like cold fingers. Sensing his unease, Rachel softened, her voice soothing like a balm. "It might not be easy, but you'll overcome it."

A small smile tugged at his lips, a warmth settling in his chest at her unexpected kindness. Her words felt like a quiet affirmation that he hadn't realized he needed.

"And on the subject of romance..." Rachel's smile turned knowing, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him, "I sense someone who brings a 'burst of freshness,' maybe something... salty? And a hint of something else." Her gaze seemed to sharpen as she leaned in a little, as though trying to taste the air for an answer.

"Citrus..." he mumbled, almost to himself, the word slipping out before he could stop it.

Rachel's eyebrow arched, her interest clearly piqued, but Taehyun shifted uncomfortably, the air around them suddenly charged. He could feel the warmth of the room pooling around him, but his mind deflected the thought of a certain someone, brushing the idea away as though it were nothing. Not even close, he insisted, even as the idea lingered just out of reach.

"Not a fan of citrus?" she teased, her voice light.

He avoided answering, his eyes glued to the table, focusing on the intricate designs of the tarot cards beneath his fingers. She continued, "Whoever it is, I think they'll make you happy. And," she smiled brightly, her expression reassuring, "you have a solid group of friends. Trust them—they'll support you when you need it."

On his way back to the table, Taehyun blinked away a few unexpected tears, her affirmation hitting closer to home than he'd expected, the weight of her words settling on him like the softness of a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.

Back at the table, he scanned the crowd, the soft hum of conversation and clinking glasses all around him. "Where's Yeonjun?"

Beomgyu tipped his head toward a distant table. "He's with Yeji, Ryujin, and Chaeryeong. She asked if we'd mind if she stole him for tonight."

"Do you?" Beomgyu asked with a raised brow, as Hueningkai and Soobin exchanged glances, tuning in to gauge his reaction.

"No, Yeji's his friend. I have my friends here," Taehyun replied, managing a tight smile, though the words felt slightly hollow in his mouth.

Soobin, always quick to lighten the mood, hooked his arm around Hueningkai, dramatically offering to "escort" him. Taehyun, catching the spirit of the moment, extended his arm to Beomgyu, who took it with a playful grin.

They entered the dining area together, their laughter rising above the gentle strains of classical music. The rich scent of food filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the golden glow of overhead chandeliers casting everything in a dreamlike haze. The evening felt almost surreal, each of them basking in the warmth of friendship and the quiet buzz of the night.

Later, as Taehyun slipped back to his room, he found Yeonjun already asleep, the soft hum of music through his earbuds filling the space with a distant, comforting rhythm. He almost reached out to turn it off, but stopped, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he left his friend undisturbed in his own world, the night stretching on quietly around them.