Pretty Like Poetry | TAEJUN

Yeonjun stood outside the arcade, his fingers wrapped around his phone, the cool metal pressing into his palm as he waited. A hopeful smile tugged at his lips, though it was tempered by the flicker of uncertainty in his chest. Earlier that evening, he'd texted Taehyun, asking to meet outside the local arcade. It was an attempt at reconciliation after the tension of the school trip—a chance to clear the air. He hoped that enough time had passed for them both to gather their thoughts, to let the emotions settle.

Every few seconds, he found himself glancing toward the entrance, his pulse quickening with a nervous anticipation he couldn't quite shake. The streetlights cast a soft glow, and the hum of distant voices and arcade games filled the air, but his attention was fixed on the door, waiting for a sign of Taehyun.

When Taehyun finally appeared, Yeonjun straightened, the grin on his face widening, as though he could feel the weight of the moment shift. But as Taehyun approached, his posture stiff—arms crossed and his gaze unreadable—Yeonjun's excitement faltered. The usual warmth he saw in Taehyun's eyes was missing, replaced by a guarded expression that gave nothing away.

"Hey," Yeonjun greeted, his voice warm but cautious. "You made it."

Taehyun gave a small nod, his lips pressed into a thin line. "You didn't really leave me much of a choice with all those texts."

Yeonjun chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Guilty. But hey, persistence pays off, right?"

Taehyun raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. Instead, his eyes scanned the colorful neon lights, the rhythmic noise of the arcade games filling the air.

"Okay," Yeonjun said, clapping his hands together. "Let's start with something easy. Air hockey?" He gestured toward the glowing table under the LED lights.

Taehyun shrugged, his expression neutral. "Sure."

Yeonjun led the way, grabbing a paddle and sliding the puck onto the table. "Loser buys snacks."

"Bold of you to assume you have a shot at win," Taehyun replied, his tone cool but with the faintest challenge lingering.

The puck skated back and forth as the game began. Taehyun's movements were sharp and precise, his focus unwavering. Yeonjun, meanwhile, played with theatrical flair, exaggerating every missed shot and groaning loudly when Taehyun scored.

"You're really bad at this," Taehyun said after his third goal, his tone neutral, though a subtle edge was present.

"Or," Yeonjun countered with a grin, "I'm just lulling you into a false sense of security."

The words landed heavier than Yeonjun intended. Taehyun's expression stiffened, his grip on the paddle tightening. Lulling someone into security only to shatter it—hadn't Yeonjun done that to him after the kiss? For a moment, Taehyun's mind replayed how he'd let his guard down, only to feel foolish when Yeonjun pulled away the next day without explanation.

Yeonjun noticed the shift instantly. "Hey," he said cautiously, leaning forward. "I was kidding."

Taehyun's shoulders remained tense, his gaze locked on the puck. "Yeah, I know," he muttered, though his tone betrayed a flicker of something deeper. He fired the puck across the table with more force than necessary, scoring again.

Yeonjun winced as the puck slammed into the back of the goal, but he didn't joke this time. Instead, he studied Taehyun's guarded expression, understanding that this wasn't just about air hockey anymore.

After the game, Yeonjun spotted a cooperative rhythm game across the arcade, its glowing lights and upbeat music calling to him. He turned to Taehyun with an almost childlike grin.