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“Hey lovebirds, look here!”
Taehyun smiles behind the camera as he points it to his best friends. The moment they both turn around, he snaps a picture.
“Dammit it's a candid pic, how did you two manage to look good?” Taehyun clicks his tongue as he studied the picture. Kai lets out a loud laugh, placing his own camera strap over his neck before jogging towards his friend, Soobin following quickly.
“Ugh, this was supposed to be an embarrassing photo I can use to blackmail the both of you..” Taehyun continued to complain. “You two just wasted my remaining film so thanks for that.”
“Not our fault we look good at every angle, Hyun.” Soobin says casually, looking over to peek at the photo and finding it - well - pretty good, actually. He wasn't surprised at how good Kai turned out in the photo, though. He himself was shit at taking photos and yet his boyfriend still managed to look beautiful in every one of them.
“Wow, you actually did a pretty good job for someone who takes the shittiest photos out of us three.” He adds, to which Taehyun responded with a roll of his eyes. “Well, you only graduate highschool once plus I paid for this expensive ass camera with my own money so might as well use it.” Soobin chuckled but stopped when he realized that his boyfriend has wandered off a few meters away, taking pictures of his other classmates celebrating their big day.
Soobin begins to drift away as he stares at Kai. His boyfriend has a serious face on as he points his camera on a certain group of people and clicks. The action takes Soobin back in time - to the days where he lived a carefree life and just starting out middle school, to the days he was so stressed out and wondering if high school will ever end, and to this day, where he's standing still and hesitantly stepping forward what's ahead of him - college - a new life, a new setup, a new.. everything. He realizes that there's only a single constant in his life and it comes in the form of a boy who has no idea how beautiful he is as he looks for beauty in the faces of everyone else.
There were times before meeting Kai, and times such as now that are being with him, and honestly, Soobin can't physically bear the thought of the probability of having a time somewhere in the future without him, because it's very much possible and above all, it very much hurts to think about. He wants to be frozen like this. Standing still in a moment where he is staring at Kai and he doesn't give a damn about the future at all nor does he ever want to see a glimpse of it. The feeling of freedom, like ending an era without any regard for starting a new one just yet and instead, just bathing in the moment.
“You're staring.” Taehyun nudges him, a sly smile plastered on his lips.
Soobin snaps out of it and looks down at his shoes. “Sorry, I'm just.. thinking.”
“College, huh?” And of course his best friend is a mind reader. Or maybe just a little too good at reading the both of them.
"How'd you know?"
“Hueningie talked to me about it, you know. Both of you applying for the same university and stuff..” Taehyun trailed off, fiddling with the strap of his camera which now hung loosely around his neck.
“He's been a nervous wreck ever since he filled that application 'cause he feels like he won't pass the entrance exam and he doesn't want you to get disappointed-
Soobin clicks his tongue. “I told him I won't be.”
“-NOR does he want to get separated from you.” he gives Soobin a let-me-finish look.
Soobin stays silent after that because he's terrified of that, too. What would it mean if they end up going to different universities? Will they manage? College will be hectic so, what? Will they just break-up? Or worse, will they just simply drift apart?
“You're thinking about breaking up with him, aren't you?” Soobin sighs when he once again remembers that Taehyun is indeed still beside him. “Okay, you know, you don't have to be so good at reading me all the goddamn time.”
Taehyun's eyes widen, “So, you are?”
“It's not like that!” He quickly says in defense, “I'm just aware of the possibility that it CAN happen and-
“What the hell? Dude you are absolutely out of your damn mind if you actually think a fucking university will break the two of you up. You've been together since ninth grade. NINTH GRADE - translation, three whole years. Who breaks up after three years over something like that?”
“Look, I don't know.” Soobin pinches the bridge of his nose in distress. “But I've seen the movies, okay? It can most certainly happen is what I'm saying-
“Now you just sound like you're just dying for it to happen.”
“Really.” Soobin deadpans, unamused. “Does my anxiety eating me alive right now really translate to 'I want to break up with my boyfriend'?”
“I don't know. It could be if you don't shut the fuck up right now cos you're literally starting to sound like 'I want to dump my boyfriend so bad but I don't know how so I'll use college as an excuse'.” Taehyun counters and honestly, he's got a point.
Doesn't mean Soobin will admit it, though.
“You're insufferable, you know that?”
“Maybe I am but I got you to stop thinking about it didn't I?” Taehyun smiles in triumph.
Soobin rolls his eyes. Goddamn you, Kang Taehyun, you win this round. His eyes wander to where Kai is and discovers that he's already staring at them, a soft smile on his lips. He waves at Soobin and when their eyes met, it got him snapping out of his anxious trance. How can he ever let someone like that go? He berates his anxiety-ridden mind for being so fucking stupid.
“'God, how on earth can I ever let him go? I'm so stupid' Bet you're thinking about that now, huh?” Taehyun intervenes his train of thought and wraps an arms around him.
“Your mind reading skills are really starting to freak me out, dude.”
“It's all in the stare, my guy. I've been forced to endure your gooey lovey-dovey eyes for Hueningie for three years. I've learned a thing or two.”
“Aren't you oddly observant for someone who claims to hate couples with a passion.” Soobin's smile stretches when he sees that Kai's starting to walk back to them.
“What can I say? You two are my fave couple despite the cringe-worthy love declaration back in ninth grade - that, I will unfortunately never forget.” He remembers with a shiver of terror but shakes the jitter off and pushes Soobin forward. “Now get out there and enjoy graduation with your boyfriend.”
“What was that about?” Kai chuckles as he meets Soobin halfway.
And if Soobin's suddenly nervous? Well it's perfectly understandable. Call him corny but after all these years, he still has the biggest crush on his boyfriend and will never not be nervous especially at times like this when he looks exceptionally beautiful and is glowing with joy and excitement.
“Um, what was what?” He clears his throat, almost stumbling over his words.
“What were you and Taehyunie talking about? Is it about me?” Kai teases and while Soobin tries hard not to visibly tense, he knows it's useless because his boyfriend has this talent of sensing his discomfort from a mile away.
“Hey,” Kai calls and Soobin is completely taken aback by what happens next. The other takes his hand in his and looks up at him with a comforting gaze. “I know you've been thinking about it but,” he starts, “Just so you know, I'm not going anywhere. So.. you know.. you can stop worrying now, alright?” Kai rambles on, focusing his gaze on their linked hands like he's too shy to look at Soobin for some reason.
And he just wants to lose it and cry right then and there because how the hell is his boyfriend so perfect when he's a complete mess most of the time? It's like he always knows what to say at the right time without even asking.
He squeezes Kai's hand in a silent thank you, a bit teary but the other doesn't comment on it. Instead, he lets go of Soobin's hand in favor of initiating a side hug, resting his head on Soobin's shoulder.
"I'm done with the pictures, you wanna get out of here?" Kai looks up at him in question and Soobin nods but as his eyes drift to a certain Kang Taehyun who's busy taking photos of their classmates, he comes up with an idea.
He slowly extracts himself from the hug and takes Kai's hand, leading the both of them to where Taehyun stands.
"Hey Hyun," He calls and Taehyun smiles at the both of them, his smiled widening further as he looks at their joined hands. "Sorry, lover boy, I don't take couple pics."
"Well too bad, 'cause you're gonna start taking them now." Soobin teases back and grabs his arm leading them to an area without many people.
"So how do you want your prenup pics?" Taehyun asks as he stands back a few meters away.
Soobin grumbles with his cheeks flushed but Kai just finds it amusing an lets out a soft laugh. "Just take them while we pose like this."
He wraps an arm around Kai's shoulder and leans sideways so their heads are touching while both of the are wearing gentle smiles. Taehyun takes the pic without any more comment and runs towards them.
"It looks great!" Kai exclaims and Soobin agrees with a nod. "Okay, one more, then." Taehyun backs away. "This time, both of you hold hands." He begins aiming the camera at the two as they settle in position.
"Like this?" Soobin raises their joined hands together.
"Yep, now stay still.." Soobin brings their hands down again and waits. Taehyun squats and aims the camera closer to their hands, snapping a quick photo and immediately showing it to them.
"Ooh now that looks cool, I wanna keep that." Kai takes the photo from Taehyun and admires it for a few more seconds. It's somehow an insightful photo, Soobin thinks, for the situation they're in. He thinks about how they have worn the same uniform for four whole years and today's the last time he's ever gonna wear them. But Kai's holding his hand in that picture and will continue to hold it tomorrow and the day after that. It becomes a whole lot clearer. There aren't many constants in Soobin's life but Kai is one of them and he's really out of his mind for thinking otherwise. Kai is here and will be here for a long time, he believes it now by just how much warmth the sight of their linked hands radiate. Soobin frees himself of his worries at that moment and he isn't terrified anymore because even if they come back eventually, he knows there will always be a certain someone to ground him if the future ever gets too overwhelming.
“Hey,” he offers his hand to his boyfriend again. Taehyun has disappeared off to somewhere again, presumably to give them some alone time. “Let's get out of here.”
Kai takes his hand in a heartbeat and the last bits of his anxiety is melted away.
“Let's.”