[Yeonbam / Yeonjun Beomgyu Fanfic] The Person Who Must Be Hidden

The Person I Must Hide, Episode 6

Bang!

As the SWAT team stormed into the abandoned factory, the gunfire stopped in an instant.

The gang members looked around in panic, and the police warning announcement filled the factory.

"Drop your weapons and surrender!"

"If you flee, we will shoot immediately!"

Taking advantage of the confusion, Beomgyu shoved away with all his strength the arm of the gang member holding him.

"Let go!"

His body lurched and fell to the floor, but he didn’t even realize he was in pain.

The first place Beomgyu ran to was where Yeonjun was.

"Hyung!"

Yeonjun was leaning against a collapsed iron pillar.

Red blood had already soaked through the bandage on his shoulder, and there was even a mark on his side where a bullet had grazed him.

With every breath he exhaled, it was obvious his face was going pale.

"...Are you okay?"

At Beomgyu’s trembling voice, Yeonjun managed a strained smile.

"I’m fine."

"...Liar again."

Beomgyu cupped Yeonjun’s face with both hands.

The skin under his fingertips was cold—almost too cold.

"Why do you always just say you’re fine."

"..."

"You’re not fine."

"You almost died."

Yeonjun closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly looked at Beomgyu.

"...Still."

A low, hoarse voice followed.

"This time, I wasn’t too late either."

At those words, Beomgyu’s eyes turned red.

He had risked his life again to save him.

That made him feel unbearably sorry, and at the same time, unbearably grateful.

"Hyung, you’re really an idiot."

"...I know."

"All to save just me."

"You threw your whole life away."

For a moment, silence fell.

Yeonjun carefully wiped away the tears at the corners of Beomgyu’s eyes with his bloodstained hand.

"I never threw it away."

"..."

"For the first time."

Yeonjun smiled faintly.

"I just lived by my own choice."

Beomgyu finally burst into the tears he had been holding back.

He clung tightly to Yeonjun and cried like a child.

"Don’t ever do that again."

"..."

"Please don’t try to handle everything by yourself."

"...Sorry."

That short apology was a very difficult word for Yeonjun.

"Choi Yeonjun."

A detective’s voice came from behind him.

Yeonjun slowly stood up.

The detective stood in front of Yeonjun with handcuffs in hand.

"You are under arrest for organized crime, murder, illegal possession of firearms, and related charges."

Beomgyu hurriedly grabbed the detective.

"Wait!"

"Hyung saved my life."

"He brought down the organization and turned over the evidence too."

"Can’t you show some leniency?"

The detective quietly shook his head.

"That contribution will certainly be recognized."

"But it won’t erase the crimes he committed."

Beomgyu couldn’t say anything.

Because those words were not wrong.

Yeonjun silently held out both hands.

Click.

The cold handcuffs closed around his wrists.

Beomgyu’s heart collapsed at the sight.

Before getting into the police car, Yeonjun looked back at Beomgyu one last time.

"...Beomgyu."

"...Yes."

"I’m sorry."

"..."

"And."

Yeonjun paused, then gave a very small smile.

"Thank you for staying alive."

The police car door closed.

Beomgyu watched the car recede until the very end.

The tears wouldn’t stop.

Three years later.

An afternoon when a gentle autumn breeze was blowing.

The prison front gate slowly opened.

"Mr. Choi Yeonjun."

"Congratulations on your release."

Yeonjun walked out through the gate carrying a small paper bag.

Three years was longer than he had expected.

His hair was a little shorter, and his face had grown more gaunt than before, but his eyes were calmer than ever for the first time.

Then it happened.

"Hyung!"

A familiar voice was heard.

When Yeonjun lifted his head, someone was running toward him.

It was Beomgyu, wearing a white shirt and jeans.

He had matured a little more than before, but his bright smile hadn’t changed at all.

"...You came."

"Of course."

Beomgyu stood in front of Yeonjun, out of breath.

"You promised."

"That you’d wait."

Yeonjun couldn’t say anything.

Honestly, he had thought he wouldn’t come.

Three years is enough time to forget someone.

But Beomgyu had really kept his promise.

"Did you wait long?"

When Yeonjun asked carefully, Beomgyu gave a snort of a laugh.

"Waiting wasn’t hard."

"..."

"It was harder for hyung to keep holding on alone."

In that instant, one side of Yeonjun’s chest ached heavily.

It was the first time someone had understood his time like that.

Beomgyu took a small lunchbox out of his bag.

"Do you remember this?"

"...Rolled omelet."

"I brought it every time I visited."

"Now we can eat it together outside."

Yeonjun took the lunchbox and just stared at it for a while.

"Why aren’t you eating?"

"..."

"Does it look bad?"

Yeonjun slowly shook his head.

"No."

"..."

"A meal this warm."

After catching his breath for a moment, Yeonjun gave a low laugh.

"It’s been a long time."

Beomgyu took Yeonjun’s hand without saying a word.

This time, Yeonjun didn’t pull away either.

Rather, he held on a little more firmly.

"Beomgyu."

"...Yes."

"Why are you doing this much for me?"

Beomgyu looked at Yeonjun for a long time, then smiled quietly.

"Hyung."

"..."

"You’re the one who saved my life."

"And yet."

Slowly shaking his head, Beomgyu went on.

"Actually, it was the opposite."

"...?"

"It wasn’t that hyung saved me."

"It was that because of hyung, I found the courage to go on living."

Yeonjun looked at Beomgyu wordlessly.

He had met countless people in his life, but not a single one had ever looked at him like this.

After a long silence, Yeonjun slowly spoke.

"That day."

"..."

"The day I first saw you."

"If I had pulled the trigger as ordered."

"..."

"I never would’ve lived as a human being."

Beomgyu’s eyes turned red.

Yeonjun carefully took a step closer.

"Only now do I understand why I couldn’t kill you."

"..."

"From the very beginning."

After swallowing for a moment, Yeonjun went on in a trembling voice.

"I wanted to save you."

"..."

"And I think I was fated to fall in love with you."

Beomgyu finally smiled through his tears.

"That line."

"..."

"It’s three years too late."

"Sorry."

"Instead."

Beomgyu held Yeonjun’s hand even tighter.

"From now on, don’t ever be late."

Yeonjun smiled faintly and nodded.

"I promise."

The sunset cast long shadows across the backs of the two of them.

Some said Yeonjun had saved Beomgyu.

Some said Beomgyu had led Yeonjun into a new life.

But the two of them knew.

That the two lives, once covered in wounds,

had already been walking toward each other little by little ever since the moment they first met in that rain-soaked alley that day.

And this time,

they would be able to walk the same road together, with no one chasing them.