#I’m so grateful he had someone like baekhyun to support him

[limitlesssense]

Taeyong explaining the meaning behind his sword tattoo, where Baekhyun helped him overcome pains and hardships

[yehet-me-up]

Reboot

Pairing: Jongdae/Chen x reader (female)

Word Count: 26,971 😬 read it in a mobile web browser if it crashes! 

Rating: (PG13) for swearing + sexy vibes (nothing more explicit than a kiss on the page though)

Summary: Chen’s Electronics is a mystery, both how the store came to be and the man running it. When you start working as a receptionist for the enigma that is Kim Jongdae, you’re determined to be the one who unravels the mystery. You’re prepared for anything, except for falling in love with Jongdae himself. 

Part eight of the Exodus Mall series (Can be read independently, but you’ll get some extra backstory if you read the other parts first!)

A/N: I’m SO delighted that Jongdae is getting his IRL happily ever after and I’m so excited to wrap up his fictional counterpart’s story today, so he can have his ending as well 💕

March 15th, 1997

Capitol Hill is in full swing, the promise of spring drawing the sleeping city from its winter hibernation. The silver dress you wear is far shorter than you're used to, but the denim jacket is big enough to properly cover your ass, which is something at least. In your platform boots, borrowed from your roommate Liz, you're almost tall enough to see over the busy street to Cal Anderson Park up ahead.

'Come on,' Liz says with an excited glint in her eye. 'The club's just on the far side of Boylston.'

You nod distantly, eyes wide as you try to take in all the people around you. After spending the last two years buried in a book in the UW library or at internships or in class it feels startling to realize how much youthful, passionate energy beats at the heart of the city so close to where you've been existing. Not that you never go out, but now that you’re approaching the end of your master’s degree you feel like a diver finally reaching the surface to draw breath. You’re ready to celebrate.

A door opens to your right and music surrounds you. An impassioned man sings about an even flow, accompanied by an aggressive drummer and what you can tell is skilled guitar playing. The people on the sidewalk beside you press in, screaming and cheering and trying to shove their way into a club. A faded sign above announces it as Moe's Bar.

Your roommate's hand finds yours and she pulls you out through an opening in the crowd.

Once you’re free again you laugh and brush your hair behind your ears. Dozens of other clubs and bars and late-night restaurants you pass are the same. Men with mohawks in every color of the rainbow. Women in combat boots with plaid jackets tied at their waists. A group of teenagers skateboard down Broadway, hollering into the night as they fly by, the clack of their wheels muffled by the lingering rain dampening the streets.

Everyone seems taken by the revelry. It would be so easy - to disappear into the thriving mass of people celebrating music and community and being alive. Now, with graduation so close you can finally taste it, you surrender to the sensation. Tilting your head back you look at the round full moon above, peeking out through the clouds, and give a joyful, if tentative, howl.

This makes your roommate turn and squeeze your hand. Liz smiles with pride. 'Now that's the spirit!' she says with a fist pump and howl of her own.

The nightclub is unassuming, especially amongst the neon and metal venues you passed to get here. Two simple brass lamps spotlight the enormous carved wooden doors. Bass thumps from within, the slight rattling of the doors is the only indication that life exists within. Shari’s reads the hanging sign.

Liz practically glows under the lights, a North star leading you into a whole new world.

After so many years of keeping your nose to the grindstone - success gained through effort rather than extraordinary intelligence; advanced classes, extra college courses during the summer, every extracurricular you could pack in before you cracked, a high school diploma by sixteen, bachelors by twenty and MBA by twenty two - you would follow her anywhere as long as it didn't involve studying or a business suit.

She guides you through the heavy wood door into a small entry room. A large man with so many piercings he'd have a terrible time at the security scanners at the airport checks your IDs. It's stayed in your wallet, practically untouched, since the official one came last year on your twenty-first birthday.

Finally inside the club you bite your lip to hide a wide, giddy smile of excitement. Bodies fill the dance floor, joyously swaying to the beat. A DJ booth rises from a far corner like Sauron’s tower in the Lord of the Rings. A man with dark hair that falls in his intense eyes runs the booth; a king commanding his loyal subjects.

Liz finds her group of friends from the mall she works at spread over two successive tables with circular cushioned benches behind them. Their names and faces blur together in the low lighting, but everyone is welcoming, offering you a smile or a shake of a hand. A cheerful blonde-haired man, who you swear says his name is Bacon, takes you and Liz’s coats and purses and adds them to an overflowing pile beside him.

Before you can even think of sitting down Liz guides you onto the dance floor. Normally you’re the one in control. The one with the plan. The group leader or the one who organized the debate team fundraiser/supply closet at work/networking mixer. But it’s… nice, not having to be the center of everything, keeping it together with your effort alone. 

She gives you a teasing smile as if she can read your thoughts and you roll your eyes with a laugh. ‘No overthinking this!’ she commands with a raised brow as you find a good spot.

As if I have any other way of thinking. ‘I promise nothing!’ you shrug and smile at her.

Your movements are slow at first, awkward, and you laugh to yourself with amusement. Self-deprecation has never been your poison. Along with an unshakeable drive to make something of yourself you've always had a healthy sense of self-esteem. Who cares if you aren't the best dancer?

You get into the swing after the second song and shake your ass with delight at the energy in the room and the incredible job the DJ is doing loosening you up. He’s remixing “Semi-Charmed Life” with an older techno hit you don’t recognize.

Before long Jongin, Liz’s crush and co-worker from the KOKO exercise studio, captures her attention and you end up dancing with Baekhyun (tragically not actually named Bacon) and a girl who calls herself Hitchcock. You recognize each other from a seminar last school year at UW and take a long break to catch each other up on your lives over shots at the table. 

She tells you about her dual jobs at Microsoft and the movie theater at the Exodus Mall. You fill her in on your thesis project and she offers to look over your resume as you plan to apply to a similar track at the tech giant after you graduate.

When Liz said she was forcing you from your obsessive, ahem dedicated, studying for your research paper you didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t all of this. Reconnecting with a friend. A potential foot in the door at your dream job. Dancing so much that your back gets slick with sweat. Laughing with Liz so hard your stomach aches as Baekhyun attempts to breakdance, nearly falling backwards into no less than four people.

As if the night couldn’t get any better, something else catches your eye. Someone else - the DJ steps down from the booth on a break.

His black pants, white shirt, and tie would be overly formal and out of place in the nightclub, but his pushed-up sleeves reveal muscled forearms. The neon yellow sunglasses and loose piano pattern of the tie he wears make him look sexy, in an off-duty retro businessman kind of way. His face reveals none of his emotions as he slips off his shades, tucking them in his jacket pocket. But the corners of his lips tilt up with amusement as he scans the room.

Clearly he’s impressed with the atmosphere he’s created here tonight. As he should be, you think. You imagine for a moment what it would be like if he noticed you. If this was a meet-cute or the start of something. But his focus is on the bar now, not lingering on you or anyone else in the club. Dating for you was a rocky road and absolutely nothing like the way it looked in the John Hughes movies that were your guilty pleasure growing up.

Between your parents' support and your own innate thirst for success, you always felt like an outsider in terms of relationships. Extroverted and empathetic enough to make and maintain friendships, but boys were tougher. You could never figure out dating to your satisfaction in high school and you left when most of your peers were just finishing up Sophomore year.

In college there was hope. Studious and hardworking men with glasses and a love of Emily Dickinson and black coffee. Law school-bound guys who rowed crew and whose confidence was just on the right side of attractive instead of insufferable. John Cusack types with easy smiles and crates of vinyl they carefully collected, who performed at the Comedy Underground in hopes of ‘being discovered.’

It was both thrilling and irritating. You went after dating with almost as much determination as you did your school and career, set on experiencing everything possible.

But the English major wanted someone in a pastel dress and tights, who volunteered at an animal shelter and didn’t eviscerate him at Scrabble. The future lawyer was looking for his future trophy wife, to stand beside him at fancy dinners and fraternity mixers. And the Lloyd Dobler wannabe needed a muse, a beautiful and ethereal woman to be his object of longing, to laugh at his jokes and pass through life without worry about the future.

Not that you were jealous, or even bitter. Just because you weren’t what they were looking for wasn’t anything personal and you never took it like it was. The women they wanted existed and were wonderful in all their own ways. But it grated at you, how you always felt like a square peg in a round hole. Never being the right fit.

All your life you’d gotten used to knowing, and getting, what you wanted. It was insanely frustrating to not have found anything that stuck. Failure in any form made you frown, but thankfully romantic mishaps always took a backseat to school, friends, and your future, so it was easy to ignore. Until now.

The DJ passes close enough to you and Liz that you can see the echoes of dark circles under his eyes and the rich brown of his hair in the passing neon lights. For some reason that same intuition, that same hunger and drive that had propelled you to awards and scholarships and countless other successes, tells you to follow him. Whatever it is about him, your body and your desire react before your mind and conscious rational thought.

'I'll be back,' you yell to your roommate over the music. She nods and gives you a thumbs up as she's drawn into Jongin’s embrace once more.

Like a missile you weave through the crowd, target in sight. You watch as the DJ leans against the end of the bar, carefully positioning himself so he's at the end with no one behind him. You wonder if it's out of a dislike of people sneaking up on him or if he's a predator, sizing up the crowd.

With a casual hand he orders a drink from the bartender and surveys the crowd coolly. Too high on life to care too much, you take the seat two over from him, carefully avoiding eye contact, feigning nonchalance. ‘Self-possessed,’ that’s how your fifth grade teacher described you. Independent and old beyond your years. It always thrilled you, the praise and respect of adults. You wanted to earn more of it, to be seen as capable and mature.

But something about the man beside you makes you feel younger. Raw and playful in a way you’re not sure you’ve ever been before.

Admiring the cut of his jaw, you imagine kissing it. His hands on the bar are graceful, strong, befitting his profession. You want him and you want him to want you. The thought makes you inhale a deep breath, not even sure what that would mean. Adrenaline and delight fill your mind and you briefly fantasize about him holding you close on the dance floor like Jongin does to Liz. His hands on your hips and his mouth teasing your neck.

The bartender reappears on your side of the bar, his bald head gleaming in the lights of the club, and you snap back into reality. The flames tattooed across his knuckles shine as he slides a drink down the length of the bar, towards the DJ. An impulsive, reckless daring you've only ever felt before at debate tournaments makes you reach out and catch the glass of dark liquid before it can reach its desired recipient.

In one smooth motion you lift it to your lips and turn to meet the DJ's deep brown eyes. With a smirk you raise the glass. In two gulps you down the drink, the bourbon burning its way down your throat, reminding you how good it feels to be free, to be alive. 

To challenge someone who feels like a decent opponent.

He watches you, his eyes flaring with surprise before fading back to indifference. He looks like a tiger in a cage at the zoo, pacing in front of a glass divider. His fingers tap impatiently on the lacquered bartop and he tilts his head, watching as you lick the moisture from your lip, savoring the taste. You wonder if he'd be just as heady and strong on your tongue.

You have the feeling that with the slightest pressure in the right place and the glass would shatter, unleashing the beast within. The thought makes you clench your thighs together, a heat filling you that has nothing to do with the people pressing in on you trying to get the attention of the bartender.

The DJ seems just as self-contained as you are. A voice inside you whispers of unstoppable forces meeting immovable objects and you wonder which of you would cave first.

Before you can say anything, before you can even wipe the satisfied smile off your lips or ask his name or offer to pay for the drink, he drops a bill to the counter and slides off the stool. He pushes into the crowd, disappearing as if he'd never been there. As if he hardly noticed you.

But you didn't miss the interest, the arousal, the animal within him rising to your challenge. He slinks back up to the DJ booth and resumes his position of power, thirst unquenched.

You don't know his name, or anything about him. Aside from the fact that the way he looks at you feels so wrong it's right, and that his hands are the first ones you've ever wanted wrapped around your waist so badly you can feel it beating in your palms.

But you know one thing, as you rejoin your roommate on the dance floor, whatever has started between you and the enigmatic DJ isn't finished.

May 21st, 1997

You straighten your blazer, looking in the mirror to make sure your outfit is perfect. It’s not your first interview this week and it certainly won’t be the last, but it is the one you’re the most curious about.

The position as a receptionist and accountant for an electronics repair store isn’t exactly how you pictured your first job after getting your MBA, but the pay and the opportunity to work alongside the enigmatic tech genius Kim Jongdae is a chance you can’t pass up.

All that’s left is the graduation ceremony in June and then you’re free. Your final exams are done, your thesis is defended, and you’ve completed a thorough and perhaps slightly obsessive spreadsheet documenting all your connections who might have an in at your most desired companies. Now knee-deep in the process of interviewing for jobs it strikes you all of a sudden that this is what you’ve been working for… almost all your life.

The lighting in the bathroom of the mall is stark and a moment of uncertainty makes your knees weak.

Since your test results in elementary school came back top of the class it’s been the same refrain. Get good grades. Impress your teachers. Study and diversify your interests and push harder every year and eventually it will all pay off, right? You’re damn proud of what you’ve done, but now, here in the after, all you can think as you watch your own reflection is - now what?

Frowning, you wonder how many other applicants there are for this job. Anyone in the tech circle in Seattle knows about Jongdae. Rumors abound that he was set to be the next Bill Gates when an investment deal went south. Or that he was kicked out of Harvard for embarrassing his professors with his superior smarts. Someone in your Econ seminar once told you she’d heard that he was contracted by the NSA to spy on foreign hackers.

Whatever his history, he currently runs a computer and electronics repair store in a very unassuming mall in Capitol Hill. You want to stand out, and what better way to do so than the track down the mystery of Kim Jongdae, the prodigy turned hermit. You infuse your veins with confidence, knowing you can handle anything thrown at you. Or so you think.

The mall is quiet and peaceful in the mid-morning on a Wednesday. A couple of tables in the food court are filled with older men and women playing cards and board games. A group of moms walks past you talking about a storytime at the bookstore in the mall.

The slow and steady hum of activity in here is a far cry from where you thought you’d be working. Professors encouraged you to head to IBM or Oracle. With your skills, business sense, and intuitive ability to pick up each new trend in technology they told you that you would have your choice of opportunities.

But while you’re no stranger to hard work and a competitive work environment, the idea of clawing your way to the top of yet another group of high achievers just sounds… awful.

You long to travel, to finally see some of the exotic and culturally rich places you’ve stuck photos of to your fridge. You want to be able to actually go out on the weekends and see your friends. Whatever your future holds you want to finally enjoy your life outside of school and work, even if it’s only for a year.

You could always recognize the friends who were interning at Amazon because they looked like they’d come off a week of no sleep. Many of your fellow MBA graduates were flocking there, as the company finally went public earlier this month. But something just felt - off to you. Like a canary in a coal mine.

Purpose, fulfillment, financial security, and a challenging work environment? Yes.

Burnout, no free time, and living and breathing for ‘the company’? No, thank you.

At the salary Jongdae had advertised you could easily continue to afford the apartment you shared with your two roommates and work on paying off the remaining student loans your scholarships hadn’t covered. And you could hide away a small amount of your check every month for the trip to Amsterdam you’ve been planning for years.

The gentle music in the wide, bright lobby of the mall makes you sigh in relief. This job is a win-win and you’re more determined than ever to get it.

You finally see the shop. If you weren’t looking for it, you’d have missed it between the black and neon purple exterior of KMS Music and the narrow security office tucked behind the lively pizza restaurant. There’s a line winding its way in front of the music store and you assume it’s for an album release. Until you realize that the line is leading straight where you’re going and stop in your tracks.

Chen's Electronics. The mall is full of colors and bright shop fronts. But this is almost bleak in comparison, as though it's resisted the outright displays of joy and liveliness that seem to be at the heart of the mall. The sign is red neon against a black and steel facade. A simple poster hangs in one of the two wide windows that frame the door.

We do: - Hard Drive Repair - Internet Connectivity Issues - Computer virus protection - Turntables, record players, and other portable home audio systems - Radios - POS/credit card system repair (For stores in the Exodus Mall only)

We do not: - Sell computers or computer parts. Don't ask.

You raise a brow at the last note. The harsh exterior of the store and the brusque tone definitely match with what you've heard of Chen's Electronics - that the man who runs it is a computer genius, but that his bedside manner leaves much to be desired. Perhaps that's why the job posting emphasized 'superior customer service skills.'

The line you join grows, others coming in behind you, and you wonder if Jongdae told everyone the same 10am time frame or if he staggered interviews throughout the day. As you wait the line slowly dwindles. A woman leaves crying a few minutes later, and you watch her go with surprise and attempt to peek into the store. You’re still too far back to see in, so you’re left to wait and wonder.

Finally you’re next, waiting just outside the store. A printed piece of paper is taped to the door. CLOSED FOR INTERVIEWS it says in big, bolded letters.

The tall man who was ahead of you in line isn’t visible at either of the two work stations set up inside the shop. There must be a back room of some kind. You take the moment to check out the space. The store is organized chaos. Rows of shelves line each of the two walls, full of equipment - computers in various states of disassembly, old transistor radios, a VHS player, a few turntables, and endless coiled stacks of cords interspersed.

The walls above them and the two walls behind the work stations, on either side of the hallway leading to the back, are blank. No advertisements or personalized touches to make the business seem welcoming. Just bland, empty beige walls. One desk has only a computer, keyboard, and mouse. The other is full of parts and tools that extend over the desk to not one, but two shelving units behind it. Like Jongdae was in the middle of a project and the interviews are a rude interruption.

A muffled angry shout comes from the back, behind the gray curtain hung up over the entrance to the rear of the store. The tall man moves it aside with a sneer as he charges across the floor. With a voice practically a growl he shoves open the door and you jolt back to avoid being hit.

He looks you up and down and shakes his head. ‘Good luck. You’ll need it.’

After a last straightening of your jacket you swallow and push through the door. It's quiet inside, almost reverent, as the door closes behind you. The fluorescent lighting overhead isn't the most welcoming and the tan carpet is terribly dated. No one comes to meet you. The man on the other side must be waiting, like a dragon in his lair.

Your hand closes over the strap of your purse and you hesitate at the curtain, not wanting to move forward without being invited. 'Hello?'

Footsteps come down the short hallway and a hand appears, moving the curtain out of the way to reveal a man. Your jaw almost drops. Oh, shit. It's not at all who you were expecting the famed Jongdae to be - a studious man with glasses and a bad tie.

No, this man is handsome in an aggressive way. His black hair is styled back in a neat wave. His high cheekbones and strong brows hold no humor or friendliness. Only the catlike upturn of his lips stands in rebellious contrast to his unwelcoming face.

This isn't the first time you've seen this face either, you realize, and it's like being run over by a train. He seems to connect the dots at the same moment and his eyes widen, eyebrows raising. It’s the DJ from the bar. The drink. The - oh, god.

He presses his mouth together, smothering his surprise and sitting down harshly in the chair at the crowded desk in the main room. 'What are you doing here?' He keeps his voice tightly contained, not minding in the least that the other potential job candidates are surely watching you both right now.

You give yourself a small shake and remember you're not here to hit on him. You're here for a job. 'I have an interview.'

Best case is ignoring the whole thing. It didn’t happen. Not here in the light of day. His poker face might be good, but yours is better. You keep your breathing even and hope that the racing of your heart isn’t making your cheeks red.

He tilts his head to the side, pressing his lips together in amusement. ‘Alright then.’ Turning to the side he stands and holds the curtain open, allowing you to pass by him into the small office behind.

Holding his focus, you pull out the chair in front of the desk and sit down. You place the resume and references on the table between you and fold your hands on your lap, waiting.

Jongdae takes his place opposite you as he slides the papers across the desk. His eyes dart faster than you can imagine anyone reading. He doesn’t seem flustered, but the tips of his ears are just slightly pink, his nose flaring a bit too much, and you realize he’s just as caught off guard as you are.

Finally, he finishes. 'I… don't think this is going to work.' He looks up, his hand resting on your paperwork on the desk. His face gives away nothing, but his eyes are wild and full of emotion you can’t decipher.

'Why is that?' You keep your voice steady, determined. He’s not going to dismiss you so quickly. Realizing the DJ and the tech wunderkind are one in the same has only heightened your desire to show him you’re the best person for the job.

Jongdae stares at you. This time, there's heat in his expression. You feel his eyes move over you, not taking in the professional attire, but clearly remembering the dress you wore from the club instead. 'I think you know why,' he says under his breath.

Clearing your throat you lean forward, drawn to him by some force you can't define. Like something is shoving you towards this job. 'I don't know what you mean. The posting was for an office manager and bookkeeper. I'm qualified in both and I have plenty of experience. Are you really going to decide I’m not a good fit without even asking me a single question?'

He groans and runs a hand through his hair, his composure faltering for an instant. 'Why do you want this position? You know nothing about me.'

He states it like a fact, not an opening for discussion, but you jump on it anyway. 'I know plenty.'

Satisfaction blooms in your chest when he narrows his eyes, raising a brow. 'I do my research, Mr. Kim. I’m top of my class at UW and I didn’t get there by accident. With such a small team I could get a far broader experience than I could being just another cog in the machine at Microsoft. I might not know you personally, but your reputation precedes you. I plan to excel in the tech industry. And to do that, I need to work with the best. Simple as that.'

'And I'm the best?' He leans back in his chair. Resting his elbow on the armrest, he drags a finger across his lips in appraisal.

His quick responses remind you of the competitive tennis you played growing up. The way it felt to thrive when paired with an equal opponent, someone who could match your speed and precision. Someone who gave as good as they got. How it made you better, sharpened your skills and reflexes up against someone who you couldn’t easily defeat.

'Are you trying to tell me you're not?' You cross your arms and look around, feigning surprise and curiosity. 'If you tell me who is, I'll happily go apply to be their office manager.'

He almost laughs in amusement. You can feel it. But he covers it as a cough instead and tilts his head to the side, sizing you up. 'And you know what this job entails?'

You repeat it easily from memory. 'Being the face of the business. Greeting walk-in customers. Helping them figure out if what they need is something we do. Conferring with you about pricing. Scheduling service appointments over the phone. Processing payments. Ordering supplies. Occasional advertising assistance. Other assorted duties as needed.'

'That about sums it up.'

In the charged silence you hear the muffled noises of the mall - children squealing with delight, orders being called out at the pizza restaurant next door, people talking - but it's all separated. You wonder if the distance is intentional. Many stores have roll up gates or at least have their doors propped open to draw in customers. But not Jongdae. It’s almost as though he’s actively trying to keep visitors out.

You favor boldness and decide to push him, what have you got to lose? 'So, when do I start?' Leaning forward, you give him a relaxed smile. ‘Unless you’d like to terrorize a few more applicants before you choose me? I’m happy to wait, Mr. Kim. But you can’t scare me away. And you don’t intimidate me.’

With equal decisiveness he cracks a lopsided grin and shakes his head, with both amusement and resignation. 'How's now for you?'

You give a passing thought to the other jobs, the ones you’d already interviewed for and the ones on your schedule over the coming days. They all go up in a whiff of smoke as you extend your hand across the table to shake Jongdae’s hand.

‘Now is perfect.’ His palm is warm against yours and you do your best not to react to the contact, but you can’t help the soft sigh that escapes you.

Jongdae withdraws his hand quickly, and you note with pleasure that he seems a bit shaken as he stands. ‘I’ll be right back. You can leave your things here.’ He motions to the coat hooks on the wall by the door and the tall, thin bookshelf with a few cubby slots.

Aside from a black scarf and a few extra office supplies on two of the shelves the rest of the space is empty. You wonder what he isn't saying. 'What made you want help, all of a sudden?’ He pauses and turns back to you. ‘From what I can tell you've been in business for a few years. Why now?'

He sighs. 'I'm too busy to keep doing this by myself.'

'Ah. And you hate that, don't you?'

The ghost of a smile graces his lips. 'Yes.'

Jongdae disappears through the curtain. You follow him after putting your coat on a hook and your purse in one of the spotless cubbies. The rest of the space contains a few filing cabinets, stacks of boxes, and a small safe resting on a narrow table.

When you appear back into the hallway you see a door to the left that must lead out the back. And on the opposite side is an archway with a kitchen sink, a microwave, a small fridge, and a few cupboards inside, along with a small circular table. The table has only one chair. You smile to yourself. Clearly he's accustomed to doing everything by himself.

When you emerge the other applicants are dispersing as he peels the taped sign off the door, balling it up in his hands.

Jongdae gets you set up on the computer at the other desk. It’s a relatively simple customer management software and payment system, both of which you pick up in no time. He runs you through the pricing list, pulling a laminated form from the top drawer. His filing system for customer accounts is simple and alphabetized.

Neither of you speak about that night again, but oh, do you feel it - the electricity between you when he stands too close or you meet his eyes.

Until lunch he alternates between training you and assisting customers who come in every so often. It's all straightforward, nothing you haven't managed before, and by the afternoon you're already scheduling appointments in the large old-school appointment book he keeps open to the current week.

Despite the passion and intensity in the music he plays, he keeps an even keel throughout his day job. It's almost as if you went to sleep last night and somehow woke up as someone who's worked here for years. Before closing at 5:30 he remembers other things and hands you a packet on the way out. Tax forms, an employment agreement listing the salary and benefits, and a non-disclosure form. Most of it is standard, but you wonder what kind of secrets he needs to protect at an electronics store.

You gather your things and wait outside while he closes down the shop, turning off the lights as he goes. It’s still quite sunny outside and with a shock you realize that there’s nothing waiting for you, now that the work day is done. No papers to write or projects to finish or internship to head to. The idea makes you feel unexpectedly buoyant, and when Jongdae steps out to lock the doors you give him an easy smile.

He returns it, giving you a small one of his own in response. ‘So, I normally take Tuesdays off and keep the shop closed. Wednesdays are normally pretty slow. How does Thursday through Monday sound to you? I know today is Wednesday, so if you wanted to take tomorrow off instead that’s fine with me.’

‘I’m happy to come in tomorrow.’ You want to wince at the eagerness in your voice, but instead you stand firm, holding your purse in front of you with both hands.

Jongdae slides his hands into the pockets of his jacket and nods, looking at you for a long moment before speaking. ‘Sounds great, I’ll see you then.’

You nod at him too, turning back towards the department store to head out to your car. After a beat you look behind you and see he’s still watching. His gaze is unfocused on the floor before he shakes his head, seeming to come back to himself. He heads the opposite direction, towards the movie theater. In a few seconds he’s disappeared behind the pizza place, out of sight.

Jongdae takes the longer route home today. His apartment overlooking Lake Union is the one he grew up in, his grandfather’s place. When he passed away a year ago he left it to Jongdae and it never occurred to him to move. He walks along the water, breathing in the early summer air, wanting to laugh at himself. How long has it been since he let himself be impulsive? To act on instinct. To want something.

He’d settled into a routine these past few years, since everything changed after graduation. Working at the store. Reading. Playing Go and chess with his grandfather and the other older men that lived in the building. They’d go fishing out on the peninsula or to the local symphonies that his grandfather loved. Routine had saved him when his world fell apart once, but now, with his grandfather’s absence, he’s not sure how to pick up the pieces anymore.

The seagulls on the pier are loud today, hungrily gobbling up the bread and Ivar’s french fries tossed to them by the kids gathered around. They giggle and laugh, running to their parents for more offerings. Jongdae frowns for a moment, the sadness that he doesn’t often acknowledge creeping into his heart.

His parents were gone before he really even had a chance to know them. His father to lung cancer, from the awful smoking habit he picked up in the Navy. His mother moved back to Korea to be with her family, unable to cope being in the city without her husband. Jongdae didn’t blame her, but the distance grew and they drifted apart as he became an adult himself.

Jongdae’s father’s father settled here after World War Two, along with a few of his friends. From what he remembers there wasn’t a discussion about it after the funeral - if he’d stay or go back to Korea with his mother. One day when he was young he knew his father had passed. His mother left. And with two duffle bags slung over his shoulders and little Jongdae in his arms his grandfather had moved him into the apartment with the pretty view of the water. 

And that’s the way it was, ever since.

In school his friends might have joked that Jongdae was an old man himself. Doing the New York Times crossword puzzle on Sundays, getting his hair cut at the same hole-in-the-wall barber shop in Chinatown as his grandfather, and hanging out with more octogenarians than people his own age. But he loved his grandfather and the two of them were so close that he never stopped to question whether he should change to fit in with the rest of his classmates.

The only aberration came when he started DJ-ing at eighteen. The crowd he fell in with and the partying he did was short lived; they crashed and burned, went up in flames. Everything else faded as quickly as it had come, but the club scene was his escape and it stayed with him.

These days it feels like the only time he recognizes himself, now that his grandfather is gone, too. Until you walked into his store today, that is. You looked him dead in the eyes, unafraid. Just like the night all those weeks ago in the club when you came up to him, flirted with him and challenged him.

He doesn’t know how to move on with his life.

He doesn’t know what’s next.

But wanting you, inviting you into his life, is going to change everything. He knows it in his bones and for once change excites him, instead of frightens him.

June 18th, 1997

For an achingly slow two hours on Thursday the only sounds in the shop are your typing and Jongdae’s tools hitting the metallic insides of the radio he’s fixing. You should be processing yesterday's supply orders. Or cleaning up the books to get everything ready for the days' billing before you make a run to the bank.

But instead you watch in your periphery the way the muscle in Jongdae’s jaw moves when he's focusing. How his brows pull together and his lower lip sticks out slightly, making him look as though he's perpetually pouting. You wonder if you would have gotten along with him in school. If he was always so... uptight. Or if he was freer, looser. Not that you’re the picture of ease yourself, but he seems to almost vibrate with tension.

You watch as he turns back to the computer, his fingers fly across the keyboard and you admire the absolute focus he shows toward the screen in front of him. The past few days he’s handled repairs and projects for businessmen and women, families, and two gentlemen in suits that screamed ‘government’ to you. He could be repairing a nuclear warhead in front of you and you imagine his expression would remain the same.

His standard white button-up shirt bunches around his biceps while he works. A mischievous part of you wonders what it would take to make his robotic exterior crack again. What it would take for him to show joy or anger or arousal. Emotion from him is a precious, rare thing and you want to grab them when they do show, holding them tightly as proof they exist.

You jolt, realizing the unintended destination your thoughts have arrived at. Arousal. Where did that come from? With a cough and a shake of your head you refocus on the financial statements in front of you.

If you hadn't seen him that night at the club you'd have wondered if he ever enjoyed himself. He wasn't smiling that night, but the music and the dancing and the palpable energy seemed to soften the hard lines of his face. You want to see more of that Jongdae, the one that feels so much closer to who he really is, underneath it all.

However he started in this business, in the tech scene, he works away at it as though it's his sole purpose in life. He's clearly talented enough to fix anything, code anything. You’d asked him last week how he knows what to do, as you looked into a complicated mess of wires sticking out of a broken CPU as though it were gibberish.

All he’d said, in a gruff voice, was that his grandfather liked to tinker and take things apart before putting them back together, to see how they worked, and that he’d picked up the habit.

'Why do you work by yourself?' The sound of your voice is much louder than intended, breaking the hush in the store. You want to swallow the words, unsure why you didn't stop them from escaping. Instead you bite the skin on the inside of your cheek and watch as he lifts his head to look at you.

Jongdae raises a brow. 'As opposed to?'

You stop typing and lean back in your chair. 'You could have worked for anyone, I bet. After you graduated college. I’ve heard a few of the rumors about you. It sounds like you could have done anything you wanted. What made you want to start your own business?'

He mirrors your pose. 'What makes you think I went to college?'

You blink. For so long your parents' idea of a prosperous life - good grades, extracurriculars, graduate from a top college, get a lucrative, secure job - had been so ingrained that it surprises you to imagine that someone like him didn't go to school. 'You didn't?'

He smiles, the dimple appearing briefly in his cheek. 'Alright, fine. Yes, I did. I went to M.I.T. and I, uhm, graduated at seventeen.'

'Seventeen?' The competitive drive that buried itself in your bones early on wants to prove itself to him, awed by the size of his intellect.

'With my PhD.' He winces. Just for a moment, but you catch it.

'Oh,' you say with a stunned laugh.

He goes back to work with a quick shake of his head and a sigh. 'Yeah, that right there is why I don't tell people.'

You’re surprised by his assumption that you’d view it as a bad or repulsive fact. 'It's amazing. You should be proud of it. Why would you want to keep that a secret?'

His lip pouts again and irrationally you think about what it would be like to kiss him. 'Because now you'll look at me differently. Like I'm some kind of freak of nature.'

'I don't think it makes you a freak.' Your answer is immediate and emphatic.

'Oh really?' He gives you a side-glance, keeping his tone neutral.

'No, it makes you a genius. And intelligence is never a bad thing. Quite the opposite, in fact.' It does nothing to help the attraction you feel for him. Rather than dousing the flames, it pours gasoline on them.

'Tell that to -' he stops himself, pressing his lips together. The bitterness in his voice makes you jerk back in your seat. ‘Nevermind. It was a long time ago. Forget I said anything.’

But you can fill in the gaps, no stranger to the judgement of others. 'Clearly you need better friends.'

He blinks, vulnerability filling his eyes. 'Like you?' His expression softens and he gives you a half-smile.

You blush, realizing what it must look like that you’re so passionate about defending him. 'Sorry, I didn't - all I mean is that it’s attractive.’ You curse yourself and cough delicately, trying to appear impartial. ‘An attractive quality. I just got my master’s and I thought I was advanced for my age. So I just meant to say… I get it. And you’re not a freak.’

The moment stretches out between you, the air in the space seeming to pause. The muted, reverent silence fills the distance once more. But this time it’s charged, tense. Waiting. He breathes in deeply, the shirt he wears stretching across his chest and yet again you long to touch him. For a beat his gaze drops to your lips and he swallows, opening his mouth to speak.

But he’s interrupted by the door opening. The ding of the motion sensor makes you both jolt, turning to see who it is. An older woman comes in carrying a heavy looking bag. She coughs and leans against the door to rest.

Jongdae bolts up from his desk, clearing his throat. 'Here, let me help with that.'

He bows to her with a warm smile, holding his hands out to take the bag. She nods and Jongdae slings the bag over his shoulder, wincing when it collides with his back. With a gentle arm around her back he helps her into the chair opposite his desk.

'Thank you, young man,' the woman says with a smile.

'Not at all,' Jongdae says, resuming his post on the stool. 'How can I help you today?'

You're certain your mouth has fallen open. To difficult customers he's brief, almost condescending, and for the nice ones he’s reserved and polite, but nothing like this. For over an hour he patiently connects the woman's computer to his power strip and walks her through how to use it. 

Again and again he shows her the links and how to work the web browser. Installs a complimentary virus protection program. Makes sure she can find the Solitaire application she loves. And only charges her $20.

But after she leaves the next customer is a businessman dressed in what looks to be a very expensive suit. Jongdae spends the laughably short visit practically sneering at the man. And he charges him at least twice what it says on the pricing list he gave you.

As soon as the door closes you release the laugh you’ve been holding in. 'You know, for someone who runs a business, you seem hell bent on driving some of your customers away.'

He shakes his head, hair falling in his eyes. 'He was a moron. You don't buy the Rolls Royce of computers if you don't know how to drive it.'

'So the only exception here is kind old ladies?'

Jongdae barks out a laugh, meeting your gaze and looking younger than you’ve ever seen him. 'Exactly.'

June 28th, 1997

Moments after you walk out the door for lunch during a bustling Saturday it pings again, announcing yet another customer. This one is probably his scheduled twelve o’clock appointment, Jongade thinks as he looks distractedly at his watch.

He turns to greet them and his entire body recoils. 'What do you want?' Jongdae practically hisses, but he keeps his tone even with all his might.

Since you’ve taken over scheduling Jongdae hardly looks at his calendar anymore. If he’d known Julian Danforth was seeking his help he would have told him to fuck off. Unfortunately Jongdae’s hesitation in talking about his past means you could have no possible idea how much the man standing before him used to matter.

Julian strolls in with a computer in his arms and a smugness on his mouth that Jongdae wants to punch off. His sunglasses are perched on the top of his head and his khaki shorts have neatly pressed lines, clearly not done by the man himself, who drips with privilege.

He'd thought these feelings were long buried, but they roar in Jongdae’s chest. The friendships and the future he almost had are now scattered behind him like a trail of carnage, all the fault of this man. The burn of sadness and embarrassment that fills Jongdae’s stomach was supposed to be gone, relinquished to ashes. But seeing one of his former best friends again Jongdae feels like he's ten years old, stuck in a class with far older students. Young, inexperienced, an outcast.

‘Good afternoon to you as well, old friend.’ Ignoring the daggers Jongdae is staring at him, Julian steps forward, setting the computer down on the desk. 'Like I told the woman on the phone I'm having a problem with some computer virus.'

He says it like it’s a slimy, living thing that had crawled into his machine. Displeasure colors his expression; annoyed at the mere thought that his money and status don’t render him immune from such commonplace problems. ‘You know I don’t trust anyone else with my system.’

After what you did I should smash your computer open. Jongdae doesn't speak as plugs the machine into the power strip he rigged to his desk, not willing to risk what he’ll say.

It's a far more expensive model of computer than most of his clients bring in. Those who purchase such a high end version fall into two camps - enthusiasts like himself who know what they're getting, or the rich and famous who buy them as status symbols and have no clue how to work them. Julian, unfortunately, falls into the latter category.

The computer starts up and Jongdae’s mind goes into work mode, tuning out Julian. The virus has rendered it unusable, only a blur of symbols and lines of code flit across the screen. None of the normal exit keys brings up the desktop. Jongdae purses his lips and slides in the floppy disk he keeps beside his own monitor, an anti-virus he designed.

He leans into muscle memory as he runs through the start up and sets the program to do its job. With any luck the idiot just found some simple malware from some incredibly obvious email spam or downloaded a bug on a porn site. In all social and business sense Julian is a shark; he'd never have fallen for such an obvious scam in real life. But when it came to computers and technology he was hopeless, and thus Jongdae had come into his life years ago.

'How long have you been set up here?' Julian asks with a dismissive glance at the machines and equipment stacked on the shelves.

'Why do you care?' The question comes out harsher than he intends, but the emotion isn't entirely unearned.

Once upon a time he and Julian met in Seattle, after Jongdae was fresh out of M.I.T. and Julian had flunked out of yet another University. They were determined to build a business together. If he had more energy Jongdae would wear this store and his reputation proudly, built from no family connections or money, just his own intelligence and drive. After how thoroughly Julian severed Jongdae’s life he should rub his success in Julian’s face with pride.

Instead he ignores him, determined to move on.

The program finishes its run in rapid time, as though it knows how quickly Jongdae wants this moment to end. The virus dissipates and the desktop loads like normal. He's tempted for a second to indulge his curiosity to see what Julian has been up to. Last he knew Julian had gone to work at his father’s investment bank, dreams of standing on his own cowed by the reality of the world outside of his comfortable bubble. Without Jongdae there’s no way the business and the program held up to scrutiny. 

For a second Jongdae stares at the screen, remembering how good it had felt to have found his people. Tech nerds, hungry to build something that would change the world. Julian, who wanted to cast off his father’s legacy and strike out on his own. Julian’s girlfriend Marissa and her soft heart, who wanted to help people. Their friend Albert, with the plan. 

Once he knew them so well he hardly knew where he ended and they began. But now, all these years later, they’re strangers.

Jongdae looks up and watches Julian as he absently admires the collection of turntables on the wall behind the desk. He knows Julian well enough to know this might be an act of contrition, his way of bridging the gap he created to reach out the olive branch of friendship once more. But Jongdae’s curiosity already killed the cat once, spectacularly, and he has no desire to repeat the mistake.

He unplugs the machine and watches the screen go dark, shoving it with both hands across the polished wood surface towards Julian. 'There. It's fixed.'

For customers who are far more polite and far less acquainted with Jongdae he might have explained what caused the virus or recommended an anti-virus software or even shared best practices to avoid getting one in the future. But, for Julian, he'll do what he was hired for and nothing more.

Julian stands and clears his throat uncomfortably. 'How much do I owe you?' A hint of guilt as he pulls out his wallet.

The motion reminds Jongdae of vacations to Marissa's family home in the San Juans or partying with Julian, Albert, and the rest of them in Capitol Hill. When they turned on him it was like the sun went out. He managed to take his pride and his love of music and DJing and escape. Once Jongae rebuilt his life the doors to the past firmly closed.

Anger finally peeks through as he waves a dismissive arm at Julian. 'I don't want your money. Not spending a second longer in your company will be all the payment I need.' He stands as well. Their business today is done and he lets his memories of the past fall before him like ashes.

An awkward beat passes between them and finally Julian breaks eye contact. With a nod to the ground he pushes out the door and disappears, carrying his computer.

He breathes out a sigh of relief, folds his arms, annoyed at how his position and his continued presence here in Seattle occasionally brings him into contact with people like Julian. He should have moved, he thinks. Gone to Singapore or Berlin or London or New York. But for some reason, he stayed.

Through the front window he watches you laugh with your friends in the food court and smiles to himself, thinking of how you call him Scrooge. It should unnerve him, how quickly seeing you or speaking to you or simply thinking you makes his day better, more hopeful; chases away the shadows that linger in his mind when he's left alone for too long. No, left alone isn't the right word. When he isolates himself.

Jongdae doesn’t really know you, not yet. But already he wants to make all of your dreams come true, he wants to make them real. 

The thought is so sentimental and kind and soft that it brings him up short. He bites the inside of his lip and tries to fight the warm feeling in his chest as he watches you laugh. But as he resumes his work he acknowledges that maybe there was a reason he stayed in Seattle, after all.

The mall is packed during lunch; it’s one of the only days you and your roommates and Hitchcock all work together so you’ve christened it Saturday girl’s lunch time. But Baekhyun and Chanyeol of course crash in, as they always seem to. Loud and raucous and happy. Others from their wide circle of friends drop by to grab slices or to make plans for tonight.

Baekhyun sticks two straws in his nose and makes what are probably very scientifically inaccurate walrus noises. As you laugh so hard you almost snort you can’t help but feel like something is missing. Someone is missing. You look back to the shop, drawn to Jongdae as always.

He works away, resuming his repairs after chasing another customer away with his attitude. You sigh, watching the blonde preppy man carry away his enormous computer, muttering to himself. You rest your foot on the edge of your chair and drop your chin to your knee. From this angle, surrounded by the stark design of the store and the fluorescent lights from above, Jongdae looks like he’s trapped inside of a screen himself.

You bite your lip, debating. He’s made it clear that whatever happened between you at the club isn’t something he will discuss, or repeat. But friendship? Community? You work together five days a week and it wouldn’t kill him to get out of his enclosure once in a while. It’s done you good this month, to be out and about with people. Like you can finally breathe for the first time in a long time. And you decide that it’s high time Jongdae do the same.

Liz and Jane, your roommates, call you ‘determined.’ But they say it in a way that clearly means ‘like a homing missile,’ when you want something. Your nature has served you well; you can cut through the bullshit and figure people out almost instantly. It’s helped you both professionally and personally. Allowed you to know immediately which friendships would last, which ones were worth the effort.

Maybe it’s how Jongdae looks like an island, all alone in the shop. Maybe it’s the large Coke that infused you with far too much caffeine. Maybe it’s your insatiable curiosity. But you can’t keep watching him from afar, not when there’s something you can do about it.

‘I’ll be right back.’ Pulling on your denim jacket, you march over to the store. You lean inside the glass door, holding it open with your shoulder. ‘Hey, you.’

Jongdae looks up at you, confusion tugging his brows together, making him befuddled in the cutest way. You tell yourself to stop thinking of him like that, even if you want to.

He blinks and refocuses on you. ‘Back already?’

‘No, but we’ve got more than enough pizza. Why don’t you join us?’ You grin, making a show of looking around the empty office. ‘It’s finally slowed down, and you deserve a break.’

‘I’m on a deadline with this.’ He gestures to the modem that is scattered around him.

You fold your arms and lean against the door. ‘You can fix that in twenty minutes. I know you.’ He opens his mouth to speak, but you beat him to it. ‘And before you throw another excuse you should know I’m very persuasive when I want to be. I don’t think you have another option.’

Jongdae barks out a laugh, dropping the tools in his hand to the desk with a thud. ‘Determined to drag me from my lair, huh?’ He holds your gaze, his expression filling with something akin to heat. Finally he gives you a rueful smile. ‘You’re not going to give up on this, are you?’

You meet his eyes and raise a brow, smiling with satisfaction. ‘Nope. Absolutely not.’

The certainty on his face turns into sadness, so fast you can’t be sure it was really there. Then he closes off and he’s quiet, more so than normal. ‘It doesn’t come easily to me.’

Wondering what could have changed so quickly you step forward, letting the door close behind you. ‘What, pizza?’

It shakes you how desperately you want to know. To peel back his skull and see inside his brain, just to understand what makes him tick. His history and where his future is headed. That small voice inside you whispers that once you figure it out, it still won’t make you care less about him.

‘Friends.’ He says it on a gasp. Looking at the floor fixedly, avoiding your eyes, he seems haunted.

The silence surrounds you both and he finally meets your focus again, chewing on the inside of his cheek. The pieces start to come together. He’s intelligent, preternaturally so, and so advanced in school you can’t imagine he’s had much experience with people his own age. And now that he’s in his mid-twenties he’s built himself a fortress. Close enough to the rest of the world, but distinctly separate.

Irrationally you want to reach across the space and wrap his hands in yours. Tug him into your growing group of friends and fix the ache in your chest his expression gives you. Not sympathy and certainly not pity, but some sensation that’s like butterflies in your stomach. But- he’s your boss. You’re not his keeper and you don’t think whatever dangerous emotion lives in you is what would help him.

He’s not yours and you don’t have the right to push, much that you want to.

‘Ah,’ you say. ‘I see. Well, more often than not we have Saturday pizza out there. The offer always stands. I’ll leave you be if you want to be alone, but just -’ you swallow and give him a tentative smile. ‘Just know that we’d be happy to have you join us. I’d be. Uhm. Happy if you joined us.’ It comes out in a rush and you groan.

With a shake of your head, an uncharacteristic gesture of uncertainty and embarrassment, you wave at him and push back out the door into the noise of the mall.

It’s a shame you don’t turn back. Or no, he thinks, it’s better this way. Jongdae feels far too much for you to keep it contained behind his normally stony expression.

You seem like the kind of person who would take that moment of openness and pull on it, until he unravels in front of you. Fear tells him you would take everything and when you're gone he'd be even more alone than before, now that he knows what it's like with you here.

Looking out through the glass he watches you rejoin the lively group. Always he’s felt like a science experiment, or some kind of circus exhibit when he was growing up. If he didn’t have his grandfather’s steady support and gentle guidance he surely would have become even more isolated.

With a shake of his head, he attempts to refocus on the project at hand. For some reason it doesn't fill him up like he wants it to, his usual joy and satisfaction is missing when he picks up the screwdriver once more. This is where he thrives. Computers and the internet and coding.

To other people it's a labyrinth, impossible to figure out. A world and a language they can speak and learn with effort and intention and study. But to him it's always been as easy as breathing.

His grandfather took his skills from the military and parlayed them into a business as a prolific handyman. It was the world they shared. A place where Jongdae’s creativity and his intelligence could soar. Anything he wanted to build or make, he could. Coding a rudimentary game to pass the time after school, when he could hear the neighborhood kids playing soccer outside.

It took him many wonderful places that he wouldn't have been able to reach if he was, for lack of a better word, normal. As a child and even in school it was so easy to hide behind his grades and his projects and the pride and hope of the adults around him. But now, at twenty five, there’s nothing to keep him hidden anymore.

When lunch is over you return and join him with a nod. He hopes you don't regret asking. He nearly hopes you'll try again. Maybe next Saturday.

For how confident he feels in some spaces - DJing at Shari's, here in his ‘lair’ - at the thought of joining a group of friends he feels again like a nervous thirteen year old sitting in his first college course. Like everyone around him knew how to do things he couldn’t comprehend.

He keeps his thoughts and his feelings to himself; he’s already shared more than he planned. But you draw him back into conversation easily enough, asking about the afternoons orders to be picked up. You don't shy away from him or give him an angry offended air. Inexplicably you still look at him warmly, openly, and he wants more than he's dared to let himself want in a very, very long time.

July 11th, 1997

He doesn't normally leave the office at lunch, preferring to eat his meals in his back office alone, but today Jongdae braves the food court.

It’s a Friday not a Saturday, but it’s a start. He makes brief, yet friendly, conversation with Chanyeol at the pizza place. The taller man smiles at Jongdae, easily, as though he doesn’t second guess the action. He asks if Jongdae had caught the Mariner's game over the weekend and they talk about how Griffey might finally lead Seattle to a World Series this year.

For once he doesn't feel like going back to the office and burying his head in his work. Jongdae awkwardly pulls out a chair in the cluster of tables between the bookstore and the record store. As he takes a bite of his pizza he hears a familiar laugh. Turning around he sees you through the glass of the bookstore.

You speak to the woman who owns Greyhame Books, standing beside someone he thinks is possibly called Jane. It all seems so… easy for you. Tucking your hair behind your ear you lean against the counter, discussing the stack of books in front of you with your friends.

Jongdae gives a rare laugh to no one but himself.

When he imagined hiring an accountant and administrator for his flourishing business he thought he'd get someone older. A person with experience and a similar level of wanting to be left alone. They could ignore him and he could ignore them, delegating filing and payments and customer questions and not have to think about them again.

An employee was supposed to reclaim the silence and peace that his work used to bring. Technology is so much simpler and predictable than humans and he’d really prefer to cut other people out of the equation entirely.

But you are the opposite of simple, and you absolutely aren’t someone he can ignore. From the moment he recognized you he knew he had to hire you. With your intensity and your impressive resume and the way your mouth pulls to the side when you’re trying not to smirk.

He doesn't regret it. But he feels raw in a way he hasn't allowed himself to in years. Jongdae doesn't let people get close. Not anymore.

'Hey, Jongdae!'

With a pizza slice halfway to his mouth Jongdae spots Junmyeon approaching, waving, a large Starbucks drink in hand.  He wants to turn away and hide in his pizza. He isn't good at this - making friends. For months Junmyeon has asked him to join in their monthly networking events here at the mall, or asked him to get a drink at Flanagan’s after work to chat. Jongdae’s all out of excuses.

He imagines his life as a circuit board. There’s his life now - pieces and wires scattered around him - and there’s the life he could have. If he’s brave and if he tries. He imagines the pieces fitting together and what they might build. He wonders if you might fit in, if you’d want him or let him.

His knee is jiggling and he’s nervous, but he takes a deep breath and waves back. ‘Hey Jun! Want to join me for a bit?’ Jun’s expression is surprised - the man doesn’t know how to keep back any of his emotions. ‘If you have time, I mean. No pressure.’ He stutters, pulse racing and cheeks reddening.

Jun grins and sits down opposite him. ‘Absolutely. About time! I thought you’d turn me down forever,’ he laughs. ‘Thanks again for helping me with that broken radio last month. You’re a pro. So, how’s business?’ He sips his coffee and waits patiently.

They can talk about business, something so easy? Jongdae wants to laugh with relief. Maybe he can do this after all.

Junmyeon is amused.

After ten minutes of talking shop with Jongdae he watches as you and Jane leave the bookstore next to their lunch spot. He’s owned a business two doors down from Jongdae for years, but he’s never seen him smile before. When you pass by it’s like someone flipped on a light switch. Jongdae has always been somewhat quiet, somewhat serious, except when he DJs. Now he sits straighter, his face softens, and his eyes fixate on yours like a magnet.

The two of you claim the other seats at the table, showing off the books you purchased. In between sips of his coffee Junmyeon balances his own flirtation with Jane and observing - okay, spying - on you and Jongdae.

He’s warmed by not just the caffeinated beverage. There’s a soft energy here- It’s a warm summer day and he’s discussing books, one of his all-time favorite topics. His mind whispers the words ‘double date’ and he smiles to himself for a moment before blinking.

“Are you alright?” Jane asks, gently resting her hand on Junmyeon’s wrist on the table.

He blushes and gives her a reassuring nod and asks if she’s read the Octavia Butler book on top of her stack yet. It’s an attempt at distraction and he knows it. But thankfully Jane’s eyes crinkle in the corners when she talks about the author, not pausing or seeming to notice the way he was fantasizing for a beat.

Across from him you and Jongdae are arguing about the merits of Isaac Asmiov. Jongdae is more articulate, more animated, more alive than he’s ever seen him. Gesturing emphatically and saying something about how robots are friends, not foes as you interrupt him by reminding him about Terminator. Neither of you seem to acknowledge the attraction between you. It’s been months since you started working at Chen’s, if Junmyeon remembers correctly.

In his periphery he sees Temptation, the chocolate store, and thinks of how Yixing and his girlfriend met on the job. One of his favorite poems mentions how love mirrors the lover; that everyone falls in love in a way akin to their personality. Yixing, passionate and insatiable and spontaneous, fell for Lavender in minutes and days. He saw what he wanted and after a slight pause to make sure it’s what Lav really wanted, he made the move.

Jongdae is nothing if not the complete opposite. Calculating and reserved and inscrutable.

His potential new friend is falling, if the lingering looks he gives you and the way he’s almost touched your shoulder not once but twice are any indication. But it’s a mystery to Junmyeon if, or when, Jongdae will ever make a move. You aren’t the same kind of romantic as Yixing’s girlfriend, someone playful and open with your emotions. You’re driven and witty and warm in your own way. Clearly you care for Jongdae, but in a quieter sense.

Junmyeon imagines this will be a marathon of love, not a sprint.

Eventually lunch hours end for all of you. There’s clients to see and paperwork to do and as he waves to you and Jane he wonders what will become of you and Jongdae. If you’ll stay as co-workers, always flirting and secretly wondering what might be. Or if either of you will push the other into action. The chess board is laid out, pieces waiting to be moved. It might just be his imagination, but Junmyeon hopes that one of you gets the game going.

He does also, perhaps, focus on you and Jongdae as a way to ignore how his own heart beats a bit faster around Jane. How he can’t stop staring at her dimple when she smiles or the head tilt she gives him when she’s really listening. Like he’s the only person in the world. No, he absolutely doesn’t think about Jane’s feet i n his lap as they both read on the couch in his living room. He doesn’t wonder what it would be like to kiss her or hold her hand. Absolutely not.

Instead he invites Jongdae to the monthly Settlers of Catan night he has with Minseok and some other folks from the mall. Much safer territory than wondering about his own love story and if still waters truly do run deep where he and Jane are concerned.

August 11th, 1997

On a surprisingly rainy yet unsurprisingly dead Monday morning Jongdae forces you away from your insistent attempts to organize his paperwork to the market a few streets over. The quiet bakery on the hill above Pike Place has a view of the misty Sound beyond. He sits close beside you, carefully keeping his knees away, lest he bump yours and you do the same, perhaps letting them linger a moment each time they collide.

It’s nice here, you notice suddenly, as you take the first sip of your coffee. The smell of dark roast and fresh almond scones. The breeze coming in through the open door. The soothing, distant sound of jazz from the overhead speaker. The pleasant warm lighting, far different than the aggressively bland fluorescent kind he chose for Chen's. Everything puts you at ease, wraps around you the way you wish Jongdae’s arms would.  

'This place reminds me of Amsterdam.' You smile, looking down into your cappuccino to avoid Jongdae’s eyes.

‘Have you ever been?’ he asks, voice softer than it normally is.

With a shake of your head you trace the edge of the teal and white ceramic cup in front of you. ‘No, but I’ve seen pictures. I used to love photo books growing up. Atlases and travel guides. It’s always been my favorite section of the library.’

He hums for a moment, considering. 'If you could go anywhere in the world, is that where you'd choose?'

Tucking your hair behind your ears you bite your lip to avoid grinning at him. He’s making you remember long-forgotten parts of yourself. Before school and work became the end point, the be-all end-all that your life was funnelled towards. Back when you imagined exploring every country on the planet. Taking photos and making memories. A long time ago, in the days before you realized how expensive it is to actually be a wanderlust-filled adventurer.

Finally you look at him. Something in his irises makes you swallow; an endless, nameless emotion that lives in him you can never seem to place. Elusive and frustrating and tempting all at once.

‘Yes,’ you admit. Voice dry and heart racing you look back to your coffee in avoidance. ‘It’s my dream to travel there. I’m a bit obsessed with it, really.’

'You? Obsessed?' Jongdae smirks, a boyish grin you want to cover with your own mouth.

You roll your eyes, tracing the handle of your mug. 'Hush. It's such a beautiful city with all the canals and the architecture and history, and the food is to die for. Every quaint European city fantasy in one. What about you, have you done much traveling?'

He shakes his head. ‘Not personally. But - my grandfather went everywhere in Europe, after the war.’ His admission is so quiet you almost miss it. But it’s as if your soul is waiting for every crack in the door to Jongdae you can find, and you don’t pass up the opportunity. ‘What was he like?’

It happens sometimes, when you’re working together. The times there’s no customers around and the mall gets empty and you can’t help but be aware of him. Against your skin and with your hands, eyes feasting on him when the rest of you is forbidden from doing so. In the moments when he isn’t putting on airs of being the tech mogul or the reclusive jerk or the awkward, secretly friendly nerd around Jun or Minseok.

Those times when Jongdae meets your eyes and you see the real him, beneath it all. Wanting and alone and scared. Your breath catches in your throat just as it does now and you long to ask him plainly if he feels the way you do. Being honest with your words and not just your jokes or looks out the corner of your eyes when you catch him watching you too.

But those feel too fragile, too dangerous to utter. So instead you ask him about his family, someone close enough to Jo ngdae’s heart to glimpse the core of him; like a sun during an eclipse you can only look for a moment, lest you get burned.

'My grandfather?’ Brows furrow, the corners of his cat-like lips tilting down for a moment. You nod gently, cupping your drink for something to occupy your hands.

Jongdae looks out at the water for a moment, his mouth tugging to the side as he ponders. ‘You know when you finally solve a puzzle you’ve been working on for ages? Hours of struggling to find the right combination and finally it’s all laid out, perfectly in alignment.’

You nod, trying not to smile and ruin the moment, but softened by him nonetheless. ‘Yeah, I know what you mean.’

When his gaze lands on your hands he pauses, like he’s wondering if the two of you might fit in a similar way. But it’s gone before you can grasp onto the moment. Sadness colors his features then. Not the aching kind that gnaws away like a feral monster, leaving nothing in its wake, but the beautiful, bittersweet sadness of a love greater than grief.

His voice is thick when he next speaks. ‘My grandfather was that person for me. We just - fit. He understood me better than my parents did. More than any of my classmates or the few people I’ve ever gone out with. We didn’t even need to speak.’ Jongdae pauses and taps his fingers on the counter.

You give in and reach for his hand, not to hold it - not yet. But to cover it with your own for a moment of understanding, of comfort.

He smiles at you, the crease between his brows disappearing for a moment. ‘He was fifty one years older than me and he was my best friend.’

‘I’ll bet you miss him quite a lot?’ You realize how incredibly inadequate the sentiment is and shake your head, moving to withdraw your hand. ‘Sorry - that’s - of course you miss him.’

But Jongdae doesn’t let you retreat. With his free hand he holds yours in place. Warmth floods your body from the connection point and you’re unable to take your eyes off him. ‘It’s alright, I know what you mean.’ He traces your thumb with a barely there motion, seemingly without intending to. ‘Thank you.’

‘For what?’ You ask, a bit breathless and unable to mind.

‘For always asking. For always listening.’ He says it simply, as though it’s a novel concept. Perhaps, given what you know of his life, who he is, not many people dare to ask. Or bother to listen.

Soon paperwork and customers and regular life draw you back to Chen’s Electronics. He doesn’t mention the way you reached for him and you don’t either. But when you go to leave that afternoon Jongdae holds out your jean jacket for you to slip on. And when you thank him he gives you the soft, secret grin you’ve learned he saves only for you.

On the way home you think that Amsterdam might be the most beautiful city you can imagine, but that it pales in comparison to a hole-in-the-wall cafe in Seattle, as long as Jongdae is seated beside you.

September 9th, 1997

The summer turns into fall and one Monday evening, seemingly without his noticing, Jongdae realizes that his appointment book is full to bursting.

On Tuesday night he's playing Settlers of Catan with Minseok, Bookworm, Kyungsoo, and Junmyeon. They meet up in the food court after the mall closes at nine, second Tuesday of every month.

Wednesday he has lunch with Jun and some other business owners in the mall for their monthly networking/commiserating 'sesh' as Yixing calls it. That afternoon he's promised to help Minseok install the new upgrades to his store's database software that 'make him want to rip out his hair' in exchange for a few coveted LPs Jongdae's had his eyes on for a 70’s/grunge remix set at Shari's.

Thursday night there’s a L.A. Confidential screening at the theater that Baekhyun talked him into, after their argument about whether or not Russel Crowe could actually act or if he was just handsome.

Saturdays are pizza and raucous laughter to break up the busy weekends full of work and clients and deadlines, followed by long nights of DJ-ing and circling you as if you are a sun, drawing him in with the pull of your gravity. He’s merely a comet attracted by the force you give off and he’s not even upset at the realization.

Sehun, Jongin, and Yixing practically bribed him into joining their 'Sunday morning brunch and biceps' workout group, saying that they need a fourth and everyone else is normally sleeping off their hangovers or works the opening shift.

It’s other people’s names all over his schedule, but what he feels is you. Everywhere, all over him. He knows it’s you. Not intentionally, perhaps. But you opened a door for him with your ease and generosity. One Saturday pizza lunch and somehow he’s gotten to know more people in two months at the mall than he had in the years before combined.

You’d wave him off if he mentioned it or thanked you. With that adorable tilt of your head you would smirk and tell him that all he has to do is give people a chance. That they don’t bite.

Irrationally he wants to do things for you - not just as a friend but in the romantic sense - like buy you flowers or have you by his side at Thursday movie screenings or take you to Amsterdam, just to watch you bloom among the flowers. But that would be… crazy, right? He sits in his favorite armchair unable to focus on the book in front of him and runs agitated hands through his hair.

He’s not your boyfriend or your partner. He’s your boss or your co-worker and possibly your friend. Why does he think of holding your hand and walking along the canals of some foreign city every time you look in his direction?

Why does the once-comforting quiet of his apartment feel more and more empty when you’re not laying on the couch across from him, reading and teasing him? Why does he wake up and wish that someone besides himself filled his bed? Someone with your expressions and your joy and your stubborn insistence.

He briefly makes a mental note to ask Yixing how he ended up dating Lavender before suddenly tossing the book to the floor, standing with a groan.

‘What a ridiculous idea!’ he yells aloud to the empty apartment. Jongdae paces circles in the carpet of his living room and wonders if part of being in love is going slightly insane, if everyone who manages to do so finds the madness enjoyable or if love is simply folie à deux?

He looks at his calendar, spread open on his grandfather’s old, wooden desk and tries to comprehend how his life could be so different one year to the next. Like he’s grasping at straws or wisps of air. Aside from work and his grandfather and music, what did he have before? The occasional alumni event or guest lecture at his alma maters?

For a minute his chest feels too full to breathe, unable to let in anything more. Panic tugs at him for a second. It’s too much, all at once - too many people and too many events. Too many opportunities to mess up and these people? He can’t sever his life completely like he did from Julian and his friends. They're so connected to this space he's made his business in. What will happen when he inevitably falls out of favor with them?

He imagines himself shunned and the idea hurts worse than before. Back then he had chosen isolation; to have it thrust unwillingly upon him, unasked, is too much to comprehend.

Once he walked naively into friendship, believing it was easy and that it would last. That there was no rug that would be unceremoniously swept out from under him. But people change, faster than he can believe.

Jongdae sits on the floor, his pajama pants brushing his crossed legs, and forces himself to steady his breathing. These people are not his old friends at Microsoft, he reminds himself. Nor are they the kids in school who teased him, or his classmates in college who resented him or treated him like an annoyance.

Like he’s always practiced, he turns to facts to calm his mind. He’s safe - the apartment is his and he has plenty of money. Not just from his business but from his grandfather’s life insurance. If he wanted to leave - if he was forced to, he thinks he could do it. But something within him howls at the idea of leaving what he has now.

For the first time in ages he has ideas, plans, and dreams for what to do with his life. Now he has people he cares about, people who he trusts to be kind rather than fearing they’ll betray or leave him. You’re at the center of it, if you let him. Determination takes hold of him and doesn’t let go. After a few moments his panic subsides, washed away by the bright promise of a future he’s never dared to imagine before now. Before you.

September 13th, 1997

By the end of your second drink you contemplate being the one to risk it all and ask Jongdae out.

In the months you’ve worked together you stopped seeing him as a challenge and started viewing him instead as the push to your pull. The yang to your yin. The - you sip on your rum and coke and get lost in the tug of his brows and the set of his lips as he spins rather than finding another apt metaphor.

The first time you met him you knew there was something underneath his hard exterior, but you had no idea how correct you’d be proven. Somehow he walks the tightrope between being harsh and being softer than you thought possible. But rather than turn you off you find you’re drawn to his bewildering mix of wry humor, nerdy fixations, and raw emotion. It unlocks all the jagged parts of you that you try to keep so nicely pressed together.

For someone who has been deemed too much to handle finding a man who seems to do it with ease is staggering. He loves your bossy, charismatic nature and your ideas about new things to try at the store. He listens intently when you rattle off obscure facts about your favorite books and movies. He sees your dreams of traveling, of being part of community here, as a complement, not a detriment to your professional career.

A voice startles you. “So when are you going to jump his bones?” Baekhyun is the kind of puppy dog, glowing cheeks, wide-eyed endearing drunk you wish you could hate.

He waggles his brows at you and you snort, shoving him away with your shoulder. “I have zero idea what you’re talking about.”

You weave your way around the perimeter of the dance floor, trying and failing to not fixate on Jongdae with every step.

“Come on. Admit it. You’ve got a thing for the DJ.” His mouth tugs into a smug grin and you groan. “And word on the street is he wants you too.”

“He’s my boss.” The last of your drink burns your throat and you belly up to the bar to order another. “Get real.”

Always a hoe for gossip, Baekhyun leans one elbow against the bar and drops his chin into his hand to watch you. Rather than speak and risk your wrath again he merely looks between you and Jongdae, waiting.

You pride yourself on not giving into temptation for all of ten seconds and then blurt out - “What are you doing?”

Baekhyun presses his lips together to suppress a grin. He raises a finger and holds it up. “You’ll see.”

The bartender is tied up with a group at the far end so you sigh and turn, resting your back against the bar top. With folded arms you observe the club. “We’re about to be abducted by aliens? Jongin’s going to breakdance? Minseok and Bookworm are -”

He clicks his tongue. “So impatient. You two really are a match made in heaven.”

“Me and Jongdae?” If you weren’t already buzzed you’d deny it more. But the permission to speak openly about your feelings for the DJ is too tempting. “You think so?”

Before he can tease you again a motion up ahead catches your focus. Jongdae looks up without tilting his head. His eyes cut to the left, to the two overflowing booths that are filled with the usual crew from the Exodus Mall. With amusement you follow his eye line as he scans the dance floor, looking for something. He never breaks the movement of his hands, spinning the vinyl and working the controls.

Finally his focus lands on you and Baekhyun at the bar. Jongdae’s eyes widen and that unreadable expression settles on his features, no emotion escaping. Your heart picks up, cheeks heating with awareness. There’s nothing to do but hold his gaze for long seconds while the club pulses with life around you. Isolated and together, even across the room.

And then Baekhyun ruins it.

With a comically large wave he smiles at Jongdae. The motion breaks Jongdae’s focus and he rolls his eyes, shaking his head at his friend’s ridiculousness. A smile tugs at his lips and he gives you a look of commiseration and you laugh, reaching over to ruffle Baekhyun’s blonde hair.

The song changes and Jongdae finally looks away. A second later the bartender appears, asking you for your next order. Baekhyun waits patiently beside you, arms folded against the bar, his smugness a tangible thing in the air between you two.

You bite your lip and look at yourself in the mirror behind the bar, visible between the clear shelves of liqueurs and syrups. Could he feel the same way? Does Jongdae imagine holding you, kissing you, being with you the same way you do with him in your unguarded moments?

The two of you already do so much together - work five days a week. Meals alone or with friends. Nights here, separate but still united in the bubble of the dance club. It strikes you just how thin the line is between friends and coworkers and … something more. A four-letter sinful word that starts with L and implies dangerous things like hands touching hands followed by lips and skin and teeth. A different four-letter word full of softness and commitment that has no place being in your mind at the same time as Jongdae’s name.

A hand rests gently on your shoulder. “I told you,” Baek says sincerely. He disappears after waggling his damned eyebrows one more time and leaves you at the bar, wondering.

Half of you wants to confess to him out of genuine affection and desire for connection; you can’t escape the way he makes you long to be reckless and daring and bold and romantic in the kind of grand gesture sense that you’d have rolled your eyes at before you met him. The delicate balance makes your palms sweat and your glass shake slightly as you raise it to your lips. From nerves or excitement or a mix of the two.

You could make the first move, but the logical half of your mind wins out. Instead you swallow your drink in three gulps and head over to the DJ booth to talk to him and nothing more. Close enough to be comforted by his nearness but keeping your desire closeted behind your fear. Tonight that’s all you can manage.

Passing by Yixing and Lavender dancing is a reminder of all the good love can bring. Yixing’s hands holding her close, her arms folded around his neck and their foreheads together. Intimate words are shared that aren’t meant for your ears, even if you could hear them over the sound of the music.

But just beyond is Baekhyun and Hitch. She laughs and dances out of his way as he tries to tickle her. They’re obviously in love to anyone who watches, so why haven’t they admitted it and had a go at being together? Maybe it’s for the best, you wonder. If trying and failing and ruining what you have it worse than never trying at all.

Before you can wander too far down the road of doubt and consequences you remember how it felt to have Jongdae’s hand on top of yours. The thought of tomorrow and the days after disappear altogether when you feel Jongdae’s eyes on you once more, drawing you closer to him, whether he knows his effect on you or not. When you reach the booth you decide to stop thinking in general, and let yourself feel instead.

Saturday night and he's in his element. In the booth, far away from the rest of the crowd but still a part of it. Adrenaline in his veins. Music is Jongdae’s therapy. An alter ego much like the comic book characters he read about growing up. It's the skin he can put on when he's tired of being himself. A place where he can set down the baggage of his identity for a night and get lost in the beats.

He closes his eyes, savoring the pattern of the vinyl beneath his fingertips.

Suddenly, he feels you. Of course you're here. He's never free from you, he thinks with a rueful smile. First you invaded this place, his escape and his temple. Then you wormed your way into his business as though you always belonged there. Now you're occupying his senses the way you occupy his thoughts at all hours.

For a beat he admires you, standing at the bar rolling your eyes while Baekhyun waves dramatically. He drinks you in with a last look at your fabulous legs before reluctantly turning back to switching out one album for the next. Lately you’ve taken to joining him for a bit while he spins and he hopes that once again you’ll come up to the booth tonight.

He's not a patient man, or a subtle one. If he wanted to be rid of you, you'd be gone. Severed with the kind of brutal finality he showed to anyone from his time after M.I.T. There are no second chances as far as he's concerned. But still, you remain. Infuriating, exhilarating. Never far from his consciousness.

'You look like you're having a good time!'

Sooner than expected your voice breaks his trance and he lifts his eyes to look at you. His heart thumps painfully in his chest and he swallows harshly. He doesn't know how you do it - how you effortlessly change to match your surroundings.

One minute you're his office manager, polite and respectful and skilled. Already he sees the business taking shape, becoming more cohesive and smooth beneath your talented mind and heart. And your feisty insistence that he upgrade and finesse his marketing and finally finish putting together a website for Chen’s.

The next minute you're leaning over the edge of the booth, chest coming forward and revealing your neckline. The red is fitting on you. It brings out the natural flush in your cheeks and makes you look perpetually alive. He feels stagnant by comparison, a man of stone who remains unchanging while the world passes him by.

The tumble of hair across your shoulders and the delight in your eyes are so beautiful he wants to reach for you. To reach for more, be more than who he has been - afraid and alone. Bitterness lives in his heart, swatting away anyone who gets too close. But here you are, knocking once more on the door of his being.

He finds his voice, his hands thankfully moving on muscle memory as he drops in the next remix. 'It's good energy tonight,' he fumbles. 'I love this song.' You nod in agreement.

It’s easy, being with you. Together you talk about work and the music he plays and your group of friends. Chanyeol and Bijoux, who finally got together again after what seems like months of back and forth. Bets on how long Minseok will wait before he proposes to Bookworm, now that they’re an official item. Joking about Baekhyun and Hitch like always.

He shows off for you, just a little. Spins 'Scream' by Michael and Janet jackson with a bit more pizazz than usual. It strikes him as amusing how much he always hated being watched before this. Not that many people pay particular attention to him as a DJ, but he thinks he might like the way it feels to be watched by you.

He wants to watch you, too, for as long as you let him. He already can’t take his eyes off you. No matter how much that idea might terrify him. When he drops the next mix and the crowd cheers at ‘Tubthumping’ he gives you a rare broad smile and it's like being punched in the chest when you return it with an unexpectedly shy one of your own.

Jongdae almost invites you into the booth. He sees it as though it were one of the romantic comedies that are so popular right now. You would take your place in front of him. He'd get to rest his hand on top of yours, guiding your movements. Maybe as you got the hang of it he would slide them to hold your hips, keeping your back to his chest as his mouth finds your neck.

Liz invites you to dance and Jongdae wipes the probably awed look off his face with effort. He needs some cold water, immediately.

Friday September 19th

Jongdae is upset about something. It’s not so much that you now seem to be able to pick up his moods with ease, which is true, but the fact that he is nearly tearing his hair out. A piece of paper sits in front of him on the desk but it’s too far away for you to read.

By the time he groans for the fifth time you finally speak up. ‘Are you alright?’

His head jerks up and his eyes are tired when they meet yours. Not ‘it’s been a long week’ tired, but something sad in his expression that makes him look fragile and younger than his years.

For a moment he shakes his head. Then he picks up the paper and waves it in the air, opening and closing his mouth in rapid succession. The confusion on his normally self-assured face would be comical if it wasn’t such an obviously distressing situation. Finally he drops the paper and leans back in his chair, rubbing a hand along his jaw.

‘I just got word that they’re demolishing the apartment building I live in. I have to move by November 1st.’

Instantly you want to hug him or hold his hand. ‘Your grandfather’s apartment?’

Jongdae nods. ‘They’re tearing it down so they can put in some luxury condos. Yet another classic neighborhood about to be wiped out in the name of progress.’ He sighs, looking at the ceiling to compose himself. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so-’

‘No, it’s -’ you start, unsure of your destination. ‘It’s an important place. And it’s your home. Don’t apologize for being pissed off about it.’

He nods, taken aback. ‘Exactly. It’s where I grew up. I’ve also never had to look for an apartment or move, either. So this will be dreadful.’

You bite the inside of your cheek. The offer to help practically leaps from your mouth and you hold it close for a moment, making sure you don’t rush into something that’s out of your depth. But as always your logic overrules your fear.

‘I could help, if you like?’ He’s just your boss slash co-worker. It’s innocent. It’s harmless, right? ‘I’ve moved so often with school and everything. I know my way around the city.’

In the ensuing pause Jongdae’s solemnity returns, his mouth and the lines of his face don’t give away any emotion. But, as always, he holds you in place with his expression. And his eyes have that fire within that he seems to only show to you. ‘That would be wonderful, thank you.’

You nod, case closed. Turning back to your computer you lie to yourself further, pretending not to notice how his voice lowered. As though he knew you weren’t just offering for help with his living situation. But something more raw and painful that he isn’t prepared to hold on his own just yet.

For how picky you thought you were about apartments, Jongdae has you beat by a mile. Student housing accustomed you to wonky flooring and cramped kitchens and the charming yet ancient windows on many older Seattle homes. But his grandfather’s gorgeous pre-war unit had made Jongdae’s tastes quite particular.

On Tuesdays and on weekends you pulled up listings and showed Jongdae around the city by way of it’s apartments, condos, and houses. He enjoyed the nature surrounding Greenlake, the affordable houses north of UW in Ravenna, and the vibe of Ballard and Fremont. But he ruled anything north of 520 out quickly as ‘too far from the store.’ The luxury of walking to work on nicer days was something he wasn’t willing to part with.

The same unfortunately ruled out a townhouse in Alki that you had salivated over, a block from the beach. Pioneer Square had some great lofts that would have been perfect for a music-lover like Jongdae, but he vetoed those as well. Along with all the trendy industrial lofts near the stadiums, claiming he hated all the construction going on nearby.

It should have been frustrating, to spend endless hours watching him nix perfectly wonderful places. In Queen Anne he hated the hills. Westlake he disliked the mall. Madrona, Leschi, Montlake, Magnolia, and Lake Union all came close but still he shook his head and said ‘thanks, but no thanks’ to landlord after landlord.

It should have driven you mad, but all it did was make you like him more.

Falling in love with Jongdae isn’t what you had planned. But from the first night you saw him at the club some part of you knew it was inevitable, the way the rain in autumn starts off as a light drizzle and before you know it becomes a torrential downpour, blanketing the city and saturating every exposed corner.

He always brought you coffee and insisted on buying breakfast or lunch. He always picked you up, right on time. Held doors and made sure he didn’t walk too fast and did the thing where his arm hovered over your back when the two of you were in crowded spaces. Not touching, but close enough you could feel him protecting you. On anyone else you would have absolutely hated that, but of course from him, you craved it.

Day after day you listened to music in his car as the two of you drove around little neighborhoods hoping to find something, complaining about how tight and ridiculous the parking situation always is. Joking about your friends or the news or the latest books you’re reading. They hardly felt like dates. No, they felt like something even more insidious. Like being in a relationship with him. Easy and warm and friendly and the kind of thing you could get used to.

But eventually it had to end, before it seemed like either of you were ready.

On a surprisingly warm Tuesday in October the two of you walk into a place that no one could object to. The building is in south Capitol Hill, close to Cal Anderson and only a fifteen or twenty minute walk from the mall. It’s designed in the classic Victorian style of the neighborhood, but was completed just three years ago. Small pane windows and a fireplace with a carved mantle and dark spires on the roof, all with brand new insulation and appliances.

Sunlight floods the corner unit on the top floor and you gasped as soon as the door opened. Jongdae stands beside you as the landlord goes over the details of the square footage and the building amenities, but neither of you are listening anymore.

‘What do you think?’ he asks softly. The five-story building sits on a slight hill and overlooks the rest of downtown, with a partial water view around the tall downtown skyscrapers.

‘I think it’s as close to perfect as you’re going to get.’

He moves closer and rests his palms on the window sill, looking around for a moment before turning his head to watch you. ‘Good.’

After a long pause Jongdae pushes off the windows and politely interrupts the landlord, who is currently opening every single cabinet in the kitchen and giving a detailed run down of his wife’s favorite tupperware, asking about the deposit. The way he phrased it along with the attentive way he waited for your approval makes you wonder if he wasn’t just picking this apartment for himself.

Imagining yourself there scares you. If he was seeking your opinion… surely he would be hoping you’d come over? Neither of you have spoken a word about the bizarre yet undeniable attraction you have, but that hardly forms the basis of a relationship. A boyfriend who wanted to be sure you liked his new place would be one thing, but your friend and co-worker who has never admitted to even liking you is quite another.

You lean against the edge of the window and run a finger along the ledge. A small part of you whispers that you’re supposed to be doing something else, eventually. You won’t work at Chen’s forever, but it wasn’t meant to be this hard to leave. It’s just a stop on the way to your final destination. So why do you want to get off the train altogether and make a home here?

Would it be so terrible, to be with him? It’s been a fantasy for so long that imagining real life with him makes you suck in a breath as though you’ve been punched in the gut. It could be a fresh start for you both. The end of one adventure and the beginning of a new one. You remind yourself that being in love doesn’t mean you can’t travel or change the world. Being with Jongdae would hopefully only encourage your dreams, not stifle them.

As they discuss deposit and applications and timelines for moving into the apartment you wander into the other rooms.

The bathroom has a large tub and dual sinks. You can only imagine what your expression must be like right now, given your swirling emotions, and avoid the mirror altogether. The second bedroom is more like a cozy office, narrow enough for a desk and a couch and perhaps some bookshelves. In the bedroom you hesitate at the doorway, reaching up to play with the pendant of your necklace.

Windows run along both sides, meeting in a corner. You think of plants lining the wide ledges and going to sleep with the setting westward sun and how short of a walk it would be to get breakfast from your favorite bagel shop that’s just a block away. It’s close to the mall and the club. It’s truly perfect.

As you watch cars pass and people walk by down below you space out, the image blurring and becoming Jongdae on a bed in this room, leaning back against the pillows with a book in his lap. Smiling at you and pulling you close since he knows you refuse to get up earlier than you have to on your days off.

Inexplicably you want to cry and you huff out a laugh, squeezing your eyes tightly only to find that they’re damp. It’s not anger that the vision inspires in you or even sadness. It’s frustration and amusement that war inside you as you think about how you fell in love with him without your consent. Rational thinking should have stopped this long ago, but all you can think as you stand there is how nice it is to be with him. And how you wouldn’t mind being with him for a long while.

The only thing that helps ease the tension in your chest is how he looks at you on the drive back to your place. You fill the time with discussions of moving trucks and hiring a company to help with the heavy lifting, but you’re both clearly distracted by other thoughts. He pulls his car up to your apartment and you try to avoid looking at him as you say goodbye, but he briefly rests his hand on your knee to get your attention.

Your hand stops in its motion to grab your bag and ends up nearly on top of his, but you make no movement to break the contact. ‘Thank you,’ he says softly. ‘I mean it.’ Jongdae turns his hand and holds yours, giving it a quick squeeze and looking like he never wants to let go.

October 12th, 1997

You’re eating cheesy bread at Barada with Hitch, but today she’s different - evasive and nervous in a strange way. 'So I - uhh. I have news,' she finally says. She sips her drink and looks at the table rather than at you. 'I don't know if I should tell you though.'

Pausing in your chewing you raise a brow. 'You can tell me anything, you know that.'

She awkwardly runs a hand along her neck. 'No I know. I just -' she huffs out a breath and blows her hair off her forehead..

'You and Baekhyun finally had sex and you're pregnant?' You smirk at her as she chokes on her soda. 'Come on, just spit it out.'

She waves and hand and very quickly says - 'There's a project manager position open in the gaming division. Some new big thing and they're looking for an upstart to head up operations.'

You frown and tear off another slide of bread, not understanding her odd behavior at all. 'Okay… and you're thinking what, thinking of applying?'

'No, you dork. I'm thinking you should apply.' She tilts her head like she assumed your reaction would be more immediate. 'You wanted me to keep an eye out for you, right? I didn't want to say anything since - '

'Since?' you ask, both afraid of what she'll say and dying to know. Terrified it will have to do with Jongdae and the swirling mess of feelings you have for him.

It’s her turn to be wry. 'Since you and Jongdae have been attached at the hip.'

'Really?' You stall, taking an enormous bite.

Hitch tosses a balled-up napkin at you. 'Yes. When I met you in college I thought 'there goes the most intense person I've ever met.’ And then I met Jongdae after he opened Chen’s and he gave you a run for your money.' She dusts off her hands. 'You both could be making millions someday. Taking over countries or saving the world or something. We all know it. I don't know, I didn’t want to mention this because together you guys seem happier. Softer? Something like that..'

'And you think me getting a job there would ruin that?' Her words mirror your fears exactly and your stomach drops.

'It's taken me years to get Jongdae to even look at me after I told him where I worked. He hates Microsoft. With good reason, from what you've implied. I'm sure you could make it work, but trust me when I say if you get swept up into that upper management spiral, we probably won't see you again.'

'I won't completely abandon you guys just because I get a new job.' But doubt whispers in your mind. The long hours and the endless meetings and the extra work to always be the best, to always be ahead. 'Okay fine, I see your point. I still have to try, right? I should at least apply.'

She rests her hand over yours where you have your napkin in a death grip on the table. 'You don't have to do anything, babe. We'll always be here for you even if you become a tech mogul overnight. But will it make you happy? Whatever comes next... do it for yourself, okay? Not just cause you think you should.'

You smile and hold her hand for a moment, wrinkling your nose. 'Thank you, Hitch. I needed that. What about you? You said you were going to apply for that transfer to the NYC office, are you still considering it?'

She blows out a deep breath and pulls her hand back, dropping her forehead to it for a moment. 'God, I don't know. My whole life is here. And I'd have to leave the theater.' She rests her chin on her palm and looks up at you with a dramatic frown. 'My friends are all here. My family. I love where I'm at, but I know that something eventually has to change.'

'Baekhyun?' You grin at her, wondering if the move might finally force them to admit their feelings.

Hitch straightens and looks across the food court to the movie theater. 'Yeah, something like that.' She gives you a dramatic waggle of her brow. 'Jongdae?'

You groan and fold your arms, sinking lower into your seat. Even your roommates ask about him now. Everyone can surely see how you light up around him. The way you gravitate towards the DJ booth on club nights like a moth to a flame. The way you draw him into conversations and brag about him. It should be forbidden territory, as untouchable and unreadable as he is. Not to mention he's your boss.

But worst of all he still hasn't said anything about it, nothing more than the occasional flirtatious comment or lingering look. Even after all your time together and the way he looked at you in the new apartment. For all you know he sees you as a very stubborn employee who happens to force your way into things.

You cover your face with your hands and sigh. 'Something like that.'

Hitchcock stands and takes your shared tray of dishes to the bus station with a throaty laugh. 'That's what I thought.'

November 1st, 1997

Jongdae is frantically packing up more of his bookshelf when the doorbell rings. He smiles on instinct. It's not something he can help anymore, not when he knows it's you on the other side. Right at nine in the morning, just when you promised the movers would be here. With a last look around his living room at the organized chaos he wipes his hands on his sweatpants and stands.

It surprised him how quickly you agreed to help with - well, everything, really.

When he told you about his move he didn’t expect anything would come of it. It's his problem, not yours. He didn't imagine for a moment you'd give the announcement more attention than a sympathetic word or two. But you stepped to his side. Put up with his grouchy persistence in believing that there's no place in the world, let alone in Seattle, that would be as amazing as this apartment. As it always seems with you, he found himself proven wrong.

You didn't let him wallow and guided him with your decisiveness through the checklist of everything he'd need to do. A few months ago he would have waved you off. Decided you were being bossy or nosy and turned down the help with a cold shoulder. 

But now he wants you around for everything and the thought makes him pause with his hand on the doorknob.

He made sure you like his new apartment too because - when he isn't expecting it he imagines you there. Not just as his co-worker or employee or even as his friend. As someone more permanent. Lasting. It's not that he needs you to run his life for him, he's perfectly capable of doing things on his own. It's just that he loves how you barge your way into his world and refuse to let him be alone.

Jongdae doesn't know how yet, but he wants to show you how he feels in return. It's like trying to run with a blindfold on, but he desperately hopes that he can figure out how to care about you in the way you deserve. Bringing you coffee and asking about your day and giving you all the freedom you want at work are a start, but they barely scratch the surface of how much he feels for you.

He's got one idea. A big one. An insane one, that you'll probably call him nuts for suggesting. If he ever gets up the nerve someday.

The buzzer sounds again and he shakes himself out of it. Finally he pulls it open and is greeted by your smiling face in the morning gray light. Hair pulled back in a ponytail and dressed in a long black shirt and faded overalls. He leans against the doorframe, wondering if he's ever seen anything more beautiful than you on his doorstep.

'So, I have a surprise,' you start. With a free hand you nervously brush your hair behind your ear. It's so unlike you that he immediately wonders if something is wrong.

'What is it?'

Before you can answer, noise in the parking lot draws his focus. His front door faces the open-air walkway that leads to the stairs down to the parking lot. He expected a moving truck and several buff men in logoed shirts. Instead it's a scrappy group of your friends - his friends now, he supposes - looking tired but ready to help.

Junmyeon and Jane drink coffee and pull furniture dollys and heavy blankets out of a Uhaul truck. Liz and Jongin are leaning against the cab of Sehun's car and laugh at him as he and Yixing sleep peacefully in the backseat. Chanyeol and his girlfriend are paused on the landing below making out, a tape gun in each of their hands. Another car catches a break in the flow of traffic and pulls into one of the guest spaces. Minseok and Bookworm step out and yawn, tying sweatshirts around their waists.

Jongdae repeats his question. Or at least he tries to, but emotion catches his throat and all he can do is stare at you with a mix of surprise and what he's sure is a very naked expression of affection.

'How did you do this?' he asks when he can finally breathe again.

You tilt your head and grin at him, pride making you radiant even in the dull mist of the morning. 'Is this okay?' For a moment you look worried, tucking your hands in the pockets of your overalls and taking a step back.

'I know I said I'd hire the movers, but I thought this might be better? I didn't think everyone would be here, especially after the Halloween party last night. Soo and Sunshine are working, but I think - wait,' you turn and yell down to the group in the lot. 'Has anyone heard from Baek and Hitch?'

Chanyeol reluctantly pulls away from his girlfriend and replies. 'Yeah, he messaged me at the ass-crack of dawn. He said he and Hitch are fine, but they won't be able to make it until later.'

With a curious look you thank Chanyeol and turn back to Jongdae. 'Okay, so almost everyone came.'

'It's because you're incredible,' he agrees, heart warm and in awe of you. Stepping back, he shoves the door stop in with his foot to prop it open and gestures for you to come in.

He doesn't get two steps before your hand finds his bicep, stopping him. 'No, I'm just absolutely amazing at organizing things,' you laugh. ‘But they didn't just come for me Jongdae, they came because they're your friends. They wanted to help.'

The intensity in your voice makes him pause. Like you're trying to say far more than your words. He gets lost for a moment in your beautiful eyes and swallows harshly. His past, the negative parts, haven't come up much - his failed first business, the trail of broken friendships he's left behind him, the ensuing guard he's had up since - but you've paid far more attention than he realized.

He doesn't miss the meaning behind your words, or the look in your eyes; what you're asking of him. To trust you, to trust them. To release his death grip on the walls he keeps up to protect himself. But no matter how determined you are he knows he has to be the one to dismantle them. His heart is nervous and he instead focuses on your hand on his arm.

For a beat he wants to kiss you, then and there with almost all of his and your friends just outside. Instead he lets his actions speak when his mouth isn't able to and pulls you into a hug. You freeze for a moment, stiff with surprise. But after a moment it melts away and you hold him back, wrapping your arms around his waist. His head spins when you rest your forehead against his shoulder, unable to process the fact that you’re in his arms in reality, not just his dreams.

'You're the most amazing person,' he murmurs against your hair.

The sound of loud voices and thumping of boots on stairs make him pull back. You give him another smile, warmer and softer this time. Something that's private for him only. 'I know.'

He barks out a laugh as Sehun and Jongin come in through the doorway. 'Let's do this!' Sehun calls, clapping his hands together.

'We promise we won't steal anything,' Jongin jokes, looking around Jongdae's place with obvious fascination.

Bijoux organizes the packing party while Chanyeol grabs Jongdae's keys so he and Sehun can take the first load of boxes over to the new place while Junmyeon, Jongin, and Jongdae load up the bigger furniture pieces into the Uhaul. Jongdae lets out a rusty laugh as Junmyeon dubs them ‘the J squad.’ You work around them, collecting all the random trinkets and knicknacks that have escaped other boxes.

He closed Chen’s today to hopefully knock this entire project out in one swoop. Ripping it off like a Bandaid. After the first big load everyone splits up into teams. Sehun and Yixing pack and load the rest of the boxes and smaller items into the cars. Jongin, who is absolutely not trusted around breakable items, goes with Junmyeon to return the Uhaul to the rental shop and pick up lunch and drinks for everyone with the cash Jongdae insisted they take. 

And Minseok leads everyone else on a cleaning checklist he’s created with military precision. It's been so long Jongdae doesn't even know if he has a damage deposit. His grandfather took excellent care of the place and he kept it up in his absence, so he hopes it's not too much work to tidy.

Yixing’s boombox keeps up a steady flow of music throughout the morning and lunch time. With everyone’s help, and of course with the added fuel from the pizza and beverages, things are just wrapping up at the old place. You stay behind with Jongdae to take a last look around and turn in the keys, forcing him to take a few photos in the space to remember it.

‘This is it, I guess,’ he says, holding out the key and laying it on the kitchen counter with a small metallic sound.

‘How do you feel?’ You lean your hip against the fridge and drink from a water bottle.

Sunset over Lake Union is his favorite time of day and it’s hard to stand the thought of missing out on a last one. It’s barely two in the afternoon and it’s hours until golden hour. Rather than lie he simply says the truth. ‘I wish I could see the sun go down one last time.’

You come and stand next to him, close enough he can smell the light scent of your perfume and see the flush of your chest from the day’s exertion. ‘We can wait.’

He thinks of everyone at his new place, unloading boxes. ‘But everyone-’

‘Jongdae,’ you start. ‘They’ll be fine. You know Sehun has probably fallen asleep on your couch already. Baek and Hitch and the openers from Barada will be heading over soon. Some people have to head out for closing shifts but it’s already been decided that we’re doing movie night and Chinese take out tonight at your new place.’

‘Oh really?’ He presses his lips together to try not to laugh.

‘I don’t think you have much of a choice,’ you tease. ‘Trust me, they’ll be fine for another few hours.’

‘Alright then,’ he says after a pause.

The two of you sit on the bare hardwood floors and talk until the sun finally sets, just before five pm. He doesn’t yell his feelings for you at full volume like he wishes he could. He doesn’t dance with you or kiss you slowly in the empty apartment, there’s far too many emotions in his heart today to try and cope with more. But after he locks up and leaves the keys behind he does take your hand to help you into the car. And he does hold it for far longer than necessary before pulling back to shut the door. 

It’s not much, but like his new apartment it’s the start of something.

November 3rd, 1997

You’ve got to tell Jongdae now, but nerves eat away at you and your resolve lessens minute by minute. Since the move he’s been warmer, more open, and you don’t want to ruin that. But you can’t keep this from him any longer.

Applying at Microsoft was supposed to be a long shot, a shot in the dark, or some other kind of shot that never meant to lead anywhere. But still it’s one you took and one that ended up paying off way faster and more successfully than you’d planned. After two interviews last week you sit with a job offer on your answering machine back home and a choice to make.

They need your decision by tomorrow and as Monday winds into early afternoon your deadline approaches. You bite your lip and vacillate wildly between thoughts. On the one hand this could be a good thing - if you’re no longer working at the same place, there’s nothing stopping the two of you from being together, right?

But what if Jongdae can’t see past his hurt and freaks out, assuming you’re leaving him like everyone else has? Or worse, what if he never cared about you that way at all?

Your stomach drops at the thought of walking out of here into your dream job, but feeling empty, leaving behind someone who has come to mean so much to you.

Your roommates Liz and Jane, Hitch, hell even Baekhyun weaseled the truth out of you at Shari’s on Saturday. Stone cold sober and still you let out everything to him sitting in your group’s favorite booth. About how you might in fact love Jongdae and how badly you want this opportunity, how utterly terrifying and exhilarating change can be simultaneously.

None of them told you to choose one way or the other. They didn’t say ‘take the job’ or ‘turn down the job,’ they all said that the decision is one only you can make and that they’d support you no matter what you picked. And maybe each time you cried a little and all of them were good enough friends to just hug you and not mention it.

But all of them told you one thing that now sits lodged in your throat. Whatever else happens, you both deserve to know. Jongdae deserves the truth about what you’re considering, and you deserve to finally know once and for all how he feels about you and what he wants.

After he locks the doors and starts cleaning up, you rise, holding your hands behind your back so tightly your knuckles are most assuredly white. ‘Hey, can we talk for a minute?’

Jongdae nods. ‘Of course. I’ve got something I wanted to discuss with you as well, actually. But you go first.’ He folds his arms and leans against his desk, giving you that affectionate close-lipped smile of his. You desperately hope what you’re about to say doesn’t wipe it off his face.

Not one to beat around the bush you dive in. ‘I applied for another job.’ The words sound blunt and harsh. You swallow and try again, hating how his brow furrows in confusion. ‘Not because I don’t like it here. But Hitch told me about an opening and it sounded - sounds perfect for what I want to do in the long run. It’s on the new gaming system division… at Microsoft.’

He doesn’t say anything for a long pause. Instead of meeting your eyes his have dropped to the ground and you wish you could reach out and touch him. Anything to make sure he hears you, understands you. But a whisper of fear makes you keep quiet, worrying the connection you had wasn’t meant to last, if something so trivial could break it.

‘I thought you were happy here,’ he says finally.

You hold your hands out in front of you, palms up in a gesture of entreaty. ‘I do, Jongdae. It’s not that at all. I thought this might - be good for us. If we’re not working together, then -’

When he finally looks up his gaze is distant, his mouth a thin line. The shutters have fallen over his face. ‘By going to work at the one place I despise?’

Anger makes your skin hot and you fold your arms as well, in defiance. ‘But you talk to Hitch and Baekhyun? They haven’t turned into the devil incarnate yet.’

He gives a quick, harsh shrug. ‘I like them both, sure. But being friends is one thing. This is quite another.’

It’s almost a declaration, yet so far from how you dreamed this moment might go. ‘What are you saying, Jongdae?’ You need to hear it. After so many weeks of trying you need him to at least do you the courtesy of speaking it out loud.

‘You know how I feel about you.’ There’s hope in his eyes. But it’s so buried amongst hurt and suspicion it’s not even close to reassuring. ‘I want you to stay. Here.’ With me, he doesn’t say, but you feel it.

Nothing drives you more up the wall than being told what to do. His words fall against your own shield and the plea within goes unnoticed. ‘Would you really shut me off if I took this job? Does hating them mean more than wanting what’s best for me?’ You finally step forward, reaching a hand for his arm.

‘I’ve supported you in everything,’ you start, unable to stop now that you’ve started. ‘In finding community here. In your move. Even in the business, who was the one who pushed you to keep growing? I don’t intend to stop being there for you, but I need you to support me in this. Please.’

He just watches you, not saying a word. The clock on the wall ticks loudly in the silence. People outside the glass doors go about their day, shopping or getting an early dinner, unaware of the standoff taking place merely feet from them. You wonder what it would take to make his guard truly ever come down.

With how quickly it snapped back into place you feel tired all the way down to your bones. Maybe it will never be enough, even if you did stay here forever.

‘I’ll pay out your PTO in these next two weeks,’ he says softly. ‘No need to come back into the office. If that works for you?’ His last statement is thrown on as a hasty addendum. Like he’d realized how harsh it sounded and he wanted to dull the sting. It’s a sliver of kindness, a glimpse at the man he almost allowed himself to be. But it’s not enough.

‘Fine with me.’ You move past him, into the supply room to grab your purse and jacket, proud of the way your voice doesn’t waver. Pausing in the hallway you turn to look back at him, still frozen against his desk. ‘I’m leaving this job, I’m not leaving you.’

He turns to look at you, running a hand through his hair and messing up the ends. ‘It will go the same way, I know it. In the end you’ll disappear too.’

‘Jongdae, I’m trying. I need you to at least meet me halfway.’

You don’t wait for his reply, if one was ever even going to come. Instead you continue down the small hallway and push out the back door into the mall. It’s only once you’re in your car that you remember he mentioned something he wanted to discuss. You wonder what it was, and if you’ll ever find out.

Jongdae stares after you for long seconds after you’re gone. He doesn’t hold out hope that you’ll come back, not after the way he treated you. Instead he feels stuck in place, like if he holds his breath and doesn’t exhale then the last five minutes didn’t happen.

But his lungs burn and his chest aches, and when he finally sighs it comes out ragged. He fumbles for the switch and the store descends into darkness. Shafts of light still come through, angled in from the glass ceiling of the mall’s concourse. Jongdae stands just outside of it, protected. With no one to see he sinks into his desk chair and drops his head into his hands.

The tears that clog his throat are at first unexpected, but as the minutes drag on he finally gives into them. He should have known they were coming all along. Not just from the moment you walked into his life, but from the day his grandfather died. From the day his father passed and his mother became a ghost rather than a permanent, tangible figure. 

From the day Julian took Jongdae’s designs and credited them as his own to the investors, cutting Jongdae out of not only the business they were building, but out of their group of friends as well.

Misery and hopelessness whisper against his skin and for long minutes he lets himself wallow. He knows it’s no one’s fault but his own that he ruined things with you. His grandfather taught him long ago that other’s actions are theirs, and that it’s what Jongdae does in response that is his responsibility. But he can’t deny that he indulges in thoughts of blaming the cruelty of life for making him so goddamn stubborn.

He swallows and leans back in his chair, feeling as though his body is made of hard, unyielding stone. Maybe it's better this way, he wonders, drumming his fingers on the wood desk before him. Perhaps he should let his worst fears dominate his life, believing that the risk is far greater than any potential reward that love or friendship could offer him.

Is it better to be alone, knowing that he’ll always be safe, free of anyone who might hurt him?

Jongdae groans. The voice inside him that whispers No sounds first like his grandfather, both encouraging and feisty at the thought of Jongdae giving up. Next it sounds like you. He knows you’d roll your eyes and call him grouchy, always thinking better of him than he does of himself. You’d tell him his bark is far worse than his bite and to get over himself already. At this thought, at any thought of you, really, he smiles.

Familiar voices make him look out into the mall. Sehun and Jongin walk by carrying sodas, rubbing their stomachs. He can imagine how they’re complaining about eating too much Barada pizza, as always. 

They pass by quickly but the image stays with him, of their friendship. Jongdae thinks of Chanyeol and Kyungsoo’s, how opposite and yet how similar they are. Baekhyun and Hitch, who are always teasing each other but who he knows would do anything at the drop of a hat.

He’s held himself back the past few months. First a reluctant observer. Then a tentative participant. The endless exhaustion of being careful, keeping his distance, catches up to Jongdae as he sits in that chair. If it weren’t for you maybe he’d never be brave enough to try again after how hard it was growing up. But if he is to be the kind of person, the kind of partner you deserve, now is the time to make the attempt.

It’s up to Jongdae to be the one to try, to reach out. He can’t let others find him anymore. For the first time in a long time Jongdae stands up and goes looking for a friend.

Junmyeon still has an hour before his store closes and he looks up at Jongdae as he walks in through the door of Guardians. ‘Hey, JD! How’s it going?’ If he notices that Jongdae’s been crying, he’s kind enough to not mention it.

‘Are you busy?’ Jongdae’s throat is raw but Jun has a young son, surely tears won’t bother him.

‘Not really, I’m just organizing some shipments going out tomorrow,’ Junmyeon answers. He sets down his pencil and rests his hands on the counter. A crease forms between his brows the longer he watches Jongdae. ‘Is everything alright?’

He wants to do this right, but all he can find are inelegant words. Junmyeon is as close as he has to a best friend at the moment, and he hopes he doesn’t inconvenience him. ‘Not really.’

Jun tilts his head and gestures to the door, picking up Jongdae’s unspoken request and running with it, just like he’d hoped he would. ‘I can close up shop a bit early. Want to talk in my office?’

Jongdae runs a hand over his face and nods. Grateful and relieved he manages a small laugh. ‘That would be great, thanks.’

After Jun locks the doors and flips the sign to closed he motions for Jongdae to follow him. The back room of Guardians is much warmer that at Chen’s Electronics, in style rather than temperature. Jongdae sits on a beige sofa that’s even more comfortable than it looks. The walls are filled with framed photos and art prints and various other pieces that give the space an art gallery vibe.

With a sigh Junmyeon tidies up the mess of papers and crayons and various cups with kid lids. ‘Sorry, Sungmin loves to draw but we haven’t quite nailed the clean up yet.’

‘Don’t worry about it on my behalf,’ Jongdae says sincerely. ‘I’m just grateful you’re willing to listen.’

The space has a narrow hallway leading to a back door and a closet that’s probably full of supplies, much like Jongdae’s store. Jun takes the cups to a small sink in the mini-kitchen in the corner. His brow lifts in confusion. ‘Why wouldn’t I? We’re friends, right?’

Could it be that simple? No need to prove himself or do everything possible to impress Junmyeon, like he did with Julian. ‘Yeah, we are I suppose.’ He laughs and shakes his head. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to imply I don’t consider us friends, I just - well, have a few trust issues when it comes to that sort of thing.’

Junmyeon dries his hands on a dishtowel and blows his hair off his forehead with a huffed laugh. ‘We’ve all got a few issues, don’t we?’ He moves to the table and takes a seat, sliding a glass of water towards Jongdae and sipping from one of his own. ‘I’ve got the time. So quit stalling and tell me about yours.’

He sags into the couch and drinks from the glass. ‘Alright then.’

For once he doesn’t second guess himself or try to read the minutiae of Jun’s expressions to see if he’s annoying him or being too boring. Jongdae simply tells him the truth, trusting his friend to listen. 

He mentions his family and how hard it hit him when his grandfather passed. How strange and yet unbothered he is by the lack of relationship with his mother. The way he was teased growing up and how he was probably the only person in his Master’s program going through puberty. The fact that the mall is the first place he’s ever had friends his own age since childhood.

It’s satisfying to see how pissed off Jun gets when he tells him about Julian and all the bullshit he put Jongdae through. For a while there Jongdae had convinced himself that he was the one in the wrong, that there’d been something he’d done to earn his exile. That it was a deserved punishment. But his friend’s muttered curses remind him that true friends don’t normally backstab each other for money and notoriety.

And finally, he talks of you.

How much he values you at work and how sassy and insistent you were about bringing him into ‘the fold’ of their friend group. The ways in which he wants to be with you and care for you and all his worries of whether or not he’ll be any good at it, given his lack of experience. Junmyeon is neither surprised by his feelings for you nor willing to let him wallow.

‘I even brought prom tickets,’ Jongdae finishes with a groan. He pulls them from the pocket of his jeans and lets his arm fall to the couch cushion. ‘Me. At a prom.’ He almost snorts.

But Junmyeon just purses his lips. ‘Is that really such a stretch?’

Jongdae hums a noise of contemplation. ‘No. I guess not. All our friends are doing it.’ But before Jun can continue he shakes his head. ‘But I’ve messed this all up, so it doesn’t matter either way.’

Loneliness aches in his bones, his hands tired of not holding yours. Wishing he was enough, somehow, to keep you here and keep you warm; enough to make you stay, to make you happy.

Junmyeon raises a brow. ‘I think you’re missing the point entirely my friend. She told you what she needs. All you have to do is listen. She’s asking you to trust her. This job is something she’s worked for and she’s not leaving you for it. She’s just leaving the job. If you want to know you have to ask.’

He sighs deeply. ‘You’re right. But what if it all goes wrong? What if I try and it’s all for nothing in the end?’

Jun dips his chin to his chest, looking at the ground lost in thought. ‘That’s fair. I know a little of that myself, Jongdae. But all you can do is try. There’s sadly no guarantees here. I think you want to make it work and from what I know of her, she wants you as well. It’s time to make the big gesture. Or any kind of gesture, really.’

He groans and smiles, knowing his friend’s fondness for ‘I think you’re right.’ He even has an idea, two in fact. One that’s lived in the back of his mind for weeks and one that’s brewing right now. ‘Will you help me?’

‘Absolutely my friend.’ Jun claps him on the shoulder, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

November 19th, 1997

It should have been wonderful news to you that it was a clean break at least. No mess, just walking out the door and leaving behind the man and the job in one fell swoop. But of course, it wasn’t.

Microsoft was delighted when you told them you could start ASAP, but honestly you did it to jump into work rather than spend your time missing Jongdae. Filling your schedule proves to be the easiest way to avoid thinking about what hurts. You still had your roommates and Hitch and everyone else to hang out with, even if you weren’t ready for any Saturday pizza lunches or Shari’s nights quite yet. Both brought you far too close to him to bear right now.

Liz and Jane and Hitch are wonderful and you’ve had not one but two sleepovers since ‘the Jongdae incident.’ If not for their friendship and constant presence you’re sure you would have walled up the hurt and hid it away, not one to normally speak about your pain openly. Not while it’s so fresh. 

Distantly you hope that Jongdae is okay and that he has someone to talk to. If he’s even hurting. 

For all you know he’s completely fine and unaffected by the entire thing. Maybe he’s already found a new office manager and has forgotten about you. But those are the kind of rude and painful thoughts that only come to you at three in the morning when you can’t sleep, when dreams of his hands and his voice and his smile keep you up.

Jongdae calls one Tuesday to ask you to swing by Chen’s to pick something up the next day and you’re suspicious. He wouldn’t say any more, just ‘please come by at six. I have something to give you and I’d like it to be in person.’

You put on your favorite black dress and blazer that make you feel both sexy and confident and head to the mall. If he’s just calling you to twist the knife in deeper, you’ve already decided to leave and not bother letting him hurt you more. But if he’s calling to reconcile… you shake your head, not willing to get your hopes up. Instead you park in your old space and fix your make up in the rearview mirror.

It delights you to see that your old desk is returned to its former state. Just the computer, keyboard, and mouse remain. No one’s personal possessions have taken over the space like yours used to. It shouldn’t make you so happy to see he hasn’t replaced you, but it does.

Jongdae sits at his desk. His hair is in its usual perfect wave but his white button down and slacks have been swapped today for a dark green sweater and tan chinos. He looks ridiculously handsome and you grit your teeth, wishing you could turn off your attraction to him with a switch inside your brain.

He looks up at your knock on the glass door. For a moment he simply stands, drinking you in. Then he moves, walking closer to unlock the door and let you in. 

‘Hi. How are you?’

You blink and try not to laugh. ‘How am I? Jongdae, how do you think I am?’

‘Right, sorry.’ He shakes his head. Carefully he looks you up and down, not bothering to hide his own attraction to you in his hungry gaze. With a swallow he remembers himself and grabs a cardboard banker’s box from in front of his desk. ‘Here. I didn’t want to come by and drop it off. It felt wrong.’

The box holds all the random photos and personal belongings you’d left in your desk, in your haste to leave. Postcards from Amsterdam and family photos and lotions and your favorite scarf you’d been missing. He steps back, resting against the corner of his desk and folding his arms. When you take it he doesn’t say anything, which is not what you’d hoped by any means, but silence is definitely less painful than you’d feared.

‘Well, it’s been an adventure,’ you manage. You lean against your desk and move the box under one arm, holding out a hand to him to shake. Ready to be done with this officially.

He doesn’t move. You can feel words held on the tip of his tongue. Months and months later you know how to read his tells. The tightness in his jaw and the widening of his eyes and how his hand grips the fabric of his sweater. But seconds tick on and still he says nothing. 

He should speak or you should leave. One of you should do something. Instead you’re frozen in time. Eventually your arm aches and you set the box down beside you. You could go first, but pride demands he be the one to confess, if there’s going to be any confessions tonight.

Neither of you caves; twin pillars of resolution, stubbornness, and desire. It’s a game the two of you could play for hours. The tension in the air pulls tighter than a violin. His gaze drops from your eyes to your lips, unabashedly. His lids grow heavy as he breathes deeply, close enough to smell your gardenia perfume, but just out of reach of being able to touch you.

So this is what it feels like to meet my match, you think, finally acknowledging just how deeply you want him. Enough nights had been spent imagining kissing him, being with him in far more intimate ways than just a holding of hands or a hug. You want more, but only if he wants you, too.

You'd always been told that you were too driven, too smart, too self-sufficient to attract a man. Even in your MBA program where ambition and intelligence were supposedly rewarded, it apparently made you too something to find a good man to date.

But now there’s one right in front of you, looking at you as if you’re the answer to Fermat’s Enigma; a rare and priceless gem he’d been hunting for all his life. But he doesn’t look at you as if you’re art to be admired, a prize to be won. The guard lifts steadily and when he looks at you now it’s as if you’re the kind of miracle he wants to sink his teeth, his tongue, and his fingers into.

Your cheeks grow warm and you’re sure you look just as amazed and turned on as he does. If you had to guess, you’d bet that the number of people who challenge him these days are few, and the number of people who attempt to see the man behind the curtain even fewer.

While everyone else in the world might just see a monolith of a man, a genius, a hardworking and brilliant anomaly, you see the passionate, warm heart that beats in his chest. You know that the tin man really does have feelings and needs, and your heart almost breaks when you realize he’s been searching for you just as fervently as you’ve been searching for someone like him.

The silence in the room is almost too fragile a thing to break. On one side of the moment is a spark of something, a chance to see if this connection is real and deep, or if this is just chemistry and biology combining into lust. If your mind has taken the small gestures of passion and kindness and friendship from him and built it up to be something more than the sum of its parts.

‘I’ve missed you,’ he breathes, voice catching in his throat. Releasing his folded arms he rests his palms on the edges of the desk.

‘I’ve missed you, too,’ you admit. Your hands curl in on themselves, trying to fight the way emotion and physical longing make it difficult to be in such a close proximity to him.

‘Okay, then.’ He breaks first, moving with purpose and striding to you in two steps, sliding his hands along your jaw with such softness that you gasp. 

And then, finally, you feel his lips on yours. You grasp his hips, hands freed and aching to touch him, to feel his hard body press against yours with surprising heat.

You meet him with equal passion, working your lips against his steady assault on your composure. For a solid minute you’re in awe that you could feel this much, that his lips and his hands could undo you so rapidly. That they could rebuild you into someone who belongs to him in such a short space of time, after weeks of endless doubt.

He groans against your lips in what feels like similar shock and surrender. Who would have thought that he would cave to your touch just as you did to his? How could someone so grumpy and strong-willed also be so open and vulnerable to this tentative thing between you.

But as he drops a hand and brings it to rest securely on the small of your back you realize there’s a name for this feeling.

You could call it fate. You could call it destiny. You could call it that damned four-letter word or you could call it Darwinism for all you care as his teeth bite gently into your lower lip.

You just know that nothing has ever felt as good and right as his hands claiming you for his own and the smell and heat of him wrapping themselves around you and burrowing their way into your heart.

A whine works its way from your throat as he licks along the seam of your lips, seeking entrance. When you open your mouth to him, his tongue slides along your own and you almost lose your balance. With a giggle you could swear you’ve never made before in your life you let him guide you up onto the desk.

He steps between your legs instantly, gripping your hips and continuing his tasting of you. Heat and electricity race down your spine as you fist your hands in his hair, pulling him closer to you until there’s no separation.

Banging on the glass doors and whistles come from out in the mall and you freeze. Instead of jerking back in shock and alarm like you’d expect him to, Jongdae confounds you once again. He pulls back slowly, opening his eyes and lifting his hands to gently cup your face. It can’t have been more than fifteen minutes but in less than the time it takes to watch one episode of Friends he’s turned your world on its axis.

You and Jongdae smile at each other and both turn to wave at your group of friends, who are celebrating and clapping. Baekhyun eats from an enormous bag of popcorn, wearing his theater uniform. Jongin and Sehun take large handfuls and Hitch whoops with joy. Liz and Jane and Junmyeon are all smiling, and attempt to force some of the group away to give you privacy.

Jongdae’s hands flex on your waist. ‘I want to try. You’re everything I want, will you please give me the chance to be what you need?’ His voice is raspy and his lips are red and you can’t help but grin.

‘I just want you, okay?’ You fix his messed up hair with both hands and sigh with relief. ‘And for you to admit you like me.’

‘I far more than like you.’ Jongdae rolls his eyes and kisses you once more. ‘You just want me to say you’re right.’

With a laugh you ease yourself off your desk, standing close within his arms and bending to whisper in his ear. ‘I’m always right. I just love when you admit it.’

‘So,’ he starts with an amused quirk of an eyebrow. ‘Will you let me take you to dinner? Us, officially, on a date.’

Your chest feels as if it’s a balloon, expanding so rapidly it might burst. He looks so young and boyish and hopeful your heart feels like it turns to liquid gold. With a delighted grin you lean forward and press your lips to his again, unable to resist.

Joy swims in his irises as he holds you in his arms. He looks at you through his lashes, his lips tilting into lopsided smile. ‘Is that a yes, then?’

‘Yes,’ you answer. ‘Of course.’

‘How’s right now for you?’ He motions to the doors and your friends have finally been corralled to the side of the walkway, revealing an elaborately decorated table in the food court.

You gasp and grip his arm. Jun and Sehun hold the doors open and Jongdae escorts you out. A red tablecloth is spread out over the circular table. The chairs have added plush cushions and several candles have been lit. A bottle of wine and two glasses rest beside several plates of food. You recognize the pizza from Barada, the rest looks like a mix from the other restaurants in the food court. 

With high fives and hugs from your friends they finally leave you and Jongdae alone. Well, almost alone. It’s not a busy time at the mall, but there’s no way to avoid some of the customers turning to watch with amusement and curiosity as they pass by. You pay them no mind as Jongdae holds out your chair and helps you sit. 

The two of you fall back into conversation easy enough, aided by the enormous amount of food and how you no longer have to move your knees away when they bump under the table. Jongdae reaches for your hand and holds it, in full view. He stares at the joined digits with warmth before looking up at you. 

Doubt passes across his face, marring the beauty that contentment lends his features. ‘I don’t -’ he struggles. ‘I don’t know how to keep this much good in my life. I worry that I’m going to mess it up.’

Neither of you are the type to openly acknowledge such things. Merely the fact that he’s voicing his fears to you shows you he’s doing what he said - he’s trying, he wants to change. And truthfully so do you. 

‘I worried for the longest time that I’d be alone forever,’ you say softly. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever find someone who understood me or who could handle all my - well, you know how I am.’ 

Jongdae smiles then, lifting your joined hands to his lips to press a kiss to your skin. ‘I love who you are.’ 

Your eyes mist at that and you groan, trying to blink them back. ‘Good, because I love who you are too.’ With your free hand you reach for his, needing to hold both of them and all of him at once. Not wanting to give his overly-analytical mind a chance to override the fragile hope you’re both building tonight. ‘You know what to do when a computer overloads?’

He nods. ‘Of course. Often it’s just a simple matter of turning it off and on again.’

‘So,’ you say, lifting your shoulder in a shrug. ‘When we mess up or freak out or say the wrong thing, we’ll just start over again. As long as you want me and I want you, we’ll figure it out.’ 

Jongdae softens, his shoulders dropping and ease coming back into his eyes. ‘I didn’t know I was lagging until you jump started my life.’ He waggles his brows. It’s a gesture that’s all Baekhyun, and a pun so terrible that Junmyeon would be proud. You can’t help but laugh and squeeze his hands. 

‘I’ve got one more surprise,’ Jongdae says, reluctantly releasing one of your hands to pull two narrow slips of paper from his pocket. ‘Do you have any plans for Christmas?’ 

The tickets are in both your names. First class round trip from Seattle to Amsterdam. ‘Oh my - Jongdae, what is this? You and me in Amsterdam?’ 

‘I figured it was about time,’ he says with pride. 

You lean out of your chair and reach for him, tugging him closer to kiss him fully. Noise reaches you - clapping and cheering from the shops around the mall. When you look around you see Sehun and his girlfriend leaning out of Starlight Apparel. Chanyeol and Kyungsoo smiling and fist bumping as they work on closing up the shop. 

Hitch nudges Baekhyun from the theater booth and he jumps in excitement. And from Guardians Junmyeon leans on the counter, resting his chin in his hand, giving a thumbs up. 

You roll your eyes and wave. ‘We maybe should have gone somewhere outside the mall, huh?’

'No, I think this is perfect,’ Jongdae answers. He then covers your mouth with his and holds you so tight that it drowns out the chorus of cheering that echos around the space. 

[baekhypnotized]

daddy’s little boy

ღ Genre: fluff, family au, daddy baekhyun

ღ Pairing: Baekhyun, You and Hyunnie

ღ Summary: Baekhyun was busy with work when suddenly you came with your son to surprise him. 

ღ A/N: I was inspired with the preview of Baekhyun with a small kid during his schedule with TirTir!! This prompt came in my mind and I can’t handle myself from the fluffness so I decide to write it!! Hope you guys enjoy it!! 

ღ  Word count: 3,408 words

It had been days since Baekhyun came home late almost every day because he’s busy with his schedules. He will leave the house early in the morning and come home when it already passes the bedtime. Why? It was because he feels really bad these days in which he didn’t spend much time with his son, Dohyun. And the only way for him to bask in the guiltiness, he would try to avoid leaving and coming back home when he’s widely awake. As he couldn’t bear to look into his sparkling and adorable eyes that will make him weak. 

On the other hand, Dohyun is such a cheerful and bubbly boy just like his daddy. The cute smile never fails to appear across his face that will make his cheeks bulge into mochis. But, being the only child and baby in the family makes him feel sad knowing that Baekhyun spends less time with him now. Although he was told many times that Baekhyun will try hard to complete all his works fast to play with him.

But within these days too, Dohyun acts pretty much upset because he missed Baekhyun too much. You couldn’t do anything, even when you tried to cheer him up, the same pouty lips will come out as he’s demanding for his daddy. 

Baekhyun’s name doesn’t stop from leaving this little child’s lips. Even when Baekhyun called him during his short break, Dohyun insisted to stay silent most of the time and simply stared at the phone’s screen that revealed Baekhyun's face. Then you finally realise that even though a lot of people say that most of the sons would like to be pampered by their mothers but it’s wrong. Because right now, Dohyun missed his daddy so much. 

A new day finally begins as the sun rays slowly penetrate through the blinds to lit up the master bedroom. You slowly toss around to check on Dohyun, who’s still silently asleep and you see that Baekhyun is finally awake from his deep sleep too. He abruptly sits up with his eyes slightly open, also with his messy bedridden hair. He rubs the back of his nape a few times as he yawns softly. You are tittering quietly seeing how cute he looks especially when he wakes up. 

Baekhyun’s doing nothing except sitting and when he begins to blink his eyes a few times, he turns towards his side as a soft smile creeps on his face when he sees you looking at him. “Good morning, babe,” He greets, bending forward to give you a short peck on your lips before he kisses your crown. You simply hum, turning your body sideways as you support your head with your elbow propping your hand. 

“How’s your sleep?” You ask him with such an endearing tone. A clear yet soft sigh can be heard coming from him when Baekhyun threads his hair with his fingers. He doesn’t need to reply to me when I already got the answer to my question.  

Then, Baekhyun faces Dohyun who’s sleeping at the middle of the bed with his parted lips. He brings his fingers to caress Dohyun’s cheek softly. As your heart feels so full seeing the moment of your husband and son, the expression that Baekhyun gives, makes you worry. 

“Hey… You okay, baby? Is there anything that you want to share with me?” You place your hand on his shoulder and pat it a few times. He just shakes his head, keeping his stare locked on the small figure. 

“I just-,” Baekhyun stops for a second, caressing Dohyun’s hair before he gathers all his strength to continue, “I felt so bad right now because I’ve been busy lately and when he keeps on saying that he’s missing me, it hurts me so much, baby…” He softly sighs as his tears start brimming in his eyes. “I promised to him that I’m going to spend much time with him after my job is done but he seems…” His voice begins to choke a bit, “disappointed.”

“Baekhyun…” You sit up with your legs crossed as you face him. Cupping his cheeks with your hands and you say, “Look at me.” He slowly moves his gaze to look at your eyes and you can see how his eyes are glassy with tears. “He will never be disappointed with you. He understands that you’re sacrificing everything for the sake of us.” You brush his cheek with your thumb, grazing it in circles. 

He doesn’t speak and instead, he keeps his lips tightly shut. “Dohyun is really proud of you and yes, although he’s longing for you, he will never stop loving you because you’re his father.” You try to comfort him from all his worries and when Baekhyun’s lips stretch into a thin smile, you lean closer to give him a kiss. “We love you, daddy. Always and forever will.” 

Baekhyun softens when the word ‘daddy’ comes out from your mouth. He nuzzles his nose with yours that causes you to giggle softly as it tickles. And again, he seals the lips back again before Dohyun starts to toss and turn, which makes the two of you abruptly pull away from the kiss. Both of you are grateful that the rustling sound that you both made didn’t wake him up. 

He stretches his body towards the little boy, he caresses his hair before planting a kiss on the top of his head. Then, he nuzzles his nose to inhale the sweet heavenly scent of his baby and once again Baekhyun kisses Dohyun’s small lips. “I promise that I’ll be home very soon, okay? Hyunnie gonna be a good boy to mommy, right?” He lightly taps the cute button nose that makes the boy scrunch it. “Daddy loves you so much, baby.”

Hearing him whispering to your son causes you to tear up a bit. Despite his hectic and pack schedule, you know that Baekhyun couldn’t stop thinking about you and the little bundle of joy. 

“I’m gonna have a quick shower because I have one last shooting today.”

I was about to get off from the bed when suddenly Baekhyun stops me as he asks, “Where are you going?”

“Making you breakfast. Why? You can’t just leave the house with an empty stomach, Baek. You’re gonna get caught with a tummy ache. Let me do at least waffles or pancakes for you, mhm?” You insist on doing it since it’s your job as his wife but as predicted, he once again stops you by placing his hands on your shoulders.

“Don’t worry ‘bout me, okay? I’ll just grab some coffee and sandwiches on my way. You don’t want to wake up our little monster, right?” Baekhyun smiles, his tone was soft with his eyes expressing such an endearing gaze. Without trying to fight with him, you comply as he comes closer to you to plant a kiss on your forehead, your hand placed on top of his. 

Baekhyun pulls away from you and before he’s going to leave to take a shower, he leans his body to give one last kiss on Dohyun’s kiss. But this time, he almost wakes him up. Being such an alert daddy, he quickly makes hushes sound and at the same time, he pats the little boy’s small bum. Dohyun lets out a faint whine as he tosses around on the bed. You were afraid if he would wake up in such a bad mood but grateful that your husband manages to calm him down back to sleep. 

You couldn’t stop smiling the entire time seeing him patting your son even though he’s already late for his work. Only a few tasks left and he is finally able to come home with such a delightful smile on his face. Knowing that the two of his precious gifts will safely be in his embrace because, at the end of the day, the three of you are gonna be together, that was called home.

Dohyun woke up when Baekhyun’s already gone for work. You were folding the clean clothes when the little one finally woke up with such messy hair, with his tiny hand rubbing his eye. Chuckling over the adorable sight of your son, you waited for him to wake up fully when the first thing he did was searching around the big master bedroom, searching for someone. Deep inside, you knew he was searching for him. He then crawled towards you, landing his head on your thighs. 

You caress his hair from covering his forehead. “Good morning my little monster!!” Your hands start to tickle Dohyun’s tummy and attack his face with endless kisses. The boy is literally giggling loudly, his face shines the brightest as he’s trying to push away your hands from him. You can hear him calling for you in between his waves of laughter but you insist to continue. He even tried to get away from you but you manage to get a hold of him. “You’re not gonna run away from mommy, Hyunnie!!” 

When he started to feel tired, you let him go with giving one last kiss on his sweaty forehead. “Now you’re stinky, baby. Let’s have a bath, shall we?” Dohyun definitely understands the cue for taking a bath because he loves to play around in the water. And most of the time, Baekhyun would accompany and play along with him. Then, you lift him in the air and carry him to the bathroom for the morning bath session. 

Right after you help him wear his clothes, the two of you went downstairs and decided to spend the free time in the living room while you’re waiting for the right time to prepare lunch. The television is airing Hyunnie’s favourite cartoon series and you join him too. He sits on the playmat, toys in his hands but his eyes glued on the screen and you, on the other hand, laying on the couch as you amuse seeing how focused your son is watching the tv. 

Watching Dohyun reminds you of Baekhyun. What is he doing? Has he grabbed his lunch? Is he doing well with his shooting? You suddenly miss and worry about him at the same time. He said he would text you but he hasn’t replied to yours. Suddenly, something pops up in your mind just like your bulb lights up instantly. 

“Hyunnie,” You softly call the smaller one that causes him to tilt his head to look at you. Sitting up from your lying position, you pat your thigh a few times to invite Dohyun to sit on your lap as he obeys. He waits patiently for you to speak, tilting his head sideways curiously. “Baby, do you miss daddy?” The boy nods his head a few times, his lips turn into a pout. You tap the button of his nose lightly, “Then, how about we go and visit him today? Do you want to meet daddy?” His pupils dilate bigger, sparkling with cuteness overload.

“Should we make rice rolls for daddy too? Will Hyunnie help mommy?” 

“Yes yes!!” He chants, making you pepper his cheek with kisses. Giggling softly, you pinch his nose lightly as you pat a few times on his bums. 

“Let’s go and make some food for daddy!” You peck his lips before the two of you head towards the kitchen. You ask Dohyun to sit at the dining table first as he sits on his own chair. After giving him some snacks and banana milk to distract himself, you start preparing the ingredients for the rice rolls since you want to prevent the boy from getting into a small accident during the preparation. 

After everything is all prepared, you bring them to the front where Dohyun is already clapping in cheerfulness because you’re pretty sure he’s excited to help you. Especially when he knows the two of you going to visit his daddy. He helps you to arrange and roll them, also in decorating the lunch box. “Hyunnie, which lunch box do you want to use? A cute doggie or panda?” You show him the two different designs of lunchboxes. He has his lips turn into a pout when he’s thinking before he points out his index finger at the printed lunch box with dog design. Dipping for a kiss on his chubby cheek, you let him decorate it with the rice rolls that you both made.

Once you confirm with Baekhyun’s manager that you guys can pay a surprise visit, Manager Noh tells you the details about their whereabouts. The two of you are pretty excited to meet him and right after the meals for lunch are ready, you quickly bring the little boy to change his clothes before you change yours. Throughout the changing process, he couldn’t stop telling you that he has many stories to tell Baekhyun.

“Mommy, Hyunnie wants to tell daddy about a big dinosaur!!”

“Mommy, mommy!! Daddy loves Hyunnie’s rice rolls, right?”

“Mommy! Hyunnie wants daddy.”

Seems like the smaller one is super excited to meet his daddy. So as you.

“Hyunnie,” You help him unbuckle his seatbelt, lifting him from his kid’s seat as you put him on the ground. “Daddy doesn’t know we’re here, okay? Once you found him, give him the biggest hug and kisses, okay baby?” Dohyun nods his head with an elated face. You kiss his forehead before you continue, “also, Hyunnie needs to behave too. Hyunnie is mommy’s and daddy’s good boy, right?” And again he bobs. 

“Mommy faster!! Hyunnie wants to meet daddy!!” You’re about to lock the car when your son already pulls your hand to enter the building. Nonchalantly, you chuckle in amusement and know how Dohyun’s anticipation is similar to Baekhyun. Your boys have low patience in waiting.

Dohyun’s hand is securely in your hold as you have the lunchbox on the other hand. Both of you stride into the lift, bringing you guys to the floor where Baekhyun is. The excitement that you have right now is quite the same as the little boy. This is the first time you’re doing a surprise visit in the entire time you know Baekhyun and it’s extra special since you’re bringing your firstborn together with you. 

As the two of you arrive at the venue, there are quite an amount of people in the spacious room. Lights every corner, advance cameras too and you can see Baekhyun’s standing as he poses in the middle of the room. He looks elegant and charming every time he strictly focuses on his work. He exudes dominance and cuteness at the same time. And it’s like destiny, Baekhyun’s wearing a blue shirt with black pants, matching with a darker cardigan and Dohyun wears the same colour too. 

You guys sneak in quietly through the staff, hoping that Baekhyun wouldn’t see the two of you. After greeting Manager Noh, he gives us the cue to butt into the photo shooting session, in which Dohyun immediately runs towards his daddy with his cute little feet. 

“Daddy!!!” Dohyun calls him with such a loud voice, his arms spread wide as he’s already giggling in happiness. Shock appears on Baekhyun’s face but in a split of a second, he squats and ready to invite his son. Dohyun comes running into his embrace as Baekhyun hugs him tightly, peppering his face with endless kisses. The little boy’s giggles brighten up the whole place, making everyone witness such a loving moment between a father and a son.

“Hey my little champion,” He mutters and pecks Dohyun’s lips. “Oh my, daddy misses you too much, Hyunnie.”

“Hyunnie misses you too, daddy!” The little boy has his hands cup Baekhyun’s cheeks. Baekhyun smiles fondly, connecting their foreheads together before he kisses the boy’s nose. 

“Did you come here with mommy, baby? Where is she?” Baekhyun asks his son. Dohyun turns around and points towards you who was standing with the staff with such teary eyes. You lift your hand slightly, whispering a ‘hi’ to him. He chuckles with so much love and once again, he plants a kiss on Dohyun’s cheeks before he cups them. 

“Hyunnie made rice rolls for daddy!!” Dohyun informs him. 

“Really? No wonder daddy smells something delicious!! Should we go and eat with mommy too?” He asks as he receives multiple nods from the boy. Baekhyun holds Dohyun’s hand and the two of them walk towards you. Manager Noh told you that he’s almost finished with his task so the three of you are able to spend some time during his break. 

“Hello, mommy,” Baekhyun greets, slipping his hand around your waist as he plants a quick yet passionate kiss on your lips that make you smile in contentment.

“Let’s eat! We brought lunch for you too,” The three of you pace into an empty room where Baekhyun would get ready for his shooting. You place the lunchbox on the table as Baekhyun settles down on the couch with Dohyun’s on his lap. The kid doesn’t stop clinging with his daddy and you can see how much he’s been missing Baekhyun. 

The moment you open the lid, Baekhyun awes in astonishment, “Wow! Hyunnie did all of this for daddy?” Baekhyun looks at him as Dohyun nods with such a sweet smile. He picks up the chopsticks and gives a bite, showing an amaze and yummy tone to indicate how scrumptious the rice rolls are. The little boy already has his hands clap because he’s happy. You can witness such an adorable moment of your favourite boys, feeding each other. 

“Mommy, say Aaahh!!” Dohyun instructs you while Baekhyun prepares to feed you. You comply as your husband feeds you with the rice roll. While eating, Dohyun literally tells him everything that he’s been wanting to say and Baekhyun listens to him wholeheartedly. You also immerse yourself in the little boy’s stories. 

“Daddy’s going to bring Hyunnie and mommy for a holiday! Does Hyunnie want to follow?” Baekhyun questions him.

Dohyun’s expression lit up brightly with a wide smile spread across his face, “Yes yes!! Hyunnie loves holidays!!” Baekhyun leans to smash the boy’s cheek with ticklish kisses. Dohyun tries to run away from him and your husband places him on the ground before he leaves the two of you to go somewhere.

“How are you, mommy?” He slides his fingers to intertwine with yours, you place your head comfortably on his shoulder. 

“Just good. How about you? Is everything going well? I heard that you’re almost done with it,” You reply and he simply nods his head. After a few minutes being alone with Baekhyun, you start to worry about Dohyun. Trying to peek your head from the room, you suddenly chuckle in disbelief as Baekhyun looks at you curiously.

“Why are you chuckling, babe?” He asks as you show him towards the crowd where you can see your little boy is surrounded by the staff, probably conversing with them using his overload cuteness charm. Baekhyun elicits a soft chuckle too. 

“Seems like your son is such a charmer.”

You scoff when you listen to his statement, “His your doppelganger and that’s mean he got that trait from you, daddy.” You giggle, answering him with a playful and mocking tone. He glares at you as he pinches your waist, causing you to shriek in surprise. The two of you enjoy in the silence, feeling content seeing the little boy having so much fun. Also with the smile that etched on his face when he met Baekhyun. 

“God, I can’t imagine if we have a girl like just look at how attached and clingy our Hyunnie is, especially when you’re not around.” You mutter as Baekhyun grazes your hand with his thumb in circles. “If we have one, I bet she will be sulking with you like forever and you’ll get into trouble to coax the little princess.” 

“Babe.” He calls you and you lift your head upwards to look at him. 

“Since Hyunnie almost turns four…” He murmurs, his other hand safely landed on your thigh that instantly makes you shiver. Then, you can sense that his moving towards you as you’re guessing he tries to hover on top of you. You stop him by placing your hand on his chest, glaring at him before he continues.

“How about we give Hyunnie a younger sibling?” He recommends an idea with a smug smirk on his face.  

Do like or reblog if you like this prompt!! Thank you for reading!! :D

[nctinfo]

[TRANS] WayV’s interview with ELLE Korea May 2020 issue!

— Kun

A suffering leader, everyone's Kun —  With a meticulous personality. The pros and cons would be: I think I am the leader thanks to my sense of responsibility and delicacy. [But] when there is too much to take care of, it is a bit cumbersome. There’s no member who gives me a hard time because they all pick on me one by one (laughs). If I had to introduce my hometown, Fujian Province, it's a quiet city with clean air and few people. Many people come to visit because the mountains and the lakes are beautiful. When I think about nature, I start missing my hometown. At school, I was the head of the student council's entertainment department. I might look like a serious person since the members are so active and mischievous, but I'm also a fun person. Times when I feel like we’re one team are when you know what the others are thinking just by the look in their eyes and, when we dance and the movements are 'synchronised'. WayV to me is the comfort of being able to share everything with each other. All the members worry a lot about music so a lot of ideas come out every time we hear new music. It is certainly an advantage that all seven have a lot of desire. I have a bright young voice, but my desire as a vocalist is to have a thicker and more mature voice these days. Wouldn't it suit dance songs that match our [team's] style more than ballads. I graduated in Practical Music. If there is a song I want to arrange: I'm still trying to look for my style while listening to various songs. I want to challenge not only the arrangement but also the composition. I am a good cook. The dishes I recently made for the members are the dishes that I learned from the main chef of the company while I practiced them [on the members]. The menu with the biggest reaction recently was DongPo Pork. When I can't sleep, I deliberately watch low-rated movies and these days, I watch a four-hour-long landscape video shot from a train driver's perspective. It makes me fall asleep really fast (laughs). The most memorable stage after debuting was as expected, MAMA 2019. When I was giving the award speech, my hand that was holding the microphone was shaking and it was all captured [on camera]. What I want to say to myself in hard times is to be confident! The moment you lose your confidence, everything becomes more difficult. The mindset I don't want to lose is to be grateful. Everything I do right now is impossible to do by myself. This is the most important. To Winwin: who has known me the longest among the members! I hope you always take on challenges with courage because I will always be there beside you to support you. Also, all the members know that you are cute.  

— Lucas

Healthy energy, hot Lucas — Between a boy and a man, I feel closer to 100% boy! I don't think I feel mature enough. [Maybe I’m just like] a baby who wants to be a man (laughs). The most impressive man to me is a responsible person. And also, a man who gives everything to his loved ones. Having an attractive rapping sound because of a low and husky voice. My desire to sing is big! I want to sing a sad song. I've heard from people around me that a calm song suits my voice. Like the calm songs of Paul Kim I normally listen to too. My favorite song is "Take Off, The killing point is the dance break, with the powerful guitar riff. Emotion is what is the most important on stage. I believe each song has its own soul, and it is important to immerse yourself. My role in the team is positive energy. Although always looking bright, surprisingly, I have a lot of thoughts. Yesterday too, I had a lot of thoughts before going to bed, so it took me a while to fall asleep. Not long ago, Kun hyung played me a song he had composed and so many ideas came up so I wrote them down and sent it to him. WayV to me is a friendship that feels really deep even though it’s been only a year since I made a debut with the people I love so much. So much that when we come back from a schedule, as we laugh and talk together, the stress will suddenly be gone. The most important thing in a team is to have sincere conversations with each other to understand each other's differences. Only then can we get along well because of the wider understanding. Having appeared in a number of familiar variety shows like the Chinese version of <Running Man> <Let's Run Season 3> I like that I can go to various places the most. It's also a special opportunity to meet people with other jobs and not only artists. I think I'm often called/casted [for these shows] because of my sincere youthful reactions. The mindset I don't want to lose is the promise I made when I debuted to be a good influence on people. That's what I always keep in mind. I want to be a person who always gives positive influence to people, family, and fans around me. To Yangyang: who I know is really smart, you're still a cute little brother to me (laughs)

— Winwin A quiet presence, Winwin — In the reality show <Dream Plan>, mingling well with the elders in the village was impressive. Special trick behind it was thanking them for looking out for me! Since they were all kind natured, I guess treating them with sincerity looked good. When Lucas and I visited their home, we got served a meal and received a warm welcome. A performance video of Ten and I has been released. As a dancer, Ten is a member whose strength is being versatile. He helps the members at dance practices a lot. I’ve learned dancing in a special dance school. At the time I was the shortest and least talkative kid until I grew taller in high school. I’ve spent most of the time practicing alone. Chinese dance is similar to modern dance mixed with ballet. Learning the choreography is fast and it’s an advantage to be skillful in tumbling. I would like to properly showcase a modern dance at a concert someday. When I’m on the stage what I care about the most is my gestures and facial expression. During ‘Take Off’ promotions, the gestures and facial expressions I did during my part varied from stage to stage. I hear that I’m ‘pure’ a lot. A new charm that I want to have: our fans call me ‘Baby Chick’. I want to showcase more of an ‘eagle’ image, so I cut my hair short. Isn’t it similar to Park Saeroy (laugh). Something that makes me angry, although I normally have a good temper is being unsatisfied with stage performance to the point I can’t sleep on that day. But it’s okay to just take a nap. I just need to do better. The most memorable moment in WayV promotions was receiving the Best New Asian Artist Award at the MAMAs, it was the first time we’ve gotten an award together so I was very happy. The reason why I went to Beijing on my own as a middle school student seems to be fate. I passed my exams without much determination, left my hometown and went to school in Beijing where I was noticed and then debuted. Coincidence became fate. To me WayV is a path that we’re talking together, a team with a lot of growth potential. I’d like it if the younger members came to me whenever they need someone. I feel our fans love and support the most when: I’m always amazed and grateful for our fans hearts. All of the people who always look out for us even when we’re not promoting any albums and who support us are an immense source of strength. Success to me is when more people get to know us and we get to perform in many different countries. I want to think about my personal success after my team’s success. To Kun: when members want advice, we reach out to Kun first before our families. He knows a lot, can do a lot, and is a person we can depend on.  

 — Ten

Ten who is curious about what's next rather than what’s now — The secret to adapting well everywhere is attending an international school. I had friends of various nationalities and I also traveled a lot. Wherever I went, I went to see the common [places] first. Learning an unfamiliar culture is fun. I’m learning Thai, English, Korean, Japanese and now working hard at learning Chinese. I memorize expressions that I can use while watching Chinese variety shows and dramas. Although it's still difficult to read the buzzwords and hanja. The most important thing as a performer, and what makes you an outstanding dancer, is to have your own style while not being trapped by masculinity and femininity. I am different now from a few years ago and I'm trying to challenge myself by being flexible in various aspects. What I've learned since debut is, in the case of WayV, that when you work with various genres the main concern is the vocal style and with SuperM, I learned about the importance of performance through the activities [we did]. 'It's important to dance well, but you must also have your own [style]', 'think about what you want to express in front of the camera, but you must be faithful to your feelings on every stage in order to develop [yourself]' is the advice I received from the Hyungs (Baekhyun, Kai, Taemin). For the dance video that I did together with Winwin, the concept, music, settings, and outfits were all decided by us together without the company's advice. I came to realize the difficulties of being a staff member (laughs). I can [now] see the wider picture and more details. I like poetry too. I think poetry expresses emotions. It helps me  understand the world and the society as a person and not as an artist. The lyrics of my 2nd solo song 'New Heroes' feel like an autobiography. If 'Dream in a Dream' was all about the performance then 'New Heroes' is a song about the time spent committing [to something] and I thought anyone can sympathize with that. The [original] lyrics were so great that I asked them not to change it and to just go with it. I want to write lyrics myself someday. The kind of person I want to be is [someone who] always tries to go with the flow as I think that making plans and setting expectations can make it more difficult on yourself. I hope I could be a person who can leave a good impact on others. WayV to me is just like a family who always does everything together and takes care of each other asking ‘have you already eaten?’. Everyone has an open mind to try and accept new challenges. During the 'Moonwalk' promotion period, I was kinda surprised how well we got along. Having received recognition for my skills since debut. The times when the expectations are high are: Art and languages too are ever-evolving disciplines, so it's not easy to keep up. Nevertheless, there are self-expectations and anticipations to show a new side of myself. I will work hard (laughs). I still play Pokemon Go and I'm waiting for the June update. I will catch a lot of new Pokemon again! To Xiaojun: with whom I saw Harry Potter together yesterday! Let's make an appearance in Harry Potter when there is a reboot.

— Hendery

Flexible midfielder, Hendery — Something I’ve gotten into recently is practicing playing drums. Kun hyung is cooking a lot lately so I’ve been reviewing the food too. The other day he made kimchi jjigae so good that it even got an approval from manager hyung. My favourite track is ‘Take Off’. We filmed the music video in Ukraine and spent loads of happy times together, so I feel happier whenever I listen to it. Something I’ve improved on since debut is that recording songs takes less time. When I hear a member of staff say ‘Is this really Hendery’s voice?’ I feel proud of myself. The charm of my vocal is: I’m still looking for it, but I feel like my rap sounds nice when I spice it up with a little melody. Good at giving advice to our members. A tip to giving good advice is: it’s important to have helping and not making decisions in mind. Talk about both bad and good points about the A and B. The secret to always looking like I’m at peace is my parents always telling me ‘Your happiness is the most important. You always have a home to come back to, so work as much as you can enjoy’, thanks to them I grew up as someone with little stress or worries. Mindset that I don’t want to lose is the excitement before going on stage. I think the most important thing for an artist is their greed for performing. When I get on stage the most important is interacting with fans. The most memorable stage was our Korean debut on <Show! Champion>. I couldn’t believe we’re performing Chinese songs in Korea. I was so overwhelmed to see our fans welcoming us so enthusiastically even though they didn’t understand what we were saying. I opened an instagram account recently. My posting plan is ‘This is where I am‘ ‘I am filming today’. I want to showcase my daily self. I hope our fans can smile for a brief moment when they see the pics I had the most fun taking. To me WayV is: I feel empty when I go away to see my family for a little. Every time that happens I facetime them to relieve the sadness. Lucas is the member who picks up the most (laugh). To Lucas: No matter how busy we get, even if we become grandpas, I’ll always be by your side. It’s something I want to say to all of the members, but Lucas is a friend I'm especially attached to so I really wanted to say this. 

— Yangyang

Infinite potential, bold maknae Yangyang — I speak Chinese, German, English Korean and Spanish. Great language skills are useful when you travel. Whenever I talk with friends of various nationalities, I think it's fortunate that I can speak many languages. In our team alone, it's full [with people who speak] Chinese, Thai, English, and Korean (laughs). My role in the team is being the happy virus! Although of course, the hyungs think I'm a maknae that requires a lot of energy from them. WayV to me is a high tension team that can deliver strong and positive energy. If someone shows a slight sign of exhaustion, we immediately stick together and somehow infect each other with energy. I think that such energy is conveyed to fans on stage. If I have learned anything from living together with the members [it would be] the habit I have developed to control my greed and to care for others. I'm used to looking at the other's feelings now before doing something. My favorite song is ‘King of Hearts’, because I participated in writing the lyrics. I also love 'Love Talk' from the 2nd mini album. It is a charming song that is sweet and sexy but has a way to make your body move. My ambition as a rapper is the flow. Because I think this is the aspect that determines the impression of a song from the listener's point of view. I want to be a multi-talented person who is good at not only rapping but also dancing, singing, and writing lyrics. I've always had a lot of ambition. The attractive part of writing lyrics is that I can tell my story, since from a long time ago, I wrote lyrics little by little and it's always fun work. I want to steadily keep doing it. I like Virgil Ablo and Demna Gvasalia, and the fashion icon who caught my eye these days is Mike Amirie. I am drawn to people who have a simple yet clear style. The same goes for musicians. I like people who have a clear style like Travis Scott and A$AP Rocky. I’ve said 'I like who I am' before. Instances when I am especially like myself is when I'm confident. When I have confidence and want to show off, I can show much more than my actual skills. I use SNS to check on NBA and fashion news. I see the news on sneakers I'm looking forward to fast. Surprisingly, I don't look up anything about me [but] when a stage or performance is over I do look up the reactions. Most of them are good, so every time I read, I get energized. To Hendery: hyung, you seem to really get into gaming, but don't try too hard (laughs). 

— Xiaojun

Warm voice, Xiaojun — Something I’m into these days is practicing the songs that will be included in the next album that we are preparing for. Before debuting, I only sang my favorite ballad song, but nowadays, I want to sing songs of other genres such as R&B. I've been uploading videos of me singing on my personal Instagram. My favorite song is ‘Face to Face’. My heart warms up every time I hear it. I really like the lyrics ‘You won’t be lonely because I’ll be your strength, I won’t let you cope with your wounds alone in silence’. The keywords that describe me are kind. Friendly. Positive. I often say ‘I wish my songs were healing different people’. The way I heal myself is: my heart calms down when I look at pictures with many memories sealed in them. I take a lot of pictures of the scenery and especially when I look at the pictures of my hometown in Guangdong I feel healed. The reason behind my strong sensitivity is the big influence of my dad who’s a singer and my older brother. Ever since I was little we would often watch movies together. I graduated with a musical major. My greed for musicals is: I’ll surely do it again later. I like starring in musicals but one day I’d like to make my own. A musical piece I’d like to recommend is <Dear Evan Hansen> who won at Tony Awards and Grammys. It’s a warm story about a lonely high school boy suffering from social anxiety disorder, who is working on his trauma and healing from the pain. My way of dealing with stress is quiet time on my own. Just like positive energy, negative energy is easily spread to others, so I’d rather be alone. A memory I really want to make is a trip, I promised to go on before debuting, with the members. The destination is still undecided. The kind of team member I want to be is a silent supporter. It would be nice if I can be 'my people/dearest' to others. Something I want to do this year is to have an event for the fans. I like to surprise friends or throw surprise birthday parties. I think fans will love it if we would do a guerilla performance. I told you here so I have to throw [that idea] away and I will prepare something else (laughs). To Ten: You are one of the 'Hyung-line', and you Korean is the best so there are many times you have to lead us. Don't carry everything on your own and sometimes lean on us! The same goes for Kun hyung.

t/n: Due to the structure of this interview there might be inaccuracies as many things only made sense in Korean but sounded kinda awkward in English (more so compared to other translations we did). We tried our best to convey what they meant, but please keep this in mind when reading this interview.

Translation: Alex, Esmee @ FY! NCT (NCTINFO) | Source: ELLE Korea Scans — Do not repost or take out without our permission!

[ohh-baekhyun]

Take You Home

➵ summary: Baekhyun is crowned the youngest MMA champion in history. No fights are too hard for him to conquer. But once he realised he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he finds himself fighting the toughest fight to win you back.

➵ genre: oneshot, bff!au, boxer!au, romance, fluffss, 9k words.

➵ a/n: hi, this is for all of you who has been supporting my writings, please give this baby some love too :,)

You raise the rim of your glass to your lips and down the liquor in one go. It’s the night of your twenty second birthday. You and your friends are out drinking. You are supposed to have fun, but all you can think of is the fact that Baekhyun doesn’t show any sign that he remembers; not a phone call, not even a text. If it was anyone else who has forgotten, you wouldn’t have cared. But this is Baekhyun, your best friend, someone who means the world to you, someone you have loved for a long long time. He was always the first to wish you every year, except today. You’ve been checking your phone, waiting for something that never seemed to come. It feels like he has forgotten about your existence and you have no idea what the hell happened. Have you done something wrong?

A few drinks later, you are wasted. Despite your drunken state, you manage to book a ride for yourself. But instead of heading home, you type in Baekhyun’s address as your destination. The driver arrives five minutes later and in less than half an hour you are standing at the door to Baekhyun’s apartment. You key in the passcode clumsily and only succeeded on the second attempt. Pushing the door open, you stagger your way into his apartment. Your wobbly legs take you to the sitting area until you bump your knee on the side of the coffee table and stumble forward.

Two arms reaches out to hold your waist to prevent you from falling. Knowing who it is, your heart starts to beat rapidly.

Baekhyun peers down at you. “Sweetheart, how did you get here?”

You lift your head. A slow grin stretches your lips when you meet his eyes. “Hi, Baekhyun.”

He narrows both eyes at you. “You’re drunk.”

“I miss you.” You smooth your palm over his chest, feeling the sturdiness underneath your fingers. Baekhyun tense up beneath your touch. You stare at him while your fingers toy with the button of his shirt. “Have you been working out lately?” you muse in a slurred speech.

“I’m a boxer. What do you think?” He says in a dry tone.

“Oh...yeah, silly me.” You giggle and push at his chest until he stumbles back to the couch behind him. His eyes shoots up when you climb onto his lap. You rest your knees on each side of his hips and sit your ass down on the V of his thighs.

“What are you doing?” He asks as you circle your arms around his neck.

You’ve been attracted to your best friend for the longest time. Never once had you acted upon your desire. You are losing your inhibitions thanks to the excessive alcohol in your system. This is so wrong. Baekhyun is your friend. But you are too drunk to be sensical.

“Why do you have to be so handsome all the time?” You tilt your head to the side, staring at him with hearts in your eyes.

Baekhyun clears his throat and looks away. “Get off me.” he says. Ignoring his order, you lean forward to press a kiss to his cheek instead. He whips his head towards you and glares. “I said get off me!”

Taken aback by the loudness of his voice, you flinch. You have never felt scared of Baekhyun before. Even when the people around him think he is quick-tempered, to you he is nothing but gentle. Today, for the first time since you knew him, you feel afraid. And it hurts so much because he is one of the little people in your life whom you feel safe to be around.

Your lips turn down and you hang your head low. In a silent acquiescence, you move to the space next to him. All of a sudden you’re not feeling high anymore.

Baekhyun rises to his feet and turns away as though he can’t stand the sight of you. “You need to leave.”

You can’t conceal the hurt on your face as you rise up from the couch. Tears glisten in your eyes as you stare at his back. You miss him so much it feels like you can break down and cry at any second. “Baekhyun?” you call out in a soft, shaky voice. “Are we okay? Can we please talk?”

“Leave.”

A tear glides down your cheek. Without looking back, your legs take you to the front door. But your moves are halted by the sound of his voice.

“Don’t ever show up to my place unannounced again.”

Is that his way of telling you that he wants to stop being friends? It feels like someone has just pierced a knife through your heart and twisted it.

“I won’t. I’m sorry for today…” your voice cracks at the end and you hurry to open the door. The moment you step outside, tears stream down your cheek like a waterfall. Your heart aches so badly that even the alcohol couldn’t numb the pain away.

Losing a best-friend hurts as much as a break-up, you could attest to that. It’s been months since your last encounter with Baekhyun. You’ve been keeping yourself busy just so you wouldn’t drown yourself into sadness. Today, however, you find it hard to keep him out of your mind because it is his birthday. You have yet to wish him, because you don’t know if you should. Are we still friends?

Your phone vibrate across the office desk and you glance down at it. Chanyeol is calling. You press answer and lift your phone up to your ear. “Hello?”

“Hey, the boys are planning a surprise for Baekhyun at his place tonight. You are joining us right?”

Don’t ever show up to my place unannounced again...

His words echo in your ears, bringing the same kind of ache it did the first time you hear it. You swallow the lump in your throat. “I…” you pause in hesitation. “I think I’ll pass on this one.”

There is a beat of silence before he asks, “Why? You never missed it before.”

Your mind hurried to think of an excuse. “I’ll be working overtime tonight.”

“You can join us when you’re done. I’m sure we’ll be there until late.”

“I think I’ll be too tired by then,” you say and quickly add, “It’s alright! You guys have fun. Anyway, I have a meeting soon. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”

“Okay, you take care.”

“You too, Chanyeol.”

Once you hang up, you expel a sigh of relief. You recline on your seat and close your eyes, needing a moment to clear your mind. When you’re done, you decided to send a short text to Baekhyun. You don’t know if he will reply or even read your message, but it doesn’t matter. He is still a friend, at least to you, and you want him to know that you still care.

Somehow, you ended up in the building of Baekhyun’s apartment that night. You’d bumped into Sehun on your way out of the office. He is a mutual friend between you and Baekhyun. Since he is working in the office building next to yours, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise for you to bump into each other. It happened many times before. But you were shocked beyond words when he offered you a ride to Baekhyun’s place, since he probably assumed you were going too. You couldn’t say no because then, he would ask why. Everyone knew you and Baekhyun were best friends. You didn’t want to explain what had happened between you two.  

So here you are, filled with so much nervousness as you stand next to Sehun in the lift. When the door slide open, you unwillingly step out. Sehun looks over at you, his eyes holding concern. “Is everything okay? You seem jitterish.”

You force a smile. “Yes, I’m just tired.”

Sehun gives you a long stare, unconvinced, yet he doesn’t prey. One thing you like about Sehun is that he isn’t nosy. And in this particular situation, you are grateful.

As you walk, he places a hand on your back and give you a pat. You can hear the sound of boisterous laughter coming from Baekhyun’s apartment. Sehun rings the bell and your heart is beating faster as you wait for someone to answer the door.

At the sight of Chanyeol, your shoulders deflate and you sigh a little. He looks between you and Sehun. “You’re late,” he tells Sehun pointedly, then he stares at you. “Didn’t you tell me you’re working overtime?”

Sehun turns to you to send you a quizzical look. You bite your lower lip. “Uh...the meeting ended earlier than expected.”

“Great, we missed having you around.” Chanyeol holds the door wide open to let you two in.

Sehun rests a hand on the small of your back and leads you into the sitting area. You had a mini flashback of what happened here between you and Baekhyun months ago. Your heart sinks.

You glance around the room. All the boys are there, most of them chatting while holding beers in their hands. You turn to Chanyeol and ask, “Where’s Baekhyun?”

“He’s answering a call.” he says before returning to his seat.

Sehun walks over to join Junmyeon and Jongdae in their ongoing conversation. You exchange smiles and greetings with the rest, then you glance around to look for a place to sit. Jongin raises a hand and gestures for you to come over. He scoots over on the couch, leaving just a tiny space for you. You tried to squeeze your butt in it, giggling at him when it doesn’t fit.

“You can sit here,” Jongin suddenly pulls you down to his lap. You let out a gasp, surprised. He looks at you with a smile. “Why do you keep getting prettier, princess?” He teases, flashing a sexy smirk. You smile shyly and he groans at that. “You’re too cute.”

“Is Sehun here?”

The deep sounding voice causes your heart to skip a beat. You shift your gaze to Baekhyun. He meets your eyes for a second before his gaze moves to Jongin. His jaw ticks, and when he sends a frown down your way, the pain in your chest returned. He doesn’t want you here, you can tell.

“Happy birthday, hyung.” Sehun greets from where he stands. Baekhyun gives him a small nod before taking a seat on the arm of a couch across you. His expression remains taut.

You finally tears your gaze from him to look at Jongin. He grins at you. “Are you seeing someone right now?” You shake your head. His grin grows. “Will you go on a date with me then?”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” You tilt your head in question.

“We just broke up.”

You purse your lips in concern. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

“I’ll be okay if you let me take you out on a date, princess.” He raises his brows expectantly, waiting.

You are considering your answer when you feel a hand wrapping around your upper arm. You bring your head around and up, flinching in surprise when you are met with Baekhyun’s hard stare.

“Come with me.” He pulls you up out of Jongin’s lap. You hear a small groan coming from the younger male when Baekhyun drags you away from him.

He is taking you to the direction of his bedroom and you are honestly scared. You somehow know he is going to scold you for coming here uninvited again. You brace yourself when he pushes you inside and closes the door behind him. You feel like a bunny being trapped in a cage with a lion. Your shoulders jump when he stalks over to you until he has you pressed against the door with his palms on each side of your head. The emotions in his brown eyes confused you. He looks more lost and torn than angry.

Baekhyun is parting his lips to say something but you beat him to it. “I...I’m sorry, Baekhyun, I know I wasn’t invited here...but I met Sehun when I was leaving work earlier and...and I...” your voice broke and you started sobbing. You dropped your head and brought your hands up to cover your face. “I’m so sorry, I’ll leave if you want me to…just...don’t be angry...don’t hate me, please, it hurts…”

Baekhyun has never hated himself this much until he sees you cry. His heart is ripping apart with each sob that tears from your lips. Shame swirls in his gut, and he wants to murder himself for being the reason behind your tears. He has been annoyed when he sees you sitting on Jongin’s lap, and he knows that feeling stems from his jealousy. He’s an ass, he admits. But he loves you so much that it pains him to see you with a guy that isn’t him.

“Sweetheart,” Baekhyun cooes. You keep your face buried in your hands as you cry. Tentatively, he moves his hands and bring you into his arms. It startles him when you immediately wrap your arms around him and cry harder. He buries his face in your soft hair, pressing his lips to your head, wishing he could make your crying stop. “Sweetheart, please. You’re breaking my heart.” He rubs your back soothingly but your sobs remains.

Baekhyun knows he has to say something, and he’s cracking his head to think of where to start. “I’m sorry for what I did…” he finally begins. “I know I’ve been shutting you out lately. I thought I was doing the right thing but I was wrong. I ended up hurting you and us…I’m so sorry.”

A silence. Then the sniffling continues.

Baekhyun breathes out. “I want to tell you what I should’ve told you long ago if I’d been brave enough. I want to tell you that I love you...so much that it is painful to be around you because I don’t know if you feel the same way for me. That’s why I started distancing myself from you. I thought I’d eventually learn to let go of my feelings but…” He let go a sigh. “Being away from you has only made me realize how important you are to me…”

Your crying gradually abates and you finally lift your head from his chest. He stares down into your glassy eyes. Something tugs at his heart. He must be crazy because he thinks you look beautiful even when you’re crying.

“You...love me?” You tilt your head, looking like a lost puppy that Baekhyun couldn’t help the love sick smile on his face when he said yes. “In a bestfriendly way you mean?” you ask again.

He brushes his knuckles over your wet cheek. “I love you in an I want to marry you someday and spend forever with you kind of way.”

Baekhyun watches as several expressions move over your feature; from shocked, confused, to hopeful, and finally back to shocked again. His lips twitched at your adorableness, and he wanted nothing more than to kiss you. He knew after what he did, he should be on his knees begging for your forgiveness. He believed you deserved that much. But after months of keeping you at arm’s length, his yearning for you intensified and he lost control.

Cupping your cheek in both hands, Baekhyun dips his head and lowers his lips to yours. You are startled for a moment, but you don’t push him away so he takes that as a silent consent to continue. He runs his tongue over the seam of your lips, silently begging for you to open. When you part your lips, he groans and let his tongue tangled with yours. You let out a small, feminine gasp and his cock hardens at the sound. He is so fucking turned on he can’t keep his hand to himself anymore. He drops a hand from your cheek to cup your breast, squeezing it in his palm to draw another moan out of you. But as you do, he felt your body tensed in his hold, and the next thing he felt was a jabbing pain on his toes. He backs away in reflex, hissing harshly at the pain. For a small girl, you sure are strong.

“I...I can’t believe I let you kiss me!” you snap, startling Baekhyun completely. “Is this what you’re aiming for? Telling me you love me and all just get in my pants?”

“Wh-what? No!” A frown marrs his forehead. Your sudden outburst is very uncharacteristic. Baekhyun feels confused. “Baby...that’s not—“

“No, don’t you dare baby me…” you warn. “We haven’t seen each other for months and NOW, all of a sudden you are telling me that you love me? Do you expect me to believe in that?”

He parts his lips to explain but you don’t give him the chance to.

“Do you know how many times I cried myself to sleep wondering what I did wrong? You made me blame myself...you made me doubt myself, but the worst thing is, you made me think I’m not good enough.” Tears are streaming down your cheek again.

Baekhyun takes a step forward, wanting to comfort you, but he stops when you hold a hand up. Without another say, you turn your back to him and leave the room.

Baekhyun stares at the door slamming close as you disappear from his sight. It is then he realises he has fucked up so bad that no amount of words will be enough to earn your trust. But he isn’t going to give up just like that. Reaching for the doorknob, he pulls it open and dashes out of his room. He has a woman to claim and a hell lot of groveling to do. And he isn’t going to stop until he wins you back.

When you were eighteen, you fell in love with the wrong guy and he shattered you. You’d gotten over him since you met Baekhyun, but there’s a lesson you’d never forgotten, it is to trust a man’s actions over words. Baekhyun had just told you that he loved you, and you should be over the moon. Instead, you ran away scared. Because you know if you give your heart away completely and he breaks it, you’ll never recover. You love him too much.

The rain is drumming against the glass pane of your bedroom. You lean on the wall by the side of the window, feeling in deep quandary.

“He looks…very pitiful.” your sister says, peeking out of the window next to you.

“Mia wants to see too!” your niece pleads with her arms extended. You bend down to lift her up, moving closer to the window. The three years old presses her tiny palms on the glass and peers down. “Look! That’s uncle Baekhyun!” She chirps.

Yes, that’s Baekhyun, sitting on the steps at the front porch of your house, currently soaked to the skin. When the rain pours, you were sure he was going to leave but he didn’t. Why are you surprised though? Knowing how persistent he is, you know he’s never going to give up until he gets what he wants. And in this case, what he wants is you.

“Teetee,” the little one calls out to you sweetly. “Can you put me down please?”

You smile and give her a kiss on her cute little nose before placing her down.

“Are you really not going to let him in?” your sister asks.

“I can’t, Lia...I’d take one look at him and crumble…” in fact you almost did when he kissed you earlier, but your sister doesn’t have to know the details.

“I don’t understand…” she turns to you and crosses her arms over her chest. “You love him, and he is clearly in love with you or he wouldn’t be sitting out there looking like a...stray dog.”

“I don’t think he knows what he’s feeling,” you say. “Just a day ago he was still avoiding me, how can someone change their mind so easily? What if he tells me he loves me today and take it back the next day?”

Your sister seems to process your words and understands. “I get where you’re coming from,” she says. “but I think, Baekhyun, more than anyone else, deserves a chance. That man looks at you like you’re the brightest star in the sky. I’d kill to have someone looks at me like that. Right, Mia?” she drops her gaze and frowns. “Mia?” she glances around. “Where did she go?”

Her question is answered by the sound of the front door opening and closing. You and your sister exchange a shocked look and snap your eyes towards the window. You gasp at the sight of your niece as she runs towards Baekhyun with her arms open.

“That little weasel!” your sister groans. She dashes out of the room and you follow behind her.

Downstairs, in the foyer, you stop dead in your tracks when you see Baekhyun carrying your niece in his arms. His wet hair plastered to his forehead and water is dripping down his shirt, forming a puddle around his feet.

“Baekhyun,” you breathe, remaining motionless as you stare at him.

“You might want to change your passcode,” Baekhyun says to your sister, then he shifts his attention to you. His eyes visibly softens. “Hey.”

“Mia!” your sister‘s voice startles you. “What did mommy say about leaving the house without permission?” She chastises.

The girl’s expression falls. “But Mia wants to play with uncle Baekhyun...” she pouts and burrows her face deeper into Baekhyun’s neck.

Baekhyun peers down at the girl in his arms. A gentle smile graces his lips as he caresses her hair lovingly to comfort her.

Seeing Baekhyun dotes on your niece may be setting your ovaries on fire. You have to mentally remind yourself not to crumble at the sight of them, because you are, on the edge of crumbling.

You look over at your sister who is shaking her head at her daughter. Then, the sound of someone sneezing surprises you. You bring your attention back to niece who is rubbing her little nose with her hand. A surge of protectiveness rushes through you. “Mia, you need to get changed before you catch a cold.” you say as you rush to Baekhyun’s side.

Baekhyun bends his knees to place your niece down, but she clings onto his neck and whines in protest. She must’ve have missed him so much. It really has been a while since he last visited.

“Mia, darling,” you move closer to stroke her back gently. “you need to change or you’ll fall sick. You can’t play with uncle Baekhyun if you’re sick, you know?”

The girl slowly raises her head from Baekhyun’s neck to look at him with a pout. “Uncle Baekhyun, are you leaving?”

Baekhyun caresses her cheek and smiles down at her. “I won’t, sweetie. I promise.”

“Come on, darling...” your sister coaxes as she reaches her arms out. Mia eventually let go of Baekhyun, though reluctant, and clings onto her mother.

You return your attention to Baekhyun and make a face at his current state. “You need to change too.”

As you and Baekhyun walk side by side to your room, you feel a sudden contact of a hand holding onto yours. Your heart thuds and you glance at him. He is going to say something. “Don’t say anything.” you shut him off. The side of his lips curl up. You huff. “Need I lecture you on how stupid you are?” He opens his lips to answer but you lift a finger up to stop him. “Nuh-uh...shut up.”

Baekhyun lets out a scoff and both of you remain quiet until you get inside your room.

“You left your clothes here the other day.” you walk over to your wardrobes and he follows behind you. You pull open the bottom drawer and pick out his white t-shirt and black track-pants along with a new towel. When you turn to face him again, you realize he has already taken his shirt off. You instantly shift your focus to your right so you’re not staring at his bare chest. But you’ve caught a glimpse of his abs and now, you can’t shake the image off your mind.

Your heart pounds when Baekhyun comes closer. Unconsciously, you take a step back and gasp when your back hits the wardrobe behind you. The air around you is suddenly charged with tension.

You jump slightly when his fingers brush over yours as he retrieves his clothes from your hand. “Thank you,” he says, his whisper sounding deeper in the silence.

You shift your gaze to meet his eyes only for a second before you turn away from him. “Y-you’re welcome…” you mumble.

It feels like forever as you stand there with your back to him, waiting for him to be done. In the silence, you can hear every little movement he makes. You squeeze your eyes close and try not to think of him naked behind you, instead you get a flashback of him kissing you, which isn’t helping at all.

The chaos in your mind ceases when you feel the brush of his chest on your back. You tense when he wraps his arms around you. “Baekhyun?”

”You feel so warm.” His voice rumbles in your ear.

You remember Baekhyun was caught in the rain too. “Are you cold?” You can’t hide the concern dripping from your voice. He hums. You let go of a breath and relax in his arms. “Fine, I’ll let you hug me, not because I want to...only because you’re cold and I’m a nice person…”

“Right…” he says, and you can hear a hint of a smile in his voice.

“You should’ve left when it starts raining,” you say. “What if Mia didn’t run out to get you, would you just sit there in the rain?”

“Hmm, I would’ve waited forever…”

You bring your head around to shoot him a disapproving look. “That’s just...stupid.”

“Well…” he shrugs. “I was also planning to break the window and intrude but…”

Soft giggles fill the air. “My sister would’ve killed you for that.”

You hear his low chuckle above your head. He then turns you around in his arms and stares down at you. The mischief in his eyes has now morphed into something earnest. “I know after what happened, it may seem hard for you to believe but I wasn’t lying when I told you that I love you.”

“Baekhyun, if you want me to start a relationship with you then I’m sorry...I don’t think I’m ready for that…”

He couldn’t conceal the disappointment in his eyes. “Do you have feelings for someone else?”

“No.” you are quick to deny.

His expression visibly relaxed. “What are you so afraid of, sweetheart?”

“I...I’m afraid you’ll take it away...”

Understanding dawns on him. Gently, he cups your face and brushes his thumb over your cheek. “I love you, sweetheart, and that will never change.” He says it with so much resolve you badly want to believe in him. But again, they are just words. Beautiful words.

“We can be best friends,” You suggest. “Like we always have.”

“Best friends...but with the hope of becoming more?” he said expectantly.

You realize no matter what you say, he isn’t going to give up on you. He is too persistent, and your resolve is too weak to resist him. “Fine,” you finally cave in. “With the hope of becoming more, not now, but someday.”

Now, you can only leave it for the time to prove if Baekhyun will stay true to his words.

Since then, Baekhyun becomes a constant in your life. Although he is busy training for the upcoming tournament, he managed to find time to meet you every other day. It feels more like he’s your boyfriend than your best friend. Sometimes he would turn up at your door late at night, looking so exhausted that your heart would soften and you’d run over to him and give him a hug. He tells you he loves you everyday, and every time you hear it, you resolve weakens. Every Sunday morning, he’d come over to spend time with you and Mia, then, he’d take you out to dinner and you’d spend the remaining of the evening at his place.

Both of you have agreed to keep the Saturday to yourselves. For years now, you’ve been volunteering as a child entertainer at the children’s hospital. No one except your sister knows about it. Every Saturday, you’d dress up as different cartoon characters and tell stories to the sick kids there. Today, you’re dressing up as Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. This isn’t the most showy costume since you’ve dressed up as TinkerBells before. But you are still feeling self-conscious as you walk down the hospital corridor. Each person you walk by has different reaction to seeing you. Some are fascinated, but some throw you a weird look.

“Hey,” one of the nurses fall into step next to you. You smile and a sigh whoosh out of you, thankful for her company. She gives your appearance a once-over. “You really are a real-life princess.” her eyes glint with admiration. “Believe me, the kids will love it.”

You return her smile. “Thank you, I hope so too.”

The nurse opens the door to the playroom. “Guys, look who’s here!”

Everyone stops to stare at you in silence, then the whole room explode into exuberant squeals. Your smile grows brighter. Girls or boys, they both look as equally excited to see you. There are nine of them. Some in wheelchairs, some have tubes stuck in their nose, and some are well enough to run over to hug you. Your heart warms at the sight of their smiles.

You walk in and lower yourself to the mat at the centre of the room. All the kids gather to sit in a circle around you. “What story are you gonna tell us today?” One of the girls asks as she stares up at you with hearts in her eyes.

You smile and hold up the book in your hands. It’s the story of Sleeping Beauty, in which you assume some of them must’ve already known. But the best thing about these kids is, no matter what story it is, they’ll always give you their full attention. Maybe because you’re not there to remind them of their illness, but you’re there to take them away from their pain, even if it’s only for a while. You don’t know if you’re a good story-teller, maybe you’re awful at it, but you know that the kids love it and that’s all that matters.

“Can I be Maleficent?” One of the girls raises her hand and asks. Noah is the kid you’re most fond of since she is always the one who volunteers to read with you. And for some odd reason, she loves playing the villain.

“Of course, come come.” you gesture for her to come over and she moves to sit by your side.

Another girl, Lili, raises her hand. “I wanna be Flora Fauna and Merryweather.”

“All three of them?” you raise your eyebrows in amusement. She nods vehemently. You grin and gives her a thumbs up in approval.

“Who’s gonna be Prince Phillip then?” Noah looks up at you in question. You look over at a group of boys seated next to each other. They press their lips together and shake their heads nervously. You chuckle.

You glance around the room to look for the nurse for help but your gaze stops at a familiar looking someone. You gawk. Leaning against the door with his arms crossed is Baekhyun. A smile adorns his face as he casually waves a hand at you. He is dressed in a black turle-neck sweater and a dark jeans that hugs his thighs perfectly. God, those thighs. Your body instantly reacts to the masculinity he exudes.

Your musing is interrupted when someone elbows you on your arm. Your eyes flutter in surprise before focusing on your best friend again. “Oh hi, what are you doing here?”

“I came to get a blood test.” He says. “You look…” his eyes travels down your dress. “Very beautiful.”

Your cheek pinks up at his compliment, and you realize everyone is the room is staring back and forth between you and Baekhyun like it’s a tennis match. You clear your throat to get their attention. “Guys, meet Baekhyun.” you say and all eyes move to his direction. You want to tell the kids that he is a famous MMA champion but you’re guessing they are too young to know what it is.

“Are you her boyfriend?” one of the boys questions loudly.

Everyone in the room seems so eager to wait for Baekhyun’s answer. He fakes a sad pout. “I wish I am, but she won’t let me be.”

All eyes immediately turn to you, some of the kids even wear an adorable look of accusation. You wish the earth would swallow you whole right there. “That’s not very nice, princess.” Lili says to you in her cute berating tone.

You find her so endearingly funny that you giggle through the burning heat on your cheek.

“You can be Prince Phillip!” Noah points at Baekhyun. The other kids turn their attention to him again, and they collectively agree while saying yes and nodding their heads. You snigger at the clueless look on your best friend’s face. This is going to be fun.

“Come in, Baekhyun,” you tell him. He gestures his forefinger to himself, his lips parted in confusion. “Yes you, come here, we’re starting soon.”

Despite his uncertainty, he makes his way in and occupy the space next to you. He leans in to your ear and ask, “What the hell am I supposed to do here?”

You chuckle at the obvious panic in his voice. “Just read from here.” you pass him an extra copy of the book. “You’re Prince Phillip.”

“And you’re the princess?” Baekhyun asks. You nod. He flashes a wolfish grin. “Does it mean we’re going to kiss?” you smack him across his arm. He rolls his eyes. “A prince can dream, okay?”

You ignore his silliness and return your attention to the kids. “Alright guys, are you ready?” the kids bob their heads in unison and lean closer. A smile touches your lips. Then you begin, “Once upon a time....”

Nearly half an hour later, the story-telling session somehow turns into a mini comedic play. Baekhyun has all the kids laughing at his impersonation of Prince Phillip. The voice he mimics makes him sound more like Donkey from Shrek than a prince. You’re certain he is a better entertainer than you, and it isn’t hard to tell that the kids love him. Seeing the sight before you, your heart swells and you have to bite back your tears of joy. You know Baekhyun isn’t into rainbows and fairy tales. You remember watching Frozen with him, and how he slept through the whole movie. His willingness to do this for the kids is admirable, and right then, you realise that the affection you have for him is growing by leaps and bounds.

It isn’t long until you reach the last page of the final chapter. The prince has won the fight against the evil queen, which means it is time for him to rescue the sleeping beauty.

“You’re supposed to kiss the princess to wake her up from her sleep.” Lili says to Baekhyun, then she looks at you with her hands on her waist. “Princess, aren’t you supposed to be asleep?”

“No, no, no.” you shake your head. “no kissing in here.”

The reaction you earn from the kids are appalling. Some of them are whining in disappointment and some of them started to chant kiss kiss kiss. You glance at Baekhyun for help, but of course he is not helping. He has the flirtiest smile on his face, looking like he is so ready to kiss you. You roll your eyes, and gasp in surprise when Lili comes behind you, holding your shoulders to pull your body backward so you’re lying supine on the mat.

“I can’t believe this,” you mutter under your breath.

“Close your eyes, princess,” she cues, and when you do the room quiets down.

Your heart rate is accelerating. Soon, you feel his heat, followed by the smell of his expensive cologne. You peel an eye open to look at the handsome man who has his hands braced on each side of your head. “Please keep it G-rated.” you remind him. He smiles a soft smile and slowly leans down. “No tongue, Baekhyun, I’m serious. Just a peck.” you whisper-shout nervously. He is coming closer now, and you’re squeezing your eyes close. But it’s a surprise when you feel the touch of his lips not on your lips, but your forehead.

You flutter your eyes open and sit up. The room bursts into girly squeals and cooes, but they stop when someone opens the door. “Alright guys, time for lunch.” the nurse announces, and as always, everyone whines in . You purse your lips, feeling sad that it has to end now.

“Are we going to see you again?” Noah says to Baekhyun, and it is followed by another question from one of the boys, “Are you coming back?”

You glance at the kids and see the hope shining in their eyes. Then you shift your attention to Baekhyun, who is now looking at you with his eyebrows raised as if asking for approval.

You shrug. “It’s your decision.”

Baekhyun looks back at the kids to mutter a yes, and his answer brings an even brighter smile to each one of their faces.

“Alright guys, chop chop.” the nurse prompts, and this time the kids have no choice but to comply. Some of them come over to you for a hug before they leave, and when the playroom is finally empty, you turn to meet Baekhyun’s gaze.

“I’m going to start calling you my princess from now on.” He teased.

“Oh please...” you roll your eyes. “By the way, why do you need a blood test?”

“It’s just a requirement to qualify for the fights,” he answers casually as he rises to his feet. Then he stares down at you. “Are you hungry? Wanna grab lunch together?”

You nod and he lends you a hand to help you up to your feet. “Thank you,” you smile. “And thank you for agreeing to come back for the kids.” you stand on tiptoes to press a kiss on his cheek. “It means a lot to them. They seem to love you very much.”

He gazes down at you. “Do you love me?”

You are taken aback by the suddenness of his question. The answer is so easy. It’s a big capital YES. But why are you still afraid to admit it?  

“I…” You part your lips to try to say something, but close it again when there are no words coming out. Baekhyun senses your hesitation, and you detect a hint of disappointment crossing his feature, only for a second before he conceals it with a smile. Your heart aches. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay, I can wait.” He assures with a smile. You stare at him, unsure. He shakes his head and ruffles your hair. “Will you come and watch the tournament next friday?”

“As long as you promise me you won’t let yourself get beaten up.” you mean your words.

“Princess, I’m unbeatable.”

The side of your lip curls up. “Smug, aren’t we?”

“Just facts...” he gives a nonchalant shrug. “So, are you coming?”

You nod. “I’ll be there for you.”

Two weeks flew by and it is finally the day of the tournament. As soon as you’re done with work, you hurry to change out of your work attire into a more casual wear. You’re not sure if there’s a dress code to watch a boxing match, so you settle with a black camisole top and skinny jeans. Your phone vibrates in your hand when you step into the lift. You read the message that says,

Baekhyun : Look for Chanyeol when you get here. I’ve reserved a seat for you.

You: Okie. Thank you.

Baekhyun: Anything you want to say? I won’t be on my phone soon.

You: Please don’t die.

Baekhyun: That’s...very encouraging. Thanks.

You: I’m serious.

Baekhyun: I won’t die, sweetheart. I promise. Gotta go now. I love you.

The lift stops at the fourth floor where an OBGYN clinic is located. A young couple walk in with their hands intertwined. You greet them with a small smile and move back to stand against the elevator mirror. The couple starts chatting about the possible names for their future daughter, sounding so full of joy you can’t help but to break into smile behind them. You try not to squeal when the man gives her wife a loving kiss on her forehead.

A ding echoes in the lift. The door parts open and you stay behind the couple as you walk out. You stare down at your phone while booking yourself a ride to the venue. It is difficult to find a driver at this time of the day, and when you finally found one, the waiting time is too long for your liking. You expel a sigh and walk out of the building. As you wait for your driver by the side of the road, you spot the woman you met earlier, except she’s alone.

You sidle up to her. “Hi.” you give her your sweetest smile, hoping she doesn’t think you’re creepy. “Congrats on the baby.”

She blinks at you, confused at first, then she looks slightly embarrassed. “We were loud, weren’t we?”

“Nah, I was just eavesdropping,” you assure her. “Where’s your...” You’re not sure if the guy she was with just now is her husband or boyfriend.

“My husband?” She says and you nod. “He went to get the car. It’s parked quite far away, and he doesn’t want me to walk the long distance.” She explains. “He can be...very protective of me.”

Your smile grows dreamy. “That’s so sweet of him.”

“I’m Sooah.“ she extends her hand. You take it in yours and introduce yourself too. As you retract your hand, her attention falls on the diamond ring on your finger. “Are you...attached?”

“Ah, no,” you say. “It’s a birthday gift from my best friend.”

Baekhyun has given you a Cartier love ring as a late birthday gift. You were shocked when you found out how much he spent. He said it is a gift, and a token of apology, but you have a feeling it means more than that.

“A guy bestfriend?” you nod at Sooah’s question. She gives you a knowing smile. “You know when a guy bestfriend gifted you with a diamond ring, it only means one thing. He loves you.” she surmises. “And judging from the look on your face, you love him too.”

Somehow, you feel like a kid being caught red-handed. How can a stranger read you so well? “I do…” you admit. “But we’re not together or anything.”

“Why? Because you’re afraid if you ever start anything with him and it goes south, you’ll lose your friendship?”

You are startled by her assumption, which is correct. You’re starting to think this woman can read minds. “Well, that’s one of the reasons.”

“My husband and I were best friends for a long time before we got together,” she shares. “We knew we were in love but we kept our feelings from each other for years because of the same reason. Until one day, we decided to get over our fears and take a chance, so here we are.” she stares down at her hand on her stomach with a tender smile. “Life is too short to live in fear, you know? You’ll never know when your time is up. Don’t you want to spend the one life you have with someone you love?”

The second she finishes, a red Audi pulls up in front of you and you spot her husband in the driver’s seat through the windscreen. She bids a quick goodbye to you before getting in the vehicle. You watch the car drives away. While waiting for your ride to arrive, you let your mind wander to the conversation you’ve just had with Sooah. It isn’t a minute later when you hear the deafening sound of a horn that startles you. It is followed by the sound of screeching brakes and glass shattering. You focus your attention to the road before you. Moving vehicles are pulling into a stop. Then you shift your gaze down the road, and what you witness knocks the breath out of you.

A red Audi. 

Sooah. Her husband.

Blood.

You’ll never know when your time is up...

Life is fragile. You never really understand the truth behind those words until now. You wipe the fallen tears off your cheek as you watch the tragic scene before you. How could this happen? Your chest hurt so badly you couldn’t take deep breaths. You were the one who called the emergency, but the couple were long gone when the paramedics arrived at the scene. Now, they are moving their dead bodies on stretchers.

The woman who has just left this world might be a stranger to you. But she has taught you a lesson you’ll never forget. She taught you how unpredictable life could be, how you could lose everything in the blink of an eye, how you shouldn’t miss the chance to tell someone that you love them.

Baekhyun…

Oh God, Baekhyun…

You need to get to him. Now.

And the tournament, you can’t be late...

You are in the VIP section of the stadium, three rows away from the ring that looks like a cage. You manage to get there just on time. Sitting on your right is Chanyeol, and to your left is Sehun. Suddenly, the crowd explodes into deafening roars and you realize Baekhyun has made his appearance. Clearly your best friend has a fanclub of his own and most of them are female fans. It is not a surprise at all. Baekhyun is a star fighter, one of the youngest MMA champions in history. To top that, he has a movie-star look and a pretty impressive bank account thanks to the money he earns through multiple endorsement deals he signed. You won’t be surprised to learn that half of the girls here wish to get in his pants.

Baekhyun makes his entrance into the ring, bare-chested, relaxed and completely unbothered. His skin is already glistening with sweat from the stifled air in the stadium. He looks like a damn warrior standing face to face with his opponent, a Japanese guy named Yuto. They stare directly into each others eyes. Yuto has a murderous look on his face as he takes a defensive stance. Baekhyun does the same, but he looks simply amused. Even from a distance, you can tell how unruffled he is. You notice nothing but pure calmness in his eyes. You on the other hand, are feeling so anxious to the point you feel like throwing up.

“Don’t worry. He’ll be just fine,” Sehun leans in to whisper into your ear when he notices how tense you are.

You are about to reply when the ring announcer declares the start of the first round. The sharp blaring of the bull horn cut through the air, and the fight begins.

Your heart nearly jumps to your throat when Yuto growls and launches himself at Baekhyun. The commentator begins to ramble words you can’t hear over the crowd’s noises. To your relief, Baekhyun is fast enough to hold his fists up to dodge the blow, and then he counters, landing his fist to Yuto’s jaw.

“Hell yeah!” Chanyeol yells from beside you as the onlookers go wild with cheers.

You give Chanyeol one second of your attention before focusing on the two fighters again. You realize, right now, Yuto is charging forward with his arms extended. He has his arms wrapped around Baekhyun in an attempt to throw him to the ground. Your heart drops. You are on the edge of your seat, adrenaline rushing through your veins as your nervous fingers fiddle with themselves. You can see the blue veins bulging around Baekhyun’s neck and forehead, his teeth grinding as he fights to break free from Yuto’s hold.

His opponent lowers his stance, grunting as he struggles to lift Baekhyun off the mat. Your eyes are squinting close thinking that he is going to get beaten up soon. But what happens next causes the whole stadium to gasp. Simultaneously, your eyes grow wide as you watch Baekhyun rams his knee straight to the centre of Yuto’s nose. Blood splashes everywhere and his rival springs back, swaying on his feet. Baekhyun doesn’t stop there. He zooms forward and continues to throw hooks from left to right, over and over again until he backs his rival up against the chain-linked wall. Lastly, with one solid punch to the face, Yuto buckles over and collapses to the ground with a thud.

The stadium goes quiet. Your heart pounds and you repeatedly tap on Chanyeol’s thigh. “Is that a KO?” you ask, your attention fixed on Baekhyun.

“I-I think so...yeah…” He replies, sounding flabbergasted.

Your jaw nearly drops when you see two referees and a guy who looks like a doctor rush towards the barely conscious fighter. Shortly after checking up on him, the bell buzzes. One of the referees thrusts Baekhyun’s arm to the air and the announcer declares him as the winner. With that, the crowd shot up from their seats, punching the air with roars of victory.

30-second KO in the first round, breaking his previous record. Byun Baekhyun is truly unbeatable.

The breath you’ve been holding whooses out of you, and your stiff shoulders begin to relax. Tears prick your eyes and you take a breath to hold it in. Watching a group of people crowding your boyfriend, some of them holding mics, some of them holding cameras, you have to fight the urge to run to him. You want to tell him that he has done well, that you’re so proud of him, that you love him. Emotion overwhelms you and a tear rolls down your cheek.

Baekhyun glances around the stadium, his eyes searching through the crowd. You don’t know what he is looking for until his eyes meet with your glassy ones. Both of you exchange a warm look and smile at the same time. The need to run to him becomes irresistible. Shooting up from your seat, you slide your way through the rows of people, muttering a collection of excuse mes along the way. You’ve never moved so fast in your life. The moment you get to him, you are panting for breath.

His worried eyes gaze down at you. “Sweetheart?” he whispers. “Are you alright?”

The camera doesn’t stop clicking and flashing. You know you can’t make a scene here or your face will end up appearing on the tabloids.

“Come with me,” you catch his wrist and drag him away from the crowd. You are aware that all eyes are on you right now. So the moment you spot an arrow with a sign that says locker room, you hurry towards that direction.

“What is going on?” Baekhyun asks as you shove him into the room and lock the door behind you. You lean against the door, exhaling. The noise from the crowd is muffled. Now, it is just the two of you in this empty space. Baekhyun is still staring at you with a deep question in his eyes. “You’re starting to scare me, is everything o–”

“I love you.”

Those three words seem to bounce on every surface of this room. Baekhyun’s eyes blink so slowly as he tries to process your sudden confession. “I’m not sure I heard you right. What were you sa-”

“I’m in love with you, Baekhyun.”

This time his eyes grow in size and his jaw drops. “You love me?”

A tremulous smile tilts up the side of your lip, and you nod vigorously to reassure him.

Before you know it, Baekhyun has crossed the minute distance between you and him. You barely have time to breath as he is already taking your face in his hands and lowering his lips to yours. You kiss him back, ardently, hoping he can feel how much you love him through your kiss. His tongue tangles with yours for a few minutes before you lean away to stare up at him.

A fresh tear rolls down your cheek. “I’m sorry I doubted you when you’ve given me all the reasons not to...I’m sorry it took someone’s death to make me realize how important you are to me.” you sniff in a shuddery breath. “I don’t know if it’s too late to ask, but if you still love me...can I be your girlfriend?”

His whole feature softens. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but yes...yes!” He starts to pepper kisses all over your face, eliciting a gurgle of laughter from you. You hug him tightly to you. When he is satisfied, he looks down, his soft eyes meeting yours. “Can I take you home now?”

[oohfluffy]

TIHM Ch.18 | BBH

Group: EXO

Member: Byun Baekhyun

Theme: Angst | Fluff | Rated M | University!AU | Football!AU

Word Count: 3,066

chapter 18

Blinking your eyes rapidly, you realized that you must have spent almost an hour in the washroom. Baekhyun is just gazing at you with those gentle eyes as he calmly combs your hair through his fingers.

Jisoo unnie must be worried.

You cleared your throat while you looked away from his melting gaze, cheeks turning red as you remembered—

"I-I think we should go out already. I'm fine now." You smiled at the side, slightly pushing Baekhyun's arms away from your body. He's been hugging your waist for a while now, and you feel like you've been caught in a trap. "We'll just clean up for a bit, and... we can go home."

He just tilted his head, trying to catch your eyes as you stood up straight. 

"Hmm, okay. I'll help."

You looked up at him for a moment, letting him look back into your eyes. You noticed that his lips were almost frowning as if he was displeased about...was it that?

He didn't like it? Is he disappointed that I didn't...respond? Or was he expecting a full-blown make out session? Oh geez, what the hell am I thinking?!

You quickly moved away from him and trudged back to the door. Your heart instantly pounded hard on your chest as you thought that he was not satisfied with it. 

You've got it bad, Saejin. 

You didn't wait for him to speak again, and went to the counter, where Jisoo was cleaning at. When she saw you, she halted wiping the glass and walked towards you with her worried eyes. You smiled.

"I'm alright, unnie. What happened back there was just a...personal issue. I'm sorry for that."

"That's not what I'm bothered about, okay? You were being ridiculed there, aren't you? Did they do something—" You instantly shook your head at the questions that Jisoo was throwing at you.

"No, they didn't. It's just a misunderstanding, unnie." You dismissed her questions as you went to the tables to help Yeonjun put the chairs up. "I'll clean up there."

You knew Baekhyun was going to help around you, so you started putting up the chairs in the farthest area, where Yeonjun has not gone to yet. Jisoo just huffed as she watched you escape her. She understood that the issue was not something she could easily touch though.

You were grateful that Baekhyun was silent as you both cleaned up, saving you from answering any questions that you do not really want to hear right now. You swiftly placed the chairs upside down on top of the table, looking under the surface after. 

"Hyunjin, there are still plates over there! Get moving!" You heard Woobin exclaim inside the kitchen area. Poor boy.

"Ah yes, ma'am. We're closing already." Jisoo spoke through the phone, nodding her head as she walked around the counter. It's probably Aunt Jinah, checking if the cafe was still intact even without her. "There's been no..." She glanced at you. "...complications today. Yes, I'll do so."

Yeonjun, who was mopping the floor nearby, looked up at you before glancing at your back. There were no chairs left on the ground, so you thought of grabbing the window wiper from the table. 

"I'll clean the windows—"

"I'll do it." Baekhyun cut you off as he beat you to it, taking the wiper swiftly along with a cloth. You gaped at him as you watched him quickly do the work, acting like a professional cleaner of windows. Yeonjun just shrugged as he continued mopping the floor, leaving you to yourself.

I can't get used to this. He's stealing my duties as always!

You frowned at your thought before grabbing another wet cloth to wipe the tables.

"Thank you for your hard work today!" Jisoo cheered as Hyunjin locked the entrance door. Woobin already went ahead, and the rest of you just finished cleaning up. You glanced at your crew mates, noticing that Mingyu was not around. 

"Is it Mingyu's day off as well?" You asked while walking away with Jisoo. Somi has caught a cold, so she took a day off. Luckily, Woobin and Jisoo have knowledge on brewing to cover for the baristas earlier.

"Family matters. He's got issues with his current family." Jisoo shrugged, and clearly, she doesn't really know much about it. "He rarely talks about his personal life, so we have no idea what's with him."

Such a cheerful guy with a complicated past, huh?

"Your boyfie seems upset?" 

As soon as she mentioned that, your head went to where Baekhyun was.

Really, Saejin? That's your boyfie?

His phone on his ear as he listened to the other line, his other arm flexing as his hand gripped on his waist. You could see his jaw line with the shadow casted on his face by the lamp post as he looked up at the sky with his troubled eyes. Eyebrows knitting, he talked back to the person on the other line.

"I don't want to. I already told you."

You hesitantly said your goodbye to the crew before walking silently towards Baekhyun's car. Finding it quite rude to just enter the car, you stopped by the side just as he looked at where you are.

"I'll just call later." He said, hanging up on his phone instantly. You frowned.

"You could have finished talking to...whoever that was. I could wait."

Baekhyun shook his head as he went to your side, opening the door for you. You could still see that he was tense and frustrated by his expression. You bit your lip before getting inside the car, choosing not to ask unwanted questions that might irritate him more.

His gaze lingered on you for a moment, making you look up to him in wonder. His lips curled into a smile as if to assure you that he was fine and there is no problem. Your eyes stared into his, trying to uncover what was hidden beneath.

"I know that look, Saejin-ah. You're curious." Baekhyun chuckled as he patted your head before moving away to close the door. "It's nothing." 

You watched as he went to the driver's seat and sat down. Your lips slightly pouted while you turned on the radio. Mellow music instantly played as the dj of the late night station said his commentaries. It was already past 11 pm, and the streets were slowly getting quieter and emptier.

You hesitantly looked at Baekhyun as he drove while humming to a song. He's acting so casually as if nothing happened earlier. 

As if he didn't kiss you out of nowhere.

Maybe it wasn't that special? He did it to other girls often, so maybe—

You felt your blood boiling at the thought, making you look away from his beautiful side profile. How can someone be so hot while driving a frickin' car anyway? You groaned at yourself.

When you saw the familiar street, you gripped on your bag tight to prepare yourself. You were internally making a script of what you'll be saying to Baekhyun later when the car stopped in front of your apartment building. You cleared your throat as you unbuckle your seatbelt.

"Uhm..." You tried starting your speech as you sat up straight. "Thank you for today, Baekhyun-ah."

What was the next line, Saejin?! What?!

"Uh, I..." Your fingers gripped on your bag tighter as you glanced at him. He was cautiously looking at your face. "...I appreciate what you did earlier."

WHAT? THE KISS HE GAVE YOU? 

"W-When you comforted me back there." You instantly added as you saw his lips twitching. He must have read your mind. You forced a smile as you felt your cheeks burning for the nth time tonight, thumb pointing outwards. "I-I'll go now."

You thought that he wouldn't speak and just nod his head, until he did.

"I want you so bad, Lee Saejin."

If your eyes could get any bigger than Kyungsoo's eyes, they would already have right now. Your lips parted as you looked back at him. His eyes were gentle as usual, and his tensed shoulders earlier were now relaxed.

He said it so softly that you wouldn't have heard it if not for the silence in the car.

"I want you so bad, to the point that I consider your worries as mine." Baekhyun said as he let out a sigh. "I just...I just want you to know that I won't disappear as you expect me to. I don't need you to give me anything, just this chance is more than enough."

His fingers grasped your own, caressing the skin he could touch. You almost shivered at his gaze.

"I'll keep on wanting you, remember that."

He didn't say anything about the kiss, or what happened earlier in the cafe. You didn't know if you're thankful or disappointed about that, but one thing's for sure...

You truly have fallen for this guy.

—

"Let me have that."

You grunted as Baekhyun took your lunch box from your hands, a grin on his face. You both sat on the floor where you usually hang out. It was his lunch break as well, and he was already waiting by your room earlier. You had no choice but to let him come with you in your safe haven.

You had a choice, Saejin. You just want him to come.

"Hmm." He hummed as he chewed on the pasta you cooked for lunch. Your eyes lingered at his lips as he nodded his head. "It's good! Wow. I didn't know you cook so well."

You unconsciously smiled at his pouty lips. 

So cute.

Baekhyun's eyebrows raised in curiosity, and at the same time, giddiness. He watched as you just sat there and was so pretty in his eyes, making him put down your container. You glanced at his eyes, wondering why he stopped eating.

"You had enough? Let me eat." You said as you reached for your lunch. Before you got to touch the box, he lifted it up. You stumbled by his lap, both hands supporting your almost fall. You let out a relieved breath as you managed to balance yourself.

Until you realized that you were face to face with his crotch.

You blinked numerous times as you slowly looked up at him, eyes travelling from his broad chest up to his throat. You watched him swallow, making you clear your throat in embarrassment. You instantly pulled yourself up, leaning back against the wall as close as possible. (some tension here huh)

"S-Sorry." You mumbled as you took out your jug of water, placing your whole attention to the poor jug. You drank continuously as Baekhyun placed down the container, his eyes carefully watching your move. 

Oh god, why is it so quiet? Where is my pianist when I need him?!

"Can I have some water?"

You almost jumped at his sudden request. You looked down at your jug hesitantly before giving it to him. He gratefully took it and drank...from your jug. Where you placed your lips at. 

WHY ARE YOU THINKING THIS WAY, SAEJIN?!

You looked away from his tempting drinking session, and let your eyes rest on the hallway. You found a good topic to drift away from thinking about how Baekhyun drank water from your jug. Before looking away, you unfortunately caught a glimpse of his slender neck tilting up as he—

"I heard you are from the Music Department with Kyungsoo sunbae and Chanyeol sunbae. You play instruments?" You cut off your thought before it drifts to something inappropriate with a question. In the corner of your eyes, you saw him place down your jug on the floor beside him. You played with your fingers while darting your gaze towards the doors on the corridor, pretending to be interested in the rooms. 

"Hmm, I do. I sing as well." Baekhyun answered in a low voice, almost making you look back at him in curiosity. "Most of my block mates do."

"You play, huh?" You jutted your lower lip as you hesitated asking about the pianist you favored.

"Yep, like the piano."

With that, your head snapped towards him. Baekhyun swore that your eyes twinkled at the mention of the piano. He wondered if you like playing the piano too. Noticing his surprise, you calmed yourself internally.

"Do all of you know how to?" You slowly asked, staring at his chin instead of his eyes. 

I can't stare at his lips too.

"Some of us. Others play the violin, guitar, cello, flute, and etcetera. I prefer piano though." 

"Does anyone play the piano when it's break?" Baekhyun tilted his head in wonder as you asked the question. "I mean, you have a whole place for you to use anytime. That must be great."

Unconsciously, your eyes went up to his lips as you were talking. You saw how his lips pouted cutely as he hummed. You didn't even notice that he was already less than 10 cm away from you as he moved closer to your space.

"Hmm, we do play the piano when we have time." Baekhyun quietly answered, leg touching yours as he kept on moving towards you. "I mostly occupy the piano room though."

He does? 

"Really?" You couldn't help but to voice out your thoughts, making him smile at the interest you were showing him. Your eyebrows scrunched in focus as you try to imagine him sitting in front of a piano, gliding his fingers on the right keys with a sensual grin on his face.

Hmm, passable.

"Do you want to hear me play, baby?" You heard Baekhyun whisper in your ear, making you jump in surprise. You looked at him incredulously as he innocently smiled at you. "You look like you're really into piano."

I wonder if he is my favorite pianist. 

"It's not like that. I just appreciate the sounds it makes." You stared into his eyes, liking the gentleness they reflect towards you as usual. "It keeps me sane."

"Sane?" Baekhyun chuckled before grabbing your hand. He took your bag from your side with your jug as he pulled you up. "I'll show you how playing the piano makes girls insane, babe."

"Pfft." You laughed at his words as you gripped on your lunch box, following his lead to the hallway. "That didn't sound cool, it sounded funny for me!"

"I'll make you crazy for me, Saejin. Watch out for that." He smirked as he pulled you closer, making you groan and laugh at the same time. Baekhyun couldn't do anything but smile at your adorable laughs.

He was contented with that.

He easily opened the door, and led you inside the room you've been wanting to enter since day 1. You can finally see what's behind the door clearly.

"Woah, such pretty instruments." You mumbled as you looked around the well-lit area. You've already caught a glimpse of these things through the glass door, but it's different when you can see them in front of you. "These are amazing."

Baekhyun quickly checked the grand piano, preparing himself to show-off his skill to you. It was the first time he wanted to be praised by someone who isn't a professor nor a judge, to be seen as an amazing pianist by someone he likes.

Your gaze drifted towards the piano, where Baekhyun is already at. You slowly walked towards him, watching as he slid his slender fingers against the smooth surface of the piano keys. You're looking forward to what kind of sounds he can make.

That sounded so dirty. Sounds he can make, huh?

You almost hit yourself to avoid thinking about it, when Baekhyun pressed a key. Instantly, your attention was fully on him. You forgot everything else, but him, on the piano with his lips parting.

And then, his voice filled the air effortlessly along with the beautiful melody that the piano produced by his fingers.

"I may seem strong, I may be smiling"

His eyes closed as he sang, making your own widen in awe.

"But there are many times when I'm alone"

Your lips twitched.

"I may seem like I don't have any worries, but I have a lot to say"

It was like you were in another world, where it was only you and him. 

"The moment I first saw you, I was so attracted to you"

"I didn't weigh out my thoughts and just talked"

Was it his voice? Or the way he plays the instrument?

"The answer is you" 

As he said those words, his eyes opened, staring directly into your eyes. Your heart felt like it needed to get out of your chest or it would explode.

"My answer is you"

You slowly lifted your lips into a smile as Baekhyun stared at you with so much adoration and sincerity in his eyes. He sings so damn well, this playboy.

"I showed you my everything, you are my everything"

His fingers left the keys as he sang the last words.

"Because I am so certain of you"

You clapped as he ended his showcasing of talent with a bow. You nodded in approval while chuckling in delight. He did well.

"Wow, Mr. Byun plays so well." You said as he shrugged in confidence, making you shake your head this time. "How humble."

"Want to learn from the best?" He patted the space next to him. "This is the first time I'll be teaching someone how to play."

"Tss, unbelievable. You surely used that strategy before to lure girls into your web, Baekhyun." You said, but was already walking to the seat he has presented to you. 

"I swear, babe, I don't even play my pieces in front of people other than audiences or when in class." He pouted as he looked up at you with those puppy eyes. He is hypnotizing you this way, isn't he? That can't be real. Not him.

"Whatever you say." You shrugged as you sat beside him. You couldn't help but let out an excited hum when you touched the piano keys, feeling their smoothness beneath your fingers. "Okay, Mr. Byun, teach me."

Baekhyun's eyes formed half-crescent moons as he watched you touching his beloved piano with a delighted expression. He smirked.

He's probably digging his own grave right now by tempting himself like this.

"First, you need to kiss me, so I could teach you well."

—

Tagging my loves: ❤ 

@nissybyun | @byuncock​ | @neogoturback | @jisungispilledmyuwus | @shesdreaminginoverdose | @precious-seungwooya | @junmyeonimissyou | @baekhyunsdangerouswoman​ | @jummyjammy | @itsbaekhyunsbutt​​ | @lalalala-lav | @thoughtsofidk | @byuniieo | @feline-xiu | @banddits | @half-moon-x | @byunxo | @strawbaeri-s | @vishary15 | @hansolturnt | @jungkooksworld18 | @byunniebaekhyunnie​ | @kingkushdealer | @chloebarlin | @marovekian1 | @chloebarlin​

—

♫ Ch.19

[simplyyeol]

back then (when we used to)

—pairing; byun baekhyun x reader

—genre; fluff, college! au, childhood friends to nobodies to lovers! au lmao

—tws; swearing

—word count; 16.439 (whew)

—synopsis; when push comes to shove, and baekhyun suddenly appears in your life again taking your heart as he walked along the road beside you, you wonder if you really could have a happily ever after, with him, just like back then, when you used to.

—author’s note; hi guys! it’s me, cough, aj. you probably all forgot who i am right? well anyways! i made this after a long time of not writing since im on break. thank you all so much for the love you’ve given me so far. it means the world to me. i hope you love this one as much as my last work. thank you so much for supporting me !!11!11 (ugly cries)

“I mean, Baekhyun is cute and all, but I don’t know why you like like him that much if you haven’t even had a proper conversation with him,” Sehun explains as he takes a sip of his orange juice. “It seems kind of... farfetched, you know?” You roll your eyes as you take a bite of your sandwich. “Don’t be a drama queen.”

“I mean! Why don’t you like someone like...” he taps his chin in thought, fork stabbing through the lettuce leaves before he looks back to you, signature smirk in place. “Jongdae.”

You choke on the food.

“He’s pretty cute. And he’s really nice too. He’s even on the baseball team with Baekhyun and you guys seem to get along well. It’s a win-win situation.”

You shrug. “He’s cool, but he’s just a friend. And since when do you care about my love life?”

“Nonexistent love life,” he snarkily corrects and you stick your tongue at him.

“And you’re some best friend. Totally supporting me in my silent love affair.”

“I’m being realistic,” he defends, shrugging.

“And a horrible best friend,” you retort, grimly.

“Maybe you’re just going through this phase—” he starts.

“Okay, look,” you interject, dropping your sandwich on the table. “I have a crush on one of the star players of our college’s team. That just makes me one of the many of the girls fantasizing to be her. That’s all it is. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna throw myself at him and forget who I actually am or some stupid shit like that.” You narrow your eyes at him and pick up your sandwich. “Period.” And then you take a bite.

Sehun drops his fork in his bowl, the clatter ringing even through all the chatter in the cafe. “Wow, Y/N.”

“What?” you bark, bread in mouth, so it sounds more like ‘mwa.’ Even if Sehun is monotone in basically everything that comes out of his stupid mouth, you can hear the smirk.

He shakes his head. “Nevermind. But... since we’re already on this road. You know Park Chanyeol.”

You nod and swallow. “Yeah. Why?”

“Well, he gave me two tickets to his game since Mina and I were gonna go, but you know...” he trailed off and you look at him. He just broke up again with Mina. His now ex. They have an on and off relationship. You don’t really get it.

“I dunno,” you say, eyes flitting from the table to his face. You didn’t want him to go alone, sure, but more often than not, when he takes you to these kind of things, he usually gets sidetracked and well, forgets about you.

“Oh, come on, I won’t leave you this time, I swear,” he says, fist slamming the table.

“Sehun,” you breathe, talking to him as if he was a child. “You said that last time for that basketball guy’s party. And do you remember what happened then?”

His eyebrows furrowed and lips pursed. Apparently your best friend has horrible memory as well.

“You went home with Mina, asshole,” you spit. “And yes, you are my bestfriend and deserve the best romantic life, but you can’t just leave me. Jeez, you’re heartless, Sehun.”

“I won’t leave you this time,” he pleads once more, puppy eyes now in place, hands placed together under his chin. “Please, noona?”

You stick your tongue out at him and continue with your sandwich.

“Oh, come on, I want to go with my bestest friend in the world, and not anyone else. And we’ll have so much fun and I won’t even leave your side, or anything, and as a bonus! I will personally get you a jersey as an added bonus with a certain Byun printed on the back.”

Your eyes flicked to his for a split second at the sound of a certain man’s name.

“I can even arrange a chance at the after party for the two of us, so you can have some even more fun. There’s gonna be free drinks too!” he tries.

You raise an eyebrow at this offer.

“Free food, too!” he chimes.

“We’ll see,” is your final answer.

His straight posture is slumped at your answer, pout adorning his face as he dejectedly looked at his salad that was a part of his so-called, healthy diet, that he put together himself. His eyes flicked to yours as you took another bite of your BLT.

You waved it at him. “Want some?”

He looks back to his salad before dropping his fork and stretching his hand out. You hand the sandwich to him and he takes a few bites before giving it back to you.

The rest of lunch is spent in light banter, talk about classes and upcoming finals.

The two of you have been close since the start of college after there was a mix up in the dorm distribution and you ended up in the only co-ed dorm in college. With a playboy of course. You would think you’d somehow fall in love with him, but the boy being two years your dongsaeng, the spark was never there. He became a little brother figure who you could bully whenever he came over to you to gush about his new girlfriend at how pretty she is. It’s cute enough to pinch his cheeks like you were a distant relative who claimed to used to change Sehun’s diapers. He hated it, which is exactly why you loved it.

He doesn’t bring up the game until you see Byun Baekhyun walk through the cafe doors. You being the shy person that you are, immediately duck your head and finish the rest of your sandwich in one bite, and stand up announcing your departure to Sehun.

“What? I’m not finished yet, wait another minute. We’ll go together.”

“Uh, I actually forgot I’ve got to meet a friend before class starts,” you explain, twisting and untwisting your fingers, eyes locked on Baekhyun’s figure that was currently walking towards you and Sehun’s table, which was conveniently in front of the register. 

Sehun looks at you, nose scrunched then looking somewhere behind you, and then it dawned on him, your predicament. “Oh,” he breathes.

And Sehun being the asshole he is calls Byun Baekhyun over. You never wanted more for the ground to open up and swallow you whole than at this moment.

“Hey, Sehun, what’s up?” Baekhyun says, his honey voice rolling over you in waves. You couldn’t leave due to the iron grip Sehun had on your wrist, caging you and erasing all attempts of escape.

“Hey, hyung. I just needed an opinion. Do you know, Y/N?” Sehun nods to you and you freeze as Baekhyun finally sees you. You hold your breath, waiting for the answer on the tips of your toes even though you were the one who didn’t want it.

His eyes lock with yours and you see the warmth even standing nowhere close to him. You see the small mole on top of his lip, the bridge of his nose, the cherry pink of his lips and all you can think is how he hasn’t changed one bit. 

His eyes flit down to your wrist in Sehun’s hand and you quickly pull it away. Sehun doesn’t hold you back. And then he’s looking away as fast as he saw you, and you miss the warmth that he brought with just a look but you’re glad for the lack of his fierce gaze on you alone.

He hums. “Yeah, I know Y/N. We went to the same middle school but you probably already know that,” he states matter of factly. You purse your lips. Sehun didn’t know that.

Sehun’s jaw goes slack. “Wait, what?” He turns to you, eyes narrowed. “You never told me that!”

“Uhhh—” you dumbly respond as Baekhyun looks between the two of you.

“Right, I just wanted to know,” Sehun clears his throat, grasping Baekhyun’s attention once again, “if we could come to the party after the game?”

“Oh, you’re coming to the game?” He poses the question towards the both of you, but he only looks at you.

“Well, I’m going, but Y/N doesn’t know yet—”

“You should come,” Baekhyun states simply, looking into the depths of your soul. Your heart beats just the tiniest bit faster.

“I’ll see,” you mutter under your breath.

“Well, I’ll see you guys later then?” Baekhyun waves, the corner of his lips raised, and eyes sparkling in a way that only fits Baekhyun. 

Sehun’s arm falls on your shoulder as he rises to his full height, effectively breaking you out of the haze that Baekhyun put on you unknowingly. You scowl at him as you grab your backpack.

“How come you never told me this precious piece of information that came from Baekhyun himself. I’m so disappointed in you,” he remarks as you exit the cafe. You dare not look back.

You shrug, a small shiver running up your spine from the breeze. “It never came up.”

“Bullshit. This stuff is already supposed to be established in our,” he motions exasperatedly in the space between the two of you, “relationship.”

You snort. “I’m not dating you.”

“We’re best friends!”

“That we are,” you deadpan.

“Were you guys only classmates?” he inquires, shoving his hands in his pockets and blowing out a breath.

“If you’re asking if we dated, no. But we were friends, I guess.” 

An understatement but you don’t say.

Starting middle school in a whole new city was overwhelming to say the least. Having just moved to Seoul was already climbing in on itself over you. The whole car ride you refused to meet your parent’s eye on the trip to your new house. They pointed out famous landmarks and beautiful scenery of the ocean on the way, and yet, you refused, the stubborn 11-year old side of you coming out, as you blinked the tears away, never letting them fall.

And then came Baekhyun, a whirlwind of a boy, all smiling, eyes crescents, and hair a raven-colored ruffled. He flew into your life and you were grateful to him. He suddenly became a staple in your life but really you should’ve seen it coming sooner.

As fast as he entered, he left, and you didn’t like to think about whether it was your fault or his. One day, he stopped trying. Avoiding you, or maybe he just became too busy for you. He grew out of the pre-teen Baekhyun, a child in and of itself and became the popular teen Baekhyun who suddenly became the star of your junior high. You drifted apart, as Baekhyun entered the spotlight and you steered towards the sidelines, suddenly becoming a wallflower in Baekhyun’s life. And then you weren’t in it anymore. But you watched him grow up and everytime you passed him in the hallways in highschool and eventually college, a part of your heart clenched, happy that he was happy and sad because you couldn’t share that happiness with him.

Sehun saw the lingering glances, the almost spoken hello’s to the star player and deemed that you had a crush. He wasn’t wrong so you never corrected him.

“Earth to Y/N?” Sehun called, hand waving in front of your vision. You blinked, slowly turning over to him. “Blanked out there, for a little. You good?”

“Oh, um, yeah. Just thinking.”

“About a Byun Baekhyun?”

“Shut up,” you mumble and he snickers.

A few beats of silence pass as you walk side to side, shoulders brushing against each other.

“You’re not telling me something,” he says.

“No,” you respond.

“Yes,” he retorts.

“Whatever you say.”

“I’ll get it out of you, sometime. I already have a lead.”

“What? Are you Sherlock?” you tease, lips quirked.

He slides in front of you and you stop watching as he dumbly salutes, fingers all crooked. “Holmes, reporting for duty,” he announces.

You laugh and then he smiles. 

Most of the spots are filled when you enter the auditorium, a mess of hair, clothes and Y/N.

You spit out some of the hair caught in your mouth, which probably happened somewhere between where you left the pet store, your part-time job, in a hurry after seeing the time and from now, where you stood, just barely making it into class as the professor entered through the adjacent door . You got a little carried away with the new puppers that had just arrived and that was all your fault. Not that you regretted it, though.

The professor set up his laptop, plugging in wires and setting papers aside, that you really hoped weren’t of the test you took last week. You scrambled to your regular seat, right next to the TA, Kim Minseok’s desk, and next to Kim Jongdae. 

You dipped your head in greeting at Jongdae as you slipped past him to the seat and muttered your ‘hello’ to Minseok who waved you back.

“Please don’t tell me those are our tests from last week,” you say to absolutely no one. 

Jongdae, from beside you, hears this and turns to you. “Those are totally not our tests from last week.”

“Those are totally your tests from last week,” Minseok pipes from the other side of you. You swivel towards him, lips pursed, frown in place.

“Is it bad?” you ask, grimly.

“Can’t say,” he grins. 

“A hint?” you egg and Jongdae echoes your question.

Minseok shakes his head no and points towards the front just as the professor starts speaking. You melt into your seat, hoping that time would tick just the tiniest bit faster, if only to finish this hell you’re in.

45 minutes pass, not that you’re counting every second of it but you just happen to see after sneaking a glance at the clock hung on the opposite wall, when the professor finally announces the very dreadful thing that has you in a slump.

“And now for your tests!”

A series of groans echo your sentiments and you wait as he calls out the names of the other students, fists clenched, nails digging into the skin of your palm. He goes through a few people before stopping on the nervous human sitting right next to you.

“Kim Jongdae!” he calls and you give a pitiful look at Jongdae as he stands up to retrieve it. His face looks almost like a kicked puppy. The professor hands him the paper, says something, that you can’t hear (distance), or read (bad eyesight), but there’s a smile on his face. You sit at the edge of your seat waiting as Jongdae gets closer to you, his eyes lighting up as he reads the grade and when he comes to stand next to you, showing it to you, a cheshire-grin stretching across his lips.

Your jaw drops. “An A? That’s amazing!” He has his hand out towards yours and you high-five it, smiling for him. You sit back down waiting your turn, back straight, hairs raised.

“Y/N!” 

You get up, walking as fast as your legs could take you, grasping the paper with eager hands. The professor smiles and says that it was better than your last and then your walking back, not daring to peak at the letter.

“Did you see it?” Jongdae calls when you get back to your seat. 

You shake your head. “Can’t. You do it.”

You hand the paper to Jongdae and he chuckles leaning over. He faces the paper towards you, back slanting so he’s looking at it as well.

“A B!” you cry.

“An 89!” he exclaims.

“If you round up,” you start excitedly.

“An A!” he finishes.

“Yes!” you yell, fist pumping in the air and once again before exchanging another set of high-fives.

The two of you sit back at your seats ruffling through your tests exchanging answers for the questions you got wrong. The teacher rambles on about how well you all did this time, much better than the last. You paid it no attention, though, wincing as you saw another question you got wrong. You even remember studying about that one!

“Okay, students!” the teacher finally announces and you look up, setting the paper down on the table. “You’ll be doing a project—”

A series of groans cut him off.

“Now, now don’t be like that. It gets even better; you’ll be doing it in partners! The person next to you should do—oh! Would you look at the time? I better be off! Class dismissed!”

The screeching of chairs being pushed in, the mull of the chatter of students, and the scratching of pencils on paper fill the silence that the teacher brought and you stared at Jongdae, dumbfounded. And Jongdae stared at you.

“Is this real?” you breathed, voice ragged.

“I really hope not,” he answers back. “Maybe it's all just a dream.”

“More so a nightmare,” you remark.

Minseok snickers at the two of you. “Don’t be dramatic and get out of here, you two.”

You frown at Minseok as he shoots you out of the auditorium with the rest of the lingering students. You handle your bag, throwing it over your shoulder, carelessly, before turning to Jongdae who walked to your side with another classmate.

You wait for a gap in their conversation before pulling Jongdae away. “Do you have class right now?”

He shakes his head. “No, you?”

You mirror him, before cocking your thumb behind you, head tilted. “Library?”

“Better now than never,” he grins.

Jongdae steps off to the side when someone asks him something about plans on Friday night. You tell him you’ll save him a seat and wave before leaving, begrudgingly thinking about the fact that you wished to have plans on Friday night, ugh.

The library is vacant, spare the few students like you who thought to actually use it other than the librarian that no one ever sees. You tensely smile at a girl who you really can’t remember the name of but told her that one time in that one class after she made eye contact with you. A second later, though, no later, you looked away, wincing because if that wasn’t awkward. 

The tables in the library were settled in clusters if you make your way through the library, high shelves of the paperback on your left, and non-fiction on the right. It’s almost like a maze as you enter the space, and really it's no surprise, when you spot ten people. Max.

You take a seat at the nearest empty table, pulling out your textbook and your laptop. It only takes a minute for you to get sidetracked after you tap in your password the already open tab of Twitter pulling you in.

It wasn’t your fault really! The posts kept rolling in and sucking you deeper and when finally your throat felt parched and you took a sip of water, checking the time, still not seeing Jongdae, did you see half an hour had already passed.

“The fuck is the dude, doing?” you mutter under your breath, opening a seperate tab for your email. The chair across from you screeches and you think, finally, before your eyes land on the person currently sat across from you.

His hair was ruffled and the tip of his nose and cheeks were blushing red, as if he ran. And it wasn’t Jongdae.

“Oh,” he mumbles, more to himself. “Y/N.” A deep breath then, “hey.”

“Oh, um, Baekhyun. Hi,” you dumbly respond, stomach flipping at the sight of him. Your tongue had the sudden urge to fail you at the moment, barely making the cut.

“Sorry, to, um, bother your studying,” he starts, eyes flickering to your open screen which displayed the email log-in page. Thank god he did not see your Twitter account. Maybe you would have actually died. “But, uh, I’ll just sit here for a few minutes and then leave.”

The way he’s fidgeting in his seat makes it seem like he’s trying to avoid someone. “Oh, okay. That’s, um, fine?”

His eyes narrow at you as you purse your lips. Awkward. You are very awkward and you know that. You shuffle in your seat when he looks away and chuckles silently. “Thanks,” he says.

A few beats pass before you deem it awkward enough to drag your laptop closer to you, and look through the few emails that were unread in your inbox. Okay, lie. You weren’t actually reading. It was more so that your eyes skimmed over the same from email at fifteen times, your brain not registering the contact.

Baekhyun apparently decided to break the ice, starting with a deep breath. “So, what class are you working for?”

“Um, microbiology. I’ve got this partner essay and decided to get started on it,” you explain, biting your lip from a nervousness that you’re not sure the cause of.

“Partner?” he asks.

“Yeah... partner,” you repeat, thinking that he needed clarification.

“Oh, are you waiting for them?”

You nod. “He was literally right behind me too, jeez, what is he doing?” you ramble, picking up your phone and searching for Jongdae’s contacts.

Baekhyun doesn’t say anything else as you type a text to a certain essay partner.

jongdae!!!!

You set the phone back down on the table and sneak a peek at Baekhyun who looks, even at a first glance, stressed. Eye circles ring underneath his eyes, the hint of purple tinting his fair skin. His eyes look puffy, like he just took a nap, even though it's the middle of the day, and your heart clenches at the thought that he doesn’t get enough sleep. You notice the way his fingers drum silently along the table, his teeth worrying his chapped lips, like he’s always doing that. Maybe a habit...?

“Are you... okay?” The question comes tumbling out of your mouth in a hushed whisper, like some dirty secret that can’t be revealed. Your eyes rake over him with worry as he looks at you like a deer caught in the headlights.

He’s wary, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly as he forms an answer. “What do you mean?” he finally responds. Answering a question with a question. 

“You look tired,” you point, motioning to the undersides of his eyes. 

He winces, hands fisted as he rubs his eyes, laughing half-heartedly. “It’s nothing. Just got a big game to prep for—speaking of,” and then his eyes turn to you, determined, fiery, fist placed on the table and any sign of tiredness in his eyes vanished. “Are you going to come to the game?”

“Uh—”

“You’re going to the game?” 

Your head whips towards the side as Jongdae strolls in to the area, nonchalant. You take your pen and whip it at him with all the aim you could muster at such a short notice.

“I’m sorry!” he yells as he catches the pen and holds it to his heart before gently setting it down on the table a distance away from your hand.

“Thirty minutes,” you huff, as Jongdae takes a seat beside you. His attention turns toward Baekhyun who looks between the two of you. You can’t tell what the furrow of his brows or the scrunch of his nose conveys.

Jongdae ignores your complaint and addresses Baekhyun. You turn away pointedly, hands crossed over your chest, lip slightly jutted. 

“What are you doing in the library, Baekhyun?” Jongdae questions.

“Um, just, you know, talking to Y/N—”

“Is that Eunha?” Jongdae interjects, leaning over the table, jaw dropped.

“Who?” you ask, curious.

“Yeah, who?” Baekhyun repeats, feigning innocence. You see the way, he blinks at Jongdae owlishly, and his straight posture.

“Your ex-girlfriend, Eunha! Is that why—”

Baekhyun’s over at Jongdae’s side in an instant, hand clamping over the blabbermouth’s mouth, looking around the library maniacally to see if anyone overheard. You choke, not sure what to feel about the new information, but when she leaves out of view, you figure it's her since she is the only one there that wasn’t there a moment ago. You look towards the two idiots at your side.

And if that wasn’t any worse, Eunha suddenly reappeared again right in front of you three. And she looked Baekhyun up and down, and then it was Jongdae. And lastly you.

With her sleek black hair sectioned off into braids, her makeup flawless, and her clothes without a single crinkle in them, you envied her from head to toe.

“Baekhyun what are you doing? Really? Running away?” She gives Baekhyun an incredulous look as he retracts his hand from Jongdae’s mouth, sheepish look pasted on his face. 

“Um, actually—” he starts.

“Seriously, I just wanted to talk. I won’t bite,” she promises taking a step closer. You see Baekhyun’s eyes flit to anywhere but Eunha, and then you see him take a step closer to Jongdae, his hand suddenly coming down onto Jongdae’s shoulder. Hard.

“I’m dating Jongdae!” 

Eunha’s jaw drops open, you choke on air, Jongdae shrieks and falls out of his chair, and Baekhyun colors a scarlet in the next few moments as crickets chirp through the library.

“What?” Eunha breathes, looking as if she just got slapped in the face. And in this case, you felt that it would have been a better situation. “You’re dating—” she stopped mid-sentence, closing her eyes, straightening her back, and taking a long, deep breath. “Jongdae? Is he lying?”

You watch as Baekhyun pinches Jongdae’s back as he opens his mouth, and proceeds to say the words that you are just dying to hear with some popcorn in hand. “Uh... no.”

Eunha’s eyes are almost about to fall out her head as she looks between the two of them. Baekhyun laughs a small laugh, pressing his index finger to his lips, and shushing Eunha. She barks a laugh, hikes her bag up her shoulder, and stomps out of the clearing.

Jongdae’s chair is thrown to the side courtesy his legs as he stands, towering over Baekhyun. “What the fuck—” 

Baekhyun claps his hands together in front of his face, eyes clenched together. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise!” he squeaks.

“I should’ve just let you suffer—”

“—and I am so, so grateful you didn’t—”

“—in pain. Why the hell do I—”

“Coffee, for a month?” Baekhyun pleads.

Jongdae narrows his eyes at Baekhyun. “Two.”

“One and a half?”

“One and three weeks.”

“Okay, okay,” he surrenders, plopping into the chair next to you before turning to meet your eyes. “I am so dead.”

You smile. “I didn’t know you were gay.”

“Y/N!” he whines. “You know what? I am leaving, I have had way too much drama for today, and I feel my wrinkles popping out, god dammit.”

He walks away from the table as you erupt into snickers and Jongdae hollers an ‘8:45 AM sharp!’ after him.

“Don’t be late! I have class first thing and need my supply!”

Baekhyun doesn’t turn around, opting to flip off Jongdae, back still turned. Jongdae swears at him, and you laugh even harder.

What you don’t see is the small smile gracing Baekhyun’s lips as he exits the library doors, a little skip in his step.

Having to take an advanced sociology class for your major made absolutely no sense other than the fact that the people, whoever they were, that assigned the classes, were absolute idiots. You would know since you’re always surrounded by them.

The class ran for two terms but you only needed one, joining in at the beginning of the second this year. Everyone already had managed to find a place to sit, some people to work with, and a nice view of the screen in front of the room. You just wedged into some seats with some of the more friendlier looking girls and somehow managed to blend in to the wall, only needing a passing grade for this class.

You didn’t know many people in this class, but you at least recognized their faces. And that guy sitting at your desk with the suspicious looking hood was not one of them. You stood a few feet away from him, wondering if you should demand your seat back or just sit next to him. Or in front. 

But that’s your seat.

Well. Your inability to communicate with people caught up to you and you took a seat right next to him.

It wasn’t until the end of class that you figured out who he was. You could hear a faint purr from the hooded boy next to you, his pencil strewn next to his head that was lain on the table carelessly. A string of drool marked the paper and you chuckled. But you couldn’t judge. That would be you today if it weren’t for the fact he was giving apparently important information from the girl on your right.

You pondered on the thought if you should just leave him, but if class had finished while you were sleeping you would want someone to wake you up. What if he had a class after this?

You drew closer to him and tapped his shoulder. “Hey. Wake up. Class is over.”

The boy groaned, shifted in his seat the tiniest bit, and continued sleeping. You tapped him a bit harder this time. “Hey. Hey. Wake up.” 

You checked the time on your phone, before placing it back on the table. Taking your time, you placed your notebook back in your bag and zipped it up before tossing a look back to the boy. Still sleeping. The pencil and pen in your bag as well. Another look. Not even a little.

Boy, was this kid tired.

You tried again, and again, with even more force and smiled when the guy stirred, blinking his eyes, movements hazy. He smacked his lips a few times before finally moving his head up and locking eyes with you.

“Baekhyun?”

“Y/N?”

“You take this class?” you both said in unison.

A look passed between the two of you, as you blinked and he started giggling with you following shortly after.

“I take this class, but I’m pretty sure you don’t,” you finally say, smile placed on your lips.

“I owed my friend one and filled in for the day to take some notes.”

You snickered before motioning to the side of your face, your fingers ghosting your skin. “You have drool here.”

“What?” he squawks, hands wiping the opposite side of his face. 

You shake your head. “Other side.”

He pulls the sleeve of his hoodie up and finding the drool, quickly wiping it off before embarrassingly pulling his hoodie on his head tighter.

“What’s with the get up?” you question, as Baekhyun grabs his notebook and you grab your backpack, both walking towards the door. 

A group of students brush passed you and you notice how Baekhyun makes sure to duck his head down as he whispers to you. “You didn’t hear...?”

“Hear what? you whisper back.

He pouts at you and you shrug. “The rumors?” he tries again.

You filter through any gossip Sehun might’ve told you about in the past few days and come up blank. “Nothing,” you state.

He groans, hand coming up to slide down his face. “Come on, man. The rumors?” he harshly whispers, face turned towards you whilst walking, hands outstretched at his sides, and eyes blown out. 

You suck in a harsh breath as he comes closer to your face, and that weird feeling in your chest blooms again. Almost like an eruption of lava, but more lowkey. A good volcanic eruption.

“Me being gay?”

He pulls back when he sees your lips pursed, smile begging to be released. “Oh, from when—”

“Oh my god,” he groans, walking faster in front of you.

“Okay, okay, sorry, I won’t laugh!” you exclaim, speeding up your pace and walking next to him. He took a look at the twinkle in your eyes and the smile playing on your lips and huffs before looking away. Drama queen.

“Seriously!” you repeat again. “Okay, wait, wait, slow down a little.”

He begrudgingly complies, hands now folded over his chest as you swing your backpack to your front and bring out your notebook. You zip it up and he sneaks a glance before voicing his curiosity. “What’s that for?”

You shoot him a smile. “Your favor?”

His eyes widen. “Oh shit! I fell asleep!”

“That you did, but I take pity and give you this.”

You hand him the notebook and he takes it, hand almost brushing yours but you can’t tell from how fast its gone even though the aftermath leaves your heart beating a mile a minute. You don’t even notice.

“You are an angel,” he breathes and sends you the most breathtaking smile that you think he could ever send you.

“Your welcome,” you state, voice soft.

“Thank you,” he says back. 

You continue walking, where? You don’t know. But you move closer to him as he opens the notebook and you show him the pages that you wrote down today. You stop at a small bench on the side of the hallway where Baekhyun sets it down and takes pictures of the pages.

He slides his glasses up when they fall off his nose, before tapping the screen to make sure that its readable. You watch to the side as he ruffles through the pages make sure he got everything. His bangs falling over his eyes, and he shakes his head, the hair stubbornly staying put.

“Baekhyun!” someone calls from the side. You look over and recognize him to be from the baseball team. You forgot his name, though. Something starting with Jong but you weren’t sure. He jogs over to Baekhyun, talking about a late baseball practice and where the hell he’s been.

Baekhyun looked sheepish as Jong-something scolds him, calling him hyung and you can’t help but smile at the interaction. 

“Oh right, that reminds me!” Baekhyun turns towards you suddenly and you feel warm under his and Jong-something’s (Jongin? Is that his name?) gaze. “Are you still not sure about the game?”

You inhale, looking at the way, Baekhyun pulls out his lower lip just the slightest and how it looks adorable (you’re cringing on the inside at your thoughts) on him. “Uh... yeah. Still don’t know,” you mutter.

“Well,” Baekhyun says, looking straight at you and placing his hand on your shoulder, “I hope you come.” 

And then he sends you a smile and you feel your heart strings tugging at each other as he turns around, jogging to the rest of the team. Jongdae shoots you a small smile when he sees you and you wave back but then he’s gone.

It’s not until a good twenty minutes later do you remember that Baekhyun didn’t give you your notebook. You rushed back to the bench where you saw it last. It wasn’t there also.

Well, shit. You’re screwed for that test next week.

hey, this is Y/N. i don’t have your number so i’m texting you though sehun’s. 

You read over the text and groan. Why would he care if you have his number or not—of course you don’t. Delete.

uhhh, anyways, do you still have that notebook you took pictures of? I can't remember if I took it back or not haha

‘uhhh, anyways’ is too awkward, dammit. Delete that as well.

hey this is Y/N. do you still have my notebook you took pictures of? I can't remember if I took it back or not haha

Okay, okay. Not bad, straight to the point. A little laugh in the end to ease the awkwardness. Hit send, Y/N, before you freak out even more. You press the blue button and thrust the phone back into Sehun’s hand before diving into your pasta. Nothing like food to hit your biggest worries.

“You’re such a coward, worrying about texting him,” Sehun snarks, tapping on the screen.

You glare at him, mouth stuffed, and he glances a look at you, smirking at your appearance. “Ass,” you mutter.

“That’s me.” 

The door to the cafe jingles open and it's almost like a fairy tale when your eyes dart to the customer in the almost empty restaurant, with you sitting directly in sight of the door, and lock eyes with Baekhyun.

“Oh, Y/N! Sehun!” he exclaims, waving at the two of you with his signature smile, fingers straight as a stick, gaps wide between them in that weird way he waves at people (he still makes it cute).

You smile a small smile, and Sehun gives a weird ass cool nod that Baekhyun takes a greeting does a weird nod back. He pulls a chair from the empty table next to you, dropping the bag and sitting in the middle, your left, Sehun’s right. His side profile was astonishing.

You looked back to your food, taking another bite, as they engaged in baseball talk, wallowing about whether or not you should bring up the elephant in your room.

Thankfully, Baekhyun, ever the one with many gifts from God, looks towards you abruptly, slamming his hand on the table. You flinch, eyes startled to his, wide in shock, almost mirroring his.

He chuckles and you clamp your lips and relax your posture, eyes drifting away. Well, that’s embarrassing.

“Sorry,” he snickers. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“She’s a coward. She’s always scared,” Sehun interjects.

“No one asked you,” you retort, throwing the closest object to you (a napkin) hoping it would hit him straight in the eye (it didn’t; it floated to a stop in the middle of the table).

“Anyways, your notebook. It’s in my locker, I totally forgot to give it back, my bad.” His hand comes up to unconsciously rub at the back of his neck and you inwardly coo at the small pout on his—no! ”If you want, we can go now to the lockers since I have practice. Do you have a class?”

Your mind went blank for some strange reason and the only thing that came out was an “uh...”

Sehun, the sometimes-angel he is, saves you and you are so very grateful. “She doesn’t.”

Baekhyun looks between you and Sehun, an unrecognizable expression on his face, before his lips turn into a smile. “Great!”

He makes small talk while you finish your food, helping Sehun occasionally on the essay he was pumping out. He leaned over Sehun’s shoulder, his glasses slipping down his nose, and his eyebrows scrunched as they glazed over the screen. He’d gotten annoyed from his bangs that he clipped them up exposing his forehead, and—oh god, what is wrong with you.

“Okay!” you announce,  a little too high pitched and chair screeching back at a screech that resonated through the empty shop. You freeze, coughing awkwardly when Baekhyun looks up at you through his circle lenses and Sehun snickers in the back. You chuckle, smile tense, before grabbing your backpack in light speed, fixing your jacket.

You cock your finger back towards the door, and tilt your head. “Sehun are you coming? Let’s go.” Your heart pounds—probably because you made a fool of yourself. Sehun shrugs before packing his stuff, Baekhyun following.

Sehun and Baekhyun, with their longer legs and faster pace, strode in front of you on the too thin sidewalk. You lingered behind sometimes joining in on the conversation but you felt as if you’d interrupt them with all the sporty jock language they were using.

You just decided to stare at Baekhyun. And admire. And daydream about what it would be like to marry and have tiny babies together. But at the moment. Admire.

Even the back of his head was adorable, added to the fact he was wearing the team’s hat and hoodie combined. Really, whoever designed them was genius. Baekhyun looks absolutely swallowed, only the tips of his fingers peeking out from the sweater paws.

“Y/N? Earth to Y/N?” Sehun knocks on your head, and your eyes immediately snap towards his the moment Baekhyun’s eyes meet yours. “Is the back of his head that fascinating?”

“Wh-what? No, what the—” you end up smacking Sehun feeling the nape of your neck warming up and letting your hair curtain over your face on the side that Baekhyun faced towards you.

“Woah, there, no need to get violent, I was just joking,” he intonates the last word, a smirk voiced and you glare up at him hoping your message traveled light years fast. You take back what you said about him being a sometimes-angel. He’s the devil reincarnate.

Baekhyun laughed his small cute laugh like ’hahaha’ and said something about zoning out. You nodded dumbly and continued to trail along with him.

“As I was saying...” Sehun says, hand waving in the air nonchalantly, “Y/N’s just using me as an excuse for leaving her at the game because she’s probably just embarrassed that she doesn’t want to miss the new episode of Extraordinary You—ow! What was that for?”

You smile up at him, lips pursed, words venomous, “what?”

He looks away, pouting muttering how you’re a big fat meanie. Baby.

“Oh Extraordinary You is so good. Are you caught up with all the episodes? I haven’t had time to watch the last two,” Baekhyun comments and your neck snaps as you look up at him.

“Oh, uh...” with the thought that he didn’t find it embarrassing that you spend your free time watching romantic dramas that could never actually happen in real life, you spoke up. “I’m caught up.” You still mentally threw Sehun into the pits of hell where he belonged.

Sehun snorts as Baekhyun hums.

A curious smile peaks over the edges of Baekhyun’s lips as he looks at Sehun. “Why... is it weird or something?”

“No, just, she thinks that she’s uncool to watch dramas twenty-four seven—mmmph—what are you—!”

Your hand stays at Sehun’s side as you smile at Baekhyun. “Just ignore him. He spouts bullshit twenty-four seven,” you give a pointed look towards Sehun at the end. 

Baekhyun laughs. “Okay, then.” 

“He spouts bullshit twenty-four seven,” Sehun imitates, voice pitches higher.

“I don’t talk like that!”

The walk to the locker rooms aren’t too far, just outside the school campus. It’s only a 10-minute walk from the food court area and you’re there in no time. 

Luhan from the baseball team, which you know of from how much he frequents your apartment to hang out with Sehun, stole the younger boy, stating that they’d be back in a minute after stepping out of the locker rooms. You sat on the bench in the middle of the locker rooms while Baekhyun shuffled through his lockers that was packed to the brim.

“I’m not usually this messy,” Baekhyun mumbles as he takes out another bundle of what looks like an old sport jacket. “I’ve just been really busy these days,” he adds.

“It’s fine, take your time,” you commented, twiddling your fingers.

A few boys stepped in to the locker room, and you looked up briefly recognizing their faces but not their names. 

“Oh, Baekhyun?” one of them called. “You brought a girl into the locker rooms? You never did that with anyone, even Eunha.” The two at his sides snickered and you watched as Baekhyun’s ears turned red at the implications.

“It’s not like that,” Baekhyun barked as he continued ruffling through his lockers. “They’re idiots, don’t listen to them.”

You chuckle softly. “Okay.”

“Found it!” he grins, spinning it around and holding it out towards you.

“Oh, cool, thanks,” you state, taking the book from him.

“Yeah, but I should be telling you that,” he chuckles. “Why do you use a notebook anyway? Laptops are a thing, you know?”

“Yeah, but I like writing the stuff. It helps me remember everything,” you say, stuffing the notebook into your bag.

Baekhyun hums. “Good point, but the hand cramps are so not worth it.”

You shrug it off. “Whatever, Byun.”

“Hey, Baekhyun! Practice is starting. Your girlfriend can stay if she wants, I already asked coach,” one of the boys called.

Your face warms up at the title, and you’re meek ‘I’m not his girlfriend’ is muted by the raucous of the other boys coming in. Baekhyun sends you a shy smile and shakes his head. “Again, idiots, but you can stay if you want.”

“No, it’s alright,” you breathe, “I have class anyways, so it’s time I go. Can you remind Sehun to buy dinner, and say no chicken, please?”

“Yeah, sure. Isn’t his phone broken or something like that?”

“He’s an idiot also.”

“Looks like everyone on this team is an idiot.”

You hum, thinking over the words, one thought shining brightly in the midst of all the others.

The next thing you say is totally uncalled for and if you were in a less delirious state and not around Byun Baekhyun, it would’ve never escaped your mouth. “You’re not, though. That’s why I l love—”

Baekhyun suddenly frowns and your heart drops. You idiot! Why would you say something like that? What if he—shit. You totally messed up. The whole getting to know him, shit, shit, shit. You totally messed up. He doesn’t have time to respond as one of the boys steals him, shoveling him out of the room, throwing you a beaming smile in compensation. You can’t seem to reciprocate.

The locker room is awfully quiet, now.

It has been exactly one day since you spilled your mouth in front of Baekhyun and it has been exactly one day since you have regretted saying that. You saw him this morning, at the coffee shop down the street. He was just minding his own business, looking through his phone while taking a few sips of his drink here and there when you accidentally bumped into him. Nothing precarious happened, like you fell into his arms or his coffee spilled all over your shirt and he let you wear his spare.

No. You blushed as red as a tomato and stuttered a sorry, before scurrying off like a mouse at the stony gaze pointed directly at you.

Why did you even open your mouth and say something stupid like that? You weren’t an idiot. You knew what was implied with those words, and yet you had to go and say it. You probably ruined the friendship you had slowly progressed with Baekhyun, too. What a stupid person you are.

You walked in to the microbiology class with a huff, no regular coffee in hand as you were far too flummoxed after the run-in with Baekhyun to go back into the cafe. Jongdae had noticed something was off and shared a look with Minseok. The TA shrugged. 

You made a small burrow surrounding yourself with first, your books, second, your water bottle, and third, your bag, making a small barrier that you wished would shield you from all the remorse you felt upon yourself. Once the professor had walked in and started the presentation, you pride yourself from behind the wall. 

Your motions were robotic as you copied important things from the presentation, highlighted key concepts in your textbook, and answered questions prompted by the professor. But it was as if your mind and body were separate and your soul was nowhere to be found.

At the end of class, the professor had called you and Jongdae up, mentioning something about the project. 

You forlornly walked up beside Jongdae, the scuffling of your feet earning another worried stare from the boy.

“Y/N, Jongdae, I just wanted to note that since there’s a new student in the class, and an odd number of people, I would like for him to work with you,” the professor explains.

You nod numbly. Jongdae questions as to who. 

“Oh, he actually attend today’s class, I told him to meet me as well… oh, there he is!”

You felt someone sidle next to you and Jongdae shifted to look towards him. “Oh, Baekhyun!”

Your head snapped towards the side, and true to his words, Baekhyun stood to your side, not bothering you a glance. He smiled at Jongdae then at the professor, thanking him.

Jongdae glanced to you, your mouth agape. “Y/N, do you want to come with us?”

“H-huh?” you stutter as you look towards Jongdae. “Sorry, zoned out.”

“Yeah… uh, do you want to come with us for lunch? We’re having pizza,” Jongdae reiterates.

Your eyes flicker towards Baekhyun and sure enough, the cold stare from this morning and the last time you saw him were still there. 

“No, I’m fine. Thank you, though,” you say, lips pulled in a tight smile. 

“Oh, okay, then. See ya!” Jongdae grins, before turning towards Baekhyun who still stared at you. He nudged Baekhyun’s side. “Let’s go, then.”

His eyes are clouded as he looks at you. You can’t tell what he’s thinking and it makes your skin tingle from all the attention. He finally pulls them away from you and you let out the breath you were unknowingly holding. “Yeah, let’s go.”

What an idiot you are.

The smell of meat filled the room packed to the brim with college students. Baekhyun sat stuck in the middle of Chanyeol and Jongdae and was somehow appointed to the meat as he got the lowest runs during practice. The room was far too hot, even for Baekhyun and he grabbed the air conditioner remote, setting it at the coolest. The boys burst into raucous laughter at a story that Junmyeon was recalling but Baekhyun couldn’t find it in himself to laugh. He merely blinked as he flipped another piece of samgyeopsal.

His thoughts were running all over the place, like a hurricane. But it was all trained on you. 

Like that one time when he’d been coming from his class, he’d somehow spotted you in the midst of the crowd. You yawned, pulling down the hood covering your face and he had to hold back a snort at the way your flyaways stuck up filled with static energy. He started walking towards you, wanting to pet down the hairs but he stopped midway. Why would he want to do that? And he stood there like a fool, in the middle of the courtyard staring as you walked away from him.

He’d seen you so many other times and each time you drew him in to you and he didn’t know what was happening. Why his heart sped up at the sight of you so much, as if it were about to burst out of his chest. Why he had the urge to hug the living daylights out of you at the sight of you, as if you were his lover and he was yours. Why he blushed whenever you complimented him like a lovesick teenage boy. 

The not an idiot thing was the last straw. And what followed scared him to the deepest parts of his soul. You couldn’t just go around telling people those kinds of things with that much sincerity and stupid sparkle like you held the sun, stars, and meteorites in your eyes. It made him realize something. This whatever he felt, was different. 

It felt like how he used to feel back when he would consider you his best friend in the skip of a beat if anyone asked. It felt like that, but even more. And it scared him.

It was different from anything he felt when he was with any one of his past girlfriends. It was similar but far too different to even be compared. It was much more than that.

Was it friendship? Was it attraction? Could it maybe be… love?

Chanyeol knocked his elbow into Baekhyun’s ribs, lightly. “Baek, the meat’s burning.”

“Shit,” Baekhyun muttered to himself, still in a daze. This could be called love, couldn’t it? He always went on and on about how, all the girls he’s dated, he’s never loved. His heart was never full enough whenever he was around them to even be considered love. But around you—

“Baek,” Chanyeol called more loudly, this time jolting Baekhyun.

Baekhyun snapped his head towards Chanyeol, voice clearer. “Shit.”

“Yes, shit, the meat is burning,” Chanyeol pointed out and it finally registered in Baekhyun’s mind as to where he was. 

Baekhyun scrambled to save the meat, hurriedly flipping them, and blowing out a sigh as they were still edible.

“What’s wrong?” Chanyeol breathed, mouth full with meat. He placed a piece in a perilla leaf, adding a tiny dollop of ssamjang and placing it in Baekhyun’s hand.

Baekhyun takes it, mulling over the question. “I don’t know.” He put the wrap in his mouth, slowly chewing. “You know Y/N, right?”

Chanyeol nods, sipping his water and swallowing. 

“What do you think about her?”

Chanyeol hums. “She’s nice. Why? Do you like her?”

Baekhyun chokes on the water he’s drinking. “What? Me? Like her?”

Chanyeol shrugs. “You asked me what I thought.”

“But I don’t like her,” he wrongfully states. The way those words fall out of his lips, every word placed in it, feels wrong.

“Didn’t she used to be your friend or something like that?” Chanyeol reasons, eyebrows furrowing.

“Well, yeah, but—”

“Okay, Baekhyun,” Chanyeol interjects, seeing the inner conflict and what exactly Baekhyun was trying to get at here. “I’m going to ask you three questions.”

Baekhyun stares at him, confused. “About what?”

“One.” Chanyeol holds up his index finger, ignoring his question. “Do you like spending time with Y/N?”

Baekhyun blinks but slowly nods. Over the past few weeks where your interactions with him have slowly raised, he realized that whatever time spent with you, whether it was just a few moments, or hours on end, he never despised it. He even sometimes looked forward to it. No matter how cold he acted towards you. 

“Two.” Chanyeol pops another finger up. “Do you think she’s pretty?”

“W-what? How is that even… relevant—?”

“Answer the question, Byun.”

Baekhyun bites his lip. “Okay, yeah, she’s pretty, I guess.” This question doesn’t take long for him to answer. When you were little, Baekhyun always figured you were pretty with your blinding smile and sparkly eyes, and as you grow up, your features maturing and becoming more distinct, he’d say you’d become beautiful. In his eyes at least.

Chanyeol claps his hand, a smile spilling over his features. “Close your eyes for a minute.”

Baekhyun complies, albeit hesitantly, just in case this was just some prank and Chanyeol is just sneaking some raw garlic in his wrap. But Chanyeol’s words pull him in.

“You’re standing there, okay?”

Baekhyun imagines this well enough. He stood in the middle of a road that he’s never seen before, alone. He doesn’t know what Chanyeol’s point is but he doesn’t open his eyes just yet, intrigued as to what comes next.

“Y/N is there next to you,” his deep voice continues.

Baekhyun places you right in front of him. You’re standing there how he saw you the last time you crossed paths. Bundled up in an oversized hoodie, and jeans, your go to outfit everytime he sees you. Hair pulled into a low ponytail because as you said, it’s annoying when its down, and it hurts when it’s too high up. And only a touch of lip balm because makeup takes too much time and according to you, doesn’t fit you. He thinks you’d look pretty in anything—wait, no! This is exactly what he’s not supposed to be thinking. However, the butterflies in his stomach start to stir.

“And then she’s leaning closer  and closer…” Chanyeol hums again. 

The you behind his eyes, mirrors the actions and he watches, wide eyed as you’re almost nose to nose with him. Your breath fans over his cheeks and you flutter your eyes shut, standing there, waiting. He knows what comes next and his heart aches, his skin tingles, waiting for him to continue. He can’t even pinpoint whatever he’s feeling. He needs to repress it, he knows that he should or else it will just end up absolutely horrible. Baekhyun can’t seem to make a decision. His lips press into a thin line before his body is moving before he can react.

And he’s kissing you.

Baekhyun’s eyes fly open. He’s met with Chanyeol’s trademark grin set in place and a slight rise to his eyebrows. “So? What did you see?”

“We…” Baekhyun voice was barely above a whisper and he felt his skin tingle. That was it wasn’t it? “We kissed.” The butterflies raged and he let them.

Jongdae knows the tension between you and Baekhyun. He can quite literally feel it when he’s in close proximity between the two of you. It’s so thick it suffocates him. But he knows he can fix it. He’s good friends with the both of you and he knows where the two of you went wrong. Baekhyun is scared and running away from his feelings and you are beating yourself over having feelings for him. It’s a never ending cycle and Jongdae just wants it to stop. Which is why he’s strategically planned this last work study to the tiniest detail naming it: Let’s Get Them Together Because Everyone is Fucking Sick of it. The name needs work but the sentiment is still there.

The warmth of the cafe drafts over him as he opens the door, with you following closely behind him. He meets Baekhyun’s eyes for a split second before they immediately go towards you as you hide behind Jongdae like he’s some barrier. He doesn’t appreciate this and would prefer more eye contact between the two of you as to initiate something, so he moves away. 

Jongdae reaches the table and hovers, as you take a seat on the edge seeing that Baekhyun took the other. You face each other, but don’t dare to look at one another. The both of you were thoughtful enough to leave a seat for him straight in the middle, so there was that at least.

Operation Let’s Get Them Together because Everyone is Fucking Sick of it is now a go.

“Y/N! Why don’t you show Baekhyun that thing you showed me last night?” Jongdae chimes, smiling. Baekhyun looks questionably between the two of you before focusing his attention on you where you pulled out your laptop and materials. “Would the two of you like anything to drink?” He further questions, inwardly patting himself on the back when the two of you scoot closer together to ‘see’ your screen.

“I’m fine,” you chimed, voice soft. “Thank you.”

“Baekhyun?” Jongdae questions before looking at the cup Baekhyun taps at.

“I’m good too.” 

“Alrighty, then!” Jongdae exclaims, clapping his hands together, before narrowing his eyes at you. “Make sure you tell Byunnie here, everything alright? And in detail too!” 

Jongdae proceeds to skip off, laughing heartily at the weird stares you probably shared behind his back. Jongdae wasn’t planning on doing anything. Just fueling the spark that already came between the two of you.

Baekhyun’s eyes have opened into a new dimension and he knows about what’s driving him to act like this towards you. Well of course, he knows, he’s always known but always chose to ignore it. But now, he wants to change. He wants to change but now, he doesn’t know how. 

It’s been one week since his talk with Chanyeol and the three of you had met up almost everyday, seeing as you didn’t have much time to cram it all into the last day. He felt his walls breaking around you. A small smile whenever you scrunched your nose at a term you didn’t understand, turning to Jongdae all confused with some tech problem only to find out that it was something stupid—you would turn in to a blushing mess after. Whenever he met eyes with you, you would immediately look away and it made his heart clench. 

Sometimes you made yourself so small, he forgot you were even there, letting his walls break down thinking he was only in front of Jongdae. He would then remember that you were present, making eye contact and he would then see the pretty blush you would sport. He’d shut up straight away.

Jongdae had planned to meet at a cafe this time, going out for ice cream later in celebration for finishing. Baekhyun had come far too early, going straight after his last class just in case he came too late—a bad habit of his. And once the two of you arrived together, he’d straightened, ready to get this done and over with. He still didn’t know what was going to happen with the two of you, but has accepted that whatever would happen, would happen. But after that weird encounter with Jongdae, he felt like something was up.

“That was… weird right?” Baekhyun spoke, looking at you.

“Yeah,” you breathed, “totally weird.” You didn’t look him in the eyes as you said this.

There were a few moments of silence that drifted between the two of you, the ambiance of the cafe seeming to make up for the lack of conversation, before you spoke up.

“Did you manage to find the stuff about the stool analysis? That’s what Jongdae was talking about earlier, I guess. He told me about it and I found some stuff just in case you didn’t,” you started shifting your computer towards him.

He leaned over, hoping with the depths of his soul that you couldn’t hear how loud his heart was beating in front of you. You pointed out the parts that you found interesting and the differences between the analysis you’d come up with the days before. Baekhyun hummed, nodding along to everything you were saying, before one point caught his eye. He pointed this out. “This one seems nice to use.”

You grinned, before flipping open your notebook. “Right? I thought so too. I found some additional information about that specimen and compiled them so we could add it to our presentation.” You slid the notebook over to Baekhyun as well, and he had to scoot his chair closer to see. 

“If we use this in our presentation...” he started, lifting his head up and locking eyes with yours. His voice faltered. 

You were a breath away from him, nose almost brushing into his. He stayed there, frozen, wondering as to what to do in this situation, mind running a mile a minute and yet doing nothing at all. You were the first to move, coughing haphazardly, and leaning away from him, before pulling open a few more tabs saved on your bookmarks.

It would be okay, right? It was just you that his heart was beating for. Baekhyun was just a little too late in realizing that.

Jongdae entered at just the right time and Baekhyun spent the rest of the time, avoiding your eye now and trying his very best to control the beating of his heart.

Night had fallen as they exited out of the cafe. Baekhyun and you both carried a drink, yours being hot chocolate and Baekhyun’s another coffee to keep him awake for the rest of the night. With increased practice for baseball came less time for him to focus on his studies. And he really needed that stable GPA.

“Well, I go this way,” Jongdae states, cocking his thumb to the right. You and Baekhyun turn to look at him, confusedly.

“Isn’t your apartment like right next to mine, though?” you ask, confusedly.

“Well, yes, but I promised to meet someone earlier. Sorry I can’t walk you home, Y/N, and no ice cream,” he apologizes before his eyes brighten up again. “Oh, Baekhyun! Can’t you just walk her home? You’re headed in somewhat the same direction, right?”

Baekhyun scratches the back of his head. “I guess?”

“Great!” Jongdae exclaims before skipping off once again.

“Jongdae is acting really weird today…” you comment and Baekhyun can’t help but nod his head in agreement.

It’s a twenty minute walk from where you are now to your apartment building. Half of the time is spent silent with Baekhyun. 

Until you meet Sehun at the crosswalk.

“Oh, Y/N-noona, Baekhyun-hyung!” Sehun calls, and you wave at the familiar face, Baekhyun nodding in greeting. “Didn’t know you were such a gentleman, hyung,” Sehun teases, poking at Baekhyun’s sides. The older man swats at his arm in retaliation sticking his tongue out at the former. You laugh to the side at the two children it feels like you’re walking home.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket, and you pull it out, eyes lighting up at the name.

“Who is it?” Sehun asks, as he slides next to you.

“My mom,” you reply.

The words are falling out of Baekhyun’s lips before he could stop them. “Tell her I said hi.”

You smile. “Okay.”

You pick up the phone, voice soft as you slowly walk in front of the two boys. “Hi, Mom.”

“Yes, yes, I’m good. Oh, by the way, Baekhyun says hello. Yes, the one from next door.”

You look back at Baekhyun. “My mom says hello back and that you should come over some time,” you state. “You don’t have to if you want to, though,” you add as an afterthought.

“I’ll come over if I have some time later,” he tries.

“Sure,” you answer, relaying his words to your mom. Baekhyun can’t help but look endearingly at you from the back.

Sehun brings Baekhyun’s attention on to him, then. “Hyung.”

He looks over, eyes blinking, as he places his hands in his pockets, craving the warmth as a particularly fierce wind drafts through. “What’s up?”

“You like her, don’t you?”

Baekhyun blushes at the sudden confrontation. He thinks about it for a second before replying, not once thinking that it not be true. “Yeah, I do. Why do you ask?”

“She… talked to me earlier about you. Like a few days ago,” Sehun started, voice lowering. The three of you passed the crosswalk and continued on the side of the road. Sehun and Baekhyun lagged the tiniest bit as you walked along unaware of the conversation being shared between the two boys.

“Yeah?”

“She said she said something to you and you just turned cold and it was all her fault. I didn’t push her, but I asked her why she didn’t just play it off and say that she didn’t mean it,” Sehun started, getting straight to the point. Baekhyun waited on the balls of his heels for the answer. “You know what she said?”

Baekhyun shook his head.

“It’s better this way. What if I grow too attached and he just leaves again. I don’t think I can do that.” Sehun looked at Baekhyun gauging him for an answer.

So... that’s how she felt?

Baekhyun didn’t like to think about the period when you stopped being friends. He thought it would be better for you, to stay away from his crowd. You would always used to point to them, saying that you didn’t like them because of how snotty there were. And when Baekhyun joined the baseball team, with those same people, he thought you would hate him for that or at least grow to hate him so he just... distanced himself before he could get hurt. Because he was childish. And immature. He didn’t account to how you would feel, thinking that you would get over it. Maybe Baekhyun was as much a stable in your life as you were in his.

“I’m telling you this, because I know you’re a good person and I really don’t want you to hurt her again. When you left her before, I think it affected her more than she lets on. She doesn’t show it much, but I think that’s why she’s so wary with people in general. I really don’t want to see her like that, ever. So please—”

“It’s okay, Sehunnie,” Baekhyun interjects. “I know. I’m planning on making things right between us and I don’t plan on letting her go.”

“Are you sure?” Sehun asks warily.

Baekhyun nodded in confirmation as you finally turn back, hanging up on your phone call and noticing the distance between you and the two of you boys.

You laugh. “You guys are so slow!”

Yes, Baekhyun is sure. He knows what he wants to do. What he needs to do.

You shivered under the touch of the cool autumn sky, the breeze ruffling up your hair. As an attempt to block yourself from the harsh winds, you pulled up your hoodie, the fabric covering your ears giving you just the warmth you crave. 

A familiar mud green slide that twirled around like a pretzel came into view as you turned the corner. Your heart felt full at the images of sunny days and fall evenings spent in the very same space years ago, with a certain child.

It was surreal when you turned towards the swings and saw the same kid that you remember from your childhood. Tousled mop hair that went past the eyebrows, button nose, rosy cheeks, and the poutiest of pouts adorned his lips as he glared at the rock a few meters away. His jean clad legs, swung back and forth and the momentum carried him down then up then down and up again, a repeating cycle. As a child, you could never stand the swings for long—they made you get butterflies in your stomach, and not the good kind.

He spotted you, eyes widening and legs skidding across the wood chips to halt his flight, before you could even wonder whether you wanted to be there or not. It looked as if you’d intruded on a rather private moment. “Y/N? What are you doing here?”

You stepped out of the shadows, clammy hands gripping the strap of your bag. “I’d ask the same to you.”

The swing only slightly rocked back and forth now and you walked up to him, taking the adjacent seat. You didn’t look at him, absentmindedly kicking your legs back and forth but then decided against it when a wave of nausea passed over you. Some things never change. 

Baekhyun exhaled a heavy breath that somehow had layers to it. The creaking of the metal joints, rusted over years of children taking turns and calling dibs, showing, as he rocked back and forth. “You remember this place?”

You look towards the side, his voice drawing your attention. Clear, resolute, brights, but at this moment it sounded much different than the Baekhyun you remember. His head was tilted back, eyes closed and face relaxed, serene, and you couldn’t help but feel that way too. This place did something like that to you. All the jitters, and nervous butterflies were drowned out by the aura of this place, and it made you feel calm, comfortable. Home. “Of course I do,” you whispered. You were afraid that if you spoke too loud, something would break, and this, whatever this was would go with it. Your voice merely echoed through the space between the two of you, the buzz of cicadas quickly rebutting it.

“I come here sometimes,” he looks towards you as he says this, and you hold his eyes. Your eyes wander across his face. He looks so tired. “To think.”

You smile a small smile. “Funny.” He cocks an eyebrow at your comment. You shake your head at his pointed look. “I came here just to do that.”

“Do you come here often?” 

Your breath comes out in visible puffs in front of you. “No.” Another, but larger. “Yes.” 

He chuckles, his signature laugh making your smile grow even bigger. “And we’ve never seen each other before today? Crazy.”

“Yeah,” you grin. “Crazy.”

Your eyes bore into him, as Baekhyun, and as you see the way his shoulders hunch back, the furrow of his eyebrows, how his skin almost sags, the shadows bringing out the darkness under his eyes. You can’t help but ask, again. “Are you okay?”

His head tilts to your side and he opens one of his eyes, peering at you almost upside down, sideways. “Of course I am,” he chirps, “just a little tired ‘s all.”

“Then why don’t you go sleep?” 

He tilts his head back up, eyes closing. “Can’t.” Silence looms over the two of you, but he breaks it, once again. “I actually need to apologize to you.”

You turn towards him, confusion etched over your face. “Apologize?”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “I’m really sorry for being super... distant to you these past weeks. I don’t really know what got over me.”

“No, no, I mean,” you stutter, grasping his words and reason for an apology. “I should be apologizing. I guess, I stepped over a line, and your reaction was normal for what I did—”

“For what you did?” he interjects, puzzled. “I don’t get it, are we even talking about the same thing?”

“The locker rooms?” you try, wincing at the harsh memory and its outcome.

“Yeah… but you didn’t say anything like that—”

“Yes, but I said something that were implied in my words and—”

“Okay,” he grins and you warily meet his eyes. “How about we just forget that ever happened and start over again?” He cocks his head cutely and you inwardly coo, being reminded of the child you once knew (and now know again).

“Okay,” you agree, smiling.

The small smile he sported suddenly turned larger and much more wary. A mischievous grin pulled at the corner of his lips as he stood up to his full height, the swing twirling erratically at the loss of his weight. “I have an idea.” He bends down to pick up the backpack perched on the corner pole of frame when he looks at you, almost shy, and you were transported once again to the time when you were just a child and didn’t know anything better in the world. “You don’t need to be anywhere soon, do you?”

You shake your head no as you mirror him, dusting off your behind for remaining dirt, and straightening out your jacket.

“Great,” he beamed. “Let’s go!”

The arcade was still the same as you remember it. When you came to, wondering where in the hell Byun Baekhyun was taking you and whether you should’ve followed or him or just ditched to a sauna for the rest of the night was swiped clear out of your memory when you arrived at the front. A few of the letters balanced on a hilt of the building, were fused out, the A, C, and E, black in the darkness of the night. The sign now spelled, ‘RAD’ but you remembered the time when all of the letters dazzled bright colors all on their own.

Baekhyun shot you one of his award winning smiles when you looked at him, incredulously, mouth agape. “This was still here?” you marveled, breathlessly. 

He nodded, excitingly. “It hasn’t changed one bit.”

And he wasn’t wrong. 

The entrance was dimly lit, only one person over the counter and the teenage boy looked eerily dead, the light above him flickering on and off. When the bell chimed as you entered, he jolted, eyes glazing over the two of you.

“For two?” He queried, monotonously.

“Yes, please,” Baekhyun replied, bouncing on the tips of his toes.

The boy registered and handed you the tickets as you and Baekhyun paid for your own. Baekhyun tried paying for you saying that he dragged you into it, but you stared him down, and he eventually caved. Why would he even pay for you? It’s not like the two of you were on a—no! Y/N, don’t go there! Bad territory to be roaming around especially this close to a guy in a seemingly empty space. You shake your head free of thoughts as you focused back on the game at hand.

Baekhyun had got the lead when you glanced at his screen, but you quickly overpassed him, a trick from so long ago, now muscle memory, taking over you.

He groaned and you cheered as the tickets from under piled out and a crown displayed on your screen and a frowny face on his. You had an urge to soothe the scrunch between his brows when you saw him gloating off the number of tickets you accumulated over the time you’d been here. 

As you headed to the counter filled with different toys and stuffed animals, the clock behind it showed that it was almost 10. You’d been here for two hours? It barely felt like 1.

Baekhyun’s eyes were trained on a pikachu plushie to the corner. He didn’t have enough tickets to buy them.

“I’ll get the Pikachu, over there,” you pointed, and couldn’t help but coo at the small almost inaudible whine that blew past Baekhyun’s lips. “Are you going to get anything?”

His eyes flitted between the number of tickets displayed on the machine and back to the wall of toys. 

“How about that tiger over there? It kinda looks like you,” you nudged, smiling, when his eyes brightened up again at the sight. 

“Okay,” he states. “I’ll take that one.”

The walk back was heavy, silent. The impending doom and the utter discomfort at not having a bed for the night loomed over you and you cursed yourself for ever giving in to your roommate's enticing offers. Dammit, you and your weak heart.

Baekhyun took a deep breath as the ticking of the crosswalk, halted you from the street. “I go this way.”

He points towards his left and you know your apartment is in the opposite direction but you can’t help but want to lie and walk with him just a little bit more. Everything about today had just been so... nice. There was no other way to describe. It made your cheeks blush red, your breath unsteady, your legs stagger and you heart beat so hard you felt as if it would burst out of your chest.

The words were falling past your lips and you wished to take them back as soon as they escaped when you saw the worry fall onto his face. “I was just gonna crash at a cafe for the night.”

“Too much homework?” he questioned.

“Well, yes, and I’ve been kicked out of my room for the night,” you laughed the last part off, hoping that it didn’t sound as bad as it really should. And then you realized that it did sound as bad as it did and you were quick to rebuke just in case a tiny part of Baekhyun worried for you. “I mean! It’s not a big deal or anything, just I owe Sehun a big favor and apparently his plus one’s house is under plumbing or something and I do have that essay do the day after, and I guess, it just all works out...?”

“You don’t have anywhere else?”

You nervously chuckled. “I already tried...? And it’s fine. Not the first time—”

“You can stay with me,” Baekhyun interjected. You coughed a sudden cough. “If you want to, I mean.”

“Uhhhh, well—”

“You’ll have to owe me a favor, of course, it’s not every day I let someone borrow the mattress under my bed, but it’s fine if its you, as long as it is a big favor.”

You stood speechless for the minutest of moments. “I—is that okay?”

“Yeah, it's cool. A big favor, though, okay,” he pointed. 

You held your hands up in surrender. “A big favor,” you repeated. 

He dropped his finger and a lazy smile that brightened up his face all the more, washed over him. “Let’s go then, I’m bunked.”

You startled awake, eyes shooting open. Darkness meets you and it takes a few moments to register the room you’re in with the only light source being from the tiny gap in the curtain. Curtains. Blue curtains. You don’t have blue curtains. 

You’re currently on the floor. Laying on a mattress. There are two bunk beds on either side of you. One of them occupied with Byun Baekhyun who is currently dangling from the bed and drooling. Your brain finally registers awake and reruns everything that happened the night before, starting from your unexpected meeting all the way to Baekhyun’s gracious offer. Considering where you are now, last night wasn’t a dream.

You throw off the covers, suddenly feeling hot. Did he always sleep with no air conditioner? You wondered whether or not you should stay until he woke up, or if you’d be overstaying your welcome. Padding around for your phone, it was half past nine. You didn’t have any classes until the afternoon. You decided to kill time going through your social media, having nothing else to do. But your eyes soon got bored and trailed towards Baekhyun’s almost right above you.

You could make out his distinct features in the dim lights, the ones you are used to and everyone saw, but there was something so peaceful with the way his eyelashes laid against his cheeks and his lips and cheeks a rosy pink. And the drool. You stifled a laugh when the drool started to roll down his chin, threatening to drop off.

It wasn’t long for your heart to start pounding in your eardrums at the serenity of this environment and how quiet everything is. It starts getting louder, almost deafening until you peel your eyes away from Baekhyun.

You suddenly make eye contact with Chanyeol, who gazes at you blankly, face held in his palm.

You intake a sharp breath at the confrontation as he narrows his eyes at you. “Did Baekhyun bring you here?” he whispers.

You nod slowly before realizing the implication of the statement. “Wait, no! Not like that,” your harsh whisper makes Baekhyun stir and your wide-eyed as Chanyeol hold his finger to his lips. Like a deer caught in headlights you slowly nod in understanding. “I just didn’t have a place to stay, and Baekhyun offered. That’s all.”

Chanyeol’s eyes are clouded. You can’t tell what he’s thinking. For such an expressive person that everyone claims him to be he seems far too intimidating in front of you right now. “Do you like him?”

“What? No! Of course not.” you refute harshly. Chanyeol’s eyes narrow down at you. You wither under his gaze. “Okay, maybe a little. But don’t tell him, alright?”

“And why is that?” he presses.

“Just, please, I—” 

I’m scared. You choke back the words.

“I don’t want to lose him as a friend.”

Chanyeol nods. “Okay. Just be careful with him, okay? Some people use him because he’s Byun Baekhyun and he just lets it happen because he’s too nice and won’t say anything, so just when you’re with him, take care of him alright?”

You look at him questionably. “Why are you telling me this?”

He laughs, waving the question off. “It’s nothing.”

“Huh... you’re awake?” Baekhyun slurs from above you.

“Oh, Baekhyun!” Chanyeol grins. “I was just about to make breakfast, Y/N, will you join me?” A flip had switched in Chanyeol’s demeanor and your eyes don’t leave his, even as he shuffles out of his bed, his earlier words bouncing off the walls in your head. 

Baekhyun groans and flips his covers on top of his head, muffling a five minutes. Chanyeol cocked his towards you. “Coming?”

“Yeah,” you mumbled, trailing behind Chanyeol.

xxx - xxx - xxxx [6:15 PM]: hey, Y/N! this is baekhyun! I got ur number from sehunnie if ur wondering 

xxx - xxx - xxxx [6:15 PM]: i gave sehun a lil something for you :) make sure you wear it to the game tomorrow!

xxx - xxx - xxxx [6:15 PM]: also u forgot your pikachu at mine

‘xxx - xxx - xxxx has been added as a new contact: baekhyun’

y/n [6:16 PM]: ...should i be worried?

y/n [6:16 PM]: and you can keep it. u probably wanted it more than me. think of it as... payment? for letting me stay the night

baekhyun [6:17 PM]: it’ll look cute on u i swear!!! just please :,( for me??

baekhyun [6:17 PM]: also the pikachu will do

y/n [6:18 PM]: i hope ur not lying 

baekhyun [6:18 PM]: i'm not!!!

y/n [6:19 PM]: sehun just came so i hope u stick to ur word

baekhyun [6:19 PM]: you’ll love it, trust me ;)

baekhyun [6:19 PM]: oh, i’ve gotta go now, duty calls

y/n [6:19 PM]: oh okay

y/n [6:20 PM]: get lots of rest and gl for tomorrow!!!

baekhyun [6:21 PM]: dw ill win it :)

baekhyun [6:21 PM]: just for you 

‘message failed to send. try again?’

Baekhyun gave you one of his old jerseys, and a yellow t-shirt. You got the reference, his favorite color being yellow, and ‘byun’ printed on the back of the jersey.

“All the Baekhyun fans have one of these, but hyung said this one was special since he got it personally for you or some bullshit.” You didn’t care much for Sehun’s snarkiness, taking the clothing with gentle hands and scurrying off into your bedroom to squeal because Baekhyun got this just for you!!!

You’d tucked it into a pair of loose-fitted jeans the afternoon after, spending hours doing your hair and makeup before topping it off with a team hat. You’d gone for a minimalistic look, trying too much to make sure it didn’t look like you actually spent hours on it. Not that you were dressing up for a certain someone—who are you kidding, you are totally dressing to impress. Sehun took one look at you and snorted. You swatted his arm ignoring the look he gave you. “I haven’t seen this much effort since prom in senior year.”

You huffed a whatever, stalking out of your apartment and placing yourself in the backseat of his car, as you went to pick up Mina. Apparently the two of them were together again. You figured you knew when that happened.

When you get to the field, Sehun announced that he’s hungry and went off to the hot dog stand. You and Mina, meanwhile, climb up to your seats taking in the view. The bleachers are filled to the brim with people from your school and also people from not. You underestimated the sheer popularity of the baseball team in your state.

And you also noticed many other girls dressed up similarly to you. 

“So there’s something between you and Baekhyun?” Mina spoke up, from beside you.

Your head whipped towards her and your mouth opened and closed like a fish, unable to make a response. 

She glanced towards your shirt and then to the fine print of ‘byun’ across your back and raised an eyebrow at your lack of an answer.

“W-were just friends,” you finally stuttered out.

Mina’s eyebrows raise up another level. “Sure…” she says, sounding totally not convinced. “Because friends blush at the mention of another friend’s name.”

Your hands fly to your cheeks patting them down. “I’m not blushing,” you frown.

She laughs. “Whatever you say, but I personally think you’d be good together.”

You look at her, curiously, egging her to go on.

“I mean, Baekhyun doesn’t really date that often. Eunha—was a stupid decision on his part, I don’t know what got into him. But he’s a good guy and I think he really likes you, Y/N.”

“He likes h-h-uh?” you bumble, head spinning.

Mina snickers. “Yeah, I think he does. And I’m the best when figuring out these types of things,” she grins, adding a cheeky wink towards you. 

Your left to mull about her words, as Sehun enters, handing you your hot dog and soda.

“Oh, it’s starting!” Sehun comments and the pitcher throws the first ball. The crowd goes wild.

The game ends with your team winning 6-4 and you find yourself cheering for them along with the others in the crowd.

Sehun drags you towards the locker rooms, telling you that it’ll be fine, and Baekhyun will totally not be weirded out by you visiting him after the game and telling him a good job. 

“Sehun!” One of the team called out as you entered the locker room. A horde of sweaty boys swatted at your friend and took the compliments he threw out. You craned your neck searching to find a familiar pink-haired boy before someone called your name from behind.

You turned to find Baekhyun, with a towel slung over his neck, bangs sticking to his forehead, and cheeks flushed. Not to mention the smile that spread over his face like he just saw an angel. He looked effortlessly hot. So unfair.

He jogged towards you and before you could even say a hello, he threw his arms around your waist, burying his face in the crook of your neck. You froze for a split second before wrapping your arms around his shoulders, a small smile playing on your lips. You forgot that he was really touchy realizing he must’ve never outgrown the habit, not that it was a particularily bad one. His drooling was far worse. With how tight he was hugging you, you figured it must’ve been out of relief. You knew it. He really was worried for the game.

“You did really well,” you breathed, lips hovering over his ear. He smelled like sweat, undoubtedly and you were sure the warmth would stick to your skin soon enough, but didn’t dare shy away from his hold. He would always hold you like this back then as well and you felt comfort from that fact. Some things really do never change. 

He groaned, voice muffled by your skin. His lips moving against your neck sent shivers through your skin so even if you did hear it, your mind was on another level. Finally he pulled his head back, still crouched so he looked up at you, a smirk sporting his lips. 

“You wore it.”

You rolled your eyes, and pulled your hands away from him, as he stood to his full height. “You’re the one who begged me to, Byun,” you huffed.

“No, I didn’t!” he exclaimed, sounding aghast at your presumption.

“Oh, really?” you egged, eyes sparkling. “Please? Just for me? Ring any bell?”

“Okay, okay, whatever, you say,” he grinned, hand coming up to ruffle your hair.

You frowned playfully before continuing. “But you did a really good job! You worried over nothing.”

“Who said I worried?” he pouted.

You laughed before motioning to his eye bags. He swatted at your hands, before the two of you burst into giggles. 

And then suddenly he’s grabbing your free hand, his encasing yours in warmth and raising it up into the air before shouting a loud ‘let’s go!’ to the rest of the people in the room.

The team chorused shouts in answer before Baekhyun tugged at your arm, eyes smiling like they held the galaxy and stars back at you before pulling you with the crowd that filed out of the cramped room. 

You lost Baekhyun to the crowd once you got to the party. Migrating towards the kitchen, you grabbed a soda from the fridge, deciding to pass on the drinks tonight, no matter how enticing they were. Sehun found you brooding in the corner not two minutes later, and true to his word, didn’t leave your side. You, Sehun, and Mina, played in a beer pong game with some guys you vaguely recognize from your sociology class, but can’t put a name on. You played rock, paper, scissors, every time to see who’d drink and it was as if Sehun got on the wrong side of Dionysus tonight. You quickly got bored, however, gravitating away from the crowd when Sehun and Mina headed out on to the dance floor. It couldn’t really be called that when really it was just the living room with some strobe lights and stereos that blasted half-assed music.

You took a seat on the empty two seater, sipping on your soda, and looking up when Jongdae came down to sit next to you.

“Having fun?” he asked, voice almost muffled by the music even though he was practically screaming.

“I think I’ve had enough for the night,” you laughed. “I’ll just find Baekhyun and Sehun and tell them I’m leaving before I go,” you say before getting up.

“Oh, I think I saw Baekhyun before, I’ll take you to him,” he commented, before leading the way.

It isn’t hard to find Baekhyun, what with his eccentric hair color and white outfit. However, Jongdae suddenly stops in front of you, making you bump into him. 

His mouth opened to say something and you peeked over his shoulder, thinking that there was something there that you just had to see. “What is it—”

Your voice falters and then you lock eyes with Byun Baekhyun. And he’s kissing someone. He’s kissing Eunha.

Baekhyun regrets it the moment it happened. His eyes fly open, when her mouth comes into contact with his and he sees your eyes undoubtedly meet his across the crowds of people hovering over the shoulder of Kim Jongdae. You stare into his eyes and before he can even pull away or shout your name, your gone, surrounding yourself in the shadows with Jongdae running behind you. He snaps his head back, glaring at Eunha.

He doesn’t bother to speak a word to her, opting to run after the way you came from. Shit, shit, shit, this probably would not end well. No, no, no need for negative thoughts, he will make it end well.

He doesn’t find you in the kitchen which was the way you were headed but he found Sehun and pounced on his immediately.

“Did you see, Y/N?”

“Huh, no, why?” Sehun asked, eyebrows furrowed. The smile was wiped off his face and in place a frown. “Hyung…”

“Just, see if she texted you maybe?” Baekhyun pleads, voice growing louder at the upturn of music. Sehun cocks his head but does as he said, eyes widening before showing him the text.

y/n: sorry sehunnie, didn’t feel too well. went back home if you need me ^^

Baekhyun’s heart runs into overdrive, and he’s out of the door a split second after. His feet are carrying him as fast as possible and when he’s finally on the elevator going up to your floor, eyes blown out and breath ragged from running, he takes a moment to conserve himself. It was a mistake. And you have to understand that. Because what Baekhyun realized as he was egging the taxi driver to go faster across the city, was that he wanted you there with him. He wanted to kiss you. Not Eunha. Not anyone else. And he wanted to kiss you really fucking bad. 

The door dings open and he sees the color of your jacket as you shuffle through your bag, presumably looking for your keys.

He’s by your side in a second and you turn and look around to see what's all the raucous. You visibly stiffen. Your face is streaked with tears, eyes puffy, cheeks blotchy, and lips a dark rouge as if you’ve been biting them for hours. 

“Y/N…” Baekhyun starts hand reaching for your wrist unconsciously. You shift away from this and Baekhyun notices that deflating.

“What are you doing here?” you question, voice wobbling, as if you were about to start crying any second now. And from the way it looked, it seemed to be true.

“That kiss—” he starts, and Baekhyun realizes his voice is far too loud for the quiet of the empty hallway and as you flinch, he takes a sharp breath. “That kiss meant nothing. Eunha doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. She’s just an ex, and I guess she thought since I was being nice to her that meant that we could be together again, and really it isn’t anything like that because I don’t like her anymore.”

You blink owlishly at him, looking as if you aren't digesting what he was saying, which made Baekhyun halt. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Be-because, you saw! You saw me kissing Eunha, and I obviously had to explain it or else there would be too many misconceptions—”

“You don’t have to tell me that. It’s not like I’m your girlfriend or anything.” You laugh heartlessly and sniffle. “I’m just some delusional girl who thinks that just because she used to be your friend ages ago, she would somehow have even a sliver of a chance that you would like her, but again that’s delusional! Because it somehow managed to slip my mind that you’re Byun Baekhyun of the baseball team. Handsome, smart, athletic, kind, caring, loving and not the Byun Baekhyun who’d tripped over his own feet and have dirt and drool over his face all the time—”

Your crying as Baekhyun kisses you.

His weight leans into you and you take small steps back as your back hits the wall behind you. He adds more pressure, tilting his head, hand gripping your hand more just in case you felt as if this wasn’t real, which he believed what would be running through your mind now. 

He feels like absolute putty when you soften at his touch and splay a delicate hand over his chest, and when he bites down on your lip you make a noncommittal noise from the back of your throat that has him falling. 

You squeak when Baekhyun’s hands, one placed on your hip and the other on your neck and in your hair and everywhere, tilt your head higher, bringing him deeper into the kiss. It isn’t until you gently push him back, breathless, and eyes hooded that he takes a moment to consider the predicament he stood in. 

“I’m not dreaming, am I?” you breathe, wiping the stray tears away from your face.

Baekhyun chuckles softly, patting down your hair. “I thought you would say that.”

The clicking of a lock from the other side of the hall, snaps both your attention towards it. Baekhyun is amused as you look at him wide-eyed as the clicks continue. You pick up the key that somehow dropped to the floor in the midst of everything and are quick to open your door pulling Baekhyun in. 

When the door shuts behind Baekhyun, with you leaning against his chest, breathing deep, and Baekhyun leaning against the door, he can’t help but feel like the luckiest man in the world.

His hands snake their way into your hair, one of them tilting your chin up. “Round two?” he smiles, cheekily.

You blush a pretty red before nodding and meeting him in the middle for a kiss.

[reactingwithexo]

Bonnie & Clyde (8) - Baekhyun

Part 1/ 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

Summary: “Bonnie & Clyde. One night”

genre: mafia/gang au!, angst, fluff sometimes, smut

warnings: filthy smut(again), +18 , handcuffs, sligjt exhibitionism, orgasm denial i guess, a little bit of dominance, dirty talk, curses,etc.

word-count: 2.8K

A/N: Guys it is backkk, I swear next part will have more plot and won’t be another full smut but yeah... it’s not like you guys don’t like it anyways. Thank you so much for everyone who has shown support for this fic since the last part was posted, i’m truly grateful.

The rest of the trip went by very smoothly, you’d stop somewhere to sleep and grab food, then drive right when the sun was up the next night.

The mood was oddly good for two people who were running away from criminals and the police at the same time.

You still didn’t know exactly where you two were heading but the feeling that it was a trap was out of your chest by now, “why so quiet?” he asked you.

“I hm” you paused and decided to take the chance “don’t you think it’s time you tell me where exactly we are going? as in actually tell me”

“Okay...” he bit his lips to think how he would choose his next words “I guess it’s safer now that we’re close to the destination, don’t freak out ok?”

“I won’t freak out if there’s no reason t-”

“My grandma’s” he blurted out midway.

You frowned, you didn’t even know he had family “your grandma? b-but why?”

“I need to get something there” he turned to you and smiled “also i miss her, she’s a great cook”

You laughed at his remark “does she know about your....hm job?”

“Not really...but she’s really smart so I don’t doubt that she has found out someway”

“Aren’t you scared of that?”

He shook his head “She wouldn’t do anything to harm me, even if she found out I killed someone, she has always protected me for as long as she could”

“Hmm, I see you’re very affectionate of her” you examined his face as he concentrated “and not just for the food” you added.

“Yea” he smiled “I admire her a lot, she’s really taken care of me” he nodded his head.

Noticing a hint of sadness in him you combed his hair with your fingers “everything alright?”

“I just miss her that’s all, don’t worry” he took the hand you had on his hair and kissed it gently. You jokingly took his hand too and kissed it multiple times until it tickled.

“Ah ah, I’m driving you lunatic” he exclaimed while he laughed “let’s not cause an accident”

“What can I do?” you shifted closer to him “I can’t resist you” you whispered while bitting his earlobe jokingly. His hand went immediately to the place you had touched “ah seriously y/n..we won’t get there as quickly if you keep doing these things”

“Awww is someone sensitive?” you pouted at him as you saw his frustration build up “Can’t THE Byun Baekhyun take a little bit of teasing?”

He shook his head “y/n...stop”

“You’re not getting mad are you baek?” you asked with a cuter voice just to annoy him further on. You saw him grip the steering wheel tighter “I’m fine”

“Are you really?” you caressed his arm while asking to check how he’d react.

“Don’t test me baby” he mumbled but made sure you listened to it. “You don’t want me to take you here in this car again do you? There aren’t many empty streets around here, someone would see us, you don’t want that do you?”

“What if I do?”

He smirked at your answer and you could have sworn he slowed down the car for a little bit. “Don’t lie baby, you’re a good one, you wouldn’t”

“You’d be surprised” you furthered him on so he wouldn’t have the last word.

“Well in that case” he stopped the car in the next avaiable spot he found and turned to you. “Show me what you wanna do”

“What?” you looked at him in shock, the place you two were parked was full of people passing near you and you could see a gas station not that far. “Are you crazy? No way” 

He smirked at you “Where’s that confidence from moments ago?”

His expression only made you wanna punch his face and you rolled your eyes “seriously? how childish are you? just start the car again”

“Have I told you-” he gets closer to you “how cute you look when you’re angry?”

“Thanks, now let’s go, we have a schedule right? your grandma and all”

“You’re right let’s go” he started the car again “but I think we’re gonna have to make one more stop”

“Ah what is it now?” you asked still annoyed

“I need to take that pout out of your pretty face” he answered with his eyes focused on the road.

“Wh-what?” you weren’t able to hide the effect his words had on you, but you were still mad, how could he be so annoying but still so sexy to you? honestly you blamed your crazy hormones and his looks.

He asked to take your hand and kissed it gently as he has done earlier only this time he guided your hand to his crotch “Don’t think everything you say doesn’t have a consequence y/n”

You let out a tiny gasp and you swear to god you considered going down on him that exact second.“You’re so sensitive though” you tried to show you weren’t caring as much as you did. 

“It’s you” he mumbled and you two looked at each other for a second, you saw the glint of desire in his eyes and wanted him to just get to where he wanted to take you already so you could focus on him fully

He released your hand and you brought your fingers to your mouth so you could tease him further, needless to say it worked and he watched with a very pleased expression as you sucked two fingers while your eyes fixated on his.

Thankfully he didn’t get too caught up to forget he was driving and let out a laugh after smiling “you want to kill us both in all ways possible”

You let out a giggle as he turned to check you two somewhere you could stay the night or somewhere with a bed anyways. Apparently the destination really was pushed one more day ahead.

Can’t say you’re feeling too guilty, it was so nice and easy to be with him like this, without all this heavy background surrounding his history or your brother or the way you two met and crimes and running away from the police. It was just you and him, feeling crazy about one another in the midst of lust and giggles.

And that was an accurate description of how you two looked like right now stumbling upon the room, someone could say you were a drunk couple but truth was the only thing you two were getting drunk of were each other kisses and caresses.

“Now you” he kissed you with his hands holding your face and his body guiding you closer to the bed in every word he spoke “need to learn a lesson”

You both fell onto the bed and Baekhyun broke the kiss, he shushed you with his finger before you whined and said “I wanna try something, you tell me if you don’t like it ok princess?” you nodded in agreement and melted over his touch.

He detached his body from yours and reached for the bag he had been carrying the past few days since your “getaway”

You could tell he wanted to laugh but tried to keep the atmosphere also to check your reaction, he slowly took out a pair of handcuffs from the bag and played with it with his fingers before turning to you. “So what do you think?”

“Hmmm my instincts should say no but suprisingly all I am feeling is a big yes”

He smiled at your answer “glad to hear that, but not so fast, you can’t get what you want that easily just because now you’ve decided to be the good girl you are, what kind of lesson would that be? Afterall we have all night now that you’ve made me delay our first stop right?”

You pouted “you don’t have to be cruel though baek, I was just trying to distract you”

“That’s all you do, distract me” he got closer to you, handcuffs placed on the bedside table for now.

“With your perfect skin” he kissed all over your collarbones and unbuttoned your shirt “delicious smell” he inhaled near your neck as your shirt was gone and he moved his touches to your pants “soft lips” he pecked your lips and procceded to take off your pants, now leaving you a breathless mess in just your underwear.

You whined “not fair, you’re still all dressed”

“Go ahead and take my shirt off for me” he said and you eagerly went for it “that will be the last thing you’ll be able to touch for a while” 

He kissed your eagerly after you’ve taken his shirt off and it seemed like you two were trying to get as physically close to the other as possible. You enlaced fingers and he laid you down again, the nature of the gesture opposing his previous behavior.

Reaching for the handcuffs, he looked at you once again to make sure you were comfortable with the whole thing, when he got your reasurement, he rushed to cuff your wrists to the bed, making you on full display for him. 

Seeing him this excited about it made you even more turned on and you couldn’t stop thinking about all the things he’d do to you like this.

He stopped to admire you “fuck y/n, you look just beyond perfect right now”, he took off his pants and you saw how turned on he seemed through his underwear.

Noticing you were eyeing his hard on, he opted not to take off his shorts and instead he touched his dick above the fabric, releasing a moan and throwing his head back.

Your first reaction was to let out a little whine as your hips moved on their own in baekhyun’s direction. 

He seemed to enjoy your reaction even more than the pleasure he was giving himself “I might get addicted to your whines if you keep doing that princess”

“Please touch me” you pleaded and he smirked, he then didn’t seem to take much as well and took off his underwear, now touching himself directly, the moans only got louder and your mouth salivated, your eyes no knowing which part of the scene in front of you to focus on, your breaths only got heavier along with his, specially when you heard him mumble your name from time to time.

“I could keep coming all night like this while you watched, do you want that baby?”

You shook your head and whined a no “i want you inside me”

He ceased his hand movements and climbed back to you, his hands focused on undoing your bra at first, and his mouth attacking your nipples while his fingers caressed your breasts. That was already enough for you to release pleasured moans and you felt yourself ready for him. “Baek, please touch me more” you managed to get it out with the little breath you had.

Not figthing you this time, he cupped your pussy with hiis right hand and delighted himself in your reaction, with your legs opening more and your hips thrusting the air, he then placed his thumb on your clit and strarted making circle movements with it.

That was more than enough to make you even wetter and you were just dying to feel something inside you. Almost as if he sensed you’d request for that, he said “be patient baby, you’re doing so well, don’t want to spoil it by being to greedy hm?”

You nodded in distress and saw his little smirk as he got rid of your panties and slid one finger from your clit to your entrance, “you’re so wet fuck, makes me wanna skip to just feeling you around me”

“Yes please” you moaned eagerly at his idea but he just shook his head “nah ah, there we go again with this rush”, he entered his finger in you and didn’t take long to enter a second one “you’re so slippery, think you can take a third one?” he asked before entering a third finger and by this time your moans were almost turning into screams of pleasure.

He alternated between slowing down and then getting really fast with his movements, which made you incredibly frustrated, he was making sure you wouldn’t come right now regardless of how much you wanted it to.

“Don’t come yet” he warned before he took out his fingers, licked each of them clean and went straight to envelop you with his mouth, he held your hips down slightly so you wouldn’t thrust on his mouth as much and so you would have less chance of coming. “You taste so good, I could spend all day doing this”

You felt yourself shaking as much as you tried to held your orgasm, you could feel it approaching with all this stimulation.

Noticing that, Baekhyung distanced his mouth from you and stared at your fucked out state, this time you got to check his dick again and it seemed as if he was as desperate as you were “what should I do with you now?” he mumbled and took his dick on his hand again “ah you just don’t learn, instead of paying attention to the lesson I am trying to teach, you’re just lusting over dick”

“That’s because I really really really want it” you made sure to answer, thrusting your hips in the air in every ‘really’ you said.

“Ok” he nodded and continued “I’ll fuck you if you tell me what you’ve learned babygirl” he was eye to eye to you “hmm i shouldn’t distract you so much?”

“Yes good, what else?”

“I shouln’t doubt you..”

“And... what got us here?”

You thought hard until you remembered what exactly got you two there.

“I shouldn’t promise things I can’t keep?”

“Really good, seems you payed attention to some things at least, things will be way easier to you if you just don’t insist on challenging me baby”

You wanted to get that stupid smirk out of his face so bad but you were so turned on your brain was clouded with other thoughts, he then whispered in your ear “now I’m gonna fuck that little pussy, is that what you wanted?” he teased with his dick on your entrance “fuck yes”, you almost screamed back at him from so much built up frustration.

You saw him discretly put on a condom and proceeding to tease you again.

It seemed as if you were both almost there when he entered you fully, you felt youself involuntarily clenching around his dick and he released grunts from trying to fight the sensation and move.

Eventually he did start moving faster and you felt your bodies hit the bed harder as he increased his pace inside you. 

From both your moans the only thing that was heard were a mixture of incomprehensive words, each other’s names and curses.

As you were both getting closer to your highs, he managed to uncuff your wrists just so he could enlace your fingers with his as he did earlier, you were in the verge of coming when he urged you on by giving deep kisses to your neck, the last thing you heard before coming was him saying “look at me when you come”.

And you did. Seeing his lustful gaze so close and intense to you was what missed to make you come undone with his name on your lips.

Feeling you so tight around him and watching you come so beautifully to him was what he need to reach his high with grunts mixed with the sound of your name.

He laid next to you as you two breathed heavily, he turned to your side and asked “ is everytime we have sex gonna be like this?”

You frowned and asked him “like what? like you really do love me?” you mentioned as previous words he has said to you

“Not just that” he smiled “but like the best sex of my life”

“Well, it better be” you answered confidently which only made him laugh and suddenly attack you with sweet kisses everywhere he could reach “you’re such a brat” he mumbled while he held you closer.

You giggled at his affection and a feeling of happiness filled your chest, you never thought living a bonnie & clydish life, running away from both the police and the criminals could feel so peaceful and loveable.

A/N: Hope this is good enough for your expectations! Any feedback is welcome and I’m sorry it’s not really revised but it’s almost 2AM so bare with me.

[your-rose-highness]

Tell Me What is Love (ch-9)

Pairing-Baekhyun x OC

genre- Fluff, angst.

Chapter 9

Baekhyun woke up to find Sarang's bed empty the next morning. Last night’s events came crashing onto him and he closed his eyes in despair. Walking to the kitchen, he found sarang with her nanny, a 15 year old, who seemed to have a crush on baekhyun.

“Hello, mr byun.”, she chirped on seeing him walk down the stairs in the simplest beige pajamas.

Baekhyun responded with a meek smile, ruffling her hair and proceeding to kiss sarang.

Though the young girl spoke to him with gusto, baekhyun had only one thing in his mind, he needed to speak to the members about this. They had already seen troubled days but he had been grateful when they supported him with love and care.

Driving to the dorm, he was half afraid of how they would respond. With them by his side, he could live through the worst apocalypse. He found Jongin asleep on the couch as he walked in, who briefly opened his eyes to see who it was. Surprised to hear someone come in at this hour, jongdae peeped from the kitchen, a spatula in hand.

“Oh baekhyun! What are you doing here so early?”, jongdae asked, surprised.

“Just wanted to talk to you guys; is everyone in?”

“Yeah. i think suho hyung is in the gym.”

“Why is jongin on the couch?”

“I don't know either. I woke up and found him there. Making pancakes, want some?”, jongdae asked, stirring the batter a little too hard.

“Yeah sure. I’ve missed them.” baekhyun smiled at his friend.

“Oh yeah, why are you here? Something wrong?”

“Jongdae, I'm afraid Tae and I might file for divorce soon”, Baekhyun let out in a rush.

Jongdae set his bowl aside in shock. His expression was vocal enough for baekhyun to know what he was thinking. Jongdae knew everything about the distance between baekhyun and taeyeon. Jongdae and chanyeol would always be his first picks to talk about things that ate his heart out.

“Are you sure?”

“Taeyeon and i talked about it last night.”, he mumbled.

Jongdae didn't know what he was supposed to say to his friend at this moment. He gently placed his hand on baekhyun’s shoulder, trying to digest it all.

“Junmyeon hyung is going to be mad.”, baekhyun shuddered to think.

Jongdae shook his head in disbelief. “Please tell me you’re kidding. Is that what you’re thinking about? Divorce is a huge deal.”

“I've given up, jongdae. I’m tired of this. I just want to breathe easy when i wake up in the morning.”, baekhyun hissed at him.

Junmyeon had anticipated something bad when he saw Baekhyun at the dorm so early. He had prepared himself to find solutions instead of just being displeased. The boys were his family and as much as he didn't want to, he was someone they always looked to for answers. Being sandwiched between his member’s expectations and the company’s responsibilities, he seldom found himself in immense stress. 

Baekhyun explained everything to the boys post breakfast, taking his time through details that he had skipped the first time. His eyes filled with tears thinking about the trouble he was putting his members through. As he struggled to find words, jongin sat by him, often rubbing his back to give him courage.

“I'm sorry to you all.”

“It's not the time to be sorry baekhyun. Till when are you going to be this irresponsible? You really need to contemplate your decisions.”, suho uttered. “We’re brothers and we understand that you're going through something very difficult but this affects us all alike.”

“Don't worry! It's one for the team again. What are friends for, after all?”, chirped chanyeol.

One for the team. The boys had once again shown what family meant to them. Baekhyun glanced at each of them, taking in their smiling faces, brave, ready and armed to help him. It is so amazing that just last night, baekhyun felt himself shredded to pieces, finding it hard to breathe. Now, these people with whom he had spent most of his adult life, were always around the corner. He only needs to extend his hand for help. Help before he drowned himself within the deepest pits. He bursted into tears once again, this time, without anything to hold him back. Not Sarang, not Taeyeon, not even Hye hee. He felt free, his shackles disappeared, he let out his deepest sorrow without being afraid of what anyone would think. The boys, worried, rushed to their friend, but no amount of consoling would have stopped him that day. Suho lightly touched chanyeol’s arm signaling him to let baekhyun cry it out. He soon fell asleep on the couch after which the boys threaded lightly around him, jongdae covered him with a blanket and joined the rest of them in Suho's room.

“...he was seen. It’s not something to be ignored. I heard manager hyung said someone attacked a friend of hers.”, Suho said agitated.

“Maybe he needs to stay low for a bit?”, suggested Chanyeol.

“Do we have to protect hye hee?”, Jongin asked.

“Something needs to be done, but we will need to keep it from baekhyun. We can't have him act instinctively again.”

“Lee Sooman sir will NOT be happy about this.” jongdae added.

“Don't worry, he’ll just need a bit of time to come around this. Taeyeon is involved too, so he won't be too harsh.”, chanyeol whispered, peeping to check on the sleeping baekhyun.

The boys just chatted after that, each giving ideas how they should protect baekhyun from the wrath he’d receive from the public. Every word would be held against them. Baekhyun woke up after a couple of hours and the boys did everything they could to take his mind off the huge wave that would be hurled at him in the future.

Hye hee had received an interview via Jaebeom within a week. She prepared to give her best while also setting up a good resume that would hopefully impress them. Though Jaebeom was confident she would get through, hye hee had always been the kind to obsess over details. The day came and she picked herself up to put her best foot forward. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. The scriptwriter loved her work and the blog she ran on the side seemed to be an added cherry on top. She was finally going to work decent hours and receive a pay that would make it easier to pay her student debt. Maybe the days will be brighter now. Jane was feeling better than before too and claimed to have seen her life flash before her eyes and now wanted to study further into journalism. She decided to apply in colleges and jaebeom was more than supportive.

She was moving on. Yes, that's what was supposed to be done. Besides, Baekhyun hadn't called her after that whole confession incident that took place last week. Jane was right. He came in when he needed help. And she would be his best friend, who would support him. Nothing more, nothing less. 

'What of the tension that you felt pass between you two?',her brain reasoned.

What of it? There was nothing. Old graves are best left undisturbed. A new leaf needs to be turned over and a fresh chapter needs to be etched. 

Jane got very busy with university and it left Hye hee and Jaebeom seeing each other both because of work and out of boredom. He had never turned down an offer of post work drinks and turned out to be excellent company, especially after he had a bit too many beers. His usual composed self would go for the toss, something that left even the director surprised. Being the responsible person he was, he restrained himself from drinking on days he knew he would eventually drive Hye hee back home.

The project that they had been working on was almost ending and that meant long nights editing. Many times they'd find themselves alone at the office finishing up sections that needed to be done by next morning. 

It was one of those days when the two decided to take a break and go to the nearest convenience store to grab a little something to eat. His frequent glances caught her attention as she peeled her chocolate ice cream.

"What? Just spit it out. You didn't like the dialogue didn't you? It's not cheesy, this is what people talk like when they're emotional… I'm sorry to break it ….", She blurted out of the blue, making jaebeom laugh.

"That's new, Hye hee! The work pressure finally getting to you? It's been, what, like four months?", He cheekily replied.

"Then what is it? Tell me already!"

A small smile continued to play on his lips, as he hesitated. Turning towards her, he drew a little closer to her before whispering, "I like you, Hye hee." Looking at hye hee's surprised Pikachu face, the slight crooked smile never left his lips. He seemed to be having fun.

"Was it that shocking? I thought I was being pretty evident that I liked you. Or are you dense?"

"But...why?... What?" Hye hee's brain malfunctioned.

"I think you and I are similar in ways. I find you charming. Of course, you're exceptionally pretty, but that goes without saying. You're kind and as much as it's such an overused word, I really think people don't really understand kindness…" he confessed confidently, while Hye hee nibbled on her ice-cream, her cheeks growing hot.

"I don't know what to say…"

"Please know that I'm not trying to put you on a spot here. I'm aware that you're not the kind to jump into a relationship with someone instantly without pondering over it. And I respect that.

"I'll be in Japan for the next three days for work and I'd like it if you'd give me an answer then. I'll wait patiently, till then."

Hye hee spent the rest of the night only looking at him as he continued to work. With his back turned to her, she was free to ogle as much as she'd like. She forced her heart to stop bouncing off the walls and get to work. It's not like she hadn't had men confess to her. But before Jaebeom only Minseok was someone who sincerely put their heart out for her. When she turned him down, he handled it gracefully and never made her feel uncomfortable. That alone told her that he was an amazing human being and when the right girl came along, he'd be the best other half.

Then why was she on the fence about Jaebeom? She did like him… but romantically? In times like these her first call would go to Jane… but he's her brother. What if she's mad?

They finished work at 4 AM. Jaebeom wrapped up work earlier than hye hee(thanks to her inner debate session) and he graciously offered to tidy up everything else while waiting for her to wind up.

The ride home was eerily quiet and her lips itched to randomly talk about things, but the only things she noticed were how much longer his hair had gotten since they had first met, how muscular his arms looked on the steering wheel, the bracelet that always wore hung daintily from his wrist…

"Please Hye hee. Let's not be awkward around each other. I'll….try to be normal if you say no", He said hesitantly. 

She only mumbled a soft okay.

"Alright. Here we are.", He turned to her once again, his eyes testifying how tired he was. "Sleep well. Don't over think. I guess, I'll see you in three days?", He pursed his lips hopefully.

"Have fun."

He nodded with a soft smile and drove away. She was living with Jane for a while till she found her own place again. Jane insisted that she moved after the whole incident.

She lightly stepped into the apartment, only to find Jane's room open and sitting at her desk.

"I'm home…"

Jane turned to look at her with half droopy lids, "oh Hye hee, go shower… I'll be with you in a minute. I can't study anymore. What about Jaebeom oppa?"

"Huh? He….he is at home I guess. I mean...where else… he went home.", She stammered.

"Guess you're tired too. Poor soul. Come to bed soon."

Hye hee showered and quickly got into the covers while Jane was scrolling through her phone.

"Yah, EXO is going on a world tour again.", Jane said, showing her the news.

"Ah. Great."

"What's wrong? Is something on your mind?"

There are times when your brain knows not to say certain things, but somehow, you feel it is already being done and that's exactly what hye hee did.

"Jaebeom said he likes me.", Hye hee blurted, closely watching Jane's expression for signs of disgust and hatred.

"WHAT?!"

"oh don't be mad, Jane! I have no one else…"

"This is great news! I always thought he behaved a bit too weirdly around you! Now I know! Yay! My best friend and my brother!", Jane exclaimed, hugging hye hee with all her might.

"Wait! I didn't say anything yet."

That diminished her energy a bit. "Oh. But, you know, now that I think about it, you guys do match a lot. Is that why I'm such good friends with you? I can't imagine…" she shuddered.

"I'm not sure what I want Jane."

"Look now, don't take this matter into that overthinking mill in your brain. For once hye hee, just do what you feel is right. Everything doesn't have to be black or white. It's okay. Don't think about what will happen in the future. Just go with the flow babe. And no, I'm not saying this because he's my brother. But he is a good man."

Hye hee pondered over things and did realise that she did try to look at things a little too critically at times. She took a deep breath and decided to sleep it off.

The next two days were incredibly dull and she sort of missed Jaebeom. It was a void that made its presence loud and clear. This was the first time, hye hee had spent days missing a man other than Baekhyun. Why did she feel so guilty? Baekhyun was in Europe while she worked in her office, he had taken Sarang with him this time. The fact that she knew this because it was on Instagram and not because Baekhyun had told her, bothered her a bit. He could have been busy. 

She shook away her thoughts about Baekhyun at that moment. How was she going to date someone else with Baekhyun clouding her head all the time? 

The day of Jaebeom's arrival had come and it made her nervous. He would go home first and then come to Jane's to drop off the things Jane had asked him to buy for her. As the clock inched closer to 1 PM, her heart went uncontrollably all over the place, half wishing to run away and hide. What would she say and how? Probably if she saw him, her mind would clear out. Probably for once, life would be like those in movies and angels would sing when a person saw their loved one!

You wish.

"Bitch you look like someone kicked you in the stomach. Breathe, please.", Jane commented, giving her friend a side glance.

"I'm nervous.",whined Hye hee.

"This is my brother. What is to be so nervous? Just tell him whatever you feel. By the way, what are you going to say?"

"I don't know yet."

Jane stood and stared at her friend for a good minute before letting a huge sigh.

"You are one hell of a mad person. He's starting from home. Just sent me a text. Something that he's never done before. Pretty sure that's for you. Great, now I'm being used as messenger.", She dramatically said, putting her hands up in the air in surrender.

She heard the bell soon, and her heart began trying to jump out of her chest. Jane gestured to her to relax as she went to get the door.

Jaebeom was home.

His eyes searched for her instantly, locking them in hers, while he spoke to Jane. He wanted to smile, but pressed his lips together.

They looked at eachother but didn't utter a word.

"Hi.", She meekly said when Jane excused herself to go to the bathroom, glancing at her friend.

"Hello, hye hee. How've you been?"

"Okay, I guess.",she said fidgeting.

"My days were quite dull I'm afraid.", He replied, a faint smile reappearing on his lips," I guess I missed you."

Hye hee blushed. Jaebeom had a way with words and it did stir hye hee.

"I missed you too."

"Are you saying yes?", He asked, his voice breaking in surprise.

Jaebeom walked across the room where Hye hee stood, beside the kitchen and asked again.

"Is that a yes, Hye hee?"

She gave a tiny nod of affirmation and jaebeom let out a small chuckle. Fisting the air in victory. Hye hee laughed with him, feeling like a teenager again.( AUTHOR NOTE: GOT7 fans know this line!) Jane's loud 'awww' surprised them and she ran in for a group hug.

"You guys!!! I'm so happy.", She exclaimed.

Hye Hee was happy too. For the first time in forever, she was not thinking about Baekhyun. If only she knew that her best friend was fighting through his worst days.

[sooghostwriter]

Chef Soo. Three meals a day

Pairings: Do Kyung Soo x OC (Nameless, but I refuse to use Y/N)

Genre: Romance, AU, fluff, slow burn I guess. A molecule of angst. 

BREAKFAST: Lemon Pie

The coffee owner and the baker

An important part of opening a cake shop/coffee shop was having an actual baker. She only had the good ideas and the money.

Fives chefs applied to the job and only one of them was smart enough to bring a taste of his cooking. Kyung Soo arrived with a lemon pie that tasted like heaven. It was also her favorite sweet. A match made in heaven. She hired him on the spot.

And she thanked that decision every day.

If she had to describe Kyung Soo in one word it would be an ant. Working none stop, focused on his job and a great team player. He was quiet and a bit serious, but he was her voice of consciousness.  Whenever she came out with an idea that was unusable, he would tell her, with a lot of respect but stern. In other words, this is stupid, don't do it. Although sometimes that made her feel restricted. Because yes, macaroons were expensive and hard to do. But they were in trend. And a cake covered with macaroons could tempt anyone. It would be expensive, but she was sure they could sell at least two cakes per day. Or two cakes during the weekend “What about the work involved? Personally, I haven’t had good experiences making macaroons, and if we make them, I would have to neglect something, like the Mille-Feuille that sells great during the weekends” She felt smaller and smaller sitting on her chair. She knew he was right, of course he was. But her vision! She has seen it on her mind, a round cake covered in sweet almond pillows in pastel colors, maybe with some edible glitter on top “I know you have this Pinterest image in your head, and I can see it too, but we can’t risk that much yet, maybe in a couple of months…you could get another chef and they could be in charge of more complicated sweets, but for now, I don’t think we can do it” “I get it Kyung Soo, thank you for your honesty” “Are you ok? You look very disappointed…I mean…I could..” “No, don’t worry, Kyung Soo, you are the chef you know better than me, and I like that you are like this, just…don’t be so bland about it, this is my dream and I’m happy because it’s working, so I may get excited about it” “I’m sorry” He looked less stoic when he said it. Apologetic. He patted her shoulder and went to take the muffins out of the oven. The day Kyung Soo came to work for the first time they spend an hour talking. She shared her vision for the coffee, a cozy, calm and familiar place where people went after work when they didn’t want to go out with their coworkers, where a mom could go and read a book after leaving the kids with her husband, maybe where students could go for the wi-fi and  regain some energy for the last class of the day. Of course she wanted to gain money, after all, she quit her job, took all the money from the unemployment insurance, sold her car, the jewelry her grandmother gave her and took a loan so she could open her coffee shop. She told him that for now, they needed to focus on flavor and quality. A small assortment of sweets to buy, and a menu of sweet things to serve like crepes and pancakes.  He was immediately on board. He came up with the menu and the tarts, cakes, cookies, and desserts that they would sell. The first month was slow but steady, the second month was better, but not what they expected. By the third month, things took off. Kyung Soo’s Eclairs were always sold out by lunch, the Mille-Feuille cake needed reservation and people bought the chocolate mousse in bulks. They were extremely busy, but every day they reached their goal of the day. Kyung Soo worked as hard as she did. She never asked him, but she always had the feeling that for him this was his business too, his dream. Or at least he treated her dream has his. They were a perfectly synchronized team.

By the sixth month, she had already paid the loan. Just a couple of months and she would be able to hire a couple of people that could help Kyung Soo, now he had to do magic with his own hands and a part-timer. They grew closer too. Very slowly. Kyung Soo wasn’t distant or cold, but work was too much, and the only relationship they could have was a working relationship. Friendship was impossible when they were busy building up the business, cooking, fighting with the suppliers and putting down small fires, figuratively of course, except for one time. But under those circumstances, you end up knowing someone better than you know yourself. You end up getting used to that person’s company, voice, presence even his little habits. Like how he would tight his apron after putting something in the oven, or the cute face he made when whipping cream. She knew them all, since her eyes searched for him most of the time.

By the end of the year, Kyung Soo was interviewing someone for the position of baker. But the situation was better than what they expected, so they hired two new people. Kang Jisoo was a great patisserie with expertise in food styling “She can be in charge of the pretty sweets” Kyung Soo told her when they were going through her CV. She beamed in excitement. Jisoo was going to be Kyung Soo’s right hand. One of the CV’s caught their attention. He was also a baker, but he had an internship in France making bread “People keep asking us if we sell bread” “Can we hire him?” He asked with controlled excitement. She gave it a little thought, she liked the idea, but she was thinking on giving another use to the extra money they were making “Kyung Soo, actually, I wanted to give you a raise” He looked at her warmly, and she felt it all over her body. His eyes were always so expressive, he didn’t need to say anything. He was grateful “Thank you, but I can manage for now with the money I make, let’s hire him, and you raise my pay later” Kyung Soo was expecting something like that. Not because he wanted it, but it was something she would do. He heard her talk about it with her mom once. He could always hear her conversations in her office due to the glass door. She told her how she thought Kyung Soo wasn’t getting paid what he deserved. But she told him once that they were a team, they were in this together, and he promised himself to support her in this dream. So if now the right thing was to hire two new bakers instead of raising his paycheck, so let it be. So on Monday, the lovely Kang Jisoo and the bright Byun Baekhyun arrived, ready to start working. Kyung Soo took Jisoo and didn’t release her for the rest of the day. She did the same with Baekhyun, they came up with an assortment of 6 types of bread and his schedule. That day after a long day at work they went for dinner. They were very tired but excited to survive their first day at work. At one point in the night, she saw her new two coworkers with motherly eyes. They were cute, cheerful, with such a great disposition and most importantly, very talented. She caught Kyung Soo looking at his new coworkers too, stopping at Jisoo for a long second. She was surprised by how that made her feel. --- Since Baekhyun arrived, her mornings were more energetic. Baekhyun’s shift began at 5 am and ended at 2 pm. Since he was in charge of bread, those needed to be done during the morning. She arrived at 8 am, and was welcomed by a nice loaf of warm bread and a coffee that Baekhyun prepared for her. She got to share a lot with Baekhyun. He was the typical happy go lucky guy, who was always chirpy and who’s second language was flirting. Not on purpose, it was just part of his personality.

Byun Baekhyun was the typical energetic guy. He was always laughing, always making everybody laugh, your instincts would always tell you to like someone like him. And he has won her trust and friendship in a matter of days. Kyung Soo was always jealous of guys like him. He was so jealous of Baekhyun. But it was impossible to hate him. He enjoyed being around him, although they didn’t have a lot of time to share he enjoyed watching him. But he didn’t enjoy watching her laughing with his jokes. He never made her laugh like that.  

It was Friday and Jisoo asked them if she could leave earlier for a friend’s birthday. They looked at each other and nodded at her at the same time. She was still young, she deserved to party, she commented as Jisoo left “She is a couple of years younger than you, don’t be so dramatic” He answered with a chuckle. She giggled with him, and Kyung Soo was sure this was the first time that happened, and he felt stupidly proud of himself. It was time to close and they were the only ones left working “Like the old times” He commented. He was right. It was like the old times. She couldn’t believe that her little but ambitious dream was going strong. The income now was steady. The coffee shop was never empty and Kyung Soo’s cakes were very popular. She stayed at the door of her office looking at Kyung Soo washing his hands. She knew she was looking at him lovingly, but he wasn’t paying attention so she allowed herself to do so. Their time to leave was closer, but she didn’t want to leave yet. She wanted to be with him a little bit more “Hey, I got emotional all of the sudden, wanna go for dinner, also known as drinks?” She asked as soon as the idea formed in her head, so in that way her common sense wouldn’t get in the way “Sure, let me go change” Kyung Soo dashed into the dressing room and left her there in shock. This was the first time they would go out together. They went to the usual spot where the four of them would go for dinner after a good week of sales. Kyung Soo ordered fried chicken and she went for a bowl of ramen. They ate in silence, a comfortable one. She took a spicy wing from his plate and he ate several spoons of broth from her bowl. The place started to get packed and the buzz in the air made them began to talk. It started with work talk, plans for next week, the menu for the coming summer, and the possibility of changing one of the providers “How do you feel about Jisoo and Baekhyun?” He asked her, moving the empty plates aside, resting his elbows on the small table “Great, I think we made a good decision hiring them, are you ok with Jisoo?” “She is perfect, she works diligently, her cake designs are terrific, and she is very nice to be around” The word Perfect kept resounding in her head “Baekhyun is good too, he makes amazing bread and he knows how to use the coffee machine” He commented, but it sounded very robotic “I’m always the one making coffee, so is nice to be served for once” Kyung Soo came to the realization that the only time he cooked for her was when he made that lemon pie for his job interview. He was her right hand, she put all her trust in him, and he couldn’t bake her a simple cupcake. He would change that as soon as possible. He couldn’t allow Baekhyun to win. He immediately felt embarrassed by his childish thought. They stayed there for an hour and a half talking. As always, about work, but there was something more. He took advantage of the situation, the atmosphere and the sensation he got from having her so close, smiling, joking with him, sharing with him. He felt hopeful, and when he went back home, for the first time he allowed himself to…imagine.

She arrived the next morning ready to fight with a couple of suppliers and to work on finances. Those were her least favorite things, but she was the one in charge of them, and she was kind of good at it. She was halfway done with her first task when Kyung Soo knocked at her glass door and went in “I brought you this” He said, leaving a mini lemon tart on her desk “For the old times” He said, not meeting her eyes and turning around quickly, disappearing into the kitchen. She grabbed her tart and bit into it without the need of a fork “For the old times” She mumbled to herself, giggling. She remembered with effervescence that afternoon when they met. She wondered if she liked him from that very moment. When she noticed that he was smart enough to bring a sample of his baking, to the interview to become baker at a bakery. Maybe her standards were too low.

As Kyung Soo was beating the eggs for the merengue of the lemon pie, he began thinking about her. He has been doing so since last night. Having a one on one time with her was unique, to say the least. On his ride home, and then on his morning commute to his job he kept recalling those first months working with her. Her determination, her strength, her curiosity. The times he could hear her from her office being passive-aggressive with the fruit providers. Or every time he arrived and found her sleeping at her desk. He wished he was caring enough, or brave enough to have made her coffee when that happened, to bring her a freshly baked donna. Baekhyun would have done it for sure. He also remembered the days he left work, just to come back to pick something he had forgotten and found her crying in her office. Always out of frustration or fear. All those times that he saw her so vulnerable and hurt he wanted to hug her. His arms itched to reach her and pulled her into his chest. To take the worry away. Just pass some of his calm onto her. But he was never brave enough. What they had was too precious to risk. Was too new to risk.

But then one day he realized that it wasn’t too new, but old. His feelings were well settled in his chest, and he had lost time. He could risk things now. But she was looking at someone else now. He would have to live with the craving his arms felt for her. 

--- That Friday they had a terribly busy morning. And they would have some problems for the afternoon too since Jisoo cut her finger and was currently at the ER with Baekhyun. She left the part-timer on front and went to the kitchen to check on Kyung Soo “How are you doing? Need any help?” “Yes, I need to finish decorating these cupcakes, someone is going to pick them up in an hour, could you do that so I can take care of the orders?” She could do that much. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work “Wait!” Kyung Soo stopped her, holding one of her arms. He pulled a scrunchy from his right pocket and turned her around, sliding his fingers in her hair “What are you doing?” Her voice was a bit higher due to the surprise “You can’t do this with your hair down, so I’m braiding it” She stood still. Although she was sure her hands were shaking. She was sure this was the closest he had ever been. She was sure this was the first time he was touching her. His fingers brushed her neck burning her. His movements were a tiny bit clumsy but efficient.  “You are good at this” She commented, trying to relieve the tension “I have practiced a lot with Jisoo, she always forgets to pull up her hair” She closed her eyes and released a long sight. He was already so close to her. Of course, they were. They work arm to arm, moving around the kitchen like a unit. But she and Kyung Soo also functioned as a unit. For a long time.  Sure, she wasn’t a chef, but they were partners. Not officially. He was a worker, just like Baekhyun and Jisoo. Bur for her he always felt like more. He built the menu and signature of the coffee shop. People went there for his cooking. This coffee shop belonged to both of them. -- She arrived the next morning and found Baekhyun moving around the kitchen slower than normal “You look blue,  is everything okay?” He sighed heavily, resting his body against the wall “Not really, You think Kyung Soo hates me?” “I don't think he knows how to feel that, why are you asking?” He walked with a heavy step to her side and rested his head on her shoulder like a gloomy puppy “I try to get close to him the little time our schedules overlap but he is so cold with me, he laughs but is always a shy laugh, meanwhile, Jisoo almost chokes to death the other day because of something I said” “He is very stoic” She tried to divert his line of thoughts “No,  he kind of ignores me and I want to be friends with him, he is so cool” “You want me to talk to him?” He lifted his head and went to the dressing room with slow steps “No, what are you going to tell him anyway? I just hope he doesn't have a bad image of me”  She followed him patting his back, understanding his feeling. She also wished Kyung Soo could give her more attention. “Good morning” Kyung Soo arrived, greeting and walking past them, into the dressing room “See?!” Baekhyun pointed, shaking her arm “Yeah, that was a bit cutting, you make us some coffee, I will check on him, maybe there's something going on” He nodded pouting and went back to the shop. She knocked the dressing room door, asking him if he was dressed “Yeah,  come in” She opened the door and walked in, looking around, being nonchalant “Hello there chef” “Hello boss” She stood behind him and notice him having trouble tightening his apron “Let me do that, is everything alright?” She asked him as she tightened the straps around his waist “Yes” He answered, his voice low “Everything alright with Jisoo?” “Couldn't be better” She made a double knot and tapped his shoulder telling him she was done “Everything ok with Baekhyun?” “Sure”   “You like him?” He sat down, taking off his shoes “He is great, although we don’t share the kitchen that much, why are you asking?” “No reason, just making sure everything is ok” “Sure, ok, then if you are done, I need to change my pants” She turned around quickly and left the room. When she went to the front of the shop, Baekhyun had already served three coffees and had a plate with a loaf of bread and butter “He says everything is ok” “You think he would tell you if he hated me” “I trust he tells me everything, so yeah, don’t worry Baekhyun” “Ok, if you say so, you think he would come to have breakfast with us?” She went to the back again and invite Kyung Soo to have breakfast with them. Kyung Soo accepted and when she arrived with him, she saw how Baekhyun’s imaginary tail began wiggling.

When she asked him to go and have breakfast with them, he really wanted to say no. He had some things to do, and also, if he could avoid seeing them act like old buddies, he would do it. But her questions in the dressing room told him something. She wanted to know how he felt about Baekhyun. He knew she cared about his input about everything, and if she wanted his approval on Baekhyun, she would have it. He liked him after all. He was a good guy. And share breakfast with them could be good.

----

She was talking over the phone with her lawyer when Baekhyun knocked on her door. She gave him a signal to come in and he sat at her desk waiting for her to finish. She was about to end a 20 minutes long call to ask her lawyer what she had to do to make Kyung Soo her business partner. There was a lot of paperwork involved and a lot of visits to the public notary, but it could be done if they both wanted it. She hadn’t asked him yet. She didn’t know how. She hung up and Baekhyun asked immediately what was she talking about since he could hear the last part of the call “I’m thinking about making Kyung Soo my business partner” “He isn’t already?” “No, but he is my right hand, this business his almost half his in terms of development and success, so I want him to have a part of it” Baekhyun looked lost “What are you talking about?” “What?” “I thought you and he had something, no?” She felt her cheeks blush “No, no... Why would you think that?” Baekhyun moved on his seat awkwardly “I don't know, there's always this weird tension between the two of you,  and you guys are always business business business,  but you are all the time stealing glances from each other when the other is not looking, and when you talk you guys are always way too close” His voice lost volume by the end of the sentence “I.. We just..” “You don't have to explain anything... But I may have told you something that you didn't know, so I better go now” She tried to stop him, she needed to know about this weird tension and the stolen glances, but Baekhyun was quick and left the coffee before she could reach him.

----- One Monday morning she got an envelope from a tourism website informing her that the coffee shop was selected as a “One of the coffee shops to visit in Seoul”. The four of them went for dinner that night to celebrate. As always Kyung Soo took care of grilling and serving, always putting more meat on her plate. When Baekhyun and Jisoo complained he said “She’s our boss” His voice was serious, but he was grinning. After a bunch of beers and maybe half a pig she was ready to go. She told the rest they were free to stay and handed her card to Kyung Soo. She got up and Baekhyun grabbed her wrist, stopping her “Let’s share a cab” She agreed gladly, she hated the idea of riding the taxi alone in those conditions.

Kyung Soo felt sick all of a sudden. They were so friendly. They were so friendly since day one. And he was aware that Baekhyun was that kind of person, even he felt close to him the first time they met, but this was different. Baekhyun knew where she lived.  He had known her and been working with her for more than a year and he still didn’t know her address. Meanwhile, Baekhyun was holding her arm to help her stand up. It was over for him.

He had lost his chance. And Baekhyun took his.

-----

She had a good night of sleep that night. She woke up before her alarm went off and the warm water reached the perfect temperature. On her way to work, she didn’t meet a single red light and the coffee Baekhyun prepared for her was especially good. She greeted Jisoo at the kitchen and ran into Kyung Soo when he walked out of the dressing room. She greeted him happily because she was feeling happy and seeing him added to the feeling, but he only nodded at her. It was like a bucket of cold water. All her happiness faded away. Not even in his worst days he had been so cutting. Why was he acting so distant? She tried to convince herself that she was overreacting, reading too much into it, but during the morning she realized that she wasn’t. Even Baekhyun noticed it. Before leaving he commented to her between whispers “Did you say something to him?” “No, no that I remember, Did I? Something happened last night?” “No, nothing, when we were there everything was alright, we talked a lot and laughed with everything I said or did, he even poured me several drinks, and then we…oh crap” Baekhyun mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ “What? What is it?” “You don’t get it? I’m sorry, I feel that this is my fault, at least part of it, ok… I need to go” He grabbed his backpack and left in a hurry, without giving her the chance to ask for more. She cursed at him, still clueless of why Kyung Soo was acting like this, and only with her. That day they had to close the coffee shop early due to the cut of the water service. By 6 the shop was empty, everything washed and ready to close. She arranged everything at her office, moving languidly around the room, still sad about Kyung Soo’s cold shoulder. She wanted to go home and cry maybe. She didn’t like it, she hadn’t heard his voice all day long. He didn’t come to her office not even once to ask her to call the suppliers, or for her to taste something. She was going to steal some donuts from the refrigerator, go home and cry on the shower maybe. She was about to get her period, she was especially emotional, that’s why she allowed herself some self-love. She almost got a heart attack when she walked into the kitchen and met Kyung Soo with his jacket on, reclining against one of the counters, his head down, looking at his hands. When he heard her, he looked up, and hold her stare for a while “Can we talk?” She couldn’t find her voice, so she only nodded and walked next to him. She was terrified. She knew there was something going on with him, and his face of worry and shame prove her right. She wanted to make him feel better. To get rid of that dark stare, help him. Maybe this was the right time to talk to him about becoming business partners, maybe like this, his mood could improve “I need to talk to you about something… I have been thinking about this for a while, is an idea that in the last months has been developing in my head” She saw her hands shaking. She knew he wasn’t talking about a cake or a change in the menu, no one gets so serious to talk about that, not even him. Her last boyfriend said some similar words when he broke up with her. Those words, with that voice and that somber disposition never meant something good. Kyung Soo was about to tell her something terrible “Are you ok? You went pale all of the sudden” She looked up from her hands and found him looking at her face, his hand so close to her cheek she could almost felt its warmth. His entire semblance changed. He was still serious, but worried, his eyes big and round scanning her, searching what was disturbing her. He asked her a couple of times and she didn’t answer until she felt slightly better and under control  “I…it’s just…you have been acting so weird today, and now you are being so serious now, I can’t tell why… I’m terrified” She was sure she wasn’t crying, but she heard her voice break.  Finally, finally after months of craving it, he grabbed her face with careful hands, caressed her cheeks down to her neck and shoulders and pulled her into a hug. He held her by the nape, his right hand sinking in her silky hair, and his other arm held her softly, pulling her against his chest as close as he could. She rested her head on his shoulder, her arms went around his waist and although his hug wasn’t tight, it calmed her down a little bit. She felt him speak. She felt his breathing against her shoulder but couldn’t hear what he was saying. She let go of him and searched for his eyes, but he didn’t meet hers “What did you say?” “I’m sorry” “For what?” He let go of her, his arms falling from her back to his side “What I was going to tell you is that…I have been thinking about moving jobs, maybe is time for me to move on” Her arms went to his waist again. This time her grip was tight. The panic his words caused her stirred her with desperation. If she had to stay like this, hugging him for the rest of her life so he wouldn’t leave, she would do it. She kept asking him not to leave, begging for him to stay. At first, he just let her be, he hugged her too, rubbing her back trying to calm her down, but it came to no avail. Kyung Soo grabbed her arms and unclasped them with a lot of difficulties. He called her name, trying to calm her down, but she held to his arms, still shaken by his news “This could be good for me, and for you too, Jisoo will stay in charge, she cooks the kind of things you like, and maybe a new chef with a new approach could be better for the coffee shop” She was in tears, her lips shaking as the air left her mouth in short and quick puffs. He got worried about her, he felt guilty too “No! No Kyung Soo, you can’t leave me, this coffee is what it is because of you” “Is not, this is your dream, I just helped you” “No, without you I couldn’t have done this, you are my chef, you are my partner Kyung Soo, please don’t…” Kyung Soo took a step back releasing himself from her grip. He looked unsettled, shaking his head, his eyes saddened “Just that? You want me here just because I'm your chef?” “What do you mean?” She asked, cleaning her tears with her sleeve. Kyung Soo took a deep breath after another until he could speak calmly “That's the only thing I am to you right?” She looked into his eyes for a long time. Kyung Soo now was being inquisitive giving her back a stare that intimidated her because she felt naked in front of him. She was sure she never showed her adoration in front of him. She was always professional, they were never flirty or platonic. They did trust each other and talked a lot, but she never felt anything from him, and she was sure she never showed anything more than admiration and respect towards him. She needed to change that “No! No, you are more” Build up the braveness to say more than that was harder than she would expect. “What am I then? And please don’t say your business partner” She noticed in his voice that they were equally desperate. They were equally frustrated and scared about what was happening. There was a lot to lose with this conversation. She could confess and lose her chef and a friend. But if he was so decided to leave, she needed to share with him how much she had fallen for him, because she loved him. And if he decided to leave after her confession and not look for her ever again, at least she got to tell him how she felt. She just wished she could have told him sooner “Kyung Soo…you are all that, but since always you have been my friend” He closed his eyes sighing in frustration “And I love you, I just… I love you so much, you can’t leave me, please don’t leave me” She finished with a string of voice, her hands in fists, her eyes closed, scared. Kyung Soo took two long steps whispering her name, and as she looked up, he cupped her jaw and covered her mouth with his own. She gasped and it was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. Kyung Soo grunted softly in return as he dragged his fingertips along her jaw. Kyung Soo’s lips were soft and warm, but calm. It wasn’t a hungry kiss or desperate. He was testing, keeping himself in line. Despite the shock, she still thought she could spend the rest of her days kissing him without getting tired of it. He pulled back just far enough to let the air back into their lungs. His eyes gazed deeply into her eyes, asking for permission, although it was a bit too late now. She closed her eyes and he couldn’t resist too long away from her. He tilted his head catching her breath, and this time he kissed her with intensity. Intensity that she matched. The kiss itself was more tentative than anything, mostly because they were both unsure of what was going on. But she was the first one settling it when she caught his lower lip and suddenly sucked on it. Kyung Soo’s warmth was almost suffocating, and she wanted to taste it. He encircled one arm around her waist, placed the other hand on her nape as if locking her with his body so she wouldn’t leave him. He didn’t want to hold back anymore, he wanted her, he loved her, and she loved him too. Now it was the time to make up for the lost time. Her hands were on his shoulders, his neck, his arms, the sides of his face. It was desperate, but she didn’t care. She didn’t care about the tiny frustrated sounds spilling from the back of her throat. She didn’t care that he was leaving her. He was quitting and leaving her behind. She backed away, looking at him wildly “You…Kyung Soo, you…you are lea…” He moved quickly to grab her by the nape, tugging her close so they could rest their foreheads together “It’s ok, I’m here, I’m not leaving” He breathed, stroking the back of her neck tenderly. She still looked fairly terrified, her pupils blown wide and shaking all over, but completely still in his hold “Kyung Soo” She called again, but he shook his head and moved his other hand to stroke her cheek softly “I love you” He whispered, although he knew it was not enough to reassure her now, even after the kiss “You really do?” “We kissed” He whispered against her lips, feeling stupid by saying that, but his mind couldn’t form better words. His fingers caressed the sides of her mouth and god, he wanted to do it again, wanted to seal his mouth over hers for another taste, just to feed that need he has been feeling for months. But he held himself. Instead, he took one of her hands and placed it over his chest, the spot where his heart was beating like crazy. Closing her eyes, she let her senses take over everything, wondering for how long she has been feeling like this, if this is what falling in love feels like, if this is what he feels like. She called his name again, and Kyung Soo called hers. They giggled together, feeling some of the tension dissipate “And…and what does this mean?” She stuttered "No idea" He whispered, and they giggled again. She knew what this was, he knew it too, so she leaned in and kissed him again. When they pulled apart and she opened her eyes she found him smiling brightly. He grabbed her by the waist, lifting and dropping her on the counter. She hugged his shoulders and rejoiced in the feeling of his arms holding her “You are not leaving right?” “No” “Why did you say that?” His ears went red and he looked down ashamed “I thought you liked Baekhyun, and I just couldn’t go through that” She called his name softly, feeling sorry for him, “Just to be clear, I don’t like him” “I know now” She made him look at her again, rubbing his nape “That’s why you were so cold to him?” He nodded, looking at her again “Ok, make sure to be nicer with him ok? He was very sad because he thinks you hate him and he really likes you” Kyung Soo’s eyebrows went up funnily “That’s why you asked me if I liked him?” “Yeah” “I thought it was because you wanted my approval to date him” She was shocked to hear that, and also felt incredibly guilty “Kyung Soo, for how long have you being suffering?” She caressed his face, kissing his cheeks “Kiss me some more so I can forget about that” She grabbed his cute face and kissed him softly, like a caress, an apology. Kyung Soo pulled back from the kiss, his hands moving to her thighs “What you wanted to say before?” She looked clueless for a while, not quite remembering what happened before. She took half a minute to go over the most recent events “Oh yes! I had a proposal for you, here” She grabbed his hand and jumped down the counter, walking with him to her office. If she was lucky enough, after that afternoon she would get a new boyfriend and a new business partner.

The End

Notes: Please, some feedback. 

I think the next story will be up in two weeks. Miso. 

[exowolf-reactions]

EXO Royal!AU Reaction to the princess wanting to marry a commoner (them)

Xoxo, Arabella~

/I don’t own any of the gifs used unless stated otherwise/

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Chanyeol:

“I know I’m not a prince but I can be as good as one, better even. I won’t let you down, I can’t. You are all I want and I’ll do everything in my power to remain by your side” *Even if your love story becomes somewhat difficult*

Sehun:

“If I’m the one you really want then I’ll do it. I’ll show them that you don’t need royal blood to be by your side. I’ll give you my heart and soul and become the best consort you could ever have” *Honestly, who would even mind if he’s not a prince or something*

Tao:

“It’s like a fairy tale, you know? Somehow this story got its happy ending. I feel like I don’t deserve it like I don’t deserve you. But I’ll be a good partner, a loving and caring one. I promise” *It doesn’t matter how hard it is, love always finds the way*

Kai:

*He’s a little nervous, he knows he is expected to be better than anyone* “You give me the strength and confidence to not give up. It does scare me, yes. But I won’t give up on this, on you, on a future with you”

Xiumin:

“Do you really mean it? You really want to marry me? A commoner? I don’t deserve you... I’m just me... is that enough? Because you know I love you and I’ll do anything... but I know they expect you to marry a prince” *But he is better, you know it. You know he’s the one you want to spend the rest of your life with*

Baekhyun:

“I won’t let you down jagi! I promise you that! This is just the start of a new era! We’ll prove them wrong, you’ll see!” *The truth is that everyone loves him in the castle or will end up doing so. He will earn it, their love and respect*

Luhan:

“I’m not going to lie, I’m terrified. I know there will always be someone wanting me gone, someone who won’t like your children, someone who will try to do us wrong. But I will protect you, protect our family. I don’t need royal blood to do so, I don’t need a title to love you”

Chen:

“I’ve been waiting for this day my whole life. From now on, it’s you and I and nothing will break us apart. I won’t let it happen. And I will always be grateful because you saw more in me than anyone would because you gave me a chance, you accepted me for who I am and not for what I had”

Kyungsoo:

“I will protect you, I will be by your side no matter what. I will be true to you, loyal. But more importantly, I’ll love you until the day I die. Because while you do everything to protect and rule this kingdom, I’ll do everything to protect and love you. Because without you, there’s no me”

Lay:

“I dream of a world without divisions, without titles, where we all are equal and live in peace. I believe you and I can do that, we can rule with love and bring the best to the kingdom. I will do my best, for you and the kingdom you adore. I love you baobei” *Even if he was born in a common family, you always knew he was the one for you*

Suho:

“I’m not going to lie, it’s hard to believe you could love me. But I know you mean it and you know how much I love you too. I know it’s going to be hard and I know we will have discussions and it might take me a while to adapt. But I will give my all, I want this to work. I want to help you, support you and witness all the great things you want to do. I want to be part of it all” *He will be a wise consort, a good partner, one that everyone in the kingdom will come to love*

[Masterlist] [Guideline] [Instagram] [Wattpad]

[x-ratedkpop]

Come Here Baby, We Can Stay Up. [Baekhyun]

Request: Non-existent, I was inspired based on the amazing songs Diamond and Stay Up on Baekhyun’s first studio album, City Lights. Please stream it motivates Baekhyun and shows him support!

Song I recommend: Diamond & Stay Up by Baekhyun

Author’s notes/Warnings: Raw sex, wear a condom kids. There are no major kinks and I simply just want to say thank you for waiting on me for so long and I’m truly grateful you all stayed with x-ratedkpop we are blessed to have you and we wish to stay here for a long time. Please stream Baekhyun’s album, I will love you forever.

Author’s apologies: Now I apologize in advance as this fic is leaning towards African-American women but it’s an easy read for any woman.

———————

He wasn’t sure if it was the lights or just the aura she put off but everyone was attracted to one woman in the room. She’d been invited by mutual friends from the area, she was a teacher in Seoul and no one was sure how she knew people this high up but she sure was a beauty and any one in the room would be grateful to learn English from her. The event called for casual dress as it was a release party for Baekhyun’s first solo album that broke records before it’s release which definitely called for the celebration.

“So I’m apparently not the only person who sees her.” Chanyeol whispered in Baekhyun’s ear their eyes not leaving the beautiful individual in the room. “No I’m pretty sure we all see her.” Their manager spoke grabbing his drink from the table, “and she the only black girl here.” He mumbled taking his shot back before roughly slamming the glass down with a throaty groan. “She sure is one fine woman, I give you that.” He added before calling for the waiter, everyone around agreeing with the statement.

Baekhyun was just stunned by her, he didn’t mean to stare but how could he not. He’d never really see anyone in this proximity as beautiful as her and he was seriously trying to figure out if it was her or if it was just the lights in the room. He tried to play it off as lights and the alcohol buzzing through his system. She was dancing with her friends, her curly hair was bouncing against her shoulders and her teeth shone brightly with the smile she wore.

Then all of a sudden the entire atmosphere changed and Baekhyun then realized what she was wearing. The hum came through the speakers and he realized the DJ had thrown Diamond into the playlist and everyone instantly changed to this sexy aura, including her. Her hands ran along her skin like silk, in the streets a lot of people don’t wear clothes like her, it simply showed too much. The deep neck showing her cleavage, the hem cutting off at the middle of her thighs, the thigh high boots made it even more ethereal. The dress was a simple white and the jean jacket hung low off her shoulder, Ariana Grande style.

Someone slipped behind her but neither Baekhyun nor she had a care in the world who the man was. Matter of fact, she even came closer to him, grinding against him, it was almost lewd how she rested her head back against his shoulder and he was either kissing her neck or just resting there for the aesthetic. “Damn Baekhyun, do you want her up, you’ve been looking at her for the past three songs.” One of his friends had commenting pushing him slightly, “matter of fact I do.” He responding standing, his legs moving to the stairs jogging down to the dance floor.

Once down, everyone was congratulating him on the album and it success. Just before the chorus had started he tapped the man’s shoulder asking to slip in which he kindly agreed seeing who Baekhyun was. They exchanged places and as Baekhyun took a look at her from upclose he concluded that it was definitely her, it was her that captivated everyone. Not the alcohol in his system and definitely the lights, if anything the light complimented her and the alcohol in his system probably did too.

She smelled like something sweet, he couldn’t quite place a finger on it but her perfume coated him and he couldn’t help but rest his hands on her waist just as the chorus started. She swayed her hips so deeply and sensually that he instantly found himself in Heaven and he knew he wouldn’t leave from behind her as long as the music stayed sensual like this. Her hands soon found themselves on top of his lifting them slightly before pressing one flatly against her stomach and intertwining the other with her own. Her now free hand had reached back to wrap around his neck, resting there as she ground her hips against him. His head ducked down to rest in the crook of her neck, not kissing her but simply resting there taking her in as he rolled his hips into her in return.

‘Come here baby, come here baby,’ he sung softly into her ear causing her to let out a breath almost too sexual for Baekhyun to accept. “I felt you watching me Mr. Soloist.” She mumbled loud enough for him to hear her and him only, once again she took him for surprise as her korean sounded almost native. “I couldn’t help myself, not when you look as good as you do.” He quipped back his hips rolling slowly as if he was thrusting into her and she chuckled softly. “You’re going to have to try harder, just because you’re the man of the night doesn’t mean you can be the man in my bed tonight.” She spoke turning around wrapping her arms around his neck, one hand dropping to caress against the necklace her wore that lay against the exposed part of his skin.

“So you’re telling me I have a chance?” He spoke raising a brow, he took his time to really take her in aswell, she truly was beautiful and the smile she wore was even more beautiful. “Work for it like you worked on that album.” She whispered softly as the chorus came round once more, he head leaned back, her curls swaying as she did. Baekhyun’s hands rested atop her back and against her lower back keeping her steady as she dance against him, both of them still lewdly grinding against one another but who else wasn’t. ‘Diamond you do, you got me shinin’ when I’m with you.’ He sung as they danced with one another, if she wanted him to work, he’d work and he’d go all out.

His fingers crawled up gripping the soft locks in her hair, her mouth fell open a smile somehow still on her face as her tongue sinfully ran against her teeth. The song came to an end and she lifted her head looking directly into his eyes just as Ice Queen began to play. It was like the DJ could sense the sexual feelings between the two of them, “you’re very trust of me, what if I was a crazed fan?” She tilted her head as he pulled her closer, “then at least I’ll know the face I’ll have to sue when pictures of me get sold to dispatch, wondering if I could get a name too.” He mumbled a smile playing on his lips as he joked with her, his hand falling from her hair back down to her hips.

“You’re funny Baekhyun, looks like you’ll be taking Y/N home tonight.” She winked her thumb caressing over his cheek a dark lust taking over her dilated pupil. He painfully continued to dance with her until the song ended and he quickly left the floor, her in tow towards the back door, “tell them I’m leaving, I’ve done enough talking, it was a family issue or something.” He spoke to the security guard by the door, digging in his pockets for his keys, unlocked the door to the vehicle.

“Didn’t think we’d be leaving so fast Baekhyun.” She teased buckling herself in as he pulled out of the lot, “we’ll I couldn’t wait— I’ve been wanting you since the moment I saw you and it wasn’t that hard to spot someone so ethereal in the crowd.”

The ride to Baekhyun’s apartment had then been cut quiet, comfortable but sexually split. He wanted to touch her so damn bad and as soon as they parked in the lot he stepped into action, kissing her as soon as they stepped in the elevator. His hands all over her, he’s touch every inch of her tonight because he’s never get the opportunity to touch her again. The bell dinged and they surely kissed and felt up on one another all the way to his door and to his bed.

She looked even more ethereal here, her hair sprawled around her, her dress rode up just a bit and her lips swollen from the intensity of their kissing. “I’m real, you can touch me to make it last longer.” She laughed as he unzipped her boots, kissing her ankle and down her calf as he reached for the other, “such a womanizer,” she teased as he did the same, each kissed peppered softly as he looked at her. He leaned down to kiss her enticing lips but her foot against his chest stopped him. “Take it off,” she spoke resting on her elbows as he stood unbuttoning his shirt for her.

Trying once more to kiss her, he was stopped once more, “pants too eager beaver.” He chuckled, unbuttoning his pants, kicking them off to the floor before crawling into the bed, pressing their lips together, his fingers gracefully pulled her dress down her legs, the stretchy material gracing him as he didn’t have to do much work. Her breast were the first thing he experienced, they didn’t sit perky, they weren’t the fake looking ones either, the perfect teardrop shape he loved so damn much. He stomach was next, if wasn’t toned, nor was she out of shape she had something to hold onto and that excited him, next her thighs, he had no words she was glorious from head to toe.

His finger trailed back up her legs, raising goosebumps along the way, ‘Diamond you do and I’ll be shining with you’, he sung softly tapping her thighs a gesture causing her to open her legs to him and he was blessed with the glorious view that she wasn’t wearing panties under the dress, he wasn’t even sure how he didn’t notice when he removed the dress.

He muttered a quiet ‘fuck’ under his breath as his finger drew against the slick wetness her back arching from the light yet sinful touch. He couldn’t help but slip a finger inside her wetness, his tongue darting out to attack her bundle of nerves. Her fingers quickly wrapped around thick bundles of his silver hair, rolling her hips into his touches, her moans sung to him. She wasn’t loud nor was she quiet but the right volume to have the empty room sound like a recording studio and she was the talented artist in the booth.

He added another finger to her pleasure causing her grip in his hair to become tighter and her thighs to encase him in the place between her legs, “baek—baekhyun, fuck,” she panted her eyes shut closed, face contorted in pleasure and he looked up watching her breast rise and fall her nipples hard without even being touched. He continued the abuse to her walls, fingers fucking into her so slow that she couldn’t help but fuck herself against them.

He wanted to pull back and watch her but she tasted of blissful nothingness. Her arousal began to slowly seep from her entrance and along his fingers, “please— need you,” y/n choked out whining for the need of pleasure as he pulled back finding his way back to her lips, becoming even more turned on as she tasted herself on his lips. ‘Tell me how you want it, tell me how you need it,’ he sung to her removing his briefs, shock taking him over as she turned them over. “Pick a song Byun and stick to it.” She commented, rubbing herself over his cock, her arousal coating him and making him throb at the same time before she gripped him, stroking him twice before placing him at her entrance.

“No,” he spoke, gripping her hips and pulling her down, his mind had instantly thought of a condom but he’d quickly forgotten the thought as she rode clenched around him with a loud moan her nails digging into the flesh on his chest as she looked at him. “I saw your face, don’t worry, I’m not rich enough to care for a superstar’s baby, birth control is on both of our side’s.” She chuckled, pressing her nails deeper into his chest as she rose slightly and sunk back down around his girth. Now, Baekhyun wasn’t overly large or overly girthy but she could say he stretched her well and reached a place in her stomach that hadn’t been touch in many years by her previous partners and fuck was he just as ethereal when he groaned and moaned out in pleasure.

She rose and sunk a few times before gaining confidence and began to slowly bounce against him setting the pace. The headboard had began knocking against the wall, annoying and waking the neighbors for sure and the pure thought of that had her hand gripping her breast and picking up speed in the way rode him.

He was in Heaven, pure bliss surrounded them as she began to glisten from the thin sheen of sweat coating her body. His hands gripped her thighs, rolling his hips at the same pace of her thrust but he needed and wanted more, he wanted to enjoy his experience with her as he knew if possibly would never happen again so he found himself laying her on her back and fucking into her and not softly either.

He was ruthlessly, pounding his hips into her and the sudden pace change had her nails digging into her forearm and leaving bright screaming streaks of red angry marks along them that his stylist at the photo shoot in two days would definitely fuss a him about. Her legs wrapped around his waist, heels digging into his lower back as she tossed her head from side to side with each thrust.

The way she moaned yet screamed his name had him giving his all to please them both. Her walls were the only thing he wanted to be in right now and his phone angrily ringing in his pants on the floor wasn’t a worry nor was the neighbor banging on the wall that separated them. Pulling him down to her chest, y/n bite into Baekhyun’s shoulder, it was something simple but the bite had Baekhyun’s hips stuttering in her.

The way he thrusted in her didn’t stop for a time he couldn’t even calculate, even if he was tired he kept the pace, wanting to keep them both satisfied and he could feel her release coming as her nails angrily scratched down his back, her walls gripping him like a vice and her moans had escalated to breathy cries of his name. He nipped at her earlobe, as her hips rocked, an orgasm powerfully taking over her.

His thrust did slow, to accommodate her, like gentleman he didn’t want to be. His release was at it’s near breaking end, even if he had to slowly thrust into her he’d catch a round of her high. His hips snapped into her causing her to cry in oversensitivity, he continued snapping into her as she choked on air for him. “Baekhyun— fuck— please,” she moaned as his thrusted accelerated before he pulled out, stroking himself to a release. Milky opaque spurts of cum began to coat against her stomach, complimenting her complexion. And when Baekhyun thought she couldn’t get any sexier, her finger ran through his cum dragging into along her body before making it’s way to her lips, her tongue sinfully tasting him.

Both of them lay breathless next to one another for awhile before Baekhyun left the bed to grab a damp washcloth and clean her, rid her as best as he could of sex. He doesn’t really remember much of the rest of the night but he does remember her smile and laugh as she ran her fingers through his hair until he fell asleep.

The next morning, he woke to an empty bed and a sore body. His phone buzzing with an eight-thirty alarm, reaching on to the nightstand he grabbed his phone that he remembered was in his pocket last night and if he remembers his clothes were in a pile at the foot of the bed and that wasn’t there either, actually they were folded along with the towel he used on her last night in the chair in the corner.

As he fished for his phone a piece of folder paper fell to the floor and that definitely caught his attention, he almost scrambled out of his bed for the note happily opening it to read.

Hey Baekhyun,

It’s y/n, I had a great time last night but duty calls and I have to be to work soon so I’m writing this. I washed your clothes and the towel along with the other towels you had in your washroom. If you’re really interested and had as much fun as I did. Come to this address at six and we’ll talk more about it ;) and if you can’t make that just give me a call sometime.

See you later,

Y/N. <3

[byuniebh]

history | final

pairing: baekhyun x reader genre: angst summary: a year and a half ago, baekhyun cheated on you, and everyday, he lived a life where he regretted making you left him. note: short chapter. this is the sort of “alternate ending” and i’m posting this first because i like this realistic ending more.

history masterlist | general masterlist

Dating Baekhyun all over again brought some kind of familiarity in you, even though for some reason it was kind of weird that both of you―who’s old enough to marry, ended up by dating again as if you both were still in college. You didn’t complain though―and it was pretty much unsaid about how you and him started to date again.

He brought you to a company dinner as your plus one even though he never said that you were his girlfriend. It brought confusion inside of you but at the same time you felt more secure without the boyfriend or girlfriend label. You started to stay on his apartment more than you stayed in yours. He sometimes drove you to work and fetched you to have lunch with him. In return, when he was overworking himself, you’d come to his office after you were done with your work to accompany him. Just sitting side by side working together.

Waking up with him next to you was a blessing. You loved how soft and serene his face looked when he was asleep without thinking about the burden on his shoulders. You loved the domesticity you shared with him in the morning, with you cooking breakfast on his kitchen and he stared at you with his coffee in his hand.

You loved the domesticity you have with Baekhyun and you know he did, too.

“Do you believe in soulmates?” Baekhyun asked, his fingers are intertwined with yours. You nodded, smiling at him.

“I do. But in a way that they will still be with them nonetheless of anything and you know you’re someone’s soulmate when you are ready to be happy when they find their happiness in something - even though it doesn’t include you.”

“You’re so mature, baby.” He said, you giggled then. “I am.”

The wedding bells chimed, it was a beautiful day to celebrate a wedding, you noted. It was a garden wedding and you were standing on the crowd of the people who were sitting, down, waiting for your speech. Today was a big day, today was a leap of faith and a new chapter that you were ready to take. It felt so overwhelmed to be standing here, being the groom’s best friend, the groom’s soulmate, the groom’s ride or die.

You took a deep breathe, your eyes trying to find the groom’s eyes and once you were looking directly to his eyes, you smiled. A smile so blinding that everyone couldn’t help but to admire your smile. And then you started your speech, feeling content.

“This is awkward, I did this once with Jongin, I never thought I’d be doing this again and it feels more.. Overwhelming,” You chuckled, you could feel your tears building up. “We met years ago, and we clicked right away. He was my best supporter, the person who stood beside me in every step that I took, he was the one who held my hand and assured me whenever things were going downhill. He and I, were special. We dreamed about so many things to achieve together and today, one of the dreams that we had are happening..”

You could feel a hand caressing your spine, comforting you, you were grateful of said person. You shed a tear then, feeling like you couldn’t continue your speech. But you had to go on; you didn’t want to ruin his wedding day on this bright day. You then used your hand to fiddle on the ring that you decided to wear as a necklace. Finding strength.

“Today, my soulmate is getting married to the person that will fill him in the rightest way, and that is the kind of dream we wanted to achieve; to be married with the person who's able to fill us with the kind happiness that i overwhelming and right. And I am the happiest person to be able to witness it.”

You found your soulmate’s eyes again, his eyes were brimming with tears too and his now wife gave you a supportive smile. Knowing and understanding how special the bond you shared with her husband. You took your champagne glass, raising it up to start a toast, ready to celebrate.

“To Baekhyun, my soulmate, and his wife - Minji. Thank you for letting me be here and witness the beautiful wedding. May all the gods give your wedding a blessing!”

Cheers were erupted and everyone were clinking their champagne glass, celebrating the wedding. You smiled, your heart felt empty, but content at the same time. After all, you have tried your best to be with him, both of you have tried the best. Though some things were just not going to be in your favor.

Trust was earned, and you knew Baekhyun couldn’t fully gain your trust after he cheated on you years ago. Even though everything was going so smoothly between both of you, you realized that there would be a void when you both were together, and sooner or later you know that the void would only bring destruction.

So both you and Baekhyun let go, accepting the truth that nonetheless how much both of you tried, things would only go downhill in a blink of eyes.

You were his everything as much as he was your everything, both of you would always have a special bond that nobody could change and even though it hurts to let go, you and Baekhyun realized that history, would remain as a history.

< previous chapter | happy ending >

[tiaragqueen]

Pot Luck

✂ Pairing: Yandere! Lee Jihoon x Reader (feat. Baekhyun)

✂ Word Count: 1,6k

✂ Trigger Warning: Possessive behavior, yandere theme.

✂ This story is fictional and for amusement only. I don't believe any of the members would do this in real life. As always, thank you for reading and I hope you have a good day! [Edited]

Song: Whitney Houston - I Believe In You And Me

If you like my writing, please support me on ko-fi!

“Always on the run, I've been looking for someone. Now you're here like you've been before, and you know just what I need. It took some time for me to see.” – You Give Good Love [Whitney Houston]

               For those who were acquainted with Lee Jihoon would describe him as ‘serious’ and ‘easily irritated’. And while they were true, for the most part, he was a sweetheart to you. He always tried to assist you in some way, smiled a lot, and supported you in every endeavor. He was your go-to person whenever you needed a piece of advice, or just wanted to vent. He never pressured you to talk, rather, he would sit down beside you and waited until you finish sorting out your emotions.

            And that was why you liked him so much. He was the type of person where you could sit in silence for hours without having to talk. Not to mention, he was a wonderful secret keeper and a great listener. Whenever you decided to say anything, be it a simple story about your day or some silly troubles you’ve encountered, he always scooted closer to you and listened wholeheartedly. You were grateful that someone like him existed, and sometimes wondered what did you do to deserve him in your life. If this was a blessing from God.

            You liked him, as a friend.

            But not him.

            For the longest time, Jihoon had fallen in love with you. He was shy and blunt; these traits had scared a lot of people from developing a deeper relationship with him. While you were a cheerful and energetic girl, a complete opposite from him. These people then met in a fortunate incident, where you accidentally found a slip of paper containing lyrics on the school bench. Luckily, you had spotted the name of the lyricist before you could throw it away. And thanks to your wide acquaintances and sharp memory, you managed to pinpoint his location.

            The art room, where acquaintances became friends before eventually blossomed into crushes. At least, that was what happened to Jihoon. So far, you only thought of him as a close friend, and Jihoon intended to change it with his song.

            A piece of creation that he had created from the bottom of his heart.

            A piece of himself that he had bravely displayed just for you.

            A fragment of the deep feelings that he had long harbored for you, and you only.

            “Noona,” he greeted once you entered a cubicle which was his ‘private studio’ within his equally small room.

            You had always been concerned with his living arrangement and had repeatedly offered another place to stay. With your family’s wealth and your high salary, you could afford to pay his expenses until he could search a better job with better payment. However, Jihoon always declined and said that ‘he was content living here and didn’t want to bother you more than he already had’. You didn’t understand why he thought that way when you were more than happy to help him. He had helped you so much in the past, after all, and it was only fair if you could return the favor.

            But sometimes receiving is harder than giving.

            “I told you to stop calling me that.” You huffed playfully as you plopped down on a chair beside him. You also noted that the chair was strangely more cushioned than his, even though he was the one who did the work. “It makes me feel old, you know?”

            Jihoon chuckled quietly; a cute sound that never failed to warm your heart. “We’re all getting old, anyway.”

            “Well, that’s true.” You crossed your arms like a spoiled girl who didn’t get her wishes granted by her parents. “But you don’t need to remind me. You know how much I hate it.”

            Rolling the chair closer to his, you leaned forward. Jihoon’s body tensed up a little when he felt your warm breath hit his cheek, yet the reaction went unnoticed by you. “So, what are you going to show me?”

            Jihoon hummed, teasing you for the sake of poor suspense whilst trying to calm his thumping heart at the proximity.

            “Oh, come on! I’m dying here!” you whined, shaking his left arm playfully.

            “Alright, alright, you can stop shaking my arm now.” Though, he didn’t mind if you continued. It reminded him of a child wanting to know every secret that he harbored from them. And besides, it has been a long time since you last held him like this. Jihoon had almost forgotten how euphoric the feeling of your skin wrapped around his.

            “Then, hurry up! I’m curious.”

            Jihoon giggled before reaching out to grab his guitar from beside the table. Slinging the strap around his neck, he looked up to you with a shy yet eager glint that you hadn’t seen for years. You remembered him giving you that glance when you first checked out his lyric; the one that he intentionally wrote for you to see and not when you accidentally found.

            “I made a song,” he coughed into his palm when he noticed his voice went a bit high-pitched due to nervousness. “And I want to know if you like it or not.”

            There was a brief period of silence as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Once he finally prepped himself up, he began to croon.

                I believe in you and me

                 I believe that we will be

                 In love eternally

                 Well as far as I can see

                 You will always be the one

                 For me (Oh yes, you will)

                 And I believe in dreams again

                 I believe that love will never end

                 And like the river finds the sea

                 I was lost, now I’m free

                 Cuz I believe in you and me

                 I will never leave your side

                 I will never hurt your pride

                 Then I will always be around

                 Just to be right where you are

                 My love, you know I love you

                 When all the chips are down, baby

            Jihoon peeked from his lashes, trying to gauge your reaction. He hoped you would notice the underlying sentiment in that song; about how much he believed that you two would end up together and about how much he loved you. That he would always be loyal to you regardless of the situations. Jihoon also hoped you would notice how that fateful encounter had brought freedom on to his wandering figure. How he had been lost in his mind, searching and wondering if he could ever taste what love felt like – what dating felt like – until he finally met you.

            However, you weren’t a keen judge.

            “That was awesome!” you exclaimed as you applauded his short performance. “Wow, this was the first time I’ve heard you singing. Usually, you just stick with the lyrics. Your voice is wonderful, Jihoon.”

            “Ah,” he blushed, rubbing his nape bashfully. “Thank you. It was nothing, really.”

            “My, Jihoon. You really need to stop undermining yourself. If honed right, you could be a great singer and songwriter in no time!” you gushed, oblivious to his admiring stare that delighted in your gusto. “Then, you could finally afford a nice place!”

            “You’re right, but...” Jihoon inclined his head slightly as he braced himself for your response. “What do you think about that song? Did you... get the feeling I was trying to convey?”

            “Oh, you know I got it. You sang with such love and adoration and affection I was starting wonder if you created this song for someone...” you trailed off before your face lit up. “Or maybe you actually have a special someone, that’s why you asked for my opinion?!”

            “W-what? I–”

            “Aw, don’t be shy!” you cooed, unintentionally cutting him off mid-sentence with your overflowing excitement. “I’m so happy that you finally get someone to love! Hopefully, you can introduce me to them soon. I can’t wait to see the person who has stolen my best friend’s heart!”

            Best friend...

            “So, I’m just a best friend to you...?”

            “What?” you laughed heartily, unaware of his darkening expression nor his softening voice. “Of course, you are. You’re the greatest best friend I’ve ever had! Anyone would be lucky to have you in their lives!”

            “Oh...”

            Right before the conversation could escalate to awkward silence, your phone suddenly rang.

            “Sorry, I gotta leave now. Baekhyun is calling me. Bye, Jihoon! Love ya.” you said in one breath, abruptly standing up from the rolling chair.

            Jihoon's curiosity perked up as he slowly raised his head, discerning you rushing out of the room through his black bangs.

            “Baek... Hyun.” Oh, he knew that guy alright. He was your long-time crush. Jihoon remembered when you came to him and gushed about how handsome and adorable Baekhyun was the second day after you established your friendship with Jihoon.

            He supposed it was understandable that you would like Baekhyun in the first place. He had a cute ‘puppy’ face, charming, and energetic. A social butterfly, unlike Jihoon. The type of guy who’s girls with no important businesses flocked towards like bees to honey.

            Jihoon knew you weren’t definite with your ideal type and had wished that you might have forgotten about your silly – cringe-worthy – crush towards the taller boy. It’s been like... What? Seven years since they graduated from high school.

            Unless you had been secretly contacting him...

            The short man fished out his phone from the back pocket and went to your Instagram account. You were a well-known designer, so in order to attract more customers, you often uploaded your creations. Fortunately, you liked to upload your selfies in there as well. Your account was set in public, therefore Jihoon could easily find the recent photo.

            And the newest one was a picture of you sitting in a cozy café not too far from his apartment, with a caption: “I'm waiting~ XD”

            Satisfied with the discovery, Jihoon leaned back and smirked to the ceiling.

            He knew what he had to do now.

[ohh-baekhyun]

Fallen too Far [M]

Foreword: I knew I wasn’t allowed to feel this way towards Baekhyun. He was my sugar daddy, while me? I was just his baby girl. But, when you spent nearly every day with someone like him, falling in love was inevitable. And now that my feelings were off and running, there’s no choice but to go along for the ride.

Genre: daddy kink, fluff, romance, one-shot.

[M]: whipping (ish), dirty-talk, rough sex, orgasm denial.

(gif credit : @/kamikoy)

I was in the middle of cleaning the dishes when their laughters entered the kitchen for the umpteenth time that night. My bottom lip juts forward in a pout, and I carried on scrubbing the dirty pan, more vigorously now.

Two days ago, Baekhyun’s best friend paid a sudden visit to surprise him for his birthday. Out of panic, he’d introduced me as his housemaid since he wanted to keep our ddlg relationship a secret. That was how I ended up here, in the kitchen, doing chores like a maid would.

I was hurt, of course. He could’ve introduced me as his girlfriend, or a friend at least, but a maid? Do I mean so little to him?

Sometimes, I wondered if I was still just the sugar baby to him. While he still had a headache from half the thing I did to get his attention, I knew for a fact that I made him happy, just as he made me happy too. And to me, he wasn’t just the Daddy anymore. He meant so much more than that. We’d been in this relationship for nearly six months, and when you spend that much time being pampered and coddled by someone like Baekhyun, falling in love is inevitable. No matter how hard you try to stop your feeling from growing, you just can’t, just like how you can’t stop your heart from beating.

I knew I wasn’t allowed to feel this way towards him, that was part of the agreement. If Baekhyun ever found out, my contract might be terminated and he would have to look for a new sugar baby to replace me.

Just the thought of losing him made me sick in the gut.

I suddenly felt angry at myself for letting my feeling build when there was clearly no foundation to stand on. More than that, Baekhyun had made it clear from the start that he wanted no emotional attachment between us. There was no way he’d let our relationship evolved into something more than what we had right now.

My mind was getting carried away by thoughts that I didn’t realize the plate had slipped off my grasp. Until the sound of breaking glass hit my ears, and I flinched backward in shock.

“Oh crap.” I muttered softly, my gaze dropping to the shattered glass on the floor.

“What the hell happened?” Baekhyun’s voice burst into the kitchen a second before he did. His brows furrowed when he found the wreckage I’d caused, then his gaze flew to me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, and without much thought, dropped to my knees and started gathering the mess.

“Don’t touch that—“

Too late.

Just as the words fell from of his mouth, I felt a scrape on my finger that made me wince, and my hand drawing away in reflex.

“Shit. Are you bleeding?” Baekhyun asked as he hurried towards me. “Give me your hand.” He dropped to his knees and took my hand in his for inspection. There was a splinter of glass in my forefinger and I saw blood slowly trickling around the shard. He sighed, looking at me now. “See what happens when you don’t listen?”

This was the first time he talked to me since his best friend’s arrived. Part of me was glad to finally get his attention. I’d been so deprived of it these few days. But it irked me that he was looking so unhappy.

“Why are you getting upset when I’m the one who is injured here?” I protested.

If Baekhyun was surprised by my outburst, he didn’t show it, instead his eyes softened at me in such a way that melt me through and through. “Does it hurt a lot, baby?”

He called me baby in that voice of his, it was taking every ounce of restraint to stop myself from hugging him right there. If only we were alone...

“Baekhyun oppa, is everything okay?”

And there she is...

We brought our gaze towards the owner of the voice, Jisoo. She stopped at the doorway, glancing between me and Baekhyun before landing his gaze on our hands.

“Oh dear,” she grimaced at the sight of blood on my finger. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” I gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not.” Baekhyun opposed with such a firm tone that it startled me, and I caught the confusion in Jisoo’s expression as she watched us.

I gave Baekhyun a look, my brows drawing together as if asking What the hell are you doing?

Much to my relief, someone’s phone started ringing. “That’s mine,” Jisoo announced before dissappearing into the living hall, leaving me and Baekhyun behind.

“Are you trying to blow our cover?” I asked in a loud whisper, glancing furtively over his shoulder to make sure no one heard us.

“You need to get your hand treated.” He said, gently pulling me up to my feet. “Get in your room and wait for me there.”

“No need. I can handle myself.” I peeled my hand away from his grasp, only to earn a warning glare from him that made me swallow in retreat. “W-what about the dishes?” I gestured towards the sink.

“I said get in your room, do you hear me?” Baekhyun said, his voice exerting dominance; his expression so deadly serious that I had no choice but to submit.

“Yes, Daddy.”

While waiting for Baekhyun, I sat in bed and checked the payment statement I’d just receive today. Uni was reopening in three weeks time, which mean my tuition fee was due soon.

I reached for my phone and clicked on the ibanking app to view my account. Once the page loaded, I blinked and blinked and blinked, surprised by the increasing digits in my savings. I didn’t have to check my transaction history to find out who the sender was. Baekhyun must’ve read the letter before I did, seeing that the envelope was unsealed when I found it on the coffee table this morning.

I felt a mixed of gratefulness and unease in my chest. Ever since Baekhyun made me his baby girl, I didn’t have to worry about not having enough to pay for my bills, rent, or anything. He made sure I had everything I needed, even things I didn’t need—frivolous things. My monthly allowance was thrice as much as my earnings back when I used to take up three part time jobs. I’d resigned as per Baekhyun’s request since he wanted me available every time he needed me, especially during the weekend. He wouldn’t meddle with my uni schedule though. In fact, he was very supportive of my study, which was why this arrangement was beneficial for me. Because not only did I get focus on my study, I get to also spend more time with Baekhyun.

However, this arrangement was a temporary thing.

Sooner or later, as much as I hate to admit it, Baekhyun would get bored of me and leave, like he did to his ex baby girls. And when the day came, I would have to take up those jobs again to fund myself. Or maybe, looked for a new Daddy to sponsor me. Though I doubt I would get over Baekhyun so easily. I’d be so heartbroken for months, years or forever maybe.

I threw my phone along with the envelope across the bed and curled on my side holding one of my plush toys. Funny how heartache can make you feel so...lifeless.

A short moment later, I sat up at the sound of the door opening. Entering the room was Baekhyun, holding a first-aid kid in his hand. He was still wearing his work attire, minus the jacket, just a white dress shirt with the top buttons undone. We stared at each other, and the softness in his gaze told me he wasn’t as upset anymore. My lips stretched up into a smile, and as soon as the door was closed and locked, I rose from the bed and scurried towards him like a puppy would when their owner returned home.

“Daddy!” I called out sweetly, my arms stretching out to pull him into a big big hug. I heard his low chuckle sounding above my head as I nuzzled my face into his chest. Two days of being mentally apart had made me so deprived of his touch; his affection; him. “I really really miss you.”

His lips brushed over my hair and he pressed a long kiss on the crown of my head. “Come on baby girl,” he whispered, “let daddy take care of your wound.”

I glanced up at him. “What if Jisoo finds out you are here?”

“She just went out.” He said, and I can’t stop my smile from widening. He chuckled at my excitement before saying, “Get on the bed.”

Feeling mischievous, I buried my face in his chest and shook my head. “Don’t want.”

“What do you mean don’t want?” He said, to which I simply giggled. “Are you trying to be naughty again?” this time he was pushing forward so I was walking backwards with my arms clinging onto his waist. Our giggles filled the room and we drew to a halt when the back of my knees touched the bed.

“Sit down.” he ordered softly.

I peered up from his chest, smiling sweetly at him and asked, “Can I sit on Daddy’s lap?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Where’s your please?”

“Please?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.

Baekhyun eventually gave a mild nod in approval. I beamed as he lowered himself on the bed, setting the kit aside before tapping on his thigh to motion me to sit. But as soon as I sat my bum on his lap, he faked a low groan in the back of his throat. “Ugh, so heavy.”

“Daddyy!” I whined, pushing at his chest playfully. “You’re so mean.”

He simply grinned as he extended a hand towards me. “Let me see your hand.”

I gave him my injured one and he held it up to his eye level to examine. Though the cut was deep, the blood around the gash has dried up, so it wasn’t as painful anymore.

“I just need a plaster.” I told him.

He shook his head as he stared at my finger. “Daddy needs to clean your wound before it gets infected.”

My face turned pale at that. “Are you going to use that...uh...that liquid thingy that stings a lot?”

Baekhyun chuckled at my description, staring at me now. “Peroxide you mean?”

I made a pout with my lips. “It’s going to hurt so bad.”

“I know, baby.” He sighed, eyes filled with concern at my apparent distress. “Just bear it for a while, okay?” I gave a meek nod, and he smiled softly at me. “Good girl.”

I tried not to cower while watching Baekhyun dug into the first-aid kit as he gathered things he needed to dress my wound. He looked at me again once he was done soaking the cotton ball. I was already grimacing before it even started. His free hand came to rest on the back of my head and he caressed me there, “I’ll be gentle, I promise.”

With reluctance, I offered him my hand and looked away when I saw that he was about to start. Shortly after, I felt the cotton gently swapping over my finger. It didn’t hurt at first, but as soon as the liquid penetrated into my skin, I felt the painful sting that made me squeeze my eyes close and winced. Tears began to well in my eyes, and with another swap, they rolled down my cheek like a waterfall. I buried my face in his chest as I weep quietly.

“I’m almost done.” Baekhyun murmured, brushing of his thumb over my palm to soothe me. The pain was beginning to ease, and my crying was slowly drawing to a halt. I kept my face planted in his hard chest to hush my shuddering gasps. After he was done wrapping a plaster around my finger, his arms went around me and I felt his soft lips on my temple as he pressed a kiss there. “It’s okay now.” He whispered.

I lifted my head to reveal my tear-streaked face. He chuckled, shaking his head at me as he cupped my cheek with both hands, “You’re like a baby, you know?” he teased, wiping away the remnant of tears that lingered under my eyes.

“But I am your baby.” I argued lightly.

“You’re right.” he huffed with a soft smile on his face. “My naughty little baby.”

I wrinkled my nose at him without disagreeing because he wasn’t wrong. I can be very naughty sometimes.

Baekhyun continued brushing my wet cheeks with his thumbs, his warm eyes studying every inch of my feature. But later, as if something struck him, he narrowed his eyes at me. “You can’t be doing this deliberately to get my attention, right?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Did you hurt yourself on purpose?”

My frown deepened. “Why would you say that?”

He lifted his brows to his forehead, “You’ve pulled this stunt before, remember?”

Ah...right...

I’d once faked a sickness just so he would take the day off to take care of me. He had an important meeting that he cancelled because of me. I remembered how furious he was when he found out I was lying. My buttcheek paid a high price for that mistake and the lesson was received loud and clear.

Baekhyun tapped on my cheek to pull me out of my daze. I blinked at him, and presently, his expression had grown more serious. “Did you or did you not hurt yourself on purpose?” He asked again.

I sulked, looking away unhappily. Although he has every right to be suspicious since it happened before, my feeling was still hurt because he didn’t trust me.

At my prolonged silence, he grunted. “Are you going to answer or do I have to put you over my knees to find out?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose, it was an accident.” I mumbled reluctantly, still not looking at him.

“I can’t hear you, little one.”

In the heat of the moment, I threw him a glare. “I told you it was a fucking accident! Are you deaf or something?” I yelled, not realizing what I’d done until I saw the fierce, warning look on Baekhyun’s face. Oh God. I pressed my lips together and dropped my gaze submissively. The silence that stretched made my heart thrummed with fear. I felt his gaze on me even though I wasn’t looking at him. He must be thinking of a severe punishment for me, knowing how much he hated it when I cursed.

And I was right...

“Get up.” He ordered, and I scrambled off his lap in no time. Once I was standing up, he stared up at me. “Clothes off and stand against the wall. You have five seconds.”

Baekhyun began the countdown as I hurried to do as told. The second he hit one, I was already standing with my back against the wall, bare-skinned from head to toe. He pierced his dark gaze onto me as he bent forward to rest his elbows on each side of his knees. I gulped, and my fingers started to fiddle with themselves. The man might look calm on the outside, but the dark aura he exuded told me he was anything but. He was so fucking pissed, I can tell.

“Tell me what you did wrong?” He started gruffly, his eyes never left mine.

“I raised my voice at Daddy.” I admitted.

He raised his brows. “That’s all?”

“–and curse too.” I added.

He hummed. “Tell me how should Daddy punish you then?”

“You…” I hesitated, “you should spank me.”

Baekhyun chuckled humorlessly, shaking his head in disagreement. “I don’t think spanking works anymore.” He lift himself off the bed and stalked toward me. “You’ve been spanked so many times yet you never seem to learn your lesson.”

I gasped when he started unbuckling his belt in front of me. God, is he going to whip me with that? Although Baekhyun had always been strict with his punishments, he had never used a tool to hit me before. My punishment had always been a spanking, or sometimes he’d make me come so many times I had to beg him to stop because I couldn’t take it anymore—something he called overstimulation. I don’t know if I can handle being whipped.

“D-daddy…” I whimpered when he looped the leather around his hand. He looked at me again, and my heart rate accelerated in that second. “Are...are you going to hit me with that?” I asked timidly.

He hummed, and I let out a shaky breath when he swayed his hand back in preparation. “Next time you think about misbehaving again,remember this—” He grunted, whipping the leather strap across my thigh with force, causing me to cry out in pain.

His own breathing was heavy, and he had his lower lip caught in between his teeth as he daggered his dark gaze into mine. Is it wrong to think to think that he looked so hot when he is angry? Is it wrong for me to be turned on right now? I felt a little giddy inside, and I can’t help the growing slickness in between my legs.

“Does it hurt?” he asked me, and I gave a timid nod. “Good,” He said, swaying his hand back again. “That’ll teach you not to be so fucking rude to your Daddy.” He drew in a sharp breath before swinging his hand forward again. I shut my eyes close and whimpered at another hard slap that landed on the side of my thigh.

There’s a beat of silence afterwards, and I kept my eyes closed. But they flew open in a snap when I felt a rough grip on my chin. One blink at his handsome feature, our body collided and his mouth came slamming down on mine. His tongue swept into my mouth, and he made a low grunt in the back of his throat as he bit down on my lip. Hard. The pain made me whimper, and his grip around my chin grew tight. His mouth tugged at my upper lips, and he sucked on the flesh before thrusting his tongue through my opening to attack mine. There was nothing gentle about the kiss and as strange as it sounded, I was so immensely turned on by this. I grabbed onto his biceps, holding on for dear life as his mouth continued to assault mine.

Much to my discontent, Baekhyun broke the kiss and drew back to meet my eyes. We were both breathing heavily, and I watched him as he began unwinding the belt that was wrapped around his hand. Is he done with me? I thought to myself.

As if answering my silent question, Baekhyun seized my hand and began fastening the strap my wrists. “Lift your arms.” He ordered once he was done tying me up. I was puzzled, but I did it anyway. He then pushed his knee in between my thigh and nudge them apart, all the while staring at me. “I’m not done punishing you.”

I shivered at the way his gaze smoldered for me, like he was angry and turned on both at the same time. I expected my punishment to be a spanking, instead, he slipped a hand in between my legs and without warning, pushed two fingers into my wet cunt. “Daddy...” I moaned, my walls clenching tightly around his thick digits.

“Fucking slut,” He bit out harshly. “Did you enjoy being punished that much, huh?” He withdrew his fingers slowly and lift it up to show me his juice coated digits. “See how bloody wet you are?” I visibly blushed, and that made him sneer. “Open your mouth.” He commanded. And when I complied, he brought his fingers closer to my opening. “Suck it clean.” 

Like an obedient pet that I was, I did as he told me to. Tilting my head just slightly, I took his fingers into my mouth and flicked my tongue around them to lick away my own wetness. I felt a little scandalized at the fact that I was tasting myself, but I can’t deny how insanely hot this actually was.

Baekhyun gnawed on his bottom lip as he watched me, his pupils dilating at the sight of me sucking on his fingers so eagerly like they were his cock. His own breathing was growing heavier by the second, and as if his control snapped, he withdrew his fingers abruptly and dived in to kiss me again. Just like before, his kiss was rough and punishing. However it didn’t last long this time. I whined in protest when our lips detached, which resulted in a hard slap across my breast that caused me to yelp.

“Quiet.” Baekhyun growled, and I had to clamp my lips together to stifle my whimper. “I told you I’m not done punishing you.” He said. His other hand went to unzip his pant, pulling it down so his erection bobbed freely.

I gulped, my inner walls clenching and unclenching on its own accord at the sight of his thick cock.

“Eyes on me.” He ordered, and I lifted my gaze to meet his fierce one. He stepped closer and moved a hand up to rest on the nape on my neck, his thumb applying a light pressure to my windpipe. I choked slightly, and held my breath when he positioned his cock to my pussy, “You are not allowed to come unless I said so.” He said, rubbing my wet slit with the tip. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, what?” He barked.

I drew in a shuddering breath before muttering, “Y-yes, Daddy.”

With that, Baekhyun grunted and slammed his cock into me with such strength, my head flew back against the wall with a loud cry. He hissed through his clenched jaw at the way my walls squeezed tightly around his thick length. “Always so tight for Daddy.” He leaned in to press his lips against mine while his cock withdrew slowly. He gnawed on my lower lip, tugging at it before letting go and burying his cock deep in my pussy again. I let out a long moan, tears teasing my eyes at the sweet pain he was granting me.

“Tell me who’s this pussy made for?” He whispered huskily over my lips. 

“Daddy,” I whispered back in a shaky breath. “Just for Daddy.”

“That’s right.” He pulled out of me again. “It’s made just for Daddy to fuck.” He growled and thrust all the way in, filling my cunt with his thick shaft. I screamed in pleasure and my mind went blank for a beat. “Do you like having Daddy’s cock in your pussy like this?”

When I gave a jerky nod, his lips twitched into a dark smirk and he put more pressure to his grip around my neck. I gasped softly, and he began ramming his cock in and out of me, grunting hard with each thrust. My breasts bounced freely, and he dipped in to take my nipple into his mouth, sucking and flicking his tongue around my bud. It wasn’t long until my inner muscle started to throb around his dick at the heightened pleasure.

“D-daddy...” I moaned. “Can I–can I cum? Please?”

“Don’t you dare cum.” He warned, clenching his jaw tightly as he continued pounding into me mercilessly. The slick noises of his cock leaving and entering my wet cunt blended with the sound of our lewd moans. If someone was home, they’d be able to hear us loud and clear.

When my arms started to turn sore, I dropped them so they were circled around Baekhyun’s neck with my wrists still tied together. He bent down to carry my wobbly legs, wrapping them around his hips before pistoning into my wet cunt again. I cried out loud. This new position caused the tip of his cock to hit me precisely on my sweet spot. I was on the verge of my orgasm, I can feel it. And it felt like the knot in my stomach could snap anytime soon.

“Daddy, I-I can’t take it anymore, please let me cum...please.” I begged desperately, not able to withstand it any longer.

“No.” He rebuffed in a low growl, his length sliding out of me abruptly, causing the building pressure to fade away. I whined. “Only Daddy gets to cum today. That’s your punishment for being naughty.”

And Baekhyun meant what he said about not letting me cum. Over the next hour, he continued pounding his dick into me senselessly. I’d lost count of the number of times he orgasm inside me, and the number of times he denied my orgasm. My womb was so loaded with his cum, they were dripping out of my pussy and down my thighs. I felt full, yet unsated. It was frustrating. A damn torture.

We migrated to the bathroom once Baekhyun was done fucking my brain out without letting me cum at all. I sat on the toilet seat cover, facing him who was kneeling on one knee in front of me. He held a washcloth in his hand, and he glanced up at me while wiping away the remains of cum on my chest. I raised my brows at him because he was giving me a very long stare. Seemed like he was contemplating something in his mind, so I waited.

“I’ve been thinking,” He finally started, “Maybe you should go somewhere for a while.”

What? Go somewhere? I blinked at him, puzzled. And my mind went to the worst scenario. “Are you trying to get rid of me?” I asked in a frown.  

His brows furrowed. “Don’t be silly, little one.”

“Then?”

“I just thought you should go on a trip...enjoy yourself before uni starts again.”

“Where would I go?”

He shrugged. “Anywhere you want. Daddy will pay for it.”

“Will Daddy come with me too?” I gazed at him expectantly.

He shook his head. “I can’t. I have work to do.”

My shoulders deflated in disappointment. Why did I even bother to ask? The answer was always the same. I can’t. I’m busy. We can’t be seen together. He wouldn’t even go on a dinner or movie date with me. Our dates were always here, in his penthouse. It had been six months yet I still had no clue what Baekhyun did for a living. He could be a serial killer or a drug lord, who knows? He was very secretive when it comes to his personal life, and it sucks that he knew literally everything about me yet I knew almost nothing about him.

But who am I to complain? I am just his sugar baby, his toy to play with, nothing more. And it’s killing me that I love him, but I can’t have him. 

[fairyscribbles]

Dinner Tactics. (SEHUN, pt. 4) [Chronicles of the Wolf]

Another Sehunnie part! Just for you to know, this happens a while before Baekhyun’s arc, so he is still hurting a bit!

If you want to refresh your memory, last part is here! If you like it and want to support it, my ko-fi is here! 

-

"We should head out before dark. The sun will fall soon, so we should hurry." Sehun told you as he watched you pack, his eyes not quite where they should be looking. You grinned as you caught him staring at your ass with a slightly dreamy expression.

"See something you like, Sehunnie?"

"A lot of things..." Sehun whispered wistfully.

You just smiled to yourself, unsure why you were even blushing so hard. "Sehunnie..."

"Don't say my name like that. It makes it worse."

Your eyes closed, hands shaking as you tucked the last of your necessities and zipped up your bag. "O-okay..."

When you turned around, you yelped because Sehun was right behind you, breathing deeply.

"S-sehun?"

"Maybe before we leave...we could squeeze in another session..." his voice sounded a bit unsure, but his movements were precise, as he pressed you against the chest of drawers, his hands landing on your hips.

"A-a session of what?" You asked and Sehun only smiled, leaning down and making your breath hitch.

He held his breath as his lips slanted over yours, and you let your eyes slip closed as your hands touched his neck tentatively to encourage him the rest of the way. You melted at the first unsure brush of Sehun's lips against yours, which only encouraged him to do more, to kiss you harder as he pressed his body closer.

The rumble you felt in his chest only thrummed through your skin, but you felt the catch in his muscles, the shudder as he moved against you like he could never get close enough.

You were glad he was holding you so tightly- your legs were reduced to jelly at that moment and you were sure you would slip to the ground if he didn't have his arms wrapped around you.

You mewled softly against his lips, you hand moving from his neck to bury in his blonde hair, gently pulling on the roots just to hear the young wolf growl and grip you tighter. You were left breathless when you felt him thrust against you, his hips moving so languidly you couldn't help but to think how they would feel when you were in bed.

Oh god. You smothered the thought with a groan, pulling away from Sehun's intense kisses to take a few shaky breaths.

"Se.. hun..."

His growl thrummed through his chest and vibrated through yours, making the trembles in your belly even worse.

"We'll be..."

"Please. Once we get to the house, I won't have the privacy to kiss you wherever I want."

"Where..." your voice pitched higher at the indecent thought.

'Wherever?" Sehun growled in agreement, his lips trailing downwards your neck and collarbones. His hands slipped over your ass and you squeaked when he squeezed hard.

"Yes. Wherever I can."

'Anywhere!' your brain screamed instantly.

To which you could only blush and thank the gods it didn't just burst from your mouth.

"Noona..?"

You blinked up at him, panicking for a second that you actually did say it aloud. "Hrm?"

His hands drifted to your sides unsurely.

"This was a very good idea from the start..." his voice was deliciously husky and you just couldn't hold the shiver that ran down your spine when you heard it grate against your skin.

"But… we might not be able to set out before sun falls if we continue." You had to drop your head against his shoulder with a groan, your face feeling like it was going to catch fire any second. "O-okay..."

It felt strange. For someone who was normally so in control - and quite liked knowing where things were going and how fast - Sehun was frighteningly good at throwing you off-balance. What's worse... you weren't sure you had much of a problem with it.

His hands were heavy against your hips, fingers unconsciously massaging. "Okay. Let's... go. Before I change my mind."

You laughed breathlessly against his skin as he pressed a kiss into your hair, urging himself away and groaning when you fought against the movement. "Sunset. Come on."

His worry made your muscles more willing to cooperate. "Right."

He grabbed your bag, his hand secure around yours. "Should I avoid the main streets..?"

You nodded. "I'm a healer leaving town for an indeterminate amount of time. That's probably for the best."

Sehun chuckled dryly, brushing his hair back into place in a way that made you want to help. Groaning inwardly at your inexplicable rush of hormones, you just followed him through your back door, making sure to lock up behind you. Sehun tucked your arm around his, patting you gently. "Stay as close as you can. I'll make sure they don't see us."

The wind picked up, and you had to tuck a hand over your hair to keep it from your eyes as the shuffle of Sehun's feet picked up until you were nearly at a jog. But at least it made quick work of the distance to the edge of the forest. Plus, everyone else seemed much too distracted with keeping all their things from blowing away to pay any attention to the pair of you casually making a getaway.

Sehun looked particularly proud of himself but you weren't asking anything else because his pace wasn't slowing down.

Whatever it was that came after sunset, it concerned the big wolf and you cannot imagine what the thing do to you.

It was a silent walk, the only thing you heard were the cracks of twigs and leaves under your feet as you hurried and just when you were about to ask how much longer, because you could already feel your legs protesting...a house appeared from between the trees and you couldn't help but look at it in awe.

"You live here, Sehunnie?"

Sehun glanced down at you with a proud smile. "This is home."

You turned your amazed look back to the cozy-looking home beckoning you to come closer, just a tinge of jealousy hitting you. He said the wolves lived here, all together. You could only imagine how nice it must have been to be here with all of the family.

"Come on, noona..."

Sehun took firm hold of your hand, the wind around you ceasing instantly as you stepped through to the slight clearing around the house.

You followed him, hand squeezing at his when you picked up the sound of voices inside. Oh. Why did that suddenly make you nervous?

Sehun must've felt the small resistance you put up, the slight stutter in your steps and he turned around to face you with a smile.

"You worry too much, noona. They can't wait to meet you." He told you with a small smile and you reciprocated a shaky one at him. He wanted to open his mouth and say something more, but the front door was opening, revealing the bubbly chinese girl you met before, waving at you and urging you to come in.

"Hurry, dinner is about to start!"

"Okay!"

Sehun's tug at your arm got stronger, and you almost squeaked when he tucked you against his side and dragged you along despite your stiff posture.

Yijie smiled warmly in welcome as she stepped aside and let the two of you in, bowing slightly. "Hello, ___-sshi. Nice to see you again."

"Y-you too," you stammered, the nervousness piling when she shut the door behind you and the boom of voices got louder.

"You got here just in time! The sun just died." Yijie murmured as she fumbled around to look for something. You looked up to Sehun with confusion in your features, to which he just shook his head.

Apparently, he wasn't ready just yet to explain what was happening, especially not why the chinese girl pulled out a sack of salt and made a thick line right in front of the door.

"W-what are you..."

"I'll explain later, noona. This isn't the time..." Sehun murmured softly, helping you take off your cloak before he steered you into the dining room, already filled with people.

"Everyone, meet ___." Too many eyes landed on you, too much attention, and you tried your best to worm back behind Sehun for at least some protection.

The room exploded with chatter, some you could decipher, some you couldn't, but you were sure most of them were about you.

"It's...very nice to meet you...I'm sorry I came uninvited..."

"Don't be silly. Any friend of Sehunnie's is a friend of ours." The man who spoke had a kind, stable voice, and you knew instantly he was a leader. "Besides, you were the one who gave us the medicine for our pack, right?"

Your face heated. "Umm... y-yes..."

"Then you're always welcome, ___." He pointed to the empty chair. "Please, have a seat. They were just getting ready to serve dinner."

Sehun pulled the chair out for you, and you settled beside a familiar face. "Subin-sshi!"

"Hi, ___-sshi. It's nice to see you again." She was smiling wide, and you spotted a wolf on the other side, greeting you with a smile and a nod.

Sehun sat you down, the weight of his hands on your shoulders reassuring.

"Alright, from the start." He whispered into your ear as he pointed at the tall blond male with a stoic, serious look.

"That's Kris-hyung. He's the alpha. And next to him is his ma-..." Sehun frowned as he cut himself off in the middle of his sentence, but before you could ask him what's wrong, he jumped back on track.

"His girlfriend, Bom." The girl waved at you with a small smirk and you bowed in greeting.

"Then there's Suho hyung, the other alpha," the wolf who talked to you before waved. "And next to him is Baekhyun hyung. Then there is Tao and Bora," the woman's face looked familiar, but you couldn't quite remember where you saw her before and so you just opted on bowing them in greeting. "Next to them is Jongin. Don't get close to him, or you might catch his stupidity." The dark haired wolf glared at Sehun before digging back into his food, obviously glad he could be eating.

Sehun moved on with an amused scoff. "Chanyeol hyung is in the kitchen, but this is his... girlfriend, Jimin noona."

She just nodded and smiled towards you, and you gave an awkward little bow.

"This is Luhan hyung, Soomi noona." He gestured to the couple. "You already met Subin noona, and this is Kyungsoo hyung. Minseok hyung, Haneul noona. And last but not least, Haerin-sshi."

The girl nodded to you shyly, and you looked up at Sehun in despair. You were already bad with names as it was. Now, your head was reeling.

"Oh, Jongdae hyung must be in the kitchen with Yixing hyung and Yijie noona, too."

You almost whimpered; all these names were overwhelming.

"Don't worry about remembering now. You will eventually get it," Baekhyun said with a laugh.

Your cheeks heated. Were you so obvious?

"I just figured." Baekhyun shrugged, smiling gently. "I saw the wheels turning in your head."

Either way you bowed to the large table, as deep as you could in thanks. Baekhyun, the wolf sitting on one side of you scoffed, shaking his head.

"Come on, don't do that. You're basically family- you healed up Kyungsoo's and Chanyeol's wounds and you're trying your best to heal Sehunnie, too."

You ducked away from his look all jittery, and Sehun just smoothed his hand over your back gently, urging you to sit. "Right. Well, food. What did you want, noona?"

Baekhyun glanced over at you, and you felt your cheeks heat up even more. "Noona? By... how much?"

Joonmyun popped Baekhyun over the head, but all the wolf did was flinch slightly before grinning. "Sorry. You live as long as we do, you forget how sensitive age is."

You blinked at Baekhyun, then at Joonmyun who was smiling to you apologetically, then at Sehun, who was just shaking his head. You glanced back at Baekhyun with a small smile. "Y-you first, then."

Baekhyun's eyes widened in surprise. "Me?" At your nod, he smirked. "Oh. I like you. But I don't think dinner is a time to discuss how ancient I am. Way to get out of answering the question though."

His praise came with a wink, and you just let your cheeks stay warm and looked back at Sehun. "I can grab it myself if you show me where it is."

Sehun shook his head. "No, let me do it."

"Wow, Sehun-ah. I've never seen you so... doting," someone from the kitchen door commented.

You glanced back to find a tall man with a bright, hundred-watt grin walking over with a tray in his hand.

"But you don't need to worry. I got it."

The man reached over Sehun and slid the tray in front of you, two full, steaming plates set in the middle of two tall glasses of some kind of red juice.

"Hello, ___-sshi. Thanks a lot for the medicine. I appreciate it."

He stuck his hand out to you, and you shook it hesitantly, trying to find his name in your head. He was in the kitchen; he needed medicine; not Kyungsoo. "Ahh, Chanyeol-sshi..?"

His eyes crinkled with his smile. "Ooh, nicely done~"

You couldn't help but to return his smile- it was quite infectious, you realized as you watched the tall wolf sit down next to his partner, leaning over to steal a kiss off her lips. Only with this you noticed how the table was full of affections- there's wasn't a couple who wasn't touching, be it hand-holding or a wolf's possessive hand on the girl's knee or thigh. Even the chinese couple, Yixing and Yijie? Were currently occupying only one chair, but that seemed to be only because apparently there weren't any more free chairs in the dining room.

"Oh, you get used to this, too." Baekhyun said once he saw your curious looks all over the room.

"T-to what?"

"All the affection." He nodded towards an unspecific location before taking another swig of his drink. A wrinkle of your nose told you something strong was in that. "But don't worry. I'm sure Sehunnie has it covered."

"Hyung!"

Baekhyun just snickered, and you were surprised that Jongin and Joonmyun did too.

You caught a glance at the young wolf, and your heart almost skipped a beat at the sign of a blush adorning his cheeks. You patted his back in comfort and Sehun just grumbled something in reply.

Baekhyun must've heard, because he laughed out loud, his head falling back as he slapped his knees.

"So, ___." Joonmyun caught your attention as he smiled, cutting a piece of meat and eating in.

"What brings you to our home?" Your mouth opened to reply, but the shyness around the large pack of wolves stayed, and you couldn't quite voice your opinion.

"We're going to stay the night and then leave in the morning, hyung." Sehun mumbled out before he chewed properly and swallowed.

"___ noona found some recipe for medicine that could help me, but the ingredients are too dangerous to obtain. So I'm helping her."

"Basically, what I heard was 'dangerous situations' and 'treasure hunt'." Of course Baekhyun would be interested- he isn't the best tracker of the pack for nothing.

"Is there any way I can help you? I'm sick of sitting around and not doing anything."

You glanced wide-eyed at the wolf as he took another drink. "I might be able to help."

"You mean you wanna chaperone," Chanyeol laughed, to which you went bright red.

A few of the other women gasped. "You said dangerous, Sehunnie..?" Yijie asked, her accent prominent from worry.

"How dangerous? Isn't... she still out there?" Subin voiced, her forehead creased.

Yixing and Kyungsoo subdued their partners with quiet pats, and Sehun turned to Baekhyun. "Maybe... that would be best, wouldn't it?"

"Can I come?"

Everyone turned to the determined voice, and Tao's eyes nearly bulged at his Bom’s request. "Baobei..."

"I can help with wards, and I can help look. I know the silver it was built with. Maybe... I can help ___-sshi find out what could counteract it."

"Y-you built it?" you gasped at the woman, mouth rolled in confusion. A glance at Sehun confirmed it, but you weren't sure what she could possibly be doing sitting at the same table if she harmed one of the pack.

Bora bobbed her head solemnly. "No... but it was in our armory. I know who did."

You nodded, swallowing your questions. And the odd rush of impulses to be angry at her for harming Sehun. As if he could sense your agitation, Sehun patted your thigh gently.

"Tao will come, right?" Bora added, glancing at her wolf.

Tao sighed, nodding instantly. "Of course, baobei."

So Bora was back to looking at you, at Sehun, then at Junmyeon. "Please?"

Joonmyun only looked over at you and Sehun. "It's up to Sehunnie."

All eyes turned to the young wolf, who picked at his food for a second before nodding. "Of course, noona. I appreciate it."

There was obviously a lot going on that you had to ask Sehun about later, but there was a tangible deflating of tension that you could only be glad for. Then Baekhyun spoke up again. "Hey, what about me?"

Sehun chuckled. "Sure, hyung. You're a great tracker. I couldn't say no to that."

You blinked. And just like that there were three more people added to your company for this impromptu adventure.

"Thank god. I've been going insane being holed up here."

Bora and Tao fidgeted, telling you tehy agreed with Baekhyun's relieved remark. "Tomorrow then?"

When everyone looked at you, you could only nod. "Yes... tomorrow..."