Hello guys! I know I really should be updating my stories, but tonight I will be writing about something different. This is going to be a post about chanbaek (possibly a really longwinded post with no coherent structure whatsoever, but if you can bear with me, you are most welcome to read till the end). I’ve been meaning to pen down my thoughts about chanbaek for the longest time, and I guess now’s a good time, especially with the recent influx of chanbaek moments that have all of us shippers dead (and begging for more).

Firstly, I guess I should explain how I first began shipping chanbaek. I have been a fan of EXO since their debut, and I remember when their ship name was more popularly known as baekyeol, aka the Breakfast Couple.  At that point in time, I wasn’t really very interested in the baekyeol ship, and so I did not bother myself with learning more about this pairing (I really wish I got into them sooner). My impression of baekyeol was that they were a really popular ship, and I dismissed them as mere fanservice. Sure, I definitely couldn’t deny that they look really good together, and that their personalities match really well as well, but I just wasn’t really into the ship.

My first ship in EXO was actually kaisoo, and I shipped them HARD. I was the hardcore shipper that couldn’t even imagine them dating other people, and I remember telling my friends that I would stop stanning EXO if it was ever revealed that Kai or Kyungsoo was dating someone else. (Yes yes, I was that kind of immature shipper, judge me all you want/like.) Being a kaisoo shipper meant that I was exposed to all the amazing works of literary art by the talented fanfiction writers in the fandom. I devoured fanfiction after fanfiction, and very often, these stories had chanbaek as their side-pairings. Gradually, I began to read chanbaek fanfiction as well, and I remember LOVING 10080 and Baby’s Breath. (Honestly speaking, I really wonder if all the talented writers are gathered in the EXO ficdom.)

However, I didn’t start shipping chanbaek because of fanfiction. I started to ship chanbaek when the baekyeon news broke out (ironic, no?). It was such breaking news, and I remember feeling so sorry for the chanbaek shippers because I know I would have been so devastated and heartbroken if such a thing happened to kaisoo. I was curious about the chanbaek pairing and I decided to check them out. I did my research about them, and at the end of it all, I was blown away. It felt as if my eyes had been opened to the amazing bond between these two, and I found myself questioning my previous assumptions that everything which existed between them was mere fanservice. When I see the way they look at each other, it is clear that their bond has a very unique and genuine quality to it. All at once, I felt guilty for having dismissed the ship, but I also wanted to laugh at the strange irony of it all. Why was I only beginning to fall in love with this pairing at the moment when Baekhyun was reported to be dating Taeyeon? If anything, the news should deter me from believing in chanbaek, no?

But that didn’t stop me. I looked at the evidence in front of me squarely and decided that I absolutely adored the relationship that chanbaek shared. Their bond had an indescribable quality to it which compelled me to think ‘This is the real deal’! (I’d like to say that my gut feeling doesn’t fail me often, and I treat my ships seriously. When I say I ship a pairing, I don’t go into the ship halfheartedly. I NEED to be convinced that the pairing is special/genuine before I commit myself.) And there you go, I began to ship chanbaek because of baekyeon. Interesting circumstances to be getting into the ship, I must say, but I do not regret it a single bit.

Currently, I am a hardcore shipper and supporter of chanbaek. Every day that passes cements my belief in this pairing. This comeback has blessed us with many new moments and in the face of so many hints and evidences, it is hard to turn a blind eye to the special relationship that they share. I will forever hold this pairing close to my heart because I see something pure and genuine between them both. I see two souls who love and support each other, two souls who were destined to meet and come together. Soul mates.

Those two words make me giddy with happiness.

I believe that soul mates come in a variety of forms, and I choose to interpret the term in the simplest sense. I believe that soul mates are two complementary souls that are meant to come together; two souls sharing a special and distinct relationship. Soul mates may be romantic in nature, or it may even come in the form of platonic friendships. Heck, even your parents or your pets might be one of your soul mates. As much as the term ‘soul mates’ has been romanticized, and as much as it has been used to refer to two people who love each other romantically, I would like to define soul mates with my own understanding.

Two souls who come together perfectly to share a pure form of love.

And so you may ask: what kind of soul mates are chanbaek then? Are they lovers? Or are they best friends? How do I view their relationship? I know that most people ship them as romantic partners, and for me, I view their bond in an open-ended manner. Do I see romantic elements between them? Yes. What about an enduring, platonic form of love? Yes. But I do not want to give them any labels. Because my whole analysis is going to be based on tearing down these predetermined labels, and taking chanbaek out of neatly organized boxes that prevent us from seeing their bond in its entirety.

Because the purest form of love cannot be labelled.

What prompted this epiphany was a late night conversation that I had with a friend pretty recently. What began as a casual discussion on the qualities we would like to see in our future partners gradually morphed into a deeper discussion on the nature of love. One question has always been on my mind—how do you know when you are in genuinely in love with someone else when the line between romantic love and friendship is so thin? Romance and friendship are different forms of love, but as different as they are, they are also starkly similar. What exactly differentiates an extremely deep friendship from love?

I wasn’t able to get a satisfactory answer. Even till now, I don’t have the answer. But then I realized that love is love, no matter what form it comes in. It is unnecessary to label and categorize love, because love is the same at its very core. The best form of love is the kind of love that is nameless and yet unconditional; undefined yet enduring. When you leave behind all the different labels we seem to enjoy imposing on people and situations, love is able to exist in its purest form. This is why I don’t want to reduce chanbaek to an analysis on their uality, nor do I wish to classify their relationship into restrictive boxes of either lovers or best friends.

I want to see them as two human beings, two souls that love each other in the purest form. I view them as soul mates who see beyond labels like gender and uality, and who has no need to define their relationship. Best friends or lovers? It doesn’t really matter. Why can’t they be both? Why can’t they be neither? Whatever it is, their bond is stronger than romantic love.

Park Chanyeol and Byun Baekhyun are two souls that love each other in the purest form.

On some level, I think we all know that they belong to each other in some way or another. These two souls belong side by side, and I am glad that they have found each other in this life time. Seeing their bond gives me hope. It makes me believe in a form of love that is pure and unconditional—the type of love that I am searching for. To me, Chanyeol and Baekhyun are the epitome of perfect love. And in this life time, regardless of how they wish to define or label the bond between, I will support them.

Perhaps one day, they will find a romantic partner to spend the rest of their lives with. Romantic partners that aren’t Park Chanyeol or Byun Baekhyun. I know all of us will be sad. Devastated, even. It is understandable, especially if we have been rooting for them as lovers.

But I would like to say this: don’t be. Don’t be sad, because you know very clearly that Chanyeol and Baekhyun do love each other. Their souls definitely share a special bond, and who are we to judge if they choose a quieter form of love? A form of love that requires no grand gestures or showy confessions. A form of love that is stable and enduring. A deep and platonic friendship, if we were to want to give it a label.

I guess we will feel pity that they didn’t choose to love each other in the romantic form. Again, I would say this: don’t. Since we were young, we have been led to believe that romantic love is the ultimate form of love. We have been conditioned to think that romance is above other forms of love. But is it really? I like to think that love is love, and all forms of love are made equal. Of course, you may argue that love cannot be equal. For example, familial love can be very clearly distinguished from romantic love. That I do agree. However, when you examine the root of love, and when you view love as an umbrella term for the unconditional acceptance of another soul, then you start to realize that love is the same.

Romantic love isn’t the best form of love there is. We enjoy glorifying romantic love, but we do not celebrate other forms of love as much as we should. Self love. Love for our family. Love for our friends. Why should we be led to believe that romantic love is any better than these forms of love?

Love in its purest form is all the same.

If chanbaek chooses to be romantic partners in this life time, I’ll give them my fullest support. If chanbaek chooses to love each other as friends, then I’m happy for them all the same. I appreciate their bond for what it is, and I’m sure most of us ship them because we know that there is something special between the both of them. Whatever it is, I can say one thing for sure and with utmost confidence.

Park Chanyeol and Byun Baekhyun were destined to find each other in this life time.

I’m not too sure if what I’ve written can resonate with many of y’all because I know I do have some unique views regarding love and relationships, but I would love to hear what you guys have to say. I would like to reiterate that all that has been written are my personal opinion and it is alright if you disagree. Along the way, I may have become incoherent or confusing, for I’m just writing as the words flow into my mind. But because chanbaek is something I hold dearly to my heart, I NEEDED to write this, needed to see my thoughts be transformed into concrete words. This recent comeback has evoked too many feels within me and I am dying to let it all out.

I love how they act around each other, and I think that their relationship dynamics are really cute. (I LIVE FOR THEIR INTERACTIONS) I wouldn’t be surprised if they choose to define their relationship on romantic terms in this life time.

However, my main point for this entire post is to note that love is love, no matter what form it comes in. As shippers/supporters, we should appreciate that and support them regardless. I also advise religiously playing Forever, that shall be our chanbaek anthem from now onwards… (just kidding)

On a serious note though, I really love The War and I think that every single song on the album is pure gold. Forever is probably my favourite song, and I like to think that the lyrics to Chill were written with Baekhyun in mind. One of my favourite lines in Forever translates to ‘Even if we can’t find the edge of this universe, it’s strange, because I can feel you’. I am happy that as soul mates, Chanyeol and Baekhyun managed to find each other. Both of them deserve a forever.

I wish all of you happiness, and I hope you find your forever as well.

Goodnight! <3

PS: Let's spazz together about exo on twitter!! I'm @yeoloforbaek :-)