Prompt: childhood friends to lovers baeksoo

Word Count: 6989

 

They met when they were young: Baekhyun 4 while Kyungsoo 3.

 

Baekhyun was always loud, especially when he’s alone. It’s what he does to stop himself from being lonely. With big protruding ears, his baseball cap hangs there unevenly, the left clip of his baby jumper undone and he swore he feels them falling off as he continues to chase off the pigeons that his big brother is feeding.

 

“Mom, Baekhyun’s being annoying again!” Baekbeom whines.

 

“Oh, hush, you two.” Mrs. Byun giggles softly. “And Baekhyun, dear, stop running. You’re going to get yourself dirty before Kyungsoo comes.”

 

That got Baekhyun’s attention. He furrows his brows and tilts his head, a small frown etched on his face. “Kyungsoo?” He echoes.

 

Mrs. Byun smiles. “He’s mum’s friend’s son and she’s meeting us here to catch up.” She after approaching him, dropping on her knees so that she’s in the same level as he. “And I got this strong feeling that you two are going to be good friends.”

 

Baekhyun blinks rapidly. No, that’s not possible. No kid ever lasted on him to be considered as his friend save for Mr. Byunny. But Mr. Byunny is a stuffed bear so he can’t complain that Baekhyun’s too loud or too touchy. Baekhyun thinks his mom is just doing this for nothing.

 

He’s wrong.

 

When his Mom’s friend arrived, Baekhyun did not expect to see a small boy struggling on his two feet as he walks. He’s got full cheeks and face is so big for a body so small. His hands are cute like his feet, fingers holding tightly against his mother’s black jeans as they approach them.

 

Baekhyun finds himself staring.

 

He looks so adorable.

 

He didn’t even bother to acknowledge the woman that his mother introduced unlike Baekbeom who is the epitome of a gentleman despite at a young age (a er for compliments that boy.) Instead, he immediately zeroed in at the small boy like a hawk, his grin wide and welcoming.

 

Though the kid probably saw that as creepy so he just stared up at him with wide horrified eyes.

 

“Hi!” He flashes a smile, showcasing his missing tooth in the middle below. “I’m Baekhyun!”

 

Kyungsoo looks so lost and scared that he looks like he’s mentally debating whether he’s going to hide or run away. But one nudge at his mom got her looking up almost pleadingly. “Go on, Soo.” She smiles.

 

He blinks twice and meets Baekhyun’s gaze once again.

 

“H-Hello.”

 

It was the start of everything.

 

 

 

 

 

When Kyungsoo 6, Baekhyun 7, their relationship grew from friends to best friends. Though one might think that it looks like a one-sided one at the outside perspective, but in reality it’s not. Kyungsoo is 100% tsundere, a fact confirmed by Byun Baekhyun. Not that he doesn’t mind. He thinks Kyungsoo looks cute pretending to be hard to get.

 

At school, he spots Jongdae sitting on their usual lunch table with legs swinging as he happily munches his sandwich. Jongdae looks bright – too bright – that Baekhyun couldn’t help but raise suspicion. So after hastily grabbing his tray of food, he quickly took a seat beside his friend, shoulders pressed and everything. He narrows his eyes.

 

“You look happy.”

 

“Aren’t I always?” The 7 year old boy gives a toothy grin. His glasses fall a bit on his nose so he pushes it. Baekhyun hums, doubtful.

 

“No, you’re acting weird today, Dae. What happened?”

 

Jongdae presses a finger on his lips. “Not. Telling.”

 

There are tons of questions running in his mind and as mouthy as he is, he wanted to know. But he knows Jongdae better than anyone. Kid can’t keep a secret all his life so Baekhyun pretends he doesn’t care and shrugs, unwrapping his sandwich before taking a bite, marveling at the mayo at bacon greeting his tongue. As he expected, Jongdae started to swing his legs faster, fingers fidgeting on his straw then he blurts.

 

“Minseok-hyung and I kissed yesterday.”

 

Baekhyun’s eyes went wide, ignoring the huge dab of mayonnaise on the corner of his mouth. “No way!”

 

Jongdae hushes him. “Don’t shout.” He whines. “It’s supposed to be a secret.”

 

Baekhyun nods frantically, but still, he couldn’t help but be surprised fully knowing that his friend have had his first kiss ever. He blinks rapidly, scooting closer. “Minseok-hyung and you really did? What? Does that mean you have cooties now? Because if you do, it’s okay. You’re my friend so even though you have a dangerous disease –“

 

“Baekhyun, come on.” Jongdae makes a face. “Everyone knows you only get cooties if you kiss a girl.”

 

Baekhyun laughs pitchy. “Of course, I knew that!”

 

Jongdae takes a huge sip on his juice box before continuing. “Yesterday, Minseok-hyung and his parents came to visit the house and we play house at my tent with Choorong.” He gestures with his arms, making a shape of a dog. “Minseok-hyung is the dad so he told me that he’ll go to work but before he did he kissed me because that’s what he saw his Dad do to his Mum.”

 

Baekhyun knows that, sometimes sees his father before going to work go to his mother to give him a quick kiss on the lips before giving both he and his brother kisses on their cheeks before leaving. And while Baekbeom thinks it’s disgusting, Baekhyun thinks otherwise. It’s cute and lovely and adorable, any possible adjectives that is synonymous to cute, and he wants that too.

 

So when Kyungsoo and his parents came on their house for a playdate, Baekhyun ran up to the smaller boy and grins. “Let’s play house!”

 

Kyungsoo blinks, confused, but just went along with it.

 

Up at Baekhyun’s tree house, Kyungsoo climbs up like a small monkey so quick at the ladder while Baekhyun struggled a bit, it took him a full 5 minutes before he could reach up. And when he does, he’s surprised to see Kyungsoo kneeling, looking down, and waiting for him. It’s like his mom waiting for his dad to come home after long hours of work – it honestly feels like that and it made his stomach flutter.

 

“Come on.” Kyungsoo reaches out a hand and pulls him in until he can no longer feel air on his toes. Baekhyun holds the younger boy’s hand tight. “I didn’t know you were hiding your toy box here.”

 

“Mom hid it here.” Baekhyun explains, pulling his legs closer against chest. “She told me it’s the only option because I don’t like cleaning up my stuffs in my room. Baekbeom’s being a brat, too, and he keeps stealing my toys.”

 

“I think it’s a good hiding place.”

 

Baekhyun beams.

 

After the set-up, they started playing. Baekhyun pretends to clean around the small treehouse and Kyungsoo pretended that he’s still sleeping and that it was still so early in the morning. It was going smooth and everything until their pretend breakfast.

 

“Kyungsoo, I’m the mom so I should be the one to cook.”

 

“No, I’m the mom. Baekhyun, you don’t even know how to cook.”

 

“But I want to cook~” He whines. “Plus, I can’t climb up and down the treehouse as fast as you do.”

 

Kyungsoo makes a face then sighs. “Fine. I’m the dad. But you better make a good breakfast.”

 

Of course, Baekhyun was prepared.

 

Hidden underneath the box on their pretend stove was a Tupperware container filled with her Mom’s baked cookies. Baekhyun insisted on helping so that he can get to brag about it to Kyungsoo. He wanted to show off that he can be good at the kitchen too.

 

Kyungsoo lies flat on the floor, waiting for their breakfast, when all the sudden, Baekhyun slams the Tupperware container next to him, startling him. Kyungsoo’s eyes went wide before he exclaims in happiness when the older boy opened it. “Cookies!”

 

“Wait!” Kyungsoo looks at Baekhyun, completely lost. “You can’t have a cookie…”

 

“Why not?”

 

“…not until you kiss me.”

 

Baekhyun puckers his lips, hiding the container behind him. Kyungsoo’s eyes went wide, horrified.

 

“That’s not fair!”

 

“But you have to!” Baekhyun pouts, cheeks puffed up cutely. “You’re the dad. It’s a dad’s job to kiss the mom to make them happy!”

 

“But what about my needs?”

 

“What I need is for you to kiss me.” Baekhyun leans again, lips puckered. “No kiss, no cookies.”

 

“Aw.” Kyungsoo looks at the puckered pink lips before shifting his gaze at the sweet goods behind the older male. Oh, the things he do for food. He sighs heavily. “Okay, fine.”

 

It was so quick and rushed that Baekhyun didn’t even get to process the whole thing not until he feels his lips wet with Kyungsoo’s saliva. The younger boy just dove right in, cups his face and kisses him – smack on the lips – before leaning back, eyes looking at him expectantly. “Where’s my cookies?!”

 

“Okay, okay,” Baekhyun opens the container and hands him one. He watches as Kyungsoo devours the cookie in two quick bites, crumbs on the corner of his mouth. As expected it was delicious because duh, Mama Byun is very great at everything.

 

To be honest, the kiss was too sloppy and weird. 

 

“Give me more!” Kyungsoo makes grabby hands at the Tupperware container but Baekhyun shakes his head.

 

“No kiss, no cookies~” He singsongs.

 

Baekhyun giggles when he hears Kyungsoo agrees, this time, with no hesitations.

 

But he likes it.

 

 

 

 

 

When Baekhyun declares he wants to marry Kyungsoo when they got older, Kyungsoo said yes immediately because marrying Baekhyun would mean being with Mrs. Byun. And being with Mrs. Byun means more cookies for him. He wouldn’t mind Baekhyun’s loud mouth and whines if it would mean getting to eat those delicious treats all the time.

 

“So you’re going to be my daddy.” 8 years old, Baekhyun takes an onion ring from the dining table and places it on Kyungsoo’s finger. Said boy makes a face because the onion ring is so oily. “And I’m going to be the mommy.”

 

“But doesn’t mommy’s have s?” Kyungsoo looks at his mother, who’s trying hard not to laugh.

 

“Aw,” Baekhyun pouts.

 

Mrs. Do giggles. “Baekhyun, dear. It’s okay to be a daddy, too.”

 

“That would be weird!” He exclaims. “A family is supposed to be a mommy and a daddy.”

 

“Oh, but not all.” She smiles when she sees her son already nibbling on the onion ring on his finger. “Sometimes, there are two mommies and two daddies to make a family. The most important thing is that you two love each other.”

 

Baekhyun’s eyes comically went wide. “Oh, oh! Then we can be two daddies, Soo!”

 

“Okay, whatever.”  The onion ring on his finger is already in half.

 

“You’re not supposed to eat it! It’s a ring!”

 

“But I’m hungry!”

 

 

 

 

 

Kyungsoo’s parents got a divorce around the same year so Kyungsoo was forced to move with his mom. Baekhyun remembers crying out at Kyungsoo and the younger doing the same.

 

The night before they left, Kyungsoo asked him. “You’re still going to marry me when we get older, right?”

 

“Yeah.” Baekhyun nods in earnest. “Of course, I will.”

 

“You promise?”

 

“I promise.”  

 

Kyungsoo left the next morning, holding the Tupperware container that they shared once at the old treehouse containing lots of goodbye cookies from Mrs. Byun.

 

Baekhyun finds it hard to smile that day.

 

 

 

 

 

“Baekhyun, it hurts!”

 

“Jongdae, come on.”

 

“Minseok-hyung’s getting married two weeks from now. , I don’t know what to feel.”

 

Baekhyun sighs and leans his cheek against his knuckles, one brow raised as he stares at his friend, in agony at this supposed heart break he’s sporting. He sighs again. “I don’t know, happy? You’re dating Junmyeon-hyung for ’s sake. Stop moping like an idiot.”

 

“I understand that and I do love my Joonie very much.” Jongdae touches the part where his heart lies. “But Minseok-hyung was my first love and you do know how first love never dies – ouch!” He scowls. “Yah!”

 

“If there’s anyone who’s really suffering, it’s me.” Jongin groans, slumping. “I haven’t found the one for me yet. I keep on ing up my relationships, I don’t know what to do.”

 

“It’s not like I haven’t found mine, you know.”

 

“But you’re so popular with people!” Jongin complains. “Jongdae’s not that good-looking but at least he’s got Junmyeon-hyung. Me, on the other hand…”

 

Jongdae frowns. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

 

Okay, so Baekhyun’s popular… so what? Yes, he’s got in a few relationship here and there with both men and women but there’s no one in particular that piqued his interest. The longest he dated was around a year and a half but she made him a rebound because apparently, she’s still so in love with her ex. Jongin’s not the only one ing up his relationships.

 

Hell, compared to Jongin, he’s still secretly a .

 

Baekhyun furrows his brows and looks around the university campus, taking note at how peaceful and quiet it has been since around this time, most classes are still on-going. The only people loitering around are either senior or juniors and that’s because their classes are all during at night starting in the afternoon.

 

He continues to scan his surroundings in hopes of something interesting to see only to stop when he sees a familiar mop of black hair walking with two books in between his arm and side. There’s a strong gust of wind that swoops past making papers inside his binder fly. He panicked, taking the others as quickly as he can, leaving his book fall on the ground.

 

While Jongdae and Jongin bickers about who’s the more handsome and ier between them, Baekhyun took this chance to approach said male. He bends down and helps pick up the papers and reaches for the books that were left lying on the ground.

 

“Thank you so much – Baekhyun?”

 

Baekhyun raised a brow and looks up, locking gazes with two beautiful brown irises. “Uh… “

 

“It’s Kyungsoo.” The raven haired male points to himself. “Do Kyungsoo. Don’t you remember?”

 

Baekhyun looks confused for a moment before his eyes slowly widens in realization, lifting a shaky finger towards Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo’s smile grow in every second upon detecting the look on Baekhyun’s face. “Yah, Do Kyungsoo? Like cookie loving Do Kyungsoo?”

 

“Ah,” Kyungsoo clicks his tongue in disappointment. “You forgot about me?”

 

“Wait, uh…” He raised his hands in surrender. “It’s not fair, alright? 15 years is a very long time!”

 

Kyungsoo was about to say something but he stops midway, checking on his wristwatch. “Okay, . I have to go.” He takes the things on Baekhyun’s hands. “I’m going to be late.” Before he could leave, he backs up and shrugs. “We should catch up.”

 

Kyungsoo smiles and it’s different than before. His boyish features still remains but Kyungsoo has matured over the years. He looks manly – gorgeous even.

 

“Yes!” Baekhyun exclaims. “We should. Definitely, we should.”

 

After they exchanged numbers, Kyungsoo waves before leaving, his books now held tightly in both hands. Baekhyun stands there, watching as he disappears at the first turn. He ignores the teases and jabs he received from both Jongin and Jongdae when went back with a silly smile plastered on his face. He denies it but he can’t wait for later.

 

 

 

 

 

Baekhyun finds himself standing in front of an apartment complex near the university campus. It’s expensive, even thinking of renting a flat without a roommate, but Kyungsoo apparently is living like this. He said through their continuous SMS exchange that money hasn’t been an issue even after his parents’ divorce but still, Kyungsoo wanted to ease the burden on his mother and step-dad’s shoulders so he took a scholarship examination.

 

He sang along the kiddie song on the elevator and looks around the fourth floor on where Kyungsoo’s place is.

 

412

 

Baekhyun did a double check on the message Kyungsoo sent on KKT before giving the chocolate colored door two knocks. The door opened not a minute later after he hears Kyungsoo’s muffled voice from behind the door. And when it opened, Baekhyun froze.

 

Kyungsoo in an apron.

 

Wow.

 

“Hey, you made it.” Kyungsoo takes off his black-rimmed glasses and hangs on his collar, gesturing for him to come in. “I thought you’d get lost.”

 

“Me? Lost?” He waves in dismissal. “I’m like the human version of Waze. I never get lost.”

 

It’s a lie because he did get lost a couple of times. He’s not gonna tell, though, which is stupid because he has no idea why he would even show off to Kyungsoo. They’re just childhood friends, after all, meeting each other again after a long time.

 

Kyungsoo raised a brow, smiling, and closed the door, locking it with a chain while Baekhyun looks around the small space that is the living room. On the left side, there’s the kitchen. Baekhyun can already see a huge pot sitting on the stove and a pan. There’s a small table at the end with four chairs, however, the utensils placed there are prepared for two people only. As he sits on the couch, he sees three rooms at the small hallway. Kyungsoo did mention he lives in a 2 person apartment.

 

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