‘I hate my life. I hate my life.’ Baekhyun repeats like a mantra, energetically cleaning his brushes above the kitchen sink. ‘I don’t remember ever agreeing to this Christmas .’

 

‘Well, you did. You did agree. Because of your laziness, last year we didn’t even have a tree. Funny that I should nag you about the decorations – you’re the artist here.’

 

‘I don’t feel any different in December than I do during other seasons, and I don’t get this cheerful atmosphere. We eat, we sing, we meet friends. We do it all the time. In fact, it’s worse because this time around, we have to feed them, using our hard-earned money.’

 

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I promise you will have a great time. If you’re lucky, you will even get a present.’ Chanyeol laughs, patting Baekhyun’s and the other tries to push him away, splashing the water everywhere. ‘I told you so many times not to do this in the apartment.’ Chanyeol motions at the activity, turning to arrange his necktie and failing miserably.

 

‘And I told you to install a new sink in my studio. The old one is broken.’ Baekhyun gestures to get his point across, shaking the wet brushes along the way and splashing more of the slightly tinted water over the counter. Chanyeol cringes.

 

‘And why aren’t you prepared yet? We have to leave in 20 minutes.’

 

‘I am not going. It’s going to be as boring as the last time.’

 

‘Baekhyun, it’s my job. I go to all your openings even though I have no idea about art.’

 

‘But today’s conference has nothing to do with you. They just told you to go so you can listen to some old geezers, preaching about their science-y stuff.’ Baekhyun pouts and turns around to go back to cleaning his tools.

 

‘For your information,’ Chanyeol smiles, amused, as he makes his way to his partner, hugging him from behind. This earns him a muttered curse and he smiles wider. ‘this is not “stuff”, but actually a very important microbiology discovery that can change the direction of my own research. And I know that you don’t really appreciate events like this one, but it would mean a lot if you went with me.’

 

‘Why?’ Baekhyun asks eventually, handing stilling about the sink.

 

‘So I can parade with the famous artist Byun Baekhyun on my arm and make everyone jealous that I’m both brilliant and good at picking up dates.’

 

‘ you.’ Baekhyun aims to elbow the taller’s stomach, but Chanyeol just holds him closer. The latter laughs. ‘You know that I really don’t enjoy being with scientists in the same room.’ Baek complains.

 

‘What about being in bed with a certain scientist later tonight?’ Chanyeol whispers in Baekhyun’s ear, teasingly squeezing his thigh, and that earns him only a weak you, which doesn’t convince Chanyeol at all and he only smirks. He’s won. ‘In the meantime, help me with my tie?’

 

Baekhyun washes his hands and stands in front of his man, rearranging the tie of the accessory.

 

‘I’m seriously considering just strangling you with this tie right now.’ Baekhyun just rumbles, but makes a perfect knot nevertheless. Chanyeol chuckles. ‘Why on earth do I know how to tie a tie if it’s you who has to wear them all the time?’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The evening is as boring as Baekhyun thought that it would be. He almost fell asleep during the long speech about things he has no understanding of and basically can’t be bothered to comprehend. He kept eating in order not to yawn and now he’s here, awkwardly standing against a wall in the corner. For some reason, other people always find him especially attractive during such events and it is annoying. Baekhyun knows that he is not ugly, but he wouldn’t call himself a looker, either. However, he supposes that among all those boring people in similar suits, he has to look almost refreshing. Even the fact that he is the only one who doesn’t wear glasses here is already noticeable. He always amuses himself, guessing what the others must think: about him, about Chanyeol, about them together. That is Chanyeol could woo somebody like Baekhyun, perhaps there is still hope for those always cooped up in their laboratories.

 

In reality, sometimes Baekhyun thinks that it’s him that must be lucky in this department. Chanyeol is funny, smart and strangely attractive. He is not the type to bring you to your knees at the first glance, but his alluring charms make Baekhyun let his guard down every time. He looks at his partner of ten years - Chanyeol drinks his wine slowly as he listens to one of the professors that Baekhyun saw on the stage earlier - and Baekhyun knows that look on Chanyeol’s face: when he is really excited about something, but prefers to hold himself back for a moment, in case he can benefit from it later. Baekhyun smirks, but then almost unconsciously, his expression turns into a mild smile.

 

It’s really been ten years for them already, huh. The shorter feels like he knows Chanyeol inside out. That kid whom Baekhyun cuddled to sleep; who in turn outgrew Baekhyun later and cheered him up when he was down; who studied biology so seriously; and was always the only one for whom Baek could practically do anything. And now Chanyeol has turned all these insecurities and pent up emotions into such radiating confidence and love, so much love for Baek, that Baekhyun would be a fool to ever let him go. Not to mention, Baekhyun probably wouldn’t have survived by himself until now. Chanyeol is a very practical man that knows how to do everything and Baekhyun is a looser whose sink has broken and now he has to beg his lover to do something about it.

 

‘You’re not one of them, are you?’ The painter hears a voice next to him and he turns around, only to see a pleasant face with a big smile decorating it.

 

‘Them?’ Baekhyun frowns with a small smile.

 

‘Mad scientists.’

 

‘Oh god, no.’ Baekhyun rejects the idea at once and the stranger laughs.

 

‘I thought so. Knowing from experience, they sometimes forget to eat or comb their hair, but I assume no scientist would turn up to such an important event, wearing a stained suit.’ He motions at the lower part of Baekhyun’s jacket. The artist twists the hem, taking a closer look at what appears to be a big red acryl stain.

 

‘.’ Baekhyun curses out loud, annoyed. So that’s why his boyfriend has had this enigmatic face for the whole evening. He’s going to kill Chanyeol for not having told him earlier. The other man only chuckles again, however.

 

‘It’s all right. As long as it’s not blood…’

 

‘Oh god, no. I’m a painter.’ Baekhyun looks at the other pitifully. ‘Please tell me that it often happens to you, too.’

 

‘I’m sorry.’ The other grins. ‘I’m in finance. The only thing that I’ve ever sprayed over myself was a large can of beer during the freshers’ week at uni.’

 

‘Perfect.’ Baek sighs.

 

‘No worries. Most people didn’t even notice. They are too engrossed in their… micro stuff.’ The other finishes hesitantly, not even knowing what to call the subject of the lecture that they have just witnessed. Baekhyun smirks and raises his glass in a mocking toast.

 

‘Cheers to that. Glad I’m not the only one who almost fell asleep there.’

 

‘No way. I stuffed my face with prawns, trying not to doze off. My father insists that I attend his lectures for moral support, but they are always really long and boring.’

 

‘Same here. Chanyeol always drags me along when it’s his turn and-‘

 

‘And what?’ Chanyeol appears behind him and his left arm circles the other’s waist. He looks at him expectantly, his lips curling in amusement.

‘…And it’s always so interesting and refreshing. Especially that time when you ing killed a mouse on stage, before my own eyes.’ Baekhyun grimaces sourly, words full of irony.

 

‘Such a dirty mouth.’ Chanyeol leans in to steal a kiss, but Baekhyun manages to successfully elbow him in the stomach. It hurts, but Chanyeol is used to taking these punches like a man so he just sighs and end up chuckling. ‘We’ve been through this already. The mouse had already been dead. And it was a long time ago. Since I obtained my PhD degree, I haven’t touched an organism even half its size.’

 

‘That’s not even why I’m so mad at you. I have a stain on my stupid jacket. Why the did you let me leave the house like this?’ Chanyeol grins widely at that.

 

‘It was your punishment for all the things that you have done this week.’

 

‘And what exactly have I done?!’

 

‘For starters…’ In that moment, he takes notice of the man in front of them. ‘… It’s better not to discuss it in public.’ He finishes the topic quickly. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure. Park Chanyeol.’ He extends his hand. The other smiles and takes it.

 

‘Wu Yifan.’

 

‘How do you know each other?’ Chanyeol gestures at Baekhyun and his partner just shrugs.

 

‘We don’t – we were just talking. Funny how complaining about microbiology can bring people closer together. I’m Byun Baekhyun.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Who was that guy, anyway?’ Chanyeol asks for the tenth time that evening and for the tenth time, Baekhyun shakes his head.

 

‘No idea. He said his father was giving this lecture tonight.’ Baekhyun yawns and starts undressing, throwing his suit and shirt on the floor. Chanyeol just picks them up and puts them into the laundry basket. He can’t even be mad – the path of mess and destruction follows Baekhyun wherever he goes, so Chanyeol just makes sure that it stays within the confinement of the shorter’s personal studio that is situated in the basement, and doesn’t spread to the living area.

 

‘Wu Yifan. Could be professor Wu’s son.’

 

‘Why are you so fixated on him?’

 

‘It was the first time in ages that I saw you speaking nicely with anyone.’

 

‘I see no connection. Would you rather I were rude?’

 

‘Of course not. I’m just saying.’

 

‘Chanyeol, I’m too tired right now. I know your brain never stops running, but you should keep your thoughts to yourself after 10pm. Because my brain stops working at that point.’

 

‘Why are you so thin?’ Bare-chested, Baekhyun stands in front of the wardrobe, trying to find a decent looking t-shirt to sleep in. As soon as he feels Chanyeol’s hands running down his sides, he tries to wiggle out of the embrace, but of course Chanyeol has always been stronger. He ends up pressed against Chanyeol’s chest.

 

‘Because you don’t bring enough money and I have to starve.’ He comments sarcastically, but lowers his hands onto Chanyeol’s.

 

‘Aren’t you a funny guy.’

 

‘I guess funny works, too.’

 

‘I don’t think you’ll need a t-shirt tonight.’

 

‘Oh? First you starve me and now you want me to catch a cold as well?’ Baekhyun doesn’t feel like fighting with Chanyeol’s hold anymore and his lame comment turns into a whisper.

 

‘There will be plenty of heat, don’t worry.’

 

Baekhyun has become weak over the years. Weak to Chanyeol’s touch and attention. He still doesn’t appreciate any form of public display of affections, but cannot bring himself to push Chanyeol away when they are alone. And why would he? He briefly sours at the thought of being overly mushy, something that he was never really fond of. Chanyeol has always been more affectionate between the two of them. Baekhyun always keeps his guard up. Always. And every single time, Chanyeol takes his time to coax his partner into opening up to him. 

 

It starts with a white canvas, a material Baekhyun can work on and that picks his interest. He stands there, letting the feeling overwhelm him. Next, he begins to touch everything that he can get a hold of. The material is so soft, silky almost. He continues to the brush delicately at first, later with more force and Chanyeol moans. Both his bravery and excitement rise and he mixes colours that would surely go together no matter what. He probes how different elements would fit. As he dives into the feeling of ecstasy, all he sees is yellow, violet and finally red. More red, more. He sees it splash faster, faster, his heart beats like crazy. The picture is almost finished, he can sense it, he is so close. All he needs is more white. In a second, all he sees will be white.

 

Chanyeol becomes so serious during their love making. He hardly says anything. He handles Baekhyun decisively, as he shreds their clothes and they kiss and kiss and kiss, he sooths his lover while his hands are everywhere, and so are Baekhyun’s. When the latter feels that he can’t take Chanyeol’s teasing any more, he breaks away from the taller’s arms and turns around. It’s a sign, an endearing one in Chanyeol’s opinion. He doesn’t mind making love like that. They sometimes do it face to face, but both have to be in the mood because it is a lot more uncomfortable and painful. The rhythm is unstable, they lose each other in the pleasure until it overflows.

 

Then Baekhyun warns him not to get too mushy, but still finds that perfect spot just beneath Chanyeol’s arm and falls asleep. Chanyeol follows suit, but not before kissing Baekhyun’s forehead one more time with affection even deeper that he could possibly voice out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Why is Wu Yifan calling you?’ Chanyeol is standing in his pajama trousers a few days later, blocking the bathroom door and holding Baekhyun’s phone for him to see. Baekhyun shrugs, not bothered in the least and flosses one last time before mechanically grinning towards the mirror and examining his front teeth. ‘Since when does he have your number?’

 

‘Since he called me for the first time two days ago.’ Baekhyun shrugs again. He doesn’t think that it’s a big deal. However, he takes a brief look at Chanyeol and he immediately knows it is, in fact, a big deal. He can judge by the way Chanyeol’s brows rise and fall again, the way he swallows and takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down before he prepares a quick speech of concern for their mutual communication and trust. All of this for his clueless boyfriend. Baekhyun has long accepted that he is the said clueless boyfriend.

 

 Baekhyun knows that Chanyeol really has no right to go crazy because a, he would break his own rule of showing the said mutual trust and b, Baekhyun has never strayed and Chanyeol has no grounds to assume that he will in the future. He remains jealous still and Baekhyun finds it quite adorable, except that it also pisses him off, so he chooses to ignore the behavior he has just witnessed.

 

All of this goes through Baekhyun’s head in a fracture of a second. They’ve been together that long.

 

But Baekhyun reflects and continues speaking this time; normally he wouldn’t mind teasing, but there is a hell of a day ahead of them and he needs all the positivity that he can get. Getting into a spat with his man is not a way to go.

 

‘Apparently, he’d received my number from the gallery and asked if he could come over to see what I was working on. I said yes and so he did. He admired my experimental canvas – the one I throw all of my colours on to see what they look like – for ten minutes before deciding it was a great modernist piece. That’s how I know that he had no idea what he was talking about. Or what modernism is, for that matter. He expressed his interest in buying one of my paintings, I said fine because I have sold my babies to more ignorant people in the past, then he left. All of this in under 20 minutes.’

 

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ Chanyeol asks calmly, standing next to him and slowly spraying his cologne around his neck, having put away the phone that stopped ringing a while ago. He had already showered.

 

‘There was nothing to tell, Chanyeol. Quite a few people visit or call me every day and I am forced by my agent to answer all of them, with a smile on my face at that. I don’t really tell you about every single one.’

 

‘But this time it’s someone I know.’

 

‘Someone you know? Chanyeol, you’ve met the guy once. You talked for three minutes.’

 

‘Well, maybe I will have to meet him more often, now that you’re becoming best of friends. He calls you early in the morning, on a Saturday.’

 

‘It’s hardly early morning, seeing how it’s already 11 o’clock, and I am not friends with him. He probably wants to talk about that picture. I will call him back later.’ Baekhyun dries his face furiously with a towel, trying to rub off some frustration that he now feels and hugs Chanyeol briefly, kissing his shoulder, before he lets go in order to get dressed. ‘Please, Chanyeol, let him be. We are already late for lunch with the guys and believe me, you want me in my best mood for that.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Why am I with you, again?’

 

‘Because I know all the best spots, which will save you a lot of time and I know what to buy for everyone, which saves you the trouble. The others were apprehensive whether you could take Minseok’s careful approach to shopping - they feared that it would be too long and you would back out half way. So by silent vote, they chose me, because I buy impulsively and it saves you time. As I already mentioned.’

 

‘Luhan, it’s too early for your rumbling. Give me coffee.’ Baekhyun contradicts his earlier words about the time, he knows, but he also realises that the point of view depends on where you stand. Or sit. In his opinion, it’s always too early to bear Luhan’s chatter. They stop by the coffee stand and Baekhyun buys two cups to go, just in case.

‘Ok, so I’ve prepared a list of possible presents in advance.’

 

‘I don’t understand why we have to buy each other’s presents. Last year I gave you and Minseok one of my pictures and Sehun just wanted a  gift card for Amazon.’

 

‘It was indeed very sweet of you, but my house is full of your paintings, so let’s hope that Chanyeol chooses something more suitable this time. In the meantime- , wait, you didn’t give Chanyeol anything?’

 

‘We had . Lots of . I swallowed, even though I hate it, but he asked me to so I did.’ Baekhyun shrugs. Luhan nods.

 

‘One part of me says that is always an adequate gift. It contradicts with the other screaming: eww, too much information. Anyway, let’s look for something for Sehun first. There are five options: a new laptop case, a new wallet, a new tie, a new belt or you and I together can get him an ice cream maker.’ Luhan points out the random ideas.

 

‘Ice cream maker it is.’ Baekhyun grumbles and soon he is carrying a big box full of forms and shapes ,in which one can make their own ice cream. Luhan will surely make some ual reference to this later on that Baekhyun surely won’t get.

 

Luhan buys lots of stuff, mostly for himself and occasionally asks Baekhyun for his credit card, and the latter hopes that he won’t end up paying for half of Luhan’s new wardrobe. He doesn’t really know what to get Chanyeol, though. His friend has a lot of suggestions, from boring to very indecent, but nothing seems like the right choice.

 

Baekhyun realises that it’s been a while since the two of them actually made any long-lasting plans, always living from day to day. They are happy this way, but nothing ever changes and Baekhyun knows that it’s probably about time he brought out the deeply hidden romantic in him, because Christmas is always the time for some big confessions and cuddling and being together - and Chanyeol loves that. Baekhyun likes it, too, but not as openly. He also hates how there has to be specific time when everyone is expected to be happy and in love. If he’s happy with Chanyeol, he’s always happy. Not just during Christmas.

 

He lets it be, because they meet Minseok and Chanyeol halfway.

 

‘Where did you lose Sehun?’ Luhan inquires and Chanyeol shrugs.

 

‘I haven’t seen him since we entered the food area. Loads of tasters, you know.’

 

They sit down at one of the tables on the third floor, deciding to eat there and Luhan drops all of his bags with relief.

 

‘We still haven’t bought half of what we were actually supposed to.’ Baekhyun cuts Minseok’s enthusiastic exclamation about Luhan’s resourcefulness and efficiency. Minseok visibly deflates.

‘We have almost everything, but I’m still looking for something special for you.’ Chanyeol smiles. Baekhyun grumbles, trying to hide his blush.

 

‘Why did we even agree to buy each other presents?’ Everyone ignores him, because they’ve heard the complaint way too many times. Baekhyun’s phone rings and Chanyeol’s eyes are searching, silently asking who it is, but Baekhyun doesn’t notice as he leaves the table and takes the call.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘I thought we had plans tonight.’ Chanyeol is not pleased, but desperately trying not to show it.

 

‘You said to order pizza and drink beer in front of the telly, and have wild on the carpet afterwards. Wu Yifan will just stop by for five minutes to get what he has paid for-‘

 

‘It sounds really wrong when you say it like that…’

 

‘-and he will be gone. You order pizza, I’m gonna go earn some money.’ Baekhyun puts his rubber slippers on, like the fashion senseless person that he is, and descends to the basement where he has his studio. One of the reasons they decided on this particular house is precisely because of the basement. It has a separate entrance on the other side of the house, on the street located behind the living area and it works out quite well - a separate space, but still with the direct access to the house.

 

Chanyeol is insecure, he has always been. He is a little sad like that. Baekhyun has never actually looked at another man, he doesn’t even have that many friends, because he doesn’t really get along well with normal people and he deems most people from his work area stupid pricks. There is no reason for Chanyeol not to believe that Wu Yifan is just some guy whom they met randomly, who is conceited enough to pretend that he likes contemporary art, and who simply wants to buy whatever Baekhyun is painting right now. Or maybe that Wu Yifan truly understands it, maybe it’s just Chanyeol who still hasn’t figured out what this new phase Baekhyun is going through with his work is all about. That doesn’t seem so appealing though, because Chanyeol doesn’t like the idea of somebody understanding Baekhyun better.

 

It’s this eighth year rule, Baekhyun thinks and takes a deep breath. It unsettles him more than he would admit. He once read in one of Joohyun’s magazines that couples who are in a long term relationship can only ever stay in love for eight years. After that, there is only routine and friendship left, but people simply stop trying because they have mortgages to pay and other matters to tend to. The person next to you becomes a constant element of your everyday background. Even does not feel as good as it used to.

 

Baekhyun doesn’t know about the last one, because it seems to him that Chanyeol has actually become more skilled over the years, but he doesn’t like the idea of Chanyeol treating him like a wallpaper. He curses under his breath and exhales once more. His hands are shaking and it’s almost funny, because he stopped smoking so many years ago, he stopped even before he really became a proper smoker but once in, you are never truly out, is what they say. He forces himself to abandon negative thoughts, though; he can see Wu Yifan standing in front of the door and the painter unlocks it to let him in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neither of them really feels like being intimate that evening, even though they do end up on the floor. Chanyeol tries to make up for his earlier frustration with furious kisses and almost desperate groping, but gives up after several minutes and rolls over to lay next to Baekhyun, who stares at the ceiling.

 

‘What is wrong with us? If you don’t tell me, I can’t fix it.’ Chanyeol whispers, intertwining his little finger with Baekhyun’s as a small encouragement.

 

‘Do you think there is something wrong?’ Baekhyun’s heart sinks.

 

‘I don’t know. I hope not. But you are not telling me something.’ Baekhyun pops up on his elbows, looking at Chanyeol questioningly.

 

‘Is it about Wu Yifan again?’

 

‘You didn’t say anything about what happened down there.’ Chanyeol responds in what he thinks is a calm manner, but his partner receives as an accusation.

 

‘That’s because there is nothing to say, Chanyeol! Do you want me to record the whole conversations for you? “Wu Yifan: Good evening. Me: Hello. Wu Yifan: I’m sorry for such a late notice-“’ Baekhyun starts parroting and Chanyeol interrupts, irritated.

 

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I just feel like you deliberately avoid the topic and it hurts to know that you have secrets you don’t want me to know about, especially concerning another man.’ He adds angrily.

 

‘Is this why you can’t even kiss me properly anymore? Why the atmosphere is so heavy around here? No matter how many times I tell you, you just cannot let it go, can you?’

 

‘You can’t blame me for trying to get your attention. I know how you are towards everyone and I am not bothered when it’s good between us. But when I see that you smile and act all friendly with a dude that you hardly know, then it makes me wonder why I always have to force you to show me even a little bit of affection. I, whom you spent the past ten years with.’

 

‘Ten years.’ Baekhyun repeats flatly and stalks away, shutting the bedroom door behind him.

 

‘And it wasn’t five minutes. It was ing 45 minutes of hearing you laugh and joke with him downstairs while the pizza was getting cold!’ Chanyeol shouts on top of his lungs and immediately regrets it. He rubs his face, trying to smooth it, like it could help him erase the irritation.

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

The next day is Christmas Eve and Chanyeol goes out to do some emergency shopping, because last night he ended up drinking two bottle of wine that were supposed to be opened only during the dinner that they are throwing out for their friends. It’s cold outside and so is his household, figuratively speaking. Chanyeol just wants to make up already, but he knows that as long as he harbours such feelings, there is no way that they can communicate. Baekhyun has cried of course, it shows immediately and it makes his lover even more guilty. They don’t say anything; they only drink their coffee and read their newspapers like nothing’s happened. Chanyeol then says that he will step out for a minute and Baekhyun grunts in approval, not looking at him.

 

Baekhyun is supposed to decorate the Christmas tree, he promised to do so many days before, but he cannot help but sit there lifelessly, staring at one point, not really seeing anything. Eighth year rule. If it’s true, he supposes that he should be lucky because his relationship surpassed it by two years. He doesn’t want to believe, actually, he would never think that a relationship can just terminate in the span of a few days. He hasn’t seen any obvious signs, but he cannot exactly call himself a love expert, either, so maybe what he gets now is what others call obvious. With his cluelessness, he will probably be lucky fit it doesn’t hit him in the face when Chanyeol says to break up.

 

Chanyeol loves him for sure, but maybe he just can’t stand him anymore? Baekhyun has heard of couples like that. Can’t be apart, can’t bear to be together. He’s devastated. He is so used to Chanyeol courting him that he has never thought of the impact that his careless behaviour has on his boyfriend. Baekhyun is generally not the one to think.

 

The house, the studio. They barely purchased them some three years ago. The car that Baekhyun bought Chanyeol two years ago from the profits from his first big opening, when Chanyeol finally learnt how to drive. Baekhyun tries to come up with a plan as to what to do with himself in the future but for his life’s sake, he cannot come up with anything. He forces his brain to think rationally but it’s of no use.

 

As he sits there, dwelling on the life that apparently is falling apart in front of him, he has the strangest idea. He puts his scarf and coat on and leaves the house, leaving the decorations in the boxes completely forgotten.

 

 

 

Chanyeol is queuing in the supermarket. It’s nearing 2pm and he should really be home already, putting his signature turkey into the oven, instead of wasting his time here.

 

‘Park Chanyeol-sshi?’ He hears a voice behind him, so he turns around and immediately regrets it. Wu Yifan, Chanyeol nearly grits his teeth, annoyed.

 

‘How do you do.’ He greets carelessly.

 

‘Aren’t you and Baekhyun-sshi having dinner with friends tonight?’ He asks politely. Chanyeol takes a petty offence in the fact that the taller seems to know their plans for the evening.

 

‘Some shopping left.’ Chanyeol cuts it short, raising his hand with the basket full of wine in it.

 

‘Same here.’ The other smiles, showing his perfect teeth and demonstrating his own basket. ‘I really don’t understand but every year, my wife forgets to buy something. No matter how much in advance we go shopping, there is always something coming up last minute.’

 

‘Your… wife?’ Chanyeol echoes. The information takes him by complete surprise. Red creeps into his face and already feels like the biggest jerk. Wu Yifan smiles wider.

 

‘Yes. I need to run home soon, she’s the worst cook that I’ve even seen. If I don’t supervise, I’m afraid  that she will burn the house down and we kind of need it, since the family is staying overnight.’ He jokes.

 

‘Oh.’ In his whole academic career, Chanyeol has never felt less intelligent, not being able to say anything. ‘In this case, please come forward. I have more things to buy, anyway.’

 

‘Are you sure? Thank you.’ He agrees upon seeing the other nod. ‘I hope I didn’t disturb you last night. It was late, but my wife really liked one of Baekhyun’s paintings and since it was already sold, I thought of getting something similar. He wasn’t really impressed to hear such a request.’ Yifan smiles sheepishly. ‘I have no idea about art, I’m afraid.’

 

‘Me neither.’ Chanyeol admits and smiles. ‘I’ve read lots of books about painting, but they don’t help in analysing Baekhyun’s pieces. His style is too complicated for me.’

 

‘Well, I will be going then, Merry Christmas.’ Yifan nods after a while and walks away in a suspiciously fast step. Maybe he said the truth about his wife’s cooking skills.

 

 

Chanyeol feels like an idiot – no, he is one. He doesn’t even know why he would begin a raw over a petty thing like that. Maybe their life has become so ideally dull that he needed some drama. Which is not an excuse in any way, of course.

 

‘Baekhyun, Baekhyun, Baek- Luhan?’ Chanyeol finds Luhan decorating their Christmas tree and Minseok tending to matters in the kitchen.

 

‘We arrived and nobody was home. We let ourselves in.’ Minseok shrugs before going back to the casserole dish he has brought.

 

‘It’s 4 o’clock, nothing is ready and you’re having guests over. Fantastic.’ Luhan snorts.

 

‘Where is Baekhyun?’

 

‘Shouldn’t I be the one to ask you this question?’

 

‘I left him here around 1pm to decorate the tree. I had trouble finding the wine and then it took forever to actually purchase it. Did he not try to contact either of you?’

 

‘Not that I know of.’

 

Before he has time to think, he hears the doorbell and he rushes to open, hoping it’s Baekhyun, but it’s Sehun and Joohyun. Sehun expresses his opinion about the state he finds the living room in even more straight forwardly, and folds the sleeves of his white shirt in order to help rearrange the table. His girlfriend joins Minseok in the kitchen.

 

Chanyeol takes off his jacket and dials Baekhyun’s number, but his boyfriend’s disgrace of a cell phone rings in their bedroom. Of course, Baekhyun would just leave it behind in a random place. Chanyeol refreshes and changes his clothes which takes quite a while, listening to the door opening and closing, but none of the people coming seem to be Baekhyun, judging from the increasing level of Luhan’s complaints. Just as he is about to leave the bedroom, he bumps into the said man in person.

 

‘Baekhyun-ah!’

 

‘Sorry, I’m late. I need to change my shirt.’ He pushes forward, leaving Chanyeol speechless. The latter follows him to the wardrobe, looking at his partner undress in haste.

 

‘Your hair.’ Chanyeol chooses the easiest topic to approach. Baekhyun has cut his hair.

 

‘You hated it anyway.’ His boyfriend brushes it off, looking for a fitting shirt. Luckily, he lets Chanyeol buy him stuff from time to time, otherwise he would just walk around in baggy t-shirts and ripped trousers.

 

‘I didn’t hate it. I just like you better with short hair.’ Baekhyun shrugs. ‘Listen, we have to talk…’

‘Not now.’ Baekhyun turns around and he looks so serious that Chanyeol stops mid way. ‘There are people in our house, waiting for us. So just pretend  that I’m the love of your life for now and we can talk later.’ Baekhyun walks away and Chanyeol frowns. I don’t have to pretend.

 

There are too many people around, but also just as much wine, so it helps Chanyeol relax a little. He sits at the table, listening to the conversation between Minseok and Jongdae, and nods whenever they need him to. He eyes his Baekhyun, sitting across from him, and he seems equally uninterested in what’s going on between Junmyeon and Jongin. Luhan walks around, taking many awkward photographs and after a compulsory round of Christmas carols, they unwrap their gifts. Baekhyun doesn’t give him anything, but Chanyeol does not assume the worst because the couple usually waits to do it until they are alone. Luhan snaps another thousand of pictures, but surprisingly doesn’t force Chanyeol to sit with Baekhyun, as if sensing that something was wrong. At midnight, their friends wish each other Merry Christmas once again and finally say goodbye.

 

The house becomes strangely quiet. Baekhyun is already out of sight, yet Chanyeol knows exactly where to find him. He takes out the envelope that he has hidden in the inner pocket of his jacket and descends to the studio. Baekhyun stands there - the new Baekhyun with his short hair - in front of his canvas. He has made himself more comfortable, rolled up his sleeves to ready for work and Chanyeol’s priority immediately becomes to drag his lover away from the paints before he has a chance to stain the expensive shirt that Chanyeol bought him.

 

‘This reminds me of you.’ The taller stands next to his partner, eyeing him from the side.

 

‘It’s blank, silly.’ Baekhyun says without any heat and puts his hands on his hips, looking ahead intensely. Chanyeol pulls him away towards the love seat in the corner.

 

‘Exactly. I’ve known you all these years and at times it feels like I still don’t know you at all.’ He adds after a while of silence: ‘Why didn’t you tell me that Wu Yifan had a wife? It couldn’t have been more obvious that I was jealous.’

 

‘I didn’t know at first. And later you pissed me off. I never did anything to deserve this kind of suspicions from you.’

 

‘I know.’ Chanyeol admits quietly.

 

‘He is a good listener, I guess, he may be a little similar to my own self which made him easier to approach. You and I are like fire and water, but I like that about us. I honestly don’t know why I was friendly with him, but it was nothing more that professional friendliness. I mean, have you seen his nose? No way, dude. Not with my sense of aesthetics.’

 

Chanyeol starts giggling and the sound triggers Baekhyun’s humour as well and soon they are gasping for breath, laughing. Once they stop, Chanyeol asks again.

 

‘Had it continued and we argued seriously, would you have told me the truth?’

‘…Probably not.’ Baekhyun admits. ‘I hold my pride a little too close for my own good, even when I suffer grave consequences later. You know that.’ He finally looks at his lover. ‘That’s why you have to be the reasonable one. You have always been. The practical one. When it happens again, you have to be able to knock some sense into my head.’

 

‘I try, but sometimes even I forget it myself. Do you also feel so tired nowadays?’

 

‘Do you believe in the eighth year rule?’ Baekhyun asks him instead.

 

‘In what?’ Chanyeol frowns, not understanding.

 

‘Eighth year rule.’

 

‘I have no idea what that is.’ Chanyeol already feels amused, because Baekhyun rarely has any love theories, and when he does they sure are gems.

 

‘I read a long time ago that after eight years of being together, couples normally become bored with each other, mentally and physically. Either they work on their relationship and eventually become close friends or they drift apart.’

 

‘We’ve been together for more than ten years already, baby.’ Chanyeol points out.

 

‘Exactly. Does it mean that we should count ourselves lucky that we’ve survived two additional years?’

 

‘No, it means that women’s magazines will become unavailable to you from now on, as I’m sure they have a lot to do with your reasoning. You had been my best friend long before you became my lover, Byun Baekhyun. And this one thing has never changed. Do you feel that the quality of our relationship deteriorated? It never once occurred to me. This is the first spat we’ve had in months, isn’t it.’

 

‘I guess that I just let insecurities get to me and had a middle age crisis in a record time.’

 

‘At the age of 29. Glad that is out of the way. When you reach forty, you will become unbearable.’ Chanyeol smiles. Baekhyun pouts in a funny way and bumps shoulders with Chanyeol, beckoning him to move closer. ‘But nevertheless, I have drawn a lesson from what happened between us and so I bought a gift for both of us. I hope you’re good with this because I’ve already applied for some time off at the institute.’

 

Baekhyun opens the envelope and sees two plane tickets to Bali.

 

‘How very crazy of you, Mister Practical. Why Bali?’

 

‘…That was the only available destination at the moment.’ Chanyeol scratches is head sheepishly and Baekhyun laughs. ‘It’s been ages since we last did something for ourselves. So let’s go and let me spoil you rotten and be super mushy and romantic, so you can feel loved and cherished.’

 

‘Why do I have a feeling it’s more of a reward for you than it is for me?’ Baekhyun is back to his usual grumpy self, but allows himself to be kissed, nevertheless. Chanyeol’s kiss is soft but very firm and Baekhyun likes how his partner’s fingers pet his newly cut hair. ‘I was so mad, I didn’t get you a proper present. I’m sorry.’ He admits and Chanyeol just shrugs, not bothered. ‘But I went to my old art academy today and spent three hours in a dirty storage so I could find this.’ He gestures at the thin box and starts ripping off the cello tape. ‘I honestly thought that they would have thrown away something so old by now, but they keep everything and my former professor helped me retrieve it. It’s in an urgent need of a restoration, though…’

 

Baekhyun succeeds in uncovering the painting and Chanyeol’s mouth open.

 

‘I never thought that I would get to see it again.’

 

‘It’s my best piece. I think it’s high time it came back to the original owner.’

 

They are both looking at the first picture that Baekhyun has ever painted of Chanyeol, an old art form from ten years before. It’s something that marks a certain border line, not just for their relationship, but for each one of them separately.

 

‘Next time we go shopping, I will buy us proper rings. I realized just now we don’t even share a simple band.’

 

‘It doesn’t really matter…’

 

‘It matters to me.’ Baekhyun rejects. ‘I need it to remind me how far I can go and even after crossing the line, I want to remember that you’re still here and I’m not alone.’

 

‘You’re not. I am still as stupidly and inexplicably in love with you as I was before. And I haven’t noticed any decrease in the quality of your life, especially not our life. Or have you?’ Chanyeol winks.

 

‘Shut up.’ Baekhyun mutters, blushing. He stands up to leave, but Chanyeol is faster. And stronger. Baekhyun hates that.

 

‘Since you clearly disagree, I am taking you upstairs right now to prove it.’ Baekhyun screams in mock annoyance.

 

They never make it to the bedroom in the end, because Chanyeol tackles his lover to the ground as soon as they are upstairs and he fully intends to spend the rest of Christmas with Baekhyun underneath him. Which may actually happen at this rate.

 

 

 

A/N: Upvote if you liked? ^^