Melodic laughs and loud complains filled the air and everything became easier. Talk became easier, joke around became easier. Breathe became easier too. It was almost like a dream, so perfect Baekhyun feared nothing of that was actually real.

He knew that was what he needed right now; something that helped him stop overthinking, something he could enjoy now he shorted things out with Chanyeol.

Something that helped him stop worrying about how tell his best friend and life crush his fiancée was cheating on him with some random man out there, and that it was pretty possible they were doing more than just kissing right now.

He could forget about all of that for this night.

Time had passed by without them noticing, since the hours started to become a shorter period of time, almost like minutes, almost like breaths, two hours ago now.

The nine of them had started playing “trivial pursuit”, that happened to be one of Sehun’s surprises for tonight, dividing into two groups, agreeing about which of the groups should keep Junmyeon since he was the smartest.

Two heads think better than one, people say, but it seemed like Kyungsoo, Jongdae, Yixing, Sehun and Baekhyun couldn’t manage to beat just Junmyeon while they were arguing again about what the answer could be.

“But it’s ‘a’, Amsterdam is Sweden’s capital, isn’t it?” Blurted out Sehun, exasperated and probably aching he paid more attention in class in his school days.

“You idiot! Amsterdam is Netherland’s capital! I got an ‘A+’ in geography, so listen to me” shouted Jongdae over all of them.

“But you can’t even remember Sweden’s capital, you idiot” fought back Sehun.

They kept quarrelling for a while and Chanyeol couldn’t help but space out, eyes meeting Baekhyun’s for a moment, and staying there even when the smallest had to look away, flustered, Kyungsoo and Yixing calling him for help to figure out which the bloody that answer, so much time they were taking to choose, was.

He smiled slightly, eyes wandering carelessly, noticing new old things he hadn’t noticed about his friend since he came back, like his hair, now longer, fringe almost covering his eyes, naturally straight but as raven dark as he remembered; eyes sparking when he laughed, lips soft and oddly pretty, slightly pink, surely because of some kind of strawberry chapstick he used.

Chanyeol wondered how would be it like to taste them, but he rushed himself to push away that thought, miserably failing. Now that the thought had settled down, it was possible to pretend he never thought that, he couldn’t pretend he didn’t ponder about how it would feel like to kiss his friend’s lips. He knew it as soon as Baekhyun’s gaze met his and he had to be the first one to look away, cheeks burning like fire.

God, damn it Park Chanyeol, you’re ing getting married in a couple of days and now you think about kissing your childhood best friend? Very mature of you. He thought ashamed of himself. Plus, they were both guys, and boy don’t kiss, do they? He didn’t have to wonder how sweet his lips were not how smooth could they feel against his.

Boys don’t kiss, boys don’t kiss, boys don’t kiss. He repeated to himself, remembering his father’s words, but he couldn’t help but wonder why. Why boys shouldn’t kiss, why was his father so against that, why did he feel like he couldn’t place himself against that, though. Plus, it’s been ages since the last time he talked to his father, why would matter his father’s thoughts about who he kisses or doesn’t kiss matter at all?

Does that mean I’m okay with the idea of kissing Baekhyun?

“Ugh” He groaned out loud, earning more than just one judgemental look, making him realised that he was being obvious as , and that they’re probably wondering what was so frustrating to make him go “Ugh” for no reason at all.

Junmyeon gave him a question glare, silently waiting for an answer and Chanyeol could feel the balls of cold sweat rolling down his nape.

“T-They’re ta-taking too long and I-I’m thirsty as hell, I-I’m going to the kitchen to grab a glass of water” he stuttered damning himself for being so stupid. You are thirsty, aren’t you? What a wonderful excuse Mr. Park, I’m proud of you. He thanked the heavens when everyone resumed the game except for Junmyeon, who kept glaring at him with weird knowing eyes.

“But we do have water here, there’s no need to go to the kitchen” He pointed out, and a sweet (but secretly mischievous) smirk curved his lips, apparently enjoying himself while staring at Chanyeol’s expression. He was a damn deer caught in headlights.

“Cold water. We don’t have ice” he corrected himself apparently quickly enough and disappeared behind the kitchen’s door, being able to breath just once he was sure he was out of sight.

That was close.

So ing close.

Chanyeol drank a total of three glasses of water to calm down, head spinning around overwhelming thoughts, all of them concerning Baekhyun for some reason he didn’t understand. He sighed, tired of his sudden confusion, what was he even thinking? He was just glad his childhood friend was back, he was just happy, just really happy. He had missed Baekhyun because he loved him, of course in a platonically way. Who doesn’t love his friends?

“Hey Chanyeol, you okay?” Junmyeon said from his back, making the taller to turn around in surprise.

“Y-yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I? I was, y’know, thirsty and bored of waiting for them to just pick an answer” he let out a nervous chuckle and wished his acting skills weren’t as atrophied as he remembered from his school days. His friend sighed, glared stopping momently on his empty glass of water before giving Chanyeol a disappointed look.

“Please, never be an actor” Junmyeon rolled his eyes and Chanyeol gulped looking away, feeling that if he stared too long his friend would find out about his confusing thoughts that, for some reason he didn’t want to give a name, he classified ad inappropriate.

The youngest didn’t know how to answer and kept silent until Junmyeon added “Whatever is worrying you, you can count on us, okay?” Chanyeol had just time to nod briefly before watching his friend heading back to the lounge, leaving him all by himself.

Stop overthinking stuff, what you need to do now is enjoy tonight and stop feeling like crap because you’ve finally sorted things out with Baekhyun. You aren’t a bloody teenager anymore, put yourself together, you’re just overwhelmed because you didn’t expect tour best friend since you can remember to show up at your wedding, that’s all.

Chanyeol drank a last glass of water before starting his way to the lounge, but he knew if it wasn’t a good idea when he felt something weird in his stomach, that obviously weren’t butterflies, when the petite black haired young man next to his cousin gave him the sweetest smile he’d ever seen.

“”.

(Insert superlong paragraph of how sorry I am because I haven’t updated anything in ages). Ultra-short chapter but, y’know, when I felt like writing I hadn’t the time, when I had the time I wasn’t in the mood, and now, I’m again without time, but I wanted to upload something before February.

Take this chapter as a sweet relaxing break of realisation and confusing fluff in between all the drama is going on lmao.

Coming next: The twister issue (?