Chanyeol walked into the class with his head hanging low. He didn’t know a pair of eyes was following his movements until a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Are you alright?”

He looked up and saw Kyungsoo staring at him in concern. Without answering his question, he turned his head away and hurriedly walked towards his seat.

“Maybe you should see a counselor,” Kyungsoo suggested, suddenly appearing beside Chanyeol’s table.

Chanyeol must not have heard him, being drowned in his own thoughts. Chanyeol shook his head without even uttering a word. His reaction made Kyungsoo worried about him even more. Kyungsoo slipped his hand onto Chanyeol’s and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Come on, Chanyeol. Talk to me.”

Chanyeol recoiled from him and turned away. His lips remained sealed as he refused to even speak one word to Kyungsoo. He was afraid. He feared that he might be watching. He was scared that he might hurt him. Or worse, Kyungsoo could get hurt.

“Look, I’m sorry about yesterday,” Kyungsoo apologized as he pulled a chair and sat across the table from Chanyeol. How Chanyeol wished he would just go away.

“I know it’s sudden news. But you need to know the truth,” Kyungsoo continued, “I thought I was helping you. But clearly, it has caused you more pain and misery.”

“But you need to accept this. Let it sink in,” Kyungsoo managed a brave smile, “Maybe you need more time than anyone else. Take as long as you need. Just be sure that you won’t be trapped in the past.”

Seeing that Chanyeol did not wish to say anything, Kyungsoo got up and returned to his seat. The image of Chanyeol’s trembling shoulders stayed in his mind. It wasn’t only time that he needed. He needed something else too. But Kyungsoo didn’t know what.

The teacher came in and class started as usual. Chanyeol obediently started bringing out the books from his backpack. Just before he turned towards the blackboard, he caught something at the corner of his eye. Someone was standing by the front door. He thought his eyes had deceived him. He thought he was imagining things. He blinked twice.

And he knew that seeing Baekhyun standing by the door, watching him, was no mistake at all.

~ ~ ~

On his way back home, Chanyeol couldn’t help but look left and right every once in a while. He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following him. Whenever he turned around, he’d realized that he’d been alone all this while.

Ever since the outburst that happened yesterday, Chanyeol couldn’t help but feel afraid of Baekhyun. He didn’t want to believe that he isn’t alive. Of course he didn’t want his best friend to be dead. But something about what Kyungsoo told him rang with truth. He felt the urge to believe him somehow.

“Mom, I’m home,” Chanyeol pushed open the door lazily. He felt a sudden dread to go upstairs to his room. He knew who would be there, waiting for him.

But before he could decide whether to go upstairs, his mother stopped him. He