NARRATOR

Hours passed by, the sun was about to take its rest. People busily walked here and there, doing their last errands for the day.

Baekhyun looked at himself in the mirror as he straightened his shirt. He casually pulled up his cardigan’s sleeves up to his elbows  and exhaled.

BAEKHYUN’S POV

I don’t know why, but I’m feeling bothered right now. Why should I? Oh I think I’m going crazy with how I think.

A light tap occurred on my door. Before I could open it, Suho peeked his head in and grinned.

“Do you have a minute, Baek?” He entered and lightly closed the door behind him.

I looked back on the mirror and ruffled my hair slightly. “Yeah, sure hyung. But I’m picking up the guys and Minhee soon.”

I turned around to see Suho hyung sitting on the edge of my bed, his gaze fixed on me. That made me flinch a little. He usually smiles, like Chen. But now, he looks serious.

“Is… there something w… wrong?” I stammered, smiling nervously.

Suho hyung just sighed. “I know Baekhyun. You don’t have to hide it from me.”

Know? He knows? What does he know? This is getting weirder and weirder.        

“What are you talking about?” I tilted my head sideward, confused. Suho hyung shrugged and placed his hand on my shoulder, giving me a friendly squeeze. He smiled a little.

“Your feelings.”

Feelings?

“Hyung, I can’t un—“

“Just remember, as a friend, and a hyung, I want you to be happy. I don’t want you to feel sad. Just… follow what you really feel. Follow what that.” He pointed my chest.  “And act fast, before something gets in your way.” He nodded encouragingly and walked out of my room. I was left there, his words ringing on my head.

Follow what you feel…

Feelings… Minhee? He knows? I’m that obvious, really?

“Pabo Byun Baek.” I muttered, lightly hitting my head. But still it wasn’t done.

Act fast before something gets in your way.

“Act fast...?” The words escaped my mouth as a whisper, gently blending with the air I exhaled. I looked at my reflection on the mirror for the nth time. Surely, I looked troubled.

Suho hyung’s words kept repeating on my mind.

I shook my head, shrugging of what he said. With a smile, I twirled the keys around my finger and walked out of my room.

NARRATOR

A cheeky guy ran to Baekhyun as soon as he got out of the car. He almost lost his balance when Xiumin hit him.

“Bao Zi!” He chuckled, lightly hitting Xiumin’s shoulder. Xiumin stuck his tongue out at him. “You missed me, didn’t you?” He cooed, looking at Baekhyun with wiggling eyebrows.

Baekhyun scoffed. “Me? Miss? You? Oh please!”

Xiumin stomped around and hit the cemented pavements cruelly. “I hate you all. Ever since I arrived, all I received were warm insults. Thanks a lot.” He rolled his eyes and trudged back to Sehun and Luhan eating at the corner. He snatched Luhan’s red bean sherbet and smiled. Luhan just sighed, knowing how Xiumin can be so playful.

“Hyung!” Sehun called Baekhyun who was coming their way. He felt disappointment when he didn’t see you, but he kept it in.

“Minhee?” He asked. Sehun shrugged.

Luhan snickered. “Gee, hyung. You greet us with a question?”

Baekhyun laughed and stuck his tongue out at Luhan. “I do it my way.”

The four guys roamed COEX, looking for you. Sehun was mindlessly looking at shops, Luhan was trying his best to ignore the noisy Xiumin, Xiumin babbled about how he missed Korea, Baekhyun just walked with his hands on his pockets, his eyes darting here and there.

“Oh, there!” Sehun stopped in his tracks, followed by the others. He was pointing at you inside a toy store.

You were there, talking animatedly with L.joe. Your hands were intertwined with his, the other on a stuffed panda toy.

Luhan noticed Baekhyun’s stiff posture and slightly wide eyes. He smirked and clucked his tongue. “I think she’s still having fun.” He commented, anticipating Baekhyun’s reaction.

“A stuffed panda! Tao is here!” Xiumin pointed inside the store and beamed. Luhan nudged him and rolled his eyes.

The guys continued to stand there while you interacted with your best friend. Poking each other’s noses, teasing each other, smiling happily while picking toys and laughing. Your brows furrowed when L.joe insulted you playfully. He smiled and enjoyed your company.

However, Baekhyun’s heart dropped.

*That smile.* His gaze didn’t leave your way, but he was suffering every moment.

*Even L.joe looks very happy with her. Are they really just friends?* Doing all his best, he found the strength to look away. His fingers fiddled with each other, trying to divert his attention.

He looked down and closed his eyes for a while. He felt like something was slowly crushing his heart.

*Could there be something… more between them?*

Sehun sensed Baekhyun’s discomfort and nudged Luhan. Luhan nodded. Xiumin was clueless. He was looking at the toys inside the shop, his eyes sparkling.

“I’ll call her.” Sehun offered and walked inside. But before he could go inside, Baekhyun grabbed him by the elbow. “Don’t. Leave her.” He whispered.

Luhan looked alarmed. “Hyung, she’s been with L.joe all day. We’re supposed to meet her.”

Xiumin nodded. “Yep, that’s right. We still have dinner. I’m hungry.”

Baekhyun looked up with an unreadable expression. “Can’t you see? She’s happy. Ever since she got here in Korea, she missed China every second. But look.” He glanced at your direction and a part of him fell broken.

“She’s happy.” He whispered, walking away. The three guys were left there, looking at his figure.

Sehun, despite what Baekhyun said, still pursued what he wanted. He ran inside the shop and dragged you out.

“Bye Oppa~” You hollered, looking at L.joe as you were dragged away by a giant. L.joe just gave you a meek nod and waved. “Take care, cupcake.”

“Come, Baekhyn hyung’s driving us to the resto.” Sehun smiled. Your heart raced again with the mention of Baekhyun’s name. Xiumin hapilly skipped forward towards the exit. Luhan noticed you smiling unconsciously.

“What’s with that smile, mei?” He urged. You slowly shook your head. “Nothing. I’m excited to eat.”

Xiumin skipped to your side. “I know right?!”

When you arrived at the parking lot, Baekhyun was already standing beside the car, his back carelessly leaning on it. He had an unreadable expression on his face.

“Oppa!” You stood beside him and poked his cheek. He just looked at you, emotionless.

“Oh, you’re done? Let’s go.”  He said monotonously and slipped inside the driver’s seat. You blinked, shocked. Luhan clucked his tongue and pulled you inside.

*Sorry about that Minhee-ah. I’m just confused. I don’t know if this is right. I don’t know if falling for my best friend’s sister is right. Especially when I myself don’t know if you’ll accept me.* Baekhyun kept hs eyes straight on the road, though thoughts were dominating his mind.

The guys were already waiting in a private room inside a restaurant. Suho tapped his fingers impatiently against the table. Chanyeol, Chen and Kai were having fun talking about things. D.O was waiting for Baekhyun and you.

You entered the door happily and beamed. “Oppas~”

They all looked up and smiled. D.O motioned you to sit beside him.

MINHEE’S POV

It was a fun day with Byunghyun Oppa. Really, we did things we used to do when we were young. But something really is bothering me

Occasionally, Baekhyun Oppa would appear on my mind. Little details about him.

When Sehun told me Baekhyun Oppa’s driving, I felt a smile on my lips. I don’t know why. Must be because he’s a great Oppa to me.

“How was your day?” Chanyeol Oppa asked. He was smiling at my direction. Beside him, Baekhyun Oppa was quiet, playing with the table napkin.

I returned the smile. “I had fun.”

“So, what did you do? How is your best friend?” Kai Oppa urged.

“He’s fine. We bought a gift for his mom, and we did things we used to do when we were young.” I chuckled.  On the corner of my eyes, I saw Baekhyun Oppa cough lightly.

NARRATOR

Baekhyun’s mind was too full, it made him sick. Even the food didn’t seem to take his attention. He tried his best not to look at you. He was feeling bothered.

*Am I jealous of her best friend?! Damn. I am. Is it just friendship between them? Who am I to ask that? This is not right. It’s not.* He glanced at you looking at him worriedly, and he looked away immediately. He couldn’t even decipher his own thinking.

“You okay?” D.O nudged his side. He blankly stared back, weakly nodding.

"How did you two meet, anyway?" Xiumin's head snapped up, looking at you. He was asking about L.joe.

You smiled. "We were childhood friends. I used to live with them for a while because mom had to leave and I didn't want to go hme to China. That was when I was young."

Chen nodded. "He's the guy you always talked about when we were in China, right?"

"Yep. The one I stayed up late for on Skype." You chuckled.

The guys asked more questions about yor childhood. However, it was just adding to the questions in Baekhyun's mind. He didn't like what he was feeling right now.

"You're lucky to have a friend like him, I guess." Chanyeol commeted. You smiled heartily and nodded. 'Yeah, I am."

Baekhyun observed you from the orner of his eye. He was getting really sick. And his heart was in pain, for whatsoever reason he knew. He was longing for fresh air.

“I think… I’m sick. I’ll go home first.” He stood up and politely bowed to his friends.

“Where does it hurt?” You asked, but it was too late. He already exited the room and stalked off. Part of you wanted to run after him and take care of him, but Kai cleared his throat.

“I think they have… family problems.” He commented, all the attention in the room diverting to him.

“Can I go after him?”

Suho looked at you. “Stay, Minhee. I think he needs to be alone.”

Luhan looked at the whole scene. He knew the exact reason of this.

“Jealousy.” He muttered.

________________________________

tsk. tsk. Byun Baek. tsk. tsk.

comments are loved <3