Chapter 14: Change

A 'Sulay' and 'Chemin' chapter...

[Flashback]

“I’ve got great news for you Mr. Lee!”  A nurse squeak in happiness and clasped his hand together. The nurse took care of the patient for about 2 years but only giving him food or checking the patient even though he is not in charge but even though it’s like that; he was happy to take care of the old man. The 46-year old man tilted his head to the side wondering what the angelic nurse is trying to talk about. Sensing the confusion from the older man, the nurse broke out a warm smile.

“From the records I have, your pneumonia is no more! The surgery was successful! Your family won’t be worried anymore!” Suho broke out the news, full of happiness in it. The old man smiled and tears of joy escaped through his eyes.

“That’s great news Nurse Suho!” A voice came out of nowhere. Suho turned around and was greeted by the family of the old man. The wife of the patient hugs Suho and tears were now flowing out of her eyes. Suho smiled and hugged back the wife for a few seconds before breaking it. The family together with the patient gathered and rejoiced. A smile broke out on the nurse’s face before leaving them quietly with no one noticing him.

[End of Flashback]

~*~

[Suho’s Point of View]

Reminiscing about yesterday’s even t completely enlightened my mood today. The old man is going to be discharged after a few weeks when the head doctors found no problem and his everything is stable. I just finished checking the records of room 132 and handed the documents to Dr. Jung letting him handle the others.

As I was walking back to my office I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked behind and saw a boy smiling at me. I grinned and ruffled the boy’s hair. The boy is none other than Oh Sehun, my assistant nurse.

I watch Sehun scribbled down on his small white board before putting it up for me to read.

Are you done, hyung? Are you going back to the office?

After reading what the board says, I felt a smile creeping on my face. I nodded my head and let out a breath of content.

“Yeah, I’m done, just finished checking room 132’s record before passing it to Dr. Jung. Want to head back to the office together with me?” I asked and watch him shake his head. He erased the writings on the board by a tissue that he’s been carrying around before jotting down again.

It’s okay, hyung. I need to check up on Woohyun hyung later. I’ll be going to the cafeteria to eat.

What a sweet kid. I smiled and nodded my head.

“Okay, if you say so." Sehun smiled warmly at me and I couldn’t help but chuckle before ruffling his hair again.

“Nurse Suho! Nurse Sehun!” Someone called out to us and I looked behind and saw the chairman of the hospital. I stood beside Sehun and we, both, bowed politely as the chairman of the hospital stood in front of us with a warm smile gracing his face.

 “What can we do for you, Dir. Xing?” I asked politely with Sehun nodding his head lightly. I wonder why he called us. So far, I don’t remember doing anything nor Sehun does. All of a sudden, Dir. Xing chuckled for some reason.

I looked at Sehun with a questioning look and he gave me a shrug indicating he doesn’t know. I looked back to him and seeing his warm smile makes me a bit eased.

“Actually I don’t have any business with Sehun, only with Suho.” Dir. Xing calmly uttered and hummed in questioning.

“Sehun, would you kindly join Dr. Yunho and Dr. Changmin in the cafeteria? They were waiting for you there.” I looked at Sehun and he nodded his head and immediately backed away and left a tap on my shoulder before disappearing.

“Suho. Let’s talk in my office.” Dir. Xing spoke up as soon as Sehun disappeared. I hope the lump on my throat isn’t visible because I’m quite in a wreck now, thinking of what I have done for him to call me. I nodded and followed him to his office.

~*~

“Umm, I don’t want to sound rude, but could you please repeat it again? I think I’ve misheard something.” I asked half-nervous and half-curious. After being led into his office and sat down in front of him under the stiff and uncomfortable silence, he broke out some news that my own ears missed it. The director chuckled before nodding his head as a response.

I felt my stomach churn by his response and I know that it’s something that I should bear responsibility for. A heavy one.

“I’ve been watching you for the whole past 3 years Suho. I’ve seen you take care and check up every patient here in the hospital even though you’re not in responsibility of them. I’ve seen how happy you are when you are taking care of someone...” Dir. Xing trailed off and I gulped and I could already feel my anxiety rising up very fast. Dir. Xing broke out a smile before speaking up and I held my breath.

“You’re going to take care of someone now, Suho. Congratulations.”

[End of Point of View]

Chen checks the important orders and looks at the date of the deadline. He was skimming through 5 long papers with cakes, sweets, pastries, drinks, and others as their orders for events and occasions. He eyes every order before stopping in one particular order.

32. Mr. Wu and Mrs. Wu-Lee

Order/s:

• 1 Chocolate Frozen Butterfly Cake
• 1 Baby Milk Flower Cake
• 2 grand tables of different pastries
• 2 Fountains [Chocolate and White Chocolate]

Location: Grand Floral House

Deadline: 3 weeks time

Occasion: Birthday Party            

Placing down the record on the desk, Chen sighs, frustrated. This is going to be tough. All the orders are hard to work and considering that it is needed by 3 weeks time, Chen prays that they’ll be able to finish it without any troubles.

Standing up from his seat, he left his office to check the things happening in the kitchen. They weren’t open yet since he ordered all that they’ll be opening their shop around 9 am sharp to sort things out and have time to prepare.

Arriving in the kitchen, he saw Eunhyuk tempering the chocolate on the empty counter, Sungmin kneading the dough, Jessica tasting the fruits one by one to check if there are any spoilt fruits and the others preparing their part of the job.

Chen eyes Jessica who has a raspberry and sliced banana in her fingers. As he watches her take in the raspberry and after a while the sliced banana, her face scrunched up. Noticing that there is something wrong, he walked over to her.

“Something wrong?” He asks worriedly to her. Jessica looks at him with knitted eyebrows and a worried expression plastered on her face. She pointed at the bowl of raspberry and he gave her a questioning look.

He took a piece of raspberry and tasted the fruit. Jessica watches his expression turns into grim. He blankly looks at the bowl of raspberry before taking some raspberry out of the fridge.

“It’s already sour isn’t it?” Jessica mutters and he nodded his head.

“Yeah, but I’m going to try something.” He muttered as he went near Eunhyuk who was putting the melted chocolate in a bowl. He takes a spoon from the drawer and takes a taste of the tempered chocolate.

His eye twitched at the taste.

“Two more tempering and add a sprinkle of sugar, Eunhyuk. The chocolate hasn’t given out the taste.” Chen instructed making Eunhyuk jaw slacken.

“What? The chocolate has been tempered for 5 times already! The sweetness and the richness of it are already done! You can’t make it beyond sweeter!”Eunhyuk huffed out to him. Chen dazedly looks at him and nodded his head.

“That’s what I’m aiming for. Make the chocolate a bit sweeter.” Chen replied firmly, his eyes ordering Eunhyuk to do what he is told to. Eunhyuk rolled his eyes before dropping the melted chocolate back on the counter and took out the short spatulas. He drew circular motion, colliding chocolate together and repeating the process before sprinkling sugar on top and tempered the chocolate.

Once finished, he placed it back to the bowl and mixed it a bit before placing it on the clean counter. Chen takes a taste of the chocolate, his eyebrow rising at the taste. He takes a bite on the raspberry and once the two tastes collides each other, he grins at the taste he had tasted.

Eyeing the raspberry, Eunhyuk took some chocolate and takes a bite on the raspberry. His face stilled at the taste and gave a questioning look to Chen who responded with a smirk.

Jessica joined them and took the raspberry from the counter.

“Are we going to throw the raspberries? They taste so awfully sour.” Jessica shivered at the taste she had tasted awhile ago. Chen turned to her and he grinned.

“No need, Jessica. Problem solved. The chocolate has done it.” Chen replied to her and the former looked at him quizzically. She takes a taste of the chocolate before hesitantly taking a bite on the raspberry. Once she took in both, her eyes widen at the taste. She looked at Eunhyuk before turning her attention to Chen.

“The raspberry won’t be in much difference at the taste since the raspberry is sour it contradicts the sweetness and returns the original sweetness of the chocolate.” Chen’s eyes twinkled in delight as the problem is solved. Eunhyuk snapped his fingers and nodded his head.

“So that’s why you wanted me to make it a bit sweeter than the original.” Eunhyuk muttered as realization struck him. Jessica gleefully smiled before commenting a ‘great’ and went off to take chocolate bars from the fridge.

“Eunhyuk, make two separate chocolates, one the original chocolate you make and the other, this chocolate.” He pointed at the bowl and Eunhyuk hummed.

“Okay. Roger.”

Smiling, Chen left a tap on Eunhyuk’s shoulder before leaving him to make the chocolates. He passes by to the other workers, tasting the sauce of the pasta, the soup, the drinks, the cream, the process of beating, the colour until he reached Sungmin who is already molding the dough into various shapes.

Sungmin noticed him and smiled to him as a greeting.

“You’ve done a lot of shapes of dough already.” Chen commented as he saw 2 trays of various shapes of dough. Sungmin grinned in response.

“Yeah, needed to make more since yesterday there were still a lot of people ordering bread from outside. So I need to make a lot.” Sungmin commented as he finished the fish-shaped dough and placed it on the 3^rd tray as the last dough.

He placed it on the pre-heating area and left Chen to get more dough from the storage room. Chen chuckled and left the kitchen to observe the other workers in the dining vicinity. He watched them cleaning the tables, wiping the floor with the mop, wiping the large windows and the others fixing their clothes and others.

He sighs in relief that everything is in order and went back to his office to make a plan for the order of Mr. Wu and Mrs. Wu-Lee.

~*~

Are you seriously kidding me, hyung?

“No, I’m not! It’s true Sehun ah! I’m going to take care of a patient now! I’m going to be a private nurse to someone! After 3 years of waiting...finally the day has come!” Suho happily announced to the younger who couldn’t believe his hyung’s words. Shaking his head, Sehun scribbled again in his white board before putting it up.

I’m not going to believe you hyung. N.O.

“Aww, why not? Aren’t you happy to know that your boss is now going to take care of someone?” Suho pretend to sulk as he moved backward and sulk in one corner. Feeling worried and guilty, Sehun quickly went to Suho’s location and tried to comfort him. He back hugged his hyung letting him know he’s sorry.

Suho, who was currently smiling, turned around and cupped up Sehun’s face and flick his forehead.

“Ayy, I understand you Sehun. You’re too innocent. It’s okay.” Suho waved off his hand telling the younger that it’s okay. Sehun smiled warmly before checking his watch, his eyes widened. Quickly scribbling on his white board, he put it up and let Suho read it.

Hyung, I still want to stay and accompany you, but I have to go somewhere right now! My shift has ended. And Kyungsoo hyung needs me in the flower shop. I need to go. Bye!

Once finished reading, he was about to speak when Sehun tap his shoulder and the next thing he knows is, Sehun wasn’t in his sight anymore.

Suho chuckled admiring the younger’s attitude. Then something hit his head, the patient that he’s going to take care of! Giggling, he flips the papers until the last paper appeared and looked at the content. After receiving the room and some records that he haven’t checked out yet, he spots the number of the room, not minding the other information.  After he found the number of the room, he leisurely walks to the place with a big smile plastered on his face.

~*~

‘Aish! What was baba thinking?’ Yixing thought as he remembered what happened yesterday.

Flashback

Silence lingers in the room after Dr. Xing announced that his ‘son’ will have a private nurse after the day after tomorrow. Yixing looked at him quizzically. Calmly, taking his board, he jotted down before showing the board to his father.

A private nurse? What for, father? Isn’t you enough?

Dir. Xing didn’t know this would be Yixing’s answer. He was expecting his son to be at least be affected, any reaction would be fine, but no, he just looked at him quizzically. Being surprised for a moment, Dir. Xing collected himself.

 “I’m going to another country, Yixing. I need to help the people on that country. And when I’m away...who will take care of you? No one. So I decided to give you a private nurse. And besides, the nurse that I gave you is not an ordinary nurse. He is an angel that’ll take care of you.”

 ‘Angel?’  Yixing thought as he tilts his head to the side. Erasing the words on the board, he jotted new words on it.

Is that nurse trustworthy, father? You know that I do not easily trust a person and that you are the only one I’m comfortable with. I’m not going to stop you going to that country, but at least tell me if the nurse is really trustworthy because calling that nurse an angel doesn’t ease my musings to begin with.

His father blinked as he processed the sentences in his head. After processing it, he broke out a smile.

“Don’t worry Yixing. The nurse is nice and a caring guy. Once you see him, I bet you’re phobia won’t attack you just like when you’re with me. Believe me, Yixing. I won’t give you a private nurse that I know you will be dying in a minute. So, just relax and try not think much about it, okay?” Dir. Xing reassures Yixing as he pat his shoulder. Yixing lets out a puff of air before jotting down again on the board after erasing the previous one.

Okay, baba. I understand. If you say that he’s trustworthy, I’ll believe you. But don’t expect me to accept and trust him once I meet him.

Dr. Xing smiled before giving a peck on Yixing’s forehead.

“That’s my boy!” Dr. Xing chuckled before leaving his son on the bed, devastated and panicking.

Well, this is going to be a long worrisome day.

End of Flashback

Yixing raked his hand through his hair and messed it up. His thoughts were running crazy. His own mind was starting to build up a lot of questions like yesterday. His phobia was rising every minute.

‘What if the person is scary?’

‘What if that person is a touchy one?’

‘What if that person is a maniac?’

‘What if that person tries to molest me?”

‘What if the person is not nice?’

‘If he’s nice…maybe like an angel like baba said?’

‘And most of all, I wonder how the person looks like?’

Different thoughts lingers in Yixing’s head, slowly eating him up and making him more scared of the nurse and more worried for his being.

~*~

Finally found the room of the patient he is going to take care of, Suho smiled cheekily. For the first 3 years of his life in the hospital, he was finally given a patient to take care of personally. Suho couldn’t help but smile widely. He was very happy or should I say beyond happy.

Taking a lot of air, he reached for the sliding door handle before sliding it to the side.

He felt his heart beats faster than usual.

~*~

Thinking about the private nurse who will take care of him, he messed up his hair again. ‘Aish! Thinking a lot of this nurse is driving me crazy! And it’s definitely not good for my health. What did Mrs. Zhang told you? No one is trustworthy. No one except for your father and us.’ Yixing thought to himself, sighing soundlessly.

And as of cue, the door opens revealing an angel that will take care of him.

~*~

“Okay, listen up people! We’ve got about 5 hours to finish the dishes, desserts and side-dishes for the wedding. I want all of you to do your best and do not panic or whatsoever. We will create no mistake and we will not tolerate any mistakes that will occur, got it?” Donghae announced to the workers and chefs present in the meeting, he briefly look at Xiumin before returning his attention back to them and quickly adding something. “Xiumin hyung?”

Xiumin claps and looks at them with his warm smile.

”Do your best! Do not panic or whatsoever that’ll make you stress. Just do what you are supposed to do and listen to Donghae and Kyuhyun’s instruction. If you don’t understand anything, ask me or them, okay? Now let’s go and make the best food for the wedding!”

They nodded their heads and saluted.

“Comme vous voulez.”

Xiumin smiled and nodded his head. He claps his hands and the chefs and workers dispersed immediately attending to their work.

It was late 2 pm already and Le Café Amore didn’t open for today since they were preparing for the wedding today. They were held responsibility for all of their foods and they were expected to finish it in 5 hours in making and preparing it and another 2 hours for the travelling.

The wedding caused turmoil to them since they have ordered a lot and they were told to make it fresh to eat and not sloppy. Having 5 hours to work for it, Xiumin prays that they’ll make it on time before anything else. He saw Donghae and Kyuhyun heading to the kitchen to do their works.

With a determined heart and spirit, Xiumin headed to the kitchen to do his part also as a chef.

~*~

“We’re out of strawberries?” Xiumin asks, worry lingering in his voice. Minah nodded her head and showed the empty carton of strawberry to him. Xiumin hissed under his breath at the ungodly day where the strawberries have to be out. And not only that, they were told to make half of the sweets and desserts they are making made of strawberries.

‘That person must be obsessed in strawberries.’ Xiumin makes a mental note to himself to ask who the one has the obsession in strawberries before groaning. He shuts his eyes before face-palming himself.

“You switch with me and I’ll buy a carton of strawberries in the market.” Xiumin told her and she nodded her head. She switched places with him and he left to head to the market.

~*~

“ChenChen, our boxes of milk is already empty.” Mihyun worriedly reported to Chen, who gave her a questioning look.

“Are you sure? Have you checked the extra supply room? I remembered storing two to three boxes there.”  Chen thoughtfully answered back to her. She grimly frowns and shakes her head.

“I’ve checked and there’s really none.” She replied with a monotonous voice making Chen sigh. He nodded his head and walked over to her and handed her the knife.

“You cut the cucumbers and I’ll go buy the milks.” Chen told her and she nodded her head with a pout. Ruffling her hair with a smile, he left to buy some box of milks in the market.

~*~

He felt the world has stopped. His eyes glued on the patient; the same goes for the other, he stared at the person who was standing beside the door.

They felt and heard their heart beats loud and clear.

Silence was in the air as they continue to stare each other off.

Suho couldn’t take his eyes off from the patient he is going to take care of. Messy mahogany hair, pale white porcelain skin, and pink puckered lips and mocha eyes, Suho was stunned at the patient’s appearance. He was good looking, no scratch that, he was beautiful.

On the other hand, Yixing was blushing. He wasn’t just blushing because of the stare from the nurse, but he was blushing because the man who just opened the door of his room was truly like an angel like his father had told him.

He broke his stare and let his head hang low avoiding the nurse’s stare. Suho seemed to snap out from staring Yixing and came back to reality. He gulped and sorts himself up before putting up a smile. He slides the door close behind him and walks toward Yixing.

“Annyeong, I’m Kim Joonmyeon but you could call me Suho. Starting from today, I’ll be going to be your private nurse.” Suho beamed with a warm smile. Yixing looked up and felt his heart skip a beat. The nurse’s smile made him blush and he felt his heart race like it’s in a marathon. His baba was right.

The private nurse was indeed an angel.

He nodded his head as he understands. Suho nods before awkwardly grins.

“I’m sorry if I went in early. I was supposed to be here tomorrow, but I was passing by so I thought it would be great to introduce myself to you early than later.”

‘Smooth lie, Suho. Smooth.’ Suho thought as he smiled awkwardly at him, hoping that he won’t think of him as weird as to why he is here early when he is supposed to be here tomorrow still. Yixing blinks and nods his head.

‘So that’s why you’re here instead of tomorrow. Guess it’s not harmful for an introduction, right?’

“So, what’s your name?”

Yixing looked at him before blushing again. ‘Aish! Yixing stop blushing!’ He took his white board and wrote down his name. Suho raised an eyebrow as to why he has to write it on a white board if he could have just said it. His thoughts were interrupted when Yixing put up the white board.

Xing Lay

Suho’s mouth formed an 'o' before smiling and reached out his hand in front of Lay. Lay looked at him before looking at his hand. He looked up at him and tilted his head in confusion.

“It’s nice meeting you Lay. Hope we could be friends.” Suho uttered waiting for Lay to take his hand. But the latter didn’t. He waited again, but Lay wouldn’t take his hand.

Thinking that it’s not a harm to take his hand, he decided to reach Lay’s hand and put it in his hand and shake their hands together.

Bad idea, Suho. Seriously. Bad idea.

The moment he touched Lay’s hand, he received a hit of a pillow on his face.

The pillow drop on the floor and Suho wasn’t expecting that he would be hit a pillow and he wasn’t expecting that the sight he is seeing would make his heart rise in panic and worry.

Before Lay was only a metre or two away from him, but now Lay was 4 meters away from him. Lay’s back touching the cold steel rail, body shivering and shaking, hands wrapped around his body, face and eyes full of fear and breathing in and out a lot.

Overall, Lay is scared.

Panic and worry struck him. What did he do to make Lay like this? He doesn’t know. He was about to comfort the younger but he stopped when he saw tears escaping from Lay’s eyes.

Guilt builds up.

He was about to ask why Lay is crying and shaking in fear when the door of the rooms opens. He turned around and saw Director Xing, whose face is worried.

Dir. Xing immediately closed the door and went his way to Lay’s side and sat on the bed to envelope his son into an embrace. Lay clung onto him letting out his soundless sob. Dr. Xing comforted his son by patting his back and singing him a lullaby.

Pain struck Suho’s heart.

It pains Suho to see Lay like this. He doesn’t even know why Lay was acting like this. He just touched Lay’s hand and the next he knew is he was hit by a pillow.

And he wants to know why.

[Xiumin’s Point of View]

Damn, out of all the fruits that has to be forgotten, why must it be strawberries? There are only 3 and half hours left and if I don’t hurry up, we’ll be screwed. Entering the store, I immediately went straight to the fruit section.

Checking each container one by one, I finally found what I was looking for, beside the persimmons was the white and red strawberries. A young man came and greeted me.

“How may I help you?” He asks with a smile. I smiled back and took a piece of white strawberry. Tasting it, I nodded at the taste. The white strawberries are bit sweet and a bit sour, overall a moderate taste whereas the adults will like it.

Picking another, I tasted a red strawberry next. Nodding at the sweet taste and the juicy water brushing in my tongue, I looked at the man in front of me. I smiled to him and pointed at the strawberries area.

“2 boxes of these two strawberries.” I my lips and watched him nod his head and went away to get the boxes. I smiled and went for a brief walk around.

I entered the milk area and noticed that the milk section back in the shop is almost gone by now. I sighed. This is going to be rough. Carrying four boxes of strawberries plus maybe a box or two of milk on the way to the shop. How convenient.

Should I get one? Or not? I thought as I passed by the containers of milk and didn’t notice a person in my direction as I hardly think of whether to buy a box of milk or not.

Colliding with someone, I fell on the cold floor. Okay, who the heck is this person? Groaning at the heavy fall, a hand was reached out in front of my sight. Shifting my gaze above, my eyes hardened at the sight. Heart beating furiously, I stood up, not bothering the help that was offered to me.

Brushing off imaginary dusts, I looked at him. He’s still the same like those years back then. I noticed how his eyes wavered at me. I knew I was the cause of it. I want to hear his voice again; just a bit of his voice would be fine.

“Hey, Jongdae.” I greeted him with a small smile. He looked at me with a pained expression and I frowned. He didn’t respond but only turned around and left me alone. Sighing, I raked my fingers through my hair.

I knew he hated me, so why bother?  Oh right. I wanted to hear his voice. Well it failed and this isn’t going to be fine for him and me. I looked at my watch and my eyes widen at the time.

. 3 hours left. I was here for 30 minutes already?! Feeling panicked, I took two gallons of milk instead of box, thinking it might do and went back to pick up the strawberries.

[End of Point of View]

~*~

Minutes passed by, and Suho was snapped off in his trance when he saw Dr. Xing laying Lay’s head on the pillow and covering the fragile boy’s body by a warm blanket.

He was about to ask why Lay is like that when Dr. Xing spoke up first.

“He has an aphephobia.” Dr. Xing said calmly as he tenderly caressed his Lay’s face.

'Aphephobia?' Suho thought. He doesn’t know what it is and it’s his first time hearing it. So he tried to ask what it is.

“What is aphephobia Dir. Xing?”

“Aphephobia is the fear of being touched by the opposite or the same . In Lay’s case he has severe aphephobia.” Dr. Xing explained what aphephobia is to Suho. He knew not to speak Yixing’s real name but only his other name. Suho ‘ohh-ed’ before nodding his head. Now he knows why Lay reacted that way. He has an aphephobia.

Guilt spread over Suho’s face as he looked at Lay’s face. He didn’t know that Lay has aphephobia, if he could have known; he wouldn’t do that in the first place.

Dir. Xing looked at Suho and saw the nurse’s pained and guilty expression. He sighed and pulled out a chair for Suho to sit on.

“Suho, sit down. I’ll be telling you something.”

Suho complied and sat down on the chair and let his head hang low. The director sighed before starting to speak.

“I’ll be telling you this for my son’s sake, okay? La-“, Before he could continue, he was interrupted by a gasp from Suho.

“Y-you’re s-s-on?”

Director Xing ‘shh-ed’ at Suho telling him to keep it down. Suho nodded his head, but shock didn’t leave his face.

“I didn’t know you have a son, Dir. Xing.” Suho gave out a bewildered look.

“Of course not, because I never told anyone.” Dir. Xing chuckled. The light atmosphere became serious when Dir. Xing went back to what he was saying.

“Suho, I want you to take good care of my son. He has an aphephobia and haemophilia. He is a fragile-mute boy and could easily break if he isn’t taken care of. He is like an azalea, a flower that needs to be loved and taken care of, because if not, it could easily wither away without you noticing.”

Dir. Xing paused.

“He has lived all of his life in the hospital. He never once stood outside of this hospital and has never seen the outside world. I’ve always watched him gaze and look outside through the small window and how full of longing he wanted to see the outside world looks like.”

Dir. Xing paused again to wipe off the tears that escaped his eyes. Suho handed out a tissue to which Dir. Xing gladly took. As soon Dir. Xing finished wiping off his tears, he continued to speak.

“Suho....” Dir. Xing trailed off. He held Suho’s hand and squeezed it. He looked up to Suho who is quite close to tearing up.

“Suho....Please take good care of my son. I won’t be here to take care of him like I used to and all that is left is you. Please...take good care of my son. Even though he fears of being touched and couldn’t speak because he’s mute, please try your best to bear him and understand his condition. Try to gain his trust and soon you won’t have a hard time to have a normal handshake or touch him like me. Because I’m his father, he trusts me that I won’t be hurting him in any way. Please help him Suho. He needs to overcome his fear soon, because if not....he’ll be forever alone and scared.”

Suho placed his hand on their hands and stared at Dir. Xing who was silently tearing. Suho spoke up.

“I’ll do my best Dir. Xing. You can assure that. I’ll do my best to gain his trust and I’ll do my best to take care of him even though he’s mute and has an aphephobia. I’ll make sure that he won’t wither away nor break. You can count on me, Dir. Xing. I’ll take good care of your son.” Dir. Xing looked at him and saw Suho’s sincere and warm smile. He looked down and chuckled.

“Thank you.”

~*~

[Chen’s Point of View]

Having no milk in such day is such a headache already. Why must we ran out of it now? Sighing, I looked at the milks on the shelves. Ordering for our usual milk would take a day or two, so buying it in a store would be the easiest way.

Looking for the brand of milk that we use, I bumped into someone. Taking a few steps back because of the impact, I heard a crash on the ground. I looked at the person on the ground, groaning. Ouch, the fall must have been bad.

For once, I shouldn’t have cared reaching out my hand for the person I bumped into with. I shouldn’t have cared nor should have I bothered taking a good look of the person. I slowly pulled back my hand once I saw his face.

My eyes wavered as he brushed off imaginary dusts from his clothes and looked at me. He’s still the same. Nothing has changed.

He’s still the same Minseok, I have seen back then.

Pain filled me as he looked at me with those eyes that I once adored.

“Hey, Jongdae.” He greeted me with his smile that my breath hitched. I feel the tears welled up in my eyes and I turned around, not wanting to see him anymore. My heart ached just by seeing him. I left him alone and decided to take brief tour around the store until he leaves. He only comes here for errands and nothing else, so he won’t be here for a long time.

Walking around for some minutes, I went back to the milk area. Taking 5 gallons of milk, I left after paying.

Carrying 3 plastic bags, I walked back to the shop with a heavy heart. Why must our way cross now? Why? Why must it have to be now? Can’t it be after a lot of years before we see each other again?

Sighing heavily, I looked up from the road and saw him again, but this time worry was filling my heart crossing with pain.

He was carrying 4 boxes and a plastic of two gallons of milk, I questioned myself whether to help him or not.

Images of the past fleeted in my mind and I shaked my head. No. He doesn’t deserve it.

Making my pace faster, I passed by him with a pained heart. At least by this, he won’t see me pass by him and not help him. As soon as I passed by him, I quickened my pace than before and disappeared in the corner.

[End of Point of View]

~*~

Silently watching the figure who is sleeping, he felt his heart beats fast at the beauty of the fragile boy. Unconsciously, his hand went up to Lay’s cheek and touched the fragile boy’s cheek. He saw Lay’s body tensed up but soon relaxed. His eyes fell into sadness.

“Lay....don’t you know that you’re precious?”

He gently caressed the younger’s cheek and smiled painfully to himself. He heaved a lot of air and exhaled, his eyes changing to a determined one but didn’t stop from caressing the younger’s cheek.

“Lay...I’ll do my best to gain your trust. And I’ll do my best to help you overcome your fear and do my best to take care of you. Even though you hit me with things because of your fear, I’ll endure it, just for you.”

“Because I....”

He paused. What was he going to say? He doesn’t know what to say. He just said what he has on his mind. He shaked his head and shrugged it off. He stop caressing the younger’s cheek and slowly backed away and went towards the door. He opened the door and looked behind him. He smiled and muttered a ‘Sleep well’ before stepping out of the room.

Once the door closed, Lay’s eyes opens and tears escaped from his eyes.

‘Suho...’

He sat up and quietly sobs.

‘I’m sorry.'

A/N: Heyo! *energetically greets the readers* So this is Sulay and Chemin’s chapter. Quite longer than expected but, yeah. So share me what you think about this chapter, okay?

Question: If you would pick one member in EXO-K and in EXO-M to meet for two days, who would you pick?

Happy Birthday to our dear Sehunnie~! <3

Lots of Love <3