Baekhyun eyebrows immediately furrowed when he heard her words.

Afraid? Afraid of what?

Baekhyun slowly crouched down beside her and grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger to take a good look at her. The sorrow and fear in the girl’s eyes brought another set of misery into his heart. He sighed and without saying anything he lifted her and made her sat sideways on his lap.

Out of habit, Ahreum immediately rested her face on his chest, her body was pliant against his. She didn’t refuse his touch, which Baekhyun regarded as a good sign.

Baekhyun swiftly encircled his arms around her waist and rested his chin on the top of her head. He then inhaled and exhaled slowly, enjoying the sweet fragrance of her hair and the feeling of her body against his that he had missed so much.

“Now, will you please tell me what makes you afraid?”

Baekhyun finally asked after he couldn’t bear the quietness between them anymore.

“…….You’re not cheating on me?”

Ahreum slowly asked instead of answering his question, making him stiffened all over again.

“No, I’m not. Would you like to verify it with the boys right now?”

To his surprise, she immediately shook her head.

“No need, I believe you.”

Just…like…that.

But then Baekhyun heard, or more likely felt, the distress sigh of the woman in his arms.

“It is much easier to believe you when you hold me like this Hyunnie, you never fail to make me feel safe and protected.”

Baekhyun just stayed silent while one of his hands absently caressed her head. He sensed that there was more to her speech.

 “You bring so much happiness into my life.”

She continued to speak, but her tone wasn’t reflecting any amount of happiness at all. Contrary to what she said, it was dire.

“Why do I get the impression that making you happy isn’t a good thing?”

Baekhyun tried to ask her in a cheerful tone, attempting to lighten the mood. But then an unexpected sob came out from her, though it was quickly muffled by her hand. He slowly pushed her, creating a little distance between the both of them so he could take a good look at her.

“Sweetie, what is it? Why are you being like this?”

His eyes roamed over her distraught face, trying to figure out what was wrong with his beloved. quivered for a moment before she answered.

“Hyunnie, you knew how I was before I met you. I never thought happiness would ever make it into my dictionary, and yet you managed to put it into my life.”

Her voice croaked and tears began to flow heavily from her eyes.

“I didn’t do happiness Baek, I never did, and then I met you, and as cheesy as it sounds, my world’s suddenly so much brighter. It’s like you’re trapping me in a very wonderful dream, one that I wish will never end.”

Baekhyun watched as her lips curved to form a small smile, but it was gone as quick as it appeared.

“Then you debuted, and I’m so happy for you, I really am, it’s just… I can’t help but feeling like you’re now in another world. You were my Hyunnie, the cheerful guy whose beautiful voice never failed to make my heart flutter. But you’re now Byun Baekhyun, lead vocalist of EXO-K, the one who appears in every girl’s dream, and ironically, I begin to see you as one as well. I fear that I’d suddenly wake up one day, and realize this whole thing between us is just a dream.”

Her voice was filled with sorrow, one thing that he never wished to hear in her voice. Baekhyun then parted his lips to assure her that everything between them was definitely real, but her cold forefinger silenced him.

“Yet despite being an idol, despite our time together that becomes shorter and shorter, you still bring so much joy to me, and in some way, it adds to my fear. Because even though I can convince myself that all of these are real, I know for sure that happiness doesn’t last, and when things change, when you leave me someday…....”

Her voice trailed off for a moment as she blinked rapidly, trying to stop herself from tearing up.

“...well at least I’ll still have those pictures, the valid reminders that you and our times together were once real.”

Baekhyun felt like she just punched him in the stomach. The resignation in her voice was clear. Acceptance. She had accepted, maybe even convinced than one day he would definitely leave, that there would be no happy ending for their relationship.

Baekhyun couldn’t help but blaming himself for her fear. After all, never once she complained, or got angry because of his demanding job. Even when those disturbing rumors about him with some other females arose, she easily accepted his explanation. He was thankful that she was so understanding but he should have known better. He should have seen the shadows of insecurity that lurked behind her smile, her too understanding façade. But he didn’t. He took her feelings for granted, spoiled by her understanding nature so much that after he debuted, he never made any extra effort to make up for their rare times together.

Guilt and shame coursed through his body as he gently cupped her face. His thumbs slowly brushed the trails of her tears. Even with her red swollen eyes and runny nose, she still looked beautiful to him. He slowly latched his mouth to hers. The salty taste of her tears greeted his taste bud before he trailed his lips to kiss her eyelids and then her forehead.

“Baby girl…I’m so sorry…for not paying you much attention as you deserve. I’m at fault, but then again why don’t you ever speak to me about it?”

 Baekhyun softly asked while tucking a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear.

“I just don’t want you to see me as a clingy and over jealous girlfriend. I mean you already have so much to do, you don’t need me to burden you even more with my insecurities and over thinking.”

She explained with a weak smile.

 “The pictures… they are my only hold Baek. Whenever I have doubt or fear I’ll look at them to convince my self that everything is all right, that whatever happens, whatever bizarre rumor that arises, you’re still real for me.”

She continued in a soft voice that was almost like a whisper as she absently played with his hair.

“And does it always work?”

Baekhyun enquired her again and felt like he had been punched again as her smile faltered.

“It usually does.”

But no, not tonight. Not when we’ve been apart for too long and the wretched photo is very convincing.

Her somber eyes silently told him, sending shards of pain to his heart. He couldn’t bear the look in her eyes any longer.

“Jagi, listen to me carefully, okay? I am real…”

He slowly said while surrounding her body with his arms once more, pressing her against his chest.

“Everything between us is real, and it will stay that way. I love you, you are my girlfriend, and absolutely entitled to be clingy and jealous once in a while. So here’s what you’re going to do, you’re going to tell me honestly about what you really feel, and every time you feel insecure you won’t sit hopelessly and look at the pictures, you’re going to tell me immediately, so I can banish your fear.”

To his surprise, the girl in his lap shook her head in disagreement.

“I can’t do that. Why do you think I snap those pictures? I don’t want to intrude you when you’re working, besides, you are always awfully busy that-“

Baekhyun cut her off with a kiss, it was brief, but it still managed to make her all flustered, making him chuckled.

“I’ll never be too busy for you. I may not be able to be with you physically all the time, but trust me when I say, as cheesy as it might sound, that I’m always with you. Happiness doesn’t last forever, but then again, so does sadness. Everything in life won’t stand the trial of time, but my love for you will...I love you.”

 He spoke to her wholeheartedly, truly meaning every words of his speech. He had been too ignorant of her when she’d never been anything less than totally attentive to him. He’d find a way to make it up for her, somehow. Baekhyun felt warmth enveloped his heart as he saw the girl in his lap smiled a real smile at her.

“I love you more.”

The girl said sincerely before placing a chaste kiss in his lips, making it tingled.

“Not possible.”

He said as his one hand moved to the back of her head keeping it in place, then he caught her lips in a scorching kiss, trying to express all of his love through the act. The girl welcomed his invasion and immediately tangled her hands between the strands of his dark short hair, deepening the kiss.

Baekhyun felt like his heart was expanding from the sensation of simply holding her in his embrace again, and kissing her like he had been dreaming for one long month. He tightened his arms, assuring her that he was real, that he loved her, and he’d never let her go.

It was a long while, but considering Ahreum was just a human being, and so was Baekhyun, no matter how often he had introduced himself as an alien from another planet, the basic need of oxygen forced them to part.

“One day we will take pictures that will put off your insecurities once and for all.”

 Baekhyun said after he finally managed to catch his breath. He could hear his own heart thundered loudly in his rib cage because of the breathtaking kiss. Ahreum looked at him in confusion, her breath was ragged, clearly still fighting to catch her own breath.

In spite of his breathless state, Baekhyun couldn’t help but smile, for he always thought her confuse expression was cute. When he spoke again, the love and adoration in his voice were as clear as crystal.

 “Our wedding pictures...”

Byun Baekhyun watched in fascination as a shade of rose crept upon her already flushed cheeks and the confusion in her eyes immediately replaced by twinkles of joy. There and then, he decided that as cute as her confuse expression went, her joyful expression was the one that he loved the most, the one he’d try his best to preserve, as long as he lived.

“But it doesn’t mean that I can’t try to put it off by myself right at this moment….isn’t it?

He asked mischievously as he suddenly stood up with her in his arms, then began to walk out of the living room. Already knew the layout of her apartment by heart, his steps were confident, even in the dark.

“Where are we-“

Ahreum’s question was subdued when Baekhyun claimed her lips again, effectively shutting down her brain and turning her limbs to mush. The man easily found his destination without breaking the kiss, and began his attempt to drive away her insecurities more thoroughly, on the comfort of the bed.

Author's Note:

It's DONE! Ah, so sorry if it's so cheesy but I can't help it. I always picture Byunbaek as an overly sweet guy! So nobody dies people, I'm sorry if some of you are disappointed. Thanks for reading, subscribing, and upvoting! Please leave me some comments <3 xoxo