I’ll show you how it’s done girl

Make you flip, twitch and swirl

Show you the stars that light up the night

Make your eyes twinkle, like diamonds so bright

Chanyeol cringes, pulls off his headphones and reaches for the intercom on his desk.

“Suzy, I need you to call Woohyun immediately. That demo’s worthless. The beat has potential but I don’t think the lyrics are quite on point yet.”

He pauses, wondering why he even bothers holding back.  He owns the place, after all. “Actually, scratch that, tell him I want a complete re-write of the lyrics by 6 pm on my desk, because these big fat monkey balls. You can use that exact sentence to describe it.”

Suzy’s voice doesn’t falter when she points out Woohyun is in the building right now, and if perhaps Chanyeol would like to tell him in person his penmanship makes Chanyeol’s balls shrivel up and die (she’s been with the company for 3 years now and has gotten so used to her boss’s explicit language, she almost matches his vulgarity).

“No thanks, he’ll just keep me in the studio so I can hold his hand while doing his work for him. Besides, I’m meeting Baekhyun for lunch.”

The pitch of Suzy’s voice seems to go up a little after that. “Ah, it’s too bad he hardly ever comes in for work.” She’s always had a soft spot for Baekhyun.

“Don’t be sad Snooze – you’re working exclusively for me now. Park Chanyeol, the gift that keeps on giving.”

“….”

“Go ahead, take your time to contemplate your gratefulness in silence.”

“Your ego needs deflating. Tell Baekhyun I said hi.”

“Consider it done, ma’am.”

“Chanyeol-ssi?” Weird, Chanyeol thinks. Suzy usually doesn’t bother with honorifics.

“Yes?”

“If you call me Snooze one more time, I will spit in your coffee.”

Chanyeol grins.  He knows his work relationship with Suzy is an odd one, talking comfortably to each other as if they were college buddies instead of CEO and management assistant. He makes a mental note to give her an extra bonus this year.

His phone buzzes in his pocket. Chanyeol smiles as he sees the caller ID flash across the screen before he picks up.  Soojin.

“Hello, this is the speaking clock.”

“Hey there, giant.”

Chanyeol's eyes scan the busy restaurant, until they finally land on Baekhyun’s characteristic tuft of caramel hair peeking over the edge of a booth seat somewhere in the back.

“You know, it’d be nice if you changed your hair color for once. You’ve been stuck with Creamy Toffee for 8 years now.”

Baekhyun turns around, smiling brightly as he gets up and pulls his friend into a bear hug.

“It’d be nice if you changed your face, Yeol, cause you’ve been stuck with Ugly Mug for 38 years and it’s not getting any prettier.”

Chanyeol winks at his friend as he takes a seat across Baekhyun. “I think those wrinkles give me a certain gravitas.”

“Your gravitas is starting to show around your waist.”

Chanyeol pets his stomach, which is indeed considerably rounder than it used to be. “You know I have irregular work hours, all that midnight snacking couldn’t go unpunished.”

Baekhyun scoffs. “Irregular work hours, that's your excuse? I remember being in a certain band with you when you worked twice as much and I don’t think you had a beer belly then. Why don’t you just admit you’re too damn lazy to work out?”

“Why bother? Soojin loves me. All of me.”

Baekhyun makes a face and pulls the menu towards him. “Stop, I don’t need to hear the details.”

Chanyeol studies Baekhyun’s face as he peruses the menu. Time had been much kinder on Baekhyun.  At 38, his eyes were still bright, with long full lashes distracting from the wrinkles surrounding them.  Whatever beauty routine he had picked up during their EXO-days, it must’ve worked, because Baekhyun’s skin hadn’t gotten dull and rough like Chanyeol’s, but looked clear and dewy, even in the unforgiving light of the diner.  

Good skin aside, Chanyeol can’t help but notice that his friend looks tired. The dark circles around his eyes make his pale face look even more transparent.

Despite his youthful face, his body had changed drastically, as Baekhyun hadn’t given up on his gym time after the band called it quits. Chanyeol’s biceps were still quite impressive, but Baekhyun had long ago caught up with him, boasting a broader chest and better-defined arms every year.

Chanyeol wakes up from his musings when a waitress walks up to their table to take their order.

“Are you ready to – oh.”

The young girl blushes as she looks from Chanyeol to Baekhyun and back.  She looks over her shoulder, checking if anyone can hear her, then bends down and whispers shyly “My mom is like... your biggest fan. She’s going to have a when I tell her I served you!”

She keeps giggling as Chanyeol and Baekhyun place their order.

Chanyeol’s polite smile disappears as he watches her skip back to the bar. “Now I feel really old.”

Baekhyun smirks. “Good, it suits your face.”

They sit in silence until their food arrives.

Chanyeol hums a tune as he starts digging into his lasagna. “So, what’s this business deal you wanted to discuss? If it’s the EMI thing, I’m already on top of it and I sent-“

“I want to sell, Chanyeol.”

Chanyeol drops his fork, and the clatter of steel on porcelain draws the attention from the other patrons to their corner.

“What do you mean, sell?”

“My shares. All of them.”

“I still like Firelight Productions.”

“That’s so cheesy.”

“Okay, how about Chanbaek records?”

Baekhyun raises his brows and stares at the rapper. “I won’t even dignify that suggestion with an answer.”

“Ya, I don’t hear you come up with a better name.”

Baekhyun whines and falls back on the couch. “Are you sure this is a good idea? How are we going to run a business if we can’t even properly name it.”

Chanyeol’s smile falters. “Yo