Chapter 56

"Wipe off table 3, 5 and 6 and after that start cleaning the coffee maker."
Kris was balancing 4 plates, one on his left arm, his palm, between his index- and middle  finger and a fourth in his right hand, when Jongin barked yet another order at him.
"What are you looking at me for? Hurry it up will you? Jeez."
Kris was not easy to anger but this Jongin kid was intentionally pushing aaaaall the right buttons. He was surprised he hadn't flipped yet, like,  really surprised.

Closing time came around.
While the others were talking and having fun, Kris was sweeping the floors, wiping tables and closing up shop, alone.
It was his own fault really. He could just ask them to help but he didn't want to ruin their fun when it was him who was in a hurry to get home. Though he did watch with envious eyes at the small clique making plans to go for drinks.

"Kris? We're gonna take off. You can just finish up here and this time remember to take out the  trash will you? Seriously, how hard can it be?"
Last.Button...Smashed.
"I...! You...! ASDGHKFKJF!"
Kris looked like he was having a seizure before he smacked the broom repeatedly against the floor until the head fell off. Taking a few deep breathes, he started calming down.
"I'm pretty sure that's coming out of your paycheck."
"Are you okay Kris?" A scared Tao peeked out from behind Sehun.
" Jongin! Can I have a word?!"
"No."
"Great."
He marched towards the smaller man, picked him up by his shirt collar and half carried, half dragged a wriggling Jongin into the kitchen. Kris let go of him, taking a step back and another calming breath.
"Jongin. I feel like you have some sort of issue with me. Now, if we could calmly talk this out like adults, no one's getting punched in the face."
"I have nothing to say to you except for... Get back to sweeping. Cinderella."
Uuh that burned. Kris's right fist itched to scratch Jongin's pretty face.
"Yeah, I don't think you heard me. I'm going to mess you up if you don't start treating me with more respect."
"And I'm saying get back to work."
'Alright, no more sissy calming breaths. Take that guy and waste him!'
Kris cracked his knuckle, approaching Jongin with intimidating steps. Just about to lift his fist to knock his lights out, Kris saw his own reflection in Jongin's brown eyes. He looked scary. He looked like Mark and his pack of bullies. Kris's entire body tensed down. Slumping over his upper body, he backed away, staring at the ground. Kris was no bully. He didn't want to hurt Jongin. No matter how much of an asshat he was being.    
"Why do you hate me so much? Please tell me. Because I can't think of a single thing I've ever done to you." Kris said defeated.
"I don't like the way you look at Kyungsoo hyung."
"Excuse me?"
"... Whenever Kyungsoo is around, you stare at him."
"I do not... Always, what's it to you?"
"He's off limits."
Kris scoffed.
"You gotta be kidding me."
There was no sign of it being a joke on Jongin's somber face. 
"Seriously?... You're not in love with him or anything are you?"
"I am."
Kris's mouth fell open. So did his eyes.
"Wow... Okay. Erh...Kyungsoo isn't gay though."
"You don't think I know that?! So why is it that you come along and all of a sudden Kyungsoo is all over you? What makes you so special?"
".. He's all over me?"
"I will kick you in the nads."
Yeah, probably the wrong time to be mulling over that interesting fact...
"I'm sorry if that's how you feel but how is it my fault?"
"Oh it's your fault."
"Why?"
A deep silence occurred as Jongin seemed to be thinking up an answer.
"I don't know, It just is, okay!"
 Jongin sighed as he slid down to the ground. A bit awkwardly, Kris stood for a while fidgeting before sitting down next to him.
"I'm sorry for giving you a hard time, Kris. It just that Kyungsoo doesn't seem to know I exist anymore."
"... If it's any consolation, Kyungsoo has made it crystal clear that he isn't falling in love anytime soon."
"It's not. Kyungsoo deserves to be happy but he isn't. And there is nothing I can do to make him feel better. That's why it so much that you can make him smile just by being present."
"I can?!... Sorry. Go on."
Jongin scoffed, smiling a little.
"Haven't you noticed? Kyungsoo seems happy when you're around. Perhaps... Perhaps you can make him better."
"I tried. But lately he's been pushing me away."
Jongin stood up.
"Then you gotta push right back. Now get out of here. I'll close up tonight."
Kris rose to his feet, resisting the urge to hug the sad man in front of him.
"Thank you Jongin."
"It's the least I can do. But if you ever hurt him, I won't hesitate to take your place before kicking your ."
"Right. Like you could." Kris shot him a grin as he took off his apron and left out the back door. On his way home, he couldn't help but wonder if Jongin's words were true. Could it really be that Kyungsoo liked him but just wasn't aware of it?

'Naah.'

"Baekhyun?"
The man slowly awoke, smiling up at Kyungsoo when  suddenly his eyes widened and his smile disappeared.
"Kyungsoo? You're really here?"
Kyungsoo fell on top of his friend hugging him close.
"I'm so sorry Baekie! I'm so, so sorry! For everything that's happened, for pushing you away. I've missed you so much it's crazy! How is Chanyeol? Is he okay? Are you studying hard for your midterms? How've you been? Oh right, not good because of me man I !"
He was starting to sound like Chanyeol but Kyungsoo didn't care. He hadn't seen Baekhyun in so long. He had so many questions, so much he needed to tell.
Baekhyun pushed him off, still not believing what was happening.
"This is real? I might cry if this is a dream."
Kyungsoo took his hand, squeezing it hard.
"It's not a dream, Baekie. I'm here and I'm so sorry. You're one of my best friends and I just let you go because I'm a spineless coward. If anyone needs to be forgiven, it's me."
In a flash, arms were pulling him towards a warm body, holding him close.
"Does this mean I'm forgiven?"
"Just shut up will you?"
A smile pulled at his lips as he closed his eyes, hugging his friend tight.

He was still there.
When Baekhyun had awoken in the morning he was certain it had all been a dream but when he noticed the head of black curls and the arm around his waist, Baekhyun didn't know what to do. Without waking the man he had gotten out of bed to sit at his desk, waiting for him to wake up. After close to an hour, Kyungsoo started stirring in the bed.
"Baekhyun...Baekhyun?!"
"I'm here."
The panicky man locked eyes with him, exuding a sigh of relief.
"Kyungsoo... why now? I'm happy that you're here, I just don't understand why? What happened?"
He watched as his friend sat up in the bed.
"Someone made me come to my senses. He made me speak to my mom and I realized how stupid I have been. Instead of facing my problems I just... swept them under the rug, hoping that would solve everything. That it would be forgotten. But it wasn't. It was only hidden, temporarily.
Now it's time that I take responsibility for my own mess and make things right. Baekhyun. Is there anything I can do to even try and make it up to you?"
Baekhyun thought for a second.
"Sleep with me?"
"... WHAT?!"
"I'm kidding! Jeez, relax. This is going to be so much fun!" Baekhyun fell off the chair laughing. Kyungsoo's expression had been hilarious to say the least.
"That's not funny!"
Lying on the floor, drying his eyes from laughing, Baekhyun jumped up and onto the bed. He eagerly tackled Kyungsoo, hugging him close.
"You put me through hell but I guess I did quite the number on you too. I missed you, Kyungie. Whoever made you see the light, is my hero."
"His name is Kris. I live with him at campus now."
That stung a little, hearing that. They lay side by side as best as they could in the small bed. Just like they used to. Baekhyun had really missed this. Chanyeol had slept over a few times but he was too big for it to be comfortable. Kyungsoo was the perfect fit.
"I'm glad. I guess this means you're not moving back in with me."
"I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I really liked living with you but let's be honest, there's not enough room here for the both of us, not even for you. But if it's okay... I'd like for us to spend the rest of the day together? Maybe... Maybe go surprise Chanyeol? I haven't heard from him in a long time. Does he hate me?"
"He doesn't hate you. After your little outburst the night of your so-called intervention, you scared him a little. He's just giving you your space."
"Right. Baekie?"
"Hm?"
"You're not... I mean, you don't have... feelings for me or anything, right?"
Baekhyun smiled, sighing deeply.
"I don't."
"Oh good. Because you do know how weird it is for a guy to offer sleeping with another guy? Even if they're friends?"
"...Yeah. That wasn't one of my better ideas... But what can I say? I'm a math student. I don't get out much."
Baekhyun was still trying to figure out why he had come to the conclusion of offering Kyungsoo his... body was the best solution. But what done was done. He was just happy that Kyungsoo was speaking to him again.

"Chanyeol!"

When an unsuspecting Chanyeol had opened the door to his home, a tiny monkey had shouted out his name, jumped into his arms and locked it's legs around his waist, refusing to let go.
"I'm so sorry, Chanie! I really am! Please don't be mad at me, even though I know it's going to be difficult. I'm so stupid! How's economics going? Your parents still don't want you to become a musician? Well screw them. Oh hi Mr. Park, long time no see. Uh Chanyeol! Do you want to jam? I haven't sung in so long and I bet your itching to give your guitar a scratch, am I right? Am I right? Aish, I'm starving. We should get lunch first. To the café!"
Chanyeol, who slowly realized a monkey could in fact not speak Korean or any other language for that matter, watched as his best friend let go of him and started running away.
"Baekhyun. I'm scared."
Chanyeol turned his gaze to the amused man next to him. What the hell was up with Kyungsoo? And was Baekhyun actually smiling?
"I would be too. He's turning into you."
"Oh my God. What the hell did you do to him?!"
"I didn't do anything. His new roommate set him straight."
"New roommate?"

"Everyone, this is Kris, my friend and roommate. He's a... Chinese-Canadian exchange student, majoring in phys. ed."
'Aaah'. Chanyeol thought to himself as he eyed the tall stranger. When Kyungsoo had run off they had assumed he had been talking about the cafe he worked at which luckily had been the case. Kyungsoo was standing, tripping next to a weirdo blond guy in an apron.
 "Kris. This is Baekhyun, the friend I used to live with,"
"...The guy who tried making you sleep with him?"
"Erh..."
"What?"
"WHAT?"  
Chanyeol's eyes were about to pop out. Had he just heard the man say his Baekie had made a move on his best friend? No way in hell that had happened and under his nose? Uh uh.
"You told him?!" Baekhyun was staring disbelievingly at Kyungsoo who was looking at Kris with a confused expression.
"I never told you that."
"... You might have mentioned something about him throwing you out because you wouldn't do it."
"I never have said that."
"You might also have been drunk."
 "Oh sss."
"Wait wait, wait a minute! That's the reason you've been ignoring us for what two months now?  And Baekhyun. What the hell man?! Kyungsoo is a dude. You're a dude."
Chanyeol held up his two index fingers.
"1+ 1 does not make a zero. It makes... two!"
He slapped his index fingers together.
"And two is one too many... appendixes in one place."
"And that is exactly why I didn't tell you."
"What because you knew I'd freak out?"
"Yes. No! I was embarrassed! Can we please just... Please?"
"... And that is my other best friend, Chanyeol."
So they just decided this was the end of it? Chanyeol sighed while shaking his head.
"Yes. The best friend you haven't included in your life for a very long time now. Because of that, you're buying me lunch."
Chanyeol his heel marching towards an empty table.
Grumpily he threw himself in a chair but the frown soon vanished. Now that Kyungsoo was sitting next to him, the trio was back together. Things were finally normal again. Kyungsoo was smiling. Baekhyun was smiling. What reason did he have not to smile as well? So he threw himself into conversation with his two best friends, enjoying every second, right until his Kyungsoo called that Kris guy over and forced him to join their table.

Chanyeol wasn't a fan of quartets.
And so he kept shooting daggers at the 'only slightly' taller man across from him.

Hoping he would just, go away.      





A/N
Aaaaaaand they're back together xD Sorry if it seems too easy but friends forgive and forget right? Yeaaah I think so...
Kris didn't really make the best first impression but can you blame him? I don't think so xD

The next few chapters will be a bit of a rushed rollercoaster ride but I hope it will be easy enough to follow :)
I can tell you as much as it is nearing Christmas and Kyungsoo might just be ready to face someone from his past :o
You probably already know who but shhh :b