The First

At first, all Chanyeol could hear breathing — soft breathing — from the other end of the line. "Hello?" he called out in his usual baritone voice, thinking it was a bad signal. "Hello, this is Yongsan Crisis Hotline, how may I assist you?"

There was no response, but Chanyeol could hear the person's steady, gentle breaths.  Times when Chanyeol thought the person on the other end would speak up — he could tell the person wanted to, because there would occasionally be a sharp intake of breath, or a slight gasp, as if the person was stifling in words he wanted to desperately say — he didn't. Chanyeol didn't ask, either: his mother had taught him not to poke and prod into people's businesses when they didn't feel like sharing their thoughts and feelings. Chanyeol thought it was only respectful to follow his mother's advice, considering her temperament now. And so both of these strangers sat there for the longest time, just listening to each other's soft breathing, both of them not wanting to hang up.

"Oy, Chanyeol! Slacking off again?" his colleague, Jongdae, yelled, passing by and slapping the back of Chanyeol's head. "Better not be! You've already missed out on a lot of sessions!" 

You didn't know why, hyung, did you? Chanyeol thought. I was at the hospital, looking after my mother. 

Chanyeol's landline phone clattered onto the cold linoleum floor. He flinched and swiftly retrieved it, pressing the earpiece to his exceptionally wide, Dumbo-like ear.  "Hello?" The person had already hung up. 

The pit of Chanyeol's stomach dropped in an unusual way as he placed the phone back down, and he had no idea why. Maybe it was the comfortable feeling he had felt in his gut while listening to the person — like he knew him from another life. Maybe he just needed a friend, a real one.

The thing about helpful people was that they were busy making all of the other people around them happy and contented, that no one even cared to remember whether they were happy too. 

The gorgeous poster I am currently using is from LOVELY CHEESECAKE POSTER SHOP. Thank you so much for the beautiful poster - you should totally check the shop out <3

The lovely poster is made by cafe au lait graphic shoppe! Do check out her lovely posters <3

The second poster here is from namelesspenguin poster shop, which has the cutest, prettiest posters everrr~! Check out her shop too :)

The following background is not mine - I got it off Google Images somewhere :D

Author's Note: Heyo guys :P I am back AGAIN with another story (remind me why in the world I am starting another story when I can barely write my two other ones) — this time featuring the totally cute ChanBaek <3 This is my first time writing an EXO x EXO sort of story, so I am immensely sorry in advance if my writing  or isn't understandable.

An Entry for: The 5 Senses Writing Contest

Prompt:-

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." - Leo Buscaglia

This related to me on a deep level and got me thinking a lot, of the people who keep their feelings embedded deep inside them, not letting anyone in, growing more downhearted everyday because no one seems to care for them. How a hand who reaches out for help would help them a lot. It touched me to the core.  Ahaha I'm rambling random stuff again :D Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy the story :)