Chapter 8

“Jongdae! We’re going out for brunch!”

“Okay, have fun,” Jongdae shouted, still sleepy-eyed and in his room. He was huddled under piles of blankets, with pillows softening the blow of reality and life.

Yeah, he really didn’t want to face work. Or rather, he didn’t want to face Baekhyun.

“By we, I mean you and I, darling,” the voice yelled back, breaking through the wall of soft cotton.

Jongdae threw back his blankets, a shiver running through him as the cold air hit his uncovered arms. Hastily pulling on a sweater, he rushed into the kitchen, where his mother was dressed in black, still in mourning. Her outfit was fairly formal, and Jongdae feared for the worst.

“We’re going to have some brunch, sweetie, get dressed.”

“But mommm… I have work.”

“Nonsense; it’s partially my company. My son can do whatever he wants. Now go.”

Jongdae groaned internally, pivoting on his heel. It took him all of one minute to simultaneously brush his teeth and hair and throw on his clothes, and after a quick glance in the mirror, he rushed back down the hallway.

“Hey, ma, what’s the occasion?”

“I can’t take you out for brunch?” Mrs. Kim cooed teasingly, and Jongdae made an attempt at a half-smile.

“I guess that’s a good enough reason for me.”

That bastard, Kim Jongdae. What’s his business, going off and leaving us with a replacement? And to think I was going to treat him to lunch.

Baekhyun’s heart throbbed a little.

I just want a friend.

A few seconds after his pity party started, Baekhyun’s stomach grumbled.

I want food.

After a few seconds of deep pondering and stomach growling, Baekhyun decided that it wouldn’t be a pity party without friends and food. And who was a good cook?

A few minutes later, he stood outside the building, rocking back and forth on his feet as he waited for the familiar click and Luhan’s cheerful voice.

Unfortunately, no such sounds came and Baekhyun was forced to resort to other methods. Biting his lip, he scrolled down his contact list until…

Park Yeollie

Noooo-

He wasn’t that desperate for food.

...Okay, maybe he was.

“Hello, Park Chanyeol speaking.”

“I want food.”

“I’ll be there in five. You’re at work, right?”

“Yes. And hurry. My stomach is growling like Luhan that one time when you hit him in the head with a ball.”

“Yeah, yeah, that was an accident. Anyways, speaking of Luhan, I’ve got something epic to tell you!”

“Get your over here with food. Now.”

“Eesh, typical Baek. See ya!”

And with that, Baekhyun began his long wait for his food.

“Uh, mom? Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Not yet,” Jongdae’s mother replied, unusually serious. “I’ll admit, my motives for this brunch weren’t what I told you they were.”

Knew it.

“Really? I didn’t know. So… what are they?” Jongdae raised an eyebrow.

His mother folded her hands, uncharacteristically solemn. “I need to talk to you about something.”

Jongdae couldn’t even believe this cliche. Seriously? In the past few months, his brother had died, he’d gotten in an arranged marriage with his brother’s betrothed and said betrothed was pissed.

“Now what? I knew Baekhyun when we were kids? He’s been kidnapped and needs a large ransom? Our company is going bankrupt and the only way to save it is to hurry the marriage up?” Jongdae grumbled aloud, and Mrs. Kim laughed, her eyes twinkling.

“No, my darling.” Mrs. Kim sobered up. “It is about Baekhyun, though.”

Jongdae waited for a beat, but when his mother didn’t elaborate, he pressed on.

“...And? What is it? Is something wrong?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Er...what?” Jongdae blinked.

“I’m sorry,” his mother repeated, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Jongdae took his mother’s strong, yet wrinkled hands in his own. “Why do you need to be sorry for anything?”

“I’m sorry for forcing you to marry Baekhyun,” Mrs. Kim murmured, her voice nearly a whisper. “I should have known better, but I went forwards and did it anyways. I’m sorry for forcing Baekhyun to marry you too.”

Jongdae opened his mouth to offer consolation, then paused and closed it again. There wasn’t much to say anyways. He knew that his mother was sorry, but empty words wouldn’t help her.

“Keep an eye on Baekhyun, okay, Dae?” Mrs. Kim pleaded quietly. “You never know how he could feel; what measures he would take to be back with your brother again.”

Eyes widening, Jongdae loosened his grip on his mother’s hands. “What do you mean?”

“I’m saying that he could do something desperate. Don’t let him.” Mrs. Kim grasped her son’s hands tightly. “I’m begging you. For Jongin’s sake, for mine and for Baekhyun’s. Please. Keep him safe for us.”

Throat tightening, Jongdae’s mind unconsciously conjured an image of Baekhyun sliding onto the road on the day of Jongin’s funeral. “I will, mom.” I promise that I will. I’m not letting his life slip away, if I can help it.

“Chinese takeout?” Baekhyun mumbled, his voice muffled by the noodles currently being shoved in his mouth. “Luhan’s influencing you more than I thought.”

The two sat in the backseat of Chanyeol’s car, dozens of boxes of Chinese food surrounding them. Not the greatest brunch ever, but… it did the job.

“Uhh...yeah. And about Luhan,” Chanyeol drawled, watching Baekhyun devour the noodles with ravenous ferocity, “he confessed to me the other night.” He smirked amusedly as his best friend set his now-empty container down, raising an eyebrow.

“Congrats,” Baekhyun grinned, picking up the next plate and breathing in the heavenly smell. “As long as you didn’t do things with him in the backseat of this car yet, I’m pretty happy for you. And I could tell you liked him from the start.”

Chanyeol puffed out his chest like a proud peacock, proclaiming his new mate to the world. “You could, huh?” A few seconds passed before he deflated. “You could?”

“Yeah.” Baekhyun nodded and his lips, obviously wanting to start on the next dish. “You were sooo different around him. Like a lovesick puppy.”

Chanyeol pouted. “Ugh. Well, I’m hungry. Stop eating everything.” With that, he grabbed a plate and dug in with an enthusiasm that could’ve matched Baekhyun’s.

Ten minutes and four dishes later, the best friends sat comfortably in the car, neither of them willing to move.

“Well,” Baekhyun sighed, “I have six minutes left of a lunch break. And those six minutes are going to be spent getting up to my office and settling in, so I’ve pretty much gotta leave right now or I’m screwed. Like, really screwed.”

“I’ll walk you back, milady,” Chanyeol grinned, making as much of a bow as he could before opening the door and pulling Baekhyun out.

“Hey, what’s up with this?” Baekhyun grumbled. “I’m manlier.”

There was a pause before they both burst into laughter, drawing the attention of several startled employees in the parking lot.

“Now that was funny,” Chanyeol admitted. “You’re almost as girly as Luhan, and that’s saying something.

“I’m sure Luhan would appreciate your words,” Baekhyun replied dryly, the two friends beginning to walk.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Chanyeol chuckled.

As they made their way across the parking lot, they were met with a group of loudly laughing employees, still on their lunch break. As the best friends passed, they quietened, and a few of them flushed deeply.

“Hey, Byun,” a braver male called over, ignoring the desperate tugs on his shirt from what Baekhyun assumed was his frightened girlfriend. “New boyfriend already? I guess that’s why Kim Jongdae wasn’t here today, huh? You get bored that easily? Or did you just drain him of money?”

And Chanyeol wasted no time in flipping him off.

A short but kind of light-hearted one to make up for the sad chapters so far.

Also...a lot of you seem to like Kaibaek. And I mean a lot of you.