"Sir, if you really want Mr. Byun's number so badly, I could always call-"

 

"There's no need. He's about to crack... I can feel it." Chanyeol replies, gripping onto his cell phone. Of course, Chanyeol was tempted to just call Jonghyun and ask for Baekhyun's number... but he wanted Baekhyun to tell him himself. Not like it was going to happen -at least anytime soon-, considering the fact that Baekhyun probably still hates him. 

 

Keeping that in mind, Chanyeol sits up straight. "On second thought, contact Mr. Kim and tell him that I'll be taking a quick visit."

 

-

 

"It's a suprise to see you here, Mr. Park." Jonghyun says, greeting Chanyeol with a confused expression. "Is there something wrong?"

 

Chanyeol scans the room, looking for a certain brunet. To his distaste, however, Baekhyun was no where in sight. "No, just wanted to follow up on the orders."

 

"Oh well they're fine." Jonghyun replies, making his way back into the kitchen. "In fact, we just-"

 

"Your assistant isn't here?" Chanyeol suddenly questions.

 

"Byun?"

 

Chanyeol nods his head. "Yeah, that's the one."

  

"Baekhyun doesn't work on Mondays." Jonghyun explains, as he continously beats the egg whites into a meringue. 

 

"Do you know where he is then?" 

 

Shaking his head, Jonghyun takes the whisk out of the bowl and wipes his forehead before he speaks. "No... he might be at home or something. I don't really know, he doesn't respond to my messages when I text him... Baekhyun never checks his phone."

 

After hearing Chanyeol take a long sigh, Jonghyun tilts his head. "But why are you looking for him? If it's about the order you put in, I could help you. I am one of the-"

 

"I have some personal matters that I need to discuss with him."

 

"Personal matters?" Jonghyun repeats, grabbing a piping bag from the cabinet before returning to his station. He grabs a spoon and trasnfers the beaten egg whites onto the piping bag before adjusting the tip. "Are you someone who knows Baekhyun personally?"

 

Chanyeol hesitates, watching as Jonghyun creates spirals of meringue onto the baking tray. "I guess you could say that."

 

"That's a relief." Jonghyun states. "He's never been really good at making friends... That guy hates socializing and tends to isolate himself... how'd you meet?"

 

"We met in Japan." Chanyeol replies, leaning against the counter that seperated the kitchen. "I got lost so he helped me find directions. You seem to know alot about him."

 

"I've known him since college." Jonghyun says, wiping his forehead. "We were friends because of our parents and then we started going out. Hey can you pass me the-"

 

"You guys dated?" 

 

Jonghyun nods his head.

 

"And you think working with him is a good idea?"

 

"Of course. I know Baekhyun." Jonghyun replies. "He's not the type to hold a grudge on someone. I mean, we broke up but that doesnt mean we can't still be friends."

 

 "Besides, he has a boyfriend."

 

Chanyeol raises an eyebrow. "Boyfriend?"

 

"I mean, I think they're going out. I'm not really sure." Jonghyun states, completely oblivious of how he was provoking Chanyeol's anger. "I saw a picture of them on his phone a while ago, so I figured he had someone."

 

It wasn't like Chanyeol was suprised. I mean, 2 years could change a person and chances were that Baekhyun had already forgotten about Chanyeol and moved on to a new boyfriend. But Baekhyun can't have a boyfriend. Not when Chanyeol's around. 

 

-

 

As Baekhyun makes his way back to his apartment after a quick errand, he sees a dark siluette leaning against the hood of a car. Shrugging, Baekhyun walks past the figure, until he is suddenly yanked back. "Chanyeol?" 

 

"Get in the car, Baek."

 

"What are you doing here?" Baekhyun says, hesitatant. "And why do you look like you're about to mug someone?"

 

"I'll explain everything later, just get in the car." Chanyeol says firmly. Despite Baekhyun's constant complaints and struggling, Chanyeol was finally able to drag Baekhyun's body into the car.

 

"Chanyeol, kidnapping is illegal!" Baekhyun states, as Chanyeol locks the door so that Baekhyun wouldn't be able to escape. Chanyeol then leans over and puts on Baekhyun's seatbelt. 

 

"Quit struggling, I'm not going to hurt you." Chanyeol groans. "I just want to talk."

 

"We could've talked tomorrow!" 

 

"I figured you would've ignored me." Chanyeol replies, starting the ignition of the car. "What were you doing so late anyways? It's... 11 PM! 11 PM! Are you crazy? Who wanders around that late?"

 

"It's none of your buisness."

 

"Actually it is my buisness, Baek." Chanyeol replies.  "I don't think you understand. Everything that has to do is my buisness. Whether it's your dislikes or likes. I want to know everything about you-"

 

"Isn't that a little to obessive?"

 

"I'll do whatever it takes for you to understand."

 

"Understand what?"

 

"What you didn't understand before." Chanyeol replies, before he turns his head slightly and catches Baekhyun's eyes. "My heart."

 

"Your jokes are crap, Yeol."

 

-

 

"Do you want something to drink?" Chanyeol casually asks, once they reach his apartment. The ride to his apartment went smoothly than he had expected. After realizing that yelling at Chanyeol to let him go wasn't going to work, Baekhyun kept silent as Chanyeol drove home. 

 

Baekhyun slumps his tired body on the cough, before he mumbles a response. "No, I want to go home."

 

 

"And I want to talk." 

 

"Talk about what!" Baekhyun shouts in frustration. "Chanyeol we already went over this! I can't do anything for you... So just leave and go home."

 

"I am home."

 

Baekhyun scoffs, as he begins to stand up. "You're right, then I should just-"

 

Before Baekhyun has a chance to walk past him, Chanyeol grabs Baekhyun by the arm and pushes him against the wall. The action takes Baekhyun by suprise, but before he could do anything about it. He found his body unable to move. It was then that Baekhyun realized how Chanyeol's face had become smaller. His plump cheeks and cheerful smile were now replaced with tired, dark eyes and pale, dull lips. 

 

Looking back, Baekhyun found it somewhat of sad atmosphere. Chanyeol wasn't the same cheerful Chanyeol that Baekhyun remembered. The one that he fell madly and deeply in love with.

 

Chanyeol changed. 

 

And Baekhyun wasn't sure whether or not he liked it.

 

As Chanyeol stares deeply into Baekhyun's eyes, Baekhyun finds himself wondering where and how Chanyeol had been. Had he been eating properly? How his buisness was going?  And if he had found someone else during their 2 year seperation. But instead, Baekhyun says nothing and once again finds himself unable to speak.

 

Staring longly into Baekhyun's eyes, Chanyeol speaks. "You're my home, Baek. That's why I can't leave."

 

What didn't change, however, was Chanyeol's way with words.

 

"I still have feelings for you, Yeol." Baekhyun tries avoids Chanyeol's gaze and looks down. "As much as I wanted to get rid of them, I couldn't. I was so frustrated with myself because after all these years, I still felt something for you."

 

"Then why are we still talking about the past when we could be focusing on now?"

 

Chanyeol's face beams and a sudden smile forms in his face, however, before he has a chance to speak, Baekhyun cuts him off. "Yeol, I don't think we should be in a relationship right now." 

 

"What?"

 

"When I lost the baby and found out that you lied to me... it made me realize that I don't know anything about you..." Baekhyun says, letting out a loud sigh. "Our relationship before was bound on the baby... Heck, our relationship started just because I got pregnant. I'm not the same 24 year old in the past..."

 

Baekhyun chokes up. "Sure, we loved each other in the past... but we weren't in love with each other-"

 

"That's not true."

 

"You can't just tell me that you love me and then be with someone else behind my back... If you really knew me Chanyeol then you would've realized how much it hurt when I found out about your engagement... it was like a stab in the heart. You can't just expect me to forgive you just because you're here right now..."

 

"Where were you before? When I was pregnant and needed my boyfriend around...?" Baekhyun continues. "I knew that work is your main priority in the past, but sometimes I just hoped that you would've lent me some of your time... then maybe I wouldn't have felt like I was alone all the time."

 

"Then why did you stay with me?" Chanyeol questions, slightly curious.

 

"Because I wanted to get to know you." Baekhyun honestly replies. "All I really knew about you was that you have a horrible sense of direction and your name was Chanyeol. I didn't expect you to be the son of the president of Parks Cooperation... Besides I wanted to reassure myself that I wasn't just rushing into our relationship... so I thought that maybe if I was going to have the baby, then I should at least get to know the father of my child a little bettter."

 

"Did regret being with me?" Chanyeol hesistantly questions, not sure if he really wanted to know Baekhyun's answer.

 

"No." Baekhyun replies as he places his hand on Chanyeol's cheeks. When a tear falls out of Baekhyun's eye, Chanyeol is quick to wipe it away, causing Baekhyun to smile slightly. "I just wished we did some things differently."

 

"I'm really sorry, Baek." Chanyeol says, pulling Baekhyun into his embrace. "For everything... I'm sorry for everything."

 

"I know-"

 

"No you don't." Chanyeol replies, tightening his hold on the latter. "You were right... I was so blinded by protecting my family and making money to help the company that I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most... I was such a coward then that I wasn't even able to be the one to cancel the wedding. I didn't want to hurt my family, but in the end I ended up hurting you."

 

"I know I hurt you in the past, but I want to make up for it. I want to show you that I'm serious about you. That you're just not someone I could throw away. You weren't the only one who changed. Just give me another chance... please."

 

When Baekhyun doesn't speak, Chanyeol sighs. "Is this about that new boyfriend of yours?"

 

"Boyfriend?" "What are you talking about?"

 

"The one Jonghyun was talking about!" Chanyeol replies, irriated as he runs his fingers through his hair. "The one you had on your lock screen."

 

"I don't have a boyfriend. I haven't had one since... we broke up." Baekhyun sighs. "Chanyeol, I just don't want to have the same relationship we had in the past...' 

 

"We won't-"

 

"Chanyeol, I'm not rejecting you." Baekhyun says, smiling slightly when he meets Chanyeol's eyes. "All I'm trying to say is that I'm willing to try... as friends."

 

"As friends." Chanyeol repeats, feeling both bitter and relieved about Baekhyun's statement. It wasn't excatly what Chanyeol had wanted in the end, but he was willing to take baby steps with Baekhyun. 

 

-

 

Friends.

 

Lately, Chanyeol finds himself researching the topic lately. What did it really mean to be friends with someone? Especially, with someone that you have feelings for? Was it just a one-sided love? Chanyeol shakes his head. No. Baekhyun clearly stated that he still had feelings for him... So what did that make them? They weren't friends... but they also weren't lovers (well according to Baekhyun). 

 

Besides, it's not like anything had changed between them since they lasted talked. Except for the fact that now, Baekhyun was willing to work and converse with Chanyeol, unlike before when Baekhyun used to avoid him and let Jonghyun answer his questions. And everytime Chanyeol would ask Baekhyun out on a date, Baekhyun would simply state that he was busy with something. And Chanyeol couldn't control his jealously, as he let his thoughts wander about how Baekhyun might be actually in a relationship, even though he denied everything. 

 

It's Wednesday in the afternoon, as Chanyeol impaciently waits for Baekhyun to come home from work. He had gotten his schedule from Jonghyun, who he suprisingly got along with. Tapping his foot, Chanyeol lets out a groan, as he checks his watch. "Come on, you should be coming home already. Where the hell are you?"

 

"Oh my." 

 

"It's you!" The gradmother says, cheerfully as she pats Chanyeol on the shoulder. "I didn't expect to see you here."

 

Chanyeol smiles. "I was just in the neighborhood so I was going to visit a friend."

 

The grandmother claps her hand. "This is great. Come inside! I'll introduce you to someone, young man. You're still single aren't you? Well you'll-"

 

Before Chanyeol has a chance to reply, the grandmother grabs Chanyeol by the hand and leads him into the building. The grandmother ignores Chanyeol's constant "it's okay, you don't have to" as they make their way up to her apartment. 

 

"You really don't have to." Chanyeol says, as he watches the grandmother open the doors to her apartment. "I already have someone I like-"

 

"You're back?" Chanyeol hears, as they enter the apartment.

 

When he sees Baekhyun, Chanyeol's jaw drops. "What are you doing here?"

 

"I live here."

 

"This was the guy I was talking to you about, Baekhyun! The kind young man that helped me when I dropped my grroceries." The grandmother says, linking arms with Chanyeol. "I was going to introduce you to him, but it seems that he already has someone-"

 

"No!" Chanyeol replies, quickly denying the statement. "I mean yes, I already like someone. But-"

 

Baekhyun sighs. "Are you staying for dinner?"

 

Chanyeol nods his head. "Yeah."

 

-

 

"You know that I was talking about you right?" Chanyeol says, as he creeps up next to Baekhyun, as he does the dishes. After dinner, Baekhyun's grandmother went to the store to buy a couple of supplies that she had forgetten to buy at the supermaket, leaving Baekhyun and Chanyeol alone by themselves.  "The one that I like is you."

 

Baekhyun lets out a shot snort. "I figured."

 

"Then why are you mad?"

 

"I'm not mad." Baekhyun replies, taking a deep sigh. "I'm just tired... and sick."

 

"Why didn't you tell me? I could've gotten you some medicine or something? Are you okay?" Chanyeol asks, attempting to check Baekhyun's body temperature with his hand. However, he gets rejected when Baekhyun slaps Chanyeol's hand away. This causes Chanyeol to furrow his eyebrows in response. "Baekhyun."

 

"I'm fine." 

 

"I really hope you're not lying to me, Baek." Chanyeol replies, following Baekhyun to the living room. "Is it just you and your grandmother living here?"

 

Baekhyun nods his head. "My parents live in another part of town... I tried living with them the first couple of years, but everything was so crazy that I ended up moving in with my grandmother."

 

"I'm going to take a quick shower, just stay in here until my grandmother comes." Baekhyun announces, before he leaves the room.

 

As Chanyeol paciently waits for Baekhyun to finish his shower, he begins to explore the apartment. Then Chanyeol stumbles upon an old photobook containing pictures of a young Baekhyun -probably around the age of 3-6. He makes his way to the couch and flips through the photobook in amusement. 

 

A couple minutes later, Baekhyun enters the living room with his pajamas and a towel to dry his hair. Baekhyun groans, when he sees Chanyeol flipping through an old photobook of Baekhyun when he was a child. "Stop looking at those you ert! I was taking a bath... I'm practically in that pic-"

 

"It's not like I haven't seen you before." Chanyeol snorts, suprising Baekhyun with a peck on his lips, causing the latter to turn a light shade of pink. Chanyeol smiles, before he suddenly turns serious again. "I'm leaving in a week."

 

Baekhyun smile falls too. "I heard."

 

"From?"

 

"Jonghyun." Baekhyun replies, letting Chanyeol wrap his arms around his waist. "You seem to talk to him alot now a days. I'm starting to think that maybe he's developed a crush on you."

 

Chanyeol laughs. "We only ever talk about you."

 

"Baek, what are we?" Chanyeol asks suddenly, snuggling his chin in between Baekhyun's neck. 

 

"I told you we're-"

 

Chanyeol sighs. "I've been thinking about it and I realized that I still don't know where our relationship is. Friends don't do half the things we do, Baek. They don't picture each other holding hands, making out, or one day ending up together."

 

"What are you trying to say, Yeol? That we get back together? We already discussed this."

 

"I want you to come with me."

 

"I can't just leave." Baekhyun replies. "Where am I going to stay? How am I going to provide for myself-"

 

"I'll take care you." Chanyeol replies, grabbing a hold of Baekhyun's hand. "I can't just leave you here, while I go back. Baek, I-"

 

"Ice-cream!"

 

Grandmother interrupts, as she holds up a plastic bag filled with various types of ice cream, completely unaware of the mood between the two. 

---

A/N: I haven't been able to update in a while so this chapter might have some flaws because I just picked up where I left off... There's probably going to be some errors in this chapter. I didn't proofread it yet. I'm moving on to Kaisoo's part now! You'll find out Baekhyun's decision (probably) in the epilogue?

Anyways, theres only 2-3 chapters left until this story's finished! I don't know whether I should be happy or sad... I can't believe it's been a year and 2 months already since I wrote this. I'll try to finish by Jan? Feb? May? It all depends on my schedule really. But after this fic, I'll try to finish my other ones (Playing Pretend and Fallen Haven) and maybe write more oneshots of Baekyeol. Or Kaisoo. Or Hunhan. 

See you on the next update!