Kyungsoo?

Baekhyun felt as if someone had just punched him in the stomach.

 He didn't expect to, and even more so didn't want to hear this name ever again. 

He knew about Kyungsoo from the strange talk he had with his co-workers before. More specifically, on the day he first entered Chanyeol's father's company. Already then, when he first heard it from Kibum, Baekhyun had decided to learn that name well, and remember it, because, slipping out in the wrong situation, it could have made a lot of trouble. Furthermore, Baekhyun was genuinely sorry for Jongin. He didn't really know what it must have felt like to be left by someone you loved, but he imagined it must be pretty much devastating.

So that's why already then, he had decided to be very careful, if the topic of Jongin's lost lover somehow came up in any conversation.

And here it came.

Worried, and not knowing what was going to happen next, Baekhyun threw a careful look at Chanyeol. He didn’t know what reaction to expect from the other.

The same as Jongin’s? Worse? Better? Same?

But, surprising Baekhyun, the taller seemed to be much more collected and calm than he expected him to be. Of course, there was a slight frown resting on his features, and his eyes were dark with concern for Jongin, but he didn't look like someone in panic, or even someone who was even angry. Honestly, somehow Chanyeol didn't look even half as shaken as Jongin. 

He just looked worried.

But didn't Baekhyun’s co-workers say that Chanyeol was just as sensitive to Kyungsoo's topic as Jongin was?, Baekhyun wondered. Didn't they tell Baekhyun to never mention that name in front of both of them? They did. So how could Chanyeol be so strangely calm?

Staring at the latter in worry and confusion, Baekhyun couldn’t get his head around that.

"Jongin ah." Chanyeol said, eyes glued onto Jongin, and not moving away even for a second. He took a tiny step forward.

"It's okay. Come here."

He reached out his hand for his friend, but Jongin shook his head. Tears, painful and unstopable, already brimmed in his eyes. 

"Yeollie, I swear," he inhaled brokenly. "I saw him. He's… he was.. s-standing there."

Hearing that, Baekhyun's eyes unwillingly tore away from the other two, and moved to search through the people walking past them. But he saw no one there, who stood still. Everybody were either talking on their phones, or rushing somewhere after the long day of work, but no one was just standing around, doing nothing, or furthermore looking at Jongin. 

Chanyeol seemed to have noticed that even before Baekhyun did. He didn’t even look back at the crowd, his eyes only plastered onto the form of his shaken best friend.

"He's not there, Jongin ah." he took a step closer, eyes sorrowful and sad. "I’m sorry, but Kyungsoo is not there."

Jongin's eyes widened in panic, and he turned around instantly.

His eyes desperately searched through the crowd. But they couldn’t find what they were looking for.

Jongin looked like he was about to break.

"We talked about this before, Jongin ah," Chanyeol quickly pleaded, and reached out to gently tug at Jongin's sleeve. "Just stop. It's enough already."

"What's enough?" Jongin asked, as he pulled his arm away from Chanyeol's grip, giving his best friend a stare. "What's enough, Chanyeol? I saw him, he was there! He stood there, and he looked...

He inhaled shakily, as if it was difficult to spell out those words.

"..he was looking at me, Chanyeol." Jongin finished in a silent voice, and turned around.

His eyes went back to the crowd, to search for him no matter what, to find Kyungsoo.

At the same time, Baekhyun was looking at the desperate guy. But it was not an easy sight to see. It was truly painful to watch how that nice, kind-hearted Jongin he knew crumbled to pieces right there, right before him. Standing there and just looking, not able to do anything, Baekhyun had never felt this helpless for anyone else in his entire life. 

"Jongin ah, what are you doing?" Chanyeol asked in an alarmed tone.

Jongin suddenly started walking forward, steps certain and fast. Baekhyun almost made it to realize the other had moved. But Chanyeol was already three steps in front of him, and grabbed onto Jongin's arm. 

"You're not going anywhere, Jongin ah." he said in a low, strict voice, and pulled Jongin to a hilt. “Stay here.”

Baekhyun stared at the two, eyes wide.

He had never seen this side of Chanyeol. This serious, dominant, authoritative side. All he saw all this time was him either being kind-hearted, or easily swayed, or just plainly indifferent towards everything. Yet now Chanyeol stood there, seemingly taller than he already was, with the whole of his lean figure showing authority and even power. He was holding onto Jongin strongly, not planning to let go, no matter what the other would say and how much he would object. 

Because he felt responsible to take care of his best friend, Chanyeol was taking the matters over to his own hands. He was going to stop another heart break for him no matter what, even if it meant going against the other’s wishes.

"Let go of me! I have to go," Jongin shook his arm, but, of course, Chanyeol's grip didn't budge, "Chanyeol, did you even understand what I said?! It's Kyungsoo! Kyungsoo is there, he was there, somewhere, and if you just let me go now, I can still find him!"

"No you can’t, Jongin." Chanyeol objected tiredly.

It looked like it physically hurt him to say those words, when they were directed to his desperate best friend. But there was no choice, he had to say them.

 "I know you miss Kyungsoo, I know it better than anyone, but you can’t do this to yourself. You have to move on, g-"

"JUST LET GO OF ME, CHANYEOL!" Jongin screamed as he yanked his arm away from Chanyeol’s forcefully.

Not giving up and certainly not planning to let his friend run off, Chanyeol wrapped his arms around Jongin, and pulled him back a few steps. He held the struggling male firmly, and even when Jongin kept thrashing in his arms and even cursing, the taller of the two didn't let go.

Going crazy with despair, Jongin kept squirming in his arms, dying to go. But Chanyeol had seen him break down far too many times to let him do that to himself again. This had to stop.

After a few minutes, Jongin finally gave up, and stopped resisting. His body turned limp, and he stopped doing anything. Just stood.

Only then Chanyeol's hold on him loosened.

Deciding that it was safe now, Chanyeol slowly pulled his arms away from Jongin. As soon as his hold was no longer supporting Jongin, the latter's legs gave up on the last strength they had, and Jongin just slumped down on his knees lifelessly. His palms met the cold asphalt with a gentle thud, and then, slowly, clenched into fists.

As Chanyeol and Baekhyun hopelessly watched him break in front of their eyes, scaring them even more Jongin started to breathe in a strange way. His breaths became shallow and quick, and with every passing second they kept getting faster and faster. It seemed as if he had run for miles, and now was short on air, but he hadn't. His body was just reacting to that forceful overflow of emotions.

As Jongin's breathing got worse, his body was slowly overtaken by violent, strong shivers. His arms, shoulders, even crouched legs were shaking involuntarily. Seeing that happening, Chanyeol instantly crouched beside Jongin, and lifted him up from the ground in haste.

"Breathe, Jongin ah." he asked worriedly. "Please, breathe with me."

Chanyeol tried to breathe louder, clearly for Jongin to hear and follow. But the other didn't even try to listen. His breaths just became faster and shorter with every passing second.

"We're going home now, Jongin ah." desperate, Chanyeol told the other, and turned to Baekhyun. "Baekhyun ah, could you help me take him to the car?"

Baekhyun instantly nodded, and moved so that he could wrap one of Jongin's arms around his shoulders, and help the shivering man hold his balance. Chanyeol held Jongin from another side, and led the three of them towards his car. 

Walking slowly and carefully, Baekhyun wasn't exactly sure what was going on inside of his head. He was so shocked, scared, and so sorry, that he didn't even know which of these emotions dominated. Even as they reached the car, and he helped Chanyeol sit Jongin down in the front seat, and fasten his seatbelt, Baekhyun didn't know what in the world he would say, when they would be done. Could he pretend everything to be just normal?

No, he couldn't. He had just witnessed a very painful and personal moment of Jongin's life, being a total stranger. And there was no way around that fact.

"Sit in the car, Baekhyun." Chanyeol asked, when he closed the door on Jongin's side, and opened the rear door for him. "Make yourself comfortable."

"N-no, general manager, really, I think I'm just going to take the bus." Baekhyun quickly shook his head in response, obviously nervous. "You should just take care of the team leader now. He needs you."

"I will, but I need you to come." Chanyeol sighed, looking exhausted, and ushered Baekhyun to the car. "So please. Spare me with the arguing, okay?"

Although still clueless of what Chanyeol could possibly want from him now, Baekhyun gave in and nodded. He sat down in the backseat, and his eyes unwillingly turned to stare at Jongin's huddled figure in front.

Silent, Chanyeol also sat down in the driver's seat, and threw a look at Jongin before starting the engine. The younger was not facing him, his face was turned to the window. He hadn’t said a word to anyone. Although Baekhyun noticed with relief, that his breathing became a little bit more normal.

So they drove, Chanyeol looking serious behind the wheel, and driving  them through streets Baekhyun had never seen before. Jongin was silent, crouching in the corner of his seat, and looking through the window, with no hint of life in his eyes. He didn’t seem to care where Chanyeol would take him. And Baekhyun, the stranger there, didn't know what was he supposed to do now. He couldn't help but look at Jongin sorrowfully, and felt his heart ache even more, when he saw a tear roll down Jongin's tanned cheek. 

Nobody deserved to suffer that much for someone they loved, thought Baekhyun. Especially not someone like Jongin, who was that kind to others, and so selfless. He only deserved to be happy.

Not knowing if what he was doing was right, or if it will backfire instead, Baekhyun hesitantly reached out to place his hand on Jongin's shoulder. He wanted to let the younger know he wasn't alone, and, even if it was a little bit, relieve his burden as much as he could.

Jongin shifted a bit under Baekhyun's touch, but didn't shake his hand off. But he didn't turn away from the window, or give the older any kind of reaction either. Not that Baekhyun was expecting one - he knew Jongin was in too much pain to care now. But at least Baekhyun could do something for the younger.

After some time, they finally reached their destination. Chanyeol stopped the car in front of the entrance to a tall, expensive-looking building. Unexpectedly, Baekhyun recognised this neighborhood as it was a very prestigious one, and famous all over Seoul as the place where only the richest could live. Getting more nervous as he thought about that, Baekhyun opened the door carefully, and stepped out of the car, feeling really uncomfortable. He was so out of place in this situation in the first place, but the fancy environment made everything even worse.

Chanyeol also stepped out of the car, and walked around it to help Jongin get off. The younger let his best friend help him, but didn't say a thing in response, or even thanked. When Baekhyun came up to help, he just glanced at the shorter, and turned to face the ground again. 

"Here." Chanyeol led Baekhyun and Jongin into the building, and called the elevator. As they waited, Baekhyun was secretly throwing looks at everything around him. This place looked like one of those extremely expensive hotels, the ones Baekhyun had only seen in movies. It had sand coloured carpets covering the wooden floor, and golden-framed paintings hanged on the white walls.

And there stood Baekhyun, with his faux leather shoes, not special in any way, yet allowed to come in there. It felt like even the doorman looked at him judgingly. 

When the elevator finally showed up, and Chanyeol pressed the button of the last floor, Jongin pushed himself away from the other two males. He leaned on the wall heavily, and the uncomfortable silence continued.

As Baekhyun stood in the corner, he could feel Chanyeol's stare, glued only to him the whole ride. The taller didn't even try to hide it, he just stared. Baekhyun wasn't sure if he should show some kind of reaction to that, or rather pretend that he saw nothing. Thinking, that it would be awkward as hell to now look into Chanyeol's eyes, he stuck to the latter. Pretended not to see anything.

When they finally arrived to the needed floor, Chanyeol helped Jongin out of the elevator, and guided him towards the door of his apartment. Clueless, Baekhyun silently followed. But when Chanyeol opened the door and entered the apartment together with the other, Baekhyun once again became hesitant.

"I c-can just wait out here, general manager." he proposed quickly, taking a step back from the doorstep.

Going inside Chanyeol's apartment was scaring him, really. Why? Because it was too soon, and too unexpected. They just agreed to be friends a half-an-hour ago, and now Baekhyun is stepping inside Chanyeol's home? No, doing that would be really awkward and uncomfortable. He would much rather wait-