To Baekhyun, the rest of the date went by just as wonderfully as it began. He really did love every second of it, from the beginning till the end.

But just maybe he loved the seconds of the kiss Chanyeol gave him just a little bit more. Maybe.

After Chanyeol pulled away from the said kiss, the two of them stood in their places quietly for a second, blushing equally much. Though Chanyeol seemed to be particulary really shy of what he had done, biting his lip nervously and avoiding the shorter's male's eyes. But when he did finally meet Baekhyun‘s eyes with his, and saw Baekhyun wasn't mad (he was actually smiling at him the whole time he was cowering), Chanyeol visibly relaxed. Still a bit shaky, but braver, he timidly offered Baekhyun his hand. Before he could even blink, Baekhyun accepted his hand instantly, and smiled at the taller before lacing their fingers together. 

They talked about common things for the rest of their date, mostly telling stories and asking each other simple questions. It was as if they had wordless agreement between them, to keep the serious subjects away for just this one evening. And so, Chanyeol and Baekhyun talked about their hobbies instead, discussed their pets (Baekhyun confessed he couldn‘t even keep a plant alive, so he had no intentions of getting a pet. Seeing the determination on his face, Chanyeol couldn't help but laugh. He was just too adorable), and then just spoke about anything that was easy to talk about. 

It was the simple, little things that made a person. So as they talked about those little things, both of them knew what for they were doing it. It was for the sake of getting to know each other, understanding each other better and just simply for the sake of being closer. 

Eventually, as their talks continued, the weather became windier and colder, and therefore the two of them soon got cold. When that happened, Chanyeol offered to take Baekhyun back to the car and then back home, and although Baekhyun didn‘t really want the evening to end just yet, he agreed. There had to be an end eventually, and it really was getting damn cold.

The two of them made their way back to Chanyeol‘s car, and Baekhyun's stomach instantly filled up with butterflies when Chanyeol wordlessly opened the door for him to get in, like a gentleman. But that wasn't the end of his courtesy. When (because he was a bit dizzy from everything that had happened that night, and a bit distracted) Baekhyun also forgot to fasten his seatbelt, Chanyeol just leaned over, his shoulder brushing softly against Baekhyun‘s chest, and fastened it for him. Just silently taking care of the smaller, and so innocently unaware of leaving Baekhyun's heart bursting in flutters.

Self-control, Byun Baekhyun, Baekhyun thought to himself, bit his lip and closed his eyes. Maybe this way he could control himself, and not to do anything embarassing for the minutes with Chanyeol he still had left tonight.

He hoped.

Baekhyun thought – and hoped – that Chanyeol would kiss him again as a goodbye. He actually really wanted that to happen. But Chanyeol had already hit the limit of bravery he could manage that night. The taller walked Baekhyun to the door, and when the smaller turned to say his goodbyes, Chanyeol reached out and carefully pulled the smaller male into his arms, embracing him.

"Thank you for tonight, Baekhyn," he told him, and a second later let Baekhyun go. The hug lasted seconds, but it didn't make it any less special.

Later, when Chanyeol was long gone, and Baekhyun had finally crawled into his bed after a long and relaxing shower, only then it really hit him. The events that happened tonight. Overwhelmed by the sudden realisation, Baekhyun squirmed in his sheets like a teenage boy, and kicked the blanket around childishly. A couple of excited squeals escaped his lips and seeped into the pillow. 

Even when he fell asleep, Baekhyun couldn‘t stop smiling. 
 

***

“Something is fishy about you two today,” Haeun squinted at them. "Very fishy."

Her eyes were burning holes in both Chanyeol and Jongin, who sat on the other side of the table, and were doing absolutely nothing to deserve a scolding. Really, they were not doing anything suspicious. But the only one not receiving a interrogative look in the room was Minho. 

“What do you mean, noona?” Chanyeol asked, looking at Haeun with his big innocent eyes.

Too innocent, if you asked Haeun.

“I don’t know,” she furrowed her eyebrows at him. “Your eyes are shinning, and you're both smiling so much.”

“Is that a bad thing now?” Jongin asked, tilting his head.

“No,” Haeun doubted, "But it's a bit weird."

Chanyeol just smiled shyly at her, hoping to avoid any questions. Jongin, on the other hand, didn't see the need to pretend. He excused himself out of the room, telling the others he would like to get a cup of coffee before the meeting, and left the office with a smile on his lips. 

Of course, Haeun would notice the change in their moods. He could've expected that - that woman was quick in these kinds of things.

But he just couldn’t stop smiling, no matter how stupid or suspicious it looked. Even if the whole world could see how happy he was, Jongin didn't give a about it. Kyungsoo, his Kyungsoo, was back with him again, and it had been ages since he last was this happy. On the weekend they had spent together, the two of them went on a date, exchanged their new phone numbers, and then simply talked. They talked so much about these past five years without each other, that Jongin could finally feel the black hole between them starting to disappear. As he heard about Kyungsoo’s life, and how he lived all this time, he could understand more and more the ways in which Kyungsoo had changed, and the ways he was still the same. It was hurtful, that he couldn’t be there with him through everything the smaller had been through, but there was nothing he could do now. So Jongin simply  accepted it. He just hoped it wouldn’t stand between them in the future.

“But mister Byun…”

“I’m not going!" Jongin heard a familiar voice object from behind the corner. "I’m sorry, miss, but I have a meeting to attend, and I’m already almost late… Just tell him I refuse the position, and that's it.”

“But mister Byun!” the girl objected, and Jongin finally saw a dissatisfied Baekhyun emerge from around the corner, with a secretary on his tail, stubbornly following after him as he walked. “The CEO said that you must come! He said he won’t accept a refusal! Please think about the consequences…”

“It’s okay, Hyeri,” Jongin interrupted their argument. “I’ll talk to Baekhyun. You can go.”

“But team leader…”

“Tell the CEO that I need Baekhyun now,” Jongin told her. “And that I’ll send him to him, but just a bit later. That’s it.”

The secretary sighed and bowed at him, before turning on her heel and walking away. Baekhyun ruffled his hair in frustration and bowed slightly at Jongin.

“Thank you, team leader.”

“Don’t mention it,” Jongin told him. “Can I have a word with you though, Baekhyun?”

“Don’t we have a meeting to attend?” Baekhyun asked, confused brown eyes staring up at the taller questionably. “Is it okay if we’re late?”

“Kyungsoo’s not there yet, “ Jongin told him. “And Haeun said she won’t start without him. Something about him having some important info to give her, or something. So I think it's okay if we talk for a minute.”

“Okay, I guess,” Baekhyun nodded hesitantly. “What is it that you want to talk about, team leader?”

Jongin shifted his weight on his right leg, and crossed his arms on his chest.

“It’s about you and Chanyeol.”

“Oh,” Baekhyun nodded, and Jongin could see him breathe in deeply. “I can explain everything.”

“I’m sure you can, Baekhyun, but that’s not what I want,” Jongin sighed. “If you agreed to go on that date with Chanyeol just because you think that will help with the thing we agreed on, then please, don’t lead Chanyeol on anymore. Don’t make him think you like him.”

“L-Lead him on?” Baekhyun asked, almond shaped eyes wide. “You mean… not going on any more dates with him?..”

“Yeah, that,” Jongin nodded. “I mean, I understand that you just want to help, Baekhyun, but this is not the way to do it. Chanyeol has never been in love with anyone before. And I don’t want his first love to be just a deal, even if it's for his own good. I don't want his first love to be one-sided, and I want it to be sincere. That's it.”

“But…” Baekhyun bit his lip. “Team leader, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Baekhyun, don't worry,” Jongin smiled at him warmly. “I understand and appreciate your wish to help. It’s a nice thought, but I don’t think it’s a good one. It might hurt Chanyeol in the end, and neither of us want that, right?”

“T-Team leader,” Baekhyun breathed another deep breath in. "I have something to tell you. “

Jongin raised his eyebrows. Something about Baekhyun’s whole posture was strange. The smaller male was crouching almost invisibly, but Jongin could see it. Baekhyun's fingers were laced together, and his shoulders were shaking with the tension in his muscles. He looked very afraid of what he was going to say, and it made Jongin feel sorry for him.

"Yes, Baekhyun?" Jongin asked hesitantly, watching the smaller with worry.

What in the world was he going to say?

“Team leader…” Baekhyun spoke up. “I like Chanyeol.”

Jongin stood there, staring at Baekhyun. 

Too surprised to utter a word of response.

“I like him not because of this job, or because of this deal, you see,” Baekhyun hastily explained, looking up at Jongin’s eyes with desperation in them, as if he was desperate that Jongin believed him. “I like him because he’s kind, and he takes care of people, and he’s shy, but at the same time he’s… he’s just a wonderful person, and you, of all people, know that the best. I know you do.

“I know that I shouldn’t be feeling this,” Baekhyun bit his shivering lip. “Trust me, I know, but I just can’t stop it. It’s so much stronger than me, team leader, it has been from the very beginning. I couldn't stop it then, much more I cannot stop it now.”

Baekhyun looked at him and didn’t say anything anymore, probably scared of the surprise and confusion in Jongin’s face. The smaller looked so worried, so scared of the possibility that Jongin was going to forbid him from seeing Chanyeol, that his knees were already shaking.

But such thought didn’t even cross Jongin’s mind.

“Baekhyun,” the taller shook his head, letting a small smile slip onto his lips. “Stop shivering. Come on, look at me.”

Baekhyun didn't. Sighing, Jongin placed his both hands on Baekhyun’s shoulders, trying to get the shorter male to actually look at him and stop shaking like a leaf.

“I’m just surprised, that’s all,” he explained, as the smaller finally looked up into his eyes. “ I’m actually really happy to have heard this. It’s great that you like Chanyeol, Baekhyun, it really is. I wouldn’t have wished a better guy for him than you.”

Baekhyun’s eyes filled up with questions and disbelief.

Can it be…

“I was just worried you went out with Chanyeol that day just out of pity,” Jongin scratched the back of his head, smiling sorrily. “But if you both like each other, then it’s okay. I'm sorry I misunderstood, though. I really thought you were doing everything to just make it in those two months, but now that I know that's not it, I'm calm. And I'm happy for you and Yeollie.”

Baekhyun just looked up at him, unable to believe that Jongin just approved of his relationship with Chanyeol just like that. He was scared all this time because of how he was going to react. And now this thing, that he built up in his mind to be so huge and scary, became nothing but a groundless worry. He didn't know what to think, what to feel.

“T-Thank you, team leader,” Baekhyun just said, not knowing what else to say to Jongin. “Thank you so much.”

Jongin just smiled at him, warm chocolate eyes sparkling beautifully, and raised his hand to friendlily ruffle his hair. Baekhyun frowned a bit when the long fingers made a mess of his neatly laying strands, but then smiled back. He couldn’t not smile, when so much relief and happiness was washing over his heart at that very moment.

“Am I interrupting something?” 

Both Baekhyun and Jongin turned their heads to look at the speaker, with Jongin’s fingers still tangled in Baekhyun’s hair. 

Big mistake.

 Do Kyungsoo, standing there and burning the two males with his owl-like murderous eyes, certainly did not look pleased about that gesture one bit.

“Kyungsoo!” Jongin exclaimed happily, getting away from Baekhyun immediately, and bouncing up to greet his lover. “You’re so late.”

“I can see that,” Kyungsoo glared at the taller before pushing him aside, and walking past his boyfriend as if he wasn’t even there. Straight to the conference room he went, head held high. Not even sparing Baekhyun one look.

“Oh, this can’t be good,” Jongin sighed heavily, and rolled his eyes before turning around, motioning Baekhyun to come along. "Let's go in, Baekhyun."

The shorter nodded and followed him. 

“Baekhyun!” Chanyeol greeted, smiling brightly at the shorter male as soon as he stepped into the room. Baekhyun returned the smile, and took his seat, not daring to look at the taller for too long. But the boss seemed to have none of those thoughts, resting his chin in his hand, and staring back at Baekhyun with pure affection.

Lucky them nobody saw. Everybody else were interested in what Kyungsoo had to say, therefore they were staring at him.

Meanwhile Kyungsoo occupied the seat on Haeun's other side, and raised his eyebrows at Jongin, who moved his things from the previous seat to the seat that was beside his. Jongin flashed him an innocent, cute little smile, and the owl-eyed male just scoffed in response.

“Okay, I think we can start then,” Haeun nodded at Kyungsoo seriously. “I believe you said you have something to tell me, Mr. Do?”

“Yes, I do,” Kyungsoo agreed. “I dug put some important details about the case. My experts on the matter were looking through the computers in PKO on Friday, and they found something interesting. The song, that  was supposedly plagiarised, was not stolen from the computer, or even taken out into a USB. It was sent straight from the computer in here, without any interference, to the company that accused PKO of plagiarism.”

Every smile in the room disappeared in an instant. 

“That means…” Haeun inhaled heavily.

“Yes,” Kyungsoo sighed, eyes downcast. “Somebody from within PKO had most probably made a deal with that company, and sent the song to them. In other words, we have a traitor.”

“Can we tell who it was?” Haeun asked, eyebrows furrowed. “ Whose computer was it?”

“It’s a computer that a lot of people have access to. The one in which producers leave their finished songs, I believe?” Kyungsoo said, looking through his notes. “I asked who was allowed to use that computer, and the secretary told me that only people from music production and the marketing department are allowed to touch it. Which means…”

“The traitor is either in the music production, or in the marketing department. I see,” Haeun nodded. “That’s some very useful information, mister Do.”

“It is, but the amount of suspects is still quite too big,” Kyungsoo noted. “The marketing department might not be as crowded, but the music production is quite a number of people. There are producers, musicians, singers and all sorts of other employees in there. Which means it's really hard to know where to start.”

“Let’s start from the producers, then,” Haeun adviced. “ Get some professionals to interrogate them. Just ask a few questions, and have a psychologist watching the whole thing. And then ask somebody to check through the cameras around the computer. Maybe we can find the footage of who used the computer around that time, and that would make the circle of suspects a bit narrower.”

Kyungsoo nodded, and quickly wrote it down.

“Jongin ah, you’ll be helping mister Do with his tasks,” Haeun told the chocolate-eyed male. “And excuse me for a second, everyone. Baekhyun. What in the world are you doing here?”

Baekhyun widened his eyes at her, surprised.

“W-What do you mean by that, noona?”

“I am pretty sure, that the CEO told me he was going to listen to you sing today, at this time. Isn't that right?"

Now everybody was staring at Baekhyun.

"Uhm..."
“What are you waiting for?” Haeun scolded him. “These kind of chances are rare enough to come by. Get your off the chair you’re sitting on and off you go.”

“But—“

“Now,” Haeun glared, and all the talks were done. Defeated without even a proper fight, Baekhyun stood up, and walked out of the office.  Haeun’s squinted eyes followed his back till the door behind him closed, and the footsteps of the male were heard further and further away from the office.

“Now,” she looked at the confused and worried Chanyeol. “What else do we need to discuss?”

Meanwhile, Baekhyun walked down the hallway fuming.

 Why did Haeun have to do this to him? Without even asking if he wanted this?

And even more so, Minho‘s look. That idiot was judging him so hard, with those frog-like dark eyes of his. He was glaring as if Baekhyun had done some