[This is a looong chapter. You might want to grab a cup of tea before reading :D]

Baekhyun loved waking up in the mornings when he and Chanyeol didn‘t have to go to work. He loved waking up to gentle kisses on his temple, softly whispered 'good mornings', or just the view of his adorable boyfriend still deep in sleep at his side. He loved how their fingers would still be intertwined under the covers when he looked over, and Chanyeol‘s soft breathing would be the only sound in the peaceful silence of their room. And he would feel so cozy and relaxed.

It felt so unreal to actually be living with Chanyeol instead of thinking and getting ready for it. It‘s been a month in their two years of steady relationship since Baekhyun finally moved into Chanyeol‘s apartment. But only now it felt like he was completed settled and done. During the period of moving, there were little ups and many downs, most of them taking place when Baekhyun was awfully stressed out because of all his stuff having no place in his new home, or when he was having a hard time in his job. But Chanyeol was always there to calm him down with a gentle hug, or sweet words, never leaving Baekhyun to deal with anything on his own. Him doing that reminded Baekhyun of why he was doing this in the first place. And although it was hard, the happiness of living together now was worth all the struggles in the past.

Reminiscing  that, Baekhyun stared at his boyfriend’s sleeping face, his parted plump lips and long, beautiful eyelashes. He reached out to brush the messy strands away from his face gently, careful not to wake Chanyeol with any sudden movements.

 He thought it was impossible to love somebody more and more with every passing day, but he did wake up loving Chanyeol more today. And he will probably wake up loving him more tomorrow. There was nothing that could possibly stop or change his mind from doing so. Baekhyun leaned in to plant a soft, loving kiss on his boyfriend’s cheek, still careful not to disturb his sleep, and silently climbed out of their shared bed to make a trip to the bathroom and brush his teeth. As soon as he was done with that, he sauntered over to the kitchen to make Chanyeol some breakfast before he woke up.

Other things in their life were also slowly turning out for the best. Chanyeol was doing great in music production. His songs all turned out to be great, and scored the company a lot of attention. And the name PKO was just a memory to both of them, which they rarely talked about. The only thing from there that still mattered was Chanyeol’s relationship with his father, which unexpectedly had started to get better. The CEO had written him a letter a few months ago, and Chanyeol went to meet him. He came back smiling, and Baekhyun just smiled back when he walked in, without asking anything. 

Opening the fridge, Baekhyun decided to boil some eggs, because that was basic enough for his not so highly developed cooking skills. Chanyeol was the cook of the house, and Baekhyun let him have the title without even trying to compete.

He was in the middle of cuting some tomatoes for Chanyeol to eat together with the eggs when he heard steps behind him, and his boyfriend appeared, rubbing his puffy eyes cutely. 

“Baek?” he murmured, still half asleep.  

“Morning,” Baekhyun answered with smile. “Slept well?” 

Chanyeol got closer to him and rested his chin on Baekhyun’s shoulder.

“I have,” he answered, making Baekhyun chuckle at the sleepiness still evident in his voice. “Did you?”  

The smaller nodded. “I always sleep well when we both have a day off next morning. That’s when I know I will still have time to look at you tomorrow so I don’t need to try to stay awake and stare.”     

He felt Chanyeol’s lips curl up into a smile on his shoulder. “You stare at me?"

"Just because I miss looking at you sometimes."

Chanyeol chuckled and leaned in to kiss him softly on his neck and then lips, his nose brushing against the smaller's cheek.

When he pulled away, Baekhyun hummed happily. “Okay. First, let's eat the breakfast I prepared, and then we can go out to have fun. I'll text Kyungsoo, if he's okay with it, we could hang out with him and Jongin later.”   

“I still can’t believe how well you two clicked,” Chanyeol said, pulling away from Baekhyun to get them some juice. “You used to hate each other so much, and now you’re best friends.”  

Baekhyun shrugged.

 “We didn’t understand each other back then. And for your knowledge, most best friends partly hate each other.”   

Chanyeol looked at him and tilted his head, looking cutely confused. “I don’t hate Jongin at all. And I don’t think he does either.”  

“You’re a different case,” Baekhyun told him, placing the hot eggs into their plates. “It’s impossible to hate you. Nor it’s possible for you to hate someone.” 

Chanyeol tilted his head again, expecting an explanation, but Baekhyun just smiled at him with a glint of amusement in his brown eyes and didn't say anything. The taller shrugged, and reached out to intercept their plates from the smaller, arm brushing against his waist. Feeling the faint touch, Baekhyun smiled.

After breakfast the two of them agreed to go to downtown and maybe take a walk alongside Han river, but before they could even leave the parking lot, Baekhyun's phone started ringing loudly. Chanyeol threw a questioning look at him.

"Yes, Kyungsoo?"

"I fought with Jongin again," Kyungsoo told him straight away, voice low and upset. "He got really mad. And walked out on me."

"What did you say to him again, Soo?" Baekhyun sighed. "I told you to stop picking fights with him for no reason."

"There was a reason! I'm tired of being watched by him like the whole world is out to snatch me away. I don't need to be guarded like this."

Baekhyun chuckled. "He loves you. Of course he wants you to guard you all the time, precisely because he loves you that much."

"No, Baekhyun. He's being unreasonable. He's not letting me to go to a party at work without him, even when I said I was going with you."

"Why would you tell him that? I don't even remember being asked if I wanted to go," Baekhyun rolled his eyes, and caught a glimpse of Chanyeol throwing a look at him, too. "And shouldn't you go with your fiancé? Why would you even go with me?"

Kyungsoo grumbled on the other side of the phone.

"I wanted to go with my best friend instead of my boyf- fiancé- whatever, but apparently I can't even do that. You know how he acts around Kangjun, too. I just didn't want to deal with that today."

"Calm down, Soo. For now, I'll go to the party with you, and you talk to Jongin about it like a normal person afterwards."

"What party?" Chanyeol asked, and Baekhyun mouthed to wait.

"I'll see about it when he comes back from wherever he went. But thanks, Baek. I'll see you soon then."

"See you, Soo." Baekhyun hung up and turned to Chanyeol.

"What happened?" Chanyeol asked before he could say anything. "What party are you going to?"

"A party with Kyungsoo's coworkers. Kyungsoo didn't want to go with Jongin, and Jongin got angry about it and left. So Soo wants go go with me. But I wonder where Jongin went in this weather?" Baekhyun looked out the window, frowning at the dark grey clouds.

Chanyeol was frowning too, but not at the clouds.

"What party?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed. "Who is going to be at this party?"

"People Soo works with? I don't know their names, Yeol, I've never met them." Baekhyun raised an eyebrow at him. "Is that important now?"

Chanyeol let his fingers slide down the wheel.

"I don't want you to go either," he stated, looking at the wheel.

Baekhyun tilted his head at him. "Huh?"

Chanyeol didn't look like he was that keen on sharing the reasons.

"I just don't. And Jongin doesn't want Kyungsoo to go either, so the two of us should be enough of a reason for you not to go."

Baekhyun felt annoyance at the pit of his stomach rise all the way up to his head. He squinted at Chanyeol.

"If I want to go, I'll go, Chanyeol. So will Kyungsoo."

Chanyeol looked at him, and for the first time Baekhyun saw something along the lines of anger in his eyes. Chanyeol had never gotten angry with him before.

"Does it matter what I and Jongin want in this situation, then?" Chanyeol asked, and Baekhyun frowned. "Or is it just you two who get to decide things? We're dating for two years, Baekhyun, Kyungsoo and Jongin are engaged, and I thought these relationships are at a point where we would be able to make decisions together. Am I wrong?"

"Do we have to ask for your permission everytime me and Soo want to go out and have fun then? Don't be ridiculous, Chanyeol. We're perfectly capable to go places on our own."

Chanyeol glared at him, and Baekhyun glared back. He was seriously annoyed with the way everything was happening, and he wasn't going to give in this time. Although there was nothing else in this world that he hated more than being on bad terms with Chanyeol, he didn't want to be controlled like this either.

He hoped his boyfriend would save him the trouble and just admit that he was wrong. But it didn't look like that was going to happen.

"I think it's better for us to stay in today," Chanyeol spoke in a cold tone, and without any other words he unclasped his seat belt and got out of the car. The force he slammed the door shut with was stronger than usual, and Baekhyun couldn't help but flinch at the harsh sound.

He scoffed, crossing his arms on his chest. He doesn't regret it. Chanyeol needs to understand that he can't control him.

But why does he feel like his heart is unpleasantly heavy? And why is his stomach full of this sickening feeling?

Baekhyun bit his lip, upset, and opened the door of the car, turning back to follow after Chanyeol.

****

Kyungsoo couldn't find a place for himself.

He tried to occupy himself with cleaning the kitchen, going through his things again to put them in a different order, and then gathering clothes to put into the washing machine. He tried so hard to stop himself from thinking about Jongin and the terrible words he said to him, but he couldn't. Flashbacks of their argument just kept appearing in his head no matter how determined he was not to think about that anymore.

"Why would you go with Baekhyun when your fiance is me? That's insane," Jongin argued, dark eyebrows furrowed as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I really really don't want you to go to that party, Kyungsoo, is it so hard for you to simply not go?"

He was being jealous and overprotective again. Kyungsoo was so tired of that.

"Yes it is, because you always get what you want, Jongin. You want me to stay five feet away from every guy that isn't you, you don't allow me to hug my friends, you're jealous all the time and I just can't deal with that anymore. I'm sick of being embarassed by your childish outbursts and it's time you started to realize you're--"

Kyungsoo stopped himself before he said something he didn't want Jongin to hear.

"What? I'm what?" Jongin asked, chocolate eyes glued to Kyungsoo's frustrated face.

"That you're not my entire life! I have other things that matter to me, too!" he told him instead, panting from all the emotions and frustration and thoughts inside his head. He didn't realize what he had said until he saw Jongin's eyes widen and lose all the anger in them, leaving only shock. He looked so vulnerable at that moment, so hurt, and Kyungsoo wanted to take those stupid words back at that very second.

"Jongin..."

Jongin took a step backwards and looked away from Kyungsoo.

"No, wait, Jongin," Kyungsoo took a step forward, reaching out to take Jongin's hand. "I didn't mean that, I--"

Jongin's fingers slipped away from his as he turned around and walked away, strides long and quick. Kyungsoo went after him, but he wasn't as quick as Jongin was, and before he knew it he heard the door close and Jongin was gone. Kyungsoo stood in front of the door, not knowing what to do.

"Fine!" he yelled, irritation taking over. "Fine, ing go, Kim Jongin!"

He turned around breathing heavily, eyes filling up with tears. He hit the wall with his knuckles, not wanting to acknowledge the words he just said. The mistake he just made.

When the moment of anger passed, Kyungsoo leaned his forehead onto the wall in front of him and breathed in deeply.

"Come back," he whispered to the empty room.

"ing...Kim...Jongin..." Kyungsoo cussed as he was trying to reach the clothes in their washing machine, small body bent strangely over the edge. Jongin had bought them a huge washing machine for a reason that only he himself knew, so huge that Kyungsoo always had difficulties to reach clothes at the bottom no matter what things he brought to stand on. It annoyed him to unimaginable extents, really. But when he saw him struggle, Jongin would always just laugh as he snuck upon Kyungsoo, and he would take out the clothes himself whilst at the same time wrapping his arm around Kyungsoo's waist. Here you go, small one, he'd say, earning a slap on the chest from Kyungsoo and laughing stupidly at that. In response, he would just lean downwards to kiss Kyungsoo softly before walking away, and even though Kyungsoo would curse at him out loud, he would always secretly be smiling.

But now, there was no Jongin to take the clothes out for him. Or kiss him and make him smile.

"Stupid...inconsiderate..." Kyungsoo murmured as he finally reached and pulled at the numerous shirts he washed for Jongin. "Going off like that..."

He pulled out the clothes, feeling the corners of his eyes sting. No, he wasn't going to cry. He was right. Jongin was just stupid and controlling, and he only left for a bit to throw his childish tantrum. He didn't leave for good, right? He wouldn't.

Kyungsoo sniffled as he put the shirts on the rack, and shook his head. He's not going to let Jongin do this to him. He's going to go to that party, looking amazing, and come back proud and ready to face his fiancé. With proof that nothing will happen between him and some other guy even if Jongin is not by his side.

Because Kyungsoo only wants Jongin, and that's how it's going to be forever. No matter where he goes and what he does.

With that resolve, Kyungsoo picked up the suit that he had picked out for the party this evening, and held it to his chest. He could just hope that everything would turn out the way he wanted it to, and he wouldn't regret it in the end.

****  

Baekhyun hated the tension that was almost visible in between him and Chanyeol. It was so unfamiliar, and it annoyed him.

He was purposely walking back and forth through the living room where Chanyeol sat, trying to get his attention and get him to talk somehow. He noticed his boyfriend throw a glance at him when he finally changed into the suit he was going to wear to the party, but as soon as Chanyeol saw him wearing that, the look in his eyes turned darker, and he didn't look at Baekhyun anymore. He completely ignored Baekhyun's presence and just concentrated on typing whatever it was on his computer.

Baekhyun bit his lip, throwing a look at him. I hate this so much.

He picked up his makeup bag from their bedroom and entered the bathroom to fix his hair and put on some makeup. He ruffled his dark red hair for it to look tousled, and then applied some dark eyeshadow on his eyes to make the stare in them sharper. It turned out pretty well, and Baekhyun was pleased with the way he looked. He ran his fingers through his hair again and sighed, looking at his face reflected in the mirror.

He wished Chanyeol understood him better. He just wanted him to know that he always tried to look his best to be worthy to stand beside him and call himself Chanyeol's boyfriend. It was never because he wanted somebody else to see it, it was always just him.

"Ugh," Baekhyun grunted, frustrated, and turned away from the mirror. He hated this day, all of it.

When he walked out to the living room, he caught Chanyeol finally glancing upwards to look at him. Baekhyun looked back and raised an eyebrow, waiting for the other to say something. But Chanyeol just stared at him, big eyes full of some strange emotion that Baekhyun couldn't read, and didn't say anything.

"..." Baekhyun rolled his eyes and parted his lips. "Fine, have it your way. I just have to point this out - for myself. Anywhere this," he pointed at his body. "goes, it's yours. It never stops being yours," he ruffled his hair, embarassed by the words he just said. "I just wanted to put that out there, now I'm leaving."

Not having anything else to add to that, Baekhyun turned around and walked away, heading towards the exit. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he could feel his cheeks getting redder with every step he took. He hated to be so cheesy and pathetic, but at that moment, he just wanted to reassure Chanyeol somehow even if he couldn't do it the way the taller wanted him to. He also needed to be strict and hard-headed, but then again, Chanyeol made it hard for him to be so.

Out of nowhere, Chanyeol appeared behind him, grabbed his wrist and spun him around.

Baekhyun looked up, dizzy and confused, and saw the taller look at him with dark eyes. He was about to ask what Chanyeol wanted, but before he could utter a word out, Chanyeol leaned forward and pushed Baekhyun backwards till his back was pressed up against the wall. Baekhyun gasped, caught off guard by the sudden movement, but before he could voice his confusion out, his boyfriend captured his lips in a kiss and swallowed any questions with his mouth.

It wasn't unpleasant, no, it was far from that. Baekhyun was sure he was going to lose his mind. Chanyeol's lips tasted minty and sweet, probably because of the peppermint tea Baekhyun had seen him drink as he was getting ready, and the feeling of having them pressed against his own was driving Baekhyun crazy. He couldn't help but forget all the angry thoughts, all the frustration he had with his boyfriend since this morning, and slowly his arms found their way around Chanyeol's neck as he opened his mouth and their tongues touched tenderly.

Chanyeol had wrapped his arms around Baek