“I really hate this dog, Soo,” Baekhyun plopped on the couch, letting out a heavy sigh into the phone. “It ripped apart like ten pairs of my slippers already, and it’s only been what, like three weeks since it’s here? Not to mention it also did its business all over my white shirt.”

“Well, it’s your own fault that you didn’t object when he just brought that thing in, Baekhyun. I told you that later it’s going to be too late.”

“I know, but what I was supposed to do? Chanyeol was so happy about the dog, wouldn’t stop talking about it and buying it things. How could I just cold heartedly tell him to get rid of it?”

He heard Kyungsoo sigh.

“Just like I told Jongin to shove the idea of a cat in this house up his . Reason being that I don’t need hair all over my black suits, and neither does he.”

“Yeah, but Jongin’s different,” Baekhyun pouted, ruffling his hair. “I can’t talk to Chanyeol the way you talk to Jongin. It breaks my heart.”

“That’s a personal problem, Baekhyun. I’m sorry, but Kangjun’s calling for me and I have to go now. Don’t stress over that dog too much – I’ll make it disappear if I have to. You know I can.”

“Jesus, Soo,” Baekhyun laughed. “I’m glad you’re my best friend, not enemy. See you later.”

“See you.”

Baekhyun put the phone down next to him and sighed. It’s been three weeks since the dog (Beethoven) appeared in their lives and since then, Baekhyun hadn’t been having it easy. Having a dog came with a lot of things to be learned and suffered through. Since Beethoven was still a puppy, he needed to be trained to do a lot of things. That included doing its business outside instead of at home.

Yet, as if he was trying to annoy Baekhyun more, he kept peeing all over Baekhyun’s stuff and didn’t do anything when taken outside. So it wasn’t a big surprise Baekhyun didn’t like him.

As expected, Chanyeol was very sweet about the whole thing. He always cleaned everything after Beethoven himself, and bought Baekhyun new slippers every time the overly excited puppy ripped his pair to shreds. Knowing Baekhyun’s need for cleanliness, he dutifully washed Beethoven once every three days, and cleaned any mess the puppy made. He was doing everything perfect, but still, Baekhyun simply couldn’t bring himself to like the little animal.

It was not just about ripped slippers or ruined clothes, or their mutual dislike for each other. It was also because of their mutual love for Chanyeol, and undeniable, intense need for his attention. Since Beethoven came into their lives, Baekhyun realized he’s been spending a lot of time on his own, even when Chanyeol was at home. Usually in the evening after they were both done with work, he would curl up against Chanyeol’s side and rest his head on his chest as he read or napped whilst Chanyeol watched the TV or worked on his newest song, but now, the spot on his chest was constantly taken by a little black ball of fur and there was no way to get rid of it. And Baekhyun hated to admit it, but he was indeed jealous of a dog.

On the other hand, he was glad he at least had Kyungsoo on his side. Ever since they became close, Baekhyun found himself happy to have met him, even if the beginning of their relationship wasn’t the smoothest. He could still remember the first months of tension between them every time Jongin and Chanyeol convinced them to go on a double date. He remembered them sitting across the table from each other and playing with their napkins as Jongin and Chanyeol talked or asked questions to either of them. But then one day, everything between Kyungsoo and Baekhyun changed thanks to that one phone call.

Baekhyun was just finishing tidying up the apartment and washing his and Chanyeol’s clothes when he heard Chanyeol’s phone ringing somewhere in the living room. He frowned. Chanyeol usually wasn’t the one to leave his phone at home.

Deciding he’d scold him as soon as Chanyeol stepped into their apartment, Baekhyun rushed to take the call.

“Hello, I’m sorry, Chanyeol’s-”

“B-Baekhyun?” he heard Kyungsoo’s shaky voice from the phone.

“Yeah, it's me. I’m sorry. Chanyeol’s not home and he left his phone here. Is everything okay?”

“Uhm…no,” Kyungsoo answered, sounding as if he was shivering. “Is there a way to contact him?”

Baekhyun’s eyebrows furrowed worriedly. “I don’t really know anyone in his company, sorry, and I don’t know how to contact him through anywhere else. What’s going on? Where’s Jongin?”

“He’s… he’s… I don’t know what’s happening…”

Baekhyun tensed.

“Is he okay?”

“We fought and he started breathing really fast and ran out the door, now he’s gone and I don’t know what to do, where to go…”

“I understand,” Baekhyun breathed in. “Try to stay calm. Jongin’s fine. Everything will be fine. Let me call a friend who might know how to contact Chanyeol, and we’ll figure this out.”

He heard Kyungsoo take a deep, shaky breath. “Okay.”

“I’ll call you back in a second.”

Baekhyun dialed Yixing’s number in the speed of light, and it only took him a minute to explain the situation and get his friend to call Chanyeol’s company. He felt worried himself. He’d seen Jongin having a panic attack before and he knew it wasn’t a pretty sight. Kyungsoo must be freaking out after seeing that for the first time. And now he felt worried for Kyungsoo and Jongin.

He called him again, and Kyungsoo picked up after the first beep.

“Hello?”

“Hey. Chanyeol said he  knows where Jongin went. He went after him and promised to take care of him, so don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine.”

“Where is he?” Kyungsoo asked, still sounding anxious as hell. “Can I see him?”

“Chanyeol said he’s going to calm him down and take him home. I’m afraid I don’t know where they are, Kyungsoo.”

“Oh.”

Baekhyun felt that Kyungsoo was feeling guilty and hating himself for pushing Jongin into a state like that, and although he didn’t really like the other male, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Kyungsoo didn’t know what panic attack felt like, he didn’t know he could cause it, therefore he wasn’t ready for when he did. Baekhyun knew because Chanyeol had told him before he argued with Jongin for not explaining his situation to Kyungsoo openly. Jongin didn’t want Kyungsoo to feel guilty, and expected his anxiety just pass now that he got Kyungsoo back. But anxiety didn’t work that way. Both Chanyeol and Baekhyun always said he should tell Kyungsoo.

“Do you…” Baekhyun coughed awkwardly. “Should I, uh, come over? Keep you company till they come back?”

Kyungsoo was silent for a moment, and Baekhyun almost ended up laughing the offer off and going to die of awkwardness. But after a moment, Kyungsoo murmured a silent ‘I would appreciate it, Baekhyun’, and his eyes widened at the response.

Kyungsoo actually took his offer.

Not wanting to make him wait too long, Baekhyun quickly threw on his coat, got out the door and rushed to the bus stop. Luckily, Kyungsoo and Jongin’s apartment wasn’t far from theirs. The whole time Baekhyun was wondering what the hell was wrong with him for offering that and how to make it less awkward once he’s there, because sure as hell it was going to be awkward. Needless to say, he didn’t have many ideas.

Once he was finally there, Kyungsoo opened the door with his skin paler than usual and his eyes full of anxiety. Baekhyun stepped inside awkwardly, taking off his shoes and coat in a hurry. Kyungsoo offered him tea, and wishing to make the atmosphere at least a bit more comfortable for them both, Baekhyun nodded and thanked him.

Ten minutes later, he found himself sitting on the couch, his tea standing on the table forgotten as he was patting crying Kyungsoo’s back. As soon as he brough him his tea, Kyungsoo bursted into tears, scaring Baekhyun because he had never seen anything this emotional from the other male before. He instantly moved closer to him, whispering that it’s alright and that it wasn’t his fault.

Time passed, and slowly Kyungsoo calmed down. Baekhyun started to talk to him and ask him questions in order to help him not to think about what happened. Kyungsoo was seemingly feeling much better when the two of them heard the door being open.

“Kyungsoo?” Jongin called, and the owl-eyed male stood up and ran towards the door, rushing into Jongin’s arms.

When Baekhyun followed, he saw Kyungsoo engulfed in his boyfriend’s embrace, hugging his waist tightly and whispering countless sorrys. Chanyeol, who was standing behind the couple, widened his eyes at Baekhyun, surprised to see him there, and the smaller smiled. ‘I’ll explain later’, he mouthed at him. 

“Baekhyun?” Jongin noticed him, still holding onto Kyungsoo’s waist. He moved the smaller a bit to the side to let Chanyeol pass. “What are you doing here?”

“Just keeping Kyungsoo company,” Baekhyun welcomed Chanyeol’s arms around him, smiling softly. “And waiting for my boyfriend.”

Chanyeol looked into his eyes thankfully, and Baekhyun winked at him. He knew that Chanyeol was grateful to him for not mentioning the panic attack and making Jongin feel bad.

Over Chanyeol’s shoulder his eyes met with Kyungsoo’s. There was something different in the owl like eyes now. He looked at Baekhyun differently, as though regretting the way he treated him all this time and wishing everything between them was different. He even attempted to give him a small smile.

‘Thank you’, his eyes said.

And that was where their friendship started.

The sound of the front door opening startled Baekhyun out of his trip into memories, and he smiled. Finally, Chanyeol was home.

“Baek?” he heard him call.

Soon enough, the man himself appeared in the living room, wearing his beautiful green knee-length coat that Baekhyun picked out for him a few months ago. He looked so handsome and perfect, standing there with his big eyes and smile directed to Baekhyun that the smaller barely contained himself from running towards him and leaping into his arms.

He was about to go forward and kiss Cha