So, yeah, after a long time of not posting up any one-shot on my blog, I'll be doing it again.

Why? Because this month is the time for two important birthdays, my birthday [which was last May 10] and the birthday of my second EXO-K bias, Byun Baekhyun, last May 6. I decided to fuse our 'birthday gifts' into a single shot divided into three parts.

This will definitely be the first part.

And before I forget, I'll be updating my fic very very very very soon, most probably today, so please do watch out for it. =]

Anyway, the soundtrack for this first part is "Because Of You" by B2ST.

Enjoy reading. =]

= = = = = = =

Annyeonghaseyo.

I'm Song Shirin.

And I'm in love with my bestfriend.

Yes, I admit. I'm in love with the one guy all people in ChoRae High School and University repect the most. That one guy who is recognized as the ultimate dream guy.

Byun Baekhyun.

And yes, he's my bestfriend.

He's the bestfriend of ChoRae High School and University's biggest nerdy-nerd.

How could it have been? Me being friends with him?

I don't even know myself.

All that I know is that our parents were good friends since high school, and that we are neighbors, which means that we see each other every single day ever since we were in preschool. Every party that is thrown for Byun Baekhyun's birthday has me in its attendance, and vice versa. We were made sure to be always in range of each other, and take note of the word 'always'. We practically grew up together, so I know his traits, and he knows how I carry myself in various situations.

I was also no stranger to how he matured physically, and how he had climbed up the social ladder of every school that we went to. He grew up quite well, actually, for he was a down-to-earth person even though his family was evidently well-off. He was quite talented and good-looking, too. He became the school choir's lead soloist almost as soon as he entered it, he plays the piano really well too, and his grades aren't bad at all. He's one of the three best students in our batch.

Of course, I must admit that he couldn't match up to me, because I am the top student in our batch... But still, you get the drift.

I began to love him about fifteen or fourteen years ago, when I first met him. He had sneaked up on me while I was playing piano and singing one of the songs that the music teacher had made me do for a project. I had a hard time studying it, and when I finally got everything perfect, he came and surprised me. Not long after, he himself studied the instrument, and he teasingly told me that it was because of me that he started studying it. Of course, I'm pretty certain that it was a joke, but then again, it was what started our friendship... and the love I had, and still have, for him.

He and I are really close, but we show it only when we are away from the eyes of the public. Whenever we are at school, we act like the other doesn't exist, and that is upon my request. He was hesitant to do it during the first few years, but had learned to accept it gradually. Now, when people see us, no one would suspect that a nerd and the most popular guy in school would be bestfriends or anything of that sort.

As if people would actually expect that.

Just by the looks, I'm probably already not qualified to even be breathing the same air as he does.

But caring for Byun Baekhyun's reputation comes at a heavy price.

While he is groomed to be the ultimate dream guy in the school, I was being branded as the most insignificant and unlovable person because of my status as a nerd. While he is being adored by many, I was bullied to my utmost limits. As he receives love letters, I get prank toys. While his reputation continues to grow, mine steadily fades in the background.

I never told him about the bullying, and fortunately, no one has done anything bad to me while in the presence of the most popular guy around. So he doesn't have an idea. I don't think that is was of great importance for me to tell this to him, as it would just bring problems if this issue was brought to the light. So, just like the witty and quick-thinking person that I actually am, I always come up with excuses whenever my bestfriend sees that I am hurt.

Well, then again, there's nothing that could merit me a spot by Byun Baekhyun's side.

What do I have?

I'm not even as pretty as all the girls flocking to him, nor as active and sporty. I'm not outgoing and most of the time, I cower away from the pressing kinds of situations. I'm not the strong-willed type of girl, either. I'd rather let myself be hurt many times instead of letting the chaos escalate. I'm pretty much a masochistic pacifist.

Seriously not attractive. Especially for a guy like him.

"There he is! Byun Baekhyun!"

A shout interrupted all my thoughts, and from the window of the classroom I was sitting beside to, I looked at the sleek sports car that was parked just near the building...

... and my bestfriend getting out of it.

Many people had crowded the same window of the classroom to just get a glimpse of him, but I could only turn my head away and put my attention on other things.

Every single day that passes both him and me by, I see his face and feel his warmth. So, I'd rather let others who aren't as 'lucky' or 'fortunate' as I am get their daily dose of Byun Baekhyun's greatness.

= = =

"Shirin-ah!"

His familiar voice made me look up from the book I was reading, now inside the school's indoor garden during lunchtime. At the sound, I found him approaching me and taking me in his arms very tightly upon reaching where I was.

"Uhm. Baekhyun-ah. Can't. Breathe."

That made him release me, chuckling as I placed a hand upon my heaving chest. That didn't stop him from hugging me again, but more gently this time, though.

"Whoah. What's with the hugs?" I joked when he released me again, and he let me go back to how I was, sitting flat on the ground with a book in my hands, before he answered.

"Nothing. I just remembered that it was going to be my birthday in two days... and I got really excited." He said, and I couldn't help but laugh at how childish it sounded.

"Yah, you're already going to be twenty this year. Isn't it a tad bit too childish for you to get excited over that?" I asked him, but he shook his head to answer even before I was done.

"But you'll come to the birthday celebration, right, Shirin-ah? There wasn't a year wherein you didn't come..." He pleaded to me, and as if that question he asked was such a ridiculous one, I just rolled my eyes.

"Like there was a choice anyways. Even if I tell you that I don't want other people to see me in your house, you just keep me in your room until the party is over, then celebrate with me."

When his laughter rippled through his frame, I found myself smiling too.

This is another thing that makes me love him. The fact that he does every possible way for me to not be left out on his life. He understands me more than anyone else can, and he uses the knowledge he has about me to make me happy. He's pretty sweet and cute like that, and everytime he does that, my heart beats quite erratically.

It's no wonder that every girl would like this guy bestfriend of mine.

Even with just me, I'm already smitten by him... and we're best friends plus neighbors.

What more so with the rest of the ChoRae population that sees his cool side almost everyday?

"Ah. A bestfriend-love type of romantic novel?"

My thoughts were cut once more when he recognized the book that I had in my hands. Almost by reflex, he took it and skimmed through it, while I just sat there quietly and settled with watching him closely.

He sported a smile on his face when he looked at the words that passed through his eyes, before smiling playfully at me.

"Oi! What's with that smile?! I just wanted to read this because it was the topic of one of the book reports that my classmate in Literature did, and it made curious why she analyzed the book that way!" I quickly defended myself as he broke out into a laugh.

"Yah. If you have feelings for me, don't be afraid to tell me, Shirin-ah. You can just do it directly instead of immersing yourself in this kind of book." He jokingly said as he returned the book to me, and that made me pretty silent for a while.

Yes. This book was one of those done in a book report by a classmate of mine in literature, and I was quite curious about what gave her such a point of view that she had in her report. But that wasn't the only reason why I took it out from the library and had an interest on reading it.

It was because the novel featured love between bestfriends, which actually stemmed to something more than that. I found something that documented exactly how I felt for this Byun Baekhyun who had made a mark in my life as a very important person. And for me, who was feeling a love for someone who I think that wouldn't like me back, I found a friend in the words of fiction.

"Whatever, Baekhyun-ah. As if I'd actually have feelings for you." I joked back before standing up and brushing off any dust or dirt from my school uniform, by the skirt specifically. I had breathed a sigh of relief in my mind when he didn't say anything. At least, he didn't think I was serious.

I didn't look at him anymore when I said goodbye and made my escape.

"Anyways, I'd have to go back to the classroom now. I still have something to do. Later." I said before turning on my heels and walking away from Byun Baekhyun. There was nothing that I'd have to do, actually, but I just needed to get away from him... or else he'd see me blushing and flustered.

Yeesh. Byun Baekhyun. Why the heck are you just that loveable?

= = =

"Ouch. That hurt a lot, Shirin-ah."

The words that have been screaming inside my head finally made their way out of my lips as my bestfriend closed the door of the in-building garden of the school. I'm pretty sure that she didn't see how my face fell at those words that she said just moments ago.

"As if you'd actually have feelings for me... Why not?" I bitterly asked to no one inside the garden, not moving from my sitting position on the ground.

My heart was pounding heavily as her words sank into my system. After everything we've been through as we grew up together, she always shies away from me everytime the topic of love that could blossom between bestfriends comes up. She escapes, she doesn't talk about it, she leaves me alone.

Can't she even consider the possibility of everything that could happen between the two of us?

My chest constricted as the pain invaded my whole being.

Can't she see that everytime I open up about love for bestfriends, I keep staring at her, wishng for her to just get it?

Aish. If she doesn't realize it anytime soon, I might hit something.

I know I have a reputation to keep, but I am still just a man.

A man who falls prey to the power of love.

Annyeonghaseyo.

Byun Baekhyun here.

And I am in love with my bestfriend.