For the past week since the wedding, Baekhyun and Taeyeon’s life had been pretty normal and quiet for the time being. Taeyeon was glad that the public has yet to know about their marriage. She was still able to go to work without medias and paparazzi lurking around her boutique. Baekhyun also, had been dropping her to and fetching her from work the whole week, claiming that he does not really have anything to do but to just arrange and finish some of the papers of the house which he could do while she’s at work. Taeyeon argued with him over this, but with how persistent Baekhyun is, she just lost at the end and let him do what he wanted. 

        It wasn’t until the following week that the news about their marriage had been made public already. She wasn’t sure how the medias knew about the wedding as Krystal also stated that there weren’t any paparazzi found nearby on the wedding day according to the securities that she hired to guard the venues of the wedding and reception, but still, they managed to get an information, and now it’s all over the news. It shocked both Taeyeon and Baekhyun as they’re about to have their breakfast on a Tuesday morning when they heard the news about their wedding on the TV. “This is insane,” Taeyeon uttered before she proceeded to have her breakfast at the time. Since none of them wanted the attention that the medias would be putting on them with this news, Taeyeon told Baekhyun to not drop and pick her up from work for the meantime, knowing how wild could these people get if they just saw a glimpse of them. And after all, she doesn’t want people prying in with her private life, just like what these medias wanted to do at every celebrity or public known people in the world. Baekhyun didn’t hesitate on agreeing with her to it, as he too, is concerned and anxious about how things could get with the revealing of the news. After all, when he called of his supposed to be first marriage, he didn’t state the reason to her behind it. This was his main concern for the longest time already. He knew he couldn’t keep it for a long time, especially to her, but now that she would probably learn about it with all the news being shown in the TV and being posted online, it’s only a matter of time until he’d face her again. A moment which he was totally not prepared yet.

        That day, Taeyeon asked Luna to send one of their staffs to pick her up as she didn’t really want to risk her life and drive by herself to work. Baekhyun on the other hand would be going to his parents’ company and also finish the arrangement of the papers of their house. “Don’t be caught by them.” Taeyeon mumbled as Baekhyun marched towards the door before he left.

          He turned around and nodded before he let out a short chuckle. “I should be telling you that.” He uttered back.

         In no time, Taeyeon was also off on the road to her work, being picked up by one of their vans and staff. When they arrived at her boutique, Taeyeon expected the scene already, but nonetheless was still shocked at the people lined up waiting for her arrival probably, with their big cameras hung on their necks and microphones and recorders on their hands. . As soon as she opened the door, everyone suddenly rushed towards her, if it weren’t for the staffs that blocked her from them, they would all flocked onto her all at once.

          Questions were suddenly thrown into her as soon as she set her foot outside. Everyone were speaking all at once that she couldn’t really get a single question out of them. Though she was hearing words like “marriage”, “wedding”, and “husband” from the thousands of questions being asked to her. Flashes from the cameras suddenly came, forcing her to lower her head from the crowd. She knew they’re probably trying to get a good look of her wedding band on her finger, but she made a good choice of wearing an extra-long sleeved shirt for the day. It was such a struggle to pass through the flock of people outside her boutique, but after a few minutes of struggling, she made it inside already. She let out a heavy sigh as soon as the door of the boutique behind her closed down. She marched towards her office, coming across with Luna who came from the studio at the back of the boutique. “Unnie, we've got things to discuss.” She blurted out as soon as she saw Taeyeon.

          Taeyeon sighed, reaching for her door. “I know,” she uttered before removing the sling bag on her body and dropping it down on her table.

        As Taeyeon settled herself on her chair, Luna closed the door behind her and walked towards the front of Taeyeon’s desk, bringing out her notebook and started going through everything on her list. “Morning news shows wanted to get a word from you about your wedding—” before she could even finish, Taeyeon answered right away.

          “Not gonna happen,” She mumbled, shaking her head vigorously.

          Luna wasted no time and crossed it out on her list already. “Magazines already sent in their mails and calls asking you to feature on their next month’s issues, and will tackle about your wedding and marriage. It’ll be like a wedding photoshoot special, they said.”

          “Do they need an answer now?” Taeyeon asked and Luna immediately shook her head. “Leave it hanging for now.”

          “Online news outlet—” Luna stopped right away as soon as Taeyeon spoke.

         “I will only do one interview; I will choose from the magazines who reached out already. Cancel everything out now.” She uttered. “And can you please call for a security or something to shoo the people outside? They’re blocking the boutique from the people who wanted to come in.” She added as she got irritated by the noise that the people outside were making. It was ridiculously loud that they could hear it inside her office. Luna nodded her head right away and proceeded to do what Taeyeon asked her to. She couldn’t help but to agree with Taeyeon immediately as she was also bothered by the noise they were making since earlier when they kept knocking and asking when will Taeyeon arrive.

        As soon as Luna was out of her office, Taeyeon leaned back on her chair and sighed heavily. This is really insane. Instead of stressing herself over it, she decided to just go to work right away, to keep her mind off from the matter. After all, the demands for her designs that she showed during the fashion week were high and it was fast increasing as the week continued to pass by.

***

        If it weren’t for the soft knocks that came in suddenly, Taeyeon would remain undisturbed from her work. Gazing up from her desk, Tiffany suddenly appeared from the door. “Hey there,” she greeted.

          Taeyeon quietly sighed. “Hey,” she greeted back faintly.

        Tiffany raised her brow to her friend as she walked towards her. “Just came by to drop the things that I borrowed for a shoot,” she said. “You okay?” She asked after a few seconds.

          Taeyeon nodded. “Yeah, I am.” She answered.

          Tiffany took a seat in front of her desk. “Are they a lot?” She asked.

         “It’s unbelievable,” Taeyeon answered. She didn’t really have to ask what her friend was talking about. By this time, Taeyeon knew her friend—and probably the rest of the girls, had probably known about the incident in front of her boutique. “I’ve never gotten this much attention in my entire life. Not even during the fashion week.” She jokingly, yet truthfully added after, earning a laugh from her friend.

          “The world was sure shaken by the news.” Tiffany uttered, letting a sigh after.

          “Me getting married is really unimaginable, isn’t?” Taeyeon asked, making her friend laughed so hard after.

          “Exactly! I mean, the public rarely saw you with guys for the past years.” Tiffany said, shrugging her shoulders after.

          Taeyeon rolled her eyes at her friend. “Come on, I dated guys before.”

        Tiffany scoffed and chuckled. “You went out on dates with guys before, not dated them.” She corrected, putting emphasis on her words for Taeyeon’s sake. Someone teach this girl the difference between the two things.

          “That’s almost the same thing!” Taeyeon said after.

          Tiffany rolled her eyes. “If that’s the same thing then you would at least have one boyfriend in your life.” She retorted back.

          “But still, I went out with guys, okay? I’m not all innocent here.” Taeyeon said, quite giving up with arguing with her friend.

          “I didn’t say you’re innocent, I mean God knows what you—” before Tiffany could even finish her sentence, Taeyeon cut her off right away.

        “Okay fine! You made your point already! Geez.” Taeyeon yelled, and Tiffany couldn’t help but to laugh at her friend’s reaction. “Stop laughing you fool.” Taeyeon added, throwing a crumpled paper to her.

          “Let’s have some lunch, come on!” Tiffany said as she changed the discussion, already standing up from her seat after.

         Taeyeon just raised her brows at her. “Can’t you see that I’m working?” She asked, pointing at her laptop and the pile of papers and sketches on her desk.

          “I know, but you need to free your mind from things.” Tiffany answered.

          “Tiff, you know I’m avoiding the crowd right now.” Taeyeon said after letting out a quiet sigh.

         Tiffany nodded her head and crossed her arms. “I know, and I have a car don’t worry. Our usual place isn’t really that crowded anymore, so you’ll be safe from crazy papz out there.” Tiffany uttered. Taeyeon hesitated for a while before sighing and giving in to her friend. After all she’s a little hungry already. “And since you’re probably not in your best mood, this one’s on me.” Tiffany added before they could step out of her office.

          “You’re just using ways to get me come with you.” Taeyeon retorted, rolling her eyes at her friend, who only responded with a laugh back to her.

          “I shouldn’t have gone with you.” Baekhyun mumbled as he glared at his friend who was seated in front of him. Chanyeol on the other hand, just laughed at his friend’s reaction. Baekhyun could just sigh at how his friend was annoying the heck out of him. Chanyeol volunteered to accompany him with his errands for the day, after knowing Baekhyun and Taeyeon’s situation, but Baekhyun regretted it immediately as he’s been nothing but a pain in his head the whole time. I should’ve declined his offer.

         “But hey, you have to admit that I helped you with your house’s papers. You couldn’t have done it without me.” Chanyeol retorted back, with a proud smile flashed on his face as he picked up his glass of water.

          Baekhyun just sighed and rolled his eyes at his friend in response. After all, that was mainly the reason why he agreed to have him along for the day, because he knew much better in this things than him. Seconds after, he reached for his phone on his pocket, deciding to call Taeyeon and to check on her. Waiting for the call to finally connect, a soft voice then came in after a few rings. “Hello?” Taeyeon spoke from the other line.

          “Hey, what are you doing?” He asked as he leaned his back on his seat. Chanyeol then looked up at him after and mouthed “Who is that?” to him.

          “Hey! Oh, I’m having lunch with Tiffany right now. Why, is there something wrong?” Taeyeon asked, her brows raised as she waited for him to answer.

       Baekhyun shook his head a little even if Taeyeon couldn’t see him. “No, nothing’s wrong. I’m just checking up on you.” He answered. Chanyeol was about to ask again who he was talking to, but got it right away seconds after he spoke. So instead, he playfully smiled at his friend, teasing him. Baekhyun instead furrowed his brows to him in return.

          “Oh, so I’m guessing you weren’t caught yet?” Taeyeon asked after, a smile crept out on her face as she did so.

          Baekhyun chuckled before he spoke. “Thankfully, I haven’t. How ‘bout you?”

         Taeyeon let out a sigh as soon as she recalled the scene earlier. “They’re lined up in front of the boutique when I arrived earlier. It was crazy.” She answered, and the exaggerated sigh that she let out didn’t escaped Baekhyun’s ears. He was about to open his mouth to ask her if she was okay but she spoke right away again. “Where are you though? Are you done running the papers?” She asked.

        “I’m done with the papers, though I have to go back on Thursday maybe. And I’m also having lunch with Chanyeol, he accompanied me today.” He answered, looking at Chanyeol who was still playfully smiling at him.

          “Hello Taeyeon noona!” Chanyeol greeted from his seat, shouting a little so it could reach the other line.

          Baekhyun scoffed and laughed after with what his friend did. “Yeah, that’s him.” He uttered.

          Taeyeon couldn’t help but to laugh at Chanyeol’s greeting. “Say hello to him for me!” She told him.

          Baekhyun chuckled and hummed in return. “I will,” he answered. “Go eat now, and I’ll hang up already. I’ll see you at home later.”

          “Alright, see you and enjoy your lunch with Chanyeol!” Taeyeon uttered before finally ending the call.

         When Baekhyun placed his phone back on his pocket, Chanyeol grinned at him like an idiot and Baekhyun just furrowed his brows at him. “What’s with that look Yoda?” He asked.

          Chanyeol would be totally offended if it was any other day, but he got great plans of teasing his friend so he set it aside for a while and thought of dealing with it later. “You like noona don’t you?” He blurted out, squinting his eyes as he waited for his friend’s answer.

        “What?!” Baekhyun answered, rather quite too defensive, and Chanyeol immediately smiled at him with his response. “You’re seriously hungry, Yeol. Wait for your food and eat up.” Baekhyun added before taking a sip of his iced tea.

         But instead of stopping, Chanyeol continued with his teasing. “I mean I wouldn’t blame you if you like noona already, I mean she’s beautiful. Very. And I’d probably ask her out right after the moment I saw her if it weren’t just that you—” Chanyeol wasn’t able to finish his statement as Baekhyun cut him off right away.

          “What the , Yeol?” Baekhyun glared at him with furrowed brows after hearing him.

        Chanyeol couldn’t help but to laugh hysterically at his friend’s reaction while clapping his hands at the same time out of amusement. He was way beyond satisfied to have caught his friend himself. He was obviously just joking around with what he said but he wasn’t really expecting Baekhyun’s reaction either. “Dude, you sound like a jealous husband.” Chanyeol managed to utter between his non-stop laughs.

          I am. Baekhyun thought at the back of his mind which he chose to ignore completely. “Shut up,” he muttered instead.

         Chanyeol shook his head at him while still laughing silently. “You really like her.” He mumbled though Baekhyun still heard it as they weren’t really that far from each other.

          “I didn’t say anything,” Baekhyun answered back instantly.

         Another pits of laugh came out of Chanyeol after. “Why are you so defensive? Goodness.” You only get to see this kind of Baekhyun rarely, and knowing him and being friends with him for a long time already, Chanyeol knew how to read between and beyond his friend’s words.

         First was Kris hyung and now this Yoda? Oh my goodness. Baekhyun thought as he shook his head at his friend before grabbing his glass full of water and gulping it all down. It was totally a wrong move bringing this man along with me. He could only just sigh after, mentally exhausted already with Chanyeol’s annoying of him. I hope he soon gets tired of annoying me already.

       It was only a matter of time until their orders were being placed on their table already and the two proceeded to eat their lunch in silence. Moments after, things started to get serious around them as Chanyeol opened up a conversation. “But hey, with all seriousness now, how will you guys handle your situation?” Chanyeol asked in a low voice, looking carefully at Baekhyun.

         Baekhyun sighed and responded after a few minutes, reconstructing his thoughts for a while. “I know Taeyeon’s capable of handling herself, I mean she knows the drill very well with her situation.” He answered quietly before looking down on his plate again.

          “How about you?” Chanyeol uttered after a short silence, now looking at his friend with a mixture of worriedness already.

        Baekhyun gazed up and stared at his friend, his eyes displayed his anxiousness. It was just three words, but Baekhyun’s thoughts went wild because of it. His mind was once again a mess. It spoke much more than what those three words actually and literally meant. It spoke beyond it. He heaved a heavy sigh as he played with the food with his spoon now, his appetite suddenly disappearing. “I don’t know,” he answered truthfully in barely a whisper, but Chanyeol still caught it.

         Chanyeol couldn’t help but to look worriedly at his friend. He might not be able to put everything in words, but his eyes and expression were speaking for him otherwise. It was showing all of his emotions and Chanyeol bet his life that Baekhyun wasn’t aware of it. After all, he always tried to hide this side of him to them, to everyone. “Have you thought about it?” He asked minutes after.

         Baekhyun let out another sigh before shaking his head slowly as his response, his gaze fixated on his plate on the table as he continued to play with his food with his spoon. He would gladly have the courage to avoid this conversation if it was any other day, but he knew very well as well that he couldn’t keep running away from it, especially given their situation now. His situation. “Deal with it tomorrow, the next day, next week, next month, whenever you want, just not today.” Suho told him on the wedding day, and he thought this might be the right day to deal with it. If he wanted to keep Taeyeon away from this mess, the mess that he made, he should face it. He should solve it as early as he could. Even if it scares and wrenches his mind and heart.

        It was then Chanyeol’s turn to heave a sigh. He rested his back on his seat, while his eyes continued to observe his friend carefully. “How are you going to deal with this then?” He cautiously asked.

        “I don’t know, Yeol. I messed up really bad.” He mumbled, letting out a sigh before finally dropping his spoon down, totally losing his appetite already.

        Seeing Baekhyun in this state, Chanyeol felt somewhat guilty for bringing up this conversation, but he too knew that he couldn’t and shouldn't escape this, especially now. He’s concerned and worried for him, and he’s sure that their other friends wanted him ready for this matter as well, just like how he wanted Baekhyun to be at the moment.

       “I don’t know if... if I can face her with enough courage. After what I did.” Baekhyun muttered, looking at particularly nothing outside the window beside their table. “I betrayed her, you know. I could only just imagine how much pain I caused her for doing that.”

          “Baekhyun,” Chanyeol called out in an attempt to calm him down, but Baekhyun spoke again immediately after.

        “I’m such a jerk. I’m a coward.” He whispered, now staring down at his hands on his lap. Chanyeol wanted to comfort his friend, but this would probably the only time he could let his emotions out before he could face her again, so he resisted himself and let Baekhyun speak his mind and heart out. “I didn’t fight for her, for us.” Baekhyun decided to let his thoughts out knowing he couldn’t do anything to make everything right by now. I’ve spilled the water; I can’t bring it back. He was still hurting indeed, and he was also still mad at himself for what he did. He had better options, and if he doesn’t, he could have at least ended it in a decent and pleasant way, but he still chose the darker path, where he knew he’d be causing pain, trouble, and mess not just for her but for him as well. “The last thing I wanted to do was to hurt her, but look what I did.” His voice was very much almost a whisper as he continued to gaze down on his hands that were tightly clenched, suppressing his emotions.

          “Hey, don’t blame yourself here.” Chanyeol muttered as he tried to comfort him, but immediately regretted it the moment Baekhyun gazed up to him with fury eyes.

          “Then who should I blame then? Should I blame Taeyeon?” Chanyeol obviously meant differently, but his emotions have already started eating him up that he couldn’t control his outrage anymore. As much as Chanyeol regretted saying it as well, he too regretted acting that way immediately when he clearly knew his friend probably didn’t mean it that way. Baekhyun lowered his hea