Summary: Baekhyun goes home for the holidays, and Chanyeol ghosts him.

 

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Just as Chanyeol said, he doesn't pick up or reply back the whole day, which meant that Baekhyun didn't have anyone to talk to about his last final except Jon, but it wasn't the same.

First of all, Jon doesn't look interested in what he has to say at all. He did say Baekhyun was pretty and cute a few months ago, but that's not the point. The point is, C++ is a hard language and Baekhyun just wants to complain about it because there might be 1 or 2 things wrong that he did on that final and it's bothering him.

Second, all of the texts he tried to send are still "sending" which means that Chanyeol's phone hasn't even gotten them yet. It makes Baekhyun even more curious as to what Chanyeol's doing.

After a whole day of trying to get through to him, Baekhyun decides to go out with his friends to celebrate the end of their finals. Tomorrow, he'd go home back to his parents but he'll go out and have some fun before then.

But...

No alcohol.

Because it makes him and talkative, which is both pointless if Chanyeol's not there.

Sighing, Baekhyun fixed his hoodie and looks in the mirror.

He looks sad and sleep-deprived, but on the bright side, they have a Skype date tomorrow and he can finally see that dumb dumb and, hopefully, it'll be better now that his exams are over.

The knock on the doors pulls Baekhyun's attention back to reality.

Without thinking much about it, he walks over and opens the door to find it's only Jon.

"Sorry, forgot my room key."

"You're lucky I didn't leave yet!" Baekhyun laughs, letting him in.

Grabbing his student I.D off his desk, Jon turns around and smiles at him. "You look nice. Going out?"

"Yeah! Jennifer, Liza, Jay, and Ross are taking me to the Blue Pinneaple club downtown."

"Isn't that a gay club?"

"We're all supporting Ross! He needs a boyfriend."

Snorting, Jon walks past him and heads back out the door. "And what about you? Off to get a new boyfriend, too?"

Baekhyun frowns. "No. I'm fine!" he says. "Why? Do you think if I go, people might get the wrong idea? I don't want them to think that I'm— I mean. I love Chanyeol, but I want to support my friend and—"

Shaking his head, Jon stops him immediately. "Stop overthinking it, geez. Go. Have fun," he casually says before leaving. "I'm heading over to the game lab. Call me if something happens. Bye!"

After Jon leaves, Baekhyun looks back in the mirror and sighs. He's really going to the club in a hoodie and skinny jeans, but he's just trying to be like: "Hey, I'm cute but I have a boyfriend. His name's Park Chanyeol and I think he's the best—even though he hasn't responded but he did say he probably wouldn't—"

Groaning, Baekhyun walks to his bed and plops down on it. Face first. Before yelling into the pillow.

 

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The next morning, Baekhyun wakes up with a bad fudging hangover. And it ...

He needs water.

Pushing himself up off the bed, he leans over to the side, just enough to grab his water bottle off his desk.

He said no alcohol yesterday, but...

Maybe he underestimated just how sad he felt...?

Fudge.

Drinking alcohol is a no-no, especially when he's sad because then that'll lead into alcohol addiction and depression—just an overall downhill struggle that'll never end, all because Chanyeol won't reply and Baekhyun doesn't know where he is and—

A small ding! catches his attention. Then another one.

Clambering for his phone, Baekhyun gasps when he sees that it's he-who-hasn't-replied-in-24-hours.

But first thing's first—charge the phone. It's at 2%.

Once Baekhyun gets it plugged in, he opens up their chat.

[ From: Chanyeol 💔] Morning, babe

Baekhyun frowns. He doesn't remember changing Chanyeol's name to that...

Before going on, he goes to his contact settings and re-edits Chanyeol's caller i.d back to what it used to be.

[ From: Yeollie ❤️] I just wanted to check in... Happy to hear your final went okay. I read online that C++ is one of the harder languages to learn so don't beat yourself up over it. You'll be okay. Sorry I couldn't respond, but I can now. You'll be going home today later so we'll talk more then.

Rubbing his eyes, Baekhyun sits with his legs crossed on the bed.

[ From: Babe ] Good morning, Yeol! I missed youuuu :( But yes! I'm going home later. We're going to Skype, right?  Did you decide on a movie? 

[ From: Yeollie ❤️] I didn't think you'd be up this early.

[ From: Yeollie ❤️] Yeah, movie night later. It's up to you. I don't mind.

[ From: Babe ] How did the training go?

[ From: Babe ] Also I have a hangover! 

Chanyeol doesn't reply as fast this time. It takes a good minute for the little speech bubble to come up again.

[ From Yeollie ❤️] Training went fine. Drink a lot of water.

[ From Yeollie ❤️] I have to do something for Jongin in a bit. Just wanted to talk to you for a bit and make sure you were ok.

[ From: Babe ] Help him with what?

Baekhyun waits for a while... Eventually, 5 minutes pass and he gets tired of waiting. Also, he's thirsty.

Groggily, he forces himself off the bed with the water bottle in hand and makes a quick trip down the dorm hall to refill it.

 

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When Baekhyun's dad picks him up from campus around 3 p.m, Chanyeol still hasn't responded, which makes the brunet kind of bummed because it's already been more 10 hours since they talked that morning. Maybe Chanyeol just.. fell asleep. Or something.

Nonetheless, Baekhyun spends the whole 2-hour drive home with his face pressed against the car window. 

- - - - - - - - 

Getting to spend some time at home makes Baekhyun feel slightly better. One, he has Salem. He read somewhere that cats get happy when they recognize their owners after a very long time away, so that makes him feel all warm and fuzzy. Second, home food. He's so sick and tired of the same old dining hall menu. Baekhyun just wants his mom's spicy beef stew for crying out loud. 

Entering the house for the first time in a while, Baekhyun gasps when Salem wakes up from his nap time on the couch, jumps down, and trots over to rub himself against his owner's legs. 

Bending over, he picks up the cat and kisses him on the face. "Ohhhh, you're getting so oooold. Mwah!"

"I was worried you two were caught in traffic!" His mom says as she comes out from the kitchen area with a big smile on her face. "Why don't you run upstairs and put your stuff away. Then you can come back down and help set the table. Dinner's almost ready."

"Okie Dokes!" Baekhyun puts down Salem and takes his suitcase from his dad. He starts making his way up but almost trips down the hall when Salem runs past his feet. "One of these days, I'm going to accidentally step on you and I'll feel really bad!"

Salem only meows when he gets to the door.

Sighing, Baekhyun reaches over and opens it, watching the little cat run inside. "Did mom forget to feed you?" he mutters to Salem (but more to himself, too). "Maybe you're tired like me. Do you want to cuddle? I'm--"

Baekhyun stops in his track as soon as the door's wide open. For a second, he sees what he thinks he's seeing, but maybe it's not real. It's probably the alcohol--or the hangover from this morning. 

Whatever. 

It doesn't matter because it's not real and there's no possible way for it to even be real. 

Like...no. 

Fudge no--

"WHAT!?" 

Baekhyun didn't mean to yell... or throw his backpack at the fake Chanyeol standing in his room. 

It's just like The Conjuring, but with long-distance boyfriends.

To his surprise, the fake Chanyeol actually gets hit, which means he has a physical form. 

This is bad. It's a ghost with a physical body.

What in the hangover hell is this?

Baekhyun screams, lugging his suitcase at the fake Chanyeol before slamming the door shut. After taking five steps back (until he can feel the hallway wall against him), he pulls out his phone and calls Chanyeol.

The faint sound of ringing starts coming from his room, which 50% confirms that it's not a fake boyfriend that's in there, but it also raises the suspicion that it could be a really good fake.

Before he can even reach out for the door again to peek inside, it swings open, revealing an unamused (former) gangster.

"I hopped on a plane to LAX, and the first thing you do is throw your bags at me? Maybe I should've just stayed h--"

Before he can even finish saying his empty threat, Chanyeol's thrown backward when Baekhyun throws himself at him, arms wrapped tightly around the (former) gangster's waist.

"Hey--"

"Please tell me you're real!" Baekhyun says frantically with his face pressed against the giant's shirt. "This isn't a stress-induced fever dream, right? Right? What's my birthday? Wait, what's my cat's name? What's my favorite snack? Ghosts can't tell that stuff."

Rolling his eyes, Chanyeol shuts the door, giving them privacy from the runt's parents downstairs. "It's real. May 6th. Salem. Melona." He looks down just when Baekhyun looks up, dazed. "And there's no such thing as ghosts, idiot."

Jaw-dropped, Baekhyun pulls away. 

Then, he looks around for a moment before pulling the giant over to the bed. "Sit down," he says, pointing at the bed. After Chanyeol takes a seat on the edge, the brunet takes his spot right next to him. They stare at each other for a few seconds before Baekhyunn blurts out, "Condoms."

"Hate them."

"Junmyeonnie?"

"Stupid."

Baekhyun can feel himself shaking. "Sehunnie."

"Dumb."

"Jonginnie."

"Dumber."

Pressing his lips together, Baekhyun finds that he can't breathe--or at least, breathing's really friggin' hard now...

"You're really here. I'm--" He finds talking hard to do, too... Fudge. Signs of waterwork starts the second Baekhyun cups the gangster's face and feels his warmth through his hands. It's all real. "I thought you had work training-- You lied. You said you had work and now you're--"

Chanyeol leans forward does the only thing he knows will shut the runt up.

Yet... it doesn't stop Baekhyun's lips from running the moment the gangster pulls away. 

It only makes him start crying.

"You lied to me," Baekhyun sobs, shoving Chanyeol by the shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? You made me think you were ignoring me and--"

"It was a last minute thing." 

Baekhyun shakes his head, wiping his eyes with the back of his hands. "I don't like surprises," he says, sniffling. "Still should've told me and... Wait-- Do my parents know you're here? I mean, they should because how else would you-- Chanyeol. Did they know? Wait, what did you tell them? Because friends don't just visit each other halfway around the world."

Chanyeol kisses him again. "I told you we'd talk later," he tells the runt quietly. Pausing for a few seconds, he moves some of the brunet's hair away from his face and tucks it behind his ear. "Just tell me you're happy."

"Yes. Of course, I'm happy," Baekhyun replies firmly. "Why wouldn't I be happy? These are happy tears, Yeol-- I love you and... you actually came here to see me. My parents probably think this is the weirdest friendship I've ever had--"

"Baekhyun."

"Hm?"

"They know I'm your boyfriend."

Gasping, Baekhyun covers his mouth. "You told them?"

"I mean, you couldn't have been more obvious, inviting me over at your house all the time." 

"Okay, well, see-- That's what friends do. Friends have dinner at each other's place every day for eight months... Then they hold hands, kiss, cuddle, and say I love you." Baekhyun puts his hand down and smiles at the giant. " I'm kidding. I was too shy to tell them sooo..."

Rolling his eyes, Chanyeol stands up off the bed. "Speaking of your parents, let's go downstairs. I don't want them thinking I'm up here taking advantage of you."

"But you're more than welcome to!" Baekhyun laughs, but his eyes are still kinda puffy and red, which only makes him look even more ridiculous. Taking Chanyeol's hand, he pulls himself up. "I have so many questions. Promise me you'll answer them all later!"

"I will. Don't worry." Putting a hand behind Baekhyun's back, Chanyeol walks them toward the door. "Wipe your eyes. I don't want them to kick me out of the house if they think I hurt you."

Whipping his head up, Baekhyun gapes at him. "Wait, kick you out? Why would they do that? Are you staying here?"

"Yeah. In the guest room across the hall."

Baekhyun grabs Chanyeol by the hem of his shirt. "We can cuddle at night!"

"I don't think your parents would let that happen. Now, come on--"

"Secret cuddles, then?"

Baekhyun looks so hopeful, it would've been a real shame to call him anything but cute in that moment.

Heaving a sigh, Channyeol gives him an uncommitted, loose shrug before opening the door. "Sure. Secret cuddles."

 

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a/n: a big update to celebrate Baekhyun's debut album! Stream CITY LIGHTS! Buy the digital album if you can! Stream on spotify! Buy the actual album!

anyways back to being on hiatus

leave a vote and a comment, h0e~~~!!!!!! EXplOration is coming soon and i'm excited

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