Chapter 26:
A Trip Just for Us 
 

*.☽.*

"Just us."

It turned out that he got Manager Kang to fix his schedule so he could have two days off from his rehearsals which were in a way great because he would be able to take a rest. Though how he got his manager to agree with him, I didn't know.

Another thing that got me surprised was when he told me that we'd go right away. I, of course, protested telling him that I at least have to go home and ask permission from my Aunt which he easily contradicted by suggesting to call her instead. He even told me that I need not worry about my things anymore because he already had them taken care of. How on earth he was able to do it that fast, I also didn't have any idea.

"It'll be a surprise."

That was all he said when I asked him where he was planning to take me.

Honestly, this got me a bit worried and excited at the same time. I mean of course, I'm sure it'd be a meaningful trip for the both of us since this was going to be our first time to be somewhere else apart from my mom's hometown and Seoul. But then, considering that it would just be the two of us for the next couple of days got me a bit antsy as well. However, I knew I'd be a fool to refuse his request. So, after making a call to tell Aunt Sunny that I'd be away for a couple of days with Baekhyun, which got her a bit worried at first thinking how it'd be a bit risky for the both of us, she eventually agreed.

We went back to his room. I was standing right behind him while he picked the clothes he was going to bring for the trip. Somehow, I couldn't help but fidget at the thought that he asked someone to buy clothes for me again. And it must have been written all over my face that he ended up asking me right away. When I told him what was bothering me, he just assured me that he already asked someone to take care of all the things I would be needing for the trip. Well, that someone turned out to be his cousin, Soo Ah which made me uncomfortable for a second, now that I knew that she was friends with Kim Ara. I mean it's awkward, in some ways. 

The truth was, I wanted to insist on just taking care of it myself but I was sure he would get why I was acting this way and we'd probably end up talking about Ara once more. So I decided to keep my mouth shut instead.

*.☽.*

Afternoon came.

We were already outside and Mr. Yoo just came back with about six shopping bags of different sizes on both hands. He must have met with Soo Ah, I concluded.

"I just hope she got you proper clothes this time." I heard him say before asking Mr. Yoo to take the bags to the compartment of his car. "I don't want you freezing again this time." He added as he opened the door of the passenger's seat for me.

As I got in, I tried my hardest to stifle a laugh as I remembered how annoyed he was with the clothes Soo Ah bought for me the last time.

"Don't worry, I bought the padding jackets from the closet," I informed him as soon as he got inside the car.

He replied with a smile before talking to Mr. Yoo, informing him that he could take a few days off while he was away. A wide smile crossed the man's face, obviously delighted.

We left at around four in the afternoon. Seoul was a bit busy on a Thursday. The traffic was not that bad but there were still so many vehicles on the road. I also noticed a few ads with his face as we drove out of the city.

"Your popularity is no joke, Mr. Byun," I commented when we passed by a large Led monitor with his concert details.

"And I'm about to forget about that for a few days and concentrate on you, Miss Park." He replied, glancing at me as he took my hand and placed it on his lap.

I wasn't sure but there was something about him holding my hand while he drove that always made me feel giggly inside, instantly giving me the butterflies.

"Is it okay?" I asked him, trying my best not to be distracted by how hot he looked driving in one hand right now.

When he paid me a glance, I almost lost it.

My god Park Hae Won, it's just a glance from your hot boyfriend, don't overreact.

"What do you mean?" His forehead creased.

"Well..." I moved my head sideways. "I mean your tour is coming. How did you get them to agree with this?"

"I asked Manager Kang to make arrangements and since I got sick, he didn't ask further questions." He answered, his attention on the road. "I told him that I'm with you though."

"What did he say?"

Fully aware of the conflict they had a few weeks ago, I couldn't help but ask.

"I can't say he's fine with it totally but I'm pretty sure he understands." He replied, ending it with a subtle smistrokedle his thumb my hand.

Oh please Baekhyun stop it.

Actually, don't.

Ugh, I must hadrazy.

*.☽.*

We have been driving for about three hours and it was already getting dark. I still didn't have a single clue where he was taking me since he refused to tell me about it in the first place. We're totally out of the city and the streets were almost empty of vehicles now, so we must be going somewhere remote. Tall trees were on either side of the road and it straightaway reminded me of my mom's hometown. The rays from the setting sun struggle to find their way through the leaves, complementing the golden Autumn leaves.

I could already feel that this trip was going to be so special. I couldn't explain it but I don't feel that scared about any of this anymore. Actually, it was as if like this was the best thing to do. We both needed this. We need to get away from the drama, the prying eyes of the people, the internet, everything. Just everything.

I continued to watch him as he drove, his hands controlling the steering wheel, his gaze steady and solely focused on the road.

"You look good when you drive." I blurted, absolutely random, and out of nowhere.

I was so surprised by my words when I realized that I was already thinking out loud.

He instantly turned to me, a growing grin on his lips.

"I must be driving you crazy, right?" He was obviously teasing me and I couldn't help but respond with a slowly growing blush.

"I'm gonna go sleep for now," I told him when I couldn't think of a better excuse for what I just blurted out.

I saw him throw me a skeptical look so I faked a yawn before closing my eyes and that instantly sent him laughing. The corner of my lips turned up as the sound of his laugh filled the car.

"I love you."

The gentleness in his voice caused my eyes to open, instantly meeting his before he turned to And you absolutely drive me crazy by doing nothing but stare at me."

My overwhelmed self was unable to come up with a response to his words. I was left watching him for the next few seconds before I had the nerve to open my mouth.

"I love you."

He turned to me once more with an affectionate expression on his face. The glimmer in his eyes was made more evident by the rays of the setting sun.

And yes, you're driving me crazy Byun Baekhyun.
 

*.☽.*

I didn't realize that I had indeed fallen asleep if he didn't wake up me. I instantly looked around and found out that we had already arrived. The sun had completely set so it was hard for me to check where we were exactly.

I got out of the car and the cool Autumn breeze welcomed me right away. I wrapped my arms around myself since I was just wearing the same dress I wore this morning. Then I heard the rustling of the leaves of the trees and just paid attention to the towering trees surrounding us. I looked up and saw the ocean of black satin-like skies with the faintest glints from the stars.

"Where are we?" I turned the other way so I could ask him but he was suddenly nowhere to be found. "Baekhyun?" I called as I walked to the driver's seat to check on him but he wasn't inside.

I roamed my attention around but it was just too dark now that I couldn't even make something out of my surroundings.

"Baek, where are you?" I called out once more, already trying to steady my voice because I was starting to get worried.

I turned around and walked a few feet away from the car but there was still no trace of him. My heartbeat doubled, and my knees started to get weak at the thought of him disappearing.

No, he must be trying to pull a prank on me right now. And honestly, I wasn't liking it.

"Baekhyun this isn't funny anymore. If this was a joke, I swear I'm not going to forgive you." I warned him but no response came from him in the next few seconds.

God, I was about to cry but stopped myself when I heard movements somewhere I couldn't even distinguish. My hands were already slightly trembling. I looked up and saw the trees and the stars but they had somehow turned creepy, even the wind sounded and felt eerie.

"Baekhyun?" I called out a bit louder this time.

I was already biting my lip, trying my hardest to calm myself. I walked back and forth, not knowing where to go exactly. I wanted to find him but it was just too dark.

"B-Baek, you're already scaring me...where are you?" I said, almost breathless from walking around, and just when I was about to walk back to the car to get my phone and try to call him, someone grabbed my hand before sending me crashing against his body.

Though I wasn't able to check who it was, I instantly knew it was him. His scent filled my senses as he hugged me tightly. I closed my eyes because of so many reasons. One, because he finally showed up, two because what just happened scared me, and three because of his warmth sending all kinds of relief to my body.

"I'm sorry Baby, I didn't mean to scare you I promise." He apologized and he sounded as breathless just as I was.

I couldn't reply or even look at him for a second since I was still busy trying to calm myself down.

"It wasn't supposed to take me that long but I couldn't find the stupid switch."

Switch? Did he just say switch?

I looked up to meet his eyes and I was a bit confused about how I could somehow see his face now. I wasn't able to open my mouth yet to verbalize my question when he looked away. I followed his gaze and was instantly mesmerized by what I saw.

A few meters away from where we were standing was a huge, rustic, cabin house. It stood so unbelievably beautiful, I was suddenly loss for words. I was totally in awe in the next few seconds. When he let me go, I made a few steps forward so I could marvel at the beauty right before my eyes.

It's a two-story house with a very pretty veranda deck decorated with a string of light bulbs on the second floor. I wasn't really sure if the windows were made of glass or something else, all I knew was seemedfact that they seem to glisten. I looked around and it was just then I noticed the light posts surrounding the spacious, cleared area that was around the house. A few feet away from us was an array of wooden tables and benches under the beautiful yellow light bulbs.

This place totally felt like a dream.

A while ago, I was so certain I was about to cry out of fright but now I felt like crying because of how magical this place was.

"My god, this place is so beautiful Baekhyun," I said as I turned back to look at him when I was finally able to find the words.

I saw him standing with a satisfied look on his face, his hands inside his pockets. We both held each other's gaze for a few moments before he walked towards me. I turned around to the view of the house once more just as he wrapped an arm over my chest, the other one around my stomach, obviously giving me the most satisfying back hug.

"I knew you'd love it here." He stated, his voice just over a whisper as I felt his lips at the back of my head.

I lifted my hands to cling to his arm over his was absolutely heartwarming.

"I can't wait to spend the next few days with you." He added as he pulled me closer.

Someone, please tell me I wasn't in a movie or something.

*.☽.

The interior was equally beautiful as its exterior. The walls were made of wood and glass and they looked elegant and vintage at the same time. I looked up and couldn't help but admire the simple but very pretty chandelier. The lighting all over the house had the right amount of dim that radiated a very cozy ambiance.

The living room was on the farthest left of the spacious house. There was a gray couch with about three chairs of the same color beautifully positioned around the table. Right on the left was a wooden dining table with what seemed to be a bunch of fresh Baby's Breaths as its centerpiece.

I had to blink my eyes twice when I saw a fireplace and there was a cozy-looking couch in front of it. I instantly concluded it was perfect in winter.

There were just a lot of beautiful spots inside the house. As an interior designer, I had seen numerous houses and apartments that also looked exceptional but this house was just so different. It's beyond lovely. I could live here forever.

"How did you know about this place?" I asked Baekhyun when I saw him come with our things from the car.

"It's mine."

"What?" Mnse came in really quickly.

"Well, technically, not yet." He answered as he placed the shopping bags on the floor to come near me. "This is owned by someone I know and he's selling it to me."

"So are ya buy it?

I really wish he would. The place's too beautiful to let go.

He shrugged. "It depends."

"Depends on what?"

"On how our stay here would turn out." He told me as he cupped my face using his both hands before planting a kiss on my slightly parted lips.

His warm lips were only pressed against mine for a brief second because he had already had his back on me as he took the shopping bags in hand hands once more as headed to the second floor.

I was left blinking my eyes about a couple of times.

How this trip would turn out.

My thoughts automatically wandered to what happened in his room this morning. I remembered how he kissed me...

Park Hae Won!

I scolded myself before my crazy even had the chance to be more creative.

*.☽.*

I was currently in the kitchen. It was as beautiful as the other parts of the house too. I found every part of it so aesthetically looking that I spent about a couple of seconds staring at and appreciating every single thing in there. However, aside from the interior details, one more thing that truly amazed me was the fridge. It was filled with everything that we could possibly need.

I was already hungry and I knew Baekhyun was too, so I decided to make something we could eat tonight. I decided to make Bolognese using my mom's recipe and thankfully the fridge had all the ingredients I needed. I prepared and set everything on the counter, took the apron, and tied my hair into a loose ponytail before starting.

Time passed, and I was already checking the pasta out if it was ready when I saw him coming in. I hurriedly took one noodle out from the casserole and brought it to my mouth to see if it was already cooked but then he stood next to me and decided to stare at me which of course got me so conscious. I turned away, getting a little flustered that he chose to show up right at this exact moment. However, being his silly self, he stepped on the other side so we ended up facing each other once again. He took the hand that I was using to eat, letting the noodle that was still about three inches sticking out of my mouth.

I was so surprised by what he just did that my mouth stopped moving. I was completely convinced that I looked like a startled idiot staring back at him right now.

What was he trying to do exactly I couldn't really speak, I slightly tilted my head up intending to finish eating the noodle when he, all of a sudden and definitely without a warning, leaned his face so close to mine. And the next thing I knew his mouth was on the other end of the noodle.

Oh god, someone help me please before I start hyperventilating.

I could clearly see every detail of his face. His long lashes as he had his eyes on the now probably two-inch noodle. As well as the hint of a subtle smirk on his lips when he finally met my eyes. My, already panicking mind was telling me to cut the noodle but I was too scared to even make a move, especially now that there was barely an inch of space left between our mouths.

I blinked my eyes because that was the only movement I could execute at the moment. I froze with my face already feeling very hot. Then I saw the corner of his lips turned up as I felt his hands on my nape before tilting his head to the right. And with one swift move, his lips eventually grazed over mine as he finally finished the noodle.

My eyes remained open for a few brief moments until I realized what he was already doing. He was kissing me.

First I was trying to eat and now he was trying to eat-
My mind stopped there right away just about the right time he stopped what he was doing took a step back and let go of me. I looked at him and saw the cocky smile that had now taken over his lips.

"It's good." He told me, his eyes twinkling in amusement. "I mean the noodle." He trailed off as he made a few steps backward. "But...it wasn't as great as your lips, of course." He added, his signature Baekhyun smile, the one that reached his eyes, on full display.

I couldn't say anything as I watched him leave.

That smile, that short kiss...the butterflies in my stomach right now... into birds really fast...
It was as if cast a spell over me. All I could do was blink my eyes as I tried to process what just happened.

How could he just leave after that?

Still, without a word, I turned to go back to what I was initially doing. However, right when I saw the noodles, I knew for a fact that I would never look at them the same way again.

Ugh, Byun Baekhyun.

*.☽.*

It was a cold night but was still tolerable that we ended up taking our dinner outside. I guess, I wasn't the only one smitten by the view of the arrayed wooden tables under the string of light bulbs. He helped me to set the food on one of the tables, came back to the house, and brought a glass of wine when he got back. When I asked him where he got it, he just told me that his friend must be trying to impress him by making sure we needed everything we need in our stay here and that it was a way to convince him to buy the property.

We both enjoyed the view and the surroundings as we ate. We were seated facing each other and I was trying so hard to concentrate on my food but found it so difficult because I was so well aware of how his eyes never left me for a couple of minutes now. My face was starting to feel hot and I was certain I'd start acting awkward around him anytime.

Especially when all I could think of, was what he did in the kitchen.

"Ah, this is really nice." He stated.

I was sure that he finally looked away, so I turned to face him. I saw how he leaned away and roamed his attention around before he tilted his head up to look at the sky.

"I don't want this to ever end." He said as he turned to me again. "I hope I could stare at you like this..." His eyes bored into mine. "As long as I want."

I swallowed, as the butterflies in my stomach had slowly come to life for the nth time today.

"As long as I need."

I held his gaze for as long as I could before my brilliant mind finally came up with something.

"You're aware of how cheesy you sound right now, right?" I asked, not sure if I was trying to or what.

Yes, my brain pretty much knew how to ruin the moment.

He laughed, an amused expression taking over his handsome face. The sound of his laugh resonated and filled the quiet. I was left amazed at how his eyes beautifully formed into crescents as he laughed. Right when he stopped, I saw him standing on his feet. I was left wondering in my seat as I watched him walk towards me. Without any word, he gently took my hand and urged me to stand. He took me a few feet away from the table and stared at me for a few seconds before gently pulling me into a hug.

Gosh, this man.

As I felt his hands on my back, I found mine wrapped around him too. His scent slowly filled my senses, his heartbeat making its way to my ears. l love, I just love how his arms felt so good around me, making me feel secure. For the next few moments, I was busy trying to figure out just how much I loved his hugs when I heard his voice.

"Do you think there are falling stars around here?"

I wasn't expecting that from him so I leaned away and threw him a puzzled look.

"First, you're being cheesy, now you're talking about falling stars?" I replied with a growing smile on my lips.

"Well, you know what they say about wishing wh