The Bravehearts

*.☽.*



 

Holding my breath,

we passed through the lobby of his building. I almost felt like melting next to him being so aware that several eyes were still watching us right now. I didn’t do anything but look at the ground but Baekhyun, however, never did the same thing. He never looked down the whole time on our way inside. He wasn’t making an effort to hide his face. He didn’t have any intention. At all.

When we were waiting right in front of the elevator, I saw him take his phone out only to turn it off. After doing so, he asked for mine as well and did the same thing. I didn’t ask him to justify his actions anymore. We both knew what it meant.

Shutting off the world. For now.

At least.

I was watching him the whole time, so the moment he met my eyes, I didn’t make an effort to look away anymore. It was almost as if we were talking in silence, reading each other’s expressions. He was also staring at me with loving eyes and it seemed to have taken all my anxiousness away. Then we heard the elevator.

There was a subtle smile on his handsome face as he gently took my hand and led me inside.


*.☽.*

We got inside the empty elevator, I watched the doors close before my eyes. My brain was so aware of how good his warm skin felt in my hand. So good, I’d forgive myself for not thinking straight. Coherent thoughts are nowhere to be found.

He held my hand in the street.
He kissed me in the street.

My attention darted to our intertwined fingers before I slowly looked up at him. For some reason, he seemed at peace though I knew a lot was going on in his mind as well. I was about to open my mouth to speak but the elevator doors opened once more, revealing two immediately shocked women. Seeing how their eyes immediately started to pry, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable all of a sudden.

They got in and stood right in front of us but couldn’t seem to help but glance at Baekhyun. I even saw one woman’s mouth fall open while openly staring at him. The other woman paid attention to me though, her curious eyes instantly making me more anxious. I ended up looking away. However, right at the same time, I felt Baekhyun squeezing my hand. I knew full well that he was urging me to look at him, so I did. The moment I met his eyes, he gave me a reassuring smile.

I heard a couple of gasps inside the elevator.

We were still looking at each other when we heard the elevator. Checking the floor indicator, it said we were already on his floor. Leading the way out, we excused ourselves from the women as we got off the elevator.

Oh my god! That is Byun Freaking Baekhyun.
So, it’s true that he lives here?
Wait is that his girlfriend?!

Their remarks sure did reach my ears even when we were already a few feet away from the elevator, taking our way to his unit.


*.☽.*

Still holding my hand, I followed Baekhyun until we got inside his unit. We were both silent as we stopped in front of the glass wall in the living room. I watched him focus on the view in front of us, so I did the same thing. I stared at the buildings at first before the occupied streets below caught my attention. The cars that seemed like toys from up here reminded me of what happened a while ago.

“Baek…” I uttered.

“Hmm?” He answered but his eyes never left the view.

“Did we…” I nervously gulped, momentarily closing my eyes. “Did we just…just hold each other’s hand in the street?” I continued, turning to look at him.

He gazed at me for a moment before I saw his lips form into a smile and nodded. The soft expression on his face as he gave me the confirmation was heart-warming.

I felt like crying all of a sudden.

“Are you…” I hesitated, trailing off trying my best to steady my voice since my vision was already starting to blur. “Are you happy we finally get to do it?” I added, this time smiling while my tears bested up.

His beautiful eye smile made my heart beat faster.

“Yes.” He replied, nodding once more. “Very.” He added, his smile growing wide and even more beautiful.

Oh my god. For some reason, this whole conversation was making me emotional. I blinked my eyes and my tears unstoppably rolled down my cheeks.

I heard him let out a soft laugh as he gently pulled me closer, his hands stopping at the curve of my waist.

“I can still remember the time you took me stargazing and you mentioned wanting to hold my hand in the street,” I told him but momentarily paused to wipe my tears. “And that one time you took me to your secret place and promised me that one day, you’ll be able to do it.”

As his hands left my waist, he brought them to my head to tuck my hair behind my ears.

“Or the time you got drunk and told me how you want it just as bad as I do.” He replied, his tone affectionate.

The look in his eyes was melting my heart.

“I thought we’d never get the chance,” I said, biting my lower lip, hoping to resist my crying.

“Well, we just did.” He replied, his voice sounding very satisfied and thankful as he took my hand to his mouth and kissed it.

I let out a soft laugh as I wiped my tears before I felt his own hands helping me with my tear-stained cheeks.

“I’m sorry for acting like a baby crying over this right now.” I apologized trying my hardest to stop crying because I knew just how much of a fool I looked like right now.

He chuckled, as he motioned to cup my face with his hands.

“You’re right.” He agreed. “You are a baby.” He added, gazing at me with loving eyes.  “My baby.” He finished as he leaned closer to plant a kiss on my lips.

Baby. Hearing it, I felt like crying even more.

Right after detaching his lips from mine, I slipped my hands around his body to hug him. Honestly, all of this seemed so unreal right now. And I was just so thankful I didn’t board that plane and that I chose to stay and be with him.

“Did I ever tell you how much I love your hugs?” He said, leaning closer to my ears.

His lips, slightly touching my ear left a ticklish feeling. I couldn’t help but smile as I hugged him tighter. What I did must have pleased him, he ended up letting out a soft laugh.

“Will you do me a favor and hug me every day from now on?” I heard him say as he also went to hug me tighter.

I nodded, biting my lower lip.

“Shall we go glue our bodies together?” I asked, wanting to make him laugh.

He did. He laughed and it sounded so good in my ears. Music. Music to my ears.

“That won’t be necessary baby.” He replied.

“Why? I thought you loved my hugs?” Confused, I leaned away so I could meet his eyes.

“Well, I do. Yes but…there’s still a lot of things I’d like to do with you apart from hugging so…” He paused and winked at me.

My face started to feel warm, totally aware of what he meant. I knew I should’ve gotten used to his words and his ways by now but somehow I still felt a bit shy whenever we talked about this stuff.

“Oh, hello Strawberry.” He muttered, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I immediately held my face with my hands and honestly, I wasn’t surprised with how warm they were already.

“I thought I’d never see you blush again.” I heard him before. “Thank god you love me so much and did not board that plane.” He added, his tone teasing. “If you did, I’m pretty sure I’d never eat strawberries again.”

I shot him a questioning look.

“Well, strawberries aren’t the same without you.”

I bit my lower lip, trying to stifle a smile.

“Liar,” I muttered. “You can’t resist strawberries,” I added, giving his arm a light tap.

I attempted to step away from him and break free when he refused to let me go by pulling me closer, his hands tightening around me.

“No. Your hug duties aren’t done yet, Miss Park.”

My lips automatically formed into a curve as I leaned my head against my chest.

Honestly, I’m just so glad this Baekhyun is back.

*.☽.*

Later on, I noticed how he started clearing his throat and coughing from time to time. He also told me that he felt dizzy, so I led him to the couch and fished for the medicine I bought for him earlier. I also ran to the kitchen to get him a glass of water. When I came back, he was lying with his eyes closed.

Aww, my poor sick baby. I silently thought.

As soon as he felt my presence, his eyes flew open, and got up to sit. I bent my knees on the carpeted floor as I handed him the pill and the glass of water.

“How do you feel?” I asked, my voice revealing how worried I was as I took the glass from him and placed it on the table behind me.

“Better.” He muttered. “A hundred times better now that you’re here.” He added, his handsome grin giving me the butterflies.

I just had to resist the urge to hit him since I knew he was sick. He looked pale so I brought a hand to touch his forehead and found it a bit hot.

“You need to take care of yourself, Baek,” I told him, concerned. “Please tell me you will.”

I looked intently at him and noticed how the corner of his lips turned up.

“No.” He answered briefly, there was a glint of teasing in his eyes. “I won’t.” Moving his head sideways.

My eyebrows furrowed, confused by his response.

“Why won’t you do it?”

“So you’ll do it for me.” The smile on his lips grew as he urged me to sit on his lap. “I just love it when you take care of me.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his remarks. He was being sweet, I know.

And I was falling for his every word.

I missed this.

I brought my hands to his face and brushed his hair away from covering his forehead. His eyes were focused on me as if memorizing every detail of my face as I did the same thing.

“I’ll take care of you and you don’t have to get sick for me to do it,” I replied, caressing his cheeks with my thumbs. “So please, don’t get drunk again nor have yourself beaten up by some losers when you can definitely kick their asses off in a split second.” I nagged, I couldn’t help it.

He chuckled as he held me by the waist, pulling me closer.

“Okay, Mommy.” He stated, burying his face against my neck.

We stayed that way for a little while before I told him to lie down on the couch once more so he could rest. He did what I told him to do before I turned away so I could clean up the table and place the pills in the medicine box. However, I wasn’t even done with it yet when he reached for my hand, getting my entire attention.

The look on his face was soft so when I faced him, wondering.

“Don’t do it again.” The gentleness in his tone was kinda overwhelming.

I didn’t say anything but waited for him to continue and enlighten me.

“Disappearing like that.” He added, a subtle frantic look evident on his face this time. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

I motioned to sit right next to him as he adjusted his position to give me space. I tilted my head down to stare at our hands before looking at him.

“I’m sorry Baek. I didn’t wanna wake you up earlier.” I reasoned out. “You’re sick and I…”

I stopped talking when I felt and saw him taking my hand to his mouth and giving it a kiss, his eye never leaving mine. Gosh, it took every ounce of energy I had to resist the butterflies in my stomach.

“When I woke up and found your side of the bed empty, I…” He paused to take a deep breath. “I thought you weren’t really with me all this time and that I was dreaming.”

“My side of the bed?” I replied, wanting to distract him from being sad.

“The other half of my bed will be yours now.” He told me with a subtle smile, the mole right above the corner of his lip taking my full attention.
 
Hearing this from him, my lips formed an upward curve as well as I felt the growing blush on my cheeks. We both stared at each other for a brief second before he gently pulled me closer to him, making me lie against his chest.

“It’s not like I’m gonna let you get away again anyway.” He added as he wrapped his arm around me.

Up until this moment, I kept asking what did I do to deserve him. I was busy contemplating this thought while listening to his steady heartbeat when I heard him speak once more.

“Are you scared?”

I could sense that he was somehow hesitating and for some reason, I kinda felt like he had been meaning to ask this question.

I am. Of course, I am. I’m scared of the aftermath of the revelation of our relationship with the public.

Closing my eyes, I nodded.

“It’ll be a life if I say I’m not,” I answered in all honesty.

I felt his chest move up as he took a deep breath and then caressed my head.  

“We’ll be alright.” He said in a gentle voice. “We will be alright.”

“I believe you,” I replied as I momentarily looked at him.

His beautiful lips formed into a beautiful curve again.

“Baek…” I hesitated.

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for taking me back,” I said after a moment’s reflection.

“No, thank you for coming home to me.” He replied in a soothing tone, his every word sounded like music to my ears.

I was so mesmerized by how handsome he looked and overwhelmed by the heart-warming feeling this moment was giving me right now. I didn’t dare stop myself from adjusting my position so I could reach for his lips, giving it a firm kiss.

I felt him smile.

“Look who’s getting braver.” I heard him say, his lips barely touching mine.

I knew he was teasing me for initiating the kiss like he always did whenever I did it, so I hit him on the chest causing him to wince and overreact.

“Just shut up and kiss me back Baekhyun,” I stated, my cheeks hot.

He laughed, obviously amused until I felt him attempt to get up.

“What are you doing?” I asked, flustered as I ended up sitting on his lap once more since he sat up. “Where are you going?”

“Let’s go to the bed.” He answered. “So I can give you all the kisses you want back and more.” His eyes, though still teasing were serious. “A lot more.”

Oh my god, is he being serious right now?

However, he seemed to be when he got up, taking me in his arms. I shrieked when as he did it so swiftly, I had to instantly wrap my arms around his neck.

“Are you serious?” I asked, gulping.

He smirked.

“Why? Are you scared you might get sick too?”

No words. My brain wasn’t able to come up with a single word to respond to him as he looked undeniably handsome in my eyes right now.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you when you get sick.” He added, the hint of amusement evident in his tone. “I may be best at it, who knows.”

That smirk he did again.

“I’ll shower you with love, smother you with kisses until you get better.” He stated.

I knew I was falling for his antics again but his skin felt hot, nudging me back to reality. He’s sick and he certainly needs some rest.

“Baek,” I muttered. “You’re hot.”

“Oh yes, I am.” His reply was quick accompanied by a cocky smile.

“Listen Baek.” I groaned as I held his ear, giving it a gentle squeeze to get his attention.

I saw how his eyebrows furrowed a bit, his smile disappearing.

“It’s not that I’m scared of getting sick too. It’s just that…” I stared at him intently. “I need you to take a rest for now,” I added. “You’re not feeling well.”

He miraculously didn’t argue when I honestly expected him to. He must not feel well that the next thing I knew, my feet were already on the floor as he gently put me down. I watched his shoulders slump as he sat on the couch again, tilting his head to the right. Avoiding me.

Of course, he was sulking. A big baby.

I observed him for a whole minute but he didn’t even look at me once. So, I tried to interact with him by hesitantly and gently kicking his foot with mine but to my disbelief, he immediately moved his foot away.

My eyes widened as he was playing hard to get.

I let out a sigh as I sat next to him but he moved away, putting about a foot of space between us. I stared at him unbelievably, trying to stifle a laugh. He was being ridiculous right now and I knew that he knew it fully well.

“Baek,” I uttered. “Look at me.”

He didn’t as he continued to look the opposite way. I sat silently by his side for a few more seconds but he didn’t pay attention to me at all. I even ended up tying my hair into a loose ponytail next to him without him noticing.

“Okay, since you don’t wanna talk to me nor even look at me…” I trailed off, deciding to let him be for a while as I attempted to get up. “I’ll go…”

The next few words I was about to say disappeared into thin air when he, without a warning, stopped me from leaving by laying on my lap.

Startled, I could only watch him. His eyes were closed, his hands folded on top of his chest. Pretending to sleep.

The temptation to run my fingers through his hair was strong but he suddenly spoke.

“You can’t go anywhere.” I saw how his lips opened to mouth the words. “Don’t even move an inch away from me.” He opened his eyes and looked at me. “Do you understand?” His beautiful, soft-looking lips formed into a slight pout as he spoke.

Damn, that little pout.

“B…but you’re ignoring me.” I reasoned out, trying my best to sound serious.

I waited for him to reply but no words came from him. He went back to close his eyes instead.

“And you’re still ignoring me.”

My eyes never left his face for a second. I watched every detail of his handsome face until my attention fell on his Adam’s apple moving as he swallowed.

It’s so hot. Then I recalled how he looked in the bathtub last night.  Oh god, Park Hae Won, I scolded myself. I shook my head sideways as I tried to dismiss my inappropriate thoughts right now.

“I’m not ignoring you.” I heard him say, distracting me from my not-so-modest thoughts. “I’m trying my hardest to forget how beautiful you look right now.”

Right then, it was my time to gulp.

“You have no idea how much I want to untie your hair and pin you against the wall at this instant.”

He was so straightforward, I hate him.

I knew he still couldn’t see me but what he just said turned the little butterflies in my stomach into birds and kinda made me blush so I turned away, wanting to hide the growing pink tinges on my cheek.

“But damn, this is not helping.” He groaned as he, without a warning, sat up and then stared at me.

He wasn’t blinking, I swear. It made me nervous.

“Seriously?” He said in a gentle voice. “You dare to blush while I’m suffering?” He let out a sigh.

I couldn’t speak, I just couldn’t with the way he was gazing at me right now. Then, as if in a swift slow motion, I felt him grab me. His hands went to cup my face, his warm lips crashing against mine in an instant.

I was taken aback, yes I definitely was but oh my god his experienced mouth was too irresistible I just had to kiss him back. However, after a couple of seconds, he detached his mouth from mine to plant a small but firm kiss right in the corner of my lips.

Hearing him taking a deep breath, his breath fanning my face as his mouth was merely an inch away from my skin. I knew he was trying to stop himself.

This must be torturing him right now.

He moved away a bit though his hands were still holding my head steady.

“You’re so cruel.” He told me, his eyes boring into mine. “You shouldn’t have kissed me back.”

Oh.

I was still trying to form coherent thoughts in my head when he instantly let go of me, got up, and started to walk away.

I was so confused but I heard myself asking him a question.

“Where are you going?”

I watched him stop and turn around to face me again.

“I’m gonna go look for strawberries I can eat.”

My eyes grew wide at his remarks.

“Since my favorite strawberry is declaring that she’s off-limits.” He sounded so serious and a bit frustrated before he turned around once more to walk away.
 

Was he mad? Like, seriously?

Then I thought, I might have been really cruel for kissing him back when he was trying to hold back.

But really, what am I to do when I’m so weak for him as well?
Who can resist Byun Baekhyun anyway?


*.☽.*

I found him sitting on his bed, leaning his upper body on his headboard while he stared at his phone on the table which I just noticed was vibrating non-stop. Of course, he’d be getting calls after what happened. Then another moment later, he stretched his arm to grab his phone to turn it off once more.

“I turned it on only to tell Mr. Yoo to buy us something to eat…” I heard him say and found him looking at me.

I didn’t know what to say as I walked closer to his bed and sat on the edge. I saw how his forehead creased before he reached for my hand to pull me closer to him. I didn’t protest and the next thing I knew I was sitting between his legs, leaning against his chest. He’s being more clingy which I have noticed happens when he’s sick.

“What are you gonna do Baek?” I asked, unable to stop myself. “What are you gonna tell them? Will you be okay?”

“I’ll release a public statement soon.”

My heart started to beat wildly with what he just said.

“If my company fires me…then, I’ll have to look for another one. But if no one wants me after this…it’s fine. Maybe it’s time for me to take a rest and live a quiet life with you.”

I felt sad at the thought of him not being able to do what he was born to do. But then, we both knew what to expect the moment we gave in to what we felt for each other.

I filled my lungs with air and he must have noticed it, he ended up wrapping his arms over my shoulder to hug me from the back.

“Are your parents mad?” He asked, his tone just as sad.

I nodded.

“Do you think they’ll kill me?”

My lips automatically formed into a smile due to his exaggeration.

“Maybe,” I replied, my voice unable to hide the fact that I was smiling.

“But why do you sound so happy about it?” I could almost hear him pouting. “I’m offended.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was laughing yes, but there was something inside me that was so anxious about my parents. And the moment it got the best of me, I stopped smiling.

“I told my mom that I didn’t want a life without you.” I blinked my eyes a couple of times as I tried to convince myself to continue.  “It’s true. Yes, if I leave I would have a quiet life but then I knew in my heart that I didn’t want any of it if you’re not in it….and yes, I also know that choosing to stay and being with you will be crazy. My privacy will be invaded, people will say horrible things about me, and I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to walk in the street without people’s prying eyes all over me but if you’re so willing to go through everything you have to go through just to be in this relationship then I will be just as willing too.”

He was quiet for a few seconds and all I could hear was his breathing.

“Sometimes I ask God if I deserve you.” He stated. “Just thinking about how much you’re putting in the line here...”

I gently took his hands off me so I could face him.

“Don’t worry…” I smiled at him. “I also keep asking God if I deserve you too,” I added as I slid my arms around his waist to hug him.

“We’ll be alright.” This time, it came from me.

He planted a kiss on my temple before he surprisingly rolled us over to the bed, we ended up facing each other without breaking the hug. We stared at each other for a whole minute before I noticed how his eyes turned droopy.

“Go to sleep Baek,” I said as I brushed his hair away from his eyes.

“Will you still be here when I wake up?” He asked, his voice sounding as sleepy.

I also saw how he blinked in slow motion, indicating that he was about to nod off any moment from now.

“Mm,” I mumbled as I nodded. “I’ll be the one you’ll see first when you wake up,” I assured, smiling at him.