The eyes are glassy. Red. Swollen. Trace of tears. 

Pleading to Chanyeol. As if his life depended on the taller. 

However, all the latter could do was turning the blind eyes and avoided him. Moving around the smaller with his bags in tow, walking away from the gasping Baekhyun. Approaching Mr. Byun, ignoring another grown up apparent there, Chanyeol had his eyes fixed on the crying boy in the elder's embrace. Seems like the boy still did not know where they were.

Putting down his bags to the ground, he reached his hands to the little boy that is now stopped crying as soon as he felt the familiar hands on him. Eyes wide, searching for Chanyeol's face for confirmation. Chanhyun quickly wrapped his little hands around the father's neck. Hugging so tight, as if a punishment for leaving him and his other father alone. The boy hid his face from the world in the neck. The crying subsiding successfully. 

He ignored the surprised gasps from Sehun and Baekhyun.

"I've burden you for the whole week." Chanyeol's eyes fixated on Mr. Byun's face. "Thank you, fa-... I mean, Mr. Byun. It is time for me to start anew."  The talker said with almost cracking voice.

"Chanyeol-ah..." Mr. Byun whispered lightly. "Think about your son." 

Chanyeol looked away before his hold onto his son became tighter. A tear made its way down the cheek. "I am sorry, Chanhyun-ah..." He kissed on top of the boy's head before pushing the little one back into the grandfather's embrace. 

When Chanhyun felt that his father is giving him away, he grabbed onto Chanyeol's shirt collar tightly before his wailing started. The boy is struggling in the hold and Chanyeol's stomach twist in guilt. Chanhyun is not letting him go.

Unaware of the other two, Chanyeol froze when he heard the timid and low whisper from his back. "Ch-Chanyeol..." 

Gulping the lump in his throat, he pushed away the small hand on his collar, albeit gently, and quickly reached for his bags on the ground. He tried to, tried enough, ignore the wailing that gets louder and louder by each of his steps away. Now accompanied by sobbing from Baekhyun. 

His steps became hard to take but he needed to. For their own good sake. But why... why is it so hard? Why does his heart felt heavy? To leave everything behind and forgotten. It is not easy. He knows but why does the noise from his back is giving him a hard time to go? 

Chanyeol did not realize that his steps became slower and smaller. However, he awoke from a trance as he felt a grip on his arm. He turned to look at the guilty expression from Sehun. "Chanyeol." 

"Let go." He whispered. No venom or anything. He did not has any strength left to do the arguing. He just wanted to let go of everything. He turned back to his front but the grip did not loosening. "I said to let go." 

He cannot do it anymore. With the wailing from his son and the chocked sobbing from his husband, ex-husband now? He did not know anymore. He doesn't want to know at all. He just wanted to get away from the scene. It is too exhausting. 

"Punch me. Kick me. Do everything to me. Just so you could forgive Baekhyun. He did not do wrong. It was me. It is all my fault so just-..."

"Let go, Sehun. I don't want to deal with these things anymore." The last straw for Chanyeol to let the tears flowed down his face. 

"Do it, Chanyeol!" 

With that, a punch was delivered in Sehun's face. It was a pretty strong blow and it happened so fast. Sehun fell on his back to the lawn, holding onto his started to swell cheek. It was so unexpected and sudden but it was also acceptable. He offered and got it. 

"Chanyeol!!" But the person ignored the call from Baekhyun. 

Sehun looked up to his attacker. His heart once again wrenching in guilt. Chanyeol had this expression between 'you-deserved-it' and 'I-should-not-do-it-because-you-are-my-friend'. The taller had been gasping for air to fill in his lungs. All the frustation he had thrown in the one strong blow. 

However, Sehun did not think that he received enough punishment. Chanyeol is a good friend. Great one actually. While everyone avoided him for having a face, Chanyeol approached him and offered to be a friend. They are friends for as long as they knew each other but Sehun just betrayed what they have. He knows it was unacceptable so he needs to do what he needed to. 

"That was weak, Chanyeol. You know that I deserved more than that." Sehun provoked. Just to have the taller beating him to the pulp.

"Don't do this, Sehun." Chanyeol warned but Sehun knows him like the back of his hands. Sehun arched an eyebrow just to rile up the pent up rage in Chanyeol. Chanyeol's right eye twitched and his bags quickly thrown to the side and he got onto his knees on the each sides of Sehun. Left hand grabbing onto the collar while his other hand risen, ready to throw another punch.

But the blow never came as Sehun anticipated. Sehun looked up to Chanyeol who had his fist clenched until the knuckles turned white. However, the taller cannot do it and put down his hand. His face showed it all. He was too soft-hearted. Tears Chanyeol had pooled in his eyes fell onto Sehun's swollen cheek. 

"D-daddy...!" 

Chanyeol's teary eyes widen. His head turned to the little boy's way in a snap. Chanhyun struggled in Mr. Byun's hold and the elder put him down. The smaller, bare footed, ran towards Chanyeol with his hands open wide. Chanyeol got up from Sehun and Chanhyun hugged his right leg. Arms wrapped tightly. 

Speechless, Chanyeol could just gaped at his son.

It is Chanhyun's first word. 

And it had been 'daddy'. 

Chanyeol looked up to where his father-in-law stood but darted his eyes down to the ground, where Baekhyun kneeled and crying a sobbing mess. Hands clenching on his mouth and chest area. Too much feelings. 

One thing for sure, Chanyeol felt relief for some reason. No one could understand despite everything had happened. No one could describe it. But the thought that Baekhyun had not missed every first of Chanhyun had Chanyeol feels accomplished. 

It is a family thing for witnessing every first times of their child. And now, Chanyeol could never wanted more. 

박찬열 ♡ 변백현

Chanyeol did not know how. Did not know when. However, here he is, holding Chanhyun in his embrace by the window. The small hands gripping onto his shirt so tight that the cute little knuckles turned white. Afraid as if Chanyeol would let him go. The father humming some songs while hands patting gently on the little boy's back and bottom. 

Constant quiet sobbing was heard on the couch. It made Chanyeol's heart clenched tightly but he still cannot turn to look at his husband. Betrayal could still be felt in his soul that whenever he looks at Baekhyun, he can't help but feels sad about it. Baekhyun seemed so genuinely regretting everything he did before but he still felt like everything is a dream. 

Maybe this dream will not last long. Soon, he will wake up from his deep sleep and being slapped in the face that Baekhyun become his ex and happily married to Sehun. Chanhyun too, called Sehun as daddy. These are too good to be true. Chanyeol still can't believe all of those had happened not long ago. Maybe the sight of crying Baekhyun on the couch is his imagination.

But the tight grips of Chanhyun on his shirt made everything in reality. 

"Talk, conversation is the key to everything." Mr. Byun said after a long silence. Safe for Baekhyun's sobs. 

Chanyeol gulped but had no word to escape his mouth. Baekhyun bursted to tears again. "I'm sorry... I am sorry, Chanyeol." The voice are cracking and hushed. Those who heard it could feel the agony. 

"Chanyeol. Take Baekhyun back. I will go. I will go away from you two but I need assurance that you take him back. It was all my fault. Don't punish him like this. Please." Chanyeol almost forgot that Sehun was there too. Sitting so far away from Baekhyun. With Mr. Byun between the two. 

"Why don't you take him? You could make him happi-..."

"No! Chanyeol!" Baekhyun snapped. Eyes wide enough at the words that Chanyeol said. Shocked beyond belief. It is all nonsense. "YOU make me happy. The happiest man alive."

"But those couples of months proved it wrong though." Chanyeol turned around with his poker face, despite the redness and swollen eyes. He watched the desperation on Baekhyun's face. 

"I love you." Baekhyun said suddenly and Chanyeol did not even flinch. 

"It sounds empty." 

With that, more tears to roll down Baekhyun's face. Breath stuck every now and then. I