"I am Baekhyunee!" the tiny individual says as he floats in front of the 19 year old.

Chanyeol had expected his love guide to pop in that very day but he wasn't exactly informed that it was going to look like his best friend........ Baekhyun used to look exactly like this at 5! 

"Did you just name yourself?" He chuckles. The pudgy little fellow is staring wide-eyed at him, his little mouth forming a cute 'o'.

"Baekhyunee is Baekhyunee." the guide tilts its head, "And Baekhyunee will help Chanyeola find love!!!" it declared.

"... Okay, but first you can't be called Baekhyunee, you know."

"Why noooot?" the guide asks in a singing tune, "Baekhyunee is Baekhyunee!"

"Oh god." He palms his face, "Baekhyun's going to flip when he hears about this!"

 

Baekhyun tosses in bed, having overslept after a long night on the web. He's just gotten the premium prize they were giving out for the winning team and he could never be even more proud of himself. He wanted to let Chanyeol know about his victory first thing in the morning!

"Waaake uuup~" Baekhyun hears. The voice is a little husky but high in tone. Like a small child trying to sound tough.

It has the young boy turning around only to find a tiny stuffed toy-looking thing lying beside him. In an instant, Baekhyun jumped awake, "whoa!"

"Who... who are you?" Baekhyun gasped, watching the tiny person sit up across him, "and why do you look like Chanyeol?"

To the mention of the name, the individual blinked its eyes and smiled, "You almost got my name right! It's Chanyeolee and I am your love guide!" it said.

"Chanyeolee?" Baekhyun repeats. The 19 year old brushes his fingers against his eyes and takes a good look at the small guide.

"Mhm!" It says, placing its tiny hands on the bed and supporting itself up. Not even a minute later, the tiny fellow floats and hovers at Baekhyun. "You were mumbling a name earlier, you knooow?" The guide teases, "I could hear you clearly!"

Baekhyun does a double-take at this, covering his mouth and then uncovering it to defend himself, "I did not!"

"You did, you did!" the guide nodded to itself.

 

Chanyeol finished preparing to go out. With only his phone and a wallet in his pocket, he is asked to wait by his guide.

"Chanyeola, you are goin out like that only?" the guide tilted its head.

It made Chanyeol sigh, because he can't help but see Baekhyun in the tiny fellow. Turning around to face the guide, Chanyeol nods in agreement. "I'm meeting Baekhyun today. We're going to meet at a cafe so I won't really need to bring anything else."

"No no no!" The guide says, waving its tiny pointer finger in disagreement, "Chanyeola have to prepare, no!"

Raising an eyebrow, Chanyeol makes a funny face at the tiny person, "prepare for what?"

"For inevitabibols!" it says, "inevibebitables-"

"inevitable? is there something happening?" he corrects the small guide.

Getting out of its trance, tiny love guide nods and floats forward. "Because Chanyeola never know! Maybe someone will accidentally spill a drink to Chanyeola friend!!!" it huffs with power. "Chanyeola have to be prepared, no?"

He has a point, Chanyeol thinks. With a shrug, Chanyeol gets out a small backpack and packs an extra shirt as well.

 

Baekhyun tries to calm himself down. He arrived 30 minutes early at the cafe with his laptop and his earphones. He phone is placed by his side with a message from Chanyeol that he was on his way. The day was too overwhelming for 19 year old Baekhyun. Not only does his love guide turn up in the form of his best friend, it's also as hyperactive as he is to boot! And what's more, his love guide seems to have realized his crush on his best friend!

"Ugh..." Baekhyun groans, with his hands against his face, "Whyyyy?"

"But why not?" he hears that familiar voice, startling him.

"Oh god-- you!" Baekhyun hisses, "you're gonna give me a heart-attack!"

His floating guide laughs in delight, moving to the other side to pat him on the shoulder, "there, there Baekhyuna, your secret's safe with me!"

"You're supposed to be a love guide, right? Why are you making fun of meeee?" The petite asks with a cry, "You looking like my best friend when we were 5 doesn't exactly help at all!"

"That's what worries you?" the guide asks, "he's supposed to have his guide now too, right?"

At the question, Baekhyun blinks and comes into a realization, "y-yeah. He's 19 now too so he should."

It has Baekhyun thinking... If his love guide has guided him to his soulmate now.

"Baekhyunaaaa," the love guide interrupts his train of thought, "don't over-think things!"

"I was asking just because!" the love guide says, "no worries, now we will focus on getting you closer to finding your soulmate! With me by your side nothing will go wrong!"

Right. Baekhyun thinks, with that face... he'll keep getting reminded of his feelings for Chanyeol.

Baekhyun was in low spirits by the time Chanyeol arrived. The petite male only waved a hand to his childhood friend when he announced his arrival. Somehow, his love guide made him realize that at any moment from now, Chanyeol would find his important person-- and it saddens him.

 

Chanyeol noticed that Baekhyun wasn't as energetic as he usually was. It made the 19 year old worry as he focused his gaze on his best friend. In a minute, Baekhyun stood up and Chanyeol watched him head for the counter to order their usual drinks. He kept his gaze on the petite, while also feeling the presence of his guide, who's hovering at his side.

"He's sad, no?" Baekhyunee, the guide suggests, "ask what is wrong, Chanyeola! Make him feel better!"

"What? But--"

"Oof, look what happen!" the guide points ahead.

Baekhyun was standing there, in front of a stranger with his clothes soaking wet. It was obvious that the cold drinks were spilled on him because of the impact of the collision.

"I'm so sorry!" Chanyeol could hear the commotion, "I didn't see you at all!"

 

The stranger apologized to Baekhyun again and again, but the 19 year old just didn't have his head in reality. He got too distracted by the thought that he and Chanyeol will go their own separate ways once they find the people they're destined to be. Somehow he kept thinking and trying to imagine a future without his childhood friend, but he just couldn't picture it. It was stupid to say such a thing, but somehow, it was true to Baekhyun. He didn't like the thought nor the feeling that he got from it. Standing there wordlessly, the petite male simply put away the tray. The coffee stains on his shirt has already spread and it would be pointless to try to pat it dry. He guesses that he should just take a rain check and meet another time. Maybe when he's feeling better.

 

Chanyeol marched in, facing the stranger, "hey, what's wrong?" Chanyeol asked Baekhyun, looking at his soaked form. The petite male simply turned away to put the tray back, with a staff helping them clean up. Without much in mind, Chanyeol apologized for the inconvenience, took Baekhyun by the hand and walked back to their table. Coincidence or not, his guide was surely handy on this day.

"Here." Chanyeol says as he hands the extra shirt he packed that morning.

"Huh?" Baekhyun says, looking up at him with the same exact cute 'o' expression.

"Go and change into this before you begin smelling like the whole cafe," he teases.

Baekhyun takes the shirt and lets out a small smile, "thanks." the petite says and goes off.

He finally smiled. If only for a bit, he thought.

"See! Baekhyunee know what will happen!"

 

Baekhyun quietly changed into the shirt that Chanyeol gave him. He felt like crying because all of a sudden he's getting the urge to actually confess his feelings for his best friend. Why now when they're on the path to finding their soulmates? This is so unfair to him! The 19 year old takes his time, staring at his reflection. He can't believe it-- but he's actually contemplating on doing it. Confessing to his best friend. "Ugh-- I can't!" Baekhyun tells himself, "it's too late!" he groans. Looking up, he sees the sparkles forming. And his guide makes its appearance by his side, with a smile on its face.

"Baekhyuna, have you realized your feelings yet?" the fellow asks straight to the point.

"Huh?" he blinks, surprised. It's as if his guide is reading his thoughts, "what do you mean...?"

 

Chanyeol was standing in front of the counter, waiting for their drinks. After talking to the stranger who bumped into Baekhyun, he was told that they'd ordered the same drinks they got for them as apology.

Settling the incident, he stands there with Baekhyunee clinging on him. "Chanyeolaaa! Tell Baekhyunee the truth, Chanyeola care for best friend, no?" the tiny individual asks out of the blue.

"Hm? Of course I do. I love him the most in the world!" Chanyeol declares, albeit a bit too loud that the staff could hear him talking to himself. Confident with himself, the male gives the staff a smile and points at his shoulder. "I have my love guide with me, sorry our discussion's too loud." Baekhyunee shows his form to them for two seconds, making the staff understand why he's being so... expressive.

 

Baekhyun comes out just in time to see the staff cheering Chanyeol on, and Chanyeol rubs the back of his ears-- an indication of his shyness. They're probably discussing his soulmate. "Baekhyuna, stop over-thinking!" the petite hears behind himself to find his guide there.

"You're still here?" He gasps, "Why are you hiding inside my hood?"

"It's comfy! Let Chanyeolee stay! Chanyeolee only have 2 days left to be with Baekhyuna anyway! Do not worry."

At the revelation, Baekhyun's heart pounds causing him to ask loudly, "What do you mean 2 days?!" Baekhyun feels like he got caught in the headlights, realizing that he just yelled at the top of his lungs. He could feel people staring, especially his best friend-- making the petite blush madly, "I- I'm so sorry!" he said.

It took a minute before people stopped looking.

 

"Oof..." Chanyeol hears his guide say, making him turn back to the pudgy fellow.

"You know what they're talking about?"

"Mhm!" Baekhyunee says, "Maybe his guide tell him about us staying for 3 days only, no? Now Baekhyunee have 2 days left also!"

"Huh? For real?"

"Yup yup!"

"Does it really take that quick to find one's soulmate?" Chanyeol asks his guide quietly.

Baekhyunee, who's looking up at him with a smile on his face takes a minute before he shakes his head, "no no no, Chanyeola! Sometimes it take many years, no! But but! Baekhyunee see that Chanyeola's soulmate is not very far from Chanyeola!" The little person says proudly, probably getting head of himself, "So Baekhyunee can go home quickly, no!"

"What do you mean 'my soulmate is not very far'?" He asks quickly.

"... Um... Oopsie?"

 

"Baekhyuna... Are you surprised?" the 19 year old's guide asks.

Baekhyun doesn't answer. He simply goes back to the washroom and locks himself in.

Meanwhile his guide floats to face him. "Surprised? I'm shocked!" Baekhyun says, his hands trembling, "TWO days? Are you telling me I'll find my soulmate in TWO days, Chanyeolee?!" he asks again. His heart was pounding at the thought. How is that even possible? He doesn't even feel as bad as he did earlier when he thought that Chanyeol could find his own soulmate any time soon.

"Hey, that's the first time you called my name!" the love guide says with a laugh. Baekhyun looks at the tiny person and feels like crying. Was his first love finally coming to an end? "Baekhyunaaa..." he hears the guide say, "don't worry. I promise you that you'll be happy!"

 

"Sooo... is there something I need to know?" Chanyeol asks Baekhyunee.

The pudgy little fellow floated in front of him while holding his tiny hands to his mouth, shaking his head cutely.

"Let me guess you can't tell me directly." Chanyeol concluded. "Blink twice if I'm right."

And much to his surprise, Baekhyunee blinked twice. Hurriedly, Chanyeol ran to the washroom where Baekhyun has holed himself up. The 19 year old, in a complete rush, knocked on the door and called his best friend's name. "Hey Baek?"

"Y-yeah?" He heard the petite.

"I'm reaaaally sorry but can we meet tomorrow instead? I just have something very important on! Come over to my place first thing in the morning, okay?" Chanyeol says. "I'll leave your drink on the table. Make sure you come over tomorrow!"

 

Baekhyun didn't even know what had happened. One second he was on a rollercoaster of emotions but now it seems as if he just woke up from a bad dream. He felt blank somehow. Did Chanyeol just leave? "what the--"

"Do not worry, Baekhyuna, destiny is taking its course!"

Baekhyun wanted to believe his guide, but he couldn't help but feel nervous about how fast things were suddenly happening. He wasn't even sure anymore if he'd still be with his best friend in the long run. "Did he go look for his soulmate?"

"Nnnope. Eng! Wrong!" his guide says.

Despite the comical way of how Chanyeolee responded, it got a huge weight off of his chest.

"Okay then." He took a deep breath and fixed himself. "I'll trust you, love guide."

"Mhm! Leave it to me--"

"You know how much I'd wish for my soulmate to be Chanyeol but..."

 

One thing's for sure, Chanyeol's guide is a talkative little being. He looked exactly like Baekhyun and was totally like him when they were kids. It's funny now that he thinks about it. His love guide being a total klutz is going to be the reason how he'll find his soulmate.

"Chanyeola! Where you is goin? Chanyeola is supposed to comfort Baek no?" his little guide says, interrupting his thoughts.

"Well, since you can't answer my questions, little one, I figured I'll find out myself."

"Huuuh?" Baekhyunee asks with his eyes wide. "What'chu mean?!"

"I have a lot of questions, you know. And I'm sure you can answer none of them." He says as a matter of fact.

It silences his guide for a minute, but the fellow recovers, pouting at him, "it will be breach of contract if Baekhyunee tell, no! Baek will be spoiler!"

 

Baekhyun blinked a few times as he looked at his guide. Chanyeolee suddenly closed his eyes, and began floating a little higher. And then there was a brighter light covering him. Suddenly, a small red thread in a form of a ring appeared. Chanyeolee held the thread out to him. "Baekhyuna! I told you to let destiny run its course!!!" Chanyeolee scolded albeit playfully, "it is only day 1 you know! But it is okay, Chanyeolee can stay for 2 more days just because Chanyeolee wants! Hehehe!"

"What do you mean? And what's with the red thread?" He looked at the object suspiciously.

"Oh this?" Chanyeolee waved it, "Because Baekhyuna mentioned the word soulmate along with his soulmate's name, the red thread of fate has decided to lead you to them directly!"

"... What?"

 

As soon as Chanyeol got home, he threw his things in bed and began calling the only person he knew he could ask about the soulmate system.

"Hello?" the voice, so soft and gentle as always, asked.

"Noona," Chanyeol groaned, "I have something to ask you."

"Chanyeol? What's wrong? Have you found your soulmate?" She asked hurriedly.

"No, not yet... But I think I know who it is. I just need to confirm something." He said without hesitation. Chanyeol glanced at his love guide, who was lying on his bed, face against the sheets.

"What is it?"

"When you had your love guide... Did it take Hyoseok hyung's form?" He knew he'd sound crazy at the inquiry, but he needed to know the truth.

"What? No... My love guide, it took mom's 14 years old appearance." She confessed.

 

Baekhyun couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did he really just make his love guide spill the beans-- "You're not making fun of me, are you?" he accused. He wanted to jump for joy-- in the cafe's comfort room of all places!!!

"I am not, Baekhyuna! I am your love guide!"

The tiny being took Baekhyun's ring finger and put the thread on him, "this will not connect directly to your soulmate until he says the same thing, Baekhyuna but it will be the proof that he is your destined person!"

"He... he has to wish that I'm also his soulmate?" Baekhyun asks again, "but it's really Chanyeol, right?"

"Mhm!" Chanyeolee nods, "he don't have to wish it, you know! If he so close as confesses his feelings, it will be enough to make his red string to appear!"

 

"... Oh." Chanyeol says, dumbfounded. He glances at Baekhyunee who seems to be napping already.

"Your love guide... what does it look like?" She asks this time.

"It's going to sound crazy," he says, "but my love guide looks like Baekhyun when he was 5."

"F-for real?" She gasps, "that's so adorable!" she coos, oh my gosh that brings back memories! You guys used to have this pet name for each other! And you'd call each other Chanyeolee and Baekhyunee, you know!" she shoots off. The words catch Chanyeol's attention.

"Wait, wait-- rewind and freeze!" he interrupts, "what do you mean we used to call each other nicknames?" he asks again, this time all ears on his sister's words.

"Oh, you probably don't recall, but the two of you always called each other with endearments like that..."

 

Baekhyun stayed at the cafe for a bit more. He decided to look up on the internet what it means to have a love guide. Though it's not really recommended to look up, Baekhyun couldn't help but do it since he's already found out who his soulmate is. He does feel elated at the revelation, and now that he has what he's been yearning for, he worries how Chanyeol might take it. Would he accept it being his soulmate, or would he decide that it wasn't worth knowing? Baekhyun worried to no end.

"Baekhyuna, how many times do Chanyeolee have to tell not to overthink?!" his love guide, now only just a companion, says. "You will be happy with your soulmate, I am telling you already!!!" the tiny being stomped his little foot.

 

"My... my guide calls himself that." he finally says it.

"What?" she asks, this time a little bit more interested in the course of the conversation, "your love guide calls himself Baekhyunee?"

"Yeah. He insisted I call him that, and you know, he even gave me hints."

"Hints like what?"

"Says he'll only be around for 3 days because my soulmate isn't very far." he shrugs, "the only thing I can pinpoint is Baekhyun himself, you know."

"Wait. You think Baekhyun's your soulmate?" she repeats.

"I've never gone out with anyone, noona."

"I know that, but what makes you think he's your soulmate? Love guides take the form of the people they'd usually take advice from, you know this, Chanyeol."

"Are you telling me I might be confusing this?" he asks this time.

"I'm just saying... Let destiny lead you to him."

 

"Hey Chanyeolee, I'm not saying that I'm lucky, but how come you took Chanyeol's 5 year old appearance as my love guide?" Baekhyun asks. It was evening, and he's walking home from the cafe. Baekhyun is staring at the red string on his finger, glowing and pulsating. He could feel the string's pull, as if urging him to follow where it's leading him to.

"Eh?" Baekhyun's tiny companion asks.

"I mean, it's only like 2% of the population who gets to actually have their love guides take the form of their soulmates, right?" Baekhyun still recalls his soulmate systems classes to know this at least. Because that makes it easy.

"I don't know either!" Chanyeolee confesses. "I am not exactly your best friend! Because I am a person of my own too! And I have my own home too!" he says.

 

"But all signs are leading me to Baekhyun." Chanyeol says, he couldn't wait anymore. He's been walking on thin ice ever since they came of age to be expecting their soulmates to walk into their lives. 2 days wouldn't even be enough to make Baekhyun hear him out if he confessed.

"If things are you say as they are, then there's no need to hurry, Chanyeol." His sister says, "Leave it to destiny. Let your guide do their job, because it's going to be on them if things go wrong."

"... I just--"

"Listen to your guide, Yeol." she says in finality. "Let him finish the task he's sent out to do, because he has a home to return to as well."

"Fine." Chanyeol concedes.

Two days. He can wait until then. He thinks.

 

After a long while, Baekhyun finds himself in front of the playground he used to play with Chanyeol at when they were kids. His red string is pulsating even more, and Baekhyun could see the faint lining leading to Chanyeol's home. This makes it all the more real to him.

Knowing this makes Baekhyun happy. So so happy, and he just wants to go to Chanyeol and confess to him, but he thinks that that would be cheating. Now that he got reassurance that he's destined to be with Chanyeol, confessing sounds very wrong.

Because it'd only look like he's brave enough now that he knows he'll end up with him anyway. Baekhyun sighs at the thought.

"Baekhyuna, your thoughts are leaking from your ears. Please stop being negative! My expertise is 100% you know! You are making me look bad!

"Sorry."

 

The next day, Chanyeol wakes up with a frown on his face. One more day left, he thinks. He turns over to find his little guide splooting on the space beside him, his mouth wide open as he continues to sleep soundly. "How long are you planning on sleeping, you chubby person."

"Ugh." Chanyeol runs his hand over his face, "the day's just starting." he says.

He checks on the time and realizes that it's almost 10, so in a hurry, Chanyeol showers and fixes his place, preparing for Baekhyun's arrival. 

It doesn't take long because he could hear Baekhyun's voice just outside. 'Can you please not hide in my hoodie, Chanyeolee?' Baekhyun hisses, 'You're strangling me, you know.' Chanyeol perks up at what he heard. And then he blinks a few times, his heart pounding in his chest.

 

Baekhyun's heart is racing. The red string is pulsating even more simply because he's standing outside of Chanyeol's place. It's crazy. This is crazy.

"Baekhyunaaa let me stay on your back." His companion whines.

"Please. just go back to floating!" He scolds. "I can't breathe as it is, you know!" he confesses.

He could feel his cheeks heating up. He doesn't exactly know what expression he should make once Chanyeol opens the door. Baekhyun thinks that he might actually just blurt out his confession. But thank goodness he doesn't.

Even though Chanyeol is there, standing in front of him in all his handsomeness. It's more than enough to make Baekhyun fall on his knees and just cry at the fact that his one-sided love could actually get out of the friend zone.

 

"Baek, are you okay?" Chanyeol asks the petite. Baekhyun has been glancing at his side from time to time, which the taller assumes is his best friend's love guide. Having caught the conversation earlier, Chanyeol wonders if Baekhyun's love guide has taken his physical form too.

"Huh? Yeah I'm fine!" Baekhyun tells him. Chanyeol steps aside and lets the petite enter, helping him out with the stuff he brought with him.

"Pizza?" Chanyeol says as he notices the packaging, "so early in the day?"

"Figured you haven't eaten yet." Baekhyun shrugs.

"What would I do without you?" Chanyeol says and Baekhyun blushes at the words.

The petite feels like screaming for joy. His best friend's words had never had this much effect on him, but suddenly it does, and Baekhyun thinks that the red string and his guide are to blame.

The shorter male watches the other set up his laptop for him. Chanyeol also pull out the sofa bed on the side so that they can relax while watching the new ongoing series that they both found interesting just a few days ago. "So, you won the premium prize yesterday?"

 

Chanyeol watches Baekhyun at the corner of his eyes, he noticed the subtle changes in him. Compared to yesterday, Baekhyun actually seemed a bit more jittery. And hyper-aware. Or maybe that's just Chanyeol. One important thing is that Baekhyun's not as down as he was yesterday. The taller watches the petite lean over to grab a slice of pizza. Baekhyun takes his usual seat beside him and leans back, nodding excitedly as he brings up the conversation they couldn't have the day before. "Yeah! And get this! I got one of the rarest items!"

Chanyeol smiles hearing this. Baekhyun has always talked about that big tournament. They used to play together but Chanyeol has decided to pursue his writing a bit more seriously, but to see Baekhyun advancing to the gaming world with as much sincerity makes him proud.

 

The both of them fall into silence as they continue watching. Pizza's almost finished with two slices left in the box, and Baekhyun's dozing off while Chanyeol has his attention to the show. Baekhyun could feel his eyelids giving up on him. 

It was already evening when Baekhyun realizes that he fell asleep. He's lying in Chanyeol's bed, and in front of him is Chanyeol's broad back. Baekhyun's heart warms at the sight of it. And he has nothing but hope for the best. For his feelings to reach Chanyeol.

"Chanyeol..." Baekhyun mutters under his breath. He closes his eyes, feeling the pulse of the red string of fate, tightly wound on his ring finger. Feeling the space beside him shift, the petite drifts back to sleep, muttering something very close to a confession.

 

Chanyeol turned to face Baekhyun after his hearing his name. He's sleep-talking again, Chanyeol thinks. He smiles to himself and gets closer, pulling his best friend in his embrace. Tomorrow's the last day, and Chanyeol could only hope for one thing, honestly. He holds onto Baekhyun tightly, worried about what tomorrow will bring. He's not exactly excited nor is he scared of what could happen, but he has hoped over and over again that his assumption would be true.

He hopes that Baekhyun wouldn't belong to anyone else.

He's done his part being the good best friend. Standing by Baekhyun's side while suppressing his feelings. But his feelings are pouring out as it is. Chanyeol hugs Baekhyun tightly, brushes his bangs away and kisses his forehead, "Can't I be your soulmate instead?" he murmurs.

 

Baekhyun wakes up feeling disoriented. He feels warm, and a little suffocated actually. And he could barely remember how he fell asleep.

"Oh. Right. I'm at Chanyeol's place. Baekhyun says to no one in particular. The petite makes a move to get off the bed, but he notices that he's bound not only by Chanyeol's tight hug but also by the red string of fate on his finger.

He remembered seeing its end yesterday, but now, he notices that the thread wasn't cut anymore.. "Huh?" Baekhyun wonders, pulling his hand out to see where it lead. Baekhyun notices the thread leading down on the floor, and around the bed. And he pales at the thought-- is his soulmate not Chanyeol?! But his love guide told him so--

"Baekhyuna! You never learn!!!!" At that moment, his love guide decides to appear.

"Hihihi!" Baekhyun hears.

 

Chanyeol awakes from the ruckus. He could hear someone yelling and scolding Baekhyun, as well as hearing his own love guide's tiny squeaky voice. With a frown, Chanyeol gets up and sees Baekhyun seated at the footside of his bed. "Baek, what's wrong?"

"Cha-Chanyeol..." His best friend mutters, "Why is my 5 year self...?" At this, Chanyeol turns to see a reflection of the both of them, but in their 5 year old appearances, sitting on the floor. They're both eating the left-over pizza from yesterday.

"Yah! Who told you to eat that?" Chanyeol scolds, but he's met with a fuming 5 year old version of himself, floating just in front of him.

"Yah! Do not yell at Baekhyunee!" the fellow scolds him back.

"What-- you guys know each other?" Baekhyun interrupts.

To this, the tiny person who looks exactly like Baekhyun raises its hand and nods, "mhm! Chanyeolee and Baekhyunee come from same home, you knooow?~" it sings-songs.

"Now Chanyeolee and Baekhyunee can go home!" the other love guide declares.

"What?"

"Our task is complete!" Baekhyun's love guide declares, "as I promised you Baekhyuna, you wil lbe happy for the rest of your life!"

"What are you saying?" Chanyeol hears Baekhyun ask.

To this, Chanyeol sees his own guide pointing at his tiny ring finger. "Look look! Hihihi!"

 

Baekhyun does as the love guide says and goes back to tracing his seemingly extended string. He could see it moving as well, and then, he sees it stretch in finality. With Chanyeol's hand on the other end.

Baekhyun feels his heart bursting at the seams. And it almost makes him cry, but the bright light that appears interrupts the moment.

Baekhyun could see the two guides, standing up, and then they're both walking to the light. "Chanyeolee?" He calls out.

"We're going home, Baekhyuna! Don't worry! We will be with you always!"

"Bye bye!" the other love guide says, waving his small hand at them, "Good luck okay! Do not fight! Sorry Chanyeolee and Baekhyunee ruin the moment! Hihihi~"

"Yeah, we needed that." Chanyeol sarcastically agrees.

"Hihihi~ it was short but it was fun, no~? Bye byeee!"

And then the light was gone. And so were their love guides.

All that was left was silence, and the high tension in the air as well as the pulsating red strings on their fingers. It was funny. Like a dream. Like a very short dream, in those 3 days, Chanyeol could recall it. 

 

The taller doesn't waste any time as he moves closer to his best friend, takes both his hands and kisses them. "Finally." Chanyeol mutters against his hands, "My prayers have been answered."

"What do you mean?" Baekhyun asks him, tilting his head to the side.

Chanyeol knows that something has changed. With the way Baekhyun's cheeks are red, and the way he can't meet his gaze for more than 3 seconds. "I always wished for it to be me." He finally confesses, "To be your destiny."

And then it was Baekhyun's turn to lean over with a sob.

Baekhyun lets the flood gates loose as he breaks down into tears. He could finally breathe, and he could finally say what he's been wanting to say for so many years. "That's great." he says in between sobs, "Because... I feel the same too. Chanyeol... I'm sorry I was a coward to say this but-- I like you." The male says, as he looks up to the other. Baekhyun could see the warmth in Chanyeol's eyes, and it's making him ever so happy to know that his feelings weren't one-sided after all. "I like you a lot, you know." Baekhyun repeats, and this time he's smiling through tears.

Chanyeol wipes the tears away and kisses his cheek, "Me too. I've liked you ever since we were five, you know." the male finally rebuts.

"What? But me too."

Chanyeol smiles at the knowledge and he suddenly recalls the nickname. "Does this mean that our feelings have always been the same... Baekhyunee?" Chanyeol says for a start.

Baekhyun blushes madly by what he calls him, and the taller laughs at it.

"Oh god." Baekhyun says, burrowing his blushing face against the other's neck.

"You know, Yoora noona told me that we used to call each other that." He says in passing.

"I know. I still recall." Baekhyun confesses.

"Hah? How come I don't?" Chanyeol asks.

"You were actually the one who stopped first. Because you said the 'ee' denoted... something like, 'belonging to that person' and you felt awkward about it." Baekhyun mutters, hiding himself more. "That's why... I was scared of what you would think if I was your soulmate."

"Oh Baek. I'm sorry. I don't even remember-- and it must've hurt you a lot." Chanyeol says.

Baekhyun pulls away to look at his best friend, "It's fine. It's part of growing up, I guess... Growing conscious, fear and such." he shrugs. Looking down on their still-entwined hands, Baekhyun finds himself jumping in surprise when he feels Chanyeol lips on his cheek another time. "Chanyeo--" he attempts to scold him, but fails.

"I promise I'll make it up to you, okay?" Chanyeol says, with a glint in his eyes.

"Alright." Baekhyun agrees.

His heart is settling back into a steadier beat now, and as he looks at their hands, he feels that he could get used to this. "Where do we start?"

"First, let's lift the ban on those nick-names. Hm? Baekhyunee."