EIGHT

            Baekhyun comes home alone. Even after the first class ended, he didn’t see Jongdae anywhere. Not even Kyungsoo. Now, he is sad.

            However, it is not like the first time he did that. When he didn’t talk to Jongdae for three months, he is alone. He did not know how it happened, but apparently, he did everything by himself. He studies alone, he eats alone, he walks alone, he-

            Baekhyun started to sniff.

“I am fine. I am fine” he ensured himself as he tightened his backpack

            He is a freaking college student, and a boy. He is not a weak guy on the block. Nope, he is fine. He should be. Therefore, Baekhyun straightened his body and went to home.

            If only someone didn’t bump on him and make him fall, flat on the ground.

“Ouch” Baekhyun groaned, rubbed his poor , and looked up

            The man is tall, well- at least for tiny Baekhyun. He wore such a weird style in the bright sunny day. A black cap with leather jacket and ripped jeans, surely not the best suits to wear at this weather. He looks more like a runaway criminal who accidentally bumped on Baekhyun and ready to punch the shorter. Surprisingly, the man offers Baekhyun a hand and gives him a freaking sweet smile.

            Baekhyun is confused.

“Oh, I am sorry. I didn’t see you there” that deep voice said, smiling bigger and added “or maybe I indeed see you there and bumped you intentionally because I want to talk to you” he shows Baekhyun more bigger smile

            -that started to creep the other poor boy.

“I- am sorry?” Baekhyun slowly apologized

            Anyway, it is also Baekhyun’s fault not to see the other’s presence. That tall, gorgeous man couldn’t be show up out of nowhere. Baekhyun must be lost in his thought that he didn’t pay attention to his surroundings.

“Nah, it should be me who is sorry. You fell on the ground, are you okay? Do you hurt somewhere? I could take you to the hospital if you want to-“ the man blabbered but Baekhyun stops him with an awkward smile

“It is just ground. You didn’t take someone to the hospital just because he fell on the ground unless you are a freaking rich man. It didn’t hurt. So, don’t worry, I am fine” Baekhyun gulped and said slowly

“But you are crying. It must be that hurt. I am sorry” the man suddenly went closer to Baekhyun and rubbed the trace of tears with his thumb finger

            It surprised Baekhyun for a whole minute. The time goes slow down on their term. This closer, he could see how perfect the man is. His big eyes, his gently touch, his deep voice, all made Baekhyun gasped. He didn’t know why, but he keeps crying as if he misses the man.

            Just a minute, because after that, Baekhyun realized how stupid he looks like. Baekhyun widened his eyes and harshly pushed the man away. He took his backpack on the ground then ran as fast as he could.

            It is so embarrassing thus his heartbeats couldn’t stop beating faster.

            When he arrived at home, it is dark and lonely. The lamps turned off and no sign of everyone comes home. He threw his on the couch and his backpack randomly on the floor. He didn’t know he is that tired until he closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

***

            If only he knows.

            Chanyeol took the cap that fall on the ground because he just falls like that. It feels stupid. A King, like him, could be pushed easily by a mere Guardian, like Baekhyun.

            Honestly, it is not weird. He is captivated by Baekhyun’s eyes. Those brown eyes pulled him closer, hypnotized him for a moment. He couldn’t bear how those pretty eyes shedding tears. It is the same reason why he decided to show up in front of Baekhyun.

            He couldn’t see the other being lonely anymore. Not now, when he knows that Baekhyun is alive. Chanyeol would protect him with whatever he has. Even that means that he should sacrifices his pride and his Kingdom.

            Chanyeol’s smile disappeared once he looks at the sky. That man called him again. It started to get annoying, but he will hold it. He will hold it for the sake of Baekhyun and his people.

***

“I swear! They are Sehun and Luhan. Geez, I wouldn’t be mistaken my King and my friend with someone else, right?” Kris cried his heart while massages his right eyes with hard-boiled egg

            Great!

            Everyone could see that his left eye is practically blind but that King of his just carelessly punched his right eye. All he could see now only blurred vision. Thanks to Tao who pulled him out of the scene and escorted him to Yixing’s place.

Yixing giggled at the poor man, give the painkiller and said “Well, let’s say that it is true. They are King Sehun and Luhan, then, why he punched you? You must be do something bad to them”

“I didn’t stalk them!” Kris casted a protest, which makes Yixing rolled his eyes, and continued “I just told them the truth. I mean-“

“He makes a scene by calling Sehun a King and calling Luhan a princess and- boom. The fight is happened” Tao explained

Yixing tried to suppress his laugh but failed miserably “Good. Let me guess. None of them remember you, right? Then, Sehun is happened to be Luhan’s boyfriend and you got that fist” Yixing guessed and looked at Tao who nodded in agree

“This is what would be happen if you didn’t use your brain well”

            The door is opened and Kyungsoo entered the room. Tao stood up to greets the King but Kyungsoo makes it clear that he is just a college student in this dimension. He holds up his hand and asked them to sit. Jongdae chuckled at them, followed Kyungsoo and closed the door as he said.

“Said the one who runs to Suho and almost tell everything back then” Jongdae teased, got a light hit from the King “Ouch” he responded

Kyungsoo rolled his eyes “Whatever” he added “Then, what happen? Did you get their numbers, or their address? What is this Sehun doing here?”

Kris said incoherent words as Tao giggled answer and the King’s question “He didn’t. He just got the punch, and we leave the scene out of embarrassment. But don’t worry. Surely, both Sehun and Luhan are living nearby. Or at least, they are just moving in nearby”

“How can you be confidence about that?” Kyungsoo asked confusedly as he sits on the available chair

            Jongdae followed Kyungsoo behind but he chooses to stay on his favorite’s place, beside the curtains. As he makes sure nobody is around the hospital, he closes the curtain so slightly and turned around to them, listening to their conversation. Even after Kyungsoo said that someone is spying on him, he couldn’t help not to take alert. He feels insecure, not because he needs to survive to protect Baekhyun, but also because he just knows that Minseok is alive. Minseok is alive and somewhere in here therefore he needs to survive and not to make everything is wrong, again.

“Because Sehun just wore the same uniform like yours” Tao pointed at Kyungsoo and Jongdae “Didn’t know that all of you thinking of study so hard that you attend school even in the illusion” he teased Jongdae as he is so attentive that he would never tease his King

Jongdae rolled his eyes, smirks “Well, I am not like someone else who choose to be- jobless” he teased Tao then back to Kyungsoo “or being a cashier” he sighs

“Cashier?” Yixing looks at Kyungsoo who glared at Jongdae who mouthed what

“It is Jongin” Kyungsoo sighs then apologizes to Tao “I am sorry I didn’t tell you yet, because honestly, I just found him days before”

“Jongin is here? He is alive?” Tao smiles bright enough to melt Kris’s heart that now smile dumbly

“Of course, he is alive, I have told you that I came here with them” Jongdae said

Tao pouted, and seriously, it ruins Kris’s concern “And you leave them! Yes, thank you. I know the story” he protested

“No, I am not. They leave me even before I open my eyes. Stop blaming me” Jongdae mumbled

            They can and will taking out their weapons if only Kyungsoo is not there and looking at them like a mom would yell at her babies.

“What are you, kids?” he glared at them

Yixing needs to elbow the young dragon warrior as he said “Then, it is good news, right? So, by now we know that Sehun, Luhan, even this Jongin are here” he enlightened the mood

Kyungsoo nodded “It is indeed good news. Add this to your list. Minseok is here” at the news, Yixing widened his eyes in surprised

“Minseok is here? He is alive?” then he looks at Jongdae and Kyungsoo who shut their mouth close “How did you know? You meet him?”

“I wish I am” Jongdae mouthed in audibly but he nodded “I am not that sure, but I will look for him” he carefully looks at Kyungsoo who nods slightly at Jongdae’s lies “That is why we came here, to break the news to you guys”

Kyungsoo nodded “We better work faster if we want go back to our dimension. I will try to convince Jongin too. You better try something to find more about this Sehun and Luhan” he said to Jongdae who nodded at him “Then, I will leave first” he ended

“Wait, just like that? You are not coming here to check on me?” Kris whined as they stand up

Kyungsoo smirks as he said “Of course we are not. Your limbs are still attached, you are fine to me. But Tao, I am afraid you need to stay here to watch him in case anything bad happened. I could protect myself”

“Or having a date with that hot cashier” Jongdae mumbled

“Could you please stop teasing me?” Kyungsoo turned around and gave up “-and stop spying on me? It will be good to have such a romantic private date, okay?”

“Guess need to