By the time school starts again, Baekhyun and Chanyeol are officially a couple.

The workload picks up quickly, and though free time becomes rare for the two, they make time to study together (though it usually devolved from reading textbooks to Chanyeol staring unabashedly at his boyfriend and wondering when he got so lucky to be able to call him that).

He broke the news to Jongin and Kyungsoo over lunch at one of their usual restaurants, the pair congratulating him with a few too-loud shouts and pats on the back.

“Holy !” Jongin exclaimed. “It’s not that I was doubting you or anything, but I can’t believe you guys are together now!”

Chanyeol laughed. “I’m pretty sure that’s like, the definition of you doubting me.”

“Does this mean all of your awkward is gonna morph into intense, mutual ual desire?” Kyungsoo asked, half joking, half asking out of genuine worry for his next encounter with the new couple. “You know what, actually, don’t answer that. I’m just happy we’re not rooming together anymore.”

“Excuse you, I was an excellent roommate.”

“Sure, Chanyeol. Whatever you say.”

They continue their lunch until Chanyeol is interrupted by the ringing of his phone.

“Ah, sorry, I gotta take this—“ the giant began.

“It’s Baekhyun, isn’t it?” Jongin asked, laughing when Chanyeol reddened a bit. “Go ahead. We’ll cover lunch today. Tell Baek we said congrats, alright?”

Chanyeol smiled with a nod as he slipped out the doors of the restaurant, picking up the call.

“Hey, I just made it out of class. Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

“Just finished lunch with Jongin and Kyungsoo. They say congrats, by the way.”

Chanyeol can almost hear the smile in his voice. “I miss them. Next time have lunch when I’m not in class!”

The giant chuckled. “Sorry. You’re in the engineering building now, right? I’m nearby, just wait at the doors for me, okay?”

“Alright, see you!”

Chanyeol puts his phone in his pocket, heart still beating out of his chest whenever he thinks of Baekhyun. He sees the small boy from a distance away, looking down at his phone as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. He looked up as Chanyeol approached, a smile forming on his face as the giant leaned in to kiss his cheek.

“Ready to go?” Chanyeol asked, holding out his hand for Baekhyun to hold. The smaller slipped  his fingers between the taller’s like their hands were meant to be together, giving him a squeeze.

“You bet.”

They walk to the nearest train station like this, hands swinging between them as Baekhyun tells his boyfriend about his lecture, complaining endlessly about his professor as the giant listens with a smile. Together, they board the first train for the next town over, settling into the seats as they waited for the train to move. Chanyeol checks his phone, texting his friend that they were on their way, looking over at Baekhyun who was already nodding off next to him.

He guides Baekhyun’s head to his shoulder, stooping a bit lower so it would be comfortable for the smaller boy.

“Thank you.” Baekhyun murmurs, already half asleep.

Chanyeol places a peck on the top of the boy’s head. “I’ll wake you when we’re there.”

It takes almost 45 minutes, but it feels like so much less time as Chanyeol snaps pictures of his sleeping boyfriend, chuckling softly to himself as he set them as his new wallpaper. He nudges Baekhyun awake as the conductor announces their imminent arrival, giving Baekhyun a few moments to fully wake up before they get off the train.

Their hands are still connected as they leave the platform, entering the main station where Chanyeol is looking around between glances at his phone as Baekhyun rubs the sleep out of his eyes.

“Chanyeol! Baekhyun!” a voice calls out to them. They turn to see Jongdae, waving his arms as he runs up to the pair. “It’s been so long! I can’t believe it took you guys this long to visit me, I was getting—“ he began before slowing to a stop at the sight of their intertwined hands. “Are… you guys…?”

The giant smiled sheepishly. “Surprise?”

Jongdae’s eyes widen as he looked between the pair in shock before letting out a few disbelieving laughs.

“It in’ took you guys long enough!”