“Baekhee?” Chanyeol asked in worry.

“Oh, sorry,” Baekhyun looked down at the mess he made. There seems to be a lot of broken glasses today. The sight of the broken glass shards made his head ache. “I didn’t mean to…drop the glass,” He knelt down to clean up.

Chanyeol walked over and pulled him up. “It’s okay. I’ll do it.”

“Is something wrong?” Mrs. Park asked.

“I think Baekhee’s still tired, mom.”

“Oh, honey, are you okay?”

Baekhyun nodded and smiled slightly. “I just need some rest.”

“I’ll take her upstairs.” Chanyeol helped Baekhyun walk to the stairs, whispering concerns and worries. Baekhyun shrugged him off and convinced him that he’s fine. It was just a normal headache. They come and go.

Yuan watched them go…until he decided to follow upstairs, bowing 90 degrees to Mrs. Park before running to the room. When he got there, he stayed by the door and watched as Chanyeol carefully pulls the blanket up to Baekhyun’s chest with a genuine smile. Baekhyun wasn’t wearing the wig anymore and he saw the blouse and the skirt on the floor so he figured he had already changed clothes.

Chanyeol saw him and walked over. “Stay with him and keep quiet, okay?” Then he left to go back to the living room where his mother was waiting. Yuan stared for a minute before he decided to approach the bed. He just stood there and watched as Baekhyun’s chest rises and falls.

“You really don’t have to take what Chanyeol said seriously.”

Yuan’s eyebrows rose.

Baekhyun turned his head to him and smiled.

“Are you…okay?” Yuan asked with eyes filled with concern. It’s like how kids are normally nervous when something they are used to see suddenly changes. In this case, he’s used to see Baekhyun all energetic and smiley (okay not really smiley) and not exhausted and sick.

Baekhyun sat up, pushed the blanket over his legs, and tapped the space beside him. Yuan slowly climbed up the bed and plopped beside Baekhyun.

“You’re lucky you’re still a kid.” Baekhyun suddenly blurted out. “You wouldn’t have to worry about a lot of things. I miss being a kid. I miss those times I don’t care. Now everything seems like marathon that I feel like I don’t have time to rest. I have to keep running.”

“I don’t understand,” Yuan blinked.

Baekhyun chuckled and ruffled his hair. “You don’t have to.”

--

“Hey, hey, I overheard mom’s conversation with her friend!” One of his step-brothers said, though he doesn’t quite remember the face. In this dream, or memory, it’s covered. He can’t remember how he really looks like.

“You shouldn’t eavesdrop.”

“But it’s important!” His step-brother clapped. “You’re going to get married!”

Baekhyun laughed. “That’s a really lame joke.”

“I’m not joking! You know that man who always comes here? He has a son. And mom and he decided to marry you two! Isn’t it exciting?”

Baekhyun snorted. “His son’s gay?”

“Everyone’s gay nowadays.”

“I’m still not going to believe you—hey!”

His step-brother pulled him to the window to see the familiar car that has just parked in front of the fountain. “See? They’re here! Look there’s the son! I don’t know his name though. Aren’t the Zhangs really good looking?”

Baekhyun ran away.

--

Baekhyun fisted the blanket on his chest. “Where the hell does this headache come from?” He murmurs as he burries himself back under the sheets. He felt someone jumping on the bed.

Of course, who else would it be?

“Hyung! Wake up! Wakey wakey!” Yuan yelled on his ears.

“Shut up, Yuan. I’m diagnosed with an air-born disease. Go away and save for you life.”

Yuan stopped jumping. “No, you’re not. What disease? Tell me the symptoms so I can research about it and call a doctor to diagnose you.”

Baekhyun pushed down the sheets and blew on his fringe. Yuan was grinning at him. “Never mind. What are you doing here interrupting my beauty sleep?”

“Chanyeol hyung told me to wake you up!”

“Chanyeol?”

“Come on hyung! Let’s go downstairs!” Yuan grabbed his hand and started pulling him. Of course being a kid, he won’t be able to pull Baekhyun out of the bed. “Hyung!”

“Alright, alright.” Baekhyun pushed the sheets away and dropped his feet on the ground. He stretched his arms and yawned. Yuan jumped down the bed and ran first to the door. When Baekhyun saw him waiting, he stood up immediately.

Something smells fishy.

He tried to make up ideas in his mind but they always side track to something…you know. And that’s inappropriate in a lot of ways because he’s got a kid in front of him. It’s just…inappropriate. He yawns, almost missing a step down the stairs, and stretches his arms.

He paused.

Something really does smell fishy.

Literally.

“Who’s cooking?” He asked an obvious question to Yuan.

“Who do you think?”

Baekhyun glared at the back of Yuan’s head, still following the troublesome kid to the kitchen.

At the first sight of Chanyeol’s back figure, he can already make up explanations in his mind: Chanyeol is stupid so he’s cooking a stupid dish. Yep.

“Good morning, Baekhyun!” Chanyeol greets with a big grin, reaching up to his ears, while turning around. His hands are preoccupied with the pan and the spoon so it was easy to tell that one step near Chanyeol would be a life and death situation. One thing Baekhyun’s learned from coming in and out of Chanyeol’s house is that the latter is a accident prone area himself—because he’s stupid.

Baekhyun squints at Chanyeol. “Something’s fishy.”

“I cooked fish!”

“Not literally,” Nope.

Then they ended up in a staring contest.

2 minutes later, they’re still at it.

3 minutes later, Yuan’s eating the fish.

4 minutes later, Yuan finished eating the fish.

5 minutes later, Yuan went back to his position in front of Baekhyun.

6 minutes later, Chanyeol’s eyes teared up. He lowered his head and blinked repeatedly. Baekhyun smirked at him. He sighed and glanced at Yuan who was also waiting for him to speak his mind out and get rid of all the fish—oh wait, fish’s gone anyway. “Alright,” Chanyeol breathed. “Yuan,” He called.

Yuan groaned. “Every damn time,” He walked back to the living room, voice echoing along the lines of “Why is it that adults couldn’t seem to do the explanation on their own? What do you think of us kids?” Then he’s back near Baekhyun, holding three rectangular pieces of paper. He stood in front of him and raised the papers up.

Baekhyun stared at the paper, trying to decipher the image of two people skiing. “What’s this?”

Yuan sighed. “Seriously? It’s a ticket to a skii resort!”

“Why are we going to a skii resort?”

Chanyeol placed the pan on the sink. “Um, my mother sent it this morning. She wanted you, um, Baekhee and me and Yuan to have a little vacation to relieve stress. She was very worried last night.” He waited for an outburst that never came.

After a minute.

“ARE YOU NUTS?! YOU EXPECT ME TO GO SKIING DRESSED UP AS A GIRL?! ARE YOU GOING TO KILL ME?! I’M GOING TO FREEZE TO DEATH!”

Sometimes, Chanyeol just wants to drag Baekhyun to the nearest hospital for an X-Ray to see if there’s really a megaphone on his diaphragm. How can someone yell that loud? Wait, scratch that. How can someone with an approximate height of 174 yell that loud every damn time without getting his voice hoarse?

“Well, my mom wouldn’t let it go, you know, if her help doesn’t get accepted. She’ll just keep on insisting and insisting until you end up complying to whatever help she’s pushing.” Chanyeol scratched the back of his head. “And I really think you need it too, Baek. You’ve done a lot for me already, even at desperate times. Although you keep on yelling, complaining and scolding me, I think you also deserve a rest.”

“You’re seriously creeping me out.” Baekhyun shudders. He liked it more when Chanyeol deserved to be scolded. Nowadays, he looks like the y one with mini tantrums, scolding someone who doesn’t even deserve to be scolded because he can clean and cook and babysit a kid.

The world is really going to end soon.

Baekhyun sighed in defeat. “Just the three of us?” Chanyeol nodded. “Great.”

--

“So, tell me again why we’re here, the both of us, us guys, in the mall, inside the department store, at the ladies’ section, shopping for dresses?” Luhan asked one question after another to a Baekhyun who was busy comparing two the same dresses of different colors. When he didn’t get a reply, he snatched the dresses abruptly. “Baekhyun!”

“Hey! I was this close to choosing!” Baekhyun pouted.

“And I am this close to losing my temper! Have you gone nuts?!” Luhan looked around to see if his voice was too loud (and in fact it was) and moved closer to Baekhyun. “That skiing trip is not a good idea!”

Baekhyun sighed, too tired to go over his list of ‘what Luhan doesn’t want to hear from me ever’. “Have you not been listening when I was orienting you three hours ago?”

“B, it’s a ski resort, and we both know you hate anything colder than the normal coldness of Korea.” Luhan said as-a-matter-of-factly.

Baekhyun walked to the dresses across them. “I don’t really have a choice,” He started scanning the ones hanged, scrutinizing each, as if he was born a lady but grew up as a man (if that made any sense).  “Besides, it’s just for three days. I’m not going to die. “ One fat lady stared at them suspiciously. “For my girlfriend,” Baekhyun said with a smile. He rolled his eyes back to Luhan. “The ignorance around us is making my head ache.”

“Your ignorance is making my head ache,” Luhan shot. Baekhyun grabbed the dresses he deemed appropriate and walked to the counter to pay where Luhan helplessly followed. “B, you can’t take those. Listen to me, you can’t go. It’s not safe for you. Especially with Chanyeol.”

Baekhyun placed the dresses on the counter and turned to Luhan. “I’m only going to say this once so listen. I’m not going to a war. It’s just a ski resort. What happens there, stays there.” Then he slammed Chanyeol’s credit card on the counter.

--

Chanyeol is leaning comfortably on the couch, watching as Sehun fixes the new television set he bought for Luhan and is trying hard to restrain himself from calling him ‘Sugar Daddy’, because one of the worst things in the world is a gay friend stereotyping his fellow gay friend.

“You had to buy the latest with all the LED screen and whatnot,” Chanyeol finally commented.

Sehun was concentrating on the wires. “So he wouldn’t complain when he finds a better one. Had to buy the best one. Where are they anyway?”

“Oh, Baekhyun took Luhan with him to buy dresses. Mom gave us tickets to a ski resort.”

“Oh, that’s right, Luhan texted me.”

What the text says?

BAEKHYUN IS GOING SKIING

WITH CHANYEOL!

THIS IS WAAAAARRRR!

Yup.

Sehun cleared his throat. “Do you think Luhan will let Baekhyun go?”

Chanyeol raised an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t he? I mean, does Baekhyun need any approval from him?”

“Well, he is kind of against the whole idea of Baekhyun dressing up as girl, pretending to be your fiance.” Sehun shrugged. “Besides, they’ve been friends since forever—I think—and Baekhyun might take into consideration whatever reason Luhan has. Best friends gurlfrands.” He chuckled and finally finished setting up the TV. He stood up with a heavy sigh of accomplishment. “I’m such a genius.”

Meanwhile, Chanyeol is taking into consideration what Sehun said. He has a point. What does a mere CEO have against a long time friend? Come to think, Xi Luhan might just be the biggest ever. Chanyeol has thought hard, very hard, for a long time where his emotion lies in this…deal of a sort of. The only reason why he wants Baekhyun to do the dressing up in the first place is because he likes the latter, not because he’s perfect for it or he pities him for having no job at all given that his age and probably his level of education can pretty much get him in to any job he wants—but he has nothing. It’s because he likes the whiny diva.

So if Luhan s, so be it. He would just have to shove Sehun’s into Luhan’s face and make his way through all the barricades the devil set up to reach Baekhyun. So, he was ready for it. They should be back anytime now since they left 3 hours ago, leaving the house open for Sehun’s arrival a minute later.

He felt a weight behind him and he turned. Sehun scooted over to the pillows and rest his head. “I expected applaud,” He murmured.

Chanyeol claps his hands. Sehun ended up ignoring him. “Hey Sehun,” Chanyeol started. “Do you think Luhan really wouldn’t let Baekhyun go?”

Sehun turned to him with an I-knew-it face. “Who knows? Luhan’s kind of bossy.”

If Luhan’s bossy, what do you call Baekhyun?

“Besides, they always have this friendship thing going on. Bros before hoes. Yeah.”

Okay, so maybe it does make sense.

Fine, then bring it o—

The door slammed open with a very very loud THUD.

“WHY DON’T YOU JUST SHUT UP?!”

Chanyeol and Sehun almost fell from the couch.

“DON’T TURN YOUR BACK ON ME! BAEKHYUN! LISTEN TO ME!” Luhan walked in, throwed the bags on the floor and followed Baekhyun to the kitchen.

“Wait, what happened?” Chanyeol asked but got no reply.

Baekhyun slammed his palms on the table. “NO! YOU LISTEN TO ME! I’VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR ANNOYING VOICE REPEATING REPEATING AND REPEATING NOT TO GO ON THIS TRIP!”

Chanyeol walked to the kitchen in attempt to calm the situation—which is pretty much suicidal.

“YOU KNOW WHY I’M NOT LETTING YOU GO! AND I’M ALWAYS RIGHT! THIS TRIP IS DANGEROUS FOR YOU!” Luhan yelled from the opposite end of the table.

“Guys, calm down—“

“WHY DON’T YOU JUST STAY HERE AND WATCH TV AND HANG OUT WITH PERRY THE PLATYPUS!”

“Who’s Perry the Platypus?” Chanyeol asked out of the blue and ended up ignored.

Luhan groaned and threw his hands on the air. “I’M JUST WORRIED FOR YOU, OKAY?! I KNOW YOU’RE ONLY FORCED TO DO THIS!”

“THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO FORCE ME NOT TO DO IT!”

“Whoa whoa whoa, calm down hot heads.” Chanyeol walked in between them, at the middle side of the table, with palms facing each. “Let’s talk about this calmly. Let’s start from the very beginning. Who’s Perry the Platypus?”

Baekhyun and Luhan groaned in unison. They rolled their eyes to Chanyeol and walked out their own directions—Luhan upstairs and Baekhyun out to the living room.

“Wait, what?” Chanyeol asked in lost.

Luhan slammed the door of his room shut as loud as he could wherein Baekhyun slammed the door on the living room close with an even louder thud when he opened it earlier. Chanyeol walked to the living room, full of confusion, where Sehun shook his head on him. He motioned outside and that’s when Chanyeol decided to follow Baekhyun. It occurred to him that Baekhyun had taken refuge on his house.

He tried to open the door but it was locked so he knocked. “Um, Baekhyun?”

“Go away.”

“You can’t really lock me out of my own house.”

There was a moment of pause until the doorknob clicked open and he pushed the door open. Baekhyun was walking back to the couch when he entered. “Are you okay?” He asked the latter who seem to be acting deaf.

Baekhyun just hugged his legs—Chanyeol just noticed the TV was on—and refused to talk.

“Chanyeol hyung?”

Chanyeol looked up at tha stairs and found Yuan standing sleepily by the railings, hair in a mess, a finger rubbing his eye. All that noise must have woken him up. “Hey, did we wake you up? You can go back to sleep.”

“Nah, I’m good.” Yuan started walking down the stairs. Chanyeol thought it’s really not a good time.

He watched as Yuan jump on the couch. The kid must have also noticed the awkward atmosphere since instead of complaining about the show on the TV, he turned to look at Baekhyun worriedly. “Baekhyun hyung? Are you angry?” Then Yuan turned to where Baekhyun was sending death gazes at—the TV. He doesn’t even understand what’s on the TV. “I don’t get it.”

Chanyeol slid his hands on the boy’s underarms and picked him up. “Okay, now’s not really a good time.” He carried the boy in his arms. Yuan immediately wrapped his small arms around Chanyeol’s neck.

“Why?” He asked.

“Because you have to make sandwiches for us.”

“What? Why do I have to make sandwiches?”

“Just because.” Chanyeol walked to the doorway of the kitchen before finally placing Yuan down. He ruffled his hair. “Now be a good boy and make some sandwiches.”

Yuan pouted. “Fine.”

As soon as Yuan disappeared, Chanyeol walked to the touch, stayed beside for seconds, until Baekhyun would give him permission—which sounds ridiculous because that’s his couch.

Baekhyun turned to him. He studies Chanyeol’s face, looking for something certain and sincere. And it’s all there—the worry, the concern. So he lets him. Chanyeol slowly sits beside him, heaving a heavy sigh in the process. “So, you guys fought again. You seem to be fighting a lot.” Chanyeol said.

“I don’t know. We don’t usually fight. But I guess I’m the only one in this mess. He’s so against everything.”

“He’s just worried.” Chanyeol doesn’t even know why he’s saying these things.

Baekhyun heard the clock. He saw the time. It’s 4:30 PM. He wonders when his time will be up. He shook the random thought away. “I know. But really, he can try trusting me.”

“You two should talk about it calmly,” Chanyeol jokes. “Poor Yuan got woken up,”

Baekhyun chuckled then. “Alright. I’ll talk to him.”

--

Sehun ended up standing a meter away from Luhan who is covered wit a dark gloomy aura around him, that kind of image wherein it looks like Luhan’s going to eat him alive anytime now. So he settled for a safe spot not too far from the door but not too near to Luhan.

“Are you really going to stay like that? You’re best friends you know. You could at least settle this immediately.” Sehun inquired. “I mean, I’ve seen enough quarrels for the past weeks.”

Luhan sighed, startling Sehun. “But he doesn’t understand! I’m just worried for him! And he goes ing on me!”

“That’s not the point. You’re best friends. What are best friends supposed to do to each other?”

“Support?”

“Exactly. All you do is disagreeing.”

There was a dawn of a ten ton realization with the whole of Titanic and the ice berg and the rest of the North and South Pole coming down on him. The door closed from the living room, catching both of their attentions, and Sehun walked to the door. “What great timing,” He murmured. He stood at the hallway until Baekhyun appeared at the end and he smiles.

They don’t say anything to each other. They just passed each other. Though it was slightly awkward, no one was to blame. Besides, you can never undo what has already done. Sehun decided to go to Chanyeol’s house where he originally should be at anyway.

Baekhyun knocked on Luhan’s open door. Luhan turned to him, a frown glued on his face. “Lulu, please, we both know the face looks better on me.”

Luhan stiffened into a laugh and he fell on the bed. “B~” He whined in an I-need-you tone. “I’m sorry.”

Baekhyun walked over with a smile, looking down at Luhan. “What an idiot,”

Luhan sat back up and sighed. “As your best friend, I should be supporting you. Instead, all I do is go against you. I’m such a bad friend.”

Sehun’s words of wisdom. Heh.

“It’s fine,” Baekhyun pinches Luhan’s cheeks. “You’re still my best friend, anyway,”

Luhan laughed and wrapped his arms around Baekhyun’s belly. They laugh out loud. Thinking that their fights are the most ridiculous thing they’ve ever done. Fights? Psh. Piece of cake. Nothing’s better than reconciling with your best friend after a ridiculous quarrel.

Baekhyun appreciates Luhan’s presence so much, thinking that if Luhan suddenly disappears in his life, he’ll be back to what he was before, nothing and lost. He’s thankful that even at the deepest outskirts of Beijing, he was able to meet a stranger and find loyalty in him.

--

Chanyeol knows it’s common sense to think that Baekhyun wouldn’t be coming back in his house for the night. With all the friendship issues going on, he’d choose to spend the night at his own house this time. Chanyeol never even realized that Baekhyun has been sleeping at his house for awhile now.

He’s standing by the fax machine near the kitchen, not even caring when Sehun enters, asking for food, nor when Yuan kicked Sehun’s knee for stepping on the puzzle he was solving on the floor.

“This kid is a masochist!” He hears Sehun scream.

The fax finally arrived; documents of the complete list of important personalities he should get familiar with during the banquet, from the ever hardworking Kai. It’s such a pity that all those scandals tampered his reputation a bit. He was greatly looked up to by the employees but just one difference in his surname, it’s all gone. To be honest, Chanyeol doesn’t want to let go of him too because let’s be real here, Kai is the perfect Vice President. At least someone he can trust.

Sehun was casually walking to the kitchen when he noticed. The machine finally finished printing and he scans the papers.

Edward Van der Gilt—obviously the owner.

Amanda Van der Gilt—his wife.

Tristan Van der Gilt—first son.

Elliot Van der Gilt—second son.

Arthur Van der Gilt—third son.

Leo Van der Gilt—youngest son.

Zhang Yixing—representative.

He paused.

Zhang Yixing.

He doesn’t know why but he kept on staring at the name. Maybe it’s because he’s the only one with a different surname. Not from the Van der Gilt’s, maybe? He dialed Kai’s number on the phone. Kai answered at the third ring. “Yeah? You received the documents?”

“Yeah, holding it. Who’s this Zhang Yixing guy?”

“Oh, he’s the representative. He’ll be coming here to represent Van der Gilt Co. at the party. He’s a…ah, the second son of the Zhangs, you know, the company who deals with securities and bodyguards. The Zhangs are close friends with the Van der Gilts.”

Chanyeol nodded. “I see. Thanks.” He hung up the phone. He wondered what made the families close friends. Was it because the fathers of the houses are acquaintances? Was it for business? Then it hit him that it probably was. A company that deals with securities and a company that produces excellent agents, quite a handful or in romantic language, a match made in heaven. It’s obvious which one’s higher. It saddens him that close friends can roughly translate to business associates. But what right does he have? He’s had a few of those close friends slash business associates. They never end well. Money stings.

He was pulled away from the papers when he felt someone tugging his shirt. Yuan stood beside him, looking up. “It’s dinner time, hyung,”

Chanyeol placed the papers on the table, beside the fax machine, and walked with Yuan to the kitchen. He was surprised to see the table full of food. “Uh,”

“We ordered them,” Sehun filled in before he can even start asking the question.

“I didn’t even notice,”

“Cause you were busy staring at the phone,”

Yuan looked slightly uncomfortable, not even touching his food yet.

“What’s wrong?” Chanyeol asked while getting a plate full of chicken for himself.

“Where’s Baekhyun hyung?”

Chanyeol placed the plate back at the center. “Oh. He’s staying at his house for tonight.”

“He doesn’t live here?”

Sehun snorted. Chanyeol ignored him. “He just comes by every now and then.”

Yuan stared down at his food. “Okay.” Then he started digging in, like a careless baby with baby cereal.

Then Chanyeol’s gaze caught Sehun. “Why are you here, anyway?”

“It’s awkward in our house, the dinner, at least,” Sehun answered as if it was the most natural thing to do. “My parents finally got the chance to shove praises in my face when Kai’s around and I felt sick. Really, what kind of parents are they?”

“I thought you said your mom’s cool,” Chanyeol snorted.

“Yeah, before. I think all these pressure on her finally got her worst out. I can’t even joke around her anymore.”

“Do you always avoid dinners ever since?”

Sehun shrugged. “Kai and I would go to some restaurant and stay there until 10, the latest.”

“So, why are you here?”

“He’s got work. I have to buy the TV.” Such a simple explanation. “I paid for this by the way,”

“I was waiting for that,” Chanyeol joked and they both laugh it off. “Oh by the way, my sister’s party got moved next week,” It’s funny because he definitely saw it coming after Yunho’s party. They always have this nonexistent competition about who throws parties the best. Gyuri probably thought of something new so she had to push the party on to another date.

“She’s taking this a bit too seriously,”

“She’s always taking everything too seriously,”

They notice Yuan in the middle of the kitchen doorway, hugging a pillow. They didn’t even notice him leaving.

They wait for him to open his mouth.

After a minute.

“I want to sleep with Baekhyun hyung,”

Chanyeol was surprised, didn’t know how to react for a moment, but his lips unconsciously formed a smile, a genuine smile, a proud smile. Sehun squinted at him. “That smile…”

“What smile?” Chanyeol asked, getting a bit defensive.

“What kind of smile is that?”

“What smile?” Chanyeol repeated.

“You look like you’re happy because your son and your mistress are finally getting along.” Chanyeol kept smiling at Sehun, just for laughs. Sehun faked a shiver. “Ewe. Gross. Gross gross gross.”

--

“So you finally got a TV,” Baekhyun asked to Luhan whose eyes are wide and fixed on the screen, lips parted slightly in awe and ears closed off to everything else. “Yes, B, I finally got a TV,” He mimicked.

Baekhyun walked back to the kitchen, doing a mental reminder of the list of all the necessities he has to bring for the trip when someone knocked on the door. Since Luhan is deaf for the time-being, he approached the door and opened it. Chanyeol stood beside a Yuan with a pillow. Chanyeol’s face is inviting a punch.

“What?”

“He wants to sleep with you for the night,” Chanyeol informed. Baekhyun peeked at Luhan, figured that he probably wouldn’t have someone to talk to for tonight—courtesy of the stupid TV.

Baekhyun sighed and motioned for Yuan to come in. Yuan ran in and stood beside him.

“Guess I’ll be alone tonight,”

“As if you’re not used to it already,”

“See you tomorrow.” Chanyeol smiled and turned to leave. Baekhyun want to say something, like a good night maybe or sleep tight but he said nothing, and only watched Chanyeol’s retreating figure disappear behind the walls. He wasn’t even sure why he was staring. The thought of his time retreats back to his mind.

My time’s going to be up soon.

He doesn’t even know what it means.

He turned to Yuan. “You packed your clothes for tomorrow’s trip?”

Yuan nodded. “Chanyeol hyung helped me!”

He thought of pulling Luhan away from the TV to give space for Yuan but this kid has seen enough gadgets than he ever had. Then the image of the deck of cards he kept hidden at the back of his drawer popped up. “Do you like cards?”

“What cards?”

“Tarot cards,”

“I guess,”

Baekhyun leads him to his room. At first, he was uncomfortable that Yuan changed his treatment to him. Then he figured the boy probably needed time to adjust. Like most rich kids, arrogant and bratty, they’re probably adviced to act that way to avoid being used or for whatever reasons wealthy people deemed reasonable.

They sit on the bed, with the tarot cards scattered in between them. It was his old habit. His mother and his deceased aunt used to read tarot cards every week when they were still around, when everything was simple. He liked it when his mother would read out his future, when he knew there’s still hope.

Baekhyun spread the tarot cards and shuffled them. Then he separated them into Major and Minor Arcanas since it’s 78-card tarot deck. He smiled when he saw Yuan watching with amusement. He decided to use the three card spread since it’s pretty simple.

“So, what question do you want to ask?”

Yuan thought for a while before he made up his mind. “Is the skiing trip going to be fun for you?”

Baekhyun chuckled as he made Yuan cut the deck, even though the question wasn’t about the little boy at all. But where’s the harm? He placed the cards Yuan chose carefully on the bed.

Judgement.

The Fool.

Justice.

The cards were complicated.

Judgement depends on the cards drawn with it, whether the result will be good or bad. Now, The Fool, risks and confrontation. What does this mean? Something’s going to happen during the trip? Confrontation? No matter how much he thinks about it, there are a lot of potential subjects for confrontation. Justice—judgments and decisions. Does that event require his final decision? About what? There are a lot of things he hasn’t settled with. Nothing final. Nothing done.

What awaits him on that trip?

“So…?” Yuan crooned.

Baekhyun shook the worries away and smiled. “It’s going to be fun,”

“Really? Cool!” Yuan chuckled. He took one card out. “Hyung, what does this mean?”

He looked at the card.

Death.

Baekhyun gasp. “Ah, it’s not right to just randomly pick a card. It breaks the whole purpose.”

“I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay,” Baekhyun ruffled his hair. “Anyway, enough of this. Do you want a puzzle?”

Yuan nodded.

--

The night was hollow and quiet when he finally decided to close the book he’s been reading, trying to get his mind off of things, and stretched from the corner of his room he called his comfort room. There’s no light in the room, the lampshade is turned off. His only source of light was the moon. His so-called comfort zone was near the balcony, just behind the curtains parted to let the moonlight in.

Yuan was sleeping on the floor, puzzle halfway done. He stood up and carefully carried the little boy up and placed him on the bed, pulling the sheets to his chest and fixing the pillow. He doesn’t feel sleepy at all. He went back to his corner, but instead of going back to reading, he decided to open the glass door and walk out. The sudden coldness caught him off guard and he hugs his robe.

The room opposite his still has a light on—Chanyeol’s lampshade maybe.

He wonders what Chanyeol’s doing. Sleeping maybe? But forgot to turn the lampshade off.

He was surprised to see his figure walking around the room, one hand carrying a cup while his other hand was occupied with his phone glued to his ear. He’s walking around, talking and talking and talking, that he wonders why Chanyeol doesn’t even turn his way so he can see him.

It happens when the wind blew hard that it pushed the curtains. Chanyeol looked then and saw Baekhyun leaning on the railings of the balcony. He smiled and he hangs up. Why did he hang up?

Chanyeol disappeared for a moment. When he came back, he was holding a sketch pad and a marker. He wrote something then flashed it on Baekhyun—like what they did back then.

Baekhyun remembered the rose of all things.

-Not sleepy?-

Baekhyun shook his head.

Chanyeol scribbled down something again. Baekhyun took this opportunity to grab one of his own.

-Is Yuan sleeping already?-

Baekhyun nodded.

-Too excited to sleep?-

Baekhyun wrote down this time.

-You wish. Too worried, maybe. Especially when you’re around-

-I think you meant too anxious. Not blaming you though. Lots of girls are dying to have a trip with me-

-Then I’ll have to credit you for the rise of death rate in Korea-

-Ha Ha. You’re lucky you’re pretty. I’d take you instead of those girls anytime-

-Shut up. I’m not pretty-

-Of course you are. I hope you don’t leave this neighborhood. I wouldn’t have anyone to talk to when the coffee kicks in-

-How does this flirting technique work with you?-

-I’ll tell you in the morning. ;)-

Baekhyun laughed. –Gross. Go to sleep, Park-

-Go to sleep, Byun-

-Seriously, go to sleep. You’re our ride tomorrow-

-You can ride me anytime-

Baekhyun gasped. -PARK CHANYEOL!-

-I’m joking. I’m joking. Alright, good night princess-

Baekhyun chuckled when Chanyeol made a kissy face.

-Good night. Sleep tight.-

He finally got to say it.

And Baekhyun secretly wishes he never has to leave this neighborhood too.

--

“B, I’m going to miss you,” Luhan expressed in an overly dramatic tone, turning his gaze away from Sehun and Chanyeol who are carrying the bags to the Chanyeol’s car. He doesn’t even wonder why Sehun’s around this early in the morning. It’s 8 AM. The ride takes three hours. They wanted to arrive at lunch time.

“It’s only for three days.” Baekhyun repeated for the nth time since yesterday. “Feed Brad Pitt okay? The dog’s been freezing out here.” He turned to Brad Pitt who has not gone out of his dog house ever since God-knows-when. “I’ll call,”

“You better. Be careful and most importantly, have fun!”

Yuan ran inside the car with a Rilakkuma plushie on hand. Chanyeol grabbed the back of his shirt. “Whoa whoa whoa, where did you get that?”

“At Baekhyun hyung’s room!”

Uh oh. Baekhyun looked away.

Chanyeol crooked his eyebrows. That plushie is definitely one of his collections wherein the last time he checked, are located down the attic, safe and sound.

What a troublesome kid. Baekhyun thought.

Chanyeol smirked. He walked behind Baekhyun, to the compartment, and whispered, “If you wanted to have one of my plushies, you should’ve said so,”

Baekhyun bit his lip.

Luhan grinned at him. “You’re so cute when you’re blushing, B,”

“I’m not blushing!”

Chanyeol closed the compartment and called Yuan and Baekhyun to get inside the car.

Yuan jumped at the back seat, having all the space for himself while Baekhyun sits on the front seat.

“Take care, guys!” Sehun yelled from beside Luhan.

“Be careful, okay, B? Call me when you get there!” Luhan chimed. Chanyeol started the engine. “Have fun!”

Baekhyun waved goodbye at them as Chanyeol drives away.

Alright. Baekhyun buckled up his seat belt. Tarots, here I come.

A/N: 

So, I was supposed to post this yesterday but I lost my internet connection because of the typhoon slash heavy rain. lol.

AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT

HELLO THUR MR. UNICORN ZHANG YIXING

LOL

i wonder what's his role in this story. 

and it has just occured to me that I spelled Van der Gilt wrong. Psh.

I was checknig my draft you know for the flow of the story and I originally wrote it as Van der Gelt.

With 'Gelt' meaning 'Gold' or 'Money'. 'Van der' means 'by the'. So, it's supposed to be like 'by the gold/money'. lmao

Anyway, subbies, i love you guys! <3

Take care and study hard! unlike me.