---

 

 

“Such a cute little kid. I love her eyes. She has blue eyes.” Luhan crooned while watching the little girl play with the Barbie Luhan apparently decided to give it to her because he claimed he has no use for it anymore and since it’s been hidden inside his closet, he figures he can just give a joy to a girl than wait for it to rot.

 

The whole purpose of this long statement is to point out the thing about it’s been hidden inside his closet.

 

Who the hell hides a Barbie doll inside a closet?

 

Barbie’s aren’t even from Disney!

 

Meanwhile, Sehun is trying to keep a safe distance in between him and baby because hello, kids freak me out so much.

 

“Luhan,”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“What are we doing in Chanyeol’s house?” Sehun asked. “And why is there a stranger in Chanyeol’s house? Why is there a kid in Chanyeol’s house?” He continued, watching the old lady walking around the living room, scrutinizing every corner, while giving Luhan the warning glare.

 

“You do know I quitted my job in your school right?”

 

Sehun clicked his tongue. “Oh, that’s right. You can’t continue working as an intern anymore because the lizards on the ceiling keeps on distracting you and scares the hell out of you. Really? Lizards?”

 

“What? They were very annoying.”

 

“We don’t have lizards in school.”

 

Luhan looked away. “Of course you have. You just don’t see them.”

 

Sehun glared. “Luhan.”

 

“So,” The two turn their attention to the lady who had just finished roaming around the house. “What makes you think this couple can be good foster parents?”

 

Sehun crooked an eyebrow. “Foster parents?” He whispered but still obvious to be a bit shocked.

 

Luhan chose to ignore him. “Well, the woman…Baekhee, I’ve seen her hold a baby before—“ Lies. “—and she did a pretty good job. You know. Mother instincts.” He shrugged. “And Chanyeol is really good with kids.”

 

“That statement I can support. No matter how much of a real Chanyeol is, you gotta give credit to him for being natural with kids.” Sheun interrupted and then turned to Luhan with a glare. “Little boys, specifically.”

 

The lady nodded. “But aren’t they too busy to be foster parents? One’s a CEO, the other one’s the fiancé of a CEO.”

 

Luhan smiled. “This is exactly what they need!”

 

The lady smiled back. “So, when will they arrive?”

 

Luhan checked the time. “Right about…now.”

 

Sehun almost snapped his neck in turning to the door as soon as he heard a car parking outside. He turned back to Luhan who looked as proud of a mother with a genius son. “How did you know when they’ll arrive?”

 

“I know Baekhyun.” Luhan grinned.

 

Sehun turned back outside, to the window to see, and chuckled as soon as he saw Baekhee’s angry face and Chanyeol’s problematic face. “You are going to be in trouble.”

 

The door slammed open.

 

“WELL YOU!” Baekhyun screamed, dropping his bags on the floor as he does so.

 

The lady froze.

 

“LOOK! I DIDN’T MEAN TO SAY THAT! LISTEN TO ME!” Chanyeol follows, but after he carefully placed his bag on the couch.

 

“LISTEN TO YOURSELF YOU !”

 

Yuan walked in as if two adults yelling profanities to each other were the most natural thing in the world.

 

The little girl watched them with amusement.

 

Baekhyun turned to accommodate the sudden crowd behind him when he caught sight of the little girl staring up at him from the floor. His eyes widened.

 

“KITTY!”

 

“JIYOUNG?!”

 

“Jiyoung?” Chanyeol walked over.

 

Yuan peeked. “Ugh. A girl. Ewe.”

 

Baekhyun looked at Luhan and the rest. “WHAT THE IS GOING ON?”

 

--

 

One of the things Chanyeol failed to predict—not that he’s the type to predict, anyway—is that he’ll be completely exhausted by the time he reaches his room and the sight of his bed just magnetized his whole body into it and refused to let go, even when Sehun is trying to make a point by constantly distracting him with the noise the ball he’s playing with makes.

 

“So…you go on a three-day trip to a ski resort with a kid and the man of your dreams and you come home with a temper, an angry man of your dreams, matched with unnecesarry profanities?” Sehun said while thinking deeply. “Wow. So, what did you do?”

 

“Nothing. I did nothing.”

 

“Chanyeol.”

 

“Fine.” Chanyeol sighed. “I might or might not have insulted his favorite band accidentally.”

 

“Which is?”

 

“Girl’s Generation.”

 

Sehun snorted. “Really?”

 

“What? You know I randomly criticize people.”

 

“Not that. The insulting thingy. You know the last thing you’d do to impress the man of your dreams is to insult their interests.”

 

“I didn’t even know he likes GG!”

 

“I do.”

 

Chanyeol sat up. “Oh really? How?”

 

“I saw the posters in his room.”

 

“He does not—wait, you’ve been to his room?”

 

“Yeah. You haven’t?” Sehun smirked. “Ohh. Burn. I wonder why you’ve never been inside his room.”

 

“You’re lying. Why would he invite you to his room anyway?”

 

“Why would he not? We’re friends. Luhan’s my friend.”

 

“You’re just playing with me.”

 

“Someone’s jealous.”

 

“Oh Sehun.”

 

“Okay, he didn’t invite me in his room,” Sehun admitted. “But I went inside because I was helping Luhan too look for something…I think it was a pair of boxers. It was mixed with Baekhyun’s.”

 

Chanyeol snarled.

 

Sehun guffawed. “What?”

 

Chanyeol shook his head and sighed. “Nothing. Nevermind.”

 

“Oh, by the way,” Sehun opened Chanyeol’s drawer and fished out a pair of invitations. “This arrived yesterday.” He threw them beside Chanyeol.

 

Chanyeol grabbed them to see. “Invitations?”

 

“For your sister’s party.” Sehun went back to playing with the ball. “So, she finally set a date, huh?”

 

“Hmm,” Chanyeol hummed. “I almost forgot about this,”

 

“I think this party is going to be fun,” Sehun grinned.

 

 

--

 

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA.” Baekhyun laughed sarcastically. “LULU, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?!”

 

“Wait—why am I doing what?”

 

“You expect me to take care of Jiyoung?!” Baekhyun reasoned. “I already have my hands full with Yuan!”

 

“What are you talking about? It’s been a week already. Yuan’s going home,” Luhan stated as if nobody cared at all but that wasn’t the case obviously.

 

“Huh,” Baekhyun breathed. “You’re kidding,”

 

“I’m not. I read online that Yunho’s home from Amsterdam,” Luhan squinted at Baekhyun. “You forgot about it didn’t you?” Now he’s grinning like some ignorant .

 

Baekhyun inhaled deeply and crossed his arms. “Okay, and then? That doesn’t mean you have to give me another kid to take care of.”

 

“Well, it’s only a day.” Luhan leaned closer to whisper. “Gyuri, Chanyeol’s sister and Jiyoung’s mother, apparently left Jiyoung at the orphanage for a day so that she can prepare for the party without any problems. Then, she made a memo to bring Jiyoung here so that Chanyeol and his fiancé can look after her while she’s busy.”

 

Baekhyun didn’t need a minute to process the idiocy in the statement. “You do realize that it would be easier if she asked directly, right?”

 

Luhan shrugged cluelessly. “I’m just a messenger,”

 

“Yeah, and it makes me wonder if whatever came out from your mouth was legit,” Baekhyun walked to the living room, leaving a dumbfounded Luhan to enjoy the bread he pasted with mayo on his own, not even caring that some of the mayo was dripping from his mouth because he felt like a puppy being rejected by his master.

 

--

 

Korea is a great place, Yixing concluded. This is his first time in Korea after all so it gave him a different feeling as compared to his usual travels to the other parts of Europe or his homeland, China. The hotel he’s staying at is impressive as well, their meals were magnificent and the interior didn’t make him feel the least uncomfortable at all. If anything, the atmosphere was very relaxing.

 

There was a knock on his door. He opened the door and was greeted by a familiar face he just met last night.

 

“Is visiting a client one of the Vice President’s jobs now?” Yixing asked in almost perfect Korean that Kai was tempted to clap but it was unethical so why bother.

 

“Nope. But it’s what responsible Vice Presidents do.” Kai answered flawlessly.

 

Yixing moved aside to let Kai in.

 

“You do know that your company is not the only one vying for the Van der Gilt deal, right?” Yixing informed once they’ve settled on the couch area of the room.

 

“I am perfectly aware,” Kai leaned comfortable on the couch. “We consider the Wu Industries as our toughest contenders,”

 

“So,” Yixing took a sip from the coffee he was saving earlier. “Why is that I haven’t met your CEO yet?”

 

“He just came back from a vacation with his fiancé,” Kai informed. “I think you’ll be able to meet him at his sister’s party,”

 

Yixing nodded and grabbed the invitation from the table. “Hm, Gyuri huh? That fashion designer. He’s got quite a family.”

 

“The Parks are very influencing,” Kai reasoned. While Yixing takes another sip from his coffee, Kai noticed the folder on the table near the plate where he placed his cup. “What’s that?”

 

Yixing peeked. He finished drinking before entertaining Kai’s question. “Members of the Van der Gilt,” He took the folder and gave it to Kai. “It’s not rocket science or a classified murder case.” He stated when he noticed Kai’s hesitancy to take the folder.

 

Kai finally took them and then scanned them, feeling astonished at the unfamiliar faces, especially at the fact that they were mixed and had sophisticated beauties. “Edward, the CEO,”

 

“Quite the Casanova,” Yixing said, his voice sounding a bit lighter. “There have been talks about how many women he had slept with. Of course this isn’t something not worth to share to strangers,”

 

Kai chuckled. “Who’s this?”

 

“Amanda, Sir Edward’s wife, obviously,”

 

“So,” Kai croaked, taking a last look at the papers before finally turning his attention on Yixing. “Excuse me for asking but…if Sir Edward has four sons, why is it that none of them came with you to represent Van der Gilt?”

 

Yixing put his cup down the table and sighed. “The eldest, Tristan, is a Doctor of Medicine, Arthur’s an engineering student and Leo’s well…he’s 10.” He shrugged as if he has successfully supplied a full elaborative explanation Kai was asking for. “There’s absolutely no way one of them can come here and represent their father’s company without talking about genetics, buildings or…Halo.”

 

Kai clicked his tongue. “Yeah okay,” He paused when he noticed another page being completely ignored. “How about him? No photo? Hmm.”

 

“Who?” Yixing leaned closer.

 

“Uh…Elliot?”

 

Face rigid, like the face of a man in the grip of a barely controlled rage, Yixing leaned back on his seat. “He’s um…” His hesitation was off the hook. Kai thought of cutting the conversation there since it seemed like it was hard for Yixing to speak of the said man but that little act of puckering his lips made tells him he’s building up courage to do so. “He’s been…missing,”

 

Kai raised both of his eyebrows. “Missing?”

 

Yixing’s face had fallen into a waffle, as if he had released something heavy in his heart. “Yeah…for three years. It’s funny right? I mean, we should be able to track him down but you know, even though we could, it’s hard to force yourself to do so when you know you completely symphatize him for running away,” He inhaled deeply. “I know he wouldn’t want to go back.”

 

“I-I’m sorry,”

 

“No, no,” Yixing chuckled, hiding his grimace. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t get too emotional. It’s just that this place reminds me of him,”

 

“This place? Why?”

 

“He’s Korean,” Yixing shrugged. “Everyday, Elliot would talk about his desire to come back here.”

 

“Then…” Kai’s face softened, as if symphatizing with Yixing. “Wouldn’t he be here?”

 

“No, this is the first place we searched the moment he went missing,” Yixing answered. “He’s not here. I don’t know where he is. We’re not even sure if he’s still alive,”

 

“Is that why there’s no photo of him here?”

 

“Well, that must just be my staff’s error,” Yixing laughed, a complete opposite of his expression earlier. “I’ll send you a picture. He’s adorable. You might even think so.”

 

“Really? Do I have a chance?” Kai played along. “Wait, he’s legal right?”

 

Yixing snatched the paper from Jongin and smirked. “He’s mine,”

 

Kai whistled in astonishment.

 

--

 

Baekhyun really, totally, undeniably, absolutely hates it when Luhan is right. But right now, he feels a certain amount of hatred building inside his body towards the limo waiting outside Chanyeol’s house and that big ol’ Chanyeol is conversing with. He fixes Yuan’s collar before proceeding to his hair. “I’m only going home,” Yuan croaked although he knows that Baekhyun is only doing what he’s doing because he felt really heavy when Chanyeol told him two hours ago that Yunho is coming to pick Yuan up with a limo. To be fair, Yuan feels uneasy too. He was starting to like the company. It would be hard for a kid to be forced to withdraw from something he’s starting to get familiarize with. But of course, Baekhyun wouldn’t want to visit the court or go to jail.

 

Baekhyun sighs. “Listen, don’t forget to brush your teeth for at least two minutes, okay?” Yuan nodded. “And slow down with the ice cream. Too many ice creams are bad for you.”

 

“Okay hyung,”

 

Baekhyun’s face fell into calmness, softening like wax too close to the flame. “You’re gonna miss me right?”

 

Yuan snorted. “You wish,”

 

Baekhyun’s mouth opened slightly, like a fish.

 

“Of course I will,” Yuan said immediately. “I kinda like eating burnt eggs now,”

 

Baekhyun’s face lit up, like a terrible glow of a flame. He pulled Yuan into a tight hug. “You’re adorable even though you’re so annoying.”

 

The door creaked open and Chanyeol entered. He stopped when he caught sight of two of his most favorite persons. “Oh group hug!” He attempted to join in but of course Baekhyun’s hand was fast enough to slam his face away. “Aw. Okay.”

 

Baekhyun smiled at Chanyeol before breaking his hug with Yuan. Chanyeol walked over to the couch where Yuan’s bags are resting. “Are these all your things, Yuan?”

 

Yuan turned to him and nodded. Chanyeol paused when a familiar plushie graced his sight. He picked it up and turned to Yuan. “You’re bringing Rilakkuma?”

 

“Baekhyun hyung said it’s okay,”

 

Chanyeol glared at Baekhyun. “My Rilakkuma?”

 

“Yes, Chanyeol,” Baekhyun said with a look of intense mirth spread over his face. “He’s bringing your Rilakkuma,”

 

Chanyeol pursed his lips. He was having a mental argument inside his head between throwing a tantrum and being a good adult and let the kid feel the joy of having a plushie. Baekhyun’s piercing look made it easier for him to choose the latter and not the former. “Okay,” He nodded and looked away. “If that’s…what you want…I’ll give you my plushie…”

 

Yuan walked over to take the plushie. And as soon as he did, he immediately did something to make Chanyeol regret his decision. “Well, it’s mine now,” He said and turned around to walk to the door, leaving a dumbfounded Chanyeol thinking about his future.

 

Baekhyun approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder while trying to hold back his laughter because Chanyeol has this sad puppy look and it’s obvious who’s at fault. “You have a like a hundred of them in the basement,”

 

“99,” Chanyeol corrected.

 

Baekhyun rolled his eyes. “Oh for Christ’s sake, you’re 21.” He sighed. “Just bring the bags outside,”

 

“99,” Chanyeol repeated as Baekhyun walks away. “99,” And again. “99,”

 

“Just bring the bags in here Chanyeol!” Baekhyun yelled from behind the door. “,”

 

--

 

“If I’m given a chance to be reborn, I wouldn’t want to be Elliot,”

 

“It ,”

 

“It’s not me,”

 

“I hate it,”

 

Yixing’s eyes snapped open into wake. He knew he shouldn’t have opened up about Elliot. It always gives him nightmares. But no matter how many years have passed, his heart still longed for his presence, like a baby to a mother or vice versa. And no what, he knows the pain will always be there.

 

--

 

One day has passed since Yuan went home. Baekhyun really have to stop feeling as if he just lost his child. So, he pushed the sheets off his chest and sat up. It was then that it occurred to him that there’s a man sleeping beside him, humming his decadence. His face, as his lips break into a genuine bright smile, unfolds like a peony as he stares at Chanyeol’s sleeping face, eyelids rested and mouth opened slightly. His hair was a mess, an indicator that he had been to many positions before deciding into this one. He looked really peaceful, like a child sleeping in its grief. He could stare at Chanyeol forever and a day.

 

He doesn’t know when he started feeling this way—maybe somewhere in between Chanyeol’s dumb attempts to make him smile (and obviously always ends with an exchange of profanities and stupid arguments) and his subtle attempt to crawl into Baekhyun’s heart with the small gestures Chanyeol thinks he doesn’t see. Chanyeol moans closer to him, hugging the pillow between his arms while tucking his body into the sufficient warmth the sheets provide. Baekhyun lifted his hand and brushed his hair when a sudden annoying son of noise interrupted his morning solitude.

 

Son of a—

 

“What the ,” He cursed under his breath. “Is that a drill?”

 

Chanyeol’s face lifted up with his eyes half open. “What—“

 

“You’re dreaming. Go back to sleep.”

 

“Okay…” Chanyeol lied back down and fell into a slumber in just seconds.

 

Baekhyun went off the bed and walked down the stairs as fast as he could and immediately slammed the door open, inhaling in the process, to say as calm as possible,

 

 “HEY! SHUT THE UP OR I’LL RIP YOUR HEAD OFF!”

 

That’s as calm as he could get, apparently.

 

The driller immediately stopped and the rest of the neighborhood (including an amused Luhan and his slave Sehun) stared at him. “Wow,” He heard the driller say even though he’s far. “You’re right.” He said to Luhan who was standing close. “He’s not a morning person.”

 

“Excuse me—“ Baekhyun finally walked over.

 

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d see it this early,” Luhan chuckled.

 

“Lulu, what is going on? Why is he digging holes in our frontyard?” Baekhyun scrunched when he caught sight of Jiyoung. “Jiyoung!” He immediately pulled Jiyoung closer. “What are you doing out here so early…with these weird people?”

 

“Ouch.” Luhan and Sehun said in unison.

 

“It’s dangerous.”

 

“Uh, well sorry, Mom,” Luhan kid. “Anyway, our pipes our broken. I can’t use any of the faucets.”

 

“So you called a driller…to dig holes in our front yard…because our pipes are broken,” Somehow Baekhyun made it sound like a stupid idea.

 

“His idea,” Luhan pointed at Sehun. “Trust him. He’s an engineer,”

 

“That’s what everybody says,” Baekhyun retorted. Sehun pouted.

 

“Why are you grumpy?”

 

“Well, you just disturbed a sleeping person. Have you no consideration?”

 

“Baekhyun, it’s 10 AM,”

 

Baekhyun just realized why there are people already walking around the neighborhood. “Oh, well, I was sleeping, so—“

 

“Don’t be silly. You don’t sleep in. No matter how much you try, you always wake up before 9 am.” Luhan stated as a fact. Then his face broke into a sinister smile. “It’s not you, is it?”

 

Baekhyun crooked his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

 

“It’s Chanyeol, right?” Luhan inquired with an annoying grin. “Chanyeol was sleeping and you don’t want that giant to be disturbed?”

 

“Please, you know that’s not true,”

 

Luhan smirked. “Oh…I know what’s true.”

 

Baekhyun turned away. “You’re weird!” He started walking away while carrying Jiyoung in his arms.

 

“Oppa your face is red!”

 

“Shut up,”

 

Luhan watched Baekhyun with an amused expression while Sehun tried to recall what just happened. “Does he…?”

 

“He does,” Luhan confirms. “I know him.”

 

“Oh then…that’s a bit of a problem to Kai,”

 

“Why?”

 

“Kai likes Baekhyun.”

 

Luhan choked on humid air. “Kai what?”

 

“He likes Baekhyun. He told me like…a month ago,” Sehun stated and Luhan’s mouth shaped into a grin.

 

The grin left Luhan’s face and was replaced by the sort of amusement that rings like a coin slapped on a bar, and then finally broke into loud fits of laughter. “That son of a ,”

 

--

 

Chanyeol’s lanky figure near the stairs, matched with dismantled sun-kissed hair, and his deep yawn, greeted Baekhyun as soon as the latter entered the premise. “Baekhyun?” Chanyeol called, rubbing his eye.

 

“Oh,” Baekhyun looked up after bringing Jiyoung down. “Good morning,”

 

“You were…outside?”

 

“Yeah, I went to look for Jiyoung,”

 

“Oppa!” Jiyoung ran up to Chanyeol. Chanyeol bended down to catch her when she came and immediately carried her. “Good morning!”

 

“Good morning!” Chanyeol greeted back with a big smile. “Why were you outside?”

 

Jiyoung shrugged. “Baekhyun oppa’s face was red earlier!”

 

Chanyeol blinked. “Baekhyun’s face was r—“

 

“Okay! I’m making breakfast,” Baekhyun immediately turned away to avoid the topic Jiyoung had brought up.

 

But of course, with Chanyeol’s long legs, he was fast enough to block the way to the kitchen. “No, I’m making breakfast.”

 

“You are?”

 

“Here,” Chanyeol passed Jiyoung to Baekhyun carefully. “Just give her a bath. I have to go somewhere afterwards. I think you should stay in your own house. Don’t worry. I’ll be home by dinner. And I’m going to cook dinner!”

 

I think you should die. Baekhyun felt like a rejected puppy even though there was no reason to feel such…ugly feeling, at all. “Okay,” He breathed. “That’s…perfect.” He walked to the stairs with an unwanted pain dragging behind him. “Let’s take a bath, Jiyoung,” Jiyoung giggles.

 

--

 

One of the things Luhan proved to be Baekhyun’s asset is his ability to create a perfect scheme you don’t even doubt about it afterwards. It’s like he’s this little ball of L and Kira mixed together, minus the death note, and when it happens, it just happens. Like manipulating people is an everyday occurrence for Baekhyun. And Baekhyun always have all the fun and Luhan doesn’t because he’s always part of the scheme and he doesn’t even realize that until Baekhyun brags about it during their Saturday night-outs. But this time is different. This time Baekhyun has no idea whatsoever of whatever scheme was planned by a giant noodle-head living beside their home. And Luhan grins because he’s part of it but this time he actually knows he’s part of it.

 

Right now, they’re in the middle of trying to decide what channel to watch on TV.

 

Baekhyun has the remote control just because.

 

“Baekhyun,” Luhan called to overfocused Baekhyun sending daggers to the screen. “We’ve been changing channels for over 30 minutes, stop on Disney for god’s sakes.”

 

“I am not watching Disney…especially with you. You get all giggly and I get all….nauseous.”

 

“Don’t I get to decide? It’s my TV.”

 

“It’s not your TV when I pay for half of the electric bill.”

 

Luhan snorts. “Oh, so now you’re concerned about our bills?”

 

Baekhyun rolled his eyes and threw the remote control on the couch, wherein Luhan gasped. “This ,” He breathed hopelessly.

 

Luhan smirks. “Does it because you don’t normally watch TV or—“

 

“I have a feeling you’re about to make an annoying assumption.”

 

“—does it because during this time of the day you’re either screaming at Chanyeol or ing over the fact that he’s so cute?”

 

“Neither,” Baekhyun glares. “A-and why are you always doing that? You’ve been doing it since morning!”

 

“Doing what?” Luhan asked, feigning innocence.

 

“That!” Baekhyun accused. “Like you’re trying to push me to admit that I like Chanyeol! I don’t like him, okay? I don’t even think anyone’s ever going to like him!” He crossed his arms and looked away with an annoyed face.

 

“Kitty likes Chanyeol oppa!”

 

Both Baekhyun and Luhan almost snapped their faces in turning to the stairs where the tiny voice came from. “Hey, Jiyoung,” Luhan greets.

 

Baekhyun, on the other hand, couldn’t care less. “Oh great, she’s awake,”

 

“Well, I wasn’t the one who’s screaming,” Luhan mumbled. Jiyoung ran to them and jumped on the spot between them.

 

“Jiyoung, I don’t like Chanyeol, okay?”

 

“Really?” Jiyoung asked cutely. “But Chanyeol oppa likes Baekhyun oppa!”

 

“What—“

 

Luhan laughs then.

 

“Wow,” Baekhyun nods. “It’s amazing how kids can lie these days,”

 

“Kids don’t lie, Baekhyun,” Luhan turned to Jiyoung with a proud grin. “How did you know Chanyeol likes Baekhyun?”

 

Baekhyun’s mouth opens. “Seriously?”

 

“Hmmm…” Jiyoung crooned. “Chanyeol oppa said Baekhyun oppa is very pretty!” She placed both her hands under her chin and smiled.

 

“Awww.”

 

“Okay, hold on,” Baekhyun interrupted. “Chanyeol probably meant his fiancé,”

 

“But aren’t Baekhyun oppa Chanyeol oppa’s fiancé?”

 

Baekhyun’s mouth drops. He threw his hands on the air in disbelief.

 

“You really are Chanyeol’s niece!” Luhan said while laughing loudly.

 

--

 

Snack time has always been Baekhyun’s favorite time of the day.

 

He’s always the first one to yell ‘I’m having cheese bread!’ when it’s obvious that no one’s vying for the same thing given that Luhan is in a strict diet (which is why Baekhyun’s the only one with a fat tummy).

 

And he’ll always have that grin while preparing his snack and a satisfied look when he’s done.

 

But this time, Luhan sees nothing.

 

Baekhyun is just standing there, putting peanut butter and jelly on the bread as lame as he could be.

 

But what intrigued him the most is the fact that Baekhyun doesn’t even realize how he instantly turns to the window whenever a car passes by in hope for it to be Chanyeol. Baekhyun only noticed something was up when he saw Luhan smirking at him.

 

“What? What now?” Baekhyun asks immediately.

 

Another car and Luhan leans to the side to look, in complete synchronicity with Baekhyun. When Baekhyun looked back at him, Luhan was snickering. “Okay, stop. What? What did I do now?”

 

“You’ve been…secretly wishing that the next car that’ll pass by is Chanyeol’s.”

 

“I do not—“ Baekhyun paused. “Okay, fine, maybe a little. But it’s been what? 5 hours since he left. And he usually pops out of nowhere during this time of the day. There’s nothing wrong with wondering. E.g when you have a hen that lays eggs every four hours, and suddenly it doesn’t, aren’t you going to wonder why?”

 

Luhan clicked his tongue. “I call it…missing someone.”

 

“You’re going to miss your hen laying eggs?”

 

“What? No! I wasn’t pertaining to the hen! Oh for Christ’s sake,” Luhan exclaims.

 

“Oh. Well, the hen was my example.”

 

“Well, I wasn’t talking about the hen,” Luhan sighed. “Look, just admit it that you like—“

 

“I DO N—“

 

“—STARTING TO LIKE Chanyeol,”

 

There was a pause. “That’s the same thing,”

 

“It’s not,” Luhan argued. “You know, it won’t hurt being honest once in a while.”

 

Baekhyun turned to the sink, for the sake of avoiding that pleading gaze Luhan always displays when asking for something like being honest once in a while, and placed his cup on the cold concrete beside the sink. As he stares at his reflection on the window glass, a lonely face, pulled in like rain off the wild stretches, is staring back at him. There are a million reasons why he’s trying so hard to cover himself with the reputation of being someone so distinctively temperant, easy to anger, always throws tantrums at any given time of the day.

 

He’s not just trying to protect himself, he’s trying to protect everyone from himself. He can’t afford to be weak. His mother was weak, his father was weak, and look what it did to him? There’s no option but there was a choice.

 

“B,” Luhan called, as if sensing the atmosphere that had fallen to the ground, like gravity pulling in the hope of having wings. “Chanyeol likes you. You can’t just keep on pushing people away—“

 

“But he can’t!” Baekhyun yelled. He lowered his head, his sight unfit for such pitied image of himself on the window. “You know the reason why.” He turned around to look at Luhan, to show Luhan how equally hard all of this is for him. He’s not made up of stone. He has a heart. He can feel. “What if he…what if he finds out about…” His voice trailed off.

 

“But that’s how you’ll know! B, if he really likes you…” Luhan says as he chases Baekhyun to the living room. “…it wouldn’t matter to him—“

 

“WHAT—” Baekhyun turned to him, voice breathed in an exhausted manner. “—is so interesting in my love life that you always have to stick your nose into it?! Luhan, it’s not for you to decide! I’m at fault! It’s me! I don’t know how to change! I’m always going to try and push people away!” He was catching his breath, as if his whole life had been a marathon. “I’ll just hurt him.”

 

Even though what Baekhyun said is true, Luhan, of all people, know that what he’s trying to push away is exactly what he also needs the most.

 

“You’re right,” But for someone like Baekhyun, acceptance never comes around that easy. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have.”

 

“Yeah, you shouldn’t have, but you know,” It was amusing how Baekhyun’s face changed from distraught to an expression he usually has on. “You’re the only person I decided to drag around with me for three years and also the only person who can stand my iness and my tantrums,”

 

Luhan looked at him expectantly. “So…?”

 

“Still, you shouldn’t have,” Baekhyun walked to the stairs.

 

Luhan dropped his mouth open. “Oh okay. Uh, well, you’re welcome!” He chuckled and shook his head.

 

--

 

One of the perks of working as…whatever occupation fits your personality…at the Park Estate is that you always get to have the whole mansion all by yourself given that Gyuri is always around Europe, Mrs. Park is always on vacation, Mr. Park’s dead and Chanyeol has his own house that isn’t as big as half of the Park Mansion. But during this time of the year, it feels like all of the Park’s dead relatives had come back to life with all the screaming and yelling going on inside the mansion that the workers doesn’t even want to clean the graveyard behind the mansion nor step inside the mansion itself.

 

“YOU’RE HAVING THE REPRESENTATIVE OF VAN DER GILT IN MY PARTY AND ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS YOUR STUPID SONG NUMBER?!”

 

Gyuri yells, for the third time since Chanyeol arrived.

 

“Last year you said my song number was amazing,” Chanyeol pouts.

 

“Oh yeah? Well not this year.” Gyuro proceeds inside their huge dining are where she was supposed to do a taste test for tomorrow night’s party and Chanyeol’s starting to think she’s actually getting married. Well, maybe this is like a…warm up? Since Gyuri’s engaged and all.

 

And he is too, apparently, to a non-existant female species hiding beneath a male species. Tonight, he’s about to make the biggest attempt to romance in his life. And for once, he actually wants Gyuri, that person who always slams his door open during high school, interrupting his one-night stands, to support him. So he’s slumped back on a chair while Gyuri walks around the long table to taste the meals and Gyuri hates it when Chanyeol has that kicked puppy face on.

 

Gyuri inhaled deeply. “Okay, Chanyeol, what do you want?”

 

Chanyeol looks up with a little hope. But then he expects Gyuri to know what he actually wants because they’re siblings duh so he doesn’t talk. Yet.

 

There was silence, the only sound being the papers Gyuri is flipping over repeatedly in attempt to ignore Chanyeol’s obvious pleading eyes and—“Alright fine, I’m letting you set up the fireworks.” Gyuri finally says while dropping the papers on the table.

 

“YEY!” Chanyeol transformed to a kid basically when he jumps out of his seat to give Gyuri the tightest hug she will never ever want to experience again. “Thanks noona!” He yells before scurrying out of the room, grabbing a cupcake or two in the process.

 

“Don’t call me noona!” Gyuri inquires before Chanyeol completely disappears behind the door. “Idiot,”

 

--

 

It’s 4 PM. And 4 PM for Luhan is watch-a-corny-boring--Disney-movie time (as Baekhyun had nicely put it). And all three of them, him, Jiyoung, and Luhan are slouched on the couch, popcorn ready while Baekhyun has a paper ready in case of projectile vomiting. Everybody knows that other than chick flicks, he hates fairy tales.

 

“Anastasia,” Baekhyun says after reading the title. Luhan hums an ‘mm-hm’ without looking at him and grabs popcorn. “Anastasia,” He repeated but this time Luhan is quiet. “Anastasia,”

 

“Oh for Christ’s sake Baekhyun, it’s not a fairy tale!” Luhan finally explodes.

 

“Of course it is,” Baekhyun argues. “They just don’t make it obvious.”

 

“Okay shut up, it’s starting.”

 

Baekhyun hangs for a moment, awkwardly shifting through various positions, until Rasputin graced the screen. “Anastasia—“

 

“GET OUT BAEKHYUN,”

 

Baekhyun gasps. “For the record, you cannot order me around inside the house I pay half for and out of the couch I bought and—“

 

Luhan groans lowly like a hyena gifted with Chanyeol’s voice. “Get out or I’m going to burn all your eyeliners!”

 

In just a matter of seconds, Baekhyun is out of the door.

 

--

 

This .

 

Baekhyun thinks as he kicks the pebble off the ground somewhere around his neighborhood. He doesn’t even kow that the subdivision is like really big, with swing sets scattered around, and really pretty flowers and the trees are like relaxing and someone pressed the horn—son of a !

 

Baekhyun jumped up in shock.

 

“Sorry!”

 

He turned to the road and saw Kai leaning on the car door with a smirk.

 

“Kai? What are you doing here?”

 

“I was going to check on Chanyeol…he’s not, um, answering his home phone and he’s not in the office. I came by your house to ask if you know where he is and I don’t know, Luhan kicked me out and yelled ‘Baekhyun went out! Go find the !’.”

 

Baekhyun laughed loudly. “He didn’t.”

 

Kai shrugged. “So, I’m guessing I’m not going to find that giant anywhere and get my task done. Wanna come with me? Luhan also said you’re bored.”

 

“Well, yeah, who wants to watch Disney with him, anyway?” Baekhyun walked to opposite side of the car and welcomed himself in. “It’s been a long time since I rode your car,” He stated after successfully wearing the seatbelt.

 

“Yeah well, my car misses you,” Kai chuckled and started driving away.

 

“So, where are we going?”

 

“I passed by the cinema earlier and uh, I realized it’s been a long time since I actually watched a movie. Do you want to watch a movie?” Kai asked, glancing at Baekhyun.

 

“Of course. Anything as long as it’s not Disney.”

 

--

 

The movie Kai picked apparently was Warm Bodies, which is good because it’s about zombies and Nicholas Hoult is ing hot and the music’s probably one of the best soundtracks he ever heard. The interesting thing, Kai concludes, is that whenever Nicholas Hoult appears to be the iest man on the planet on one scene, Baekhyun is the first one to shriek and giggle, like a high schooler. The sight amuses him more than zombies’ hearts beating finally.

 

“It’s amazing what love can do, right?” Baekhyun blurts out, eyes fixed on the screen wherein the movie ended apparently and only the cast and characters are left. “I really think romance is corny. But I wonder if I will think the same once I experience it.”

 

Kai relaxes on his seat, ignoring the people’s noises while walking down the stairs. “You’ve never been in love?”

 

“No,” Baekhyun was fast to answer. “Somehow I don’t want to be.”

 

Kai crooked his eyebrows. “Why not?”

 

“I don’t know. I’m scared of getting hurt. I don’t want to be indulged in something that might be taken away from me someday,” Baekhyun smiles, but there’s a frown beneath the curve. “My dad…was really miserable when mom died. I don’t know what I would do…if that’ll happen to me,”

 

“You say that but you’ll never know. There’s always that one person that you’re willing to sacrifice everything for,” Kai sighed, taking in the silence after the people had dispersed. Baekhyun was silent too, probably having a lot of things going in his mind. So, Kai stood up. “Want to have some more fun?”

 

Fun, for Kai, is apparently located in a big open store that says ‘ARCADE’ outside. Kai just drags Baekhyun inside and eventually they found an unoccupied ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ machine at the corner. Kai inserted two coins and a Japanese female voice immediately graced their ears. Kai pressed everything randomly though to start the game immediately.

 

“I don’t usually play this!” Baekhyun tells him beneath the loud music.

 

“That’s okay! That’s what makes it fun!” Kai replies with a big grin.

 

The game finally starts and Baekhyun is less than ready but he plays anyway. It started with a few simple steps but somehow with Kai dancing beside him, he looked like a loser. Then it started getting complicated he can’t even keep with the arrows anymore and he’s shrieking in panic while stepping on random arrows. Kai, on the other hand, is effortlessly following the arrows like his feet are actually being magnetized. Eventually, Baekhyun drifts away and Kai’s left alone playing the game. A crowd started building behind him and there was no one to blame, Kai is practically on fire for playing two persons.

 

Baekhyun couldn’t help but smile widely while watching Kai do what he likes to do the most. It’s as if he shut everything off just to dance. Eventually, the music came to an end and the game finishes with applause rising behind him. Kai turned around, surprised to find such a crowd behind him, appreciating his skills, but he smiles at them anyway and says a series of thank you’s.

 

Once they’re finally out of the arcade, they hang around Kai’s car in the parking lot. Kai took off his shirt because he was sweating like a freaking fountain. “Here,” Baekhyun walks towards him, throwing a bottle of water in the process. Kai catches it with one hand while the other is occupied in wiping the sweat off his chest with his shirt. Baekhyun leaned on the hood, just beside Kai. “So, you had fun?” Baekhyun asks with a wide smile.

 

Kai smiled shyly. “Yeah. It’s been a while. Usually Sehun comes with me but we’re busy now.”

 

“You know Luhan told me you can dance but I didn’t think you dance so well.” Baekhyun admitted in awe. “Why did you stop?”

 

Kai was caught off guard. “What?”

 

“I mean, for someone who’s so skilled in dancing, I’m sure you were part of a dance screw or team or something. I don’t know.” Baekhyun shrugs. “It’s just that, I don’t hear you brag about dancing so…”

 

“Oh, uh…” Kai lowered his head and fiddled with the water bottle. “Things changed, I guess. You always have to sacrifice something.”

 

“Hmm. Maybe that’s the case,”

 

Kai phone rang and he quickly fished it out to read a message. “Ugh. The secretary just called. I guess I’m needed.”

 

“You’re going back to work in this state?”

 

“Yeah, I have a spare polo shirt at the back,” Kai said while walking to the driver’s seat. “So, I’m going to drop you off. Do you want to buy something before going home?”

 

“No,” Baekhyun shook his head and walked to the passenger’s seat. He stops when an image of Chanyeol’s stupid kicked puppy face suddenly appeared in his mind. “Actually, I do want to buy something. Do you happen to know a store where they sell Rilakkuma plushies?”

 

Kai snorted. “When you’re friends with Chanyeol, you’ll know every store that sells them. Come on, I’ll take you there.”

 

“Thanks,”

 

Kai winks. “Anything for you,”

 

The thing is Kai is never the vocal type. And he doesn’t know how to read other people’s feelings either.

 

--

 

Baekhyun’s left at the store, apparently, as what fate had decided to play. Kai really had to go back to work so before leaving, he assured that Baekhyun can take are of himself. Baekhyun argued with ‘I’m older than you’ which turned out very well. To be honest, he doesn’t really know what he’s doing inside a store, surrounded with so many Rilakkuma stuffed toys. It’s even more awkward because he’s alone while other people have kids with them.

 

He walks around the place, trying to find something fit to give to Chanyeol—oh. So that’s why I’m here.

 

Huh.

 

Funny.

 

Why would I give Chanyeol a stuffed toy?

 

Huh.

 

Oh, that one’s cute.

 

Baekhyun picked up a plushie he found really cute near the corner. Another stuffed toy fell down as he did. A small puppy plushie to be exact. After having a mental debate between his heart and his mind, he picked both toys and walked to the counter, slammed the toys in front of the lazy counter lady.

 

“Is there anyway for these two toys to be together?”

 

The counter lady was obviously surprised. “…buy them?”

 

“No, I mean, is there a way for your staff to like…put both of them together? Like this,” Baekhyun placed the little puppy on Rilakkuma’s chest. “Like Rilakkuma’s hugging the puppy or something? Like, stitch them together?”

 

The counter lady smirked, opened the drawer, and pulled out a stitching kit. “Stitch them on your own,”

 

“But…I don’t know how to stitch—“

 

“Go,” The counter lady pushed Baekhyun away. “There are customers behind you,”

 

Baekhyun pouted as he lazily drags his feet to the corner of the store.

 

I mean, there’s nothing wrong with trying, right?

 

So he just sat there and started figuring out how to do things. He only knows a thing or two about stitching. He ditched Home Economics class several times and the only thing he actually learned there was how to cook, which is the most useful thing he knew until now. Anyway, he started with inserting the thread on the small hole of the needle and locked it. It surprised him how he still remembers how to lock the thread.

 

And that’s the only thing he can probably be proud it since after three hours of stitching, and re-stitching, while constantly injuring his fingers, the best that could have happen is having the puppy successfully stitched on Rilakkuma’s chest but a bit leaned to the side. “Oh good lord,” Baekhyun huffs.

 

“Better than nothing right?” The counter lady said beside him. “Here,” She gave the third box of band-aids to Baekhyun.

 

“Thanks,” Baekhyun smiles as he takes the box. He put a band-aid on three of his injured fingers on each hand. Then he accidentally glanced on his watch only to find the time shocking. “! It’s already 10 PM?!”

 

The counter lady stepped aside. “Yeah, 10:30 to be exact.”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll be home by dinner. And I’m going to cook dinner!”

 

Baekhyun gasps. “CHANYEOL!” He quickly organized his things and scurried out to the door, not forgetting to thank the lady for letting him have the plushies for free of course. He immediately called a cab and yelled at him, ordering him to drive as fast as he can, which is quite useless now since it’s quarter to 11 and dinner’s passed. His hand hurts because of how tight he was gripping the plushie but the only thing he cares about at the moment was getting home…to Chanyeol.

 

But then he slightly feels guilty for not thanking the cab driver after he had slammed the door so hard when he finally arrived. He opened the door quite calmly, and the first thing he found was Jiyoung sleeping soundly on the couch. He tiptoes towards her to fix the blanket that almost fell to the floor.

 

Then when he turned, he didn’t think he’d find Chanyeol sleeping on the table, with a used candle on the middle of the plates of meals cooked.

 

Was this supposed to be family dinner or…?

 

Baekhyun walks towards him slowly, his head was turned back to him so he can’t really see his sleeping face. It was the first time Baekhyun felt so…real. Like, really real. Something like what R felt in the movie, Warm Bodies. He sits on the chair across Chanyeol’s where he can see the giant’s face, sleeping so peacefully, like the same sight as the morning earlier. He just stayed there and leaned on the table, their heads close to each other, and he can’t help but smile at Chanyeol. His hand is behind his head and he unconsciously touches Chanyeol’s hair, brushing them softly. It feels good to fall apart like this, to just fall and keep on falling. Baekhyun can feel himself falling. It would be nicer if someone actually catches him.

 

And something tells him, someone will.

 

--

 

Kai was fiddling with the files on his desk, with a coffee on the other hand, when an e-mail appeared on his desktop screen and a printing sound from his fax machine followed.

 

From: Zhang.Yixing

To: Kim_Kai

 

Sent you Elliot’s pretty face.

Not really sure why but oh well.

It’s nice to claim someone.

 

See you and your boss tomorrow night.

 

Zhang Yixing

Representative from Van der Gilt Corporation

 

Kai snorts and deletes the message.

 

He walked to the fax machine to take a look at the picture that was sent to him.

 

As soon as he saw those familiar feline-like eyes and rosy lips, his coffee slipped off from his hand, and even the sound of the glass breaking doesn’t bother him.

 

“,” He curses, lips went white, like a person who has received a stunning blow without warning and who, in the first moments of shock, does not realize what has happened. “No ing way,”

 

---

 

a/n:

something is actually happening to yeol's love life because i love you guys so much

 

i'll just leave him here just because

- gelie