---

 

 

Chanyeol woke up with a painful rib, apparently. He knew he should’ve just gone out last night when he started dozing off to avoid falling asleep. There was no way you can avoid sleep. The warmth coming from across him feels a bit different so he looked up. What he didn’t expect to find was Baekhyun’s face leaning so close to his, he can even feel his hot breath. As usual, he couldn’t help but smile, like really wide it looked creepy. He slowly sat up and that’s when he noticed the band-aids on Baekhyun’s fingers and the plushie sitting near him.

 

It’s these unexpected events that make his heart skip a beat and also what makes him fall for Baekhyun even more. Sometimes, he thinks it’s not healthy anymore. He stood up and walked towards one of the cabinets near the fridge, making the tiniest sounds as possible, and grabbed the first-aid kit.

 

--

 

Baekhyun woke up and found Chanyeol nowhere, so just leans his head there lazily, and turns to the front lazily and his eyes went wide. His or Chanyeol’s or the Rilakkuma plushie was sitting down in front of him with a sticky note on its head. Baekhyun grabbed the plushie to read the note.

 

 

Good morning, princess sunshine!

 

 

Baekhyun giggles. Next to the plushie was the first-aid kit. And of course, another sticky note.

 

 

If you injure yourself again, I’m going to be very mad.

 

I took Jiyoung with me to pick up our costumes for tonight.

 

We’ll be back before noon. <3

 

 

Baekhyun felt really light. He forgot how it felt like to have someone worry for you like this. It’s still the best feeling in the world. It feels good to know that someone cared, that your presence is important even though you don’t feel the same way about yourself. Sometimes, Baekhyun just feels like he has so many issues about himself that he wonders how people can see past that. He wished he can see himself in other people’s perspective too. Then maybe, his heart will start opening itself to other people.

 

Because, sometimes it’s too tightly closed, the feelings get too hard to express.

 

--

 

“So, why are you not coming into this party again?” Luhan asked, eyeing Sehun’s actions, because first of all there’s no valid reason for him to be hanging out with someone much much younger than him in a café just in front of his school. Then again, nobody cares.

 

“Because we’re not invited?”

 

“I was not invited, you were.” Luhan glares. “Sehun.”

 

“Look, I’ve been going into this party every year. People are not going to die if I don’t come tonight,” Sehun shrugged. “You get my point?”

 

“Some girls are going to die,” Luhan murmured before eating the cupcake served. “So what are we doing here? If you’re not going then shouldn’t you be studying? Finish a paper or something? Be a good student?”

 

“My exam’s two weeks from now. And I already finished my paper, duh,”

 

Luhan dropped the cupcake. “Tell me the truth, who’s the poor girl you asked to finish your paper for you?”

 

“What—I didn’t force any girl to—“ Sehun looked away. “Fine. I only asked for some help. Only a little! I wrote my paper with all my knowledge okay!”

 

Luhan sighed in disappointment. “You have to stop doing that. Just because a girl is smart and probably likes you, doesn’t mean you can shove your on her face and make her do your paper.”

 

“Hey! Watch your words. You’re talking to someone younger than you.”

 

“You only noticed that now?” Luhan shook his head.

 

“Wait—why are we talking about me anyway?”

 

“Unless we’re talking about the ducks’ mating process, I don’t see the reason to change the topic.”

 

Sehun groaned. “Look, there’s a reason I invited you here,”

 

“This was not the reason?” Luhan asked.

 

“No, of course not,”

 

“Then what is?”

 

Sehun took a very deep breath before yelling, “WE’RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!” with a large retarted smile matched with his arms thrown at his sides, probably attempting to sound so exciting wherein he failed miserably because Luhan is just staring at him, thinking about killing ducks and feeding them to Sehun. A few more seconds and Sehun shrunk, his arms slowly falling down. “I forgot you weren’t an idiot,”

 

“People actually fall for that? Wow,”

 

“Anyway, there’s a bazaar at Gangnam and they opened an circus too so I thought we could go together,” Sehun said with a grin, his legs fidgeting under the table, thinking about how cool it would be to spend the day with just the two of them since you know, Chanyeol’s taking Baekhyun to his sister’s party.

 

“Hmm. Okay,”

 

GOAL!

 

“But we have to go back home first,”

 

“Why?”

 

“Maybe Baekhyun wants to go!”

 

AAAAAAND A MISS!

 

 

 

“Of course,” Sehun brushed his neck.

 

--

 

The thing is, Baekhyun is forced to admit that while everybody’s gone from the subdivision, he’s left with talking to Brad Pitt for the rest of the morning until Chanyeol and Jiyoung comes back. He almost forgot about his dog. Imagine how his life would be if he hadn’t met these people. He’ll be talking to Brad Pitt every day. You have to give credit to the dog though. The first time he walked on the streets of Beijing, Brad Pitt was his only companion. Until he-who-must-not-be-named appeared, things happened, and almost got beaten.

 

“You’re really feisty back then,” Baekhyun says to the dog. “But if you didn’t do that, Luhan and I won’t become friends right?”

 

Because yeah, that ing two-timed them both.

 

But the two of them became friends anyway.

 

So, it’s a win-win situation. Heh.

 

Baekhyun brushes Brad Pitt’s fur and smiles.

 

He has come a long way ever since running away three years ago. It still haunts him. The fear of being located and one of these days his father’s men are going to take him away, away from all this, from all the happiness. One day, Baekhyun will be gone. Chanyeol will be gone. Everything he found here might disappear in just one click. He doesn’t know if he can live through after that.

 

He shook his head.

 

I shouldn’t be thinking of those things.

 

It’s been three years. They probably gave up searching for me already.

 

But why is my father still cutting me off?

 

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a familiar sound of a car engine. He looked up and found Chanyeol parking his car in front of his house with Jiyoung sticking her head out, smiling and waving.

 

“Kitty-hyung!”

 

Baekhyun smiled and walked over, with Brad Pitt trailing behind him, wagging its tail. Chanyeol hopped off his car and immediately greeted him with that oh-so-charming smile. It won’t hurt being honest, right?

 

“Hey,” Chanyeol says with that honey-like deep voice while walking to the other side of his car.

 

“Hey,” Baekhyun just smiles because for once, he actually noticed how well-built Chanyeol is.

 

Chanyeol opens the back seat and carried Jiyoung down before leaning inside to get the paper bags. Jiyoung immediately ran to Baekhyun but stopped when Brad Pitt barked at her.

 

Baekhyun kneels down while chuckling. “Brad Pitt, she’s a friend,” He whispers while brushing the dog’s fur then he turns to Jiyoung. “Come on,”

 

Jiyoung walked over hesitantly but jumped on him anyway. They fall down on the ground, with Baekhyun and Jiyoung laughing and Brad Pitt wagging its tail out of amusement.

 

Chanyeol closes the door, one hand carrying the bags. “Aww come on guys, why do you always leave me out?”

 

Baekhyun sits up with Jiyoung carefully sitting on his lap. “There is no way you can fit your huge body in our moments,”

 

Chanyeol pouts ridiculously.  Baekhyun stands up, carrying Jiyoung on his arms in the process. It seems like he already got a hang of carrying kids ever since Yuan. He actually misses England and the memories. But he can’t turn back now, not ever. There’s only one path to walk on for him. He knew that when he turned his back on his family, on his father. Every day he regrets. But every day, he finds a reason not to.

 

Chanyeol walks to the door and Baekhyun follows.

 

“Why’s the door locked?”  

 

Baekhyun smiles guiltily. “Well, since you went out, I thought I’d go back to my own house. You know. Because this isn’t my house. But my house is locked too. Turns out Luhan also went out.”

 

“You’re an idiot,” Chaneol mumbles as he pushes the door open after inserting the key. “What’s mine is yours. You can stay here anytime you want,”

 

Baekhyun pauses for a moment to think before following inside. “Really?” He inquires. “…why?”

 

“Cause you’re my fiancé,” Baekhyun took time to notice the way the words came out naturally from Chanyeol’s mouth. The taller’s back was turned to him so he can’t really see his facial expression but he’s probably not bothered by what he just said, making it more awkward for him.

 

“But we’re not really engaged,” Baekhyun’s voice trailed off afterwards, as if he had just said something completely untrue, which, everybody knows, is not the case.

 

Chanyeol stopped from organizing the boxes on the couch. Baekhyun’s was kind of expecting him to be angry, mad, annoyed, or anything, just have a sensible reaction. But when Chanyeol turned to him with the toothy smile of his, he knows, for one thing, that staying here longer isn’t going to be good. “Well, there’s no reason for me not to trust you, is there?” Then he turned back to the boxes and grabbed a dress. “Here! Try this on!”

 

Baekhyun’s mind has completely forgotten about the worries. “Right now?”

 

Chanyeol nodded. “Come on. Please!”

 

“W-why me? Why not Jiyoung first!”

 

“Jiyoung already tried on her costume.”

 

Baekhyun turned to Jiyoung who only gave him a grin while swinging her legs on the couch.

 

He turned back to Chanyeol. “S-so? Why do I have to try it on?”

 

“Because the party’s tonight.”

 

“Why don’t you try yours on then?!”

 

“Baekhyun, are you shy?”

 

Baekhyun paused, had imaginary cartwheels on his head, before his embarrassment covered his face with a not-so-obvious blush. “What?”

 

“Since when were you shy?” Chanyeol asks with a little bit of sarcasm.

 

I don’t know, I’d like to know myself! Baekhyun thought. But he’s actually not going to go verbal on that and definitely not going to admit that he is getting a little bit shy ever since…

 

I don’t know, ever since when?

 

He grabs the dress abruptly with a game face on. Not really sure what the game face is for.  

 

He proceeded to the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

 

Because no, he’s not shy.

 

His shaky fingers tell him he’s not shy.

 

That palpitation tells him he’s not shy.

 

That shade of red on his cheeks is a great evidence of him not being shy.

 

He’s not shy.

 

NOT SHY.

 

NOT SHY.

 

NOT SHY!

 

You are shy.

 

Why, thank you, Brain.

 

You’re welcome.

 

ASDFGHJKL.

 

NO.

 

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.

 

Baekhyun clawed his face in desperation. He stared at his reflection on the mirror and noticed those slight blushes on his cheeks. “Maybe this is just a product of cross-dressing too much.” He nods, acknowledging his own given preference of the subject matter, albeit unfit for further investigation, given that he doesn’t have any theoretical evidences to support the idea. “No, it’s not. No.” He shook his head. “Oh god, I am shy.”

 

The real question is:

 

WHY.

 

He started listing several possible explanations in his head while walking around the room with his thumb on his chin, completely ignoring the task he was supposed to do.

 

His first guess was that he must have consumed too much wealthy pixie dusts by attending rich parties and such. You know, you just get that kind of feeling when you leave, that you want to party again. And it just stays there. And well, yeah, not plausible. So, scratchy scratchy.

 

His second guess was Luhan and his stupid Disney references. Every time they talk, he always try to insert Disney princess comments or whatever just to prove his point.

 

Still not plausible. He’s been living with Luhan for two years and he’s never experienced blushing because of too much exposure from Disney before. He’s not even sure if there’s such a thing.

 

How about kids? Kids can be a big factor. Maybe he’s just stressed too much. He’s been patiently looking after Yuan for a week and to say that kid is annoying is an understatement. Now that Jiyoung’s here, he couldn’t catch a break. Yeah, it’s just that he’s stressed. His face is red because of too much…stress.

 

There was a knock and a familiar yell followed. “Baekhyun, are you done yet?”

 

Baekhyun’s heart literally skipped a beat.

 

And then it hit him.

 

Oh no.

 

Oh ing no.

 

That he completely disregarded one very important possible cause of such weird behavior of his.

 

Chanyeol.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

--

               

Chanyeol waits patiently by the door while watching Jiyoung run around the house, pretending to be a princess. It doesn’t bother him. No. Not when there’s another princess right behind the door. He snorts. Suddenly an image of Baekhyun in a wedding dress flashes in his mind. At first it was funny, you know, tantrum king queen Baekhyun, in a dress, walking down the aisle, but then the moment he sees himself looking forward to it, he literally froze.

 

The last time he checked, he never daydreams. Nope.

 

And then suddenly there’s a bar soap thrown to his head.

 

“Ya!”

 

Chanyeol turned beside him and saw Baekhyun frowning. He didn’t even notice him beforehand. However, compared to the pain of the hard soap hitting his head, the pleasure of seeing Baekhyun dressed up as a princess—yeah, a princess, just because—is so much better.

 

“Is this your idea of a joke?” Baekhyun asked. “A princess gown? Really?”

 

No kidding but Chanyeol is mesmerized. But then his limbs were never really on his side since he was born, so his arm just unconsciously lifted up to put a tiara on Baekhyun’s head. “You forgot your tiar—“

 

Baekhyun kicked him on the shin.

 

“Aw!” Chanyeol bent down from the pain as Baekyhun walked past him. “That hurts!”

 

“Yeah, it should, or else we’re going to have a problem.” Baekhyun turned to Chanyeol. After seeing him still on his knees, he thought of a crazy idea. “This is a pretty convenient position.”

 

“What?” Chanyeol looked up, still trying to keep his face from distorting due to the pain.

 

“You, a commoner, kneeling before the princess, me,” Baekhyun smirked.

 

Chanyeol stared down on his legs before deciding to stand up—

 

“Kneel.”

 

And back down again.

 

Baekhyun crossed his arms. “No, commoner, you don’t disobey the princess,”

 

“You’re being ridiculous,” Chanyeol chuckled.

 

“Oh yeah? I’m not the one who placed a tiara on my head.”

 

Chanyeol attempted to stand up again but then Baekhyun stomped his foot on the floor. “Kneel.” Chanyeol awkwardly knelt back down, starting to question his purpose in life or whatever. Jiyoung was happily hopping while watching them at the side. Baekhyun walked behind Chanyeol slowly and called Jiyoung to take over. Jiyoung happily ran up in front of Chanyeol.

 

“Chanyeol oppa!” Jiyoung yelled. “Sit!”

 

“What am I? A dog?” A kick on the from Baekhyun and he ended up sitting.

 

Baekhyun thinks, for the first time, that maybe living this kind of life isn’t so bad. It’s just a matter of perspective. Maybe if he saw his life back in England differently…

 

He shook his head.

 

I promised not to regret anything.

 

--

 

“We don’t really have to…invite him, you know?” Sehun inquired while busy driving.

 

“Why not? He’s my best friend.”

 

“Yeah but isn’t he going to that party with Chanyeol?”

 

“This is why I want to invite him. I don’t want him to go,”

 

Sehun crooked his eyebrows. “Why not?”

 

“I don’t know. I feel like something’s going to happen there.”

 

“Well, it’s a party.” Sehun shrugged. “A lot of things happen in a party,”

 

“Ha ha,” Luhan rolled his eyes. “You won’t understand. I have this…best friend instinct.”

 

 “Wow, they train you for that?” Sehun chuckled.

 

“You’re a jerk,”

 

Sehun immediately topped chuckling. “Yeah, was born like this.” He slowed down as soon as he saw Chanyeol’s house in sight. Luhan started grabbing his things, including the chocolate cake he bought for Jiyoung from the café, while Sehun pulled over. “Right, we’re here,”

 

“I can see that,” Luhan immediately opened the door and hopped off the car, depriving Sehun of the opportunity to open for him. Sehun followed afterwards.

 

Luhan slammed the door open. “WHAT’S UP HUMANS—“

 

Two minus one because they just witnessed Chanyeol crawling on the floor with Jiyoung riding on his back like he was some—

 

“CHANYEOL OPPA’S A HORSE!”

 

Yes.

 

Quite obvious.

 

Sehun snorted.

 

“This isn’t what it looks like,” Chanyeol tries.

 

Baekhyun kicked him on the . “There’s nothing to explain here,”

 

“And you’re a princess?” Luhan asked while trying to restrain his laughter.

 

“Cool, huh?”

 

And then boom.

 

Sehun and Luhan just started laughing so hard.

 

“This is gold, man!” Sehun exclaimed.

 

“Good for you, ,”

 

“Hey! Watch your language!”

 

“! !”

 

“Okay, Jiyoung, stop! Don’t say that word!”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because it’s bad—Chanyeol! This is your fault!”

 

“No. I’m a horse.”

 

Baekhyun groaned.

 

“I think we should go,” Sehun said, still laughing.

 

“Yeah, we might be interrupting some…Disney party in here. Bye guys!”

 

Sehun and Luhan disappeared behind the door but their loud laughter remained to echo inside.

 

“Um, Baek,”

 

Baekhyun turned to Chanyeol. “What?”

 

“It’s one hour before the party,”

 

Baekhyun looked at the clock. “,”

 

And they started running around the house.

 

--

 

It would be an understatement to say that the party is grand, because from Baekhyun’s point of view, it’s ing grand. Sure, he has seen the Park Estate from photos but wow, seeing the real thing, he actually felt really small he could shrink himself to the ground. It’s like he’s walking inside a freaking palace, which is not an exaggeration by the way given his costume for tonight. He stands awkwardly in the crowd of personalities and people greeting each other and giving blessings. He felt a little conscious, as if someone was watching him closely.

 

Then again, who would?

 

However, ignorance is bliss. Chanyeol isn’t the only man expected to keep an eye on him. Somewhere, a certain Canadian-ish Chinese man is watching; his every move, his every turn, every action, everything. As if observing a potential test subject for an experiment.

 

“Baekhee,”

 

Baekhyun turned around, relief slowly flowing down his face when he saw Chanyeol walking over with that greasy face and honey-like locks. He’s starting to think that the reason Chanyeol picked a princess costume for him is so that he could wear a Prince Charming costume. This son of a will forever be an idiot.

 

“Come on, let’s go inside,” Chanyeol slipped a hand on Baekhyun’s waist, startling the brunette, but they proceeded anyway.

 

The moment they got inside, Baekhyun suddenly had an image of the castle in Anastasia flashed in his mind. It looked very much like it, except it’s modernized. He really needs to stop thinking like Luhan. It’s getting worse. Several people greeted him and Chanyeol, complimenting his beauty—ahem—and how pretty his costume is.  It wasn’t so bad, Baekhyun started to think. He could keep smiling for the rest of the night, if only not for his high heels that’s killing his feet to death. However, the atmosphere took a turn when another Park showed up.

 

“Noona!”

 

“Zip it, .” Gyuri hushes. “I told you, don’t call me Noona,”

 

“What am I supposed to call you then?”

 

“Gyuri, duh,” Gyuri sighed and turned to Baekhyun aka Baekhee. Baekhyuna actually wanted to greet but somehow, Gyuri’s stare kind of prevented him to do so, no, not when Gyuri’s actually scrutinizing him from head to toe. “You must be Baekhee,”

 

“Uh,” Baekhyun gulped. “Y-yeah. Hi.”

 

“Hi, I’m Gyuri,” Baekhyun opened his mouth to speak. “Just Gyuri,” But Gyuri beat him to it.

 

Chanyeol looked around while the two talks, his height gets pretty convenient when he’s bored.

 

“Okay, just Gyuri, nice to meet you,” Baekhyun says with a smile.

 

“Nice to meet you too,” Gyuri nods with a smile. “Nice dress,”

 

“Yeah, Chanyeol picked it out,”

 

“Yeah, I figured as much. He might look dumb on the outside but he’s got great taste for clothes. I mean, why wouldn’t he? His sister’s a fashion designer,” Gyuri winked. “It runs in the blood.”

 

“Gyuri!” Chanyeol yelled out of the blue, face pale as if he had just seen a ghost, although those crooked eyebrows say otherwise.

 

Gyuri turned to him. “What?”

 

“You invited Kris?!”

 

Gyuri turned to the direction Chanyeol had his eyes trailed. Kris wasn’t that hard to spot among the crowd given his height. He was talking to some businessman. She turned back to Chanyeol. “Chanyeol, we are not having this conversation now,”

 

“Of course we are,” Chanyeol argued. “I at least deserve some explanation—“ He stopped when Gyuri turned to Baekhyun who was watching them both.

 

“Oh, uh, I actually have to go to the comf—powder room,” Baekhyun smiled awkwardly. “Uh, excuse me,” He immediately turned around to leave, holding his skirt for speed.

 

“Way to go, scaring your fiancé like that,” Gyuri rolled her eyes.

 

“I’ll explain later, but, are you serious?” Chanyeol asked, temper slowly reaching his head. “Why did you invite Kris?!”

 

“Ssh. Keep your voice down,” Gyuri looked around and decided to walk away with Chanyeol following close behind her. “I can’t believe we’re talking about this right now,” She murmured while speeding her way past the people without trying to draw much attention. Reputation is the most important thing in this event right now and she’s not going to risk that by arguing with his idiot younger brother.

 

“Yeah? Well, maybe if you asked me first,”

 

They finally reached the balcony. Gyuri looked around in case someone was watching them before closing the door.

 

“What is your problem?” She asked, eyebrows crooking into annoyance. “I invited him here because I have a business with him. Chanyeol, stop being so damn selfish. I’m running a business here too. If you can’t get over your past relationship with him, bite me. My clothing line is going to expand to Canada. I need a ing backbone there,”

 

“And of all the people, it had to be him?”

 

“Well, for the record, he’s also vying for that Van der Gilt deal, isn’t he? That’ll draw some attention.” Gyuri smirked.

 

“Are you serious? You’re justifying your decision with this—never mind. You’re right. Do what you want. But you can’t blame me if I came across him and suddenly punched him in the face. He ing took my money!”

 

“Oh please. You make more money than him anyway,”

 

Chanyeol thought for a moment. “Yeah, you’re right.”

 

“Wow, you’re an idiot,”

 

“Well, I don’t really keep track of my sales.”

 

“Still an idiot.”

 

“Besides, I could promote you, you know.”

 

“You’re not an option,”

 

“Why not?”

 

“Because you’re my brother. Now drop the subject,”

 

--

 

Baekhyun stopped his tracks just in front of the ladies’ comfort room. He doesn’t really need to go inside, he just felt like it was a great excuse to dismiss himself given that those siblings are going to have some heated argument he’s probably not welcome to listen to. Besides, he’s not one to dwell on other people’s personal lives unless he’s involved. He looked around him. The hallway is quiet. Only a few people are walking past him.

 

 

Kris, on the other hand, had followed him all the way through. Bastard just couldn’t seem to take his eyes off the beautiful brunette. Although he was informed enough that the brunette is Chanyeol’s fiancé, his curiosity just wouldn’t let him rest. Something about how the brunette moved ticked him. He’s talking to some businessman whose name he doesn’t even remember but his eyes remained on the brunette.

 

 

And somewhere in the hallway, Baekhyun found a vending machine. A vending machine. “Sweet,” He murmured while walking towards the machine. The only problem is that he doesn’t have a single penny with him. Screw the princess gown. He huffed in disappointment and just stayed there, staring at the vending machine.

 

Until a hand grabbed his arm and pushed him to the wall violently, though his head didn’t hit the wall that hard. He attempted to scream but another hand covered his mouth. He looked around with his eyes, there was no one in the hallway and OF ALL THE TIMES?! REALLY?!

 

He looked at his assailant with fear. He was taught about self-defense but with his hands suspended by the man’s hand—AND ONLY ONE HAND?!—his actions are limited.

 

“Ssh, my name’s Kris ” The man—Kris, tall, blond, and ing strong—whispered. “I’ll take my hand off your mouth if you won’t scream,”

 

Baekhyun just stared at him.

 

“Don’t scream, alright?” Kris slowly retreated his hand, carefully watching the brunette as he does so.

 

Baekhyun bit his hand immediately.

 

“Aw!

 

And kicked him on the knee.

 

“!”

 

He pushed Kris away and grabbed his skirt to run.

 

“HEY! MAN PRETENDING TO BE A WOMAN!”

 

Baekhyun stopped. He was confused. Some random guy suddenly grabbed him and—no, he doesn’t have time to think. He has to run. Kris, however, had caught his arm again. He spun the brunette and pulled the wig off him, causing his hair to fall slowly down to his neck. Baekhyun just stood there, frozen, trying to decipher WHAT THE IS HAPPENING. One moment he was staring at the vending machine, and the next a man standing in front of him is holding his wig.

 

“Pretty,”

 

Baekhyun snapped. He hovered to grab his wig back but Kris backed away. “Give it back!”

 

“Nope,”

 

“Who are you?!”

 

“I already told you. My name’s Kris,”

 

“What do you want?!”

 

“Shhh,” Kris smirked and placed a finger on his lips. “Princesses don’t yell, right?”

 

“To hell with being a princess!” Baekhyun attempted to grab his wig back again when Kris grabbed both of his hands, spun him around and he landed on his chest.

 

Kris leaned behind his ear. “You were doing a good job pretending to be a girl,” Baekhyun’s breath hitched. “I knew Chanyeol wouldn’t risk getting his uality exposed but I didn’t think he’d be this desperate to hire someone to pretend,”

 

“You don’t know anything.”

 

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Baekhyun can feel Kris smirking behind him. “Say, what’s your name, beautiful?”

 

“What do you care?”

 

“Ohh, Feisty, I like that.” Baekhyun tried pushing him away but to not avail, not when his dress is ing heavy and hard to move in to begin with. “I’ll give your wig back if you tell me your name,”

 

Baekhyun thought for a moment, his breathing speeding by the moment. He didn’t actually plan for something like this to happen, something that requires an immediate decision. But, there are some things more important than himself. And he’s not going to risk that by being selfish.

 

“Baekhyun,”

 

Kris let him go and gave him his wig bag. Baekhyun carefully wore his wig back and turned to Kris. “You’re not going to say anything right?”

 

Kris was now leaning on the wall, hands hidden on his pockets. “No, I’m not that kind of guy. Besides, even if I do expose your secret, it’ll only boost Park Industries’ popularity. That son of a has this kind of effect. Scandals make him richer,”

 

Baekhyun sighed in relief.

 

“Also, that representative will probably like it,” Kris turned to the person approaching them.

 

“Representative?”

 

“Miss Baekhee?”

 

Baekhyun paused.

 

Definitely a familiar voice.

 

He turned around.

 

His eyes widened.

 

He never ever planned any of this to happen.

 

Especially this one.

 

“My name’s Zhang Yixing, Van der Gilt’s representative,” Yixing said with all smiles.

 

No way.

 

“I believe the Ms. Gyuri is looking for you,”

 

No ing way.

 

“Miss Baekhee?”

 

Kris watched them closely.

 

Baekhyun snapped. “I—uh—sorry. I spaced out. Um, nice to meet you. I guess I should go,” He immediately turned to walk away. “Thank you, Yixing,” It would be ing impossible to explain how he felt saying his name because then he started to question every bit of his decisions, from the moment he ran away until this day, this moment.

 

It’s just…

 

Impossible.

 

Yixing made sure the brunette’s out of his sight before leaving. “Stop creating trouble, Wu Fan,”

 

“You know me well enough?”

 

“Her face was flustered.” Yixing replied, not even sparing a glance to Kris while walking away.

 

Kris just watched his back. “Whatever you say,”

 

--

 

“I always…sing a song whenever my sister throws a party, you know? Why? Just because.”

 

Those are the words Baekhyun heard the moment he arrived back at the main hall with Gyuri. Gyuri told him there’s something he needs to see, to hear. Somehow, Baekhyun got the idea the moment he saw Chanyeol, with his coat off and only a white polo shirt on, holding his electric guitar and a mic stand in front. Somewhere, deep into the feelings Baekhyun’s been trying to hide, he wanted to hear lyrics come out of Chanyeol’s mouth. He never really thought about what effect it would give to him if it does happen so he wasn’t sure how he’s going to react after this.

 

“I had troubles picking this song because,” Chanyeol’s eyes traveled around the crowd, searching for Baekhyun. “Even the greatest song cannot describe how I feel…” His eyes finally landed on Baekhyun. “About the person I love,”

 

Baekhyun inhaled deeply, refusing to believe that the subject of Chanyeol’s affection is him. And maybe, it’s not him. Because when the people turned to him, giving him nods and smiles, he thought that maybe, it’s not him. It’s Baekhee. It’s the girl everybody approves of and not him. It’s the girl everybody acknowledges and not him.

 

Because Chanyeol is one of those people.

 

Chanyeol cleared his throat. The song started with a faint piano. Chanyeol’s remained lowered until the lyrics started playing from his lips.

 

Heaven, are you really

Waiting outside the door?

Never thought I'd hear

The words before the road

Sever, it's the simple things

That are so hard to grasp

Can't find myself in all

The days that passed

But I can feel it when it shines

Never mind I'm falling in love with you

Can't find the road that runs though

 

Falling love with you.

 

Baekhyun almost forgot it’s the same day, two months ago, when he met Park Chanyeol for the first time. He even dragged him inside the storage room even though he was a stranger. Who knew such careless actions would lead to this? It started just like that. Nothing planned. Nobody knew. Fate just played its magic on them.

 

Heaven, are you really

Waiting outside the door

Never thought I'd hear

The words before the road

Sever, it's the simple things

That are so hard to grasp

Can't find myself in all

These days that pass

But I can find feel it when it shines

Never mind the way they shy

Turning around along the trail

 

My whole world is falling in love with you

 

He doesn’t miss the way Chanyeol looked at him when he sang those words. He’s not stupid. He knows what’s happening. But he wants to be stupid. Just this once. To stop all the hurt piling up. To stop the tears. He doesn’t belong here. Hell, he shouldn’t be here.

 

And the thing he hates the most about these things,

 

Can't find the road that runs through

Falling in love with you

Can't find the road that gets through

Is how much it hurts to let go.

 

Baekhyun turned around to leave.

 

--

 

“I’m impressed,”

 

Gyuri turned to the man who spoke beside her. “Zhang Yixing, what an honor to hear such words from you.”

 

“Please,” Yixing smiled. “That’s not in the criteria for the Van der Gilt deal though,”

 

Gyuri chuckled and turned his head to Chanyeol who was sending his gratitudes to the crowd. “Don’t worry. That’s the last thing on his mind right now,” Yixing nodded and smiled before making his leave to converse with Kris’ secretary. Gyuri had just realized Kai was nowhere.

 

“Gyuri!”

 

“Nice song. You make me so proud,”

 

“Thanks,” Chanyeol said while wiping his sweat. “Have you seen—uh—Baekhee?”

 

“Oh,” Gyuri turned side to side. “I think she went to the pavilion outside.”

 

“Thanks, sis,” Chanyeol immediately scurried to the door.

 

“Sis,” Gyuri nodded. “Not bad. I like it. Sis.”

 

--

 

After an hour or so, Sehun, unfortunately, still hasn’t parked his car yet and their supposed “date” still hasn’t started. Why? Because they’re in a freaking bazaar. And Luhan, of all people, know the street’s activities, so he told Sehun to park his car somewhere safe or else they’re going home barefooted because his car is going to get stolen. Fair enough, Sehun considers his car his baby. You don’t want your baby to get stolen. So, they’ve been driving around Gangnam for an hour now, and because they’re having a freaking huge celebration, it’s hard to move around the masses of people in town.

 

“I really don’t think my car’s going to get stolen in here,” Sehun said while taking a careful turn to the next street. “This is Gangman. The people here are rich.”

 

“You know sometimes the poor won’t have anything left to eat but the rich,” Luhan argued. “You ain’t seen anything yet,”

 

“Yeah but I think if they wanted to steal, they wouldn’t even steal mine with all these other luxurious cars around—“

 

Luhan leaned closer to the window. “Is that Kai?”

 

“—besides—what?” Sehun glanced over and saw Luhan staring at something outside. “Probably not. He went to Gyuri’s party since the representative is there.”

 

“No wait stop stop.”

 

“What?”

 

“Stop the car!”

 

“I can’t stop the car! We’re in the middle of the road!”

 

“Goddamnit Sehun stop the car!”

 

“Alright alright! I’ll pull over!”

 

Sehun immediately drove out of the traffic to park beside the sidewalk. He immediately looked where Luhan was staring. “Oh , it’s really Kai,”

 

And he’s into some trouble judging from the men surrounding him.

 

Luhan immediately hopped off the car. Sehun followed him immediately.

 

“What the hell is he doing here?” Sehun murmured while running towards his brother. “Hey! Hey get your hands off of him!” He pushed the guys away while Luhan knelt beside Kai who has a bruise on his face.

 

“Come on man, we don’t want any trouble here,” Sehun fished his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out some bills. “Here. Get out of here,”

 

The men raised their arms up and immediately walked away with the money.

 

“Kai! Are you drunk?!” Luhan exclaimed.

 

“Can’t you tell?” Sehun walked to the other side and pulled Kai’s arm up. “Come on. Let’s carry him to the car,” Luhan carried Kai from the other side. “Man, you reek,”

 

After successfully throwing Kai at the back seat, they decide to take him to Luhan and Baekhyun’s house since he probably didn’t want to greet his and Sehun’s parents with a drunkard. Sehun couldn’t do anything either seeing as it’s the only option right now.

 

Well.

 

So much for that date.

 

--

 

“What’s this mom?” A 5-year old Baekhyun asked.

 

“It’s my notebook. I write a lot of things about what I feel here. Kind of like a diary,”

 

“Can I read?”

 

“I’ll let you read it when it’s time,” His mother caressed his hair. “Here, I have one for you too.”

 

“Can I write here?”

 

“Of course.  It’s yours now. You can write anything you want to write in there.”

 

“Really?”

 

His mother nodded. “Yes. Anything, sweetheart,”

 

Baekhyun snapped awake when he heard a twig break.

 

“A little cold in here, isn’t it?” Chanyeol asked while slowly making his way inside the pavilion. He remembered this place. His father used to pain here, every day, the same scenery—the fountain in front, the trees around, those tiny bushes and flowers, and the mountain and the sky as the background. If his father hadn’t died so soon, Chanyeol would’ve thought of being a painter.

 

Chanyeol sat down on the bench, beside Baekhyun. The brunette didn’t move nor flinch. He just stayed there and watched the stars. One thing Chanyeol likes about being with Baekhyun is that he never feels restless or uncomfortable. It’s like Baekhyun makes him calm. But also, he’s never sure. Baekhyun has always been a mystery to him, especially now. He could never get what the brunette is thinking or what he wants. Always a mystery.

 

“Can you guess, Baekhyun? Anything?”

 

“I’m not an idiot, Chanyeol.”

 

Chanyeol looked at him. “I know. Was I too careless?”

 

“Don’t worry. That’s what I like the most about you.”

 

Chanyeol nodded. “I wonder,”

 

Baekhyun sighed. “The stars,” Chanyeol looked up. “They’re only visible at night. They’re only pretty at night.” A pause. “Kind of like me,”

 

Chanyeol looked back at him and stared.

 

Nobody talked for a minute.

 

Just Baekhyun whose eyes are fixed on the stars and Chanyeol busily familiarizing every inch of Baekhyun’s face.

 

“Yeah,” Chanyeol said. “You’re right,”

 

Baekhyun bit his lip and looked down while Chanyeol looked up to the sky.

 

“You’re pretty when you dress like that. The world can say how beautiful you are. When you wear make-up, lipstick of any color. Sometimes, when you just wear eyeliner and dress up in leathers, like when you were modeling. People say you look good. You look better. But you know,” Baekhyun slowly leaned his head on Chanyeol’s shoulder. “I wake up earlier than you just to watch you sleeping, just to watch you hug the pillow. And whenever you walk in the kitchen, wearing my shirt, with your hair disheveled, and you’re yawning while rubbing your eyes, and you greet me with that beautiful smile of yours…that’s when you’re the prettiest. No one would ever compare. Because it’s you.”

 

Baekhyun closed his eyes.

 

“You’re beautiful inside and out. It’s what makes you…you.”

 

Nobody knows how hard it is to pull all of these words out of Chanyeol’s heart but him.

 

“And why I love you.”

 

Chanyeol paused, anticipating some sort of dramatic reaction, while the embarrassment builds up.

 

But after a minute or so, he’s starting to lose hope.

 

So he looked down the brunette whose head is leaning against his shoulder only to find him—

 

“Ya, are you sleeping?” Chanyeol asked, leaning closer to Baekhyun’s face. “Are you serious? I confess to you and you fall asleep? Oh come on. Really?” However, there was nothing he could do. He thought of slapping Baekhyun awake but that’s just so wrong in so many levels. So he just leaned back to the bench and wrapped his arm around Baekhyun. “If I still love you in the morning, you’re so lucky.” He smiled to himself.

 

Baekhyun, also, smiles secretly.

 

Because even now, all he could do is hide.

 

--

 

“GIVE HIM A ING PAPER BAG!”

 

“THEN WHERE THE HELL IS YOUR PAPER BAG?!” Luhan asked while rummaging through the compartment.

 

Sehun looked at the mirror to see Kai. “LUHAN HE’S GOING TO THROW UP!”

 

“WHERE IS YOUR ING PAPER BAG?!”

 

“NO! NO KAI DON’T THROW UP IN MY CAR! DON’T—“

 

Too late.

 

Sehun’s jaw drops as Kai continues to vomit on his car.

 

“WHAT THE HELL, MAN?!”

 

Luhan slapped Sehun on the shoulder. “Shut up. He’s your brother.”

 

“It’s my car!”

 

“You okay there, buddy?” Luhan asks while offering Kai a box of tissue. Kai nodded.

 

They arrive at the subdivision 15 minutes later. Luhan and Sehun helped Kai walk inside the house. Sehun kept on complaining about Kai vomiting on his car so Luhan kicked him out and told him to come back after his car got cleaned. He’s not really keen on bratty rich teenagers, especially at this time of the night. Gangnam is a long way—plus the traffic—and taking care of a drunkard wasn’t on his list of things to do this day either.

 

Luhan grabbed a glass of water for Kai to drink and sat on the couch opposite to where Kai is lying.

 

“Kai, why did you drink?”

 

Kai didn’t answer.

 

“Did something happen? You want to talk about it?”

 

Kai turned his head slowly. “I know everything.”

 

Luhan just stared at him. “What are you talking about?”

 

“You can’t hide forever, Luhan,” Kai added. “He can’t hide forever,”

 

Luhan gasped softly. “This is about Baekhyun?” Kai smirked and looked away. Luhan leaned closer. “Kai what do you know? Answer me!”

 

“Byun Baekhyun? What a joke,”

 

“Kai!”

 

“This isn’t about me, Luhan, this is about the company, about Chanyeol!” Kai yelled back. “Do you know what would happen if Baekhyun’s family found out he’s been hiding here?! That he’s acquainted with Chanyeol?! Do you know how that would affect the company?!”

 

“Kai what’s your point?!”

 

“My point is that he should just go back before that happens! He has to go home! HE SHOULD LEAVE!”

 

Luhan slapped him on the cheek, so hard, Kai felt a little sober.

 

“It’s not the company he’s going to hurt,” Kai murmured. “It’s the people who cared about him,”

 

Luhan shook his head. “He can’t leave…”

 

“Then he’s just going to keep hurting the people who cared about him,”

 

“It’s not your choice.”

 

“I know,” Kai bit his lip. “And I have to deal with it,”

 

Luhan lowered his head. He knows. He knows a lot of things. And he can feel. “I’m sorry Kai,” He can feel the hurt Kai’s feeling but there’s nothing he can do about it but sympathize. It has always been like this. Sometimes, Luhan feels like he’s already used to seeing people crying and hurting because of this issue. But actually, he’s just trying to feel the same pain just in case Baekhyun has to leave him too. Someday, he has to. And that day, Luhan will be the one hurting like this.

 

Someday.

 

---

 

A/N:

ok, i am so so sorry for disappearing.

but i had final exams (which i think i failed). 

pray for me to pass, guys. like, really.

 

anyway, my 2-week break started! hooray!

*thows confettis*

and exo still hasn't come back ;A; OTL

 

wae.

 

anyway, yeah, chanyeol's confession is lame. 

chanyeol is lame.

you can't blame him. LOL

 

ANYWAY, SUBBIES, I STILL LOVE ALL OF YOU. I VERY LOVE YOU.

i hope y'all enjoy this chapter. i had mixed feelings writing because my playlist kept on playing sad songs then happy songs then sad songs.

i think my playlist is bipolar.

anyway, guess what song chanyeol sang? :D

-gelie