Baekhyun felt his eyelids shut as he slowly let go of the bench. He sunk into the water and kept falling, unconscious of the fact that the boat had reached him and was peering at the now-empty bench.

“Baekhyun! Baekhyun!” Sehun shouted, helplessly searching for his best friend. “Baekhyun! Where are you!” He hadn’t seen Baekhyun on the bench, (like he said) and was immediately set to panic. “Oh my God, he didn’t drown did he?” Sehun felt tears well up in his eyes. The rest of the MK and the student council were standing at the sides of the boat shouting “Baekhyun! Baekhyun!” until their voices were hoarse. “He’s not here.” Jongdae said as he pierced his eyes through the fog. “Shut up, he’s here. I know he is. He’s not… going to disappear.” Kris said, as his voice was already husky from shouting.

Luhan was beside Sehun, biting his lip as the tears streamed down his face. As he looked down at the water, he could see bubbles coming up at the side of the bench. “B-Baekhyun’s down there!” he said as he held unto the side of the boat.

Chanyeol felt his heart drop when he had seen the empty bench. He didn’t know what he was feeling. He could potentially lose Baekhyun. He just kept quiet. He kept the anger, sadness, and fear inside of him. When Luhan shouted his discovery, he immediately took off his jacket and jumped into the water.

“Chanyeol! Don’t just- Ugh damn it!” Kris shouted as he held unto the side of the boat, shouting as the boy dived into the dark water.

Chanyeol kept his eyes open, even if the salt water was stinging it red. He looked around, trying his best to see if Baekhyun had fallen down. When he spotted his blue sweater, he immediately swam deeper into its direction. He felt like he was going to cry when he saw an unconscious Baekhyun falling deeper into the water.

He extended his long arms and scooped Baekhyun into a hug. He was glad that he was longer than most people, especially at this moment. He made sure Baekhyun was secure around him and swam back up into the ocean.

The others waited in silence, anxiety taking over them. “What if they both drown?” Kyungsoo said as he bit his tongue. “I-I shouldn’t have said that, I’m sorry.” Jongin wrapped his arm around Kyungoo’s neck and pulled him into a hug. “They’ll be alright.” Jongin said he Kyungsoo rested his head on Jongin’s chest.

“Hell yeah he’ll be alright!” Yixing shouted, as he felt confident of Baekhyun’s strength. “That boy is as tough as rocks.” Yixing said with a reassuring smile. Tao could only sit there, staring at the spot Chanyeol jumped into. He was worried about Baekhyun but didn’t want to worry because he knew he’d be okay.

Minutes later, Chanyeol and Baekhyun surfaced. Sehun exhaled heavily, like he hadn’t been breathing the past few minutes. Luhan collapsed to the chair and shut his eyes muttering Thank God, Thank God.

Chanyeol coughed out the water he had swallowed and swam towards the boat, a still unconscious Baekhyun wrapped around his body. He lightly heaved Baekhyun unto the boat, Kris, Suho and Tao helping him transfer the pale boy unto the boat chair.

Chanyeol lifted himself up and hopped into the boat, making his way for the boy that lay on the white chairs. “Baekhyun… Baekhyun…” he could feel tears stream down his face as he pumped his hand into Baekhyun’s chest. He counted 1, 2, 3… 10 and bent down to transfer air into Baekhyun’s mouth repetitively. The others could only watch, hoping that Baekhyun would open his eyes.

After a few attempts at CPR, Baekhyun flinched and coughed out the water that had into his body. He turned to his side and let the water file out, coughing hoarsely as he did. “God damn it, Byun Baekhyun! I was so ing worried, you !” Sehun said as he wrapped his arms around the soaked puppy. “You are an idiot! How could you let that happen to yourself! You ing idiot!” Sehun’s sobs filled the air as the other’s watched in relief.

“Sehun, stop it. He’s shocked as he is.” Kris said as he grabbed Sehun by the collar and threw him into Luhan’s direction. Chanyeol still sat there, seemingly frozen as he stared at the shivering boy.

Minseok had run into the boat and grabbed a big blanket, returned and wrapped it around Baekhyun. Baekhyun threw the boy a smile and let the blankets drown him as the passengers of the boat were staring him down. He let out a small sigh and everyone in boat flinched. “Are you alright? Do you need to lie down?” Luhan said as he crawled to Baekhyun’s side, not caring about his clothes getting damped by the wet floor.

Baekhyun only shook his head. He couldn’t feel anything coming out of his mouth and didn’t feel like it either. He sat there, freezing in the cold air as the water soaked up his clothes. He felt heavy under Chanyeol’s sweated but it didn’t matter.

He looked up and searched for Chanyeol, who he saw was at the edge of his feet. He had a lost expression on his face, just staring at Baekhyun plainly in the eyes. It was the first time Baekhyun had seen him like this, and felt horrible that it was him that made him into it.

“I-I’m fine.” Baekhyun coughed, sending the boys into panic. “Do you need anything? Are you comfortable? Do you feel any pain?” Tao said as he sat beside Luhan, usually intimidating eyes carved into an expression of worry. Baekhyun couldn’t help but smile as the other boys shouted Hey, where’s the food?! and Are there anymore blankets?

His smile had frozen every person on the boat. They just stared in awe as the pale trembling boy tried his best to lift the side of his lips. Chanyeol was still staring at Baekhyun and snapped when he smiled.

Chanyeol stood up and scooped Baekhyun in his arms once again, bringing him deeper into the boat. The others could only watch, knowing that all Baekhyun needed was Chanyeol and vice-versa.

Baekhyun stiffened at Chanyeol’s touch. It’s only been a day but he felt like it’s been long since he felt Chanyeol’s skin brush against him (even if he wasn’t actually directly in contact with Chanyeol as the blankets draped over him.

Chanyeol place Baekhyun on the bed and sat at the edge of it. Baekhyun waited for something, a scolding, a smile, anything to happen, but it never came. “C-Chanyeol…” he held the bed sheets tighter as he managed to say his name.

Baekhyun could see Chanyeol flinch, and wanted him too look at him. “Chanyeol, I’m alright. I’m fine, you guys found me. I’m alrig-“

He was cut off when Chanyeol lifted Baekhyun up and placed his long arms around the boy’s small body. He tensed up at the sudden touch, but immediately gelt the heat of Chanyeol’s warm body creep up his. He hugged back. He didn’t want to let go of Chanyeol, and felt like he hadn’t seen him in years.

“You can cry.” Chanyeol finally said as he didn’t tear away from the hug. Baekhyun felt himself tremble. He felt his legs shake, his teeth chatter and his heart stop. I almost died. He bit his lip as tears flowed down his cheeks. “I-I was so scared…” he couldn’t help but cry loudly, like a baby who had just been woken up. He clutched Chanyeol’s damp shirt into a fist and let himself cry, not caring if the people outside could hear him.

Chanyeol wouldn’t let go of Baekhyun as he did so. He just shut his eyes and let the cries of fear embed in his heart. He hated himself for allowing Baekhyun cry like that in front of him, but it didn’t matter now. He was terrified, and he knew no matter how strong Baekhyun claimed he was, he was never prepared for this.

“C-Chanyeol…” Baekhyun said from under his tears. Chanyeol clenched his teeth as he drew Baekhyun closer, hoping that there was any chance of him to hug him deeper than in the position they were in now. He wanted no space between them, no air that got in his way as he held the trembling boy in his arms.

“It’s alright.” He patted Baekhyun’s back as the boy kept crying. His loud sobs filled the room and probably the outside too, but he just couldn’t stop him. When the boy did stop, he tore away from the tight hold to face the red-eyed boy. His cheeks were red and his eyes were scrubbed raw.

Chanyeol lifted his hand to wipe away the remaining tears that lingered on Baekhyun’s face. “I’m sorry, this is all my fault.” Chanyeol tried his best to give Baekhyun a reassuring smile, a smile that somehow managed to calm down the boys sudden outburst.

“W-what? H-how is it y-your fault?” Baekhyun stammered as he looked into the giant’s brown eyes. “I fell asleep on the bench, i-it was my fault.” He coughed and quickly covered his mouth to muffle the barks that escaped his mouth.

“I don’t know, it just feels like it is.” Chanyeol said as held unto Baekhyun’s waist, feeling like he’d fall off the boat if he let go. “I promised myself that I’d make you smile, that I wont let you get into harm’s way. But I failed.” His voice was shaky and he could feel his heartbeat increase. “I-I’m so sorry. I failed. I failed. I failed.” Chanyeol was slamming his head against the wall, still not letting go of Baekhyun.

Baekhyun could see the sorrow etched in Chanyeol’s face and wrapped his arms around Chanyeol’s torso, placing his head on his chest. He could hear the sharp heartbeat resonate into his ears. He was probably as scared as him. He lifted his head up and stared into Chanyeol’s eyes, trying his best to form a smile.

“It’s not your fault. You see, I did this all on my own.” Baekhyun sighed, finally realizing how stupid he was, sleeping beside the beach. “I made Luhan sleep with Sehun and didn’t want to sleep with you because…” Chanyeol had a painful expression on his face, making Baekhyun feel guilty that he had potentially ruptured Chanyeol’s heart.

“Because… I was conscious of you. Too conscious. I didn’t know why, but I… was scared that I was about to sleep with you. I think it’s because...”

“I love you.”

-------------

Luhan and the others could clearly hear the sharp sobs that came from inside the boat. They all tensed up, being unable to understand how it felt being out here, alone and probably on the verge of believing that they weren’t going to be found, ever.

Sehun was biting into shirt when Baekhyun’s cries reached the outside. He flinched every time it got louder, and loosened up when it become softer and lighter. “Come on, Baekhyun’s safe. Stop acting like we just lost him!” Kris shouted as he eyed Sehun’s helpless form.

“Kris, stop shouting at him! He almost lost his best friend, and your scolding him is not going to help him calm down.” Luhan shouted as he stepped in between the two, hiding Sehun from Kris’ sight. “What? If you continue to act that way, it’ll be just the same as losing the guy! He’s here, he’s safe, what more could you ask?!” Kris shouted, making it echo through the distant ocean.

“Kris, stop. You shouldn’t be doing this.” Tao said as he lightly placed his hand on Kris’ shoulder. “You, stay out of this.” He said as he shrugged the hand off, Tao’s face twisting into a sad expression.

“Would all of you just shut up?!” It was Suho who had broken the tension between everyone. “Alright, I know this is a tough time and everyone really treasures that boy but we should really just be glad he’s safe, right? I mean, he may have had to endure something he was never prepared for but feeling bad for the boy isn’t going to make him forget.” He said as he lowered his voice, making sure not to disturb Baekhyun’s rest.

“Also, all of you have been shouting too mercilessly and forgotten that the boy in there went through a lot today and shouting is going to disturb him from coping with the incident.”

Everyone bowed their heads, realizing what they had just done. “Alright, since that’s settled, we should head back. Baekhyun needs to get to a hospital, and whatever conflict you guys still have in between you, you’re going to have to it up until Baekhyun is out of your reach.” Suho said as he walked towards the boat’s control panel (seeing as no one is in the proper condition to drive it), started the boat and headed back to shore.

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Double update since I already have internet and I don't know when's the next time I'm going to get it OTL

I'm sorry its so angsty I thought i'd write comedy all throughout but it felt like something was missing so I managed to add something random into the storyline i'm sorry huhu

Thanks 4 the readzzzz, the subzzzz and the very nice commentzzzz <3