Byun Baekhyun never failed on bringing surprises. It was Monday, when most people would be frowning over the day, complaining over the works they will have to finish, the day people would expect the least when it comes to Monday. The day was like the monster that would bring constant headache, the pounding to their head, an attempt to make it explodes like a bomb. But Byun Baekhyun made a surprised on Monday, upon the peaceful morning of his house – or what most people would call it as home.

The curtain of his room, still with the color of yellow, has been open. The sunshine shone through the window, greetings the chilly atmosphere with its warmth. The faint sound of chirping birds greeted him, as he hums his favorite song to start his day. It will make his day better and not to mention, it will keep him from frowning. He hates Monday, just like every other man out there, but today he would make an exception. He stood in front of a mirror, fixing himself, before finally letting his lips to curl up creating a satisfied smile.

He made his way downstairs, where the smell of toast comes from. It feels fresh and rather nice, freshly baked just like how he prefers it to be. It was blended well with the smell of tea, greeting early in the morning. The scent was nice, too nice that he started to get hungry and his stomach growl. It rarely happens before, how his stomach growl over some food, despite the fact that his mom’s toast is the best.

“Good morning~,” he choruses, after spotting a woman standing next to the dining table, preparing breakfast.

“Good morning~, you’re early today, what a surprised.” She smiled and pulled a chair for her son.

“Yeah, I don’t want to be late for class today.”

“Woah, what’s wrong with you? You’re being different nowadays.”

Byun Baekhyun might be one of those smart students with genius brain and splendid attitude, however since no body is perfect, he too, is just another human being painted with simplicity and imperfectness. He’s known for his tardiness on Monday, he would skip at least 2 classes before finally arriving and sitting nicely at his seat to attend the lecture. Well, rather than being a habit, it is something he had done on purpose. He hates lectures, especially about those business, estimation, accounting, numbers, management, and whatever it is. It was quite surprising how he wakes up earlier than usual, being cheerful on such a day.

“Omo! What’s with the cardigan? You rarely wear that.” His mom flinches after catching her son figure.

He looks handsome, stylish, and perfect – rather than pulling of a cute and adorable image, he looks cool today. The blue shirt he wear fit perfectly with his white cardigan, something he wear only for special occasions and events. Most of the time, he would only slip for some t-shirt and grab random jeans. So yeah, his figure would definitely surprised people. He brought a whole new look upon himself in a day, and not to mention its Monday.

“Are you having some special occasions? Does your school hold another events? You’re not having a party again, are you?”

“Mom… there’s nothing special. What’s wrong with dressing up?”

“It- It’s just…”

“I told you, Mom, he met a girl.” His younger sister suddenly jumps in to the conversation.

“What’s with the commotion? All of you should sit down and eat quietly.” His father husky voice suddenly ruined the moment.

Byun Baekhyun, as what have been told before, has never been fond of his so-called father. He may sound rude, but honestly the relationships between the two are no better than enemies. Their father and son relationship has been ruined over years, one who wanted freedom and one who wanted to rule. Their different opinions are the thing that has successfully destroyed the relationship. And now, sitting together with his family, especially when his father is around, isn’t something Baekhyun would do easily, but today he won’t let that small thing ruined his great day.

The noise created by the commotion soon died down, as the four of them eat quietly without any talk. His family did not know such a thing called as friendly talks or chats, especially when his father is around. The warm atmosphere turn chilly out of the blue and Baekhyun could slowly feel the discomfort surrounding him. He wasn’t daring enough to look at the man eyes.

“I will get going now, I can’t be late.” Baekhyun excuses himself, the first person ever to open his mouth during breakfast.

“I told him he should be thankful to me, see how happy he is.” Mr. Byun murmurs nonchalantly after his son figure disappears.

“Oh, dear, just be quiet. It’s been a while since he saw him that much cheerful.”

***

The day ends and he could feel how his heart beating faster and faster, the thought of her waiting for him is something unimaginable. His mom has asked him earlier this morning, whether he has any special occasions or events, the answer is no. He’s dressing up to this extent, that girls can’t take their eyes off him, simply to charm that girl again. He wanted to impress that stranger, who he barely knows the other day.

His joyful steps took its way to the park, where he catches the glimpse of her figure for the first time. His thoughts were wondering around, replaying the moments from a few days ago. She called out to him, wishing him good luck, and promising him that she would wait for him, at the backyard. That’s his reason for dressing up nicely, for waking up in the morning and cheerfully going to the school, keeping a good concentration for each lectures – it’s because of her that he suddenly wanted to do his best.

The park, as always, as beautiful as ever. He brought his camera, something he would never forgot, especially when he might get a chance to capture her. He hums the same song, over and over again; a story about how a man falls in love with a girl, as his heart continues to skips a beat. His stomach, it felt like butterflies are flying inside it and his lips can’t help but curl up to form a wider smile from time to time. He loves this feeling, especially when his cheek heats up after seeing his figure.

He sighs, eyes wandering around the park to search for her figure. He has been waiting for this day for such a long time. Two days without seeing her and suddenly he wanted to meet her so badly. That girl, that one girl managed to turn him upside down, where is she? He had only known her for a day and all he had ever known was her name, yet she’s that much amazing to done such a crime upon him. The crime of making him falls for her.

For a moment, he stood frozen. The butterflies inside his stomach suddenly died, and his bright vision suddenly turns pitch black, before finally flickering and turning grayish. His heart stops skipping beautiful beats, as it shattered to pieces. His cheek turns from pink to pale and he was too busy biting his lips. Suddenly, it felt like being pushed off a cliff and falling to a dark abyss.

He might have been expecting for too much. Who is he anyway? He’s just some stranger she met during daylight, suddenly asking her to hang out with him, being overly friendly, and asking her to wait for him. He could be a criminal, attempting to kidnap her or do some horrible thing to her. Who is he for her to trust him? Geez, he expected too much. Breathing suddenly felt heavy as he closes his eyes for the word love and walk away from the park.

He’s heartbroken over a single disappointment, he’s badly disappointed. He may seems childish, a crybaby of course, but well it’s the first time he has ever been that much obsessed about a girl. He’s surrounded by girls, yet only that one single girl could impress him. She breaks a promise, whose fault it is? His, because they’re just stranger, what is he expecting? With that inside his mind, he walks away, sighing, with heavy steps.

The pretty sky doesn’t seem that much pretty anymore. It somehow lacking, it lacks of something he can’t even describe it as. It lacks of sparks, something that used to spark inside of him suddenly gone missing. Oh, maybe she’s busy or something important come up, right? He wanted to think positively, a bit naïve or somehow fairy-tale like, so things would seems much more happier. He wanted to be irrational, yet he isn’t childish enough to be that way. He’s indeed very rational and rather serious despite the image he usually offers.

He bet she doesn’t even remember him anymore. He bet she has forgotten him, his name, his face, his features, he bet she can’t even recalling going on a date with him. He won’t blame her though, it’s normal between strangers. Yet for no reason, it just hurt him. Does he even truly in love with her? He’s new to love, well, he could understand pain though. He wanted to see her so badly, and seeing her wasn’t there hurt him.

He decided to go downtown, rather than spending time at his so-called home. The library would be a great place to simply relax, seeing the pictures he had managed to capture for quite a few days. The old man’s place wasn’t a bad idea either, he wonder if it could put his heart in peace by seeing her pictures – seeing her features, imagining her presence and scent. She smelled like peaches, fresh, soft, and calm. Or simply walking along the street to find some inspiration and lifting this heavy burden off his chest.

Walking downtown and strolling around doesn’t seems to be a bad idea, his mood soon lighten up after some sight-seeing, especially after passing through the library. The downtown library was a huge one, it has a complete collection of books, and the interior design wasn’t bad either. It has an antique style, which feels completely refreshing with huge windows that let the sun rays enter nicely. Byun Baekhyun can’t help but smile after catching the glimpse of the same figure that never failed to impress him.

Her brown hair falls perfectly, covering almost half of her face. The wavy style it had was beautiful, glimmering under the orange colors of the sun rays. It’s glittering, shining brightly, beautifully. It seems soft and silky, just like how it feels like when it brushes against his skin a few days ago. The feeling still lingers around him, how soft and silky it is. Her pink lips were very pretty, and kissable. Her beautiful skin was shining beneath the sun and her orbs were attached to the thick book in front of her. She was obsessed with the book, unable to get her eyes of it. He found her serious side quite cute and her curious side was something he would never miss for the world. It looks cute and it seems she has grown gorgeous in two days.

A smile appeared on his face, despite the disappointment he had just now, he wanted to approach her and talk to her. Yet he decided to hold on and watches her from a far. People might see him as a freak, or if it ever gotten worse, people might count him as a stalker. He keeps standing in the middle of the street, gazing blankly at a young lady, who seems to be very interested in her book, and spent no notice on the young man. His frown turns to a satisfied smile, seeing how beautiful she is, as she constantly tug a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her tiny fingertips keep on flipping through the pages, as her eyes scanning throughout the pages.

It doesn’t felt boring at all, watching her, as she captivates him even more. Again, for the thousandth time, he wonder how much more charm does she have. She had lots of charm that it keeps sending butterflies down his stomach and his heart keeps on pounding. His steps turn from heavy to light as he approaches her and knock on the window.

It startled the girl, as she quickly lifted her gaze and darted it to him. She flinches, something most people done when they are shocked. Again, he found it cute. He smiled, as he knock for another three times at the window, slowly, not to startled anyone else. The girl just tilted her head a bit, as if she was confused by the sudden man, but soon smiled. She shyly looked down to the wooden floor, her cheek turn slightly pink.

He, too, can’t help but blushes. It felt great, although it is embarrassing – how his cheek suddenly heat up at her presence, turning pinkish. It suddenly felt hot, despite the cold wind that constantly blows. He signaled her, saying that she should stay and he would enter the library to meet him. Again, she looked down and shyly nodded, followed by her brown hair that cutely bounce.

***

“What are you reading? It seems interesting.” Baekhyun used both his palm to cover Jieun eyes.

“Oh, Baekhyun-ssi, you’re early! What time is it?” Jieun asked innocently.

“Five…”

“Omo!” Jieun suddenly stands up and removes both of his palm, “five? I thought its still three! I was just about to go to the park! Omo, you must have been waiting for a long time. An hour!” Jieun exclaimed, feeling guilty about her tardiness.

Baekhyun could only chuckle, laughing at her cuteness but also at his childish self. She does remember him, his name and his features. She might have failed to recognize him for a few seconds but soon managed to regain all the puzzle pieces and her smile was everything he would ever wish for. Baekhyun was definitely wrong about her, she does remember about their promise and he wasn’t just a simple stranger to her. To her, he might have become a friend.

“It’s fine.” Baekhyun murmurs, as he took a seat next to her.

“No, it’s not! I let you wait for an hour! I failed to keep my promise to you!” Jieun insisted.

“Its fine, I’m here now. I didn’t wait that long either.”

“I’m so sorry, truly sorry. I should’ve… ah… it’s just… this book… this head…”

“You’re funny, Jieun-ssi. Its okay, I’m not upset about it. At least you do remember.”

“Aish, I’m so stupid, stupid, stupid!” She started hitting her head, which startled Baekhyun.

“You shouldn’t hit yourself like that.” Baekhyun hold her wrist, “I’m fine, I told you. Its fine, we’ll just talk later. Stop hurting yourself. Come on, sit down.”

Baekhyun should admit every single sight of her is unique and rather charming. She’s cute but also gorgeous. She had a lady-like sight which impresses him, despite her appearance as a country bumpkin. Her simplicity is something he loved the most, the charm he would like to find in his ideal girl. She had a cute side too, something he found silly and it would made his day. It made him laughs a lot.

“Anyway, what’s with the book? You seem to be very interested in books. Mmm… classic, I see.”

“Yeah, it’s interesting. The words are so touching, it made my day, and classics have beauty, I loved them. It’s just some typical sad love stories.” Jieun explained, as she flipped another page.

Baekhyun leaned closer as Jieun moved closer to him, sharing the same book together. The two, much to Baekhyun hopes, managed to talk a lot more compared to their chat a few days ago. Jieun opened up a bit, especially to her interest. It seems she does enjoy lots of things from music to books. Her eyes glimmers, there are beautiful glimpse of light inside her eyes as she talks, something he loved about her. It shines, it lightens up every time she talks, and her pink lips never stops forming a smile.

“I see, you’re half-way done.” Baekhyun should admit his admiration to her, not only when it comes to her personal traits, but also to her hobby. The book was quite thick and finishing it half-way through was something brilliant.

“Yeah, it’s interesting, very, I can’t stop reading it.” Jieun chuckled, flipping another page, “want to join me?” she offers.

Baekhyun shyly nods his cheek heats up, realizing the distance between the two. They’re so close, that his nose could smell her peach scent; his body could feel her warmth, radiating from her petite figure. Jieun, too, couldn’t help but smile at the closeness between her and Baekhyun. He’s warm and friendly; Jieun was feeling comfortable around him. She’s rather happy, having him by her side, meeting him after two days without seeing each other. She had no choice but to admit her liking to him, his presence.

They share the same book together, reading the whole pages together, enjoying the silence and the beauty of dusk from the window. Baekhyun loves reading, not too that extent, but it is enough to keep up with her interest – rather than forcing him to keep up with her, it seems like their taste match a lot. Baekhyun couldn’t help but feel that both of them are fated to be together, to meet each other. It feels like, today, destiny and fate is the two kindest things in the world, despite their cruel and brutal self that is hidden beneath the kindness.

Their fingers suddenly brushed each other by coincidence, when both of them attempted to  flip the page. Baekhyun flinches, when her fingertips touch his hand and Jieun, in the other hand, quickly pulled her hand away. Her hand was soft, small, petite, it made her seems fragile. Baekhyun could feel her warmth, even on her fingertip. Jieun, too, could feel Baekhyun’s warm and gentle self. As how a man hand should be, it was kind of rough, yet gentle and warm, not to forget his size seems to fit her perfectly.

The two of them soon found themselves staring at each other brown orbs. Their lips curled up, diving inside each other warm orbs. She has those beautiful eyes, just like how a princess would have. He has those gentle eyes; it made her feel secure more than anything in the world. It was comforting, staring to each other eyes, as they soon looked away. Jieun looked down, too shy to meet his eyes, and Baekhyun decided to look away and clear his throat to melt the awkward atmosphere. Their cheek heated up, blushing as it turns pink.

The awkward atmosphere soon melted, as Jieun giggled. They spent the rest of the day reading the same book. Baekhyun was happy and relieves, He managed to spend another day with her, something he would enjoy. It’s been a while that he could feel this much happy and satisfied, caused by something else rather than photography. Lee Ji Eun, the only girl that has enough magic to make him feel this way.

***

“I’m so sorry I forgot to meet you up, today.” Jieun shyly apologized.

“It’s fine. I didn’t wait for that long either.” Baekhyun comforted her again.

“No, it’s not fine! I should pay it off with something!”

“It really is fine, Jieun-ssi. Don’t worry about it.”

“Ah, I know! How about I made you breakfast or lunch? I will wait for you in the morning; I will bring you your food! How about it?” Jieun clapped her hand as she got another idea to pay off her tardiness.

“Won’t it be too much?”

“No, not at all. I troubled you today; I should do something to pay you back.”

“Okay then.” Baekhyun shyly nodded, as he can’t wait to taste her food.

“It’s late now, I should take you home. The sky is dark already.”

“I will be fine.”

“What kind of man am I? I should take you home when it’s already dark.”

Baekhyun has been insisting on taking her home for quite a few times but Jieun keeps on refusing, it disappointed him. But this time, he would make sure she can’t refuse it. Honestly, he simply wanted to walk with her a bit longer, knowing the place where she lives and went home right away. Jieun might feel uncomfortable, since she’s barely twenty and taking a boy to her house, especially a boy she had just known isn’t something people will be fond of and it would be consider rather impolite.

However, his hopes soon crushes down after seeing how her facial expression changes. Lee Ji Eun, as far as he has ever known, is a bubbly and cheerful girl. She’s a sweet one and definitely kind. However, there are times when he doubted his judgment regarding her. There are times when she let him see a different side of her, where her bright self turn dark out of the blue. She could turn gloomy and of course, her face would darken. Today too, her bright self turns darker.

The bright glimpse of light that usually light up when she talks suddenly gone missing, followed by her face that darkens out of the blue. She seems to be thinking hard about something and it seems to be something upsetting or at least painful. He could see it, clearly reflected from her eyes, not to mention, the way she acts started to change. She let a tiring sigh escape her lips, as if she’s been tired of living, as if she wanted to end her life in a quick way.

“Home, huh?” she murmurs.

Baekhyun actually felt guilty, seeing how her facial expression darkens, although half of him was feeling quite suspicious. It’s like there is another side of her, a darker side that lives inside her, hiding beneath her cheerful smile and genuine kindness. It wasn’t something evil – the dark side – but either something painful and upsetting, something she desperately wanted to forget, something that had caused her a never-ending suffering. But Byun Baekhyun knows he had no right to know about it and remain silent. All he could ever wish for was to protect her, to make sure her darker side would soon died down and remain as healed scars.

“Yeah, home, is something wrong?” He tried to be careful on his choice of words, not to hurt her.

“Home, I wonder what it feels like.” She looked down, hiding the pain.

“What do you mean?”

“Home, don’t you know? People said it’s warm, it’s nice, and it’s comfortable. It’s the place you could always run to once the world turns their back against you. People said it’s friendly, lovely, and safe. You would feel loved there; people called places like that their home. But I wonder if I do have a home… I can’t feel it, the warm, the love, the comfort, the safety; I can’t feel anything but fear. Is that what people called home?” Her melancholy self rises.

Baekhyun was surprised, to see her melancholy self, to see her sadness. It seems like she failed to keep her sadness and disappointment all to herself, although Baekhyun has to admit he’s happy she would open up to him. However, the other thing that surprised him was her confession about home. They both – just as if destiny seems to love those two – hate home.

His bad relationship with his family made his home doesn’t feel like home. It feels like prison, where everything has to go exactly like how his father wanted it to be. Everyone inside his house has to please her father or else bad things might happen. His father is a dictator, he never consider others opinion as he only think of himself, as he think himself as the best, as if he would never done any mistakes. He thinks as himself as a perfect human being, and as his son, Byun Baekhyun free soul failed to keep up with it.

Of course, he had known the limit of freedom, but his father doesn’t give a thing for it. There’s no such thing as freedom in his dictionary and everything has to go according to his plan. He has planned everything in Baekhyun’s life, from A to Z, and soon it won’t be weird if his father brought a girl for him to marry. In the end of the day, the two was caught up in the argument and home doesn’t feel like home anymore.

He doesn’t know how it feels like to be loved, where he’s supposed to be loved. His mother was the only person keeping him inside the house, or else he might have run away a long time ago. It doesn’t feel comfortable at home; when he knows his dad is inside. It doesn’t feel nice when they have to sit together and eat. When the world turns his back against him, home would kick him out. Therefore, he really do wonder what home feels like, because it seems the word home has extinct from his dictionary. He never knows that someone would feel the same way.

“I know, right? I never know someone would feel the same way as I do.” Baekhyun let a tiring sigh escape his lips, something people rarely found, except for his family.

“You do? I don’t think so, thinking that a man like you…”

“A man like me should have a perfect life, right? I told you what, it’s wrong. My father is a complete jerk and my mother isn’t that much helpful either. Home feels like prison to me.”

“Baekhyun…”

“I sound rude, didn’t I? Well, I guess I lose control for a second.”

“I wonder what home would feel like, you know, if you do understand… the warmth, the love, the comfort…”

“Jieun-ssi, I think I know a great place!” His frown soon turn to a wide satisfied smile, grabbing her wrist as he took her with her, running along the empty street.

Don’t worry, Jieun. I, who you had yet to know, will protect you. I will heal the scars inside your heart; I will heal your hidden pain. I may be new to love, but I’m sure this feeling is strong enough to be called love.

Author Note

Sorry for not updating for so long! I think I'm loosing my feels but managed to regain in back! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting! Here you go, chapter five! I hope I don't disappoint any of you! Thank you! Comments and subscribe! I wanted to know what you think, you know leaving comments actually helps me to write. It encourage me, thanks!