Chanyeol deliberates on whether he should knock and how many times, at what speed and how hard he should knock. He found the building with ease and the front door was open, so he headed straight for the stairs. The five-story flight of stairs was not so easy, especially with his wet, heavy clothes and the slippery puddles of water his body created everywhere around him. But he managed to get to the door safely. Deciding that he has already taken long enough, he knocks on the door. Three unreasonably loud heartbeats later –which is almost immediate, but to Chanyeol it felt like a century –the door swings open.

And there he is. His guy. Baekhyun.

He looks nothing like the last time they met. He is wearing large sweat pants in very light grey color and a large t-shirt in pale lilac color. It must be his comfortable home-clothes –and Chanyeol is not judging him, everyone is entitled to wear anything they want inside their own house, especially at 2:45 am –but it looks a bit odd in Chanyeol’s eyes; odd but lovely. Maybe it is because he was wearing that great figure-hugging suit the last time, or maybe it’s because the clothes are slightly too big and he looks like a kid. The neckline is so large that it reveals a small part of the smooth, white skin of his collar bone, and the sight does strange things to Chanyeol, so he averts his eyes quickly. The color of the shirt compliments Baekhyun’s skin tone and his chestnut hair. His face looks so innocent and pure in the comfort of his home, his small rosy lips set in a pout and his warm brown eyes giving him a puppy look. Maybe he is not very happy to see Chanyeol again and Chanyeol can’t blame him, really, given the circumstances.

“Hi” Chanyeol greets him sheepishly, managing a very small smile. He really wants, no he needs, to improve his impression on Baekhyun. At the sound of his voice, Baekhyun blinks, as if he was spacing out earlier, and takes a step backwards.

“Come in” Baekhyun invites him in a whisper and Chanyeol quickly steps inside, closing the door behind him.

Baekhyun’s apartment is large –not as large as Chanyeol’s but let’s be reasonable, okay –and it is mostly drenched in darkness. From what Chanyeol can see, it looks pretty cute; it looks like a home, not anything like Chanyeol’s magazine-like decorated apartment.

He doesn’t let his eyes wander for too long, because that would be rude. He returns his gaze to the smaller man, who is still staring at him with an unreadable expression. Chanyeol stares back, trying to keep his small smile. Traditional Park Chanyeol charm doesn’t seem to work on the petit brunette –so their last encounter indicated –, so he will try to be a good person, charm aside, to make a good impression. Yes, he can be a good person if he wants to, okay? After a while of staring, there are questions dancing in Chanyeol’s thoughts (does Baekhyun like lilac color? What side of the bed does he sleep on? What is he usually having for breakfast? Is he living alone? Where is his office, is it far from here? What shampoo does he use?), which he cannot ask, just can’t, absolutely must not ask, and he is trying to suppress them really hard.

He notices how he is dripping on the floor and hugs his arms around his torso. He really hoped that he could visit Baekhyun’s place one day, after meeting him formally and growing closer with him, but in his imagination neither was it in the middle of the night, nor was he uninvited, nor was he dripping wet on Baekhyun’s floor. Every rose-filtered scenario in Chanyeol’s head has flown out the window and he is a bit disappointed at that. But he has to make do with what he has to work with. And, deep down, he is a bit excited to be here, no matter the situation. Baekhyun finally notices the growing puddle on the floor.

“You’re soaking wet” he announces with a soft sigh “Follow me; I was expecting as much” He leads the way down the hall and Chanyeol follows like a lost puppy. Baekhyun opens a door and turns on the lights to a bathroom. “There are clean towels you can use over here. Also, I would recommend you change into these clothes; they are the biggest I could find. Just, take your time and then meet me in the living room, okay? It’s across the hall” he instructs in a soft voice and Chanyeol nods before stepping inside the bathroom.

He is trying to make it quick because he doesn’t want to make Baekhyun wait any second longer. It’s late and there probably won’t be any conversation but, in the case there is, Chanyeol is trying to think of what he should say. Unfortunately, Luhan was not any help with the information inquiry task he was given; he reported what they already knew, he gave his card to a kid and then he was asking for details on how Chanyeol and Baekhyun met. So, Chanyeol feels a little desperate. He wanted to look perfect but he already looks a lot less than perfect in the pants that are a bit too short for his legs and the shirt which is slightly too tight if he tries to move. Noticing his stained hands, he washes them as he can best and then leaves the bathroom in a hurry to meet Baekhyun again.

He walks to the living room to find Baekhyun sitting on the couch, staring at a muted late night show without actually watching it. The lights are flickering on his features and glowing in his eyes. Chanyeol thinks this is the most cozy sight he has ever seen. When he notices Chanyeol standing by the door frame, he lights up a lamp on his side and closes the TV hastily.

“Are the clothes alright?” he asks. Chanyeol tries not to sigh at the sound of his voice, which he heard for the first time over too much noise about a week and a half ago and yet he missed it.

“They are fine” Chanyeol takes a spin to demonstrate. Baekhyun presses his lips tightly –to Chanyeol it looks like he is trying to suppress a smile. Nooo, why suppress it? he has such a pretty smile…

“Obviously, they are not fine, but there is not much either of us can do about it” he corrects and Chanyeol smiles carefree, but feeling slightly embarrassed. “Here’s your bed” Baekhyun continues, getting up from the couch, revealing a bundle of pillows and blankets on it. His puppy eyes glance between Chanyeol and the couch quickly. “You’re probably too tall to fit; I’m sorry. There is nowhere else you can sleep”

“It’s okay” Chanyeol reassures him quickly “I’m too tall for anything, really. And I am grateful to you; even if I would have to sleep on the floor” did that come out too desperate?

“Well, you should thank Lay. He called in a big favor” he advises in modesty.

“Ah, I know” Chanyeol mumbles –Lay said something about a broken power ranger toy when they were young and how bad Baekhyun felt afterwards –and then runs his fingers through his hair out of habit “But I still feel like I should thank you too”

Baekhyun doesn’t respond and Chanyeol starts to think, that maybe he got too pushy with him and he blew his chance at a good impression and what will he do now? But then he doubts Baekhyun heard him, because said male is staring with troubled eyes at Chanyeol’s forehead. “What?” he asks curious after a while.

“Um…” Baekhyun blinks a couple of times “you have a black smudge on your forehead”

“What?” Chanyeol growls and hits his forehead with his hand –much like face palming –and then starts rubbing furiously. Why didn’t he check the mirror before coming out of the bathroom? Stupid grease…Has he looked this ridiculous all along? All he wants is to make a good impression, for crying out loud! Why is the universe so poised against him? He is Park Chanyeol, the man who doesn’t care about making a good impression and he always manages to make an excellent one. Why is it that this once, with this one person, Chanyeol seems to keep making a fool of himself?

“Don’t do that” Baekhyun stops him, pulling his hand away. Baekhyun’s fingers are warm and they leave electricity on Chanyeol’s skin, even with this small, insignificant touch. “You will irritate your skin. I’ll get a damp cloth. Sit here and wait for a moment” he orders and Chanyeol feels his heart thumping at the command, because it brings back in his memory a fragment of his heartbreaker. He sits dazedly and waits for him, and he only realizes that Baekhyun came back when a cold cloth touches his forehead and sends him out of his trance.

“Sorry, is it too cold?” Baekhyun asks when he notices that Chanyeol flinched.

“Um, no. I can do it, though” Chanyeol answers quickly. Baekhyun doesn’t stop his work, caressing his skin with the cloth softly, with his eyes set intently on his forehead.

“You can’t see your forehead. It’s okay, I’ll do it for you” the small male offers kindly.

Chanyeol feels Baekhyun’s breath touching his cheek faintly as he speaks and a rush of blood starts pooling under his cheeks. This is so strange; Chanyeol never blushes; never. Fortunately, the lights are dim and his color can’t be seen by Baekhyun. He closes his hands between his knees and listens to his loud heart –please, let it not be heard by Baekhyun too. He traces Baekhyun’s slightly parted lips with his eyes and he is stricken by how smooth his skin looks from up close. What would it feel like if he –

“Okay, I’m done” Baekhyun chirps and pulls away. Chanyeol lets out a breath he didn’t know he had been holding.

“Thanks, B-” he starts, feeling a bit flustered, but then it hits him just in time: he shouldn’t call Baekhyun by his name. Is he even supposed to know that information? “But, what’s your name?” phew, safe.

“My name?” Baekhyun asks pointing to himself, slightly surprised. Chanyeol nods –a nod is probably better than a loud awkward laugh in the middle of the night. “I’m Baekhyun. Byun Baekhyun” he says and turns his back to Chanyeol, putting away the cloth.

“I’m Chanyeol” he says cheerfully. He has dreamed so many times about telling Baekhyun his name –literally dreamed of it –and now, it’s finally happening! He is so excited! Knowing each other’s name is one step above strangers, right?

“Yeah, I know, you are the Park Chanyeol. Now I know…” Baekhyun’s voice sounds tired and slightly patronizing. It makes Chanyeol feel –unintentionally –rejected and his heart drops.

“No, I’m just Chanyeol” he reassures Baekhyun in a stern voice. The other man turns to look at him with his puppy eyes slightly surprised “Forget about the ‘Park’ part”

It’s true. Chanyeol has decided that he cannot be Park Chanyeol around Baekhyun, for some reason. Park Chanyeol is charming and elegant, he always knows what to say, he never blushes, he never cares, he makes a great impression effortlessly and people love him. He is also a self centered narcissist who can be really cruel, flaunting his money, always hard to please, always fooling around. But he can’t do any of that with Baekhyun, he won’t allow himself to do those. He is a good person with Baekhyun, he is Yeollie, like his mother knows and calls him. He is awkward, he forgets his words, he blushes with a thumping heart, he makes a fool of himself and all he wants is Baekhyun to like him –he still doesn’t know the reason why. He is just Chanyeol.

“Okay…” Baekhyun agrees reluctantly. Chanyeol feels like there are fireworks exploding everywhere around! He smiles happily, probably too wide and showing too many teeth. His right eye is also twitching a bit; but who cares! Hallelujah, the first step to get closer to Baekhyun has been made! “Goodnight” Baekhyun mumbles from the door frame, glancing back at Chanyeol, who is still smiling like crazy.

“Goodnight!” he wishes back cheerfully. He feels like he wants to squeal, like a teenage girl. Wait. Is that…Baekhyun turns around and disappears in the dark hallway. Was that…Was it really…Was there a small smile on Baekhyun’s lips?

--

Baekhyun opens his eyes lazily. The morning sun is peeking through the window –which he left open yet again. He needs to improve his relationship with the shutters or else he will be waking up to the sting of the morning sun for the rest of his days. Okay, he is being a bit dramatic. At least the light rain is blocking some of the sun. He glances at his bedside clock; it’s ten thirty. He pulls the covers over his head. He feels so tired; at least, it’s Sunday and he can sleep a bit more. Why is he so tired though?

Suddenly, the events of last night come rushing to his memory. His eyes open wide and he clings on the bed covers for dear life. Last night. Park Chanyeol.

He plants his face in his pillow and muffles a cry. Oh my god, why? When Lay called at 2 am, he should have known it was not a good sign. When he brought up the broken power ranger incident, he should have known it was definitely not a good sign. Then, he dropped the bomb on Baekhyun and how could Baekhyun refuse? He owed Lay, Lay’s job was depending on pleasing his boss and, in truth, Baekhyun wouldn’t have been able to sleep right after knowing that someone was helpless in the rain. So, he said yes. And so, the Park Chanyeol was on his way to his apartment. Thankfully, Baekhyun is a neat freak and the apartment was decent. He tried not to open the door too fast, but he probably failed. He was expecting to see him arrogant, or angry, or displeased, or indifferent. What he was not expecting was a shy and friendly hi.

He was not expecting a lot of things. He remembered Chanyeol to be a bit shorter –memory distortion to protect his self confidence –and more groomed to perfection. He was far from groomed, his clothes were wet and his hair was dripping. So, how did he manage to look even more perfect? With those large brown eyes and those soft lips, skin slightly damp with rain and his hair plastered to the sides of his face; not to mention those clothes. Oh, what did those clothes do to Baekhyun, all wet and almost see-through, clinging on Chanyeol’s long legs and his well built body. And Baekhyun looked like a homely pauper in comparison –he should have worn more decent and put-together clothes and he should have combed his hair. He won’t lie, he was thinking about Chanyeol’s appearance all the while he had been waiting for him to change clothes. And then, his couch is too short…

Oh, he also stared. Yeah, he did –many times –and then he said to the Park Chanyeol’s face that he had a smudge on his forehead. At least, he cleaned it quickly and painfully, so that should atone for his sin. He was very careful with Park Chanyeol’s porcelain skin but the procedure was really painful for Baekhyun. He could feel the other’s eyes on him and he tried not to gulp uncomfortably and not to sigh. The agonizing feelings from proximity took their toll on Baekhyun, all right? When Chanyeol asked for his name, he panicked for a moment –because Do made sure that Baekhyun hadn’t missed a day in the past fifteen days without hearing a lecture about how he had possibly ruined their company with his attitude to Chanyeol –but then Chanyeol nodded innocently –and it wasn’t just Baekhyun’s imagination, okay? Innocently can definitely be a way to nod –and he eventually gave his name. Chanyeol even said ‘forget about the park part’ which was a good sign, right?

Lastly, what Baekhyun didn’t see coming, was the smile. He could see it now, why everyone is so all over Park Chanyeol: the guy is stunning. In every sense of the word. Not only is he beautiful and hot –yes, Baekhyun didn’t fail to notice that, thanks to his sad and nonexistent love life –he is also childishly innocent and cute, like the cutest! He has such a toothy grin and his one eye twitched a bit and, in any other case those would qualify as not attractive elements, but, Chanyeol is turning them into adorable little traits that Baekhyun will remember long after Park Chanyeol has forgotten his name.

Because that will happen; Chanyeol will leave his house today and he will never see him again. Baekhyun feels a bit disappointed at the thought, probably because of his vanity; it’s a night he will tell his grand children about. He will leave out the part of how stupidly he acted, of course. If he ever has grand children.

He gets out of bed slowly and goes to the bathroom to shower. He showered last night as well but he wants to be as best as he can when he says good morning to the Park Chanyeol. He changes into skinny jeans –which might be a bit too skinny but they make him look good so he will have to bear with it –and a simple t-shirt, throwing a knit, beige cardigan above. He styles his hair as inconspicuously as possible –because he doesn’t want to come off like trying too hard, you know? –and pinches his cheeks for healthy color. Then, he feels ready to go out the door.

Half a step out of the bathroom door, he knocks on something hard and staggers a few steps backwards. He opens his eyes and sees Chanyeol standing in front of him with his eyes wide in shock and his jaw hanging slack. Baekhyun wishes for the ground to swallow him right then and there.

“Sorry. Um, I…bathroom” Chanyeol stutters quickly, after they have been staring at each other for a few agonizingly slow heartbeats. Baekhyun just nods; he feels so embarrassed.

“Yeah, sorry” he mumbles and scampers away to the kitchen.

Once in the safety of an away-from-park-Chanyeol space, he cups his cheeks with his hands. He is not a stupid teenager, come on. He walks to the kitchen window and yanks it open, letting mildly cold September air flow inside the room. He breathes in and out and he slowly starts finding sanity again. He needs to improve his reactions to anything that Chanyeol says and does. Last night he was tired and maybe that justifies his actions but Chanyeol is the Park Chanyeol and Baekhyun needs to part in friendly terms with him, unlike last time, for the sake of his company and Kyungsoo’s mental health.

“Good morning” a deep voice surprises Baekhyun and he turns half way around to find Chanyeol standing in the kitchen doorway. He is wearing the dark blue jeans he was wearing last night, only now they are dry and less clingy on his long legs. There is a darker patch of black on the side of his one leg, probably a grease stain, but it’s not too noticeable –unless you are a neat freak like Baekhyun, or unless your mind is treading on indecent paths at the sight of Chanyeol in those jeans like Baekhyun’s. Chanyeol is wearing the same grey t-shirt Baekhyun gave him, probably because his shirt from last night is too stained. It’s the biggest shirt Baekhyun owns, yet it’s a bit tight on Chanyeol, because the latter is not only taller but significantly more toned as well. Baekhyun can see the muscles on his upper chest, his shoulders and his exposed biceps and forearms. Three letters for you: OTL.

“Lay called earlier” Chanyeol continues after a while and Baekhyun wants to slap himself for not saying good morning back –it was not polite at all. “He said my car is being taken care of and he will come and pick me up later”

“What are you going to do until then?” Baekhyun asks. He wants company for his lonely Sunday morning and he wants Chanyeol to stay. Please stay! But he cannot say that out loud. Chanyeol averts his eyes and rocks on his heels.

“I don’t know, I’ll probably walk around and explore the place. I have never been in this part of the city before” There is something in his deep voice when he speaks that makes Baekhyun suspicious.

“When is Lay coming?” Baekhyun might be crazy for thinking that Chanyeol is hiding something, but his actions and the tone of his voice before are typical of a child trying to hide something. Baekhyun might be crazy for comparing the Park Chanyeol to a child too.

“Uh…he said he can get his hands on a car by three…” the tall man admits, looking so small. Baekhyun congratulates himself for being right in his suspicions and chides himself for wanting to hug the –cute– other man at the same time.

“Chanyeol it’s still eleven! You can’t wander in the rain until three” Should Baekhyun say it? He is this close to saying it. It won’t sound weird if he says it now, right? Okay, he is saying it. “You must stay”

“Really?” Chanyeol looks up at him, eyes wide with hope “But I wouldn’t want to be a nuisance…”

“What nuisance? You’re keeping me company” He must have said it convincingly, because Chanyeol is smiling a lovely carefree smile “Would you like some breakfast?” Baekhyun suggests; he is a good host for his guests. Especially if his guest is someone like Park Chanyeol.

“You don’t have to make breakfast, just coffee would do” Chanyeol assures him. Baekhyun opens a chair to the kitchen table as an invitation –for one thing, he will have none of that, and, for another, he has none of that. Meaning that he won’t let Chanyeol starve while he is his guest and that he doesn’t have any coffee.

“I don’t have any coffee, so Sunday pancakes it is”

He can feel Chanyeol’s eyes following him in the kitchen as he cooks. Maybe he flatters himself to think that the man sitting at the table is watching his back while he is making the pancakes, but it really feels like he does. Neither Chanyeol nor Baekhyun say anything while the latter is cooking but the silence is not entirely uncomfortable. Every time Baekhyun turns around to check on Chanyeol, he is still sitting obediently and waiting patiently, giving Baekhyun small reassuring smiles. After he is done with cooking, Baekhyun puts the maple syrup and the strawberry jam on the table, placing a glass of juice in front of Chanyeol and a glass of his usual milk in front of himself and he also grabs some blueberries and other fruit from the fridge. When he sits, he realizes that the table looks more elaborate than he had planned, but that is not a bad thing, right?

“Why are you not eating?” he asks, picking up his utensils. Chanyeol beams innocently.

“I was waiting for you” Baekhyun wants to cry; there are still this sort of kind and caring people in this world…He tries not to stare much while Chanyeol tastes his pancakes. He steals small peeks instead. Chanyeol’s eyes open wide.

“What is it?” he asks alarmed; are the pancakes too buttery? Are they salty? Are they too far soaked from the syrup? Are they too hot?

“This is incredible!” Chanyeol exclaims, cutting another piece and putting it in his mouth, glowing with satisfaction like a child.

“You scared me for a second” Baekhyun mumbles relieved “Don’t eat so fast, you’ll choke” Okay, that sounded more motherly than Baekhyun would like. He has to save it quickly. “I’m glad you like my pancakes though!” he chirps and flashes a smile.

Chanyeol chokes.

“Are you okay?” Baekhyun asks alarmed once again. Chanyeol, still a little surprised, waves him that he is fine, while waiting for his cough to die down.

“How come you cook so nicely?” Chanyeol asks after the convulsions are gone, trying to make conversation to prove that he is fine.

“I learnt some things from my mother but I found out a lot of things by myself” Nobody knows how many self-made poisons Baekhyun has tasted in his life. “I have to cook for myself all the time so I get to try out many recipes”

“I haven’t cooked anything in such a long time” Chanyeol mutters, looking a bit disappointed “I spend too many hours outside the house and, either I order something or go to a restaurant, or the cook from my father’s house comes five days a week and prepares a few meals for me” He straightens his hunched shoulders and the pout disappears “But I know how to cook!” he says cheerfully “It’s just not Korean cuisine”

“What sort of cuisine is it then?” Baekhyun asks bewildered. Only after the words are out does he realize that maybe he is being slightly indiscrete.

“It’s Italian!” Chanyeol answers happily and willingly. Maybe Baekhyun’s questions are not so uncomfortable to Chanyeol after all.

“You’ve been to Italy?” The whole country probably knows the answer to Chanyeol’s question but Baekhyun has not memorized his resume like the rest of the country.

“Yeah, I went there to study for a year. It was amazing! The scenery, the sun, the people, the language…everything was perfect” Chanyeol’s excitement and his velvet voice make everything sound even more perfect to Baekhyun’s ears.

“It sounds great; I’ve always wanted to go there someday” Baekhyun tries to keep his dreaminess out of his voice –because dreaminess is not a trait to praise manliness, neither a satisfying life so far. He has imagined everything, from the sun and the sounds to the food and the music. He really wants to go to Italy, it seems very romantic and sunny, like himself.

“Why haven’t you?” Chanyeol asks, picking another pancake. Baekhyun touches his ear nervously –it has become a habit whenever he feels uncomfortable, due to the ear piece.

“Ah…It’s my job. I need to be around all the time” he admits shyly. He doesn’t want it to sound like he is complaining about his job, because he is not, so he adds a small smile to his words.

“Don’t you have a business partner? To take over for a while I mean”

“I have but he is more fit for the financial stuff –and to keep my feet on the ground. I am the mastermind behind the planning, so I can’t be gone for too long”

“Oh, I see” Chanyeol nods and then he looks like he is about to say something when the doorbell rings.

“Excuse me for a second” Baekhyun knows who it is before opening the door.

The girl who brings his Sunday mail smiles at him as usual. Baekhyun tries not to open the door too far; he feels like he is hiding Chanyeol, even if he doesn’t have a reason to do that. It’s a subconscious urge to protect his privacy, probably. She greets him and hands him his mail, Baekhyun thanks her as he always does and smiles politely as the girl walks away, wishing him a good day. “Be careful on your way down the stairs” he calls, as always –because that stupid elevator is always broken –leaning out the door to be heard when the girl is nearing the steps, and she waves back in acknowledgement. Then, he straightens again and closes the door.

When he turns around to head for the kitchen, Chanyeol surprises him by standing against the kitchen doorframe. His hands are crossed in front of his chest, making the muscles tense under his skin, but his position is relaxed. His eyebrows are troubled and his full lips are pressed together in thought. He looks concerned about something but it looks like a scene straight out of a magazine photo shoot, so Baekhyun cannot be sure.

“Do you always go around in the house like this?” Chanyeol’s deep voice asks in a low timbre, making Baekhyun shiver slightly.

“Mmm?” he asks, not sure he understood the question with his thoughts all tangled in Chanyeol’s voice. The latter shakes his head.

“Nothing” he assures and lightens up quickly “Let’s go finish breakfast” It’s an invitation Baekhyun can’t resist.

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a/n. I think baekyeol are so cute together! I’m just trying to accentuate the cuteness in everything I write about them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! And thank you, everyone, for subscribing!!! (I get so excited with every new subscriber, I had really no hopes anyone would care about the things I write…It means so much to me, so, thank you so much! *bows ninety degrees and then gives you all a big hug*)

See you next time! Kitty~