are you afraid of me?

Baekhyun was both embarrassed and annoyed. "Seriously, I can feed myself," he whined, so much like a child it made Junmyeon laugh and Yejin slap his hand away from taking the bowl from her hand. "I'm not a patient. I'm sick, but I'm still capable of eating on my own."

"Shut up, Baek. I'm being a good friend here and you won't allow me?" Yejin feigned offense.

In the end, Baekhyun couldn't fight against Yejin's glare (and pout) and allowed her to continue feeding him, grumbling at every spoon ed to his mouth. Junmyeon was finally smiling now, on the other hand, chuckling at the two's antics as he cleaned up in the tiny kitchen.

Soon, Minho returns. The oldest brought in a few paper bags of food enough to last until tomorrow and new packs of medicine.

"Hey, guys." he greets, giving Junmyeon a kiss on the cheek when he noticed how his aura was released of all the heavy tension he was carrying before they left. "You're alright now?"

Happily nodding, Junmyeon smiles. He was still stressed, he was still tired, but it was now simply the day's events taking a toll on his body. Otherwise, he felt lighter than ever.

"Where's Chanyeol?" He asked Minho as he took some of the bags, immediately preparing the next hour of medicine.

The oldest sighs, "He's still outside".

"Is he alright?" They lower their voices.

Minho shakes his head, silently telling Junmyeon that he hasn't exactly been… coping well himself. "Don't worry. He'll come around eventually."

Baekhyun and Yejin did hear their conversation though. Yejin sighs.

She scoops another spoonful to continue feeding him, sending a warm smile when Baekhyun looks up. This time, Baekhyun doesn’t protest or say anything.

♠️♠♠

'You look out of place'

Chanyeol stood out like a sore thumb. He clearly did not belong in this neighborhood, let alone this kind of environment. His stature, simply the way he carried himself, was a dead giveaway of the status he was born in - rich and wealthy. He was handsome, clean cut, and just reeked of class. Even though he was leaning against an average looking dirty car (Minho must have switched it before they returned), Chanyeol still posed an intimidating aura.

And the people around them clearly thought the same. He was a whole head turner, just like when they were at school.

Park Chanyeol was seen just as prince-like here as much as he was at campus grounds.

Yejin never noticed it before. Why would she? It was something she never really bothered with anyway. Clothes were clothes and things were things. But now that she’s here – directly exposed to such a drastically different world and with Baekhyun’s words ringing in her head – it was hard not to see what Baekhyun saw.

This is how Baekhyun views them?

"Are you second guessing your relationship with Baekhyun now?”

Chanyeol turned away from gazing at Baekhyun’s window that was lit by another flickering candlelight, only to find his ex-girlfriend approaching him. That bittersweet taste still remained no matter how kind she is.

Yejin looks around the area again, taking in the same surroundings as Chanyeol is. She knows what he’s thinking, they’re both seeing the same things. The crowd of civilians outside the hotel and whom they found out were selling themselves for money, a rather open secret in the neighborhood. Their clients coming in with their sleazy looking faces. Some of them catching Yejin’s eyes and their blatant stares got uncomfortable that Chanyeol noticed and blocked her from their view (he was still a gentleman, no matter how sour Yejin’s image has turned for him).

It was hard. Truly hard to accept Baekhyun’s reality. And it was clear that Junmyeon wasn’t the only one having trouble processing their emotions. Chanyeol takes a heavy intake of air loud enough through the cacophonous sound of the neighborhood. A long sigh, but heavy of exhaustion.

“Look,” Yejin sighs herself, “I’m not going to dictate how I think you should feel about this whole thing. I understand. Believe me, I do. But I also want you to know that I hope…” She places a gentle hand on Chanyeol’s face to tilt his head and lock their eyes and finds herself pausing. Confusion and pain were clearly glazed in the shine of his irises. Familiar, but different. Painful, but accepted. “I hope…”—

“... that you will still keep your promise. Don’t leave him.” Sincerity heavily laced in her voice carried through her words that were more impactful given their past. “That I do believe whatever happens – Baekhyun is worth fighting for.”—

“He truly loves you, Chanyeol. And I know you know that was never a lie.”

♠

“The is this? Who the hell are you guys?” Baekhyun’s landlady appears at the doorway, glaring at Yejin and Chanyeol and startling them both. “Just because I’m kicking that useless dog out, he’s here having a party now? He hasn’t even paid his rent! That’s it. He’s leaving tonight.” She threw her arms in the air and was about to march to the apartment.

Chanyeol seethed but Yejin was quicker to react. So much so he had to stop her with all his might and their bodyguards slowly appeared aro