*

White and blue varsity jackets are scattered everywhere. Mostly the seniors are already racing ahead the slope of the hill while several--- who are the freshmen, are lagging behind. It's been only fifteen minutes since the MT has officially begun but Baekhyun's already feeling exhausted to the bones. The scorching June sun hurts his eyes. It was just too bright and burning, that his varsity jacket starts to stick with his sweat like a second skin.

Baekhyun looks behind him. He sees a bunch of people miserably groaning, panting and cursing. A fat guy in his class is climbing a steep rock with all his might but ends up falling, while some freshmen from the other department is the same as him, quiet and slow but moving. He reclaims his focus ahead and continues trekking, or whatever torture this is. They say every university student has gone past this membership training, because being a freshmen is only once in a lifetime. They must take the chance and prove their worth.

"Ouch, what the fuck! You stepped on my foot!"

"Oh my god, I wanna go home!"

"What the hell man, stop being a pussy and just walk!"

"I can't feel my legs. I think I'm gonna die."

"Water. I need water."

Baekhyun shakes his head and goes ahead, ignoring the people behind him. The main goal right now is to arrive on top of the hill where the seniors are preparing the cabins and activities. Thinking he can finally see Chanyeol roughly minutes from now boosts up his dying energy. He must get through this shit and finish it.

He's not a fan of mountain climbing or hiking in general, but he has joined the boy scouts when he was eleven; when he was so confused about himself and his sexuality. He will never forget that very first moment he saw a a dick that was not his own. That was the time that his eyes had finally opened up.

He accidentally saw two senior boy scouts one night by the river, both are males, sucking each other's dicks off. Of course the little him was so shocked, he had never thought that would be possible. The innocent him had never thought two boys could do such act, but he would be lying if he didn't thought that was hot. He got his first erection that night. He didn't know how to masturbate yet until he was sixteen. He was indeed a late bloomer.

The next day after the camping, he told Sehun that he liked boys, and Sehun looked not-so disgusted and mad about it.

Baekhyun smiles to himself at the momentarily memory. He takes Sehun's reaching hand and allows to pull him up, setting his first step on top of the hill. Good thing he has strong grip and steady balance.

"You were smiling." He takes a sip of the water and wipes his sweat. Sehun was waiting for him, he arrived early with Jongin. "Something happened down there? Fatty slipped?"

"Don't be too harsh on him. He was obviously trying his best."

"You were awesome by the way. Once a boy scout, always a boy scout."

"The memories," Baekhyun chuckles and passes the water bottle to Kyungsoo who follows suit behind him. The doe-eyed male doesn't bother to wipe the lid of the bottle as he drinks on it and Baekhyun is happy about that. Maybe Kyungsoo's just too thirsty.

"Wow. I think I just lost ten pounds," Kyungsoo breathes and looks around, "That was really tiring but worth it."

"And refreshing for the soul," Baekhyun adds. "Right?"

"I can't wait until this is over. I miss my computer already," Jongin deadpans. He looks at Kyungsoo crouched beside him. "The only interesting thing here is Kyungsoo."

Kyungsoo is busy analyzing wild vines. He should take some of these home and have them planted on his backyard.

A man in suit walks up the mini stage. He is their Assistant dean, the head of student affairs. He was holding a megaphone as he speaks into it, gaining the attention of the students.

"Welcome college students, to the annual membership training of each department! Where the good way for the younger students and older students bond with each other! This event will establish and strengthen the all-important senior-junior relationships!"

Applause follows his enthusiastic speech. Baekhyun catches Chanyeol's eye from the student-leaders' tent, so he smiles and waves even from a far. Chanyeol smiles back, albeit secretly, and Baekhyun forgets how to breathe.

Why is Chanyeol sunbae so much brighter than the sun that he manages to melt me for just a few seconds?

"You could just go to him, you know that? Quit acting like a stupid lovey-dovey couple. It doesn't suit the both of you."

Of course. Sehun has to ruin every special moment, and he wasn't Sehun if he wouldn't do that.

"He must be busy organizing the MT. He was one of the student-leaders after all," Baekhyun sighs. "I would really want to go to him."

"You two finally made up, huh?"

"Yeah," Baekhyun says as he laughs, "And guess what, he fucked me in the car---"

"I don't wanna hear it, stop."

"---in front of the university gates where everybody else could see."

Sehun looks horrified. "Oh my god, Byun Baekhyun!"

Baekhyun thinks that was hilarious. "I'm just kidding! We went out to eat ice cream. He fed me strawberries, too."

"I'm throwing up."

"I miss him so much."

"You always see each other. You even took the same course as him."

"That's true."

The only reason why Baekhyun is in the same department as Chanyeol is because he wanted to see him more often. He'll just have to deal with his major soon at the end of the sophomore year. So right now, he'll just enjoy being a freshman.

"Seems like Park Chanyeol, I don't know, is good at doing stuff," Sehun says out of the blue as he plops on the bench under a tree. "They said he was part of those crap."

"Don't call cabin houses crap," Baekhyun defends. "He helped in designing them as a project."

Baekhyun knows Chanyeol has always wanted to be a structural engineer. He's seen him reading stuff about it, he has a ton of books about his course that was why he's majoring in it. Baekhyun thinks that was really cool, that Chanyeol wanted to design structures aesthetically and construct high and strong buildings. Chanyeol talked about it only once, and Baekhyun saw the slightest flash in his eyes as he told him about it.

And that was priceless.

"Whatever." Sehun gives him an eye-roll. "Your boyfriend is still an asshole."

"Why are you so mad at Chanyeol sunbae anyway? He hasn't done mean things to you, has he?"

"To me no, but to you, yes," Sehun replies. Baekhyun only sighs.

"That was in the past, Sehun. He has changed completely. Look! I don't have any more bruises now, he's not hurting me nor sexually abusing me. I also gained weight over the months and I'm really healthy," Baekhyun rolls up his sleeves to prove his point as he smiles bright. Sehun must admit Baekhyun is in good shape but he's not totally convinced. "He's been taking care of me so well."

"Until when is he gonna put up this act? Being a nice boyfriend of yours?"

"And what does that mean?"

"Do you seriously believe all the things he says?"

Baekhyun grabs his backpack and carries it on his back when they've been dismissed. Sehun follows him to their assigned cabin located in the shallow woods.

"Why not? He tells the truth and he can't lie anymore. His eyes are permanent."

"You can't base on the color of their eyes if someone is lying or telling the truth, Baekhyun."

Jongin has the key so he does the honor to open the door. The place has sleek wooden floors, a warm fireplace and two cozy bedrooms enough for the six of them. Chanyeol and Luhan's stuff are already there so Baekhyun puts his bag next to Chanyeol's while Kyungsoo sets his things next to Luhan's.

"Were you implying that you're still doubting him?" Baekhyun asks. Jongin and Kyungsoo are busy preparing for the next activity to listen to their debate.

"Why, aren't you not? You still don't know everything about him," Sehun mutters. "He seems to have a shady past."

"I trust Chanyeol sunbae. If there's something he's hiding from me, I know he has a reason. Maybe he wants to protect me. It doesn't matter whatever it is."

"It doesn't matter because you don't know it yet. What if you knew? Would you still say it doesn't matter at all? Whatever it is?"

"Yes, because I love him," Baekhyun answers firmly.

"Baekhyun, I'm your best friend and I'm worried about you that's why I'm saying this. Don't love him too much. Leave something for yourself, too."

"I know that, Sehun." Baekhyun smiles a little. "Thank you but I can handle myself."

*

The morning and afternoon are filled with basically physical activities. Running, crawling, squatting, climbing, stuff lifting, getting through an obstacle course, and lastly playing team sports. Baekhyun participated in mostly everything, well because he gets to see Chanyeol though he hasn't actually had an opportunity to talk to him. He tries, but chances are just not on his side today because everytime he approaches Chanyeol, people just have to come in between. They're either talking to him or asking for Chanyeol's help.

All he wants is to spend time with him or just hear his voice. Isn't that possible?

This is not a vacation so that's fine, Baekhyun would just tell himself as he nurses his cup of tea in his hand. They have just finished dinner so everybody comes back to fill in the tent and sit, forming a large circle. His seniors are coming as well, they have bottles of booze with them.

"Oh no, I hate this part," a sophomore whispers beside him. He doesn't even realize he was there all along. "When I was in freshmen, they made us drink a bowl of mixed alcohol. You're not allowed to refuse. Refusing is a form of disrespect."

Baekhyun's eyes search for someone familiar around him but he can't find anyone. Sehun is not around, Jongin, Kyungsoo, Luhan. Chanyeol's presence is also missing. People with him in the table are all strangers and it's terrifying. They are too noisy and loud, cheering indistinctly as one of the freshmen drinks disgusting liquor in a large bowl of what seems like phlegm and alcohol combined. He feels his palm sweat and his heart race, and before he knows it, it's his turn.

He cannot turn back.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" a senior who looks like a gang leader says smugly. "Are you gonna drink it or not?"

"Drink it! Drink it! Drink it!"

"I uh... Do I need to do that?"

"Of course. It's a rite," a guy from his class says. He doesn't know his name and he looks dangerous. "Come on, Baekhyun."

"H-how did you know my name?" Baekhyun asks, looking skeptically at ten pairs of eyes sizing him up.

"You and Park Chanyeol are an item, of course we know," a girl in the 3rd year says. "He's gonna be proud if you drink that booze, don't you think?"

"Uhm. I guess so..."

Baekhyun closes his eyes and scoops the big bowl with his hands. The stench is terrible that he wants to throw up. He brings it closer to his face and to his mouth, while everybody anticipates and cheers for him.

The loud alarm blares all of a sudden, making the people stop on their tracks. An announcement is made that the last activity will start so everybody must go out of the tent and gather at the camping ground.

Baekhyun releases a sigh of relief. That was close.

It is pitch dark save for the fire torches built around the fences. They are orange and red, blazing like eyes of wolves. Baekhyun is scared as he walks through the darkness, but he is mostly lonely. All day Chanyeol feels so close yet so far. Baekhyun doesn't care anymore what the mechanics of the activity are, he just wants to go back to the cabin and sleep. Tomorrow morning this is all over, they're going back to Seoul and he'll be together with Chanyeol once again.

"I'm sorry!" a guy runs past him so Baekhyun looks around. Everyone is running into the woods with flashlights. What is happening?

"Oh my god, Baekhyun!" Jongin says, his face dark. Good thing he has a flashlight with him. "You shouldn't be standing here! They might catch you! Let's hide and save ourselves!"

"Huh, why, what's happening!?"

"Run, they're attacking!"

He lets himself get dragged into somewhere in the woods by Sehun and Jongin while he has no idea of what is happening. He hears noises and series of cries, and it makes the hairs at back of his neck stand. Oh no, what is happening?

"Sehun, Jongin. What are we---"

"Shh. Don't make any noise."

The three of them are crouched, hiding behind an old tree. Baekhyun removes Sehun's hand covering his mouth as he catches for his breath. He was close to tripping into the rocks as they ran away.

"AAAAAH!!!! NOOO!!!! JONGIN!!!!" Baekhyun hears Kyungsoo scream out of nowhere, and his eyes widen. "They caught me!!! Ahhhh!"

"Oh my god, baby," Jongin cries, "I will avenge you."

"They are so cruel," Sehun says.

"We freshmen must win most flags to prove our worth," Jongin says firmly. "Stay back here and I'm gonna attack their base."

"Be careful," Baekhyun says in a trembling voice. "Come back alive."

"I will."

As soon as Jongin comes out of the hiding place, three girls catch his feet and drag his body out. A screechy cry can be heard in the woods, calling out for Baekhyun and Sehun's name.

"Oh no, Jongin's also gone." Baekhyun presses his palms together, looking around the dark. "It's the two of us now, Sehun."

Sehun's not with him.

"S-sehun? Everyone? Where are you?"

With shaking knees, Baekhyun leans back against the trunk of the tree and stands. Sehun is gone and he is all alone with himself.

He hears a noise in the clearing.

"Here."

Kyungsoo takes the warm tea-in-can from Jongin and opens it. He makes room for his boyfriend to sit beside him as they watch the students chasing each other.

"You were defeated by girls."

"There were the three of them, okay."

"He fucking dragged my feet!" Sehun cries as he scampers towards the couple. Luhan is laughing like a maniac behind him. "I swear to god he is crazy! I thought I was gonna die!"

"He was screaming for his mommy!" Luhan teases. "Mommy!"

"Shut up!" Sehun blurts out. He recovers shortly and takes a seat beside Kyungsoo.

"Isn't it done yet?" Jongin asks, taking a sip of his tea. "They've been like, running around for an hour already."

"Where's Baekhyun?" Sehun asks.

"Wasn't he with you, though?" Jongin replies, raising an eyebrow. "I thought you were with him."

"I thought you were with him? Luhan dragged me out and I didn't know what happened next."

"Oh my god? You two took him away and you left him out in the woods!?" Kyungsoo snaps, putting his hands over his hips. "What did you fucking do!?"

"I didn't know, okay? I'm sorry!" Jongin says. "Oh my god, Baekhyun."

"What if he got lost?" Kyungsoo says. "Chanyeol's gonna kill us!"

"I'll find him!" Luhan says.

"No, stay here. I will find him," Sehun mutters.

"No. You stay here with them and I will find him," Jongin says.

"No one's leaving. You stay here and I'm gonna call Chanyeol," Kyungsoo says, fishing out his phone.

There's no signal. Great.

"Fuck. We're doomed."

Baekhyun picks up a dried branch on the ground and uses it as a walking stick. He can barely see his surroundings because it's dark. He can also hear creepy noises aside from the sounds of crickets and toads. Little by little he moves, finding his way back.

"I'm lost! Is there anyone who can hear me! Hello!"

Of course he is frightened, every now end then, there will be strange tweaking behind the leaves and wild rustling of the wind. The thing he is scared of the most is a bear appearing in front of him to pounce and eat him, or worst, snakes.

Baekhyun trips on a rock he didn't see. He meets the ground flat, plopping down with his body he has trouble getting up. He hisses in pain when he feels that his ankle is sprained. He can't move it, the ache travels up his legs so he just stays on his spot, defenseless.

"Don't panic, it's gonna be fine, Baekhyun," he consoles himself to at least make him feel spirited. "They're gonna know you're missing. And tomorrow morning, they're gonna find you here... It's all right."

Bringing his knees close to his chest, Baekhyun leans his head and closes his eyes. He needs to be brave in times like this, he shouldn't cry. He mutters short prayers in his mind until he falls asleep.

Chanyeol is more than furious. He can't blame anyone for what has happened to Baekhyun but himself. If only he was there by his side, he should have watched over him. If only he wasn't busy with the people he couldn't even care less, Baekhyun wouldn't be lost. It's all his fault. He allowed this to happen.

"Let's split up. You go that way and I go this way," Jongin says and Sehun nods.

Chanyeol asked for their help even if he doesn't want to. He can't find Baekhyun alone in this large jungle. He doesn't even know where to start, he's still blaming himself and all he wants is too see Baekhyun breathing and warm in his arms.

Carrying a flashlight, Jongin runs to his direction, leaving Sehun and Chanyeol to their own devices.

"Hey, pull yourself together," Sehun says when he notices Chanyeol is not moving on his spot like a frozen statue. He throws him a rock and that seems to work because he is now looking at him. "Are you just gonna stand there or what?"

Chanyeol breathes and clenches his fist but he doesn't say anything. His thoughts are traveling aimlessly and that is the last thing he needs right now.

"If I find Baekhyun first, I'm gonna take him away for real," Sehun threatens and then he runs off.

Baekhyun wakes up by the croak of a frog on his feet. He looks at the time on his watch. It's 11:46 pm, he has been stuck here for two hours now and he's starving.

"Hi there, Mr. Frog." Baekhyun knows this is crazy talking to an animal but whatever, he is sad. "Are you lost, too?"

Kokak. Kokak.

"I miss my friends already. I miss Chanyeol sunbae, too. Do you have a friend back home?"

The frog stares at him with it's big googly eyes and jumps at his face.

"AAAAHHHH!!!!" Baekhyun screams on top of his lungs, trying to get the frog's legs off sticking to his face. "Get off my face!"

"Baekhyun!" Chanyeol hears his voice, he's sure it was Baekhyun's voice screaming somewhere. "Baekhyun!" He waddles through the clearing, keeping on calling his lover's name. "Baekhyun, where are you!"

"Oh my god, it's Chanyeol sunbae!" Baekhyun cries out as he throws the frog away. He raises his arms though he's not sure where to face. "Chanyeol sunbae! I'm here!!!"

"Baekhyun, can you hear me!?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm here under an old tree!"

Baekhyun hears movements behind the bushes as he waits with bated breath, and he is seeing a figure trudging towards him. Bracing himself, he grabs his stick in case it's a wild animal trying to attack him.

Fortunately, it's Chanyeol.

In no time he is enveloped into a warm tight hug while his tears flow nonstop like a river. He misses his familiar smell and his welcoming warmth, and everything about Chanyeol. He fists his clothes while Chanyeol carefully scans every inch of his face in the dark illuminated by a flashlight, checking any signs of concussions and traces of accident. Lucky he finds none. Baekhyun is as still beautiful as ever.

"Are you all right? Were you hurt?" Chanyeol asks, holding Baekhyun's tiny shoulders as he looks at him with genuine worry. He rubs his cheek that is specked with slight dirt, erasing it off.

"My ankle was sprained but I'm fine. Thank you for saving me, Chanyeol sunbae. I know you're gonna come," Baekhyun smiles and he wipes his own tears with the back of his hand. "I was really scared but I believed you will find me."

"I was worried about you. Fuck. I thought something bad has happened to you," Chanyeol says, "I won't forgive myself if you'll be in much danger because of me."

Baekhyun chooses not to say something as he holds Chanyeol's arm as though he doesn't want to let go. They are about to head out and leave the place when Baekhyun shakes his head quietly.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't wanna go back," Baekhyun says. "I don't wanna be with people that is not you."

"Baekhyun, it's already late. We should head out now."

"No." He sits on the same spot under the tree while Chanyeol only stares at him, confused. "Let's stay here until morning, Chanyeol sunbae. Let's be alone together."

Giving up, Chanyeol sits on the dried leaves beside Baekhyun. He stretches his long legs and sighs, basking in the quiet night in the woods. He feels Baekhyun's head falls gently on top of his shoulder while his small hand links on his larger ones. It's warm, just like how it has always been.

It's completely dark. He can barely see anything but he knows Baekhyun is smiling beside him. He can feel it, he understands the slightest touch and the softest whisper inside his mind. He can sense his steady breathing. He can hear his loud heartbeat, and he doesn't say nor do anything. Just like how it has always been.

No one breaks the very comfortable silence until he decides to finally speak.

"I missed you, too."

To Baekhyun that is enough--- he has heard the answer that he longs to hear.

*

To be continued.