*

Baekhyun knows it, he always sees it, and Chanyeol doesn't even bother to hide in front of him. But the problem is, he wouldn't tell.

Sometimes, in the middle of them having dinner together, his phone would ring, and the same unregistered number flashes on his phone screen. Sometimes at school, and sometimes, even during sex. Baekhyun would just watch silently as Chanyeol ignores the calls which are going on for a month now. When he asks who was it, Chanyeol would say nothing. He's been all silent, and Baekhyun wouldn't ask anymore.

Chanyeol has been keeping a secret from him, and so is Baekhyun, so he decides to set things straight first on his case, because maybe, just maybe Chanyeol would do the same. There's no reason for him to keep that secret anyway. It's better to tell the truth than to lie.

"Are you sure about this?" Baekhyun can trace genuine worry on his voice, the same goes with how his eyes look at him. "We don't have to do this, Baekhyun. It's fine with me if you don't really wanna tell her."

"I already made up my mind and I'm telling her about us. I also want her blessing."

Chanyeol would be lying if Baekhyun's sincerity didn't strike a chord. Baekhyun has been gradually developing maturity as time goes by, he's seen it and realized how he grows. From a dependent boy who was once clueless about everything to a guy who is now firm with his decisions. From a boy who was scared about the littlest of things, to a guy who is brave and calm even in the dark woods. From a boy who only knew how to follow, to a guy who now knows how to lead.

Chanyeol can tell that this side of Baekhyun is actually endearing. But not that he would tell him that. There are beautiful things that should be kept hidden.

"She's here," Baekhyun whispers, and it's the cue for the both of them to stand up to greet the woman. The son pulls out the chair for his mother to sit first before going back to Chanyeol's side.

"You two can sit. No need to stand there," Mrs. Byun chuckles as she flips her hair over her shoulder. She now has brown curly hair that extends to her waist. Baekhyun thinks she has gone to the salon before coming to the coffee shop.

"So what is it that you wanna tell me?" She laces her fingers together and looks at Baekhyun with utmost interest, smiling bright and god, she is as radiant and beautiful. "Is it something important that you called me at midnight saying you wanna meet your mom?"

Chanyeol side-eyes Baekhyun. Baekhyun meets his eyes, and then back again at his mother. He chuckles dryly.

"Shouldn't we order our coffee first?"

Three sips and four stirs. Baekhyun is not really a fan of coffee and any coffee in general, his mother and Chanyeol know it. He can only drink milkshakes and its variants unless it doesn't have caffeine in it. His face scrunches when the bitter taste of his espresso lands on his taste buds. Chanyeol would have ordered him a strawberry smoothie but Baekhyun said it was uncool in front of his mother.

"So," she starts again. "How's Baekhyun doing, Mr. Landlord? Any problems so far?"

Chanyeol keeps his cool. He's reserved a ton of it before coming here because he knows he's gonna need a lot if it.

"He's doing a good job. He's studying very well and not missing his deadlines. He's also doing the chores." All of these are true, since the cleaning lady took a leave for a week and Baekhyun accepted the work temporarily. He did the laundry, the dishes, the cleaning and the cooking until the helper comes back. It wasn't that good but it wasn't that terrible either. He just applied what he has learned from Sehun. "He's also participating in school activities but he uhh... kind of sprained his ankle during the MT. But don't worry, he's fine now."

Baekhyun shoots Chanyeol a look.

"Oh my god, baby! Are you alright? It must've hurt a lot!" Mrs. Byun cries. "Do you want me to take you the hospital?"

"Mother, I'm okay. It's all healed now," Baekhyun deadpans. "I'm not a kid anymore."

Of course Baekhyun is all right. Chanyeol massaged his foot really well while they were at the woods and it was all because of Chanyeol's precautionary measures that saved him. Don't miss out the part that they even fucked under the sturdy old tree while crickets and frogs watch because why not. Being one with the nature alongside of their bodies is the essence of the MT. Making sure Baekhyun's ankle was fine, they swam and skinny-dipped at the river after that.

"Baekhyun. Let's cut to the chase and tell her what you wanted to say," Chanyeol says. The woman raises her eyebrow indifferently, wearing back her bright but smug smile on her face.

"Mom, the reason why we---" Baekhyun looks at Chanyeol, "why I called you is that I wanted to admit things to you and tell you the truth."

"Okay?" Her smile is gone now. She looks like a real, suspicious mother. "So what is it?"

"The truth is..."

Baekhyun is fiddling his sweaty fingers on top of his lap. He wants to spill it already but he just doesn't know where to start and how to choose the exact words to say. It's actually the first time that he has lied to his mother this big, and he might screw this up and everything would be at mess when he didn't tell it now and---

He feels warmth under the table. Chanyeol looks at him reassuringly while he holds his hand, telling him they're all in this together so he shouldn't worry. Heart racing, Baekhyun would've melted because of the kind gesture but his mother's piercing stare is not doing him any good.

"The truth is... Chanyeol sunbae and I... We..."

His mother is quiet. Chanyeol is urging him to keep going.

"Mom, we started seeing each other when I was eighteen... It's been going on for almost two years now... and we're living together," Baekhyun says, almost out of breath. "He's not my landlord. He's my boyfriend."

"...what?"

"I'm in a serious relationship with your son," Chanyeol says.

The woman looks a lot more confused rather than surprised.

"Wait, what about Sehun? I thought things are going well between the two of you. How about him, hm?"

"Sehun and I are just... He's my bestfriend and there's nothing more than that."

"But... but he loves you, right? I knew it from the start! Won't you give him a chance?"

"Mother, it's not like that. How do I put this... It's just... I don't feel that way with him... I can't... fall in love with him because I already love someone else."

"But Baekhyun, you two have been always perfect for each other! You had feelings for him in the past, didn't you? Why didn't you do something about it!"

Now she looks mad and disappointed. Her eyebrows are furrowed as though she's going to throw a fit any minute from now.

"I was just eight that time when I told him I was gonna marry him. Just, please understand me. I and Chanyeol sunbae are dating now and Sehun gave up on me a long time ago so just... Please stop."

The woman stares in disbelief.

"Baekhyun. I can't believe you could hurt him! How dare you do that when all he did was be nice to you? He has everything you would ask for and he did everything for you! What's with him that you didn't like? What is it!"

She's gaining the attention of few people because of the sudden raise of her voice. Chanyeol has long given up the eye contact as he's been looking at the floor, lips tightly closed.

"Yes, he has everything but I didn't find in him what I needed. I can't give him what he wants and what you want either. What he feels about me is completely one-sided. He loved me and it's not my fault!"

"Not your fault? Oh my god, did you just raise your voice at me?" She looks at Chanyeol who's completely out of place and is trying to be invisible as much as possible. "Is it because of this man who taught you how to disrespect!?"

Chanyeol doesn't say anything.

"Chanyeol sunbae has nothing to do with my attitude and no matter what you tell me, what you want is impossible because I don't love Sehun and relationships don't work that way! Just like how it didn't work out for you and his Dad before---"

His mother slaps his face hard.

Baekhyun is surprised, as well as his own mother.

"Son, I'm..."

Eyes hidden behind his fringe, Baekhyun stands up and storms out of the coffee shop.

"Baekhyun!"

Baekhyun is out of sight.

The woman's hands are trembling. It was a spur of the moment, she didn't intend to hurt him. Chanyeol can see the devastation on her face combined with regret and disappointment at the same time. Looking at the exit, he decides to follow Baekhyun after he gives a few words to Baekhyun's mother.

"I apologize that I had to see that," Chanyeol says. "I'm not in the position to say this but you should stop deciding for your son. He's already a grown-up and he knows what he's doing."

Mrs. Byun glares at him given the fact that she despises him the first time she saw him. She is tired putting up the act.

"What you did to my son, I don't fucking know," she mutters. "I will never approve of you. I don't know who you are, where you came from, and what your intentions are. To me you're a complete stranger who poisoned him and took him away."

"Ma'am, you don't know me so you don't have the right to judge me. You also didn't know how much shit I went through because of Baekhyun. I'm sorry but I have to leave."

"Wait."

Chanyeol stops and looks at her.

"Answer my question."

Chanyeol leaves the place looking out for Baekhyun left and right. He finds him slouched, sitting on a porch at the parking space outside the coffee shop. His steps become lighter as he approaches towards him. Baekhyun sees him right away so he halts a meter far.

Baekhyun's eyes are red and puffy indicating that he cried. His tears have dried on his cheeks, but he still manages to put up a smile on his face as if nothing has happened, a smile quietly saying he's fine.

But he's not.

Chanyeol doesn't expect it would hurt this much, seeing Baekhyun like this.

Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it? Should I comfort you right now to make you feel better?

Questions like that don't just come out easily from Chanyeol's mouth. He's not a hypocrite and Baekhyun knows it. Instead he comes closer so Baekhyun can reach out to him, and then he lets him hold his hand during the walk back home.

Hand in hand they walk quietly. The hard and soft squeezes on his palm tell Chanyeol that Baekhyun is struggling deep inside, somewhat regretting and hoping that he shouldn't have left and said those words. Chanyeol lets go of his hand and Baekhyun feels suddenly empty. The latter looks at him with those pained eyes, and Chanyeol reminds himself not to break the fragile part of Baekhyun that's left within.

Chanyeol holds his hand again, albeit hesitantly. Baekhyun does the job to intertwine their fingers, feeling satisfied that Chanyeol didn't bother to resist.

His hand is always warm.

"We don't have to ask for her blessing anyway," Baekhyun says in a mocking tone, a fake consolation to himself, a facade to Chanyeol. "Right, Chanyeol sunbae?"

Chanyeol nods, though he doesn't want to, or more like, he doesn't know if he should so he just did it. They stop walking for a while when Baekhyun pauses. Chanyeol asks him what's the matter.

Baekhyun shakes his head and gestures his fingers for Chanyeol to come nearer. Intrigued, Chanyeol leans his face closer. Baekhyun stands up high on his toes, and quickly kisses him on the lips.

His lips too, are always warm.

They stay like this for a few seconds before Chanyeol actually realized they are in public and people are kind of giving them strange looks.

He clears his throat, tearing his gaze away.

"What was that for?"

Baekhyun, just like his normal self, is blushing hard that he can't look at the other male in the eyes. They have kissed a million times, but to him, each one of them is different, each one of them has special meanings behind.

Chanyeol doesn't need to ask because he knows it, he knows it all too well.

It means gratitude.

"Thank you for holding my hand."

Chanyeol looks at Baekhyun while scratching the back of his neck, thinking of anything to at least cheer him up.

"You wanna grab some ice cream?"

*

Chanyeol's dick is better than any ice cream in this world.

The bowl is empty in front of him, the same goes with Baekhyun's seat. Chanyeol muffles his grunts behind his palm as he squeezes his eyes shut, feeling a wet and cold sensation between his legs. The table shakes. He fists strands of black hair underneath.

"Fuck."

Baekhyun licks a stripe on the base up to the head of his cock, the white creamy milk dripping down the shaft Chanyeol is sure isn't his precome. The smaller male took a spoonful of ice cream before he went down the table, crawling on Chanyeol's knees and sucking his cock off. It is beyond obscene and luscious when Baekhyun spurts the melted ice cream above Chanyeol's dick, and swallowed it whole inside his mouth like a lollipop.

Chanyeol thinks he's just developed a new kink.

"Hey, why did you stop?" Chanyeol asks, his length throbbing against Baekhyun's cheek. Even amidst the dark, Baekhyun's eyes are sparkling with want and worry. "You want more ice cream down there?"

"No," Baekhyun mumbles. He gives Chanyeol's member a few more languid strokes and flicks before he speaks again. "I think someone is watching us."

"Yeah?" Chanyeol looks around the ice cream place. He sees all pastel colors and rainbows. "I don't see someone, though."

"Maybe I was just hallucinating."

Chanyeol smiles mockingly. "Now continue where you left off." He presses his cock between Baekhyun's lips. "Suck."

Like an obedient child, Baekhyun sucks expertly, until Chanyeol is releasing his rich load inside his mouth together with the vanilla mint ice cream they ordered. The sweet and odd taste of semen and cream combined bursts inside his mouth and Baekhyun is more than willing to swallow. Chanyeol hands him a table napkin underneath so Baekhyun cleans the dick before tucking it back to its confines. Chanyeol hands him another one, it's for wiping his mouth. Once done, Baekhyun clambers up his seat like nothing sexual just happened.

The bowl is empty but Baekhyun is now in front of him. Chanyeol offers him a sweet, contented smile.

Baekhyun dies and comes back to life.

"Uhm, what did you tell her," he starts the real conversation, "back in the coffee shop?"

"I told her nothing."

"I saw you before you leave. You were speaking with her."

"Oh, that." Chanyeol scoops the floating chocolate chip on his ice cream and shoves it in his mouth. "I just told her to fuck off."

Baekhyun frowns. "You didn't say that."

"She asked me a question before I left."

"What was it?"

"Have you been fucking my son?"

Baekhyun's face heats up. His mother is really blunt and extremely straightforward. Unfortunately he didn't get that trait from her.

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her the truth."

"What truth, exactly?"

Chanyeol scoops a small amount of ice cream from his bowl, but this time he is aiming it at Baekhyun's lips. "I told her I'm fucking you but I'm not fucking with you," Baekhyun opens his mouth wide and accepts the offered ice cream. "And we do it every night like crazy."

"YOU TOLD HER THAT!?"

"Yeah."

"OH MY GOD, CHANYEOL SUNBAE! I can't even!" Baekhyun screams, his whole face now beet red. "Now my mother thinks I'm a slut!"

Chanyeol laughs heartily. "Well, aren't you not?"

"I'm not! That was before. I was your slut but that is completely different from now!"

"Why are you screaming at me?"

"Because you are a jerk!"

"Oh, so I'm the jerk now."

"Well, aren't you not?"

Chanyeol's expression suddenly changes when he spots someone behind Baekhyun. His face has drained out of blood as they engage into eye contact. Baekhyun seems to notice Chanyeol's odd reaction so he waves at his face and asks him.

"Is there a problem, Chanyeol sunbae?"

"Y-you need to get out of here," Chanyeol says without looking at Baekhyun. He grabs his wrist and pulls him out of the shop. Baekhyun follows although a bit baffled.

"Come on, and don't turn back."

"What happened?" Baekhyun asks as soon as they are outside. Chanyeol's eyes are still at the shop like he is staring at someone in particular. "Chanyeol sunbae, are you okay?"

Chanyeol directs his attention back at him, but his face looks still troubled and it bothers Baekhyun.

"Baekhyun, head out first, okay?" He cups Baekhyun's face and stares right in his worried eyes. "I'll just have to deal with something. Wait for me at home."

They didn't bring a car so Chanyeol hails a cab and pays the driver in advance. Baekhyun holds on to the door, not wanting to say goodbye to Chanyeol yet.

"Will you tell me what's it about when you come home?" Baekhyun asks, hopefully waiting for Chanyeol's answer.

"Yes, of course."

Baekhyun knows it's a lie.

"Okay."

"You should leave now." Chanyeol ruffles Baekhyun's hair. "The driver's waiting."

"Will you be okay?"

"Yes. We'll sleep together tonight."

"Okay."

Chanyeol closes the door of the taxi as it drives off. Baekhyun sees him waving at the side-view mirror of the car while they leave. As they turn around the first corner, Baekhyun taps the driver's shoulder.

"Please pull over."

Chanyeol rushes inside the shop with heavy steps. The lady wearing a blue dress smiles and waves at him but he pays it no mind, and instead grabs her arm and drags her out of the table. People are looking at them when the girl starts to scream and resist, but Chanyeol's hold is too strong and rough. She elbows him with all her might and that causes Chanyeol to stop halfway. They're still inside the place away from the customers.

"What the hell, you're hurting me!" she yells out loud and massages her swollen arm. "At least be a little considerate for my health!"

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Chanyeol mutters, and his teeth are gritting with anger and contempt. "Since when have you been in the country?"

"I've come all the way here just to see you and this is what I get?" the woman says, and Chanyeol can see remorse in her eyes. They're full of pain, and it pains him too. "It's been a while, Chanyeol. Don't you wanna ask how I've been. How we have been? I've been trying to get to you for a month already but you keep on pushing me away."

"You don't give up, do you?" Chanyeol says as he grabs her arm again, squeezing it with his metal-like grasp. "You should leave and don't look for me again. You won't get anything from me."

"Ouch, it hurts," she cries, trying to withdraw her arm. "Let go!"

Chanyeol lets go, and that is only when he notices the woman's figure.

She has a slightly evident bump on her stomach.

"I'm pregnant," she mutters, "And I came here to see you because we want you back in our lives."

The woman is crying as she stares up at Chanyeol, leaving him completely staggered as he hears those words. He steps back, trembling, eyes wide, dumbfounded.

"Even though you hurt me before, I'm still here for you because I care for you and I love you."

There are tears in Baekhyun's eyes. His vision is blurred, all is muffled he can't hear anything. His knees are weak but he still manages to stand. He clamps his mouth shut not to make a single noise as he escapes, breathing hard, pain hammering his chest, feet running aimlessly.

He saw Chanyeol's eyes.

They're amber.

"You can't run away forever, Chanyeol. You should go back home with us."

"Home," Chanyeol says as he thinks of the person who is the most precious to him, "But I'm already home with Baekhyun."

*

To be continued.