Title: The Hug Syndrome
Pairing: Chanyeol/Baekhyun
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff, Comedy
Word Count: 3.8k
Summary: Ever since that hug incident, Chanyeol thinks he might be sick. Sehun is a good doctor.

*

"So you think I'm sick or what?"

Chanyeol looks around him cautiously as he clutches his phone against his ear. No one is looking. All are busy eating and playing around like children in a kindergarten school. It's their day off today so everyone is taking their time enjoying their leisure.

[Wha--what are you talking about?]

"Listen. You need to help me out because this is all your fault," he mutters. "Where are you anyway? Come home now." He breathes sharply when he gets a glimpse of that mop of fluffy black hair hidden behind the backrest of the couch.

[Wait, why is is my fault?]

"Just, just, take me to the doctor, Sehun. I think I'm really sick!"

[God, Chanyeol-hyung, you're being paranoid as hell. I think you're just tired so you need to get some...]

Chanyeol isn't listening anymore because his attention is now drawn at the male peering over at him from the said couch. His eyes widen, breath catching inside his throat.

"What are you doing there behind the cactus plant?"

"M-me?"

"Yes?" Baekhyun raises a confused eyebrow. He stares at the taller whose body is crouched awkwardly against his knees. "Are you okay?"

"Of course! What makes you think that I'm not okay? I'm fine. I'm not sick!" Chanyeol yells as he flails his arms in the air aimlessly. The other male just nods, unconvinced, as he eyes Chanyeol, judging him hard.

"Chanyeol, are you sure you're okay, I mean, you look--"

"I said I'm completely fine!"

[Ehem. I thought you were sick?]

Chanyeol quickly excuses himself and walks straight into his room, leaving Baekhyun clueless to himself.

"Sehun, I'm getting worst. I can't even think straight whenever he's here. Oh god, what the hell is happening to me?"

Sehun sighs on the other line.

[Jongin's done shopping. We're heading home.]

"Thanks," Chanyeol says with a smile on his face. "I'll be waiting."

*

Sehun fixes his specs on top of his nose, massaging his imaginary beard. Shifting on his seat, Chanyeol looks at him anxiously.

"Since when did those symptoms happen to you?"

"Since you pushed me towards him and made us hug during EXOlution in Manila," Chanyeol groans, crossing his arms over his chest. "After that night, weird things started happening to me."

"Mm-hm. Care to enumerate these weird things?" Sehun brings out his pen and notebook, ready to write whatever Chanyeol will say.

"Wait. Are those even necessary?"

"Just tell me the details."

"Fine," Chanyeol replies. "Listen carefully."

Sehun nods. "What's the first symptom?"

"Okay. Lately, I've been dreaming about Baekhyun. The first night, we were just hugging," Chanyeol narrates, and he can feel his mouth running dry. "And then next, we were....cuddling."

"Hugging, cuddling," Sehun mutters as he jots down the information. "And then?"

"L-last night, we were," Chanyeol's face colors into a deep shade of red as he recalls his dream, "we were kissing."

Sehun stops writing. "Oh my god."

"We were....making out furiously," Chanyeol mumbles as he touches his lips. "On the couch."

"What, seriously," Sehun says with an eyebrow raised in surprise. "Hyung, you didn't just dream of that with Baekhyun. I mean, Byun Baekhyun, out of all people. He's-- he's The Baekhyun."

"I know right, this is really weird," Chanyeol says, burying his face against his sweaty palms. "Oh my god. I don't wanna sleep tonight."

"What, but why? Tonight's dream would be the best part!" Sehun wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. "If you know what I mean."

Blushing, Chanyeol hits him hard on the arm that has the younger wailing out in pain.

"Anyway, so what's the second symptom?"

"Well, I feel awkward around him, I can't look at him in the eyes, I can't even talk to him properly and I can't be close to him within one-meter radius."

"Third?"

"I can't breathe whenever he's near. It's like, my heart is squeezing and beating so fast and I'm just, I have to get away because I feel like I'm going to combust."

"Fourth?"

"I'm thinking about him a lot."

Sehun taps his pen against his mouth. "Hmm. How many times do you think about him in a day?"

"Around twenty-four times, I guess."

Sehun turns the page of his notebook as he nods. "Do you happen to have imaginations of you and him doing all lovey-dovey while holding each other's hands on a date?"

Chanyeol blushes more, if that's still possible. His whole face grows hot.

"Actually," he breathes, "yes."

Sehun stares. "Oh my god, this is terrible."

"I know! Baekhyun is my co-member and I respect him a lot, do you understand that?" Chanyeol looks like he is about to cry. "I can't be sick! I can't be like this forever!"

"I think you're in the severe stage of your sickness," Sehun says as he shakes his head. He claps the taller on the shoulder. "You're infected with the Hug Syndrome."

"T-the what?"

"The Hug Syndrome," Sehun repeats. "I've read about this before, and in this case, the person who was hugged will experience changes in himself because his energy is being drained by the person who hugged him ever since the hug took place."

"Y-you mean, Baekhyun is absorbing my energy? That's why I'm being like, like this for a while now?" Chanyeol asks like his life depends on Sehun's answer. Sehun clears his throat as he restrains himself from laughing out loud.

"Yes, that's right. But I just want to remind you that Baekhyun is completely oblivious about this," Sehun explains. "He doesn't know he's doing this to you so you can't blame him. This is not his fault nor your fault nor anybody's fault. The Hug Syndrome comes naturally," he peeks at Chanyeol's attentive face listening to him, "and uh, unexpectedly."

"Oh my god." Chanyeol looks horrified. "I-is this fatal? Am I gonna die soon? Do-do I need to be hospitalized?" He walks around in a panicking manner as he holds his face. "Oh my god, I have to call my Mom!"

"No, no, no. Calm down, hyung!" Sehun grabs the taller and pulls him in place. "Hey, listen. Don't panic, okay? Breathe."

Chanyeol inhales, and exhales. "Okay... I'm breathing..."

"There, now listen to me." Sehun holds him by the shoulders as he looks at him straight in the eyes. "Baekhyun is causing you all of these, right?"

"Yes, and I need to avoid him as soon as possib--"

"No, you can't do that. He might be the reason why you're sick but he's also the remedy for your Hug Syndrome. You shouldn't avoid him because he's the only one who can cure you," Sehun says and Chanyeol's eyes widen. "Like an antidote."

"What's the antidote?" the taller asks. "W-what's the cure for this? Tell me!"

Sehun turns his back away. "A kiss--"

"What--"

"--on the lips."

"WHAT!?" Chanyeol exclaims, his face scrunched in utter surprise. "A-are you crazy? I can't even get near him so how am I supposed to kiss him?"

"Well, it's up to you," Sehun responds. "That kiss will bring back the drained energy you lost so you better get that kiss as soon as possible if you still want to live on Earth."

"Sehun, you're being so cruel. I hate you so much," Chanyeol cries in his own hands. "I can't just talk to him and say, hey Baekhyun, please kiss me on the lips so I can recover from this Hug Syndrome!?"

Sehun shrugs his shoulders helplessly. "I'm just trying to help here as your friend, you know. Now, if you're just gonna complain, I can no longer do something about it. Just deal with it yourself."

Chanyeol closes his eyes and bangs his head against the nearest wall. "Oh my god... Why is this happening to me? Why me... why do I have to be sick... why..."

"Now, you decide. A kiss?" Sehun asks as he crosses hs arms. "Or death?"

"A KISS, OF COURSE!!!" Chanyeol blurts out loud Sehun is sure the neighbors heard him. "I mean, I'm not saying I wanted to kiss Baekhyun but, if that's the only way then why not, but what I'm saying is, well, technically I do admire him as my friend or maybe, well, I don't know now because of this damned sickness but a kiss would be nice but it's still not, uh, right because he's my co-member and my bandmate and we shouldn't cross that border but seriously, perhaps I don't really mind if he doesn't mind... But thinking about it for a while, maybe I should..."

"He's rambling nonstop," Sehun mutters to himself, shaking his head. "Why did I even make up that story. I should've just told him he likes Baekhyun."

"No, Sehun. I can't do this. I might die," Chanyeol says. "I barely survived that hug, how much more a kiss on the lips..."

"Stay strong, Chanyeol," Sehun says as he makes a fighting sign with his fist. "I know you can do this."

"But how? Baekhyun is not even intimate nor clingy towards me unless I am you or Minseok-hyung," Chanyeol groans under his breath. "Psh."

"Wait. Were you implying something?" Sehun slits his eyes suspiciously.

"No, I'm not," Chanyeol answers back. "Are you going to help me or what?"

"I'll help you," Sehun says, smiling assuringly. "We'll get your antidote."

*

"Now all you need to do is to poke him on the shoulder," Sehun says, and Chanyeol nods. "And I'm gonna push you towards him until you fall together on the floor."

Chanyeol can already imagine their positions, causing him to blush uncontrollably. "Okay, so that's when I'm gonna kiss him?"

"Yes. You'd look at him in the eyes, okay? Then you'd, waack! Grab his face and shove your mouth against his lips before he could talk. That's it."

"I understand. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this," Chanyeol recites to himself.

"All right! Go get him tiger!"

Baekhyun appears from the kitchen so Chanyeol marches over like a brave soldier, his fist balled on his sides. Sehun snickers, trailing behind the rapper who is frozen on his spot when Baekhyun speaks to him with a genuine smile on his face.

Chanyeol gulps.

"What is it?" Baekhyun asks.

"Uhh--"

Chanyeol raises an index finger, his mouth gaping silently. Sehun does his role and pushes him towards Baekhyun with so much force the duo stumble on the ground.

"Ouch!" Baekhyun hisses when his head hits Chanyeol's jaw. The other male is on top of him and he's underneath, so he tries to get up but ends up falling again. Their heads crash twice, making Chanyeol groan. Still in their awkward positions, Chanyeol cries in pain when Baekhyun accidentally knees his balls.

He sees flying fairies in the skies.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Baekhyun says when Chanyeol curls into a ball, rolling on the floor as he clutches his crotch. The tall male is whimpering like a puppy as he shivers, bearing the pain in his balls.

Baekhyun gently touches him on the arm. "Chanyeol, are you okay? Does it," he looks at Chanyeol's crotch, "hurt?"

"No--"

"Baekhyun-hyung, it's my fault! I wasn't looking where I'm going. I'm sorry," Sehun says as he grabs the tall male's dangling legs on the floor, pulling him like he's a dead body. "Don't worry, I'll take care of him."

"Okay. Chanyeol, you sure you're not hurt?"

Raising his arm, Chanyeol flashes a thumbs up in the air as he is being dragged inside the room by Sehun.

"Okay, that didn't work."

"Yeah," Chanyeol says as he holds up an icebag on his head as he glares at the younger. "That just caused me a bump on the head, thank you very much, Dr. Oh."

"I'm sorry," Sehun says in fake concern. "Let's just move on to plan B. I'm sure it'll work this time."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

Sehun smirks. "Do you still have that blindfold?"

*

"Wait, Sehun. Where are you taking me?" Baekhyun says as he holds Sehun's arm for support. They reach the living room after several steps.

"To your birthday surprise," Sehun says, holding Baekhyun by the shoulder and pushing him down the couch. "Sit here."

"But it's not my birthday yet."

"This is an advance birthday gift from the members."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Wait here, I'll just get your surprise," Sehun says while he mentally giggles. Poor Baekhyun.

"Okay," Baekhyun mutters. He stays still sitting on the couch like a kid with a red blindfold covered on his eyes. He looks genuinely excited based on how he is smiling wide.

"Come on, what are you waiting for?" Sehun says in a hushed voice as he hollers the taller who's internally screaming while he holds his head, walking around the hallway anxiously.

"Are you crazy!?" Chanyeol shouts back, also in a hushed voice. "I'm not gonna kiss him like that! Look, he's absolutely clueless about this and I'm not gonna taint his innocence by stealing a kiss from him! That's completely wrong! No--no freaking way!"

"That's what I'm talking about! You should kiss him before he could know it!" Sehun retorts, and he's digging his nails into the taller's arms. "You'll run into him, all right? Then kiss him on the lips as fast as you can then run away after that. That's it! He won't know it was you!"

Chanyeol closes his eyes and breathes. If he won't do this, he'll suffer from the Hug Syndrome all throughout his life, or worst, he would die. He doesn't want to die yet. He's still young!

"Fine. I'll--I'll do it."

"Uh, Sehun?" Baekhyun calls in the living room, searching blindly with his hands in the air. "Guys? Are you still there?"

Chanyeol readies his stance like he's going to run for a race.

"Go!" Sehun whispers as he flashes the taller a go signal.

Chanyeol gets up on his knees before rushing towards the sitting male on the couch. He doesn't even think twice when he kisses Baekhyun on the lips in one swift move that has the other male tensing a bit. Chanyeol exits the living room like a flash of lightning before Baekhyun could even open his lips to speak.

Sehun's mouth is hanging wide open.

"W-what was that?" Baekhyun asks after he takes off his blindfold. Touching his lips gently, he looks around and sees Sehun standing by the door way.

"Did you just kiss me?"

"Huh? No! It wasn't me!" Sehun says as he shakes his head frantically. "It was one of our members but it's such a pity I didn't catch him!"

Baekhyun's eyes widen in surprise. "Really? Did you see his face?"

"Sorry hyung, I didn't. But one thing's for sure about him," the younger says as he smirks. "He's tall."

Baekhyun has this confused yet flustered look on his face when Sehun leaves him sitting alone by himself.

*

"So how are you feeling?"

"Sehun, I feel great. I'm not sick anymore. Those symptoms? They're gone now. I'm totally cured. I'm free from the Hug Syndrome! Thank you so much!"

Chanyeol gives Sehun a bone-crushing hug as he practically lifts the younger's body on the floor. Sehun laughs awkwardly, patting the taller's back.

"I'm glad to hear that. Now you two can get along together again," Sehun says. "Would you please put me down? I'm not a princess."

"Oops. Sorry." Chanyeol puts him down. "But there's this one problem, though."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"I'm totally okay with Baekhyun right now. My energy is back, right? I'm not feeling those weird things anymore but, it's just that." He sighs. "Well, look at this. Watch."

Sehun lifts an eyebrow. "Okay."

"Hey, Baekhyun!" Chanyeol calls, and the shorter male peers over his shoulder to glance at him.

Chanyeol flashes him a bright smile before waving at him cheerfully.

"Hi!!!"

Baekhyun blushes and hides himself behind a stiff Kyungsoo.

"See?" Chanyeol says as he frowns. "Is he mad at me or something?"

"Oh god," Sehun mutters as he rolls his eyes. "Oh my god, you two."

"Sehun, what am I supposed to do!?" Chanyeol cries. "I tried talking to him and asking him if he's okay but he's just avoiding me. He even ran way from me! Maybe I just stunk so I took a bath and brushed my teeth twice and put on my best clothes. I went to him again after that and guess what, he just said nothing like he just saw an angel or something!"

"Maybe he was mesmerized by you."

"And he was--what?"

"I think he thought you look nice," Sehun says, shrugging. "You know, like, he thought that maybe, he just realized that wow, Chanyeol is so handsome. I wish he could ask me out. Kyaa~"

Chanyeol chokes on his saliva. "What!?"

"Hyung, I think Baekhyun has a disease."

Chanyeol slowly processes that piece of information in his brain before he speaks, "Really?"

Sehun tries his best not to snort. "Yeah. He has the Kiss Syndrome."

"T-the what?"

"The Kiss Syndrome," the younger states. "You drained his energy when you kissed him that time like what happened to you on your Hug Syndrome."

"Oh my god, that seems terrible," Chanyeol says as he watches Baekhyun laughing with the members on the other side of the practice room. "He must be suffering a lot. He looks so sad right now."

"Right."

"I didn't know he was sick all this time and it's all because of me," the taller mutters in a sad voice. "I want to help him recover from his sickness! I want so save Baekhyun. What should I do?"

Sehun sighs. "Just hug him tight and say everything's going to be okay."

"That's it?"

"Oh, uh. You could kiss him again if you want?" Sehun clears his throat and pulls something out of his pocket. "Yeah, and give him this card."

Chanyeol takes the small card and nods.

"Thank god you're here," he says as he pats Sehun on the back. "I won't be cured if it weren't for you. I'll do what you've told me in order to save Baekhyun."

"Good luck."

Chanyeol takes his leave so Sehun finally breathes in relief. "Oh. I guess that went well."

*

Chanyeol is waiting.

He's waiting for Baekhyun to come out from the bathroom right now, and that's when he's going to carry out his plan to save Baekhyun from the Kiss Syndrome. He won't let him die, Baekhyun's life depends on his hands.

"Baekhyun, I'll save you."

The door clicks open and Baekhyun is standing caught off guard, seeing the tall male leaning against the wall like he's on a photoshoot.

"W-what are you doing here?"

"Can we talk?" Your life is at stake here, Baekhyun.

"About what?"

"About us." Our disease is connected, you must be cured.

Baekhyun steps backwards, playing with his hands nervously. "Chanyeol, I already knew it, and it's--it's fine."

You already knew you're sick? And you're fine with it? "No. Baekhyun, it's not fine. I should explain things to you. I'm sorry about what happened, it's my fault that you're being like this. I'm really sorry."

Baekhyun is hurt and it is clearly evident in his eyes. "Y-you're sorry?"

"I shouldn't have done that to you."

Baekhyun's eyes widen.

"Come here," Chanyeol says, and he's opening his arms to welcome Baekhyun inside.

Baekhyun isn't moving from his position so the taller steps forward until he's within reach. Baekhyun can feel his heart hammering inside his chest as he watches Chanyeol getting closer to him.

"What are you doing..."

"Everything's going to be okay," Chanyeol hushes as he envelopes the smaller male in a warm embrace. Baekhyun freezes against him so Chanyeol hugs him tighter. "Don't worry, I'm already here. It's fine... Shh..."

Baekhyun has no idea what is happening right now. Why is Chanyeol suddenly being like this to him? Why is he hugging him? Otherwise, Baekhyun feels so warm and comfortable, so his raging heart is now drifting back into normal pace as Chanyeol whispers sweet nothings into his ears.

"You feel better now?"

"Yes," Baekhyun answers, and he's wrapping his arms around Chanyeol's waist to hug him back. "I feel better now."

Chanyeol pulls away, looking down into Baekhyun's glassy eyes as he says, "Okay. This would be the last and it won't hurt."

"What is it?"

"Close your eyes."

Baekhyun closes his eyes.

So Chanyeol claims his lips for their second kiss.

All those symptoms seem to come back but Chanyeol is trying his best to push them away as he kisses Baekhyun gently. He shouldn't be sick anymore, as well as Baekhyun, so maybe he should deepen the kiss and put his tongue inside--

Baekhyun pushes him away.

Chanyeol gasps.

"I-I'm not," Baekhyun trails off, blushing hard as he averts his eyes on the other direction. "I'm not yet ready right now. W-we could... we could... do that at the right time."

"Oh."

"B-but it doesn't mean that... I'm not welcoming it. I just, not now..."

"I uh, I understand."

"I'm sorry, Chanyeol and uhm..." Baekhyun smiles shyly at him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For the hug," Baekhyun says. "And the extra."

Chanyeol's heart just skipped a beat.

"Oh. Uh. You're welcome. Uhm, h-here." He hands him the card Sehun has given him without reading it beforehand. Sehun didn't say he should read it, though.

Taking the card from the taller's fingers, Baekhyun silently reads the message written on it. Chanyeol waits patiently for something, a sign that Baekhyun is totally cured.

160123 was the best hug of my life and I just realized that I like you a lot. Will you go out with me? :)

Baekhyun looks up to him so Chanyeol smiles.

"So?"

"Yes," the singer answers as he smiles back at him. "Of course."

*

"So how did it go?"

Chanyeol is just staring at the ceiling.

"Sehun."

"Yeah?"

"Baekhyun and I..."

"Yeah?"

"We're going out."

"Finally."

"And you know what."

"What?"

"I can't believe it."

"Can't believe what?"

"That I'm dating The Baekhyun."

"You two are now boyfriends. You could spend time with each other and do stuff together like a disgusting sweet couple. Just be happy with that," Sehun says. "Why, is there something wrong?"

"Yeah. Baekhyun is too perfect and I can't get him out of my mind," Chanyeol mutters. "I think I'm sick again, Sehun."

"You must be kidding me."

"Do you know what this disease is called?"

"What?"

The taller sighs dreamily as he imagines Baekhyun's rectangular smiles. There's no doubt about it, that he's irrevocably smitten by this angel that is Byun Baekhyun.

"The Love Syndrome."

"Wow." Sehun rolls his eyes. "Just wow."

*

END