I thought I'd give you guys a little (much needed) backstory on Chanyeol... he wasn't always this way...

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Four years ago...

Thirteen year old Chanyeol was walking out of the school, on his way home. The teen was alone, having stayed behind to sort out some stuff with the band teacher.

He was aimlessly humming a tune, not really paying attention to his surroundings. He didn't notice when two guys, the biggest brutes in the school, came up to him and shoved him against the brick wall of the school. There's the scuffle of shoe soles on the gravelly pavement. Chanyeol heard the contents of his book bag crash together. One of the guys pushed his knee up against Chanyeol's stomach, effectively keeping him in place. Fear flooded Chanyeol's senses, his hairs standing up. The brute placed on of his hands on the wall to support himself, and the other was hovering above Chanyeol's throat. Chanyeol didn't know where the other guy went, all he could focus on was getting out without much injury.

"What do you want?" His voice was shaky, and his stomach was starting to throb from the constant pressure.

"What are you doing at this school, you dweeb?" The other guy's fish breath fanned over Chanyeol's face.

"What?" Chanyeol could feel his eyes becoming irritated, and tears were starting to gather.

"You don't belong here. You're weak. You're uncool. It would be better if you just disappeared." The bully dug his nails into the skin where his shoulder became his neck. His hands were rough, and caked with dirt and grime.

"Let me go." Chanyeol voice was barely as whisper as his tears threatened to spill. He was sweating with fear and anger.

"Who's gonna make me?"

"Let me go." He raised his voice as the familiar wetness ran down his cheeks.

"Oh, look. The baby's crying. I feel so bad." The brute dug his nails in harder, breaking Chanyeol's skin. A little bit of blood pooled at the spot, and the bully pinched at the rip harshly, coaxing the blood out. It ran in little streams down Chanyeol's fair skin, staining his collar with the color of rust. The guy swiped at the blood with his finger, pasting it on Chanyeol's cheek and all over his face, enjoying torturing the male he had pinned. The blood, dirt, sweat, and tears mixed, creating this horrid stench that had Chanyeol's stomach flipping.

"Let me go." Chanyeol simply refused to beg the monster.

"What's the magic word?" The brute taunted.

But he had no choice.

"Let me go. Please."

"That's better." The bully kicked both of Chanyeol's shins harshly before releasing his grasp. Chanyeol fell to the ground, his hands aching as they landed on the uneven pavement. The guy kicked his ribs for good measure, sending him skidding a few meters. The monster turned on his heal and bolted, having had his fun.

Chanyeol groaned and picked himself back up. He dusted himself up the best he could, wincing a little when he touched his calves. It's okay. This isn't the first time.

He dug around in his backpack, pulling out some rubbing alcohol and some clean cloth. After being beat up in the past, Chanyeol always made sure to have some on hand, just in case.

He treated his wounds the best he could and disposed of the supplies. The teen ran all the way back home, just wanting some rest.

His mother was furious that he had come back home so late, and Chanyeol mentally kicked himself for slipping up. The rest of the night consisted of countless questions and choices. Chanyeol was sent upstairs to rest while his parents continued to banter.

That marked the start of his transformation.

The Park household was rich from the start. Both of his parents had high paying jobs.

But Chanyeol was uninterested in money. He never asked for anything except the necessary. He didn't even have a phone going into middle school because he thought it was a waste. He parents disagreed, but didn't try to force him.

Until then.

Over the course of the next few years, Chanyeol slowly became more and more pampered. He had maids, the latest innovations in technology, a huge room, and more spending money than he would ever need. He got a driver when he entered high school as well.

Chanyeol let the changes morph his personality as well. He became more sneering, more manipulative. By the time four years had passed, he could barely recognize himself.

The lanky teen had also transformed into one with stunning looks. Puberty had done him well, and his features began to comply with one another. His eyes no long seemed abnormally big, and his ears didn't jut out as much. Chanyeol developed a faint dimple with deepened over time. His voice became deeper, and his teeth sorted themselves out. Chanyeol became one of the most sought after students into the school. The giant let them coo over him, enjoying the attention.

Perhaps a bit too much.

Perhaps.

Just a bit.

Or at least, that what he convinced himself to believe.

***

"Hey! Chanyeol! You awake!?" Baekhyun snaps his fingers in the giant's face.

"Hm? What?"

"You zoned out for a while."

Chanyeol finally takes note of the sticky substance on his face, which was drying into his skin. His eyes flicker to Baekhyun's hand, which clenched a second too late, allowing the giant to see the flash of white in his grasp. The brunet diverts his gaze guiltily.

"Chanyeol? You were clawing at your collar." Baekhyun pinches the gray fabric. "I found some scars." He looks up. "Are you okay?"

No. "Yes."

Before Baekhyun can reply, the bell cuts into their conversation. Baekhyun purses his lips and unlocks their fingers, grabbing his stuff and walking out the door.

Chanyeol lets out a breath, one that he didn't even realize that he was holding. He gathers his things and walks to his next class. After setting his stuff down, he excuses himself to the bathroom. At the sink, he splashes his face with cold tap, trying to make it seem like he wasn't crying just a second ago.

The idiot saw me cry! Chanyeol shakes his hands fervently, trying to dry them off. Wonderful. He breaks off a length of disposable towel and dabs at his face. The giant crumples the flimsy paper and tosses it at the wall behind the trash can. The brown paper drops in as Chanyeol exits the bathroom.

And I'm an moron for crying in the first place! Chanyeol rejoins his history class, picking up on the topic that was currently on the table. War tactics. I'd like to use them on that stupid Byun.

"Now class, remember that the end of the semester is approaching. This would be the time to up your grades if you're in the danger zone. You will be switching classes too. And with that said..." the teacher pauses, "Pop quiz!" He dramatically pulls out the papers from behind his back.

This day just keeps on getting better and better.

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Anyone feel bad for Chanyeol?

022018