Present, 2022

(30)

Baekhyun is extremely nervous.

"Hey. You made it!"

Presenting his first game in front of many people at work was nothing compared to this jittery feeling right now. Arriving at the house of his boyfriend's sister, his heart begins to rattle with anxiety. But seeing Chanyeol's face first things first after the door was opened, his nerves are calming down a bit now.

"Where's Yoora noona?"

"She's outside walking Toben. Want something to drink?"

Chanyeol pulls Baekhyun for a hug; Baekhyun gives him a peck on the cheek.

"Water's fine. Thanks."

"Sit anywhere you like."

Timidly taking off his shoes and wearing indoor slippers, Baekhyun wanders his eyes around Yoora's cozy home. The modern living room radiates warmth and elegance, with its furniture in beige and white. Plants beautify the spacious garden in the backyard. Books and paintings are everywhere as well. He heard that Chanyeol's brother-in-law is an architect. This house is truly a work of art.

"How about her husband? Is he home?"

Sitting on the couch, Baekhyun receives the drink Chanyeol is handing him.

"Hyung went on a business trip. I slept over last night because my sister was scared to be alone."

"What a thoughtful little brother~"

"You know me."

Today is the day they planned on telling Yoora about their relationship. To not make this meeting super obvious, Baekhyun guised it as a simple visit to his 'best friend's sister' like the old days. He had to remind himself of this fact when he was choosing what to wear this morning. He didn't want to appear overdressed and be obvious that he prepared for this day too much, so he just picked what he normally wears when going outside. A simple black tee and a pair of washed jeans.

"Aren't you dressed too lightly? It's already winter."

"I just grabbed whatever's in my closet."

"You didn't bring a coat with you?"

"No, sadly..."

"Your hands are cold."

"It's because I'm super nervous, silly."

To heat Baekhyun's icy hands, Chanyeol clasps them, rubs them together, and breathes on them. He sneaks Baekhyun's pretty fingers under his hoodie and flats out those cold palms on top of his stomach.

"Now they're warm."

Looking at Chanyeol's smirking face makes Baekhyun laugh. Why is this man so adorable?

"Seriously, if your sister sees us like this..."

"What's wrong with touching my abs a little?"

"Abs? All I feel are tummy flaps," Baekhyun jokes, and Chanyeol rolls his eyes.

"You mean, six-packs, right? The only soft thing on my stomach is my skin."

"And your belly button."

"Uh-huh."

Toben's high-pitched barks can be heard at the front door upon Yoora's arrival, and it's a sign for Baekhyun to move away from Chanyeol and greet his future sister-in-law. Yoora smiles brightly at the sight of a handsome man in her humble abode. Seeing Baekhyun after a while is like a breath of fresh air.

"Gosh, Baekhyun... It feels like it's been years since I last saw you! Did you grow taller?"

"I've always been this tall, noona. It's just your brother's such a giant next to me."

"Right. Chanyeol used to be a cutie patootie before."

"I'm still a cutie patootie," Chanyeol butts in. Yoora removes the puppy's leash, letting Toben run freely around the house.

"By the way, have you had lunch yet?" The older sister asks her visitor, and Baekhyun shakes his head.

"I came here on an empty stomach. Is the free food still up?"

"Depends if you're willing to wash the dishes?" Yoora jokes.

"What's Chanyeol here for? He's better at doing housework than me."

"He's good as a chaperone, too."

Hearing his name, Chanyeol yells:

"Hey! Are you two ganging up against me?"

Woof!

"Toben, you're the only one on my side. Come here, boy."

Chanyeol tries to scoop the black poodle in his arms but Toben only ignores him like the sassy bitch that he is. Baekhyun and Yoora share an amused laugh, watching him make a fool out of himself.

Look at them. They sure do get along, don't they?

"Did you get invisalign recently, Baekhyun?"

"Oh, how did you know!?"

"There's no way I wouldn't notice. Your teeth are literally perfect! I'm jealous."

"Thank you, but don't get one. It hurts like hell."

"Then should I just get a noselift? I envy your side profile. I want a high nose bridge, too."

"You're beautiful the way you are! You don't need any procedure!"

"I know, I'm just flattering you~ Haha."

A happy smile slips on Chanyeol's lips, nonetheless, seeing Baekhyun and Yoora-- the two most important people in his life--talk about stuff he has no idea about. Baekhyun said he was nervous but seems like he's handling it pretty well.

Then again, Baekhyun has no reason to feel worried. Chanyeol trusts that Yoora will approve of their relationship a hundred percent. After all, she likes Baekhyun as much as she likes her own brother. Actually, no. She's fond of Baekhyun more than she's fond of him. Who wouldn't like Baekhyun anyway?

Lunch is peaceful as the three of them share lighthearted conversations, reminiscing some of Chanyeol's embarrassing childhood memories. For the longest time he had known Chanyeol as his best friend, this is the first time Baekhyun is hearing about the story of him wetting his pants in third grade. Chanyeol also wore Yoora's uniform as a dare in sixth grade. No photos were left because Chanyeol threw them away.

"This is traumatizing, stop talking about it anymore!"

Baekhyun saves Chanyeol from further humiliation by changing the subject and asking how Mr. Park's health is these days. Yoora says that their father is doing great. Their Dad has been into farming lately after taking a break as the company President when he was hospitalized.

Hearing the good news from Yoora brings Baekhyun relief. Chanyeol rarely speaks about his family, and if ever he does talk about his folks, all he says is that they're doing good. Sure, Baekhyun believes him but it's still reassuring to know it's not a white lie just so he could stop worrying.

In the middle of their casual chat, while eating desserts, Yoora brings up the past concert they've been to. She got sick the next morning and couldn't stop feeling unwell since then. She's been experiencing occasional dizziness, fatigue, and mood swings.

"Turns out I was already pregnant that day. Can you believe that I already had a living thing inside of me while I was jumping and screaming like crazy in a concert!?"

Chanyeol almost spits the water he is drinking right at his sister's face.

"W-what did you just say!?"

"I'm pregnant! You're gonna be an Uncle!" Yoora exclaims in pure joy. Baekhyun brightens up and rejoices at her surprise announcement.

"Wow! Congratulations, Yoora noona! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you! My belly isn't still obvious, right? It's only been eight weeks."

"Your husband left for a business trip even after knowing your condition?"

"Sadly, yeah. It's all for our baby's sake. We promised it's gonna be the last time he's leaving anyway. After our child is born, he's gonna be a stay-at-home Dad."

Chanyeol is unfazed, his reaction blank and expressionless regarding his sister's pregnancy. Of course, he's overjoyed, but he doesn't wanna shed tears right now, especially not in front of Baekhyun. So he just stands up quietly and hugs his sister from behind.

Smiling, Yoora reaches the back of her brother's head, ruffling his hair gently.

"Aww, look at this brat. Are you that happy?"

"Yeah..."

"Me, too."

"You're gonna be a great Mom, noona. You've waited for this blessing to come for a long time."

Baekhyun's heart swells with affection, witnessing this wonderful moment between the siblings. It reminds him of the time when his brother first found out about his wife's pregnancy with their secondborn. His older brother sobbed nonstop. Baekbeom looked so ugly when he cried. Just imagining his hideous face is making him laugh.

"Anyway! Enough about me!"

Yoora fishes something out of her pocket and slips it in between Baekhyun's hands.

"As an apology for being insensitive last time, I wanna make up to you. Though, I don't know if this counts as making up or not. Haha... Still, let's give it a shot."

Insensitive? Chanyeol questions himself, thinking about what his sister meant. Ah, that must be it... The talking-about Baekhyun's-ex-incident...

"There's this co-worker of mine, she's a journalist. She said she was your acquaintance from college. She asked for your number when she found out I knew you. This is her contact info. If you're interested, she's hoping you two could meet and have dinner sometime."

Judging from Baekhyun's internal panicked expression, Chanyeol can tell that Baekhyun already sees what Yoora is hoping to do. He is quick to catch on, and he must now be thinking of a hundred ways to decline Yoora politely and straightforwardly.

As though to stop Baekhyun from speaking up, because it might put Yoora in an awkward situation yet again, Chanyeol sneaks a hand under the table and pats Baekhyun on the knee. He smiles at him softly.

It's okay. Just let her speak for now.

"You're now single so it's a perfect chance, right?"

Without saying a word, Chanyeol lowers his head, slicing the cake on his plate using his fork.

"Who... did she say she was again?" Baekhyun asks for the sake of keeping the conversation going.

"Why don't you look at the card?" Yoora smiles.

Baekhyun reads the name written on the business card and a bleak face of a woman he met at uni flashes in his mind. It's been eight years since he last saw this name.

Bae Suzy
Senior Journalist, KPS World

Thinking about it, Bae Suzy was a beautiful, smart girl who was also popular among the guys at S University. Baekhyun suddenly recalls, although not vividly, the moments they shared in his sophomore year of college. He used to study in the library with her and go to church on Sundays to meet her father who was a Pastor. They dated for over a year, and the first time they met, as well as the day they called it quits, were some of the things Baekhyun can still remember until now. Their breakup was peaceful yet bittersweet. He was naive and a hopeless romantic back then.

But other than the burst of nostalgic memories rushing in, he doesn't feel anything special at all. He admits he's curious, though. Why does she wanna meet him after all these years? Is it for work or personal matters?

"So. Does her name ring a bell?" Yoora asks. "I didn't give your number to a complete stranger, did I?"

Faking a smile and trying to look nonchalant, Baekhyun nods. "Yeah. I know her." He turns to Chanyeol and knowingly grins. "Chanyeol also knows her. We used to hang out with her in college before."

The abrupt inclusion makes Chanyeol flinch. He didn't see the business card but he's pretty sure she's that one person in mind. There's no way he'd forget the list of Baekhyun's past girlfriends. He has no personal grudge against them whatsoever, but they're etched in his mind like a healed scar. He even remembers Baekhyun's exes more than his own exes, to be honest.

"Great! Now it's your call whether to hit her up or not. I already did my part. Tell me if it goes well, okay?"

"Sure. Thanks for worrying about me."

"You didn't have to thank me! I just wish you to happily date someone again, you know? Just like my brother right here. You see, Chanyeol's so obsessed with the person he's currently dating. He wouldn't stop smiling at his phone all night while texting her. What a creep!"

Ugh, here we go again. Chanyeol groans and shoves his face into his palms, hiding his mixed frustration and embarrassment.

"Oh, really?" Baekhyun teasingly smirks, leaning closer towards Chanyeol to peek at his flustered reaction. "Is that true, man? Didn't know you're that type of boyfriend."

"Shut up," Chanyeol hisses, glaring at the little devil in front of him. Or else I'll kiss you in front of my sister!

Baekhyun offers him an angelic smile. Heh. Do it, then. Shove your tongue down my throat!

"Wait. I'll just go get the door. I think someone's outside."

Yoora excuses herself to leave the two. When she's finally out of sight, Chanyeol breathes and deflates, his soul leaving his body. He pulls his own hair, utterly annoyed.

Seeing his man losing his shit and banging his head against the counter has Baekhyun exploding into a fit of laughter.

"Damn it, Baekhyun... How can you still laugh at this situation? Yoora noona thinks I have a girlfriend! And not only that, she's setting you up with your ex from eight years ago. What a small world! And she had to do this all when we were trying to tell her we were dating each other. Talk about good timing! Seriously, this is so messed up..."

"Remember, if you hadn't stopped me from opening my mouth, this wouldn't happen. I could've said I was already dating someone."

"But I didn't wanna embarrass my sister..."

"I know, and I understand."

Baekhyun slides the business card across from Chanyeol. "Here." Confirming that his guess is right, Chanyeol lets out a depressing exhale. This is giving him a severe headache.

"What is Bae Suzy up to? Does she wanna get back with you? Hasn't she settled down already?"

"Maybe she's not yet married."

"So? What does that have to do with anything? What does that have to do with you? With us?"

Baekhyun laughs, amusing himself with Chanyeol's over-the-top reactions.

"Are you jealous?"

Tearing his gaze away, Chanyeol folds his arms across his chest and huffs. What the hell is Baekhyun saying?

"Jealous? What is that foreign word? I don't know that language. Is that Japanese?"

"Pfft. You're so cute."

"Besides, you and that person are long done. What else could be the reason why she's coming back?"

"I have no idea."

"Do you owe her money?"

"No. I might be a broke college student back then but I never borrowed any money from her."

"Then why?"

"I don't know. I really have no clue."

Chanyeol gasps when he thinks of something.

"Wait... Did you perhaps accidentally make her preg-"

"Of course not-"

Baekhyun pauses and thinks.

"I think...?"

"WHAT THE FUCK, BYUN BAEKHYUN!?"

"Hahaha. Calm down. Of course, I didn't!"

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure! Are you doubting me?"

"No, I'm not! Why would I!?"

"Why are you mad? If I ask you about your past-"

"I've never slept with a woman."

"Oh! Haha. Right..."

Silently staring at each other after minute, it is Baekhyun who breaks into a chuckle first.

Chanyeol glares at him.

"You think this is funny? Stop laughing."

"Pfft. Hehe. Don't get mad now, baby. I'm sorry. You know that you're the only one for me, right?"

"Get out of here."

"I said I was sorry."

"Apology with tears. Now."

Baekhyun mimics a crying emoji while pretending to rub his eyes.

"Huhuhu! Sob sob sob. Please forgive me?"

Ugh. Look at him. This guy is so annoying. I wanna ignore him but his aegyo is my weakness, Chanyeol sighs as he massages his throbbing temples. This entire conversation is making him lose the last two of his brain cells.

"Think hard. What does your ex want from you?"

"If you're curious, should I just meet her?" Baekhyun says. Side-eyeing Baekhyun after their pointless argument, Chanyeol genuinely asks:

"Do you want to meet her?"

"Do you want me to?" Staring at his man's sincere eyes, Baekhyun seeks Chanyeol's approval by holding his hand and lacing their fingers together. "Look. It doesn't matter whether I see her again or not. My heart will never change. I'm still yours. I'll forever be yours."

Chanyeol deeply sighs and nods.

"Fine. I've decided. Don't meet her. I don't want you having anything to do with your past anymore."

"Roger that. Heard it loud and clear."

"Good."

"You still mad?"

"Well... Not anymore."

"Good!"

"And I've also decided. I'm gonna tell Yoora noona once she comes back right now that I'm dating you. Let's get this over with, babe."

"Alright. It's now or never."

Yoora returns to the dining room not alone but with a couple more visitors behind her. They're a man and a woman in their sixties, technically, her in-laws. Her husband's parents.

The words that Chanyeol is about to say instantly disappear. He rises immediately to greet the elderly just like Baekhyun next to him.

"Guys, my in-laws decided to pay me a surprise visit today..." It's evident on Yoora's face that she's utterly shocked and overwhelmed by her unannounced visitors. "And they're gonna be staying here in the meantime until my husband comes back."

"You're pregnant so it's only right that we look after you in the absence of our son," the mother-in-law says. "Are these boys your brothers?"

"Blood-related or not, a pregnant woman shouldn't be alone with men. It's stressful for the baby," the father-in-law says.

Yoora ushers her in-laws to the living room before attending back to Chanyeol and Baekhyun.

"We can push through with our sleepover another time, okay?" Yoora says apologetically as she sends her younger brothers to the door. "Baekhyun, I know you went into trouble coming here today! I promise I'll hang out with you soon. It's just that, my in-laws are kinda, you know..."

"Noona, it's all right. We understand," Baekhyun says with a smile. "Just give me a call and I'll be there."

"Your father-in-law is scary. If so, he's the stressful one for the baby," Chanyeol jokes, earning a weak hit on the arm from Yoora, "Ouch! I'm kidding, it's a joke, okay... Fine, we're leaving!"

"Chanyeol, wait."

Yoora inches closer to whisper in her brother's ear.

"I'm looking forward to meeting your girlfriend soon. Just tell me when and I'll make time for you guys."

That causes a tiny, helpless smile to form on Chanyeol's lips.

"Yeah. I'll text you."

In the end, they weren't able to tell Yoora anything today. This is honestly saddening and heartbreaking, not to mention the thing with Baekhyun's ex wanting to meet up out of the blue. It's all stressing Chanyeol out.

"Sorry."

Warmth lingers at the back of Chanyeol's palm where Baekhyun's lips have been. Trying to cheer his lover up, Baekhyun showers more kisses on Chanyeol's hand while the man's other hand maneuvers the steering wheel. They're now driving home after accomplishing barely anything of their plans. Nobody has expected Yoora's in-laws' arrival so they couldn't blame that to anyone. Probably it's not yet the right time for them to confess their relationship to their older sister.

"It's because of me that you're frowning like that. I'm really sorry."

Chanyeol shakes his head.

"Nope. This is not your fault. It's just. My sister's such a busybody, isn't she? Concerning herself about your dating life."

"She didn't mean any harm so it's fine for me. But for you, it's clearly not. I can tell you're still bothered by it. So if this whole situation is hurting you, how about we keep our relationship a secret from her in the meantime?"

"No. I need to tell her right now. If we can't say it today, then I'll talk to her about it tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then I'll do it the next day."

Baekhyun bites his bottom lip and fiddles with their threaded fingers on top of his lap.

"I'm sorry..."

"You didn't do anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?"

"Because of my exes. They're already gone in my life but their memories are still bugging you. How dare them."

Chanyeol can't help letting out a sigh that turns into an airy chuckle, seeing the way Baekhyun's face crumples up with guilt.

"You're being silly right now, honestly."

"I'm serious! I feel really bad."

"Well, if you really feel guilty, why don't you give me a hundred kisses?"

"Sure, if that'd make you feel better! Is that all? Should I hug you a hundred times, too?"

"I won't say no to that~"

"And then I'll take you out on a relaxing date! How about some facial and body spa?"

"Sounds good. I want a hair treatment, too."

"Let's get you all nice and pampered."

After that specific day when they spend a healing time together, several days uneventfully and quickly roll by.

Work in the office has been hectic and both their schedules are swamped with brainstorming meetings, developing updates for LOVE, and preparing for their second game's launch. Chanyeol inevitably pushes back the talk with his sister for the second time and Baekhyun sees this as a good thing for now. He has ample time to prepare his nerves.

A heartbreaking emergency call arrives on Chanyeol's phone one busy morning. Mr. Lee tells Chanyeol that his partner's life is on the brink of danger. Apparently, according to Mr. Lee, Baekhyun got into an accident when putting Christmas decorations on the ceiling. His foot slipped from the ladder and he fell, dislocating his bones. He couldn't move his entire body and he was in so much pain. He refuses to be taken to the hospital unless Chanyeol comes back to the office and rescues him.

Without a second thought, Chanyeol abandons his fieldwork, his mind racing and his chest hammering in extreme fright and worry. He hails a taxi back to the company, rides the elevator in no time, runs to the crime scene, and opens the door.

It's all dark and quiet.

Hooot!

"SURPRISE!!!"

The party horn and confetti explode right at Chanyeol's face before the lights turn back on.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PARK CHANYEOL!!!"

Shocked, Chanyeol stands flabbergasted and pale, seeing his co-workers, friends, and acquaintances all gathered in this room. The boss is even present as well as some people from the other department. Sehun, Jongdae, Kyungsoo, and Jongin are also here. Balloons and decorations are everywhere. It's a birthday party.

When they start singing the happy birthday song, Chanyeol finally remembers that it is his special today. He never really thought he'd be the receiving end of a surprise. Usually, he's the one making them. Damn. Why is this making him tear up?

"Happy birthday to youuuu~ Happy birthday to youuu~

But what will definitely make him cry is the moment when the crowd breaks in half to give way to the person holding the birthday cake.

"Happy birthday, dear Chanyeol~ Happy birthday to you~"

Baekhyun walks in, his beautiful face illuminated by the candlelight as he carries the cake toward the birthday boy. Chanyeol can't take his gaze off him as the two of them stand in the center of the circle like the main characters. He can already tell that Baekhyun planned this whole event based on the cheeky grin he is offering him right now.

"Happy birthday, love--I mean, Chanyeol," Baekhyun mutters, and he prays to the heavens nobody heard that slip of the tongue. That makes Chanyeol smile, and Baekhyun blames the heating of his face on the candles. "Here. Blow out the candles and make a wish."

Everybody clap their hands and cheer, witnessing the way Chanyeol leans closer to the cake and puckers his lips. He huffs air to extinguish the flame before closing his eyes and silently making a wish. When he opens his eyes, Baekhyun is already there, looking at him fondly and lovingly.

How fast. His wish is already granted.

"Thank you, everyone. I appreciate you all coming here to surprise me. I didn't really expect this," Chanyeol says with an embarrassed smile, looking at every single soul in the room. "And I liked the cake, by the way."

Before putting the cake away, Baekhyun dips his index finger into the icing and teasingly smudges it on Chanyeol's cheek.

"Hehe. We got you there, didn't we?"

To respond to that childish behavior while everybody watches, Chanyeol pulls Baekhyun into a sudden embrace. He angles his head and whispers into his lover's ear.

I love you.

Eyes widened, Baekhyun blushes, hearing those three words while having his face shoved against Chanyeol's chest. He has his hands floating in the air, unsure whether to hug Chanyeol back or keep them on his sides.

That romantic scene earns a variety of reactions from the bystanders. Girls are gasping and squealing, some are laughing, while others are questioning what the hell is happening. But before the skinship can get any more suspicious, Chanyeol lets go and also hugs Sehun and Jongdae (more like headlocks them.)

"So you guys were in it too, huh? Who thought of that idea!?"

"I did. I knew you'd fall for it," Kyungsoo confesses, raising his hand. "Happy birthday."

"Jongin and I made up the other details," Jongdae says with a shrug. "Sorry for pranking you."

"And I gathered everyone here," Sehun says.

Baekhyun glances around, seeing people dispersing and lining up for the free food sponsored by Kim Jongin. He gets the cute birthday hat for the celebrant and wears it on his boyfriend.

"There you go."

Chanyeol chuckles, shaking his head. Everything happened unexpectedly. His emotions have been a rollercoaster.

"Next time, don't make up a story like that. I almost passed out after rushing all the way here, you know."

"They didn't tell you your favorite actress was coming?"

"Nope. They said you got hurt and broke your bones. They said your life was on the brink of danger."

"What!? Those bastards!"

"This is crazy... I forgot it was my birthday today. You didn't even greet me at midnight so it totally slipped my mind!"

"Haha. It's so not like you to forget your own birthday."

"Let's celebrate at my place tonight. How does a dinner date at home sound?"

"Sounds great! I'll bring the wine."

A gentle tap on the back from Sehun has Baekhyun turning his head.

"Baekhyun hyung, Director Zhang Yixing wants to see you in his office right now. Can I borrow you for a bit?" Sehun asks.

"Me?" Baekhyun asks curiously. When Chanyeol gives him the go signal to leave, he then nods at Sehun. "Okay. I'll come with you."

"I think Yixing hyung has some good news for you."

"Good news? I wonder what it is... And excuse me, Yixing hyung!?"

"We're friends now!"

Mr. Zhang is a straightforward man. He doesn't cut to the chase, because as soon as he sees Byun Baekhyun coming through the door, he immediately confronts the guy, a phone presented at his face. It's a video (gameplay) with a thumbnail on top and the player's face is not blurred out.

"Baekhyun, this is you, right!?"

Baekhyun's initial reaction is panic and worry. Because yes, that guy in the video is definitely him. It's his face. It's his voice. Those are his pink kitty headphones. It's him. He can't remember when that day was, how that video was screen recorded, why the Director has a video of him playing League of Legends in his pajamas, and how it was uploaded on the internet. All kinds of thoughts are swarming in his head right now until his mind goes blank.

"This video of you is all over TikTok! It got 4.3 million views in two weeks! Do you have any idea what this means!? Have you seen the comments!?"

Oh, god... Am I gonna get fired? Baekhyun asks himself as he cowers in fear, nervous, and teary-eyed. Did I curse too much? Did Riot Games sue me!? Am I getting banned? Is my life over?

"I-I don't know, Sir... This is the first time I've heard about this... If I did something wrong-"

Grabbing Baekhyun's shoulders, Mr. Zhang shakes his head and hands the phone to Baekhyun so he can see for himself what the fuss is all about.

"Here. Take a look at it."

It's nothing really mind-blogging except it's an edited 29-second video spotlight of Baekhyun playing LOL. It has captions, background music, zoom-ins, and memes. He is casually talking to his teammates (who is Jongin and his team, Baekhyun just remembered now). It was screengrabbed from a livestream on Twitch, and the video was uploaded to Ninibear's official Tiktok account fifteen days ago.

Baekhyun's questions have been answered. Jongin is behind all of this. He then recalls Jongin texting him some time ago if he could use him as "video content." Baekhyun probably answered Sure, not knowing this is what Jongin meant.

Watching the entire clip feels unreal. The edit is pretty funny, too. He was saying a bunch of geeky, technical stuff and he admits he nailed the game till the end. Fortunately, he didn't curse. It was a normal video, after all.

Sure, it was kind of awkward seeing himself on the Director's phone, let alone himself trending on TikTok, but he doesn't understand how this clip got so many views and likes. It's just a random dude gaming. Well, as expected of Ninibear's popularity.

"Go on. Scroll through the comments until you find the one with the blue checkmark," the Director says.

"Are the comments negative?"

"Why don't you find out?"

Baekhyun doesn't really use TikTok. Chanyeol does. He should ask Chanyeol to teach him next time.

WHO IS HE

Bro ate and left no crumbs

Nice gameplay!

I'd hate to play against him lol

Damn Ez is so annoying ㅋㅋㅋ

Ezreal is ONLY good if you can play like this

AS AN EZ MAIN I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY

Not a single skillshot was missed that day

build????

BRO IS HELLA FINE

I don't care about the game I'm here for his laugh

bro's spacing is insane

Can you do Aphelios next?

The new skin is so cute and gay lmao

Ezreal ult at its finest

Who let bro cook!?

He's the strongest ADC

This is why I'm scared of a good Ezreal player

W

Can someone tell me where I can find this man? For research purposes only.

We're seeing great potential! Please contact us! :)

That is when Baekhyun freezes. He is speechless. He's in a state of bliss and disbelief.

Mr. Zhang gets his phone back. He offers Baekhyun a seat on the couch so that they can talk more properly and seriously to each other.

"So, Baekhyun."

Baekhyun does his best to process and digest the information being fed to him by the Director. The fact that his video playing LOL for fun went viral is one thing. But the second breaking news Mr. Zhang is telling him is surely on another level.

"You know T1, right?"

"Yes, Sir. I'm a big fan of Faker."

"I called them about the comment they left on Ninibear's post. They responded. You know what they said?"

"What did they say?"

"They want to scout you as a trainee for their team."

"W-what...?"

"They said you were good and they wanted to see more of your skills."

Wait. Is this for real?

SK Telecom T1, one of Korea's biggest esports organizations, noticed him. Not only that, they want him to be a part of their team. Baekhyun feels so numb in happiness that he wants to cry. His eyes are watering. His body is shaking. Everything is overwhelming.

"If you gave this a shot, once you completed the training and got your esports license, you could play alongside them professionally. You could join them in the Worlds 2024 if you get lucky."

"Mr. Zhang, does this mean..."

"Yes, Baekhyun. This is your chance to be a pro gamer just like what you've always dreamed of."

For a fleeting moment, Baekhyun reminisces a short memory of his younger self playing video games in a PC bang filled with boys his age. Ever since he was a teen, he's always loved League of Legends. He grew up with it. It was a part of his childhood. There wasn't a day when he didn't speak of competing in an Esports Tournament back then. His friends laughed at him. His family mocked him.

Only Chanyeol believed in him.

So as he turned into an adult, he realized that his dream of becoming a professional gamer was just a childish fantasy.

After all, it was just like wishing to be an Astronaut after seeing Interstellar. It was just like wanting to be a Chef after going to a fancy restaurant once. Gaming as their bread and butter may be possible for others, but only for those people who have the means and the leisure to do it as a hobby. People who were born rich. People who are passionate and skilled in that field.

And Baekhyun doubted he had everything. He only had the passion for gaming. He wasn't confident he had the rest so he gave up on his silly dream and worked for a gaming company instead. At least this way, he can pay his bills and still game for fun.

"The ball's in your court. What do you say? Are you interested in signing a contract with T1?"

"I have a question, Sir. If I undergo the training with T1, how about my work in the company? How about the game I made with my partner?"

"Another team of developers would take over LOVEU after you debuted as a professional gamer. Rest assured you'll be an official member of T1 once you have your license and get through everything."

"Oh, my god... This is insane..."

"I know, so I'm afraid you can't have two jobs."

"I can't?"

"It's either you create games with us or play games with them. Stay behind the scenes or be the main character? Just choose one."

"Director, I... I can't leave Chanyeol alone."

"Hey, you're not leaving anyone alone. You and your husband are still gonna be working together."

Hearing the word husband, Baekhyun loses the urge to correct the Director as what he's saying will be true in the future anyway. If it were before, he'd be right off the bat denying the accusation.

"Really? I won't be separated from him?"

Director Zhang laughs. Well, this is cute.

"Pfft. No, you won't! These lovesick puppies... And don't worry. I got your back. You're not gonna get fired. This is actually a promotion."

"A promotion?"

"You heard me. You'll always be a part of Chromosome Games Incorporated as our Resident Pro Gamer, the first and ever."

"Sir... I just can't hand my game to someone else..."

"Then do you want to hand this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to someone else?"

"No, Sir. This is mine."

"There you go!"

"Can I still supervise LOVEU in the future with Chanyeol?"

"Anytime, of course! As the main developer, you have the right to do it."

"Thank you."

"I'm sure your partner's gonna be proud of you when he hears this good news."

Baekhyun accepts the hand being stretched out to him, nodding and smiling at his Boss.

"I promise I won't let you down. I'll give my best."

"Should we call this a deal?"

"Yes. Let's do it!"

"Great! I knew I could count on you. Congratulations in advance."

"I appreciate all the support, Director."

"Once the final details are out, I'll call for you again, and let's have a meeting with T1's representative."

A firm handshake plus a deep bow is what Baekhyun gave Director Zhang after closing the door and leaving his office. Upon reaching the bathroom, he stares at his reflection and breathes. He splashes his face with water and lets out a victory scream. He's incredibly happy, feeling like it's also his special day to receive such a wonderful gift.

"I can't wait to tell Chanyeol about this!"

Of course, it's Chanyeol's birthday today so he won't steal the spotlight from him. He'll tell him the good news after the details have been finalized. For now, he'll keep this little secret to himself. But maybe he'll give his boyfriend a small hint. He wonders how Chanyeol will react. Will he cry and celebrate for him?

"Right. We're having dinner tonight at his house. I should buy him some flowers."

The living room of Chanyeol's home is transformed, lit by scented candles and fairy lights. Homemade dinner is served on the decorated table set up with the bouquet of red roses Baekhyun gifted his significant other. The floor welcomes the unopened gifts and shopping bags sent by Chanyeol's friends and close relatives. Versace on the Floor by Bruno Mars plays in the background, providing a romantic ambiance while the couple dine together.

"Happy birthday."

"Thank you."

Doing a toast, both are wearing lovely smiles on their faces as they drink their sparkling wine. Baekhyun chooses this time to present his birthday gift to Chanyeol, and the man excitedly unwraps it in front of him.

"Please don't expect too much, okay? I wanted my gift to be different but I realized I actually have no idea what kind of special you'd like to get after all... I also don't wanna exaggerate stuff so yeah! I just got you something normal."

Chanyeol ignores the way Baekhyun shyly explains himself. Nothing else matters but the fact that Baekhyun prepared a birthday gift for him. It's the thought that counts. Honestly, Baekhyun could give him a piece of candy and he'd be the most grateful boyfriend to exist.

"Oh, my god! Seriously, how did you know? These are all what I wanted. I need these so badly!"

Ten boxes of underwear, ten pairs of black socks, ten shirts in dark shades, five hoodies of similar brand, five gray beanies, three pairs of trousers, a long winter coat, a leather belt, and two pairs of 100% cotton pajamas.

It's a whole brand new wardrobe essentials!

Oh. Plus a handwritten letter?

He's so excited to read it later.

"One, two, three... How many pairs did you get me? I could wear them every day. Thank you so much."

"Did you like my gift?"

"That's a no-brainer. I love it! You're so thoughtful as always."

"I'm happy seeing you happy."

Seeing how Chanyeol reacts makes Baekhyun smile. Thank god, I didn't buy him something burdensome.

"Hey, I feel like I'm a sugar baby."

"That's because you're my sugar, baby."

Chanyeol laughs.

"Come here."

When Baekhyun leans in, he deeply kisses Chanyeol on the lips. He can savor the taste of red wine as Chanyeol sweeps his tongue on the inside of his mouth.

"Have you looked all the way inside? There's something left."

"Is it a letter?"

"Nope."

When Chanyeol opens the envelope, he finds pieces of colorful paper folded like a booklet.

"They're birthday coupons. Ten in all."

Well, this is adorable. Seeing these brings back memories. They'd make these for each other every year. One coupon means one favor or wish to be granted for the other.

"Let's see... Can only be redeemed once. Valid for a year."

Baekhyun nods, grinning at him.

"Yup. So once you've spent it, you can never use it again. Use it wisely."

"I feel so lucky. This is a lot more than last year's. I bet you're in a good mood while making this."

"Hehe. You have additional perks now as my boyfriend."

Home service
Body massage
Sleepover for a week
Free 1 month supply of iced coffee
Serenade
₩1,000,000 cash
Fly with me
Yes-to-all day
911
Bacon

Chanyeol reads each coupon. They're written using sharpies and drawn with some doodles around them.

"What does home service mean?"

"I'll be your housekeeper for a day. I'll cook, clean, do the laundry, drive, buy groceries, and do stuff for you."

"Nice! How about the serenade one?"

"I'll sing you a song over the phone."

"Really? That's super romantic."

"I don't usually do that. It's a limited offer."

"And you're giving me a million won?"

"It's not a lot, though."

"Yes-to-all means you're not allowed to say no to me, right?"

"I hesitated writing that but I realized you deserve a day to be spoiled."

"Fly with me?"

"Just say a place and we'll go there."

"Manila."

"Sure."

"How about 911 and Bacon... Is this something special?"

Baekhyun coughs into his fist, rubbing his flushed neck.

"Use 911 if you need a hand for your emergency."

"Emergency?"

"You'll never know.... when it pops up, right?"

"Holy shit."

Gasping, Chanyeol's ears warm up. His insides just twitched. His mind is going into the gutter. Is Baekhyun talking about a handjob?

"I can use this anytime and anywhere I want?"

"Yes."

"Even at work?"

"Uh-huh."

"Fuck..."

"Meanwhile, use Bacon if you wanna-"

"Wait, babe. I'm not ready to hear that yet-"

"...eat me as your breakfast."

Chanyeol chokes in his spit, blushing and eyes widening. Did Baekhyun just say eat me? Is he pertaining to a morning blowjob? Just thinking about it is enough to set him on fire.

When Baekhyun notices Chanyeol's unresponsiveness, he pokes him on the side and asks.

"So. Do you get it or not?"

"911."

"Huh?"

"I think I'm having an emergency."

Pointing at the coupon, Chanyeol says that with a serious and straight face. Baekhyun chuckles, placing a hand on the other's knee and groping his thigh.

"You don't have to use it now. I'll give it to you tonight as much as you want."

"Go take a shower. Now."

What Baekhyun expects once he gets out of the bath is Chanyeol impatiently rushing over, carrying him, attacking him with kisses, and shoving him down the bed. But as soon as Baekhyun opens the door and finishes washing up, nothing happens. He spots the birthday boy all cooped up on his phone, scrolling TikTok videos in full volume and cackling to himself.

"Pfft. Hahaha! This is so dumb."

Hiding his disappointment, Baekhyun scoffs and rolls his eyes. He sits on the spot beside Chanyeol, waiting to get noticed by his boyfriend.

"Hey, I'm done washing up."

No response.

Look at this guy. Chanyeol appears so cozy sitting on the bed like that, his one hand behind his head, the other one on his phone. The man is deeply immersed in watching those short videos, scrolling past the ones he finds not interesting enough, and double-tapping on those he finds funny. Is it really that addicting?

"Chanyeol, don't you think it's time to charge your phone now?"

"Mm? I'm still at 67%, though."

"I'm done showering. Put it away."

"Okay, I'll just find the Part 2 of this vlog... Why don't they just post it in one video!?"

This reminds Baekhyun of the talk with Director Zhang about his trending video this morning. He's pretty sure Chanyeol hasn't heard about the news yet.

He is about to convince Chanyeol to put away his phone for the second time when he sees a familiar video passing by Chanyeol's For You page.

"Huh?"

Chanyeol tenses up, staring at his Tiktok screen. It's a guy playing LOL. It has 1.2 million likes and 10.7k comments.

"Wait... W-what is this!?"

Baekhyun hides his laugh behind a pillow. Talk about coincidence. How could his video appear like that? What kind of algorithm is this?

"No waaay! You look like this guy! You also sound like him!"

"That's because it's me. I'm that guy."

"WHAT?"

The way Chanyeol is alternately staring at the person next to him and the video has Baekhyun smirking. Now he has managed to successfully grab Chanyeol's attention. The clip is playing on loop because Chanyeol is not scrolling away. He's intently watching it with a huge smile on his face.

"Damn, it really is you! I mean, how did this happen? Why did I find out just now?"

Baekhyun explains everything but he makes sure to leave out the part where T1 is scouting him as a trainee. He only mentions the meeting with the Director and his exciting news coming up soon. Chanyeol pinches his cheek to check if Baekhyun is real.

"I can't believe this. You're here, and you're also here..."

"I can't believe it, either. I don't know how to feel. I'm overwhelmed, I guess? Haha."

"The comments are all positive. They're praising how good your gameplay is."

"I can pass as a professional gamer, right?"

"With these insane skills? Definitely!"

Baekhyun assumes Chanyeol might have missed the comment from T1 since he's not saying anything about it. It's probably the seventh time the video is repeating now but the man is not getting sick of it yet. Baekhyun feels annoyed. As time goes by, hearing his own voice gets irritating to the ears.

"You can just download it and rewatch it later. For now, focus only on me, okay? Put your phone away."

"Mhm."

Chanyeol doesn't even flinch when Baekhyun initiates touching. Chanyeol's thumbs are fast, furiously typing on his phone while smiling like an idiot. Here Baekhyun is, resting his cheek on Chanyeol's shoulder, and wrapping his arms around his waist like he's a cat begging to be pet.

"Park Chanyeol, didn't you hear me? I said put that damn phone away..."

"Wait. I'll just repost this and share it with the group chat! Oh, I'll send the link to my sister, too... You look so good in this video, this is insane..."

"Just do that some other time. Look at me first."

"One moment, love... This won't take long."

Completely fed up with his boyfriend's bullshit, Baekhyun grabs Chanyeol's Samsung Galaxy and blocks the screen with his hand. Before Chanyeol can even protest, he traps Chanyeol's mouth with his lips, kissing him without warning.

As their lips passionately meet for a sweet contact, their kiss gradually deepens. Chanyeol finally gives up and closes his eyes, responding to his lover and matching his pace. Phone forgotten and tossed aside, Baekhyun smiles, victorious and proud, having Chanyeol entirely all to himself.

He separates briefly, cupping Chanyeol's jaw inside his warm hands, whispering:

"The real thing is right in front of you. Have your eyes only on me."

"Yes, Sir."

Chanyeol smiles and angles his head to claim Baekhyun's lips again. He gnaws on Baekhyun's bottom lip and explores every inch of his mouth using his tongue. Experimentally, his hand roams underneath his clothes, caressing Baekhyun's hipbone up and down. His thumbs slide on the curve, making Baekhyun's breath hitch.

"Ah, wait... Not there."

"You don't like it when I touch you here?"

"No..."

"Want me to stop?"

It's ticklish. Not only is Baekhyun sensitive on that part, but he is also tingly when his neck is being touched just like what Chanyeol is doing now. He is focusing on Baekhyun's nape, planting light smooches on the area around his collarbones. Every time Chanyeol's tongue darts and flattens along the skin, Baekhyun can't help letting out a soft whimper.

"Haa... It tickles."

"I love how you smell. I could do this to you all day."

"Enough with that, please."

"Should I kiss you somewhere else?"

Nodding, Baekhyun shudders and lets his man distract him by kissing his shoulder instead. Being kissed on the neck is his weakness yet it's also his favorite. How confusing.

"Shit, it feels good... Mngh, do it again."

"Like this?"

"Yeah. Like that."

The bed is spacious but Baekhyun prefers to occupy one spot. It's Chanyeol's lap. He is straddling it with his knees spread apart. Chanyeol doesn't mind his weight though, especially when he has his hand under Baekhyun's shirt. His fingers are twirling around the other's nipple, gently rubbing and flicking it. He's also massaging and caressing his chest which Baekhyun finds extremely pleasurable.

"Yeol, not too hard."

"I remember how you were against this before. You won't even let me touch your chest."

"That's because you were messing with me."

"I won't do it again."

"Don't pinch it too rough, alright?"

"Want me to suck on it? I promise it'll feel so much better."

"Are you crazy?"

"I'm serious. I wanna kiss your nipple and put it inside my mouth."

Baekhyun is utterly speechless and flustered right now. He refuses to take off his clothes (because it's cold) so Chanyeol creates a genius way by hooping his entire head inside Baekhyun's oversized shirt. Now he's doing whatever the hell he wants: kissing Baekhyun's nipple, swirling and grazing his tongue around it, licking and biting it lightly with his teeth.

"Hngh, yes... Keep going..."

It's not something Baekhyun can deny. He admits he doesn't hate the tingling sensation of Chanyeol's wet tongue lapping, teasing, and nibbling his swollen nips. In fact, this is actually turning him on. His dick is now fully hard, and it's only because of Chanyeol's amazing mouth pleasuring his upper body.

"Can you hug me?" Chanyeol asks, looking at Baekhyun endearingly and pecking him on the cheek. "I wanna feel you against me."

Coiling his arms around Chanyeol's neck, Baekhyun leans closer and kisses his awaiting lips, tender yet desperate, rough yet intimate. Rocking his hips forward, he lets Chanyeol stimulate the tent on his pants with the heel of his palm. It sends delicious friction on his clothed manhood, the way Chanyeol is grinding and pressing continuously.

This is not enough. Baekhyun is yearning for more contact, so he eventually yanks down the garter of Chanyeol's sweatpants, letting his dick escape in one swift pull.

Pop!

Chanyeol's hard cock springs free and erect.

"Wow."

Baekhyun spares a golden minute to admire its majestic beauty. It's huge, thick, and pinkish. It's not even the first time he's seen Chanyeol down there but it's always leaving him in awe every single time.

Putting his plan into action, he gets rid of his own pants and underwear, before reaching for the bottle of lube. Chanyeol then helps him pour a dollop on their erections, coating the base up to the tip. He slides their cocks against each other for maximum pleasure.

"Look how aroused you are. I barely even touched yours," Chanyeol muses, smirking playfully at Baekhyun.

"Says the one whose dick has been rock hard since earlier."

"Haha. You got me there."

"Don't worry. I'll take care of you."

Pumping their manhoods together, Baekhyun curls his hand around them firmly. He faps their lengths back and forth until his strokes turn faster and stronger. Up and down, up and down, his fist goes, sending ripples of arousal to their bodies.

"Fuck. Your hand feels great..."

Chanyeol throws his head back and grunts, cursing under his breath. He squeezes his eyes shut and groans while his lover jerks him off with two hands. Baekhyun is gripping their shafts and fondling them side by side, gliding his slender fingers along the moist heads that are dripping with precum.

This is too arousing. Chanyeol feels his head spin, hazy, and clouded with lust and all sensual thoughts of Byun Baekhyun.

"Ahh... That's right, Baek. Do it faster..."

"You love it when I grind my cock against yours?"

"Shit--yes, oh my fucking god. Don't stop."

"You're twitching down here. Are you that horny? No wonder you're already-"

Chanyeol occupies Baekhyun's chatty mouth with his lips, kissing him again to shut him up, savoring his sweet taste. He trails feather-light touches on Baekhyun's abdomen with his fingertips, soothing the smooth skin until he reaches his destination. Clasping Baekhyun's throbbing front, he replaces Baekhyun's hand around their members and strokes them in a fluid motion. He doesn't abandon Baekhyun's lips as he gives attention to their needy cocks. It leaves Baekhyun moaning and begging for more.

"Ugh, right there... Haa..."

"Say how much you love it."

"I love it... It feels... incredible..."

"You look so sexy right now, don't you know that?"

"Mngh--!"

Baekhyun buries his forehead on Chanyeol's shoulder as his breathing becomes more erratic. The strokes are getting rougher. He's going crazy with euphoria. He's sweating and seeing stars. There's too much stimulation going on right now; Chanyeol is sucking a sensitive spot on his neck while rubbing the underside of his cock, all at once. The only thing Baekhyun can do right now is tremble, blush, pant, and cry.

Chanyeol changes his position and makes Baekhyun lie on his back so that he is hovering on top of him. He spreads Baekhyun's seductive thighs, places himself in between them, and hooks Baekhyun's ankles around his torso. This way, he can see his lover's face more easily and attend to his needs better.

"Don't look away, babe. I wanna see your face."

"I'm looking at you, baby... I'm just right here."

Unlike Chanyeol who's still completely dressed, Baekhyun is exposed and half-naked, his bare, plump ass rubbing against the bedsheets. He's only wearing a loose shirt without anything below him, and this erotic view is even turning Chanyeol on. He can't resist himself anymore from groping and spreading Baekhyun's soft butt and slapping his round ass cheeks. His hole looks tight and firm. It's so sexy.

To think that he'll get to be inside Baekhyun one day?

Fuck... Just imagining I'm putting it in is making me lose my mind...

"Ouch! That hurts... Don't slap my butt too hard."

"Sorry."

"I hate you."

Chanyeol laughs, apologizing and making up to Baekhyun by whispering into his ear, telling him how much he adores him, and complimenting how gorgeous he looks right now. He'll surely treasure this beautiful moment forever in his heart.

"Thank you," he says, gazing down at Baekhyun with a sincere, loving smile. "You are my best birthday gift ever."

Baekhyun beams at him in return, sneaking a hand on Chanyeol's nape to gently tweak his ear.

"I love you."

"But you just said you hate me."

"I take that back."

"Let's come together."

"Okay."

Arching his spine, Baekhyun bucks his hips forward to meet Chanyeol's frantic thrusts. It only took a second until they both found a rhythm, their hands joined together to masturbate their fronts. The kiss they are sharing is steamy, wild, and full of desire.

"Haaa... You're seriously driving me insane, Baekhyun."

"Ohh... Mngh... I think I'm close."

"Shit... I'm gonna come..."

Clenching his teeth and biting his lower lip, Baekhyun's leg muscles tense as he senses his orgasm approaching. His eyes are glinting and watering, so Chanyeol has to kiss his tears away before interlocking their fingers together.

In a heartbeat, they both arrive at their high and explode their release on their hands. Heavy pants and low grunts fill the bedroom as they call each other's names in a voice so sweet and tender. Baekhyun tugs his own cock to finish himself off and Chanyeol does the same, aggressively pumping his dick and painting Baekhyun's belly with his load.

It was as though his knees had turned jelly right after climaxing; Chanyeol collapsed on Baekhyun's side immediately. He clings next to the man and ignores the mess they made, recharging his battery through a deep and lazy kiss. While making out and cuddling, they bask in a moment of bliss and comfort, falling into a state of peace and security---lazing in one another's arms they call home.

Chanyeol nuzzles his face into the crook of Baekhyun's neck.

"Let's just sleep like this..."

"But we're both gross."

"I don't care..."

Baekhyun quietly laughs, carding his fingers through Chanyeol's sweaty hair. Holding Chanyeol's chin up, he presses a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth. Nobody utters a word as they lock eyes with each other. To Chanyeol, this is enough. More than enough, even.

"I'll clean us up with a towel later," Baekhyun mutters, giving Chanyeol's nose a boop. His tiny mole on it is so cute. "Goodnight, birthday boy."

"Thank you," Chanyeol replies. "Sweet dreams."

The night is long but the morning arrives sooner than usual.

It is Chanyeol who falls asleep earlier so it's only a given that he wakes up first in the morning. Memories of last night's events bring a lovestruck smile on his lips. He finds Baekhyun next to him who is peacefully cocooned inside his blanket. The sunlight casts a warm glow on his face, making him even more handsome while sleeping.

Caressing his boyfriend's silky hair, Chanyeol presses a gentle kiss on Baekhyun's lips. It causes the man to stir, twitching and rustling on the bed.

It's only 6 am.

"Did I wake you? Good morning."

Baekhyun just hums in response, showing that he wants to sleep in. Chanyeol laughs at the adorable sight of his sleepy lover. He replaces himself with a pillow so that Baekhyun won't feel his absence.

"Let's have breakfast together. I'll just go out for a quick jog."

"Mhm..."

"I'll be right back, okay?"

"Mkay..."

Protein shake, phone, earbuds, cap, and shoelaces. Chanyeol is ready to go. His jogging spot this morning is around the children's park. While running down the street and listening to music, he plans out today's agenda in his head.

He'll cook breakfast for Baekhyun and then drive him home. He'll drop by Yoora's house for lunch. He'll get his car washed. He'll hit the gym in the afternoon. Right, he almost forgot. He has golfing plans with Sehun and Jongdae, and they're having dinner at Kyungsoo's place in the evening. Baekhyun might join them if his friendly match with Jongin finishes early. Baekhyun said his life depended on it.

"That reminds me. I'll get her some fruits."

Chanyeol slows down when he spots a fruit stand across the street. He remembers his pregnant sister mentioning in her text that she was craving dragon fruits. Her husband sent her a bunch of dragonfruits last time and she finished them in one sitting.

Speaking of Yoora, she's calling right now. Chanyeol taps his earbud to answer the call before going back to running.

[Morning, sunshine!]

"Hey. What's up?"

[Can you give me a ride? I have an appointment with the OB for my ultrasound.]

"Sure. What time?"

[Three o'clock. Take Baekhyun with you and then let's go shopping after.]

"Got it. But noona, Baekhyun can't join us. He has plans until the evening."

[You know his schedule? Are you his manager?]

I'm actually his boyfriend, Chanyeol wants to reply, but it's better if he tells it to her in person. And today's probably the right time. Baekhyun said it was up to him when. He's giving him his 100% support throughout.

"I'm actually more than that."

[Oh, well! Guess I'll see you later. I'll treat you to something nice!]

"Okay. Bye-bye."

*

The hospital is the last place Chanyeol wants to go. He's been scared of hospitals ever since he was young. Even as an adult, he doesn't like coming to this unsettling, eerie establishment. The stench of antiseptic and the aura of white walls bring him chills.

Dropping off Yoora at the entrance, he opts to stay outside and wait for her in the parking lot. His sister asks him to accompany her to the lobby though, so it gives Chanyeol no choice but to come with her until the Doctor arrives.

"I'm sorry, bro. It should be my husband who's here with me... I dragged my poor little brother along. Are you bored?"

Chanyeol laughs, shaking his head as he smiles. The waiting room is pretty decent and calm with few patients around. Some pregnant women can't help stealing glances at him. They must be assuming he is the husband.

"It's okay, YOORA NOONA, my dear lovely sister. As an UNCLE, I'll make sure my NIECE OR NEPHEW grows up well."

Chanyeol purposely said it aloud so that people won't think of weird ideas. Seems like they stopped giving a damn after that. Yoora chuckles.

"Soon enough, you'll come here with your future wife, too."

Chanyeol visibly tenses. Out of the blue, his throat runs dry and his chest feels tight.

"When you get married, I'm sure you'll be a great husband to her! Anyway, when are you planning to introduce me to your girlfriend? It's been ages since you told me you were dating. I've been dying to know what kind of woman she is. She must be really special."

Yoora peeks at Chanyeol's pale face, noticing her brother's silence. Chanyeol exhales, uncleching his fists and rubbing his hands against his lap.

"What's the matter? Did you two fight?" Yoora asks.

"Noona..."

"Yeah?"

"Can I... Can I be honest with you?"

Worried, Yoora blinks slowly and assesses her brother's change of mood. Chanyeol is staring at her seriously, and she's afraid she might have said something wrong. One thing goes in her mind: They already broke up.

"Do you wanna change locations? We can go someplace quieter."

Relieved, Chanyeol nods. They move to the garden which is not far from the OB-GYN's office. He knows that the hospital is not an appropriate place to have this talk but if he keeps this secret any longer, he doesn't think he can face his sister with a genuine heart anymore.

"So tell me what happened. I'm all ears."

Chanyeol starts his confession by talking about the weekend when her in-laws gave her a surprise visit. He brings up the conversation about Yoora setting Baekhyun up with her Journalist colleague. She gave Baekhyun a business card, asking him if he could have dinner with her sometime.

"Yup, I remember that."

"So here's the thing..."

"Go on."

"Baekhyun can't meet up with her."

This is when Yoora gets confused. Her mind is going in circles as to why Chanyeol is telling her that. Now she's thinking. What does this have to do with Chanyeol's girlfriend? And why is Baekhyun being mentioned?

"He's turning down your offer. I'm sorry but he's not going to have dinner with that woman."

Yoora's facial expression goes from conflicted to blank. She's lost.

"Oh--kay...?"

Chanyeol takes a deep breath before he says:

"She's Baekhyun's ex-girlfriend."

"...what?"

"Yeah. From college."

Yoora gasps loudly, covering her hanging mouth. Her eyes are wide, pure embarrassment painting her face. She is so flustered she could pass out.

"Oh, shit... Not again!"

"...Yeah."

A thick pause ensues before the older sister turns hysterical, realizing what she's done. She's blushing, remembering how awkward that situation was for the two. She should've just said nothing that day. She should've just minded her own business. Why did she even think of being a matchmaker?

"You guys should've told me! Aaack! Why am I like this!? Oh, dear! I was so insensitive! It must've been so uncomfortable for him! I just set him up with his ex!"

Chanyeol forces a chuckle.

"Haha... What are the odds, right?"

"Is Baekhyun angry? Did I perhaps offend him?"

"Nope. He just laughed."

"But why does Suzy wanna see her ex after all this time? Does she wanna date Baekhyun again?"

Yoora asks out of curiosity and Chanyeol ignores how that statement sends a pang in his heart.

"That, I have no idea..."

"Did Baekhyun say anything about it?"

"He was actually pretty chill about it. It was me who was bothered by it so I told him not to see her again."

"Why? Are you jealous?"

"Maybe. I don't know."

Ignoring Chanyeol's comment, Yoora fans her face to wash away her embarrassment.

"Oh, no. I don't think I can face your best friend anymore."

Hearing the word best friend, Chanyeol realizes he still has a lot to confess. That was just the tip of the iceberg. He's not yet done.

"It's fine. Baekhyun's not the type to mull over stuff like this anyway."

"Thanks for telling me... And I'm sorry... I'll apologize to Baekhyun soon. And I'll make sure to keep my mouth shut... I won't introduce him to anyone again. Ever. I promise."

"Pfft. Haha. You look sincere. Fine, I forgive you."

"You? Forgive me? Not trying to sound rude but what does Baekhyun's dating life have to do with you?"

Now Yoora is shooting him the stinky eye. She's giving him the suspicious glare.

"Wait a second. We're getting side-tracked again! I don't understand what topic we're actually talking about. Can we just get to the bottom of it? Tell me what happened with you and your girlfriend."

Chanyeol reaches for his sister's hands, squeezing them gently.

"Yoora noona..."

"Yes?"

"I don't have a girlfriend."

Yoora shows a pained reaction. Her eyes turn somber and broken.

"The person I'm dating is not a woman."

And then her eyes--in a split second--turn bright and wide again.

"It's a man," Chanyeol confesses, "I have a lover, and it's the person we were talking about just now."

Yoora freezes.

"Oh, god..." She clasps her mouth with two hands as she starts breathing deeply. "Oh, dear...."

Chanyeol is not even saying anything yet, let alone dropping a name, but Yoora can already feel her tears threatening to roll down her cheeks. Now all the dots are connecting. She finally understands. She knew. Might have--all along.

The way Chanyeol is looking intently into her eyes makes her chest throb with all kinds of wonderful emotions. One of them is shock, but most of them is happiness. She's over the clouds and over the rainbows happy.

So when Chanyeol flips over his hand to show Yoora the band on his ring finger, she cries, at last.

It has Baekhyun's initials engraved on it: B.B.H.

"Gosh... Is this for real?"

"Mm-hm. It is."

"Since when? How? I mean... I thought... Oh, god... So you're both..."

"Yes. We both feel the same way."

"Is this really true... Because I'm shaking right now..."

"It's true, noona. I'm dating Byun Baekhyun."

"Oh, my goodness... It really is true..."

"Baekhyun is my lover. I'm his boyfriend. Baekhyun is not single. I have no girlfriend."

"Yeah, I heard it all.... You guys are a couple... This is crazy..."

Yoora can't think coherently, worried that she might say something wrong again. All she knows is that she wants to jump in joy right now. But she can't because she's pregnant.

Chanyeol is shyly smiling that his jaw is hurting, and he admits his heart feels a million times lighter now.

"Uhm. I don't know where to begin. A lot of things happened. And now, we're together."

"I don't know what to say, either... Should I apologize first... Like, again? Or... Congratulate you...? Damn, I'm speechless! I'm just so happy!!!"

An awkward feeling after exposing his vulnerability settles in the air. Chanyeol will call it post-confession-clarity.

He is not used to this. Sure, he's close with his sister, but letting her know about this deepest part of his life is still new. But he appreciates how accepting she is. He never doubted Yoora. She's his number one ally.

"One question. Who asked out who?"

"He did."

"Really!?"

Chanyeol nods, biting his lower lip like a teenager thinking about his crush. He feels butterflies floating in his tummy. A grown-ass man like him is giggling and dancing deep inside. What the hell. Get your shit together, man.

He just remembered his first (second) kiss with Baekhyun inside the tent at the beach. It was the moment of truth.

"But I thought Baekhyun was straight!"

Yoora wheezes after blurting that out.

"Oops. I'm sorry."

Chanyeol pauses.

"Wait a minute... You thought only Baekhyun?"

"Oh... Haha. About that."

Yoora smiles and shrugs her shoulders.

"I actually had a teeny-weeny gut feel that you could bat for the other team, too. I had suspicions you were bisexual."

"How did you..."

"But you see, I never questioned you about it or anything. It's your private life, after all."

"Since when... did you know?"

"Chanyeol, you had the biggest crush on Baekhyun since you were 18. Only idiots wouldn't notice."

"Damn..."

Chanyeol covers his flushed face with his palms. So Baekhyun was an idiot.

"I assumed the Baekhyun crisis was just a phase but something proved me wrong."

"Noona..."

Yoora hums as she reminisces about the past. It was bleak but she still recalls a faint memory.

"You've dated women before, right?"

"Yeah..."

"But I also saw you hanging out with guys back in college. One time, I caught you walking a guy home and holding hands with him. I thought he was just your friend but it felt a little different. It was a long time ago so I don't remember well."

"So you weren't shocked that I'm in a relationship with a man?"

"Not really. I was saying girlfriend all this time because I might be waiting you'd correct me somehow."

"So you knew I might not be straight all along..."

"The thing that surprised me the most is the fact that you're dating Baekhyun, your long-time best friend."

"Hearing you say it still sounds unreal to me."

"I know, right?"

Yoora pinches Chanyeol's cheek affectionately.

"I'm so happy for you, Chanyeol. I wish you both the best from the bottom of my heart. Be together forever, okay? Love each other unconditionally."

Like a kid being praised, Chanyeol nods happily. He can't contain his smile.

"You don't know the relief and joy I'm feeling right now. I'm so glad it's Baekhyun. I really am. From now on, I don't have to worry about you anymore. Haha. I know you're in good hands. I support your relationship a hundred percent. He's a green flag, you're a green flag! You two are perfect for each other."

"Thank you for saying that. It really means a lot."

"People might point fingers at you. It's not gonna be an easy ride. You may get hurt. You'll fight. You'll experience burnout. You'll have misunderstandings as a couple. You'll face a lot of problems in the future. But at the end of the day, hardships are there to make you guys stronger. What you have might be different from others but who cares? Always remember that what they think doesn't matter. The most important thing is the love you feel for each other. Okay?"

Chanyeol sniffles, feeling his vision get blurry because of his incoming tears.

"Okay..."

"Do you really love him?"

"There wasn't a single day I haven't felt this way about him. I love Baekhyun with all my life. I will love him until my last breath."

"Oh, my god... I think I'm going to cry again..."

Yoora's mouth crumples as tears drip down her cheeks. She's now sobbing like her brother.

"M-me, too... I'm fucking crying..."

"My husband didn't even say that in our wedding vows.... H-how dare him..."

"Pfft... Yoora noona, don't cry... Hahaha..."

"No, you stop crying first...! You look so goddamn ugly..."

"You, too... You look hideous..."

Chanyeol realizes one thing after their heartfelt talk: He's no longer scared of hospitals. Every time he comes to a place like this, this precious moment with his sister is what he'll remember.

"OH, MY GOD!"

"What!?"

"I realized something just now!"

"What is it?"

"Is this the reason why you and Baekhyun came over to my house that day!? Because you were trying to tell me you guys were boyfriends!?"

"Uhm. Actually, yes. We were planning to ask your blessing but-"

"BUT I KICKED YOU GUYS OUT OF MY HOUSE? FUCK! WHAT KIND OF SISTER AM I!?"

"Hahaha... It's not your fault your in-laws came... We understand."

"No! This is unforgivable!!!"

"You're pregnant, remember? Calm down."

"I'm calling Baekhyun right now! I need to apologize!"

Two nurses come to take Yoora away, informing her about her appointment. It's now time for her ultrasound. She seems to relax after seeing her Doctor waving and smiling at her.

"Ahem! I gotta go. You don't have to wait for me, alright? I know you still have stuff to do."

"Are you gonna be okay going home by yourself?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll just ask my in-laws to pick me up."

Chanyeol immediately shuts up at the mention of the in-laws. He better stay out of it. Her in-laws are scary.

Now that he thinks about it. Will his future in-laws be scary, too?

Byun Baekbeom's angry face suddenly flashes in his mind, making him instantly shiver. Grrr.

"Oh, god. Not that face."

*

When I get back, congratulate me.

Wait... Why?

I already told Yoora noona about us.

Gosh, you did well! I'm so proud of you!

And guess what happened?

Did she tell you to break up with me?

No, silly. She approves of you!!! ㅠㅠ

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!

Yes!!!

LET'S GET FUCKING MARRIED NOW!!!!!

While texting Baekhyun, Chanyeol can't help smiling so brightly that he needs to cover his mouth. He is grinning at his phone and laughing like a maniac, imagining his boyfriend's reaction. People must be thinking he came from the psychiatric ward.

"Ow!"

"S-sorry!"

Chanyeol accidentally drops his phone on the stairs after bumping against someone's shoulder. The person wearing scrubs--who is a nurse--picks up the phone (which clacked, bounced, and rolled several times on the steps) and hands it back to the owner. The phone's screen is all black. The fall caused scratches and dents. It won't even turn on.

Receiving his damaged phone with trembling fingers, Chanyeol feels his heart tear into pieces. What should he do? He already gave his old phones to his cousins. So it's either he gets this phone fixed now or he buys the latest version. If it's beyond repair, he has no other choice but to use Baekhyun's spare iPhone in the meantime.

"I'm sorry about your phone. It's my fault. Let me pay for the repair," the nurse says.

Chanyeol tries pressing the button but the screen won't light up. His phone badly needs repair.

"Oh, no. It's fine. You don't have to. I was the clumsy one. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Haha. You're still the same as ever."

Hearing that friendly remark, Chanyeol lifts his head to glance at the person in front of him. What greets him is the sight of an old acquaintance. The guy has an average height, a small face, a youthful aura, a gummy smile, and a pair of bright eyes that can light up the entire ward.

"How are you? It's not the first time we saw each other again, right?"

How can Chanyeol forget? He might not remember that fairy-like voice but he can still remember that fairy-like face. It's like this man never aged.

No, in fact. He didn't even age at all. Kim Minseok looks exactly the same as eight years ago.

"I also met Baekhyun that day. Small world, isn't it? Remember, back in Kyungsoo's restaurant?"

Letting out an embarrassed chuckle, Chanyeol touches his nape and avoids eye contact. Small talk won't hurt so he'll just deal with it for a bit.

"Haha... Yeah. I remember that."

"What brings you here in the hospital? Are you sick?" Minseok asks like he's got all the time in the world.

"No, I came with my noona. She's getting an ultrasound."

"Park Yoora, is it? Your older sister?"

"Yes."

"I saw her name on the charts. I thought it was familiar. No wonder. It was my ex's sister. Haha."

"Geez, that was a long time ago."

"Why? Aren't I allowed to talk about it?"

"It was all in the past."

"But seeing you again makes me remember what we had."

"So... This is your workplace?"

"Yes. I'm a nurse here, as you can see."

This encounter feels awkward and out of the blue. But after all, there's no reason for Chanyeol to act rude or nonchalant so he goes with the conversation anyway. Besides, Kim Minseok is his and Kyungsoo's mutual friend. He is also the cousin of Baekhyun's sister-in-law. He is not just a stranger. The relationship they had in the past is no longer irrelevant and has nothing to do with this.

Minseok gets his phone from the pocket of his scrubs.

"Anyway. Let me just pay for the repair cost. Can you tell me the amount? I can wire it to you now if it's more convenient for you."

Shaking his head, Chanyeol refuses strongly. It's burdensome to accept his offer.

"I swear. You don't really have to..."

"I insist. I can't just leave knowing I'm indebted to someone. My conscience won't let me."

"But..."

"Please?"

Chanyeol suddenly becomes spatially aware of his surroundings. Patients and passersby are glancing at them and shooting them odd looks. They are having a negotiation right in the middle of a busy stairway.

To finally get this over with, Chanyeol just exhales and nods.

"Okay."

Minseok smiles big.

"Great!"

They move to the bench where there are fewer people.

"I'm not really sure how much the repair cost will be so I can't drop an exact amount for now. I'll have to look it up first."

"That's alright. You can just contact me when you already have the price. I'll send the money right away once you have it."

"Got it."

"Can you give me your number?"

"Huh?"

"Your number. Can I have it?"

"Why?"

"So we can contact each other about the repair cost."

"Oh."

"You have a spare phone?"

"Yeah, I do."

Blankly staring at the phone being handed to him leads to Chanyeol mindlessly typing his contact info on the dial pad. Seems like it happened in a blink of an eye; Minseok had already saved the number and hid his phone in an instant before Chanyeol could even say something.

"Ahem! My throat feels dry. I haven't had any liquid this morning. I was on duty the whole evening. And I only have ten minutes on my break before I do my rounds again. This job sucks," Minseok says, casually sharing his agony.

Chanyeol stares at the exit which feels like a mile away. If only he could just make a run for it, he had done it already. He wants to go home and get out of here.

"So. Mind having coffee with me for a while?"

"Coffee?"

"Let's catch up. I miss talking to you."

Chanyeol shoots Minseok a confused eyebrow raise. Wait. Hold it right there.

"Haha! Just kidding."

Minseok elbows him playfully, and Chanyeol avoids it (or so he tries.)

"No, but for real. Let's grab something to drink. Do you see the vending machine over there? Yeah. Just that one."

"I'm afraid I can't join you. I have somewhere else to be right now."

"Oof. Five minutes left on my break. And I'm still thirsty."

If I buy him something, will he leave me alone?

Chanyeol's weakness number one: Brushing off people. He just can't say no.

"Fine... It's on me."

"Yay."

"A soda will do, right?"

"A diet coke will do. And since you offered it for free, I won't say no."

"I really have to go after this..."

"Sure. You must be a busy man. By the way. I heard from Kyungsoo that your game was a hit. Should I try playing it?"

"If you have time, then please do. I appreciate every download of our app."

"Can you teach me sometime? I wanna learn how to play."

"Maybe you can ask someone else instead. Sorry."

"Hahaha. Why are you so stiff towards me, Chanyeol? You used to be so laid back before."

"I guess I'm just tired..."

"Do you want a massage?"

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

*

When I get back, congratulate me.

Wait... Why?

I already told Yoora noona about us.

Gosh, you did well! I'm so proud of you!

And guess what happened?

Did she tell you to break up with me?

No, silly. She approves of you!!! ㅠㅠ

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!

Yes!!!

LET'S GET FUCKING MARRIED NOW!!!!!

Expecting to read a new text from his lover, it only brings Baekhyun disappointment, seeing his last message still left on read. It's been several hours since he abandoned his game to do something else instead. It is to wait for Chanyeol's reply and flirt with him over the phone.

"Wait... Was he ticked off when I said we should get married now?"

Baekhyun feels a sense of shame, realizing what he just did. Should he delete what he sent? But Chanyeol already read the message so it's no use anymore. Why is this guy not replying anyway? Is he speechless or something?

"Oh, god... Why did I even say this? So embarrassing."

The moment Baekhyun lays his phone down, a text suddenly arrives from an unknown number. His excitement disappears instantly.

Hello. Do you still remember me? How are you?

"Huh? Who's this?"

Scrunching his forehead, Baekhyun stares at the strange text. Is this some sort of scam?

Another message comes.

You probably heard about me, right? But if you didn't save my number, you wouldn't know who I am.

Scrambling through his memories, Baekhyun tries to think of someone he might've probably given his number before. Someone from work, maybe? A friend who changed numbers? A distant relative? Or perhaps an old acquaintance?

"She's hoping you two could meet and have dinner sometime."

Lying on the sofa with his feet raised in the air, Baekhyun gasps as he remembers the conversation he had with his boyfriend's sister.

"Oh."

It must be her.

Straightforward and bold, Baekhyun types a reply direct to the point. He won't beat around the bush.

Hello. I'm not interested. Thank you.

And he hits send.

"That'll do."

After a minute, a text arrives again.

You replied fast! I've been actually hesitating to text you. Thank god, I mustered the courage.

I'm sorry but I don't have a reason to meet you or contact you anymore.

"That wasn't too rude, was it? She'll probably stop texting now after that."

Can you give it another thought? Just meet with me once and I'll tell you what I'd like to talk about. Please?

No, I won't change my mind. This will be my last message. Goodbye.

But this might change your life.

Biting his fingernail anxiously, Baekhyun gets up and paces around his spacious living room.

"I'm curious... What could it be that she wanted to tell me? Why can't she just say it now? What does she want to talk about?"

Halfway through composing a response, Baekhyun realizes that he did say it was the last text he was gonna send. He deletes the whole thing and stares at nothingness while pondering what to do next.

"Chanyeol said I shouldn't meet up with my ex but he didn't say I couldn't call her, right?"

Arriving at a final decision, Baekhyun hits the call button and waits. This call is purely out of business. He'll even record the entire conversation for proof and let Chanyeol listen to it later.

[Hello...?]

A soft, gentle female voice whispers into Baekhyun's ear. He pauses for a short moment as he tries to envision the face of the woman on the other line.

"Hello."

Eight years ago, was it?

[Oh, my gosh... It's really you, Baekhyun...]

Has it been that long since he last heard Suzy's voice? Her voice is still the same just like what he remembers from a long time ago. It sounds kind and soothing. It's feminine and sweet. Baekhyun won't lie. This feels refreshing and nostalgic but that's completely it. He's just glad she seems to be doing well.

[I can't believe I'm talking to you again after so many years.]

"How are you?"

[I'm doing good. How about you?]

"Me, too. I've been well."

[I met Yoora at work. I got your number from her when I found out you guys know each other.]

"Yeah. That's what she told me."

[This must be awkward for you. Sorry.]

"It's okay."

[Uhm. I can't talk about it over the phone so can we just meet in person? If it isn't too much to ask?]

"Is it necessary to meet up?"

[Preferrably, yes.]

"I guess this must be a big deal."

[You could say that.]

"Then, can I ask one question first?"

[Of course. Go ahead.]

From the living room, Baekhyun transfers to the balcony so he can get some whiff of fresh air. It's a crescent moon tonight and there are lots of stars in the sky.

[What is it that you wanted to ask me?]

Resting his elbows on the railing, Baekhyun clears his throat and says:

"Are you still single?"

To be continued

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