Surprise! Double update! I'm going to try to start making up the updates I skipped! <3

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Baekhyun held his breath when he saw Jongdae walk back in to the auditorium, anticipating Kyungsoo behind him. Jongdae was alone.

"Dae! Where is he?" Baekhyun stood up and walked towards Jongdae.

"He refused, what else?" Jongdae's expression was guarded.

"What happened? Did he say something?"

Jongdae jumped. "Yeah."

"Was it bad?"

"Baekhyun, why would I say anything bad?" Kyungsoo cut into their conversation. "Right, Dae?"

"Don't call me that." Jongdae sighed, silently hoping that Baekhyun would be smart enough to see through Kyungsoo's lies. Kyungsoo was a rat. A low, dirty, scum of a rat. A rat that many perceived as a harmless mouse. It was driving Jongdae mad.

"I never said anything. Chanyeol just wanted to talk," Kyungsoo said innocently.

"I believe you, Kyungsoo." Jongdae was tired. He was tired of putting up with Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo could be more harmful than Chanyeol, given the circumstances. "He always wants to talk."

"Is he coming? To the showcase, I mean," Jongdae asked.

"Yeah, of course." Kyungsoo was smug. "I'm here."

"And I suppose that he'll drag Jongin with him." Jongdae ignored the last part of Kyungsoo's answer. Baekhyun didn't.

Kyungsoo scoffed. "Unfortunately. It's a pity, really."

Baekhyun was conflicted as he watched their exchange. Chanyeol would be coming, he would get to see the giant again. But Chanyeol wasn't coming for him, it was for Kyungsoo. And Jongin would be roped into it as well. He would be uncomfortable, but at least Baekhyun would have someone to look for. The brunet wondered if it was okay to be a bit selfish, and be glad that Jongin would be there.

Baekhyun turned away as the conductor restarted rehearsals.

When the brunet was called up onto stage to set up his violin, Kyungsoo shot him a honeyed smile. "Good luck." He nudged the black case with his sneaker.

Baekhyun bit back a retort, quickly brushing at the spot Kyungsoo's shoe had come in contact with. He grabbed his case and made his way on stage, the conductor arranging a stand and spot for him. He watch silently as the staff began to set up the risers, tacitly exempt from rehearsing a song for a bit. From on stage, he saw Kyungsoo shoot him a dirty look, probably jealous that he didn't have to sing, and that he could sit for a moment. Baekhyun pretended not to notice, instead focusing on practicing the fingerings in his mind.

When Baekhyun was called on to run through the song, Kyungsoo coughed loudly, raising his hand. "Are you any good?" He smirked.

"Mister Do, ask the irrelevant questions later please," the conductor sighed.

"It's fair question."

"Mister Do..."

"No, it's okay. I'll answer it. It'll save me time later." Baekhyun turned to face Kyungsoo. "If I wasn't good, why would I be up here? They could have easily hired someone."

Kyungsoo sighed. "Okay."

"Let's begin, shall we?" The conductor raised his arms. "Do you want to tune?"

"Sure." Baekhyun smiled graciously. "An A major chord please."

***

Baekhyun was practicing during a break when one of his strings snapped, the frayed metal landing a blow right below his eye, partially on his bottom eyelid, as it flipped up.

Baekhyun cursed as he put his violin in its case and put a hand to his eye. He grimaced when he felt liquid seeping from the wound. "Damn it." He ran for the bathroom.

Jongdae was washing his hands in the sink when Baekhyun ran in, hand over his left eye. "Baek! What happened? Did Kyungsoo punch you?"

Baekhyun cracked a grin. "Not yet. My violin string snapped. Got me right below the eye." He wet a paper towel and pressed it to the stinging wound.

"Oh, man. Sounds rough. Is it bleeding?"

"Yeah."

"Badly?" Jongdae took a step towards Baekhyun. "Let me see." He took a paper towel and gently wiped the spot. The blood instantly came back. "Ouch. Apply some pressure." He prepared another tissue for Baekhyun.

"Thanks. Actually, can you do me a favor? Go watch my violin. I left it in the hallway right next to the stage. Text me if something goes wrong. Here." Baekhyun opened his phone. "Give me your number."

Jongdae quickly saved his contact in Baekhyun's phone, then ran off.

And as soon as he left, Chanyeol came strolling in.

Baekhyun's breath hitched. He looked down and started to text Jongdae, to alert him, and to give him a reason to not start a conversation.

"What happened to you?" Chanyeol scoffed, stopping at the mirror and fixing his hair. "Did you get your eye clawed?"

Baekhyun caught Chanyeol's gaze in the mirror. "Something like that." He took the paper towel and folded it in half, tossing it into the trash can. The bleeding had finally stopped. His eye still stung.

He felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. It was Jongdae.

'How many strings did you say you broke?'

'One.'

'Well, you're missing two.'

'Shoot. I'll be right there. Don't touch anything.'

'Wasn't planning to.'

Baekhyun's breathing increased. There was a chance that the soundpost could have fallen. That would break the violin, and it would cost a couple hundred dollars to fix. He ran for the exit, the giant blocked his path. "Move!"

"Where are you going?"

"Why do you care? Move!"

"No. Tell me, where are you going?"

"Get out of the way, you ignorant fool! Or else I'll render you immobile."

"Please. You're all bark, no bite. You have no physical strength. The only thing you're good at is academics. What makes you think you can win a fight against me?" Chanyeol mocked. "Don't forget, I know you." He grabbed Baekhyun's arm. "You can't do anything. I don't see why you came up to me a few hours ago. What makes you think that I'd still like a fool like you? I never liked you." He hissed. "But you were fun to toy with, and you did raise my grades. But you're useless to me now. Kyungsoo was right when he called you sickening. Don't come close to me again." His grip tightened. Baekhyun grimaced, tears forming in his eyes. He still looked up defiantly. Chanyeol grinned, a vile expression. "You are weak." He kicked Baekhyun's shin. A tear fell out of his left eye. It stung as it coasted over the newly healed cut. "I've had my fun with you. Get out of my sight." He spun around and tossed Baekhyun forward. "Go!"

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;-;

Don't kill me. Plz.

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