"Chanyeol's an idiot!" Jongdae yelled as soon as he reached Baekhyun the next morning. The brunet was sitting on the stairs with Jongin.

"Finally, someone said it," Jongin muttered.

"He's dating Kyungsoo! He's dating Kyungsoo. Him. And. Kyungsoo." Jongdae paced around frantically. "No. No. No. This is all messed up. Bleh. I cannot—I will not—allow this," Jongdae complained.

"They seem happy." Jongin watched as Kyungsoo dragged Chanyeol away to the chorus room for who-knows-what.

"Correction: Kyungsoo seems happy. Plus, I'm sure it's all an act anyways. He's looked happier before."

"That was not our fault," Baekhyun protested. "What brought all of this on anyways?"

"Nothing!" Jongdae defended. "It's just, I cannot see the two of them together. We all know that he was happier with Jongin."

"Don't bring that up. He brought that upon himself. I didn't do anything."

"Exactly! You did nothing! You're also an idiot, it seems." Jongdae threw his arms up in the air. "You left Chanyeol to pick up all the broken pieces!"

"WHAT!?" Baekhyun stood up. "Spill!" He jabbed a finger at Jongdae's chest. "You found something out. I'm sure of it. Spill. Chanyeol would never tell something like that. Don't argue with me."

"Huh?" Jongin looked up.

"Alright! Alright! I'll tell... as soon as Jongin stops wallowing in his own self-pity."

"Okay, I'm good. So what's going on?" Jongin instantly perked up.

"Kyungsoo was emotionally crushed after. Chanyeol saw that. Chanyeol is the one that helped him out of what could have turned into depression. Chanyeol thinks that Kyungsoo feels like he owes Chanyeol... something."

"This is so stupid. I'd give him the darn scholarship if I could. I don't even want it. I want to dance when I'm older. Not become something boring." Jongin stuck out his tongue in distaste.

"I think Kyungsoo actually likes Chanyeol," Baekhyun spoke after a moment. "Either that, or he really hates me." Movement caught his eye. "Oh hey Minseok."

"Darn it! You ruined my sneak attack." Minseok stopped tiptoeing and just went to give Jongdae a hug. "You aren't mad at me?" He rocked his boyfriend side to side cutely.

"Nah. All in all, you were the good guy."

Minseok had caught Baekhyun after school yesterday and explained. If Minseok didn't break the string, Kyungsoo would have took off the bridge. That would have completely ruined the instrument.

Baekhyun suspected that he was hoping that Jongdae would be so infuriated and break up with his boyfriend, thus leaving Baekhyun with an emotional crisis to clean up.

Kyungsoo was a rat.

The bell rang, cutting into Baekhyun's thoughts. He gathered his stuff and dashed up stairs.

***

Math class was scheduled to be a catch-up day, so Baekhyun had nothing to do. Chanyeol was sawing his way through a worksheet.

"So, I heard that you aren't single anymore."

"Nope." Chanyeol furiously erased at the paper. "Can't say I'm ecstatic."

"Why did you tell Jongdae everything? He called you an idiot, by the way."

"He was being really insistent. And he can call me a barbaric primate for all I care. Baek, help me." Chanyeol jabbed his eraser at a problem.

"A negative and a negative make a positive. You're supposed to add." Baekhyun fixed up a few thing and handed the pencil back. "Now try." He studied Chanyeol, then spoke again. "And relax. Stop tensing up." Baekhyun stood up, going over to stand behind Chanyeol, carefully massaging his shoulders.

Chanyeol moved his head back, probably to ask him something, but Baekhyun could hardly notice over the intoxicating scent that hit in the face.

Why did Chanyeol have to be Baekhyun's ideal type?

"Baek?" Chanyeol's voice snapped him back into reality.

"Hm?" Baekhyun squeezed Chanyeol's shoulders and sat back down.

"Is this correct?" Chanyeol passed the paper to Baekhyun and stretched. When he dropped his arms, his fingers accidentally brushed against Baekhyun's lips. Neither party noticed. Or at least, they pretended not to notice. Internally, Baekhyun found it hard to breathe.

"Y-yeah. Yeah, it is." Baekhyun cleared his throat, suddenly nervous.

"Hey, you okay? Do you want water? You're sweating." Chanyeol brushed Baekhyun bangs from his forehead, his touch as light as a butterfly.

Why did Chanyeol have to become ten times more attractive after he wasn't single?

"No, I'm good- hic!"

And why did Byun Baekhyun have such bad luck?

"Here, take this." Baekhyun suddenly found a water bottle in his hands. "I haven't opened it yet."

"It's okay. I- hic! can c- hic! cure it on my- hic! own." He paused, inhaling deeply. Then, after forcing himself to swallow twice, let the breath out slowly. "There. See? No more prob- hic!" Baekhyun sighed, doing the procedure again. "Oh how I hate the hiccups," he muttered.

Chanyeol laughed, patting Baekhyun's back slowly. "Mm-hmm."

***

Lunch was uncomfortable for Baekhyun, having to watch Kyungsoo be sweet with Chanyeol and occasionally kiss him. Chanyeol didn't seem too happy about it either.

Jongin didn't even bother to show up to lunch, and Jongdae and his boyfriend were too caught up in their own little world to notice. Baekhyun busied himself with a book, then decided to go and find Jongin.

"I've got to go guys." He stood up, tossing his trash and walking out into the atrium. He spotted Jongin in the library.

Opening the door quietly, he stood there, waiting for Jongin to notice him.

It was only then that he realized Jongin was crying.

Leave it to Jongin to cry in a library and not a bathroom.

"Hey... Jongin, what's wrong?"

"Is it bad that I hate that I got that scholarship?" the sobbing boy managed to croak out. "It ruined the best friendship I ever had. It almost ruined Kyungsoo. He was so close, Baek, he was so close to crumbling. I was so scared." Jongin wiped at his eyes, form shaking.

"But, Chanyeol... Chanyeol saved him. So I guess I don't have a grudge against him. I can't." He stood up, gripping Baekhyun and crying into him in the manliest way possible. Because sometimes, crying was a sign of strength, not weakness.

- § -

Ugh, I think I'm starting to get writer's block... this chapter was all over the place, I'm sorry.

I'm considering a semi-hiatus in May, because I have so many things going on, but... idk.

I haven't even gotten a whole ton of time for the LAM! dabbles... I haven't forgotten, don't worry!

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