A/N: Hi! 😊

Double update! Chapter eight will be directly after this one. Enjoy and happy reading! Also, please don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you!

Love from,
BunnyBaekkiee ❤️

~ 🌸 ~

Baekhyun had a hard time focusing on the game, and his cheering was half-hearted. His mind was split in two, a part of him wondering over Chanyeol while the other half cheered for his boyfriend and brother. He kept checking his phone, and he felt like he was betraying his boyfriend by worrying over someone else he hardly knew.

But the way Baekhyun viewed the situation was like this . . . Chanyeol had been the one to initiate them watching the game together and then he doesn't even show up or tell Baekhyun why? So could you really blame him for worrying and being slightly pissed off?

* * *

It was two hours later when the game ended with Daehyun claiming the winning goal. Baekhyun screamed and cheered along with the rest of the crowd, and when the team broke apart to head to the locker rooms, Baekhyun carelessly jumped the fence and ran onto the field.

Daehyun saw him coming and he tossed his helmet to the ground as Baekhyun jumped into his arms. His hands clasped around Daehyun's cheeks as his legs locked around his waist, and he furiously kissed him as Daehyun held Baekhyun close, supporting his weight so he wouldn't fall.

When their kiss broke, both of them were gasping for breath. Daehyun leaned his forehead against Baekhyun's and pecked his nose before softly muttering, "Would you like to come to the game's after-party with me?"

Baekhyun smiled and nodded as he said, "Of course!" He kissed Daehyun once more before jumping back onto the ground and taking his hand.

They lagged behind in the locker room, waiting for everyone else to leave before making out in the shower room; the steam fogging the room and tangling around their bodies. They dried off and redressed before heading out, Baekhyun taking his car with Daehyun in the passenger seat, his things thrown into the trunk.

The after-party was at Jongin's house, since his parents had to fly out the night before for important business in Japan. The party was already in full swing when Baekhyun parked in his own personally reserved parking space in Jongin's driveway that was only open to his closest friends —- being mainly everyone he sat with during their lunch hour.

Baekhyun got out of his car and locked it up, since the last party he had gone to and forgot to lock his car, someone had broken in —- possibly thinking it was their own car —- and pucked all over his passenger seat.

He fixed his windblown hair before making his way around the front of his car. Daehyun threw his arm over Baekhyun's shoulders, pulling him close to his side.

Their night was crazy. It consisted of many things: like alcohol, skinny-dipping, a very drunk and public make out session, before finally ending naked and tangled in bed sheets on the floor of one of the guest bedrooms. And through the haze of everything, something or more like someone, remained perfectly clear in Baekhyun's mind.

Chanyeol.

And he remained that way, tucked away in the recess of Baekhyun's mind for days. Every new passing day his absence only filling Baekhyun with even more questions.

It was going on four days now, and Baekhyun couldn't find Chanyeol anywhere in the school. His sudden disappearance typically created rumors, and Baekhyun ignored them all. He didn't believe anything people said, he found their speculations ridiculous.

On the fifth day — week — of Chanyeol's absence, Baekhyun was in the library for his study hour when from behind one of the bookshelves he spotted a head full of auburn curls. He gasped and jumped from his seat, completely ignoring Kyungsoo when he asked Baekhyun where he was going.

Baekhyun quickly walked to the aisle he saw Chanyeol disappear into, his breath heaving as he quietly yelled, "Where the fuck have you been!?"

Chanyeol jumped before his head snapped up from the book he had been looking at, his pale cheeks filling with color before his eyes quickly darted away. Baekhyun frowned, immediately regretting his tone. He slowly approached him, crouching down too and folding his legs beneath him. An softening his tone, he murmured, "Hey, sorry. I was just surprised to see you. Where have you been?"

Chanyeol glanced shyly at Baekhyun, and this time, being that Baekhyun was closer to him, he noticed how pale Chanyeol's skin was. He looked almost sickly, and his eyes had a faint reddish tint to them.

Baekhyun's breath caught, and brow furrowed in concern. He reached a hand out to gently touch Chanyeol's left cheek as he murmured, "Hey, Chan. What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Baekhyun watched with a lump forming in his throat as Chanyeol slowly shook his head, tears falling down his cheeks as he hiccuped. "No, I'm not," he croaked out.

Baekhyun fought back his own emotion and slide his arm around Chanyeol's shoulders as he whispered, "It's okay. I'm here. You can tell me about it if you want? No pressure though," Baekhyun softly chuckled with a small smile.

Chanyeol laughed weakly too before wiping his eyes with his sleeve. He inhaled a shaky breath before softly asking, "We're friends, aren't we?"

"Of course!" Baekhyun softly smiled.

Chanyeol smiled weakily in return, then he took a deep breath. He brow furrowed and his eyes filled with more tears as he whispered, "My . . . my mother died."

Baekhyun gasped. "I–I'm sorry, Chanyeol. If I had know . . ."

Chanyeol smiled weakily and reached out to caress Baekhyun's cheek as he whispered, "It's okay. I didn't tell anyone."

Baekhyun's brow furrowed and he leaned forward, resting his cheek against Chanyeol's shoulder as he softly murmured, "You must find me insensitive now . . ."

Chanyeol chuckled and moved his hand to thread his fingers through Baekhyun's hair. "Really, Baek. I don't want you feeling sorry or guilty for me, I have plenty of that for myself without anyone adding to it . . ."

Baekhyun nodded and tilted his head back, glancing up at Chanyeol as he murmured, "I am sorry, though. I can't even imagine what you must be feeling . . ."

Chanyeol smiled, the light never reaching his eyes. "Thanks, and my family knew it was coming. She's been sick for a while, the only thing we couldn't prepare for was how much it'd hurt. The pain is unbelievable, almost unbearable."

"Can I do anything?" Baekhyun softly whispered.

"I just need you to be my friend . . ."

"I am."

Chanyeol smiled, his eyes still sad as he thought, But I mean like before . . .

Word count: 1,084