"What did you just say?"

I mentally shake my head as Chanyeol blows a tiny fuse at her. Welp, that's not how I wanted today to go. I tug on Chanyeol sleeve, dragging him inside the building.

'Calm down.'

"I'm fine."

'We say that a lot, don't we?'

"We do, but I really am fine." He ruffles my hair while opening his locker. I look around surveying the students that were starting to come in. The click of Chanyeol's lock and the calming fingers on my neck bring me back from dreamland as we continue down the hall.

I slide into my usual seat in the back of the room. Chanyeol puts his books down on the desk next to mine. He sits down, lacing our fingers under the desk discreetly. I smile at the contact, pulling out a book as to not be too obvious. I'm startled when the bell rings, and I hastily hug Chanyeol before dashing out of the classroom.

***

"I just got a text from my parents, they're coming home tonight." Chanyeol hugs me close.

'Now I'm nervous.'

"Don't be." He kisses me gently, not caring if the other students saw us. I rest my head on his chest, enjoying the comfort and security.

***

"Are you ready?"

'Almost.'

"They'll be here in five minutes, give or take."

I step out from the bathroom, twirling a bit. Chanyeol gives me two thumbs up and a kiss. "You look great, just..." he reaches up and messes my hair. "There. Wouldn't want you looking too uptight." We hear the creak of the door opening and Chanyeol runs down the stairs. I follow behind him carefully.

I turn the corner and see Chanyeol hugging his mother tightly. His father is standing behind him, watching. Chanyeol's mother is slightly shorter than Chanyeol and has a warm smile. She seems homely. Chanyeol's father looks gruff and protective and is even taller than Chanyeol. He looks scary.

I walk down the stairs, trying not to draw attention. Chanyeol, of course, sees me and waves me over. Once I reach Chanyeol's side he wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on my head and gently rocking us side to side. "Chanyeol, who's this?" Chanyeol gently squeezes my arm. I shake my head. I can't talk! Chanyeol rubs my back soothingly and answers for me. "This is Baekhyun, my boyfriend." I slightly bury my face into his chest, not expecting him to be so upfront about our relationship.

His parents look at us in surprise. "Boyfriend? Chanyeol, when did you two start dating?"

Chanyeol scratches his head. "A couple days, less than a week." Mrs. Park looks mildly surprised while Chanyeol's father looks like his going to throw me out. I quickly divert my gaze from his parents, not wanting to see.

"Chanyeol honey, a couple days? Isn't that too short?" Mrs. Park sounds concerned.

"You caught us at the start of our relationship, unlucky, I guess."

The gruff voice of Mr. Park breaks in. "I haven't heard him say a word."

Chanyeol quickly covers for me. "He's not much of a big talker. And very shy. Dad, I think you're scaring him."

Mrs. Park smiles at me. "You should learn from him a little bit then, Chanyeol. You always talk a lot anyways."

Mr. Park interjects again. "Let's talk on the couch."

We all go into the living room and sit down. Mrs. Park and Mr. Park are each sitting on an one-seat couch, while Chanyeol and I are settled on the loveseat. I'm rather overwhelmed by the curious glances Chanyeol's mother shoots me and the judging looks from Mr. Park. Chanyeol notices. "Can you two please stop examining him? You're both kind of intimidating right now." The glances stop and questions take their place. Questions about how I'm doing in school, my favorite things, how I met Chanyeol, such and such. But when Mr. Park asks about my parents I freeze.

I look pleadingly at Chanyeol. He pats his lap and I scoot over. I tuck my head into the crook of his head as the tears fall. Chanyeol strokes through my hair, the consistent motion calming. "Dad that's a rather touchy subject. Moving on."

Mr. Park looks at me in alarm. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know." I look at him and nod. By now the tears have dried up, but I make no attempt to get off Chanyeol. We talk until sundown, and Chanyeol's dad actually starts to warm up a bit. "Baekhyun, would you like to stay for dinner?" Of course I nod, I don't really have much of a choice.

Chanyeol takes this chance to tell his parents about our living situation. "Erm, Baekhyun has actually been living with me. Family problems."

Mrs. Park looks up from the cutting board. "Oh dear, I hope you haven't made him sleep on the couch, after all, all the sheets have been sent to the dry cleaner's."

Chanyeol laughs. "I wouldn't dream of it." He rubs his nape. "We've been sharing my bed."

Mr. Park looks at the two of us sternly. "As long as it doesn't get out of hand."

Chanyeol plays with my fingers. "It's been fine."

***

We've been dating for over five months now. Something was bound to go wrong.

***

Chanyeol's POV

"Did you know that Byun Baekhyun is mute?" I overhear the conversation between two girls.

"So Chanyeol really is dating a mute." The two girls erupt into hooting laughter.

What? No, this can't be true. I had never questioned why Baekhyun never talked, it almost seemed normal. But now, I was starting to question exactly why.

***

We are in my bedroom. I take a deep breath. "Baekhyun, are you mute?" Baekhyun looks at me with sad eyes. And nods.

Ping~

'I got into an accident when I was in grade school. Couldn't talk since.'

Ping~

'I'm surprised you ask me now.'

I turn back to my work. What do I do now?

***

Baekhyun's POV

Chanyeol drops me off at the school and rushes off somewhere. "Don't worry about me." I don't see him for the rest of the day, nor do I get any texts.

When school lets out, there's still no sign of him. I heave a sigh, and walk back to my house. I step foot onto the property I haven't so much as glanced at in five months. Home sweet home. Wonderful. I check under the back porch. The sleeping bag is still there, along with everything else. At least I'll have somewhere to sleep.

***

Over the next few days I see moving vans parked in front of the Park property. Goodbye Yeol.

Chanyeol's POV

Ping~

'What happened?'

I ignore the message.

Baekhyun POV

That it, I guess.

I don't regret telling you.

No goodbye, no farewell.

Just exactly how much did I mean to you?

You left.