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"Baek, are you hungry?" Chanyeol asked as he sat beside Baekhyun.
He was in the same class as the latter. Well, he really planned his schedule with Baekhyun's schedule so that he can be with him as much as possible although basketball practice puts as a bummer on those schedules.
Baekhyun lifted his head slowly, with his big round glasses dangerously hanging on the bridge of his nose. After a gentle lift of his eyeglass, he answered, "Umm, nope. I'm not hungry. You can go and eat with your friends, I'm okay." He said as he looked back at the piles of papers below him and continue to jut down notes.
He ignored the annoying growls that his small stomach was creating but never did Chanyeol could tolerate it.
"Aish, this kid. I can hear your stomach growling, Baek. Let's fill you up, I'll treat you! So c'mon!" He held Baekhyun's hand tightly and pulled him out from his seat swiftly making the smaller yelp and mumble inaudible words.
Their classmates just looked at them silently. Not able to speak because, Duhh, the varsity player-handsome-super hot Chanyeol was there. Maybe a lil squeal from his fangirls would be heard across the room. No one really looked at Baekhyun tho, but the smaller is more than satisfied with that everyday routine.
He was used to the stares though, they would look at him sharply and judgingly but knowing Baekhyun, who wouldn't even hurt a fly, he would endure it all together. Other people's opinion doesn't really matter to him because he only got one mission, to finish the study and make his family live in a more comfortable lifestyle.
Chanyeol knew that his best friend has financial issues. He knows that he's enduring break times and lunch just to save up money. Oftentimes Chanyeol shares allowance for Baekhyun but being a stubborn kid, he always refuses it even tho Chanyeol tells him that he could just pay for it later.
"You always pay my food, Yeol. Don't waste too much money on me." Baek reluctantly let the latter pull him, pouting. Chanyeol's arm was gently wrapped into the short one's shoulders and their height difference was showcased, making Baekhyun sigh in embarrassment. The smaller just sighed but smiled nonetheless, appreciating how Chanyeol cares for him.
"Wealth isn't a problem to me and I don't care because you're my friend," Chanyeol exclaimed and headed into the cafeteria.
They walked past from a large number of crowds of students in the long hallway as Chanyeol stood tall and coolly as he semi-dragged the shy Baekhyun under his right arm.
Once they got to the cafeteria, Chanyeol told Baekhyun to pick all the food he wants. It took a matter of seconds for Baekhyun to nod shyly to his best friend and start to pick. Baekhyun chose the cheap ones. He picked two sandwiches and one waffle. As for Chanyeol, he noticed how Baekhyun was only picking the cheapest snacks so he frowned. A sighed before deciding something with a smug expression lingered on his face. He grabbed a bunch of fruity desserts and sandwiches from the expensive sections and paid for all of it with his cash.
Baekhyun can only look at Chanyeol silently while he handed his to the cashier. Every time Baekhyun would see the latter's money, it made him realize how high Chanyeol really was. He even had a black card. A person with a black card is considered as one of the wealthiest people in South Korea and he bet he can buy all the things he wanted just with that piece of card. They are the Park family anyways.
The smaller found an empty square table at the furthest corner where they can sit together and decided to sit there, head held low to avoid the judging looks of the crowd in the huge school's cafeteria. He was used to it.
Sometimes Baekhyun thinks whether Chanyeol knew how much they look at them weirdly because of their closeness but thinking how the taller have no care about other people unless it provoked him, he decided to disregard it. He knew people talk about them behind their back but of course, no one dared to speak of it out loud. They knew better than to awake the beast on Chanyeol when he got angered.
Baekhyun started to munch silently on the peanut butter sandwich but then he noticed the bunch of snacks sprawled messily in front of Chanyeol, "Are you not going to eat?" He asked while chewing. Chanyeol just followed Baekhyun's movements and smiled.
"Nope. I changed my mind. I'm not eating anymore." He casually said while smiling in front of his best friend.
Then it's time for Baekhyun to make a face. "Then why did you buy these? Do you know how much they cost? Learn how to save money Chanyeol." Chanyeol can see the tint of disappointment on Baekhyun's face so he casually opened a blueberry muffin and chunked it down like a behaved puppy.
Yes, only Baekhyun is capable of scolding Chanyeol. No one else can but him.
"Okay Mr., I cannot eat it all so can you help me finish it?" He smiled before swallowing the last bite of his food. The fact that he purposely bought those for Baekhyun and not for himself had hit the smaller.
I should have seen that coming, Baekhyun thought.
"You can put it in your bag and just eat it later," Baekhyun suggested but Chanyeol's not getting any of it.
"I have basketball practice this afternoon I don't have time to eat it later. Wait, are you going to eat it or not? I'll just throw it in the trashcan if you wouldn't mind." Chanyeol teased not missing the sight of a glaring Baekhyun.
"I'm already frustrated on how to pay our bills at home and yet, you're making me more frustrated." He stared at the taller, his dainty fingers massaging his temple cutely, Chanyeol was just smiling sheepishly and shrugging slightly in return.
He found it amusing how sometimes Baekhyun act innocent and childish but at the same time a bit mature. Chanyeol personally never thought of paying bills, saving, earning, and budgeting because money had never really become a problem to him. He could buy his own condo right now if he want to, but of course, he couldn't because his dad prohibited him from moving out alone. But that's not the point, the point is how Baekhyun can manage to do and think of adult things like that at his young age.
"So... Are you gonna take it? Or... Throw it." Chanyeol meekly smiled.
Baekhyun has no other choice than to grumpily shove down half of the snacks that he didn't eat and just thought of sharing it with his brother Taehyung instead. He sighed for his best friend's being extravagant but nonetheless smiled and thanked him for treating him. Chanyeol smiled genuinely and so does a filled stomach Baekhyun while exiting the cafeteria.
"How much money do you need to pay your bills?" Chanyeol asked.
"No. You've helped too far. There's no way you're gonna give me money to pay our bills Chanyeol." Baekhyun argued, raising his hand in the air and shaking his head.
"Will a few thousand enough?" Chanyeol asked, grabbing his wallet and opening it.
"Chanyeol, I can't really take your money anymore, you've done a lot to me already and-" He was interrupted.
"Hey hey, buddy, how about this, you think that this is a debt and you have to pay this when you already have money," Chanyeol spoke gently as he held Baekhyun's hand and rubbed it with his thumb.
"This wealth that I have? This is nothing to me. I could burn a few hundred thousand if I want to and act as if nothing happened. I am the one capable of something that you are not today Baek, so please take it. Please, please... I don't want you thinking of other things like getting a night job to pay these stupid bills because I don't want you to get in danger. Some people out there are dangerous and what if something happens to you when I'm not around? Do you think I can forgive myself? The thought alone that you're making this hard for yourself is making me feel useless already... So please Baekhyun, let me help you. Just with this once. Please.." Chanyeol pleads seriously. His tone was serious and laced with worry.
"Chanyeol.." Baekhyun sighed, his heart skipping a bit at how concerned his friend is to him.
"I just don't know... I mean I already knew that you're paying my tuition fee secretly and I just can't believe how much money that was. The scholarship that I got in isn't even paying a quarter of it... Why didn't you tell me before? And now here you are, offering help to pay our bills again.." Baekhyun bowed as he held Chanyeol's hand tighter.
"Because I want you to be close to me. I'm sorry if I didn't tell you, my father was the one who planned this anyway, finally, he did something right. About the bills, Baekhyun it's really nothing. I'm not bragging or what, but I just really want to help." Chanyeol practically begged.
"Why would your father pay for my tuition fee?" Baekhyun asked. Now he can connect the dots already. Of course, there's no way he could enter this prestigious school with his own earnings. At first, he thought it's just a miracle that he got a ninety-five percent scholarship, but now he realized there's no such thing as that because he can't even pay the five percent without the trouble of finding a part-time job.
"I don't know, because I insisted?" Chanyeol smiled apologetically.
Baekhyun blushed at the idea that his best friend doesn't want them to separate paths. Taking a deep breath, maybe just this once, he thought of himself.
"I'll pay you when I save enough money," Baekhyun spoke in defeat as he saw Chanyeol's relieved expression. Though realized that could never pay Chanyeol at this rate even he work for years considering a regular minimum salary.
"That's it! Thanks, Baek! Now I have to worry less about your plans on having night jobs." He grinned and handed his wallet to Baekhyun which made the smaller confused.
"Take my wallet, starting from now on, we both own that thing. What's inside is ours. You don't have to be shy about it, I got my cards and cash there, use it whenever you want." Chanyeol spoke before standing up. The smaller on the other side was registering what Chanyeol had just said.
Wallet...
Cards...
Spend...
Money...
Before Baekhyun could react, Chanyeol already kissed him on the forehead.
"I've got to go, my coach is looking for me by now." He said before sprinting down the hall to the court.
Chanyeol took a glimpse at his grayish-black Rolex watch cursing silently as he excused himself from Baekhyun before dashing through the long confusing halls and to the gym.
"HEY! PARK!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! YOU'VE BEEN MISSING FOR ALMOST 2 HOURS OF PRACTICE AGAIN!!" His old grumpy basketball coach yelled across the gymnasium as he changed for his basketball jerseys and shorts almost immediately.
"Important matters coach." He answered while flashing an apologetic smile, jogging his way inside the court.
It's clear that he purposely didn't attend the practice so that he could check on Baekhyun. He's doing it often more like every time. His coach can't eliminate him from the team tho because he's a great asset and one of the best players of all the basketball players he was coaching so he can't do anything about it. Without him, the group would be in danger.
But doesn't mean he couldn't punish him,
"100 down!" His coach yelled, his eyes throwing a dagger at him, his thick brows furrowing. However, he complied with his punishment and did a hundred push-ups before jogging at the side of the court, already warmed up and sweaty.
He sat beside Kai who was sitting at one of the orange benches while a towel was messily rested on his broad shoulders, catching his breath.
"Are you out hanging with your ner— friend again?" Chanyeol shot a glare at Kai who was intently teasing his Baekhyun being a nerd.
His Baekhyun.
"Hey, I'm just kidding! You're no fun at all!" Kai blurted but Chanyeol ignored him.
Silence followed as he tied his shoelaces.
"Is it worth it?" Kai suddenly asked. Man, 100 push-ups is not a joke.
"I mean come on, twice or thrice a week is bearable. But almost every day of punishment isn't something a good basketball player should be dealing with." Kai commented.
Taking a deep breath, he looked into Kai's eyes deeply and answered, "Yes. It is, so shut the fuck up and watch your words." Chanyeol said with a serious deep tone that definitely made Kai's spine get shrills before sprinting inside the court ready to shoot some hoops.
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