Chanyeol just finished practicing basketball that Friday morning. Deciding to fetch Baekhyun first before heading to the cafeteria, he managed to jog over to the hallway that's leading Baek's last subject before lunch.
Smiling when he saw the latter's classroom, he strode over to the door only to find out a couple of people there without the sight of Baekhyun.
"Hey, where's Byun Baekhyun?" He asked one of the guys who's sitting near the door.
"The small boy with round glasses?" The guy took a gulp first before answering.
"Where is he?" Chanyeol asked again, impatiently.
"From what I have heard, he was sent to the principal's office." He said cautiously, intimidation was clear in his eyes.
Chanyeol wiped the remaining bead of sweat on his forehead before immediately giving a sharp look at the guy in front of him.
"Why?" He asked. His toned elevated almost immediately.
"I—I don't know..." the guy answered feeling scared by Chanyeol's sudden aura.
Without any response back, Chanyeol walked towards the principal's office. His feet take him there quick yet with utter heaviness in every step he takes.
Why would that boy get involved with the principal? Did something happen? He asked himself.
Once he arrived at the office, the first thing he saw just by looking at the smoked glass was silhouettes of a couple of people inside. This made him more curious.
He twisted the knob and he searched for Baekhyun with his eyes from the students who's standing over the front desk of the principal.
And once he saw Baekhyun, and the smaller saw him, his heart immediately sunk.
"C-Chanyeol!" Baekhyun jumped on his seat as he rushed towards Chanyeol, leaning all his weight on the taller male as he sobbed.
Chanyeol instinctively wrapped his arm around the weeping boy and gave a blazing glare at the students who are now looking quietly at him.
"I told you, this wasn't a good idea." One of the boys whispered to the girl standing beside him. The girl just inhaled and stood his ground with a glaring expression.
"What happened?" Chanyeol dangerously asked with his deep baritone voice that almost filled the now crowded office.
The silence was offered for a moment until the principal stood up from behind his desk and appeared from the number of students in front.
"He stole a wallet, Mr.Park." The principal responded. This made Chanyeol's forehead crease even more. His heart was tugged every time Baekhyun sobs in his jerseys as he felt the wet patch in his chest and the tight small arms wrapping around his hips.
"Stole?" Chanyeol's voice raised. Mockery is evident in his dangerous voice.
"Yes! I know he did it! I mean no one else can do it except him! Everyone knows he's poor and he needed money!" The girl who was the one with the missing wallet defended herself.
This made Chanyeol's anger and frustration flare even more. Chanyeol thanked the Lord that the girl didn't mention Baekhyun's name, or else he might not control himself and do something he wouldn't regret.
He saw Baekhyun's things on top of the table, all things spread like some sort of crime evidence objects laid neatly. From books to erasers and even his small ragged purse with laid out few old crumpled bills and coins were also laid there neatly.
It broke Chanyeol's heart to see Baekhyun having nothing and no one to protect himself from the accusation. It pained him with the idea that Baekhyun was helplessly crying around these people begging that he's innocent.
"Do you have any shreds of evidence?" He asked. The silence was the only answer that bounced back.
"Do you have any shreds of evidence?!" He snarled, his voice resonating on every corner of the office.
"Do not raise your voice in front of me, Mr.Park!" The female principal raised her voice.
"I didn't take it, Mrs.Principal, C-Chanyeol. I-I accept that I'm poor and have nothing much like what they have b-but I swear I would never steal money. My mother never raised me as at-thief! I c-can't steal... that's bad..." Baekhyun cried and whimpered that only adding Chanyeol's fire to feel pain and anger. The poor boy couldn't do anything but stick his face on Chanyeol's chest as he sobbed. He would never steal from anyone and he's innocent. He was just shocked when the girl accused him of being his seatmate and that some of his classmates joined and created a scandal until they have been called into the principal's office.
"Shhh... I know Baek. Let me handle this." He caressed Baekhyun's shaking back and kept him in between his chest.
"I demand CCTV footage. There's a CCTV camera in every hallway and classroom inside the building right? If this was just a way to bully him, and
if Baekhyun didn't appear in that damn video stealing money from whoever's fucking money is that you will pay for what you've done to him." He darted blazing sharp glares towards every single one of them inside the class and then his eyes landed on his principal that gave an uneasy expression. Her fault is that she immediately assumed that Baekhyun did really steal the female's purse and if Chanyeol didn't appear, Baek's mother would be immediately called to have a personal conversation with them.
"Including you Mrs.Principal. Me, being the son of the PTA president of this school, your biased, unfair judgment will not be tolerated. You immediately assumed that he was stealing without proper evidence. How could you do this to him? Is it because he can't defend himself alone? Or so just that the case will be finished right there? I will make sure that my father would know about this." This statement alone made the principal's palms have cold sweats knowing that the Parks have the biggest annual donations and contributions to the school and this would surely affect the standing of the school if ever.
"I am sorry for the foul behaviors of these students towards Mr.Byun, Mr.Park. Please don't make this issue big." The principal apologized. The students fearfully bowed their heads with the fact that they might be expelled from the things that they had just done.
"Check the CCTV." He commanded.
He stomped forward and the students made an entrance to fetch Baek's things. He gather all up and raised Baek's money.
"See this? This is all he got. I've known him for more than ten years and I've never encountered him stealing something from me or anyone else." He stated. Then He darted a blank glance at the girl. And in a swift movement, he frisked the girl's pocket on his blouse only to feel something rectangular and resembles just like a wallet.
"Thought that your wallet was missing?" He spoke blandly yet venomously before harshly yanking the girl's hand that tried to stop him from pulling the thing from her pocket and then there was it, a green wallet in Chanyeol's hand that he immediately dropped in the ground.
"I want these people to be punished hardly or else you'll be facing my dad, Maam," Chanyeol spoke, referring to his now terrified principal. He gave a sympathetic smile before diverting his attention to the other students with a deathly glare.
"Deal with it." He finally said before whispering to Baekhyun that they should go and then propelling him out from the door without uttering another word.
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It was Saturday when Baekhyun got a text from Jieun stating that he was invited to eat dinner with them with Chanyeol. For a minute, he was confused about why would Jieun ask him. He knew that Jieun have a big reputation in their school, being the popular girl with popular friends. The only connection they have is Chanyeol. She's been always the talk of the boys because of her beautiful appearance that Chanyeol might have fallen for behind that fierce, sophisticated cynical bitch of a personality that she had.
She's one of the bullies who attack lower-statured people with her sharp bitch sassy mouth but when Chanyeol is around she acts like an angel with a golden halo. Baekhyun doesn't understand why Chanyeol even fell for her, but he tried to get down to it that popular people are attracted to popular ones too. He could never understand them because he's a nobody. And he doesn't want to meddle with their relationship as much as possible.
They weren't that close because Jieun was popular being the cheerleader and that he have a bunch of boys and girls always surrounding her. And added the fact that she'd been dating someone who's even more popular, his best friend, Chanyeol. And there he was...the poor introvert.
He was at the candy shop that afternoon and decided to buy some sweets for the couples before striding down the streets to find the called restaurant. After a few turns, he found the location of the famous restaurant in the center of the city. After a few minutes of standing in front while entertaining himself alone, he saw Chanyeol and Jieun approaching using only a bicycle while Chanyeol pedals it, and Jieun sat behind the taller.
Jieun wrapped her hands around Chanyeol's waist the second she saw Baekhyun glance at them and gave him a sweet smile like it was her usual thing.
As long as Chanyeol saw Baekhyun's tiny frame in front, he was confused as to why does his best friend standing in front of a restaurant all by himself.
Chanyeol gripped the break on the left side and parked the bicycle. It's the first time the giant took Jieun on a date using a bicycle only because the latter asked him to use it rather than his car. Chanyeol was a bit reluctant at first but agreed as he thought that using a bicycle while watching the sunset was quite romantic.
But the thought that he was looking at Baekhyun in front of that so-called restaurant made him all confused. He parked his Mountain Bike before walking straight to Baekhyun and tugging the latter's cheeks the second he got arms to reach to the smurf.
"Yah, why are you here?" Chanyeol asked with a bit of curiosity. He raised a brow and just stood there anticipated, with arms folded on his chest.
Baekhyun blinked lazily. And pouted as he realized it was Chanyeol who pinched his cheek.
"Jieun texted me here, she invited me for a dinner. She said you asked me to come so I came." Baekhyun answered with a shy smile on his face, fixing his shoulder bag in the process.
"Aish, don't go out without me." He sighed relieved, bringing his arms on Jieun's waist and the other on Baek's shoulder as they entered the huge wooden gate with golden linings on it.
Examining the lovey-dovey couples in front of Baekhyun's eyes, something ran through his mind. It's the word—Third wheel.
"Umm... No, I'm fine! I just got here to give you these!" Baekhyun offered the pink wrapped sweets in a mini basket to the couples and smiled convincingly—resulting in Chanyeol frowning. Chanyeol didn't even take a glimpse with the basket, his eyes were fixed on the smaller's face. Jieun just secretly eyed Baekhyun through the seconds.
"You're so stubborn Baekhyun, you know! We're like married couples. If I told you to come, you'll do so!" Chanyeol dragged Baekhyun as he flung his strong arms on the smaller's shoulders while the other hand pulled Jieun on the waist. Baekhyun just sighed giving up and stomped inside grumbling and mumbling incoherent words like 'dumb giant', 'mean giant', and annoying giant'.
He thought that it was just some kind of a food trip or something to eat dinner in normal stalls but seeing the luxurious restaurant in front wasn't the image that was on Baek's mind a few minutes earlier— and up to when they started picking a nice table inside.
With that, he suddenly felt shy and self-conscious. His attire is a full contrast from the restaurant.
A fading baggy shorts and a T-shirt that was hand-washed hundreds of times. Not to mention his ragged shoes that had only a few runs to live.
Honestly Baekhyun just really feels uncomfortable when Chanyeol was with Jieun in front of his eyes but just kept it to himself. The tingling and unsettling sensation on his insides told him that something was wrong. Well maybe because he was used to having Chanyeol's attention fully for himself only.
After sitting in the corner, a tall girl walked towards them. The lady greeted and handed them the menu boards to choose dishes. Baekhyun almost gasp and pop his eyes out when he saw the prices of the dishes. He even gripped it hard unconsciously and breathily gulped.
A price of a single dish would be his one-week salary or even more. And so Baekhyun just nibbled his bottom lip thinking that it's a waste of money.
He sighed in relief when he remembered that they will be treating his dinner. He set down the sweets and just stared at the pictures in the menus.
Your money is safe, Baek. He reminded himself while secretly patting his small wallet in his pocket. You can pay the bills tomorrow, he sighed in relief.
"What do you want, Baek?" Chanyeol asked while tilting his head to look over the smaller.
The smaller just stared at the menu.
"Hey! You can choose anything you want! It's all on me." Chanyeol chuckled as he reached for Baekhyun's chin.
"Uhh... this," Baekhyun pointed at the Soondubu stew and kimchi jjigaye, shyly— well it's the cheapest that he could point. He doesn't want to say it out loud because he was shy with Jieun's presence. Well, it's the first time that the cheerleader invited him to eat dinner with them anyway so you can't blame the smurf.
And there's that Baekhyun's instinct lingering inside of him that makes him uncomfortable under the heavy gaze of the young lady.
"Mm. Okay, you can order other courses later." Chanyeol smiled reassuringly and glanced at Jieun who was looking at the menu board in silence. As if ignoring the two who were talking.
"You babe? What do you want?" Chanyeol asked scooting nearer to Jieun.
"Umm, I want their specialty, Galbi and Squid Yukgaejang. I'm sure you would love this dish too." Jieun chirped, clinging unto Chanyeol's arms and kissing the latter's cheeks.
Squid?
Baekhyun got alarmed, "No! He's allergic to squids..." Baekhyun announced. Chanyeol is really allergic to squids and he will never forget that because he witnessed how Chanyeol struggled with his allergy when he was young.
"Umm...here yeol, do you perhaps want spicy chicken wings and tteokbokki? These are one of your favorites." Baekhyun suggested while pointing at the menus. Oblivious by Jieun who rolled her eyes at him.
She felt annoyed at how Baekhyun knows that Chanyeol had this allergy and what does Chanyeol's favorite food was with the fact that she was the girlfriend yet she didn't even know a single thing regarding it.
"Oh, you never told me about your allergies and favorites." Jieun tried his best not to sound pathetic and annoyed. Chanyeol just smiled thinly, "You never asked."
"Well, you should've told me." Jieun's voice is in a serious yet calm tone now and Baekhyun noticed it.
"Now you know, babe." Chanyeol just answered lowering his voice so that they wouldn't embarrass themselves in a quarrel. Jieun just looked at Chanyeol before diverting it to the waiter who was delivering the drinks at their table.
"We'll order Spicy Italian chicken wings and tteokbokki, a hot pot, Soondubu stew, and kimchi jjigaye, lamb meat, and sushi plate with fresh oysters," Chanyeol ordered and smiled at the waitress.
Jieun calmed herself when she realized that she didn't get there to quarrel with Chanyeol but with something more important.
The waitress took down their orders and in no time, the foods are being served.
They just ate dinner. Jieun fed Chanyeol in front of Baekhyun which the latter felt really uncomfortable.
He just felt like something is off in his chest that made him unable to breathe properly but he won't admit it because he was scared and unsure about that growing feeling. He just diverted his attention to the delicious food instead of the happy couples on the other side of the table.
It was getting good for Jieun but then her blood started boiling inside when Chanyeol wipes the smaller's lips and how he put food into his plate every now and then.
Jieun's mission is to outcast Baekhyun and makes him jealous and well let's admit that she was winning it when she kissed Chanyeol on the lips multiple times or that's just only how she wanted to convince herself.
On the other side, Chanyeol was oblivious to Baekhyun's uneasy behavior. Baekhyun just nibbled in the insides of his mouth to prevent the growing ache in his chest.
He really felt jealous every time Jieun peck Chanyeol's lips not that he also wanted a kiss but he convinced himself that it was just awkward to see people kissing in front of him...Jieun just grinned mentally seeing Baekhyun get uneasy.
The dinner was pretty nice—well, except for Baekhyun who felt a churn of jealousy in his stomach that led him to not enjoy the food— no he did enjoy the food, it's the view he didn't enjoy. Before they exit, Chanyeol excused himself to take the restroom for a minute leaving Baekhyun and Jieun alone.
"Hey, Baekhyun I'll just drive you home. I'll get my car in our house afterward and you guys wait here." Chanyeol explained before walking into the male's restroom.
Baekhyun felt awkward about how Jieun looked at him in sudden disgust. He felt cold sweat with the latter's sudden change of behavior while Chanyeol is out.
Jieun plans to use a bicycle for both of them with Chanyeol so that Baekhyun would walk alone— she didn't plan to break the ice but she can't hold it in any longer.
"Hey, Baekhyun." She stated seriously. Baekhyun lifted his head to meet Jieun's sophisticated face.
"W-Why?" Baekhyun stammered confusedly.
"Don't dare to seduce my boyfriend okay? You little gay freak. How shameful you are clinging to him and taking advantage of his wealth you filthy rag. Did you enjoy the delicious dinner huh? He doesn't want to hang out with you. He just pities your low-quality life so he's there for you because he was nice. But you've been overboard." Baekhyun was taken aback. Shocked with the blunt and vulgar statements he heard. His hands tremble and his ears hurt and also his heart. He didn't realize that tears were forming in his eyes.
"Don't act innocent you advantageous fag. Stay out of my boyfriend's sight. Stay away from us. Do you understand? And perhaps you'd like to vanish now because Chanyeol would be here soon and that he would see you crying because I made you cry and maybe you'll tell him that I made you cry huh? Nice idea you got there. A total snake leech. Remember your place dear, I'm his girlfriend and you're just a mere best friend without any commitments. And hey, don't be sad. There are lots of handsome boys out there to use with. Don't worry. Scram now. Get out of my face." And that Jieun pushed Baekhyun harshly and fell from the ground. Crying, Baekhyun stood abruptly holding the strap of his bag and run away from her. His breath hitched as he endured the stinging pain in his chest as he ran as fast away from there.
He left without a word. As if his throat was sealed by a huge stone unable to speak. Only the moon can witness how the tears fell from the ground painfully.
What just happened? He thought to himself but when he review the incident, the pain would go back and it was pulling him down.
Baekhyun cried a pool of tears that night. Realizing that he was judged wrongly. It was a rush but you can't blame how the cruel world works. He cried his heart out muffling his choked tears in a pillow to prevent the noise so that his brother and mother would not hear it.
He just pities your low-quality life so he's there for you because he was nice...
What if it was the truth? Baekhyun thought of himself. He wants an answer but he's also scared to know the answer.
He felt useless. He felt numb and unwanted. All he had tried to do was to become a person with a purpose in life. But now he didn't know how to deal with it. The words he heard were just so blunt that he can't handle them alone. He can't convince himself that it wasn't his intention. All he needs is someone he can talk to, but he realized that someone was only Chanyeol. The only person he could tell everything about him and his thoughts, but he feels like he's being pushed away from his best friend.
Locking his room and laying down his bed with a creek. He felt how defeated he was and how worthless he is without Chanyeol. And this is the first time he felt this intense pain swimming in his veins flowing and creeping in his heart. He felt heavy as if the world itself just downed to him.
That night, he ignored all messages from Chanyeol. He couldn't believe that he can't live his life without Chanyeol and it was too late because a barrier had just been cast out between them.—he'll try to do so.
At about 10 in the evening, Baekhyun who was still crying heard his phone rang, and then out of sleepiness and unconsciousness he accidentally clicked the answer button and only that he realize that it was a call—from Sehun.
"Hey, wow, the kid was still awake! Anyway, did you finish your assignment in Chemistry? I forgot to do mine...could you maybe help—wait... are you crying? Why are you crying Baekhyun?" Sehun suddenly raised his voice. Sudden worry surged down his tone.
Baekhyun just bitterly chuckled when he realized that Chanyeol was like this whenever this kind of situation hit the both of them. Then at that moment, Baekhyun couldn't help but cry a cup of tears again leaving his pillow soaked in tears more.
And that a spark was created on Baekhyun. And his heart unconsciously started organizing and leaving space...Space for other people...
Space that he thought that only Chanyeol would be allowed to fill it. He doesn't trust easily yet here he is,
"S-Sehun..." Baekhyun unconsciously sobbed without him considering when the latter cares or not.
"Shh... I'm here to listen Baekhyun. You can talk to me. I may be a jerk but I'm a good listener and I will listen to you. Stop crying, it'll hurt me if I hear you cry." Sehun states as if it was the most normal thing to say. And because of that, Baekhyun started muffling his pain and thoughts. The young man just felt bad and cursed at Chanyeol's name. And there he was, falling deeper to Baekhyun.
Chanyeol could be insensitive, oblivious, and unknowledgeable with Baekhyun's feelings or what had happened but neither the both of them ever expected that the things that happened that night would change something. More like everything in the flow of their story.
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