Tittle: Thinking Out Loud
Pairing: Chanyeol/Baekhyun, slight!Junmyeon/Kyungsoo
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff
Summary: Chanyeol thinks his new roommate has different alter egos causing him to feel (love) sick.
*
"What a life."
Chanyeol finds himself standing in front of a doorstep of an apartment across his former dorm house with all of his belongings perched beside his feet. He got kicked out by his own best friend, Oh Sehun, when said best friend invited his Chinese boyfriend to live in with him, making Chanyeol homeless without his consent. One moment he's lying peacefully on his comfortable fluffy bed, and next he's being dragged out of the house, bringing him in this pitiful state of his life as a hobo high school student, all because of the sweet bastard Oh Sehun and his sickeningly cute man-child boyfriend, Luhan.
He turns his head towards his former house (which is only a few meters across from him) when he hears flirty laughter and giggling sounds coming out from the slightly opened window, and wait, is that a moan he's hearing? He wants to gag and throw up. Gross. Stupid Sehun.
"Hey! How can I help you?" the man says after Chanyeol rang the doorbell the sixth time around. Chanyeol coughs before grabbing his things by his two hands.
"I'm wondering if you still have an extra vacant room? As you can see, I live across the street and I happened to get kicked out--"
"Unable to pay rent?" asks the man cutting Chanyeol's speech, who is now throwing him a judgemental stare with a quirk of an eyebrow.
"No! I mean, I can pay. My ex-roommate decided to take in his boyfriend with him so... yeah, I moved out and I'm looking for a place to stay... So?"
The man grins, his angelic face is back when he seems to assure himself Chanyeol has money with him. "Great! I have an extra room just only for you! Come inside. I'm Junmyeon."
"I'm Chanyeol."
Junmyeon ushers Chanyeol inside his spacious apartment which is in fact, much better than Chanyeol's old house with Sehun. He observes the clean and organized surroundings and notices it's kinda quiet.
"Uhm, do you live alone, Junmyeon-ssi? Seems like no one is here except from us."
"No. Three of us live here, and you're the fourth," Junmyeon says as he walks around the house, taking Chanyeol into a mini tour. "They're still at school at this hour, and hey, call me Junmyeon-hyung from now on. I'm not that old!"
Junmyeon smiles as he pushes Chanyeol into his new room at the second floor across another room, which Chanyeol thinks his potential roommate lives.
"So Chanyeol, this will be your room. That one and that one are already occupied. We'll talk about the rent later. Make sure you have cash with you or else." Junmyeon points out the window. "Out."
Chanyeol laughs dryly. "Okay, hyung. I have money, don't worry."
He flops himself on his new bed as he takes his precious time admiring his new room, his new atmosphere, his new life, and smiles. This is a good apartment and it feels homely, he thinks. He'll worry about the cost of his new place later. Maybe getting away from Sehun is not a bad thing at all.
*
Chanyeol is a sophomore and he learns that Junmyeon is his senior in his school and also his other two (short) roommates go with him at the same school-- namely Byun Baekhyun, a junior and Do Kyungsoo, respectively. Innocent Kyungsoo is Junmyeon's boyfriend and the information shocks him because they look grandfather and son (not that Chanyeol will say it in front of them) and sassy-looking Baekhyun is their best friend. Best friend-- Chanyeol remembers his own best friend and promises to castrate Sehun's filthy bones once he sees him again.
His roommates are kind enough for him to deal with, they treat him nicely so as he, so he doesn't have any big problem living in the apartment. Except from a particular little roommate who lives across his room that Chanyeol thinks, is really weird and hyperactive, not to mention his unusual (but sometimes adorable) behavior.
Chanyeol was arranging his dried laundry downstairs when he first cordially meet Baekhyun. He was busy folding his clothes that time, putting his favorite t-shirt inside his blue basket, when a stray, size 12 pair of Minion yellow dirty boxers lands on his freshly, folded clean piled laundry.
He shoots his head up, looking at the second floor and about to shout who the hell is the owner of said underwear, when a boy shows up, peeking down at him while wearing a big grin making Chanyeol blind for the next five seconds.
"Oops, sorry," the boy says, who probably owns the underwear resting above Chanyeol's clothes. "I'm going to get it, wait!"
Chanyeol sighs as he continues to fold his pair of basketball shorts when the boy is now in front of him, clearing his throat. "So, uhm, my boxers."
"What about your boxers?" Chanyeol asks nonchalantly, paying his full attention to his folding and not to the cute boy with brown hair staring at him.
"You see, my underwear flies automatically, I swear! I didn't actually know how it went there! It has life! I mean it!"
"It has life," Chanyeol repeats flatly, giving the said boy a single glance, who is, to be quite honest, really good-looking but now half naked. Maybe he just gotten out from shower.
"Yeah, it has life!"
"And it flies."
"Uhuh," the boy says as he slowly gets his undies from Chanyeol's laundry, slipping it under his towel which hides his you-know-what. Chanyeol stares at the boy dressing in front of him, keeping himself to not notice how white his thighs are and how his body is so petite like a girl.
"If you don't mind me telling this... your underwear is actually dirty. I can smell it from here."
"Nah, it's still good and prefectly fresh. Been used only twice, no I mean thrice, I guess."
Chanyeol shakes his head in disbelief as he chuckles to himself. Weird. Who in their right mind would wear a dirty underwear? Not Chanyeol, of course.
"I'm just kidding, I only used this once, okay? And that smell is my soap."
"It smells gross."
"It is gross. Made up of things you surely don't want to know. But hey, it makes my skin fair."
"What is it made of? Your soap, I mean."
"Animal manure."
Chanyeol cringes while restraining himself from puking. He can see mental images of dog and cat's poop and farm animal's feces inside his head, and this boy in front of him uses it in his bath? Oh my god.
"You actually believed me? If you've only seen the look in your face!" underwear boy says.
"You're impossible."
"I'm not impossible, I'm Baekhyun."
"I'm Chanyeol."
But wow, Baekhyun is right, Chanyeol says to himself. He has indeed a good and fair skin.
"I'm serious about the underwear part, though."
Chanyeol face palms.
-
Chanyeol learns that Baekhyun is the epitome of untidiness. When he happens to pass by his roommate's room, he notices stray socks, crumpled papers, chips and cans of sodas, clothes, and shoes scattered on the floor while the owner of the room is jumping up and down on his bed, wiggling his cute firm butt, and dancing on some girl group pop song loudly blasting on his stereo.
"Bubble bubble bubble pop! Bubble bubble bubble pop!" Baekhyun sings and dances while bouncing himself on top of the bed. What is he, five? Chanyeol sighs as he feels his headache coming with all the trash he is seeing and all the noise he is hearing. He is about to go when the boy turns to him. Baekhyun smiles while he wipes his sweat with his towel.
And everything goes into slow motion as the scene runs by in front of him like a silent movie.
Baekhyun shakes his head to will away the sweat gathered in his hair, forming little water beads while rolling down to his temples. Chanyeol's eyes unintentionally travel to the span of Baekhyun's neck and collarbones with droplets of sweat trickling on it and to his lips when he slowly licks it with his tongue. He follows the sway of Baekhyun's head as his wet hair bounces in the air.
He catches his breath and gulps. Shit.
"Hey Chanyeol! Want to do zumba with me?" Baekhyun asks as he stretches his body, loud music on the background now changed into soft-beated mellow ones.
"Zumba? Seriously?"
"Yeah, it makes my body sexy you know!"
"No thanks, I'm fine," Chanyeol closes the door shut while making his way to his sanitized room, his sanctuary, where no Baekhyun exists at all.
But Baekhyun is right, Chanyeol thinks. He actually has nice body.
Stupid imagery of Baekhyun giving Chanyeol ugly eye bags for lack of sleep that night.
-
Aside from being exceptionally gross, Chanyeol discovers that his roommate has no etiquette in his body either.
Chanyeol walks into the kitchen, preparing dinner for the four of them, when Baekhyun dips his bare fingers into Chanyeol's sauce, twirling it, coating his index and middle finger fully. Chanyeol widens his eyes in utter shock as he stares how Baekhyun puts his fingers inside his own mouth, lapping the red liquid, sucking it with his lips creating slurping sounds that echo within the room like it's a normal thing to do. Chanyeol swallows hard.
"What the hell, Baekhyun! Use a spoon, dammit! Ugh!"
"Your sauce is good, Chanyeol. Keep it up."
Baekhyun pats Chanyeol's left shoulder, as he presses his soiled fingers onto Chanyeol's white shirt, wiping off the remnants of the sauce in his hand.
"My shirt."
"You're welcome!"
-
Chanyeol's mental list of Baekhyun's weird and unusual behavior comes into a long line when another one is added, again. Baekhyun does stupid noises in his sleep.
He is about to sleep on his bed, when he feels a corpse is probably lying on it. He comes closer towards the body, poking it with his toes for good measure because it's dark and he doesn't have the guts to pull the sheets off and face a zombie or something sleeping on his bed.
The 'thing' turns around on his back and Chanyeol heaves a sigh when he finds out it's just Baekhyun sleeping only with his blue boxers. Chanyeol groans because of irritation (and because of Baekhyun's almost naked figure) as the said boy is drooling peacefully on his favorite pillow.
"Yah, Byun Baekhyun! Ugh!"
He goes over the bed and pulls Baekhyun's thighs, not surprised that it's actually heavy because of his pizza diet.
"Get off, you little piece of annoying shit! Why'd you sleep on my room, idiot!"
Baekhyun suddenly makes these puppy sounds while sleeping, like groaning, whimpering and panting, startling Chanyeol as if his heart has dropped to the ground.
"Now you're really super weird!"
"No... Don't... Please..."
"What?!"
"M-mom..."
He looks closer to Baekhyun, and no-- the puppy mewls he's hearing right now is actually Baekhyun crying.
Baekhyun is crying.
He is sniffing in his sleep, body shaking a little while tears fall from his closed eyes, making Chanyeol's pillow wet. He scrunches his nose and furrows his eyebrows, and Chanyeol just stares at Baekhyun's face, thinking of what might be his roommate's bad dream. Something tugs inside his chest as he looks at Baekhyun's face pitifully, like he's seeing an angel shedding tears in front of him. He looks so fragile and gentle, opposite of his outgoing and loud personality, and Chanyeol thinks, maybe he's roommate is not what he sees is Baekhyun. Baekhyun is someone else. Baekhyun is not that always all smiles, happy kid he's showing. He's also one of those normal teens missing his family.
Chanyeol hums a melody doubtfully, embarrassed that someone might come in and see what he's doing. He hums a familiar lullaby his mother sings to him, as well as what he sings to Sehun when the kid couldn't sleep.
"Ssshh, there, there, don't cry now."
He gently pats Baekhyun's legs like the boy is a baby while mouthing the lyrics softly-- sleep love sleep, I'm here by your side, I'll never leave you alone...
And Baekhyun gradually stops shaking, stops sniffing, stops crying, until he drifts off to dreamland with a smiling Chanyeol watching him in the dark.
-
"Good morning, good morning, good morning!"
Chanyeol senses a heavy lump above him, shaking him violently while practically riding on top of him, so he growls like a wolf but fails as it comes out as a cute whine of a dog.
"Get up, sleepy head! Wake up!"
"Ugh, Baekhyun, get off," Chanyeol mutters, his arm over his eyes blocking Baekhyun's blinding smile while silently hoping Baekhyun would just get lost and go away so his crotch would not get wild any minute from now.
"You carried me to my bed last night, right?" Baekhyun gleefully asks much to Chanyeol's dismay because hey, it's too early in the morning for Baekhyun's chirpy voice.
"No, you sleepwalked. Leaving drool all over my pillow."
"You dressed me in my pyjamas and tucked me in my blanket?"
"No. You did it yourself while sleeping."
"Thanks, Chanyeol. You're so sweet!"
Baekhyun smiles and pinches Chanyeol's nose. The latter swats Baekhyun's hands quickly, afraid that germs might contaminate his skin, might creep up to his cheeks, giving it a pink blush. And it's already happening, surely it's Baekhyun-caused allergies.
"Gross, Baek, your hand stinks."
"It's my lotion, how dare you."
"Whatever."
"Get up, okay?. We have school today. It's Monday."
Chanyeol nods, burying his face in the sheets once again.
"Chanyeol!"
"Coming!"
Stupid Baekhyun and his stupid antics. Chanyeol gets up and goes to the shower. He can hear Baekhyun's booming voice outside as he talks with Junmyeon and Chanyeol's lips curve up, he doesn't know why.
Maybe it's just a good day.
-
"So Chanyeol-hyung, where are you staying right now? I'm worried!"
"Wow, thanks for worrying after kicking me out of my own house."
Sehun smiles. "I'm sure you're more than okay in where you're staying at, right? You don't have to go back, it's too crowded for all of us because Luhan-hyung and I are having a baby!"
Chanyeol rolls his eyes as he smacks Sehun's head. "I didn't know Luhan-hyung can bear children."
"We're getting a puppy, dumbass. Of course, he can't. Luhan has no womb!"
"I'm being sarcastic. Why are you taking it seriously?!"
Chanyeol is about to strangle Sehun's neck when the student council president talks into the microphone, silencing the students inside the hall.
"Good morning. How are you today?"
Bored people together with Sehun says 'fine' in unison while some girls at the back are yelling and giggling like fan girls seeing their oppa doing aegyo and Chanyeol pays no attention to them.
"That's good. Now, I will discuss some of our new agendas at the beginning of this month."
Chanyeol couldn't believe Baekhyun looks so formal and intelligent up there when he speaks something about 'campaign', 'organization' and 'leadership'. It's not so Baekhyun at all, and Chanyeol spends his good ten minutes watching Baekhyun spit foreign words that really don't make sense as far as Chanyeol is concerned. Baekhyun shines above there, his face is perfect, his eyes, his voice and his hair is perfect. Damn perfect.
Wait, Baekhyun is their student council president?! What, when, how, why--
"Oh my god," Chanyeol says, clutching Sehun's shoulder hard enough to bruise.
"What," Sehun answers boredly. "Are you constipated or something?"
"Baekhyun, he's-- why is he there?!" Chanyeol points out to Baekhyun, almost loud to make the students turn their heads to Chanyeol.
"Baekhyun-sunbae is the president, of course. Like, since first quarter. Hello?" Sehun replies, obviously annoyed of his best friend's idiocy.
"I didn't know!"
"What did you not know, Mr. Park?" Baekhyun asks as he fixes his tie, looking straight at Chanyeol's eyes. Baekhyun looks different, no hint of playfulness and all to serious when he speaks to Chanyeol as if he's one of those people who cares for the government.
Chanyeol swallows in fear and ends up shaking his head, avoiding Baekhyun's cold stare.
"N-nothing, sunbae."
"Listen when somebody talks, so you know what this is all about."
He can see Sehun laughing at the side while the other students judge him hard for making Baekhyun-sunbae to notice him and give him his precious attention, while other students don't give a shit.
-
Chanyeol is not waiting for Baekhyun to come out. Nope, he's not expecting to see his roommate emerge outside the council room where Chanyeol is, for the past thirty minutes, standing while peeking on the window just to see Baekhyun sitting there, typing important things in his laptop that Chanyeol's mind can't decipher.
Baekhyun looks smart, cool, and approachable yet untouchable there at the same time and Chanyeol here looks like a creep.
"I look like a creep," he says repeating his thoughts to himself while enjoying his sight of Baekhyun-- clad in neat, he repeats, neat uniform (navy blue coat, white long sleeves with gray tie), while eyeglasses with black frames are perched above his nose, looking like the best student he is. Chanyeol really just couldn't trust his eyes if this is his gross playful roommate or this is the clone version of Baekhyun.
Baekhyun smiles when the boy beside him whispers something and Chanyeol finds himself smiling, too. He is indeed, very very creepy but he doesn't seem to care right now.
"Hyung, there's a student waiting for you outside," the boy says to Baekhyun while looking at Chanyeol and Chanyeol looks shocked of getting caught in this awkward position, contemplating whether to run away or to just wait here for Baekhyun to finish his work. He chooses the latter.
"Yah, Park boy, come in," the boy, who's the secretary, Zitao, summons Chanyeol. "Baekhyun-hyung said you look like a weirdo there. If you want to wait for him, just sit there on the couch."
"I'm not waiting for him!"
"Oh, yes you are," Zitao says with a sly grin.
"Fine. Can I come in then? It's kinda cold here."
"Sure. Boyfriend?"
Chanyeol blushes and secretly likes the idea of being 'that' kind of relationship with the president but he pretends to gag on the side while Zitao just looks at him weirdly.
"So, not boyfriend?"
"No, we're just roommates is all."
Chanyeol spends the afternoon listening throughout the council's meeting with Zitao eyeing him curiously. Half of his stay is spent staring at Baekhyun's cold and stoic facial expression as he discusses school matters with his subordinates, and another half of it looking at his wristwatch.
Baekhyun never spared him a single glance, which for Chanyeol is really weird and heartbreaking, as if his presence doesn't exist the entire time and it really pisses him off. Why is that guy acting that way when in fact, he's so clingy at home?
"Meeting adjourned," Baekhyun annouces and the students disperse out of the room after waving each other goodbye. Baekhyun then smiles at them, pats their back and even hugs them, making Chanyeol roll his eyes. Stupid Baekhyun and his alter egos.
"Thanks for waiting, Chanyeol!"
And Baekhyun is back. Chanyeol internally celebrates because that side of Baekhyun is too much for him to handle.
"Finally," Chanyeol mumbles with a sigh. He rolls his eyes to conceal his growing smile forming in his lips when he sees Baekhyun running to him like a child who's wearing a backpack that is too big for him.
"It's so boring. I almost fall asleep waiting."
"I know. And sorry, bare with me," Baekhyun answers while he clings his arm to Chanyeol's and Chanyeol keeps himself steady. He's quite embarrassed when some students look at them suspiciously because hey, they look like a dating couple here.
But Chanyeol doesn't care though. Let them think what they want to think, it's none of their business anyway that Chanyeol and his crush are doing PDA-- wait, what crush!? Okay fine, he thinks that maybe, just maybe, he has a little tiny winy bit of crush on Baekhyun and that's it. Not infatuation, not like, not love. Nope. No way, just a small tad of crush like what you feel towards cute puppies, cakes and ice creams and your favorite kpop boy band.
Chanyeol goes home walking with Baekhyun by his side, who is now smiling at him while blabbering different stories about random things.
"Zitao, the guy who called you, he's my secretary!"
"I want ice cream when we got home."
"That looks good on you, Chanyeol. You should wear clothes like that."
"I hate cucumbers, the smell, yuck."
"It's nice, right? Some of them give gifts and food and I can't just say no, of course."
Chanyeol just nods the whole conversation agreeing to what Baekhyun said but he barely understands it, honestly. He is busy thinking about how someone's smile can be that contagious. Maybe it's because of Baekhyun-induced bacteria he's feeling, making his mouth muscle split into a smile and his stomach churn into weird digestion.
"Do you like it?" Baekhyun asks regarding their topic that Chanyeol seems to not catch. He quietly nods, looking at Baekhyun's beautiful smile.
"Yeah, I like it."
*
It's a Sunday morning and Chanyeol gets up extra early because he just feels like it to cook breakfast. He sees his bipolar roommate climb down the stairs-- his hair is disheveled fresh from sleep, he's wearing an oversized sweatshirt that proudly shows his right shoulder with matching pair of too short boxers for Chanyeol's liking. Baekhyun rubs his eyes in the most cutest way while scratching his pale stomach in front of Chanyeol.
Chanyeol forgets how to breathe.
"Morning, Chanyeol-ah." Baekhyun says as he absent-mindedly pulls a chair and sits, resting his cheeks over his palm facing Chanyeol's general direction.
Shit. Baekhyun's so cute right now that he wants to pinch the boy's cheek and put him in his pocket and keep him inside a jar forever. He wants to punch him for being so freaking illegal in this very early morning and question the deities as to why this creature is living on earth making Chanyeol's brain difficult to function generally--
"Mesmerized by what you're seeing?" Baekhyun says to Chanyeol while ruffling his own hair seductively. He winks at him and Chanyeol feels like his heart goes dugeun dugeun very freaking loud inside his chest. What the heck is happening to him. Is he that greatly infected by Baekhyun-induced disease?
"Uhh..."
Shit, shit, shit. Damn Chanyeol, say something smart. "Your tie is nice."
Baekhyun looks at him confusedly for a moment and Chanyeol mentally face palms himself because hey, he's not wearing a tie, stupid.
"Chanyeollie is joking, hahahaha!" Baekhyun coos in between laughs as he slaps his own thighs and Chanyeol thinks, Baekhyun is really a bipolar person, no, make that tripolar (if there's such a word). He is flustered as a tomato right now and Baekhyun is laughing at him and it's not really helping to his emotional condition, so he just pulls his own hair, easing the embarrassment away from his system.
"Will you shut up!? I'm trying to cook in peace, since Kyungsoo and his boyfriend are still sleeping!"
"Are you mad at me? Chanyeollie is mad at me!" Baekhyun mockingly cries while throwing tantrums like a five-year old.
"Shut the fuck up!"
"Wah! Chanyeollie is a monster, he's shouting at me! I'll tell hyung! JUNMYEON HYUNG!!!!"
"Baekhyun, for the love of god please! Stop whining! Ugh!"
"Okay," Baekhyun dejectedly says, leaning his head on top of the dining table and Chanyeol inwardly fights the urge to strangle his neck for being so incredibly cute and annoying, or to run his fingers on the boy's exposed shoulders. It looks smooth.
"Are you still like that at school?"
"Like what?"
"Being yourself like that, all whiny and loud. And you didn't even tell me you're the student council president," says Chanyeol as he places a plate of fried rice in front of Baekhyun who looks delighted in the process.
"Well, you didn't ask," Baekhyun answers, munching his breakfast while Chanyeol sits beside him, eating his own food.
"Wow, this is really delicious!"
Chanyeol smirks, "Thanks for the compliment. I didn't put cocumbers in there."
"Seriously, sometimes I like your cooking more than Kyungsoo, but hush, don't tell him I said that."
Chanyeol laughs and nods, stuffing his mouth with food while occasionally glancing at Baekhyun every three seconds.
"I don't understand you, Baekhyun. Why are you so complicated...?"
"If you're talking about my attitude, I don't know either. I'm comfortable around you so what you see is what I am. I mean, I'm being myself when I'm with you. I'm like this when I'm with friends and people who are close to me."
"Oh, I'm... I'm glad, then."
"What are you happy about?"
"You... being comfortable with me, I guess."
"How about you? Do you feel awkward around me?"
To be quite honest, there's no moment Chanyeol can remember when he felt uncomfortable with Baekhyun. He actually feels like they've known each other for years instead of several months.
"No, not at all. I honestly enjoy your company. I like being with you, though you're weird most of the time."
"That's good then! I like being with you, too."
Chanyeol holds his eyes on Baekhyun for quite long as he thinks about what Baekhyun said. Baekhyun is comfortable with him, he likes being with him. Chanyeol feels giddy suddenly.
"What? Am I too beautiful to stare at?"
Without a word, Chanyeol reaches for a piece of rice sticking on the side of Baekhyun's lips, putting it to his own mouth and he eats it.
"You're such a messy eater, Baekhyun."
Baekhyun just stares back at him for the span of two minutes, as if they're in a staring contest and no one dares to break away their eyes.
Chanyeol feels he's drowning into Baekhyun's brown irises while seeing his own reflection in Baekhyun's eyes in front of him, and it's too beautiful, very beautiful and he thinks, he wants to look at his eyes forever. He wants to see himself on his eyes always and as selfish as it could be, he wants to be the only reason why his eyes adorably shine like this.
Baekhyun is the first to tear his gaze away from Chanyeol though, clearing his throat awkwardly as they both realize their two other roommates are awake who's now searching food on the cupboard. Chanyeol smiles shyly to Baekhyun while scratching the back of his neck and Baekhyun returns him the smile, which is evident in his eyes as he hides it behind the cup he's holding to his lips. He laughs silently when Chanyeol seems to wink (or involuntarily twich his eye?) at him before looking down at his plate of fried rice.
"Did we.... just ruin something special here?" Junmyeon asks, noting the rather different and quiet atmosphere in the kitchen.
Chanyeol laughs and kicks him on the shin. "Just eat, old man."
-
"Make me a cup of coffee and bring it to my room," Baekhyun tells Chanyeol, who is recently in the middle of playing video games in the living room with Kyungsoo.
"I... what?" Chanyeol asks, confused about Baekhyun's sudden order. What is this this time?
"You heard me," Baekhyun says shortly and without a word, climbs upstairs leaving Chanyeol in shock. What was that?
"Just go and make him coffee," Kyungsoo says with a shrug. "He's probably working on something."
"Why is he being so bossy?! Aish, so annoying," Chanyeol mumbles under his breath as he prepares 'His Highness' his cup of coffee with love.
Chanyeol knocks twice and he hears Baekhyun says 'come in' before he goes inside his roommate's now impossibly tidy room.
"Here's your coffee, master," Chanyeol says mockingly, expecting Baekhyun to answer back but he does not. He is too pre-occupied on something he's scribbling on his notes, while constantly glancing on his laptop, typing several numbers, then back on the papers laid out on his messy table. Baekhyun massages his temples as he tries to focus on his computer on what Chanyeol guesses to be a powerpoint presentation with financial reports in it.
Chanyeol clears his throat, once, twice, to let Baekhyun become aware of his presence but the boy does not acknowledge him, instead he kicks his table in obvious frustration, making Chanyeol wince at the noise, almost spilling the coffee but thankfully he does not.
"Why can't I get it right! Dammit!" Baekhyun yells to no one in particular as he takes his glasses off from his eyes, covering his face with his two hands. Chanyeol thinks that Baekhyun looks upset right now so maybe he needs to go. Maybe Baekhyun doesn't want him to be here to witness his frustrations, so he steps back, placing the coffee beside the table.
"I'm leaving, drink your coffee before it gets cold."
"Sorry," Baekhyun says in a tired voice which is Chanyeol's first time to hear. "I didn't mean to snap like that."
"It's okay," Chanyeol says. "I should go, I guess..."
"Stay, please."
"W-what...?" Chanyeol says, caught off guard. Baekhyun looks at him, seriously looks at him tiredly and Chanyeol can feel that his roommate doesn't want to be alone. He wants company right now.
"I'm sorry. What am I saying?" Baekhyun laughs without humor. "Yeah, you should go and play with them."
"No, it's okay," Chanyeol answers as he paces near Baekhyun. "I'll stay if you want."
He has seen all types of Baekhyun-- a childish Baekhyun, a happy Baekhyun, a sad Baekhyun, a crying Baekhyun, a sweet Baekhyun, a cute Baekhyun, a gross Baekhyun, a crazy Baekhyun, a grumpy Baekhyun, a serious Baekhyun, a cold Baekhyun, a bossy Baekhyun, and now, for this case, an angry and exhausted Baekhyun.
He admits that he likes to know more of the other sides of Baekhyun, and he wants to meet each of them just like how he put up with everyone of Baekhyun's weird attitudes.
"Thanks for the coffee, Chanyeol. And sorry for bothering you."
"You're always welcome."
Chanyeol likes how Baekhyun's calm voice travels into his ears, and he couldn't just get himself leaving this room, not when Baekhyun looks like shit and as old as Jumyeon.
"You need to rest, Baek. You look tired," Chanyeol says as he manages to place his hands behind Baekhyun's back. He carresses Baekhyun's stiff shoulders, massaging it lightly to ease the muscles there, and Baekhyun leans in to the touch. He hums in pleasure as Chanyeol presses his thumb onto his tired neck, making all the nerves and blood vessels function again. Baekhyun relaxes for a good minute with closed eyes while Chanyeol massages him.
"Thank you," whispers Baekhyun, putting his hand over the back of Chanyeol's palm that rests atop his shoulders. He squeezes it softly as a gesture to show Chanyeol his gratitude.
"I feel better now, thanks, really."
Chanyeol feels his skin is burning at the touch. He says a simple 'no problem' to Baekhyun before he leaves the room.
What just happened? Why couldn't Baekhyun leave his mind when he is no longer in that room? Why does it feel strange yet actually good? Chanyeol lies on his bed as he looks up to his blank ceiling, clutching the shirt above his chest. His heart is beating irregularly and he thinks that he's freaking sick. He's really sick all because of Baekhyun, and it's surely incurable.
Maybe that little tiny winy bit of crush has grown bigger now. Maybe he now likes Baekhyun. Maybe he has actually fallen for Baekhyun.
*
Chanyeol finally comes to the terms in his eighteen years of existence where he completely admits that he has fallen for Baekhyun after weeks of painfully in denial stages.
One day he just woke up and realizes that Baekhyun's smile is more glowing, his eyes are prettier than yesterday, his hands are more beautiful than the last time he looked at them, as well as Baekhyun's voice, it gets lovlier and lovlier everytime he speaks. First, he just appreciates how good he looks but it comes down to another level. He adores Baekhyun's laugh and his pout, his frown, and his unattractive derp face, along with his different mood swings. He gets to think about him all day and he even worries about him all night. He wants to make sure he is alright before he feels at ease. He wants to be with him all the time. He feels jealous when some guys stick with Baekhyun at school. He feels angry when Baekhyun is so oblivious when he cares and when he disregards his concern. When it happens, he feels happy when Baekhyun would apologise and recognize him, especially when he hears his thank you's most of the time.
This is reality, he loves everything about his roommate, no scratch that-- he loves his roommate, who is driving him crazy and to Chanyeol, Baekhyun is now definitely 'that' someone, not just anyone unlike before.
So he bravely decided to himself that he'll ask Baekhyun out that's why he's here at the rooftop looking for his sunbae. Zitao said that their president is here for unknown reason and that unknown reason is at the moment unfolding in front of him. He hides behind a wall as he watches the scene.
There's a girl who looks like confessing to Baekhyun. She's hiding her face low and Baekhyun is looking at her expectantly, his hands on his pockets while his hair is being blown by the wind.
"Baekhyun oppa, I like you," the girl says and Chanyeol grips the metal railing beside him too hard, it hurts just like that, watching another person confess to someone you like and Chanyeol doesn't know if he stands a chance or not. Because Baekhyun is perfect, he has seen all his flaws but to him, Baekhyun is perfect.
"You're pretty, Haejin-ah," Baekhyun says in a sweet voice, "And there are many other guys for you. I can be your friend, but not more than that."
"Are... are you rejecting my feelings?"
"I'm sorry."
"Is there someone else you like?"
Baekhyun smiles and ruffles the girl's hair. He whispers something on her ears, making her blush at the same time. She nods, giving Baekhyun a shy kiss on the cheek and Baekhyun laughs as he bids the girl goodbye.
What was that? Chanyeol stomps his feet, annoyed of what just happened. He doesn't catch what Baekhyun said and it really frustrates him so he pulls his own hair while cursing softly behind the wall.
"Come out now, I know your hiding."
"Meow, meow."
"Chanyeol, a cat doesn't have a deep voice like that."
Chanyeol comes out behind the wall, clearly embarrassed of being caught. Now Baekhyun really thinks he's a creep, which is actually true.
"What were you doing there, Chanyeol?"
"What did you say to her?"
"What?"
"Why did she kiss you?"
"What is it to you?"
"Just answer me!"
Baekhyun looks confused about Chanyeol's sudden outburst as he stares at him for a brief moment.
"Why are you asking?"
"I just... I-I just want to know!" Chanyeol says without looking at Baekhyun, his face is red and hot.
"Were you eavesdropping?"
"No!"
"Why are you so red?"
"I'm not!"
"Are you nervous?"
"No!"
"Do you want to tell me something?"
"No!"
"Do you like me?"
"No! What-- I mean--"
If there is an opportunity to be swallowed by the ground alive, Chanyeol wants to participate. He wants to disappear right now because it's freaking embarrassing and he's ruining his chance and he's hyperventilating right now. One thing he likes to do is to crawl into a hole and die there forever.
"So... you don't like me?"
"No! I mean, yes! Ugh shit."
"What is it then?"
"I don't know! I just... I just keep thinking about you lately."
"Oh."
"And I care about you sometimes more than I should. No, I always care about you more than I should. It's funny right?"
Baekhyun laughs a hearty laugh and it reaches Chanyeol's ear oh so lovely that he wants to hug the boy right now.
"Chanyeol, why are you saying this all of a sudden?"
"I can't get you out of my mind, I think I'm going insane, Baekhyun. Why are you doing this to me!? Why? You're making me psychologically sick."
Baekhyun worriedly looks at Chanyeol and tentatively holds his arm, thinking that he might be angry with him for making him feel that way.
"Chanyeol, I'm not doing anything to you... Why are you blaming me?"
"It's your fault. The allergies, the weird digestion, the hallucination, and the palpitation of my heartbeat. I think I'm terribly sick, I can't think straight. I can't sleep at night without you popping on my head, it's unhealthy. I don't understand why I suddenly like your bipolar attitude, as much as I like your face, your smile and that goddamn beautiful eyes of yours. You're ten feet away from me but I can hear your voice in my ears, and I can feel your presence beside me. I want you by my side when we walk home, I miss you when I don't see you for an hour and it's just so weird when you're only next door. I'm being upset when you don't look at me and I'm happy when you finally give your eyes on me. What's gotten into me?"
"Chanyeol, you're--"
"No, don't worry, It doesn't make sense. It's nothing, I'm sorry, I'm kinda strange into this."
"No, it's not nothing." says Baekhyun while he inches closer to Chayeol. "It's definitely something. It does make sense, Chanyeol. I-I understand what you feel..."
"I-I've been meaning to tell you something but I don't know how to start and I think, I'm not quite sure if you'll agree or--"
"What is it? What is it that you want to say?"
Chanyeol takes a deep breath while holding both of Baekhyun's hands. The latter looks at him expectantly with those eyes again that make him fall for him deeper and deeper.
"What is it, Chanyeol? It makes me nervous."
"I'm nervous, too! Shit wait Baek, I think I need to pee. I'll just go to the bathroom and--"
"No! JUST SAY IT NOW!"
"FINE FINE I'M SAYING IT, OKAY? Uhm, Baekhyun?"
"Yes, Chanyeol?"
"I think I have fallen in love with you and I want to take you out on a date. Please be my girlfriend?"
Chanyeol mentally pats himself on his back for doing a good job and not messing this up because finally he has blurted out those words that have been haunting him for the past few days. He barely notices the growing smile on Baekhyun's face because he's busy talking to his mind.
"You're asking me out, Chanyeol?"
"Definitely yes, Baekhyun. I'm asking you out."
"Okay," Baekhyun answers with a nod, his eyes smiling together with his mouth and it's a wonderful sight for Chanyeol to witness. "I'd love to go out with you and be your... err... girlfriend."
"Thank you!"
Chanyeol gets this chance to fist pump in the air and scream yes yes yes on top of his lungs as he jumps in victory.
"Wait, I'm not even a girl! Why girlfriend?"
"Whatever. You said yes anyway."
"But I should be your boyfri--"
And Chanyeol kisses Baekhyun's lips shut.
*
Junmyeon has been knocking onto Chanyeol's door for the nth time but the inhabitant of the room seems to be dead, because said owner is not opening it regardless of how loud his pounding is.
"Open the freaking door, Chanyeol! I'm going to break this into half! Open the door!"
Kyungsoo comes into view and hands him the key to Chanyeol's room silently, eyeing his boyfriend like he's an idiot.
"Oh, thanks, honey. I forgot there's a key. Silly me."
"You're seriously getting old. I should break up with you."
"You're joking, Kyungsoo."
"I wish I wasn't."
"Well, you love me."
After several minutes of talking nonsensical things with each other, Junmyeon slips the key through the keyhole of the doorknob with Kyungsoo by his side. When the door is opened, they witness the couple on the bed, sleeping soundly, limbs tangled against each other while the sheets are long forgotten on the ground. Chanyeol has a protective arm around Baekhyun's waist, while Baekhyun's head is resting on top of Baekhyun's chest, his mouth drooling on his shirt. And thankfully, they're completely dressed much to old Junmyeon's relief.
Chanyeol pries his eyes open as sunlight streaks into his eyelids. He quickly feels wet splodge on his shirt where Baekhyun's unattractive hanging mouth is resting. He pushes Baekhyun away forcefully, making the smaller awake, groaning when his right leg fall off the bed.
"What the hell," Baekhyun mutters groggily. "Why'd you push me off the bed in the middle of my sleep!?" he yells, throwing a pillow at his boyfriend's face.
"You drooled over my shirt! Ugh! Freaking gross! I feel like shit," Chanyeol says, stripping his saliva-soaked shirt and throwing it at Baekhyun's morning face.
"You shouldn't have pushed me! I almost fell!"
"Your fault, not mine."
"Why throw a shirt at my face? How rude."
"You shouldn't have asked to sleep with me. Go to sleep in your own room, dammit!"
"I hate you! Why am I with you!"
Kyungsoo and Junmyeon sighs, getting used to the couple's bickering routine every morning. They close the door with a loud bang, leaving the couple alone.
Chanyeol tackles Baekhyun to the bed, hugging his boyfriend and making him whimper. "Ouch, Chanyeol. Can't breathe."
"Sorry baby. Are you okay? Did I push you too hard?"
Baekhyun nods, biting his lip, drawing his boyfriend nearer while looking at him with puppy eyes. "Hurts. Here." Baekhyun points at his lips. "Make it feel better."
"I'll make you feel better, baby."
"Okay, baby-- wait I'm not used to calling you baby, like it's kinda cheesy I want to puke."
"I'll call you ahjussi then."
"No!"
"Whatever, Baekhyun."
"I love you, Chanyeol."
"The feeling is mutual."
Chanyeol kisses him on the lips, while Baekhyun hugs him closer, bringing him to kiss deeper. They roll over the bed, arms and legs clinging against each others body while kissing each others lips when there's a pounding again on the door.
"COME OUT! DON'T MAKE OUT! Kids these days!" Jumyeon shouts from the outside. Chanyeol breaks away from their lip lock, staring at the door, invisible daggers shooting at Junmyeon. Baekhyun laughs, pinching Chanyeol's nose.
"I swear I'm going to kill him and cremate his body."
"Rude."
Chanyeol laughs, placing a chaste kiss on top of Baekhyun's hair before getting out of bed, preparing to murder old Jumyeon ahjussi.
*
Fin