After a few days, things with Baekhyun seemed to have smoothed over, though Chanyeol always felt like there was some sort of small wedge in between them since the cancellation of their date.
Their fight the Monday back really put something in Chanyeol's head. It was clear that whatever he had to do to make Saturday up to Baekhyun, it shouldn't be anything physical. Hell, they were physically almost every week, whether it's a kiss or a quick sexual assault in the restroom. The least he could do was attempt something in return that didn't really involve any heat exchange.
The next weekend, Chanyeol accompanied his mom and Yoona on yet another run to organize Yoona's social party. He drove the car, which he didn't mind, other than the fact that the girl he poured his entire soul to, but decided to do away with it, was sitting right next to him with his mother in the backseat attempting to get them to converse.
There was little exchange of words between him and Yoona other than the awkward morning greeting that they shared every morning since she moved in. He really held no grudge against her. If there was any, it was gone the night she returned and decided to cling onto him by that cab.
Chanyeol frowned, remembering that night. He should've pushed her away and coldly put her in the cab to send her on her merry way, but he didn't. He synthesized with everything she said from what could've been and to all the possibilities that were there for them now that she was back—
But then Baekhyun flashed in his mind. Chanyeol loved him. He loved that stubborn ass. He loved the way he subconsciously swayed his hips when he walked. He loved the way he helped other kids with school work, or stayed behind to help with the cleaning duty. Chanyeol couldn't see himself leaving Baekhyun for someone from the past...
When Chanyeol parked the car outside the event planner's building, he was asked by his mother if he wanted to go in as well, but Chanyeol just waved a hand, dismissed the notion, and told her that he would just walk around the block and perhaps find something else that'd cater to his interests more. His mother accepted his decision after a few minutes of trying to sway it.
Once they were gone, Chanyeol got out of the car and locked it. He got on the sidewalk and blended in with the crowd of people, who all looked like they knew where they were going, unlike him. Walking around, Chanyeol glanced at the window displays of shops, thinking about what Baekhyun would've liked.
Chanyeol passed by toy stores, clothing stores, and all of that sort, but the thing that caught his eye was the shining window display with the glistening necklaces and engagement bands inside a jewelry store. He stood outside, unsure on what to do. He didn't want to go in there and have everyone inside assume that he was going to buy something.
Baekhyun—to Chanyeol—didn't seem like a flashy person. Baekhyun preferred simple shirts and pants—if not shorts. Chanyeol's thoughts shot out, debating whether he should go in there and even contemplate buying jewelry for Baekhyun. Would Baekhyun like jewelry?
Chanyeol scoffed. If it's something bought to bribe him, then no, that stubborn ass won't like it. He'll hate me, he reasoned. But, if I bought him something and put some thought into it...he'll like it.
Making up his mind, Chanyeol entered the store, fixing his hair as he went in. Not soon after looking around the displays, he was approached by a young, female store worker.
"Hi!" she brightly greeted. "How are you today?"
Chanyeol grinned at her and went back to looking. "I'm doing fine, thanks."
The worker smiled back at the handsome guy in front of her. "Are you looking for anything in particular?"
Chanyeol cocked his head to the right. "Actually...I'm looking for a pair of rings."
"Alright. Like engagement rings?"
Chanyeol laughed, shaking his head. He loved the word "engagement", especially when it was attached to Baekhyun and him, but he knew that Baekhyun wouldn't like it if he just spontaneously got on one knee and asked for his hand in holy matrimony.
"Uh, that'd be nice, but I'm just looking for something subtle," Chanyeol replied. "Something smooth and simple. I don't think I want gold...Something silver would be nice. One that's not too cheap or too expensive."
"Oh, so a simple pair of silver couple rings?" she asked, clarifying. When Chanyeol nodded, the girl smiled. "Alright. I think I have something in mind that's perfect. I'll be right back."
As the girl left, Chanyeol let out a deep breath and threw his head back, chuckling at himself. Was he seriously going to buy couple rings for Baekhyun and him? The thought skipped around in his head before Chanyeol thought, "Why the hell not?"
-
-
Chanyeol decided to take Baekhyun off school grounds for once the next week. In his pocket were the rings and in his chest was a heart that couldn't contain itself. Asking Baekhyun out to lunch was a bit of a hassle, though. It was his stubborn little vixen, but once Chanyeol pointed out the fact that he willingly went off campus with Kris and Kai that one time, Baekhyun seemed to have relented and gave in.
After they were seated at a comfy, little café, and had ordered, Baekhyun glanced around the place for a few seconds before noticing the way Chanyeol was grinning at him. Baekhyun frowned. "What?"
Chanyeol smirked. "Nothing."
"Hn..." Baekhyun looked at Chanyeol for a second before letting a breath out. "Okay. What's up?"
Chanyeol raised a brow. "What's up?" Chanyeol repeated.
"You asked me out for lunch—"
"—for a lunch date," Chanyeol said, correcting him.
Baekhyun paused. "I wasn't aware that this was a date."
Chanyeol shrugged. "We had spontaneous car sex. Might as well have a spontaneous lunch date. Right?"
Baekhyun scoffed, smirking. "In a wayward world? Sure. It makes enough sense."
"Well," Chanyeol said, changing the tone of his voice. "While we're on the subject of 'spontaneous', while I was waiting for so and so to get their shit together, I was walking around the block, you know. Just looking at shops and stuff, thinking about what I could get you—"
"Me? What for?" Baekhyun asked, interrupting.
"To make up for last Saturday," Chanyeol said confidently.
Baekhyun groaned. "I told you already. Forget Saturday."
Chanyeol shook his head. "No. I know you keep saying that, but I really can't. Can I get on with my back story now or what?"
"Fine," Baekhyun said, motioning a hand. "Go on."
"As I was saying, I was walking and then something shiny caught my eye." Chanyeol paused and Baekhyun began to sense a feeling as to what it was that caught the idiot's eye. "So I turned and I ended up stopping at this jewelry store—"
"—Fuck it, Yeol!" Baekhyun whispered harshly. "If you're going to tell me that you—"
"—and," Chanyeol said, overpowering Baekhyun's voice, "I bought us something."
When Chanyeol moved his body to reach for something in his pocket, Baekhyun threw him a look and grabbed Chanyeol's arm that was left on the table. "Whatever it is, I don't want it—I can't take it. Go back to the store and return whatever the hell you bought."
Chanyeol tsked. "Nope."
"Chanyeol."
Chanyeol's ears turned off to Baekhyun's arguments and pulled out the rings. He checked the engraved markings on the inside of both to check which one was for him and which one was meant for Baekhyun. When he figured it out, he quickly snatched Baekhyun's right hand. "This one's for you," he said as he picked—out of all the fingers—Baekhyun's ring finger to wear the ring.
Once it was on, Baekhyun pulled his hand back and touched it. "Chanyeol," he whispered. "What the fuck..." He looked up and stared at the smiling guy putting on his own. "These are couple rings."
"Yup," Chanyeol said, nodding. "I thought they were perfect so why not."
Baekhyun was silent for a moment, feeling the smooth surface of the gift. "Chanyeol, I—"
"Tell me you'll wear it," Chanyeol said, sensing hesitation of Baekhyun's part.
"What?"
"Tell me you'll wear it," Chanyeol repeated. "And that you'll keep it because I'm not taking it back," he said, putting his hands up. "It's your half. I have mine. I want you to have yours."
Baekhyun scrunched a brow. "I..." Baekhyun paused, silently deciding that he'd be honest. "I want to keep it, but I can't—"
Chanyeol frowned. "Why not?"
"It's too much," Baekhyun mumbled.
"Too much?" Chanyeol cocked his head. "Too much as in 'I'm smothering you' too much?"
"I meant the price," Baekhyun said, quick to retort.
Chanyeol shrugged, grinning at the response and glad at the fact that Baekhyun's reasoning didn't concern feeling forcibly tied down to him. "It wasn't much."
"Maybe to you."
"Can you really put a price on what we have, though?" Chanyeol laughed.
Baekhyun shook his head at Chanyeol's words. "Impulsive," he mumbled, referring to Chanyeol's impulsion to buy the rings. "You're impulsive."
"Impulsive, stupid, idiotic," Chanyeol said, listing the adjectives. "Tall, handsome, sexy, Byun Baekhyun's Boyfriend. Things to describe myself." He paused, watching Baekhyun keep his eyes down, fiddling with the ring. "So, you'll wear it?"
It took a second for Baekhyun to answer, but even then, he nodded his head before speaking a moment later. "Yeah..."
Chanyeol grinned. "Good. Now, that's yours because I got yours engraved with something that's different than mine. They both have 'B x C', but yours has a heart engraved next to it."
"Why doesn't yours have one, too?" Baekhyun inquired.
"Because you don't openly tell me that you love me," Chanyeol said, smiling. "But I know that you do. Think of it like an invisible heart on mine. It doesn't need to be there physically in order for your love for me to exist."
The words sunk into Baekhyun's head. He gulped and nodded. "Thanks...for this."
"Does it make up for Saturday?" Chanyeol asked, pushing the stray hairs out of Baekhyun's face.
"Yeah."
Chanyeol smirked. "Great. Now lean over and kiss me."
Baekhyun glanced around to see if anyone was paying any attention to them. When he saw that there were none, he sighed and lifted himself out of his chair a bit to lean in enough. When he did this, Chanyeol smirked even bigger and leaned forward to receive his kiss. The way Baekhyun kissed was sweet to Chanyeol. It tasted like heaven, but it ended too soon for his liking.
"We should extend that kiss somewhere else," Chanyeol suggested.
Baekhyun scoffed. "No."
Fiddling with the ring, Baekhyun was in the midst of pulling it off when Chanyeol's voice stopped him. "What're you doing?"
"I'm relocating it," Baekhyun stated.
"Why?"
Baekhyun looked from the ring and back to Chanyeol. "Because it's on my ring finger."
"I know that it is. I was the one who put it there."
"Chanyeol, it's going to make me look like I'm engaged," Baekhyun argued.
"So?" Chanyeol held up his hand. "I have mine on my ring finger, too. Keep it there. I promise I'll make this engagement thing real someday, but for now, let's settle for this. Alright?"
Baekhyun clicked his tongue before inevitably agreeing to it. "Fine." Then after a second, he asked, "You purposely put it on this finger, didn't you?"
"What can I say?" Chanyeol said, chuckling. "Everything I do is for a reason, Baek. Especially where ever you're concerned, vixen."
Baekhyun's mouth formed a small grin, but he covered it by putting his drink to his lips. "Whatever."
Chanyeol put his hands together. His head turned when he a soft noise and saw that their food was making its way to their table. "Food's here."