(I long to be) Close to you
Author: ANONYMOUS
Recipient: EXOmniac
Title: (I long to be) Close to you
Word Counts: 3817
Side Pairing(s): None
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Shy!Chanyeol, if you count that as a warning ;;
Disclaimer:The celebrities' names/images are merely borrowed and do not represent who the celebrities are in real life. No offense is intended towards them, their families or friends. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this fictional work. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: And suddenly, all the love songs were about him.
Author's Note: I wish to say thank you to my beloved beta who has always been willing to help me with every mess I make and hold my hand and walk me through it all. This couldn’t have happened without you, literally!!
Thank you to EXOmniac and your wonderful prompts and I’m really sorry but this is all I got please don’t hate me ;;; I am so so so sorry for this. I swear I really tried ;;; I hope you won’t be too disappointed TTT
Last but not least, thank you to all the people reading and/or commenting, you guys are the bestestestest ;;;;; pls give feedback so I can improve TT_TT
The green field inside the school yard gleams verdantly after a heavy rain. Some soft winds gently blow by, making the grass drift like rippling waves, mild and smooth. Here and there are echoes of the early birds’ cheerful tweets, strangely serene and naïve. The after-rain sunlight slowly pave their golden paint on the ground, like an artist stroking each brush on a white canvas, carefully painting a masterpiece.
In the middle of such a picturesque scenery, there is a young purple-haired boy who is hastily running and ruins it all.
"I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it! Shouldn’t have stayed up late yesterday argh why must I always be late at the last day of the freaking month! My diligence score…"
He keeps groaning while running, his forehead dripping in sweat. His uniform is untidy, his cross-body bag shaking to his every steps, socks on each foot is a different color. Generally saying, this boy looks like he has just been fished out from some paddy field. Right when he passed the school gate, the bell notifying for the first class also rang, so loud he couldn’t ignore it. There goes his perfect diligence score for this month. Should’ve play truant for some more, he thought, since I’m not going to get any good grades anyway.
He decided, if he is too late then he would just go to the local library for the sake of peace and quiet. Even if he wants to, he can’t go to class now anyway. Comparing to having to sit in a class he doesn’t like, study a subject he doesn’t want to, being asked questions he doesn’t know the answer to, it is obvious that going to the library, taking a good rest, and enjoying the blows from air-conditioners is still much better.
The library is on the left wing of the school. The quiescent building wallows in warm lights of an early morning, the ivory-white walls gleaming with an antique sense, embellished with some evergreen ivy crawling up. Opening the old heavy wooden doors, inside are rows and rows of giant bookshelves divided by topics, languages and alphabets. The smell of paper gently fills the air, making one’s heart strangely feels at ease. The librarian sits in a desk to the right of the doors. She only slightly looks up, upon seeing his purple hair, she knits her brows, tells him to leave his bag in one of the lockers, then looks down and carry on with her work again.
At this hour, there is barely anyone in the library.
Students mostly are sleeping soundly in their beds if they don’t have classes at this time. The ones who are in the library now, if not the ‘always late’ type like Byun Baekhyun - the purple haired boy - then would be the ‘forever nerdy’ type who always wake up early to self-study, self-review their work. He slowly walks toward the desk at the very end of the room, the one in the left corner where it is discreet and still has enough soft wind from the lovely air-conditioner to blow him to his beauty sleep.
Taking some random thick books near himself, some as pillows and some to hide from people’s eyes, Baekhyun lowers his head, closes his eyes and enjoys some rare negligible relaxing time of his own.
Everything slowly sinks into peaceful silence.
The library’s doors are opened again, a blonde curly noodle-like head peaks in, his pair of doely big black sparkling eyes look all around from right to left then from left to right, the tall lanky boy carefully steps inside. Leaving his backpack in one of the lockers then returning books he borrowed last time at the librarian’s desk, he silently walks to the bookshelves at the end of the room. He remembers the book last time he wanted to borrow but didn’t have the chance to come at that exact place.
The book isn’t on the shelf, but under a small purple-haired head.
Chanyeol was about to wake that unmethodical boy up to get his book back, but then he unknowingly stops mid-way. The young boy sleeps oh so soundly, his tousled but velvety hair falling solftly on the books, his creamy white skin, his chubby cheeks with the pinkish curving lips, his tightly closed eyes, his trembling eyelashes like butterfly wings fluttering shadows on his face, all making the Park boy suddenly feel so perplexed he couldn’t do anything but stare at the beauty.
He carefully picks a place not too far away, take a random book to pretend that he is reading, all the while ardently but secretly looking at that purple-haired wonder.
*
Baekhyun keeps feeling like someone is watching him. Not just today, not just this week, he feels like this person has been stalking him for god knows how long, but the stares never linger long enough, thus he never succeeded in finding out who the guy or girl is. After a few times trying, Baekhyun eventually gives up and just plainly ignores the stares. In the end, the person didn’t have any malice on him, did he?
The library has become his favorite resting place lately. Not only does he come by when he’s late for class, he’d also come whenever he has free time. The peaceful and quiet atmosphere, accompanied by soft lights, slow winds and the lovely smell of paper filling the air, everything makes Baekhyun love the place. Not to mention there are some very pretty boys and girls in there too.
Baekhyun calls him being into both boys and girls “enjoying life’s beauty to the fullest”, and never actually wonders about it. He just simply accepts the preference as a part of his nature. It is not people’s standard of “normal”, but to Baekhyun, as long as he is fine with it, he would go with it.
It’s a few months later that he suddenly pays more attention to a boy who constantly sits two table away from him. Always white-tee and washed jeans, curly tousled hair and twinkling eye-smile, Baekhyun finds himself unable to get his eyes off this gorgeous person. Baekhyun found out that the stares almost always come from his direction, thus sometimes their eyes accidentally meet, and as quick as he turns around, he can still see from the corner of his eye the guy’s two tomato-red ears.
So cute, he thought.
Turning to another page, Baekhyun smiles to himself rather mischievously. He can already feel the guy’s eyes on him again - with just a light giggle, he can get the boy to look at him right away, like there’s a signal hidden somewhere in him that he just couldn’t ignore. But it’s not fun this way, although I’ve been loving this, he thought.
Baekhyun tears a page from his notebook, scribbles down some lines then put the note inside his half-read book. Smiling like a true vixen he is, he goes right towards the cute guy and places the book in front of him.
Chanyeol couldn’t even pretend that he’s not nervous. He constantly looks up and down the book he’s holding, his heart pounds so loud he feels like his chest is going to explode any minute. Not good, this is not good, you must focus Park Chanyeol, can’t leave an ugly first impression on him! The thing is, if he could control either his head or his heart before his petite wonder, he wouldn’t be Park Chanyeol.
He sees the boy coming, closer, closer, closer, like a time-bomb with its clock already going off, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,…
“Read it well”, Baekhyun hears himself saying these words. His cheeks unconciously turn a bit pinker. Biting his lower lip a bit, he looks all over the room but never at the guy’s face. “And remember to bring it back for me. I haven’t finished it.” Not looking at the guy’s reaction, he quickly leaves the library, all the while still being able to see his two ears, silently and slowly turning blood-red.
Chanyeol - with his shaky hands and shaky heart - opens the book to see a note tucked between page 613 and 614. A single line scrabbly but cutely written,
“Take a picture, it lasts longer - but if you do it, you’re mine.”
* *
It takes Chanyeol a whole week to find out his name. Byun Baekhyun, student from Music faculty but loves reading about stars and constellations, tiny frame with tiny body but inside hides a tough and strong personality. He’s always amused at how the boy can be so different, sometimes so soft and cute and easily teased, but other times when forced too much, he becomes so fierce. Nevertheless, Chanyeol likes all of that. He still hasn’t got a chance to talk to Baekhyun “officially”, though. They’re in different faculties studying different majors and would probably never have even met if it wasn’t that one time in the library.
Chanyeol’s on his way to his class when he sees a familiar figure about to make a left turn right before his eyes. Baekhyun’s having one of his always-oversized hoodies on, accompanied by a simple pair of ripped jeans, his collar-shirt tied loosely around his hips dangling cutely as he quickly paces towards where his class is supposed to be. And Chanyeol, taking advantage of his long legs, runs right after and tries to catch up with the boy. Is it finally going to be their first talk ever? He can feel the excitement rising along with nervousness, and suddenly he halts to a stop.
What if he was only joking?
What if he sees me like this and wouldn’t be interested in me anymore?
What if I sputter something stupid and leave a bad impression on him?
He was too engaged in his own thought that he didn’t realize someone standing in front of him. It was until two surprisingly beautiful and slender hands waved before his face that he jumped up in shock, seeing Baekhyun in all of his casual glory smiling naughtily at him. Chanyeol could sense his heart going berserk, his two elf-like ears quickly redden at the sight, and soon the color spreads to his cheeks when he notices Baekhyun’s eyes gleam with please watching him turning himself into a cooked shrimp. He awkwardly coughed a few times, but didn’t have a chance to say a word because a hand had caught his and Chanyeol is dragged toward the entrance.
"I’m late for class and this is not a good place to talk so… Coffee. You. Me. Agree?"
All Chanyeol could do was nod in utter stupor.
~
The coffee shop was lovely. They use the 70’s as the main theme for the decorations. The whole shop sinks in the soft warm light. When they first entered the place, they could almost instantly sense the peaceful and quiet atmosphere there. A row of guitars were being hung around four walls, some so classically beautiful that even an Engineering student like Chanyeol had to take a second look. On the small stage lies a white-painted electric piano to the right, a drum set in the middle and a mic set to the left. At that time, no one was on stage, but there was still a sweet and serene female voice coming from the old phonograph seated lonely in a corner of the room. Guests sat in groups of three to five around wooden tables, held cups of coffee or tea in their hands, quietly chit-chatted their private life away. Chanyeol felt like he somehow had went all the way back to the 70s that they only heard of through their parents’ words. And then the hand that was still holding his since the start started to shake lightly. Turning over to look at Baekhyun, he belatedly realized the boy had only been trying to lead him to a table to sit down. Baekhyun didn’t seem to be anywhere near mad, only woolgatheringly smiled then led him to the table nearest to the stage.
Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you…
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you…
Chanyeol was never the type to keep his mouth shut. But today, for the first time, all he does is stare at the living beauty before him, watching his pink lips open and close and open and close, his eyes turning into twinkling crescents from time to time, his cheeks round up with air then flatten when he exhale, and oh my god he looks so cute, too cute for Chanyeol’s heart.
"Made your decision yet?", Baekhyun teasingly asks.
He was excited. After a whole week with no sign from the guy, Baekhyun thought he made a wrong move and that the cutie wasn’t interested in him. However, after today’s surprise encounter, Baekhyun’s more sure than ever that the guy, at least, does like him a bit. As expected, Chanyeol - he just found out his name a few minutes ago - almost chokes on his drink then stutters:
"I… I…" He’s struggling to find the right words to say, really, "I didn’t bring my camera with me!"
He sees Baekhyun’s smile turn into a cute pout, and his brain just shuts down on its own. Too cute. It must be illegal to be this cute I tell you. "It’s not like what you think!! I… I wanted to take a photo of you, but I didn’t bring my camera along… I didn’t really expect to meet you today. A-and my phone camera sucks so bad, I just don’t want a bad quality picture, that’s all."
Chanyeol keeps his head down, cheeks and ears all flushing red from the embarrassment he’s making. He feels his heart sinking deeper and deeper, desperation sneaking in every words and actions. But then Baekhyun’s pout transform into an endearing laugh, and Chanyeol’s heart melts all over again.
"I was joking, silly, of course I know what you mean. Don’t worry, the deal’s still valid." Baekhyun can’t help but smile again, the boy before him is too adorable for him not to. "Wait, are you an amateur photographer?"
"Ah," Chanyeol scratches his head sheepishly, "I’m in the school’s photography club, actually."
"Great! Are you free in the evening?", Baekhyun sounds just a tiny bit too excited, making Chanyeol feel a bit surprised. He almost can’t help thinking of the possibilities and- oh no things should not go to that direction. At least for now.
"I am, on weekends. But what for?"
"You’ll see."
Along with his grin, Baekhyun stands up from his seat and goes to the piano. Chanyeol watches mesmerized as he sits down, carefully traces the old wooden hood before opening it, then his fingers start to dance and Chanyeol thinks his heart no longer lies in his chest anymore.
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song, killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly, with his song…
It was all so surreal, seeing this other side of Baekhyun. The boy still looks too bright and cute in his hoodie and jeans but the aura he gives while singing leave people a tingling feeling of sadness. Unexpectedly but so naturally, every noises in the coffee shop die down, just to hear his voice, a bit more, a bit more.
Chanyeol can’t hold it no more, he grabs a classic guitar from the rack then starts harmonizing. The soft and clear sound of piano blends in with the earnest notes of guitar, accompanied by Baekhyun’s warm voice and Chanyeol’s low and rough one, making their performance match surprisingly well. And maybe it’s because of a touch of their sights, or maybe the pulse of their hearts, Chanyeol thinks, at least right now he can safely say he’s in this crazy maddening new crush with Baekhyun.
* * *
Chanyeol almost forgot that Baekhyun was a sucker for stars and constellations. It turned out that the late night dates were basically their little 'escapes' to the suburb, where they would start pitching tent and making simple food for a picnic. Then after filling the hungry stomachs, both would simultaneously lie down and watch the night slowly glittering up with bright dots in the sky.
Baekhyun would teach Chanyeol about the stars, pointing out this one and that for him then make him take photos of those he specially like. Chanyeol couldn't even tell one from another when it came to constellations for all he cared, but he let the purple-haired boy ramble on anyway, while his gaze was mostly glued on the way Baekhyun's eyes twinkle with the night sky inked to the bottom of them. The conversations always went almost aimlessly, both only randomly poured out their thoughts or feelings. It was more than what friends do, really, and it surprised the two how easy it got to talk to the other. It’s like they’ve known each other for as long as they live, although everything else of them contrasted.
It was this one specific night when Baekhyun decided that he’d had enough with the grass being in his hair, that he just didn’t want to make his head wet with the dew anymore, and he just so casually put his head on Chanyeol’s chest, eyes still gazing longingly to the night sky.
“When were you born?” It was mere curiosity when he read about it, but Baekhyun does have some interest in zodiac signs. So to keep Chanyeol concentrated, he tries to find things to attract him.
“November 27th, 1992. Why?”
“Oh, a Sagittarius. I see. Well you’re lucky tonight. The one over there, a bit lower in the Southern skies, it’s your constellation.”
Chanyeol blinks in confusion. “What do you mean, my constellation?”
His clueless face must look really funny because Baekhyun is breaking into a laugh. “Have you heard of the zodiac signs? Well each one of them has its own constellation. You’re born on November 27th, your zodiac sign is Sagittarius, thus your constellation is that one, same name.”
Baekhyun starts mindlessly tracing circles on Chanyeol’s exposed skin, right above his collarbones, while telling him stories about the Sagittarius and the myths around it, his voice so sweet and soothing it makes Chanyeol feel like he’s slowly drifting away on a peaceful sea to some unknown wonderland. And then Baekhyun’s voice dies down as he lightly raises his head up, eyes a bit too sparkly, lips a bit too dry, staring intently at the cutie underneath.
Chanyeol’s heart beats like it’s going to explode in his chest.
Then the whole world stops as Baekhyun stoops down and Chanyeol rises up, meeting half-way then fit each other like two pieces of a puzzle. Lips finding ways to dance to the same rhythm, hands slowly running to catch shirts and hair, eyes tightly shut and bodies aching to be closer closer and closer, until two becomes one and they belong to each other.
It’s a slow but not sloppy kiss, started like an experiment and ended like a habit. It caught Chanyeol off-guard the way Baekhyun just spontaneously kisses him breathless, and it caught Baekhyun off-guard the way Chanyeol’s lips feel like they belonged to his own.
They’re lying side by side again, but their hands are intertwined this time, and Chanyeol thinks he’s holding the most precious light in the world. Everything happens too wonderfully fast but at the same time not even suddenly at all to his feeling. He can’t explain why but it was from the first glance that he already knew, if they’d ever end up with each other, they’d be perfect.
“Have you taken a picture of me yet, Chanyeol?”
Baekhyun lightly laughs as he looks over to the blonde, voice teasing but eyes glow with seriousness. He won’t take a vague answer. He just wants to make clear of Chanyeol’s choice.
Chanyeol is quiet for the whole following minute and Baekhyun starts to panic. Did he just make a fool out of himself? Was Chanyeol not certain about any of this? But then he hears Chanyeol laughs out loud, his chest vibrating and his eyes watering, everything makes Baekhyun feel ten times more uneasy.
“This is not funny, you know.” The purple-haired deadpanned, arm crossing over as in a state of seriousness. He feels Chanyeol getting up, and then a camera is put into his hands.
“Take a look for yourself.” And Chanyeol’s cheeks are all flushed again, his gaze keeps averting and his hand a bit sweaty. He was afraid he would look like a stalker, but as Baekhyun’s smile fell, he couldn’t keep it anymore. Wow Park Chanyeol, you’re already this deeply in love with him. Great.
It’s the first time Baekhyun ever look at the pictures Chanyeol took. And it hits him right there and then because while the camera was supposed to be filled with photos of stars and constellations and night skies and green fields, instead it was full of Baekhyun’s image. Him smiling, pouting, glaring even, every tiny little moments are perfectly captured inside each picture.
“Now you know that I am yours, please keep me well.” Chanyeol teases him back, his voice a bit wavering because yes he’s Baekhyun’s now but he’s still not sure if Baekhyun wants to be his.
And right at that moment, Baekhyun holds the camera up and snaps a photo of him, all awkward smile and expectant gaze, hair tousled and clothes untidied. He looks messy, but at the same time unbelievably handsome, or at least that’s what Baekhyun thinks because he can feel the pink tinting up his cheeks at the sight.
“You didn’t give me any condition, so I’ll just apply mine. As I’ve taken your picture, I’m yours to keep too, Yeol. Keep me well, won’t you?”
“I’d gladly do, of course.”
And as they continue lying in each other’s embrace waiting for the sun to rise, Chanyeol’s mind starts to wander again. It’s a great start, he thinks, from stolen glances to longing looks to them being together. Who knows what’s waiting for them ahead, who cares what traces they’ve left behind. All he needs to focus on is the present, the now where he and Baekhyun are beside each other and nothing matters more than that, to be honest. They have been longing for a connection like this ever since they’re born, and it’s with a smile on their face and hope in their heart, that they keep the love between them, growing day by day.
[Their story does not end. It keeps going.]
Recipient: EXOmniac
Title: (I long to be) Close to you
Word Counts: 3817
Side Pairing(s): None
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Shy!Chanyeol, if you count that as a warning ;;
Disclaimer:The celebrities' names/images are merely borrowed and do not represent who the celebrities are in real life. No offense is intended towards them, their families or friends. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this fictional work. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: And suddenly, all the love songs were about him.
Author's Note: I wish to say thank you to my beloved beta who has always been willing to help me with every mess I make and hold my hand and walk me through it all. This couldn’t have happened without you, literally!!
Thank you to EXOmniac and your wonderful prompts and I’m really sorry but this is all I got please don’t hate me ;;; I am so so so sorry for this. I swear I really tried ;;; I hope you won’t be too disappointed TTT
Last but not least, thank you to all the people reading and/or commenting, you guys are the bestestestest ;;;;; pls give feedback so I can improve TT_TT
The green field inside the school yard gleams verdantly after a heavy rain. Some soft winds gently blow by, making the grass drift like rippling waves, mild and smooth. Here and there are echoes of the early birds’ cheerful tweets, strangely serene and naïve. The after-rain sunlight slowly pave their golden paint on the ground, like an artist stroking each brush on a white canvas, carefully painting a masterpiece.
In the middle of such a picturesque scenery, there is a young purple-haired boy who is hastily running and ruins it all.
"I knew it I knew it I knew it I knew it! Shouldn’t have stayed up late yesterday argh why must I always be late at the last day of the freaking month! My diligence score…"
He keeps groaning while running, his forehead dripping in sweat. His uniform is untidy, his cross-body bag shaking to his every steps, socks on each foot is a different color. Generally saying, this boy looks like he has just been fished out from some paddy field. Right when he passed the school gate, the bell notifying for the first class also rang, so loud he couldn’t ignore it. There goes his perfect diligence score for this month. Should’ve play truant for some more, he thought, since I’m not going to get any good grades anyway.
He decided, if he is too late then he would just go to the local library for the sake of peace and quiet. Even if he wants to, he can’t go to class now anyway. Comparing to having to sit in a class he doesn’t like, study a subject he doesn’t want to, being asked questions he doesn’t know the answer to, it is obvious that going to the library, taking a good rest, and enjoying the blows from air-conditioners is still much better.
The library is on the left wing of the school. The quiescent building wallows in warm lights of an early morning, the ivory-white walls gleaming with an antique sense, embellished with some evergreen ivy crawling up. Opening the old heavy wooden doors, inside are rows and rows of giant bookshelves divided by topics, languages and alphabets. The smell of paper gently fills the air, making one’s heart strangely feels at ease. The librarian sits in a desk to the right of the doors. She only slightly looks up, upon seeing his purple hair, she knits her brows, tells him to leave his bag in one of the lockers, then looks down and carry on with her work again.
At this hour, there is barely anyone in the library.
Students mostly are sleeping soundly in their beds if they don’t have classes at this time. The ones who are in the library now, if not the ‘always late’ type like Byun Baekhyun - the purple haired boy - then would be the ‘forever nerdy’ type who always wake up early to self-study, self-review their work. He slowly walks toward the desk at the very end of the room, the one in the left corner where it is discreet and still has enough soft wind from the lovely air-conditioner to blow him to his beauty sleep.
Taking some random thick books near himself, some as pillows and some to hide from people’s eyes, Baekhyun lowers his head, closes his eyes and enjoys some rare negligible relaxing time of his own.
Everything slowly sinks into peaceful silence.
The library’s doors are opened again, a blonde curly noodle-like head peaks in, his pair of doely big black sparkling eyes look all around from right to left then from left to right, the tall lanky boy carefully steps inside. Leaving his backpack in one of the lockers then returning books he borrowed last time at the librarian’s desk, he silently walks to the bookshelves at the end of the room. He remembers the book last time he wanted to borrow but didn’t have the chance to come at that exact place.
The book isn’t on the shelf, but under a small purple-haired head.
Chanyeol was about to wake that unmethodical boy up to get his book back, but then he unknowingly stops mid-way. The young boy sleeps oh so soundly, his tousled but velvety hair falling solftly on the books, his creamy white skin, his chubby cheeks with the pinkish curving lips, his tightly closed eyes, his trembling eyelashes like butterfly wings fluttering shadows on his face, all making the Park boy suddenly feel so perplexed he couldn’t do anything but stare at the beauty.
He carefully picks a place not too far away, take a random book to pretend that he is reading, all the while ardently but secretly looking at that purple-haired wonder.
*
Baekhyun keeps feeling like someone is watching him. Not just today, not just this week, he feels like this person has been stalking him for god knows how long, but the stares never linger long enough, thus he never succeeded in finding out who the guy or girl is. After a few times trying, Baekhyun eventually gives up and just plainly ignores the stares. In the end, the person didn’t have any malice on him, did he?
The library has become his favorite resting place lately. Not only does he come by when he’s late for class, he’d also come whenever he has free time. The peaceful and quiet atmosphere, accompanied by soft lights, slow winds and the lovely smell of paper filling the air, everything makes Baekhyun love the place. Not to mention there are some very pretty boys and girls in there too.
Baekhyun calls him being into both boys and girls “enjoying life’s beauty to the fullest”, and never actually wonders about it. He just simply accepts the preference as a part of his nature. It is not people’s standard of “normal”, but to Baekhyun, as long as he is fine with it, he would go with it.
It’s a few months later that he suddenly pays more attention to a boy who constantly sits two table away from him. Always white-tee and washed jeans, curly tousled hair and twinkling eye-smile, Baekhyun finds himself unable to get his eyes off this gorgeous person. Baekhyun found out that the stares almost always come from his direction, thus sometimes their eyes accidentally meet, and as quick as he turns around, he can still see from the corner of his eye the guy’s two tomato-red ears.
So cute, he thought.
Turning to another page, Baekhyun smiles to himself rather mischievously. He can already feel the guy’s eyes on him again - with just a light giggle, he can get the boy to look at him right away, like there’s a signal hidden somewhere in him that he just couldn’t ignore. But it’s not fun this way, although I’ve been loving this, he thought.
Baekhyun tears a page from his notebook, scribbles down some lines then put the note inside his half-read book. Smiling like a true vixen he is, he goes right towards the cute guy and places the book in front of him.
Chanyeol couldn’t even pretend that he’s not nervous. He constantly looks up and down the book he’s holding, his heart pounds so loud he feels like his chest is going to explode any minute. Not good, this is not good, you must focus Park Chanyeol, can’t leave an ugly first impression on him! The thing is, if he could control either his head or his heart before his petite wonder, he wouldn’t be Park Chanyeol.
He sees the boy coming, closer, closer, closer, like a time-bomb with its clock already going off, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,…
“Read it well”, Baekhyun hears himself saying these words. His cheeks unconciously turn a bit pinker. Biting his lower lip a bit, he looks all over the room but never at the guy’s face. “And remember to bring it back for me. I haven’t finished it.” Not looking at the guy’s reaction, he quickly leaves the library, all the while still being able to see his two ears, silently and slowly turning blood-red.
Chanyeol - with his shaky hands and shaky heart - opens the book to see a note tucked between page 613 and 614. A single line scrabbly but cutely written,
“Take a picture, it lasts longer - but if you do it, you’re mine.”
* *
It takes Chanyeol a whole week to find out his name. Byun Baekhyun, student from Music faculty but loves reading about stars and constellations, tiny frame with tiny body but inside hides a tough and strong personality. He’s always amused at how the boy can be so different, sometimes so soft and cute and easily teased, but other times when forced too much, he becomes so fierce. Nevertheless, Chanyeol likes all of that. He still hasn’t got a chance to talk to Baekhyun “officially”, though. They’re in different faculties studying different majors and would probably never have even met if it wasn’t that one time in the library.
Chanyeol’s on his way to his class when he sees a familiar figure about to make a left turn right before his eyes. Baekhyun’s having one of his always-oversized hoodies on, accompanied by a simple pair of ripped jeans, his collar-shirt tied loosely around his hips dangling cutely as he quickly paces towards where his class is supposed to be. And Chanyeol, taking advantage of his long legs, runs right after and tries to catch up with the boy. Is it finally going to be their first talk ever? He can feel the excitement rising along with nervousness, and suddenly he halts to a stop.
What if he was only joking?
What if he sees me like this and wouldn’t be interested in me anymore?
What if I sputter something stupid and leave a bad impression on him?
He was too engaged in his own thought that he didn’t realize someone standing in front of him. It was until two surprisingly beautiful and slender hands waved before his face that he jumped up in shock, seeing Baekhyun in all of his casual glory smiling naughtily at him. Chanyeol could sense his heart going berserk, his two elf-like ears quickly redden at the sight, and soon the color spreads to his cheeks when he notices Baekhyun’s eyes gleam with please watching him turning himself into a cooked shrimp. He awkwardly coughed a few times, but didn’t have a chance to say a word because a hand had caught his and Chanyeol is dragged toward the entrance.
"I’m late for class and this is not a good place to talk so… Coffee. You. Me. Agree?"
All Chanyeol could do was nod in utter stupor.
~
The coffee shop was lovely. They use the 70’s as the main theme for the decorations. The whole shop sinks in the soft warm light. When they first entered the place, they could almost instantly sense the peaceful and quiet atmosphere there. A row of guitars were being hung around four walls, some so classically beautiful that even an Engineering student like Chanyeol had to take a second look. On the small stage lies a white-painted electric piano to the right, a drum set in the middle and a mic set to the left. At that time, no one was on stage, but there was still a sweet and serene female voice coming from the old phonograph seated lonely in a corner of the room. Guests sat in groups of three to five around wooden tables, held cups of coffee or tea in their hands, quietly chit-chatted their private life away. Chanyeol felt like he somehow had went all the way back to the 70s that they only heard of through their parents’ words. And then the hand that was still holding his since the start started to shake lightly. Turning over to look at Baekhyun, he belatedly realized the boy had only been trying to lead him to a table to sit down. Baekhyun didn’t seem to be anywhere near mad, only woolgatheringly smiled then led him to the table nearest to the stage.
Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time you are near?
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you…
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you…
Chanyeol was never the type to keep his mouth shut. But today, for the first time, all he does is stare at the living beauty before him, watching his pink lips open and close and open and close, his eyes turning into twinkling crescents from time to time, his cheeks round up with air then flatten when he exhale, and oh my god he looks so cute, too cute for Chanyeol’s heart.
"Made your decision yet?", Baekhyun teasingly asks.
He was excited. After a whole week with no sign from the guy, Baekhyun thought he made a wrong move and that the cutie wasn’t interested in him. However, after today’s surprise encounter, Baekhyun’s more sure than ever that the guy, at least, does like him a bit. As expected, Chanyeol - he just found out his name a few minutes ago - almost chokes on his drink then stutters:
"I… I…" He’s struggling to find the right words to say, really, "I didn’t bring my camera with me!"
He sees Baekhyun’s smile turn into a cute pout, and his brain just shuts down on its own. Too cute. It must be illegal to be this cute I tell you. "It’s not like what you think!! I… I wanted to take a photo of you, but I didn’t bring my camera along… I didn’t really expect to meet you today. A-and my phone camera sucks so bad, I just don’t want a bad quality picture, that’s all."
Chanyeol keeps his head down, cheeks and ears all flushing red from the embarrassment he’s making. He feels his heart sinking deeper and deeper, desperation sneaking in every words and actions. But then Baekhyun’s pout transform into an endearing laugh, and Chanyeol’s heart melts all over again.
"I was joking, silly, of course I know what you mean. Don’t worry, the deal’s still valid." Baekhyun can’t help but smile again, the boy before him is too adorable for him not to. "Wait, are you an amateur photographer?"
"Ah," Chanyeol scratches his head sheepishly, "I’m in the school’s photography club, actually."
"Great! Are you free in the evening?", Baekhyun sounds just a tiny bit too excited, making Chanyeol feel a bit surprised. He almost can’t help thinking of the possibilities and- oh no things should not go to that direction. At least for now.
"I am, on weekends. But what for?"
"You’ll see."
Along with his grin, Baekhyun stands up from his seat and goes to the piano. Chanyeol watches mesmerized as he sits down, carefully traces the old wooden hood before opening it, then his fingers start to dance and Chanyeol thinks his heart no longer lies in his chest anymore.
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song, killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life with his words
Killing me softly, with his song…
It was all so surreal, seeing this other side of Baekhyun. The boy still looks too bright and cute in his hoodie and jeans but the aura he gives while singing leave people a tingling feeling of sadness. Unexpectedly but so naturally, every noises in the coffee shop die down, just to hear his voice, a bit more, a bit more.
Chanyeol can’t hold it no more, he grabs a classic guitar from the rack then starts harmonizing. The soft and clear sound of piano blends in with the earnest notes of guitar, accompanied by Baekhyun’s warm voice and Chanyeol’s low and rough one, making their performance match surprisingly well. And maybe it’s because of a touch of their sights, or maybe the pulse of their hearts, Chanyeol thinks, at least right now he can safely say he’s in this crazy maddening new crush with Baekhyun.
* * *
Chanyeol almost forgot that Baekhyun was a sucker for stars and constellations. It turned out that the late night dates were basically their little 'escapes' to the suburb, where they would start pitching tent and making simple food for a picnic. Then after filling the hungry stomachs, both would simultaneously lie down and watch the night slowly glittering up with bright dots in the sky.
Baekhyun would teach Chanyeol about the stars, pointing out this one and that for him then make him take photos of those he specially like. Chanyeol couldn't even tell one from another when it came to constellations for all he cared, but he let the purple-haired boy ramble on anyway, while his gaze was mostly glued on the way Baekhyun's eyes twinkle with the night sky inked to the bottom of them. The conversations always went almost aimlessly, both only randomly poured out their thoughts or feelings. It was more than what friends do, really, and it surprised the two how easy it got to talk to the other. It’s like they’ve known each other for as long as they live, although everything else of them contrasted.
It was this one specific night when Baekhyun decided that he’d had enough with the grass being in his hair, that he just didn’t want to make his head wet with the dew anymore, and he just so casually put his head on Chanyeol’s chest, eyes still gazing longingly to the night sky.
“When were you born?” It was mere curiosity when he read about it, but Baekhyun does have some interest in zodiac signs. So to keep Chanyeol concentrated, he tries to find things to attract him.
“November 27th, 1992. Why?”
“Oh, a Sagittarius. I see. Well you’re lucky tonight. The one over there, a bit lower in the Southern skies, it’s your constellation.”
Chanyeol blinks in confusion. “What do you mean, my constellation?”
His clueless face must look really funny because Baekhyun is breaking into a laugh. “Have you heard of the zodiac signs? Well each one of them has its own constellation. You’re born on November 27th, your zodiac sign is Sagittarius, thus your constellation is that one, same name.”
Baekhyun starts mindlessly tracing circles on Chanyeol’s exposed skin, right above his collarbones, while telling him stories about the Sagittarius and the myths around it, his voice so sweet and soothing it makes Chanyeol feel like he’s slowly drifting away on a peaceful sea to some unknown wonderland. And then Baekhyun’s voice dies down as he lightly raises his head up, eyes a bit too sparkly, lips a bit too dry, staring intently at the cutie underneath.
Chanyeol’s heart beats like it’s going to explode in his chest.
Then the whole world stops as Baekhyun stoops down and Chanyeol rises up, meeting half-way then fit each other like two pieces of a puzzle. Lips finding ways to dance to the same rhythm, hands slowly running to catch shirts and hair, eyes tightly shut and bodies aching to be closer closer and closer, until two becomes one and they belong to each other.
It’s a slow but not sloppy kiss, started like an experiment and ended like a habit. It caught Chanyeol off-guard the way Baekhyun just spontaneously kisses him breathless, and it caught Baekhyun off-guard the way Chanyeol’s lips feel like they belonged to his own.
They’re lying side by side again, but their hands are intertwined this time, and Chanyeol thinks he’s holding the most precious light in the world. Everything happens too wonderfully fast but at the same time not even suddenly at all to his feeling. He can’t explain why but it was from the first glance that he already knew, if they’d ever end up with each other, they’d be perfect.
“Have you taken a picture of me yet, Chanyeol?”
Baekhyun lightly laughs as he looks over to the blonde, voice teasing but eyes glow with seriousness. He won’t take a vague answer. He just wants to make clear of Chanyeol’s choice.
Chanyeol is quiet for the whole following minute and Baekhyun starts to panic. Did he just make a fool out of himself? Was Chanyeol not certain about any of this? But then he hears Chanyeol laughs out loud, his chest vibrating and his eyes watering, everything makes Baekhyun feel ten times more uneasy.
“This is not funny, you know.” The purple-haired deadpanned, arm crossing over as in a state of seriousness. He feels Chanyeol getting up, and then a camera is put into his hands.
“Take a look for yourself.” And Chanyeol’s cheeks are all flushed again, his gaze keeps averting and his hand a bit sweaty. He was afraid he would look like a stalker, but as Baekhyun’s smile fell, he couldn’t keep it anymore. Wow Park Chanyeol, you’re already this deeply in love with him. Great.
It’s the first time Baekhyun ever look at the pictures Chanyeol took. And it hits him right there and then because while the camera was supposed to be filled with photos of stars and constellations and night skies and green fields, instead it was full of Baekhyun’s image. Him smiling, pouting, glaring even, every tiny little moments are perfectly captured inside each picture.
“Now you know that I am yours, please keep me well.” Chanyeol teases him back, his voice a bit wavering because yes he’s Baekhyun’s now but he’s still not sure if Baekhyun wants to be his.
And right at that moment, Baekhyun holds the camera up and snaps a photo of him, all awkward smile and expectant gaze, hair tousled and clothes untidied. He looks messy, but at the same time unbelievably handsome, or at least that’s what Baekhyun thinks because he can feel the pink tinting up his cheeks at the sight.
“You didn’t give me any condition, so I’ll just apply mine. As I’ve taken your picture, I’m yours to keep too, Yeol. Keep me well, won’t you?”
“I’d gladly do, of course.”
And as they continue lying in each other’s embrace waiting for the sun to rise, Chanyeol’s mind starts to wander again. It’s a great start, he thinks, from stolen glances to longing looks to them being together. Who knows what’s waiting for them ahead, who cares what traces they’ve left behind. All he needs to focus on is the present, the now where he and Baekhyun are beside each other and nothing matters more than that, to be honest. They have been longing for a connection like this ever since they’re born, and it’s with a smile on their face and hope in their heart, that they keep the love between them, growing day by day.
[Their story does not end. It keeps going.]