In Between Today and Forever - Kris x Tao - 08/09
Title: In Between Today and Forever
Chapters: 08/09
Author: paranoiascreams
Genre: fluff, romance, angst
Warning: unbeta'd
Rating: NC-17 for this chapter
Pairings/Characters: Kris x Tao
Synopsis: Two people in love can't always be together; Promises of forever are easier said than done.
Disclaimer: This is the sequel of Kris and Tao for the completed chaptered TaoRis fic, " So, We're Kind of a Little Clichéd too". Aside from that story i own nobody and anything else.
[01] [02] [03] [04] [05] [06] [07]
Tao watches from the bed while Kris packs his bag from one side of the bedroom. His fiance leaves the day after tomorrow and Tao feels lonely and angry at the same time. He sighs for the millionth time maybe and Kris looks at him, "Babe... we talked about this."
Tao kicks his feet and turns away from Kris. He covers himself with a blanket and Kris chuckles before stopping what he's doing. He hugs his burrito fiance on the bed and Tao tries to squirm away, "Babe, you're throwing a tantrum."
"I don't want you to go. Please stay."
Kris sighs and hugs him tighter. He stays silent and he hears the quiet sobs coming from under the covers. He hugs Tao tighter and presses his forehead against the material, "I want to stay, you know I wouldn't leave you if I could..."
"Let me out... I wanna see you..." Tao whispers and Kris shifts a little so that Tao can remove the blanket covering his face. The younger faces his fiance with tear-stricken cheeks and Kris dies at the sight. Tao's lips tremble and he cries again, Kris wipes his tears away with his thumbs and peppers him with butterfly kisses. He whispers comforting words to Tao but the younger wont have any of it. Tao wraps his arms around Kris's neck and cries on his shoulder, "Kris..."
"I'm still here, right? Let's make the best of it."
"Canada is so far away..."
"I will call you everyday. You wont miss me."
Tao furrows his brows and cries harder, "I miss you already."
"You'll be fine." Kris kisses Tao and pulls him closer to his chest. He lets the younger cry his heart out until Tao finally falls asleep from exhaustion. Kris quietly pulls himself away from Tao and continues packing his stuff. There's still at least 48 hours before he leaves and he thinks it's a lot of time to spend before he finally flies out of South Korea.
Their friends show up that night for a surprise getaway party, Kyungsoo, Luhan, and Yixing cooked food while Minseok, Jongdae, and Chanyeol took care of the booze. Baekhyun, Jongin, and Sehun just came to party. Kris is glad for the party though because Tao is finally laughing and smiling with their friends, and he's really glad that their friends are around to watch over his fiancé while he is out of the country.
"Hey, Chanyeol."
The tall Korean turns to Kris and raises an eyebrow, "What is it?"
"Take care of Tao, okay? He's still a kid and I'm sure, even without him telling me, he's afraid to let me go because he's scared to be alone."
Chanyeol watches Tao with their friends and turns to Kris again, "Are you sure about leaving Tao behind?"
"Why? Is there something I don't know?"
Chanyeol shakes his head and smiles awkwardly at Kris, "No. Nothing of importance. We're just making big of something irrelevant."
Kris raises an eyebrow and Chanyeol waves his hands around in front of the older male, "Just nevermind what I said. I think the alcohol is kicking in. Tao will be in our care so you don't have to worry. We'll make sure nothing bad happens to your little darling."
"Thank you." Kris hugs Chanyeol briefly before walking over to Tao and hugging the younger from behind. Tao leans his head over Kris' shoulder as he keeps talking to Luhan about random stuff regarding his new major. Luhan listens eagerly and even Minseok joins them in the conversation.
The night goes on and one by one, either some of their friends go home or already passed out in their living room. Kris cleans the mess while Tao is already asleep in their bedroom. Minseok, Jongdae, and Yixing are asleep so Kris quietly takes the beer bottles and empty trays of food back to the kitchen. He' s almost done when he hears Tao call out his name from their bedroom's doorway, "Come on, babe. It's time to sleep. We'll take care of that in the morning."
Kris smiles and ties the garbage bag close, "I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay..."
Tao retreats back inside and Kris washes his hands. He turns off all the lights in the kitchen and living room before heading inside the bedroom. Tao is waiting for him and he lies on the bed. The younger immediately places himself on top of the other and kisses him fervently. Kris is quick to react by raking his hands through Tao's hair as the kiss goes deeper. They both moan into the kiss as Tao grinds his growing erection against Kris'. "They might hear..." Kris whispers between their kisses, Tao moves his hips and smiles at him, "Let them. This is our home, we'll do what we want..."
Kris sits up and kisses Tao as he unbuttons the younger's pajama top. Tao's breath hitches when Kris starts sucking on a nipple while he slowly grinds his hips against Kris' throbbing member. "Kris..." He moans as he grabs onto the older's hair and yanks his face up for a kiss. They keep kissing as the older lifts Tao a little so he can remove the younger's pants and boxers. Tao moans loudly when Kris' long fingers curl around his hard cock, "God... oh my god..." Tao bites his lower lip as Kris pumps his cock. "Tao..."
"Kris... please..." Tao moans and stops Kris' hand, "I need you inside me before I come..."
Kris smirks and kisses Tao before flipping their positions, Tao spreads his legs as the other removes his pants and briefs. Kris rummages the bedside table and takes out a bottle of lube. He generously coats his fingers and Tao shivers when a cold digit enters his hole, "Kris... I..."
"You're mine. Only ever mine..." Kris whispers as he trails kisses from Tao's jaw, down to his neck and all the way to his chest, "Never ever let anybody see you as I do..."
"No one else.... ah..." Tao arches his back when a second digit enters him and starts stretching his hole, "I am yours... only ever yours..."
Kris smiles and kisses Tao on the lips as he lifts the younger's legs higher. He doesn't cut the kiss and when his throbbing cock enters Tao, the younger bites Kris' lower lip and he tastes blood. "Kris... fuck. I'm gonna miss you inside me..."
"I'll make sure you never forget tonight, Huang Zitao..." Kris whispers against his ear and the older starts thrusting his cock hard inside Tao's hole. The younger thrashes his head in pleasure as Kris keeps hitting his sweet spot - his moans turn into muffled screams of his fiancé's name over and over again. "Oh my god... harder... fuck. Kris... oh my god... Kris!" Tao yelps when Kris starts stroking his neglected member and the younger arches his back in pure pleasure, "Tao... fuck..."
Tao pulls Kris into a kiss - it's messy, and pure bliss at the same time as their tongues tangle inside their mouths while Kris thrusts harder and faster. "Gonna come... Kris..."
"Tao... I'm close. Fucking close..." Kris thrusts deeper and Tao claws his nails on the blond's back. "I love you, Kris. I love you..."
Kris kisses Tao as he pumps the younger's cock in sync with his thrusts, "I love you, Tao. Only you..."
With a final thrust and flick of the wrist, they reach their orgasms together and Kris plops himself on top of Tao, "I love you, Huang Zitao... I can't wait to marry you..."
"Kris..." Tao sobs and pulls Kris closer in a hug, he moans when Kris' limp cock pushes inside him, "I'm going to miss making love with you... I'll miss waking up to your sleeping face and I'll miss our kisses mixed with morning breath."
"6 months is not a long time..." Kris nuzzles his nose on Tao's neck, "You won't even realize how time moves too fast..."
"What do you wanna do once we get married...?"
"We're gonna adopt."
"Adopt? You want us to have a kid...?" Tao's lip trembles and Kris hums a response, "You're going to be an awesome parent, Tao."
"Kris... I do want a kid... I thought you aren't keen on the idea... But yeah... a daughter. I want a little princess."
"We'll have her. Soon, we'll have her."
-----
"Give us a warning, wont you?!" Jongdae yells at Kris when he steps out of their bedroom the next day. The tall Chinese laughs it off and heads straight to the kitchen where Yixing made himself at home and is preparing breakfast, "Sure you wanna leave that ass behind?"
"Nope." Kris tells him and prepares his cup of coffee. "I leave first thing in the morning. I can't even fathom the thought that I really am leaving Tao behind."
Minseok steps into the kitchen and leans against its doorframe, "You have less than 20 hours to change your mind."
"Please dont even enable the thought. I'm sure you'll all watch out over Tao. I'm confident that 6 months will go by without a hitch."
Jongdae and Minseok looks at each other while Yixing turns to the stove. Kris doesn't notice the tension in the air and opts to finish his drink, "Yixing-mama, when's breakfast gonna be done?" Kris teases and Yixing scoffs, "I am not the mother of the group, Kyungsoo is."
"Babe...?"
The boys turn to the doorway to find Tao wearing Kris' sweatshirt and rubbing the sleep off his eyes, "I thought you left without saying goodbye..." Kris opens his arms wide while their friends just look on, "I wont do that to you, babe. Come here..."
Tao sobs and rushes towards Kris with a pout. He scrambles to his feet and settles on Kris' lap as he pulls on the older closer just to make sure his fiancé is still there. Yixing turns away while the other two just keeps staring, "Is he always like this in the morning?" Jongdae whispers and Kris nods.
"I've witnessed this a couple of times whenever I slept over. Tao is a sleepwalking crybaby and is magnetized to Kris' arms when he wakes up." Yixing comments since he knows Tao will ignore whatever he says and just focus on his fiancé. Yixing serves the food and finds Tao asleep on Kris' chest, "And that, too. He falls asleep right after crying."
Minseok glares at Kris then sits on the chair across him, "You are marrying a baby, you pedophile."
"And he's also abandoning said child." Jongdae adds and Kris raises an eyebrow, "You both realize you are eating breakfast in my house?"
"I'm sure it's safe since Yixing cooked it." Minseok tells him and eats a mouthful of eggs, Yixing smirks and grins mischievously at the two Koreans across him, "I'm on their side, though."
"Eeeehhhhhh?!" Jongdae exclaims and Tao opens an eye, "I'm hungry..." Kris leans down to kiss the side of Tao's head and whispers, "Yixing cooked breakfast. Come on, let's eat..."
Tao nods and straightens his back but remains on Kris' lap. The older feeds Tao and the younger eats what he's fed. Minseok furrows his brows and whispers on Jongdae's ear, "I sure am glad I don't witness this everyday."
Jongdae nods as he keeps eating. He stops when he finds Tao staring at him and Minseok with a huge grin, "Hey... Minseok-hyung, are you gay yet?"
Minseok spits his coffee which Yixing unfortunately wasn't able to avoid, the unfortunate Chinese immediately runs to the sink to wash up while Jongdae keeps laughing, "Where did that come from?!" Minseok asks, flabbergasted.
Tao smiles and points at Jongdae and Minseok, "You two look good together. I'm rooting for the both of you."
Kris laughs and Yixing joins him, "I'm rooting for the both of you, too."
"I AM NOT GAY!" Minseok defends himself and looks at Jongdae, "You and me?"
"Please, hyung. In your dreams." Jongdae turns away from Minseok but the three Chinese don't miss the blush tainting both Koreans' cheeks.
-----
"Stay. Stay. Fucking stay."
"Babe. I need to go. I board in 15 minutes."
"I DONT WANT YOU TO GO!!!!" Tao screams and hugs Kris tighter despite the strange looks they're both getting from the people in the airport. Kris pushes Tao and kisses him, "I love you. I'll call you the moment I land in Canada."
Tao cries and kisses Kris again, "You promised you'll never leave me behind!"
"I'm not leaving you behind. I'm going to come back."
Tao stomps his feet and cries on Kris shoulder, Jongdae tsks and Minseok just stares, "I have no idea why the two of us were asked to send you to the airport."
"Because we're rooting for the both of you?" Kris teases the two as he rocks Tao's body so he will calm down. Jongdae flips Kris the bird and Minseok just sighs before he pulls Tao away from Kris, "Time to let your prince leave."
"BUT HYUNG!!!" Tao struggles to pull himself away from Minseok but the Korean is surprisingly strong, "Go ahead, Kris. We'll restrain this kid."
Kris hugs Jongdae and then Minseok with Tao sandwiched between them, "Please take care of him, okay?" Kris turns to the crying Tao and kisses him, "I'll come back. You'll get used to this, okay?"
"N... not okay..."
Kris smiles and kisses Tao again, "I love you."
"... Love you, too."
Kris gives him one last kiss before turning away. He walks faster without looking back so that Tao won't have to see him crying.
-----
It's late at night when Tao's phone rings. He answers the call and he sobs immediately, "Took you so long to call me..."
"I just landed. I'm so sorry. I went straight to the apartment mom helped me find first before calling. How are you...?"
"I miss you."
"Missing you, too."
"I can't believe you really left. It's quite different when you're just cooped up in your office because I know you're just here, in Seoul. You're miles and miles away from me now and I hate that fact."
"We'll both get used to this. I can't bear not seeing you, too and I just... Tao... I have so much to apologize for..."
Tao sits up on the bed and turns on the lamp, there's a soft sob from the other end of the line and it jerks him to full awakening, "Kris... you're crying..."
"I regret not spending more time with you and fighting with you often. I'm really sorry..."
Tao sniffles and wipes a tear running down his cheek, "Why do you apologize now? Couldn't you have talked to me when you're still here? Kris... I would forgive you over and over again..."
"Because I know that even if I apologize when I'm there, we'll end up fighting again, give or take three days after. I told you the space will be good for you, but I think I needed it more. I'm realizing a lot of things now and I just... I love you. We're gonna be stronger and we're gonna be better partners."
"I'm sure we will be."
There's a brief silence between with neither of them speaking. Tao can hear Kris' uneven breathing and he knows something is bothering his fiancé. Tao takes a deep breath and initiates, "Is there something you want to ask me?"
"You love me, don't you? When I asked you to marry me, you really meant it when you said 'yes', right?"
Tao scrunches his brows and nods his head even if Kris can't see him, "Yes. To everything. Is something wrong?"
There is silence on the other line again and Tao can hear Kris breathe a sigh of relief, "Nothing's wrong. I love you. You should go back to sleep."
"Love you, too. Skype me later."
"Will do. Good night, babe."
"It's already 12:40 am here on a Monday. What's your timezone?"
Kris laughs before speaking, "I left on a Sunday mid-morning and came on a Sunday. It's 8:40 in the morning here, my love."
Tao chuckles and smiles, "Good morning, babe. It's time to sleep."
-----
To say that their long-distance relationship is easy is an understatement. The promised phone calls are barely an hour long because of the difference in timezone. Kris is barely awake when he gets to check on Tao when his fiancé happens to be home early after his classes.
It's one of those lucky weekends 3 weeks after Kris has left that they are able to meet half way and talk properly over Skype.
Tao is smiling when the connection finally connects and Kris' naked torso comes into view. "Hey babe."
'Hi. Give me a minute? I just got out of the shower.'
Tao chuckles and watches as Kris moves about inside his bedroom with just a towel hanging dangerously low on his waist, "Where have you been?"
'From my part-time job. Did I mention that to you?'
"Hmn. I don't think so..." Tao checks his watch and it's 1:30 in the afternoon in Seoul. He checks the clock on his phone showing the time in Vancouver and scrunches his brows, "It's already 9:30 in the evening on a Friday night there. Kinda late. What's your part-time job? Keep the shirt off and come closer to the screen."
Kris sits in front of the camera and smiles at Tao, "It's only fair that I ask you to remove your shirt, too."
Tao smirks and removes his shirt, "Well? Aren't you answering my question?"
"Well, I'm working as a barista across my apartment. Only for a while since I mentioned before that I'm waiting for the call of the job I applied for in a law firm here, remember?"
"There must be a lot of girls oggling you." Tao pouts and Kris chuckles, "Babe, I wear my ring all the time. No worries."
"I need to tell you something."
Kris raises an eyebrow and waits for Tao to continue. The younger bites his lower lip before speaking again, "The photography club I joined is going on a trip to Jeju for 3 days. We leave on Wednesday and we'll come back Friday."
"Okay. Why do you sound so scared to tell me?"
"I... I just assumed you wont let me leave."
Kris laughs and Tao pouts, "What's funny?"
"Babe, I know that your new major will take you places. I told you, remember? When I flew here in Canada, I have given you enough freedom to explore and hone your skills. Go out and see the world."
"You will really let me?!"
"Yes. Don't let me hinder you from unleashing your full potential."
"I love you! Thank you!"
Kris smiles and checks his watch, "I gotta go, babe. I'm a little exhausted..."
Tao pouts and Kris clears his throat, "Talk to me until I fall asleep?"
Tao nods with a smile. The older takes his laptop and brings it to his bed where the monitor is focused on him as he lays his head on the pillow. Once he is properly positioned, he stares at Tao who hasn't taken his eyes off of him from when he transferred from his desk to his bed, "What are you thinking of?"
"That I really miss you. A whole lot." Tao sighs and Kris smiles lazily at him, "I haven't slept next to you for three weeks now..."
Kris hums in response, Tao keeps on, "6 months is 6 months and we still have 5 months to go before we see each other again..."
"I wanna see you too. In the flesh, where I can hold your hand and kiss your lips. This is hard for me, too. That is why I want you to enjoy other things and explore the world. Take your mind off things and before we both know it, I'll be home."
"I can't wait..."
-----
The weeks pass by with the both of them talking less and less with Tao going out on photography shoots with his classmates and Ena while Kris started his work as paralegal in the law firm he applied in. It's one of those rare times that Baekhyun is able to catch Tao in his apartment one Sunday afternoon.
Tao is sorting out his printed pictures while Baekhyun looks at the ones still in a box, "Wow. You've been really busy, huh?"
"Yeah. You could say that. The club's really nice and we've been going to a lot of places I didn't know exists in South Korea." Tao responds without looking up from what he's doing.
"Who took these pictures of you? They're beautiful."
"Ena. He gave me copies."
Baekhyun puts Tao's pictures back into the box and silently browses through the pictures of the club members. He scrunches his brows to the fact that in every picture, Ena seems to be beside Tao a lot and there are pictures of the both of them alone candidly taken by other members of the club.
"How long has it been since Kris left?"
Tao hums as if thinking of an answer before speaking again, "3 months."
Baekhyun returns the pictures in the box again and turns on the TV, "How are you both doing together?"
"He's working in a law firm." Tao checks his phone and continues, "It's 9 in a Saturday morning there, we can try talking to him. He might be home."
"You don't usually talk?"
Tao shrugs his shoulders and takes his laptop from under the coffee table, "Well, we talk when we can. I've been out and about lately while he's been working 2 jobs. He didn't quit the barista thing."
"I see. Just like old times, huh?"
Tao raises an eyebrow while waiting for Skype to connect to Kris' account, Baekhyun laughs, "You're both living your own lives again. Like before."
"He gave me enough freedom. He said so himself. We're doing fine."
"I'm glad to hear that." Baekhyun smiles and ruffles Tao's hair just in time for Kris to finally answer the Skype call.
"Ei Kris! How's it going there, buddy?" Baekhyun greets Kris and the other male just raises his mug of coffee, "Just woke up? Where's my baby?"
"I'm here, babe. A little busy." Tao smiles and waves at the camera, Baekhyun raises an eyebrow as he looks at Tao and turns his attention back to Kris, "We're takin' real good care of little Tao-er!"
"Glad to hear. How are you and Chanyeol? Found an apartment together?"
Baekhyun nods enthusiastically and Tao furrows his brows with the conversation, "We're getting there, Canada Boy."
"Good for the both of you. Can I talk to Tao for a bit?"
"Of course!" Baekhyun moves the laptop so that it will face Tao and the younger smiles at Kris, "How are you, babe?"
"I'm good. We have a huge divorce case in our office right now. The governor caught his wife in an ellicit affair with their official photographer. It's such a huge frenzy here."
"That's good. I mean, you can hone your skills and maybe decide to be a lawyer someday, right?" Tao tells Kris and the older sighs, "It's an abomination. Cheating. I mean, if you don't love your lover, tell him, her, whatever. At least nobody gets shit on their heads."
"You hate cheaters, Kris?" Baekhyun interrupts and Kris nods, "My father cheated on my mother. Tao knows how I hate cheaters. Despicable creatures. Hey, Baek. Humor me."
"Go on."
"What will you do if Chanyeol cheated on you?"
"There will be a dick served in cold plate and that dick wont be mine." All three of them laughs and Baekhyun smirks, "Lemme humor you back. What if Tao cheats on you?"
Kris stares at Baekhyun then at Tao, "I wont hurt him. I'll leave him and remove myself from his life completely."
Tao chuckles next to Baekhyun and just rolls his eyes, "That's not gonna happen, ever."
"I'm confident it won't." Kris smiles from the screen and Baekhyun fakes gagging, "Cheesy. Ew."
"How do you still have time doing that barista thing, though?" Tao asks and Kris checks his watch, "I do it on weekends. Which reminds me, I have my shift in an hour. Gotta go!"
"Okay. Love you, babe!"
"Love you." Kris kisses the screen and Tao does the same, Baekhyun almost faints in utter horror. "YOU'RE GROSS."
"Shut up."
The both of them turns quiet and Baekhyun decides to leave, "I'm gonna go ahead, will you be okay alone?"
"I'm getting by, three months now."
-----
For the coming weeks that follow, Tao becomes unreachable even to his friends in Seoul. Sometimes, in the rarest of moments, Baekhyun greets him when they bump by each other in the streets. Their schedules rarely match and their buildings are different now, as the days go on, their friends are becoming stranger to Tao.
"Should we be concerned?" Sehun asks while out having lunch with his boyfriend and their friends, "I havent spent any time with him since forever."
"Since Kris left." Luhan adds and Sehun nods, "That's almost 5 months already."
"He's alive, that's for sure." Jongdae comments and Chanyeol glares at him. The tallest shakes his head in disbelief, "Kris will kill me. I promised him I'll take care of Tao and I barely see the guy."
"I was able to see him 2 months ago. He's fine. He goes to different places with Ena. He's fine."
"Two months is two months. 60 days and a lot can happen." Kyungsoo sighs and looks at his friends, "And he's with Ena. People are talking already."
"Already?" Luhan asks and Jongin responds, "I have this co-member in the dance club who asked about Tao. She had this massive crush on Kris way back and she said she saw Tao walked out of his apartment with the same guy. Three times now. She said she knows their place coz she kind of stalked Kris even when he and Tao are already a couple."
"Hold up! He brings Ena in their apartment?!" Chanyeol gasps and Baekhyun had to restrain him, "That's bullshit. Kris will definitely kill me the worst way possible."
Luhan shakes his head and sighs, "What do we do? It's not like we can control Tao's life, but I guess we'd appreciate it better if he's more honest with us. We're his friends. We're his friends first before we are Kris'."
"We'll talk to him tomorrow. We have to go now." Baekhyun stands and takes Chanyeol's hand, "I'll call him tomorrow morning. If his schedule hasn't changed, I'm sure he still had classes until 9."
"It's Friday! Come on! Stay late!" Sehun tells the couple but Baekhyun frowns, "I'm horny!"
"Fuck it, Baekhyun!" Jongin facepalms and Baekhyun drags his boyfriend out. The couple quietly returns to their apartment and they see Tao coming out of the campus, "Tao!"
The younger Chinese turns to them and Baekhyun runs to him, "Are you free tomorrow?"
"I think so. What's up?"
"We miss you, panda! Let's have lunch in our apartment! We havent had a decent party yet!"
"Sure!" Tao smiles and checks his watch, "I'm gonna go! Quite late!"
Baekhyun and Chanyeol bid their goodbyes and watches Tao leave. Tao walks silently along the streets and heads inside the building, the receptionist greets him with a huge smile which he thinks is a little weird but he goes ahead and smiles back. He walks through the corridor and finds his apartment door slightly open. His heart beat goes faster and runs inside to find a tall surprise in the middle of the living room.
"Kris?!"
Kris turns to him but Tao steps back a little when he notes that Kris is not smiling, he's angry and it scares Tao.
"Were you cheating on me?"
"What?!"
"I came home to surprise you and these welcome me here?!" Kris throws pictures of Tao and Ena together taken from their trips - the same ones Baekhyun found a few months back, "And this shirt is not mine, nor is it yours." Kris throws the article of clothing on the floor.
"Kris, let me explain!"
"You want to explain? Tao, I left you so that you and I can think. I gave you freedom so you can find yourself, I went to Canada for our future. I did not leave you so you can cheat on me!"
"I'm not cheating on you!" Tao yells and Kris runs his hand over his face, "You expect me to believe that? You really expect me to believe that?!"
"I expect you to trust me!" Tao begs and he takes a step forward, "Kris, you're here now. Please, listen..."
Their conversation is cut off when their apartment door opens, "Tao, I brought us dinner. Thought you might be..." Ena stops on his track and it all happens too fast. Kris runs past Tao and pulls Ena inside before a punch lands on the Japanese's face.
"Kris! Stop! Stop! You're gonna kill him!" Tao tries to break the fight but the older male pushes him away and continues to punch Ena senseless. Tao immediately rummages his bag and calls the first person he can.
"HELP ME! HE'S GONNA KILL ENA!!"
'Who's gonna kill who?!'
"Kris!!!"
The line goes dead and Tao tries to pull Kris away from Ena again, "Kris! Stop! Stop!!!"
Ena takes the momentum to land a punch on Kris' face and this time the Japanese takes the upper hand, "Ena! Don't hurt him!"
Tao tries to separate them again but is once again brushed aside, Jongin immediately runs past him and pulls Ena away from Kris while Sehun takes Kris to the side. Luhan and Kyungsoo helps each their boyfriends while Jongdae takes Tao with him. The bloodied males try to pry themselves away from their restraints but the tension in the air goes thicker and thicker.
"Nobody's dead yet, right?!" Baekhyun and Chanyeol finally arrives and they stop dead on their tracks when the scene finally gets clearer since the both of them ran as fast as they could and called their friends on the way since they're nearer.
"Get the fuck out of my apartment." Kris tells Ena but the Japanese smirks, "This is the guy you're gonna marry, Tao?" Ena wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, "I told you a thousand times I'm better than him."
"Ena, just... Leave." Tao mumbles and Ena pries himself from Jongin and Kyungsoo; the couple lets him, knowing full well that Ena will not try to land another punch again, "Well, Mr. Wu, if you are smart, you should have known better than to leave Tao behind." Ena gives Kris a final glare then taps Tao's shoulder, "I'll see you on Monday." the Japanese walks past the others and finally leaves the apartment.
"Nobody fucking speak." Kyungsoo starts and tells Jongin to get a first aid kit. Luhan and Sehun sits Kris on the sofa while Baekhyun and Jongdae takes Tao to the kitchen since the younger Chinese is crying uncontrollably. Chanyeol sits across Kris but neither of them are speaking.
Kyungsoo treats Kris' cuts and bruises, aside from Tao's sobs and Kris hissing from the pain of the antiseptic, the silence envelops everyone. Once Kris is all patched up, the tension builds again and Kris stands up from the sofa.
Tao looks up from where he's seated and walks out of the kitchen. "Kris..."
The older Chinese goes to the bedroom and returns with his suitcase in tow, "Where are you going?! You just got back!" Tao yells and Kris sighs, "I can't even look at you. You... You're disgusting."
"Calm down, Kris." Chanyeol stops Kris from leaving and Tao yells at him, "That's it?! You're really not talking to me?!"
"You cheated on me. It's a done deal." Kris nods his head then takes a step ahead, "You walk out that door then don't bother ever coming back!" Tao yells again but Kris walks ahead and Chanyeol follows him.
Tao runs after him, "Fine! Walk away! That's what you always do!!!" Tao closes the door with brutal force that the walls shake and the corkboard from the wall falls to the floor, scattering all their memories to the ground. Tao cries angrily as he picks up everything, his friends quietly help him until he breaks down and Baekhyun hugs him so he can cry better.
"He's gonna come back, right?" Tao asks and his friends can only nod.
The rest decides it's best that Baekhyun is left with Tao. They also decide not to talk to Tao about what happened too, to give him enough time to rest. They're also assured of Kris' safety when Chanyeol calls Baekhyun to tell him that Kris will be spending the night in their apartment.
Baekhyun leaves the following morning only after being assured a thousand times that Tao is okay, that Tao will clean the mess of their apartment and his head so he and Kris can talk when his fiancé returns from clearing his head, too.
Only Kris didn't come back that day.
Or the following day.
Or the day after.
Tao decides not to come to his classes just in case Kris returns and he waits eagerly with each passing day. He leaves voice mails and texts, he emails him but he doesn't get any replies. Tao ignores that fact and instead cooks Kris' favorite food. He's in the middle of preparing the dimsum Kris loves so much when the front door opens, he turns the stove off and rushes out only to see Baekhyun and Chanyeol with Kris' keys.
"Where is he...?"
Baekhyun takes a deep breath and then Tao notices the cardboard boxes theyre holding, "Kris asked us to get some of his stuff. He said you can keep everything else - the TV, the PS3... The apartment. He also said to not worry about the rent until the end of the year, it's been paid already."
"But where is he?!" Tao asks but Chanyeol shakes his head and then walks into the bedroom. Baekhyun hugs Tao, "I talked to him, I tried to make sure he'll talk to you but he just won't..."
Tao cries but heads into the kitchen again. He cooks the food as he lets Chanyeol and Baekhyun take Kris' stuff. About an hour later, the couple is saying goodbye to him. Tao rushes out and hands them containers of food, "Will you at least give this to him? Please? Tell him I love him... That I'm..."
Chanyeol pushes the containers back to Tao, "Sorry. Tao... He's not in the country anymore. He left for Canada yesterday and we're sending his stuff there within the week."
"Did he say anything about me...?"
Baekhyun sighs and hugs Tao, "He said to tell you that he loves you, but he can't accept what happened. He said that he doesn't want to hurt you far more than he had already and that talking will open up wounds and hurt you both more. He will now erase himself from your life, and he also asks that you consider your engagement broken."
"I didn't cheat on him!" Tao cries again, "Ena slept over once because it was raining hard and I asked him to stay. You all know how I hate the rainy weather... He left his shirt to dry and that was it. I wasn't cheating on Kris!"
Chanyeol sighs and pats Tao's back, "Ena's feelings, did you know about it?"
Tao nods, "He did confess but I told him I'm not leaving Kris... He knows I'm engaged..."
"Ena does, doesn't he? It didn't stop him and you from seeing each other..." Baekhyun comments and sighs.
"He's my friend!"
"We're your friends, too. You stopped seeing us, Tao. We warned you about this... You may not have cheated on Kris, but you may as well have." Baekhyun sighs and takes the boxes and heads out. Chanyeol hugs Tao, "Don't be a stranger, Tao. We are still your friends, as always, no sides taken. Baekhyun's just a little upset because he keeps believing himself that he could have prevented this from happening."
"... He's not really coming back?"
Chanyeol shakes his head then takes something from his pocket, "He also told me to give this to you." Chanyeol takes Tao's hand and closes it into a fist after. The other male walks out of the apartment and Tao is left crying on the floor. He doesn't have to open his fist to know what Chanyeol has handed to him.
The metal is cold against his palm but it hurts so much it feels like he's burning from the pain of the silver band Kris used to wear but no longer.
-------------------------
Author's Notes: SEVEN MONTHS!!!! Took me seven months to do an actual update. No. This update's been a WIP for months too. I just am able to finish it last night. That's how lazy I truly am. Anyway, love you guys!
Chapters: 08/09
Author: paranoiascreams
Genre: fluff, romance, angst
Warning: unbeta'd
Rating: NC-17 for this chapter
Pairings/Characters: Kris x Tao
Synopsis: Two people in love can't always be together; Promises of forever are easier said than done.
Disclaimer: This is the sequel of Kris and Tao for the completed chaptered TaoRis fic, " So, We're Kind of a Little Clichéd too". Aside from that story i own nobody and anything else.
[01] [02] [03] [04] [05] [06] [07]
Tao watches from the bed while Kris packs his bag from one side of the bedroom. His fiance leaves the day after tomorrow and Tao feels lonely and angry at the same time. He sighs for the millionth time maybe and Kris looks at him, "Babe... we talked about this."
Tao kicks his feet and turns away from Kris. He covers himself with a blanket and Kris chuckles before stopping what he's doing. He hugs his burrito fiance on the bed and Tao tries to squirm away, "Babe, you're throwing a tantrum."
"I don't want you to go. Please stay."
Kris sighs and hugs him tighter. He stays silent and he hears the quiet sobs coming from under the covers. He hugs Tao tighter and presses his forehead against the material, "I want to stay, you know I wouldn't leave you if I could..."
"Let me out... I wanna see you..." Tao whispers and Kris shifts a little so that Tao can remove the blanket covering his face. The younger faces his fiance with tear-stricken cheeks and Kris dies at the sight. Tao's lips tremble and he cries again, Kris wipes his tears away with his thumbs and peppers him with butterfly kisses. He whispers comforting words to Tao but the younger wont have any of it. Tao wraps his arms around Kris's neck and cries on his shoulder, "Kris..."
"I'm still here, right? Let's make the best of it."
"Canada is so far away..."
"I will call you everyday. You wont miss me."
Tao furrows his brows and cries harder, "I miss you already."
"You'll be fine." Kris kisses Tao and pulls him closer to his chest. He lets the younger cry his heart out until Tao finally falls asleep from exhaustion. Kris quietly pulls himself away from Tao and continues packing his stuff. There's still at least 48 hours before he leaves and he thinks it's a lot of time to spend before he finally flies out of South Korea.
Their friends show up that night for a surprise getaway party, Kyungsoo, Luhan, and Yixing cooked food while Minseok, Jongdae, and Chanyeol took care of the booze. Baekhyun, Jongin, and Sehun just came to party. Kris is glad for the party though because Tao is finally laughing and smiling with their friends, and he's really glad that their friends are around to watch over his fiancé while he is out of the country.
"Hey, Chanyeol."
The tall Korean turns to Kris and raises an eyebrow, "What is it?"
"Take care of Tao, okay? He's still a kid and I'm sure, even without him telling me, he's afraid to let me go because he's scared to be alone."
Chanyeol watches Tao with their friends and turns to Kris again, "Are you sure about leaving Tao behind?"
"Why? Is there something I don't know?"
Chanyeol shakes his head and smiles awkwardly at Kris, "No. Nothing of importance. We're just making big of something irrelevant."
Kris raises an eyebrow and Chanyeol waves his hands around in front of the older male, "Just nevermind what I said. I think the alcohol is kicking in. Tao will be in our care so you don't have to worry. We'll make sure nothing bad happens to your little darling."
"Thank you." Kris hugs Chanyeol briefly before walking over to Tao and hugging the younger from behind. Tao leans his head over Kris' shoulder as he keeps talking to Luhan about random stuff regarding his new major. Luhan listens eagerly and even Minseok joins them in the conversation.
The night goes on and one by one, either some of their friends go home or already passed out in their living room. Kris cleans the mess while Tao is already asleep in their bedroom. Minseok, Jongdae, and Yixing are asleep so Kris quietly takes the beer bottles and empty trays of food back to the kitchen. He' s almost done when he hears Tao call out his name from their bedroom's doorway, "Come on, babe. It's time to sleep. We'll take care of that in the morning."
Kris smiles and ties the garbage bag close, "I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay..."
Tao retreats back inside and Kris washes his hands. He turns off all the lights in the kitchen and living room before heading inside the bedroom. Tao is waiting for him and he lies on the bed. The younger immediately places himself on top of the other and kisses him fervently. Kris is quick to react by raking his hands through Tao's hair as the kiss goes deeper. They both moan into the kiss as Tao grinds his growing erection against Kris'. "They might hear..." Kris whispers between their kisses, Tao moves his hips and smiles at him, "Let them. This is our home, we'll do what we want..."
Kris sits up and kisses Tao as he unbuttons the younger's pajama top. Tao's breath hitches when Kris starts sucking on a nipple while he slowly grinds his hips against Kris' throbbing member. "Kris..." He moans as he grabs onto the older's hair and yanks his face up for a kiss. They keep kissing as the older lifts Tao a little so he can remove the younger's pants and boxers. Tao moans loudly when Kris' long fingers curl around his hard cock, "God... oh my god..." Tao bites his lower lip as Kris pumps his cock. "Tao..."
"Kris... please..." Tao moans and stops Kris' hand, "I need you inside me before I come..."
Kris smirks and kisses Tao before flipping their positions, Tao spreads his legs as the other removes his pants and briefs. Kris rummages the bedside table and takes out a bottle of lube. He generously coats his fingers and Tao shivers when a cold digit enters his hole, "Kris... I..."
"You're mine. Only ever mine..." Kris whispers as he trails kisses from Tao's jaw, down to his neck and all the way to his chest, "Never ever let anybody see you as I do..."
"No one else.... ah..." Tao arches his back when a second digit enters him and starts stretching his hole, "I am yours... only ever yours..."
Kris smiles and kisses Tao on the lips as he lifts the younger's legs higher. He doesn't cut the kiss and when his throbbing cock enters Tao, the younger bites Kris' lower lip and he tastes blood. "Kris... fuck. I'm gonna miss you inside me..."
"I'll make sure you never forget tonight, Huang Zitao..." Kris whispers against his ear and the older starts thrusting his cock hard inside Tao's hole. The younger thrashes his head in pleasure as Kris keeps hitting his sweet spot - his moans turn into muffled screams of his fiancé's name over and over again. "Oh my god... harder... fuck. Kris... oh my god... Kris!" Tao yelps when Kris starts stroking his neglected member and the younger arches his back in pure pleasure, "Tao... fuck..."
Tao pulls Kris into a kiss - it's messy, and pure bliss at the same time as their tongues tangle inside their mouths while Kris thrusts harder and faster. "Gonna come... Kris..."
"Tao... I'm close. Fucking close..." Kris thrusts deeper and Tao claws his nails on the blond's back. "I love you, Kris. I love you..."
Kris kisses Tao as he pumps the younger's cock in sync with his thrusts, "I love you, Tao. Only you..."
With a final thrust and flick of the wrist, they reach their orgasms together and Kris plops himself on top of Tao, "I love you, Huang Zitao... I can't wait to marry you..."
"Kris..." Tao sobs and pulls Kris closer in a hug, he moans when Kris' limp cock pushes inside him, "I'm going to miss making love with you... I'll miss waking up to your sleeping face and I'll miss our kisses mixed with morning breath."
"6 months is not a long time..." Kris nuzzles his nose on Tao's neck, "You won't even realize how time moves too fast..."
"What do you wanna do once we get married...?"
"We're gonna adopt."
"Adopt? You want us to have a kid...?" Tao's lip trembles and Kris hums a response, "You're going to be an awesome parent, Tao."
"Kris... I do want a kid... I thought you aren't keen on the idea... But yeah... a daughter. I want a little princess."
"We'll have her. Soon, we'll have her."
-----
"Give us a warning, wont you?!" Jongdae yells at Kris when he steps out of their bedroom the next day. The tall Chinese laughs it off and heads straight to the kitchen where Yixing made himself at home and is preparing breakfast, "Sure you wanna leave that ass behind?"
"Nope." Kris tells him and prepares his cup of coffee. "I leave first thing in the morning. I can't even fathom the thought that I really am leaving Tao behind."
Minseok steps into the kitchen and leans against its doorframe, "You have less than 20 hours to change your mind."
"Please dont even enable the thought. I'm sure you'll all watch out over Tao. I'm confident that 6 months will go by without a hitch."
Jongdae and Minseok looks at each other while Yixing turns to the stove. Kris doesn't notice the tension in the air and opts to finish his drink, "Yixing-mama, when's breakfast gonna be done?" Kris teases and Yixing scoffs, "I am not the mother of the group, Kyungsoo is."
"Babe...?"
The boys turn to the doorway to find Tao wearing Kris' sweatshirt and rubbing the sleep off his eyes, "I thought you left without saying goodbye..." Kris opens his arms wide while their friends just look on, "I wont do that to you, babe. Come here..."
Tao sobs and rushes towards Kris with a pout. He scrambles to his feet and settles on Kris' lap as he pulls on the older closer just to make sure his fiancé is still there. Yixing turns away while the other two just keeps staring, "Is he always like this in the morning?" Jongdae whispers and Kris nods.
"I've witnessed this a couple of times whenever I slept over. Tao is a sleepwalking crybaby and is magnetized to Kris' arms when he wakes up." Yixing comments since he knows Tao will ignore whatever he says and just focus on his fiancé. Yixing serves the food and finds Tao asleep on Kris' chest, "And that, too. He falls asleep right after crying."
Minseok glares at Kris then sits on the chair across him, "You are marrying a baby, you pedophile."
"And he's also abandoning said child." Jongdae adds and Kris raises an eyebrow, "You both realize you are eating breakfast in my house?"
"I'm sure it's safe since Yixing cooked it." Minseok tells him and eats a mouthful of eggs, Yixing smirks and grins mischievously at the two Koreans across him, "I'm on their side, though."
"Eeeehhhhhh?!" Jongdae exclaims and Tao opens an eye, "I'm hungry..." Kris leans down to kiss the side of Tao's head and whispers, "Yixing cooked breakfast. Come on, let's eat..."
Tao nods and straightens his back but remains on Kris' lap. The older feeds Tao and the younger eats what he's fed. Minseok furrows his brows and whispers on Jongdae's ear, "I sure am glad I don't witness this everyday."
Jongdae nods as he keeps eating. He stops when he finds Tao staring at him and Minseok with a huge grin, "Hey... Minseok-hyung, are you gay yet?"
Minseok spits his coffee which Yixing unfortunately wasn't able to avoid, the unfortunate Chinese immediately runs to the sink to wash up while Jongdae keeps laughing, "Where did that come from?!" Minseok asks, flabbergasted.
Tao smiles and points at Jongdae and Minseok, "You two look good together. I'm rooting for the both of you."
Kris laughs and Yixing joins him, "I'm rooting for the both of you, too."
"I AM NOT GAY!" Minseok defends himself and looks at Jongdae, "You and me?"
"Please, hyung. In your dreams." Jongdae turns away from Minseok but the three Chinese don't miss the blush tainting both Koreans' cheeks.
-----
"Stay. Stay. Fucking stay."
"Babe. I need to go. I board in 15 minutes."
"I DONT WANT YOU TO GO!!!!" Tao screams and hugs Kris tighter despite the strange looks they're both getting from the people in the airport. Kris pushes Tao and kisses him, "I love you. I'll call you the moment I land in Canada."
Tao cries and kisses Kris again, "You promised you'll never leave me behind!"
"I'm not leaving you behind. I'm going to come back."
Tao stomps his feet and cries on Kris shoulder, Jongdae tsks and Minseok just stares, "I have no idea why the two of us were asked to send you to the airport."
"Because we're rooting for the both of you?" Kris teases the two as he rocks Tao's body so he will calm down. Jongdae flips Kris the bird and Minseok just sighs before he pulls Tao away from Kris, "Time to let your prince leave."
"BUT HYUNG!!!" Tao struggles to pull himself away from Minseok but the Korean is surprisingly strong, "Go ahead, Kris. We'll restrain this kid."
Kris hugs Jongdae and then Minseok with Tao sandwiched between them, "Please take care of him, okay?" Kris turns to the crying Tao and kisses him, "I'll come back. You'll get used to this, okay?"
"N... not okay..."
Kris smiles and kisses Tao again, "I love you."
"... Love you, too."
Kris gives him one last kiss before turning away. He walks faster without looking back so that Tao won't have to see him crying.
-----
It's late at night when Tao's phone rings. He answers the call and he sobs immediately, "Took you so long to call me..."
"I just landed. I'm so sorry. I went straight to the apartment mom helped me find first before calling. How are you...?"
"I miss you."
"Missing you, too."
"I can't believe you really left. It's quite different when you're just cooped up in your office because I know you're just here, in Seoul. You're miles and miles away from me now and I hate that fact."
"We'll both get used to this. I can't bear not seeing you, too and I just... Tao... I have so much to apologize for..."
Tao sits up on the bed and turns on the lamp, there's a soft sob from the other end of the line and it jerks him to full awakening, "Kris... you're crying..."
"I regret not spending more time with you and fighting with you often. I'm really sorry..."
Tao sniffles and wipes a tear running down his cheek, "Why do you apologize now? Couldn't you have talked to me when you're still here? Kris... I would forgive you over and over again..."
"Because I know that even if I apologize when I'm there, we'll end up fighting again, give or take three days after. I told you the space will be good for you, but I think I needed it more. I'm realizing a lot of things now and I just... I love you. We're gonna be stronger and we're gonna be better partners."
"I'm sure we will be."
There's a brief silence between with neither of them speaking. Tao can hear Kris' uneven breathing and he knows something is bothering his fiancé. Tao takes a deep breath and initiates, "Is there something you want to ask me?"
"You love me, don't you? When I asked you to marry me, you really meant it when you said 'yes', right?"
Tao scrunches his brows and nods his head even if Kris can't see him, "Yes. To everything. Is something wrong?"
There is silence on the other line again and Tao can hear Kris breathe a sigh of relief, "Nothing's wrong. I love you. You should go back to sleep."
"Love you, too. Skype me later."
"Will do. Good night, babe."
"It's already 12:40 am here on a Monday. What's your timezone?"
Kris laughs before speaking, "I left on a Sunday mid-morning and came on a Sunday. It's 8:40 in the morning here, my love."
Tao chuckles and smiles, "Good morning, babe. It's time to sleep."
-----
To say that their long-distance relationship is easy is an understatement. The promised phone calls are barely an hour long because of the difference in timezone. Kris is barely awake when he gets to check on Tao when his fiancé happens to be home early after his classes.
It's one of those lucky weekends 3 weeks after Kris has left that they are able to meet half way and talk properly over Skype.
Tao is smiling when the connection finally connects and Kris' naked torso comes into view. "Hey babe."
'Hi. Give me a minute? I just got out of the shower.'
Tao chuckles and watches as Kris moves about inside his bedroom with just a towel hanging dangerously low on his waist, "Where have you been?"
'From my part-time job. Did I mention that to you?'
"Hmn. I don't think so..." Tao checks his watch and it's 1:30 in the afternoon in Seoul. He checks the clock on his phone showing the time in Vancouver and scrunches his brows, "It's already 9:30 in the evening on a Friday night there. Kinda late. What's your part-time job? Keep the shirt off and come closer to the screen."
Kris sits in front of the camera and smiles at Tao, "It's only fair that I ask you to remove your shirt, too."
Tao smirks and removes his shirt, "Well? Aren't you answering my question?"
"Well, I'm working as a barista across my apartment. Only for a while since I mentioned before that I'm waiting for the call of the job I applied for in a law firm here, remember?"
"There must be a lot of girls oggling you." Tao pouts and Kris chuckles, "Babe, I wear my ring all the time. No worries."
"I need to tell you something."
Kris raises an eyebrow and waits for Tao to continue. The younger bites his lower lip before speaking again, "The photography club I joined is going on a trip to Jeju for 3 days. We leave on Wednesday and we'll come back Friday."
"Okay. Why do you sound so scared to tell me?"
"I... I just assumed you wont let me leave."
Kris laughs and Tao pouts, "What's funny?"
"Babe, I know that your new major will take you places. I told you, remember? When I flew here in Canada, I have given you enough freedom to explore and hone your skills. Go out and see the world."
"You will really let me?!"
"Yes. Don't let me hinder you from unleashing your full potential."
"I love you! Thank you!"
Kris smiles and checks his watch, "I gotta go, babe. I'm a little exhausted..."
Tao pouts and Kris clears his throat, "Talk to me until I fall asleep?"
Tao nods with a smile. The older takes his laptop and brings it to his bed where the monitor is focused on him as he lays his head on the pillow. Once he is properly positioned, he stares at Tao who hasn't taken his eyes off of him from when he transferred from his desk to his bed, "What are you thinking of?"
"That I really miss you. A whole lot." Tao sighs and Kris smiles lazily at him, "I haven't slept next to you for three weeks now..."
Kris hums in response, Tao keeps on, "6 months is 6 months and we still have 5 months to go before we see each other again..."
"I wanna see you too. In the flesh, where I can hold your hand and kiss your lips. This is hard for me, too. That is why I want you to enjoy other things and explore the world. Take your mind off things and before we both know it, I'll be home."
"I can't wait..."
-----
The weeks pass by with the both of them talking less and less with Tao going out on photography shoots with his classmates and Ena while Kris started his work as paralegal in the law firm he applied in. It's one of those rare times that Baekhyun is able to catch Tao in his apartment one Sunday afternoon.
Tao is sorting out his printed pictures while Baekhyun looks at the ones still in a box, "Wow. You've been really busy, huh?"
"Yeah. You could say that. The club's really nice and we've been going to a lot of places I didn't know exists in South Korea." Tao responds without looking up from what he's doing.
"Who took these pictures of you? They're beautiful."
"Ena. He gave me copies."
Baekhyun puts Tao's pictures back into the box and silently browses through the pictures of the club members. He scrunches his brows to the fact that in every picture, Ena seems to be beside Tao a lot and there are pictures of the both of them alone candidly taken by other members of the club.
"How long has it been since Kris left?"
Tao hums as if thinking of an answer before speaking again, "3 months."
Baekhyun returns the pictures in the box again and turns on the TV, "How are you both doing together?"
"He's working in a law firm." Tao checks his phone and continues, "It's 9 in a Saturday morning there, we can try talking to him. He might be home."
"You don't usually talk?"
Tao shrugs his shoulders and takes his laptop from under the coffee table, "Well, we talk when we can. I've been out and about lately while he's been working 2 jobs. He didn't quit the barista thing."
"I see. Just like old times, huh?"
Tao raises an eyebrow while waiting for Skype to connect to Kris' account, Baekhyun laughs, "You're both living your own lives again. Like before."
"He gave me enough freedom. He said so himself. We're doing fine."
"I'm glad to hear that." Baekhyun smiles and ruffles Tao's hair just in time for Kris to finally answer the Skype call.
"Ei Kris! How's it going there, buddy?" Baekhyun greets Kris and the other male just raises his mug of coffee, "Just woke up? Where's my baby?"
"I'm here, babe. A little busy." Tao smiles and waves at the camera, Baekhyun raises an eyebrow as he looks at Tao and turns his attention back to Kris, "We're takin' real good care of little Tao-er!"
"Glad to hear. How are you and Chanyeol? Found an apartment together?"
Baekhyun nods enthusiastically and Tao furrows his brows with the conversation, "We're getting there, Canada Boy."
"Good for the both of you. Can I talk to Tao for a bit?"
"Of course!" Baekhyun moves the laptop so that it will face Tao and the younger smiles at Kris, "How are you, babe?"
"I'm good. We have a huge divorce case in our office right now. The governor caught his wife in an ellicit affair with their official photographer. It's such a huge frenzy here."
"That's good. I mean, you can hone your skills and maybe decide to be a lawyer someday, right?" Tao tells Kris and the older sighs, "It's an abomination. Cheating. I mean, if you don't love your lover, tell him, her, whatever. At least nobody gets shit on their heads."
"You hate cheaters, Kris?" Baekhyun interrupts and Kris nods, "My father cheated on my mother. Tao knows how I hate cheaters. Despicable creatures. Hey, Baek. Humor me."
"Go on."
"What will you do if Chanyeol cheated on you?"
"There will be a dick served in cold plate and that dick wont be mine." All three of them laughs and Baekhyun smirks, "Lemme humor you back. What if Tao cheats on you?"
Kris stares at Baekhyun then at Tao, "I wont hurt him. I'll leave him and remove myself from his life completely."
Tao chuckles next to Baekhyun and just rolls his eyes, "That's not gonna happen, ever."
"I'm confident it won't." Kris smiles from the screen and Baekhyun fakes gagging, "Cheesy. Ew."
"How do you still have time doing that barista thing, though?" Tao asks and Kris checks his watch, "I do it on weekends. Which reminds me, I have my shift in an hour. Gotta go!"
"Okay. Love you, babe!"
"Love you." Kris kisses the screen and Tao does the same, Baekhyun almost faints in utter horror. "YOU'RE GROSS."
"Shut up."
The both of them turns quiet and Baekhyun decides to leave, "I'm gonna go ahead, will you be okay alone?"
"I'm getting by, three months now."
-----
For the coming weeks that follow, Tao becomes unreachable even to his friends in Seoul. Sometimes, in the rarest of moments, Baekhyun greets him when they bump by each other in the streets. Their schedules rarely match and their buildings are different now, as the days go on, their friends are becoming stranger to Tao.
"Should we be concerned?" Sehun asks while out having lunch with his boyfriend and their friends, "I havent spent any time with him since forever."
"Since Kris left." Luhan adds and Sehun nods, "That's almost 5 months already."
"He's alive, that's for sure." Jongdae comments and Chanyeol glares at him. The tallest shakes his head in disbelief, "Kris will kill me. I promised him I'll take care of Tao and I barely see the guy."
"I was able to see him 2 months ago. He's fine. He goes to different places with Ena. He's fine."
"Two months is two months. 60 days and a lot can happen." Kyungsoo sighs and looks at his friends, "And he's with Ena. People are talking already."
"Already?" Luhan asks and Jongin responds, "I have this co-member in the dance club who asked about Tao. She had this massive crush on Kris way back and she said she saw Tao walked out of his apartment with the same guy. Three times now. She said she knows their place coz she kind of stalked Kris even when he and Tao are already a couple."
"Hold up! He brings Ena in their apartment?!" Chanyeol gasps and Baekhyun had to restrain him, "That's bullshit. Kris will definitely kill me the worst way possible."
Luhan shakes his head and sighs, "What do we do? It's not like we can control Tao's life, but I guess we'd appreciate it better if he's more honest with us. We're his friends. We're his friends first before we are Kris'."
"We'll talk to him tomorrow. We have to go now." Baekhyun stands and takes Chanyeol's hand, "I'll call him tomorrow morning. If his schedule hasn't changed, I'm sure he still had classes until 9."
"It's Friday! Come on! Stay late!" Sehun tells the couple but Baekhyun frowns, "I'm horny!"
"Fuck it, Baekhyun!" Jongin facepalms and Baekhyun drags his boyfriend out. The couple quietly returns to their apartment and they see Tao coming out of the campus, "Tao!"
The younger Chinese turns to them and Baekhyun runs to him, "Are you free tomorrow?"
"I think so. What's up?"
"We miss you, panda! Let's have lunch in our apartment! We havent had a decent party yet!"
"Sure!" Tao smiles and checks his watch, "I'm gonna go! Quite late!"
Baekhyun and Chanyeol bid their goodbyes and watches Tao leave. Tao walks silently along the streets and heads inside the building, the receptionist greets him with a huge smile which he thinks is a little weird but he goes ahead and smiles back. He walks through the corridor and finds his apartment door slightly open. His heart beat goes faster and runs inside to find a tall surprise in the middle of the living room.
"Kris?!"
Kris turns to him but Tao steps back a little when he notes that Kris is not smiling, he's angry and it scares Tao.
"Were you cheating on me?"
"What?!"
"I came home to surprise you and these welcome me here?!" Kris throws pictures of Tao and Ena together taken from their trips - the same ones Baekhyun found a few months back, "And this shirt is not mine, nor is it yours." Kris throws the article of clothing on the floor.
"Kris, let me explain!"
"You want to explain? Tao, I left you so that you and I can think. I gave you freedom so you can find yourself, I went to Canada for our future. I did not leave you so you can cheat on me!"
"I'm not cheating on you!" Tao yells and Kris runs his hand over his face, "You expect me to believe that? You really expect me to believe that?!"
"I expect you to trust me!" Tao begs and he takes a step forward, "Kris, you're here now. Please, listen..."
Their conversation is cut off when their apartment door opens, "Tao, I brought us dinner. Thought you might be..." Ena stops on his track and it all happens too fast. Kris runs past Tao and pulls Ena inside before a punch lands on the Japanese's face.
"Kris! Stop! Stop! You're gonna kill him!" Tao tries to break the fight but the older male pushes him away and continues to punch Ena senseless. Tao immediately rummages his bag and calls the first person he can.
"HELP ME! HE'S GONNA KILL ENA!!"
'Who's gonna kill who?!'
"Kris!!!"
The line goes dead and Tao tries to pull Kris away from Ena again, "Kris! Stop! Stop!!!"
Ena takes the momentum to land a punch on Kris' face and this time the Japanese takes the upper hand, "Ena! Don't hurt him!"
Tao tries to separate them again but is once again brushed aside, Jongin immediately runs past him and pulls Ena away from Kris while Sehun takes Kris to the side. Luhan and Kyungsoo helps each their boyfriends while Jongdae takes Tao with him. The bloodied males try to pry themselves away from their restraints but the tension in the air goes thicker and thicker.
"Nobody's dead yet, right?!" Baekhyun and Chanyeol finally arrives and they stop dead on their tracks when the scene finally gets clearer since the both of them ran as fast as they could and called their friends on the way since they're nearer.
"Get the fuck out of my apartment." Kris tells Ena but the Japanese smirks, "This is the guy you're gonna marry, Tao?" Ena wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, "I told you a thousand times I'm better than him."
"Ena, just... Leave." Tao mumbles and Ena pries himself from Jongin and Kyungsoo; the couple lets him, knowing full well that Ena will not try to land another punch again, "Well, Mr. Wu, if you are smart, you should have known better than to leave Tao behind." Ena gives Kris a final glare then taps Tao's shoulder, "I'll see you on Monday." the Japanese walks past the others and finally leaves the apartment.
"Nobody fucking speak." Kyungsoo starts and tells Jongin to get a first aid kit. Luhan and Sehun sits Kris on the sofa while Baekhyun and Jongdae takes Tao to the kitchen since the younger Chinese is crying uncontrollably. Chanyeol sits across Kris but neither of them are speaking.
Kyungsoo treats Kris' cuts and bruises, aside from Tao's sobs and Kris hissing from the pain of the antiseptic, the silence envelops everyone. Once Kris is all patched up, the tension builds again and Kris stands up from the sofa.
Tao looks up from where he's seated and walks out of the kitchen. "Kris..."
The older Chinese goes to the bedroom and returns with his suitcase in tow, "Where are you going?! You just got back!" Tao yells and Kris sighs, "I can't even look at you. You... You're disgusting."
"Calm down, Kris." Chanyeol stops Kris from leaving and Tao yells at him, "That's it?! You're really not talking to me?!"
"You cheated on me. It's a done deal." Kris nods his head then takes a step ahead, "You walk out that door then don't bother ever coming back!" Tao yells again but Kris walks ahead and Chanyeol follows him.
Tao runs after him, "Fine! Walk away! That's what you always do!!!" Tao closes the door with brutal force that the walls shake and the corkboard from the wall falls to the floor, scattering all their memories to the ground. Tao cries angrily as he picks up everything, his friends quietly help him until he breaks down and Baekhyun hugs him so he can cry better.
"He's gonna come back, right?" Tao asks and his friends can only nod.
The rest decides it's best that Baekhyun is left with Tao. They also decide not to talk to Tao about what happened too, to give him enough time to rest. They're also assured of Kris' safety when Chanyeol calls Baekhyun to tell him that Kris will be spending the night in their apartment.
Baekhyun leaves the following morning only after being assured a thousand times that Tao is okay, that Tao will clean the mess of their apartment and his head so he and Kris can talk when his fiancé returns from clearing his head, too.
Only Kris didn't come back that day.
Or the following day.
Or the day after.
Tao decides not to come to his classes just in case Kris returns and he waits eagerly with each passing day. He leaves voice mails and texts, he emails him but he doesn't get any replies. Tao ignores that fact and instead cooks Kris' favorite food. He's in the middle of preparing the dimsum Kris loves so much when the front door opens, he turns the stove off and rushes out only to see Baekhyun and Chanyeol with Kris' keys.
"Where is he...?"
Baekhyun takes a deep breath and then Tao notices the cardboard boxes theyre holding, "Kris asked us to get some of his stuff. He said you can keep everything else - the TV, the PS3... The apartment. He also said to not worry about the rent until the end of the year, it's been paid already."
"But where is he?!" Tao asks but Chanyeol shakes his head and then walks into the bedroom. Baekhyun hugs Tao, "I talked to him, I tried to make sure he'll talk to you but he just won't..."
Tao cries but heads into the kitchen again. He cooks the food as he lets Chanyeol and Baekhyun take Kris' stuff. About an hour later, the couple is saying goodbye to him. Tao rushes out and hands them containers of food, "Will you at least give this to him? Please? Tell him I love him... That I'm..."
Chanyeol pushes the containers back to Tao, "Sorry. Tao... He's not in the country anymore. He left for Canada yesterday and we're sending his stuff there within the week."
"Did he say anything about me...?"
Baekhyun sighs and hugs Tao, "He said to tell you that he loves you, but he can't accept what happened. He said that he doesn't want to hurt you far more than he had already and that talking will open up wounds and hurt you both more. He will now erase himself from your life, and he also asks that you consider your engagement broken."
"I didn't cheat on him!" Tao cries again, "Ena slept over once because it was raining hard and I asked him to stay. You all know how I hate the rainy weather... He left his shirt to dry and that was it. I wasn't cheating on Kris!"
Chanyeol sighs and pats Tao's back, "Ena's feelings, did you know about it?"
Tao nods, "He did confess but I told him I'm not leaving Kris... He knows I'm engaged..."
"Ena does, doesn't he? It didn't stop him and you from seeing each other..." Baekhyun comments and sighs.
"He's my friend!"
"We're your friends, too. You stopped seeing us, Tao. We warned you about this... You may not have cheated on Kris, but you may as well have." Baekhyun sighs and takes the boxes and heads out. Chanyeol hugs Tao, "Don't be a stranger, Tao. We are still your friends, as always, no sides taken. Baekhyun's just a little upset because he keeps believing himself that he could have prevented this from happening."
"... He's not really coming back?"
Chanyeol shakes his head then takes something from his pocket, "He also told me to give this to you." Chanyeol takes Tao's hand and closes it into a fist after. The other male walks out of the apartment and Tao is left crying on the floor. He doesn't have to open his fist to know what Chanyeol has handed to him.
The metal is cold against his palm but it hurts so much it feels like he's burning from the pain of the silver band Kris used to wear but no longer.
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Author's Notes: SEVEN MONTHS!!!! Took me seven months to do an actual update. No. This update's been a WIP for months too. I just am able to finish it last night. That's how lazy I truly am. Anyway, love you guys!