Take Me There for beastlyshine 3/7

[madelyn93]

Joonmyun is trying a new dish. “This is actually good,” Joonmyun says, tasting the unagidon. Chanyeol is all grins. “I like it.”

Chanyeol has forgotten Joonmyun’s clothes again, even though he’d placed them neatly in a bag, washed and all, in the hall. Joonmyun assured him that it’s fine. They’re sitting in the kitchen of the library that Joonmyun is working at, with take-away from the Japanese restaurant. They decided that it would be nicer to sit here than at the restaurant.

“Of course,” Chanyeol says, chuckling as he eats his own udon. “I recommended it.”

“Did you read out your book yesterday?” Joonmyun asks.

Chanyeol nods. “I liked the ending. Bittersweet and it tugged at my heartstrings.”

“Joonmyun?” a voice says, and they both turn to the door. Chanyeol recognizes the tall man as Kris. “Hi,” Kris says to him, before turning to Joonmyun again. “I have to go pick up my mom’s Chinese friends from the airport today and then drive them to their hotel now, and I forgot about that. Could you take over my shift for a while? I’m sorry, you’re supposed to be having a lunch break.”

“No, it’s okay,” Joonmyun answers without hesitation, putting down his chopsticks and standing up. He looks at Chanyeol and gives him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Chanyeol, you can finish your food and go later if you want to.”

Chanyeol waves at them both with a smile and assures them of that he’s fine before they both go out to the front. He finishes his food slowly while sending messages to Jongin (which mostly are just emoticons or Chanyeol pointing out Jongin’s typos) and leaves after that. Joonmyun is busy playing with the kids in the children’s section so he doesn’t notice Chanyeol, but it’s okay. Chanyeol walks out of the building with a picture of Joonmyun and thinks it’s just because the moment was too pretty not to capture. Joonmyun surrounded by kids in an adorable sweater that is once again too big for him, in the middle of summer, hair messy and eyes disappearing into the biggest smile.

He sends it to Joonmyun when he arrives in his apartment and adds cute joonmyun, are you coming to hear the band playing on friday? if so, i’ll meet you there!

*

It is Friday morning when he receives the text. He’s brushing his teeth and trying to wake up by splashing cold water against his face, when his phone rings loudly. Without thinking much, he stumbles inside his room again and is about to pick up when the caller ends the call. Chanyeol frowns, rubbing his eyes before he looks up on the call list to see that it’s Jinri. He is about to call her back when the phone beeps again.

jinri ♥: Chanyeol, I’m pregnant.

*

“Are you sure you don’t want to go home and rest?” Yixing puts a hand on Chanyeol’s back as he asks this, and the worry is thick in his voice. Chanyeol has been spacing out and looking very tired, perhaps nervous and worried, too, ever since he arrived here. He’d walked in without saying hi, which was weird enough already, because Yixing is used to hearing his loud shout of I’m here! whenever he entered the store. Yixing had let it slide, though, but they’re about to close the store and Chanyeol had been placing back CDs when he suddenly stopped and dropped everything on the floor. They’re lucky none are broken.

“I’m fine,” Chanyeol breathes out now, voice a whisper, and he’s sitting on the floor with his back leaned against the counter. Yixing shakes his head and proceeds to continue where Chanyeol left off with the CDs. “I’m just…I’ve been thinking about stuff.”

“If you don’t want to tell what ‘stuff’ it is that has got you acting like you’re not even you, then that’s okay,” Yixing says, a frown on his face as he tries to look for the right section to place back one Punk album. “But if you’re not feeling well, which I doubt you do, you should go home. There’s always next week, if you want to hear us play. Or tomorrow. We play on Saturdays, too.” Yixing finds the section and puts the album there, and then he’s finished. He turns to Chanyeol.

“I’m really fine.” Chanyeol forces out a smile but Yixing sees through him, still. He drops it.

“As you wish, I’m going to brush away the dust on the shelves.” Yixing’s eyes lingers on him before he goes to the back.

Chanyeol sighs, and stretches out his legs. His head is pounding and he has to close his eyes to concentrate on breathing in and out. Knowing Jinri, she would never tell her own parents and is probably going through this all alone. He still hasn’t called her because it had surprised him too much and he hadn’t known what to say. Something clenches in his chest and he puts a hand on the phone in his pocket.

“Are you really okay?” Yixing comes back with a cloth, eyebrows furrowed as he studies Chanyeol’s face.

“No, it’s just…”

“What’s up?” someone asks, and Chanyeol turns to the door to see Jongin. “Are you guys ready to go?”

“Hi,” Yixing says, and he gives Jongin a quick glance. “I’m just going to brush off some dust here, then gather my stuff so we can go.”

“Where is Baekhyun?” Jongin leans against counter and looks down at Chanyeol on the floor.

“He gave me a message me earlier today and told me he couldn’t come, after all. Family meetings again, probably. He’ll come next time.”

Chanyeol stands up and breathes in, before telling them that he’ll be outside. He has to make a call. He flings his backpack over his shoulder and pats Jongin on the shoulder when he passes him. It’s warm outside tonight, the heat from this morning still lingering. He takes up his phone, finger hovering over Jinri’s name before he pushes the call button. She answers right away.

“You’re a bastard,” she says, voice hoarse and Chanyeol hears that she’s been crying. He laughs a little.

“I was just about to apologize, but you called me bastard, so I guess we’re even now?” Chanyeol says, voice trembling a little. “I was joking. Are you…okay?” He won’t ask her how it happened, or who the child belongs to. She will tell when she is ready.

“I’m not.” She’s taking calming breaths, now, slowly breathing in and slowly breathing out. “I wish you were here.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, and he looks down at his palm. He’d like to hold her hand right now, to calm her. Being alone like that, it must be terrible. “I’ll be able to visit in August. Right now, it’s not possible. I’ve got work and you know I don’t like to ask favors from people. Yixing already gave me six days off at work in August.”

She makes a sound and Chanyeol is not sure if it’s a groan or a whine. “I know,” she says, voice trembling. “Just. Promise to answer my calls.”

Chanyeol chuckles and kicks away a few stones on the ground. “Of course,” he promises.

*

The band is doing sound check and Chanyeol is watching with Jongin by his side on the couch when he feels the space next to him sink as a thigh presses against him, and he turns to his right to see Joonmyun. His hair is ridiculous. “Hi,” Joonmyun says, the corners of his lips pulling up into a tiny smile. Chanyeol can’t hide the wide grin when he reaches up to touch the curls. “Oh, I… I went to the salon. Zitao said curly hair would fit me?”

Chanyeol laughs loudly, causing Jongin to elbow in in the stomach. “Ow,” he snaps at Jongin, but turns back to Joonmyun. “It looks cute.”

There are a faint color of red on both of Joonmyun cheeks as he ignores the compliment and instead leans forward to ask Jongin how he is doing. Chanyeol is stuck in the middle as the two of them talk but the smile is still on his lips. Sometimes, he likes to be quiet and just listen to people as they talk, without speaking. He notices the way Jongin is into the game on his phone, but always forces himself to look up with a smile to answer Joonmyun’s ridiculous questions about his day. Chanyeol chuckles and wishes that he could capture this. Jongin is actually not being a brat.

“Being adorable around your favorite hyung, huh,” Chanyeol whispers to Jongin when Joonmyun walks up to the band instead. “Cute Jongin is very endearing.”

“Shut up!” he hisses, eyes still on his phone but he slaps Chanyeol’s lap with one hand.

The café is soon filled with people and the band is ready to play at 8 PM. He’s sitting in the middle again, with Joonmyun on the right side who’s leaning in too close sometimes and Jongin on the left, who is actually taking up more space on the couch for himself than necessary. Zitao arrives at the end, when they’re finished playing already, and apologizes for it. He had to help his mother with things at her store.

They’re finished packing down stuff and are ready to go when Jongdae suggests they go eat ramen together. Kris rolls his eyes and says it’s too late for that. “I’m hungry, and let’s see this as spending time together and learning to know each other,” Jongdae insists, and pulls the door open for them to go out after saying goodbye to the owner.

“I can’t.” Sehun is putting his phone in his pocket now. “My mom just called me and wanted me at home because dad is out with his friends. But you guys go ahead.”

“I can’t either, I really have to work on that assignment. I have to send it in to my history teacher before Sunday, because I couldn’t finish it in time before summer vacation,” Zitao sighs and says goodbye to them before following Sehun. Chanyeol furrows his eyebrows and wonders why he even dragged himself here just to stay a few minutes. But then Zitao’s fingers wraps around Sehun’s hand and Chanyeol looks away.

Jongdae looks disappointed as he furrows his eyebrows and looks at the people that are left. He glances at Jongin, “Don’t tell me you can’t go, too.”

“It’s not that.” Jongin shrugs and jams his hands in his pockets. “Someone has to drive me home later,” he says, grinning childishly and Joonmyun laughs at him before saying that he can do it.

Jongdae’s frown is replaced with a smile now. “Everyone else can, right?”

Heads are nodding, and Kris rolls his eyes, giving in. Chanyeol ponders about it. He doesn’t have anything to do but he’d really like to rest. But then someone is wrapping an hand around his bicep, pulling him back slightly. “Are you going?” Joonmyun asks, looking at him. His hair is brushing against his eyes and Chanyeol fights back the urge to push them aside.

He licks his upper lip, with Joonmyun’s palm still hot on the back of his arm and nods.

*

“Yixing really can’t eat spicy food even though he’s Chinese,” Joonmyun whispers in Chanyeol’s ear, when Yixing almost shed tears as soon as he eats the ramen. Jongdae had ordered extra spicy for him and is now laughing loudly while he gives Jongin an high-five. Kris is trying to cover the smile on his lips with his big hand and Kyungsoo glares at Jongdae while patting Yixing’s back and giving him water.

Chanyeol thinks this is truly amusing.

He finishes his bowl of ramen faster than anyone and is quiet as he listens to them talk. It’s warming, how Kris seems to be softer now, actually joking around although his jokes are lame, but Kyungsoo laughs at them still while Jongdae points out how boring they are immediately. He ends up getting a few kicks against his small leg under the table many times. Yixing is not very loud, but he does cut in once in a while to reveal Kris’ habits, because they were once roommates, like how he applies stuff on his face every night before he sleeps and looks very uncool. Jongin almost chokes on his noodles when Yixing shows them a photo, and Kris is looking like a grumpy cat.

Joonmyun just laughs at everything while eating very slowly and he has soup on his cheek. Chanyeol reaches out with paper to wipe it away, causing Joonmyun to glance at him with questioning eyes. “You had some soup there,” Chanyeol explains, grin wide and then puts a hand on his shoulder. “You eat so slowly.”

“I can’t eat fast,” Joonmyun says, blushing.

“He’s the slowest eater,” Jongdae laughs. “He always had to throw away his lunch in high school, because the lunch breaks were over already before he could finish his food and he doesn’t even talk while eating.”

“I can tell.” Chanyeol nods, smiling.

“If you continue to eat as slow as a turtle walks,” Kris says, all finished with his soup now, “we’ll have to go without you.”

Joonmyun swirls a few noodles around his chopstick and eats it. “This is very mean of you all. Jongin will have to wait for me if he wants a ride home.” Jongin just snorts.

“It’s okay,” Chanyeol says now, voice quiet for only Joonmyun to hear because the others are now already back to being busy with discussing something loudly again. “I’ll wait for you.”

Joonmyun smiles, eyes turning into crescents and Chanyeol almost fears the warm, soothing feeling that spreads in his chest.

*

It is with tiredness in his limbs that he drags himself to work, in the afternoon. He came home late yesterday, already worn out from everything, and almost fell asleep on Jongin’s shoulder in Joonmyun’s car when he drove them home. Chanyeol slept to two, before his phone rang and he had to get up and talk to Jinri and was then forced by her to call his mother, too.

Chanyeol thinks it’s unnecessary, really, because they have nothing to talk about. It always goes the same, with her asking him if he’s taking care of himself, if he’s doing fine. Then he asks the same things. Once in a while, she will mention Su Ji, but that is when Chanyeol cuts in that he has to hang up. She should understand by now, but she doesn’t and Chanyeol can’t blame her.

“She talks a lot about Su Ji with me,” Jinri has said once, voice sharp, “because you never let her talk about Su Ji with you. I don’t mind, really, but I don’t think I’m the right person she should talk to. Come on, Chanyeol, your mom needs you. And you need her. You can’t ignore this forever, and you know it.” He’d hung up on her for the first time in his life.

He slumps down on one of the chairs behind the counter now, next to Hyosung who is getting ready to leave since her shift is over. “Someone came in for like an hour ago and left this to you,” Hyosung says now, pushing a bag in his arms before standing up.

“Minseok?” Chanyeol asks, peering into the content of the paper bag and realizes that it’s blueberry scones. He smiles and knows that the answer is ‘no’ already before Hyosung shakes her head. “This must be Joonmyun.”

“Is he a new friend? Oh, look, Chanyeol is making new friends!” Hyosung dramatically presses her palms together and looks at him with mocking eyes.

“I do not understand why you didn’t decide to major in acting instead.” Chanyeol takes out one and gives it to her, who takes it with a grin, before taking out one for himself. It’s not too sweet, which is what Chanyeol prefers the most. He notes in his head to thank Joonmyun later.

Hyosung looks lost in her thoughts for a while, before she glances at him again. “I actually think I’m going to change majors.” She looks down on her shoes and tilts her head, thinking again. “Although I know my parents will be furious about it. They’ve always prided themselves in the fact that I’m studying law, which is so ridiculous. I hate it.”

“Then you should really change,” Chanyeol says. “You should do what you want to.”

She raises her eyebrows at him. “What about you? Shouldn’t you change to music, then? Why stick to being a med student?”

“Because…petty reasons,” he replies, and she knows that this is the end of conversation. Hyosung sighs and then waves goodbye before walking out of the store, leaving him alone with a bag of blueberry scones.

It really is petty reasons, he thinks, slowly eating on another scone. His father had always disapproved of him playing the guitar and singing. He’d disapproved when Chanyeol said he wanted to play in a band when he grew older, and he’d disapproved when Chanyeol said he wanted to major in music when entering university. But Chanyeol really shouldn’t care about all of this, because that was when he was twelve, and his father was still here and not somewhere else in this world, probably raising a better son, forgetting all about Chanyeol and Su Ji.

Chanyeol finishes his scones and brushes away the crumbs on his jeans, just as he brushes away the thoughts, before pulling out the phone from his pocket to text a ‘thank you’ to Joonmyun.

*

Baekhyun makes time on Sunday noon to come over and pick up his keys. He looks exhausted and Chanyeol is very surprised when he does not hear a nasty comment about his old Spiderman t-shirt. He plops down on the couch next to Baekhyun.

“Why are you wearing a suit?” he asks, frown on his forehead as he fiddles with the tie. Baekhyun pushes his hand away with a grimace before loosening the tie himself. It does suit Baekhyun, Chanyeol thinks, dressed formally in suit. He isn’t even wearing as much eyeliner.

“I had to attend meetings with my father,” Baekhyun sighs, and only at times like this, does Chanyeol see the fatigue in his eyes. “It’s tiring.”

Sometimes Chanyeol forgets a lot of things. Like Baekhyun’s the son to a rich family. But it is easy to forget, especially when Baekhyun doesn’t act like one at all. Except when he drags himself to Chanyeol’s house after meetings, wearing too boring clothes to be him, and lets Chanyeol see how tired he is. “You’re doing so great,” Chanyeol says, laughing as he pulls Baekhyun close. “You smell like rich people.”

Baekhyun chuckles, before pulling away and slapping Chanyeol’s hand. “And you smell like you haven’t showered today at all.”

“I haven’t,” Chanyeol admits with a sheepish smile. “Are you hungry?”

“I am,” he replies, but is already pushing himself up on his feet. “I can’t have dinner here, though. Promised my mom to eat with my parents and their friends.” Baekhyun looks like he’d rather stay here, although he knows that Chanyeol’s dinner only consists of either ramen or sushi.

“Such a pity, I actually thought of cooking for you.”

“Don’t lie,” Baekhyun says, rolling his eyes as they go to the hall. He kicks at Chanyeol’s shoes and sighs. “You really should start to clean your apartment, it is so messy. I don’t know what to do with you, really.”

Chanyeol snickers. “Well, of course, only if you come here and help me. Did you do the homework, by the way? I have to work on it today.”

“Grow up. And yes, of course, I told you already. I’m not like you.” Baekhyun bends down to put on his shoes carefully. They look new. Chanyeol debates for a moment, while nudging Baekhyun’s leg and causing the shorter to hiss at him to stop, if he should tell Baekhyun. About Jinri. But when Baekhyun pulls on his blazer, Chanyeol hands him the keys with a wide smile instead. “Oh,” Baekhyun suddenly says before he goes, turning around to Chanyeol again. “Are you free on Wednesday? Well, of course you are.”

“I’m offended you think I don’t have any other friends,” Chanyeol snorts.

“I know you have, I just also know that you never ever make plans with anyone. Except Jooonmyun hyung, which hurts me a lot.” Baekhyun smiles. “Anyway, this Wednesday, you’re going on a date with me. Two hours. We’ll go shopping.”

Chanyeol forces out something that sounds like a choked sob. Last time he went shopping with Baekhyun, they’d been like mother and child, Baekhyun constantly complaining about everything. “Okay,” he sighs.

“Good. See you tomorrow.” Then Baekhyun turns around and walks away. Chanyeol thinks, for a second there, he sees the heavy load of responsibility on Baekhyun’s shoulders, before closing the door.

*

He wakes up to water dropping down on him from the ceiling, his throat is dry and he squints, trying to see in the dark. Chanyeol cannot move. He’s drenched in water that is pouring down from the ceiling and through the small cracks in the walls. It doesn’t take long before the water is over his head, and he struggles to move, breathe, opening his mouth to scream but hears nothing but his loud heartbeat and someone else’s voice. A very familiar voice, saying familiar words and he stops struggling.

“Chanyeol, help me!”

It is now that he wakes with a start, breathing heavily in and out, and drenched in his own sweat as he has eyes wide open, staring up to the ceiling. It’s still dark in his room, and he glances to the clock to see that it’s only 2 AM.

He swallows and it stings in his eyes, but he won’t let himself cry. Always the same dream, and always the same tears threatening to fall but he’s learned to hold them back. Chanyeol is reaching for his phone before he even knows it, finger hovering over Baekhyun’s number and then he remembers how tired Baekhyun had been yesterday. He can’t call Jinri, either, because she has enough trouble already. Those are the only ones he can call. He puts back the phone and takes calming breaths, clasping his hands together and closes his eyes.

“Su Ji,” he chokes out, and it echoes in the the midst of silence, “I’m so sorry.”

*

Joonmyun is already there when Chanyeol and Baekhyun walks up the stairs to the corridor that their classroom is in. Chanyeol feels the corners of his lips tugging upwards as he sees Joonmyun, sitting on one of the chairs outside the classroom with his eyes on a book and glasses on. He doesn’t notice Chanyeol at first, but jumps of surprise when Chanyeol slips his hand around his neck and looks up with wide eyes.

“Hello,” Chanyeol says and his hand slides down Joonmyun’s back as he sits next to him. Joonmyun laughs at him slightly before he glances at Baekhyun. “Oh, this is Baekhyun. You know each other.”

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you again,” Joonmyun says with a soft smile.

“Did you have a hard time being alone with Chanyeol? He can be a little annoying sometimes.” Chanyeol gives him a playful kick on his leg, but Baekhyun only grins back.

“He’s very interesting,” Joonmyun replies, still looking at Baekhyun, but Chanyeol feels the burn of Joonmyun’s hand when he puts it on his lap. “I wouldn’t say annoying.”

Baekhyun hums, “That’s very new.”

“Maybe because Joonmyun hyung is nice to me, unlike you,” Chanyeol shoots back. Joonmyun’s hand is still there. He concentrates on bickering with Baekhyun instead, until their teacher Woohyun arrives and Joonmyun’s hand is no longer there.

Woohyun places down his briefcase on the teacher’s desk, and clasps his hands together. “I suggest you sit down to the person that you sat next to last time,” he says, looking at them with a smile so wide they can see the wrinkles around his eyes. Chanyeol really can’t understand what makes Woohyun smile like that.

“Am I sitting alone?” Baekhyun says, frowning.

“I’m sure we can all three talk and work together as three,” Joonmyun says calmly, “you can take my seat next to Chanyeol, and I’ll be sitting right behind you guys.”

Chanyeol reaches out with his hand and grabs Joonmyun’s wrist. “Are you sure?”

“Why?” Joonmyun laughs and Chanyeol doesn’t forget to let go. “I’m not a ten years old Chanyeol, I will not weep because I have to sit alone. Come on, sit down now.”

He does as said, and sits down before turning his eyes to Woohyun, who’s writing something on the board now. “Did you all do your homework?” he asks. Some of the students snort. Chanyeol thinks one of them is called Himchan. Woohyun’s smile does not falter. “I guess you guys thinks it’s kind of lame that I speak to you as if you were high school students. Let’s talk like friends, then? I’m guessing most of us are still in our twenties? Okay, then tall me Woohyun, just Woohyun. Or hyung, that is good, too.”

He then wants them to hand in their homework and gives them ten minutes to talk more with each other. Chanyeol is not really sure how this is songwriting lessons, but he does not say anything.

“I think the way he talks to us is amusing,” Joonmyun says now, when Chanyeol and Baekhyun turns their chairs so that they’re facing him. “I really like him.”

“I don’t really know,” Chanyeol says, shrugging. “He seems a little bit too childish to be a teacher.”

Joonmyun raises his eyebrows and there’s something in his eyes that tells Chanyeol he’s once again interested in Chanyeol’s remark. “Oh, but I don’t really think it’s very funny to learn from someone wearing a frown and talks like he’s reading a book. Well, I do like books, but you know what I mean.”

“Joonmyun hyung is right,” Baekhyun agrees. “Mr. Kim in our University isn’t very cheerful although he’s only thirty or something and I hate learning from him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile once.”

“We’re supposed to get to know each other more,” Chanyeol cuts in, nudging Baekhyun’s arm. “I already know Joonmyun hyung, you two should learn to know each other more.”

Joonmyun’s eyes lingers on Chanyeol for two seconds before he shrugs lightly and turns to Baekhyun to start a small conversation. Chanyeol is looking through his homework, while listening to them and he’s happy they’re getting along just well. The poem he wrote last night is a bit messy and he has to admit that he just wrote it in a rush because, well, even though he’s twenty now and not fifteen anymore, he’s still nervous about getting scolded. Woohyun doesn’t seem like someone who would shout, though.

The spend the rest of the lessons at going through music theory and Woohyun recommending ways to get inspired to write a song. Although Chanyeol still thinks all of this is a little bit unnecessary, he can’t deny the fact that Woohyun does seem to know what he’s doing. “Well, of course,” Baekhyun says at the end of the lesson when they’re gathering their things, “or else who would let him teach us, Chanyeol.”

*

Joonmyun is eating his lunch with Kyungsoo and Kris when Chanyeol drops by the library. “Can I have something?” he says, as he plops down next to Joonmyun and their sides brush lightly against each other’s. Joonmyun doesn’t move, and Chanyeol doesn’t really mind. Kyungsoo is offering half of his tuna sandwich, saying that he’s full already and Chanyeol takes it gladly.

“What brings you here?” Joonmyun asks, eating his salad very slowly, as usual.

Chanyeol chews and then swallows down the first bite of the sandwich before answering him. “I don’t know, I didn’t have anything better to do at home before I had to go to work, so I thought of you.” He glances to Kris. “And you, too, of course. Can I have one tangerine?” Kris rolls his eyes, and shrugs, throwing Chanyeol two.

“Eat slowly,” Joonmyun says, furrowing his eyebrows in worry when Chanyeol chokes slightly, hand rubbing up and down Chanyeol’s back. Kyungsoo gives him water and chuckles. “See,” Joonmyun says now, the corners of his lips tugging upwards into a very tiny smile, “it is better to eat slowly.”

“But you eat too slowly,” Kris shoots, shaking his head as he stands up. “I’m finished, I’ll go back to work first, okay?”

“You work here, too?” Chanyeol asks Kyungsoo, and pushes the last bit of the sandwich in his mouth.

“No,” Kyungsoo answers. “I’m just like you.”

“You two can go do something,” Joonmyun suggests. “It’s boring here, anyway.”

Kyungsoo is gathering his things already. “I’m free. And I do need help, too. I need to pick up a birthday present for my mother.”

“I’m cool with that, and thank you for the sandwich by the way.” Chanyeol looks over to Joonmyun and grins. “Don’t get too tired playing with the kids, hyung.”

Joonmyun gathers the tissues and plastic bags on the table to throw it in the trash as he laughs softly. “You forgot my clothes again, didn’t you.” Chanyeol smiles sheepishly while scratching the back of his head. “It’s okay, just return them when you do remember. We have a lot of time.”

“We do,” Chanyeol agrees, before standing up, and Kyungsoo does the same. “Goodbye, hyung.”

“You two have fun!”

Chanyeol waves at him one last time before exiting the library with Kyungsoo. They spend almost two hours on getting the present for Kyungsoo’s mother, and Chanyeol isn’t sure if he’s helping or just making it harder for Kyungsoo because all he ever says is ‘I like both? when Kyungsoo asks him to choose between two things. But Kyungsoo is a very sweet person, Chanyeol discovers, who talks a lot when he is alone with someone but is more quiet when they’re many people. He tells Chanyeol all about the band and their secrets and then also about Joonmyun. They buy ice cream when Kyungsoo decides to just pick up a bracelet because his mother likes stuff like that, he tells Chanyeol.

Chanyeol licks his vanilla ice cream and hums quietly. He doesn’t even know what his mother likes. He’s pretty sure he’s forgotten her birthday, too, a few times. He reaches down to pick up his phone, and writes in, call mom, 25 june, birthday before putting the phone away and goes back to finishing his ice cream before it melts.

*

“You only look good in t-shirts.” Baekhyun picks up a simple, black one, and throws it back before picking up a more colorful one. Chanyeol cringes. He’s already having a bunch of very colorful t-shirts in his arms. “But you wear only ugly ones.”

Chanyeol sighs, as he tries to stop a white t-shirt from falling to the ground. “You know, I’m the one wearing them, not you.” Baekhyun narrows his eyes at him and presses his lips together. Chanyeol doesn’t like that look. “Sorry.”

“No,” Baekhyun breathes out, taking all the t-shirts from Chanyeol suddenly and puts it back. He looks at Chanyeol and swallows. “Look, sorry for dragging you out like this. I’ve been so tired of going to all the meetings. I just wanted a reason to escape from my father. Or else I would’ve been-”

“I can’t believe you tortured me for one whole hour and made me buy expensive jeans before telling me this,” Chanyeol says, but he’s laughing, arm reaching out to pull Baekhyun closer before dragging the shorter boy out of the store with him. “If you wanted to spend time with me, just say so. Jesus, we’re best friends.”

Baekhyun colors, and he hits Chanyeol’s stomach with his fist. “Let’s go eat, I’m hungry,” he mutters.

*

Chanyeol drums impatiently on the table while slurping on his ramen, with the phone pressed against his ear and waits for someone to pick up. It is after the fifth ring that Jinri answers. “Hello?”

“Hi.” Chanyeol almost chokes on the noodles, and reaches out for a tissue to wipe his mouth. “Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine.” She does sound better. “My parents…still don’t know. I was at your mother’s place today. She knows. Your mother, I mean. She…says she’ll take care of me.”

“That’s very good,” Chanyeol says. He is relieved. That means Jinri has someone near her to make sure she is all right. “Did she say anything else?”

“She understood,” Jinri says, barely in a whisper. “She…unlike my mom, who would’ve probably yell at me, she took it calmly and…she comforted me. I know my parents would never do that.”

Chanyeol smiles. “Of course. But then again, she isn’t really your mother, so what right does she have to yell at you-”

“No,” Jinri cuts in, and it sounds like she’s shaking her head. “You don’t understand, she is different. Your mother is great, Chanyeol.”

“I know,” he says, breathing out. “I know.”

“Oh, and your big sister called home yesterday,” Jinri says. Chanyeol stops eating and places down his chopsticks on the bowl. The ramen will get cold, and he usually hates to eat it cold. He is quiet, waiting for her to continue, as he finds a pencil and a piece of paper and starts to doodle on it. “Yura says she misses you.”

He clenches his teeth and focuses on drawing circles instead. “She has my phone number.”

“Chanyeol, come on,” Jinri says, and she sounds annoyed now. Chanyeol wants to cut this conversation off. “Your father left you,” she snaps now and he doesn’t like the way she chooses her words, although they are true. “But your sister didn’t really have a choice, did she? It was just the way it had to be Chanyeol. You wanted to stay with your mom, so Yura had to go with your father.”

“She could’ve stayed, too,” he whispers, and there are lumps in his throat he can’t swallow. The words were never supposed to come out like that, because they are immature words. But when talking about Yura, he is thirteen again and crying as he clutches into her skirt when she drags her suitcase down the stairs, trying to stop her from getting into the car. He is thirteen, and he is losing his other sister and a dad.

“You should really grow up,” Jinri snarls now. “You’re twenty and living such a carefree life, do you know that? You go to University and have good grades, a loving mom that you don’t give a shit about, and a job, too. Yet you’re acting like some ten years old. At least, your sister calls home to your mother more than you ever do. And she does miss you. Maybe she would’ve called you and said it directly to you if you hadn’t acted so childish the last time she did. You told her to stop calling, didn’t you? I don’t blame you for still being angry at your father, but this is your sister and she didn’t do anything wrong.”

Jinri hangs up, and the beeps echo in Chanyeol’s ears as he stares down at the cold bowl of ramen. He throws it all out in the sink. His mind is elsewhere when he brushes his teeth, and he considers calling home when he rinses his mouth. But instead, he turns off the lights and decides that it’s too late to do that. They won’t have anything to talk about either, because all she ever wants to remind him of is Su Ji, and he is still not ready. He doesn’t know when he will ever be ready, but not right now.

*

Chanyeol doesn't have many dreams. He doesn’t like to have them. But there is one that he lets himself think of once in a while, when he's all alone and about to sleep, before he closes his eyes and lets the same nightmare find him. He dreams of a real family sometimes - a whole family, that is not in pieces. He dreams of being twelve again, getting home from school to see his mother be in the kitchen making his favorite dish. He dreams of bickering with Su Ji about what to watch on TV, and imagines Yura coming up to the living room after helping mother with dinner, telling them that it's time to eat. Most of all, he dreams of hearing the bell ring at 8PM and racing to the door with Su Ji, because his father is finally home from work.

But the thing with dreaming is, you will wake up again and Chanyeol doesn't dare to wish for something that will never happen. So he lets water drown him every night, with his little sister's pleading voice and lets the feeling of guilt cut up his heart because he was the reason why Su Ji never bloomed beautifully.

*

Joonmyun is helping a mother pick out books for her child when Chanyeol arrives at the library. He isn't really sure what he's doing, but his feet brought him here, and Joonmyun is looking up now, and the way he smiles makes Chanyeol stop wondering. He waits as Joonmyun continues to help the mother, asking her questions with a gentle voice about what her daughter likes, so that he can pick out books he thinks she will enjoy. Chanyeol fumbles with his fingers, eyes on Joonmyun and he thinks Joonmyun would make a very good father. It is very unfortunate that the thought makes Chanyeol's heart sink a little but he isn't going to pay attention to that. Joonmyun is finished now and walking up to him with a smile. Joonmyun always smiles, but the ones he gives Chanyeol makes him want to think that it's only for him. He knows they aren't.

"Are you having fun here?" Joonmyun asks, laughing as he approaches. "You keep visiting."

"Do you not like it?"

"It is always a very pleasant surprise to see you," Joonmyun says, "so no, I do like it."

Chanyeol chuckles, and puts a hand on Joonmyun's back. "It is very nice to know since I like seeing you. Let's eat lunch now, hyung, I'm starving." Joonmyun covers his mouth with the back of his hand to hide the wide smile and Chanyeol does not forget to tell him that he'd rather see the smile. Joonmyun drops his hand and Chanyeol feels like a flower blooming in spring.

*

He tries calling Jinri but she does not pick up. Chanyeol knows she's still angry, because it takes three rings before she cuts off. He leaves her a message, asking her if she's all right, but doesn't expect an answer - he doesn't get one, either.

*

Chanyeol makes time on Thursday, after his shift, to see Minseok and Jongin. It’s 7 PM now and he is tired, barely able to keep the yawns in, but he hasn’t seen Minseok in a while. They're having a bubble tea date, Jongin already ordering two for himself because Minseok said he would pay. Chanyeol slaps his arm playfully as he sucks up a tapioca pearl and calls Jongin a brat but he only sticks out his tongue.

"Sometimes you're so mature, but then you go act like a five year old." Chanyeol shakes his head. Jongin tries to aim a kick at his leg under the table but end up kicking Minseok instead, who chokes on his drink,

"Sometimes," Minseok says, groaning as Chanyeol hands him a tissue, "I wonder why I hang out with you two when I have mature college friends."

"Hey! I'm in college, too," Chanyeol reminds, furrowing his eyebrows just as Minseok pulls a face at him. It is always around Minseok that Chanyeol manages to pout too much for his age (and face, Jongin had said once, and had winced when Chanyeol threw a book at him). The weather is very nice today, the sun is not too warm and there are refreshing breezes, too. Chanyeol feels like closing his eyes and just slip into a slumber right there while lazily sipping on his red bean flavored bubble tea. He opens his eyes wide, though, when he feels a hand on his shoulder and turns around to see Joonmyun, with Sehun behind him. “Hello,” he breathes, a little surprised.

“Hello, you,” Joonmyun says back, taking the seat next to him and Chanyeol is faintly aware of the way their thighs press against each other under the table. Suddenly, Joonmyun is leaning forward and Chanyeol has to take a few minutes to register what is happening when Joonmyun sips on Chanyeol’s bubble tea and hums as he squints his eyes in a very adorable way. Chanyeol can smell Joonmyun’s honey shampoo. “Red beans. I like it. I got watermelon.” He shows Chanyeol his bubble tea. “Do you want to taste?”

Chanyeol shakes his head with a grin, “I’m okay.”

He turns his gaze to Minseok, Sehun and Jongin who are talking about a football match now, and he is wide awake.

*

There are dark circles under Baekhyun’s eyes when he shows up at the record store on Friday in black jeans, just when Yixing and Chanyeol are both about to go to the café. He seems tired, and Chanyeol tells him that, while putting a hand around his shoulder as Yixing locks the door.

“Of course I am tired,” Baekhyun says, but he leans into the touch. “This isn’t summer break. This is my father taking the opportunity to make me learn all the stuff he has to do everyday, because he expects me to be interested in it. I am not. He actually forbid me of putting on eyeliner!”

Baekhyun points to his eyes and there are no eyeliner. He looks bare without it, and Chanyeol pulls him closer. Yixing only snickers as Baekhyun keeps on complaining about all the meetings he’s been forced to go to and all the old uncles that has dressed terribly and told bad jokes that he had no choice but to force out a laugh at, as they walk to the bus. He is quiet, though, on the bus, his head on Chanyeol and Chanyeol wonders for a second if he’s fallen asleep. But his eyes are open, and once again Chanyeol manages to catch the exhaustion that Baekhyun barely shows. He thinks of Jinri under the short ride to their stop, and feels a little sick when they arrive. She needs help right now, not other things to worry about, most definitely not Chanyeol and his own problems.

Unlike other times, the café is already cramped even before eight, and the couch is occupied already. They sit by a table, not too far from the stage, instead, and Baekhyun orders a Coke for both of them. Yixing is already with his band, taking out his guitar and they’re talking hurriedly about something, when the door opens again and Chanyeol looks back to see who it is. It’s Jongin, and Joonmyun is nowhere to be seen. He smiles despite the small tinge of disappointment in his stomach that is easy to push away, and waves at Jongin, who pulls a face.

“You look ridiculous, stop waving,” Jongin points out, taking a seat next to Baekhyun.

“He always looks ridiculous,” Baekhyun mutters, and Chanyeol slaps his thigh. Jongin shakes his head at them and walks to the stage instead, where he seem to remark something about Sehun’s t-shirt. Sehun scowls at him and his expression makes Jongin burst out laughing.

“I don’t understand why I spend my time with people like you two. Always friendly to people, except me.” He nudges Baekhyun, who spills a little Coke on himself and then turns to pinch Chanyeol on the arm. Chanyeol only smiles. Baekhyun seems to have forgotten all about being tired and is now looking at the stage with curious eyes as the band starts playing. Jongin returns to his chair, and Joonmyun is still not here. Not that Chanyeol glances to the door once every five minute until the band stops playing and it’s already almost 9PM and they’re the only ones here except for a few teenagers.

“Joonmyun had stuff to do, so he couldn’t come today,” Yixing says, sweat dripping down from his hair when he approaches them and a towel in his hand. Chanyeol is caught off guard, mouth slightly open as he tries to look for something to say. “I saw you glancing to the door.”

“He’s just very obvious,” Jongin points out, and Chanyeol does not know what he’s obvious about. Instead, he lets the conversation fade away with not answering when Kris and Jongdae are finished placing back the instruments and are now walking up to them. Sehun is still fumbling with his bass, while Kyungsoo is gulping down water.

Jongdae looks to Baekhyun and tilts his head with curious eyes. “Ah, this is?”

“This is my friend,” Chanyeol tells, pulling Baekhyun forward.

It is something that he’s thought of, how Baekhyun is always so unsure about everything when he isn’t wearing eyeliner. But that’s what Chanyeol is here for. Baekhyun is slightly nervous, Chanyeol notices the way he clutches onto the end of Chanyeol’s t-shirt. But Jongdae is friendly, starting up conversations, and Kyungsoo’s attention is caught when Baekhyun says that he really likes to sing. Kris looks uninterested but at least he’s not frowning, as Sehun is grumpy about something. Chanyeol wonders, eyes on the younger boy, if it’s because Zitao is not here. He lets the thought slip away when Jongdae gives him a beer and glances at the door once more, even though he knows now that Joonmyun isn’t going to come today.

*

Saturday, he tries calling Jinri again. He’s just had lunch and is one his way to work, and this is the fifth time calling her. Chanyeol’s eyes flicks up to see a familiar face in front of him, just as someone picks up, and he waves to Joonmyun before saying, “Jinri?”

“I will apologize for yelling at you,” she breathes out, “but I will not apologize for anything else. Everything I said, I meant it all. You should learn to appreciate your family more, Chanyeol, your sister, too. Again, I do not blame you for ignoring your dad, but at least, call your mother more and answer your sister’s calls without screaming at her to stop calling you.”

Joonmyun is approaching, but Chanyeol is now letting the words sink in and it hurts more than it should. He’s stopped walking, hand now clutching onto the phone and he wets his upper lip. “I’m sorry, Jinri.” Joonmyun is almost here, and he’s wearing a frown now as he studies Chanyeol’s face.

“It’s okay. I was just so very angry at you because-” she is pauses to press back a sob, and something clenches in Chanyeol’s chest “-you have a caring mom and a wonderful sister, and I know, Chanyeol, I know you’ve not recovered from Su Ji’s death, and from your father leaving you. But at least, appreciate what you have! I’m pregnant, Chanyeol, pregnant with Taemin’s child, and I really loved him but he can’t - he doesn’t want us. Me and the baby. And I don’t have a mother like yours, I don’t have a family that cares for me, not even my own brother. I was just…angry.”

Chanyeol breathes in, and it stings. His hands are trembling as he opens his mouth, just to close it again, because he does not know what to say. There is Jinri, suffering with all the responsibility she has on her shoulder, at such a young age and not being able to have all the support she needs, then there is Yura, a sister who is begging for forgiveness from him even though she has nothing to be forgiven for because she has done nothing wrong.

Most of all, Chanyeol realizes, thinking of the baby in Jinri’s stomach and what a wonderful mother Jinri will become, it’s his own mother who has raised him with love and care, that he has forgotten about. He likes to think that he’s still showing her how much he loves her, but the truth is, he doesn’t show enough. They only have a few calls in a month, and sometimes he even gets annoyed, pushing her away when all she wants is to talk about Su Ji and help him. Because they all know, it’s him that has never let her go, it’s him that has let her hold onto him. He’s letting her drown him.

“Are you okay?” Joonmyun whispers, eyes big and he looks so worried, as he tries to catch Chanyeol’s gaze. His cheeks are wet and he clears his throat as he tries to wipe the tears away quickly, but Joonmyun catches his hand. Jinri is asking him if he’s all right, but Chanyeol does not hear. Joonmyun’s fingers searches for both Chanyeol’s hands and there is a tiny smile on Joonmyun’s lips. “You always ask me to not hide my smile, can I ask you to not hide your tears? It’s okay to cry, you know.”

Joonmyun takes the phone from Chanyeol and says nicely to Jinri that Chanyeol is unable to continue the conversation now. “I’m so sorry,” he says, glancing at Chanyeol, “please call back later.” Then he hangs up, and leans his forehead against Chanyeol’s. They’re standing in the middle of the street and Chanyeol has a lump in his stomach thinking how strange this must look right now, but Joonmyun smells so good. “I’m here. Calm down, little boy.”

It is barely a whisper, Joonmyun is so close, eyes only on Chanyeol and words only for him to hear. Joonmyun smells like honey and even when Chanyeol sees Su Ji in front of him when he closes his eyes, Joonmyun’s hands are warm on his own cold ones. He calms.

*

Chanyeol appreciates that Joonmyun doesn’t ask him about it, when they’re walking to the record store. They’re still holding hands, or Joonmyun is holding Chanyeol’s hand. Chanyeol thinks that it’s because Joonmyun is afraid he will fall into pieces on the ground if they don’t. Chanyeol has never minded Joonmyun being close. The only thing he doesn’t like in this is how he can’t press down or ignore the way his chest stings a little. Only for now, he thinks. Only for now.

“Are you free tomorrow?” Joonmyun asks, letting go of Chanyeol’s hand when they’re in front of the store. Chanyeol feels cold, but this is how it should be.

“I am,” he says. It’s Sunday tomorrow, and he still has the songwriting homework to do, but he thinks he’ll manage. Joonmyun is looking at him like that, so it’s almost impossible to say no.

“I’ll pick you up, then,” Joonmyun says, beaming. “Please be dressed by one?”

Chanyeol laughs, and his voice is unstable, but he’s better. He makes a note in his head to call Jinri once Joonmyun is no longer here. “Of course.”

*

While tugging off the clothes he’s slept in and pulling on his new jeans and a simple t-shirt, Chanyeol finds himself getting surprised at how easy it is to fall into the fact that having Joonmyun around everyday, and visiting him at the library while he brings Chanyeol lunch at the record store, is so very normal now. Thinking about Joonmyun twice times more than necessary is a part of his day now, and Chanyeol isn’t sure what it is. They don’t do much. They sit at the library and talk about books, or go out and eat dinner together. But Chanyeol is comfortable, he decides, while putting on his shoes. It is easy, having Joonmyun around and Chanyeol still has a lot to learn about him. He grabs his sunglasses and opens the door before locking it and hurrying down. He’s just in time, because a car stops in front of the apartment building as soon as he pulls open the door.

“I’m glad you’re still not sleeping,” Joonmyun says, smiling when Chanyeol opens the door to the passanger seat and sits down. “Did you sleep well?” Chanyeol knows Joonmyun’s referring to what happened yesterday.

“I did,” he says. He’d called Jinri, and they’re fine now. But he hasn’t talked to Yura yet. It’s been a while, and Chanyeol’s not sure if he’s ready. “I did sleep well.” There had been the nightmare, but Chanyeol will not talk about that.

“What do you want to eat?” Joonmyun asks and Chanyeol knows this conversation is dropped. He’s thankful, once again, and says that he’s craving for dumplings. “Great, I know this very good dumpling place. You’ll love it.”

“Have you been working on the song?” Chanyeol asks, leaning back against the seat and glances to Joonmyun whose eyes are on the road. Joonmyun is a very careful driver, and the way he concentrates while also trying to talk to Chanyeol is very cute. Chanyeol feels the corners of his lips tugging up into a smile before he can help it.

Joonmyun nods, slowly, as he makes a turn. “I have. The music is finished, although it’s not much. I’m just…well, it’s the song writing. I’ve never been good with coming up with lyrics. Woohyun hyung is a very good teacher, though, so all his talks about poems and ‘think-about-things-that-you-favor-in-life’ has really helped me.” He turns to Chanyeol and gives him a quick look before returning his concentration to the road. “How about you?”

“I haven’t,” he admits honestly. “I…don’t honestly think this is something for me. Songwriting and all, I mean. Making music, or playing music. It’s just something I enjoy doing when I have time. I know it wouldn’t support me either, when I have to look for a job.”

“I do understand,” Joonmyun says. “Do you remember when I told you about studying to be a Korean Literature teacher? I’d rather be a music teacher, honestly, but there aren’t many school here that takes in a music teacher. But Chanyeol, this is just for fun, these songwriting lessons, so try not to think too much? I’d like to hear your song.”

“I don’t like performing,” Chanyeol mumbles quietly, under his breath, and Joonmyun does not hear.

The restaurant is a tiny place, but very cozy, and it smells wonderful. Chanyeol looks around curiously when he steps inside the place, and follows Joonmyun to a seat near the window. He pulls out a chair to sit down on and takes up a menu. “You seem to know all the good restaurants,” Chanyeol says, smiling as he scans through the menu. Everything looks good, and he’s never been good at deciding. He puts down the menu. “Why don’t you decide for both of us?”

“Will you let me surprise you?” Joonmyun asks, and Chanyeol nods. He receives a rather wide smile back and Chanyeol takes pictures with his eyes.

When the food comes out, almost an hour later, Chanyeol’s stomach is growling. He hasn’t eaten breakfast, and this just smells too good. He takes up his chopsticks and throws one very hot dumpling in his mouth. Chanyeol winces, and Joonmyun gives him a glass of water immediately. “Thank you,” he manages to force out while trying to cool the dumpling. “This is delicious.”

“Eat slowly,” Joonmyun says, when Chanyeol stuffs so many dumplings in his mouth that he ends up almost choking. He drinks up the whole glass of water and Joonmyun frowns at him. “We have all day, Chanyeol, why are you eating so fast.”

Chanyeol shakes his head, “This is really good, though.”

“I’m glad you like this place,” Joonmyun says before taking up his own chopsticks, now seeing that he doesn’t have to worry about Chanyeol choking again, and eats one. He looks adorable when he realizes that it’s still very hot and then he furrows his eyebrows as he opens his mouth slightly to let out the heat. Chanyeol only laughs.

Sometimes, when Joonmyun suddenly leans forward to feed him, surprising Chanyeol with his face being too close, Chanyeol has to stop thinking for a minute and try to concentrate on the way his t-shirt sticks to his back instead of the pounding heart that hammers against his chest. This happens all too many times under one short hour; Chanyeol isn’t sure how to breathe properly anymore when they stumble out of the restaurant and to Joonmyun’s car.

“Thank you for today,” Chanyeol says, stepping into the passenger seat and Joonmyun smiles quickly at him. “I’m so full.”

“You did seem like you needed it yesterday,” Joonmyun says, very softly, “and it’s always nice being with you, so I’ll thank you for your time, too.”

Chanyeol snickers. The ride home is quiet, an half hour of just comfortable silence, except for the faint drumming of Joonmyun’s fingers on the steering wheel and all Chanyeol can think of is Joonmyun’s hand that held his yesterday.

*

"As you all already know," Woohyun says, putting papers into his briefcase and gives them all a smile, "next time is our last lesson! Which means, your songs should be all done by that time, so that you can perform them." He clasps his hands together and breathes in as he looks at them. "It's been wonderful working with you all! Please do remember that you should be sure in your own songs."

Chanyeol is not really listening, hands playing with the pencil in his hands instead, and only snaps out of his thoughts when Baekhyun nudges him slightly on the arm and leans forward to tell him to concentrate. He sighs, and looks up, only to see Joonmyun sitting in front of him. Joonmyun's hair is in a faint color of red, he dyed it just yesterday, and Chanyeol hasn't had a chance to tell him how good he looks in it. Baekhyun is gathering his things now, and Chanyeol does the same.

"Next lesson is on Wednesday, at half past four," Woohyun continues. "We're going to meet in this classroom first, and then we will walk to the music classroom with a small scene, together. I'm really looking forward to it. See you guys next time."

"I have to go now," Baekhyun says, flinging his backpack over his shoulders and gives Chanyeol a light pat on the arm before walking out of the classroom with hurried steps. Must be family meetings again. Baekhyun is so busy recently.

The students are already going out, too, whispering excitedly with each other and Chanyeol stands up slowly. Joonmyun is still busy putting his things into his backpack and he looks up to see Chanyeol waiting for him. "You can go first," Joonmyun says, but he looks happy. "I have so many papers, I have to put them in carefully so that I don't mess them up with each other."

"It's okay, I'll wait," Chanyeol says, "I have to ask Woohyun hyung a thing," he tells before going up to the their young teacher and clears his throat.

Woohyun looks up with curious eyes. "Yes, Chanyeol?"

"I haven't been working on my song," Chanyeol admits, and he bites his lower lip when Woohyun gives him a disappointed look. But it's gone after seconds, now replaced with a small smile. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize," Woohyun says, shaking his head. "I hope that at least, you learned something from me."

"I did," Chanyeol assures quickly, and gives his teacher a smile. "I did learn a lot, and I'm not regretting taking these lessons at all. I just, don't like performing. But it was fun. I'll come to watch the others next Wednesday."

Woohyun laughs softly and nods. "I'm happy to hear, Chanyeol."

"Are you ready to go?" Joonmyun asks, coming up to them.

"I am," Chanyeol says, and he bows slightly at Woohyun before following Joonmyun out.

"I'll drive you home," Joonmyun says and Chanyeol grins. He always does, anyway, so Chanyeol is used to it, now getting into the car without feeling like. "Oh, right, the band isn't performing on Friday. I know Yixing will tell you sooner or later but I figured I might as well say it." He starts the engine. "We thought of spending time together, instead, on Sunday. Jongdae wanted to go to the beach before the summer heat disappears. We'd love to have you and Baekhyun come with us. Jongin is coming, too."

Chanyeol wets his upper lip and thinks slowly. The beach. It's been more than eight years since he last when to the beach, he realizes, scratching the back of his head. "No...I," he starts, swallowing, "I have other things to do, I'm sorry."

"Oh." Joonmyun sounds disappointed, but there is a small smile on his lips. "I was hoping for you to come."

"I'm sorry," Chanyeol says, biting his lower lip. "But I'll ask Baekhyun if he wants to come?"

"Of course, that'll be good."

They are quiet under the rest of the car ride and when they're in front of Chanyeol's apartment, Joonmyun's hand lingers a little too long on Chanyeol's arm while saying goodbye. Chanyeol stumbles into his apartment and the touch is still burning.
part 4