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Like Night and Day 40
Chapter 40
Letters to Him
Kyungsoo watched with hooded eyes as the lean athlete arrived only to immediately grab the brunet into a tight and lock embrace, his fear of loss evident in his actions. He said nothing about the way Baekhyun wordlessly wrapped his arms around the male’s waist, accepting his comfort and the feeling of security given by his arms. His existence turned blatantly insignificant the moment the two reunited, and it burned.
Always the spectator. Always the odd figure.
He didn’t know whether watching them disgusted him. The twitching of his hand when his eyes saw the way Chanyeol locked his fingers with the brunet’s was a frightening wake up moment like a subconscious reminder of the absence of a hand interlocked with his own. Kyungsoo's eyes, however, wouldn’t follow the orders running through his head and kept looking.
Maybe he was in awe, but it wasn’t in a fit of bitter jealousy. Instead, it invoked a craving.
Closing his hand into a ball of fist, Kyungsoo tried to reject the thought, attempting to convince himself that he craved nothing. Whether that was a craving for someone’s warmth in his own hand or the type of unconditional embrace Baekhyun had been graced with, Kyungsoo refused it all. He didn’t want it. It was a fool’s cure to loneliness, and if paired with the belief that love was beautiful and forever, then it was lethal.
He lived in a fool’s world where dreams were only dreams, and he saw with eyes that only saw reality. He understood that love would bring nothing except empty beds, signed papers, and cold hearts by the end of its life. And he didn’t want that. Rejection was the only solution.
Love was patient. Love was kind. But love was stupid, temporary, and painful. Why Baekhyun would subject himself to a world where hurt and pain were possible, Kyungsoo couldn’t understand. It was far beyond his understanding as to what kind of madness would bring on such courage for a risk far too great to even be logical.
Then, he realized it wasn’t in his place.
The whispers weren’t for him. The thumb reaching for lips to graze wasn’t looking for his. Kyungsoo watched as the caresses took place, and was shaken.
He had done the exact same things. He had kissed Baekhyun’s lips, touched his face, hummed him hymns… All the privileges that were Park Chanyeol’s to have. But though it was dark and the sky above was that of a moon in its phase of fading, he could see the difference in Baekhyun’s eyes.
The way Baekhyun looked at him the moment the shed door was pushed aside was stale and gray compared to the second he saw the athlete running across the field. The way they talked to each other was completely neutral to the way Baekhyun’s voice cracked and croaked when he spoke on the phone with the only person he truly felt safe with.
Swallowing, Kyungsoo touched his throat. It was dry, but he had no intention of leaving for a sip at the fountain. He wanted to go home and reevaluate before cutting off from the world. It was then that he finally drew his eyes down. He was resigned like an animal that had accepted it death in the jaws of its killer.
Good-bye was a formality Kyungsoo was far too familiar with, but to disturb the two would’ve forced them to acknowledge his existence. And he wasn’t petty.
-
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Baekhyun’s room was cold, but much better, in his opinion, in comparison to the shed. He made a quiet joke about the matter, though he wasn’t surprised when Chanyeol threw him a look of displeasure as he closed the door behind him.
His mother had asked what had happened to him, but he wouldn’t allow the player to speak. Trying to put her at ease, he lied, telling her he went to take a short nap in Jongdae’s office, but overslept. Chanyeol had given him a look as he spoke, but Baekhyun ignored the stare until his mother was satisfied enough to leave his business alone.
Taking a seat on his bed, Baekhyun stared at the floor until he felt Chanyeol take a seat next to him. They sat in silence for a minute before Chanyeol reached into his pocket and held out the abandoned cell phone.
“Thanks…” Baekhyun said quietly, taking the phone only to set it aside on the bed. “I was beginning to wonder where I left this.”
“You dropped it.” Chanyeol didn’t sound the least bit amused. “Don’t say it like you casually forgot about it. You dropped it when they attacked you.”
“I’m trying to make light of the situation, Chanyeol--”
“Then don’t. It’s not a light situation, Baek. Cruel joke or not, that was serious. Weren’t you scared?”
“I was, but…” Baekhyun exhaled, lying down on the mattress. “It’s late, and I’m tired… I’d rather not think so heavily on this.”
Chanyeol looked down at him. “Why’re you taking this more lightly than me when you were the one shoved in that shed?” He frowned. “ Iwas scared. I didn’t know what had happened to you and Kyungsoo was giving me a headache with the map and… Baekhyun.”
“Yeah…?”
Lying down on the bed beside the brunet who watched his every move, Chanyeol moved his hand slowly over the boy’s forehead, pushing back hair. “You know that I love you… I know I’ve asked you over and over again to trust me, and you might think we’re too different for you trust, but I have to know… Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Baekhyun kept his eyes steady. The back of his head still hurt, but he had kept that fact to himself. It was one detail he withheld from the boy next to him. There were certain things--to his logic--that were better off unsaid for the sake of everything.
Smiling, he shook his head. “No. Everything’s fine.”
It wasn’t enough. Chanyeol moved closer. “Who’d want to target you?”
“No one,” Baekhyun replied, pressing a thumb over Chanyeol’s tense brow. “That was… I don’t know what that was. I don’t know who did it. If they put me in a school shed, it was probably just, I don’t know… Nothing too serious-- still serious, but not entirely excessive.”
“I’m going to find out who did that. I don’t care who it is, they have to be charged or something.” Leaning into Baekhyun’s touch, Chanyeol relaxed, though he was still anxious. “But are you really sure? You can’t think of a single person who hates you enough to do this?”
Shaking his head, Baekhyun sighed. “I really can’t.”
Chanyeol had a desperate look in his eyes as he reached up to hold the brunet’s cold hand. “How am I supposed to protect you if I don’t know who to protect you from?”
“You let me protect myself.”
“Let you-- Baekhyun. Are you serious?”
“I am.”
Frowning, Chanyeol glared at him. “Did you forget what just happened? Kyungsoo pulled you out of an old shed and I had to help you walk to the bus stop.”
“I know but--”
“Don’t. Just don’t...” Letting out a breath, Chanyeol let go of his hand to reach around and hold the brunet by the waist, pulling him in. “Can you at least be more alert now? I don’t know when they’ll do this again. I don’t even know who they are…”
“I’ll try to be more careful, I suppose…” Baekhyun looked up at him. “Should I stop going to your practice?”
“No,” Chanyeol replied. “But you can’t just leave without me again. If you need to go to the bathroom, there’s a restroom in the locker room. You can use that--or, better yet. You can wait for the coach to give us a break so I can walk you over and--”
“I’m not letting you watch me take a piss. Ever…”
“That’s not the point of me escorting you--” Stopping, Chanyeol groaned. “Listen, just… Play it safe. Believe it or not, I aged about twenty years just trying to find you… andget Kyungsoo to answer my calls.”
“He was probably just as busy trying to look as you were. You shouldn’t act like he’s that terrible.”
“But he is.”
“No, he’s not.”
“Baekhyun, how did he know where to look in the first place?” Chanyeol challenged. “How did he know about the shed? Of all the places, why would anyone bother trying to look in a shed that’s not even near the main buildings? Baek, what if hewas the one who--”
“Stop,” Baekhyun warned.
“No, listen to me,” Chanyeol said seriously. “What if he did this? To make himself seem like some kind of hero to you?”
“Chanyeol, stop. I don’t want to hear this from you,” Baekhyun muttered, pushing against the giant’s chest. “He’s not like that. He wouldn’t.”
“Baekhyun--”
“For the love of god, Chanyeol, stop!” Baekhyun sat up, moving the giant’s hands off of him before turning back to look down at him. “You hate him. I get that. You think he’s out to get you all the time, but he’s not. Kyungsoo sees the world differently than you do. He thinks that you’re not good for me the way I see that I’m not good for you, so he’s protective.”
“He’s manipulative, Baekhyun. Why can’t you see that?” Chanyeol asked, his voice rising. He sat up, hands clenched. “He has you wrapped around his finger, and all you do is defend him like he’s some kind of child! You never take my side when we argue about him, did you know that? I notice it every time. You’re always defending him instead of actually thinking that, for once, I might be right about him.”
“You’re right about some things, but not about this…” Baekhyun looked away. “He’s manipulative, but he didn’t do this… I’ve known him long enough to know how he works. He gives half-truths so he doesn’t have to take the blame for when an individual interprets his words differently than intended. He does it so it’s not his fault that so-and-so assumed this or that… But he wouldn’t order a group of guys to shove me somewhere just so he can act like he’s my savior.”
“How are you so sure, Baekhyun!?” Chanyeol felt his temper rise. “He knew! He had places circled where you might’ve been, and he just so happened to be lucky with the shed?”
Shaking his head, Baekhyun denied the theories. “Kyungsoo’s simple… You think he’s manipulative and opaque, but I think he’s simple and see through. He’s not the person behind this because Kyungsoo has too much pride. He wouldn’t create a false image of a hero around him. That would be a lie.”
“Then how did he know? You have answered that,” Chanyeol said, his voice hard and raw. “How come he was able to find you and not me? Why couldn’t I?”
“He has resources… I don’t know--”
“What do you mean he has resources?”
Baekhyun looked at him. “Kyungsoo keeps his eyes and ears open with everything that goes on at school… Everything.”
“So he knew something that I didn’t know.”
“I suppose…”
Cocking his head, Chanyeol’s expression darkened. “This thing… This advantage that he had… Does it involve you?”
“In what way?” Baekhyun asked quietly.
Running a hand through his hair, the athlete suddenly stood up, leaving the bed. “You’re stalling, Baekhyun. Why?” Pursing his lips, Chanyeol cursed. “All I want to do is help you-- protect you-- so that this doesn’t happen again! But you’re not letting me do that! What does Kyungsoo know that I don’t? Why does it have to be a secret?”
“It’s not a secret, Yeol! I don’t know what he knows!” Baekhyun cried, hunching over, covering his face with his hands. “Can we just…stop? I don’t want to argue about this anymore… I’m so mentally exhausted and you’re getting cranky and mad.”
“For good reason, Baek…” Biting down on his bottom lip, Chanyeol dropped to his knees. “You know I’m just angry because… I felt so useless. I’m your boyfriend. I’m supposed to save you-- protectyou. I know it’s not a competition, but I’m a guy. I have my pride. I want to be the one you want when you’re in danger. I want to be the one who saves you.”
Laughing, Baekhyun looked up, meeting the athlete’s face. “You already save me more than you know… I just want you to realize that so you can stop feeling that way.”
“You’re just trying to sweeten me up so I don’t yell anymore.” Chanyeol sighed. “Fine… I’ll keep my suspicions to myself, only because you’re safe now… But, are you sure? Really sure that there isn’t anything--anything at all-- that I should know? And I mean what I say, Baekhyun. I want to know if you’re paranoid about someone or if you’re being bullied by--I don’t know-- the custodian. Anything that could lead to a clue… Are you really telling me everything?”
Baekhyun’s eyes were neutral, ungiving of any information no matter how hard Chanyeol tried to search for hints. Silently, he nodded, pressing his forehead against the giant’s, saying, “Yes.”
-
-
They said their good-byes around eleven, after Baekhyun had showered and assured the giant that he hadn’t sustained any serious injuries during the entire event. When he was half-heartedly satisfied, Chanyeol left the quiet house and waved to the brunet’s bedroom window when he reached the neighborhood street in front of his home. After blowing several kisses and motioning several indications that the latter should sleep and rest for tomorrow morning, he began walking in the direction of the nearest stop.
It wasn’t until he turned a corner, two blocks from Baekhyun’s home that Chanyeol stopped and reached into his bag to grab his cell phone. Without hesitation, he sent the brunet a few messages and smiled at the quick replies despite the fact that he knew the other wouldn’t keep his promises of going to bed early. After sending his final texts, the giant closed their conversation box and pulled up the call log, calling the more recent number in his contacts.
The line rang for five times, but Chanyeol was determined, even surethat the male would respond. And he did.
On the seventh ring, Kyungsoo answered, his voice weary but bore no signs of grogginess through sleep.
Before the president could even say a word, Chanyeol spoke over him, serious and intent on finding the truth.
“Baekhyun’s lying to me… He’s not telling me about something. What is it?”
Kyungsoo initially said nothing, but after a few seconds he sighed. “Ever thought that maybe he doesn’t want you know about it?”
“Is it something he’s embarrassed for?”
“What if he just thinks it’s better if you don’t know?”
“Kyungsoo, I just spent my entire night looking for him because some inconsiderate people put him in a dusty shed,” Chanyeol said. “I don’t care if he thinks it’ll burden me. I want to know what’s happening with him so he doesn’t have to go through with this again… At least, not when I can help it.”
“But you really can’t help it.”Kyungsoo could be heard shifting his position. “But…if you’re so desperate that you’re calling me, then I suppose it’s only right for you to get some sort of reward.”
Chanyeol held the phone tightly. Keeping in mind with what Baekhyun said about Kyungsoo’s tendency to give half-truths to rid himself of any future guilt, he prepared himself, aware that he'd have to think twice with anything that the president said.
“If I were you, Park Chanyeol, I would make sure my numbers are in check.”
“My what?”
“Oh, and just because I’m feeling nice, consider this as my congratulatory gift to the happy, disgusting couple,” Kyungsoo added. “This is for your ears only. Understood? You don’t mention this to Baekhyun. You don’t even let him know that you’re aware of this. Got it?”
“Got it…”
“I’m going to keep you at your word, though your word is hardly good credit for anything… But since you’ve earned it, making it this far and all, you should know that every morning, little female dogs visit your boyfriend’s cubby at school every day. They give him letters,”Kyungsoo said, clarifying. “However, they’re hardly love letters, if you ask me. I mean, they are love letters, but not for him… Right? So every morning, he rips about four or five of these letters on the daily, throws them in the trash, and then smiles at you like the big, dumb, oblivious idiot that you--kind of--are.”
a/n: i love double entendres like
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but I love how BaekSoo are truly bestfriends no matter what problems between them.
and yeah yes Yeol. You can hit those morons back for hurting your love.
Thank you for the double update!
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Ahora qué pasará? :c
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another cliff hanger.. oh noooo... so curious now.. sorry but im a bit slow.. kind not understand the last part.. huhuhu.. hope u update more soon..~
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Please update soon, i love this fic
I can't wait for prom!
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I'm officially diying ._.You are killing me
Can't wait for the next chapter!!
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And oh my god thank you lord finally!!!!!!
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IN THIS CHAPTER
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premonition
that's why he had that bag of envelopes in his office
why hes trying so hard to bring it to chanyeols attention
also, no ones actually bothering baekhyun aside from the letters, so that means everyone in the student body (aside from kyungsoo) could really care less about their relstionship.
and can i just say, i love love LOVE kyungsoos character in this story.
he reminds me of me, thats why i know all of his secrets :)