BEAUTIFUL LEGS for MIKINISHIMURA
For: mikinishimura
Title: Beautiful Legs
Pairing(s): Chanyeol/Tao
Rating: PG-15
Warning(s): profanity, disabled major character
Length: 5,060 words
Summary: Chanyeol and Tao were never close to each other, at least not until the last one year. But now years after EXO disbandment and the unfortunate happen; they finally realize what they really mean for each other.
Author’s Note: Firstly thank you to the mod for creating and managing this wonderful exchange. It was fun joining Yeolliepopday! Secondly, to my recipient with two names-I love you for giving Chanyeol / Tao as an option of pairing. You don’t know how much I adore the two of them and how I wish to read more of this pairing in the fandom. So being able to write a story of Chanyeol / Tao was really a pleasure for me. I hope I did well and you’ll like what I have for you (even though it’s most likely to be very different from what you have in mind). Lastly to all visitors and/or participants of Yeolliepopday, I hope you will give them (this story, Chanyeol / Tao) a chance.
Chanyeol was never close with Tao. Not really. They were only together if the rest were present, and they talked nothing more than their job, their group. Chanyeol even found Tao annoying most of the times, as he wasn’t really fond of the high pitched voice of Tao that the younger let out from time to time. He also hated how Tao would hug people whenever wherever and whined in a not-so-cute way. And he totally disliked how clingy Tao could get with the others and how the others didn’t mind. It was ridiculous for him, how people worshipped the thing named ‘skinship’ so much.
(And damn, although it had been quite long time ago, remembering it felt so real that the memory alone made him shudder.)
So for the rest of their career as idols, he only thought of Tao as a co-worker and nothing more. Tao was never a friend or a family like the rest was to Chanyeol. Tao was…Tao, a member of EXO-M, and that was all. He would always keep a safe distant from Tao because he didn’t want to be jumped on by the younger. Not until EXO was no longer relevant and they were too old to jump on each other, at least.
(And certainly not for the last one year.)
“-yeol, Chanyeol!”
Chanyeol jumped slightly on his seat and looked up to Junmyeon, who was looking at him worriedly and handing him a bottle of water.
“You’ve been out since we first got here. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes,” his voice cracked and he immediately cleared his throat, taking the bottle and downing half of it in one go. “Just…worried, I guess. I don’t know.”
“We all are,” Junmyeon sighed and plopped down on the steel chair beside him. “I mean, after nine, ten years, I don’t know, we’re gathered here together again in a, sadly, unfortunate event.”
“Yeah, true,” Chanyeol blinked and downed more of the water, only to feel more dry and thirsty after. “But he’s going to be alright, isn’t he? It’s not going to be that bad, right? I mean, that kid’s tough.”
“Let’s hope so,” Junmyeon said, and the next second he was waving his hand to Jongin, who just arrived with Jongdae before smiling back to Chanyeol. “I don’t know what will happen if he…”
Chanyeol paled and Junmyeon smiled sadly as Jongin and Jongdae sat next the two of them. “How long have the two of you been here?”
“An hour or two,” Junmyeon patted Jongin’s back and pulled Jongdae into an awkward hug before they fell into comfortable silence. “How are you, Kai, Jongdae?”
“It’s been ten years and you still call me Kai,” Jongin laughed and leaned back to his seat. “We’re good, or at least I am. I just got another offer to act on a movie.”
“Old habit dies hard,” Junmyeon shrugged and laughed along with Jongin. “That’s nice to know. And you, Jongdae, how are you? Good?”
“Good,” Jongdae nodded before he pulled out his phone, tapping mindlessly on the screen while he spoke. “Just a bit stressed over work, is all. But over all I’m doing fine.”
“Good,” Junmyeon nodded, leaning back to his seat, and stared at the glass door in front of them. “I’m glad to know everyone seems to be doing fine. Well, most of us.”
They all fell silence until Jongin cleared his throat and grinned at Chanyeol, who smiled weakly back to him. “How are you, Chanyeol? Still going out with Nana?”
“Never thought that we would see you as one of the first visitors, to be honest,” Jongdae added and the small fell from Chanyeol’s face. “It’s ironically funny, you know, to see you finally care about Tao, who you used to despise so much now that he...well, you know.”
Chanyeol licked his chapped lips, not minding the peeled skin that got into his mouth and willing himself not to scream at Jongdae for being accused such thing. “We’ve all grown up,” he shrugged, “and Tao was a family, after all. I disliked him, true, but I never despised him and we’re just no longer the passionate newly-debuted 20 year olds we used to be. So, me who hate him am no longer relevant.”
“Yeah, we no longer are,” Jongin quickly agreed, and elbowed Jongdae hard on the ribs. The latter winced from pain. “So, how are things with you and Nana? Still together?”
“No,” Chanyeol bit his inner cheek and looked away. “It didn’t work. We broke up over a year ago.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know,” Jongin said and awkwardly leaned back to his seat, fidgeting, before springing up a second after. “Who wants some snacks while we wait for everyone else? Coke and some bread, perhaps?”
“I do,” Jongdae raised his hand and Jongin rolled his eyes. “And buy me tea or even milk; I need to drink less coke.”
“Whatever,” Jongin sighed and looked back to Chanyeol and Junmyeon, his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Chanyeol, Junmyeon, want me to buy you some snacks?”
“I’ll go with you,” Junmyeon rose from his seat and grabbed Jongin’s elbow to drag him along. “We’ll buy enough snacks for everyone later.”
Junmyeon and Jongin gone not long after that, leaving a trail of laughter as they walked along the hallway, leaving Chanyeol and Jongdae awkwardly silent on their seats. It got a tad bit colder, too, now there were only the two of them.
(And Chanyeol was still cross for what Jongdae said earlier.)
“Sorry for what I said earlier,” Jongdae said, after five minutes, looking up hesitantly to Chanyeol. “I didn’t intend it to be so harsh like that, you know me. I just say what’s on my mind.”
“I know you,” Chanyeol nodded, sighing. “I’m still cross, though.”
“I know.”
Chanyeol rolled his eyes, pulling up his sleeve a bit to check on the watch, worriedly glancing at the glass door that hadn’t been opened for nearly four hours. He was considering to looked for a nurse and ask when he heard footsteps on the hallway-he wondered why it always creep him out-with some buzzed noise of people conversing. He looked up the same time as Luhan, Sehun and Minseok stopped in front of him and Jongdae.
“Hey,” Minseok greeted and pulled Chanyeol up for a hug, patting his back. “Glad to see you here.”
Chanyeol nodded, smiling back, and greeted the other two. “Hey, it’s good to see all of you here.”
They greeted each other some more before filling the seats, sitting in complete silence, and Chanyeol noticed how very weary Sehun looked at the moment. He felt a bit out of place now Tao’s close friends were here.
(He never was, after all.)
“Chanyeol,” he looked up and smiled a bit to Luhan. “I heard you’re making a new album, is that true?”
“Uhm, no actually, no,” he shook his head, scratching the back of his head nervously. He looked up only to see they looked at him funny. “I was working for a new album, but not anymore.”
Luhan frowned, “Why?”
“Uh, well-”
The glass door slid open and they all diverted their attentions to the doctor who just walked out of the room. The doctor looked exhausted and from the look of things, the situation wasn’t any good for Tao. Chanyeol gulped.
“Is there any family of Huang Zitao here?”
“No,” Chanyeol quickly answered, ignoring the looks from his friends. “No, they’re still flying here from China. They will arrive in three to four hours at most. But can’t you tell us how he’s doing?”
“No, unfortunately I can’t,” the doctor sighed and Chanyeol felt even more nervous he couldn’t understand. “Please inform one of the nurses here once the family arrives. Thank you.”
Chanyeol nodded as the doctor walked away, but he took a deep breath and exhaled pretty loudly.
“Doctor, wait,” he said, and the doctor stopped. “Is he, is he alright?”
“He’s alive,” the doctor answered and just in time as Junmyeon and Jongin showed up in the hallway. Everyone was looking at them intensely now. “Uh, yeah, he’s alive. That’s what’s important, eh?”
“Why are you hesitating?” Chanyeol narrowed his eyes. “Is he really alright or there’s something more?”
“Listen, sir,” the doctor sighed again and Chanyeol almost rolled his eyes. “I can’t tell you further about his condition because you’re not a family. So unless you’re his brother or legally married to him, you can’t know about his condition.”
“Just tell us if he’s alright or not,” he whined and didn’t realize Luhan was holding him back. “We’re his friends, we deserve to know.”
“I understand, sir, but unfortunately we can’t.” the doctor bowed a little and turned around to walk away after saying, “So sorry.”
It was silent after the doctor was gone, and Chanyeol was still standing in the middle of the hallway whilst everyone else staring at him expectantly. It was odd and quite funny sight to see he felt uncomfortable. He finally sat down after five minutes standing and was immediately held by Junmyeon.
“He will be alright, Chanyeol,” the other whispered, and it felt a bit awkward but relieving at the same time. “Don’t worry.”
“Yeah,” Chanyeol swallowed the lump in his throat and stared at the glass door longingly. “Yeah, he will.”
The truth was Chanyeol had been seeing Tao for almost a year now. No one knew beside the two of them-and Baekhyun, by accident, because god forbids he was just so nosy-and they intended to keep it that way.
(Well, at least until this whole accident thing happened.)
Tao was on his way to their usual meeting place, except that time he was alone and wasn’t with his manager, when the crash happened. He was on a highway, driving at the normal speed, but unfortunate for him, another car was speeding from his right and the two collided. The other driver was alright, just had a concussion and broken arm, but Tao was... less lucky. He almost died if not for immediate handling at the hospital.
Chanyeol was already at the meeting place by that time, grumbling and irritated that the other was late-also worried-because the other was usually on time. Tao never showed up late, and even if he did, it would be only five-ten minutes late. He was so worried and antsy now that he thought about it.
He was glaring at the waiters and nosy onlookers when he got called by Tao’s manager, and he lost all of his blood when he was informed about Tao’s condition.
“Tao’s in a critical state, he lost a lot of blood.”
Chanyeol didn’t think twice or stayed a second longer; he immediately left for the hospital and informed Baekhyun who then informed all of their friends. Which brought them here now, two days later, cramped in the hospital, with everyone questioning Chanyeol’s worried look.
“Uhm,” Baekhyun cleared his throat and everyone’s attention diverted to him. “So, Tao’s alright, although he’s still not awake yet. Coma, I mean, for two days now.”
Jongdae rolled his eyes. “What are you trying to say, Baekhyun?”
“Nothing,” Baekhyun looked at Chanyeol’s direction and everyone did the same. “Just worried, and I want certain someone to speak the truth. If you know what I mean.”
Chanyeol rolled his eyes and looked away, gazing at the door where Tao was kept in. He wasn’t listening to the gasps and murmurs from his friend, or silly confirmations from Baekhyun about his relationship with Tao. He didn’t care. He only thought about Tao at the moment.
Is he awake? Is he alright? Will he remember me?
“Chanyeol,” he sighed and turned his head slightly to his friends, mumbling a lazy ‘what’. “Is it true you’ve been dating Tao for a year now?”
“Yeah,” he shrugged and looked back to the door. “Isn’t that obvious?”
(He heard Junmyeon shriek on the background.)
Tao woke up five days later, a week after the incident.
Thankfully he didn’t forget about Chanyeol or basic things such as his name, days, etc. and only got a minor concussion like the other driver. He could remember his past and present just fine, except for the day of the incident, and it really wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t a day anyone would remember anyway.
Chanyeol was so worried about the possibility of memory loss because if Tao forgot him, he wasn’t so sure how he would win Tao again because he was sure as hell Tao would never like him for the second time. It would be like The Vow slash version.
(Yes, yes, Chanyeol was already falling deep and hard for Tao.)
They were alone in the room now, holding hands, and Tao was crying silently.
“Unfortunately because the spinal cord is damaged, Mr. Huang will not be able to walk again.”
Chanyeol frowned and touched his cheeks, gently wiping the tears away. “Hey,” he whispered, “it’s okay. You’re here, and you’re alive. It’s all that matters, Tao.”
“No, it’s not,” Tao retorted back, his voice hoarse and he choked on his tears as he turned his face to look at Chanyeol. “I won’t be able to walk again, Chanyeol. I’m paralyzed for life!”
“Hey, no, we can try-”
“There’s nothing,” he shouted and Chanyeol winced, “there’s nothing that can helps me! You know that, Chanyeol, you know! I can’t walk anymore and I, I-”
Chanyeol scooted closer and pressed his lips tenderly against Tao’s face, trailing the jaw up to the forehead. Tao was sobbing now and it pained Chanyeol, because what the younger said was true. He’s paralyzed for life; he can’t walk anymore. But what pained Chanyeol the most was the fact he couldn’t do anything to help, to make Tao happy.
“I’m nothing now,” Tao sobbed and his hand on Chanyeol’s hold trembled. “I’m nothing now, and you’ll leave me. You and everyone else will leave me one by one, because now I’m nothing.”
“Tao, that’s not true,” Chanyeol shook his head, not realizing he was also crying. “I won’t leave you, I’ll stay. You are still you no matter what, and I… I love you.”
Tao scoffed and looked away, sobbing to the soft glow of afternoon sunlight from the window. He tightened his hold on Tao’s hand and the other sobbed louder.
“You won’t love me anymore,” he whispered brokenly, “you’ll get tired of me.”
Chanyeol didn’t say anything but held on tighter.
(No, I won’t.)
It took another two days until Tao agreed to let their friends visit him.
He didn’t say anything when people talk to him, only occasionally smiling and nodding, and he didn’t even move a muscle when Baekhyun and Jongdae along with Sehun and Jongin cracked a joke. He would only hummed and now everyone had given up trying to cheer him up.
He didn’t want to look at his feet, only looking up to the ceiling or to the windows on his right, didn’t really talk to his family and/or Chanyeol, didn’t want to eat-he distanced himself from everyone. It was as if he lost the will to live. And perhaps he did, but Chanyeol had none of it.
“Tao,” Junmyeon called and Tao hummed. “How are you feeling today?”
“Like I was hit by a car,” Tao tilted his head, “oh wait, I did. Ha-ha.”
Everyone cringed and Jongdae choked on his grape juice. Chanyeol sighed.
“Tao,” Junmyeon tried again and Tao sighed exasperatedly. “How are you feeling today?”
“Worst,” Tao bit his lip, looking away, and crossed his arms. “Knowing that I can’t move my legs even if I tried suck really bad, it’s like something is missing. And it is.”
Junmyeon opened his mouth to speak again but Baekhyun cut him to it.
(Chanyeol sighed in relief.)
“Guys,” Baekhyun called loudly and everyone turned their attentions on him almost immediately. “I’m buying snacks, do you guys want anything?”
“Oh,” Luhan jumped on his seat excitedly and nodded. “Yes, yes, I want some ice cream.”
“Me too,” Minseok said calmly and soon everyone followed to name their orders.
Meanwhile, Chanyeol scooted closer to Tao and held his hand, gazing at the younger worriedly and brushing his face with his knuckles. Tao didn’t say anything still, but he didn’t object the touch and it was enough for Chanyeol.
“Chanyeol, Tao,” Baekhyun called and Chanyeol looked up. “Do you guys want anything?”
“No-”
“Yes,” Chanyeol quickly cut Tao and held the other’s hand tighter. “We want strawberry yoghurts.”
Tao didn’t say anything, smiled a little, and Chanyeol grinned. He finally succeeded and he couldn’t be any happier.
(Baekhyun and the rest present in the room were also smiling for the two of them.)
Later at night, when everyone was gone and there were only the two of them, Chanyeol lied down beside Tao and held him tight, humming soft tunes to make the other falls asleep. He brushed the other’s soft, jet-black hair and inhaled the sweet scent of his body.
“Tao,” he whispered softly, “live with me. I promise I’ll take good care of you every day and I’ll stock plenty of strawberry yoghurts in our fridge.”
Tao chuckled sleepily. “Alright, be sure to keep your promise. I’d love to drink the yoghurt every day.”
“I promise,” Chanyeol smiled and closed his eyes, pulling the other closer to him. “You’d never miss a day.”
It was Tao’s last day at the hospital and Chanyeol was taking care of the administration when Chanyeol’s ex-girlfriend, Nana, called from behind and excitedly hugging him.
“Chanyeol,” she greeted happily and Chanyeol too smiled. He was also happy because Tao would live with him starting today. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I’m taking care of Tao’s administration. He’s going home today.”
“Ah, right, I heard he got hit by another car. Poor guy.” Nana nodded to herself before she smiled again. “So, how are you, Chanyeol?”
“Great,” Chanyeol beamed and looked down to the papers he was holding. “Well, not really, but today I feel great.”
“Oh, really, why?” Nana was beaming and poked his chest playfully. “New girlfriend?”
“No, no,” Chanyeol blushed and flipped the papers he was holding. “My boyfriend, he’s moving in with me today. I mean, Tao.”
Nana’s eyes widened comically and she gaped. “You’re…?”
“Gay, yeah,” Chanyeol shrugged and his face flushed. “Sorry I never told you.”
“Oh my, it’s okay,” Nana shook her head, smiling. “At least you’re happy now, right?”
Chanyeol nodded and blushed like a schoolgirl. “What are you doing here? Are you sick?”
“No,” Nana laughed and gestured Chanyeol to lean closer. “I’m getting married,” she whispered to his ear. “But I’m already three weeks pregnant.”
Chanyeol gasped before he broke into a fit of laughter and Nana did the same. He didn’t even understand why it was so funny when it was actually considered a bad thing to have a child out of wedlock in their culture. Perhaps it was the way she told him, Chanyeol concluded.
“Oh gods,” Chanyeol snickered and he bit his tongue. “I don’t even know what’s funny.”
“I don’t know too,” Nana giggled and their faces were red from laughing. “Oh, well, maybe-”
“Chanyeol?”
Chanyeol snapped his head he almost broke it and widened his eyes when he saw Tao on his wheelchair, looking sad.
“T-tao,” he smiled unsurely and gestured at Nana. “Uh, meet Nana, she’s-”
“I know her,” Tao snapped and looked away. Chanyeol gulped. “I’ll leave first. Miss, can you take me to my family there?”
“Tao, wait,” Chanyeol quickly stepped behind the wheelchair and took over. The nurse looked at them both confusedly. “Hey, listen, I can explain, we-”
“It must be my damn legs, isn’t it?” Tao said quietly, almost whispered, and Chanyeol knew he was holding back his tears. “You made a promise you clearly can’t keep. Take me to my mom, I’m sick being here.”
“No,” Chanyeol walked over to in front of Tao and kneeled. He held Tao’s hands and kissed the knuckles. He could care less with the surprised gasps and hushed murmurs of onlookers right now. “I made a promise and I wouldn’t break it, Tao. And it’s not your legs, whatever the hell that means. We were only talking as friends, okay. In fact, she’s getting married. We laughed because she, well,” he looked up to Nana and she nodded. “She’s three weeks pregnant.”
Tao narrowed his eyes which were already red. “That’s not something to laugh at.”
“I know,” Chanyeol nodded and grinned. “But I’m just happy, I guess? Because today you’re going home with me and it will be that way until forever. I’m happy.”
Tao blushed and looked down, smiling a little. “You’re dumb,” he said, “but that’s cute.”
“I’m dumb,” Chanyeol beamed and Tao chuckled. “Because I’m happy you’re jealous when you see me with another person. That means something.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Tao rolled his eyes and grumbled. “I wasn’t even jealous.”
“Yeah, right,” Chanyeol kissed his forehead and chuckled when Tao blushed even harder. “Let’s go home and stop being sad, okay? You have me.”
“Whatever,” Tao said, but Chanyeol grinned anyway. “I want to go home.”
“Right away, sir.”
On the next day, news about Tao and him ‘having romantic moment’ were everywhere. Million photos of them talking at the hospital were all over the internet and papers. Chanyeol could only imagine what people were saying but didn’t dare to check the comment page yet. It was too early for hate.
Groaning, he checked his phone and wasn’t surprised to see 57 missed calls and 69 unread messages even though it was only five in the morning. His manager must be furious at him for pulling stunt like this.
“Wake up and answer my call, Park Chanyeol!”
“For the love of gods please wake up right NOW and answer me!”
“Park Chanyeol, please wake up.”
He snickered and Tao shifted beside him. Afraid that he would wake up the other, he tiptoed outside and waited for another call whilst brewing a cup of coffee. Odd, he thought, the news didn’t even make him down. He must be so happy that he didn’t care about other things.
He was smiling at his bedroom’s door direction when his phone rang, and he happily answered the call.
“Good morning,” he said happily, and heard his manager groan. “What seemed to be the problem?”
“Morning,” his manager grumbled and he snickered. “Seriously, Chanyeol, your photos with Tao are everywhere and you’re not worried or panic at all?”
“Nope,” Chanyeol snickered and the coffee machine stopped brewing. “I’m happy, I’m fine. So, what do we do now?”
He walked to the kitchen, taking cup from the cupboard and pouring the sizzling hot coffee into it. He then added two spoons of sugar whilst his manager rambled from over the phone about press conference, official statement, blah, blah, blah-Chanyeol wasn’t listening. His mind kept wandering back to Tao who was still sleeping on now their bed, tangled with sheets and comfortable.
“-Chanyeol, are you even listening to me?”
“Oh,” Chanyeol blinked twice and sipped his coffee, wincing because he burned his tongue. “No, sorry, I was… my mind was a bit occupied. So sorry, what was it?”
“You need to start paying attention, Chanyeol, I swear to god, this dating scandal you’re having with Tao-”
“Scandal?” Chanyeol narrowed his eyes and scoffed. “What is dating scandal? I don’t see dating as a scandal, do you? I’m dating him that’s true, and perhaps that’s the scandal, but the dating itself is not. Ugh, look, I’m dating Tao is not even a scandal! What the heck! People only calling it a scandal because they expect us to live in celibacy or marry one of them! Or maybe, I don’t know, loving who they expect me to, man or woman! It irritates me that it’s called scandal because we’re dating and we’re both men and my partner is not who they want. It’s funny, weird, and unfair. We didn’t cause general public outrage for fun or for publicity stunt. Oh my I hate life.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying, look,” his manager exhaled loudly and he rolled his eyes but all of his angers quickly dissipated. “The point is, both of you are in big trouble. It’s even huge, because not everyone has really accepted gay community here. Well, even though it’s not really like a few years ago, but, still.”
“I know,” Chanyeol sighed and he heard Tao called his name from upstairs. “Oh, I got to go, Tao is awake. Text me all the details if you’re planning to make a press conference. I’ll call you back later.”
He didn’t give his manager a chance to speak again as he quickly hung up and ran upstairs, opening his bedroom door to found Tao pouting in bed. Chanyeol beamed.
“Good morning,” Chanyeol grinned lopsidedly and checked the watch. It was only 5:45 and Tao still looked so tired. “Did I wake you up?”
“No,” Tao shook his head and Chanyeol quickly strode over, sitting right beside him. “My manager called me hundreds of times and apparently our photo together at the hospital yesterday are already everywhere on the news. Damn.”
“Damn,” Chanyeol agreed and Tao sighed, leaning back to the pillows behind him. Chanyeol lied down his body on top of Tao and hugged him tight, listening to the other’s heartbeat. “We’ll be alright, though, I can assure you that.”
“I know,” Tao said, and Chanyeol could almost hear how the other was smiling. “But it’s still sad that I can’t walk, you know. I forgot I can’t walk, I almost fell from the bed just now.”
“You’re still beautiful,” Chanyeol said, blushing and hugged Tao’s bony figure tighter. “Even if you, uhm, can’t walk anymore, you’re still so beautiful. With these scars that you got from your accident-they make you even more beautiful. See, I can’t stop saying you’re beautiful, Tao, because it’s true and no amount of scars could lessen it. Don’t; don’t feel bad about yourself, ever. Even if you do, remember what I said today.”
“Okay,” Tao said, his voice hoarse and Chanyeol knew he was crying. “Whatever you say.”
The press conference was held a week after the news came out in a big hotel at the central town. Almost every media representatives were present; whether it’s an online media or printed media, they all were there. Chanyeol and Tao were together hand in hand as they walked inside the hall and the noise of cameras clicking was very loud.
Tao was nervous, his hands clasped tight on his lap and sometimes occasionally he would touch Chanyeol’s hand that was resting on his shoulder.
“I’m scared,” he whispered, eyes trained on the press. “What will happen to us?”
“Nothing,” Chanyeol whispered back, pressing a chaste kiss to the back of his ear. The cameras clicking went on louder along with the murmured gasps. “Nothing is going to change, Tao. Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
“Okay,” Tao exhaled and they both eyed the moderator of the conference. “I’ve got you too, Chanyeol.”
Chanyeol smiled and held Tao’s hand, kissing the knuckles before he finally paid attention to the moderator. Everyone was loud and so, so noisy, but it all become nothing but loud buzzing because all he listened to was Tao’s soft, calm breathing beside him. He was busy staring at Tao he didn’t realize the moderator was looking at him and gestured him to grab the microphone in front of him.
“Oh, sorry,” Chanyeol chuckled and some media representatives laughed too, although was a bit forced and stiff. “So, what do I need to confirm now?”
The moderator cleared her throat. “You may now answer the questions from the media representatives.”
“Okay,” Chanyeol nodded unsurely and looked around to the sea of people. “But before anyone asks a question or put a false statement, let me straight things out first. Uh,” he paused and glanced at Tao who was smiling at him. He smiled back. “Uh, Tao and I, as you all know, are dating. We’ve been seeing each other for a year now, and we… we are happy. We would appreciate it if people could accept and support as a couple from now on. So, uh, any questions or statements that I need to confirm?”
It was silent for a while before the press noisily held up their hands and called Chanyeol’s name, clicking their camera shutter furiously toward their direction. But Chanyeol didn’t care, because he was holding Tao’s hand under the table, brushing the knuckles, and all felt right.
“I love him,” he said again, “even when he hates himself for being the way he is right now. You know,” he ignored the noisy press. “We live together. At nights he’d cry in his sleep, loathing his feet that are now paralyzed, crying how he could never do martial arts again. It pained me to see him sad and the fact that I couldn’t do anything to help, to heal him and make him walk again. It’s the worse feeling ever, I swear,” he chuckled hoarsely. “But I love him, and I really don’t care about those things. He’ll still be my Tao no matter what, and I’ll still love him at the end of the day even when people hate us. I don’t care about my career if it’s only going to keep us apart. I don’t mind, that I have to carry him everywhere on my back because I’ll gladly become his feet. And I, I think, it’s enough confirmation for this; for our relationship. I love him, and I don’t care what you’re going to print about us.”
He rose from his seat, kissing Tao’s forehead-who was now crying-and pushing his wheelchair out of the hall, out of the hotel, to home; to where they’d sleep together with their limbs tangled and chests pressed close against each other.
(“You’re so romantic,” Tao said, half-sobbed and laughed. “It must be my damn legs that caused you to act like that.”
“Yeah, it’s your damn legs,” Chanyeol grinned and kissed his lover. “They’re beautiful.”)
Title: Beautiful Legs
Pairing(s): Chanyeol/Tao
Rating: PG-15
Warning(s): profanity, disabled major character
Length: 5,060 words
Summary: Chanyeol and Tao were never close to each other, at least not until the last one year. But now years after EXO disbandment and the unfortunate happen; they finally realize what they really mean for each other.
Author’s Note: Firstly thank you to the mod for creating and managing this wonderful exchange. It was fun joining Yeolliepopday! Secondly, to my recipient with two names-I love you for giving Chanyeol / Tao as an option of pairing. You don’t know how much I adore the two of them and how I wish to read more of this pairing in the fandom. So being able to write a story of Chanyeol / Tao was really a pleasure for me. I hope I did well and you’ll like what I have for you (even though it’s most likely to be very different from what you have in mind). Lastly to all visitors and/or participants of Yeolliepopday, I hope you will give them (this story, Chanyeol / Tao) a chance.
Chanyeol was never close with Tao. Not really. They were only together if the rest were present, and they talked nothing more than their job, their group. Chanyeol even found Tao annoying most of the times, as he wasn’t really fond of the high pitched voice of Tao that the younger let out from time to time. He also hated how Tao would hug people whenever wherever and whined in a not-so-cute way. And he totally disliked how clingy Tao could get with the others and how the others didn’t mind. It was ridiculous for him, how people worshipped the thing named ‘skinship’ so much.
(And damn, although it had been quite long time ago, remembering it felt so real that the memory alone made him shudder.)
So for the rest of their career as idols, he only thought of Tao as a co-worker and nothing more. Tao was never a friend or a family like the rest was to Chanyeol. Tao was…Tao, a member of EXO-M, and that was all. He would always keep a safe distant from Tao because he didn’t want to be jumped on by the younger. Not until EXO was no longer relevant and they were too old to jump on each other, at least.
(And certainly not for the last one year.)
“-yeol, Chanyeol!”
Chanyeol jumped slightly on his seat and looked up to Junmyeon, who was looking at him worriedly and handing him a bottle of water.
“You’ve been out since we first got here. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes,” his voice cracked and he immediately cleared his throat, taking the bottle and downing half of it in one go. “Just…worried, I guess. I don’t know.”
“We all are,” Junmyeon sighed and plopped down on the steel chair beside him. “I mean, after nine, ten years, I don’t know, we’re gathered here together again in a, sadly, unfortunate event.”
“Yeah, true,” Chanyeol blinked and downed more of the water, only to feel more dry and thirsty after. “But he’s going to be alright, isn’t he? It’s not going to be that bad, right? I mean, that kid’s tough.”
“Let’s hope so,” Junmyeon said, and the next second he was waving his hand to Jongin, who just arrived with Jongdae before smiling back to Chanyeol. “I don’t know what will happen if he…”
Chanyeol paled and Junmyeon smiled sadly as Jongin and Jongdae sat next the two of them. “How long have the two of you been here?”
“An hour or two,” Junmyeon patted Jongin’s back and pulled Jongdae into an awkward hug before they fell into comfortable silence. “How are you, Kai, Jongdae?”
“It’s been ten years and you still call me Kai,” Jongin laughed and leaned back to his seat. “We’re good, or at least I am. I just got another offer to act on a movie.”
“Old habit dies hard,” Junmyeon shrugged and laughed along with Jongin. “That’s nice to know. And you, Jongdae, how are you? Good?”
“Good,” Jongdae nodded before he pulled out his phone, tapping mindlessly on the screen while he spoke. “Just a bit stressed over work, is all. But over all I’m doing fine.”
“Good,” Junmyeon nodded, leaning back to his seat, and stared at the glass door in front of them. “I’m glad to know everyone seems to be doing fine. Well, most of us.”
They all fell silence until Jongin cleared his throat and grinned at Chanyeol, who smiled weakly back to him. “How are you, Chanyeol? Still going out with Nana?”
“Never thought that we would see you as one of the first visitors, to be honest,” Jongdae added and the small fell from Chanyeol’s face. “It’s ironically funny, you know, to see you finally care about Tao, who you used to despise so much now that he...well, you know.”
Chanyeol licked his chapped lips, not minding the peeled skin that got into his mouth and willing himself not to scream at Jongdae for being accused such thing. “We’ve all grown up,” he shrugged, “and Tao was a family, after all. I disliked him, true, but I never despised him and we’re just no longer the passionate newly-debuted 20 year olds we used to be. So, me who hate him am no longer relevant.”
“Yeah, we no longer are,” Jongin quickly agreed, and elbowed Jongdae hard on the ribs. The latter winced from pain. “So, how are things with you and Nana? Still together?”
“No,” Chanyeol bit his inner cheek and looked away. “It didn’t work. We broke up over a year ago.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know,” Jongin said and awkwardly leaned back to his seat, fidgeting, before springing up a second after. “Who wants some snacks while we wait for everyone else? Coke and some bread, perhaps?”
“I do,” Jongdae raised his hand and Jongin rolled his eyes. “And buy me tea or even milk; I need to drink less coke.”
“Whatever,” Jongin sighed and looked back to Chanyeol and Junmyeon, his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Chanyeol, Junmyeon, want me to buy you some snacks?”
“I’ll go with you,” Junmyeon rose from his seat and grabbed Jongin’s elbow to drag him along. “We’ll buy enough snacks for everyone later.”
Junmyeon and Jongin gone not long after that, leaving a trail of laughter as they walked along the hallway, leaving Chanyeol and Jongdae awkwardly silent on their seats. It got a tad bit colder, too, now there were only the two of them.
(And Chanyeol was still cross for what Jongdae said earlier.)
“Sorry for what I said earlier,” Jongdae said, after five minutes, looking up hesitantly to Chanyeol. “I didn’t intend it to be so harsh like that, you know me. I just say what’s on my mind.”
“I know you,” Chanyeol nodded, sighing. “I’m still cross, though.”
“I know.”
Chanyeol rolled his eyes, pulling up his sleeve a bit to check on the watch, worriedly glancing at the glass door that hadn’t been opened for nearly four hours. He was considering to looked for a nurse and ask when he heard footsteps on the hallway-he wondered why it always creep him out-with some buzzed noise of people conversing. He looked up the same time as Luhan, Sehun and Minseok stopped in front of him and Jongdae.
“Hey,” Minseok greeted and pulled Chanyeol up for a hug, patting his back. “Glad to see you here.”
Chanyeol nodded, smiling back, and greeted the other two. “Hey, it’s good to see all of you here.”
They greeted each other some more before filling the seats, sitting in complete silence, and Chanyeol noticed how very weary Sehun looked at the moment. He felt a bit out of place now Tao’s close friends were here.
(He never was, after all.)
“Chanyeol,” he looked up and smiled a bit to Luhan. “I heard you’re making a new album, is that true?”
“Uhm, no actually, no,” he shook his head, scratching the back of his head nervously. He looked up only to see they looked at him funny. “I was working for a new album, but not anymore.”
Luhan frowned, “Why?”
“Uh, well-”
The glass door slid open and they all diverted their attentions to the doctor who just walked out of the room. The doctor looked exhausted and from the look of things, the situation wasn’t any good for Tao. Chanyeol gulped.
“Is there any family of Huang Zitao here?”
“No,” Chanyeol quickly answered, ignoring the looks from his friends. “No, they’re still flying here from China. They will arrive in three to four hours at most. But can’t you tell us how he’s doing?”
“No, unfortunately I can’t,” the doctor sighed and Chanyeol felt even more nervous he couldn’t understand. “Please inform one of the nurses here once the family arrives. Thank you.”
Chanyeol nodded as the doctor walked away, but he took a deep breath and exhaled pretty loudly.
“Doctor, wait,” he said, and the doctor stopped. “Is he, is he alright?”
“He’s alive,” the doctor answered and just in time as Junmyeon and Jongin showed up in the hallway. Everyone was looking at them intensely now. “Uh, yeah, he’s alive. That’s what’s important, eh?”
“Why are you hesitating?” Chanyeol narrowed his eyes. “Is he really alright or there’s something more?”
“Listen, sir,” the doctor sighed again and Chanyeol almost rolled his eyes. “I can’t tell you further about his condition because you’re not a family. So unless you’re his brother or legally married to him, you can’t know about his condition.”
“Just tell us if he’s alright or not,” he whined and didn’t realize Luhan was holding him back. “We’re his friends, we deserve to know.”
“I understand, sir, but unfortunately we can’t.” the doctor bowed a little and turned around to walk away after saying, “So sorry.”
It was silent after the doctor was gone, and Chanyeol was still standing in the middle of the hallway whilst everyone else staring at him expectantly. It was odd and quite funny sight to see he felt uncomfortable. He finally sat down after five minutes standing and was immediately held by Junmyeon.
“He will be alright, Chanyeol,” the other whispered, and it felt a bit awkward but relieving at the same time. “Don’t worry.”
“Yeah,” Chanyeol swallowed the lump in his throat and stared at the glass door longingly. “Yeah, he will.”
The truth was Chanyeol had been seeing Tao for almost a year now. No one knew beside the two of them-and Baekhyun, by accident, because god forbids he was just so nosy-and they intended to keep it that way.
(Well, at least until this whole accident thing happened.)
Tao was on his way to their usual meeting place, except that time he was alone and wasn’t with his manager, when the crash happened. He was on a highway, driving at the normal speed, but unfortunate for him, another car was speeding from his right and the two collided. The other driver was alright, just had a concussion and broken arm, but Tao was... less lucky. He almost died if not for immediate handling at the hospital.
Chanyeol was already at the meeting place by that time, grumbling and irritated that the other was late-also worried-because the other was usually on time. Tao never showed up late, and even if he did, it would be only five-ten minutes late. He was so worried and antsy now that he thought about it.
He was glaring at the waiters and nosy onlookers when he got called by Tao’s manager, and he lost all of his blood when he was informed about Tao’s condition.
“Tao’s in a critical state, he lost a lot of blood.”
Chanyeol didn’t think twice or stayed a second longer; he immediately left for the hospital and informed Baekhyun who then informed all of their friends. Which brought them here now, two days later, cramped in the hospital, with everyone questioning Chanyeol’s worried look.
“Uhm,” Baekhyun cleared his throat and everyone’s attention diverted to him. “So, Tao’s alright, although he’s still not awake yet. Coma, I mean, for two days now.”
Jongdae rolled his eyes. “What are you trying to say, Baekhyun?”
“Nothing,” Baekhyun looked at Chanyeol’s direction and everyone did the same. “Just worried, and I want certain someone to speak the truth. If you know what I mean.”
Chanyeol rolled his eyes and looked away, gazing at the door where Tao was kept in. He wasn’t listening to the gasps and murmurs from his friend, or silly confirmations from Baekhyun about his relationship with Tao. He didn’t care. He only thought about Tao at the moment.
Is he awake? Is he alright? Will he remember me?
“Chanyeol,” he sighed and turned his head slightly to his friends, mumbling a lazy ‘what’. “Is it true you’ve been dating Tao for a year now?”
“Yeah,” he shrugged and looked back to the door. “Isn’t that obvious?”
(He heard Junmyeon shriek on the background.)
Tao woke up five days later, a week after the incident.
Thankfully he didn’t forget about Chanyeol or basic things such as his name, days, etc. and only got a minor concussion like the other driver. He could remember his past and present just fine, except for the day of the incident, and it really wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t a day anyone would remember anyway.
Chanyeol was so worried about the possibility of memory loss because if Tao forgot him, he wasn’t so sure how he would win Tao again because he was sure as hell Tao would never like him for the second time. It would be like The Vow slash version.
(Yes, yes, Chanyeol was already falling deep and hard for Tao.)
They were alone in the room now, holding hands, and Tao was crying silently.
“Unfortunately because the spinal cord is damaged, Mr. Huang will not be able to walk again.”
Chanyeol frowned and touched his cheeks, gently wiping the tears away. “Hey,” he whispered, “it’s okay. You’re here, and you’re alive. It’s all that matters, Tao.”
“No, it’s not,” Tao retorted back, his voice hoarse and he choked on his tears as he turned his face to look at Chanyeol. “I won’t be able to walk again, Chanyeol. I’m paralyzed for life!”
“Hey, no, we can try-”
“There’s nothing,” he shouted and Chanyeol winced, “there’s nothing that can helps me! You know that, Chanyeol, you know! I can’t walk anymore and I, I-”
Chanyeol scooted closer and pressed his lips tenderly against Tao’s face, trailing the jaw up to the forehead. Tao was sobbing now and it pained Chanyeol, because what the younger said was true. He’s paralyzed for life; he can’t walk anymore. But what pained Chanyeol the most was the fact he couldn’t do anything to help, to make Tao happy.
“I’m nothing now,” Tao sobbed and his hand on Chanyeol’s hold trembled. “I’m nothing now, and you’ll leave me. You and everyone else will leave me one by one, because now I’m nothing.”
“Tao, that’s not true,” Chanyeol shook his head, not realizing he was also crying. “I won’t leave you, I’ll stay. You are still you no matter what, and I… I love you.”
Tao scoffed and looked away, sobbing to the soft glow of afternoon sunlight from the window. He tightened his hold on Tao’s hand and the other sobbed louder.
“You won’t love me anymore,” he whispered brokenly, “you’ll get tired of me.”
Chanyeol didn’t say anything but held on tighter.
(No, I won’t.)
It took another two days until Tao agreed to let their friends visit him.
He didn’t say anything when people talk to him, only occasionally smiling and nodding, and he didn’t even move a muscle when Baekhyun and Jongdae along with Sehun and Jongin cracked a joke. He would only hummed and now everyone had given up trying to cheer him up.
He didn’t want to look at his feet, only looking up to the ceiling or to the windows on his right, didn’t really talk to his family and/or Chanyeol, didn’t want to eat-he distanced himself from everyone. It was as if he lost the will to live. And perhaps he did, but Chanyeol had none of it.
“Tao,” Junmyeon called and Tao hummed. “How are you feeling today?”
“Like I was hit by a car,” Tao tilted his head, “oh wait, I did. Ha-ha.”
Everyone cringed and Jongdae choked on his grape juice. Chanyeol sighed.
“Tao,” Junmyeon tried again and Tao sighed exasperatedly. “How are you feeling today?”
“Worst,” Tao bit his lip, looking away, and crossed his arms. “Knowing that I can’t move my legs even if I tried suck really bad, it’s like something is missing. And it is.”
Junmyeon opened his mouth to speak again but Baekhyun cut him to it.
(Chanyeol sighed in relief.)
“Guys,” Baekhyun called loudly and everyone turned their attentions on him almost immediately. “I’m buying snacks, do you guys want anything?”
“Oh,” Luhan jumped on his seat excitedly and nodded. “Yes, yes, I want some ice cream.”
“Me too,” Minseok said calmly and soon everyone followed to name their orders.
Meanwhile, Chanyeol scooted closer to Tao and held his hand, gazing at the younger worriedly and brushing his face with his knuckles. Tao didn’t say anything still, but he didn’t object the touch and it was enough for Chanyeol.
“Chanyeol, Tao,” Baekhyun called and Chanyeol looked up. “Do you guys want anything?”
“No-”
“Yes,” Chanyeol quickly cut Tao and held the other’s hand tighter. “We want strawberry yoghurts.”
Tao didn’t say anything, smiled a little, and Chanyeol grinned. He finally succeeded and he couldn’t be any happier.
(Baekhyun and the rest present in the room were also smiling for the two of them.)
Later at night, when everyone was gone and there were only the two of them, Chanyeol lied down beside Tao and held him tight, humming soft tunes to make the other falls asleep. He brushed the other’s soft, jet-black hair and inhaled the sweet scent of his body.
“Tao,” he whispered softly, “live with me. I promise I’ll take good care of you every day and I’ll stock plenty of strawberry yoghurts in our fridge.”
Tao chuckled sleepily. “Alright, be sure to keep your promise. I’d love to drink the yoghurt every day.”
“I promise,” Chanyeol smiled and closed his eyes, pulling the other closer to him. “You’d never miss a day.”
It was Tao’s last day at the hospital and Chanyeol was taking care of the administration when Chanyeol’s ex-girlfriend, Nana, called from behind and excitedly hugging him.
“Chanyeol,” she greeted happily and Chanyeol too smiled. He was also happy because Tao would live with him starting today. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh, I’m taking care of Tao’s administration. He’s going home today.”
“Ah, right, I heard he got hit by another car. Poor guy.” Nana nodded to herself before she smiled again. “So, how are you, Chanyeol?”
“Great,” Chanyeol beamed and looked down to the papers he was holding. “Well, not really, but today I feel great.”
“Oh, really, why?” Nana was beaming and poked his chest playfully. “New girlfriend?”
“No, no,” Chanyeol blushed and flipped the papers he was holding. “My boyfriend, he’s moving in with me today. I mean, Tao.”
Nana’s eyes widened comically and she gaped. “You’re…?”
“Gay, yeah,” Chanyeol shrugged and his face flushed. “Sorry I never told you.”
“Oh my, it’s okay,” Nana shook her head, smiling. “At least you’re happy now, right?”
Chanyeol nodded and blushed like a schoolgirl. “What are you doing here? Are you sick?”
“No,” Nana laughed and gestured Chanyeol to lean closer. “I’m getting married,” she whispered to his ear. “But I’m already three weeks pregnant.”
Chanyeol gasped before he broke into a fit of laughter and Nana did the same. He didn’t even understand why it was so funny when it was actually considered a bad thing to have a child out of wedlock in their culture. Perhaps it was the way she told him, Chanyeol concluded.
“Oh gods,” Chanyeol snickered and he bit his tongue. “I don’t even know what’s funny.”
“I don’t know too,” Nana giggled and their faces were red from laughing. “Oh, well, maybe-”
“Chanyeol?”
Chanyeol snapped his head he almost broke it and widened his eyes when he saw Tao on his wheelchair, looking sad.
“T-tao,” he smiled unsurely and gestured at Nana. “Uh, meet Nana, she’s-”
“I know her,” Tao snapped and looked away. Chanyeol gulped. “I’ll leave first. Miss, can you take me to my family there?”
“Tao, wait,” Chanyeol quickly stepped behind the wheelchair and took over. The nurse looked at them both confusedly. “Hey, listen, I can explain, we-”
“It must be my damn legs, isn’t it?” Tao said quietly, almost whispered, and Chanyeol knew he was holding back his tears. “You made a promise you clearly can’t keep. Take me to my mom, I’m sick being here.”
“No,” Chanyeol walked over to in front of Tao and kneeled. He held Tao’s hands and kissed the knuckles. He could care less with the surprised gasps and hushed murmurs of onlookers right now. “I made a promise and I wouldn’t break it, Tao. And it’s not your legs, whatever the hell that means. We were only talking as friends, okay. In fact, she’s getting married. We laughed because she, well,” he looked up to Nana and she nodded. “She’s three weeks pregnant.”
Tao narrowed his eyes which were already red. “That’s not something to laugh at.”
“I know,” Chanyeol nodded and grinned. “But I’m just happy, I guess? Because today you’re going home with me and it will be that way until forever. I’m happy.”
Tao blushed and looked down, smiling a little. “You’re dumb,” he said, “but that’s cute.”
“I’m dumb,” Chanyeol beamed and Tao chuckled. “Because I’m happy you’re jealous when you see me with another person. That means something.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Tao rolled his eyes and grumbled. “I wasn’t even jealous.”
“Yeah, right,” Chanyeol kissed his forehead and chuckled when Tao blushed even harder. “Let’s go home and stop being sad, okay? You have me.”
“Whatever,” Tao said, but Chanyeol grinned anyway. “I want to go home.”
“Right away, sir.”
On the next day, news about Tao and him ‘having romantic moment’ were everywhere. Million photos of them talking at the hospital were all over the internet and papers. Chanyeol could only imagine what people were saying but didn’t dare to check the comment page yet. It was too early for hate.
Groaning, he checked his phone and wasn’t surprised to see 57 missed calls and 69 unread messages even though it was only five in the morning. His manager must be furious at him for pulling stunt like this.
“Wake up and answer my call, Park Chanyeol!”
“For the love of gods please wake up right NOW and answer me!”
“Park Chanyeol, please wake up.”
He snickered and Tao shifted beside him. Afraid that he would wake up the other, he tiptoed outside and waited for another call whilst brewing a cup of coffee. Odd, he thought, the news didn’t even make him down. He must be so happy that he didn’t care about other things.
He was smiling at his bedroom’s door direction when his phone rang, and he happily answered the call.
“Good morning,” he said happily, and heard his manager groan. “What seemed to be the problem?”
“Morning,” his manager grumbled and he snickered. “Seriously, Chanyeol, your photos with Tao are everywhere and you’re not worried or panic at all?”
“Nope,” Chanyeol snickered and the coffee machine stopped brewing. “I’m happy, I’m fine. So, what do we do now?”
He walked to the kitchen, taking cup from the cupboard and pouring the sizzling hot coffee into it. He then added two spoons of sugar whilst his manager rambled from over the phone about press conference, official statement, blah, blah, blah-Chanyeol wasn’t listening. His mind kept wandering back to Tao who was still sleeping on now their bed, tangled with sheets and comfortable.
“-Chanyeol, are you even listening to me?”
“Oh,” Chanyeol blinked twice and sipped his coffee, wincing because he burned his tongue. “No, sorry, I was… my mind was a bit occupied. So sorry, what was it?”
“You need to start paying attention, Chanyeol, I swear to god, this dating scandal you’re having with Tao-”
“Scandal?” Chanyeol narrowed his eyes and scoffed. “What is dating scandal? I don’t see dating as a scandal, do you? I’m dating him that’s true, and perhaps that’s the scandal, but the dating itself is not. Ugh, look, I’m dating Tao is not even a scandal! What the heck! People only calling it a scandal because they expect us to live in celibacy or marry one of them! Or maybe, I don’t know, loving who they expect me to, man or woman! It irritates me that it’s called scandal because we’re dating and we’re both men and my partner is not who they want. It’s funny, weird, and unfair. We didn’t cause general public outrage for fun or for publicity stunt. Oh my I hate life.”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying, look,” his manager exhaled loudly and he rolled his eyes but all of his angers quickly dissipated. “The point is, both of you are in big trouble. It’s even huge, because not everyone has really accepted gay community here. Well, even though it’s not really like a few years ago, but, still.”
“I know,” Chanyeol sighed and he heard Tao called his name from upstairs. “Oh, I got to go, Tao is awake. Text me all the details if you’re planning to make a press conference. I’ll call you back later.”
He didn’t give his manager a chance to speak again as he quickly hung up and ran upstairs, opening his bedroom door to found Tao pouting in bed. Chanyeol beamed.
“Good morning,” Chanyeol grinned lopsidedly and checked the watch. It was only 5:45 and Tao still looked so tired. “Did I wake you up?”
“No,” Tao shook his head and Chanyeol quickly strode over, sitting right beside him. “My manager called me hundreds of times and apparently our photo together at the hospital yesterday are already everywhere on the news. Damn.”
“Damn,” Chanyeol agreed and Tao sighed, leaning back to the pillows behind him. Chanyeol lied down his body on top of Tao and hugged him tight, listening to the other’s heartbeat. “We’ll be alright, though, I can assure you that.”
“I know,” Tao said, and Chanyeol could almost hear how the other was smiling. “But it’s still sad that I can’t walk, you know. I forgot I can’t walk, I almost fell from the bed just now.”
“You’re still beautiful,” Chanyeol said, blushing and hugged Tao’s bony figure tighter. “Even if you, uhm, can’t walk anymore, you’re still so beautiful. With these scars that you got from your accident-they make you even more beautiful. See, I can’t stop saying you’re beautiful, Tao, because it’s true and no amount of scars could lessen it. Don’t; don’t feel bad about yourself, ever. Even if you do, remember what I said today.”
“Okay,” Tao said, his voice hoarse and Chanyeol knew he was crying. “Whatever you say.”
The press conference was held a week after the news came out in a big hotel at the central town. Almost every media representatives were present; whether it’s an online media or printed media, they all were there. Chanyeol and Tao were together hand in hand as they walked inside the hall and the noise of cameras clicking was very loud.
Tao was nervous, his hands clasped tight on his lap and sometimes occasionally he would touch Chanyeol’s hand that was resting on his shoulder.
“I’m scared,” he whispered, eyes trained on the press. “What will happen to us?”
“Nothing,” Chanyeol whispered back, pressing a chaste kiss to the back of his ear. The cameras clicking went on louder along with the murmured gasps. “Nothing is going to change, Tao. Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
“Okay,” Tao exhaled and they both eyed the moderator of the conference. “I’ve got you too, Chanyeol.”
Chanyeol smiled and held Tao’s hand, kissing the knuckles before he finally paid attention to the moderator. Everyone was loud and so, so noisy, but it all become nothing but loud buzzing because all he listened to was Tao’s soft, calm breathing beside him. He was busy staring at Tao he didn’t realize the moderator was looking at him and gestured him to grab the microphone in front of him.
“Oh, sorry,” Chanyeol chuckled and some media representatives laughed too, although was a bit forced and stiff. “So, what do I need to confirm now?”
The moderator cleared her throat. “You may now answer the questions from the media representatives.”
“Okay,” Chanyeol nodded unsurely and looked around to the sea of people. “But before anyone asks a question or put a false statement, let me straight things out first. Uh,” he paused and glanced at Tao who was smiling at him. He smiled back. “Uh, Tao and I, as you all know, are dating. We’ve been seeing each other for a year now, and we… we are happy. We would appreciate it if people could accept and support as a couple from now on. So, uh, any questions or statements that I need to confirm?”
It was silent for a while before the press noisily held up their hands and called Chanyeol’s name, clicking their camera shutter furiously toward their direction. But Chanyeol didn’t care, because he was holding Tao’s hand under the table, brushing the knuckles, and all felt right.
“I love him,” he said again, “even when he hates himself for being the way he is right now. You know,” he ignored the noisy press. “We live together. At nights he’d cry in his sleep, loathing his feet that are now paralyzed, crying how he could never do martial arts again. It pained me to see him sad and the fact that I couldn’t do anything to help, to heal him and make him walk again. It’s the worse feeling ever, I swear,” he chuckled hoarsely. “But I love him, and I really don’t care about those things. He’ll still be my Tao no matter what, and I’ll still love him at the end of the day even when people hate us. I don’t care about my career if it’s only going to keep us apart. I don’t mind, that I have to carry him everywhere on my back because I’ll gladly become his feet. And I, I think, it’s enough confirmation for this; for our relationship. I love him, and I don’t care what you’re going to print about us.”
He rose from his seat, kissing Tao’s forehead-who was now crying-and pushing his wheelchair out of the hall, out of the hotel, to home; to where they’d sleep together with their limbs tangled and chests pressed close against each other.
(“You’re so romantic,” Tao said, half-sobbed and laughed. “It must be my damn legs that caused you to act like that.”
“Yeah, it’s your damn legs,” Chanyeol grinned and kissed his lover. “They’re beautiful.”)