the problem with fiction (02/10ish)
kris/chanyeol | PG-13 for now
summary: the usual idol oppa/ordinary high school boy fake engagement fic - unless you never read one.
author notes: thank you and enjoy *breakdance* (big thanks to previous readers, i've passed the 15 comments i aimed).
o n e
the aspirin knocks him out. he’s thisclose to forget what happened as he rubs his eyes, but the sight of baekhyun sniffing next to him on the bed is bringing back the damned memory of last night’s incident.
his throat feels dry when he tries to swallow.
kris, exo’s kris, tried to.
tried to.
chanyeol can’t even form the 'r' word in his head. at all. if he so much thought about it; it would feel too real and he's really, really at a loss.
baekhyun is mumbling apologies in his sleep over and over and over again, his cheeks are damp from his tears. chanyeol wants to either comfort or curse his best friend, but he can’t bear looking, let alone talking to baekhyun right now.
(to say that it was baekhyun’s fault, well, most likely it is.)
chanyeol quietly slips off of his bed and changes to a new pair of black skinny jeans. he goes to wash his face and brush his teeth. he sits at the closed toilet lid for a while, staring blankly to the dolphin tiles. when his chest is suffocated by no particular reason, he speed walks to get out of his palace.
when he’s near the living room, he manages to hear a shushed conversation going on. he tiptoes and sits cross legged right in front of the sliding door; listening to the adults with his own loud heartbeats as his sole companion.
“...the manager, i’m begging you, park-sshi, to consider my solution,” ryeowook-sshi sounds tired. “it’s for kris, exo, and chanyeolla’s sake.”
chanyeol snorts at the brand new nickname from exo’s eccentric manager. but he grimaces because he doesn’t want anyone to find out that he’s eavesdropping. thankfully nobody seems to notice him. yet.
chanyeol willingly covers his mouth with his palm.
his appa sighs, and then a silence.
“kris-sshi, tell me honestly. last night, if none of us had come barging in, would you stop whatever it was that you tried to do to my son, or would you just continue?” before kris can answer, chanyeol’s appa adds, “because i think i have a vague idea about it. my son can be quite confusing sometimes.”
kris clears his throat. his answer is full of regret, “i’d stop, park-sshi, i was too late to really understand that c-c-chanyeol didn’t mean anything sexual with his cuteness. i’d stop.”
another silence.
“i see,” chanyeol’s appa sighs again. “but still, we have to tell my son about ryeowook-sshi’s plan. it’s his life too. i’m not going to decide it for him.”
“of course, park-sshi, but pardon my straightforwardness. maybe we can wake chanyeolla now? because,” ryeowook-sshi lets out a short laugh, “our CEO has been calling. our company is currently flooded by reporters who want answers, park-sshi. i hope for your understanding.”
“sure, let me fetch him.”
chanyeol is not agile enough to run back to his room, and as his appa jumps seeing him sitting by the door, he grins widely to cover up his uneasiness. usually his appa falls for his maniacal grin and lets him get away with everything.
but his appa suddenly smiles and chanyeol wants to cry instead. he takes his appa’s calloused palm and holds on tightly as he enters the living room. there are kris, ryeowook-sshi, and his umma. he sits in between ryeowook-sshi and his appa.
“annyeong, chanyeollie~” the exo manager pinches his cheek. chanyeol pouts.
his appa laughs wholeheartedly at their interaction. his umma is still tight-lipped though, and kris won’t lift his head.
“what is it, appa?” chanyeol tries to be bright about the situation. he’s only seventeen. “umma?”
“listen to what ryeowook-sshi is going to tell you, alright?” his appa squeezes his hand, and chanyeol nods determinedly.
ryeowook-sshi smiles, looking a little bit miserable and hopeful and he starts with a, “so chanyeol-ah...”
▲▼
the elders leave chanyeol and kris to settle things down, or, to make sure they’re on their right minds before they agree to ryeowook-sshi’s plan.
chanyeol glances every now and then to the ever poker faced kris across the table.
(ryeowook-sshi’s plan goes like this:
kris will announce that he’s actually engaged to the boy on that photo. he just doesn’t want the public to know yet, but one of his close friends posted the photo on the internet just for fun and no; kris wufan wasn’t trying to rape anyone. thus, chanyeol will have to move to seoul for publicity purpose only, and after six months kris will sadly announce that he and his lovable younger fiancee have separated ways, because you know how entertainment world works; the fans will forget it as time passes!
and for the exchange, you will have a much, much better education. our company will pay for everything, we will give you monthly allowance, too. everything you need, you can have it because that’s the least that we can do if you agree to my plan, chanyeol-ah.)
it's not exactly a blackmail nor a bribe, his appa had told him after ryeowook-sshi finished explaining his plan. his appa also said that the plan makes sense.
for chanyeol, the plan makes sense, too, and plus; they’re betting on exo and kris’ future careers, really. why ruining it with one silly scandal when a seemingly perfect solution has been found?
and he’s only seventeen. basically, he wants everything.
the plan should be a win-win situation.
right?
(but his umma hasn't uttered a single word regarding the plan.)
“um,” chanyeol waves his hand to get kris’ attention, “um, kris-sshi?”
kris is frowning when he meets chanyeol’s face.
“hi!” chanyeol grins, he's already used to kris’ limited facial expressions.
kris closes his eyes as if he’s facepalming (tumblr’s popular language).
“ummm...” chanyeol puffs his left cheek, annoyed by that reaction. “maybe you can try smiling at me more, you know? since i’m going to be your fiancee soon,” he grumbles, crossing his arms.
“what.” kris snaps at him. “what did you just say?” he looks like he’s ready to strangle the nearest poor object, and chanyeol remembers that look from when he first showed kris his room two nights ago. two nights ago, the nearest poor object was him; and now it’s also him.
so he raises his arms as a self-defense, and shrieks, “aniyo aniyo! ahahahahahaha i was just kidding! please don’t kill me!”
apparently, his voice is too loud. his appa, umma, ryeowook-sshi, and joonmyun are running to the living room―all with their matching horrified expressions.
they shout, “CHANYEOL ARE YOU OKAY!?” in unison and kris looks like he’d rather have the earth swallow him and he’s literally doing the facepalming thingy right now. chanyeol just laughs sheepishly. he doesn’t even whine at his appa’s painful smack to his head.
well at least he agrees to ryeowook-sshi’s plan and they can thank him later!
▲▼
“but why do i have to move to seoul today! i thought―i thought it will take time, umma! i don’t want to go!”
everyone is quiet as chanyeol stomps like a giant baby after hearing that he needs to pack up his necessary things, because they have to get going in an hour. the rest of his belongings will be delivered the following day.
“umma! appa!” he wails. “baekhyun-ah, you fix this now! i demand you as your wangja!"
baekhyun mouths another apology and chanyeol lets out another long and dejected wail. somehow he can hear ryeowook-sshi’s giggle though, and he doesn’t even realize his eyes are watering when he glares at the frilly exo manager.
“ryeowook-sshi i don’t wanna go today! how about my friends! are you saying that i won’t see umma and appa and stupid baekhyun for six months starting tomorrow? how do you think i can cope with that, ryeowook-sshi!?”
chanyeol can’t contain his emotion anymore; he sobs then, kneeling and hiding his face to the floor. he doesn’t want to leave, god, this is too sudden! how about jongdae!
that’s right. jongdae!
"i must go," he mumbles and proceeds to run. somebody is immediately chasing him. but whatever; he has to see jongdae for the last time. this is serious business. it’s now or never.
chanyeol doesn’t look back to find out who is chasing him. he doesn’t even care about the sad fact that his face is a total mess, snots and tears drying on his cheeks and nostrils.
his lungs hurt when he stops into a halt in front of jongdae’s house. usually jongdae is home at this time of the day. jongdae lives in a small, minimalistic, grey house and chanyeol easily jumps over the low white fence and immediately throws white pebbles to jongdae’s closed window.
(jongdae is his and baekhyun’s classmate.
jongdae has been invading chanyeol’s mind for a little while; jongdae with his melancholic eyes and warm smile. jongdae and his high pitched voice when he sings on stage next to chanyeol. jongdae and his manly jawline. jongdae and his everything.)
“chanyeol-ah?” jongdae wears his hipster glasses and chanyeol wonders why for the last three days that face of his supposedly love interest never ever crosses his mind like, at all?
he still gets ‘the vibe’ when he sees jongdae smiling down at him though. that's good enough for him.
“chanyeol-ah, are you okay?”
no. “of-of course!” chanyeol will mourn for his lame stuttering later, but now, “listen, can i tell you something?”
jongdae nods, he perches his elbows to the windowsill and with a weird sense of peace chanyeol blurts out his feeling ungraciously just like this,
“i think i like you, jongdae-yah.”
jongdae looks stunned by the confession. he opens his mouth and stares down at chanyeol like chanyeol speaks a foreign language. that was it. it's done. just like that.
“um.” chanyeol wipes his face and sniffs. he can't bear the humiliation and makes a sharp u-turn only to run into a bush of roses. he shrieks because his palms are scratched by the thorns. jongdae exclaims, and it seems like he's running downstairs to check on chanyeol.
chanyeol doesn’t want jongdae to get near his pathetic whole being and so, ignoring the pain, he escapes the low white fence and then he runs into―
kris.
chanyeol is about to shriek again, but kris reaches to grab his arms and hides them behind a large cambodia tree about a couple of meters from jongdae’s house. kris presses his big palm on chanyeol’s sweat and snot decorated mouth, and he looks damn serious. a moment later jongdae is calling chanyeol’s name, and runs to the other side of the street to search for him. when jongdae is out of sight, chanyeol slumps to the ground; sniffing and breathing shakily. his palms sting.
kris kneels in front of him, takes chanyeol’s wrists gently and from his jeans pocket he picks two plies of tissue. so the kris wufan brings tissues on his pocket? how...neat.
kris dabs on chanyeol’s slightly bleeding palms as chanyeol bites his bottom lip to prevent embarrassing whimpers. kris uses the cleaner side of the tissues to wipe at chanyeol’s face.
he doesn’t say anything the whole time. and chanyeol doesn’t know whether to be grateful about it or sad.
“thank you,” chanyeol says and looks up and maybe this is why jongdae hasn’t been on his mind lately.
kris just stares at him as he stands up. now chanyeol can see how fuzzy the idol’s hair is; a proof that kris was the one chasing him.
chanyeol doesn’t want to assume anything so he follows suit, only to fall back again due to a sudden vertigo and technicolor effect behind his eyelids.
kris holds his lower back and asks if he's okay.
chanyeol laughs meekly, “heh heh. i didn’t eat last night. i haven’t had food at all this morning.” and now it’s nearing lunch time.
kris nods, and then he kneels again and offers his back.
“b-b-but―” but i like jongdae! “i-i’m. i’m heavy.”
“come on.” kris just says, looking at anywhere but chanyeol’s face. he still sounds so monotone but chanyeol speculates that he’s being a responsible grown up accepting his wrong doing, and is willing to do anything to make it up for chanyeol.
chanyeol finds it sweet.
but as he settles on kris’ back, he smartly says, “that was jongdae. i like him so much.”
“okay.” kris answers, grunting as he adjusts his footing and stands up tall. chanyeol wraps his arms around kris’ neck and presses his face to kris’ broad shoulders, doesn’t really care about being modest because, surprise surprise, he’s so tired. his eyes are dropping with every steps that kris takes. he should’ve leading the way back to his parents’ hot spring and cottage location, but he can’t fight the sleepiness anymore.
it feels like chanyeol has a very good nap until he hears kris talking softly,
“...thank you...yes, chanyeol is with me...” a series of shocked, girly gasps. “hm...oh that...conference later. i will be so grateful if you...support us. yes. what? you’re from chanyeol’s school?”
chanyeol jerks awake. he rubs his nose against the fabric of kris’ blue shirt. he calls for kris’ name and kris is shushing him to go back to sleep.
another series of shocked, girly, cooing gasps.
“...thank you...direction...excuse us chanyeol needs his rest. what? nothing...he...goodbye to...dae. yes yes jongdae. thank you. have a good day.”
and then, chanyeol recognises that voice. it's sungjong from the eleventh grade. sungjong yells out a, “we wish you a happy marriage, kris-sshi! take care of chanyeollie-hyung well, arassooooooooo?”
▲▼
when chanyeol wakes up, his head is resting on a foreign, skinny lap and there are flashes of lights dancing on his face and eyes. he sits up straighter and bumps his head to a...ceiling?
joonmyun chuckles as he strokes chanyeol’s nape.
“you okay there?” he asks from his left side. chanyeol looks to his right and minseok is smiling at him.
“i―” chanyeol shakes his head and slaps his cheeks to make his system functioning again. the two older boys are grimacing but they don’t ask anything.
“uh, where are we?” chanyeol sniffs.
“we’ll arrive at our dorm in fifteen minutes,” joonmyun explains, “your parents said you have to eat and study well.”
chanyeol closes his eyes. right. they took him to seoul when he was still asleep. they couldn’t waste time.
chanyeol decides it’s better to surrender to his hunger than to mope about gangwon right now.
“can we have, what time is it, joonmyun-sshi?” he asks softly, probably inching closer to get a little more of joonmyun's warmth.
“call me hyung, okay? and it’s just a little bit after six. kris said you haven’t had any food. are you hungry?” is joonmyun god, chanyeol beams at the mention of food.
"please, hyung." both joonmyun and minseok laugh and chanyeol laughs at himself too.
joonmyun makes a phone call (ryeowook-sshi is on the other van with kris and yixing), and they stop at the closest restaurant.
“thanks, hyung.” chanyeol shyly thanks joonmyun, and the older boy just ruffles his hair.
ryeowook-sshi takes the quietest table and insists to sit next to chanyeol. he fusses over chanyeol’s choice of foods and reassures him that he doesn’t have to be shy to order anything he wants.
the problem is, they’re on a japanese restaurant and chanyeol has never been in one before.
he pretends to know what he's doing, because the waiter is already scribbling down exo members' orders on his blocknote. he's too hungry to explore japanese rich culinary anyway. finally, he orders a special bento box with iced mocha.
after waiting for about five minutes just fidgeting on his seat, he excuses himself to use the bathroom. there, he gets into the furthest stall, locks it, and checks his phone.
he has three missed calls from jongdae and one from baekhyun. they also texted him.
from: jongdaeeeee
Hey, Chan-ah. I just heard it. Congrats, I guess n_n
If you have time, call me, ok ?
chanyeol is thisclose to press the ‘call’ button but he bites his bottom lip and checks the text from baekhyun instead.
from: baek
Wangja im sorry you ok ther
baekhyun attached a picture to his text. chanyeol closes his eyes as his phone loads it.
it’s him. sleeping on kris’ back. there’s a link to see more photos, and apparently it’s linked to sungjong’s twitter page.
@kkapjong : We saw how mch Kris EXO cared for Chany3ol-hyung!!!Your argument is invalid!!! KrisYeol cpl hwaiting!!! <3<3<3
chanyeol smiles and mutters babo to his phone’s screen. he sighs and turns it off, only to turn it on again the second he realizes he forgets the last time he talked to his parents.
his umma doesn’t pick up her phone. chanyeol tries his appa’s number.
“chanyeol-ah?” his appa picks up on the second ring. he sounds like he’s been waiting for his only son’s call.
“appa...” chanyeol grins, sighing in relief. “appa.”
i miss you.
“be strong, park chanyeol,” his appa says with his usual cheerful and optimistic tone.
but chanyeol's throat is clogged up anyway, “i-i know.”
“that's a good boy.”
“where’s umma? i-i want to talk to her.”
there’s a rustling going on, and then his umma greets him with a hoarse voice. chanyeol tries laughing stupidly to lift up her mood.
she just snorts and advises in a serious tone, “hurt his face if he tries to molest you again, aegi, the face is an idol’s biggest asset.”
“awww, umma!” chanyeol giggles. “that’s too much! i like my face too. i believe in karma.”
“you brat,” his umma cracks a laugh, finally. “go. don’t get homesick. i know my son can do it.”
chanyeol feels a new surge of intense strength and he vows to himself that he’s so not going to be a crybaby about everything.
he can do this.
“alright umma, i have to go now. pack my one piece manhwas pleaseee?” he grins as his umma scowls to the phone. “promise to pack my one piece manhwas and call me every weekend!”
“i heard you, aegi, now go. have you had dinner?” his umma is pausing. and then with a muffled giggle she continues, “...appa says hello to minseok.”
“oh my god!” chanyeol howls as he gets out of the toilet stall. “oh my god, appa!”
“chanyeol-ah?” speak of the devil, minseok is raising an eyebrow from the sink; he’s washing his hands. chanyeol grins and runs to give his phone to the older boy and mouths an excited, 'my appa wants to talk to you!!!’
minseok smiles as he greets chanyeol’s appa, and chanyeol is finally at ease.
to be c o n t i n u e d
summary: the usual idol oppa/ordinary high school boy fake engagement fic - unless you never read one.
author notes: thank you and enjoy *breakdance* (big thanks to previous readers, i've passed the 15 comments i aimed).
o n e
the aspirin knocks him out. he’s thisclose to forget what happened as he rubs his eyes, but the sight of baekhyun sniffing next to him on the bed is bringing back the damned memory of last night’s incident.
his throat feels dry when he tries to swallow.
kris, exo’s kris, tried to.
tried to.
chanyeol can’t even form the 'r' word in his head. at all. if he so much thought about it; it would feel too real and he's really, really at a loss.
baekhyun is mumbling apologies in his sleep over and over and over again, his cheeks are damp from his tears. chanyeol wants to either comfort or curse his best friend, but he can’t bear looking, let alone talking to baekhyun right now.
(to say that it was baekhyun’s fault, well, most likely it is.)
chanyeol quietly slips off of his bed and changes to a new pair of black skinny jeans. he goes to wash his face and brush his teeth. he sits at the closed toilet lid for a while, staring blankly to the dolphin tiles. when his chest is suffocated by no particular reason, he speed walks to get out of his palace.
when he’s near the living room, he manages to hear a shushed conversation going on. he tiptoes and sits cross legged right in front of the sliding door; listening to the adults with his own loud heartbeats as his sole companion.
“...the manager, i’m begging you, park-sshi, to consider my solution,” ryeowook-sshi sounds tired. “it’s for kris, exo, and chanyeolla’s sake.”
chanyeol snorts at the brand new nickname from exo’s eccentric manager. but he grimaces because he doesn’t want anyone to find out that he’s eavesdropping. thankfully nobody seems to notice him. yet.
chanyeol willingly covers his mouth with his palm.
his appa sighs, and then a silence.
“kris-sshi, tell me honestly. last night, if none of us had come barging in, would you stop whatever it was that you tried to do to my son, or would you just continue?” before kris can answer, chanyeol’s appa adds, “because i think i have a vague idea about it. my son can be quite confusing sometimes.”
kris clears his throat. his answer is full of regret, “i’d stop, park-sshi, i was too late to really understand that c-c-chanyeol didn’t mean anything sexual with his cuteness. i’d stop.”
another silence.
“i see,” chanyeol’s appa sighs again. “but still, we have to tell my son about ryeowook-sshi’s plan. it’s his life too. i’m not going to decide it for him.”
“of course, park-sshi, but pardon my straightforwardness. maybe we can wake chanyeolla now? because,” ryeowook-sshi lets out a short laugh, “our CEO has been calling. our company is currently flooded by reporters who want answers, park-sshi. i hope for your understanding.”
“sure, let me fetch him.”
chanyeol is not agile enough to run back to his room, and as his appa jumps seeing him sitting by the door, he grins widely to cover up his uneasiness. usually his appa falls for his maniacal grin and lets him get away with everything.
but his appa suddenly smiles and chanyeol wants to cry instead. he takes his appa’s calloused palm and holds on tightly as he enters the living room. there are kris, ryeowook-sshi, and his umma. he sits in between ryeowook-sshi and his appa.
“annyeong, chanyeollie~” the exo manager pinches his cheek. chanyeol pouts.
his appa laughs wholeheartedly at their interaction. his umma is still tight-lipped though, and kris won’t lift his head.
“what is it, appa?” chanyeol tries to be bright about the situation. he’s only seventeen. “umma?”
“listen to what ryeowook-sshi is going to tell you, alright?” his appa squeezes his hand, and chanyeol nods determinedly.
ryeowook-sshi smiles, looking a little bit miserable and hopeful and he starts with a, “so chanyeol-ah...”
▲▼
the elders leave chanyeol and kris to settle things down, or, to make sure they’re on their right minds before they agree to ryeowook-sshi’s plan.
chanyeol glances every now and then to the ever poker faced kris across the table.
(ryeowook-sshi’s plan goes like this:
kris will announce that he’s actually engaged to the boy on that photo. he just doesn’t want the public to know yet, but one of his close friends posted the photo on the internet just for fun and no; kris wufan wasn’t trying to rape anyone. thus, chanyeol will have to move to seoul for publicity purpose only, and after six months kris will sadly announce that he and his lovable younger fiancee have separated ways, because you know how entertainment world works; the fans will forget it as time passes!
and for the exchange, you will have a much, much better education. our company will pay for everything, we will give you monthly allowance, too. everything you need, you can have it because that’s the least that we can do if you agree to my plan, chanyeol-ah.)
it's not exactly a blackmail nor a bribe, his appa had told him after ryeowook-sshi finished explaining his plan. his appa also said that the plan makes sense.
for chanyeol, the plan makes sense, too, and plus; they’re betting on exo and kris’ future careers, really. why ruining it with one silly scandal when a seemingly perfect solution has been found?
and he’s only seventeen. basically, he wants everything.
the plan should be a win-win situation.
right?
(but his umma hasn't uttered a single word regarding the plan.)
“um,” chanyeol waves his hand to get kris’ attention, “um, kris-sshi?”
kris is frowning when he meets chanyeol’s face.
“hi!” chanyeol grins, he's already used to kris’ limited facial expressions.
kris closes his eyes as if he’s facepalming (tumblr’s popular language).
“ummm...” chanyeol puffs his left cheek, annoyed by that reaction. “maybe you can try smiling at me more, you know? since i’m going to be your fiancee soon,” he grumbles, crossing his arms.
“what.” kris snaps at him. “what did you just say?” he looks like he’s ready to strangle the nearest poor object, and chanyeol remembers that look from when he first showed kris his room two nights ago. two nights ago, the nearest poor object was him; and now it’s also him.
so he raises his arms as a self-defense, and shrieks, “aniyo aniyo! ahahahahahaha i was just kidding! please don’t kill me!”
apparently, his voice is too loud. his appa, umma, ryeowook-sshi, and joonmyun are running to the living room―all with their matching horrified expressions.
they shout, “CHANYEOL ARE YOU OKAY!?” in unison and kris looks like he’d rather have the earth swallow him and he’s literally doing the facepalming thingy right now. chanyeol just laughs sheepishly. he doesn’t even whine at his appa’s painful smack to his head.
well at least he agrees to ryeowook-sshi’s plan and they can thank him later!
▲▼
“but why do i have to move to seoul today! i thought―i thought it will take time, umma! i don’t want to go!”
everyone is quiet as chanyeol stomps like a giant baby after hearing that he needs to pack up his necessary things, because they have to get going in an hour. the rest of his belongings will be delivered the following day.
“umma! appa!” he wails. “baekhyun-ah, you fix this now! i demand you as your wangja!"
baekhyun mouths another apology and chanyeol lets out another long and dejected wail. somehow he can hear ryeowook-sshi’s giggle though, and he doesn’t even realize his eyes are watering when he glares at the frilly exo manager.
“ryeowook-sshi i don’t wanna go today! how about my friends! are you saying that i won’t see umma and appa and stupid baekhyun for six months starting tomorrow? how do you think i can cope with that, ryeowook-sshi!?”
chanyeol can’t contain his emotion anymore; he sobs then, kneeling and hiding his face to the floor. he doesn’t want to leave, god, this is too sudden! how about jongdae!
that’s right. jongdae!
"i must go," he mumbles and proceeds to run. somebody is immediately chasing him. but whatever; he has to see jongdae for the last time. this is serious business. it’s now or never.
chanyeol doesn’t look back to find out who is chasing him. he doesn’t even care about the sad fact that his face is a total mess, snots and tears drying on his cheeks and nostrils.
his lungs hurt when he stops into a halt in front of jongdae’s house. usually jongdae is home at this time of the day. jongdae lives in a small, minimalistic, grey house and chanyeol easily jumps over the low white fence and immediately throws white pebbles to jongdae’s closed window.
(jongdae is his and baekhyun’s classmate.
jongdae has been invading chanyeol’s mind for a little while; jongdae with his melancholic eyes and warm smile. jongdae and his high pitched voice when he sings on stage next to chanyeol. jongdae and his manly jawline. jongdae and his everything.)
“chanyeol-ah?” jongdae wears his hipster glasses and chanyeol wonders why for the last three days that face of his supposedly love interest never ever crosses his mind like, at all?
he still gets ‘the vibe’ when he sees jongdae smiling down at him though. that's good enough for him.
“chanyeol-ah, are you okay?”
no. “of-of course!” chanyeol will mourn for his lame stuttering later, but now, “listen, can i tell you something?”
jongdae nods, he perches his elbows to the windowsill and with a weird sense of peace chanyeol blurts out his feeling ungraciously just like this,
“i think i like you, jongdae-yah.”
jongdae looks stunned by the confession. he opens his mouth and stares down at chanyeol like chanyeol speaks a foreign language. that was it. it's done. just like that.
“um.” chanyeol wipes his face and sniffs. he can't bear the humiliation and makes a sharp u-turn only to run into a bush of roses. he shrieks because his palms are scratched by the thorns. jongdae exclaims, and it seems like he's running downstairs to check on chanyeol.
chanyeol doesn’t want jongdae to get near his pathetic whole being and so, ignoring the pain, he escapes the low white fence and then he runs into―
kris.
chanyeol is about to shriek again, but kris reaches to grab his arms and hides them behind a large cambodia tree about a couple of meters from jongdae’s house. kris presses his big palm on chanyeol’s sweat and snot decorated mouth, and he looks damn serious. a moment later jongdae is calling chanyeol’s name, and runs to the other side of the street to search for him. when jongdae is out of sight, chanyeol slumps to the ground; sniffing and breathing shakily. his palms sting.
kris kneels in front of him, takes chanyeol’s wrists gently and from his jeans pocket he picks two plies of tissue. so the kris wufan brings tissues on his pocket? how...neat.
kris dabs on chanyeol’s slightly bleeding palms as chanyeol bites his bottom lip to prevent embarrassing whimpers. kris uses the cleaner side of the tissues to wipe at chanyeol’s face.
he doesn’t say anything the whole time. and chanyeol doesn’t know whether to be grateful about it or sad.
“thank you,” chanyeol says and looks up and maybe this is why jongdae hasn’t been on his mind lately.
kris just stares at him as he stands up. now chanyeol can see how fuzzy the idol’s hair is; a proof that kris was the one chasing him.
chanyeol doesn’t want to assume anything so he follows suit, only to fall back again due to a sudden vertigo and technicolor effect behind his eyelids.
kris holds his lower back and asks if he's okay.
chanyeol laughs meekly, “heh heh. i didn’t eat last night. i haven’t had food at all this morning.” and now it’s nearing lunch time.
kris nods, and then he kneels again and offers his back.
“b-b-but―” but i like jongdae! “i-i’m. i’m heavy.”
“come on.” kris just says, looking at anywhere but chanyeol’s face. he still sounds so monotone but chanyeol speculates that he’s being a responsible grown up accepting his wrong doing, and is willing to do anything to make it up for chanyeol.
chanyeol finds it sweet.
but as he settles on kris’ back, he smartly says, “that was jongdae. i like him so much.”
“okay.” kris answers, grunting as he adjusts his footing and stands up tall. chanyeol wraps his arms around kris’ neck and presses his face to kris’ broad shoulders, doesn’t really care about being modest because, surprise surprise, he’s so tired. his eyes are dropping with every steps that kris takes. he should’ve leading the way back to his parents’ hot spring and cottage location, but he can’t fight the sleepiness anymore.
it feels like chanyeol has a very good nap until he hears kris talking softly,
“...thank you...yes, chanyeol is with me...” a series of shocked, girly gasps. “hm...oh that...conference later. i will be so grateful if you...support us. yes. what? you’re from chanyeol’s school?”
chanyeol jerks awake. he rubs his nose against the fabric of kris’ blue shirt. he calls for kris’ name and kris is shushing him to go back to sleep.
another series of shocked, girly, cooing gasps.
“...thank you...direction...excuse us chanyeol needs his rest. what? nothing...he...goodbye to...dae. yes yes jongdae. thank you. have a good day.”
and then, chanyeol recognises that voice. it's sungjong from the eleventh grade. sungjong yells out a, “we wish you a happy marriage, kris-sshi! take care of chanyeollie-hyung well, arassooooooooo?”
▲▼
when chanyeol wakes up, his head is resting on a foreign, skinny lap and there are flashes of lights dancing on his face and eyes. he sits up straighter and bumps his head to a...ceiling?
joonmyun chuckles as he strokes chanyeol’s nape.
“you okay there?” he asks from his left side. chanyeol looks to his right and minseok is smiling at him.
“i―” chanyeol shakes his head and slaps his cheeks to make his system functioning again. the two older boys are grimacing but they don’t ask anything.
“uh, where are we?” chanyeol sniffs.
“we’ll arrive at our dorm in fifteen minutes,” joonmyun explains, “your parents said you have to eat and study well.”
chanyeol closes his eyes. right. they took him to seoul when he was still asleep. they couldn’t waste time.
chanyeol decides it’s better to surrender to his hunger than to mope about gangwon right now.
“can we have, what time is it, joonmyun-sshi?” he asks softly, probably inching closer to get a little more of joonmyun's warmth.
“call me hyung, okay? and it’s just a little bit after six. kris said you haven’t had any food. are you hungry?” is joonmyun god, chanyeol beams at the mention of food.
"please, hyung." both joonmyun and minseok laugh and chanyeol laughs at himself too.
joonmyun makes a phone call (ryeowook-sshi is on the other van with kris and yixing), and they stop at the closest restaurant.
“thanks, hyung.” chanyeol shyly thanks joonmyun, and the older boy just ruffles his hair.
ryeowook-sshi takes the quietest table and insists to sit next to chanyeol. he fusses over chanyeol’s choice of foods and reassures him that he doesn’t have to be shy to order anything he wants.
the problem is, they’re on a japanese restaurant and chanyeol has never been in one before.
he pretends to know what he's doing, because the waiter is already scribbling down exo members' orders on his blocknote. he's too hungry to explore japanese rich culinary anyway. finally, he orders a special bento box with iced mocha.
after waiting for about five minutes just fidgeting on his seat, he excuses himself to use the bathroom. there, he gets into the furthest stall, locks it, and checks his phone.
he has three missed calls from jongdae and one from baekhyun. they also texted him.
from: jongdaeeeee
Hey, Chan-ah. I just heard it. Congrats, I guess n_n
If you have time, call me, ok ?
chanyeol is thisclose to press the ‘call’ button but he bites his bottom lip and checks the text from baekhyun instead.
from: baek
Wangja im sorry you ok ther
baekhyun attached a picture to his text. chanyeol closes his eyes as his phone loads it.
it’s him. sleeping on kris’ back. there’s a link to see more photos, and apparently it’s linked to sungjong’s twitter page.
@kkapjong : We saw how mch Kris EXO cared for Chany3ol-hyung!!!Your argument is invalid!!! KrisYeol cpl hwaiting!!! <3<3<3
chanyeol smiles and mutters babo to his phone’s screen. he sighs and turns it off, only to turn it on again the second he realizes he forgets the last time he talked to his parents.
his umma doesn’t pick up her phone. chanyeol tries his appa’s number.
“chanyeol-ah?” his appa picks up on the second ring. he sounds like he’s been waiting for his only son’s call.
“appa...” chanyeol grins, sighing in relief. “appa.”
i miss you.
“be strong, park chanyeol,” his appa says with his usual cheerful and optimistic tone.
but chanyeol's throat is clogged up anyway, “i-i know.”
“that's a good boy.”
“where’s umma? i-i want to talk to her.”
there’s a rustling going on, and then his umma greets him with a hoarse voice. chanyeol tries laughing stupidly to lift up her mood.
she just snorts and advises in a serious tone, “hurt his face if he tries to molest you again, aegi, the face is an idol’s biggest asset.”
“awww, umma!” chanyeol giggles. “that’s too much! i like my face too. i believe in karma.”
“you brat,” his umma cracks a laugh, finally. “go. don’t get homesick. i know my son can do it.”
chanyeol feels a new surge of intense strength and he vows to himself that he’s so not going to be a crybaby about everything.
he can do this.
“alright umma, i have to go now. pack my one piece manhwas pleaseee?” he grins as his umma scowls to the phone. “promise to pack my one piece manhwas and call me every weekend!”
“i heard you, aegi, now go. have you had dinner?” his umma is pausing. and then with a muffled giggle she continues, “...appa says hello to minseok.”
“oh my god!” chanyeol howls as he gets out of the toilet stall. “oh my god, appa!”
“chanyeol-ah?” speak of the devil, minseok is raising an eyebrow from the sink; he’s washing his hands. chanyeol grins and runs to give his phone to the older boy and mouths an excited, 'my appa wants to talk to you!!!’
minseok smiles as he greets chanyeol’s appa, and chanyeol is finally at ease.
to be c o n t i n u e d