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your-rose-highness · 4 years

Text

Tell Me What is Love (ch-9)

Pairing-Baekhyun x OC

genre- Fluff, angst.

Chapter 9

Baekhyun woke up to find Sarang's bed empty the next morning. Last night’s events came crashing onto him and he closed his eyes in despair. Walking to the kitchen, he found sarang with her nanny, a 15 year old, who seemed to have a crush on baekhyun.

“Hello, mr byun.”, she chirped on seeing him walk down the stairs in the simplest beige pajamas.

Baekhyun responded with a meek smile, ruffling her hair and proceeding to kiss sarang.

Though the young girl spoke to him with gusto, baekhyun had only one thing in his mind, he needed to speak to the members about this. They had already seen troubled days but he had been grateful when they supported him with love and care.

Driving to the dorm, he was half afraid of how they would respond. With them by his side, he could live through the worst apocalypse. He found Jongin asleep on the couch as he walked in, who briefly opened his eyes to see who it was. Surprised to hear someone come in at this hour, jongdae peeped from the kitchen, a spatula in hand.

“Oh baekhyun! What are you doing here so early?”, jongdae asked, surprised.

“Just wanted to talk to you guys; is everyone in?”

“Yeah. i think suho hyung is in the gym.”

“Why is jongin on the couch?”

“I don't know either. I woke up and found him there. Making pancakes, want some?”, jongdae asked, stirring the batter a little too hard.

“Yeah sure. I’ve missed them.” baekhyun smiled at his friend.

“Oh yeah, why are you here? Something wrong?”

“Jongdae, I'm afraid Tae and I might file for divorce soon”, Baekhyun let out in a rush.

Jongdae set his bowl aside in shock. His expression was vocal enough for baekhyun to know what he was thinking. Jongdae knew everything about the distance between baekhyun and taeyeon. Jongdae and chanyeol would always be his first picks to talk about things that ate his heart out.

“Are you sure?”

“Taeyeon and i talked about it last night.”, he mumbled.

Jongdae didn't know what he was supposed to say to his friend at this moment. He gently placed his hand on baekhyun’s shoulder, trying to digest it all.

“Junmyeon hyung is going to be mad.”, baekhyun shuddered to think.

Jongdae shook his head in disbelief. “Please tell me you’re kidding. Is that what you’re thinking about? Divorce is a huge deal.”

“I've given up, jongdae. I’m tired of this. I just want to breathe easy when i wake up in the morning.”, baekhyun hissed at him.

Junmyeon had anticipated something bad when he saw Baekhyun at the dorm so early. He had prepared himself to find solutions instead of just being displeased. The boys were his family and as much as he didn't want to, he was someone they always looked to for answers. Being sandwiched between his member’s expectations and the company’s responsibilities, he seldom found himself in immense stress.

Baekhyun explained everything to the boys post breakfast, taking his time through details that he had skipped the first time. His eyes filled with tears thinking about the trouble he was putting his members through. As he struggled to find words, jongin sat by him, often rubbing his back to give him courage.

“I'm sorry to you all.”

“It's not the time to be sorry baekhyun. Till when are you going to be this irresponsible? You really need to contemplate your decisions.”, suho uttered. “We’re brothers and we understand that you're going through something very difficult but this affects us all alike.”

“Don't worry! It's one for the team again. What are friends for, after all?”, chirped chanyeol.

One for the team. The boys had once again shown what family meant to them. Baekhyun glanced at each of them, taking in their smiling faces, brave, ready and armed to help him. It is so amazing that just last night, baekhyun felt himself shredded to pieces, finding it hard to breathe. Now, these people with whom he had spent most of his adult life, were always around the corner. He only needs to extend his hand for help. Help before he drowned himself within the deepest pits. He bursted into tears once again, this time, without anything to hold him back. Not Sarang, not Taeyeon, not even Hye hee. He felt free, his shackles disappeared, he let out his deepest sorrow without being afraid of what anyone would think. The boys, worried, rushed to their friend, but no amount of consoling would have stopped him that day. Suho lightly touched chanyeol’s arm signaling him to let baekhyun cry it out. He soon fell asleep on the couch after which the boys threaded lightly around him, jongdae covered him with a blanket and joined the rest of them in Suho's room.

“...he was seen. It’s not something to be ignored. I heard manager hyung said someone attacked a friend of hers.”, Suho said agitated.

“Maybe he needs to stay low for a bit?”, suggested Chanyeol.

“Do we have to protect hye hee?”, Jongin asked.

“Something needs to be done, but we will need to keep it from baekhyun. We can't have him act instinctively again.”

“Lee Sooman sir will NOT be happy about this.” jongdae added.

“Don't worry, he’ll just need a bit of time to come around this. Taeyeon is involved too, so he won't be too harsh.”, chanyeol whispered, peeping to check on the sleeping baekhyun.

The boys just chatted after that, each giving ideas how they should protect baekhyun from the wrath he’d receive from the public. Every word would be held against them. Baekhyun woke up after a couple of hours and the boys did everything they could to take his mind off the huge wave that would be hurled at him in the future.

Hye hee had received an interview via Jaebeom within a week. She prepared to give her best while also setting up a good resume that would hopefully impress them. Though Jaebeom was confident she would get through, hye hee had always been the kind to obsess over details. The day came and she picked herself up to put her best foot forward. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. The scriptwriter loved her work and the blog she ran on the side seemed to be an added cherry on top. She was finally going to work decent hours and receive a pay that would make it easier to pay her student debt. Maybe the days will be brighter now. Jane was feeling better than before too and claimed to have seen her life flash before her eyes and now wanted to study further into journalism. She decided to apply in colleges and jaebeom was more than supportive.

She was moving on. Yes, that's what was supposed to be done. Besides, Baekhyun hadn't called her after that whole confession incident that took place last week. Jane was right. He came in when he needed help. And she would be his best friend, who would support him. Nothing more, nothing less.

'What of the tension that you felt pass between you two?',her brain reasoned.

What of it? There was nothing. Old graves are best left undisturbed. A new leaf needs to be turned over and a fresh chapter needs to be etched.

Jane got very busy with university and it left Hye hee and Jaebeom seeing each other both because of work and out of boredom. He had never turned down an offer of post work drinks and turned out to be excellent company, especially after he had a bit too many beers. His usual composed self would go for the toss, something that left even the director surprised. Being the responsible person he was, he restrained himself from drinking on days he knew he would eventually drive Hye hee back home.

The project that they had been working on was almost ending and that meant long nights editing. Many times they'd find themselves alone at the office finishing up sections that needed to be done by next morning.

It was one of those days when the two decided to take a break and go to the nearest convenience store to grab a little something to eat. His frequent glances caught her attention as she peeled her chocolate ice cream.

"What? Just spit it out. You didn't like the dialogue didn't you? It's not cheesy, this is what people talk like when they're emotional… I'm sorry to break it ….", She blurted out of the blue, making jaebeom laugh.

"That's new, Hye hee! The work pressure finally getting to you? It's been, what, like four months?", He cheekily replied.

"Then what is it? Tell me already!"

A small smile continued to play on his lips, as he hesitated. Turning towards her, he drew a little closer to her before whispering, "I like you, Hye hee." Looking at hye hee's surprised Pikachu face, the slight crooked smile never left his lips. He seemed to be having fun.

"Was it that shocking? I thought I was being pretty evident that I liked you. Or are you dense?"

"But...why?... What?" Hye hee's brain malfunctioned.

"I think you and I are similar in ways. I find you charming. Of course, you're exceptionally pretty, but that goes without saying. You're kind and as much as it's such an overused word, I really think people don't really understand kindness…" he confessed confidently, while Hye hee nibbled on her ice-cream, her cheeks growing hot.

"I don't know what to say…"

"Please know that I'm not trying to put you on a spot here. I'm aware that you're not the kind to jump into a relationship with someone instantly without pondering over it. And I respect that.

"I'll be in Japan for the next three days for work and I'd like it if you'd give me an answer then. I'll wait patiently, till then."

Hye hee spent the rest of the night only looking at him as he continued to work. With his back turned to her, she was free to ogle as much as she'd like. She forced her heart to stop bouncing off the walls and get to work. It's not like she hadn't had men confess to her. But before Jaebeom only Minseok was someone who sincerely put their heart out for her. When she turned him down, he handled it gracefully and never made her feel uncomfortable. That alone told her that he was an amazing human being and when the right girl came along, he'd be the best other half.

Then why was she on the fence about Jaebeom? She did like him… but romantically? In times like these her first call would go to Jane… but he's her brother. What if she's mad?

They finished work at 4 AM. Jaebeom wrapped up work earlier than hye hee(thanks to her inner debate session) and he graciously offered to tidy up everything else while waiting for her to wind up.

The ride home was eerily quiet and her lips itched to randomly talk about things, but the only things she noticed were how much longer his hair had gotten since they had first met, how muscular his arms looked on the steering wheel, the bracelet that always wore hung daintily from his wrist…

"Please Hye hee. Let's not be awkward around each other. I'll….try to be normal if you say no", He said hesitantly.

She only mumbled a soft okay.

"Alright. Here we are.", He turned to her once again, his eyes testifying how tired he was. "Sleep well. Don't over think. I guess, I'll see you in three days?", He pursed his lips hopefully.

"Have fun."

He nodded with a soft smile and drove away. She was living with Jane for a while till she found her own place again. Jane insisted that she moved after the whole incident.

She lightly stepped into the apartment, only to find Jane's room open and sitting at her desk.

"I'm home…"

Jane turned to look at her with half droopy lids, "oh Hye hee, go shower… I'll be with you in a minute. I can't study anymore. What about Jaebeom oppa?"

"Huh? He….he is at home I guess. I mean...where else… he went home.", She stammered.

"Guess you're tired too. Poor soul. Come to bed soon."

Hye hee showered and quickly got into the covers while Jane was scrolling through her phone.

"Yah, EXO is going on a world tour again.", Jane said, showing her the news.

"Ah. Great."

"What's wrong? Is something on your mind?"

There are times when your brain knows not to say certain things, but somehow, you feel it is already being done and that's exactly what hye hee did.

"Jaebeom said he likes me.", Hye hee blurted, closely watching Jane's expression for signs of disgust and hatred.

"WHAT?!"

"oh don't be mad, Jane! I have no one else…"

"This is great news! I always thought he behaved a bit too weirdly around you! Now I know! Yay! My best friend and my brother!", Jane exclaimed, hugging hye hee with all her might.

"Wait! I didn't say anything yet."

That diminished her energy a bit. "Oh. But, you know, now that I think about it, you guys do match a lot. Is that why I'm such good friends with you? I can't imagine…" she shuddered.

"I'm not sure what I want Jane."

"Look now, don't take this matter into that overthinking mill in your brain. For once hye hee, just do what you feel is right. Everything doesn't have to be black or white. It's okay. Don't think about what will happen in the future. Just go with the flow babe. And no, I'm not saying this because he's my brother. But he is a good man."

Hye hee pondered over things and did realise that she did try to look at things a little too critically at times. She took a deep breath and decided to sleep it off.

The next two days were incredibly dull and she sort of missed Jaebeom. It was a void that made its presence loud and clear. This was the first time, hye hee had spent days missing a man other than Baekhyun. Why did she feel so guilty? Baekhyun was in Europe while she worked in her office, he had taken Sarang with him this time. The fact that she knew this because it was on Instagram and not because Baekhyun had told her, bothered her a bit. He could have been busy.

She shook away her thoughts about Baekhyun at that moment. How was she going to date someone else with Baekhyun clouding her head all the time?

The day of Jaebeom's arrival had come and it made her nervous. He would go home first and then come to Jane's to drop off the things Jane had asked him to buy for her. As the clock inched closer to 1 PM, her heart went uncontrollably all over the place, half wishing to run away and hide. What would she say and how? Probably if she saw him, her mind would clear out. Probably for once, life would be like those in movies and angels would sing when a person saw their loved one!

You wish.

"Bitch you look like someone kicked you in the stomach. Breathe, please.", Jane commented, giving her friend a side glance.

"I'm nervous.",whined Hye hee.

"This is my brother. What is to be so nervous? Just tell him whatever you feel. By the way, what are you going to say?"

"I don't know yet."

Jane stood and stared at her friend for a good minute before letting a huge sigh.

"You are one hell of a mad person. He's starting from home. Just sent me a text. Something that he's never done before. Pretty sure that's for you. Great, now I'm being used as messenger.", She dramatically said, putting her hands up in the air in surrender.

She heard the bell soon, and her heart began trying to jump out of her chest. Jane gestured to her to relax as she went to get the door.

Jaebeom was home.

His eyes searched for her instantly, locking them in hers, while he spoke to Jane. He wanted to smile, but pressed his lips together.

They looked at eachother but didn't utter a word.

"Hi.", She meekly said when Jane excused herself to go to the bathroom, glancing at her friend.

"Hello, hye hee. How've you been?"

"Okay, I guess.",she said fidgeting.

"My days were quite dull I'm afraid.", He replied, a faint smile reappearing on his lips," I guess I missed you."

Hye hee blushed. Jaebeom had a way with words and it did stir hye hee.

"I missed you too."

"Are you saying yes?", He asked, his voice breaking in surprise.

Jaebeom walked across the room where Hye hee stood, beside the kitchen and asked again.

"Is that a yes, Hye hee?"

She gave a tiny nod of affirmation and jaebeom let out a small chuckle. Fisting the air in victory. Hye hee laughed with him, feeling like a teenager again.( AUTHOR NOTE: GOT7 fans know this line!) Jane's loud 'awww' surprised them and she ran in for a group hug.

"You guys!!! I'm so happy.", She exclaimed.

Hye Hee was happy too. For the first time in forever, she was not thinking about Baekhyun. If only she knew that her best friend was fighting through his worst days.

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