The Flowers You Left For Me.

My eyes are locked with Baekhyun’s, his face is just inches away from mine.

This boy really has the guts to fool around with me.

I make an annoyed expression and raise my hand, intending to hit him. He moves away swiftly with a chuckle before I even get the chance to touch him.

“Ahaha, mian, mian, just joking around.” Baekhyun ruffles my hair. “You take everything too serious, not saying I don’t like that.”

I push him away from me with my elbows and fix my hair.

“Your so childish.” I complain, but he just laughs it off.

I sigh and shake my head, locking eyes with Chanyeol who is still in the same position as a few moments ago. Baekhyun meets my gaze and widens his eyes as he spots Chanyeol.

“Dongsaeng!” Baekhyun waves and smiles. “What are you up to?”

“Just returning Areum’s bag to her.” He holds up my bag. “Also, I have something to say to her.”

“A-arraseo. I’ll be waiting for you two in the classroom then. I’ll tell the teacher something urgent happened just in case you're late.” Baekhyun scratches his hair and heads to class with one final glance at me.

“Thank you.” I say after him.

He turns around and waves at me with a smile on his lips.

“No problem, Ari.”

Once he’s out of sight, Chanyeol starts talking to me. He walks into my line of sight and bends his head down to study my expression.

“So, you let him call you ‘Ari,’ but not me?” Chanyeol bites his lower lip with a frown.

“Oh.” I widen my eyes in surprise. I hadn’t realised that until now. “It’s none of your business.”

He says nothing and continues to study me. The awkward silence hangs in the air, making me feel stuffy, but I refuse to make the first move. He clears his throat and hands my bag out to me. As I reach out for it, he retracts his hands, staring nervously at my hands with a grimace.

“I’m sorry about Lee Minah.” His voice is a low rumble. “I’ll help you carry it back to class.”

I frown and drop my outreached hand. The way he tries to get close to me is annoying.

Does he think everything will be alright after a few more nice actions and words?

The bell rings and I jump a little. I glance at Chanyeol wondering if it was alright to go back to class now. He stands in front of me in the hallway avoiding my eyes.

“Didn’t you have something to tell me?” I remind him.

“Ah, right.” He gasps slightly as if he had forgotten. “But, I’d feel more comfortable if we discussed this more privately.”

He pauses and I see his eyes glancing up at me for my reaction. When I didn’t say anything, he continued.

“So, I was wondering if we could talk after school, or work. Just to meet up, you know, for old times sake.”

‘For old times sake.’

“I suppose so.” I sigh and meet his eyes.

“Great.” Chanyeol smiles. “I’ll wait for you after school then.”

“Mm.” I walk past him and head back to the classroom. I hear him following behind me. He doesn’t catch up with me and just lingers behind me. Is it still a habit for him to follow me instead of walking beside me?

We walk into the classroom, bowing apologetically, catching the attention of everyone.

“Mianhe, teach.” Chanyeol smiles. “Something important came up and Areum’s hands are wounded. I ended up helping her and carrying her bag.”

The teach puts his glasses down on the rostrum and takes a look at my hands.

“Doesn’t look like you’ll be able to take notes on today’s lesson, Areum-shi.” The professor says pitily.

“I’ll let her borrow my notes.” Chanyeol offers. “It’s not a burden at all.”

“Arraseo. Sounds good.” The professor smiles at Chanyeol. “You two can sit down. I won’t mark you tardy.”

He continues his lesson. We bow once more and return to our seats. Well, for me, Baekhyun’s seat, in front of Chanyeol. Chanyeol hangs my bag on the side of Baekhyun’s desk, taking my things out for me.

He lays everything out perfectly. As I watch him, I feel my eyes start to sting and tears begin to form. I hold them in the best I can.

After Chanyeol got his punishment for giving me flowers, his hands were wounded. He wasn’t able to write or carry his bag. So I ended up doing it for him. He was bullied, by other kids, they claimed he was too weak and had to have a girl take care of him. I beat them up. I hated those students. They had nothing better to do in their boring lives.

I hung his bag on the side of his desk and began to take his things out. He smiled at me as I do. I laid everything out perfectly and neatly for him. It was the least I could do for him. He did get hurt because of me.

“Thank you, Ari.” He kissed my cheek. “For being with me and helping me from the beginning.”

I blushed and couldn’t look at him in the eyes. I took notes for both of us, neatly. He didn’t pay attention to the lesson or teacher. His hands were folding and he was leaning on the desk, head facing me. Eyes observing my every move. It was hard for me to concentrate. Especially after what just happened.

It was the first time someone acknowledged me that way.

I should’ve never let that happen. But we were so young back then. We were clueless.

I cover my mouth, watching him. Chanyeol looks at me with a sincere smile. Baekhyun puts his hand on my arm and looks at me with concerning eyes. I revert my eyes from Chanyeol to Baekhyun. He scooches his chair closer to mine and leans to me. Chanyeol drops his smile, watching us.

“Are you okay?” Baekhyun whispers. “What’s wrong, Ari?”

I shake my head and stare hard at the table.

You have to be strong Areum. Don’t acknowledge his actions once more. He will leave you again if you do.

“Just pay attention to the lesson.” I manage to say, talking to both of them.

Chanyeol turns to face the board and Baekhyun leans forward to take his notes. Our shoulders touch, but I don’t bother complaining. It isn’t that important.

Wait, he called me ‘Ari’ again. Did Chanyeol hear?

From the corners of my eyes, I find Kai watching me. He tilts his head and squints his eyes, observing me closely. I raise my eyebrow and re-focus to the notes that Chanyeol put on my desk.

The notes, they’re laid out just like how I did back then.

-----

The lunch bell rings and Kai immediately walks over to me.

“Can we talk?” He asks.

“I’m going to the cafeteria, so we can talk there.” I reply, getting up, not really wanting to speak with him.

“Let me walk you.” Baekhyun and Kai say at the same time.

They blink and look at each other in surprise. Kai smirks and takes me by the wrist and out of the classroom. Baekhyun doesn't follow. Surprisingly.

I let Kai direct me to the cafeteria. The minute we entered the crowded room, I feel eyes on me.

“Could you slow down? Or, at least let go?” I frown, feeling slightly embarrassed. “It’s starting to hurt.”

He slows down to meet my pace but doesn’t let go of me.

“Can we talk now? Or are you still uncomfortable.” Kai wonders.

I look around us, everyone’s staring.

“I hate it when people are staring. You’re bringing all the attention to us.” I mutter.

Kai scoffs. “Whatever. They’re just staring because of the rumors they heard.”

“Rumors?” My eyes widen. “What are you talking about?”

“About you, Minah and her friends.” Kai whispers back. “This morning.”

We walk to the far table where Baekhyun and his friends are already seated.

“How’d you get here so fast?” Kai asks.

“You guys walk slow.” Baekhyun shrugs. “And I took the shortcut.”

Without response, Kai moves us to another empty table. Kai moves my tray of food for me and sits down across from me. After a few minutes of silence between us, I decide to talk first.

“What did you want to tell me.” I ask, watching him eat.

“Are you okay?” Kai looks up mid bite with a face full of concern. “Does it hurt? I saw you were about to cry earlier in class.”

He touches my forehead and cheeks, startling me. Overwhelmed with the amount of questions he asked me I put my spoon down and flick his hand away.

“I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Thanks for asking.” I mutter uncomfortably. “What is it to you anyway?”

He blinks, then shoves a huge spoon of rice into his mouth.

“Would you feel more comfortable if I didn’t ask at all?” Kai asks annoyed. “I was just… curious, that’s all.”

From his actions, it’s obvious he’s worried. Since when did he care so much and since when have we become this close?

“Is that all you have to sa-”

Baekhyun sits down next to me with his tray of half eaten food, cutting me off.

“Hey guys.” Baekhyun smirks. “There’s nothing to talk about over there, so here I am~”

Kai sighs, gets up and leaves. We both watch.

“Well, he’s friendly.” Baekhyun blinks.

“What do you want.” I sigh, picking at my lunch.

“Should I feed you?” Baekhyun smirks. “You haven’t eaten yet. I don’t want you to starve.”

I sniff and blink at him. “Why would you want to do that?”

“Honestly, I feel like you getting hurt this morning was my fault. She did this to you because of me so I guess, I should make it up to you.” Baekhyun fiddles with his fingers.

I look around and see Minah staring at us.

RIght, and doing this will solve everything Baekhyun.

“I don’t know.” I look down. “Doing this might make things worse. It’s best if you’d just leave me alone. That way we both won’t get hurt.”

“Arraseo. I won’t feed you. ” Baekhyun sighs and ducks his head.

We sit in silence for a few seconds.

“But I won’t leave you alone again.” I hear his whisper and feel my heart flutter.

I nod and begin to eat. He folds his arms and leans his head on the table, watching me. I try my best to ignore him, looking straight out the window at the school garden.

It looks pretty, but untouched.

After lunch, Baekhyun walks me back to the classroom. I stop in front of Baekhyun’s desk before I sit. There’s a white rose lying on it.

“Baekhyun, I think someone meant to give this to you.” I sit down, staring at it.

“Really?” He takes the rose and smells it.

I watch him observe it.

“Mmm.” He smiles. “It smells nice, just like you.”

I blush and look down, trying to ignore what he just said.

Am I fooling myself, or am I really blushing right now?

He leans towards and takes a sniff. Our faces inches away from each other. Again.

“Exactly like you.” Baekhyun smiles wider and his voice deepens. “Ari.”

I blush more and look up to find Minah staring right in front of us. I can feel the eyes of Chanyeol, Kai, Minah and the entire classroom on us.

What should I do?

I mentally punch Baekhyun and slap myself for ever talking to him in the first place.

“Why are you so touchy.” I say, annoyed and lower my voice. “Look at what you’ve done. Everyone’s looking.”

He looks around and shrugs.

“We’ll deal with them when the time comes. I hate those type of people. They have nothing better to do with their boring lives.” Baekhyun picks at the white rose.

I look down. That’s what I said, ages ago.

-----

The dismissal bell rings.

Everyone packs up and leaves, except, once again, the twelve boys and two girls. No one acknowledges Minah. She looks down at her shoes and swooshes her feet against the floor, holding her bags arm paddings.

“You guys go first.” Chanyeol says. “Areu- Ari and I are going somewhere before we head to the diner.”

They look at me in disbelief and I nod, agreeing to Chanyeol’s announcement.

“Alright, then we’ll see you later.” Suho smiles and pats Chanyeol’s back before leaving.

One by one, they head out of the classroom, leaving a comment before they’re out of sight.

“Fighting!” Luhan whispers to Chanyeol, making him smirk.

“Don’t break her heart.” Kyungsoo winks.

“She’s definitely your style, dongsaeng.” Kris snaps his fingers.

“See you later, Areum.” Kai waves me goodbye and turns to Chanyeol. “Bye, hyung.”

Minah leaves without a word, but looks back at Baekhyun.

“See you later, Chanyeol.” Baekhyun smiles, then teases me. “Love you, Ari.”

Chanyeol scoffs and laughs. “You wish she believes that.”

“You wish what I said wasn’t true.” Baekhyun hums as he leaves the classroom with his rose and I feel myself blush once more.

Minah widens her eyes and jogs ahead before Baekhyun spots her. Before I know it, Chanyeol and I are the only ones left.

“Let’s go.” Chanyeol motions for me to go first.

Without response, I go first and he follows me. I stop as we leave the school grounds.

“Where are we going by the way?” I ask.

“Just a walk around, is that much to ask?” Chanyeol wonders.

“Ani, it’s just… I don’t know this city that well, that’s all.” I admit.

“We’re going to a park. I think you’ll be fine.” He laughs.

We have small talk until we reach the park. As I look around at the new scenary, Chanyeol stops in his tracks and lowers his voice.

“Areum.” He says slowly. “I’ve been thinking.”

I turn to him.

“Thinking about our past.” He looks deep into my eyes. “Think about us. What we shared.”

I want to break the stare, but I don’t. My eyes don’t leave his and they don’t plan to.

“I miss those days.” Chanyeol continues. “When we were together all the time. When we were… in love.”

He said it.

Notes

ObsessedFanFic's turn to update today x3
Finding some time to update =v= been pretty busy lately with exams around the corner, but writing these fics have really been helping me destress. Love you all!

As always, thanks for reading, and enjoy the story!

VOTE< COMMENT< SUBSCRIBE
no seriously.. comment, love seeing reactions on the chapters and any suggestions you may have <3 -O.F