The sun ray’s blind my eyes. I raise a hand to cover the sun so I can see properly.

Oh, right. I’m still at Kai’s place.

I look down and see Kai’s head on my stomach, still asleep. I check the time. Thirty minutes to get to school on time.

I move him gently and shift to stand up. I stretch with a small groan. My feet are asleep because of Kai’s body weight, but I’m not complaining. I take my time to wash up in the bathroom. The minute I open the door, Kai barges in, pushing me out, slamming the door behind him.

“How long does it take you to use the bathroom?” He says, annoyed.

I roll my eyes and ignore him. I head to the kitchen with my hand resting on my stomach, hoping to get some breakfast.

“We’re going to be late, let’s go.” Kai says firmly just as I open the fridge.

“B-but I’m hungry.” I complain.

“We’ll pick something up on the way, c’mon.” Kai drags me out of the house.

We take the bus to school. I look down at our hands. He holds me by the wrist.

He peeks down at me. “It’s okay. It’s my fault we’re late. I’ll take the blame for it.”

“No, we both made a mistake, we’ll share the blame.” I counter.

I see a smile creep up his face, but he catches it and clears his throat. I study his facial expressions and tilt my head curiously, recalling what he had said last night in his sleep.

I want to ask him what he was dreaming about, but I’m afraid.

“I-” I say just as he opens his mouth.

We look at each other and laugh.

“Thank you for everything.” Kai smiles at me.

“E-eo.” I say, feeling my cheeks flush red. “Anytime.”

“Are we still up for our deal? Every time we have a work day off, we have dinner together?” Kai asks.

“Eo. I think so.” I nod.

He brushes his nose with his finger. “Good.”

We arrive at school late. His hand hasn’t left my wrist and I don’t think he plans on letting go either. We know we’re late, I guess that’s why we’re taking our time to reach the classroom.

“It’s the first time I’m late to class.” I say, feeling kind of embarrassed to admit it.

He laughs. “You’re right, we are usually the first ones to arrive at school.”

-----

Baekhyun’s POV

I look around the classroom. Areum’s seat is empty. Kai’s seat is empty.

I tap Chanyeol’s shoulder. He turns around with this mouth stuffed with bread.

“What?” He asks, eyes wide.

“Have you heard anything from Kai or Areum lately?” I whisper.

“N-no.” Chanyeol says with a raised eyebrow. “Why, what happened?”

“They are the only two absent.” I nod my head at their seats and Chanyeol’s eyes follow my gestures.

“You don’t think…” Chanyeol bites his lips.

“Look who decided to come tardy to school.” Professor Lee folds his arms. “I assume there’s an excuse.”

The student’s attention redirects to the front of the classroom. Kai and Areum stand there, Kai’s hands holding her wrist.

I almost jump out of my seat at the sight of them together. Areum’s face is hidden behind his broad shoulders, but I can see how red her ears are. My eyes linger on her wrist, where Kai’s hand is.

“Why did they show up together?”

“Look, they’re holding hands.”

I swivel in my seat to look at the other students as they whisper with excitement.

No, they met up at the doors, there was nothing more than just a coincidence.

It can’t be anything else. It can’t.

-----

Areum’s POV

I hear the whispers of the class get louder and feel my face burn with embarrassment. The eyes of the class burn into me, making me feel exposed. I peek up and my eyes fall on Baekhyun. His eyes are wide and fixed unblinkingly on me.

For some reason, I feel guilty.

The classroom falls silent as they watch Kai lead me to my seat. Baekhyun and Chanyeol keep their eyes locked on me, but my eyes stay on Kai. As we walk down the aisle, Kyungsoo gives Kai a paper bag. When I’m seated, he finally lets go of his grip. He stands behind Baekhyun’s chair and leans in closer to me.

“I asked Kyungsoo to get this for you.” Kai whispers in my ear. “Don’t worry about the others, it’s going to be okay.”

He hands me the paper bag and I watch him return to his seat, not once looking over at me. Parts of me wishes that he did.

Inside the bag, there is a chocolate muffin. It’s still warm. Just as I’m about to eat, Baekhyun and Chanyeol both turn to me with their eyes wide.

“Where’ve you been?” They ask.

I toss an apologetic look to Baekhyun.

“Sorry to make you worry.” I don’t know why I am apologizing, but I feel the need to. He looks at me with his brows arching at the center and turns away from me.

I can’t tell, but I feel certain that he was distancing himself from me throughout the class. When I move my elbow on his desk, he’d shift away from me. Sometimes, I caught him staring at me from the corner of my eyes. His eyes are filled with sadness and longing, and I have no way of comprehending it.

When lunch came, Baekhyun’s barrier towards me comes down. He leans uncomfortably close to me as I pack my bag.

“Let’s go for lunch together.” It’s not a question, it’s a statement.

Almost as if on cue, Kai comes over and leans casually on my desk. The atmosphere of the classroom changes as the two of them stare at each other.

Feeling the air suffocate me, I maneuver my way out of the classroom and head for the cafeteria by myself.

I shouldn’t have stayed at Kai’s.

-----

Kai’s POV

Baekhyun has never been the type to be angry. He’s always the cheerful one in the group, someone who’s always making fun of the situation and lighting up the mood. That is why, I didn’t recognize the boy that sits before me right now.

His eyes are glowing with anger but his face is emotionless. He looks as if he’s ready to kill, and I, I’m his next target.

As Areum leaves the classroom, every part of me screams for me to join her. Yet, Baekhyun’s stare locks me into place, daring me step down.

I’m not one to step down on a challenge.

“Why did you and Areum come to school together?” His voice is cold, almost unrecognizable as Baekhyun.

“What do you mean, hyung?” I bow my head slightly. No matter what, Baekhyun is still older than me, and that means respect.

He scoffs and looks at the board before standing up angrily to meet my eyes. “You came to school with her, and I saw the two of you at the grocery store last night.”

I nod, admitting to the things he said.

“Someone like you?” He jabs a finger into my shoulder. “Do you think you have the right to even be with her?”

He said it. The exact same thoughts that have been playing in my head since waking up this morning. Who am I to want Areum in my life? With my past.

Chanyeol stands up and puts his arm between us. “Hyung, let’s not bring that up.”

I blink and stare at the ground. Baekhyun steps back slightly and shakes a hand at me. “I’m telling you Kai, stay away from her.”

His tone is harsh, I could hear the concern in his voice. Could he possibly-

“You’re just jealous.” I can’t hold back the words from coming out of my mouth. “ I know I’m not right person she should be with, but you’re no better than I am.”

Baekhyun’s eyes widen as he turns to me. I can’t meet his eyes, I know what I said is wrong, but it’s true.

“What did you say?” He growls and grabs my collar.

I don’t repeat myself. I don’t dare to.

He snorts and pushes me back with all the force he can muster. I fly back falling into a group of desks. “You’re going back to that aren’t you? Just like how we found you.”

His words hurt more than my fall. Because the past is something I never want to remember.

-----

Areum’s POV

I end up eating with the older kids that work with me at the diner, Luhan and Xiumin. They are fun to talk to, but my mind can’t stop wandering back to Kai and Baekhyun. Something’s off about them.

Eventually, my curiosity takes over and I end up going back to the classroom. When I walk in, it’s empty. The tables are knocked over, but not a single person is seen. My heart starts to pound with worry and I run out of the classroom to look for Kai and Baekhyun.

Did they fight?

I spot Kai standing outside of the nurse’s office and I scurry to catch his attention. My rushed pace slows as I realise from his expression, he isn’t happy to see me.

My hand reaches out to him and I attempt to inspect his injuries. He looks down at the floor, grimacing.

“Hey! Are you-“

Before I can finish my sentence, he gently, but quickly, pushes my hand away from him. He turns around and starts to walk away from me.

Why-

“Ari?”

I spin around to see Baekhyun’s smiling face. “What’s wrong?”

I furrow my brows at him and cross my arms. “Did you do something to Kai?”

His eyes widen slightly and he tilts his head at me. “Why?”

I flush, realising how concerned I sound. I don’t say anything and redirect my attention to Kai, who is disappearing from view.

“You two are close.” Baekhyun’s voice is not amused. He pulls me away and back to the classroom. I follow reluctantly, tossing a look back at Kai.

“Did you two fight?” I ask as we walk into the classroom where the tables are still a mess.

Baekhyun shakes his head and starts to rearrange the table. I frown and return to my seat where-

“Another rose?” I pick up the white flower slowly and bring it to my nose. “It’s pretty.”

Baekhyun joins me by my side and looks at the flower. He beams when he sees my expression. “You’re happy.”

I blush and hide my face with the flower. “D-do you know where they’re from?”

Baekhyun didn’t seem to hear what I said because he completely ignores me. I watch him return to his desk and pull out his books.

Class resumes again in no time, but I don’t pay attention to the lesson. As the teacher drones on and on, my eyes dart repeatedly at Kai. After a few minutes I look down at my books and I swear I felt him staring back at me.

I look over at him again. He focuses on the lesson, taking non-stop notes. What's wrong?

“Ari,” Baekhyun whispers, leaning closer to me. “Let’s go somewhere before work today.”

I stare at my desk and ignore him.

“Ari~” He continues repeatedly.

“What.” I snap back, unable to put up with his nagging any longer.

He grins and leans on the table, his head touching my arm. “Let’s go somewhere, there’s a place I want to show you.”

I hesitate and look over at Kai briefly. “Sure.”

I refuse admit it, but somewhere deep down, I have hope that Kai will stop me.

He doesn’t.

At the end of the day, Baekhyun leads me out of the classroom before anyone has the chance to leave. Before I’m out of the classroom, Kai and I exchange a brief glance before Baekhyun pulls me out. We rush to catch the bus that heads the opposite way from the dinner.

“Where are we going?” I ask with a small concern, as I watch the school move out of sight.

“You’ll like it, trust me.”

We arrive at a forest trail. I’m hesitant but Baekhyun’s undying excitement pushes me to follow him through the rough path. It’s tiring, but I don’t complain. The sight is beautiful. Baekhyun and I weave between the trees until finally, we reach a clearing atop a hill.

“Woah,” My jaw drops at the sight of the city. “It’s beautiful.”

Baekhyun smiles. “Just like you.”

His words are firm and he didn’t hesitate which made my heart move ever so slightly.

“Why do you always say things like that?” I mutters, turning away from him.

“What,” I feel him coming closer. “It’s true.”

He puts a hand on my shoulder and turns me around in my spot. I blinks as he pulls something out from behind his back.

A single white rose.

“You’re beautiful,” His words are soft. “Just like this rose.”

I hadn’t noticed before, but Baekhyun really is gentle.

Notes

Author's Note:
Hello ^w^ it's @ObsessedFanFics here today :D
This story is finally moving into the plot we want it to go through so, enjoy!

Thanks for reading and as always, enjoy the story!
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no seriously.. comment, love seeing reactions on the chapters and any suggestions you may have <3 -O.F