Chanyeol's POV

I stayed rooted to the spot even after the mother and daughter left. I can't seem to take my mind away off the crying little girl. She reminds me of someone. I still can't pin my mind to it. I walked towards my car and get inside. As I set my phone on the dashboard it rang so I decided to answer it before driving out of the basement garage.

" Hey Bro, why aren't you here at the airport yet? We'll be late for our flight back to Korea." said Kai on the other side of the phone. He just came back to New York from Germany after his scheduled photoshoot with Gucci. He's the only one contact I have back in Korea after I left. Though he doesn't tell me much. He's also been married to Kyungsoo for three years now. And they have a child. They found out that Kyungsoo is also a hermaphrodite and can bear children. Although unlike Baekie... I mean Baekhyun, his condition was found out 4years after I left. Kai never talked about Baekhyun anymore after that time I told him off. He gave me snippets of news about our friends. All of them came out. They have relationships. Kris with Tao, Chen with Xiumin, Luhan with Sehun. Well, friends of Baekhyun had ironically got my other friends too.

" Don't worry, I'll be there on time. My luggage is already on the trunk of my car. I'll be there in 20 minutes." I dropped the call and started the engine. I drove off to the airport. But the image of the little girl still lingers. I dialed my phone and set it on bluetooth mode. It only rang twice and the voice on the line sounded annoyed.

" Yah!!! Chanyeol! Why can't you call me after I got laid. You cock block." Minho answered annoyance audible in his voice. But I don't have a choice. He's the only one I can contact and ask for a favor. He knows a lot of PI back in Korea. And they work fast too.

" I need you to do me a favor buddy. Help me find someone. Find out any news about him. Anything that you can hold on about." I told him, a little unsure of why I'm asking him this but, after that incident with the little girl, I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable and there's still this unreasonable question inside my head. Why is it, that every time I see this image of the girl in my head, I'm reminded of him???

" Okay. So who is it this time? Did he stole your girl or did he try to?" Minho jokingly replied.

" No. It's Baekhyun. Byun Baekhyun. I want you to call on some of your best buddies in Korea and find out about him. Where he's residing. What's the update about him. And just anything. " I'm certain Minho is now more curious and knotting his eyebrows. But I couldn't care less. I need to find out how's "he" doing right now. Or how he is.

" Wait! Baekhyun? As in the Baekhyun? The one who's been consuming your every thoughts for almost 8years??? That person Wendy was so angry about because you inexcusably called his name during the heat of the moment as you're both having sex??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Man, that was truly epic!" I can hear laughter on the other side of the line.

" Just do it okay. " I muttered and dropped the call.

*****

No one's POV

Everyone's busy for the preparation. The bride sitting on a chair in front of the mirror fidgets around and looks so nervous. The hairstylist and make up artist, having a hard time calming her down. Her bridesmaids Nana and Jessica tried their best to calm her as well but to no avail. They tried calling her brother to find out whether he's on his way or not but they can't get ahold of him. The call keeps going back to voicemail.

Guests are continually arriving. Friends and family members. Far away relatives. The grand ballroom of the hotel where the wedding will take place is decorated with simple yet elegant style of decorations. Exquisite type of cuisine with various tastes and smells are now being prepared by the caterers. Uniformed waiters offering different selection of wines. The ice sculptures at the center of the ballroom leaves guests in awe at how amazing it is. The head chef and owner of the catering crew, moving in and about to check on the menus and other details to ensure perfection of overall ambiance of the hall.

In another hotel room, the groom is also getting anxious because he hasn't heard of his brother in law yet. He knew how important this occasion is for his bride to be so he also asked his best man to try and call him. But even they can't contact him.

A sudden knock is heard from the door so he hurriedly ask his friend to open it. There, standing on the threshold is his brother in law looking handsome even a little disheveled from his flight wearing the biggest smile he ever see. His clothes are perfectly tailored to suit him.

" Finally! We're about to send a search party for you, you know. You're sister's gonna kill you now if you haven't arrived yet. And then where will that leave me? A groom left at the altar, my bride inside a police station cell because his brother in law was killed by his wife." nervously joked by the groom.

" I told you to chill, right? I'm still 5minutes early. Where's noona's dressing room? I'll go and talk to her. Relax bro, everything's gonna be fine." Chanyeol answered and tap his brother in law on the shoulder before walking towards the room pointed by the groom.

***

The bride and the groom look at  the person singing their song as they dance at the center of the ballroom. Yoora's face showing the love and pride for her brother. She misses him so much. At last Chanyeol is back in Korea and hopefully she could make him stay home for good. Her grandparents are so happy to finally see their long lost grandson. They were worried when Chan called them by phone saying he's leaving for US that day. They thought he'd just go for a vacation visiting some of his friends. But when a year passed...and another year...and turns into 8 years, Chan just sending gifts and financial support for them and his sister, that's when they decided to talk to their granddaughter about what truly made their baby run off to America and stayed there for good. And when they found out about Baekhyun, they thought they should meet that person and try to understand what's with the boy that pushed their grandson to run away from home.

Three years ago

"Dad, is mom home? I need her to look after the twins for me today. I have a meeting with an important client and they want me to present my designs." Baekhyun talk to the phone on speaker as he prepare for the twins' bottle and food. He's taking the kids to his parents house for the day. He heard the sound of a ringing doorbell and realized it was his so he finished the call promising his parents that they'll be there in 30 minutes.
" Yeol! Chanyun! Come out now guys, appa need to go to work. Bring your bags with you.              " Baek hurriedly call the twins as he opened the door.  " Yes? May I help you?" he asked the people standing right before his door. They looked dignified people. Their eyes focused on his face. He heard the gasped coming out from the elderly woman behind the old man. He is tall, that Baek is quite surprised. He has to look up just to meet his eyes. Behind the woman, stands the last person he was expecting to see again. She looks guilty, her eyes asking for an apology. He paled a little as soon as he realized who these old people are. His first instinct...to close the door and hide his children, but alas! He's already late. " Appa! Chanyun took my rilakuma plushie again!" Yeol came right out of the twins bedroom whining followed behind by his sister whose face looking annoyed. " I did not! I just borrowed it, you whiney!!! Chanyun exclaimed throwing daggers at her twin brother. Even at four years old, his kids are already a handful causing mischief after mischief.

" May we come in, child? " his visitors asked gently. Baekhyun moved aside from the door and let them in. He shoved some of the kids toys under the center table's drawers and asked them to sit down.

The couple looked around and saw how orderly warm and cosy the house is, aside from the toys scattered awhile ago that is. The walls, filled with knick knacks and stuff. But what caught the visitors' eyes are the collage of photos hanged at the center of the wall. It's not actually framed or anything. But it was arranged in a series like form. As if telling a story. From a set of photos showing baby pictures of the twins. And their growing up years. It's cute and heartwarming. Yet the design itself as each photo was arranged, is already an artwork in itself. It was in a form of a heart and at its center is a big sized photo of the three people seated in front of them. Unlike any other photo, this was different coz it was taken in stolen shot.  The father, hunching down low tying the shoelaces of his daughter holding a big round candy, as he look up seemingly cooing the little girl, her face scrunched and looked like she's about to cry. Her knees covered in dirt and a smudge of blood can be clearly seen under the knee high rilakuma designed stockings she's wearing.  The little boy looking uninterested yet his eyes are filled with worry as he touched his twin's back on the side of the road. Their age in between 2 or 3 years old. The man tying the shoelaces looks so ethereal. The camera captured exactly the emotions playing on each subject's faces. Its pure love written all over. Love for one another.

The old couple sat down the couch offered to them. Yoora sat a little far at the corner where a round sofa is randomly placed. They noticed how the two little kids are eyeing them filled with confusion. They hugged their appa, sandwiching him in between as they also sat on the other chair in front of the visitors. Curiosity written all over their faces as they look up to their father. The old couple observed how each child's sitting stance are protective, as if they're getting ready to pounce on them if they ever so much as hurt their father. This caused a chuckle coming from Yoora. The old couple smiled as well.   
And as they looked closely at their faces, realization hit them hard. They looked at the lovely boy sitted in front of them beside the children. There were unshed tears glimmering at the old lady's eyes. Love and pride shone from there. It's like as if they were suddenly given a chance to redeem themselves to this lovely father.

" I'm sorry. I'm so sorry my child for what my grandson put you through. I'm so sorry." the old lady hugged her husband tight as she spoke, her voice trembling. Yoora's tears run unchecked as well. Sadness combined with happiness evident as she looked at the twins beside their father. It's like she's looking at a young version of her brother. The little boy is the exact replica of her brother when he's young and the little girl beside him has also the touch of her brother as well.

***

Chanyeol watched as all the guests leave happy. He also looked at the sweet couple dancing on the dance floor lovingly hugging each other as he play with his drink in hand. They decided to dance alone after all the guests left. They said they needed to unwind. Well, they deserved it. Kyungsoo's catering company was the one who arranged the grand wedding reception. He opened up his business after they graduated. Kai helped him from time to time since he was busy with his dance studio and modeling career. Kris moved to China with his husband Tao and adopted a baby boy who's now five years old. Chen and Xiumin moved to Jeju Island and put up a resort business. Sehun and Luhan's bubble tea café are thriving and they now just had a grand opening for their 5th brand at Gangnam area. He even heard of Baekhyun's friends Lay and Suho just got married about a year ago. It's like as if he was the only one isolated. All of them remained in contact with each other. Except for him, Chanyeol chose to stay as far away as possible. He could just easily ask his friends of Baekhyun's whereabouts but he's a bit reluctant. Kris and him got into a a bit of a spat about it the last time they met for drinks with Tao in China when he's shooting his music video, Angel. It was supposed to be a random meet up and some catch up with old friends, but argument aroused when Tao asked him if he ever looked for Baekhyun to which he answered that he couldn't care less about the boy since there's never been a relationship between Baekhyun and him. Thus the fight. Kris was so angry at him that the couple decided not to contact him ever again. Same goes with the rest. Every time Baekhyun arises as the topic of their conversation, Chanyeol either will evade or ask them to stop talking about him. So everyone stopped. Chanyeol's evasion of the topic caused the rift between him and his friends. It's only Kai who stuck up for him. Though Kai was ever careful and chose his words when around Chan.

Envy is visible at the taller's eyes as he watches the couple being sweet at the dance floor.

" Penny for your thoughts my boy?" Chanyeol's grandfather said as he sat beside his grandson and looking at him closely. The old man can see how tired his grandson is. But aside from that, sadness is also evident. The boy looks so glum like he was somewhat throwing a tantrum. 
" So what's gotten inside your pants, that you've been staring glumly at your friends while they're dancing. Did you have a fight with them or something?" the old man jokingly asked the taller. He gently tapped the young man's shoulder.
Chanyeol shake his head and just looked at the couple. " Grandpa, can I ask you a personal question? " the taller turn his head sideways to look at his old man and waited for him to answer. His grandfather nodded.
" Tell me honestly, how did you feel when you found out that my friends are gay? I mean you knew them even from my elementary days and they don't act like they're gay before then, only after a few years in college they turned out to be gay. And what's your point of view about same sex relationship? " Chanyeol asked. He turned fully to face his grandfather and see the look in his eyes while waiting for the old man to answer him.

His grandfather sighed audibly.
" You, my boy. How about you? How did you feel when you found out that your best friend Kris whom you look up to the most and depend on is gay? How did you feel when all your friends turned out to be gay?" the old man turned the question around, making sure that he conveyed the message behind his questions clear to the younger man beside him.

Chanyeol's forehead knotted in concentration. After awhile, he gave his answer as honestly as he could.  " Betrayed. I felt betrayed by the fact that Kris didn't have the guts to tell me the truth. He was my older brother, my hyung I depend so much. I trusted him so much. He could have just told me the truth. I may have accept him after awhile anyway. But he chose to keep it a secret from me. He act manly and all in front of me but I didn't know the guys are actually talking to themselves without letting me on. " the bitterness shows in his voice.

Yes!!! He's finally accepting the real reason why he got angry with his friends. No one asked him how he would feel before. Not one of his friends ask him if it's okay to be gay. No one let him know how they truly feel. They're his friends damn it!!! But they chose to keep it a secret from him. If they really are truly his friends, then they should have known that whether he likes it or not he would have accepted them anyway. Because that's what real friends do right???? Accept them for what they're truly are. After the incident at Chen's house, he waited for his hyung to come to him and tell him the truth. Because he wanted it to come from him. From them. Because they were his friends.

The old man tapped his grandson's shoulder gently. He now understood the reason for the boy's coldness. And it hurts him to know it this late. He coughed, calling back the younger's attention. " I understand how you feel son, and I'm sorry if I wasn't always there for you when you needed a father figure that badly. When your parents died of the car accident, I focused more on helping your grandmom get over the lose of her son and his wife, I totally forgot that your sister and you also need love. To answer your questions, your gender preference in a relationship or even your true gender doesn't matter to me. What's matter to me the most is seeing you and your sister happily living and loving the one person who'd make you feel all the love and compassion you both deserve. I love you Chan. Your grandmother and I love you both so much. Remember that. So please son, learn to accept yourself for what you truly are and find your true happiness. " the old man sincerely answered his eyes filled with love and pride for his grandson, unshed tears glow in his eyes.

Chanyeol's phone rang at that very moment. Minho's number pop up as incoming call. He excused himself with his grandfather to take the call privately. It took the call for only thirty minutes. Chanyeol just listening as the person on the other side spoke. His face showing a combination of emotions. Whatever it is that the person on the other side is saying seems to affect him. When he hang up the phone Chanyeol's face showed shock. Then as if he was in a trance, he ran out of the hall and into the elevator. His grandfather  looking a bit concerned.

Author's note.

Greetings to all of you chingus. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and fulfilling new year. Another year ended and watching EXO last night during their nment made me cried rivers. Especially seeing uri maknae Sehunie crying which he rarely do had me crying more. Plus Nini bear bawling too. Suho leadernim telling EXO L's how much he loves us and that we must stay supportive of the other members as he's enlisting this year. So let's continue to love them exo ls. Saranghe.

Hope you will like this update. Don't hesitate to comment and tell me what you think of my book so far. 🥰🥰🥰