so after the looooooooong wait, here it is. :)

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"I love you too, Chanyeol."

He wants to say.

And then he gasped, fingers flying to his lips.

Chanyeol didn't know what to say. His eyes went wide, staring into Baekhyun's eyes like he just did something impossible. His hands froze on the smaller's cheeks with his lips gaped, he let out a shaky breath. The cold weather and their dripping shirts suddenly don't bother them anymore.

"Baekhyun..." Chanyeol breathed, the name almost inaudible.

Baekhyun pursed his lips as if tasting the words that just came out of his mouth. He doesn't know what to feel or to believe in to. The moment suddenly feels so foreign, something that isn't supposed to happen. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, wetting them before trying to force some voice out of his throat.

"I..." he sobbed. "I can..."

Chanyeol almost laughed and it came out a sob. He pulled Baekhyun for a tight hug, wrapping his arms around his slender waist and letting him cry against his shoulder. It's almost a miracle now, thinking about the thing that had just happened.

His Baekhyun just talked.

He's finally able to talk.

Baekhyun's grandparents were more than grateful about what happened though they were pretty surprised to see both Chanyeol and Baekhyun dripping wet from where they came from. When Baekhyun greeted them, his Grandmother broke down, hugging Baekhyun so tight they were afraid she'll faint. His Grandfather teared a little, clasping Chanyeol's shoulder as a sign of thanks.

But Chanyeol didn't believe he has anything to do about Baekhyun being able to talk again.

"It's all him." he whispered to Baekhyun's grandpa. "I have nothing to do with it."

But the kind old man shook his head as he wiped a tear that just rolled from his left eye. "No," he whispered back. "You mean to him more than just that."

Park Chanyeol kept coming back everyday. He doesn't want to miss a few hours with Byun Baekhyun. He might not know it but Baekhyun is his only reason now why he doesn't want to leave. He doesn't want to go back.

"Hey. Earth to Park Chanyeol." Baekhyun giggled, waving a hand over Chanyeol's face. They're sitting on the worn out bench where they first met with a guitar wrapped around Chanyeol's arm. Baekhyun pulled his knees to his chest, studying Chanyeol's face with a sudden frown. "You're spacing out." he muttered. "Do I make you bored?"

Chanyeol shook his head and a slow smile formed on his face. "Of course not." he whispered. "I was just thinking about what happened at the falls." He turned his body so he could face Baekhyun completely. He propped his arm over the bench's backrest, studying the smurf with his piercing eyes.

"Oh. That." Baekhyun smiled. "I believe the heavens finally took pity on me." he let out a laugh and Chanyeol finally realized he doesn't want to stop hearing it again. He wants Baekhyun's lips against his ears, he wants to hear his voice and never stop listening to him.

Chanyeol snuggled nearer until he could wrap his arm around Baekhyun's small frame. "Seriously?" he chuckled. "Why would they pity you? You have everything."

Baekhyun scoffed. "Well, I didn't have my voice then."

The taller shook his head and he planted a soft kiss on Baekhyun's hair. "You were wonderful even then," he whispered. "And now, I have no words for how insanely perfect you are."

"You're being too nice," Baekhyun giggled. "Stop it." He dropped his head on Chanyeol's shoulder, sighing as he inhaled his familiar sweet scent. He doesn't want to admit but he could smell him even if he's not around. Sometimes, it could put him to a dreamless sleep. Chanyeol could make him feel like that: comfortable and unafraid.

Chanyeol frowned. "Who told you I'm kidding?"

The smaller tilted his head so he could kiss Chanyeol's neck. "Well, aren't you?" he grinned.

"Nope." Chanyeol muttered. He looked around and finally noticed the shadows that's slowly closing in on them. He groaned. "It's almost time to leave and I can't let go of you." 

Baekhyun reached out for Chanyeol's hand, intertwining their fingers tightly. "Then don't," he whispered and he knew Chanyeol means more then just going home and sleeping without each other. His voice shook with fear and dread. "Don't leave then."

It's 11 o'clock in the evening when Baekhyun's grandpa came searching for them. He found his grandson asleep on Chanyeol's arms and the taller is watching Baek, drawing circles on his cheek and hand. When the old man approached them, Chanyeol greeted the him with a small smile.

"He doesn't want to go home?" Baekhyun's Grandfather asked, gesturing to the smaller.

Chanyeol chuckled quietly. "He doesn't want me to go home." he whispered. "He was telling me about falling in a pond when he was eight then his voice faltered and bam, he's asleep."

The old man laughed, dropping his flashlight to not hurt Chanyeol's eyes. "He's trying to keep you, eh?" he raised a brow. "He could be such a kid sometimes."

"Yeah," Chanyeol whispered and he looked down at Baekhyun's sleeping face, fighting the urge to kiss him again. He's been stealing kisses for a while now and he can't get enough of them. "But Sir, I have to leave soon."

"I know." Grandfather answered, sitting beside Baekhyun with a sigh. "Baek's been telling us you're still studying somewhere in the city?"

"Yes." Chanyeol answered. "I'm here because I help my uncle at his shop during breaks." he sighed, frowning on his feet. "I don't want to leave anymore." then he glanced at Baekhyun and all his worries vanished. He makes him feel like that and more. Much much more.

Baekhyun's grandpa reached out to squeeze Chanyeol's shoulder. "It's getting cold." he said in a low voice. "Let's take him home."

With that, Chanyeol carried Baekhyun on his back and the old man guided them on their way. The night is getting chilly but Chanyeol wants time to stop for a while, let him savor the moment, let him live it. He tilted his head to the side and Baekhyun's cheek found his lips. He brushed his lips against the smooth skin.

No. He wants time to stop forever.

Byun Baekhyun woke up and a low snore filled his ear, hot breath against his neck. He gasped when he found an arm loosely wrapped around his waist. He's about to jerk upright when he recognized the long and calloused fingers.

It's Chanyeol. In his room. On his bed.

Very slowly, he turned his body so he could face him. Chanyeol's sleeping face is a few inches from him and he can't help but let out a giggle. He poked his cheek very hesitantly like he's afraid he might wake him up. Chanyeol wrinkled his nose and squirmed, pulling Baekhyun closer.

"He's real." Baekhyun breathed, letting out a sigh of relief. He thought he's imagining him again. "Hello there, sleepyhead." he whispered before kissing the tip of Chanyeol's nose. When he pulled back, Chanyeol is still asleep so he took the chance to kiss him on the lips. He let it linger for a few seconds then he pulled back, snuggling nearer and burying his face on the taller's chest.

Chanyeol's arms tightened around him. "If I get to wake up with that everyday, I'd rather not leave." the taller suddenly said, his voice hoarse from sleep. He kissed Baekhyun's hair, sighing.

Baekhyun tipped his head, watching Chanyeol's face closely. "Then don't," Baekhyun whispered. "I'll do it everyday if it means you'll stay."

Chanyeol didn't dare open his eyes. "I will stay," he whispered. "This is my home now. Just let me finish those two years, Baekhyun."

The smaller can't help but feel greedy around Chanyeol. He pulled him closer until he felt tears threatening to form in his eyes. "No," he said. "I can't. You're here for just two months. Don't leave..."

"Why?" Chanyeol can't help asking. "I told you, I'll come home every break. I promise you that."

Baekhyun bit his lip and this time, he didn't look up to meet Chanyeol's eyes. "My parents promised me they'll be watching me graduate. My brother promised he'll buy me that piano the day after the family night." he squeezed his eyes shut to prevent the tears from flowing. "But they didn't. They broke their promises."

Chanyeol can't help but hold Baekhyun tighter. He doesn't want him breaking into pieces like this because it breaks him, too. It hurts him more than Baekhyun would ever know.

"Baekhyun..."

"Promises are always meant to be broken," Baekhyun sobbed against his chest. "And I don't want you breaking yours."

"Then I won't promise you anything." Chanyeol whispered. He slowly reached for Baekhyun's face and he slowly wiped the tears dirtying his cheeks. "But I made promise to your Grandparents that I will make you happy. That I will never leave you. And they made a promise, too."

Baekhyun sobbed and he let Chanyeol wipe his tears away. "I'm afraid..." he started. "I'm afraid I'll never be good enough for you again."

With that, Chanyeol frowned and lowered his head until he's looking at Baekhyun's face. "What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

Baekhyun diverted his gaze. He's suddenly embarrassed to be thinking such a thing. "The city has so much more than here." he whispered. "You might find someone---"

"And that's absurd." Chanyeol interrupted him, knowing what he's about to say. "Baekhyun, you don't know how perfect you are to me. You have no idea how I want you right now."

"I don't know..." Baekhyun mused, finally meeting Chanyeol's eyes. And the moment he did, Chanyeol kissed him, slowly wrapping his lips around Baekhyun's plump ones. He sucked on them very gently and Baekhyun can't help but kiss him back. He held his face in his hands, feeling their mouths slide along each other. They continued kissing for a few minutes and Chanyeol rolled over until he's hovering on top of him with his arms and legs supporting his weight.

They pulled back, gasping for air and Chanyeol looked  down at Baekhyun, eyes serious. "You are that beautiful, Byun Baekhyun." he panted. "You are that perfect. Please believe me."

Baekhyun is panting as he reached for Chanyeol's face, trying to remember how he fell so hard for this person. "You're being too nice." he breathed.

Chanyeol swooped down and kissed him again. "No. I'm being perfectly honest."

Baekhyun wants time to stop. For forever.

But he also feels it slipping away.

Chanyeol is pulling him closer than before, holding him tighter than before, kissing him more often than before. He's staying longer than before, spending more time together than before.

However, time is cruel. It's speeding up, torturing you with every passing second it shed.

And they both tries to forget time even exists.

They're both sitting on that same boulder of rock by the foot of the falls, Chanyeol's feet submerged on the warm water and a basket of fruits resting between them. Baekhyun has his legs crossed under him and he's playing the guitar this time.

"So tell me," he started, eyeing Chanyeol playfully. "How many girls fell for you because of this guitar?"

Chanyeol chuckled. "You really want to know?" he asked. "Okay. Let me think."

"How dare you," Baekhyun hissed. "You're supposed to tell me there's none!"

With that, Chanyeol let out a laugh throwing his head back and watching Baekhyun mutter incoherent words of annoyance under his breath. The warm water is tempting him again and he gave Baekhyun a smirk before removing his shirt. "Well, let's just say I don't sing for them." he answered, preparing to dive. "They do."

Chanyeol dived into the water, splashing Baekhyun. The smaller groaned, rolling his eyes. "Not pleasing," he muttered. "You're making yourself sound like a jerk." He, too, reached for the hem of his shirt, slowly pulling it up but Chanyeol stopped him.

"Don't!" Chanyeol shouted. "If you're swimming with me, don't take your shirt off."

Baekhyun's hand stopped and he pushed his shirt down again. "What? Why?" he asked, confused.

Chanyeol smirked rather sexily. "If you do that, you'd far more tempting than this water," he said."And we won't be swimming anymore."

"Now you're sounding like a pervert." Baekhyun laughed as he jumped into the water. He swam fast to Chanyeol's direction and the taller caught him, pulling him up by the waist.

"I could really be a pervert at times," Chanyeol teased. "Want me to prove it?"

Baekhyun squirmed out of Chanyeol's hold but the taller resisted, leaning into him very slowly. "Gah," Baekhyun giggled. "You're making me puke, mister." his hands flew to Chanyeol's arm, pulling him loose but he's definitely stronger.

"Puke, eh?" Chanyeol whispered huskily, the water almost drowning his voice.

The serious mischief on Chanyeol's face made Baekhyun swallow in nervousness. "Oh no," he breathed. "No no no." he started backing away but Chanyeol keeps moving closer, wrapping his arms around him so tightly.

"You're turning red, baby." Chanyeol breathed. "What's making you so nervous?"

"Stop it!" Baekhyun snapped. "I told you, we're not doing that until were---"

"Then marry me." Chanyeol said and the playfulness left his face entirely, replaced by a look of determination and fear. He looked down at Baekhyun as his hold started to loosen up around him and he slowly leaned back, giving themselves some distance.

The smaller can't help but gasp. "Chan..."

Chanyeol let out a shaky breath. "Marry me, Byun Baekhyun." he repeated, more firmly this time. "I'm promising you nothing but my love. The whole and everything of it. Just please, marry me. I don't know what to do without you anymore."

Baekhyun felt the tears and he didn't even realize they were there until Chanyeol reached out to wipe them away. He sobbed, wrapping his arms around Chanyeol's neck and pulling him for a very tight hug. He cried against his shoulder and he knows he doesn't have to answer anymore.

He knows Chanyeol understands what his heart really wants.

Then again, time is cruel and Chanyeol has to leave.

He didn't  bid Baekhyun his goodbye, the smaller asked him not to drop by before leaving. They both know it'll be harder that way and they don't want to cause each other such pain. Baekhyun stayed by the front porch with Chanyeol's guitar under one arm.

A plane flew overhead and Baekhyun was certain Chanyeol's in there.

Park Chanyeol is walking down the hallways now, his earphones plugged in his ears and a book at hand. He flipped a page without really reading. It's been a few months without Baekhyun now, just short letters sent to each other because Baekhyun's place at the mountains prevents any internet connection and cellular signal.

"Diamond will be pretty." Chanyeol murmured to himself as he stopped by his locker. "Yes. It'll suit him best." Again, he's thinking about the rings he saw at a jewelry shop when he came shopping for their official engagement ring.

Chanyeol is still waiting for the promise Baekhyun's grandfather made to him. Everyday, he's watching, looking, waiting.

He really hopes Baekhyun's wrong about promises meant to be broken.

Chanyeol placed his books on the locker, arranging them neatly because Baekhyun is neat and he wants to be neat, too. Baekhyun's letters filled a corner and he's about to reach for them to reread the most recent one when a voice interrupted him.

"Hey! I've been looking for you! Mind helping me find my first class?"

Chanyeol let out a groan. He's pretty sure it's another girl crushing on him. It happens almost everyday now.

"Hey." Chanyeol muttered, his voice bored and dismissing.

 "So that's how you welcome me after all the trouble this school caused Grandpa?" Baekhyun muttered with a pout. "I can't believe you, Park Chanyeol."

The locker door slammed shut and Chanyeol can't believe his eyes.

Such promises aren't bound to be broken after all.

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Thank you so very much for reading!

Hope you enjoyed! LOVE YOU~