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~Park Baekhyun~

May kasamang babae si Chanyeol sa loob ng restaurant. Hindi ko kilala kung sino yung babae and yet, I don't want to make conclusions. Gusto ko siyang makausap and I really think barging in the middle of their conversation won't do us any good.

I looked away and wiped the tears on my face. "Ibalik mo nalang ako sa resto." mahina kong sabi habang hindi tinitignan si Yifan. "I need to—"

"Baek..." then he reached out and touch my hand. "You can talk to me. I am always here, you know?"

Umiling ako at hinila pabalik yung kamay ko. "I need to talk to Chanyeol." sagot ko saka siya tinignan. "I need to clear things between us. I need to know who that girl is and what they are doing!"

Yifan's eyes turned angry. "Baekhyun!" he exclaimed and turned to face me. "Can't you see, huh?! Niloloko ka lang ng asawa mo! Nagsasawa na siya sayo! You need to open your eyes!"

I glared at him and gritted my teeth in anger. "How could you say that when you don't even know the whole story?" I hissed. "Neither of us here know what they are talking about in there!"

I looked back at the restaurant and Chanyeol pulled a folder. I looked away and met Yifan's eyes. They are sad and angry at the same time. "How could you trust him like that?" he said through gritted teeth. "How could you believe in him when you can already see it with your own two eyes?!" he ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

I looked at him in the eyes and sighed. "You don't know what we went through, Yifan, just to be together." I whispered under my breath. "I need to lose everything, fight for my right, and go against my family. I need to hide from him and pretend that I was not the one he met that night."

Yifan looked at me and his eyes turned softer. He pursed his lips and looked down, avoiding my piercing gaze.

"Chanyeol never stopped looking for me, okay?" I said. "He never stopped no matter how I tried to run away. Do you really think I could doubt him after all those?"

He glanced at me one more time before turning back to the wheel. He started the car and we drove past the diner and back to my resto. "Baek..." he started and sighed. "If your confrontation won't go well... I'll be waiting for your call."

I looked at him and pursed my lips. "I don't want to think about that." I whispered and stared back at the window, watching buildings pass around us.

"If he hurt you... I will protect you, Baek." he whispered beside me.

I sighed and shook my head. "If he hurt me... he is not Chanyeol at all."

Napatingin ako sa orasan sa study room ni Chanyeol. I decided to wait here instead na sa kwarto namin. The kids might hear us if our talk would go wrong. I sat on his chair and placed my head on my hand, thinking hard.

I was so tough when I was talking to Yifan. I don't know where I got that strength. And I don't know if I am even right about those beliefs.

There were suddenly footsteps.

"Papa!"

My eyes went wide and I ran to the door, pulling it open. I peered along the hallway and saw Jesper, holding the walls for support while looking around, afraid.

"Jesper!" I called and ran to him. Agad ko siyang binuhat at niyakap niya ako sa leeg. "What are you doing walking along the hallway?"

Napatingin siya sakin. "I was looking for you, Papa." mahina niyang sabi.

I slowly shook my head and brushed his bangs away from his face. "What is it?" tanong ko habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa kwarto niya. "Do you need anything?"

Lumampas kami sa room ni Min and I can hear her singing a song I don't know. "Okay..." sabi ko saka napatingin sa bunso namin. "Ano yun?"

Jesper looked at Chan Hyun's room when we walked pass it. "Hyung has been telling me stories..." bulong niya. "Real stories daw, Papa."

I frowned at him and stopped outside Chan's room. It is quiet and that's unusual. "What kind of stories?" I asked and raised an eyebrow.

"Ghost stories." he said and I felt him shiver. "Like... real ghost stories, Pa! Where monsters eat small children like me."

I rolled my eyes and glared at Chan Hyun's room. "Don't believe him, anak." I said and walked to his room. I opened the door and sat on the floor, still holding Jesper. "You should be strong! Saka hindi totoo mga sinasabi ng Hyung mo. Feeling lang niya yun."

Jesper looked at me and pouted. "But Papa... Can you and Daddy sleep with me tonight?" mahina niyang sabi.

I frowned and shrugged. "Why? Natatakot ka ba?"

He nodded and put his hands together as if praying. "Please, Papa, please?" 

I sighed and brushed his hair. "Sure." I whispered. "Just... wait for me here and I really need to talk to your Daddy first."

Jesper nodded and pulled away from me. Bumalik siya sa kamay niya at nagkumot. "I'll wait, Papa." he said and smiled. I smiled at him and gave a thumbs up.

Dumiretso ako sa kwarto ni Chan Hyun at nagulat nang hindi ito naka-lock. Sumilip ako at nakahiga siya sa kama niya, nakatingin sa kisame. "Chan?" I said in a stern voice.

"He likes her." he whispered, not really looking at me.

Napakunot noo ako. "Ano?"

"Pa... akala ko ako lang!" he said in frustration. Hinila niya ang isang hotdog pillow at niyakap ito. "May kaagaw pala ako! BAKEEETTT?!" sigaw niya sabay suntok sa kama at sa hangin.

I shook my head and raised an eyebrow. "Chan Hyun!" I said and put my hand on my hip. "You look like your Dad when you're like that."

He glanced at me and pouted. "And?"

"You look stupid." I said matter-of-factly.

Napa-upo siya sa kamay niya saka malungkot na tumingin sakin. "Pa... ANONG GAGAWIN KO?!" sigaw niya at napahilamos gamit ang dalawa niyang kamay.

"Ganito..." I started and looked at him seriously. "Go to Jesper and say sorry after frightening him. You tell him na hindi totoo lahat ng sinasabi mo about sa monsters. Saka bantayan mo siya doon!"

Napa-frown siya sakin. "What does it have to do with my problem?!" nalilito niyang tanong.

I shrugged. "Wala." sagot ko. "Just do what I said and I'll try to help you with that."

Agad siyang napatayo at lumapit sakin. "Hehehe. Okay, Pa. Excuse." sabi niya at lumabas ng kwarto. Tumakbo siya papunta kay Jesper saka sinara ang pinto ng kwarto niya. He really is Chanyeol when we're younger.

Naglakad ako pabalik ng study room ni Chanyeol at binuksan yung pinto. But I was surprised to see him there, standing beside his desk and emptying his bag. I gasped and stepped back when he saw me.

"Babe?" gulat na sabi niya at tinigil yung ginagawa niya. "Hey... what is it?"

I swallowed and slowly stepped inside his study room, closing the door behind me. "We need to talk." I said seriously, looking at him in the eyes.

Chanyeol frowned and walked towards me. Hinawakan niya yung kamay ko at dinala ako sa may sofa sa sulok ng kwarto. He pulled me to his lap but I resisted. "Baek?" he asked in confusion. "May problema ba?"

I nodded and looked at him sternly. "Tell me, Yeol." I said firmly. "What are you hiding from me?"

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