Park Chanyeol
blue_eyed_diamond
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Chanyeol slams his alarm clock off for what feels like the hundredth time that morning. He groans, still half-asleep, his mind hazy and desperate for more rest. It's way too early for a Saturday, and he wishes it were Sunday already so he could stay in bed until whenever he pleases. Stretching lazily, he lets out a yawn, scratching his head as his thoughts drift. Despite the exhaustion, he doesn't regret the chaos his life has become. Business is booming—customers coming in from all corners, sales skyrocketing.

He's happy. Truly.

But even in the midst of this success, his mind can't help but wander back to the ghost customer from a few days ago. The man with big, sorrowful eyes and an expression that seemed permanently etched in sadness. His apology had been genuine, as he pleaded with Chanyeol to help him uncover the mystery behind his late husband's identity—why he looked exactly like Chanyeol. Chanyeol had promised to think about it, but now, lying in bed, he's unsure if he wants to get involved in something so... unsettling.

Baekhyun's words had tugged at his heartstrings, making him feel sympathy for the stranger. But what if something goes wrong? Maybe it's best to forget the whole thing and move on. Meddling in other people's lives is rarely a good idea, especially when it involves something as strange as this. Still, there's a part of him that wants to help. That's just who he is—he can't say no when someone asks for help.

Frustrated by the deep thoughts invading his morning before he's even had breakfast, he lets out a long sigh and finally drags himself out of bed.

He shuffles to the bathroom, takes a quick leak, flushes the toilet, then washes his hands and splashes water on his face. Glancing at his reflection in the mirror, he winces at his disheveled bed hair. He'll need a shower before heading out to work. After brushing his teeth, he leaves the bathroom and heads to the kitchen, already catching the delicious scent of breakfast in the air. His stomach growls in response.

Sehun is at the stove when Chanyeol walks in, his tall, handsome flatmate effortlessly whipping up breakfast. His black hair is tied into a small bun to keep it out of the way, and Chanyeol can't help but notice how effortlessly model-like Sehun looks, even when cooking. From the corner of his eye, Chanyeol spots Sehun's boyfriend, Junmyeon, emerging from their bedroom. The petite man with brown hair and glasses looks like a porcelain doll—too perfect, too handsome for his role as a teacher.

Chanyeol rolls his eyes. A toast to those with boyfriends. *Must be nice.*

"Morning, Yeol," Junmyeon sings, far too cheerful for the early hour, his voice grating on Chanyeol's nerves. The taller man stifles a scowl as he takes a seat at the dining table, noticing the faint hickeys scattered across Junmyeon's neck and collarbone. Chanyeol can't help but feel a pang of jealousy. It's been a while since he's had anything remotely close to that.

"Morning, Jun," Chanyeol replies, trying not to let his bitterness show. He watches as Junmyeon sorts through Sehun's bills on the table. No wonder Sehun doesn't bother getting a job—his boyfriend practically takes care of everything.

Chanyeol pours himself a glass of water, sipping it as they wait for Sehun to finish cooking. Before long, Sehun joins them, placing bowls of freshly made soup and side dishes on the table. They all start digging in.

Chanyeol almost chokes on his food when he catches Junmyeon leaning in to kiss Sehun, whispering sweet nothings into his ear. Sehun giggles like a schoolgirl in response, and Chanyeol feels his face flush with secondhand embarrassment. *Seriously? They couldn't wait until after breakfast?*

Clearing his throat, Chanyeol gulps down his water to remind them that they aren't alone. Both Sehun and Junmyeon chuckle softly, pulling away from each other, but the damage is done. Chanyeol frowns. *Not funny.*

"So, Yeol, how's business?" Junmyeon asks casually, though Chanyeol can sense the underlying curiosity in his tone.

"Business is good," Chanyeol answers with a shrug. "We have our tough days, but we keep pushing through." He returns to his meal, hoping that will be the end of it, but Junmyeon clearly has more on his mind.

"That's great to hear," Junmyeon says, a mischievous glint in his eyes now. "So... no pretty ones late—"

Before he can finish, Sehun elbows him sharply, cutting him off mid-sentence. They immediately lock eyes, engaging in a silent argument. Junmyeon shoots Sehun a confused look, clearly asking, *What's wrong?* while Sehun's eyes practically scream, *Stop before you say something stupid.*

Junmyeon chuckles awkwardly, understanding the warning a bit too late. Chanyeol watches them with amusement, trying his best to suppress a laugh. He's seen this play out too many times not to know exactly what's happening.

They might be a little over the top with their affection, but Chanyeol can't deny that their dynamic is entertaining. Still, a tiny part of him can't help but feel a little envious. *Maybe one day...*

....

Junmyeon glances up and notices Chanyeol staring at them. Flustered, he grabs his glass of water and takes a nervous sip, which only amuses Chanyeol more.

"So, Jun," Chanyeol begins, his curiosity piqued even though he suspects where this conversation is heading, "what pretty ones were you referring to?" His tone is light, but there's an edge of playfulness in his voice.

Junmyeon immediately sets the glass down and starts rubbing the back of his neck, eyes darting between Sehun and Chanyeol, as if he's silently begging Sehun for permission to keep talking. Sehun just shrugs, looking exasperated as if already anticipating how badly this is going to end. Chanyeol raises a brow, wondering what they're still beating around the bush about.

"Well, I mean..." Junmyeon clears his throat nervously, glancing at Chanyeol like he's walking on thin ice. "It's been nearly three years... right?"

Sehun presses his lips into a tight line and squeezes his eyes shut, probably wishing he could disappear. Chanyeol can barely suppress a chuckle at Sehun's expression, knowing the younger is mentally preparing himself for damage control. It's obvious Sehun's thinking, *Why can't Junmyeon just stay out of everyone's business?*

Chanyeol lets out a sigh, not really bothered by the question but finding it more intrusive than necessary. "It's fine," he finally says, brushing it off. "But honestly, I don't think jumping into a new relationship is on my priority list right now. I've got other things to focus on, like growing my business."

With that, Chanyeol stands up, thanking Sehun for breakfast. He grabs his plate and sets it in the dishwasher before heading to his room. He quickly changes and heads into the bathroom to freshen up for the day. As he gets ready to leave for the café, he can hear Sehun and Junmyeon quietly bickering at the dining table. He knows how this will end—they'll argue for a bit, then make up, and probably end up in bed.

Chanyeol shakes his head with a small smile. Ah, the joys of couple life. Sigh.

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It takes Chanyeol about thirty minutes to drive to his café, and by the time he arrives, business is already in full swing. As he pulls into the parking lot, his mood sours immediately. There, parked in his reserved spot, is a sleek black Audi RS7. Fury rises in him as he clenches the steering wheel. *Really? Out of all the parking spaces, they had to block mine?*

Chanyeol sighs in frustration, parking directly behind the Audi with a smirk. He's not moving his car anytime soon, and the owner will have to deal with him if they want to leave. After locking his car, he whistles his way into the café, his anger easing as the familiar surroundings come into view.

The front door swings open, and Kangju, one of his employees, greets him with a bow. Chanyeol taps him on the shoulder and strides inside. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm baked goods fills the air, immediately lifting his spirits. This is his domain—his pride and joy. It's a sense of home he craves.

The café is packed, nearly every table occupied, and it fills Chanyeol with a surge of satisfaction. Business is good. He makes his way to the counter, where Kyungsoo is managing orders with his usual efficiency.

"Morning, Soo! Everything going smoothly?" Chanyeol asks, his voice cheerful.

Kyungsoo, with his large, owl-like eyes and a heart-shaped smile, looks up and nods. "Yeah, everything's fine. But... someone's waiting for you." He gestures toward the corner of the café.

Chanyeol follows the direction of Kyungsoo's finger and immediately feels his stomach drop. There, at the far table, sits Baekhyun—the same customer who had approached him a few days ago with that odd, personal request. Their eyes meet, and Baekhyun flashes a soft, almost shy smile, raising a hand in greeting. Chanyeol gives a stiff, awkward wave in return before turning back to Kyungsoo.

"What's he doing here?" Chanyeol mutters, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. He had told Baekhyun he would *think* about helping him, not that he had decided to. So why is he here again today?

Kyungsoo shrugs nonchalantly. "Beats me. Kangju said he was the first customer here this morning. I didn't even see him come in—I was in the kitchen."

Chanyeol pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling in frustration. He's not sure what he's gotten himself into, but whatever it is, it's starting to feel heavier than he expected.

With a sigh, he finally musters the courage to walk over to Baekhyun's table. As he approaches, Baekhyun greets him with a bright smile, his energy almost contagious. "Hi, Chanyeol. Good morning!"

"Morning, Baekhyun," Chanyeol responds, trying his best to sound cheerful but feeling the awkwardness prickling at him. "I wasn't expecting to see you today."

To his surprise, Baekhyun blushes a soft pink, which only deepens Chanyeol's confusion. Did he say something wrong? He quickly clears his throat, eager to move past the moment. "So, what brings you here today?" he asks, pulling out a chair and sitting across from Baekhyun.

Baekhyun clears his throat too, fiddling nervously with his fingers. "Um... well, I made some breakfast this morning and, uh, I made too much. So I thought... I thought maybe you'd like some." He gestures to a shopping bag on the floor next to him, gently pushing it toward Chanyeol.

Chanyeol blinks at the bag, then looks back at Baekhyun, caught off guard by the gesture. "What's this?" he asks cautiously, even though he already has a hunch. He can sense that Baekhyun is trying to fill some kind of void, perhaps using him as a stand-in for his late husband.

The atmosphere between them grows heavy, the awkwardness palpable. Baekhyun shifts in his seat, his voice soft as he breaks the silence. "W-why don't you open it?" he stammers, a shy smile creeping onto his face, the pink in his cheeks deepening.

Chanyeol sighs internally. *This is getting ridiculous,* he thinks, but out of politeness, he reaches for the bag. Inside, he finds a neatly packed breakfast: pancakes, carefully arranged with sliced fruit on the side. His first instinct is to laugh—it feels surreal. But he holds it in, raising an eyebrow instead.

"You made this... for me?" he asks, inspecting the pancakes with an amused expression. They look fine, but nothing extraordinary. Chanyeol knows he could whip up something better in his sleep, but the effort is evident.

Baekhyun nods eagerly, his brown eyes wide with hope, looking almost like a puppy waiting for approval. Chanyeol watches him for a moment, an unexpected mischievous thought crossing his mind. He leans back in his chair, arms crossed, and asks with a slight smirk, "Baekhyun... what makes you think I like pancakes?"

The question hangs in the air, the silence between them growing heavier by the second. Baekhyun freezes, the blush on his cheeks darkening as he stares at Chanyeol, clearly flustered and unsure how to respond.

Chanyeol hides a grin, waiting for the inevitable awkwardness to unfold.
....

Baekhyun looks taken aback, clearly not expecting such a question. He must have thought Chanyeol would be happy by now. *Wrong,* Chanyeol thinks to himself. Baekhyun's shoulders slump slightly, disappointment clear on his face. The silence between them stretches, and Chanyeol feels his own expression soften when he sees Baekhyun struggling to form a sentence. The smaller man stares down at his lap, fiddling with his nails, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. After a short sigh, Baekhyun finally speaks.

"After what we talked about a few days ago, I just thought I should say thank you for accepting to help—"

"As what? No, hold on, Baekhyun," Chanyeol interrupts, raising a finger and letting out a tired sigh. "Yes, we talked. And I said I'd *think* about it. I never said I'd do it. There's a difference, Baekhyun. You can't just go ahead and cook for me. We're not even friends..."

Baekhyun presses his lips into a thin line, clearly hurt by the rejection. Chanyeol instantly regrets his words and adds, "...at least, not yet." But Baekhyun's eyes have already lost the excitement they held moments ago. Chanyeol massages his temple, suppressing a sigh. His mind is racing, the headache brewing behind his eyes not helping at all.

*Why the silence?* Chanyeol wonders. Is he trying to avoid snapping at Baekhyun like he did the other day? He grits his teeth, frustrated with the tangled mess of thoughts swirling in his head.

Baekhyun's soft voice breaks the tension. "But... it's not wrong to be a little hopeful, right?" His eyes meet Chanyeol's, filled with quiet desperation. "Am I asking for too much, Chanyeol?"

Chanyeol's mouth opens, but no words come out. He hadn't expected such directness. He shuts his mouth again, pressing his lips together. After a moment, he lets out a slow breath and silently picks up the food pack. *Maybe Baekhyun's right. He doesn't have many options left, and who am I to deny someone hope?*

"Thanks for the food, Baekhyun. I love pancakes." Chanyeol forces a small, awkward smile, trying to soften the blow. He gets up, an idea forming in his head. "Would you mind if I got you a coffee? Since you brought me food, it's only fair I return the favor."

"Oh, no. Chanyeol, please—" Baekhyun stammers, his face turning red, but Chanyeol cuts him off.

"I insist, Baekhyun," he says firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. Baekhyun hesitates, nibbling on his lower lip before nodding in agreement. Satisfied, Chanyeol hums and walks away.

Instead of heading straight to the counter, Chanyeol detours to his office, setting the food pack on his desk before heading back to the café floor. He approaches Kyungsoo, who's busy serving customers, and requests an iced Americano and two strawberry muffins.

Kyungsoo gives him a curious look. "Yeol, does he cook for you or—?"

"The orders, Kyungsoo," Chanyeol interrupts, snapping his fingers lightly. Kyungsoo pouts, casting Baekhyun a suspicious glare before preparing the order. Once the drinks and muffins are ready, Chanyeol mutters a soft "Thanks" and heads back to Baekhyun's table.

When he arrives, he sees Baekhyun fumbling to pull out money, trying to pay for the coffee. Chanyeol quickly stops him. "No, Baekhyun."

"But why? This is a business," Baekhyun protests, but Chanyeol shakes his head.

"Don't worry about it. I'll cover it." Baekhyun falls silent, blushing again, and after a brief pause, he thanks Chanyeol quietly before standing up to leave.

Chanyeol walks him to the door, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief as Baekhyun exits the café. He's so weird, Chanyeol mumbles to himself, shaking his head as he heads back to the counter to grab his apron. Kyungsoo, still shooting him a look, silently questions if Chanyeol really gave away the muffins for free—the muffins he worked so hard to bake—but Chanyeol ignores his burning gaze.

Barely a minute passes before Baekhyun unexpectedly returns, walking toward the counter. Chanyeol raises an eyebrow, watching as Baekhyun approaches. His lips twitch, fighting a smirk, as Baekhyun asks, "Do you know who owns that car parked behind mine?"

Chanyeol frowns at the mention of the car, internally groaning at the hassle of parking again. Without a word, he walks out from behind the counter and follows Baekhyun outside to see what's going on.
....

As soon as Chanyeol's eyes land on the car Baekhyun is pointing out and realizes it's his own, he almost bursts into laughter. The irritation he'd been feeling about the car's owner evaporates in an instant. But a second later, he's not sure what to do. If he starts arguing with Baekhyun now—telling him never to park in his spot again—things might escalate quickly. And right now, Chanyeol just wants a break from the confusing, strange man and his odd requests. It's not that he doesn't want to help Baekhyun; he just needs some distance at the moment.

"So... it was you? Well, it's my car. You took my spot, so I returned the favor," Chanyeol says, trying to keep his tone as calm as possible. He quickly fishes his keys out of his pocket, unlocking his car and preparing to move it. He just wants to smooth over this awkward situation and end it as quickly as possible. Baekhyun's lips form a small, silent "oh" as realization dawns on him. He swallows, biting his bottom lip in thought. Chanyeol can't help but think he looks like a confused puppy.

Chanyeol moves his car out of the way, and Baekhyun follows suit, pulling out of the space but stopping just by the driveway. Instead of leaving, Baekhyun parks and steps out of his car again, walking toward Chanyeol, whose car is now parked properly in its designated spot. Chanyeol watches through the rearview mirror, sighing when he sees Baekhyun lingering outside, clearly waiting for him to step out. Reluctantly, Chanyeol opens the door and exits, only for Baekhyun to immediately start talking.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know—"

"No, it's fine, Baekhyun," Chanyeol interrupts, waving it off and forcing a smile. He can tell Baekhyun feels guilty, but he's in no mood for a drawn-out apology. Baekhyun nods, his expression sheepish, and turns to leave, looking flustered.

Chanyeol watches him walk away, feeling a bit surprised at himself. Normally, he would've lost his temper by now, whether with a friend or a stranger. But with Baekhyun, he stays calm, even as he presses his lips into a thin line, observing the smaller man drive off shortly afterward. Weird guy, he mutters under his breath, shaking his head as he heads back inside.

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The following week, Chanyeol keeps bumping into Baekhyun everywhere he goes. At first, it seems harmless—Baekhyun shows up at the gym, not to work out, but just to "check the schedule." Chanyeol finds that strange, but he lets it slide. Then Baekhyun appears at the park the next day. And at the mall two days after that. By now, it's starting to feel suspicious. Each time they run into each other, Baekhyun acts surprised, as though they haven't seen each other in ages. It's all too much of a coincidence, and Chanyeol can't shake the feeling that something is off.

One evening, Yixing invites Chanyeol and their friends out to hang after work. Chanyeol has no other plans, and it sounds like a good opportunity to clear his head from the strange encounters he's been having. He, Sehun, and Junmyeon all meet up, grabbing drinks and dinner together. The night is fun, and Chanyeol realizes he's more relaxed than he's felt in days. When Yixing suggests they catch a movie, Chanyeol agrees. It feels good to be out with friends, not worrying about anything for a change.

At the ticket booth, Chanyeol offers to buy the tickets, as a way of making up for being absent from their usual hangouts. While the others go to get popcorn and drinks, he steps up to the counter.

"Four tickets, please," Chanyeol says, pulling out his wallet.

Before he can hand over the cash, he feels a soft tap on his back. He turns, already sensing who it might be, and there stands Baekhyun. Of course.

Chanyeol is caught off guard, not expecting to see him here of all places. He manages a breathless, "Oh, hey."

"Good evening, Chanyeol," Baekhyun replies with a warm smile, his eyes twinkling. They exchange small talk, Baekhyun mentioning he's just finished a movie and was about to leave when he spotted Chanyeol. As they talk, Chanyeol can't help but notice how soft and round Baekhyun's face looks under the cinema lights. There's a warmth to him that Chanyeol hasn't quite noticed before, but it doesn't make him any less perplexed by the situation.

Just as Chanyeol is about to leave, Baekhyun holds out the chocolate bars he's been carrying.

"What's this?" Chanyeol asks, genuinely confused.

"Chocolates," Baekhyun answers smoothly, stretching out the bars toward him. At first, Chanyeol hesitates, unsure why Baekhyun is giving them to him. But he knows Baekhyun won't let him leave in peace without accepting the gift.

"Thanks," Chanyeol says, taking the chocolates.

"It's nothing," Baekhyun responds softly, a thin smile on his lips. The conversation hangs awkwardly for a moment.

Chanyeol, feeling a pressure building inside him, blurts out, "You've given me food and now chocolates. Are you trying to convince me again, Baekhyun?"

Baekhyun chuckles, shaking his head. "No, no. I can't pressure you into helping me. This has nothing to do with that."

"Are you sure?" Chanyeol asks, raising a skeptical brow.

"I bought them on my way here. My movie's over, and I didn't finish them. Since you're about to watch a film, I thought you might like them."

Chanyeol realizes he's misjudged the gesture. Maybe Baekhyun really wasn't trying to manipulate him. He looks down at the chocolates in his hands and thinks it wouldn't be a bad idea to share them with his friends.

"Hey, Yeol? Did you get the tickets?" Sehun's voice cuts through the moment, snapping Chanyeol back to reality. He beckons Sehun over to collect the tickets, and Sehun greets Baekhyun briefly before walking back to the others. Chanyeol turns back to Baekhyun, feeling something lingering in the air between them, something he doesn't quite understand. They stand in silence for a few seconds, and Chanyeol sees a sadness in Baekhyun's eyes that he hadn't noticed before.

"Anyway, have fun," Baekhyun says, his voice trailing off, the light in his eyes dimming. "See you around." With a final nod, he turns to leave, his shoulders slumping slightly.

Chanyeol watches him walk away, feeling an unexpected weight settle in his chest. A lump forms in his throat. He realizes that despite Baekhyun's eccentric behavior, the guy has been nothing but kind to him. All Baekhyun wants is some help, and Chanyeol's been pushing him away, leaving him in the dark. He suddenly feels guilty for his coldness, for not making up his mind, for not being more compassionate.

"Baekhyun!" he calls out, his voice firm.

Baekhyun stops in his tracks, turning with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Chanyeol strides toward him, newfound determination propelling him forward.

"Is something wrong?" Baekhyun begins, but Chanyeol cuts him off.

"I'll help you," Chanyeol blurts out, the words surprising even himself. For a moment, Baekhyun is stunned, his eyes widening as they fill with unshed tears.

"R-really?" Baekhyun stammers, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Yeah," Chanyeol says, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Really."

Baekhyun beams, his eyes sparkling under the neon lights of the cinema hall, and Chanyeol feels something warm unfurl in his chest. This—this feels right.
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Author's note 📝

Hi, lovelies, 🤗❤️💕

blue_eyed_diamond aka chanbaeksbae Compliments of the season and welcome to 2021😘🤗💕

I hope y'all are doing great and you are happy. It's been a while without an update, my apologies 🙏🥺

I do hope you enjoy reading this chapter though. I also want to thank you for your kind support for everything. All you have shown us is love and more love, and for this we are grateful.🤭💕🙏😊❤️

For most of you who may have forgotten the plot of this story, due to a long wait, I would advice you read the last update of Nyxessa
before coming to this one as a refresher.
And if you already did that before reading this chapter, then I know you can't wait to see what my dearest friend Nyxessa has in stock for you in the next chapter. 😊👍🤸‍♀️🤗😘

Once again, thank you so much for your kind support and love towards this story, for upvoting this story, for reading, for commenting, and everything. We appreciate you. Stay healthy and stay safe❤️

Love you🧡😘❤️

Author-nim blue_eyed_diamond 💫💛