Baekhyun tried to calm his erratically beating heart and breathing, this had to be a sick joke, closing his eyes he takes a breath to stabilise his heart. Opening them again, refusing to acknowledge the reason for his behaviour, he sees that he has Jongdae's blue shirt in a vice. Letting it go, he turns to see Sehun, who stands with a bowed head! Of course, Sehun's visits to New York. It's all starting to make sense, Sehun wasn't just there for work, he went for the man standing at the sideboard, Park Chanyeol! Chanyeol who even after everything he did, can still take his breath away, and cause his heart to spike in lust and need. Baekhyun notices the subtle change in Chanyeol, the last time he saw him, he was angry, and every bit the asshole, but then so was he. This Chanyeol is still the man he remembers, but there is something else as well, Baekyhyun can sense, there is something under the surface. Baekhyun shakes his head, he doesn't want to get involved in trying to crack Chanyeol's walls and armoured heart. He failed 5 years ago when he tried to show him what their love could of been. He won't allow himself to go through that again.

Unable to process anything relating to Chanyeol in this moment, he turns to face his friends. Sehun looks like he wants to cry, Luhan he is still trying to work out, Jongdae looks pissed, and that is not something anyone should deal with. He shudders at memories of Jongdae's high pitched whinnying bouncing off the Gallery walls. Realisation slams like a bullet in to him, making it clear why Sehun is crying, and Jongdae looks ready to commit murder.  Sighing Baekhyun turns to his best friends "You know, don't you?" The effect is immediate, Sehun lunges  for him, as does Jongdae, both encasing him in a tight bear hug. He has a just enough time to glimpse Luhan stop Chanyeol launching forward, before he is bundled into the sleek marble kitchen.

"We found out at your fathers Funeral, Baek you were so catatonic with grief, at first I thought you were talking gibberish calling out for my giant, and then you mentioned my brother." Baekhyun sighs, he has no memory of this, but is not surprised he cracked. His father's death hit him hard.  He looks at his friend who continues "once I understood what had been happening, I went to New York. Please I had no idea that there had been no other contact. Yes Chanyeol was an asshole back then, please hear him out." He turns to face Sehun, not sure what his best friend is trying to accomplish.   "You mean, you planned for this to happen" He knew in his heart that this was not going to be a good idea. "Please stop Sehun, this is not fair, Chanyeol left me. Left me Sehun! after I begged to be a bigger part of his life, we argued, and then he left it was the last time I saw him." Beakhyun was starting to shake again, this was not what he wanted to be doing tonight, he just wanted dinner with friends.

Jongdae suddenly stands in front of him, a look Beakhyun has never seen before. Jongdae reaches out towards him, and places his hands on his shoulders. "Baekhyun, no one wants to upset you, and I believe least of all Chanyeol. Please let's have dinner together." Baekhyun exhales, he so wants to get answers from the giant ass, but acknowledges not tonight. Neither he nor Chanyeol should discuss anything at this moment. What's the point, he knows all it will do, is the same it did 5 years ago he will beg and cry, Chanyeol will scream, and doors will slam. 
He watches Sehun, his best friend who is normally so confident and cool, look like a kicked puppy. Baekhyun realises he is not being a good friend at the moment, sighing he remembers how Sehun had over the years, complained to him, how fractured his own relationship was getting with his brother. Baekhyun vows to at least be civil for dinner. He can do this! After all he has plenty of experience of being just a friend  too Chanyeol in public. He can be civil and polite tonight, and tomorrow he can continue on believing that all he was, was a mistake. He can guess what Sehun was trying to do, especially if he he believed that he and chanyeol were separated by an arranged marriage, sadly it was not the case for them. He can't help but smile at his best friend being so happy and in love, and how he can't help but sprinkle it around like a fairy godmother. He will ignore his own heartache for now, and concentrate on being a good friend, aware that tonight is big deal for Sehun to have Chanyeol home. "Come on no more talk about the past tonight, let's just have good food, provided of course you haven't made noodles, or been let near an open flame." He laughs along with Jongdae, when Sehun's legendary pout reappears across his face. Watching as he turns to the counter and picks up a multiple of fresh ingredients. "Baek I went out of my way to make your favourite and this is the thanks I get" "ohh hot pot you do spoil us" taking the plate of seafood from Sehun he makes to head out when Jongdae stops him, a caring but determined look on his face "Seriously if it gets too much tonight, we can leave just say the word." Nodding in understanding, Baekhyun smiles and heads out to the dining area.

Chanyeol stood facing the view, he always loved this view of the city, it's even clearer with the floor to celling window he stood by. He could see the for miles, including the Han river beautifully reflecting the moonlight. He lowers his head unable to get over the blank expression across Baekyun's face. Sighing he didn't really deserve anything else, still staring at the window, he lets his mind wonder back to that fateful night.

5 years ago
Chanyeol stepped out of the tiny shower, he really hated the shower in this dorm. It was never hot enough, plus he always had to raise the shower head, a result of his almost a full foot shorter boyfriend. He heads out of the shower room as quietly as possible; he really doesn't want to wake Baek. Baek had invited him over for a late dinner to apologise for their last fight over a week ago. He had ignored him whilst he worked on the overhaul of the hotels his family owned. Baekhyun busy with his classes, and internship at the Museum, had rang him to say he was sorry and asked him to dinner. It really was no surprise his baby boy, had fallen asleep after cooking their simple but delicious dinner. Chanyeol had taken his baby's clothes off and put him in bed for much needed sleep, his course load has was heavy, and  he knows about the paper on Gustav Klimt, due this week. He comes to a stop when he sees Baek sat up at the edge of the bed, the sheet pressed to his chest!  Chanyeol can see the togs ticking in his boyfriends brain, he internally groans as he knows he been caught trying to sneak out, and the look on Baek a face says it all, his eyes are dark, and although sleepy,  look like they are ready to spit fire. "You're really going to sneak out without saying goodbye, why Chanyeol, Sehun is at your parents. You need sleep too." Sighing as pulls his joggers on his thighs and throwing on his t shirt he stands in front of Baek. "I know my brother is with my parents, however we've been through this, what if he comes home early." "Don't you think it's time we make it official, that way I can finally show off my boyfriend. I like for you to come for dinner with dad as my boyfriend, not just to talk art for the new hotel." Chanyeol really wants nothing more than to do that, knowing that timing is crucial. It will not sit well with the family and their business partners right now. He wants nothing more than to end this archaic ideal his parents are trying to portray. "Sweetheart, I cant just come out like this, we have been through this" "No Chanyeol that's not it, your parents have always been nice to me, they know I'm in a relationship with a man, don't look at me like that, they don't know it's you" Chanyeol admits his heart is flipping at the thought of his parents finally knowing the truth. "I will tell them, I promise. I need to ensure we have the ok to rebuild, I'm already in hot water with Senator Kim, for turning down his daughter"

He watches as Baek grabs his t shirt and stands, "we haven't been intimate for weeks Chan, I'm beginning to think you don't want me as a boyfriend, I feel like a dirty secret. Im tire of hiding us" Shocked at the bomb his boyfriend drops, and angry at the insinuation that he doesn't care, "you know I have responsibilities, if I come out now, I will lose the extremely conservative Senators backing" he watches as Baek heads to the kitchenette. "you know i almost feel like an escort, here to service to your needs. Never good enough to be seen in public." Chanyeol suddenly sees red, his head and heart start to pound with white hot lava, unable to control his temper he lets loose. "An escort would actually know how to pleasure me, and actually take the lead and top once in a while. Your hardly an escort, I can count on one hand the times you have actually given me a decent orgasm. our sex life is pretty much nonexistent, if I don't take the lead. Beside an escort wouldn't pressure me about being in a relationship either, they be happy just spending my hard earned money." Glass smashing and a pain filled gasp stops his tirade, the fog lifting he realises what he has said. He looks at his boyfriend standing there looking even smaller, his beautiful face is ashen and tears are falling. "Shit baby" he can only watch as his boyfriend takes a step back, his heartache clear in his body language as he holds himself as he sobs. He tries to move towards him "No don't, you have said enough, get out, please get out! "No I won't leave you like this," "Well now you get your wish, you wanted to leave, so go, get out"

"Chanyeol" snapping out of his memories, Chanyeol turns to face that angelic voice that sounds like velvet and smooth honey.  Turning around to face Baekhyun who stands by the sofa, the vacant expression gone, replaced with determination. "Everyone is waiting, Dinner is ready." Surprised that Baekhyun has appeared instead of any one else, he opens his mouth but is cut off, "I don't want to hear  about anything relating to us, it belongs in the past! now is not the night to even try and discuss what happened. We have hurt your brother enough, let's have dinner and tomorrow you can continue your life without me." Shame courses through his veins, he can see now just what damage he has inflicted.  He has a mountain to climb in earning forgiveness,  and more before he can even attempt trying gain his love. Knowing Baekhyun  is right  he nods and says, "I know this not what you wanted for your evening, i swear I had no idea Sehun was trying to force us in a room together, " he watches as the light returns briefly "I hear being openly in love can do that, Sehun is so free loving, I sometimes forget that your related" he felt the sting of those words and halted in his steps, watching as Baekhyun walked towards the overly loud laughing.

This was too much, he knew he deserved the cold shoulder, this was going to be hard. Remembering his brothers mention of his mother's dinner in 3 weeks, and his mother's constant demands for his presence, he grabs his phone. a lightbulb going off in his brain. It's time he involved the big guns, Sandra Park his mother. Besides he knows his mum is the only person even Baekhyun can't say no too. Calling the only number he has eidetic memory for, he doesn't have to wait long, as it connects on the first ring.

His place at his mother's dinner secure, he heads to the dinning room, and stops dead in his track. The  reason for the laughter evident, a full plate of food lies on the floor, and the hot pot seems devoid of the liquid. He shakes his head laughing at the scene, his brother really shouldn't be allowed near any cooking. He see Luhan and Jongdae are laughing like hyenas, Baekhyun ever the caring friend, is beside Sehun as they both trying to pick raw prawns off Sehun's floor.  Catching Sehun's eye he too starts to giggle "Tteokbokki anyone" his giggles going full belly laugh, when 4 hands raise in the air.