Expect longer chapter because it's a part of the gift for my friend's birthday.

°°°

"It's stunningly beautiful and gives off an unreachable artistic look. For a moment I felt envious of the sky coloring your skin the way I could never. I moved my sight away at the thought that came too early. My eyes found the lack of color in the frame that didn't have you in, though."

°°°

Chanyeol did his best to escape a bad fate, but his legs weren't long enough when it came to a flaming male chasing him. Actually, before the run even started, he knew there was no way to escape. After he received a birthday cake in the face and was left in the dark with Baekhyun, he knew his best friend wouldn't be satisfied with only that kind of punishment.

After what seemed as short as a blink of an eye, the talk with Baekhyun ended when Jongdae found them seated close to each other with cans of something that seemed like fruit juice in their hands. The situation was more surprising than anything that his mind could make up. Even in the dark, smiles the two exchanged were bright and lively, almost questioning him if they were real. It brought warm feelings to his chests, but he wouldn't let that unacceptable action of Chanyeol's slip that easily.

Jongdae was left speechless but ended up throwing the cake right into his best friend's face anyways, and he eventually walked away with his fists clenched hard.

"Happy birthday, motherfucker!" He shouted and everything he could hear was high-pitched laughter of Baekhyun's in return.

"Do you even know why I chose to celebrate my birthday the day before yours?" He shouted and grabbed taller's neck when he entered his room later that day. It was around seven in the morning, and earlier he finishes scolding, the better.

Even if Chanyeol wanted to answer, it was impossible when his friend was madly shaking him and choking him with the strength he didn't know that could be found in that small friend of his.

"Because I wanted to surprise you too at midnight! I wanted the rest of the party to be yours, but you fucking weren't there!" His voice was high and whiny. Chanyeol's roommate was showering or more like purposely avoiding to listen to it or face the entire happening. Chanyeol wished they could switch for a while.

"Out of all people, you were with Byun Baekhyun! I don't know if I'm happy or disappointed with that, but truthfully, I could never guess you'd ditch your best friend's party to gulp down the juice with no other than a guy you used to never talk about or even more - talk with." He pushed him to the bed and let out one last pretty long and loud whine.

Even so, he couldn't help but smile at realization what actually happened the night before. Chanyeol began opening up a little bit more, he kept walking forward. Despite everything, Jongdae felt his own heart fluttering at the thought.

"You like Baekhyun, don't you?" With a straightforward question, his facial expression became a serious one. Glaring at his best friend who decided to mirror his expression, he waited for the answer.

"Pft," Chanyeol let out, "I don't like him." It sounded stable and convincing enough, but Jongdae wasn't the one to take in anything that's pushed towards him. 

"Whatever makes you sleep at night." He shrugged.

Chanyeol rolled his eyes and decided to break the chain of that certain topic. "By the way, thank you for your effort. But you know that I don't celebrate birthdays at all."

"I know and I think it should change."

"There is no need to celebrate one more year wasted."

"Wow, where did that negativism come from, Yeol?" Jongdae immediately regretted asking and silently cursed under his breath. Some memories come too late to our brain even if they were only blink of an eye late. His was even less.

"That's..." Chanyeol paused, "That's not negativism. I'm just being a realist. What have I done in the past year to have a reason to celebrate?" His voice was bitter and the real reason behind the words told was peeking through the gaps of his lips that formed a sad smile.

"You're still alive and healthy, Chanyeol. Isn't that enough?" Jongdae's eyes shone with everything that has been building their precious friendship so far, with everything two of them are together and he almost felt sorry for his friend thinking that way. There are plenty of good things he has done, but he forgot two of the most important ones he didn't fail to have.

Jongdae knew Chanyeol appreciated small things more than anyone else. He knew Chanyeol appreciated the sound of his guitar and texture of his paper smudged with a pencil. He appreciated chilly evenings and a thin blanket over his lap. He loved other people's smiles and vivid laughs but was too immersed in them to notice his own that became somehow brighter and more sincere. He failed to notice and appreciate his own worth at times and pushed the day he was born at away. But Jongdae was there to remind him, although Chanyeol never lets his words reach him deeply enough.

"You, Chanyeol, whose presence screams life and passion, should appreciate the day the tiny body filled with it was born. You should celebrate that day every year being thankful for being able to."

Chanyeol didn't reply immediately after that. He waited for a while to let the words sink in. The same words he listens to every year the same day.

"You know the real reason I don't celebrate birthdays. You should know those words are not supposed to be uttered." There came a deep breath.

"Honestly, I'm sick of you keeping those trashy words of his this close to heart even after years, Chanyeol."

"Those were the last words I've heard from my father, Jongdae."You're a disappointment, you should've never been born at all." I remember them clearly but I don't think about them. My birthdays remind me that the one who gave me life now wants me dead instead."

"He was mad at you back then and probably told things he didn't want to."

"But he never greeted me with ones meaning the opposite. Never again."

Chanyeol may not have the happiest life but he tries to fix tears into smiles every now and then. He may not have the happiest past but he tends not to think about it and scroll through film tapes of past years without tripping on bad memories. He tends to turn certain voices mute and play the melody suitable for his liking. But on 27th of November, those voices grow louder than ever and remind him that the tape of his life is wished to be cut a long time ago.

That's why Chanyeol turns birthdays into ordinary days wherein he still plays the way he wants and smiles because smiles make other ones bloom brighter. That's why the 27th of November is just like any other day for him - the day he is still able to spread happiness despite his own difficulties. That's Chanyeol, lively and passionate oversized guy with ears sticking out and Summer catching itself on every inch of his being.

No celebration is needed because once it's set, he isn't the same.

"Celebrate this birthday, Chanyeol, for the sake of your smiles that turned more sincere than ever before." Jongdae's lips twitched a tiny bit upwards as his eyes reflected hope. His hands came to hold onto bigger ones as he squeezed them fondly.

"If you want them to keep growing, don't make me change the pace. I'm fine like this."

Chanyeol's best friend knew he couldn't argue on that. Taller's pace has always been specific or maybe weird, but it was how he kept himself going. There was no worth pushing it and others should accept it.

Jongdae did his best this year as well. He tried to move his friend further and make him walk over his father's too harsh words and actions that left scars with enormous depth. The scars that were still there and that hurt the most on a certain date. He wanted those scars gone for once, but those aren't his hands that are supposed to caress his skin and make it heal. Those aren't his actions that could turn all the previous bad ones into ash. He might be the closest one Chanyeol has, but still, it's not him.

At the date he wanted to try one more time, he realized that on the same day a year after, he won't be the one to succeed.

Those will be softer hands and touches that aren't necessarily gentle but still precious. Those will be unknown actions but with well-known actors. Those will be bright smiles that will, finally, be the ones to turn Chanyeol's even brighter and not other way around. Similar smiles to ones he had seen at one past midnight that day, but more developed and more real than the fact Chanyeol is broken.

Jongdae almost wants to laugh at himself for being ignorant. Even though he's left from the story Chanyeol created with the owner of the smile that turns his own more beautiful, he realized more than he would if he listened to the story. Chanyeol will share it once and it will only be the moment to confirm his doubt. 

"Honestly, I can't wait for the day you start liking Byun Baekhyun."

What he wasn't aware of were ears that weren't glad to hear that kind of statement. Almost, not even a bit.

•••

What made Chanyeol remember what wouldn't affect him any other day that much, were gifts he receives. From different meals to watches or sneakers, he was suffocated with things it would be too rude to refuse and lock himself in the room with only a guitar as a company like he wished to do.

He never failed to smile, but bitterness couldn't be non-existent in every lift of his plump lips.

It was nice Sunday and other than dealing with a hangover and heavy heads, they had nothing else to do. Twelve of them with no single exception were stuffed in the room Jongin and Chanyeol shared even though Chanyeol clearly stated he didn't want that.

"You like Rilakkuma socks from me the most, right?" Sehun was clinging onto Chanyeol's arm and burying his nose in the material of his shirt. He got pretty wasted the night before and stumbled upon an opened store when he was heading home. Don't trust him, those socks he got might not even be Rilakkuma printed. After he got them wrapped in a paper, he didn't check what they looked like.

"Keep on dreaming, dude," Luhan caught himself on another arm of Chanyeols, "the phone case I got him is way better than a pair of socks."

"Two pairs!" Younger exclaimed. "And you didn't even get him a case suitable for his phone! What kind of friend are you?" Sehun tried putting Chanyeol's phone in the mentioned blue case, but holes on it didn't even match the look of the device. He couldn't believe he was in love with the guy who didn't even care about the present for a friend.

No, Luhan wasn't wasted but he somehow cared more about the aesthetic of the item than the actual use of it.

"I'm a great friend!"

"Great my ass! Only Minseok can relate."

"That's because he deserves it the most, you fuc--"

"Okay, okay, calm down," Chanyeol tried to wiggle away from the tight holds of theirs and possibly avoid being the wall they throw heavy rocks over. "I liked all the gifts nonetheless. Thanks for your effort. Thank you all." He smiled a little and stood up, reaching for a cupboard placed in the narrow space behind the main door. People that were left behind let out cringy "aww's" in return.

"But there is someone," cough, "Baekhyun," cough, "who gave you nothing." Sehun teased on purpose, wiggling his eyebrows.

"He should be grateful I'm here," Baekhyun replied immediately shifting his position on the desk he decided to sit on once he realized there is no other space left. Thanks to others who took more than they needed.

"Actually, we all are grateful." Jummyeon was the one to comment and break the possible argue before it even started. "When we were giving Chanyeol gifts, you never joined us by obvious reasons. I'm glad you're here now."

"True that, I was really going insane because of two of them who started ignoring each other from the moment their eyes met. I mean, Chanyeol ignored Baekhyun." Kyungsoo agreed while gently playing with Yixing's hair who had his head rested on his lap. He was tired from the early morning's dance practice he did himself and from the party. In a meantime, he pushed his feet into Jongdae's lap and murmured: "Massage them."

"Yeah," Jongdae pushed Yixing's feet away but talked to Kyungsoo, "but let's not bring this up anymore, they're fine now and we all are tired of it."

Kyungsoo got it and nodded. Bringing the past up, which wasn't nice at all, won't make any good on the day they're supposed to be enjoying. He understood Jongdae's intention and resumed playing with droppy-eyed Yixing's hair. "You better wash it when you get in your room." He whispered.

"Guys," Chanyeol called, "I don't have enough glasses for all of us, I guess."

"Nah, don't worry about it. How many do you have?"

"Five?" He grinned.

"Don't count me, I won't drink anything, I'm here just because," Baekhyun informed even though it wasn't that helpful at all.

"Just take plastic cups from my part, Chanyeol, and don't exclude anyone," Jongin suggested.

"Oh, thanks." Once Chanyeol filled the cups, he put them on the tray and walked towards the desk. Unfortunately, Baekhyun was comfortably seated on it.

"If I move away, I wouldn't have the place to sit." He shrugged his shoulders while swinging his legs like a child. His eyes screamed fake innocence, but to the other, they were almost transparent and so easy to see through and he saw it differently.
"I guess I'll just take someone's lap." He smirked and approached Jongin without waiting for Chanyeol's reaction or other suggestion.

"Can I?"

"O-of course," he stuttered and shifted his position. Baekhyun smiled and sat down as if Jongin was the most comfortable chair ever. He didn't notice the slight tremble coming from him and warmth that gradually started rising.

"Thank you," he and Chanyeol said at the same time, but the difference of the emotion in the voice was obvious. Baekhyun's voice gave off a cheerful vibe but on the other side, older's tone was flat and deeper than usual. They exchanged glances and Chanyeol was the first one to break it by slipping his sight down on hesitant hands of Jongin's which sneaked around smaller's waist and basically hugged him loosely. He had no rights to find it bothersome, but his eyes were giving off a different feeling.

"Wow, stop staring, Chanyeol, and put the tray on the desk already," Kris voiced out waving with his hand in front of other's eyes, catching his attention. The tray landed on the desk more violently than it was supposed to, but it wasn't Chanyeol's will. It got out of control, kinda.

He said nothing in return, but others spoke instead of him while he silently went back to his place on the bed beside Sehun.

"It hasn't been a long time since you two started talking and those glares of yours are already a little bit possessive, Yeol." Kris remarked with an emphasis on "talking" because, really, they seemed like nothing more than two people that have grown balls to finally act normally. Besides, Baekhyun didn't seem any closer with Chanyeol than anyone else in the room.

They all were unaware of the things two of them shared behind closed doors. Of the unspoken words, countless tears and scars showed to no one else. No matter how hard they could guess or think about what the two are, the perfection of the real situation is nowhere near their reach.

Not that it's their business at all, but there is always time for sharing opinions on certain topics and eventually making jokes out of it to make the entire look of the conversation more lively.

"I've tried to convince you earlier, Kris, but Chanyeol has feelings for our little Byun kid." Tao tapped his boyfriend's head in an open-your-eyes-already manner.

"And I agree with Panda Tao!" Sehun exclaimed raising his arms in the air and hitting Chanyeol and Junmyeon in the noses with his elbows.

"Damn you." Junmyeon couldn't help but utter quietly.

"I'm not guilty you two have big noses!" The youngest defended himself.

"Last time I checked, it was you who got praised on the size."

"That's not the matter," Sehun dismissed and stood up in the need of attention, "Who wants to bet on Chanyeol and Baekhyun ending up together by the end of this year?"

"Wait, guys, do you even realize you're assuming my feelings right in front of my eyes?" Chanyeol had to make it stop. It was nonsense and making it spread further wouldn't bring anything good. Especially that day. Maybe, he'd let it slip easily if it was another day or another person, but he doesn't want Baekhyun to think that way. Not when they were walking the path of solving problems.

"So what?" Sehun narrowed his eyes.

"Sehun, stop this," Jongdae tried.

"Yah, you're no fun." He crossed his arms and pouted like a child in the need for something sweet, but he got ignored by everyone except Jongdae who shoot him death glare.

"On top of everything, Chanyeol never liked a guy, stop this," Jongin joined the conversation that seemed to be endless and the most importantly - pointless. "It might make him feel uncomfortable."

"But we're friends and-"

"Friends should know their limits," Jongin interrupted, "You might be open and so comfortable with your sexuality, but Chanyeol never voiced out what was his."

Sehun only nodded and apologetically looked down on the carpet, looking at his feet touching one another.

"I'm leaving," Baekhyun informed before anyone else could utter something. He stood up and shifted his jeans giving Jongin a smile who couldn't bring himself to show equally beautiful one at the moment. And there was only one reason for it. He missed Baekhyun that close to him and was too late to wake up from the daydream of still having him there.

"Others are leaving too," Chanyeol added and it was quite visible on his face how upset he was. What they didn't know is that it wasn't Sehun who made him feel that way. It was none it the room directly, but there were words linked with his past he didn't want to be reminded of.

"Right, guys, you're going to leave?" He sounded almost pathetic and desperate. "When I said I don't celebrate my birthday, it means there is no gatherings in my room, presents, and talks I'm not willing to listen. I didn't want to be rude and tell you all to come back to your rooms, but I wish I did." His voice was louder than usual and at the verge of breaking as his eyes were almost shining with tears.

"I'm sorry--"

"Please, leave."

"You'll keep the gifts, right?" Yixing hopefully asked while eyeing a sheep plushie on the bed he got him, but Chanyeol stayed unresponsive.

"Let's just leave, okay?" Junmyeon whispered to his ear and it was all that took them to fix themselves and leave the room. Jongdae shot his best friend a sad glance before finally closing the door shut behind himself. Even though Chanyeol didn't catch it, he knew what his best friend's eyes looked like. Warm but a little bit pitiful. And he hated pity.

•••

Thin layers of colors were spilled on the canvas, mixing in a beautiful palette of the dying sun kissing the horizon. Still too transparent to be recognized completely and adored the way it was supposed to be. It was on the smaller canvas than the painter actually used, but even if it was bigger than the regular size, he wouldn't be able to capture all the beauty in front of his eyes resembling dark chocolate. But that afternoon, they were more honey-like, offered to sunrays trying to hide behind tall buildings and faraway hills.

His movements were swift and bold because sun definitely wasn't going to stay in the same position for a long time for him to laze around.
He threw colors almost carelessly, but still with a dose of precision, just enough to make the painting scream his name once it's looked at. Artists are specific, each different from another even though their purpose is the same - delivering emotions in the form our senses are able to recognize and feel.

Painters are no exception, beautiful souls creating pleasing works for eyes that are willing to look deeper and hearts that are opened up.

Baekhyun's artworks resembled stars, each different but having his own light enveloping them whole and brightening up his dull life that is the naked sky in a dark shade of blue. His stars are colorful and bright, but still not enough to light up his sky to the point he is able to fight the darkness fearlessly.

"It's a lot of light caught there," the comment came into his ear and it wasn't even strange that he didn't hear footsteps approaching him along with the melody of dead leaves crushing under thick soles of shoes.
When he was pulled to reality, he saw Chanyeol standing by the small canvas put on the wooden rack that probably had more color on it than the actual painting he was working on.

He was in a long brownish coat as his neck was loosely hugged with a wide scarf in the brighter shade.
Unlike Baekhyun, who only had an oversized sweater on and a coat left laying on the grass. While painting, he hated a lot of clothing on because they made him feel suffocated and uneasy. Although he wasn't a fan of the cold weather, he endured it for the sake of his own passion.

"Oh," Baekhyun acknowledged his presence, "Do you like it?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "I'd like to touch it, but I'll wait until it dries."

"If you don't mind your fingers getting colored, you can touch it now. I go with thin layers first and once I get the desired thickness, the cavity you might make would be invisible." Baekhyun tried moving bangs away from his eyes without getting color on his skin, but he failed and left a little bit of orange on his forehead in the process.

"There," Chanyeol helped him out by lifting his bangs and pushing them backward. His thick fingers gently came through brownish locks, feeling their softness caressing the flesh. Chanyeol could swear, if he could touch the cloud, the touch would be no different from touching Baekhyun's hair.

It wasn't that obedient or easy to be tamed, sticking at sides and making Baekhyun look sloppy, but it also made him look less careful and more child-like, wild and free. Chanyeol adored that look more than the painting he was bringing to his own perfection little by little, or the actual scenery that fed his inspiration and fueled those pretty hands to make the painting breathe in the life.

He positioned himself a little bit behind Baekhyun, giving him back the space he occupied.

"And no, Byun, I'm fine by watching. Keep working, it's amusing." He smiled with his eyes focused on smaller's movements and almost random choices of colors that ended up mixing beautifully together anyways. Baekhyun could paint in a way Chanyeol finds stunning with his eyes closed, lead only by heart and its rhythmic beats.

Nothing was more beautiful than a masterpiece created by an artist pulling out the material out of the heart.

"You're being distracting, you know that?" Baekhyun's smile couldn't be hidden at that point and he didn't work on keeping it a secret at all. Those smiles are beautiful, unplanned, casual and shown without a big reason behind. Baekhyun just felt like smiling.

"Why?"

"With your gaze shifted on my child and your breath touching my neck, I don't feel entirely comfortable."

"Oh," he whispered, "I just thought it was the best to look at the painting in your eye-level." He straightened his back and left other's personal space for good.

Baekhyun fought the urge to touch neck and rub gently against it, erasing goosebumps gathering at the spot Chanyeol's fresh breath caressed. Reminding himself that, besides the fact he'd show himself like an embarrassed idiot, he'd leave traces of colors decorating his skin, so he kept his hand at the place.

"T-that's interesting," he stuttered out, "It's nice dedicating yourself to try to look from the angles other people do. I wonder what's it like to watch from a little bit higher position, like yours." He chuckled as his eyes slipped down his own tiny figure comparing it to Chanyeol's, towering over his.

"I'd like to show you then," Chanyeol admitted taking a step closer to Baekhyun again, "I'd like to show you where the sunset is the most beautiful and where you can watch it from a different level." There was it again, that hypnotizing voice and the tone that silently demanded obedience in a way no other did.

"What about my painting? It's still unfinished." As much as Baekhyun wanted to go with Chanyeol leaving everything else behind, he didn't want to give in just like that. He didn't want to admit himself that, at the moment the sun is slowly going down while brightening the small space in between them, he wanted to watch it in the place Chanyeol's eyes found the most breathtaking. With him. More than anything else.

"It's 5:12 PM at the moment, I'll be with you tomorrow here, at the same time," Chanyeol informed while taking rushed steps along the stoned path towards the entrance of the park bordered with bushes of withered roses. Baekhyun silently and curiously followed with his gaze, tilting his head towards his shoulder.

Once the taller got back in even quicker pace, he added with a smile on his face:
"It's sixty-one stone blocks of the path from the entrance, and four of my regular steps across the grass away. Tomorrow, Baekhyun, at 5:12 PM and here at this place, you're supposed to stand to catch this scenery." Chanyeol spoke out while smiling gently, his eyes meeting Baekhyun's small ones that widened gradually.

Chanyeol was really one of a kind, silly and persistent, importunate at times but it was part of his charm. He was a whole box of words Baekhyun could think of at the moment, but there was one word that kept on popping out every now and then - surprise. Chanyeol was full of them, unpredictable but still well-aware of the things he is doing like it was a taught script from a movie. He played his role well and further the movie goes, Baekhyun feels he is like the part of the audience pulled on the set and left to cluelessly let out words. Further it goes, he feels Chanyeol isn't just the one to deliver the main role - he is the director, ruling over, making up the situations and preparing the ending suitable for his own liking. Clueless Baekhyun learns with him, but learns to follow his lead, and he somehow isn't complaining at all. Chanyeol's acting in this very case isn't different from the real him, but Baekhyun still finds it hard to trust completely. Even so, he still follows.

"I can't promise you the same positions of clouds or something like that, but if you go with me I promise you a stunning view. I promise you I'll wait with you at the same spot and at the same time every day until you catch the scenery the way you want to." He assured as his hands found themselves in younger's hair again, fixing it carefully, bringing stray locks back to their proper place.
Baekhyun's eyes blinked repeatedly as if trying to comprehend what has been told him. To comprehend that that kind of dedication is offered him, with just so little of what is asked back.

"I don't need promises, Chanyeol."

"But I give them once I'm one-hundred percent sure I'm able to fulfill them. I hate them broken more than them being never made."

"Seems like you've felt bitterness of the broken one at the tip of your tongue. That's why I don't want to take any seriously." Baekhyun admitted.

"Okay."

"But I still want to go with you."

Chanyeol couldn't cover the smile spreading widely across his face, making him look a little bit idiotic rather than handsome. As the prevention for the taller to catch a glimpse of the same smile Baekhyun cracked, he turned his head aside and decided to admire the ending rays coloring the sky instead.

"I'll text Kyungsoo to bring this mess back to my room. We don't have that much time left until the sun completely disappears."

•••

It was an ordinary place. A place of Seoul plenty of people were coming through daily. Traffic noise was prominent and loud but not distracting. Beauty was hidden in places people were too busy passing rather than staying and discovering what's obvious rather than secretive.

People missed making ordinary places special with not-so-ordinary people. People missed creating instead of receiving what's already done.

"Han River," Baekhyun smiled, looking over the thick concrete bridge with its height almost reaching his shoulders. He smiled genuinely while his eyes followed sparkles on the surface of the river that resembled scattered diamonds.

"Yes," Chanyeol confirmed looking at Baekhyun's bright expression with stronger wish than to look at the place he claimed to be breathtakingly beautiful. "People don't tend to admire sunsets from here. People are busy and always in hurry and I don't want it to be my feature as well."

Baekhyun didn't catch time to reply, Chanyeol took him in his arms and whispered tender "Trust me," before lifting him on the bridge wide enough to accommodate his feet standing on it fearfully.

"Chanyeol!" He whined, "I... I'm scared of heights, please!" His legs were trembling as he was hugging on taller's shoulders for dear life. He didn't even straighten himself but was too afraid to even bounce down.

"Shh," Chanyeol reassured near his ear, "You're afraid of falling, but I won't let you fall. Trust me."

"I-I don't t-trust people."

"Just this one time, Baekhyun."

"One time could be equally bad, Chanyeol."

"Please."

Without Baekhyun's notice, Chanyeol's hand was already clutching his strongly and making him straighten himself slowly with his eyes never leaving older's that screamed the same words he uttered.

Strong and coarse hand protectively held onto a delicate one messed with the paint.

Baekhyun smiled once he realized what kind of sight welcomed him. He managed to turn around and marvel at the view. Perfect shades of orange and red slowly blending into pink and purple were reflecting on the ripples of the untamed river. The sky seemed even more endless that way, so spacious and welcoming. The fear of falling in that kind of undescribed beauty didn't seem that frightening anymore. Chanyeol's grip on his hand was making him feel even more secure and safe, while the chilly breeze cutting the air and making its way towards his blushing cheeks was only making the picture of an ordinary place with not-so-ordinary-person even more special.

"It's beautiful," he admitted breathlessly, as he felt Chanyeol's arms hugging his legs with their hands still linked together. It was unfamiliar but not uncomfortable the slightest.
Chanyeol rested his head on the outer side of smaller's thigh and enjoyed the scent his entire presence delivered. A strong and mature scent of roses which was added to the grace and elegance Baekhyun naturally possessed. The pleasant scent of colors left unwashed from his skin, carving it like a tattoo; and a tiny sweet scent of cotton candy sensed from every new flaw spraying its small amount around. The scent that represented Baekhyun's innocence and purity he could never wash away from his flesh.

With a pretty hand stroking his curly fluffy hair, Chanyeol hummed an unknown melody and waited for the other to grow tired from the position and demand the change. He waited and hoped to wait for hours. His hope didn't keep his wish fulfilled for a long time, though.

"Help me turn around and sit down." Chanyeol did without any objections.

Baekhyun was sitting on the bridge, with a satisfied smile on his face and his knees spread enough to let Chanyeol stand in between them. He was still taller than the actual one who owned that description originally, but he loved the change.

Chanyeol tried to abandon the awkward position, but Baekhyun didn't let him. He locked his ankles against his lower back and pulled him closer. As soon as he laid his eyes on Chanyeol's features with vibrant light and deep shadows, he realized the view he admired a while ago lacked the color.

"Thank you, Chanyeol." He meant it. With every bit of his being and every glance he spared - Baekhyun meant it.

"I'm just curious about one thing and I want to make it clear as soon as possible," he added as his hands slowly went from caressing his shoulders to caressing his face. Their gazes joined one more intense eye-lock that was pretty amiss to break, despite everything else that seemed so inviting to be looked at.

"What they talked about today - that you like me, is that true, Chanyeol?" He had to know, for the sake of the future ahead of them that seemed to contain more of them, he had to know.

Older chuckled, "What do you think?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm asking."

"I like your straightforwardness and my reply will be equally straightforward - I don't like you, Byun Baekhyun." Baekhyun was more than satisfied with the reply he got and with the eyes that held a greater amount of honesty than ever. Chanyeol's eyes were unexpectedly honest. Still, not entirely clear and easy to be read, but clear enough for Baekhyun.

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear because..." he paused as his voice was falling lower same as his eyes that ended up staring at too tempting plump pair of lips. Slightly opened and a little bit moist, looking sweet like they were sugar-coated. Too inviting to be resisted and too pretty to be only looked at. The asleep memory of what they tasted like was awakening and sending swarms of restless butterflies to pit of his stomach. That's when Baekhyun has lost it.

With his eyes searching for other's in the need of approval, his lips meet Chanyeol's in the most tender way ever.
Noises of the traffic are muffled and the entire world destitute its existence. Sunset beauty was questionable for a moment and the sugar of the luscious fruit couldn't match the sweetness of their lips pressing gently against each other.

Baekhyun's hands found themselves again in the curly locks, coming through them and pulling the strands just enough to remind himself not to go too far. Their lips danced in sync, not so perfect but still dreamy like it was containing feelings instead of curiosity of checking if there were any.

When they broke apart and touched damp skins with hot breaths of theirs, Baekhyun leaned his forehead against Chanyeol's and smiled in satisfaction.

"Because, Chanyeol, I want no strings attached nor to hurt you in any way." With that, he closed his eyes tiredly and pulled Chanyeol's head close to his chests. A breeze was getting colder with the appearance of the stars taking sun's place and with words and memories digging in two hearts beating in the same rhythms but still with the strength that didn't match.

It was that much of having an ordinary day at the 27th of November for Chanyeol. On the other hand, even embraced strongly, Baekhyun still fears of falling.

•••

[020818]

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Okay, blame me all you want for the length of the chapter, but I really had no choice. There are several places I could end it, but I didn't want to because I consider this very chapter special. I wanted to make it beautiful, but the real beauty was only in the second part of the chapter.

It's a humble gift for my friend _little_freak! Happy birthday! 💙💙 It was yesterday and I'm really sorry I'm late. Thank you for showering this story with love although you don't like shipping at all. Thank you for everything, I really appreciate it. I'm always looking forward to your opinions and now, I hope you got a clearer picture of the characters.

Another reason for making this chapter lengthy is because yesterday's been a year since I published the prologue.

Thank you, everyone, for dealing with agonizingly slow and lengthy updates.

There is still no proper definition for the relationship main characters have, but please, patiently wait for their gradual development.

This is unedited version and still lacks plenty of proper descriptions, I'm so sorry.

Your Last Wish🌹⛅