PAIN

Chanyeol's p.o.v.

For the rest of the day Chanyeol was sure to keep Baekhyun close to him. Chanyeol couldn't let Baekhyun slip into that black hole that lived within him. Chanyeol did everything he could to make Baekhyun smile and laugh, and each time he accomplished just that his heart felt like it was overflowing. And the first time he actually heard Baekhyun laugh he thought it was the most beautiful sound he'd ever heard in his life, and he started to crave it. Chanyeol vowed to always make Baekhyun laugh, it would be his life goal so Baekhyun would always feel happy and never have to feel that awful pain ever again.

Chanyeol was being his usually happy-virus-self and managing to make Baekhyun laugh when suddenly the whole class erupted into a chorus of groans. Chanyeol was confused. Why was everyone groaning? So he turned to Sehun and muttered, "Why is everyone groaning?"

Sehun rolled his eyes. "Maybe if you would pay attention you'd actually hear what the teacher was saying," Sehun snapped.

Chanyeol grinned. "What? Are you jealous?"

Sehun scoffed. "Not even in your dreams, Park Chanyeol," Sehun said as he glanced in front of him at a boy with pink hair, Luhan, Chanyeol remembered, and saw him watching them before turning around with a blush. (A/N: Image this is how Luhan looked at Sehun. That's also the way he looks in the story.)

Chanyeol glanced at Sehun and saw he was blushing too. Hmm, Hunhan, that has a nice ring to it, Chanyeol thought. He'd have to ask Sehun about it later.

"So, why is everyone groaning?" Chanyeol repeated.

"Because we're starting swim class," Sehun said.

"We're what!?" Baekhyun half-shouted in panic.

Chanyeol blinked in shock at Baekhyun's reaction and lightly touched his hand. "Yah. Are you okay?" Chanyeol murmured.

Baekhyun bit his lip and addressed Sehun when he asked, "When do we start swim class?"

"Tomorrow."

Baekhyun's p.o.v.

Baekhyun felt like the earth had opened up beneath him and he was falling into the abyss — falling so far. That word managed to ruin his day, and he couldn't get that back.

Chanyeol's p.o.v.

Chanyeol watched Baekhyun more closely after his outburst. His concern just growing by the minute. He was afraid of what Baekhyun would do if he left him alone for too long, but then again he didn't want to be one of those people who constantly hovered over the other, like one of those helicopter people. But he feared for him . . .

. . . .

When the final bell rung signaling the end of another school day, Chanyeol quickly packed together his bag and slung it over his shoulder. He walked through the halls with only one thought — one purpose — that of seeing Byun Baekhyun. He wasn't normally a cheesy person, and he didn't like cliches, but he honestly felt like he breathed better when he was with the midget. There was just something about him that infatuated Chanyeol. Maybe it was his eyes that harbored so much deep emotion, more than Chanyeol could fathom. Maybe it was his smile — although rare — that made Chanyeol miss a breath. Maybe it was his laugh — even rarer — that sounded like a symphony to Chanyeol's ears. Maybe it was his messy hair and the way it fell across his perfect forehead. Maybe it was the milky cream color of his skin that felt so soft against his own skin. Maybe it was his personality, and the way his words would throw Chanyeol's life into turmoil whenever he was furious, but yet kept Chanyeol coming back. Or maybe it was all of that — maybe it was just Baekhyun himself that left Chanyeol begging for more.

When Chanyeol reached Baekhyun's classroom he waited for the stream of other students to pour out before peeking into the room for Baekhyun, but when he didn't see him, panic and worry seized him like a vise. Luckily Junmyeon was still in the classroom and about to walk out. Chanyeol lightly touched his arm and said, "Yah. Junmyeon, did Baekhyun leave already?"

Junmyeon looked confused for a moment, then clarity light up his face and said, "Oh, you mean the small guy with black hair who looks like he's going to—"

Chanyeol quickly cut him off, rolling his eyes as he said, "Yes, Junmyeon, Baekhyun. Where did he go?"

"He left."

"And you waited until now to tell me that!?" Chanyeol shouted in anger before spinning around on his heel and running towards the main doors. He burst through them, his eyes already scanning the school grounds for his little petite figure. Then Chanyeol saw him, clear across the other side of the parking lot. Groaning in annoyance Chanyeol thought, Baekhyun, why didn't you wait for me? Why do you keep pushing me away? Then with a frustrated half-groan, Chanyeol started to run.

Baekhyun's p.o.v.

Baekhyun felt bad for ditching Chanyeol, but he knew if he had to tell him face to face that he was staying at his own house, and Chanyeol tried to persuade him against it, he'd cave and do what Chanyeol asked of him. It was quit annoying really, how could Park Chanyeol have such control over him — he only meet him yesterday and he can't help himself.

Park fucking Chanyeol, Baekhyun thought. Why can't I get you out of my head? What makes you so special I'm questioning myself? Why do I want to protect you? Why do I constantly find myself thinking about you, even when you're sitting right next to me? Why does my heart skip a beat when my I see your beautiful dimpled smile aimed at me? Why do I find myself getting lost in your eyes when I'm trying to be firm and pulling away from you so not to hurt you? Why does it hurt when I know I've hurt you? Why do I hear your voice in my head, even now.

Park Chanyeol, what are you doing to me . . .?

3rd p.o.v.

Chanyeol was so close he could practically smell Baekhyun's citrus scent, like strawberries and mangos. He was so close that when he reached out his hand, he felt Baekhyun's creamy skin against his.

Suddenly, Baekhyun felt something graze his arm, but when he felt the tingles shoot up his arm and he tried to suppress what they did to him, he knew who it was. There was only one person who could make he feel something so intense and as addicting.

Chanyeol.

Baekhyun had stopped walking when he felt Chanyeol's hand against his arm, but he didn't turn to see who it was. Then Chanyeol wondered if somehow he already knew.

"Baekhyun?" Chanyeol asked softly. "Why did you leave?"

Baekhyun still hadn't turn around. He couldn't look into those big brown eyes that he loved so much; he couldn't cave beneath their scrutiny. He couldn't be weak.

"Baekhyun?" Chanyeol asked again in that beautifully deep voice of his, that vibrated deeply into Baekhyun's bones and made him shiver at the pure pleasure of the sound.

Don't cave, Byun Baekhyun, he scolded himself. But how could he not when it was someone as perfect as Chanyeol?

Don't cave. Stay strong. Resist the lure.

Don't. Cave.

But then sighing heavy Baekhyun decided to say, "Fuck it," and turned around, throwing his arms around Chanyeol's neck and locking his lips firmly against Chanyeol's in a gentle, yet passionate kiss.

Chanyeol was shocked at first, because for one, Byun fucking Baekhyun was kissing him! There wasn't really a second, just the overwhelming feel of Baekhyun. As Chanyeol's initial shock started to wear off, he found his hand moving up into Baekhyun's hair to hold onto him more firmly, and his other hand lightly grasped Baekhyun's waist as he fought the urge to pull him closer. But when Chanyeol felt Baekhyun's tongue lightly touch his bottom lip, he threw gentle out the door. The kiss turned more desperate, for Baekhyun because he knew the way his life went whenever he experienced one happy moment, and for Chanyeol just because the experience was so intense and he never wanted it to end. It had to though, if either of them wanted to breathe, but secretly they both thought this would be a good way to die.

After awhile Chanyeol finally muttered, "You kissed me."

"And you kissed me," Baekhyun retorted. "Was it good for you?"

Chanyeol internally rolled his eyes and thought, Always so blunt.

"It was more than good," Chanyeol muttered, not even caring that he admitted it.

"It was good for me too," Baekhyun whispered. "Better, actually."

There was another moment of silence, before Chanyeol muttered, "So, what does this mean?"

"What do you want it to mean?" Baekhyun asked, and instantly regretted it.

Why did he have to sound so harsh? Chanyeol thought.

"Did it mean anything to you?" Chanyeol asked. "Or did you do it just to mess with my head?"

Baekhyun instantly hated himself. He had managed to hurt him again — the one person who actually cared and he hurt him!

"I—" Baekhyun trailed off. What was he going to say? He couldn't tell Chanyeol, "Yes, it meant something" because he just couldn't bear to see him get hurt, because eventually, he would. Chanyeol may have called him brave, but in reality he was a coward when it actually mattered, and he just couldn't, he couldn't tell Chanyeol want he wanted to hear. "No," Baekhyun said, his voice like steel, his face unreadable, "it meant nothing to me. You mean nothing to me." Then clenching his jaw so tightly it hurt, Baekhyun turned away, leaving Chanyeol staring after him, feeling like his world was slowly crumbling.

Chanyeol knew he's only known Baekhyun for two day, but hearing those words pass through his lips had him feeling like it had been years with the amount of pain it caused him. A suffocating amount of pain.

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Author's Notes

Hi, everyone! The second update.

I just wanted to say when writing the ending, where Baekhyun tells Chanyeol that he doesn't mean anything to him, I had cried a little bit because it's just so sad 😭 and frustrating. 😩😤

Oh, and the next chapter is one of my favorites, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! 😊

Anyway, until next time.... 🌸🌸