B A E K H Y U N

"Where have you been? I was looking for you."

Jennie, another Archangel, grabbed my arm just as I entered the cafeteria. It's lunch time and I haven't eaten anything today but a stick of cotton candy, but nope. Still not hungry. I feel exhausted after that conversation I had with Chanyeol and I would have just ran to my dorm and sulk if only I have a choice. Talking to him again is like relieving all those memories and I admit, it hurts real bad. With a sigh, I turned to Jennie and let her drag me to wherever, watching her long brown hair sway behind her.

"Why? What's wrong?" I asked.

We sat around an unoccupied cafeteria table and I watch Jennie's face crumple into annoyance. "Your demon friend, Kai, already has a human target," she says between gritted teeth. "I could feel it. And I hate the fact that he got the upper hand right now."

"Um," I tried to say something with sense. "Then... Take that upper hand away, Jen."

She scoffs and looked at me incredulously. "I can't believe you're not panicking right now, Baekhyun!" she exclaims. "That's all you're gonna say to me?"

"O-Okay," I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut before turning to her again. "I'm sorry..." I said quietly. "I'm just tired and... I-I just talked to Chanyeol about what he did at the forest. It didn't go well..."

Jennie regarded me for a moment, chewing her bottom lip as she thinks of what to say. She has always been a really tense deity, so I understand all this anxious aura she's emitting. "He's such a jerk, huh?" she commented, and it made me flinch. "He's lucky you've always been patient with him. And he's even luckier you are the one in charge of him, or else..."

If Jenny is a tense deity, Chanyeol is a violent demon. Trying to stop him would mean engaging to a bloody fight. That's why no Archangel is willing to handle him but me, because somehow, my lack of appreciation for duels helps the situation— Well, at least that's what others think. What I think is that, it's because it's me. And because it's him. That's all.

I tried to change the subject. I don't really like talking about Chanyeol right now. "You were saying something about Kai?"

"Yes," Jennie looks entirely annoyed again. "It's a guy named Kyungsoo. I don't know yet what kind of relationship they have, but I have the feeling Kai already picked him. He already picked his soul." She tapped on the table with her nails which are painted white, waiting for me to say something. But I remained silent. It's not because Kai is my friend and I do not care about what he does but because I seriously have nothing to say. Jennie knows her capabilities. She knows what she needs to do. There's no telling her that.

Suddenly, there's this huge wave of calmness dawning on us and I felt all the agitation I felt this morning vanish like it was never there. I'm pretty sure Jennie feels the same because she immediately stopped tapping on the table to rest her cheek on her hand, sighing deeply in contentment. "You know what," she breathes, throwing me a quick glance. "I hate when Jisoo does this. But at the same time, I love it."

I chuckled. "That makes two of us."

Alters. That's what we call the angels like Jisoo. They control or change the atmosphere, including the moods and emotions of beings in that particular area. When we are in our true forms, we are not really affected by it. But right now, as we are in our human forms, we are as equally susceptible as any other mortal beings.

Right on cue, Jisoo gently placed her lunch tray on the table, grinning from ear-to-ear. "Cool, huh?" she giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she sat down. "I've always wanted to do that to you guys, but I never got the chance until now. It feels fantastic!"

"Thanks," I said to her. "Jennie needed that."

"Oh?" Jisoo cocked her head to one side, giving Jennie a curious glance. "What happened? Did a Fallen piss you off again?"

"You could say that," Jennie sighed before getting on her feet with a small smile. "I'll go get some lunch." After watching the other Archangel walk away, Jisoo returned her gaze to me then she started waving her hand over my face like a weird voodoo specialist. She makes these catching motions with her fingers before inspecting what she seemed to capture from the air around me. It is seriously freaky, but that's her thing so I won't complain.

"What's this?" she laughs a little at her hands. "You met with that Fallen again?"

I opened my mouth to say something stern but thought better of it. It's hard keeping things from Jisoo— especially feelings. "Oh, not you, too," I grumbled. "I don't want to talk about it. Seriously."

"I don't think that's it," she shook her head. "I can feel everything you're feeling, Baekhyun. The disappointment, hurt, annoyance..." she paused and reached out her hand to pick up something from the air just beside my cheek. "The affection..."

I waved her hand away. "Stop it."

Jisoo giggled before starting on her food. The Archangel doesn't eat much but she seems to be enjoying every bit of the bibimbap on her plate. Suddenly, the calming air is gone, and I feel Jisoo withdrawing her power. I looked at her direction, expecting her to say something. "Is being in love with a demon a real burden?" she asked quietly after a moment. She isn't looking at me, but I know she's being thoughtful and just really curious. "We are deities. We're immortal, powerful... I thought we can't be enslaved by such feelings."

"I... I don't think I'm enslaved by it," I murmured, looking down. "I choose to not let it go, Jisoo. Staying in love with him— It's a decision. So... no. It's not a burden."

With a sigh, I finally raised my gaze and let Jisoo meet my eyes. She stared at me for a long moment, contemplating on what I just said. I gave out a small, sad smile and she did the same. It suddenly feels nice letting all that thought out. At least I feel a little bit less awful now. If that's even possible.

Two tall figures suddenly stopped by our table and Jisoo and I looked up in unison. I always knew that there are more than three Archangels the Heavens sent for this mission. But I didn't expect Lay and Minho to be the ones joining us at Celestial University. Unlike the others, they do not play with the mind or the atmosphere or emotions. They're Warriors and they fight with brute force. A wave of worry shoots through my veins and the first name that popped into my mind is a name I shouldn't be thinking of this frequently.

My emotions must have been too obvious— I really hate that about my human form— because Minho suddenly rested a hand on my shoulder before sitting on the chair beside me. "Relax, Baekhyun," he grinned. "We're not picking a fight with him... If they're friendly."

"That's correct," Lay agreed with a mischievous smile, and I have to give him a warning look.

Just as Jennie returned to our table, the atmosphere in the cafeteria seemed to thicken and the five of us shared a knowing look. I pursed my lips tight and tried to swallow the sudden heavy lump in my throat. Beside me, Minho clenched his fist and let out a shaky breath. "They're here," he said between gritted teeth.

And he's right. I looked over my shoulder as five Fallens walked into the cafeteria, talking with each other like they do not care about the suffocating feeling our presence brings them, too. They all look so human-like, except for the perfect features and supernatural aura that comes with their existence. I know almost everyone of them: Taemin, Sehun, Chanyeol. But the girl with striking blonde hair and the guy wearing the university's varsity shirt are unknown to me— They are definitely fallen angels. But they're new and I have absolutely zero idea about what they could do.

The female Fallen accidentally met my eyes and they sparked red in annoyance before she smirked in disgust.

Nope, I thought with a sigh, looking away. They aren't friendly.

K A I

"Just so you know," I started as we climbed further up the staircase. "You're the only human— I mean, student— I know that loathes human connection." If I have my wings right now, I would have just flown to the top of this old, rusty building rather than ascending eight flights of stairs just because my human target, Do Kyungsoo, doesn't like meeting people.

Kyungsoo gave me a look just as he opened a squeaky door that leads to an abandoned rooftop. "I do not loathe human connection," he pants, breathless from the 'exercise'. "I just hate it when they give me those... looks."

"What look?" I slumped on the dirty floor, tired and not really caring about the stashed broken armchairs and tables gathering around me. The place seemed to be a large building of nothing but trash and damaged things. Then I looked at Kyungsoo and took in his somber eyes gazing over the busy university grounds. I thought, Well, maybe this place keeps broken souls, too.

"Like they know everything about me," my roommate answered my question. He placed our lunch on a clean table which appears to be something he uses whenever he's here. "Like every rumor Suho spread about me is true and it's all there is to know. I'm tired of that." Kyungsoo sat on a chair then started to eat slowly, his face thoughtful. He doesn't really look at me when he speaks.

I shrugged. "You said he's not a bad person."

"He's not," he said, nodding gravely. "But he's such a coward."

With that, I have to purse my lips to keep myself from laughing. Abandonment— That's Suho Kim's worst fear. When I jumped to his mind and swam through his memories and dreams this morning, I learned about his parents getting separated and none of them wanting to take responsibility for their only son. He grew up with his widowed aunt who is too old to care. And then he met Kyungsoo and fell in love, but he messed that up.

But I won't tell my human roommate that, so I just said, "Obviously."

Kyungsoo smiled a little. "Junior high was easier, though," he mumbles. "We went out for a year during that time and it was fun. Until senior high came and he became acquainted with these guys who have nothing else better to do than play ball and make fun of other people."

Woah. Exactly my thoughts.

"I don't know why, but even though they're obviously bad influence, Suho can't get rid of them," he continued. "Even when I begged him, he didn't listen. It's like... He's afraid he's going to be left with no one but me alone. So, I broke up with him. Because it appears I do not mean anything to him as much as those guys. And now, college, he suddenly keeps going after me like this... Hurting me. Threatening me," he shook his head, frustrated. "What does he want now? When all he did before was treat me like garbage."

Kyungsoo finally looks at me, his eyes squinted from the afternoon rays of the sun. He has this smooth, pearly white skin so when the light touches it, it appears like he is glowing.

And to be perfectly honest, it's kind of pretty— Not that my observation has any meaning or whatever.

"Sounds like a complete nutjob to me," I said before getting on my feet to walk over a seat across from Kyungsoo. I'm not really hungry but the smell of bibimbap from the lunch box is suddenly stirring my appetite. So, I ate, and my roommate watches me with a frown.

"He's still my friend," he says sadly. "We grew up together. He's... important."

"Nutjob," I repeated with a dramatic nod.

Kyungsoo suddenly looks thoughtful. "Do you think he's hopeless?"

Do you know what your greatest fear is? I wanted to ask him. It's hurting others.

Do Kyungsoo is the only human being I know who has that fear. It's amusing really. And it makes my job here at Celestial University a million times more interesting. Suho Kim is afraid of being abandoned. My roommate doesn't want others hurting because of him.

The more I pull Kyungsoo away, the more Suho becomes miserable. And the more pain Suho's in, the more troubled Kyungsoo's soul is. It's like hitting two sad birds with one stone. Isn't this fun?

"What I think is that," I started as I looked Kyungsoo in the eyes. "Toxic people shouldn't have rooms in our lives. They just make living a lot more depressing than it already is."

My roommate gave a small, sad smile as he stared at his food again. "You're probably right," he mutters.

I chewed my food then swallowed, still watching Do Kyungsoo like a hawk. I hope I could read minds like the handsome vampire from Twilight. My job would have been far easier with that ability. "Why are you telling me all these, by the way?" I ask, because apparently, I can't get answers just by marveling at his face.

Kyungsoo laughs a little and it's a sad one. "Do I look like I have anyone?" he asked back. "And you asked for my story since you're helping me. So, there you go, Kim Jongin."

"Oh, yeah," I nodded, remembering our conversation.

"How about you?" Kyungsoo suddenly ask as he placed his empty lunchbox on the table. "What's your story?"

"Do I need your help?" I challenged.

My roommate rolled his eyes. "Fair enough."

But then I smirked a little and let out a breath. "Let's just say I grew up in a really good home, but then I did something wrong so my father threw me to a bad place. The bad place sent me here because apparently, I have to do something for the person who took me in," then I laughed a little as I saw the confusion on my roommate's face.

"Do something?" he frowns. "Like... study?"

"Maybe," I shrugged. Maybe study and take souls could mean the same thing.

"Well then, good luck," Kyungsoo said. "And study well."

I wanted to laugh. But I didn't.

The night came quickly like a falling leaf hitting the ground. Classes starts tomorrow and I still have zero idea as to what program I am taking or what courses I'm under. I'm tired from everything that happened today and last thing I wanted was a visit from any of my immortal 'friends'.

Do Kyungsoo slept soundlessly, his earphones still stuck in his ear. I fell asleep a minute after him, but then I was awoken in the middle of the night by the sudden increase in room temperature. I shifted on my bed, still with my eyes closed, and wiped the sweat on my forehead. My roommate doesn't seem bothered by the change in atmosphere.

"Fuck," I groaned as I sat up. It's scorching hot in here.

Our dorm room is dark and the only sources of light are Kyungsoo's lava lamp on the table between us and the moon's brightness seeping through our glass window. The curtains aren't drawn and the glow is enough for me to make sense of the figure standing at the foot of my bed.

It's a child— A girl wearing a white dress with a bow tied around the waist.

She's staring at me with her glowing red eyes. And when our gazes meet, her small lips twisted to a smirk.

I can't help but let out a sigh. Well, I guess the Devil came for a visit.