+ twenty seven

Narda begged Chanyeol not to tell anyone--not his family, not even the other EXO members. She didn't want the news getting out because she knew it would not only be bad for his career, but people would probably attack her like they'd been doing with another kpop idol. She had read in the media that BTS member Taehyung was reportedly dating Kyra Damm, a childhood friend of his. Some BTS fans did not take it well and started harassing the non-idol who also seemed to have emotional instability issues. Narda wasn't sure if she'd be able to handle it well either, getting so much hate from people. 

She had already experienced it to some degree, when it was found out that she was Baekhyun's sasaeng fan. The death threats and letters had died down exponentially in the last few months. But she still got scared that one of the fans might one day actually hurt her.

But the truth had a way of getting around, and neither Chanyeol or Narda could prevent it. It was a mere two weeks before their departure to Mexico for Minnie's wedding when one article in the kpop entertainment media appeared and quickly gained momentum. It was an article about an EXO fan who would not disclose her name, but who claimed to have juicy information about EXO's rapper Chanyeol.

The person claimed to have connections at the Court of Seoul, and that this person had found through a new marriage licence submission that Park Chanyeol had gotten married. A picture was included, a photo copy of the marriage certificate, but most of it was blacked out. The only things visible was the name Park Chanyeol, as well as the date of birth to confirm that he was indeed the same Chanyeol who was part of EXO. The article blew up and was all over the media. When Narda's two closest friend heard about it, both of them were hurt to have found out through the media on not through her. Baekhyun had been hurt by the news as well, but he said nothing to either of them. He knew that he had no right to be mad at them.

Maybe Chanyeol was right and it was too late for him and Narda.

The day the news got out, Narda called out of work and locked herself in her bed room. Her laptop buzzed with an incoming video call. The name on her screen read Oriana Quintana. Narda hesitated for a moment before clicking answer.

On her screen appeared her friend with red velvet colored hair. She was slightly annoyed and immediately began to scold her friend. "Why the hell haven't you been answering my texts or my calls? And what the hell is this about you marrying Park Chanyeol behind everyone's back? Alda's going berserk, okay? He asked for the week off from practices and swears he's catching the first flight to Korea--"

Narda's eyes widened in horror. "You told my brother?"

Oriana nodded her head unapologetically. "Excuse me. But you got married without saying anything to any of us. I was hurt, so naturally I had to tell my boyfriend about it. Is it my fault that he happens to be your brother? I don't think so. But that's really fucked up of you, Narda. If you would have said something we'd have gone to the wedding."

There was a sigh of frustration emitted from Narda's lips. She ran a hand through her long strands of hair as she spoke. "It was an accident, okay? Chan and I didn't even mean to get married. We were at a carnival and there was a marriage booth. We didn't know it was for real. So now we're stuck like this for an entire year."

When Oriana heard the truth, she seemed to relax significantly. "Oh..."

"Yeah." Narda gave a nod of her head. "I'm so frustrated, I don't know what to do--"

She paused halfway through her sentence when the door to her room opened, revealing Nari standing out in the hallway. Her best friend in Korea and her best friend from back home, both grilling her about the news that had broken out in the entertainment media. Narda didn't have to think too hard to know that Chanyeol was probably having the same trouble, with the other members of EXO probably having found out about the wedding. That and his family would have probably found out by then too.

"Ori," Narda said into the computer's camera, continuing quickly, since she wanted to end the video chat there. She knew Nari wanted to have a serious talk with her--probably for the same reasons as Oriana. She was hurt that she didn't say anything to her about the wedding, and she was hurt that she hadn't been invited. "Convince Alda not to come here because I know my brother. He's just gonna come here to intimidate Chanyeol. In two weeks I'm going to a friend's wedding in Guadalajara. Alda might be going since he has friends on the national team who play in Chivas. We can meet up there and I'll talk to him and he can meet Chanyeol."

Her friend quickly thought up something that made her grin happily. "And we can go on a double date together."

Narda internally cringed, thinking of how awkward that might be.

But she nodded her head in agreement. Anything to keep her friend at peace for the moment. "Yeah, of course."

Now she needed to talk to Nari.

-

Though SM Entertainment tried to deny the rumors, they had no such luck. The anonymous person who had submitted the tip to the gossip magazines had photo evidence of the document in which it was stated that Chanyeol was now married. The news then quickly turned to his new wife, Narda Gutierrez, who people had found out was the same girl that Byun Baekhyun had gotten a restraining order against, just months earlier.

Things quickly turned negative for the American student, teaching abroad in Korea. Fans of EXO speculated and came to the conclusion that she had probably tricked him into marrying her. They didn't think Chanyeol would willingly marry someone like her.

At the same time, fans did some research and found out where Narda lived, where she worked, and where she studied in the United States. They started bombarding those places with angry emails and letters. They sent death threats addressed to her at her apartment building, warning her to stay away from Park Chanyeol. They sent angry letters to her work place, asking the principal to fire her. Some of them were mothers and sisters who didn't want trash like her teaching at their school. They sent signed petitions, asking for the removal of Narda Gutierrez. They did the same with her university. They sent angry emails, telling the school that their student was doing a terrible job representing them abroad.

Narda always took the subway to work in the mornings, and Chanyeol was concerned for her safety, so he'd wake up extra early to drop her off at work himself. He'd pick her up from work as well, or sent a car to get her whenever he was unable too. Each time, Baekhyun watched them from the entrance of the building, making sure that she was making it back home safe.

In her bedroom, Narda cried often, seeing the threats and the way no one wanted to see her and Chanyeol together, other than their friends and family. The fans didn't want to understand that they were together and they liked each other.

Just a few days before travelling to Mexico for Minnie's wedding, Narda had been called into the principal's office as soon as she entered the school. As she passed the front doors, she could feel the glares of people watching her from outside the gates. She thought it ridiculous that people could hate her so much, just because she was dating Chanyeol. Fans got crazy in her countries--Mexico and the United States--but not nearly quite this much. This was a whole other level of crazy. Some of them were even chanting, almost like the fan chants they had for EXO, but instead they were about how they wanted Narda to die a horrible death.

She walked into the principal's office, and could already figure what the conversation would be about. "Please sit Miss Lozano." The principal gestured to a chair across from her desk. Everyone at the school called her Miss Lozano, since her second surname was easier to pronounce than her first. "This will not take long. I just wanted to talk to you about something that has come to my attention."

Narda sat there patiently, waiting for her to continue.

When she did, the principal said, on her face was a clear look of pity. Like she didn't want to do what she was about to do, but her hands were tied and she had to do it. "I don't have a problem with you personally. You have done an exceptional job, the children just adore you, and your peers have nothing but wonders to say about you. However, in light of the scandal which broke out where you were linked to a kpop idol, we got some complaints from some of the parents, and as you know, parent donations are among our top sources of income at this school."

"So I'm getting fired?" Narda concluded with a knowing nod of her head, her expression otherwise blank.

The principal quickly tried to reassure her with a shake of her head. "We are not firing you. We are merely putting you on a one month probation until the situation dies down a little. In that time, I'm afraid we cannot offer you a paycheck and your rent will cease to be paid during that month. Then we'll discuss your status with the school board and get back to you--"

But Narda had enough and rose from her chair, giving a firm shake of her head. "With all due respect, I think this is bullshit. My personal life and my career are two different things. Besides, I don't think its wrong to have a boyfriend just because he's in a popular idol group. He likes me and I like him. That's all that matters. Don't worry. There is no need to get back to me. You literally have had no issues with me about my job, yet you choose to cater to these people because of funding? I'm sorry, but I am no longer interested in working at this school. Thank you for the opportunity, it was truly a pleasure."

The principal was left in awe as Narda turned on her heel and left the office, heading straight for the exit.

She was still inside the school when she called her boyfriend.

"Chan..." She said into the phone shakily, her previous rush of adrenaline and bravery past her.

"What's wrong, baby?" He asked her with concern.

"I just got fired from my job." She said absently.

"You what?" Chanyeol said from the other line, immediately outraged. "Shit, I'm really sorry. This is all my fault. Wait for me inside the building. I'm going over there right now and I'm going to fight them so hard. They're gonna hear me out for firing you. What the hell are they thinking? You're like their best teacher."

Narda couldn't help but crack a smile at his words. He cared so much about her that he was willing to fight them to get her job back.

"Well, its more like I quit." She clarified.

Now he was confused. "Let's do this: Wait for me inside the school and I'll go pick you up. Then you can tell me all about this. Don't come out until I text you. Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise." She nodded her head in agreement.

They hung up the phone and she waited patiently for her boyfriend to arrive. He personally went to pick her up, in sweat pants and sweaty from his dance practices. But he had gotten out of it just to go to her. 

In that moment, Narda couldn't be more grateful for her boyfriend Chanyeol.

-

we are officially almost 75% done with this story. so that's very exciting. so as we reach the end, baekhyun is going to start making his glorious come back into our little narda's life. sorry for all you chuti shippers who started shipping guti with chanyeol.

but this is a baekhyun fic and chanyeol will eventually get his own story. so stay tuned for that.

thank you all so much for reading. it genuinely means a lot to me.

just  a random detail too: i always pictured narda's friend oriana as dulce maria, you know, back in her rbd era where she had red velvet colored hair. she was my woman crush back then, still is tbh. okay but look at that pic and tell me this bitch aint pretty. she's gorgeous. <3

-clary