Happy New Year! Oh la la la...

~~~~~

"Hmm?" Baekhyun yawned before peering up at one of his students.

"Jisoo?" Baekhyun mumbled before slowly sitting up. "Good morning!" He continued beaming up at his student and stretched finally 'sparing' his students from his naked shoulder.

He turned and noticed his two other students before deflating a bit, but nonetheless gave a small smile. "Morning to you two too."

Chanyeol and Kasper schooled their angry expressions from before and slipped in a reply.

Today was another busy day as the students had a team bonding exercise and several challenges. The first was rock climbing, followed by kayaking, and finally a short treasure hunt at near the shores.

Kasper was scoffing while Chanyeol was fuming as Baekhyun was assigned in the boat with Jisoo and two other girls.

After several exhausting and energy consuming activities, Baekhyun hid in the comfort of the cabin to take a quick shower. His students were having lunch at this time as he stepped out of the shower and into the cabin with a large hoodie and sweats.

He was going to join his students but the warm cabin dragged him to stay. It was nearing dusk and Baekhyun remembered the treasure hunt that should be taking place.

He was about to step into the woods when his student, Sejeong pulled him quickly towards a cabin.

"Mr. Byun! You're in trouble!" The girl whispered loudly before shoving him inside the cabin.

"I'm in trouble?" Baekhyun asked as he squatted down along his student.

"Yes! You're the final step in winning the treasure hunt!" She explained while moving her hands wildly.

"I am?" Baekhyun questioned as he was pretty sure he didn't sign up for anything.

"Mmhmm." Sejeong nodded as she looked around.

"But why am I in trouble?" Baekhyun mumbled as he found a corner to lay down in.

"Because whoever finds you, completes the treasure hunt and you must grant them a wish!" Sejeong elaborated.

"I can grant them a wish I guess." Baekhyun replied after awhile.

"But Mr. Byun! I heard some say they want to dress you up like a girl or make you eat ten peppers or slap your butt in front of everyone!" Sejeong exclaimed.

"But I never signed up for this!" Baekhyun said exasperated.

"None of the other supervisors signed up for anything, the students came up with the game." Sejeong mumbled.

"And why are you here? Do I grant you something?" Baekhyun asked looking scared at her.

"Oh no! You don't have to worry about me Mr. Byun, I'm not part of the game, I just wanted to warn you." She said ready to leave.

"Aww I wish all my students were as wonderful as you." Baekhyun claimed as he gave the other a pat on the back.

"Actually I have this missing essay that was due last week but I never turned it in. Is it still possible to turn it in?" Sejeong asked rubbing the helm of her shirt.

"Ah fine." Baekhyun shook his head as his student ran away and wished him luck.

He was planning to hide in the trail leading towards the forest but that's literally a suicide mission, so he decided to lock himself in his room.

Which was a horrible decision.

Because once he turned around, a large meow erupted. And followed by another. It was dark but the undeniable cluster of kittens were evident in the cabin.

Baekhyun froze. He couldn't move and his breathing was unsteady. Unconsciously, he gnawed on his lips so hard it almost pierced through skin.

He gulped once before reaching for the door he just locked. Only to have it be stuck. Baekhyun yanked at it but it didn't budge.

~~~~~

"Awesome!" A boy high fives the other as they beam at each other.

"Hyungnim will be so proud of us!" The other nodded as they moved away from the isolated cabin.

Before long, they saw their hyungnim curiously searching around trees. Their smiles grew as they bowed before Chanyeol, a knowing glint beaming in their eyes.

"Hyungnim!" They greeted as Chanyeol spared them a short glance.

"We completed our task-"

"It was so hard to ship so many cats-"

"Well I had to lock the door!"

"Shut up! If you two are here to make an idiot of yourselves, get out of my sight." Chanyeol growled as he searched for his tiny teacher. He wanted a wish granted.

"Sorry Hyungnim but we wanted to tell you we finished our job!" The chattier of them announced.

"What job?" At this point Chanyeol was getting impatient.

"We locked up that stupid teacher! And we found his fear-cats! So we gathered him in his cabin with cats a-"

They were met with two smacks on the back of their heads as Chanyeol sprinted the opposite way.

"OWW! I wonder what's wrong? He told us to prank him and we did."

"I guess that's Hyungnim's way of showing his love for us."

"You think so? Then I wish he hates us then."

~~~~~

"Mr. Byun are you in there?"

Immediately, Jisoo was shoved to the ground as he heard a "Stay back!" And Chanyeol kicking the rickety wooden cabin door off its hinges.

There Baekhyun was huddled on top of two suitcases-one which Jisoo noticed was his.

A swarm of kittens prowled around the floor and some were climbing on the handmade suitcase tower.

Once Baekhyun's eyes locked with Chanyeol's, he automatically shot up and clambered on the taller. Chanyeol wrapped his arms around the smaller and ran outside then around the cabin before they disappeared.

Jisoo looked bewildered at the events that progressed and stood up, then dusted himself off.

~~~~~

"Ok you are safe." Chanyeol whispered as he proceeded to place Baekhyun down but the other shook his head and only gripped tighter.

They were at a faraway trail where little students frequented and the sound of wind whipped against their cheeks flushing them pink.

"Thank you." Baekhyun mumbled as he took several moments to calm himself down.

"I'm used to it." Chanyeol teased as Baekhyun gave a stiff nod.

"You're ok. I'm here." Chanyeol soothed as he patted the other's back.

And Baekhyun burst into tears.

The taller was alarmed but continued calming his teacher down.

It wasn't just the cats. It was his father. He's tittering on the brink of death and his mother is breaking down. Baekhee called him moments ago and now he feels so exhausted. It was nice having someone calming him down.

Someone patting his back like his dad does when he would cry after scraping his knees. His father was such a significant part of his life that he doesn't want him to leave yet. It's still too soon.

"Dad." Baekhyun mumbled between muffled gasps as he tightened his grasp on Chanyeol's shirt.

Chanyeol tensed for a short while before continuing his soothing pats. The taller placed a soft kiss on the top of Baekhyun's fluffy head and soon he slowly clambered off.

"So-sorry I was just-"

"It's ok." Chanyeol answered before brushing the stray tears away from the other's face. He doesn't notice how gentle he was being. How his fingers held the other's face softly as the pads of his thumbs stroked the shimmery droplets away. He doesn't notice the care he was extruding for another since forever. He doesn't notice himself falling deeper and deeper for the entity that is Byun Baekhyun.

~~~~~

What's your favorite kind of Baekhyun? Haha 😊😊😊

A.     Oblivious Baekhyun
B.     Sassy Baekhyun
C.      Soft Baekhyun
D.     Innocent Baekhyun
E.      Others