+ thirty four

Chanyeol remembered meeting with Taeyeon days prior to his birthday party, upon her request. She said that she had something very important to show him, and then a proposition to make. 

They met up in the lounge of the floor in the dorms where SNSD lived. She had locked the door to prevent the other members from coming it and interrupting them. It was easier to meet there, since she said that the girls mostly spent their time either in their dorms, or in the personal gym that was in the lobby of the building. Their lounge was for the most part a solitary place. With EXO it was different, they spent most of their free time together in the lounge playing video games, watching movies, or just talking.

As soon as he arrived, he saw that Taeyeon had an envelope in her hands. She tossed it at Chanyeol when he sat on the couch. He opened it and grabbed a stack of photographs out.

"I wanted you to see these so that you can open your eyes and see the kind of snake your precious Guti  is." She hissed with much venom in her words. She hated Narda, that much was clear. But Chanyeol didn't have to even think that hard to assume that whatever Taeyeon wanted to tell him, it involved Narda.

Chanyeol also wanted to correct her, to tell her that she had no right to call her Guti. Guti was the name she wanted family and friends to call her by. Taeyeon was more like a sworn enemy. But he left it at nothing, knowing that the only reason Taeyeon also referred to her as Guti was because her real name Narda was much too hard for them to pronounce. Just like Florencia's name was too.

Chanyeol looked through the pictures one by one. The same two people were in each of them--Narda and Baekhyun. There were pictures of them together at the park, holding hands at night. Her wearing one of Baekhyun's coats, while he was dressed in black from head to toe. The only thing visible on his face were his eyes, but just by that, Chanyeol was certain it was him. There were pictures of them together at the movies, and pictures of them making out in Baekhyun's car in some empty parking lot. They could barely be seen through the tinted windows. Chanyeol felt his heart drop at the sight of them. There was hurt, and then betrayal. Hurt that even after everything, Narda still preferred Baekhyun over him. And betrayal because Baekhyun had promised him he would stay away.

Chanyeol cleared his throat to steady his voice. He held the stack of pictures out for her to take. "I don't know why you're showing me this. Guti's not my girlfriend, she's just my friend. This looks more like a problem between you and Baek." 

Baek. His bestfriend. He didn't think he would ever do something like that to him.

"Well this is where you come in." Taeyeon said as she shot him a fake smile. Taking the pictures from his hands, she explained, "I was going to give these to the press, so that Guti would be the most hated person in Korea and I could be seen as the victim, but seeing as though this could affect Baekhyun too, I decided to wait. If you can get her to date you, and stay away from my boyfriend, I will dispose of this evidence." She waved the pictures around in her hand.

The EXO rapper gave a shake of his head. "If I haven't been able to do that in the year she's been here, what makes you think I can do that now?" And what makes you think I'd help you? He almost wanted to add.

Taeyeon shrugged her shoulders, uncaring. "If you don't do this, you'll regret it. I can help you get Guti for yourself. but I have someone else to make this offer to, if you're not interested. This offer expires at the end of the year." She said. All she wanted to hear was that he would do it, and that Narda would no longer be a problem for her. Even if Baekhyun didn't love Taeyeon, he was her boyfriend, and she didn't want to go through the humiliation of him leaving her for someone else, especially not someone she saw as inferior to her.

"I won't team up with you." He refused with a shake of his head, and got back on his feet. "You don't like Guti, and I know you wouldn't hesitate to do something bad to her."

Without saying another word, he left the room.

-

The conversation was still fresh in his mind when he and the other boys returned to the dorms that afternoon after practices. The managers had allowed them to finish early for the day, so that they could shower, and get ready, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon with their friends. The only things Chanyeol needed to have his happiness complete were his parents' presence, and Narda's love. 

When the boys were ready, they headed for the lounge room together, where they could already hear music playing. Like for Narda's party, they had invited the other SM artists, and about half of them showed up. The others left presents and cards for Chanyeol, and apologized for not being able to go since they had other commitments for that night. 

The moment he entered the room, Chanyeol's eyes searched for Guti.

His jaw dropped at the way she looked. Navy blue dress that clung to her curves, her naturally sun kissed skin, long brown hair that cascaded past her shoulders, light make up on her face. Not far behind him, Baekhyun also seemed to stop and stare at her.

She smiled and hurried over to him, pulling him in for a hug. She almost had to jump a little, since he was so much taller than her. He wrapped his arms around her and easily pulled her a good few inches off the ground. Narda giggled with delight. She had always liked that about Chanyeol. The fact that he was so tall and could easily lift her off the ground. She wondered if Baekhyun could do that. He was only five inches taller than her. "Happy birthday, Channie!" She shouted happily at him.

"Thanks Guti." He replied, his smile so big it seemed to not fit on his face.

He placed her back on her feet and he excused himself for a few minutes. He wanted to greet everyone else in the room. The closest of the members, which was Jongdae, walked over to her. "You girls organized this party better than any party we've thrown." He complimented her, and it was true.

Their attempts at celebrating birthday parties usually included only a cake and presents. The girls, on the other hand, had music, food, drinks, in addition to the cake and presents. 

Narda smiled at him warmly. "I'm sure its the thought that counts, Jongdia."

"Jongdia?" He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Its what my friend and I call you." She began to explain. "You know, because dae sounds a little bit like the English word day. And the Spanish word for day is dia. Jongdia."

He chuckled loudly, clapping his hands together happily. "Jongdia, I like that." Suddenly, Baekhyun walked up behind them and cleared his throat. Narda and Jongdae both turned towards him. Gesturing over to where Florencia stood with Sehun--his hand was securely around her waist and they looked like they could be on the cover of any fashion magazine together, which they had been on one already--Jongdae excused himself. "I have to go. Kkoch wanted me to help her pitch this really good idea she has to the SM managers."

"Why would she ask for your help?" Baekhyun wondered.

Narda nodded in agreement. "Can't Sehun help her?" She wasn't opposed to the idea of Jongdae helping her. She just found it odd that of all people, she would ask Jongdae, instead of asking her own boyfriend.

Jongdae shrugged, and stuck his tongue out playfully at them as he explained. "She doesn't have to run everything she does by Sehun. She's his girlfriend, not his slave."

He walked off, leaving Baekhyun and Narda alone. Taeyeon was nowhere to be seen for the time being. She had informed Florencia--who she tried hard to make her best friend--that she would be arriving later in the night, after finishing up with her schedules. But she promised she wouldn't miss the party, which was something more for herself than for anyone else. She wanted to prevent Narda and Baekhyun from even glancing at each other.

As soon as he left, Narda became indifferent once again. Her ultimatum she gave was everything but forgotten. 

"You look beautiful, Guti." Baekhyun whispered to her.

"Thanks." She replied, not even looking at him. She knew that one look and she would be putty in his hands, so she refrained from even looking his way.

He groaned under his breath. "Are you still mad?"

"Are you still with Taeyeon?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

He said nothing.

"Exactly." She huffed, and then walked away.

-

Baekhyun spent the next two hours trying to get Narda's attention while she ignored him. But everything changed when Taeyeon arrived. She clung to Baekhyun's side like a leech and wouldn't even let him go within three feet of Guti. She had a plan for that night, as did Baekhyun, and Chanyeol too. All of their plans involved Narda Gutierrez Lozano.

At some point during the party, Nari announced that they would have Chanyeol open the presents. Everyone gathered around Chanyeol and his presents immediately. 

But Chanyeol stopped everyone, saying, "I have an announcement to make--or more like a question, or a proposal for someone." When he said that, he looked right at Guti, who swallowed hard, nervously.

He beckoned for her to come closer, but when she remained frozen in place, he took a step over to her and grabbed her hand. He pulled her into the center, surrounded by everyone else. Before Narda could even react, he took both her hands in his and got down on one knee as though he were about to make a marriage proposal. "Guti, I really like you. Will you be my girlfriend?" The room went completely silent as Narda's eyes widened in surprise. Florencia's words immediately echoed in her thoughts. Its the guy's birthday. You'd crush him. 

From nearby, Taeyeon said with a scoff, arms crossed over her chest. "Say yes already. Its not like you'll ever get someone better."

Baekhyun quickly stepped in, grabbing Chanyeol by the arm and pulling him back on his feet. He accused angrily. "This is unfair to Guti. You're just doing this in front of everyone so she'll feel bad saying no."

Chanyeol yanked his arm out of Baekhyun's grasp. "Fuck off, Baek."

When it seemed like a fight would break out between them, Narda grabbed Chanyeol's hand and pushed past everyone, dragging him out of the room. Baekhyun was going to follow them, but Taeyeon held him back. They went to the back stairwell, at the end of the hall where weeks prior she had gone with Baekhyun. Now the windows had curtains on them, to prevent the press from being able to see anything and take pictures.

Narda sighed. But then the words came pouring out of her like a fountain. "Channie, I don't know how to say this without hurting your feelings, but...I'm not in love with you. I'm sorry. People would think I'm crazy and stupid. Some dumb girl, rejecting Chanyeol of EXO like she has a hundred different boys to choose from. I'll be just like that girl who rejected Liam Payne twenty two times. But I don't want to lead you on and make you think that I feel something I don't feel. Is that so wrong of me? To want to spare your feelings in the long run?"

"Because of Baek." He said bitterly.

She quickly shook her head. 

"If Baek didn't exist, you would love me." He said, as though he were absolutely sure.

Narda shook her head once more. "Byun has nothing to do with this."

"He does, Guti. Trust me." Chanyeol assured her. "I know about you two."

Narda felt her heart drop and her eyes widened, giving her away. She had been caught. "What do you mean? What do you know?" She asked, hoping it was something else entirely.

-

about six more chapters before this story ends and its gonna continue getting suspenseful. so stay tuned everyone. and after this story ends, the blurb for the other one will be posted.

thank you all so much for voting, reading, and commenting on this story.

it means the entire world to me.

-clary