~~~ EXO - Tender love ~~~

"You didn't have to come and pick me up, this will only drag the attention of everyone to us..." she was complaining, as Baekhyun was standing behind her, pushing the wheelchair, she was sitting in, mumbling for herself, how pointless this is. But Baekhyun didn't want to hear anything and sat her down, making sure, she is comfortable and taking her now back home.

"Those everyone you are talking about, already know you are in this hospital, waiting for you to be discharged. They will want to see, how caring boyfriend I am, plus I told you I'm not leaving you alone ever again, so deal with it," he told her calmly and smoothly wheeled her inside the elevator. She tilted her head backwards, to catch a glance of him. He looked so good, even upside down.

"So how should I act? Like a vulnerable damsel in distress or look all tough, nothing can beat me like way?" she asked him with hint of sarcasm in her voice. He glanced down at her with twitching lips. He looked like he is thinking about something and then he simply bent down and placed a simple warm kiss on her forehead, brushing his nose over hers. She gasped for the air, positioning her head back to the original place, trying to gain her posture back. She dag fingers into the arm resters of the wheelchair, listening to his pleased laughter.

"Just be natural," he added up.

They had a hard time, getting into the van waiting for them outside of the hospital building. Baekhyun allowed her to get of her seat, just before the van and helped her inside, while the people with cameras and many questions, were trying to get some kind of statement from them.

They were on the way to her dorms, she was completely okay, only with the aspirin, in case her head starts to hurt again. Everything came back to its place, including her boyfriend.

Who likes her back...

She still couldn't get used the fact, but hearing it from his own mouth, was more than clear, she didn't make that up, plus he made sure to tell her few more times, after he hugged her tightly yesterday. They didn't talk about it really, she was too shocked and he was happy to have her in his arms, without her protesting.

And still, she found it hard to believe, her sudden situation is real. Did she only needed to get hurt, to make him realize, he returns her feelings? Was she blessed when she clumsily tripped over the damned brick?

But then, she remembered the words, she pretended not to hear in a first place. She didn't allow herself to think about it. Not yet. She wanted to feel good and blissful for at least day, until they slip back to their usual schedules and she will have plenty of time to think about what he said.

"We are here, Dee," she heard Baekhyun talking to her, making her snap out of her thoughts, which were getting heavier. She glanced out of the car window, seeing that they are definitely not there yet.

"Why are we by the boys dormitories?" she turned her gaze at his face, as he was sitting right next to her.

"Because I thought, it would be good idea, to have some time alone. I kicked everyone out," he gave her slight smirk, while she was falling into the shock. What the hell did he just say? He opened the door of the car and jumped out, stretching his arm to help her out like a gentleman. She kept gaping at him for too long, because he stepped in again, to take her hand himself and pull her out, because it looked like she is not able to operate on her own now.

She didn't say a single word all the way inside the building and in the lift, not even when he dragged her inside of their apartment, standing there all awkwardly, while he was taking off his shoes and putting on his slippers.

"Are you going to just stand here, like a statue?" he asked her, visibly enjoying her embarrassment. Gosh, girl pull yourself together!

But he already bent down and untied her laces, she really wanted to protest, but he was too quick and she already wasn't wearing her shoes, with slippers placed in from of her feet.

"Baekhyun, what am I doing here. I should be in my dorm and rest and I'm pretty sure, being in your presence is not going to bring me peace not even in slightest," she told him, narrowing her eyes at him, but he took off his coat and now he was stepping closer to her to help her out of hers. Is he actually listening to anything she says? He took the zipper and slid it down, before she could even start breathing again and tell him off.

"Stop complaining and let Oppa take care of you," he was making fun of her just out of sport. She saw the amused spark in his eyes, when he said this sentence and she couldn't control herself and let out groan.

"Please don't start with this. It's so cringy that even my toes rolled," she frowned at him and put slippers on at last, whilst slipping out of her coat.

"All girls like that, secretly," he winked at her and then went through the hallway to the kitchen. She didn't have any other option than to follow him. She remembered the first time she was here, it felt so long time ago, since she found out how much he knows about her, thanks to the letters. She almost forgot how mad she was at him, that time. Everything passed and the only thing she felt for him, was the opposite of everything she did at the beginning of their acquaintance, except the attraction which was there ever since, she laid her eyes on him.

She walked to the kitchen table, watching him taking out some stuff from cupboards.

"So, what are you up to?" she startled him, when she appeared right behind him, when he was leaning in, to take out saucepan, which he dropped on the floor with loud boom. She wanted to laugh seeing his expression.

"Go and sit down, I will make you something to eat," he ordered her. She stayed where she is, looking over the ingredients, holding back the urge to laugh.

"I can help," she suggested, thinking if his cooking skills are on the good enough level, to even know when the water is boiling.

"No, you said it yourself, you need to rest, sit down and I will do the cooking," he insisted with determinate look.

"Baekhyun, let me help at least with something," she didn't want him to set the kitchen on fire. He pursed his lips, but nodding, looking somehow relieved.

"You can cut the onions," he gave her job.

"Wait," she went to the side, where the cooking aprons were hanged, going back to him, to give him one, but seeing his devilish smile, when he didn't take it from her, confused her.

"Do it for me," he demanded. She didn't even bother to roll her eyes and did as she was told. She slipped one of the straps around his neck, tiptoeing to being able to do so. She tried to be focused on given task, instead of being aware of their proximity. But the moment he slid his arms around her waist, it was harder to follow her resolutions. She froze in his arms, not doing anything else than being held against his chest.

"I need to tie it in back," she informed him breathlessly.

"Then do it," he said in husky voice, not letting her go though.

"Baekhyun," she moaned, avoiding his eyes, not daring to lift her head up, just in case, he wanted to do more than only hold her in his arms. She is alone with him in the apartment, this is too much for her to handle at the moment.

"Oppa, call me Oppa," she had to rise her head up now, to see another from his collection of pleased expressions.

"Not gonna happen," she snarled, trying to get away from him, but he only chuckled, not letting go of her.

"And then you wonder, why I enjoy teasing you so much. You don't give me any other choice, you are too cute, when you get mad," he told her this so many times and her heart flutters the same way, as always. She couldn't stop her mouth from forming into the smile.

"You are crazy," she let out, watching his features softening.

"Since I know you," he agreed, making her blush like an idiot. She took her courage and hugged him, placing her cheek on his chest, while taking the loose straps in the back and made a perfect bow. She felt his body stiffen, being surprised by her sudden action and she enjoyed those occasional moments when she caught him off guard.

After that, he put her apron on the exact same way, and they started cooking a meal. The idea of them two doing this together was weird, but by the end she felt so comfortable. Even when she heard him mutter the curse words, after spilling content of the bowl all over the place, or when they had a laughing fit, after she slipped on it and ended up on her butt, whereupon while wanting to help her up, he followed her down.

It took them some time, but they sat down by the table at last, with meal, which didn't look too appealing, but was somehow delicious.

"We could just go out and have a something to eat in restaurant, like we did before," she stated, while crunching uncooked noodles. Bakehyun's way to make an instant soup was very original, she doubt the water was boiling what so ever, but she ate her portion anyway, not wanting to hurt his ego.

"I didn't want be out this time," he muttered, probably realising, that it would be better decision at the time, but it was too late.

"Why?" she wondered.

"Because, I wanted be alone with you and prove to you, that I meant what I said yesterday," he said without a second of hesitation and she almost choked on her food. Why is she always so surprised, while he is bold with her. He was always being this way, always going straight to the point.

"You..." she didn't know what to say, this made her even more nervous, than it was the moment, she confessed her feelings to him. The fact, he is staying at home with her, out of everyone's eyes, just to show her that he is serious, made her realize, he is indeed remarkable person.

"I know, you found it hard to believe me, but since you got me all kind of crazy and made me tell you. I felt like I need to show you, what started as a fake relationship, grew into something sincere. Actually, I liked you even before you agreed to do this with me," he said, while staring deep into her soul. She found it hard to breath, as her heart thought this is the time to start jumping in her chest, not leaving any space for normal function of lungs. He liked her even before...

"You are unbelievable," she breathed out.

"You told me that once, I guess it must be true," he smirked at her, breaking the weird feel, with his egoistic jokes.

This was the time to remember another part of his confession from yesterday, she can't feel completely happy and at ease, if there was still something that bothered her, which was probably why he let it slip. He didn't want her to fall for him completely.

The thing is, she already went past that point.

He can't let this go farther, because he doesn't want to hurt her when the times comes.

What does that mean?

"Baekhyun, what you said yesterday..." she had no idea how to start this conversation, when he reached over the table and took her hand in his. He did that yesterday so many times, that she got so used to the sensation, especially when he liked to play with her fingers, which he did unconsciously.

"I know I've done too much of a bad things to you, forcing you to do stuff, making you face your father, changing your life completely, but I don't regret anything, as long as I have you around. I will say I'm sorry for making you go through all this, so can you trust me, when I tell you, I like you?" his eyes was already telling her everything, there was no need for his explanation, but it looked like he wanted to tell her all he had on his mind. "I didn't mean to tell you how I feel, until the very end, I never was planning to tell you actually, but the shock you gave me, by being hospitalized, broke me and now there is no turning away. I'm being selfish here, telling you I like you and I don't want you out of my sight ever again, I'm selfish even more than before, when I decided to use you to mess with your dad," he sighed. His jaw clenched, when he remembered the circumstances, that led them together.

"I trust you," she let out, without second thought, wanting to console him a little. He was always there, on her side, no matter what his motives were, he always managed to help her through, in his own unique way. She always forgave him, for whatever he did, probably because the way he barged into her life, was soothing to her.

She studied his face, after her statement. He seemed to be shocked, maybe even more than it was the time, she told him about her feelings towards him. He squeezed his eyelids, letting out shaky breath.

"You shouldn't," he mumbled, letting go of her hand.

"Why? What do you mean? Isn't it enough that you like me? I don't care about anything else," she didn't know what is it that bothers him, until he look her in the eye again and she finally realised.

"It's about my dad..." she whispered, feeling her chest hurting. Is her dad destroying her life again? "You can't stand to be with me, because of the thought I'm his daughter..." she said it out loud for him.

"What?" she heard him exclaimed, but didn't really pay attention to it, until he appeared next to her, shifting her around, to face him. "Dawn, that's not it! Listen to me, there is no way him being your dad is going to stop me from loving you," he took her face in his hands, to make her look at him, she had to fight the tears. First from the relief, then from what he actually said.

"Then what is it?" she murmured, looking into his beautiful sincere eyes closely, because he sat on the chair next to her, keep caressing her cheeks.

"I don't want to hurt you, but I want to destroy him, I came so far..." he said in low voice. He definitely was having a hard time, trying to figure out what to do. She still had no idea what her dad did to him, to drive him all the way here, but it must have been important to him, how could she judge him, if he in a process of destroying her dad, would hurt her.

"Is it going to hurt me, if you go all the way to the end?" she asked quietly. He stared at her for a long moment, not saying anything. He nodded slowly. "Can't you tell me what he did to you?" as soon as she asked, his face froze.

"You don't have to," she smiled at him, to calm him down.

"I was thinking to stop, but after what happened to you, I can't just overlook that..." his head lowered between his shoulder, letting go of her face. She wished she could help him somehow.

She already knew that what happened to her, was he father's doing. She didn't even feel anything, when he came to her before Bakehyun arrived, apologizing, while she was pretending, she is asleep. That's how she found out, that's why she didn't questioned Baekhyun about the scene he caused.

She wasn't even surprised anymore. Not hurt anymore, only thing she felt was emptiness.

Which was filled by Baekhyun's confession. He saved her again.

"You were one of the reasons I came to the decision to teach him a lesson," he sighed.

"I know, because of the letters," she nodded her head, feeling the nostalgic wave taking over her.

"Not really, there was something more," he suddenly smiled at her.

"What do you mean?"

"You think we met for first time in London?" his smile was so mesmerizing, that she couldn't help and do the same.

"Of course,"

"Our first encounter was way before, though. Couple of years ago, in old SM building," he revealed while she looked at him all puzzled. She was sure she didn't tell him about her coming to Korea once before, to see her father... She didn't mentioned it even in the letters.

"No we didn't meet, I'd remember that," she stated, but his bright expression didn't leave any space for doubt. He sure met he.

"Try and remember. Late night, boy's changing room and deep conversation with a stranger," he tried to remind her. She didn't recalled any of it...

"Oh..." then she remembered. Her crying session in boy's changing rooms, after her dad sent her to hell again. "That was you..." she breathed out, connecting the boy's voice with Baekhyun's. Now that he told her, there was no doubt it was indeed him.

"You see? I know you for such a long time and you don't even remember me," he was acting all pitiful.

"How could I possibly remember you, I didn't even see your face!" she felt the embarrassment settling in her stomach. God, the nameless boys, she shared her troubles with, was Baekhyun. How much more vexatious can this get?

"However I did see yours, I might have fallen for you back then already," she felt her face being burned by flames, thanks to his statement.

"This is ridiculous," she whispered, hiding her flushed face in her hands. She heard him chuckle, she felt his fingers stroking her hair, making the shiver going down her spine. She looked up, just to see him gazing at her, with all kind of emotions displayed in his eyes.

He was looking at her for a long time, not diverting his eyes once.

"I will give up on the revenge," he said all of a sudden, probably surprising himself too. She was about to tell him to leave her behind a go for what he worked so hard, before he told her about their forgotten conversation few years ago. And he said this...

"Baek..." she couldn't explain what she feels. He just told her, he will not go through with his plan, instead, he will be with her?

She jumped on her feet, acting before thinking; she rushed the short distance towards him. He managed to open his arms right on time, for her to sit on his lap and slam her lips against his.

~~~

- Eyy lovelies!

This might be my favourite chapter so far!  Long and meaningful 💜💜💜 love is in the air😍

Idk, there is nothing too exciting or shocking... But still I loved writing this one so much, even though it took me longer amount of time than usual ... Probably because I was very focused and wanted to get everything right ... Or probably because most of it was written on the knee on my way back to England in the bus🙈😀

It wasn't easy😂🙈

Can't wait for next chapter. There might be something shocking coming your way... Let's see if someone did sense it beforehand 😉

Anyways isn't Baekhyun the sweetest honeybunch ever... If he was ever to confess to me in the way he did here... I'd probably die on the spot😱💘

Gosh I'm being nostalgic cuz we are nearing the end😭😭😭

Until next time

Love ya!