He had just finished packing away his homework assignments when his roommate flew into the room. The door closed with a loud slam behind him as he collapsed with his back against the door to catch his breath.

He glanced up from his things to peer over his shoulder, quickly assessing his roommate before he asked, "Is campus security chasing you, again?"

His roommate breathlessly laughed and walked towards his bed. He collapsed onto his comfortable mattress with a sigh. "Aren't they always...."

"What did you do this time?"

"We learned how to make foam in chemistry today, and I figured out how to make it explode. I turned the court yard into a bubble bath . . ." his roommate chuckled.

He couldn't help his snort as he tried suppressing his laughter. "You shouldn't be so reckless, Taemin. One of these days you're really going to get into trouble."

"Life's to short to be careful, Chanyeol. Haven't you ever just wanted to live?"

Chanyeol didn't say anything in response. Taemin was right. All his life he's abided by the rules. He wished he could be free for a day . . .

He wished to be more like the Chanyeol from his dreams . . .

"Life's to short to have regret in the heart . . ." he whispered.

Taemin sat up with a frown as he asked, "Where did you hear that?"

Chanyeol blushed and hide his face as he hurriedly said, "Nowhere." His tone immediately shutting down the subject.

Taemin instantly knew he was hiding something, but decided it'd be smarter of him not to pry. Instead he sat up from his bed and said, "Alright, then! What do you say to going out tonight? One drink won't kill you, will it?"

Chanyeol slowly shook his head and muttered, "No, but I have to stu—-"

"Screw studying!" Taemin yelled. "I'm taking you out tonight and you can't tell me, 'No'."

Chanyeol gulped. Tonight was either going to be a huge success, or a major disaster. Chanyeol just hoped his didn't completely embarrass himself.

* * *

"A club?" Chanyeol asked. "I thought we were going to a bar . . ."

Taemin shook his head and slung his arm around Chanyeol's neck as he said, "No, my friend. We are here to get you to relax and just maybe you'll be going home with someone tonight . . ." Taemin sultrily suggested with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Chanyeol snorted and rolled his eyes. "I'm not that kinda person, Taemin!" Chanyeol had to yell over the pounding base.

"I know. You're not fun and you're addicted to studying! We're here to break you from your shell if only for a night!" Taemin yelled back. "And I think it's about time you stop letting your dreams control you!" Chanyeol eyes widened as he glanced at him incredulously. Taemin sighed. "Yes, I know about your dreams, Chanyeol. You talk in your sleep, sue me! But it's about time you find someone real!"

But he's real to me . . . Chanyeol thought.

Baekhyun was thankful for the street lights as he ran, if it wasn't for them he would have fallen down numerous times over again. He didn't have to ran as far as he feared, but he did have to pick up his speed when he saw Chanyeol hail a cab with a friend.

Baekhyun was out of breath and a sweaty mess when Chanyeol's cab finally came to a stop outside a building. It was dark except for a single streetlight and a neon sign that proclaimed the building to be a club. Baekhyun watched dumbfounded as Chanyeol followed a shorter man into the building.

"He's real," Baekhyun whispered. "He must be...."

Baekhyun wiped his brow before walking forward, his eyes filled with determination as he stared straight ahead. He wasn't playing attention when the bouncer's arm shot out, his hand hitting Baekhyun's chest and halting any further progress; Baekhyun gasped as he stumbled back a step.

"Sorry, sir. But we have a dress code here and you...." the bouncer trailed off as he assessed Baekhyun's outfit. Which consisted for a white button-up shirt that he tucked into his waistband and neat denim jeans.

Baekhyun frowned. "What's wrong with my clothes?"

"You look like you just came from Bible study," the bouncer replied.

Baekhyun laughed humorlessly and quietly muttered, "Okay . . ." as he lifted his hands to mess his hair. Then he met the bouncer's amused gaze as he popped open the first two buttons of his shirt and untucked it, followed by rolling the sleeves halfway up his forearms. Baekhyun smirked.

"Is this better?" he purred.

"Lose the shirt and we're in business," the bouncer replied as his eyes traveled Baekhyun's body hungrily.

Baekhyun laughed and retorted, "Not on your life," before shoving his way inside the club.

The bouncer merely smirked as he watched Baekhyun disappear inside before returning to his job of turning away the riffraff.

Baekhyun moved through the crowd aimlessly as he slowly turned in circles searching for Chanyeol. He wished he was taller because most of the time he really had to stretch. He huffed in frustration as he was getting himself nowhere, and sighed as he weaved a path to the bar. He dropped his forehead onto the bar top in defeat and in pity for himself.

His eyes closed as he tried to figure out what had possessed him to thoughtless chase after a man that may or not be real. He couldn't be sure about the first time, but this time, he had seen Chanyeol walk into the club with someone. But that still didn't prove anything.

He hadn't seen Chanyeol talk and he didn't noticed the bouncer acknowledge him; he had been too focused on the man Chanyeol was with to pay any attention. Baekhyun huffed again and kicked the bar before hailing down the bartender, and ordering himself a drink. It was definitely safe to say, that this wasn't Byun Baekhyun's best night.

Word count: 984

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A/N: Hello, lovelies!

Chanyeol. Is he a figment of Baekhyun's imagination conjured by unsovled feelings? Or has he truly returned to the world of the living?

What will Baekhyun do when he learns the truth? Will he get his heart broken once again? Or he finally find the happiness that so long ago slipped between his fingers?

Hmm. You'll have to read to find out. 😊

Share your thoughts, and if you liked this chapter, please give it some love. Thank you!

Love from,
BunnyBaekkiee ❤️