Chapter Text
The next day, while Baekhyun walked to school he felt as if his feet were made of lead. Each step closer to the school only reminded him of what might be waiting for him. When he makes it to the school’s front entrance, he stares at the building and the cluster of students making their way to their respective classes.
‘You got this. It’s all gonna be okay.’ Just as he was about to step over the threshold, his phone in his pocket buzzed. Thinking it’s just Minseok or Jongdae he goes to pull it out. When he sees it's from an unsaved number, Baekhyun trips over his feet, nearly falling on his face.
‘No way…No, it has to be a spam text or something, right?’ With shaky hands, he swipes to see what was written to him.
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Unknown: Hey Baekhyun It’s Chanyeol I got your note and I was wondering if you could meet me behind the gym during our free period?
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‘Oh. My. GOD!’ Baekhyun’s legs threatened to give out. Everyone on campus knows that behind the gym is where all couples go to make out since it's out of the way and fairly secluded from prying eyes. This can’t be real? He has to be dreaming, still curled up in bed. After pinching himself it was clear: Nope. Not dreaming.
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Hey Chanyeol! :Me
Yeah! I’ll see you then (´• ω •`) :Me
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Chanyeol’s response came quickly:
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Unknown: Awesome see you then
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Baekhyun, now with a huge smile plastered on his face, saved the number and sent a message to his group chat letting his friends know the situation. He then put his phone in his pocket again and walked into the main entrance.
Baekhyun makes it to the classroom before Chanyeol, so he settles in his seat and just opens his book to read while he waits for the teacher. Chanyeol walks in with Sehun, the two giving each other a quick fist bump before taking their seats. Once their teacher arrives and classes started, Baekhyun couldn’t wait for free period to come.
Classes passed by at a crawl, lunch came and went in a flash (Mostly because Jongdae and Minseok kept asking him questions and hyping him up), and now there was just one more class. Baekhyun couldn't stop biting his nails, his nerves were starting to get the best of him. 'Maybe I don't have to show up? Maybe I just send a text saying I don't feel well…No. I can't back out now.’
Suddenly a hand shoots up, "Teacher, can I be excused slightly early?"
"What for Mr. Park?"
Baekhyun leaned in his seat to try and get a better look.
"Honestly, sir, I just have something that I need to address at the gym, and I want to make sure I can take care of it as soon as possible."
Baekhyun bit the inside of his cheek. Should he ask to be excused early too? Would that be too obvious? Chanyeol would have told him if he wanted him to anyways. Right?
Their teacher thought for a second, looked at his watch, and then decided it was alright since there wasn't much time left in class. Chanyeol rose from his seat, towering over the rest of the seated students, and made his way out of the classroom. Baekhyun swears his desk would break with how hard he was gripping the lacquered wood, ‘These 15 minutes were going to last an eternity.’
When the bell finally did ring for the beginning of free period, he practically ran from the classroom and out of one of the school’s side entrances that led to the gym. Almost running into several other students as he did. When the specific building came into view, Baekhyun felt like all his limbs were made of jelly and his heart was hammering hard in his chest, threatening to shatter his ribs. The gym loomed quietly, not a soul in sight. The almost serene scene was interrupted by a buzz from his pocket. Retrieving it with shaky fingers he sees it’s from Chanyeol.
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Chanyeol: Hey Im out back
Ok I’m actually almost there give me a few seconds :Me
Chanyeol: Perfect I got something I really want to show you Baekhyun
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He clutched the phone in sweaty hands, feeling his cheeks turning a deep red that spread down his neck. Slowly, he walked along the side of the building, anxiety mixed with anticipation building in his veins. He reaches the edge of the wall, ‘This is it! THIS IS I-” As he rounds the corner all his thoughts go blank. It feels like time has crashed to an earth-shattering halt.
Chanyeol was there. His back was to Baekhyun, but the shorter male could recognize those elf-like ears anywhere. He wasn't alone though.
She was there too.
Jihye.
And they were…kissing.
Baekhyun could feel the burn of tears pick the corners of his eyes, and the sound that he could register was the shattering of his heart. Just as his hot tears began to spill from his cheeks he ripped his eyes away from the scene before him and ran as fast as he possibly could. Trying to escape what he just bore witness to. Trying to run from the pain and the heartache. He ran across the campus before tripping and collapsing to the ground behind the pool locker room, dirt staining his cheeks and clothes. At this point, though Baekhyun could really care less, all he could see was Chanyeol with his lips locked with that witch. He screwed his eyes shut, but it didn’t matter if he couldn’t escape it. More and more tears fell from his eyes and suddenly Baekhyun’s body was shaking with sobs. He gasped and choked for air as his phlegm and tears clogged his throat.
‘This…this is what Chanyeol wanted to show me? He couldn’t have just…told me he wasn’t interested?’ Was he really so disgusted with the idea of Baekhyun liking him that he had to break his heart by making him watch him make out with his bully? The small boy curled in on himself, bringing his knees to his chest, and he wished for nothing more than to just disappear. He begged for this all to be a terrible nightmare, but he knew it was real. He tried to wipe away the mixture of dirt and salty tears from his cheeks but to no avail. He takes out his phone to open the camera to examine his appearance.
His black hair was disheveled, sticking in random directions. His droopy eyes were red and puffy, tears still soaking his lashes. His nose was equally red with a trail of snot leaking out. He quickly used his sleeve to wipe away the substance. ‘There's no way I could go back to class like this…’ As he continued to examine his appearance, a bubble dropped down from the top of the screen.
New Message from Chanyeol
'W-what?’ Baekhyun hesitates for a second, before tapping on the message.
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Chanyeol: Hope you like what you saw LOL
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Baekhyun’s heart, or whatever was left, completely turned to dust. ‘He’s laughing at me...’ Another message pops up:
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Chanyeol: Cant believe youd ever think Id like someone like you
Chanyeol: give me a break
Chanyeol: you and your weird friends are freaks
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Baekhyun locked his phone, wrapped his arms around his knees tightly, and just sat in his own world. More tears silently spilled out and continued to flood his eyes for the rest of free period. When the bell rang Baekhyun slowly stood up and decided he wasn’t going back to class. He doesn’t want to see Chanyeol’s face. Park Chanyeol; the boy of Baekhyun’s dreams, who always seemed so nice to Baekhyun; was no better than Jihye. Baekhyun laughed bitterly, ‘Maybe they are perfect for each other?’ He walked toward the front gate and walked all the way home, looking like a leaky, eyed zombie as he did.
When he finally got home, he was thankful his parents weren't there. He didn’t want to see anyone, didn't want to talk to anyone, he just wanted to…sleep. He kicked off his shoes haphazardly and trudged upstairs.
Closing his bedroom door behind him he sank into his bed, still in his dirt-covered clothes. He didn’t care anymore. He just wants to close his eyes and forget the whole shitty experience. ‘Maybe dreams are meant to stay dreams,’ Baekhyun let his heavy eyelids close as he let himself slip into the inky embrace of sleep.