Chapter Text
Baekhyun knew about Chanyeol. He knew how quick he changes his relationship status. He knew how girls and boys alike cry because of him. He knew how cocky he can get. In simple words, he knew about his reputation very well. But despite it, he still liked him anyway.
Siyempre sino ba namang hindi. He’s like a complete package. He plays basketball. He plays drums, guitar, and piano. He can sing, rap, and beatbox. He’s known by almost everybody. He’s tall. And he’s gwapo. Kinulang lang siya sa commitment na side, and maybe sa pag-uugali, pero all in all, 10/10 pa rin.
Baekhyun’s been crushing on him since the day they entered high school. Pero tahimik lang siya, crush mula sa malayo, never been vocal about it. He feels that he’s way out of his league. Para kasi siyang total opposite ni Chanyeol.
If Chanyeol is the popular kid, Baekhyun is the one with very few select friends. Kung si Chanyeol sporty, si Baekhyun mas academically inclined. Kung si Chanyeol maingay at nasa malaking grupo ng magkakaibigan, si Baekhyun nasa isang tabi lang, pinapanood ang lahat.
Baekhyun was okay with that. He was totally okay about liking Chanyeol from afar. Para sa kaniya, ayos na ‘yong may inspirasyon siya kada papasok ng school, ‘yong may kinakikiligan at may dahilang ngumiti sa araw-araw. Medyo nagbago nga lang ang lahat nong maging partners sila sa isang project.
“Hi! I’m Chanyeol,” pakilala nito sa kaniya nang tumabi sa kaniyang upuan para makapagsimula na ng brainstorming. Naglahad pa ito ng kamay.
Baekhyun almost laughed. They’ve been classmates for almost four years now, what made Chanyeol think Baekhyun doesn’t know him? He wanted to shake his head. He found it funny, really.
He shook his hand while pursing his lips, trying to keep his laugh to himself. “Baekhyun,” he said.
Chanyeol narrowed his eyes in speculation. “Bakit ka natatawa?”
“Hm?” Baekhyun played dumb before shaking his head but Chanyeol wasn’t convinced.
“What? May dumi ba ako sa mukha?” Kinapa niya ang pisngi. “Sa ngipin?” Chanyeol ran his tongue on his teeth. Natawa si Baekhyun.
“No, no, hindi, wala.”
“Niloloko mo ‘ko e.”
“Hindi nga!!” Baekhyun laughed. “Let’s start brainstorming na lang.”
Chanyeol scrunched up his nose before agreeing.
Baekhyun was excited, he acknowledged that. His body was all giddy and his face was all smiley. He laughed at almost everything that Chanyeol says too. It was hard not to give away the fact that he has a crush on him and had had for years now. If the latter finds out, he knew he’s got no one to blame but himself.
He tried to keep it cool anyway though.
- - -
Days passed and it was almost submission. They had a week to prepare but they didn’t meet for the most part of it. Baekhyun sort of expected that already so he started working on the project on his own.
Friday after classes, Chanyeol approached Baekhyun.
“Yo! Lapit na deadline! We gotta work on it, don’t we?”
“Of course,” Baekhyun laughed. “But… wala ka bang party na dapat puntahan ngayon?” He looked behind Chanyeol to see his friends waiting for him. Chanyeol glanced at them too. They’re busy chit-chatting with each other but it’s clear that they’re just waiting for Chanyeol.
“Uhh…” the taller scratched the back of his head.
Baekhyun smiled understandingly. “It’s okay,” he said. “We can work on it tomorrow. 2pm? Free ka ba non?”
“Yup! Thanks, Baek!”
Baekhyun smiled. Chanyeol beamed back at him before leaving with his group.
“Tss,” Baekhyun’s friend, Kyungsoo, scoffed, appearing beside him.
Nilingon niya ito.
“Masyado mong kinukunsinti ‘yon porke crush mo,” Kyungsoo started. “Ni hindi ka na nga tinulungan buong linggo sa pagreresearch tapos uunahin pa party niya.”
“Shh! ‘Wag ka ngang maingay. May makarinig sa’yo e.” Baekhyun looked around. Nasa hallway pa sila at labasan na ng mga estudyante kaya marami ang nasa paligid.
“Sinasabi ko lang. Kilala mo siya, Baek. Alam mo kung ano ang definition ng “relationship” sa kaniya.”
Tumawa si Baekhyun. They started walking towards the exit.
“Wala naman akong sinabing ganon kami, o na magiging ganon kami. We’re just teammates for a project.”
“Yeah. And you’re not hoping for anything more.” The sarcasm was striking, Baekhyun had to laugh.
“Grabe ka. Hindi nga. I know my place.”
It’s true. He’s not hoping for anything more. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Kyungsoo, kilala niya si Chanyeol. Masaya siya na naging partners sila, oo. Dahil kahit man lang bago gumraduate ay nakilala siya ni Chanyeol. Pero iyon na ‘yon. Nothing more.
“Tsaka, as if naman magugustuhan ako non. E lahat ng naging ex non sobrang iba sa’kin. Sobrang layo,” Baekhyun joked, kinda.
Nilingon siya ni Kyungsoo at tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa. “Sobra. You’re a lot better.”
Baekhyun was ready to fight but he blushed instead. A smile grew on his face kaya sinundot niya si Kyungsoo sa tagiliran.
“Ikaw ha! Compliment ba ‘yon? Parinig nga ulit!”
Hanggang sa pauwi sila ay kinukulit lang ni Baekhyun si Kyungsoo.
- - -
Saturday 2pm.
They decided na sa bahay nina Baekhyun gumawa kaya nandoon lang siya, naghihintay na magtext si Chanyeol. Binigay niya ang address nila rito at hindi naman mahirap hanapin ang bahay nila pero nag-aalala pa rin siya na baka maligaw ‘yon. Lalo pa’t alas dos na at wala pa ring text mula kay Chanyeol. He expected na magtetext ‘yon ‘pag papunta na pero hanggang ngayon wala pa rin. Ayaw naman niyang tanungin na dahil nagtext na siya noong umaga at nireplyan naman siya.
Park Chanyeol
Message
09:04
Baekhyun:
See you later!
Chanyeol:
See you ;)
Nate-tense na siya at napansin niya iyon. He exhaled heavily to release it all and decided to just start picking the theme for their slide presentation. Gusto niya sanang si Chanyeol ang mamili non kaso kung wala pa siya, sisimulan na lang niya.
A while later, Baekhyun’s phone beeped for a message. It took him a few seconds to realize that it could be Chanyeol so he hurriedly took a look. He sank a little when he saw that it was from Kyungsoo.
Kyungie
Message
15:07
Kyungsoo:
Kamusta naman project?
Baekhyun sighed. He was about to type his reply when his screen flashed an incoming call.
Incoming Call
Park Chanyeol
Mobile
“Baek!” Chanyeol immediately called when he answered the phone. “Sorry! Nawala sa isip ko. Sorry talaga! Papunta na ako!”
Baekhyun sighed softly, ‘yong hindi maririnig ni Chanyeol sa kabilang linya.
“Okay.”
“Galit ka? Sorry!”
Baekhyun pressed his lips to a thin smile. “Okay lang. Punta ka na. Ingat.”
“Sorry talaga.”
“Oo na nga. Text or tawag ka ‘pag naligaw ka.”
“Opo.”
When the call ended, Baekhyun looked at the time. Alas tres na. He shrugged. Hindi pa naman masyadong late.
Kyungie
Message
15:07
Kyungsoo:
Kamusta naman project?
Baekhyun:
Papunta pa lang siya
Kyungsoo:
Wtf
Sobrang pabuhat ha
Pagdating niya wag mo nang tulungan. Siya na pagawin mo ng lahat
Baekhyun:
Hahaha! Gusto mo ata akong bumagsak kyungie 😂
Kyungsoo:
Umayos kamo siya
Park Chanyeol
Message
15:33
Chanyeol:
Am I in the right place?
Baekhyun:
Yes
Wait lang. Papaopen ko gate.
Did you bring your car?
If oo pasok mo
Chanyeol:
Yes pero saglit lang
May daanan muna ako.
Saglit lang talaga.
I’ll text again pagbalik ko :)
Baekhyun exhaled again after reading Chanyeol’s reply. Handa na siyang iutos sa katulong na ipabukas ang gate e.
Habang naghihintay, inayos na lang ulit ni Baekhyun ang mga nakahanda. Nawala na ang lamig ng juice kaya ibinalik niya iyon sa ref. He decided na saka na ilabas ang panibagong juice kapag dumating na si Chanyeol. He also checked the cookies and snacks on the coffee table. Higit isang oras na din ‘yong naka-expose sa hangin, sana hindi pa lumalambot.
He sat back down on the couch and breathed out. He realized, he put so much effort in meeting Chanyeol. Akala ko ba hindi tayo umaasa?
It didn’t take long before Chanyeol texted him again to inform that he’s arrived. This time seryoso na.
Pagkapasok ni Chanyeol sa bahay, nginitian niya agad si Baekhyun na nasa sala. His lone dimple showed and it made Baekhyun forget that he’s been waiting for this boy for more than an hour.
Chanyeol approached him with a slight guilty face.
“I’m sorry. Hindi ko talaga namalayan ang oras.” He handed him a huge bar of chocolate. “Peace offering?” anito.
Baekhyun raised his brows in surprise. Tapos ay natawa siya.
“Hindi naman ako galit,” aniya.
“Still. Ayaw ko naman umabot pa sa point na magagalit ka na. Hm?” Inilapit niya pa lalo ang chocolate bar kay Baekhyun. His lips were pressed together, his dimple still on display.
Nakangiting tinanggap ni Baekhyun ang tsokolate. Chanyeol smiled back in relief.
“Shall we start?” aniya.
Baekhyun nodded. Nilapag niya ang chocolates sa coffee table at nakita ang mga meryendang nakahain doon.
“Have some snacks pala. Kuha lang akong drinks. Upo ka nalang dyan,” aniya.
Baekhyun pulled out a new and colder carton of juice from the fridge saka bumalik sa sala. He saw Chanyeol sitting politely on the longest couch. His eyes met his the moment he entered the living area and Chanyeol immediately smiled. Napaiwas siya ng tingin pero ngumiti rin pabalik.
After offering Chanyeol some food, they started with their work. Umupo si Baekhyun sa parehong couch but he kept a decent distance. He pulled his laptop and placed it on his lap too.
“Medyo sinimulan ko na so ilalagay na lang sa presentation,” ani Baekhyun. Chanyeol moved closer and the former stiffened a little. He was so close that their shoulders were bumping. Dumungaw rin ito sa kaniyang laptop, his perfume invading Baekhyun’s nostrils.
Naririnig niya ang tibok ng puso niya. It was louder than normal. Sana hindi marinig ng katabi.
He showed him the outline and research he’s already made in the past week.
“Wait, so tapos na?” Chanyeol asked.
“Um, ilalagay pa sa slides tsaka—“
“Pero may summarized outline na? Pwedeng ‘yon na mismo ang ilagay slides?”
“Um, oo pero—“
“Woah! Kanina mo lang ginawa ‘to lahat?” Nilagay niya ang kamay sa touchpad ng laptop na nasa hita ni Baekhyun. He scrolled through the whole 72-page document. His fingers brushed Baekhyun’s and it burned the smaller a little kaya tinanggal ni Baekhyun ang kamay doon.
“Hindi naman. Nung Monday ko pa sinimulan—“
“Monday?! Ba’t hindi mo ako sinabihan? Natulungan sana kita!”
Baekhyun raised a brow and twisted his mouth to the side. Kasabay non ang paglingon ni Chanyeol sa kaniya saka sila sabay na natawa.
“Grabe ha. Yung judgment ‘di talaga tinatago,” Chanyeol feigned offense. “Sige dahil ikaw na gumawa halos lahat, ako na ‘to. Copy-paste na lang naman ‘di ba?”
Chanyeol took the laptop from Baekhyun. He skimmed the summarized outline pati na rin ang nasimulan nang slide presentation.
“Oo pero kailangan pa i-finalize. Dapat konting words lang sa slides tapos sa notes—“
“Okay, okay. Don’t worry, I got this. Ikaw...” Binaba ni Chanyeol ang laptop sa coffee table at tumayo. He then grabbed Baekhyun’s legs, making him squeal in shock, and pulled them up to the couch. Tapos marahan niyang tinulak ang mga balikat nito para sumandal sa armrest. “Dapat magpahinga. Ikaw ay senyorito ngayon.”
Chanyeol even took a glass, filled it with juice and placed it on Baekhyun’s hand.
“What else do you need, sir? Here, cookies. Should I open the chocolates for you? Or do you want anything else? Sandwich? I’m good at making sandwiches! Should I?”
Tawang tawa na si Baekhyun sa kalokohan ni Chanyeol. He really offered the cookies to him, placed them on his lap, and unwrapped the chocolate bar that he bought. He even wanted to go to the kitchen and prepare a sandwich. Napahawak pa si Baekhyun sa braso niya para lang pigilan.
“Huwag na, huwag na. I’m good,” aniya, natatawa pa rin.
“Seryoso. I make one hell of a sandwich.”
Baekhyun threw his head back from laughing. “Chanyeol, this is my house. Ikaw ang bisita, ako dapat ang nagseserbisyo sa’yo.”
“Today is an exemption, Sir Baekhyun.”
Napailing na lang si Baekhyun. “Trabahuin mo na lang ‘yong slides.”
Chanyeol jutted his lips forward and clicked his tongue. “Okay. But if you need anything, Sir Baekhyun, tell me.”
Tinawanan lang siya ni Baekhyun. Chanyeol went back to the laptop. He dragged a round cushion stool to the coffee table and started working there. He’s crouched to meet the laptop on the low coffee table.
Baekhyun, on the other hand, started munching on the cookies. Binalik niya ang plato non sa mesa so he and Chanyeol can share. He sort of waited for the latter to ask for his assistance pero nag-20 minutes na at wala pa rin.
Biglang nag-angat ng tingin si Chanyeol mula sa screen ng computer. He met Baekhyun’s eyes, which had been looking at him since twenty minutes ago.
Napakurap si Baekhyun. Nailipat niya ang tingin sa kung saan. He didn’t realize he was staring! Gosh.
Paano mo nga naman ba hindi matititigan. Chanyeol looked impressive even in simple white tee, baseball cap, and jeans. A silver chain necklace hung around his neck. He wore his cap bawkwards and his eyes focused on his work.
Just like that and he looked pristine.
When Baekhyun glanced at him again, Chanyeol still had his eyes on him and a newly formed smirk on his lips. Hindi niya inalis ang ngising ‘yon hanggang sa bumalik sa pagtatrabaho.
Damn this boy, Baekhyun thought. He knows he’s handsome, he doesn’t even falter when someone stares at him!
An hour later and Chanyeol was still busy. Umalis na siya sa upuan at lumipat sa carpet para hindi siya nakukuba. Baekhyun also offered to help but he didn’t let him.
“Okay then at least take a rest.”
Chanyeol breathed in before releasing it. “Alright. Dahil mapilit ka, Sir Baekhyun.”
He streched his tall body before getting up and sitting next to Baekhyun on the couch. The latter offered him foods that he gladly accepted.
“So, kailan ka lumipat sa school?” Chanyeol started a conversation.
Tumaas ang mga kilay ni Baekhyun. Gusto nanaman niyang matawa. “Four years ago,” he answered.
Tumango si Chanyeol bago na-realize ang sagot niya. “Four—since first year?!”
Baekhyun giggled and nodded.
“Woah. Ba’t ngayon lang tayo naging magkaklase?”
“Um… actually naging classmates tayo mga 15 times na siguro.”
Halos maibuga ni Chanyeol ang juice na iniinom. “What?”
“Classmates tayo sa lahat ng math; algebra, trigo, hanggang calc. Sa ibang sciences din, history and english.”
“Wow. You must really think of me as a jerk now, don’t you?”
Baekhyun shrugged. “Doesn’t everybody think that?”
Nalaglag ang panga ni Chanyeol at natawa si Baekhyun. Their conversation flowed smoothly from there. Chanyeol had good stories and Baekhyun listened. He also reacted well on Baekhyun’s jokes and that made everything feel effortless.