Chapter Text
Chanyeol likes to think he is not the type to get nervous. Or that’s what he tells himself.
But when he does, he blabbers. A lot. Like, probably too much.
“Guys, make sure to get the cake later, alright? We got it made at our favorite bakery and I would literally eat it now if I could, but of course, I shouldn’t, right? And… yah, Sehun! You saw your favorite milk tea stall didn’t you? Baekhyun convinced me to get them, though, probably no one else drinks it that much aside from you. So, you better thank him. And, Jongin—”
“Okay, okay. We get it. We’ll eat every single dish here, and I’ll make sure Sehun drink at least 3 cups of his milk tea. But aren’t you like… i don’t know, not supposed to be here?” It’s Jongin who cuts him off. He peeks over the taller’s shoulder, and sure enough the host is waiting for him.
“Ah, fuck, I can’t think and my hands are sweating. What if the ring slips off because my fingers are too wet?!”
“Hyung, that’s impossible. Stop overthinking it,” Sehun throws in encouragingly. “The worst that could happen is you tripping over something and fall on your face.”
Chanyeol glares at the youngest.
Sehun laughs sheepishly. “I’m kidding. You’ll be fine.”
“Okay, you’re right. I’m gonna be fine,” Chanyeol takes a deep breath, before exhaling it loudly. It’s such a rare sight to see Chanyeol like this. The giant is not the most composed and calm adult man there is, but it’s a new level of panic they haven’t witnessed before.
But who are they to blame, it’s his wedding day after all.
“Now, go over there, let the host take the lead, and it’ll be over in no time. I promise,” Jongin gives a pat on Chanyeol’s back, and Sehun follows shortly after.
After regulating his breath, Chanyeol makes his way to the host who has been standing by the altar. The middle-aged man offers him a reassuring smile, which Chanyeol gratefully returns before letting the host proceed with the main ceremony.
The wedding host begins with small talk to engage in the audience. Though standing straight facing them, Chanyeol barely sees anyone’s faces. His stomach churning altogether with his heartbeat pacing up. Chanyeol can’t even hear what the man is saying anymore, until—
“And let us welcome our lovely groom, Byun Baekhyun!”
The door opens, and Byun Baekhyun walks in. He’s wearing a set of white suit— one Chanyeol has seen before— but still… still! Chanyeol’s breath hitches.
Baekhyun walks down the carpet, gradually closer to where he’s standing. He could tell his groom-to-be is just as restless as he is. The ever so confident Byun Baekhyun is acting all fidgety because he’s about to get married to him!
How adorable can he get?
Baekhyun is now standing just half a meter away from him on the podium. His smile is rather bashful and shy, the redness on the tip of his ears reminds him of the first time they went on a date. Chanyeol is thinking of skipping the vows and goes straight to the kiss, but he knows he shouldn’t be messing up the order.
When it’s time to declare their vows, the host passes the mic to Baekhyun. He’s the first to go— as he requested. He doesn’t want to cry and be all snotty hearing Chanyeol’s vow before professing his own, he had said.
Once Baekhyun parts his lips to speak, the thumping of his heart gets louder by the second. It’s unusually loud that Chanyeol suddenly feels anxiety washes over his body. The microphone suddenly yelps out a sharp screech, Chanyeol can’t help but cover his ears out of reflex.
But Baekhyun keeps going.
And the guests keep cooing.
They carry on as if nothing has gone wrong, like nothing is out of the ordinary. Chanyeol watches them move their mouths with ease, while hearing nothing at the same time.
Chanyeol notices a glaring light coming from Baekhyun’s direction, which blinds his eyesight momentarily. He has no choice but to narrow his eyes to avoid hurting them.
What’s wrong? What’s going on?
Baekhyun finally seems to notice him acting odd. He reaches out to Chanyeol’s hand, shaking him by the wrists, while trying to call for his lover’s name.
“… Chanyeol… Park Chanyeol!”
And in the blink of an eye, everything is a blur.
The loud pounding of his heart that had been ringing at the back of his ears for a while— is now replaced by something that sounds more like a series of beeping. They are going at the same rhythm, following the same beat, until Chanyeol suddenly regains his eyesight.
This certainly doesn’t look like the wedding venue.
How did he get here? What happened to the wedding? And where’s Baekhyun? Was that all a dream?
A string of questions begin to play out in his head. Now that he is starting to recall, there is no way he could be in the venue. It’s been two years since they got married. His dream was so vivid that he thought he was reliving it.
But that didn’t explain why he ended up here. The room is painted in light mint green. There’s a hanging TV on the wall with a two-person sofa just underneath it. There’s nothing much else to see beside it. Basically, he’s in the hospital.
“Ugh,” Chanyeol tries to sit up, but he can’t move his muscle. It’s all sore and painful to even lift his upper body a little.
“Holy shit, you’re awake— Yixing, go get the doc!”
Chanyeol immediately recognizes the voice. “Jong… in…?”
“Oh, fuck— yes, it’s me, Jongin. Dude, we’re so worried!” Jongin hurriedly shuffles over to his side, bending his body down.
Chanyeol can see his friend more clearly now that his face is only inches apart from his. Somehow, the man looks different, yet Chanyeol can’t pinpoint exactly what.
“Can you… back off a little…”
Jongin steps back, “Uh, oh, sorry. God, I can’t believe you finally woke up. You have been out of it for 6 days, man!”
“Six days…? What happened— ackh!” Chanyeol ends up coughing, his lips and throat feel extremely dry.
Jongin attentively offers him a glass of water from the nightstand and helps his best friend to take a sip.
Even drinking water can’t go without a struggle, but at least Chanyeol feels a little better with his throat.
“Do you not remember anything? Like, how you ended up here.”
Chanyeol stays quiet, looking at Jongin expectantly.
Placing the water back on the nightstand, Jongin continues, “You got into a car accident… six days ago. It was raining heavily that day. You almost crashed into a truck, but you spun around and hit a tree instead.”
Chanyeol remains quiet for awhile, trying to settle the new information in. “Was I alone?”
“Yeah, luckily there was no other victim.”
Chanyeol breathes out a sigh of relief. “That’s good then,” he mumbles lowly.
The man’s eyes then scan the wide empty room. The atmosphere is strangely cold and unpleasant. He then turns his attention back to Jongin.
“Is Baekhyun going out somewhere?”
“What…?”
“When will he be back? Can you call him right now?”
“Chanyeol, what do you mean…” Jongin trails off, his eyes staring at Chanyeol in complete shock. What’s so surprising about asking where his husband is? He just wants to see him as soon as he can.
“Chanyeol, did you not remember…?”
“Huh?” It’’s Chanyeol’s turn to look puzzled. “What are you saying?”
“Chanyeol… you and Baekhyun are divorced.”