WEEPING WILLOWS [sebaek | chanbaek]

WINTER AND A PINK SCARF

'The leaves have fallen and long-buried under the snow protecting the roots from the cold. The tree stands alone like a beautiful sketch; perfect strokes of charcoal on the white canvas. Under this white rain, everything seems lonely and lost while the world becomes a sedate place for broken hearts to stay, oh I wish this winter never goes away.'

"You look so happy." Chanyeol spoke shifting Baekhyun's eyes which were buried in his book.

"Am I?" Baekhyun chuckled while taking the hot teacup that Chanyeol had brought and closed his notebook. "They say, everything appears happy when you are happy."

"I'm indeed happy. It's almost comeback time for our company's biggest group." Chanyeol answered in high spirits. "Baekhyunee, you'll be working with Kai this time." Baekhyun just nodded. "We are going for a love theme this time,"

"The same again." keeping a straight face Baekhyun thought to himself.

"This time is different, it's a kind of psychopathic love, you know, that breaking up, making out, patching up again, that kind of toxically sensual thing. Got it?"

Baekhyun quickly nodded again. "Another day of glamorizing the messed-up brains. Nothing new, that's what we have been doing for ages."

"You'll be busy for a few more months, plan everything correctly, okay."

"I'll take care of it." Baekhyun said and drank his small cup of tea in one go. "Then, I'll go home for today, we'll start everything from tomorrow." standing up, he put on his coat to leave.

"It's snowing outside and yet you dress so lightly," he looked at the glass wall and then at Baekhyun who was wearing just a plain shirt and an overcoat, "do you keep forgetting what season is this?" He grabbed a padded jacket from his cupboard and handed it to Baekhyun.

"Thanks." Baekhyun quietly accepted it and walked outside.

Pouring himself another cup of tea, Chanyeol stood at the glass window looking at the road. Slowly the familiar silhouette emerged out of the building. Holding the beige jacket in his hands Baekhyun walked in the falling snow with just his unbuttoned black overcoat. Chanyeol sighed watching him go, "When will he come out of that depression."

At the empty bus stop where the words 'Buses canceled due to heavy snow.' kept scrolling on the billboard, Baekhyun sat quietly on the bench swinging his legs, "It's going to be hectic again." He sighed creating a puff of white smoke in the air, "it's time for good days I guess." he took his glasses off to clean the fog, "Walking uphill, aa, I don't like it. I wonder how long it will take to fall down again and how much it will hurt this time."

When he put his glasses on again, he saw a man peeping out the car window that was on the other side of the road and vigorously waving his hand while screaming 'Bean Sprout'.

"Sehun?"

He carefully crossed the road and went to the car, "what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to buy some cables, I'm working on a new setup." Sehun explained, "Wanna see it?" He won't let go of a single chance to spend time with his little Bean. Well aware of his tricks, Baekhyun just silently stared at him, "Buses are canceled too, come help me in tuning the strings." he pouted out and seemed as if he was ready to put up a big tantrum if Baekhyun said no.

"Fine." Baekhyun said and got inside the car.

"By the way, what kind of fashion is that; holding a jacket in the snow instead of wearing it." Sehun started mocking as soon as the ride started.

Baekhyun placed the jacket and his satchel in the backseat and answered, "I like it when I feel cold."

"Ooo, and I like the feel of a cold blade against my skin." Baekhyun shook his head feeling hopeless regarding the man beside him. "What?" he felt a little offended by his reaction, "It's just the same thing." Sehun said, making faces at Baekhyun.

"Watch the road or we'll die for real." reaching his hand to touch Sehun's cheeks, he made the younger turn his head to the dashboard.

After what had happened in the valley resort, Sehun thought it would be hard for things between them to move normally again, but to his surprise, Baekhyun pulled it off well. He acted so indifferently as if nothing had ever happened so Sehun too went with the latter's flow.

.

.

.

With the frost came the warmth of festivals too. Lights and smiles took over the city while love took over the hearts, and with homes packed with big families and good food; life began to appear beautiful.

Sehun was busier than ever with the shows and small DJ concerts, and Chanyeol was no different.

"Good work everyone, and happy new year in advance, see you all at the party." Chanyeol said before everybody leaves for the day, "And no emergency leaves on 2nd, I won't approve it unless you are in an ICU."

Everyone rolled their eyes and left the conference room whimpering the obvious hate words on the team head.

"Baekhyun, you stay." Chanyeol further said, making the murmur in the room spike up.

Once everyone left, Chanyeol brought a big paper bag inside, "I know you will not come to the party tonight. So, take it." he gave the bag to Baekhyun, "Cake and sweets, my wife made them for you."

Baekhyun smiled and took them heartily. He opened the bag and peeped inside, "she put so much effort, even the boxes are beautiful." he was genuinely mesmerized by the gift, "tell her that I liked them, and wish her a happy new year on behalf of me." Chanyeol nodded.

"So, you are going back to your room?" Chanyeol asked and somehow an awkward air surrounded them.

"Yeah, you'll head back to the party, right?"

"No, I'm- I'm actually going home."

"Really?" Baekhyun seemed quite surprised as Chanyeol always finds excuses to stay at work and party.

Chanyeol chuckled before answering, "It's hard to be a father you see," Baekhyun instantly smiled knowing where it was going, "those two girls are growing up so fast and now they are ordering their dad around."

"It's a good thing, It's a good thing."

Both continued to smile in that lonely room.

"And ha, I bought this for you." Chanyeol took out a scarf from his bag. It was a simple pink knitted scarf, and Chanyeol himself put it around Baekhyun's neck. A delicate smile was on his face as he let the man drape it around him, "I know, you like the feel of coldness but at least wear this." Chanyeol further said and Baekhyun nodded as a reply.

After a moment of silence, Chanyeol spoke again, "Fine then," he seemed to have something that he wanted to say but couldn't, "let's- let's go."

Chanyeol took a step away hesitatingly, and just then Baekhyun moved closer and took Chanyeol into a warm hug, "Happy New Year, Yeol." He said smiling on Chanyeol's broad chest and wrapped his hand around him tightly.

A contented smile showed up on Chanyeol's face as if he had received the exact thing he was yearning for. "Happy New Year, Ba- Little Willow."

In an instant, all the past times where Chanyeol used to call him Little Willow flashed in front of his eyes and tears came ready to stream down, but he successfully held it in with a smile, just like every time.