hearts at odds | baekyeon

04

The office is infused with the gentle sweetness of syrup, waking Baekhyun up from his sleep. He appreciates the successful couple of hours that he managed to catch. It was much needed it to get his thoughts and emotions on the right track again.

Minseok prepares the pancakes he bought on the table, waiting for Baekhyun to be fully awake. He decides to make an impromptu visit to Baekhyun's workplace early in the morning to hear more about his progress with Taeyeon.

When he learnt from Baekhyun's secretary that their dear CEO had spent the night in the office, he knew immediately nothing good came out from the couple.

"Why are you here again?" Baekhyun slurs his words groggily with that husky morning voice of his.

"Why don't you try to talk to Taeyeon in this voice? I think she might melt," Minseok teases.

Baekhyun is already more than annoyed and stressed out about his strained relationship with Taeyeon. However, Minseok, who he'd thought is his supportive friend, is spouting a ton of nonsense at only eight in the morning.

Without bothering to ask for permission, Baekhyun grabs a bite of the pancake and he rolls his eyes at him. If only, if only my voice can melt her.

"So, what now?"

"I'm not going to do anything."

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Part of Baekhyun slams the door shut to irritate Taeyeon for no absolute reason despite her reminders not to on every other day. Also, he wants to vent his anger on that poor object.

Baffled by the lack of shouts from her, the daunting thoughts about her in danger arise again. When his ears pick up the sizzling sound which seems like its source is the kitchen, his legs instantly take flight.

This time, his worries aren't wrong. She is indeed in danger. The white liquid and bubbles are oozing out of the pot vigorously, but there she is – standing at her stance, zoning out.

"Taeyeon! The milk!" He calls out, hastily taking the cloth to clean up the over-spilled milk from the boiling pot.

That immediately snaps Taeyeon out of her trance. She is apologising profusely, trying to take over the cleaning from him.

Do you think I will let you put yourself in more danger? What will happen if I didn't come home in time?

He desperately wants to go closer to her to check if any of her hands were scalded by the boiling milk. But he admits that he is a coward. He can't do it.

Instead, he gives her hands a quick glance. The hot liquid probably did not come in contact with her delicate skin. He longs to pull her in for a hug, thanking all the Gods in the world that she is unharmed.

While he washes the cloth under the faucet, Taeyeon blurts, "where did you go?"

Taeyeon throwing the interrogating question back at him, like he did to her previously is the last thing he expected from her. Who else can I blame though? I did the same.

"I was at the office."

"Oh really?"

He senses her sarcasm in here, and will not blame a single cell on her for that.

"Staying in the office when you have a bed at home. Interesting."

Baekhyun restrains himself from giving her a lecture about how she constantly worries him. He holds back his venomous tongue, replying flatly instead, "had stuff to complete".

He puts the cloth back to where it belongs, ready to make his way back to his room before he acts rashly again.

"Did you spend your whole night hooking up with new girls?"

Why the fuck is she behaving like this? Is she worried about my absence last night?

That thought is so highly impossible that he tosses it aside.

"If you don't want to believe, then so be it," he slams the door shut.

Wrong move again, he thought. That thud must have scared her.

Exasperated by his actions, he drops himself on the chair by the desk. He then succumbs to his bad habit. Work is the only distraction. It's unhealthy but it works.

Unfortunately, any distractions to get his mind off Taeyeon will not work simply because it's Taeyeon.

He closes his documents and opens the drawer to retrieve a file. He has hoped fervently that this will not make its appearance.

The piece of document in the file is his final solution. Perhaps ending this relationship with Taeyeon might be the best solution for the both of them. With separation, there will be no more fights, no more suffering.

The child? I will take the full responsibility. Just not this way.

He sits in contemplation, the weight of this plain unfurling in his mind. Reaching out for the pen, his fingers wrap around it with a purpose. In that fleeting moment, the dimly lighted room seems to hold its breath, bracing to welcome the uncertain future.

However, as the pen hovers above the document, an unforeseen hesitation intervenes.

His plan that he was once so determined to achieve, falters at the cliff of execution. The pen is suspended in midair, hanging between intention and uncertainty. With a heavy exhale, Baekhyun's grip on the pen relinquishes. The pen descends from the palm, lying flatly on the paper.

In that moment, the audible thud echoes in the room, mirroring Baekhyun's acceptance for his defeat.

The divorce plan, once a beacon of hope and possibilities, now crumples like shattered glass.

How can I leave her?