Be my friend? [Chenyeol]

"Mom"

30th June, 2027

At some point I must have fallen asleep yesterday. Or actually today... at least it was past midnight.

It wasn't the first time ever Chen and I hadn't slept together in one bed during a fight, but the last time had been a couple of years ago. I grimaced at the memory of that particular fight. Back then, Chen had suspected me to be cheating on him with Baekhyun, which had been ridiculous. I saw Baekhyun naked once, in a bath house, and I preferred Chen a lot. What can I say, I like me a good combo of biceps and booty. Also I didn't want to piss off Daehyun too much, he could punch hard.

Anyway, it felt strange, not falling asleep to the steady breathing coming from next to me, and even stranger not waking up to half of my boyfriend's body on my own, head snuggled into my chest and soft snores filling the bedroom. Due to my sometimes light, sometimes more prominent insomnia, I had always had trouble falling asleep, but there's something very calming about your significant other lying by your side. And last night, I barely got any shut eye.

I felt terrible, even though he did promise to never smoke again when I found out about his habit all that time ago. I hated smoking, the stench was revolting to me, not to mention I didn't exactly love the idea of Chen dying of cancer anytime soon. But it wasn't his fault. Well, not really. He just didn't know how to vent his feelings, and that knowledge cut me deep more than the actual fact he had smoked.

I wish he knew that he could let out his frustration and sorrow with my help, with me cheering him on. He sometimes acted like he didn't believe I'd be there to catch him if he fell, which was a given! We were going to be a couple for 12 years tomorrow, for god's sake! There was no doubt that he trusted me, nor that he loved me, but somehow, there was still this small part in him which was the small, pale boy from so long ago. He acted like he had to protect me and I couldn't help him, and I was the top of this relationship!!!

I checked the grandfather clock standing at the foot of the couch. My mother had given us that for our 10 year anniversary.
It was 7 am.
I sighed to myself quietly. It was Wednesday, meaning if I didn't wake up Chen soon he'd be late to work. I shifted uncomfortably at the thought of going to our bedroom right now. How would I act, what would I say?

After splashing my face repeatedly with cold water in the guest bathroom and giving myself a mirror pep talk (fights are hard and makeups are harder. Well, unless they include makeup sex... then makeups are awesome and mind blowing), I made my way slowly up the stairs, doing my best to be as quiet as humanly possible.

But I was surprised and frowned to hear a voice, Chen's voice, talking animatedly on the other side of the bedroom door. He usually wouldn't be up this early, and who's he talking to?

Against all morals I was taught as a child and all rules I believed in, I creeped my way to the door and started listening intently. What can I say, I was curious.

"We... had a fight yesterday. It was my fault."

After a small pause, where he presumably listened to what the other was saying, he continued with.

"I think he hates me now."

I gulped at the dejected tone in his voice. I would have charged in there and tackled him in a hug, if it hadn't been for the next line.

"Wait a sec, mom, I'm gonna put you on speaker phone."

Mom?
Chen was out of contact with his mother. What the hell...

I heard shuffling as Chen got out of bed and moved in the general direction of our closet, and all of a sudden the static noises of a bad phone connection.