Behind Closed Doors: BOOK 2 - CHANBAEK FF ✔️

[ 5 ] Truth and Lies

*

"I hate to say this but," Sehun says as he releases a heavy sigh, "We're not really doing good right now..."

Baekhyun sits down in front of Sehun, watching him laying out unfolded papers on top of the table-- the water bill, telephone bill, disconnection notice, rent billing statement as well as their internet subscription bill.

"Baekhyun," Sehun mutters as he slaps his forehead, "We're broke."

"But I thought, our parents were taking care of this stuff," Baekhyun says, "Did they stop sending us financial support?"

"Yeah. Something happened recently and they just told me we need to settle things out by our own for the meantime."

Baekhyun notices the dark rings under Sehun's eyes, and it makes him feel disheartened because of the situation. He hasn't been probably sleeping properly lately, he tells himself as his eyes wander around the papers full of numbers with many zeroes at the end of them.

"Oh, is that so," is Baekhyun's only reply.

"Yeah, that is why we still have tons of unpaid bills to pay," Sehun answers, "I still have some money on my bank account. We can use it to pay the rent and the electric bill."

"You have a part-time job, right?"

Sehun nods. "The teachers pay me when I make their presentations and finish their paperworks and all that stuff."

"Woah, so cool!"

Sehun tries not to blush at the compliment but fails anyway.

"But how about the other bills, though?"

"That," Sehun sighs again, "I still don't know yet."

Baekhyun opens his mouth to say something, but he closes it when he realizes he doesn't have anything helpful to say anyway.

"Uhm. I'm sorry, Sehun."

"It's not your fault."

An idea pops up in his mind so he abruptly goes to his room, while Sehun waits for him to come back.

"Here!" Baekhyun brightly says, thrusting a pink piggy bank on Sehun's hand. Sehun takes it with an eyebrow raised.

"What's this?" Sehun asks, shaking the piggy bank so that he can hear the coins' clinking noise.

"It's my savings. We can use it to pay the other bills," Baekhyun proudly says as he smiles at his best friend. "I want to help."

"Baekhyun."

"I know! That is for Chanyeol-sunbae's gift I was saving for but it's okay! We can use the money for now."

Sehun just stares as Baekhyun, thinking whether to laugh or not at the other male's small effort. Baekhyun looks serious right now, so Sehun chooses the latter. He just keeps his poker face.

It's late at night while the two of them are in the kitchen, lighted under a dim orange light. Sehun gets his wallet and pulls out the cash he is left with, placing them on top of the table. Baekhyun helps him open the coin bank as they altogther count their combined money. Baekhyun is carefully stacking the coins while Sehun counts the bills.

"So... How much is it?"

"It's not enough, Baekhyun. We still need thrice this amount," Sehun says, "563,900 won to be exact."