"I'm home."
What a strange phrase to say. Baekhyun curiously tries to peek over Chanyeol's shoulder, but at the same time he's afraid. He is half frustrated that Chanyeol's too tall for him to see anything, and at the same time he is grateful for it.
"Finally!" A familiar voice gradually becomes louder and as Chanyeol moves away, Baekhyun can see a middle-aged woman with curls and a very friendly looking face rush up towards them.
By instinct, Baekhyun can already feel himself about to vomit upon having a woman so close to him, but he holds it in.
He watches as she rushes up to Chanyeol, embracing him in her arms – or rather, it's Chanyeol embracing her in his arms. She is tiny compared to Chanyeol, so small Chanyeol has to lean down a bit in order to hug her. Even though they're not family by blood, Baekhyun can see the intimacy between them. And compared to the relationship between him and his parents, he can see how much of a contrast it is.
Their intimacy has him feeling uncomfortable, envious, and at the same time left out. He never knew such intimacy existed. It's obvious, even to someone who has never seen them interact before.
Then he realises both of them are crying, both their eyes squeezed tightly shut as tears leak out of their eyes – the action is so similar that for a moment Baekhyun had been tricked into believing they actually are family by blood – maybe crybaby Chanyeol doesn't run in his genes, but rather in the family that he grew up with.
"Mum .................." Chanyeol lets out a choked sob and he tightens his hold. Baekhyun can almost squirm at how foreign this all is to him. "Mum, I ... I didn't mean to, I ..."
"You silly child ..." She replies softly. "Stop excluding yourself out of this family ... You can't do this to us. Don't you know it's hurting us, by constantly trying to get away from us?" Chanyeol's arms are long enough for him to wipe tears away from his eyes despite still hugging the mother who raised him up.
"I'm sorry ... I won't do it again ..." More tears fall out and down his cheeks. Baekhyun doesn't think Chanyeol would ever be this soft and sensitive – and so pure. Baekhyun doesn't think Chanyeol has such a burden constantly tugging at him, merely because he's afraid he'll burden his parents more than enough already. "I missed you ... Mum ..."
"I missed you too, silly boy."
Baekhyun can't understand it. It's foreign.
Why are they doing this? They haven't seen each other for, what, a little more than half a year? Why are they making such a big deal?
And even though Baekhyun is uncomfortable at intimate relationships and cheesy scenes, he can't help but feel comfort upon watching the two of them cry their hearts out in joy upon seeing each other.
He can't help but feel a little envious too.
After their emotional reunion, Chanyeol's mother leaves his embrace to turn to Baekhyun. At this time, Chanyeol has turned away, as if too embarrassed to meet Baekhyun's eyes.
At a loss on what to do, Baekhyun bows to the woman, using this time to compose his terrified feelings.
"Oh, Chanyeollie brought a friend!" She says as she turns to him. She is middle aged and tiny, and even though she has wrinkles adorning her face, her eyes are bright and lively. Kind of like Chanyeol's.
"Sorry about that. I just haven't seen that brat in so long, so that's why I ignored you a little ... I'm sorry, it won't happen again." She reaches out and takes Baekhyun's hands in her own, and instinctively Baekhyun wants to recoil, but he composes himself. Honestly, he hates touching. He hates touching anyone outside of , usually. He lets out a small smile instead.
