for him. ✔

chapter five.

"Chanyeol?"

Chanyeol's head snapped towards the door, where he saw his sister, Yoora, peeking from a small crack between the door and the frame.

"Yes, noona?" he casually asked, taking off his headphones.

The older girl opened the door wider and gestured with a thumb over her shoulder. "Dad and I are dropping by the hospital. Would you like to-"

"You already know my answer, noona."

Chanyeol grimly stared down at his computer's keyboard, fumbling the wire that connected the headphone to its port.

Sighing heavily, his sister said, "Chanyeol, you know what? You're acting like a huge coward. This isn't fair for Gramps."

Chanyeol remained silent, not even denying that because indeed, he really was one.

"Please go away, noona."

His sister spared him one last worried glance before disappearing behind the door, closing it gently.

Chanyeol pushed himself off his computer chair and flopped onto his bed, slightly bouncing on the mattress. He stared at the ceiling fan just overhead, lifting a finger up to follow its movement.

He had been very close to his Gramps, ever since he was a child. Their parents were always away due to work, so he and his sister always had to stay over at their grandparents' place. Chanyeol was particularly close with his Gramps while Yoora held a special bond with their Gran.

Gran had passed away a few years ago. It had taken a toll on Yoora when Gran fell deeply ill, but she moved on from her death easily. But Chanyeol, in his case... it was pretty hard. When he first heard that his Gramps suffered from some disease in his lungs, Chanyeol had been deathly scared for him. He had blamed himself, for if he hadn't forced his Gramps to stay with them in the city, the pollution wouldn't have damaged his weak respiration system. If he had stayed in the province, he would still be enjoying life, not staying in some cold white room in the hospital while counting down to the remaining days he has in this world.

And Chanyeol still blames himself.

He couldn't face his Gramps - no, certainly not. Chanyeol knew his Gramps wouldn't hold it against him, but if he faced him, all weak and vulnerable, he'd be guilty. And he didn't want such feeling to eat at him.

Yes, Chanyeol was doing this for himself.

He was a huge coward, a jerk, an ass - whatever you'd like to call him.

It's all true anyway.

The familiar ringtone of his phone suddenly blared through the room. Pushing himself up, Chanyeol reached for the device, which was on top of his bedside table and checked the caller ID.

MY BAEKKIE

His depressing thoughts were immediately replaced by the cute boy. Chanyeol had been classmates with him since freshmen year, but they weren't exactly chatty with each other. Just the occassional necessary interactions and the bus rides. How he had fallen in love with him, he wasn't exactly sure.

At first, Chanyeol noticed him and thought he was cute, since he was smaller than most of their classmates. When Chanyeol began dating a few boys and girls, he noticed that he always saw Baekhyun in them.

That day Baekhyun caught his boyfriend and Chanyeol's girlfriend was the day he had admitted to himself that he liked Baekhyun too much - and probably loved him, even. The expression he had seen on the petite's face was of suppressed anger and disappointment was one that he knew he didn't want to see ever again. Chanyeol wanted to badly erase it from his precious face and change it into one of his glorious smiles.

Baekhyun's shy smile suddenly flashed across his mind, along with the faces that expressed his raw emotions which he had let Chanyeol see. He was a very passionate boy, and despite being closed off from most people, his face showed his feelings. He had seen him broken, he had seen him calm, he had seen him angry, he had seen him at the prime of his happiness, he had seen him in the influence of mischief, and he had seen him more in his state of misery.

Ah. Byun Baekhyun was indeed a perfect masterpiece. His many emotions were the wide array of colours his being was painted in.

And Chanyeol wanted him all for himself.

His phone rang louder once more, pulling him out from his reverie. Chanyeol pressed the green icon and slid it across the screen.

"Baekhyun?"

"Chanyeol..."

Baekhyun's voice was soft and hushed, but there were muffled voices in the background.

"Are you okay?" he asked, worried.

"I... I'm alright..."

Chanyeol furrowed his eyebrows, knowing damn well that Baekhyun wasn't.

"Chanyeol."

He flinched, surprised by the sudden firmness in his voice.

"What is it, Baekhyun?"

"This city's a bore. Take me somewhere."

"Anywhere?"

"Anywhere but here."

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