for him. ✔

chapter eighteen.

4 years later...

"We should break up."

Baekhyun froze halfway through cutting up his cake. He slowly placed his utensils down and looked up at his boyfriend.

"Why?" he asked, staring into his dark brown eyes. "Is this because I wasn't able to go to that one relevant basketball game?"

"No Baekhyun," Kris sighed, scratching his temple awkwardly. "You're never lacking... You're everything that I could ever want and you're perfect... but it's just that I need to go back to China next week... and I'm kind of... um, engaged already."

Baekhyun nodded, understanding him. He cracked a smile and tilted his head to the sight, "It's alright. Priorities first, right?"

Kris didn't look too happy, but he grinned back at the smaller boy with a gummy smile. "Yes... I guess so... I'm really sorry for disappointing you, Baekhyun."

He put his hands up and waved at him, smiling at Kris softly, "No no, it's alright. I perfectly understand."

"So, we can still be friends right?" Kris asked uncertainly. "We could still talk over the phone or communicate through Instagram?"

"Yeah, sure Kris," Baekhyun said, genuinely thinking that things should remain friendly and civilized with his now ex-boyfriend. Besides, they started off as friends. It didn't seem bad to end it between them as friends too.

"I'll miss you, Baekhyun," Kris murmurred.

Baekhyun nodded, avoiding eye contact as he finally went back to his cake. "I'll miss you too."

✴

"Omg, tell me what happened!" Taeyeon shrieked when she saw a lifeless Baekhyun in his dorm room. The blonde girl was a caring senior and one of his bestfriends ever since coming to this university, so she earned the privelege of coming and going into his room as much as she pleased.

"It was nothing really, noona," Baekhyun answered, sighing as he sat up. Taeyeon kicked off her sandals and quickly climbed up the bed and sat cross-legged in front of him. "You know how people are. They come and go."

Taeyeon reached out as if to pat her bestfriend as usual to comfort him, but instead, she flicked his forehead so hard, Baekhyun let out a distraught cry and sank back into the headboard.

"What was that for?!" Baekhyun yelled as he massaged his forehead while pouting.

"That's exactly why no one stays long enough for you!" Taeyeon shouted back at him. "You have this stupid logic that you only want affection from your significant other, and you expect them to want just as much from you. You expect them to leave any time in the future, so you don't even bother to give your all into the relationship. That's why they just leave!"

"Why don't you tell me how it should be done?" Baekhyun challenged her, crossing his arms over his chest. "Why don't you?!"

"Alright!" Taeyeon said as she leaned in closer to him, like she was sharing a secret. "In every relationship, you need to look at them like a potential partner you'd like to have a family with."

"What the hell," Baekhyun said. "Don't you think that's too much?"

Taeyeon glared at the younger and reached out to pinch his cheek, just not too hard. "Shut up and hear me out, will you?"

Baekhyun rolled his eyes.

"As I was saying," Taeyeon continued. "You need to forget about the technicalities and reality and just keep on thinking of a possible future with him or her."