Bermuda // Chanbaek

4

There was so little time left for summer, before school started. Chanyeol kept wondering what school would be like now. Would it be the same like he remembered it?

"Oh no. No, no, no, no." Jongin shrieked. "This. Is. Bad."

Kyungsoo turned to look at him. He laughed when he saw real tears forming in Jongin's eyes. "It's not going to be bad. We're going to have fun. Like last year... And every year before that..." He calmed Jongin.

Jongin looked at Kyungsoo like he had said something stupid. "No, no, no. I don't like school. I don't even get good grades. Sometimes I don't get grades at all!" He cried.

"What are you guys talking about?" Chanyeol butt in and sat among the group of friends. He had gone downstairs to bring some water. "Is- Jongin are you crying?"

Kyungsoo laughed again and tried to calm Jongin by stroking his back in circles. "It's just that schools start next week. And as you can infer, he isn't really fond of school."

When Jongin stopped crying, they decided to watch a movie. They ordered some pizza and fuzzy drinks and when they arrived, they put the film on.

They spent the next two hours sitting in front of the TV on Chanyeol's bed; Jongin fell asleep. "I should take him home." Junmyeon said.

"I could take him, if you want." Kyungsoo suggested.

Junmyeon shook his head as a negative response and woke Jongin up. He carried him outside and helped him get in the car.

"Is he always like that?" Chanyeol asked, a hint of worry in his voice. He could tell Jongin was really frustrated.

"Nah, he'll be fine." Kyungsoo answered. "He's always like that before school starts, but he's very cheerful when he gets used to waking hours."

Chanyeol didn't say anything.

"I really don't want to go back there." Chanyeol stated. "It's a nightmare."

"It's going to be okay, I'll be there for you." Baekhyun reassured him, his hands caressing his back. "I'll protect you."

"It's not as easy to do that as it is to say it. There's nothing you can do about this." Chanyeol lowered his head.

"Hey, hey, look at me." Baekhyun said, lifting Chanyeol's head, his hands on the younger's cheeks. "You may be taller than me, but I swear I'll do my best. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Chanyeol smiled, a tear running down his pink cheek and on his lips. Chanyeol licked them. Salty.

Baekhyun's eyes drifted to Chanyeol's lips, catching his actions, but quickly swifted his gaze and removed his hands from Chanyeol's cheeks. He touched his own lower lip.

"Thank you." Chanyeol said, wiping his tears away. "I really appreciate you being my friend, Baek."

"I should, probably, go, too."

"Hmm?" Chanyeol hummed. "Oh... Yeah, okay." He said.

"Are you okay?" Kyungsoo asked as he pressed the back of his hand on Chanyeol's temple. "You're kind of hot, you may have a fever. Wait, let me check." His small palms touched Chanyeol's cheeks and he pressed his lips on his forehead, standing on his knees on the bed, in order to be able to reach that high.

Chanyeol's eyes moved from the left to the right as Kyungsoo closed his.

"Hmm, can't really figure out like this; that drink made my lips cold..." Kyungsoo said and sat back down.