Let's Get Carried Away

11

He goes out for drinks with Jongdae on Wednesday. They go to a quiet, cheap bar they used to go to when they were still students. This time, he doesn't tell Jongdae anything about what happened with Kyungsoo. It's easier this way.

It's Jongdae the one that talks, this time. "You remember Yungson?" He asks, with a huge grin on his face. Baekhyun knows he liked her for a long time before they started dating. He nods, and Jongdae continues. "I asked her to come to the wedding with me."

"Congrats," he says, clinking his class to Jongdae's. "That... sounds official."

"Doesn't it?" Jongdae says, still smiling. Baekhyun's happy for him. "I had to ask Junmyeon if it was okay, since I had already confirmed I was going alone, but he... he sounded even happier about it than me. Are you taking anyone?"

"Nope," says Baekhyun. He just hadn't know who to ask. He thought about taking one of his coworkers, someone nice and that wouldn't read too much into it, like Seulgi, but it hadn't felt right. "I was just going to cling to you the entire night, but I guess I have to change my plans now."

"Yeah, you better," says Jongdae, and Baekhyun can tell he's being serious despite his light tone. "She doesn't need to hear any embarrassing stories. I want you guys to meet her, but you have to behave." He pauses then, looks down at his half empty glass. "I really, really like her."

Baekhyun smiles. "You sound serious about her." Baekhyun doesn't think he knows what it feels like, being so sure about something.

"I am," Jongdae says, and then he takes a look at his watch. "Sorry, Baekhyun. I have some exams to grade."

Baekhyun stays for a while after Jongdae leaves. He should probably go home, too. But he doesn't want to be alone right now, and even if the comfort of the conversations around him isn't much it's still better than his empty, quiet apartment. He thinks about Jongdae and his girlfriend, Junmyeon and his future husband. How cold his bed feels when there's no one sleeping next to him. When Kyungsoo isn't sleeping next to him.

As he orders another drink, he takes his phone out and opens his recent calls. His fingers linger on Kyungsoo's name, but he doesn't call. Instead, he goes home way too late and way too drunk, just enough that he falls asleep the second his head touches his pillow. The wedding is in three weeks.