ARTIFICIAL LOVE

Love and Farewell

The next few days at the office are hard for both Baekhyun and PCY. It is like a cat and mouse game between them. PCY always tries to subtly pursue Baekhyun, and Baekhyun always pretends to ignore PCY.

'How difficult is it for him?' Baekhyun was thinking that it is hard for PCY, knowing that he is in love with Chanyeol, not with him. And the fact that Baekhyun's last day at the office is just looming near, he can see that PCY is just trying to be fine and cheerful around him.

He is even trying to pretend that every day is just a normal happy day for him and Baekhyun. That Baekhyun is not going to leave.

Baekhyun wanted to take up his share of his burden. Because he knew, he is becoming less and less attached to Chanyeol. He knows that Chanyeol's image is slowly disappearing in his heart and being replaced by PCY.

He was shrewd enough to recognize that.

But Baekhyun doesn't want any of it. He invested almost all his love for the cold hearted man who stole his heart. Chanyeol. His conscience and guilt is fighting against what his heart truly desires. Even though Chanyeol was anything but considerate to him, it is unfair for Chanyeol to be replaced easily by someone. A robot.

So Baekhyun decided to be bitter.

It is already Baekhyun's last day at work. They're both outside the office, walking towards the nearby park where they used to hang out.

"It will be nice to see you again." PCY's hand is in his pocket. He is trying hard to control himself not to reach for him. "I don't want to give you any false hope PCY." Baekhyun found a bench and sat.

"I am thinking of getting another dead-end job and pursue a master's degree. I will never go back here again." Baekhyun tried his best to be reasonably calm.

"Can I follow you? Run away and just be with you? Even if you don't love me, I will just be there for you."

"You know that you can't do that. You are programmed to pretend as Chanyeol."

It is so dreadful. Too dreadful, Baekhyun can feel his heart breaking into million pieces. To say goodbye to someone you are starting to love and that person doesn't even know. And will never get a chance to know. Baekhyun doesn't even want to sigh because his last wall of defense might crumble and he might end up confessing to PCY.

"Ahh, it sucks to look straight at the sun" PCY said. When Baekhyun looked at him, a tear fell from PCY's eyes. "I am sorry." That is all what Baekhyun was able to say.

"In an ideal world, where we both exist, will you be mine if I say that I love you?" PCY asked.

"In an ideal world, there is no chance that you will exist PCY."

"In MY ideal world, we will both exist. Now, will you be mine in my ideal world?"

"I guess so."

"Are you really going to be happy once you are far away from me or Chanyeol?"

"I will try."

"Please stay."

Baekhyun could stand it no more. He closed his eyes but the tears of sorrow could not stay back. It rolled down his cheeks.

PCY wiped his tears away. "Hey, this is your last day with me. I don't want you to cry. I want to remember your smile. Not your tears."

Baekhyun stared at PCY. Their eyes met. Baekhyun hoped that whatever he cannot say directly to PCY will be conveyed through his eyes that spoke longingness and fondness. A stray breeze stirred a few tendrils of PCY's hair. Unknowingly, he tucked it behind PCY's ear. "I will never forget you." Baekhyun smiled.

"Goodbye Baek." PCY kissed the tip of his nose. He smiled at him, and then kissed his lips. On that bittersweet moment, Baekhyun wanted to reach out and be imprisoned by PCY's arms.

But PCY stood up and walked away. He didn't see the regret that filled Baekhyun's face when another set of tears fell from his eyes.

CHAPTER 10: LOVE AND FAREWELL