Liar // ChanBaek [UAU I]

XIX / Departure Day, Part 1

WARNINGS: Implied sexual references; drug and addiction mentions; mild language

-Day 59; Thursday, July 27th, 2017-

Byun Baekhyun felt dizzy when Park Chanyeol told him his departure date had been moved forward.

Nine days.

They only had nine days together.

Baekhyun spent those days with Chanyeol, doing whatever Yeol wanted to do and listening to whatever he had to say.

Baekhyun was completely content just being with Chanyeol, listening to his steady heartbeat like a steady bass line.

Despite living and breathing Park Chanyeol for a constant nine days, taking car rides and late night walks and having dinners with him, Baekhyun was barely there.

His mind was somewhere else, and only the shell of a physical body remained with Chanyeol. Even though he was there physically with the one he loved so much it hurt, he was elsewhere mentally.

He didn't know exactly where. It wasn't like in the movies where people reach enlightenment, spend days on the beach, or in fantasy wonderlands.

Again, he had retreated to the small part of his head meant just for him, waiting it out, waiting until everything was right again and everyone fixed it for him.

Just like the night he almost killed Byun Woohyun.

On the afternoon of July 27th, as Chanyeol drove Baekhyun home for the last time, Chanyeol turned to face him before he could leave his car.

"Baekkie." he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Will you come tomorrow?"

Baekhyun looked at Chanyeol, confused. He came every night, didn't he? "What do you mean?"

Chanyeol never once looked Baekhyun in the eye. He acted skittish, and fumbled for his hand, holding Baekhyun's smaller hand in his large ones. "To the airport." he elaborated. "See me off, kind of. Kyungsoo's going to drop me off. Sehun, Kris and Junmyeon said they were going to try and say goodbye before my flight, too. Jongdae said he'd try and make his way over- he's obviously seeing Minseok off. His flight leaves from a gate like, on the other side of the airport. Minseok's flight leaves a little earlier than mine, though.

"I get if you don't want to come. It might be hard for you. I want you to come, though. I really want you there, Baekkie. But again, I get it you don't want to come or if you already planned on going with Jongdae and Minseok-"

"We'll see." Baekhyun breathed, matching Chanyeol's soft tone. Like his heavy heart, he dropped his gaze. "I might be busy. I have-"

"I get it. Don't worry." Finally, Chanyeol made eye contact with him, tipping his chin up with the tip of his finger. He smiled at him, something so small yet so familiar and comforting. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Yeol." Baekhyun replied, and Chanyeol leaned in, kissing him.

It was like any other kiss, but Baekhyun couldn't help but feel like his 'I love you' was automated and there was something missing from this kiss.

After a moment, they pulled away, their gazes still lingering. Wordlessly, Baekhyun gathered up his things and exited the car, making his way up to his own home.

Chanyeol watched all the while, and only pulled away when the front door shut tightly behind him.

not minseok✨: are you sure you're gonna be ok?