Of C's and B's

IV. Spring 1996

Chapter summary:
It was spring in 1996 when it all started…

Genre: angst
Tags: narration, childhood, first love
Warning(s): slightly emotion triggering
Word count: 1,583

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It was spring in 1996 when Baekhyun met Chanyeol.

It was when his mother’s best friend has gone back to Seoul after working for four years in China and visited the Byun residence. The lady, Mrs. Park, had brought a chubby little boy the same age as Baekhyun; four years old. Park Chanyeol was the boy’s name. Baekhyun didn’t like him. Chanyeol was months younger, and Baekhyun didn’t want anyone else to be the baby besides him. But he still found himself playing with him at the end of the day.

It was spring in 2000 when Baekhyun liked Chanyeol.

It wasn’t anything romantic, of course. Baekhyun had managed to accept he wasn’t the baby anymore, and suddenly he liked the way of being Chanyeol’s hyung right then. Chanyeol looked up to him. He was the best hyung, after all. They were both only child, and they found a sibling in each other.

It was spring in 2008 when Baekhyun liked Chanyeol too much.

He didn’t want to move to high school. Not when Chanyeol was moving to China with Mrs. Park, where the lady worked a few years back. Baekhyun was sad, but he didn’t show it to Chanyeol. The boy was too excited to go overseas. It seemed like he never thought he and Baekhyun would be separated at all. Baekhyun was lonely.

It was spring in 2009 but Baekhyun couldn’t forget his friend.

Or was it just his friend? He was liking Chanyeol too much. It was because of the brotherhood, right? It should be. Baekhyun didn’t like the boy that way. He knew it wasn’t supposed to be like that. And he was too young. It was frightening as how he liked Chanyeol---his friend, his brother. Also, they were both guys. It would be a trouble.

It was spring in 2010 when Baekhyun tried to get a girlfriend.

Or a boyfriend. He didn’t know what he wanted. He didn’t like either. He didn’t feel happy. He didn’t feel contented. Or loved. Or maybe, he did. But Baekhyun was just looking for something else. Or someone else. Little did he know, he was unconsciously looking for Chanyeol.

It was spring in 2012 when they met the second time.

They were twenty, young, but legal in age. Chanyeol went back to Seoul on his own, enrolling in a Korean university. Baekhyun was there, drinking soju at a store in the neighborhood. Chanyeol didn’t recognize his face. Baekhyun didn’t know why he was disappointed. He didn’t even know what to expect, anyway.

It was spring in 2014 when Baekhyun got Chanyeol again.

They were batchmates on their graduation. They were acquainted, even. But Baekhyun never got to have Chanyeol the way before. They were just casual friends, that’s all. And Baekhyun didn’t know why he was so sad.

It was spring in 2015 when Chanyeol had a girlfriend.

Baekhyun just heard. From some of his acquaintances at school before. It wasn’t like he should care. They were adults. Chanyeol must have had more than one girlfriend in his lifetime. It was normal. It was acceptable. Baekhyun didn’t know why he was jealous. He didn’t like Chanyeol that way. Maybe he just wanted a partner on his own.

It was spring in 2016 when they got closer.

They became co-workers in a company. Chanyeol was then single. Baekhyun was also single. But Baekhyun didn’t know why these mattered. They’d gotten closer, yes, but it wasn’t like he would want it to step up any higher. Chanyeol was just too kind. Baekhyun didn’t want to take advantage of it.