Fighter ( Park Chanyeol X Male reader )

Moonlight

(Chanyeol's POV)

We filed into the cafe, arms linked and eyes wide with excitement. Changmin sauntered in right after us, giving each of us a friendly wave. He leaned over the booth we had taken up by the window and asked how school was for us all. When he noticed Eunil, who was sitting beside me, he raised an eyebrow. I quickly introduced him as my friend and Changmin gave a knowing smirk before turning back to the rest of us with a question about ordering the usual meal. Eunil looked away shyly, his ears turning red, and mumbled an apology. I patted his head reassuringly, understanding that meeting new people made him nervous.

Kai gestured for Lay and Tao to come closer, bringing Chen, Xiumin and Baekhyun along with them. As the group reached the table, Eunil shrunk into his chair upon seeing Lay approach. Lay stopped in front of the table, staring down at Eunil with a still face and an expression of tenderness. He sighed before speaking in Chinese, prompting Tao to look on in surprise as he witnessed the exchange between the two. Lay then motioned for Eunil to hug him, which brought a slight quiver to Eunil's lips. He stood up slowly and stepped closer to Lay, who enveloped him in a tight embrace.

I felt a sharp pang in my chest as Eunil enveloped Lay in a tight embrace, their bodies pressed close together like two lovers. I glanced away to try and hide the sadness I felt, but Lay caught me before quickly looking away with a knowing smile. Everyone at the table was silent, eyes shifting between Eunil and Lay until Kai finally cleared his throat and asked "Um...are you two...?" Lay chuckled awkwardly, not wanting to answer but feeling obligated to. "Nope," he said firmly, his voice heavy with restraint. He looked Kai dead in the eye as he continued, "My parents just own the cafe he works for, so I've met him a few times at staff meetings that's all." Tao raised an eyebrow skeptically while Eunil fiddled with his fingers nervously.

Max and U-kwon arrived with the food, grinning as they distrubted it to us. Their eyes twinkling with kindness and warmth, they patted our backs in a comforting manner. Baekhyun watched them intently before taking a sip of his tea and setting it down on the table. He shot Eunil an icy glare, almost as if he was challenging him. His voice low and inquisitive as he asked "So Eunil, how'd you meet everyone and get so close?" We all noticed the uncomfortable tension that filled the room, and realized that Baekhyun was not only joking around but had something more against the new boy.

His voice wavered, and he nervously shuffled his feet while avoiding eye contact. He fiddled with his fingers, creating small tufts in the burgundy tablecloth. I could tell that speaking up was difficult for him, and my heart ached to make it easier.

My jaw clenched as I watched my friend, Baek, confront the young boy, his arms crossed menacingly. "Baek, leave the kid alone," I said firmly. "You being overprotective and jealous is gonna scare him away--he'll feel uncomfortable."

My mouth felt like it had taken on a life of its own, and my words were out of my control. Baekhyun choked on his drink, whipping his head to look at me in shock. His eyes were wide with confusion. "The hell is that supposed to mean Park?" he asked, anger lacing his words. "Like seriously Chanyeol – me being overprotective? Let alone jealous? What would I be jealous about?! Look at him, he's so small and fragile - barely any muscle at all. He looks like a puppet! Hell, he looks like he gets paid to get fucked on the south side of town, getting tossed from one bum to another!" Baekhyun was beyond angry now; betrayal filled his gaze as he stared intently at me.

My face burned with a mixture of anger and shame. Baekhyun's words about Eunil were harsh and unnecessary, but the accusation hanging in the air stung worse. 

"That's enough, Baekhyun!" Kai slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone. "You crossed a line there. Chanyeol was just trying to help."

Eunil's eyes welled up with tears, his whole body trembling. He looked like a small animal caught in a trap, ready to bolt at any second. My stomach clenched with guilt. I had to do something to de-escalate the situation.

"Look," I said, my voice tight, "Let's just calm down. Baekhyun, you apologize to Eunil for what you said. It was uncalled for."

Baekhyun scoffed. "Apologize? Why? Because the little guy might cry? Like I said he probably gets tossed around like a ragdoll on a regular basis anyway, what's a few harsh words gonna do?".

I stole a glance at Eunil. Tears streamed down his face, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs. My heart twisted with guilt and protectiveness.

"C-clearly I'm not wanted here.." Eunil basically climbs over me and grabs his bags but he was too quick in leaving. "Eunil!" I tried grabbing him but he slipped right out.  

A jolt of panic shot through me. Before I could react further, Eunil had scrambled out of the booth, his backpack clutched tightly to his chest. A choked sob escaped his lips as he darted past me, barely registering my outstretched hand that fumbled uselessly in the air.

"Eunil!" I yelled after him, my voice laced with desperation. But he was already a blur, disappearing out of the cafe door like a spooked rabbit.

Shame washed over me, bitter and cold. This wasn't how our evening was supposed to go. Guilt gnawed at my insides. I had tried to defend him, but my words felt hollow in the face of Baekhyun's cruelty and the undeniable tension in the room.

Ignoring the stunned silence at the table, I bolted towards the door, shoving it open with enough force to make it creak on its hinges. The cool night air hit me like a slap, but I barely registered it. My eyes scanned the dimly lit street, searching for any sign of Eunil.

"Eunil!" I called out again, my voice echoing in the quiet night. But there was no answer, only the faint hum of traffic and the distant laughter spilling from another cafe down the street.

Frustration bubbled up inside me. I slammed my fist against the brick wall beside the door, the pain a dull echo of the turmoil within. Back inside, the cafe seemed to have shrunk, the air thick with unspoken apologies and simmering tension.