still you | baekyeon

Chapter 4

The room hung in a heavy silence, as though even the air dared not disturb the fragile equilibrium that had settled upon it. Taeyeon and Baekhyun stood on the precipice of a conversation, both hesitant to take that first step into the unknown.

Taeyeon's lips parted to speak, but Baekhyun's voice interjected at the same time, creating a momentary clash of words, like two musical notes colliding in mid-air.

Their eyes met, twin pools of uncertainty reflecting each other's surprise.

With a subtle motion of her hand, Taeyeon gestured towards the cozy couch positioned against one wall. The invitation hung in the air, unspoken yet understood. She herself settled onto the edge of the bed, creating a sort of silent boundary between them, a buffer against the rush of emotions that threatened to engulf her.

Baekhyun's voice softened as he ventured to break the uneasy stillness, his concern evident in the gentle curve of his lips, "How are you feeling?"

A hint of wry amusement danced in Taeyeon's eyes, her response tinged with a touch of sarcasm, "Oh, you know, just avoiding death for now."

A nervous cough escaped Baekhyun's lips, a visible sign of the awkwardness that clouded the space between them.

His voice grew softer, an earnest expression taking hold of his features, "I'm really sorry about what happened earlier."

A flicker of something played across Taeyeon's face, a mixture of bitterness and resignation, "Is an apology all you've got?"

Baekhyun's brow furrowed, his confusion palpable, "I mean, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for things to go down like that."

A sigh escaped Taeyeon's lips, laden with the weight of her own emotions, "Am I some kind of magnet for chaos?"

Baekhyun's response was swift and adamant, "No, of course not."

An unsteady pause followed, both of them caught in the web of their emotions, each trying to navigate a path through the tangled mess.

"Why then, amidst this whirlwind, does it all seem to revolve around me? What do you want from me?" Taeyeon's voice held a hint of vulnerability, as if she was searching for answers to questions that had long haunted her.

Baekhyun stumbled over his words, caught between his genuine desire to mend things and the overwhelming torrent of emotions swirling around them, "I never meant to make things worse. I didn't plan for any of this to blow up."

"Why did you have to pour fuel on the fire, then? Is that your specialty?" Taeyeon's words carried a bitter undertone, a mixture of hurt and frustration.

Baekhyun's voice was tinged with a touch of desperation, "I swear, I didn't--"

"Address me as 'sunbae,'" Taeyeon interjected firmly, her gaze unwavering.

"Noona, I--"

"Just use 'sunbae.'"

"Okay, 'sunbaenim.' I really didn't mean to cause all this trouble, I promise."

"Well, trouble is here, and now I'm stuck dealing with it," Taeyeon's voice wavered as she wiped a stray tear, the storm within her threatening to overflow.

Baekhyun's eyes searched for a lifeline amidst the turmoil, his voice earnest yet uncertain, "I didn't want any of this to happen. I didn't expect things to spiral out of control like this."

"Why did you have to grab my hand, then? Why follow me to the medical room? Why not just vanish?" Taeyeon's voice quivered as her questions spilled out, her tears flowing like a river that refused to be dammed.