still you | baekyeon

Chapter 16

Chanyeol's warm greeting met Baekhyun as he entered the bustling waiting room.

The conclusion of Baekhyun's performance marked a moment of pause as he awaited the culmination of the other acts before his return to the stage. His nomination for the top spot added a layer of tension to the anticipation.

A smile spread across Baekhyun's face in response to Chanyeol's words.

Retrieving his phone, Baekhyun dispatched a message to a particular recipient.

Performance done.

As time trickled on, Baekhyun found himself continually checking his phone for a reply that never materialized.

Is she preoccupied?

.

Amid the celebratory atmosphere in the room, punctuated by the management team's cheers, Baekhyun reentered. The room had been decked out with a cake to commemorate his victorious first-place comeback performance.

Gratitude colored Baekhyun's words in response to the congratulatory sentiment.

Yet, despite the festivity surrounding him, his thoughts repeatedly circled back to his unanswered phone.

He typed out another message.

I won 1st place. We're currently celebrating.

A fleeting hesitancy prompted Baekhyun to reconsider his message before ultimately hitting send.

Post the festivities, Baekhyun returned home, taking a moment to freshen up. Still, his phone remained devoid of any response.

Uncharacteristically out of touch, he couldn't help but wonder what was amiss.

Resting on his bed, his phone tightly held, Baekhyun contemplated reaching out through a phone call.

Dialing her number, the phone rang in a seemingly unending fashion, each ring met with silence.

Exhaling a sigh, he resolved to compose another message.

Are you okay? Where are you? Why aren't you answering my call?

An undercurrent of concern swelled within him, prompting him to dismiss his exhaustion and venture outside. His purpose was clear: he needed to ensure her well-being.

The late hour worked in his favor, affording a measure of anonymity as he arrived at her residence. Mask and cap donned, Baekhyun approached her door, his knuckles rapping against it with a mixture of urgency and trepidation.

After an uninterrupted sequence of knocks, Taeyeon finally opened her door, dressed in a 'ZERO' pajama ensemble. Her eyes widened in surprise upon encountering who just came in to visit.

"Why are you here?" she inquired, her forehead creasing with perplexity.

"Well, you weren't replying to my messages, and I got worried. Are you alright?" he explained, with concern evident.

"Of course," she replied, her gaze intermittently flickering to something behind her.

"Did you read my messages?" he questioned.

"Your messages? Oh, no, I actually... haven't touched my phone."

Her stuttering was conspicuous and left him further puzzled.

"Are you sure you're okay? Can I come in?" he asked, sensing something amiss.

"Sure," she acquiesced after another glance over her shoulder, widening the door to invite him inside.