[M] Final (1/1)

Playlist“Good evening, Seoul, and the greater South Korea!” the lively voice boomed, gradually silencing the deafening cheers of the crowd. “Welcome to another episode of Inside Out. This week, our special guest, you will be familiar with” the host and former member of the Korean boy group, EXO's Chen, or now widely known for his own name, Kim Jongdae, announced. “I am a hundred-and-one percent sure that the ladies in our audience once swooned over this outstanding singer-slash-actor-slash-dancer-slash—oh, you get the point!” Jongdae cut himself off, which earnt a good natured chuckling from the crowd. It's been well over six years since the globally acclaimed Korean-pop group sensation, EXO, announced their disbandment. Sure, it did illicit very negative response from their fans and the netizens alike. However, when they heard the group's valid reasoning behind the announcement, it did make it easily acceptable for their audience. “We just came to the point and age where, as a group, think that it is time to go on our own paths—to take care of our own destinies and follow our dreams. We all share the same dream—being debuted under EXO—yes, but sometimes, we all tend to dream bigger, however, that does not mean we will forget about EXO. No, we will never. EXO is shares a huge chunk of our lives, and we will always be EXO. We are one” the group's—former—leader, Suho, stated in their last concert in Seoul. Tears welled up in the fan's eyes as they sang the highly popular fandom song, Promise, together with EXO as their lightsticks produced an ocean of stars that will forever remain shining. Jongdae recognised the same lightsticks that are being furiously waved amongst the crowd. It brought him a sense of pride as he felt his chest swell in pure ecstasy. The fans and the stage, he still experiences. But, the soloist still thinks that being on the same grounds as his former band members, rather, brothers bound by bond, is still a very different exhilarating experience. “I hope that our special guest tonight would make your hearts beat faster than before once again—but, you know, just take it easy as he's already married. Please welcome, Byun Baekhyun!”      “I'm home~” Baekhyun sing-songed as he pushed the front door open. Coming back from another day of being a private music teacher, he was greeted with nothing but dank silence. He then toed off his shoes, and heaved out a sigh. “He probably fell asleep again” Baekhyun muttered to himself, unfurling the scarf that was wrapped around his neck. He hanged it on the coat stand near the entrance, along with his satchel and coat, as he attempted to call for his husband once again. “Yeol? Are you here, honey?” Baekhyun asked, but was only answered by silence. Padding his way through in their spacey apartment, he checked in their kitchen, as his husband had developed a bad habit of falling asleep on their kitchen island whilst bending awkwardly on their bar stools. Chanyeol, however, wasn't there. Sighing to himself once more, he made his way to their bedroom.  “You know, if you just don't deliberately fall asleep in awkward positions, you wouldn't be wincing in pain right now” Baekhyun scolded, as he now kneeled beside Chanyeol, who was lying on his stomach on their bed, hissing in pain as the smaller pushed on a spot just near the blades of his shoulder quite harshly. “Ow!” Chanyeol whined, feeling the annoyance of his lover as he massaged his cramped back. “Baek, that hurt” he pouted, as he turned his head to the side where Baekhyun was partly sitting. “You deserve that, you moron” Baekhyun pinched his arm, which made Chanyeol slightly rise from his position. “Far out, that was painful!” the giant whined even more, as he now sat up in front of Baekhyun, face contorted in pain as he caressed the damaged arm. “Good. That's for you being an idiot” Baekhyun huffed, crossing his arm and rolled his eyes on the too-wide smile that is plastered on his husband's face—the kind of smile he gives when he knows he's in the wrong. “Yeah, but I'm your idiot” Chanyeol retorted, playfully jabbing Baekhyun on his arm, which was slapped away by the latter. “Don't touch me” he snapped, but the goofy grin on Chanyeol's face showed no hints of backing away. “Aww, you didn't deny it. You must love me sooooo much!” “I don't” “Sure, you don't” “Leave me alone, you big—Ah!” Baekhyun was then pulled down to the bed, and Chanyeol locked him in a huge bear hug along with his long legs trapping his small frame. “Even if you say that you don't love me, no one else could still have you. You're mine, and mine alone, Baekhyunee. So, I'll just hug you until you love me” Chanyeol said, tightening his hold around the brunet as he chuckled when the latter tried to pry his way out. “No one can escape this cuddle monster. Now, behave and let me love you” “Whatever, you big oaf.” “Hey! That's not very nice!” They have always been like this, even back in the days with the group. Their bantering are very known amongst the members, and the fans even. They are even very popular amongst the female fans, which most viewed as two friends having a good laugh together. But, a few with sharper eyes and more vivid imagination, already saw through their facade and watched a love blossom in front of their very own eyes. Eventually, Chanyeol felt Baekhyun struggling less, and his breathing became more shallow and silent. Loosening his grip around the tiny body, he glanced down on Baekhyun, only to see his eyes closed and lips slightly parted in sleep. Chanyeol watched his husband sniffle in his sleep, a habit that he is very familiar of, as his lashes flutter slightly when his eyes moved beneath the lids. The raven-haired man then took the opportunity to scrutinise the famous Byun Baekhyun, and try to see why so many want him as much as he does, possibly more. Baekhyun's porcelain skin glimmered under the dim lighting of their bedroom, giving him that eternal glow which made him look like younger than he really is. There was the soft tuft of caramel curls which tickled his cheeks, the smell of fading citrus and fruits of all sorts brought warmth in his chest. The lips that were slightly parted—pink, thin, but extremely inviting—never failed to make his mind go haywire with an array of emotions and urges—love, lust, want, possesiveness... It never ends. But the longer he stared at his lover, Chanyeol came to realise, the deeper he fell for him. He is forever grateful for the blessing in his life called Byun Baekhyun. “I love you” he whispered, planting a soft kiss on the corner of Baekhyun's lip. Unexpectedly, Baekhyun pulled him closer, shifting his face slightly so their lips would touch. “I love you more. I only love you and only will love you” Baekhyun replied under his breath, as he closed the gap between their lips for another kiss.       “So, Baek,” Jongdae started as the crowd's screams died down. “How have you been, my friend?” “Quite good, actually. I did miss being in front of the cameras and surely, the cameras did miss me” Baekhyun grinned, his eyes forming crescents and mouth showcasing that famous rectangular smiles. There were loud responses from the audience, especially when the man directly looked at the camera, which zoomed to only frame his face. He laughed that charming laugh and immediately got shy when he realised that he was being focused on the larger screen. “Of course they did. So tell me, how is your job? I heard that you're a teacher, right?”       “Mr Byun, can I talk to you in private, please?” a young girl, possibly no older than eighteen, blocked Baekhyun's path as he walked towards the main building of the campus. Fixing the circular frame of his glasses on his nose, Baekhyun nodded politely and smiled, which made the girl flush and turn away. “Sure. What about?” Baekhyun smiled, but the girl said nothing. She just continued to walk along the path that crosses from the main campus buildings to the expanse of green that is the school lawn. Baekhyun figured that they're going somewhere far within the campus, possibly near the back entrance of the school where there is a large football oval that has hosted many interschool events. If it was weird, Baekhyun refrained from commenting on it as his attention is averted to the growing daisies that they've passed. He takes a mental note of complementing the school gardener for it. That's when he realised that the student in front of him stopped walking. He took a halt in front of the tree, and he was about to open his mouth for a question when the girl quickly scurried behind the tall gum tree. “Uh, are you alr-”  “S-Sir Byun!” he heard the girl squeak, which made him stop and clear his throat. He knew the girl from one of his music classes. Baekhyun is a coach in vocal training and piano lessons, but the said girl is a fairly average student. Nothing too exemplory, nothing too bad. Mediocre. But now, awkward silence ensued as the rufflings of the leaves and the faint chatters of the students from afar are the only sound that came between them. “I-I...” the girl stuttered after what felt like eons. Baekhyun waited for her to blurt out something, anything, but judging by the way her voice is shaky, he realised that she might be nervous. “I-uhm... I AM A BIG FAN OF YOURS, OPPA!” she finally blurted out, and Baekhyun almost dropped his satchel and the empty cup on his hand. After regaining his composure, Baekhyun fixed himself, feeling suddenly self-conscious. “O-oh, wow. Thank you, Miss Lee” Baekhyun replied, but the girl wasn't done yet. “And your husband, too, Park Chanyeol. I used to really love EXO back in middle school. I've always wanted to g-go to one of your concerts but my mum always would not allow me because I was too young. I still listen to your songs, oppa a-and... can I admit one more thing?”  “Sure”  “Your husband is my bias. I still follow him on Soundcloud and listen to his new releases”       “Well, I was. At a university. But the main point is Chanyeol and I really want our privacy. It's still lovely to meet people who compliments and supports our group, but I really just want to experience how it feels like to live a normal life. You know, like an average guy would, despite how impossible it may sound. But I really love Chanyeol's company, and he makes me happy all the time”      “Hey, Baekhyun. Come here!” Chanyeol's very distinct voice called out. Even with his eyes closed, Baekhyun would know if it was his husband's snoring. But in the middle of a farmer's market, the last thing Baekhyun wants is to attract any unwanted attention to them. He scurried over to where the shouts of his husband originated from, only to see his six foot something man-child crouching down with his back on him. “Hey, honey. What are you up to?” Baekhyun smiled at the sight. He recalls those times when they both used to perform on the same stage. For him, Chanyeol would always look the coolest. He might not admit it very often, but he wished that his stares of admiration is enough. Baekhyun had always thought that they were subtle, but of course, their fans have the eye sharper than the eagle so his glances are always unmissed. Baekhyun then crouched down beside his husband, who's face was stretched in such a wide grin. He looked down in front of them and saw a straw basket, bunched with blankets inside and soft whining. “They're puppies, Baek. Apparently, they're for free” Chanyeol explained. If there were any liveliness and enthusiasm to his husband's voice before, it certainly has deflated and vanished already. Baekhyun watched Chanyeol stare at the black, brown and white puppies that innocently dozed. There are lots of things—Baekhyun concluded then—that Chanyeol and puppies have in common. Some may find canines very threatening, but like Chanyeol, all they need is some love and understanding. Not to mention that both are cute, and they look like they could use some cuddling and kisses, so Baekhyun gave him just that. Not the dogs, of course, but his husband who is visibly pouting at the thought of adopting puppies. “I'm sorry, sweetheart” Baekhyun murmured at Chanyeol's hair, wrapping his arms around the taller's neck and resting his chin atop his head. “How about a pet turtle?”  “But they bite!” Chanyeol whined, returning the hug and pulling his husband by the waist. “Plus, you can't play with turtles. They're boring. It's so unfair. I really want a dog or a cat”  “How about a child?” Baekhyun blurted, and before he realised what he just said, it was too late. The cat is out of the bag.  He felt Chanyeol jolt in his hold. Baekhyun cursed himself for saying such a careless thing, especially that they've only been married for two years. “Oh, I-um...”  “What's a good name for a boy? Or did you want a girl?” Chanyeol tentatively commented. He loosened his hold to look up to his husband. To say that Baekhyun was surprised, it is an understatement. He opened his mouth to muster a reply, but closed it when even a sound failed to escape. “You know, we don't need to rush, if you don't want to yet” Chanyeol gently said as he stood up, pulling Baekhyun with him by the hand. “You don't have to do this for me, you know. But, in all honesty, that is one of my original plans, too: adopting children with Baekhyunee” Chanyeol grinned, taking his husband's face in his large hands. “But as long as you're with me, I'll never get bored. You're my special kind of entertainment, let's just say” the taller continued, as he lead the both of them away from the puppies. “Why do I get sexual undertones from that?”  “Because there is, love” Baekhyun could hear the wink and smirk from the taller's tone. He then gently smacked Chanyeol's arm and laughed, and eventually wrapped his arms around his husband's arm and tiptoed to reach his ear. “Naughty. Only good boys get what they want, and only if they ask nicely” he purred next to Chanyeol's ear, and he swore he heard the giant gulp.      “Now, speaking of Chanyeol. How is he? How's your relationship? Throw us a bone, Baekhyun. Give us some info about the married life!” Jongdae chuckled, which was followed by the cheers from the crowd in agreement.      His head is pounding.  As soon as he arrives home, Baekhyun would want nothing more but to come home and hope that Chanyeol cooked something for him and if he could read his mind, has run warm water in the bath ready for him. Pressing the apartment key code, Baekhyun wanted nothing but to collapse then and there. His body felt heavy in exhaustion, his back is aching from the many hours spent marking music theory quizzes and writing his lesson plan simultaneously. It was pure torture, and he just hopes that his husband has done everything he asked him to do via text message.  But apparently, not.  As soon as he walked in their apartment loft, it was an absolute mess. The laundry is still not folding, as it remained loafing around their living area. Heck, he doesn't even know if