from : To you back then_ [CB]

_13

: Chiik, ttakgak- :

변 백현(18)

“Okay, drink.”

<Baekhyun sits next to Chanyeol, holding a can of soda in both hands.>

: Full stone- :

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“Ah.. Thank you..! I’ll drink it well.”

: Swish- :

변 백현(18)

“ … “

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“ ….? “

‘…Why…are you looking at me?..’

< Chanyeol, who had accepted the drink, noticed Baekhyun's gaze piercing through him. >

변 백현(18)

“… Hey, but you… why are you being bullied?”

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“Huh, huh??.. “

< Chanyeol stuttered as if surprised by the unexpected question. >

변 백현(18)

“No, you’re tall and… well… you’re handsome… but… why are you being bullied?”

< Baekhyun spoke, looking around shyly. >

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“ … Ah.. well, the biggest reason is.. because I’m gay..?”

: Stop- :

변 백현(18)

" … uh?.. "

< Baekhyun, who heard Chanyeol's words, stopped his actions and looked at Chanyeol. >

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“ … If you don’t like me, you can go. I don’t really care anymore.. “

: Percussion! :

변 백현(18)

“Ah, no..!! What.. what are you talking about!! Why do I hate you.. “

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“… Everyone was surprised at first… and then they looked at me like I was a bug… and then they moved to a different seat… and that’s why…”

< Chanyeol put the can down next to him with a bitter smile. >

변 백현(18)

“ …. “

: Phew!.. :

< And Baekhyun, looking at Chanyeol like that, soon bursts into laughter. >

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“…Why are you laughing?.. “

변 백현(18)

“Ah… Phew!.. No, that’s funny.. “

“He’s so timid, but he says everything he wants to say.”

변 백현(18)

“And, if I avoid you, why are you even talking like that in the first place? You idiot-”

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“ … Ah.. That, just!.. I think it would be better to say it earlier.. “

: Hwaak//.. :

< Chanyeol looked at Baekhyun's face smiling at him, his face flushed red, and he soon lowered his head. >

변 백현(18)

“Oh, your ears are red! What the—do you like me?”

[현실] 박찬열(18)

“Oh, no.. that.. thing.. “

‘Why of all people… he looks just like Baekhyun…’

< Chanyeol turned his head with all his might and covered his ears. >

-That evening, (novel)

오후 11:00

: Tak, full stone- :

[소설] 박찬열(22)

“ … “

[ So... the fact that you liked me was also a means to betray the organization? ]

[ Ugh!… Ugh!… ]

[소설] 박찬열(22)

" …. under.. "

: Understand-! :

< Chanyeol, who remembered what Baekhyun had said in the past, immediately threw away the towel he had been holding around his neck. >

[소설] 박찬열(22)

" … it's annoying, "

‘A life-size figure… Byun Baekhyun…’

< Chanyeol opens the drawer and takes out a photo taken when he and Baekhyun were dating. >

: Swish-.. :

“ …. “

[소설] 박찬열(22)

“Even then and now...”

: Kwak.. :

“Both of you... Nothing seems to have changed.”

: Swish, thump- :

< Chanyeol puts the photo in the drawer, then grabs his car key and leaves the room. >

: Thud, thud-.. :

: Thud...thud... :

변 백현 (22)

“ … “

< Meanwhile, Baekhyun was lying down in the car with the seat reclined. >

< It seemed like Baekhyun still needed to gather his thoughts, so he stayed in the car without moving. >

: Swish-.. :

변 백현 (22)

" … it hurts.. "

< I cried so hard earlier that the area under my eyes feels sore. >

: Rustle-.. :

변 백현 (22)

“ … It’s raining a lot.. “

‘I hope you got home safely..’

< Baekhyun is staring blankly out the window with a hollow smile. >