Prompt #62: Feelings Better Left Elsewhere

[winterlight9092]

Other Characters: Chanyeol, kid!Chen, past!Xiumin/OC
Length: 10,000
Rating: PG
Warnings: the pace of this whole thing
Summary: It's hard; trying to like someone after such horrible experiences with love. Especially hard when it's your co-worker and your son's teacher.
Author's Note: I would like to thank the mods of winterlights for holding a xiubaek fic fest! I took this up to challenge myself but I still think I sucked because I think I rushed it TT Anyway, thank you to N and A for being my cute cheerleaders, S for proofreading my first draft and L for beta-ing! You guys are absolute sweethearts. To prompter: I hope I didn't disappoint and I probably strayed a whole bunch from the prompt but I think...it turned out all right. Heh. To whoever reading, thank you for your time!

The first day Minseok sent Jongdae to his first day of kindergarten, he was ecstatic and so very proud of his baby boy. The fact that the kindergarten is where he’s teaching in makes him sound like an overprotective father, but he really isn’t. He was just really happy to see his son grow up with him while he works.




”No calling me daddy in class, okay?” Minseok had said once and his two year old son, who could barely speak properly, lets out a squeak of excitement as a response. He took it as a yes and rewarded his son with kisses and biscuits.




Two years later, when he found out that a new teacher, fresh out of university, will be teaching his son’s class, he gets a little worried and most importantly, he’s sad.




”I won’t be seeing my baby grow up with me anymore!” Minseok wails into his arm as his only friend (unfortunately) who is also a teacher there, Chanyeol, stares at him in disbelief.




”Don’t be an idiot, you see your son everyday in school and at home.” Chanyeol tries to comfort him but it didn’t go well, obviously. Chanyeol doesn’t understand his pain. He won’t see Jongdae raising his hand and saying out the alphabets or watch him laugh as he animatedly tells the kids stories during story time anymore! He won’t see any of it but the bloody teacher could see all of it for years! Lucky bastard. Minseok wails louder.




From the corner of his eyes, he sees Chanyeol shaking his head with his arms crossed against his chest and sighing. “Unbelievable; the scariest teacher here is wailing over his son,” he says. “Whipped.”




Minseok is so close to taking the stapler on his desk to hurl it at Chanyeol’s face but the fact that he’s in a child-friendly environment stops him.




”Shut up, Chanyeol,” he raises his head from his desk and leans back on his chair. Chanyeol grins wickedly at him and he totally doesn’t foresee this. Chanyeol throws a ball of paper at his face.




”What was that for?!” He squeaks as he thought it was a bug. He hates bugs. Probably just as much as he will hate the new teacher.




Chanyeol twists open the doorknob and turns around to tell Minseok that class is starting soon and Son Stealer (read: new teacher) will be arriving soon as well.




The door closes and Minseok sinks back into his arms, sobbing over his luck.




Not even five minutes into sobbing, someone’s knocking on the door and after a choked reply of “come in” from Minseok, the door opens to reveal Chanyeol, again.




”Yo, bro. Son Stealer’s here already,” he whispers and opens the door wider to show Minseok the new teacher. The new teacher is far from the staffroom door and he has his back turned towards the both of them. The new teacher is wearing a pink button down tucked in into his khaki trousers. How youthful. Minseok stands up and puts on his usual bitch face and walks out of the staffroom to welcome the new teacher.




He coughs once to get the teacher’s attention, which the teacher didn’t even respond to. Chanyeol, who is standing behind him, coughs louder with his deep voice and again, no response. Probably too early for any touching or being all friendly with Son Stealer, they decide to just stand and stare at the back of his head like some kind of idiot.




Then, Son Stealer takes off his earphones and suddenly whips his head around, and lets out a scream when he sees both of the men staring at him like some kind of creep, which Minseok thinks, is totally what Chanyeol is.




For that split second, Minseok studies the man’s features: his eyes, his lips, his nose and the tiny mole at the side of his mouth. Wait...he is’’t suppose to study too deeply into those!




”WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” He yells at them, bewildered and all, cutting Minseok’s thoughts off. Chanyeol starts laughing because honestly, he looks like an idiot but Minseok simply glares at him because gosh, it’s too early for such ruckus.




”Hush, the children are outside,” he says harshly. “You must be Mr. Byun, am I correct? Mr. Kwon sent you here?” He says, with a firm tone hoping it’s intimidating enough to scare the man. Son Stealer nods as a reply.




”Got your schedule?” All Minseok got was a nod.




Minseok, annoyed, rests his hands on his waist and stares down at him. “Stop nodding and answer me. Don’t you have a mouth?” He scolds the new teacher like how a parent would when their child misbehaves.




A soft smile graces Son Stealer’s face. “I’m sorry, I’m just really nervous and when I’m nervous I talk a lot and I’m afraid it’ll an…”




”Clearly.” Minseok scoffs. He’s being a little mean towards the poor man, but that’s just because he’s stealing all his son’s time from him.




He really wishes that he could still teach his son, but oh well, all he can hope for is that this new teacher would be a good one to his son and the other kids.




”Well, Mr. Byun…”




”Baekhyun would be just fine.”




”Well, Baekhyun,” he repeats and instructs the other two to follow him outside, where the children are assembled. “I hope we’ll get along just fine.”




And then he breaks into a grin that shocks both, Chanyeol and Baekhyun.








“After that scary first meeting, you expect the both of you to get along just fine?” Chanyeol simply stares at him in disbelief as he photocopies some papers in the copy room. Minseok ignores Chanyeol and proceeds to take the stack of papers before heading to his class.




“What are you doing here? Don’t you have a class to attend to?” Minseok asks and Chanyeol rolls his eyes in annoyance. “I could say the same thing to you, too.”




“Shush. Go play somewhere else.”




As they pass by Baekhyun’s class, the class where Minseok’s son, Jongdae, is in, the both of them see the whole lot of kids giggling and laughing as they watch their new teacher speak animatedly at them. Minseok smiles fondly when he spots Jongdae giggling while clutching his tummy.




He sighs loudly.




Then, he hears a horrible reenactment of Let It Go by Chanyeol to just ‘let it go’. He runs after him, yelling at him to go away because apparently fuck off is not so child-friendly.




x




Son Stealer, surprisingly, turns out to be a very nice guy. If Minseok could say more, he would say that he’s threateningly nice.




Baekhyun has only been working at the kindergarten for a week. A week. But his son talks endlessly about him makes it feel like he has been there since forever.




“Daddy, today Baekhyunnie taught us how to sing!” Jongdae giggles into Minseok’s chest. Minseok holds in an eye roll and smiles brightly at Jongdae. “That’s great, sweetheart.”




Grocery shopping has always been tough if Minseok brings Jongdae with him. ‘Daddy! I want that!’, ‘Daddy! I want this!’ and the most dreadful one: ‘Daddy, can you carry me?’




Anyone can see that Minseok is a tiny man and carrying a four year old around the grocery store while holding a basket filled with groceries for hours is pure torture. But, again, for the love of his beautiful son. He shall! Carry! His! Son!




As Jongdae hums along to the song that, he assumes, Son Stealer taught him, suddenly, a familiar figure appears in the cereal aisle. Minseok doesn’t notice the approaching figure as he was too distracted choosing the brand of cereal. Lucky Charms? Or Honey Stars?




“Mr. Kim!”




Minseok freezes on the spot immediately and prays to God it’s Chanyeol or that irrelevant intern...what was his name again, Sedan, was it?...he took in and not...




“Baekhyunnie!”




God damnit. Minseok struggles with the basket when Jongdae decided to abruptly jump off him and run to Son Stealer. No doubt the crashing sound was his heart and not the canned food from his grocery basket.




“Good evening, Mr. Kim!” Minseok thinks Baekhyun’s voice is not nice at all and plus it's too loud and cheery for eight in the evening. Jongdae is clinging on Baekhyun’s arm with a smile so bright, it could probably compete with the Sun.




He couldn’t be bothered to reply. Waste of saliva and breath. Instead, he nods as an acknowledgement and proceeds to bend down to pick up the canned food that fell on the floor.




“I’m sorry for bothering you, Mr. Kim, you look terribly bothered,” Baekhyun says with a hint of doubt on his face. Minseok simply shakes his head, no, he wasn’t, and even adds a smile at the end to make it seem believable, when in truth, he was terribly bothered. It was like watching his son calling another male his father instead of him.




He cries a little in the inside.




“Don’t worry, Baekhyunnie, Daddy’s always very grumpy,” Jongdae chirps from the side, making Baekhyun laugh, his eyes turning to crescents. Minseok unconsciously smiles a little at the view before him before realising what he’s doing and immediately presses his lips into a thin line.




“That’s not nice of you, Jongdae. He’s your father after all,” he says and pinches Jongdae’s cheeks, making him whine.




To distract himself from Baekhyun’s smile and Jongdae’s whining, he takes a peek into Baekhyun’s own basket. What shock him the most is that how it’s only filled with...




“Instant noodles? Really?” He says as he shakes his head in disapproval.




Baekhyun flushes red and coughs out an awkward laugh, making Minseok smirk.




“Well for now, instant noodles are the way to go!” Baekhyun says and hides his basket behind his back, still attempting that painfully awkward laughing.




As Minseok decides that Lucky Charms is the best choice for cereal and dumps it into his own basket, he says: “Can’t you cook? That’s very unhealthy for you. I don’t want my teachers getting ill.”




Minseok stops himself before he slips out another word that could show that he actually cares when in reality he does not care at all. Nope. Not one bit. Even when Chanyeol fell sick (and left him all alone with that useless intern and a bunch of screaming hungry kids), all he did was send porridge recipes for the ill via email.




Jongdae then takes a peek himself into the basket and shakes his head, imitating his father.




“I do know how but I haven’t gotten the time to,” Baekhyun says and sighs, before taking a box of cornflakes and placing it in his basket.




Suddenly, Jongdae stands beside Minseok, pulling on his fingers.




“Daddy, how about we invite Ba...”




No, definitely not. Never in a million years. Only Chanyeol’s allowed to his apartment and that, too, is only because he’s apparently in love with Chanyeol’s lasagna.




“Jongdae, that’s sweet of you but Baekhyunnie has plans after this,” Baekhyun cuts him off, to Jongdae’s dismay. Jongdae frowns and looks away from Baekhyun.




“I’m sorry, Mr. Kim...”




“Minseok’s fine.” Well, he is going to work with him, better drop the formalities.




Baekhyun explains that he’s still unpacking since he moved into a new apartment and apologises again, to a pouting Jongdae this time before he rushes past Minseok and Jongdae to pay at the counter.




Minseok didn’t miss the blinding smile Baekhyun shoots him.




“Daddy, you will invite Baekhyunnie to our house one day soon, right?” Jongdae asks and does the puppy eye and pouty lips combo that he knows is his father’s weakness. Truly an evil little thing.




Minseok sighs before nodding and dragging Jongdae to the dairy aisle.




Anything for his son.




x




Fact: Minseok is not a morning person.




Also, fact: Minseok is an advocate of daily intake of coffee.




"Are you kidding me." Minseok stands in front of Le CafΦ Popote, his favourite coffee shop, with the words CLOSED written in bold on the front door. The words only seem to grow bolder and bolder the longer he stares, as if it was mocking him.




"Daddy," Jongdae whines and tugs on Minseok’s pants. “School! Now!”




“But.” My coffee. He sighs and grabs Jongdae’s hand, walking hand-in-hand to school.




Minseok, being a responsible and loveable father, dumped the idea of going coffee hunting and instead, went to school an hour earlier.




Jongdae is anything but sleepy unlike him when he arrives at school because ‘Baekhyunnie is here already!’ along with the intern that Minseok could never be bothered to learn his name.




Jongdae quickly runs towards Baekhyun and hugged his leg, rubbing his cheek against the pants. Baekhyun smiles lovingly at Jongdae and crouched on the floor to pat his cheek. Minseok could only stare at them in envy. Jongdae, why don’t you hug Daddy’s leg?




But after realising that he is Jongdae’s father after all, he isn’t missing out much.




He gives a friendly nod at the both of them as he walks into the staffroom to have a few minutes of sleep.




But it seems like today, however, isn’t Minseok’s day because not even a few minutes into his sleep, Baekhyun bursts into the staffroom, with Jongdae in toll, in fits of laughter.




“Hi, daddy!”




“Hmm.”




He internally groans and glares the back of Baekhyun’s head to be the cause of all the noises at seven in the bloody morning.




He slumps back onto his desk when Baekhyun and Jongdae leaves the room again and a few minutes later, he finds a grinning Baekhyun in front of his desk with a steaming mug of hot coffee.




“Hey, Jongdae told me you didn’t have your daily intake of coffee and I figured you needed one?” Baekhyun asks and hands him the mug of coffee. Truly tempting, but Son Stealer is the one who made it.




“I don’t usually drink homemade coffee. Sorry,” he says and truly hopes Baekhyun felt that stab in his chest.




But instead, his grin only grew wider and places the mug on Minseok’s desk. Minseok, baffled, simply stares at the steam coming out from the mug.




“Buuuut my coffee is better than the cafΦ ones! I’ll just leave it here in case you changed your mind,” Baekhyun beams at him before walking out of the staffroom.




The coffee was indeed tempting and it only took Minseok a minute of debating to drink it or not before he begrudgingly drank the coffee. Egoistical bastard facade be damned.




True to his words, it was fucking delicious.




“Did Baekhyun make that for you?” Chanyeol points at the empty mug after entering the staffroom.




Minseok nods and points a finger at Chanyeol’s face. “Don’t say anything about this.”




Chanyeol laughs and shakes his head while smiling widely. “Why’d you think I stopped bringing Starbucks to school every morning?”




“Because it sucked?” Chanyeol shoots him a glare.




“A fraction of that, yes but Baekhyun made me coffee one morning and I fell in love with his coffee, bro, it was heavenly.”




“Yeah, I know. I tasted it.”




Speak of the devil. Baekhyun comes in afterwards to hand Chanyeol his own coffee and gives Minseok’s desk a quick glance. He stops his movements and after a few seconds where realisation hits him, he smiles at Minseok.




“Hey, you changed your mind.”




Minseok has never been more embarrassed in his life.




x




The next day, Minseok comes to school empty handed again. Usually, he would bring a cup of hot coffee from Le CafΦ Popote but not today, it seems.




“Baekhyun,” Minseok calls him from the staffroom and Baekhyun quickly rushes in at the sound of his name being called.




“Yeah?”




“Can you make me coffee? My favourite cafΦ is still closed,” he says and grins. Minseok never grins, so this is considered as a rare occurrence. Baekhyun beams at the request and happily trots to the canteen to make it.




He told him a lie. Le Café Popote was definitely back open and he even purchased croissants from it for himself and Jongdae. Don’t get him wrong, he just has an image to uphold.




x




“Oh my fucking God, is this a rash?”




“Maybe if you clasp your hand together and properly ask God, minus the F word, he’ll answer, definitely.”




Chanyeol hunches over his desk in the staffroom and groans. Minseok knows very well that at this time of day, his sarcasm has heightened whereas Chanyeol’s has retired and gone to bed to sass Minseok back when it wakes up the next day. He grins, patting the poor kid as he walks past his desk.




He hears a ‘IT’S A RASH, YOU FUCKING DICK’ when he closes the door behind him and chuckles to himself.




It’s a half past six in the evening on a Friday and all the children has gone home, leaving him and the other teachers alone to clean up their mess. Not like they don’t any other day but every Friday is where they clean everything. And by everything, he means everything.




“Minseok, it’s Chanyeol’s turn to clean the toilet why is it me again?” Sehun, the intern, slumps against the mop he is holding onto as he stares at Minseok in disinterest. Indeed, Sehun has been cleaning the toilet for the past few weeks and Chanyeol has been giving the poor kid multiple excuses. For example, today: “Sehun, our intelligent intern, I think I’m sick. Please do my duty for me.”




Minseok simply shrugs and throws him a wet rag.




“Don’t know. Dude’s got a rash, so,” Minseok says and adds a teasing wink at the end. Sehun’s mouth turns into a frown before he presses his lips firmly into a straight line, deciding to just accept his fate. Minseok grins mischievously at Sehun’s retreating figure towards the toilet.




“Sebum, wait, come here.”




“Minseok, it’s Sehun.”




“Sehun,” he repeats. Sehun walks towards him while dragging the mop across the floor. “What?”




“Why don’t you ask Baekhyun?” He gives a suggestion and pats Sehun’s arm rather harshly.




“He’s playing with your son, though,” he says and scratches his chin. Minseok’s eyes widens, utterly confused. “Nah, it’s fine. I’ve already accepted my fate.”




After Sehun leaves to clean the toilet, Minseok finds Jongdae in the playroom and true, he was. But he didn’t expect to find Jongdae sleeping on Baekhyun’s lap.




The door creaks open as Minseok pushes it open softly and Baekhyun’s head shoots up to look at the door. After finding out it was just Minseok, he smiles at his direction and motions to come closer.




“Shhh.”




“He fell asleep?” Minseok crouches on the floor beside his son’s sleeping figure and smiles. Jongdae has always been adorable while sleeping with the ends of his lips curling up a little bit. Baekhyun nods and brushes Jongdae’s bangs from his forehead.




“He just laid on my lap and went straight to sleep.” Baekhyun laughs while brushing Jongdae’s hair, seemingly out of habit and Minseok couldn’t help but think it was indeed an adorable sight.




“Right, and I suppose you’re excused for Friday clean up duties?”




Baekhyun shyly peeks from behind his long bangs that were almost reaching his eyes and gives him a shy smile. “I’ll do it now.”




Minseok flutters his hands in front of Baekhyun’s face and tells him that it was all right, that Steve has done most of the work here already for free.




“Minseok, his name is Sehun.”




“Not to me it is.”




Baekhyun then chuckles and that made Minseok smile, too, because his laugh just has that effect on people. On Jongdae, Chanyeol, the children especially and even the postman that comes once a month for their bills. It’s simply hard to believe that someone like him actually exists.




And honestly, Minseok kind of envies it.




Then Jongdae yawns, turning his head on Baekhyun’s lap and nuzzles his nose against Baekhyun’s stomach. Baekhyun pats his cheek and sighs out of contentment.




“Your son’s really adorable,” he says as he gently places Jongdae in his father’s arms. Minseok wraps his arms around his body and rocks it gently.




“He is, isn’t he,” he states rather than asking a question. He knows Jongdae is adorable because he raised him well and also because he looks a lot like him.




Moving on.




He clears his throat after a few minutes he finally realises this is the first time since Baekhyun started teaching here, and that was approximately a month ago or so, that they are alone. Well, technically Jongdae’s there but the silence that surrounds them at the moment is nothing but awkward.




It’s weird because Minseok is never the one to take the initiative to start a conversation but here he is, trying to, but how can he when he’s tongue-tied?




Luck though, was surely by his side because as he was just about to ask Baekhyun for a tragic backstory of his pitiful youthful life that he assumes he has, Chanyeol comes bursting in the playroom.




“GUYS,” he hisses and shows them both of his palms that were coloured a sickish kind or red and some of the skin was even peeling off.




“What happened?” Baekhyun asks, getting on his feet to further inspect Chanyeol’s palm.




“Minseok, Jongdae gave me a hand sanitiser as a present earlier.” His tone sounded dreadful and Minseok finds it odd. Then, Baekhyun chips in: “That’s sweet.”




Chanyeol frowns at Baekhyun and pouts, shaking both of his palms in front of Minseok’s face.




“Minseok, it was peach-flavoured hand sanitiser! I am allergic to peaches!”




Both, Minseok and Baekhyun simultaneously says a soft ‘oh’ before giggling.




“Not funny, you guys!” Chanyeol whines and with all his giant glory, he stomps his feet. Baekhyun grabs his wrist to inspect it closer and shakes his head, still grinning.




“Don’t blame my son. You’re the adult one here, why didn’t you read the labels beforehand?” Minseok scolds Chanyeol, hugging Jongdae closer to his chest.




Chanyeol sheepishly smiles at Minseok, indirectly telling him that he is an absolute fool who forgets to read the labels.




“Idiot.” Minseok sighs and stands up while carrying Jongdae in his arms. He heads out of the room with Baekhyun and Chanyeol trailing behind him.




“Chanyeol, you’re coming with me, so we can head to the pharmacy before going back to mine,” Minseok says as he grabs his keys and Jongdae’s schoolbag, Jongdae still in his arms. He then faces Baekhyun with one of his eyebrow raised. “Can you lock the kindergarten for today since this giant baby decided to hurt himself?”




Baekhyun nods immediately; not once, but three times.




He yells for Chanyeol to get his ass out quickly as he steps out of the kindergarten’s premises, with Baekhyun standing beside him as if wanting to see them go home safe.




Chanyeol comes rushing out of the kindergarten and apologises to Baekhyun while putting on his shoes.




“Serum’s still inside?” Minseok asks after a while. Chanyeol rolls his eyes and stands up, punching Minseok’s arm.




“His name is Sehun and I know very well that you know his name.” Minseok simply brushes off whatever Chanyeol said and stares at Baekhyun, expecting an answer.




“Yeah, think so since his shoes are still here,” Baekhyun answers, cocking his head to the direction of the pair of battered old converse at the side of the door.




“Oh, okay,” he says and walks towards the gate. “Bye, Baekhyun.”




From the corner of his eyes, he could see Baekhyun’s body turned tense a little before awkwardly replying him a “Goodbye...Minseokà” with a tiny wave of his hands. He smiles, shaking his head.




After walking a few blocks away from the kindergarten, Chanyeol laughs.




“Bro, what the fuck? Bye, Baekhyun.” He imitates Minseok that earns him a light smack on his palms. He wails loudly before bringing them both to his chest, scowling at Minseok.




“Finally opening up to Son Stealer, now? Awh.”




He ignores the presence of The Irrelevant in which it is Chanyeol, and instead he looks down at his baby boy who was still asleep despite all the ruckus.




Jongdae has always been a heavy sleeper, anyway.




x




Minseok has a great idea. And shockingly it doesn’t consist of him murdering anyone.




He taps his feet impatiently as the television buffers at the speed of a snail. This idea will definitely work. No doubt that it will not work at all. As the screen flashes on to the DVD’s menu, he grins as he presses Start on the remote control and increases the volume.


The introduction of Big Hero 6 plays on the television screen and almost immediately, an overexcited Jongdae emerges from his bedroom to join his father in the living room, even dragging along his teddy bear friends.




As expected.




“Nope.” Minseok shakes his head and shows him a red shiny apple, making Jongdae flinch at the sight of the fruit. Minsek purposely stood in front of the screen to block the view. “Finish your apple.”




Jongdae stops trying to get his father away from the television screen only to let out a loud cry.




“Daddy, noooo,” he whines and buries his face into Minseok’s sweatpants. Minseok could only run his fingers through his hair as he sighs. At that, Jongdae could only hug Minseok’s legs tighter.




“Jongdae,” he says, and pats Jongdae’s hair in a comforting manner. “Please eat your apple.”




“Daddy, I don’t want to.”




Minseok decides that trying to have a civil conversation with a four year old isn’t the right way to convince him to eat something he doesn’t like. So instead of dilly-dallying on this matter, he crouches on the floor and cups Jongdae’s cheeks with his free hand.




“One bite?” He’s practically begging right now. He needs his son to consume at least one fruit per day to make up for all the unhealthy foods he consumes daily. For example, his intake on that sugary chocolate milk.




“I can watch Baymax if I take one bite?” Jongdae asks, tilting his head a little. His little fingers find Minseok’s cheeks and he giggles as he traces his father’s cheek.




“Yes, baby. Just one bite,” he says and smiles at Jongdae lovingly. Jongdae beams at him back as he grabs the apple from his father’s hand.




And he takes one bite indeed. One tiny bite.




“Wasn’t that hard, was it?” Minseok laughs as Jongdae’s face scrunches up in disgust.




“I hate apple.”








It’s not even nine yet but Minseok already feels sleepy. He tries to keep himself awake by playing with Jongdae’s hair, only to have his hands being batted away.




“Don’t touch my hair!” Jongdae yells. Minseok then frowns and crosses his arms, huffing.




“But you let Baekhyun touch your hair,” Minseok says to the back of Jongdae’s head. Jongdae, too immersed with the movie, ignores him.




It’s true. While Minseok is busy around the kindergarten, he’ll always spot a smiling Jongdae with his bangs tied up like an apple stem bouncing around. When asked who did it for him, with a smile, Jongdae says, Baekhyunnie.




That goddamn Baekhyunnie.




“Do you like me or Baekhyunnie?” Minseok asks, scooting closer to where Jongdae was sitting at, on the floor.




“Both.”




“If you had to choose.”




Jongdae finally tears his eyes away from the television to look at his father, only to frown. Somewhere in Minseok’s chest hurts a little when he sees Jongdae frowning.




“Daddy. I like daddy,” Jongdae says, almost like a whisper and slowly crawls towards Minseok’s lap. Minseok smiles at the answer and cradles his baby in his arms. He hears Jongdae groan in what he thinks is annoyance and laughs.




“But.” Of course, there will be a but. Minseok sighs out loud to exaggerate his sadness.




“I hope you and Baekhyunnie can be friends,” Jongdae whispers and plays with his fingers. Big Hero 6 was long forgotten, Jongdae’s focus is only on his twiddling thumbs.




Minseok was baffled. He didn’t know that Jongdae wants him and Baekhyun to be friends. Now he just feels incredibly immature being envious of petty thing as if he isn’t Jongdae’s father.




“Baby, what makes you think we aren’t friends?” Minseok simply laughs his thoughts off and ruffles Jongdae’s hair.




“Dunno...just feels like that,” Jongdae says before yawning. He turns around to face his father and wraps his arms around his neck and nuzzles his face into Minseok’s neck.




“Daddy, sleep?”




Minseok smiles and slips his arms under Jongdae to carry him to bed. “Okay,” he says.




As he was walking to Jongdae’s bedroom, Jongdae murmurs sleepily: “Is daddy really friends with Baekhyunnie?”




Without hesitation, Minseok answers, “Yeap.”




x




Minseok asks for Baekhyun’s phone number after three months Baekhyun has been teaching at the kindergarten. Baekhyun had laughed when Minseok asked for his number but still accepted Minseok’s phone anyway. Although Minseok didn’t show any sign of any shame, he, in secret, was drowning in embarrassment.




“Why now?” Baekhyun asks, eyes still glued to the screen while he dials in his number. Minseok shrugs his shoulders, slipping out a, “Meh.”




“Hmm, you need an on-to-go coffee or something?” Baekhyun teases and hands Minseok back his phone. Minseok scowls, “Don’t be an ass.”




When Minseok looks down at his phone screen to see what Baekhyun saved his number as, he chokes on his own spit.




Son Stealer




“Let me guess. Chanyeol?” Minseok asks, sighing and pockets his phone away. Baekhyun chuckles and nods while gathering the papers on his desk.




“He slipped it out to me once and I think it’s kinda cute,” Baekhyun says absentmindedly, making Minseok’s eyes widen. Baekhyun suddenly pauses his actions and quickly adds, “You know, thinking that I was going to steal your son away. That’s cute...the overprotectiveness of a father.”




Minseok’s eyebrows furrow when Baekhyun says that and he huffs, folding his arms over his chest.




“I’m not an overprotective father,” Minseok says and Baekhyun looks at him with a sure look.




A minute later, Chanyeol walks in the staffroom with Jongdae in his arms. The both of them look at Minseok and Baekhyun weirdly.




“Did we interrupt something important?” Chanyeol asks, placing Jongdae on the ground. Jongdae giggles and quickly runs to Baekhyun’s side, making Minseok gape. What is this?




Minseok simply waves his hands but Baekhyun rolls his eyes instead and tells Chanyeol that Minseok thinks he’s not an overprotective father.




“Look, dude,” Chanyeol says after laughing at what Baekhyun just said. “If the Oxford dictionary wanted to revamp the definition of overprotectiveness, you would be under synonyms.”




Minseok deadpans at the laughing duo and rests both of his hands on his waist. Unbelievable.




“Wow,” Minseok says after a few moments when they finally have their shit together. Jongdae simply looks at them in confusion, a bit scared too.




“Daddy, why are they laughing?” Jongdae asks, tugging on his pants.




“It’s nothing, baby.”




Minseok rolls his eyes when the duo imitates the both of them, Baekhyun attempting to be Jongdae with his terrible squeaky voice and Chanyeol trying to be him.




“Okay, wow, I was actually going to invite you to dinner tonight with Chanyeol but okay, if you wanna act like a soggy noodle, I guess not,” Minseok finally says. His tone of voice is nonchalant; he doesn’t care, but deep down he truly is nervous. He really wants to try to be closer with Baekhyun.




Both, Baekhyun and Chanyeol, stare at Minseok in confusion and shock. Minseok suddenly feels jittery and anxious at what Baekhyun’s going to reply.




“Don’t be like that!” Baekhyun whines, confusing Minseok, now. “I want to go and try Chanyeol’s lasagna, too!”




Minseok, baffled, laughs at Baekhyun’s unexpected reply. However, Chanyeol wasn’t.




Minseok glances at Chanyeol and regrets it immediately when Chanyeol shoots him a teasing smirk, hinting about something. Minseok knows it too well. Minseok replies him with a scowl, throwing a scrunched up paper straight at his face.




Bullseye.




“So tonight, yeah?” Baekhyun asks, interrupting the non-verbal arguement him and Chanyeol are having. It seems that Baekhyun doesn’t notice it and he is very much thankful for it.




“Yeah, I’ll text you the address,” Minseok answers and almost immediately, he hears Chanyeol snort. He grumbles under his breathe and picks up Jongdae’s backpack to head out from the room.




“See you guys later, then,” Minseok says before shutting the door close with Jongdae trailing behind him.




He spots Sehun slumped against the wall playing with his phone when he walks out and to be a nice teacher, he smiles at Sehun’s direction when Sehun notices his presence. Sehun’s eyes widen a little at that but cracks an unsure smile nevertheless.




x




“You’re late.”




Baekhyun laughs nervously when he takes off his shoes at the front door. “I’m glad you can read the clock, Minseok,” he says, trying to get rid off the scowl on Minseok’s face.




Minseok’s apartment isn’t that big or fancy. For a small apartment, it feels oddly homey and comforting. When Baekhyun steps in the house, he looked around in awe at the cutesy decorations ... totally unexpected from Minseok.




“By fifteen minutes. Chanyeol’s lasagna has gone cold now,” Minseok sighs as he locks the door. Baekhyun frowns, unamused.




Moments later, Chanyeol and Jongdae comes out from the kitchen to greet Baekhyun but was met with a frowning Baekhyun.




“Jongdae-yah,” Baekhyun fake-sobs as he crouches down to Jongdae’s eye-level. “Your daddy is bullying me because I’m a little late.”




Minseok gasps at Baekhyun’s act of pitiness but Chanyeol was cackling instead.




“How low of you, Byun Baekhyun,” Minseok mutters under his breathe when Baekhyun grins at Minseok.




“But you’re not late, Baekhyunnie. The lasagna is still in the oven,” Jongdae says, confused.




“Liar,” Baekhyun says and sticks out his tongue at Minseok. After picking Jongdae up from the floor to head towards the kitchen, Minseok finds himself staring at the spot Baekhyun was standing at before.




“Bro, your crush is showing,” Chanyeol chuckles, pulling him towards the kitchen. He hears Baekhyun’s laughter and thinks it’s such a soothing thing to hear. It’s not annoying like Chanyeol’s loud, barbaric ones. It’s likeà




“Like daffodils,” Minseok blurts out suddenly.




“What?”




“Nothing.” Minseok shrugs off his thoughts and pulls out a chair for him. “Quick. I’m hungry.”








The dinner went well, unexpectedly. Minseok thought that there would be a whole lot of awkward silence, followed with jokes with no laughters. But it didn’t happen. Baekhyun was all bright and happy, smiling and laughing with his favourite student and Chanyeol, well, being himself was enough of a joke, really.




Baekhyun left Minseok’s apartment three hours later, at ten. Jongdae was crying when he left, tugging on Baekhyun’s pants, telling him to stay. It’s not like Baekhyun had a choice, really, so with a heavy heart, he promises Jongdae that he’ll be back soon (the quick glance he gives Minseok went unnoticed) and a kiss on the cheek before waving them goodbye.




“You’re a big kid. You’re not supposed to cry over someone leaving you. You’ll meet Baekhyunnie again next Monday, right?” Minseok hugs Jongdae and rubs his back, to soothe away his sobs. Chanyeol, after making sure everything was all right, left the two alone to clean the kitchen.




“But Baekhyunnie is nice and I like him. I don’t want him to leave,” Jongdae sobs into Minseok’s jumper. Minseok hums as an answer and runs his fingers through Jongdae’s hair.




“I’ll invite him next time, okay?” Minseok smiles at Jongdae and Jongdae nods, rubbing his eyes with his fist.




After half an hour of Minseok trying to put Jongdae to sleep, he finally emerges from Jongdae’s bedroom to join Chanyeol in the kitchen. His intention was to help wash the dishes and what not but when he steps into the kitchen, everything was where it’s supposed to be. Even the dishes were washed.




“Thanks, mum,” Minseok says, making Chanyeol, who had his full attention on his phone, jolt in his seat.




“Jesus, Minseok,” he says as he clutches his chest as an exaggeration. Minseok laughs at his reaction and took a seat across Chanyeol. The silence surrounding the both of them isn’t awkward, it’s more comforting actually. Knowing that someone is there is nice, in Minseok’s opinion.




“So,” Chanyeol starts, finally pocketing his phone away.




“So,” Minseok repeats.




“How was dinner?” He asks, a sly smile slowly appearing on his face.




“You were there. Wouldn’t you know?” Minseok deadpans.




“Yeah but I’m not the one having dinner with my crush.”




“Chanyeol,” Minseok sighs out loud and runs his fingers through his hair. “Just because I suddenly have this want to be close with him doesn’t mean I have a crush on him.”




Chanyeol shoots him a blank look. “You actually just described what having a crush is.”




“I’m 31 years old I have gotten no time for this teenager feelings bullshit.”




“And I’m 29. Anymore facts you’d like to share about yourself?”




Minseok huffs, reaching forward to pinch Chanyeol’s nose. Chanyeol is taken aback by that and tries to pry Minseok’s finger off him. He might seem like an asshole but this is how he shows how much he appreciates Chanyeol. Chanyeol’s like a little brother to him, but he wouldn’t tell Chanyeol that. It would only feed on his already overflowing ego.




“But with my predictions,” Chanyeol says while holding his nose ... a protection from the hands of Minseok’s. “You will come to me in a few months or so ... or weeks, actually ... to whine about how annoying Baekhyun’s smile is.”




Minseok laughs it off, calling it absolute bullshit because no way he would fall in love again.




x




Four months in and Minseok sees Baekhyun in a different light now. He’s stubborn as hell as he still doesn’t consider Baekhyun as a friend. He’s simply an acquaintance. Even so, acquaintances don’t come to each other's house to hang out with their son or bring their son out during weekends.




Chanyeol says they’re friends, Minseok says they aren’t.




“Will you leave me alone?” Minseok pants out as he holds the pole next to him for support. He is a 31 year old male and he isn’t suppose to run around the goddamn park with his son and his 24 year old co-worker.




“Come on, Minseok, stop acting like you’re 40! You’re no fun,” Baekhyun teases. Minseok looks up to glare Baekhyun, “shut up, you and Jongdae are basically children” was at the tip of his tongue but it immediately got flushed out from his mind.




Jongdae and Baekhyun are smiling, hand-in-hand, as they look at him. Something Minseok hasn’t felt for a long time floods his chest and he couldn’t help but give them a slight smile, even if he was practically gasping for air.




When he stands up and tells them that he’s all right now, Baekhyun promptly takes his hand in his and runs with Jongdae leading them both. They looked like a bunch of barbaric monkeys but Minseok couldn’t help but laugh along with the both of them as they sprint through the park.




That night, when Minseok is about to sleep, he clutches the hand Baekhyun had held earlier this evening close to him. With a smile, he drifts off to sleep; the dead butterflies in his stomach finally awakens to dance around again.




x




The butterflies in his stomach only made Minseok more scared than before. He doesn’t want this. He doesn’t want to like someone again. He doesn’t like this feeling at all but nothing could describe what he feels towards Baekhyun besides those feelings.




He’d rather have those feelings left elsewhere, really.




“My feelings should be better left elsewhere, Chanyeol, I fucking hate this,” Minseok had said after tucking Jongdae to sleep. Chanyeol had convinced Minseok to take one bottle of beer hence why, he is now in a babbling mess.




“But that’s what make a human, Minseok. Feelings.”




“Urm,” Minseok said, burping. “Shut up.”




x




“So, I think I...”




“You like Baekhyun? Took you six months, but congrats.”




Minseok huffs and exaggerates his annoyance by stabbing his lasagna with much force.




“No, really, like,” Chanyeol pauses to swallow down his food. “I could actually sense your feelings for that kid six months ago during the dinner but you finally, like, got your shit together and really, just, bro, congrats.”




Minseok looks at Chanyeol’s offered hand in disgust and swats it away. “I didn’t win a prize, I just had to settle down with my feelings and that was the conclusion.”




“You had to settle down with your feelings? I never want to turn 30.”




“Yes, because unlike you, I actually want to have a civilised relationship with my person of interest, not sucking face every time I see them.”




Chanyeol chokes on the lasagna he was chewing and Minseok could see that it was painful for him as tears start to well u at the rim of his eyes. Serves him right.




“What are you insinuating, Kim Minseok?” Chanyeol manages to choke out after downing a glass of water.




“You know what I’m talking about,” Minseok teases, smirking at Chanyeol. Chanyeol’s face immediately turns red, proving that whatever Minseok was implying was indeed, true.




They continue eating without discussing each other’s love interest. Brushing the topic aside, they continued talking about sports and whatever alike. Chanyeol, unlike Minseok, isn’t much of a sports fan, therefore, the topic died down quickly and the topic of Minseok’s interest to Baekhyun comes back up.




“But we can’t work out,” Minseok says as he pokes the lasagna’s leftover on his plate. Chanyeol shoots him a confused look and asked him why.




“We’re co-workers. There’s a saying that says, ‘sleep with your co-worker, not date’ ... that’s what you’re doing with Seagull aren’t you? ... and I don’t particularly want to sleep with him because I genuinely like him and stuff.”




Minseok slumps back against his chair at the sad facts he has to face. Not only are they co-workers, they also have a parent-teacher relationship. It doesn’t sound right ... to him, at least.




“It’s fine to date your co-worker, though. I mean, you guys are adults,” Chanyeol finally says to break the silence.




“Easy for you to say, Seagull’s boy-toy,” Minseok snorts.




“Stop changing the damn topic, man,” Chanyeol chuckles. “And his name is Sehun.”




“Sure,” Minseok says, taking his and Chanyeol’s plate to place it in the sink. He looks at the dirty plates before shrugging away, deciding that he’ll do it tomorrow. Or the next day. Doesn’t matter.




“Minseok,” Chanyeol calls out when Minseok walks around the kitchen to take the dirty plates and mugs to the sink. “The heart wants what the heart wants. Keeping it inside will only hurt you. Confess, my child and thy heart shall be free!” Chanyeol says, even throwing his hands up as he grins at Minseok.




“Urm, don’t be fucking stupid for once, thanks.” Minseok rolls his eyes when Chanyeol immediately pouts.




“Minseok, please, listen to me. It’s fine dating your co-worker as long as if you ever break up, you act professional. I’m positive Baekhyun likes you back too, I mean, really, d’ya think he’d come on the weekends only to hang out with a four year old? No, man. He likes you, too. So do me a favour and get that long fucking rod of egoness out of your ass and confess?”




Minseok stares at Chanyeol in disbelief, like he didn’t just turn into a love doctor in a few minutes.




“Wow, thank you so much, love doctor,” Minseok says, bringing his hand to his chest. “I’m touched.”




“So will you ask him out on a date?”




“Actually I have another problem besides being co-workers,” Minseok confesses and Chanyeol’s eyes widen in disbelief.




“What problem? Your dick can’t stand up or something?”




Minseok glares Chanyeol for a second before sighing and it’s a serious matter actually, and he can’t just dismiss it.




“I’m scared.”




Chanyeol’s expression suddenly softens and a soft, comforting smile graces his face.




“It’s okay.”




“No, Chanyeol, it’s not. What if something that happened to Jongdae’s mum happened again? It hurts, you know? I loved her a lot and she just fucking left me with Jongdae. I don’t deserve to be hurt like that again and I don’t want to risk that,” Minseok retorted, shocking Chanyeol. Not once did Chanyeol flinch.




After a few moments, Chanyeol chuckled.




“Jesus, Minseok. I’m not asking you to marry the kid. I’m just asking you to try. You’re over her aren’t you? Not everyone is like her,” Chanyeol says as he stands up and pushes his chair in. “Besides, Baekhyun’s a nice kid. If he hurts you like how she did, just hit me up, bro, I’ll kill a bitch for ya.”




Minseok couldn’t help but chuckle at that and pats Chanyeol’s arm. “Thank you, Chanyeol. We’ll see what happens next, yeah?”




Minseok goes to sleep feeling anxious about what will happen next. His thoughts are all entangled with each other; one saying ‘yes, go ahead!’ while the other says ‘what if he hurts you?’




x




As far as Minseok knows, he definitely isn’t a coward. But here he is on his bed with a sleeping Jongdae on his lap, contemplating on texting or calling Baekhyun like a hormonal teenager in love.




He decides on the former.




As he types out the text, he takes approximately 10 minutes before he decides that he should delete the capital letters to low caps to not sounds so formal.






To: Son Stealer




hey, u free next friday? i’d like to invite u for dinner over my place






He definitely doesn’t expect a reply only a few minutes later.






From: Son Stealer




sureeee :) w park?






Minseok couldn’t help but frown at the text. Did Baekhyun like Chanyeol’s company more than his? Or was he just genuinely curious? Damn it, Minseok, for once be a ball of positivity!






To: Son Stealer




no not rly only u, jongdae and i. is that okay w u?






Minseok dreads the next reply, so he does what he does best when he’s nervous: he bites his nails. It’s unhygienic as hell and he always tells Jongdae not to do it but he still does it anyway. Even at 31.






From: Son Stealer




no that’s fine! i’ll be expecting better food then :P






Minseok chuckles at the reply and decides that he could finally go to sleep in peace now after days of worrying over nothing.




“Daddy?” Jongdae calls him as he tucks Jongdae’s head under his chin, so they could cuddle to sleep.




“Yes, baby?”




“I love you,” Jongdae murmurs sleepily before yawning, then snuggles closer to Minseok. Minseok smiles and kisses the top of his son’s head.




“I love you, too.”




x




Minseok was relieved when Friday comes. He could finally escape a week’s worth of teasings from Chanyeol and followed by the looks of confusion Baekhyun gives them.




“Is Chanyeol offended or something that I’m the only one invited?” Baekhyun had asked Minseok in the morning when he hands Minseok his cup of coffee. Minseok’s only reply was to laugh awkwardly behind the cup.




“Daddy, when is Baekhyunnie coming?” Jongdae whines as his fingers fiddled with the ears of his teddy bear.




“Soon, baby,” Minseok says and pats Jongdae’s hair affectionately.




Behind all the calm facade, Minseok was nervous. He wasn’t sure if his food was better than Chanyeol, he wasn’t sure if his food was edible actually and he definitely was not sure if his feelings will be reciprocated.




When the doorbell rang, Minseok and Jongdae’s ear perked up and they ran straight to the door to welcome Baekhyun in.




“Hey...why the look?” Baekhyun says after a moment of staring oddly at Minseok. Oh shit, was he smiling too wide? Did his eye twitch like Chanyeol’s because he’s too happy?




“D’you zoned out, Minseok?” Baekhyun asks, waving a hand in front of his face.




“Urm, no. Uh,” Minseok finds himself lost at words because he finally got to have a good look at Baekhyun and gosh, he looks so handsome. Baekhyun is just in a flannel shirt with jeans, why does he look so breathtakingly handsome?




“Uh?” Baekhyun repeats, confused.




“Dinner?” Minseok offers, smiling.




“Well, duh,” Baekhyun laughs and offers a hand towards Jongdae, in which he accepts it happily and walks towards the kitchen. Minseok looks at their backs while smiling and shakes his head, brushing the thought away. Oh, if only this moment could last forever.




Three slices in and Baekhyun finally speaks up to Minseok.




“This lasagna is actually better than Chanyeol’s. Why don’t you make them instead of him?” Baekhyun asks as he grabs a napkin to wipe the bits off at the side of his lips.




“I’m kind of lazy,” Minseok confesses truthfully. He’s a single dad with a job, of course, he’s lazy to this kind of thing. Let Chanyeol, single and young, do all those.




“Suuure,” Baekhyun drags and a teasing grin graces his face.




“Wait,” Baekhyun chirps. “Why did you invite me for dinner actually. It’s not Jongdae’s birthday is it? Or yours?”




Minseok almost wanted to choke on his piece of lasagna. Should he tell him now? Later? Fuck.




“Can I tell you later?” It was more of an order than a question and Minseok is thankful that Baekhyun catches quickly, nodding.




Dinner went well, with the help of Jongdae. Jongdae and Baekhyun talked most of the time because Jongdae is just like Baekhyun, a chatterbox. Not that Minseok’s complaining, really. It gave him some time to worry about after dinner. Or more specifically, after watching Big Hero 6 and tucking his little baby to sleep.




“Baekhyunnie, will you kiss me goodnight?” Jongdae pouts as he grabs the sleeve of Baekhyun’s flannel shirt. Baekhyun coos at Jongdae and went on his knees by Jongdae’s bedside to give him a kiss on the cheek.




“Goodnight, Jongdae,” Baekhyun says and stands up to leave. Minseok stands by the door, smiling at the both of them. He looks like such an idiot but God, he’s so happy just looking at the both of them.




“I love you, Baekhyunnie,” Jongdae says, then his eyelids slowly flutter close.




Baekhyun didn’t move for a while, Minseok assumes he was only staring at Jongdae.




“Minseok, he said he loves me,” Baekhyun finally voices out and Minseok nods, pulling Baekhyun out from the room.




“Yeah, he did. He really does like you a lot so,” Minseok states, shrugging his shoulders.




“He’s so cute, oh my God,” Baekhyun says after a while and does weird finger movements, as if he wanted to squish the air. Minseok could only raise his eyebrow at him.




When Baekhyun puts on his shoes and steps out of Minseok’s apartment, it seems that he had forgotten something.




“Hey, you didn’t tell me why you invited me for dinner,” Baekhyun asks when Minseok had step outside as well, to see Baekhyun off.




Minseok’s palms suddenly feels sweaty and the butterflies fluttered around his stomach with no care that he feels like vomiting right now. It’s been so long since he feels like this and it’s truthfully, scary.




“Baekhyun, I,” he stops himself to gulp and wipe his palms on his pants. “Baekhyun, I actually like you. Like in a romantic kind of way.”




A minute. A minute and a few cracks in his heart later was when Baekhyun replied with a soft, “Oh.”




Minseok could only crack a soft smile at Baekhyun. “Yeah, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable I just need to tell you that.”




Baekhyun shakes his head. “Oh, Minseok. I like you too ...”




That was enough bandage to wrap his heart back together.




“ ... but we’re co-workers and you’re Jongdae’s dad.”




That’s all he needed to hear before his heart was ripped apart forcefully.




“I don’t think it’ll work out,” Baekhyun ends as he presses his lips into a thin line.




“I get it. It’s okay,” Minseok says. He needs to get in immediately before he cracks in front of Baekhyun. He isn’t weak, he just...this seems too familiar for him.




“Minseok, I’m so sorry,” Baekhyun says, and his face says it all. His eyes were begging for forgiveness but what is he apologizing for though, really. Minseok clenches his fist and presses his nails deep into his palm.




“No, Baekhyun, it’s fine. I forgive you,” Minseok says and he even has the energy to give Baekhyun a smile before stepping back into the house.




“Bye, Baekhyun.”




“Goodbye.”




x




“So, how’d dinner go?” Chanyeol asks over the phone. Minseok had just came out from the toilet when he hears his phone ringing. He should tell it now because either way, he’s going to find out.




“He said he liked me back,” Minseok says as he lies on the bed.




“That’s great!”




“He also told me that we won’t work out because, like I said, we’re co-workers.”




“Yikes.”




“Yeah.”




“Hey, you okay?” Chanyeol’s voice had genuine concern laced in it but Minseok really doesn’t want to elaborate more on this. Having his heart broken is enough.




“Yeah, I am,” he says. “Don’t worry.”




x




Just like that, his efforts to befriend Jongdae’s favourite teacher went down the drain. Being around Baekhyun is tiring since everytime he looks or even sense Baekhyun, his heart aches. And being around Baekhyun is five days in a week. But he’s an adult and he won’t let his feelings get in his way. Or so he thought.




Jongdae had asked once why didn’t Baekhyun come and visit him during the weekends anymore. It’s really all his fault. If he never confessed, his baby would still be smiling and giggling and having fun with Baekhyun but now, it’s just him and his son. Alone.




“I think Baekhyunnie’s busy these days, baby,” Minseok had answered. Jongdae could only sulk the whole weekend and on Monday, Jongdae complained to Baekhyun. Minseok could see that guilt on Baekhyun’s face but doesn’t say anything about it.




Minseok has stopped drinking Baekhyun’s coffee, too. It’s immature, he knows but he needs to stop having all the things that reminds him of Baekhyun. Every day since his confession, Minseok would take the hot coffee and dump its contents in the sink at the canteen. Baekhyun doesn’t notice this at all until one day, when Minseok comes to the kindergarten with one hand holding a cup of coffee from Le CafΦ Popote.




In the second week, Minseok doesn’t see any cup of hot coffee on his desk anymore.




Chanyeol is anything but happy when he heard about this. He hates how both of his friends aren’t even talking like usual. They only conversations they have these days are only about the kids and the parents and the fucking photocopy machine. Like, Minseok cares?




“Hey, Minseok,” Chanyeol says when he enters the staffroom. Baekhyun isn’t inside the staffroom, thankfully.




“What?” Minseok says, looking up from his phone.




“How about this: I take care of Jongdae tonight and you go ahead and do anything you want tonight.”




“What? Why? And I don’t have anything I want to do.”




“Minseok,” Chanyeol sighs and presses his palm against his face in annoyance. “You’re fucking sick of this whole thing, okay, I know. Get yourself some me-time, now that I’m offering. Go grocery shopping or something, I don’t know.”




“Are you sure?” Minseok asks hesitantly. It’s not that he’s worried of Chanyeol and Jongdae together, they’re basically two peas in a pod but he’s only worried if Chanyeol is doing this for him or out of pity.




“Yes, oh-em-gee. So you up for it?” Chanyeol says with a smile. Before Minseok could even open his mouth to answer, the staffroom door opens, signalling the presence of Baekhyun.




“Yeah, Thanks, Chanyeol,” he quickly says before standing up to get out of there, right now.




“I have class!” Minseok mouths at Chanyeol when Chanyeol turns around to look at him in disbelief.




x




At nine in the evening, Minseok finds himself about to die at the dairy aisle of the grocery store. How can the grocery store not have Jongdae’s favourite milk brand now, when he needs it the most. He can already imagine Jongdae’s face when he hears about the heart-breaking news. A few tears might slip down his cheeks and Minseok would probably need to play Big Hero 6 on repeat for the next 48 hours until he gets his milk, but that is totally fine.




Because he would do anything for his son.




Even if it means staying friends (or not) with his favourite teacher that rejected him.




He sighs as he decides that there was no point in standing there, wishing for the carton of milk to appear out of the blue. After taking a last long glance at the empty section where Jongdae’s favourite milk would have been placed, he walks away.




“Minseok?”




It’s pretty movie-like, really. It’s just been a few weeks since their date and Minseok has been trying to act professional around him but after work, he tries to avoid him like the damn plague. But now, here he is.




“Hey,” Minseok says and puts on a fake smile that he hopes Baekhyun would think it was sincere. Oh who is he kidding, his left eye is twitching like mad.




“Where’s Jongdae?” Baekhyun asks after realising that he was all alone without his son.




“At Chanyeol’s. It’s just me alone today,” Minseok says.




It’s weird having to face Baekhyun outside of work now since the last time he saw Baekhyun out of work was when he got rejected. He cringes at the mere thought of that and decides to excuse himself.




“I gotta ...”




“Minseok, wait.” Baekhyun says, stopping Minseok from walking away. He really wants to get out of here. He doesn’t want to have whatever conversation they’re going to have. Like he said before, he’s scared.




“Minseok, listen, I’m sorry,” Baekhyun says, placing his basket full of grocery down. He took a quick glance at it and held in a giggle. A basket full of instant noodles.




“Baekhyun, you don’t have to say anything, really.”




“No, Minseok. I really am. I’m really sorry. Look, I like you a lot, too. And I’m not saying this because I pity you because if I did I wouldn’t say sorry to you right now.”




“Why not,” Minseok questions with a raised brow.




“You dumped my coffee in the sink,” Baekhyun deadpans. Minseok fakes a surprised look before grinning.




“I’m sorry,” he says, clutching the handle of his basket tighter.




“No, Minseok, oh my God. How do I say this? I like you a lot but I never know what happened to Jongdae’s mum. I thought she’s still there but when I asked Jongdae where is his mum, he said he didn’t have one. So I thought she passed away but if I confessed I would sound insensitive because maybe, you never moved on. But you confessed first then, to my shock. I had to pull out a few irrelevant reasons on why we won’t work out and I’m so so sorry. I didn’t only lie to you, I also lied to myself. I was stupid. Will you forgive me?”




Minseok could only stare at Baekhyun in shock. No, wait, actually shock isn’t the right word because he’s more than shocked. It’s just too much to take in.




“Did Chanyeol plan this?” Minseok blurts out instead of an answer. Baekhyun’s expression saddens at that.




“He did. I asked him to because I couldn’t do it by my own,” Baekhyun smiles. “He also told me about your ex and I know it’s not his place to tell me and if you want to be mad, be mad at me because I pushed him to tell me.”




Minseok’s thoughts and feelings are all over the place right now and he doesn’t know how to digest all this. He’s just extremely baffled.




Oh my God, Baekhyun likes him, too.




“Wait, you like me? Romantically?”




Baekhyun suddenly grins wider, and this time it’s genuine. “Yeah, I do.”




“That’s just, wow, I,” Minseok’s lost at words. “I ... oh my God ... I like you.”




Baekhyun could only laugh at Minseok’s antics.




And just like in the movies, or those cheap young adult novels Chanyeol has under his desk, Baekhyun pulls Minseok into a kiss.




The kiss doesn’t make fireworks go off in his head or make his knees weak or make one of his legs pop up, but it did, in a way, make him feel extremely happy.




When they pull away, Baekhyun has his hands on Minseok’s elbow meanwhile his arms were wrapped around Baekhyun’s waist. It’s only when they realised they’re in the grocery store they had pulled away laughing.




“Oh God, at a grocery store,” Baekhyun chuckles as he picks up his grocery basket from the ground.




“You really like me, right? Like not out of pity?” Minseok asks, just to be sure, as if Baekhyun didn’t just pull him into a kiss in public.




Baekhyun raises his eyebrow at Minseok. “What? Sassy Kim Minseok turns into a teenager when he wants to date someone? Shocking news. Make them the headlines,” Baekhyun teases and grabs Minseok’s hands to lace their fingers together.




Minseok scowls at him and attempts to get out of Baekhyun’s grip but he only grips it harder.




“I like you, I’m sure of it.”




“Really?”




“Yeap.”




“So you don’t mind if I want to ask you out on a date right now?” Minseok asks, a teasing smile appears on his face.




“What? At nine? No restaurant’s open.” Baekhyun says as they walk out of the aisle, hand-in-hand.




“The cafeteria’s right there,” Minseok says that made Baekhyun stop in his tracks to shoot him a look of disbelief.




“Are you serious?”




“Unless you’re a materialistic person than I suppose I have to rethink my choices on liking you,” Minseok teases. Baekhyun gasps in exaggeration and scowls.




“Don’t be silly,” he says, pulling Minseok to walk with him. “That’ll be lovely.”




And that’s enough to drown Minseok’s anxiety for now.