#also mq is coming out later this year ... but we already knew that

[fujobritta]

side quest/mere mortals, the mythic quest spin-off series is apparently done filming

[heavenofficialsbl]

Spoilers for TGCF 175!

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So

This chapter has me shook

I knew the confession/reveal was coming up, and I was so ready to support my babbies in love. WHY, MXTX, WHY?! AND WHY, ME, HAVE YOU NOT LEARNED YOUR LESSON FROM MXTX'S NOVELS YET?!

I had heard something about HC carving statues of XL but I didnt know where/when it would occur. SO. Once HC started acting funny in the caves and they come across the statues, I realized who had carved them.

He's being shy (I mean, rightfully so. Who wants to show their crush that they've carved 10,000 statues with said crushes likeness) and it was going well until XL found the boys.

Poor Huahua. He was already pushing his luck by bringing XL into those caves. He had no choice if he wanted to save him, but XL is a curious bastard to a fault. Luckily he will listen to HCs request because he respects and trusts him.

Then theres FX and MQ. They may have actually fallen straight into to pit but I think that's unlikely. I think they fell in somewhere else and HC put them there to deal with at a later date. How long was he planning on leaving them there?! XL said he needed to go dig them out because the snow wouldn't kill them and they would sit there for years

I wonder if HC knew XL would go dig through all of the snow until he found them and so he dug them out himself, or if he had been meaning to put them in the pit from the moment they got caught in the avalanche.

I do love FX and MQ. They're jerks and meatheads and oblivious to some important things when they get heated *ahem* avalanche *ahem* but... When it comes to their Dianxia, they are still extremely aware.

I didn't think this would be how XL found out about HC. I thought he would hear or see something that would trigger parts of his memories of HC or that HC himself would explain. So this was definitely... interesting.

They didn't even stop to think that yelling on a snowy peak was a bad idea, but as soon as MQ saw HCs red bead, he knew immediately what it was. The same goes for the statues' clothes. As long as its about Dianxia, they will notice it.

FX is more emotionally aware of XL I think. When he offers to help them get out of the pit, FX realizes it's a genuinely friendly offer, while MQ wants to be a sour ass about it. If they were both being so dismissive to XL, I think it would makes XL really sad. Let's thank FX for not acting like a total ass to Dianxia lol.

I think it might be good that they are planting some seeds of doubt. We should all know now, as readers, that HC is nothing but a devoted man in love, but reading through this chapter made me stop to think... If He Xuan did it, what proof do they have that HC won't turn on XL in the same fashion?

XL completely trusts HC. Absolutely, without a doubt, completely and fully. But hes also emotionally unstable right now with everything that's been happening. I'd be surprised if he didn't think for a split second that maybe HC has been tricking him.

A lovely member of my discord explains this whole conundrum excellently:

So

In conclusion

This is how the chapter went for me:

Thanks for listening, have fun rereading the chapter 5 times and crying!

[hua-lian]

Hello , so um I want to request something I hope its not too much , can you maybe translate some interesting parts of that chapter where MQ ,FX XL gets to HC cave and find the statues and HC gives(?)XL a red string on his finger , and can you tell me what chapter that is ? , thanks , anx sorry if its a bother

MASSIVE SPOILERS

first of all, you have low standard if you’re asking me for translations HAHAHAHAHA

okay so the chapter that HC gives XL the red string is chapter 158, and only from chapter 173 onwards did XL, HC, MQ and FX get to HC’s cave, and I would argue the interesting parts is the whole thing but I can’t translate that without taking a year so I compromised and put summaries in between translations in [brackets]

warning, this is one hell of a long post because I don’t know how to use google docs

Red string part (Chapter 158)

Xie Lian was contemplating whether he should smash the stone wall to see what was behind, when he heard Hua Cheng: “Gege, give me your hand.”

Xie Lian: “???”

Even though he was confused, he still relented and gave his hand to Hua Cheng. Hua Cheng gently held his hand, putting his hand in his palm, his other hand covering, as if he was putting something on him. Xie Lian’s heart jumped faster, and he held his breath for a moment, at once, he raised his hand, and questioned: “This is?”

On his right hand’s third finger was a fine red string, which was what Hua Cheng put on him. Additionally, this red string continuously extended, connected to Hua Cheng’s own finger’s red string.

Hua Cheng raised his hand, showing the two’s identical butterfly knot, smiling as he said: “Tied together.”

Hearing this, Xie Lian’s face heated up, quickly he rubbed his face twice, afraid Hua Cheng could detect his unusually quick heartbeat, laughing as he said: “San Lang this is a form of magic?”

“En.” Hua Cheng slightly straightened his expression, putting down his hand, he said, “Even though we won’t leave each other on our own, we can’t guarantee there will be no outside forces. This string won’t snap, and won’t be short. Unless the other was gone, otherwise, we can definitely follow the string to find the other person.”

Xie Lian said: “Gone, meaning?”

Hua Cheng said: “Dying, or vanishing into thin air. If the string is unbroken, it means the other person is fine.”

Chapter 173

[HC and XL fall into HC’s Ten-Thousand Gods Cave, and as they continue walking XL sees a lot of different types of statues, all with their faces covered.]

Some was fully covered, extremely unusual. Xie Lian found it weird, wanting to pull down one statue’s gauze and see its face, but behind him Hua Cheng said: “Gege, I suggest you don’t.”

Xie Lian turned his head back, questioningly asked: “Why? I feel that these god statues are a little weird.”

Hua Cheng walked forward, and said: “Because it’s weird, it’s best if you don’t. Since these faces are covered, there must be a reason why. The head is where the spiritual energy assembles, if the cover is removed, allowing these weird god statues to assemble the spiritual energy, who knows what might happen. Gege, didn’t you want to find your two footmen? Since we haven’t found them, it’s best not to touch them (god statues) so as to avoid side issues.”

His words were mysterious and confusing, but it was not without reason, in the case of removing the face gauze, awakening whatever these god statues had, that would not be any fun at all. Xie Lian thought for a bit, deciding to put down his hand, and said: “I’m just a little curious as to who the god is.”

Hua Cheng, playing it down, said: “This place is Wu Yong’s national border, perhaps it’s Wu Yong’s crown prince’s god statue, not strange at all.”

Xie Lian: “I’m afraid it’s not.”

Hua Cheng said: “Eh? How can one be sure?”

Xie Lian faced him, and said: “From the murals we saw on the way here, Wu Yong’s crown prince and Wu Yong Nation’s people’s clothes, compared to these god statue’s dress style, it’s not the same. Therefore, I’m afraid that these god statues and Wu Yong’s crown prince are unrelated. Additionally, it’s possible they weren’t made by the hands of Wu Yong’s people.”

Hua Cheng laughed and said: “Really? Gege is really meticulous.”

Xie Lian also laughed, and said: “No, no. Only that the style of these god statues, whatever craft labor, clothes, or the streamline and details of the clothes, all seems to have a more modern style. For example……the style of Xian Le Nation.”

Hua Cheng raised a brow, and said: “It seems, gege has a rather deep knowledge of this aspect.”

Xie Lian said: “Where, where. It’s only that I’ve seen too many god statues, sooner or later I’ll be more perceptive.”

Even though he didn’t know why, but he kept feeling, from just now till now, Hua Cheng was a little off. After talking to this point, he seemed to be faintly nervous.

[XL decided to listen to HC, and not touch the statues, then they come across a path split into 2, and XL questions why HC immediately goes to the right if he claims he doesn’t know the place. HC makes up nonsense, saying he’s more lucky so he randomly picked the right side. XL then hears voices from the left path, and heads there despite HC calling him back. It’s MQ and FX, stuck in a hole. HC did not follow him.]

Chapter 174

[XL jumps into the hole, HC comes and brings him out, XL brings MQ and FX out of the hole. XL, MQ, and FX spend the whole chapter talking, generally about how XL knew MQ and FX were FY and NF all along.]

Chapter 175

[As they continue walking, MQ tries to touch one of the statues, and HC immediately holds a sword towards him, and reluctantly MQ relents after a standoff. Suddenly, MQ and FX grab XL and runs away from HC, and MQ mentions that the red bead XL had lost long ago was found again, and it’s the red bead in HC’s hair. XL is in disbelief, and MQ takes off a veil covering a statue’s face, and it’s XL’s face. All the statues are of him, made by HC. They then see some murals, and it’s all drawn by HC, one being Pleased God XL saving small HC, one being HC holding an umbrella over a white flower, and FX and MQ are horrified to realize that HC’s been watching XL all this time.]

Feng Xin was simply absolutely terrified, and said: “What kind of person is this? Staring at you from 800 years till now?! Still staying with you until today? Fuck me! This is too horrifying! Is he possessed?! What does he want? Ordinary believers completely would not do this kind of thing, what does he want?!”

Mu Qing said: “There’s a plot……There definitely must be a plot! Quickly continue looking, a clue can definitely be found here!”

Xie Lian was already shocked stupid, staring at the small red boy on the wall, he hadn’t reacted yet, he only felt that there was much he hadn’t forgotten, but he had not cared to remember all the messy and confusing things which were all fighting to appear first in Xie Lian’s head, when the two beside him starting making noise. He shivered once, and asked: “What happened now?”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing were standing in front of a stone wall, as if they had seen some kind of terrible thing. On seeing that he wanted to walk over, Feng Xin quickly turned and pushed him back, and said: “Don’t fucking look!”

Xie Lian: “? What is it? What thing? Why can’t I see it?”

Mu Qing’s face also darkened, and he said: “……Don’t see it. It’s nothing worth looking at, quickly run!”

The two of them grabbed an arm, once again rushing towards a path. Dragged by them, Xie Lian said: “What are you two doing? I still have not seen the entirety of the murals?!” 

Feng Xin ran and angrily said: “No use looking! You can’t see that kind of thing! Fuck, honestly! I really have never seen this kind of fucking thing before! This kind of person!!!”

Xie Lian was confused: “You have never see what before? What’s did San Lang do?”

Mu Qing scolded: “Still calling him San Lang, stop calling him that! It’s too late to run! From now on don’t approach him! He’s not normal, he’s sick, he’s a lunatic!!!”

Xie Lian couldn’t listen to it anymore, and said: “Why are you two scolding like that? Didn’t I say, not everyone who’s not normal is bad?”

Feng Xin said: “Stop asking! I don’t know! He’s entirely different from us! He’s sick! Towards you, he……he……”

Xie Lian said: “Towards me what?”

One wants to return, the other two want to pull, the three of them were locked in a stalemate, suddenly a cold voice came from their front, and said: “Didn’t I say before, once at other’s domain, don’t touch their things randomly? Otherwise, whatever happens next, it’s hard to say.”

The three of them stiffened, turning their heads. They could only see a red figure in front of them. Hua Cheng was leaning against a stone wall, blocking their way.

Chapter 176

[They run again, and XL says he wants to ask HC about the statues and murals instead, and MQ and FX, obviously, refuses, and they both think XL is too trusting of HC. MQ puts a tally (talisman?) on him which makes him obey and prevents him from being able to speak. HC appears again.]

Feng Xin and Mu Qing instantly backed a distance. Hua Cheng did not look at them, his eye moving to one side, taking a step towards Xie Lian. Feng Xin and Mu Qing reacted when they saw who he was heading towards, quickly putting Xie Lian behind them, and said in unison: “Don’t come over!”

Hua Cheng’s expression darkened.

If this was a normal day, whoever dared to tell Seeking Flowers in Blood Rain not to come over, he would completely not care about these words, it would be weird if he didn’t laughed and purposefully headed over, but this time, he instead seemed as if he was a little afraid, not daring to act rashly, halting his footsteps.

A while later, he then slowly said: “What is the meaning of this?”

This tone seemed calm. Feng Xin instead said directly: “There’s no need to act anymore, this place has always been your nest. We have already seen these god statues, and those drawings of yours, we have seen it all!”

Hua Cheng was blocking them, hearing this, the hand behind his back trembled, two finger unconsciously curled up.

“……” He slowly drooped, and weakly said, “His Highness, has also seen?”

This tone was very low, even though this manner of speaking was nothing exciting, it was a little hoarse, clearly unusual. Xie Lian thought: “I have not!”

Actually, he didn’t see a lot, however, at this moment he couldn’t speak nor move, honestly only able lean against the stone wall in the corner, as if he was hiding behind the two, afraid to come out to face Hua Cheng, and unwilling to talk to him. Feng Xin drew his bow, and said: “Correct. Whatever…thoughts you have, we are clear. With respect to you as a Ghost King, if you still have some respect and dignity, please do not come close to His Highness the Crown Prince anymore.”

[HC, angered, fights them, and traps them in cocoon silk, then MQ says he was the one who drove HC out of the military, and then HC tells them to admit if the thing they were talking about before was true or not. MQ shouts for XL to run away, XL runs and falls down pretty much immediately.]

Xie Lian’s hands and feet were tightly bound by white thread, lying on the ground, his black hair and white sleeves scattered, his bamboo hat having fallen aside. Hua Cheng slowly turned towards him, pausing for a long time, he headed towards him. Having walked only a few steps, Feng Xin couldn’t control himself and said: “Hua Cheng!”

Hua Cheng paused in his steps, slowly inclining his head.

Feng Xin summoned up his courage to say: “You…You let go of His Highness! He’s already so miserable. Towards him, don’t……” 

Hua Cheng didn’t say a thing, walking to Xie Lian’s side, bending his knees for a bit, he picked him up.

[HC carries him and leaves, and MQ bites the silk aggressively.]

Chapter 177 (Confession!!!)

[HC carries him away, his hands stiff, and HC then notices the tally MQ had put on XL, preventing him from speaking.]

Xie Lian’s organs were in disarray, the effect of the Obey Talisman on his back starting to fade away, he moved his leg with force, letting out a “Ah.” Even though it looked like a dying fish futilely fighting its last battle and letting out a protest without any deterrence, Hua Cheng still stiffened, instantly retracting his hand, and said: “I will not!”

Seeming as if he thought his voice was too loud, and was afraid to startle Xie Lian, Hua Cheng took a few steps back, lightening his tone, and said, lowly: “Your Highness, I will not do anything. You…don’t have to be afraid.”

[XL is injured, which he hadn’t realized until HC was taking off his clothes and helping him (?), MQ and FX come again, but it turns out they were fake, and Bai Wuxiang had been pretending to be them.]

here’s a link to a translation for the confession!!

[tales-from-exo-planet]

LYON | PATHCODES VOL. II

ACT II. “a castle of glass”

Length - 2,585

Mood - wrathful, intemperate

Pairing - Baekhyun x Reader

Warning - language

“Ever since the first time I laid eyes on you I saw the truth No questions just proof They may talk, but I ain't hear a thing they said about you

Ever since the first time we laid Everybody want details, but don't say nothin' I won't say nothin' if you don't say nothin' Cause this is between us Yeah we gon' fight But I'mma love you till it's alright Ain't gon' find these answers outside Boy we don't need nobody's advice Give me a shoulder to cry on And I'll be alright I'll be the one you rely on This love Ain't none of your friends business Ain't none of my friends business It's ours, all ours, nobody else's”

“Business” by Teyana Taylor

____________

“Travel safely, see you soon,” you said to both ____ (Almaty Reader) and ____ (Arizona OG Reader), kissing each of their cheeks in a parting greeting.

“It was such a pleasure to see you again,” ____ (Arizona OG Reader) smiled elegantly as she reached to embrace you.

“Likewise,” you nodded to her as ____ (Almaty Reader) reached to embrace you as well.

“We probably want to organize a conference call within the next two weeks,” ____ (Berlin Reader) stated as she joined your parting circle, bristling at the chill of the wintry air that whipped around you.

The voices of your broader band were momentarily subdued by the gust of wind that had you all pulling your collars closed around your necks.

“Between-” you began eyeing ____ (Berlin Reader) questioningly.

“Well following our conversation yesterday probably just us ladies as a separate conference. A biweekly or even monthly check-in should suffice,” she said, pondering the subject before answering.

“Grand. Well we’ll talk later then,” you agreed as Baekhyun and Minseok approached.

“Ladies,” Minseok beamed at you all, missing ____’s (Berlin Reader) raised eyebrow.

“We’ll be off then. Bye everyone,” Jongin waved, ____’s (London Reader) hand in his as he turned to walk away. When you caught her eye again she raised her hand and demurely waved, her cheeks rosy when Jongin turned to tell her something as they continued into the airport.

Baekhyun came to your side, humbly taking your bag you’d set beside your feet as you said your goodbyes.

“I’ll get our boarding passes,” he said aloud in your direction, hurrying inside.

“Are you flying into Arizona still or-”

“I am going to spend a weekend with ____ (Almaty Reader), and then I’ll head back. MQ said he’ll meet you there before he goes out of town,” ____ (Arizona OG Reader) revealed which seemed to be a surprise to Chanyeol.

“Oh...I’ll see you then. Safe travels ladies,” he stepped back from ____ (Arizona OG Reader) who had only turned over her shoulder to address Chanyeol’s concern. You all nodded to him as he went past following Baekhyun who waited for him within the sliding doors.

You caught the look on his face as he watched you standing there before he knew that you were watching him, and quickly masked it with a pleasant smile before he too turned away.

____ (Almaty Reader) pulled ____ (Arizona OG Reader) along after Chanyeol left, hooking an arm through the crook of hers as they carried on conspiratorially.

“Can’t they do anything without us babysitting?” You caught them whispering before they walked out of earshot.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” a sudden voice asked just beside you where ____ (Berlin Reader) also stood.

____ (Edinburgh Reader) had stayed behind while Sehun had gone in earlier with Kyungsoo and ____ (Colorado Reader) as they checked in and gathered their boarding tickets.

Since had ____ (Barcelona Reader) gone ahead with Tao back home to Barcelona she was alone in front of you all now, and very obviously uneasy.

“Me? Yes of course,” ____ (Berlin Reader) turned to her, gesturing for her to follow into the black SUV bearing Minseok’s trademark crest.

“Thank you as always for your hospitality, Minseok. Until next time,” you said cheerily, reaching a gloved hand out to him which he took and held in both of his, the light in his eyes flashing.

“Certainly. I hope to see you and Baekhyun and Yun Hee soon. Have you decided on a theme for her birthday party this year? As soon as you know please let me know so that I can plan her gift.” You were already modestly refusing his kindness as soon as the words passed his lips but he shook his head at you.

“Baekhyun is my family. And now you are part of his family. And now that family has extended to Yun Hee. If there is anything I can do, it is to take care of my family,” his smile remained sincere as he held your gaze but you had a prickling suspicion that you were not the only one who had revealed what you both had been keeping private.

“Baekhyun and I are so grateful to you Minseok. I could never thank you enough for how much you have blessed our family,” you reached forward to hug him and he held you close.

“He does love you, and I know you know that. No matter what happens, I hope that the both of you can be happy,” he spoke in deliberate muted tones and as he released you, you turned to see Baekhyun holding up the boarding tickets.

Your eyes narrowed at the way you could tell that he was gauging the result of your conversation.

His smile was pleasant, but it was the way his eyes cautiously lingered on you.

You were fuming.

___________

“It’s good to be home, jagi,” he tried meekly, looking at you through the rear view mirror where you’d sat with Yun Hee. After arriving at the airport you parted with ____ (Marseille Reader) who was traveling alone since Junmyeon had left abruptly following your New Year's event.

“Take it easy,” she muttered after a kiss to your cheek where you sent her off in her taxi.

Though you composed your fury at Minseok’s classy but brash attempt to contain you, and remained cordial to Baekhyun, you were seething by the time you were in French air.

You allowed him to drive to your mother’s house where you picked up a sleepy Yun Hee. “We colored for hours today. She was so excited to see you both but tired herself out too early.”

You listened, trying to calm your breathing as Baekhyun moved past you to pick her up.

“Darling?” Your mother asked, her tone apprehensive but you swallowed back the grit between your teeth and said your goodbyes.

Alone now and closer to home, your fury was piping white hot.

Ticking.

“If you want, I could-”

“I’m going to put Yun Hee to bed and then I’m going to the office,” you said, opening your door and hurrying to Yun Hee’s side. You opened the car door carefully, unbuckling her car seat so that you could bring her upstairs, leaving your purse and luggage in the car.

Your staff greeted you as you approached, standing clear of you as you went down the hall.

You heard a clatter of bags and buckles drop to the floor the moment after you’d reached Yun Hee’s door.

She stirred in your arms as you shifted her so that you could open the door.

“Shh shh mon petit,” you whispered, kissing her brow as you hurried inside.

You could see that your mother had given her her bath, washed her hair and brushed it.

You laid her in her crib bed, pulling off her shoes and socks, gently removing her jacket, and sweatpants.

She stirred at the sound of her door opening but you continued your task.

“Going to the office already? Jagi, let’s rest now. You don’t have to go in-”

You turned to look at him, a tempered glare set in your eyes.

He stood dumbfounded, unmoving as you turned to finish tucking your daughter in.

“Sleep well my baby,” you kissed her again gesturing for Baekhyun to do the same.

His stupor melted before he did as you asked, “sleep well my baby,” in an uncharacteristic stricken tone.

You headed to your bedroom, stripping as soon as you hit the door.

In your private wing, you knew based on past trials, that no one could hear how loud you could be. You wondered now whether that muted structural design was purposeful, and mockingly laughed aloud at the thought.

“Why are you going in now jagi?” He asked, following you into the room and closing the door to your wing noiselessly.

“Can you move please? I need to shower,” you asked icily breezing past him as he let you go in.

“Jagi, please. Why are you going in now?” He asked again, the whine in his voice rising.

You knew that as his voice rose he was coming closer to his breaking point. And even with that thought in the back of your mind, you couldn’t stop yourself.

“Baekhyun, can you give me a moment please? I want to shower quickly and head in. We’ve been gone for a couple days now and I don’t want to get behind again. We do need to pay bills. We can’t rely on Minseok for everything,” you sighed dismissively as you turned the knob to your shower, sighing again as the jets pulsed against your bare skin whisking away the grime of recycled stuffy air and sweat.

You heard him retreat from the bathroom and turned to see whether he left the door open, which he had.

You took your time to wash your hair and towel off before you began your hair care routine.

Usually Baekhyun volunteered to help you with this part. He thoroughly enjoyed every opportunity that he had to touch you and since you had moved in together he had been fascinated with touching your hair in its slick wet and thick dry state and feeling the difference in your curls.

But he remained in your bedroom, waiting futilely.

After blow drying your hair, and applying lotion to your body you marched into the bedroom, nude, to find clean underwear and a bra.

He watched you as you walked around him, his expression pained.

“Don’t stay there tonight, jagi,” he spoke in sotto voce.

You looked at him in the mirror above your drawer after pulling on a clean pair of underwear.

“Excuse me?” You asked, turning to look at him where he held his head down.

He took a steady breath before looking up at you.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, trying to keep his sniffles to a minimum.

You could hear his panic now. It was getting harder and harder for him to hold it back. And though some small part of you knew it was cruel, you laughed.

“How dare you tell Minseok to talk to me?! I mean that was just ridiculous. You’re going to speak to me through your friends now?” You challenged, seeing the panicked sweat beginning to break across his forehead. His eyes searched the floor as he thought of a response.

“Jagi he’s just...he’s my friend and I was worried and the guys were just-”

“They were just what Baekhyun? Who the fuck does he think he is telling me to mind and obey. We are engaged but that doesn’t mean-”

“He didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure he just-”

“Well tell me how he meant it then since I don’t know. What does he mean talking to me as if I’m supposed to do exactly as he says?! I don’t owe him anything but maybe you do since he paid for the roof over this house. In that case we owe Junmyeon too for taking care of us,” you snapped, throwing your hoop earrings down on top of the drawer before rising to find a fresh pair of jeans and top in your closet.

“That isn’t fair-”

“Oh that isn’t fair? Now we want to talk about what’s fair,” you snorted, pulling on your jeans and your tank top, snatching your Supreme hoodie from it’s hangar and your heeled boots from its rack.

You pulled a roll of socks from your drawer as you exited the walk in closet, hopping into them before sitting at the foot of your bed.

Baekhyun’s breathing was silent as he waited on the bed while you zipped up your boots, and hoodie.

“You have no right to tell me where to go and neither does he. If I need space Baekhyun then you should respect that,” you said, rising from where you sat to head towards the door.

Baekhyun rose quickly, shutting the door as you opened it, his hands trembling as he dropped them to his sides.

“Don’t go jagi. You shouldn’t drive like this,” he protested, daring to meet your glaring eyes with his reddened ones.

“There’s nothing wrong with me-”

“But there’s something wrong with us. Don’t leave. I don’t want to keep doing this. I don’t want to keep waiting-”

“Waiting for what? What are you waiting for? You could just say it Baekhyun. Say it,” you dared him, stepping back from the door with your arms crossed over your chest.

“Do you want to leave me, jagi?” He asked, stuttering through the sentence as a sob threatened to split his voice.

You stood unwavering, growing more and more exasperated with every sniffle you heard.

“Baekhyun I am going to scream if I can’t get out of this room-”

“Then scream at me. Just do it, jagi. But don’t leave me. Don’t go jagi please,” he begged you, coughing back sobs as you stared him down.

“Baekhyun I can’t do this with you right now. Let me go,” you asserted moving towards the door.

But he stepped forward, blocking the doorway, refusing to move out of your way.

“Jagi-”

“Baekhyun-”

“Don’t-”

“Let me go!” You screamed moving towards the door where he held it closed.

You pushed against him, hearing the door rattle as you struggled with each other.

“Stop it,” he begged you as you pushed away from him where he tried to hold you against his chest.

“Baekhyun let me go!” You cried out, but he held you there with your back against his chest, crying into your hair as you both slumped to the floor.

“Baekhyun...let me go…” your fury imploded as you screamed again, pushing at his arms that he held tight around your waist.

“No,” he protested.

“Let me go right now!” You screamed again, struggling to lift his arms from you.

“Baekhyun!” You screamed louder.

“Jagi stop, please stop. Stop,” he moaned plaintively, but you persisted.

“Baekhyun let me go! Let me go now! Right now!” You screamed hoarsely, struggling to turn in his arms to break his grasp.

He hiccuped, his grasp around your waist loosening for a second.

You took your chance, moving quickly to your feet.

But he was right on your heels, slamming the door closed just as you opened it.

“Baekhyun get away from me! Get away!” You rasped, turning to hit his chest, trying with all your might to push him back so you could get out of the door.

“No!” He choked out, as he grabbed your wrists.

“Just talk to me, jagi. Talk to me,” he pleaded, willing you to look up at him.

You were unaware of how heavily and erratically you were breathing, until you looked into his eyes and saw yourself reflected in his irises.

Your tamed hair was wild about your face, curls pasted with sweat against your forehead, your clean top and hoodie now sweat stained and disheveled.

You glowered at him, feeling a trembling sob rising up in him as he held you, waiting.

“Yes I want to leave you. I want space. I need to think. Baekhyun please let me go. Please,” you stated, closing your eyes.  

And he released you immediately.

“I...I’m sorry jagi. I’m sorry…” he whimpered, taking a step back from you.

You heard him descend to the floor in a slump as deeper sobs and gasps for air passed through him.

You turned to the door, taking and turning the handle in your suddenly shaking hands, feeling your resolve weaken as the door opened.

“______ I...I’m sorry,” he sputtered again, coughing.

You turned to look at him where he was slumped over on the floor, his hand gripping his chest as he took successive gasping breaths.

[tales-from-exo-planet]

Arizona

Part VII

Magic

“Call it magic, call it true I call it magic when I'm with you And I just got broken, broken into two Still I call it magic, when I'm next to you

Call it magic, cut me into two And with all your magic, I disappear from view And I can't get over, can't get over you Still, I call it magic, such a precious truth

And if you were to ask me After all that we've been through Still believe in magic? Well yes, I do Oh yes, I do Oh yes, I do Oh yes, I do Of course I do”

 -“Magic” by Coldplay-

“Hey ya stranger,” you called up to the grinning giant who met you at the front of Metaphysics Records.

He hung out of the doorway slightly, his goofy grin still plastered to his face.

His cologne; a woody, balmy scent wafted in the air around him as he held the door open for you.

“Hey yourself,” he muttered as he moved past to let you in, his eyes on the package you brought.

You noticed the pujok just underneath the glittering nameplate and the traditional Korean masks depicting characters anyone would recognize from folk tales and plays.

Give me strength, you sighed as you passed through the doors and followed Chanyeol into the studio.

You heard MQ in the private studio Chanyeol was leading you towards, his fingers lightly tapping against the synth as he created a ascending and descending phrase.

bbbbBBBRRRrrrrrRRRRR!

RRRRrrrrBBBbbbbBBB!

You realized that he was lazily doing it, his head tossed back against the top of his chair as he swiveled side to side, his feet flat on the floor.

He jumped up in surprise when he saw you enter.

“Well well well! Look what the cat dragged in,” he winked at you and you pretended to swipe at him but pulled him in for a hug instead.

“It’s been a long time and that line is still old,” you and Chanyeol snickered.

“You’re still as snippy as always,” he grumbled poking his tongue out at you though he sucked it back in when he saw the food that you brought.

“I can start looking into some other lines. You’re right...it’s a sad, tired tired line,” he agreed immediately, drooling because of the smell alone.

Chanyeol snatched the bag from you and set up the spread on the meeting table in the office space just outside the control room.

You and Chanyeol had quite a few things in common aside from music.

Appreciating a good barbeque was definitely one of them.

While the food you brought weren’t exactly galbi and tonkatsu as he and you knew them, the sauce and grade of meat used and the way it had been cooked were still just as good.

You made sure to call ahead to check to see if anyone else was hungry besides you and Chanyeol as you were on your way there and he told you he’d pay you back for MQ’s share but you didn’t mind taking care of him.

“It’s just MQ,” you said as you hung up.

The three of you grubbed while MQ brought you up to speed on everything that had been going on.

He and Chanyeol had come to the States to begin what he hoped would be a record label that could span the globe.

It was an ambitious venture for sure which you reminded him of before they both quieted you so they could finish their story.

In order to gain attention of the media and a genuine following, he and MQ were supposed to be starring in a television show about their label, about getting it started and who their artists were.

But the talent had either been in sparse supply or there were other things standing in the way.

They had already filmed some episodes as they traveled through the different cities, hitting a speed bump that was keeping them here.

MQ rolled his eyes as Chanyeol glossed over the latest excuse.

“I found someone who could maybe be our in house lyricist….but they had a lot of things going on with their family….” he murmured as he had another helping of steak fries.

From the way MQ continued to roll his eyes and mutter to himself, you knew exactly what happened.

Chanyeol had a hard time separating business and pleasure.

And wouldn’t you know it?

You smirked as you looked at him, giving him the privacy he was attempting to keep.

“So….you’re starting things up again...what do you need me for?” You asked and he actually pouted, giving you the biggest, softest puppy dog eyes he could manage. He even let his bottom lip droop and quiver pitifully.

MQ looked at him, disgusted, still missing the straw of his shake he was searching for with his tongue.

You cleared your throat and Chanyeol stopped, frowning as he munched on more fries.

“It was worth a try…” he muttered but you knew that you hadn’t dampened his spirits.

And neither had the delays of this label deterred him.

He made that choice willingly.

He was living freely as he always had been.

It seemed to always happen this way.

Just when there was a downturn in both of your lives, you found each other again.

Your friendship had started off that way back home.

You met in the back of class in grade school, purely by circumstance as you kept your head in your books.

As usual one of your classmates had been teasing you about the way you’d tied up your hair.

You were really into hair clips back then.

Your mom had made a game out of buying you the most outrageous clips she could find as long as you continued to do well in your classes.

She only let you wear the ones that were according to dress code and weren’t too distracting and she made sure to check your pockets before you left.

But unluckily for her, you snuck them into your sneakers and waited until you were far enough away from your front door and neighbors before you clipped at least one clip in underneath your ponytail.

You liked to look at yourself in the mirror over your shoulder and take pictures sometimes when no one was looking.

You pretended you were a young idol sometimes, shooting an MV about fashion and style or even a bubbly CF for hairclips.

Hey it was possible right?

“You’re trying to set a trend but you just look like trash….go back to the dumpster,” she snickered in your ear and you wheeled around to snatch her after letting it slide for most of the morning lesson.

Just as you reached for her, your teacher grabbed your wrist and motioned for you to head to back of the classroom.

“If you’re going to lose your temper, then you need to increase your endurance,” she said under her breath to you.

To your satisfaction, the class bully was also sent to the back.

You held your arms up in front of you, careful not to add any tension to your arms since your shoulders would be burning by the time you were done “enduring.”

Chanyeol was already back there, his eyes popped wide open and  his brow dripping with sweat, with how long he was proving he could “endure.”

You met there at least once a week until you figured out what your teacher was trying to let you in on.

If you ignored her long enough in the classroom and didn’t let her interrupt your studies, then you could surpass her in time.

She would be stuck somewhere she didn’t want to be, and probably already was.

But you would move on.

It still sucked to listen to her every day, saying this or that about you.

Every little thing about you that she could find to break you, she tried to use.

But you remembered the ache in your shoulders and did your best to “endure” as your teacher said though it became harder.

She was starting to lose patience with you being able to maintain your patience.

And then she started to slip things into your shoes. The worst were the little thumbtacks that you had to quickly pry out and shove in your backpack pocket before trekking down the hall to class before roll call.

There were some times where you missed a thumbtack and had to wait for quite some time until you could remove it.

You didn’t think anyone else noticed until Chanyeol finally came over during your lunch break and dumped his entire lunch on her head saying “oh I’m sorry. I thought there was a trash can right here.”

He was sent home that day.

And she left you alone after that and so did Chanyeol.

It wasn’t until years later that you happened to see him out on the street grabbing a bite to eat from a convenience store.

He was sporting a bruised lip and you were hurrying to a night gig you had.

It wasn’t an up and coming place but it wasn’t a seedy bar either.

He came to listen to you play and you spent a couple days teaching him what you knew on the guitar.

From what you could tell, he already knew how to play but he wanted to learn a couple more technical skills that he felt you had.

You didn’t keep his number and he didn’t keep yours.

You just knew to wait for him by the convenience store.

If he showed, you played.

If he didn’t, you still played.

After a while he stopped coming and you graduated from high school.

You happened to meet again while you were abroad for university.

You were at a pub with some friends and you happened to hear someone playing a riff you knew quite well.

And then you recognized who it was.

He was playing in a band he’d put together and visiting with friends who had just graduated from university. You could just tell.

The pub was a new quirky place you and your classmates just happened upon earlier that day.

You kept missing your stop for the public library and you were too hungry to keep going in circle.

You didn’t want to spend all afternoon working on your class project.

“Hmm….it’s locked…” one of your classmates said as they tried the door.

In sepia ink, probably left from the establishment that had been there before, was the word Feinbäckerei.

“But it looks like a library….it looks like a place we can study in….” you thought aloud as you eyeballed the place.

It looked like a small tea and coffee shop from the outside but how could a place so unassuming as that be closed during the day time.

“Look,” one of your classmates said, pointing to a note on the door that read, “We come alive in the night time.”

And so you left and you returned with some friends, intent on figuring out just what that place was.

It was unassuming as you thought.

A quiet pub to study in for the first hour or two of business.

It served the best coffee and tea and refreshments that you could find in Berlin.

But after at least two hours of business, the venue’s energy shifted and students were putting away their work and preparing for the show.

That’s when you realized that this was a crowd funded and organized event.

All of the refreshments you enjoyed were handmade by students just like yourself who wanted to test out their skills or were just stress baking.

It seemed exclusive even though it was inclusive, the way you were all admitted into the door and served but not included in the general comversation.

While your classmates didn’t mind, you wondered why.

Old wounds scab over and fall away but sometimes the scars remained. It left you asking why all the time.

You all helped to clear the tables and chairs to make space for the bands to come through and realized that it wasn’t hired entertainment that came to perform for you all but the students themselves.

You weren’t too impressed with some of the acts though you tried to give everyone a chance.

Some you would just tune out and focus on doodling on your scratch paper instead as inconspicuously as you could.

But there were some that you couldn’t tear your eyes away from.

It was what they played and how they played it.

The equipment that they used or didn’t use.

You could close your eyes and really see the lines and form of the piece.

It was one of those performances you’d just heard that had you writing down everything you’d seen.

What they wore, the audience’s reaction, every single detail that you could remember.

You were writing so furiously and then you heard him singing

“I heard he sang a good song, I heard he had a style

And so I came to see him, to listen for a while

And there he was, this young boy, a stranger to my eyes

Strumming my pain with his fingers

Singing my life with his words

Killing me softly with his song

Killing me softly with his song

Telling my whole life with his words

Killing me softly with his song”

You smirked as you dropped your pencil, sitting back and giving him your full attention.

Your eyes were big as saucers as you heard MQ come in on the piano, playing both the melody and it’s lower harmonies while Chanyeol played the riff you’d taught him back then.

Everyone was whistling and snapping after that.

You wasted no time approaching him, simply saying “nice form, Yoda.”

The grin that stretched across his mouth at the sound of your voice was enough to let you know that he knew exactly who you were.

He hadn’t seen you listening to him so intently and you were glad for it.

He was sure to tease you about how wide your mouth had been opened.

“Since when did your voice drop?” You asked, simpering as he blew a raspberry at you.

You could tell he wasn’t trying to brush you off but he wasn’t trying to keep you either.

There were girls swarming them anyway and you weren’t one to block someone’s happiness.

“Good to see you,” you waved, and turned to look for your classmates who you realized had joined the crowd at the front.

You made ready to head back to your flat on your own and finish your part of the assignment when you heard him behind you, “if you’re here for another couple of days...we could play together again sometime?”

And you hung out for a couple days.

He told you about his hard luck in school and how much trouble he was having keeping up.

About how his mom continued to passionately cheer him on, but he could tell that she was disappointed.

He wanted to spend all of his time learning as much music as he could but he knew better.

He didn’t want to head and spend his life in their small family business, a shop and adjoining restaurant similar to this.

But he felt awful for wanting more.

For choosing differently.

You told him how unsure you were about your prospects after school too.

Your parents did not fully support you making music your life and asked that you went to school for a business degree instead since your father griped and moaned about never wanting his children to work for someone who drove their potential into the ground. He didn’t want you to be like him.

And being their only child left, you knew you had to make him proud but you wanted to go your own way too.

So you played together.

If he was at the pub that night, you played together after his set and had some drinks.

If he wasn’t, you studied and wrote reviews while enjoying a drink or two on your own, publishing what you’d written on those nights later in the university paper.

Until you went back home from being abroad and kicked yourself for not asking for his number.

Especially that time.

You quickly forgot once you got back and graduated.

You finally met someone who set your heart on fire.

Everything was going well.

You were engaged to be married after getting over your uncertainty about whether that relationship was actually going anywhere.

He was everything your parents wanted for you.

Stable, and grounded with a salaried job, which wasn’t something easy to come by back home and considering the market.

He encouraged you to look into your hobbies and passions since he planned on you being a stay at home wife once you got married.

You thought your resistance was just some residual teenage rebellion and angst that you hadn’t quite worked through.

Looking at the facts, he was beyond what you could have expected considering the social class you came from.

Seeing the pride on your father’s face when he saw you two together….you didn’t want to be the cause of any heartache and so you promised to work through your doubts, choosing to voice your opinion with your fiancee constantly.

And so you focused on your music, teaching students from your apartment back home on your off days and continuing to go to shows of former classmates and new acquaintances while keeping a monotonous office job.

You’d slowly gained a following and became a critic worth reading.

It wasn’t just that your words were compelling but that you also knew your stuff.

You thanked yourself for your stubborn nature and that you listened to Chanyeol and took classes in sound engineering, and music production where you could find them outside of your business degree.

With your connections in the community that you built after your conversations at that pub in Berlin and while on the committee for the school newsletter, you also had people in the business to learn from.

There were a couple offers from editorials and other magazines for you to be a guest writer if not a permanent contributor.

You snuck in a couple of samples just to see what they thought and were so excited to show your fiance their offers.

But the look of distaste that screwed up his features silenced you immediately.

And the engagement didn’t last long after that.

He quickly found someone else and broke off the engagement by cutting off all contact with you and marrying someone else months later. He never even moved all of his stuff out.

At news of the wedding, a bulletin you saw in the morning paper one day, you had to throw up.

You decided right then and there to make your own way and sent in full articles from that point on, taking one of the editorial offers you were given before you created your own magazine dedicated to providing information about the music world, new technologies and innovations, and featured not only musicians but aspiring students at multiple levels. You formed a directory for students to find numbers and information for professionals. You included as much information as you could provide based on the job position and through your periodical you learned that many students, young and old alike, found exactly what they were looking for.

It took some doing but you were slowly starting to build a world directory including information about concerts in venues to look out for across the world.

You were headed out to review some venues in Lyon when you heard his laugh ring out in the hotel lobby that you were staying in.

The charity concert that evening, a classical pianist would be playing the entirety of Chopin’s Nocturnes on the hotel’s balcony.

Only the elite had been invited entrance to the event which was preceded by a small gathering thrown by one of the best up and coming party planners this century. This was the first party of theirs that you were reviewing and they let you know that they were hoping you’d like what you saw and that the review would be helpful to you both. You didn’t doubt it. You’d heard of the pianist, mostly favorable things now that they had a couple more performances and years of experience under their belt, and you’d heard only remarkable reviews about the event planner. You expected them both to deliver.

You’d walked around at the pre-event for a little while, enjoying the ambience before you looked for a place to have a quiet cup of tea so you could start your initial review.

You turned to see him bounding towards the lobby from the lift with a man a little shorter than him.

They were laughing and talking loudly on their way out the door, slapping and punching playfully on each other’s shoulders as they went.

To you it appeared that they were out to shop or play before the grand event started.

You couldn’t help the feeling of elation that washed over you at the sight of him.

And you somehow caught his attention and he stopped in his tracks making some excuse to his friend about needing to see about something and he would catch up with him later.

You spoke for some length about what was happening.

About your failed engagement and about his most recent breakup.

He told you jokingly that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be for either of you but you could tell that he hoped that wasn’t true.

He congratulated you on your success, admitting that he meant to ask you for your number so long ago so that he could keep up with you.

He’d started a subscription with your periodical, not realizing that it was you until he read through a couple articles you’d included.

From there he’d found out more about how you were doing but he said he wasn’t sure if you’d remember him so he hadn’t tried to reach out to you.

You laughed and told him, teasingly, that once someone saw his ears they weren’t sure to forget him.

He scoffed playfully back at that saying that he would at least say for you that after hearing you rip on the guitar, that he’d never forgotten you. That that was what he remembered most.

You winced at the way he tried to play it off, rubbing at his hair to rearrange it and cover his ears.

Didn’t you know better than to…

You offered the idea of an impromptu jam session, for just you two, as you brought your instruments with you everywhere.

“I figure it’s ok for the teacher to test their student every now and then,” you winked.

He agreed immediately and you spent the afternoon together jamming just like you used to.

You even attended the event together later on.

You didn’t say so but you were so surprised that he had been invited to the charity event for $2,000 a plate and that he had actually accepted. It didn’t seem like it would be his style.

Maybe you were still looking for the gangly, rambunctious kid you met here and there at the convenience store instead of the publicly composed young man before you, who’d learned to reign in his fire.

But he listened, bobbing and weaving slightly as he ate.

After the event was over he begged you not to add that commentary in about his physical reactions since you did tend to focus on certain audience members if you could stop them and get an interview.

“But you don’t want to interview with me? We can order in…?” You offered chortling at the way the corner of his lips tweaked up into a cheeky smile.

You talked all night.

And then dozed off, you cradling your writing pad and he cradling your guitar that he’d been playing.

When you woke, you had breakfast together, he ordered in for you both and after he left to shower and gave you some time to freshen up...and then……

You guessed it was only a matter of time until that happened.

You kept in touch afterwards, casually of course.

But you didn’t think it was worth it to try to develop a relationship.

You were both passionate about music but you were both equally passionate about doing it your own way.

You knew he was dating on and off and you had your list of admirers too.

When things went to absolute shit, it was if he knew, even though you never told him.

He just always happened to find you.

It was no different this time.

You were in the States finally in the middle of Spring going from region to region, and had been checking out Arizona’s Sedona Jazz Festival, Tucson’s Poetry Festival and KFMA Day when you spotted him on stage with a couple of artists it seemed he had under his wing.

He announced his label and you made a point to send him a text right that minute, “why are you so predictable? Metaphysics?”

He responded after the first set, “where are you?”

And so here you were after you made a date of Amazing Pet EXPO because he just had to show off his new turtle. It was a crowd favorite.

And then he invited you to chill with him and MQ later that night.

“So you’re just in town again?” MQ asked though he whimpered after a sudden stomping sound.

From the sly innocent smile Chanyeol gave you...you could tell that MQ knew what was up.

Traitor.

You straightened as you finished up your meal.

“I am just in town?! What if I wanted to see you?” You teased, laughing at the frustrated blush that came over MQ.

“Aigoo. Chanyeol, I have an ulcer. I’m going home,” MQ announced suddenly, his expression quite serious.

“Your health is important,” Chanyeol sniggered as he watched him wad up his trash and go.

You started chewing your ribs slower as you watched him go.

Now it was just you and him.

He turned his attention back to you after watching MQ leave, his dark umber eyes settling on you. The fire was slowly building.

“You didn’t tell him to go did you…?” You asked, your tone every bit accusatory.

He shrugged as he wiped his hands clean with the santi-wipes you’d brought, closing the container of meat he’d been eating from.

You followed his lead, sure that he wanted you to follow him.

He led you into the large live room where a restored, polished ebony Bechstein grand piano waited.

“I assume this is one of many….” you said as you took a seat beside him on the bench.

From what little you had already seen of the decor in the studio, Chanyeol kept not just one guitar, or even one type.

There were several, all kinds of colors and shapes and sizes.

African djembes, conga drums, smaller handheld percussion instruments, grand pianos, uprights, drum kits….you name it.

“You know me so well….” He chuckled opening the case and running his hands along the keys.

You did the same from your side of the treble end until your hands almost met in the middle.

“Do you remember this…?” He asked, not looking at you as he played the riff you and anyone who knew that song could recognize anywhere.

You leaned back a little as he reached in front of you a little bit, gently brushing his elbow against your stomach.

“Sorry…” he faltered when you bumped his arm gently brushing it out of the way with your hand.

“No it’s...I wanted to play too and I really love this part,” you said as you took a breath and added in the next verse, in your mellow, smoky soprano.

I felt all flushed with fever, embarrassed by the crowd

I felt he'd found my letters and read each one out loud

I prayed that he would finish, but he just kept right on

“Strumming my pain with his fingers

Singing my life with his words

Killing me softly with his song

Killing me softly with his song

Telling my whole life with his words

Killing me softly”

You came to the end of the refrain, feeling your neck flush as you heard him murmur to you in his sonorous bass voice that you were still getting used to, “I missed hearing you sing...no matter how I try to catch up to you you’re still leagues ahead of me…”

You laughed, getting up from the bench abruptly.

“Do I have dragon breath or something?” He tried to laugh off your sudden movement though you could hear the hurt in his voice.

“Chanyeol….” You started but he got up, stretching his arms and neck nonchalantly as if he’d just asked you what time it was.

With a hand ringing the back of his neck, and his hip propped up against the edge of his grand, he said softly,

“I just...I just wanted to see you. It’s been awhile…” he whispered looking up through his lashes at you.

You nodded, rubbing your hands over your arms.

“Minseok set you up pretty good I see….” and he shook his head vigorously.

“Not just Minseok this time...I know he helped me get started back in Berlin...but I’ve taken the reins since. We’re working together as partners now. As equals…” He said, setting his shoulders back a little as he said it, his chest pluming out.

You could tell that he wanted you to think more of him.

That he wasn’t some lost kid anymore.

You could tell that he wasn’t.

At least not by his stature anymore.

His ears were still big.

He was still rich.

“I’ve heard….I just meant that I also heard about Unendlich….that’s going to be an amazing opportunity for you….” you meant it wholeheartedly and he nodded at you in appreciation.

“Would you-”

“Did she say no?” You asked immediately and he nodded slowly, biting his lip as he looked at you.

“You’re not my second choice,” he said after you stood there quietly, looking at him.

You nodded.

Minseok had reached out to you time and again when he was looking for talent to feature at Erhabenheit as it began to gain traction.

_________ (Minseok’s VP) constantly messaged you and updated you about the artists and whether you should remove them from your registry if they were no-shows or unprofessional or something else happened.

“Could you really handle being around me that often?” You said to him.

“I’d like to think that I can….we need you. We at least need your endorsement….” He sighed and startled when you began to laugh.

You bent over at the waist, holding your side as you tried to catch your breath.

You sighed aloud as you came up to him, standing right underneath his chin.

“You better not be up to any funny business, Park Chanyeol…” You said underneath your breath.

He smirked, one of the corners of his mouth lifting as he leaned dangerously close to you.

You weren’t afraid of his sudden temptation.

You knew he was trying to draw you out.

“I really do need your help ok...I need you to keep me focused. MQ just leaves me behind-”

“Because you’re wasting his time. But I don’t have to tell you that when you already know. So ask me what you really want to know. I’m still hungry,” you said as you turned away from him and headed towards the door to get more of your barbeque.

His expansive hand caught the muscle of your bicep, stopping you from going any further.

You turned to look at him, eyeing where his hand was before trailing you eyes up to his.

“Is that a yes that you’ll help me?” He asked you.

You pulled your arm away from him and folded them across your chest, cocking a hip out.

He bit his lip as he waited for your reply.

“You promise not to waste your time?” You asked and he nodded immediately but you shook your head.

“I mean it, Chanyeol. I’m here to work. Do you promise me that you aren’t going to waste your time?” You asked and he got on his knees before you, his hands pressed together as he dipped his head, raising his hands to you.

He stayed there for a moment, the both of you quietly breathing as you listened to the depth of your exhalations, before he brought his hands down to either side of him and lifted his eyes to you.

“I promise you. If you do this for me. If you agree to help me. I won’t waste my time. I won’t waste your time,” he added but you shook your head, standing up straight and turning swiftly to continue on your way back to the control room.

“You can’t waste my time Chanyeol, if I don’t give it to you.”

You heard his groan within his frustrated laughter.

“Now what the hell is that supposed to mean?”