Chapter Text
Washing their laundry together in the same washing machine establishes a new step in their relationship. Baekhyun watches as Chanyeol pours the detergent and softening powder in and sets on the machine for a cycle, entranced.
“You know, mated pairs do that. But we’re not mated.”
“Not yet”
“...yeah”
“How about tonight?”
“To-tonight? …O-”
“I’m kidding”
Baekhyun hmpfs. He was going to say okay.
Baekhyun turns on his feet and walks away from the washing machine and Chanyeol. “I’ll bake pastries. Want some?”
“Sure! What will you do?”
“My specialty. Strawberry and chocolate cupcakes sound good to you?” He’s confident with this recipe.
On the third night in the cabin, love is in the air.
Earlier today, Chanyeol kissed him softly. It was slow, gentle, light but deliberate. He’d been dreaming about this for months. His breath smells like those floral dental mouthwash. He obviously brushed his teeth before, or else how could it smell—taste—this way? It overwhelms him and he can’t get enough, all at once. Chanyeol’s lips are plump hence Baekhyun feels out of breath. Their intertwined smells are apparent in his mouth and the taste of them is so good that he feels knots in the lower belly.
This eventual kiss and the relief that comes with it reminds Baekhyun that the day he sealed his path was the day he saw the alpha.
Chanyeol and Baekhyun both ignored calls from people, choosing to send messages saying they’re okay and need time alone.
And now, it’s deep into the night, and they are kissing again.
Baekhyun hopes his breath also smells good. It’d be embarrassing if it didn't. He slants his lips more roughly over Chanyeol’s thicker ones. His lips are so soft and cushiony that Baekhyun feels like crying inside.
At some point Chanyeol’s tongue slides between his lips, the fresh taste of his tongue makes his toes curl. They both tilt their heads at the same time, in sync, to deepen the kiss, and it’s perfect.
It’s like he was born to love him. The thought does sound ridiculous to him, but at this moment in time, and when they make one and mate that night, Baekhyun feels this way. A love so intense and raw.
• • •
They’re sleeping in the same bed.
“That’s perfect.”
“Yes.”
They talk and kiss through the night, unable to get enough from each other. The smiles are long and happy, and the eye contacts are elongated and intense.
“I really like you, Yeol.” Baekhyun mutters while looking at the ceiling.
Chanyeol turns on his side and with his left arm, brings Baekhyun closer to him in a side hug. “I really like you too. So much. My Pup.” It earns him a peck on the check from Baekhyun.
His large eyes dart across Baekhyun’s body, seemingly appreciative of the sight. Baekhyun is wearing simple pajamas, but in Chanyeol’s eyes, he’s the sexiest person he ever saw. He looks at his unique tattoo peeking out from his pajamas. He admires the sight. He wants to kiss it.
“You're looking at me like you want to eat me”
“I don't want to eat you. I want to devour you.”
They make love in the silent cabin, the sound of their moans, breathing and occasional talking the only sound that can be heard. After a passionate and undisturbed night, the newly mated couple enjoys their first time together as an officially bonded pair.
At last, they fall asleep in one another’s arms.
Next morning, after spending another long, good time in bed, the pair share a romantic breakfast during which Baekhyun sees a notification on his social media, ‘Chan__10 posted a new picture’. “Did you post pictures of ...?” He gasps.
“Of us, yes. You don’t mind, do you?”
Chanyeol takes a glance at Baekhyun's delicate hands holding his phone and his mind automatically drifts to him slipping a ring on his beautiful ring finger, one day.
Baekhyun looks at the post, it contains multiple pictures. Most are pictures of Baekhyun. Some are candid ones Chanyeol took when he wasn't looking. They all look good. The caption says, ‘a getaway with you ♥️’
Baekhyun’s amused, “Not at all. Post any picture you want.”
His boyfriend, his mate grins and kisses his lips. “Now I can show off to the world that you’re mine.” And kisses him again. “You got me, Baekhyun.”
• • •
It’s Sunday, weekend is over and Chanyeol has work on Monday, hence their little Gangwon-do getaway is bound to end. The newly formed couple decides to leave after getting a light lunch. So here they are, driving back to the capital after a memorable six days long trip; much closer than before and now mates.
On the way back, Chanyeol is driving and Baekhyun holds his hand whenever the road allows them to. It’s mostly straight lines, with very few bends. Their intertwined fingers feel good and warm, and there’s a familiarity in holding each other’s hand like this.
Baekhyun begins to doze to this calming atmosphere, lulled by the vibrations of the car and his boyfriend’s humming. Chanyeol notices he’s fallen asleep at some point and turns the volume of the music down to let him drowse. His boyfriend. “Chanyeol?
“Yes?”
“I've been called names. I’ve come a long way. I’ve been called a social climber. . .Yet, I feel guilty sometimes. When I see people my age that seem like they're struggling like I did a few years back. Do you ever feel guilt for having your social status? I feel guilty when I buy myself nice things when some people cannot afford it. I worked my ass off since I was a teenager to do so, but I still feel guilt.”
“Not really no. I do feel pain but I feel like I deserve this. I think it all comes to why we’re here. Maybe it is a comforting thought but I believe we are all born to experience different things. And our lives can be so long because we get to experience life in as many ways as possible. I'm very grateful I was born this way. I’m grateful for my family. I can’t choose every setting, but being an alpha man only interested in males has made me notice you. And I'm grateful I was born an alpha. Even more since I've met you.” He kisses Baekhyun’s hand, “Also there’s nothing wrong with the fleeting joy of buying stuff. I get it. We’re materialistic beings”
“Are we?”
“Try to take a toy away from a toddler and see how they react!”
Baekhyun laughs, but somehow his imagination drifts to thoughts of toddlers, kids, and a house full of people living close to nature.
• • •
It’s time Baekhyun and Chanyeol introduce their friends’ to one another, which is why Chanyeol responded positively to an offer to hang out at a bar tonight, informing one of his friends that he was coming with someone. So far, they have kept their relationship on the down-low and it has been very private, with only their families having been introduced.
Seconds ago, a beautiful man walked up to Chanyeol and slid his arm across the taller’s shoulders, “Yeol, my man! How’s life?” He is soon joined by a band of people who Baekhyun assumes are Chanyeol’s friends. They all look curiously at him and so does he. ‘Are you not planning on introducing me to them?’, silently laments Baekhyun.
As he observes them exchanging pleasantries, Baekhyun notes two things. The way Chanyeol tenses up, and a note of mischievousness in the man’s voice.
“So, Baekhyun, here are my-”
Another man adds in, “And who is that pretty omega?” He sniffs the air, “Mated? Chanyeol, who is he?”
Clearly showing his annoyance at being rudely interrupted by his friend, Chanyeol let out a sigh before saying, “Baekhyun, this rude nuisance is Sehun. He’s my friend, on his good days.” Baekhyun can clearly smell that he is an omega, and the mixture of his scent indicates to him that he is a mated one at that.
‘Most of my alpha friends aren't worthy enough to meet you,’ Chanyeol once said. And he’s serious. His ‘friends’ make gross jokes about omegas so he’s embarrassed to introduce them to Baekhyun. Sehun is borderline okay, and the clique that came tonight consists of Chanyeol’s friendliest friends.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Suho”, another alpha man says with a teasing glint in his eyes. He seems like those prankish people Baekhyun doesn't really like. But when he extends his hand with a smile, Baekhyun doesn't ignore him and returns the handshake.
Just then, “Hey~! Chanyeol, you're here! It’s been weeks! months! YEARS!!” A beta woman joins them.
Visibly extroverted, this beta has a strong peacock energy—as Baekhyun would call it. Her extroversion and overly loud, borderline obnoxious persona does not make Baekhyun feel more at ease so he scoots closer to Chanyeol and instinctually tries to stay a little behind him.
Energetic people can be intimidating at first.
Chanyeol’s friends are not the humblest people he knows, indeed. But then again, what does being humble means? Baekhyun catches himself in this judgment. The line between confidence and arrogance can easily be blurred. Chanyeol says, “She's Choi Girin. She’s selfish as hell, but our friendship never suffered from it. It might be because I compensated for her though,” he jokes. But he means it: the beta’s always a good company, Girin used to be his beer buddy and she is very open-minded.
Baekhyun judged her quickly, but on second impression, the girl seems spontaneous, never holding back from fun. She seems kind and a fun company too. Smiling a Baekhyun she asks, “So, how did you two meet?”
“In a subway train” Baekhyun replies as smoothly as he could. Which isn’t possibly smooth at all, given how nervous he feels inside. When he looks at the taller man, he melts. Chanyeol’s round eyes. The pink plump-looking lips, the nose mole, the winner smile. His mate returns his smile and starts introducing him to everyone.
Baekhyun admires the precious sparkles that decorate his lover’s face, a marvelous sight, and a unique trait for Baekhyun to forever treasure and give his love to.
“Hello? Earth to Baekhyun? You're drooling”
He wonders if Chanyeol hears his rapid heartbeats. If concentrated enough, most people can focus on other’s heartbeats and hear them, even more so when they speed up. Fated mates and mated pairs usually have sharper senses of each other’s heartbeats, so he self-consciously tries to calm his heart pulses down to a slower pace. A calm, composed heart rate is a factor of confidence. Some people train themselves to slow their hearts down to a normal pace for job interviews, and can in consequence control their levels of stress and appear less nervous in society. Baekhyun definitely isn’t one of those.
The night ends on a joyful note, and Baekhyun is overjoyed: to think he finally has met Chanyeol’s friends! He’s getting to know his mate more, and soon he will be introducing Chanyeol to his friends. This feels like they are opening up a new chapter of their shared lives.
• • •
Sex is great. It’s a new way of knowing each other, that is so intimate, and the vulnerability is overwhelming but awesome and addictive. Baekhyun discovers that differently from Chanyeol’s wandering hands on his body during the day, in bed on the other hand, he is a different kind of cuddler. He loves body contact just as much as Baekhyun, but he is a one arm sort of hugger. He’ll hold Baekhyun tightly and he likes to keep his hands on his boyfriend’s hips, waist, or on the small of his back. To warm the smaller man up when he is cold he strokes his hand up and down his side. He gives him massages on his back and shoulders—in short, he treats Baekhyun like a prince.
Love, they discover, is beautiful. Romantic times are beautiful. There are many ways one can say ’i love you’. Casually, under one’s breath, straightforwardly, twisted into something else, with a gesture, with one’s eyes, with one’s mouth, with one’s tongue. Through laughter and through tears, in ’thank you’, ’see you soon’, ’drive safe’.
Chanyeol and Baekhyun say ’I love you’ to each other everyday. Every time they part and every time they meet.
Chanyeol and Baekhyun have been living together for a little over one month now and they often change their side of the bed to, as Baekhyun says, ’prevent our relationship from becoming routine’.
• • •
Chanyeol gets a position in his family’s company whereas Baekhyun takes a year off after he graduates.They get an apartment and live their lives. The place is at the rooftop of one of Seoul’s most prized buildings, a three story apartment with a penthouse that overlooks the view of the city.
At night, Seoul shines through the tall wall-sized windows as soft music plays in the background. The apartment smells like them, it’s a mix of their scents. Chanyeol brings two glasses of wine and a bottle of red—Vieilles Vignes, a simple but tasty 2016 French wine— and joins Baekhyun who’s resting on the large sofa. Their glasses clink, silent eye smiles are exchanged as they silently toast.
Like this, the couple spends some time in silence, simply enjoying each other’s company in the calm, the soft music still playing in the background and their eyes attached on the city.
Baekhyun takes one more sip, before setting his glass down on the table near the sofa. Chanyeol does the same, then slides his arm around Baekhyun who naturally turns to be back hugged. It’s another precious moment.
• • •
14 years later
Rolling on his side, he unlocks his phone and enters his gallery. His favorite album contains many pictures of his family dog, some of himself and his family and the utmost majority of Baekhyun. After a few minutes, he catches himself staring at pictures of his mate on his phone.
When he opens the card Chanyeol left for him on the bedside table, it says. ‘We said we’d grow old together and today this became a little bit more true. Happy birthday, Byun Baekhyun’
Baekhyun smiles at the words. Just then, the door beeps as it opens, and the love of his life comes inside, taking off his shoes. He’s carrying a paper bag with what looks like flowers inside and notices Baekhyun “Baby, you're up?”
“Yeol!” Baekhyun widens his arms for a hug, and Chanyeol walks towards him with a smile. “Thank you my love.”
“You’re welcome, happy birthday Baekhyunee.” Chanyeol smooches him right on the lips.
The sound of foots running on the carpet can be heard and seconds later, their bedroom door bursts open.
"Dada! Dada! Happy birthday!"
Happiness lives in these moments, and sharing them with someone feels great, Baekhyun thinks.
The end. ≈≈≈