"It seems like I can touch you but my hand goes through empty air" – Byun Baekhyun
Baekhyun's POV
It's times like these when I seriously contemplate murdering my friends. Not only did they start to grill me the second I walked into class this morning, no, they also didn't stop pestering me until the teacher called on us – well, me.
Now, I'm sitting alone in the schoolyard, since I don't want to be pestered about yesterday's date with Taeyeon.
Ah, Taeyeon. She's so beautiful, and smart, and popular, and I'm pretty sure that she's mad at me because of that over-the-top pretty boy.
"Oh Baekhyun! You didn't think we'd leave you all alone, did you?" – Kai.
"Yes, Hyung, you have to tell us about your date!" – Sehun.
"Did everything go alright?" – Suho.
"How badly did you mess up?" – D.O.
"Did she slap you in the face?" – Chanyeol.
"Chanyeol, Sehun, I'll fucking kill you, you assholes!" I yell. When I got home yesterday, my mom nearly cried with anger, while my father will probably disown me. "You dyed my hair pink you dumbasses! How dare you!"
Sehun, the little brat, has the gall to laugh. "It looks good on you, Hyung!"
"Don't lie! And tell me how to get it out!"
Chanyeol smirks. "Sorry, Baek, that won't be happening so soon. We made sure."
"You two did what?" Oh god, I could swear I can see steam coming out of Suho's ears. "You ruined his date!"
"What do you mean ruined? He can manage that just fine on his own!" At that remark, even D.O cracks a smile.
"Whatever," I mumble embarrassed. "And don't worry, Sehun, the date went just fine. Even if Minho spilled water on me."
"Just water?"
Why does Chanyeol sound so disappointed?
"That's bad enough, don't you think?"
But before Chanyeol can answer, an angry voice calls out.
"KIM JONGIN!"
Suho flinches at the volume even if it's not his name that's being called, and our heads turn to see a very pissed-off looking Tao and an earnest looking Chen stalking towards us.
I know for a fact that Tao is a crybaby and afraid of ghosts. But I also know that he is a martial arts artist and can get very protective when it comes to his friends – and that he isn't afraid to attack people who can't defend themselves against people like him.
And Chen, though he is primarily a happy-go-lucky guy and cheekbones dude who's kind to everyone, he can pack a punch if necessary – his right hook isn't a joking matter, he broke a guy's jaw using it.
Tao, who has enough brain to notice the teacher throwing a look in our direction, comes closer so that he can speak at a normal volume.
"What the hell were you freaks thinking?! I don't know which one of you – never mind. Sehun, how dare you put Umin-hyung and Lay-ge in ornithology? Do you have any idea what this means for them?" Tao gets right into Sehun's face, glaring at him fiercely. "I know you don't have a heart in that chest cavity of yours, but that will not stop me from kicking your sorry ass!"
"Now wait just a second, Sehun, you did what?" Suho sounds scandalized, even if I can see a spark of amusement in his eyes. He's a good liar, I'll give him that – after all, he's the guy that told Sehun to keep a low profile about the whole thing.
Sneaky.
"Well, everyone wants to have a little fun sometimes, right?"
I can see how Tao gets closer to snapping, before he takes a deep breath and smiles suddenly. "You know what? You're right. I also want to have a little fun once in a while. And you, brat, can be my entertainment."
Sehun raises his hand, intent to push Tao away, but in an instant Chen is there, grabbing his wrist harshly. "Touch him and you'll regret it."
Kai lets out a bark of laughter. "Oh, scary. Because everybody knows how very manly and strong you guys are, right, crybaby?" He asks, looking straight at Tao.
But this time, Tao is not perturbed and doesn't rise to the bait. He just looks calmly at Kai, his eyes like ice. "Don't think for a second that we don't know what you did to Luhan. Insults are one thing, but if you peabrains believe that you can get away with messing with one of us, you're wrong. We'll make you pay."
Kai wants to retort, but Chen cuts him off. "And just so you know, D.O, if you think you can fuck Luhan-hyung over, then you've got another thing coming. We won't let you run to the headmaster and claim that he isn't helping you. In fact, rest assured. We are going to be so kind to do your work for you."
D.O glares. "As if I'd believe you."
I shake my head. "It's not our fault that flower boy ran face-first into Kai's fist. Or that you are too incompetent to file your own assignments. Now buzz off, we're having a good time here and you're kinda ruining it."
"Oh, just like you ruined your only chance with Taeyeon when you talked shit about Luhan and us all in front of her?" Chen grins at me. "I don't know how you did it, shit-for-brains, but I'm impressed. You managed to ruin it in less than half an hour."
I bristle. "I didn't ruin it, bitch. In fact, we have another date next week, and she told me she's looking forward to it already. And it's not like I told Taeyeon any lies – I just told her about how you guys always freeloaded off of us and then one day just decided to drop the act and pretend everything that ever went wrong in your lives is somehow tied back to us."
Chen only continues to grin, but Tao glares at me, and I remember what my first impression of him was: He'll kill me and my body will never be found!
"Funny, 'cause I heard something along the lines of you saying what a whiny, pathetic excuse of a boy he is. And that Taeyeon totally chewed you out for it."
"First of all, I didn't say pathetic, I said feminine. Second, she didn't. She just made it clear that-"
"Chen, here you are! I've been searching all over the place for one of you guys! I cannot seem to find Lu anywhere, have you seen him?"
Blond perfection jogs over to us, her uniform and hair impeccable. She gives Chen and Tao a hug when she reaches us, all of her attention on them, a concerned look on her pretty face.
"Oh, hey Taeyeon," Chen greets, his sinister smile being replaced by a genuine, warm one.
"T-Taeyeon, hi!" I mentally curse myself for my stutter. How embarrassing. I bet my face is the same colour of my hair – a vibrant strawberry pink.
"Oh, hi Baekhyun. I didn't know you guys were on speaking terms." Her voice is reserved, and I have the sudden urge to make up with the Exo-M guys, if only to show Taeyeon that I am a decent guy.
"Don't worry Tae, everything's cool. There isn't any trouble." The unspoken yet is clearly audible.
"Well," she says, disbelief colouring her gentle voice, "if you say so…"
She gives me a smile, not as kind as the one yesterday, but it brightens my mood all the same.
I feign concern. "Say, Taeyeon, what do you need flow- Luhan for?"
For a split second, I'm afraid she'll call my bluff, but her worry overrides her protectiveness. "I told you about the art contest, remember? Well, my sketchpad disappeared, and I wanted to ask him to help me look for it. But since I can't find him…" She turns towards the crybaby panda and Chen. "Do you know what's up with him? He sounded fine on the phone when I called him last."
Tao spares us a suspicious look. Chen frowns a little. "Can we talk somewhere more private?"
Taeyeon looks surprised for all but a second before her expression hardens. "Of course, Chen Chen."
