[PG-13] Once upon a Dream [EXO] (2/3)

[airplanewishes]

Title: Once upon a Dream
Author: airplanewishes
Fandom: EXO
Characters: Lu Han/Kris
Genre: Romance, Friendship, Fluff
Rating: PG-13
WC: 16,042
Summary: Lu Han quite liked the fact that his friends thought of him as a social butterfly. Butterflies were pretty and carefree and that was just how he wanted to remain.
Note: Another side-story to Someday Dream, but can be read alone. And 3 parts because LJ. OTL

My beta, Chrys, khrysallis1106, is patient and beautiful. ^_<

Once upon a Dream part 2

Part 1

-

Lu Han fixed the cuffs of the sleeves of the suit, taking a bit of a step back to assess the correctness of the length. When he felt satisfied with it, he moved on to the other arm and made sure that the two lengths were aligned.

“Your concentration is fascinating,” Kris interrupted the silence that had engulfed them once Lu Han set to work.

Lu Han paused from where he was bent over, checking the hemline of the suit, and straightened up to look at him. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he watched Kris meet his eyes. “Fascinating,” he wanted to know as he bit his lower lip, “or sexy?”

Kris didn’t say answer, merely smiling and turning his attention elsewhere. His eyes found Baekhyun practically biting his finger off. He was staring into space and looked like he was going into shock any minute.

Kris nodded towards him, lightly nudging Lu Han. “I think your friend’s about to have a heart attack over there,” he mentioned.

Lu Han sighed impassively and didn’t even bother looking at Baekhyun. “He has some dating issues,” he shared blandly. It was all Baekhyun ever talked about anymore. It was almost as if it was taking over his life. Honestly, love wasn’t the most important thing in the world. The world had survived without love.

“I have this cousin who’s interested in dating,” Kris said casually, dusting off some lint on the leg of his slacks. “I don’t know if he’s Baekhyun’s type but maybe it could help—.”

Lu Han had put a finger up to keep him from talking some more. He then grabbed Kris’s hand and pulled him to the end of the store, where the fitting rooms where. He shoved Kris into one and followed after him.

“Is this where we make-out?” Kris asked teasingly.

Lu Han rolled his eyes. “You wish,” he said. “Now, this friend of yours… what does he look like? Can you describe him to me?”

“I can show you instead,” Kris said, taking out his phone. He clicked on a button and Lu Han clucked his tongue impatiently as Kris scrolled through a couple of photos before stopping and handing him the phone. “His name’s Chanyeol and—.”

“He’s perfect,” Lu Han announced, smiling widely. He bit his lip for a second, thinking quickly. He looked at Kris, who had an expectant look on his face. “So listen, Baekhyun’s never going to go for a blind date. He’s scared and finicky like that. But I know he’s his type. What we need to do is to show him a picture somehow and get him to choose him.”

“Can’t you just show him his picture?” Kris asked. “We can show it to him now.”

Lu Han shook his head. “Baekhyun’s far too proud to ask his best friends for help,” he told him. He remembered one incident where he’d set Baekhyun up with some guy named Daehyun, who was pretty hot in Lu Han’s opinion, except Baekhyun got really mad because he said he could get a date on his own thankyouverymuch. But then, the next week, Lu Han saw him out and about with some guy that he was sure one of their old classmates had set him up with.

“So how do you plan to get him to go out with Chanyeol?” Kris wanted to know, looking confused.

“Do you think Chanyeol would be averse to the idea of posing as an escort and having his picture in a catalogue?” Lu Han happily questioned, feeling very proud of his ingenious idea.

“Maybe I should show Chanyeol Baekhyun’s picture first so he knows if this is something he wants to get into,” Kris finally decided, not really wanting to say no to Lu Han’s excited face.

“That’s perfect!” Lu Han said, reaching up and wrapping his arms around his neck in a hug.

Kris was still for a second, but before he could get around to wrapping his own arms around him, Lu Han was already out of the fitting room and was on the phone, talking to Jongdae.

-

Lu Han glanced at Kris as they drove farther and farther away from Exo Hotel. Kris had asked to meet up at the hotel, thinking that they were going to hang out there as they always did. They had been going out almost every day, having lunch or dinner mostly at the hotel since Kris did have to work. But when he’d arrived at the hotel earlier, he was whisked away in his black Mercedes Benz to a destination he wasn’t sure where.

“If you’re kidnapping me…” Lu Han slightly warned him, his hand on his mobile phone.

“No one’s going to care,” Kris confidently responded. “I think your friends would be happy to be rid of you for one day.” Lu Han poked his tongue out at him. “So mature,” he teased.

“Seriously,” Lu Han persisted. “Where are you taking me?”

“You’ll see,” Kris mysteriously replied.

Kris is kidnapping me. Help. Lu Han sent to Baekhyun, Jongdae and Kyungsoo.

He wasn’t really bothered that Kris was whisking him away on an adventure. What he was worried about was the fact that he and Kris had been spending so much time together, time that Lu Han greatly enjoyed. He wasn’t sure where the lines between them were anymore. And they hadn’t even been remotely physical with each other yet. And yet the lines were disappearing. His walls were crumbling down. He wasn’t sure what to think about that.

His mobile phone vibrated thrice.

Be safe. Lu Han could almost hear Jongdae’s cackle.

Good. Baekhyun was never really one of his nicer friends.

Have fun! Even Kyungsoo didn’t care!

Lu Han deleted every single one of their replies and wanted to throw his phone out of the window.

He leaned his head back and looked out of the window. It was only then that he realized where they were headed.

“Why are we going to the airport?” Lu Han demanded.

-

To say that Lu Han was astonished was an understatement. Sure he knew that Kris was very wealthy and could do anything he wanted to, even if it was just a whim. But he didn’t think that Kris would carry that clout over to their dates.

Kris had them flown to Jeju Island just so they could have a walk and a picnic by Cheonjiyeon Waterfall. Astonished didn’t even cover half of what Lu Han was feeling.

Lu Han shot Kris a look that made the taller male smile sheepishly.

“I was thinking we could do something different,” Kris explained. “We’re always having dinner at the hotel and I didn’t think it was fair to you.”

“And you think this is fair?” Lu Han looked almost hysterical. “You brought me to Jeju Island to have dinner.”

At that moment, the lights in the pathway and around the waterfall suddenly lighted up and they were awash with pretty fairy lights, making everything twice as romantic.

Lu Han opened his mouth as if to berate Kris further but his words were caught in his throat when he saw how beautiful the waterfall was all lighted up. He sighed, almost dreamily, and shot Kris a look before taking his hand in his and continuing their walk.

“You really didn’t have to do this,” Lu Han insisted as they ate.

Although, secretly, he was elated that Kris was being all romantic for him. He hated comparing, but none of the others he’d gone out with had gone to such lengths to woo him—not that Kris was wooing him, of course. And, even if he was, so what? He wasn’t woo-able.

Kris merely smiled knowingly and reached out to feed him. Lu Han stared at the food on the fork then at him.

“It’s not shrimp, I promise,” Kris assured him.

-

“What time did you come home last night?” Baekhyun demanded accusingly as Lu Han stumbled into his studio, still a bit sleepy from staying up late the night before.

Lu Han and Kris had gotten home pretty late because Lu Han insisted on staying a bit longer because he wanted to cherish the moment some more. Kris had willingly obliged, despite the fact that he had a 9 o’clock meeting the following morning.

Jongdae chuckled as Lu Han squished himself in between him and Kyungsoo on the couch. “Where did you guys go?” he asked.

“Cheonjiyeon Waterfall,” Lu Han answered. He then straightened up and glared at them. “You guys are such great friends by the way! Is that what you’ll do when I actually get kidnapped—.”

“At Jeju Island?!” Baekhyun and Jongdae interrupted him at the same time. The two exchanged a look before looking at Lu Han expectantly. Kyungsoo smiled in pleasant surprise.

“Yeah,” Lu Han said. “He wanted to surprise me.”

Jongdae whistled. “That’s some surprise,” he remarked.

“You look like you enjoyed it,” Baekhyun commented, staring at him.

“Why wouldn’t he?” Kyungsoo wanted to know.

“Well, of course I did,” Lu Han declared. “He brought me to Jeju Island just because he wanted to have dinner some place else because he thought it was only fair to me. I mean, who does that?”

“Kris, apparently,” Jongdae snickered.

“I’m just saying,” Baekhyun shrugged. “You look like you enjoy being with Kris.”

Lu Han then hesitated because he knew just what Baekhyun was implying. He and Baekhyun had known each other far too long for Baekhyun not to notice how he was changing.

“They’re just dates,” Lu Han said, playing with his fingers.

“But you like him, don’t you?” Kyungsoo asked, ever the romantic. “I mean all the things he does for you. It’s impossible that you don’t.”

“Of course Lu Han likes him,” Baekhyun cut in, his gaze not wavering from Lu Han. “He’d be lying if he said he didn’t.”

Lu Han merely coughed. “So why are we here?” he wanted to know, glaring at Baekhyun, who called them for a very important meeting, expectantly.

Baekhyun bit his lower lip for a second, as if contemplating whether to further berate Lu Han, but decided against it. Baekhyun stood up and began pacing in front of them. He had his lips pursed in a very serious and imperative matter. Lu Han could practically hear Baekhyun thinking and he just had to groan once again when he realized why they were all here.

“Please don’t tell me this is about—,” Lu Han started to speak.

“As you all know, I’m still dateless for our high school reunion,” Baekhyun spoke, interrupting Lu Han mindlessly, and Lu Han wanted to stand up and strangle his best friend for making him lose his beauty sleep over his dating life. “And I just wanted to get more of your input—.”

“I can’t believe I cancelled rehearsals for this!” Jongdae wanted to claw his eyes out and maybe Baekhyun’s as well. “You said it was something important!” He stood up and dusted his pants off then grabbed his bag on the side of the couch.

“But this is important!” Baekhyun called after him as he made his way to the door. “I’m Class Heartthrob! The class heartthrob can’t attend without a date!” He turned to Kyungsoo, who was also standing up to leave. “Kyungsoo!” he practically begged.

“Sorry, Baek,” Kyungsoo looked apologetic. “But it’s pretty busy at the coffee shop.” He followed Jongdae to the door.

“You should just hire a date!” Jongdae yelled from the door before slamming it shut.

Baekhyun frowned after them then turned to Lu Han who was glaring at him from beneath his sleepy eyelids. “Lu Han, you’ve got to help me!” he pleaded.

Lu Han closed his eyes and sighed. Baekhyun had been fretting over not having a date since they’d received the invitation over three weeks ago. It was really interesting, or maybe more strange, that his best friend still hadn’t found a date when he was perfectly appealing. He was also nice and very fun to be with. If he weren’t so grossed out over the fact that Baekhyun was practically like a brother to him, he would go out and date him himself. But Lu Han knew what the problem was. Baekhyun wasn’t just looking for a date. He was looking for love, too.

The word love always made Lu Han wanting to roll his eyes. It was such an overused word, so overrated, and highly complicated that he wondered why anyone would want to get into it at all. It was one of those worldly mysteries that he’d always wondered about, but never really wanted to understand.

“Baekhyun,” Lu Han began, sitting up feebly, a hand gently massaging his forehead, “why don’t you take Jongdae’s advice? It’s perfectly fine to—.”

“You’re one to talk about taking advice,” Baekhyun scoffed. Lu Han looked surprised at this outburst and Baekhyun immediately looked contrite. “Sorry, I’m just really stressed over this.” He took a deep breath then turned to Lu Han once more. “But, you know, you should really think about you and Kris.”

“Baek, you know that I’m not—,” Lu Han started to say. He was getting tired of all the ribbing that he was getting about him and Kris.

“Lu Han, seriously,” Baekhyun insisted. “I know I’m not Yixing, but it’s not wrong to be honest with me. I mean, are we best friends for nothing?”

Lu Han’s eyes widened at Baekhyun looking truly hurt. He reached out and pulled Baekhyun to sit beside him on the couch.

“Are you being serious?” Luhan put an arm around him and squeezed him. “Of course we’re not best friends for nothing.”

Baekhyun merely pouted and Lu Han sighed. Normally Lu Han would be all over Baekhyun over something like this, but he wasn’t going to be this time around. He knew that Baekhyun cared about him and that Baekhyun wanted Luhan to be honest with himself more than anything.

But what could he say about this weird thing he had going on with Kris? It wasn’t like he knew exactly what was going on.

“You like him,” Baekhyun interrupted his thoughts, “more than you did any of the others.”

Lu Han sighed, running his hand up and down Baekhyun’s arm. “Maybe.”

“Maybe is a good start,” Baekhyun said, snuggling closer to him.

Maybe was probably a good start. But what came after that?

-

“I can’t believe you’re leaving so soon!” Lu Han whined as they hauled Yixing’s bag from the car. There was a pout on his face that was starting to be permanent as it had been there ever since Yixing had told him the other day that he needed to go home.

“Lu, I was never meant to stay long,” Yixing explained for what he felt like was the hundredth time. He carried his backpack and turned to face his childhood best friend. “Look, you don’t need me here,” he began and raised his hand to stop Lu Han from interrupting when he opened his mouth to do so. “You don’t need me here and I’m not saying that to be dramatic or anything like that. I’m telling you because it’s true. You’re strong and you know what you want. You have friends who look out for you even if you don’t want them to.” He glanced at Baekhyun, who was at the wheel of the car, waiting for Lu Han to get back.

Lu Han hesitated and stared him straight in the eyes. “Maybe you shouldn’t have come,” he finally stated.

Instead of looking hurt or upset by this, Yixing looked amused. “You are not sorry that you met Kris because of me,” he said decidedly.  The smile on his face grew bigger when Lu Han stayed silent and merely pursed his lips.

After that grand date in Jeju Island, Lu Han started to reevaluate things. Despite what he’d said to Baekhyun, he decided that it was all too much for him, the regular dates, the grand gestures… he didn’t think he was ready for what it could represent.

“What is so wrong about him?” Yixing then asked when he continued to stay quiet. “Isn’t this something that’s up in your alley? You meet a hot guy, you go out on dates, have sex, wash, rinse, repeat and then discard when you get tired?”

Lu Han felt like he should be hurt with how Yixing had so bluntly elaborated how he dealt with his relationships, but couldn’t because it was all true. He had that habit of meeting them and seeing them only when it was still convenient for him. And, honestly, right now, Kris had edged away to the inconvenient side much too soon for his taste. And that’s surprising, considering, they haven’t even done anything remotely physical yet.

“You’ll be late,” Lu Han muttered, pushing him towards the airport doors. But he changed his mind and suddenly pulled Yixing to a hug. “Please don’t let it be 10 years before you come see me again.”

“Hey! Why can you not make it 10 years before we see each other?” Yixing complained when they’d pulled away.

“Please call me when you land that way I’ll know that you’re alive or something,” Lu Han laughed lightly, fixing the collar of his shirt. “Say hi to Qian for me.”

“I will,” Yixing chuckled, pulling him in for another hug. When they pulled away, he looked Lu Han in the eyes. “Not all of life is a fairytale, Lu Han,” he started to say. Lu Han squirmed away from his grasp, but Yixing held him still. “But just because it isn’t, doesn’t mean you can’t experience it,” he pressed. “Not everyone is going to hurt you. But you won’t know who won’t if you don’t try.”

“Stop,” Lu Han pushed him once again, chuckling as Yixing stumbled. “Giving advice doesn’t suit you. Please call me when you land.”

“Lu Han,” Yixing tried again.

“I hear you, Yixing,” Lu Han cut him off impatiently.

Yixing gave him a look, one that showed the breadth of their many years of friendship, before he nodded and left to go to his gate.

Later on, on their way home, Lu Han looked out of the window and watched the scenery go past them. Baekhyun kept on glancing at him, not really used to him being so quiet and pensive, but he decided not to ask any questions.

Yixing’s words were swirling in Lu Han’s head. Of course Yixing knew exactly what Lu Han was thinking, exactly how he thought. Yixing was always the one who told things straight to his face, not that Baekhyun nor Jongdae didn’t do that. Except Baekhyun or Jongdae didn’t really know some of the deepest secrets of his heart and he didn’t care to tell them because he didn’t want them to think of him any differently than they do. He was Lu Han, who was fun, eccentric and someone who dated around. He quite liked the fact that his friends thought of him as a social butterfly. Butterflies were pretty and carefree and that was just how he wanted to remain.

-

The High School reunion was in full swing and everyone seemed to be having fun. Lu Han eyed Baekhyun who was talking animatedly to old acquaintances with the handsome Chanyeol by his side. If only for that, Lu Han thought that the reunion was a success.

He walked around, saying hi and stopping to chat with people he remembered having classes with when he felt someone bump him from behind.

Lu Han sighed, almost irately, and turned around to face Kris, who looked surprised. “You don’t have to keep on following me everywhere,” he snapped at him.

“I haven’t been following you everywhere,” Kris reminded him, eyebrows raised, almost in amusement. “This is actually the first time we’ve stood side by side ever since we arrived.” He glanced around, taking in the high school reunion banner hanging from the ceiling, before turning his attention back to Lu Han.

Lu Han opened his mouth and closed it again, realizing that Kris was right. As soon as they had arrived at the reunion, he practically ditched Kris and went off to look for Baekhyun and his date. After which, he had walked around, looking for Jongdae, only to find out that he wasn’t actually coming, before finally seeing Kyungsoo sitting by himself at the bar. They talked for a bit before he got swept away by a couple of old friends, who wanted to catch up with him. When he remembered that he actually had a date, he found Kris on the other side of the room, by the buffet table, chatting with some other people.

“Why did you bring me here if you didn’t actually want to bring me?” Kris then demanded, his mouth now in a tight line.

There were a ton of other questions behind that question and Lu Han knew it as much as Kris did. Right after that first date at the hotel, somehow, they managed to squeeze in a couple more dates. And it was funny because Lu Han had high standards for a date. None whom he’d ever gone out before had come so close to that. Because dates to him meant really good conversation and one that made him laugh and made him remember it afterwards. It didn’t even have to have sex at the end of it. And that was what all how he remembered his times out with Kris. They were all dates, all too perfect, because he remembered them all. Because Kris was funny and articulate and he listened to him. Because they really talked and it felt like there was nothing expected of him afterwards.

All such things were wonderful things. But they scared Lu Han, too. It’s been so long, so long, since he’d had such an amazing time with one person that he’d almost forgotten what it felt like to actually like someone.

But Lu Han had his habits, things he’d ingrained in himself for as long as he could remember, that he couldn’t just stop them. He’d been giving Kris mixed signals, he knew that, but he couldn’t stop himself from seeing other people just so he wouldn’t get too used to Kris and being around him all the time. That was how he got out of complications; he got up and saw other people. But Kris was making it so hard for him to leave him.

If he were to honestly answer Kris’ question, he brought him to the reunion because he’s exactly the kind of guy that he would bring to a gathering like that, where people knew him growing up. He’s someone he could show off and be proud of being with. Because, maybe, he’s someone he actually wanted to be with.

“You don’t have to be here, you know,” was Lu Han’s retort instead. He turned to leave. “I’ll leave with Kyungsoo so you don’t have to bother about bringing me home.”

He was halfway on the other side of the room, thinking of escaping to the stairwell for a bit, when Kris caught up with him with his long strides and actually brought him to the stairwell. The grip on his arm was tight and hurt him but he wasn’t going to act like it did because he wasn’t someone anyone could just push around, not even Kris.

“What the hell is your problem?” Lu Han demanded, untangling his arm from his vice-grip and pushed him off. “This is my high school reunion. You can’t just grab me and pull me away like—.”

“You listen to me,” Kris interrupted him, his voice booming, and making Lu Han jump. He calmed down at this and took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Lu Han,” he began again in a gentler manner. “I just want to understand you. I want to understand what we’re doing.” He paused and took another deep breath. “I just—.”

“Let’s get out of here,” Lu Han spoke, not letting him finish. He found Kris’ eyes on him, wide and surprised. “Let’s go to your place.”

“That’s not what I’m asking from you,” Kris replied in frustration. He ran a hand through his hair and Lu Han had to stop himself from reaching out and smoothing it down.

“You don’t have to play coy with me,” Lu Han scoffed, managing to roll his eyes. He unhurriedly approached him, his hands reaching for the necktie and playing with him, pulling Kris closer. His breath ghosted on Kris’ lips and he could feel him stiffen. Smiling a little, he leaned up to his ear. “I know you want me,” he whispered, his tongue lightly lining the shell of his ear before gently bringing it in between his teeth.

Kris shuddered, his hands on Lu Han’s hips tightening their hold, and Lu Han had to smile. But before he could move forward, Kris’ hold on his hips loosened as he pushed him away. Lu Han blinked up at him.

“No,” Kris told him firmly. “No, we’re not going to my place and no, I’m not playing coy with you.”

The no, I don’t want you hung so close to his lips that Lu Han found his heart clenching. No one’s ever rejected him before. No one. And for Kris to be the one to do so… Lu Han laughed and half-shrugged.

“Okay then,” Lu Han stated. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”

His hand was on the doorknob when he stopped and glanced back. Kris was leaning against the way, his eyes closed. He wondered if there was something more he could say, but decided against it and left, closing the door behind him.

There was nothing more there.

-

Lu Han lounged around in the apartment. He watched some television, mindlessly flipping channels, not really looking at what was on. It was the middle of the week, but he decided not to come into work that day because there were a lot of things on his mind. He just really wanted to stop thinking and just relax and be.

He heard the apartment door open and looked back when Kyungsoo crossed the living room to go to the kitchen. He turned the TV off, got up from the couch and followed him.

“Hey,” Lu Han greeted, taking a seat and watching as Kyungsoo filled their cupboards with the groceries that he bought.

Kyungsoo immediately stopped working and turned to Lu Han. “What’s wrong?” he wanted to know.

“What makes you think there’s something wrong?” Lu Han made a face at him and traced the non-existent patterns on the table with his fingers. “I can’t say hey anymore?”

“Well, you can,” Kyungsoo said, taking a seat across from him and completely abandoning filling up their cupboards, “but you never really do unless there’s something bothering you.” Lu Han made another face at him, which he ignored. “So what is it?”

“Do you want to have dinner out?” Lu Han asked, side-stepping the question. “There’s this new Japanese restaurant I’ve been dying to try out and Baekhyun’s probably out with his boyfriend who’s not really his boyfriend.”

“It’s nice to know that I’m second choice to Baekhyun,” Kyungsoo pointed out.

“Third, actually,” Lu Han corrected him. “I already asked Jongdae but he’s busy with recording.” He gave Kyungsoo a sweet smile. “So… Japanese dinner? On me? What do you say?” Kyungsoo hesitated and the words were out of Lu Han’s mouth before he could stop himself. “Please don’t reject me, too.”

Kyungsoo was silent for a moment and Lu Han knew that he had caught his slip. He wondered if he should say anything to attempt to cover it up when Kyungsoo nodded.

“I’m actually going to the dance studio to see Junmyeon,” Kyungsoo finally agreed. “You can hang out with us then maybe we can all go out for dinner. Sehun’s going to be there.”

Lu Han’s eyes lighted up at this. He’d met Sehun a couple of weeks back and had hung out with him on occasion. He missed the cute kid and was excited to see him again.

“Okay, that’s great!” Lu Han practically gushed, his earlier demeanor suddenly forgotten.

“You do know that Junmyeon is worried you’ll hurt Sehun, don’t you?” Kyungsoo reminded him.

“But I’m not going to hurt Sehun,” Lu Han assured him with a wave of his hand.

-

“This is really good,” Lu Han stated excitedly as he took more sips of the purple liquid with balls. “Really good.”

Sehun, his chin resting on his hand, watched him in amusement as he continued to drown himself in bubble tea. Lu Han had looked a bit down and he figured that the other male could use some cheering up, although he never really said anything. Because that was how it was with Lu Han. They talked, but didn’t really talk about the deep and emotional stuff.

“I’m glad you enjoy it,” Sehun chuckled. “There’s more where that came from.” He nodded towards the counter, where the phone number of the bubble tea store was placed. “They’re open until 12 midnight.”

“Greatest news I’ve ever heard,” Lu Han hummed. Then he paused and frowned. “Hey, I thought I was treating you out for dinner tonight. What happened with that plan?” When they’d reached the dance studio, Kyungsoo and Junmyeon started talking and he approached Sehun. And then suddenly they were going their separate ways.

Sehun and Lu Han decided to hang out in Sehun’s apartment.

“Actually, I think the plan was you would treat Kyungsoo,” Sehun corrected him with a smile, leaning back more comfortably on the sofa. The TV flickered on them, but they weren’t really paying attention. “But he and Junmyeon are going out on a date so you don’t exactly want to be a third wheel. So you’re here with me.”

“You make it sound like I made you my second choice,” Lu Han pouted, looking offended. He placed his bubble tea on the table and curled up on the couch, facing Sehun. He reached for his hand and squeezed it. “Which you’re not, okay?”

“Of course I’m not,” Sehun rolled his eyes, indulging him and allowing Lu Han to hold his hand. “But can I ask a question?”

“What is it?” Lu Han agreed expectantly.

“Why are you not out with Kris tonight?” Sehun inquired straightforwardly. “You guys have been going out for a while now and I can tell that you really like—.”

Lu Han shook his head to stop him from talking. “It wasn’t working out,” he explained with a smile and another squeeze of Sehun’s hand. “You know how it is.”

“No, not really,” Sehun said. “How is it like?”

Lu Han sighed and closed his eyes for a bit. He should’ve known that Sehun wasn’t going to let this go. They’d become pretty close in the short amount of time that they’d known each other and Sehun was slowly edging his way into the boundary of friendship he kept with only Yixing, Baekhyun, Jongdae and Kyungsoo in it. Sehun always asked questions and he’d always dodged them, preferring to talk about Sehun’s life instead. This time, though, he felt like Sehun was going to keep on pushing this until he actually found some answers.

“Kris and I didn’t really click,” Lu Han lied. “And it’s hard to continue seeing someone when you feel like there’s nothing there.” He opened his mouth to explain—lie—some more when Sehun gave him a pointed look. And he knew that Sehun knew he was lying.

But before Sehun could say anything, Lu Han pulled Sehun closer and kissed him.

-

“I’m not seeing the problem,” Jongdae voiced out in the midst of all the music sheets placed haphazardly in front of him. He wrote and rewrote down a couple of notes and lyrics before looking up to where Lu Han was standing by the window and to where Baekhyun was seated by the sofa watching him curiously.

“You never see the problem,” Kyungsoo called from the kitchen. “You only see notes and lyrics and words.”

Jongdae let out a huff. “It’s tough being a Hallyu star, okay?” he whined. “It’s a lot of work!”

Kyungsoo made a noise that sounded very much like a snort, which Jongdae chose to ignore.

“Lu,” Baekhyun began gently. He’s never really been sure how to deal with a Lu Han who wasn’t vibrant and happy and carefree because Lu Han was never really sad or upset about anything. Or at least he never showed them enough for them to be concerned. Not like now, not like this. “What’s really wrong? I’m sure Kris would be fine that you kissed Sehun and I’m sure Sehun knows that—.”

Lu Han turned and faced them. Baekhyun shut his mouth, while Jongdae sat up straight, his music forgotten for a moment.

“That’s exactly the problem,” Lu Han emphasized. “Kris wouldn’t be fine with me kissing Sehun.”

Jongdae blinked and Baekhyun opened his mouth to say something before deciding against it because he was unsure. They exchanged a look before turning to Lu Han, who was facing the window once more.

“I think that’s a good thing,” Jongdae shared, although he sounded unsure. “If Kris is jealous then that would mean that he actually—.”

“Has feelings for you,” Baekhyun finished for him, his eyes on Lu Han. “And you don’t want that, do you, Lu Han?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Jongdae wanted to know, frowning at Baekhyun. “Kris is a great guy, far greater than other of the other guys he’s been with in the past. It’s not just that Kris is rich and handsome. It’s also that he actually cares about Lu Han. He looks out for him and asks how he is and actually talks to him. He even makes an effort to get to know us and tries to befriend us because he knows we’re important to Lu Han and—.”

“I’m right here, you know,” Lu Han interrupted his tirade. He looked at Jongdae and Baekhyun, an amused smile on his face.

“What’s wrong with that, Lu Han?” Baekhyun then asked. “I mean, you’ve wanted a guy to come along and be that prince charming you’ve always been dreaming of.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lu Han lied, his voice a whisper.

Jongdae scoffed. “Of course you do,” he corrected him. “You say you hate Disney movies and fairytale endings, but in reality you’re the one who wants it the most. You want it in perfection, too, and you want it in heaps of forever, and, while that’s not entirely possible in this day and age, here’s Kris, who’s everything you could ever want and yet you don’t want him.”

Lu Han shook his head. “No, he’s the one who doesn’t want me,” he stated.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Baekhyun blurted out. “It’s so obvious that he wants you, that he likes you. Everyone can see it.”

“You mean, like you see how we can all see that you’re already in love with Chanyeol and yet you keep on denying it?” Kyungsoo blurted out as he came out of the kitchen with a tray of sandwiches. He placed them on the table and sat down beside Baekhyun, whose cheeks tinged pink.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Baekyhun grumbled, shoving his elbow on Kyungsoo’s stomach.

Jongdae rolled his eyes and looked at Lu Han. “So what brought forth this nonsense about Kris not wanting you?”

“He… he just doesn’t want me,” Lu Han said. “I’m sure of it.”

“Did you come onto him and he said no?” Jongdae teased.

Lu Han turned red, which was probably the first time they had all seen him do so, and they were all shocked. Lu Han was the epitome of confidence and power in relationships and seeing him so unsure about someone was just astounding.

“Wow,” Jongdae continued in amazement. “I never thought I’d see the day the great Lu Han ever gets rejected.”

“No need to be so happy about it,” Lu Han grumbled, finally taking a seat beside Baekhyun and leaning his head on his shoulder. Baekhyun readily accommodated him, earlier embarrassment forgotten, and put his arm around Lu Han, bringing him closer.

“But this is a good thing, Lu Han,” Kyungsoo insisted, speaking for the first time. Lu Han shot him a questioning look. “I agree with Baek and Jongdae that Kris really likes you. I think him rejecting you, which I think isn’t really a rejection, is his way of showing you that he likes you more than your body or something.”

Baekhyun sighed when Lu Han didn’t say anything. “Will you just hear him out when he asks you to talk to him? I’m sure he’s been calling and calling you for ages and I bet you haven’t been answering.”

“Fine,” Lu Han finally agreed. “I’ll answer his call and hear him out. On one condition.” He shifted in his seat to pull away from Baekhyun and look at him properly. Baekhyun looked uncomfortable and hoped that what he was going to ask him wasn’t something related to Chanyeol. “You have to get me a new phone.”

“What?” Baekhyun asked, confused. Jongdae then started laughing and then Kyungsoo followed. “I don’t get it.”

“You threw his phone out the window,” Jongdae jogged his memory. “Or you tried to.”

Baekhyun’s eyes widened when the incident of him throwing Lu Han’s phone at Jongdae’s closed apartment window flashed back to him. It was one of his diva moments where he wanted to be the center of attention and Lu Han kept on texting on his phone.

“I’m sorry,” Baekhyun got off from the couch and started dialing on his own phone. “I’m going to order you one right now.”

Lu Han chuckled and lied back down on the couch, his back facing everyone. He would have to face Kris no matter what he did. Kris had been calling the phone in his store when he found out that Lu Han’s phone was missing in action. He even came by a couple of times to get him to talk to him, but every time he came by, he was busy with a customer, for which he’d been grateful for. But maybe it was time for him to come forward and allow that conversation to happen. It had to, sooner or later.

-

Part 3