Chapter Two

                                    

                                          
Baekhyun sprinted down the street, putting as much distance as possible between himself and his persistent landlord, ensuring that the old man wasn't following him anymore. Breathing heavily, he slowed down, his heart sinking as he fished out his wallet. Its meager contents were a stark reminder of his financial woes. He had paid off a portion of his parents' debt just the day before, and the remaining money was now all he had.
The realization hit him hard; he had barely enough to feed himself, let alone his loyal corgi, Mongie. The need for quick cash gnawed at him; he couldn't even afford a cab or bus fare to get to school. His primary concern was to ensure he and his beloved dog had enough food for the next couple of days.
With no other option in sight, Baekhyun embarked on a lengthy walk to school, determined to face the challenges of the day head-on.
---
Meanwhile, in a different part of the city, Park Chanyeol, a 32-year-old music producer and director, juggled the responsibilities of a single dad. His morning routine included getting his 4-year-old son ready for the day. Chanyeol would drop his son off at a daycare where professionals could help care for the little boy. Although he wasn't entirely comfortable with leaving his son in the care of others, it was a necessity for his demanding work.
After school, Chanyeol would pick up his son and bring him to his studio, where the challenges of fatherhood and a demanding career intertwined. Spoon-feeding his baby while simultaneously working on composing music was a common occurrence. Sometimes, food stains found their way onto his computer, but Chanyeol persisted, driven by his unwavering commitment to providing for his child.
Chanyeol's path to single parenthood was marked by a painful past. Four years ago, his life was entwined with a woman named Kim Hyeji, whom he loved deeply. He went to great lengths to support her, even getting engaged to her when she became pregnant with their child. However, their plans were put on hold, as Kim Hyeji wanted to take a break after giving birth to their son.
One fateful night, she left their son on Chanyeol's doorstep along with a note, expressing her need to focus on her career, citing the child as a distraction. Chanyeol was devastated by her abandonment and made countless efforts to reach out to her, all in vain.
Two years later, Chanyeol discovered that Kim Hyeji had married a K-pop star, leading him to realize that he needed to take sole responsibility for raising his child. Presently, he cherished the moments he spent with his son, sharing meals and creating a strong bond despite the challenges.
As he playfully coaxed his son, Park Jun, to eat his breakfast, he couldn't help but smile. "Park Jun, say 'ahh'," Chanyeol demonstrated, and the little boy obediently opened his mouth. "Good boy," Chanyeol praised, playfully poking his son's nose, which resulted in joyful giggles. "Dad is so proud of you, baby." The giggles continued. "I love Dad," Jun mumbled.
"I know, little one. Dad loves you too. But remember, no talking while eating, okay?" Jun pouted but nodded. "That's my boy! Now, say 'ahh.'" They repeated this process until Jun was full, and Chanyeol announced that it was time for school.
After finishing their meal, Chanyeol decided to drop Jun off at the house of his friend, Kyungsoo, a kind colleague who helped when he couldn't personally take Jun to school. Kyungsoo worked at the same school where Chanyeol's son attended, and the arrangement allowed them to travel to school together by 8:00 am.
Chanyeol gave Jun a loving goodbye, thanking Kyungsoo for his invaluable assistance. Then, he drove to his early appointment for the day.
As he walked through the narrow streets of the city, Chanyeol suddenly realized he was heading in the wrong direction. He reached for his phone to call his younger colleague, Sehun, to confirm the address.
On the third ring, Sehun answered. "Sehun, what's Mr. Zhang's address again?" Chanyeol inquired, his attention fixed on Sehun's response. But just as he was listening intently, a sudden impact sent him tumbling to the ground.
"Oh my gosh!" Chanyeol groaned, feeling the pain from the collision. He heard the panicked voice of the person who had run into him. "What the heck are you doing?" he scolded, still recovering from the fall. "You should watch where you're going."
The person quickly apologized, but to Chanyeol's surprise, they remained on top of him, seemingly unable to move. It was an awkward and confusing moment. Chanyeol glanced down and met the person's gaze behind their sunglasses, and he, too, felt a strange connection.
His heart raced; why was he feeling this way about a man? Why was his heart pounding like this? He was baffled by the emotions stirring within him.
Chanyeol intended to speak, but he couldn't find the words. Instead, he found himself inexplicably drawn to the other's lips. The person seemed equally perplexed, choosing to rest their head on Chanyeol's chest.
Frustration welled up within Chanyeol. He wanted to speak out, but he also struggled to understand his own emotions. 
"Hello? Hyung? Are you okay?" Sehun's voice still faintly echoed through Chanyeol's phone. It was clear that Sehun was concerned about the sudden collision and Chanyeol's silence.
Their awkward position had attracted the attention of passersby, making the situation all the more embarrassing. 
"Excuse me? Would you please get off? You do not expect me to lay here all day, do you?" Chanyeol demanded, his irritation showing.
Finally, the person scrambled to their feet, offering numerous apologies before running off.
"That was strange," Chanyeol mumbled as he brushed dirt off his clothes. He returned to his phone call with Sehun, reassuring him that he was okay.
---
Meanwhile, Baekhyun quietly slipped into his classroom, hoping to go unnoticed by the professor, Mr. Kim, who was already deep into his lecture. He made his way to the back of the classroom, where his friend Jongin was seated.
"You're late again, Baek," Jongin whispered, leaning closer.
Baekhyun sighed, responding in a hushed tone, "I know, I'm sorry."
"What happened?" Jongin inquired.
"My landlord caught up with me this morning, and as I tried to escape, I ran into a very handsome, well-endowed guy. He smelled amazing, and—"
"But Baekhyun, I thought you're not gay?"
Baekhyun hesitated, "Well...I'm not. I just—"
"If you're not gay, then how did you know he was well-endowed?" Jongin prodded, amused by Baekhyun's contradiction.
"Shh, your voice is loud," Baekhyun hushed his best friend and
 glanced around, noticing that the professor was engrossed in explaining formulas on the whiteboard. It was a cue to continue.
"We...collided. I felt it, alright? That guy is...impressive."
"Really?" Jongin's interest was piqued. "Did you get his number?" he asked suddenly.
"His number?" Baekhyun blinked in surprise. "Why would I do that?"
"What do you mean, why would you? You let a well-endowed guy walk away without taking his name or number?" Jongin chuckled.
"I don't understand, Jongin. I'm not gay," Baekhyun insisted, rolling his eyes. "If that's what you're thinking, forget it. I'm as straight as a ruler."
Jongin studied him intently before playfully quipping, "A bendable ruler."
Changing the subject, Jongin asked about Baekhyun's homework. Baekhyun, unable to finish his assignment due to his late-night job, admitted that he'd left it at home.
Jongin, being the good friend he was, passed his own homework to Baekhyun, instructing him to copy it quickly. They shared a chuckle and began working on the assignment together.
"No need to thank me," Jongin quipped, "We're probably both going to score zero since it's not going to be paraphrased."
Baekhyun expressed his gratitude as they continued working, ensuring that their names and matriculation numbers were not identical. It was a partnership between friends who knew that their homework might not receive high marks.
.
.
.
Author's note 📝 
Feeling the size Baekhyun?😏