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The hustle bustle of the market was something Byun Baekhyun was so used to, no matter how much time passed. In his two thousand years of living, the market only changed in shape but gathered the exact same variety of people. As a vagabond merchant, traveling from city to another, from a village to another, was his job, and it allowed him to meet an incredible amount of people.
Consequently, remembering faces was incredibly difficult. He could tell you the price of a sweet potato in the Joseon era but never remember how Song Dangyum, his sweet potato provider in the area which now became Busan, looked like.
It was impossible.
However, as Baekhyun got in with his order for Beans and blends, providing primary ingredients for most coffee shops in Ilsan, he was face to face with a face he didn’t expect to see.
No, it was a face he could never forget so much he saw it. He met that face on a child, on a teen, on an elderly man. He saw it every century at least once. It was unsettling, and his throat clogged. The man seemed to notice the shock on Baekhyun’s face as he frowned, walking by Baekhyun.
Baekhyun didn’t stop him. He didn’t know what to say to stop the man. “Who are you? Why do I keep seeing you every century I endure alone?” It was a question he asked a toddler who had that face, and the toddler just tilted his head, confused.
Baekhyun disappeared after that from the area, avoiding the toddler and traveling to the other side of the continent. He actually traveled around the world three times, was enslaved seven times, and escaped every single time. It did help that he was immortal, completely unkillable. It didn’t make his attempts to die any less painful, though.
He just got used to it. The physical pain was little to the toll on his mental health at first. He was the lab rat of a warlock in his village who seeked immortality, yet for some reason, his attempts worked on Baekhyun but never on him. He was beheaded because in his despair of being immortal, the number of human sacrifices was too big for anyone to ignore.
“Mr. Byun?” A deep voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “Are you okay? You seem out of it today.”
Baekhyun smiled at Yong Bok, one of his assistants, who usually handled international deals in his small company. You’d think someone who accumulated such wealth and had so many assistants would stay put and work behind an office, but no, Baekhyun loved his work.
“I am alright,” Baekhyun reassured. “Did you receive the mail for the next shipment?”
Yong Bok smiled as he nodded, eager to show Baekhyun his progress. Baekhyun loved his type of people, those who found joy in every single step they made forward. They were rare, but he enjoyed collecting them whenever he could.
He realized he had forgotten about the man who they met again, three days later. It was in a different coffee shop. “We meet again,” the man let out, and Baekhyun tensed, nodding. “It’s such a coincidence. You must love coffee.”
“I actually provide coffee to most coffee shops in the area,” Baekhyun found himself saying. It made him tense even more, and he rushed to pull his professional card. “I’m Byun Baekhyun, by the way. I handle mainly public sales such as coffee shops and restaurants, but I also provide supplies for a variety of businesses.”
“Interesting,” the man complimented, reading into it. “You are the Ceo, yet you make deliveries?”
“Yes,” Baekhyun sheepishly said, awkward. “Habits die hard.”
The man chuckled at that. “I like that,” he admitted after a second of awkward silence. “It’s good to oversee everything in your company instead of blindly believing your employees to display the same loyalty you have toward your work.”
“It’s not about that,” Baekhyun argued. “Yes, I need to oversee the paperwork too, but real interaction with people while doing that is less stressful and much more fun.” The man nodded, impressed by Baekhyun’s reasoning.
“I’m Jongdae, Kim Jongdae,” the man introduced himself. “I work at an accounting company.”
“As an accountant?” Baekhyun asked, and the man chuckled again, his eyes wrinkling as the smile reached his eyes.
“I am a manager, but yeah, technically,” he explained.
Baekhyun’s throat felt clogged as he observed the man for a second; the man was amused and found speaking to Baekhyun fun. Baekhyun realized it was the reaction of most Jongdae’s döpplegangers. They all had the same expression.
“I…” Baekhyun didn’t know what to say, and he was saved by his assistant calling him to attention. “I have to go. It was nice to talk to you, Jongdae.”
“Likeways, Mr. Byun,” Jongdae said back as he showed Baekhyun’s his professional card and winked. Baekhyun was thrown off by that reaction and followed his assistants in silence. That man haunted his mind the entire week that followed that meeting as he found the man on social media, which he didn’t like to make an account on to avoid leaving prints.
He didn’t have to follow Jongdae’s profiles as he checked them every now and then during the day. Even his assistants, or at least the oldest ones, teased him so he could make a profile and turn on notifications so he wouldn’t waste time checking every single time. Baekhyun, of course, ignored them and kept on checking Jongdae every single update.
Their third coincidental meeting happened in Seoul. Baekhyun was alone. He didn’t go to Seoul for a delivery but more to strike a deal, so he didn’t need his assistants. He had his papers tucked in a bag and his back leaning on a side of the door when someone he didn’t expect to see got in.
“Hey!” The man let out in shock. “We meet again.”
Baekhyun frowned a little. “Yeah, I came for a business deal, and you? You were at a party?” He asked as the man smelled like cigarettes and alcohol.
“Spot on,” Jongdae commented with a chuckle. “My brother got a promotion so we celebrated but I have to work tomorrow, so here I am.”
Baekhyun nodded as he observed the man’s face, which didn’t match his words. Jongdae didn’t look like he celebrated. “I have an assistant waiting for me at my stop. Do you want me to drop you off?” Baekhyun offered, changing the subject. “I don’t mind it since we are both going to Ilsan.”
Jongdae was clearly shocked by the sudden offer, but he also looked tired. “I don’t want to impose,” he let out, and Baekhyun dismissed it.
“I will worry about you otherwise,” he let out with a reassuring smile. “It’s late for the bus and the train, so your chances are slim right now.”
Jongdae blinked and eyed Baekhyun up and down before nodding. “Thank you, and I’m sorry I imposed,” he let out, which Baekhyun reassured.
“Buy me your favorite coffee blend next time we meet and we will be even,” he let out and Jongdae smiled, as he started ranting about how most coffees who work with his company had the best americanos. Baekhyun and he engaged in such a long discussion that they didn’t feel the time pass, and Baekhyun, for once, enjoyed his trip in a metro.
The drive to Ilsan, however, was a different story. Three of his assistants were there, so they had to squeeze in, Jongdae and Baekhyun sitting side by side. The heat from Jongdae’s body made Baekhyun jittery, so he couldn’t sleep a wink, no matter how tired he was, while Jongdae leaned a little on his shoulder, sleeping and snoring even.
Baekhyun was happy they managed to get Jongdae’s address before he slept as the drive was silent and awkward, and he didn’t want to end up taking Jongdae to his place. Jongdae thanked Baekhyun several times as he walked out of the car, and Baekhyun followed him out.
“I really can’t thank you enough,” Jongdae repeated as he shook hands with Baekhyun and his assistants. “I’ll buy you a coffee next time we meet, for sure.”
“It would be a pleasure, and don’t sweat it,” Baekhyun reassured as he waved Jongdae goodbye.
Baekhyun hoped they wouldn’t meet ever after that as his insides were all in shambles, and he never felt like that for any man before. He made sure to travel to Thailand for a blend and oversee a project, which took him a year to complete before returning. He kept his eyes on Jongdae social media and was glad the man seemed to look happier in his social posts and hoped he forgot about him.
He was short in luck as he met Jongdae on his first day in Korea since his travel. “Oh, Hey!” Jongdae rushed to face him. “It’s so nice to meet you. Where have you been?”
Baekhyun blinked in surprise but reacted fast. “I went to Thailand for a deal,” he let out. “It took me a while to secure what I needed, then return. Like a year, maybe?”
“Thailand? Man, I envy you,” Jongdae commented with a pout. “I wanted to visit it one day.”
Baekhyun wanted to offer his guide agency, which allowed many financial accommodations when a man protectively surrounded Jongdae’s shoulders. “What are you doing?” he asked.
“This is Byun Baekhyun, the man I told you who kindly drove me home,” Jongdae introduced, even though his smile looked and felt forced. “I promised him a coffee to thank him back for that.”
“You still remember? I told you it’s fine,” Baekhyun reassured. “I would have done the same to anyone.”
The man who looked at Baekhyun with disdain scoffed. “You are really nice,” he commented, sarcastic, and Baekhyun smiled, tilting his head.
“Well, I’m nice with those who deserve it,” He commented back, eyeing the tall man up and down. “I can’t say the same about some people.”
The man tensed, clearly insulted but Baekhyun didn’t give him time to say anything. “If you need anything, Jongdae,” he commented to Jongdae whose smile dropped. “Ask me any time.”
He left the couple behind and finished his business before finding Jongdae crouched a few meters away from the coffee shop, alone. He walked to the man and stood there. Jongdae noticed and looked up before standing.
“I’m fine, Mr. Byun,” he let out and Baekhyun smiled.
“I didn’t ask you if you were,” he teased, which made Jongdae turn red. “You will figure it out eventually. I trust you do.”
He left the man there and went to work with a heavy heart. He worried despite his words as the tall man was clearly toxic toward Jongdae, it had to mean something bad was happening to Jongdae. He just didn’t know how to help the man. As well, he hasn't met Jongdae for weeks since that meeting. It worried him but he could do nothing.
They eventually met and Jongdae looked far from the old self Baekhyun remembered. He was a contrast of the social media persona he had. “Hi,” Jongdae said as Baekhyun stood there stoned. “It has been a while.”
Baekhyun nodded. “Do you need any assistance?” He asked and Jongdae looked at him in confusion. “You are clearly not okay or fine, so I wouldn’t ask you that, but do you need help or assistance on fixing whatever is gnawing at you?”
Jongdae was surprised by Baekhyun’s bluntness. He shook his head then nodded and Baekhyun frowned in confusion which made Jongdae chuckle. “I’m fine, I just need time to deal with things.”
“Time seems like an endless thing,” Baekhyun commented. “But from experience, you run out of it fast.”
“You?” Jongdae mumbled in confusion. “Why not we?”
Baekhyun realized his mistake and simply held Jongdae’s shoulder and regained the man’s focus on him. “Don’t let anyone harm you without a fight, Jongdae. You don’t deserve spending the rest of your life being trampled on.”
Jongdae seemed shocked to hear that but didn’t react to it until Baekhyun stepped back. “Thank you,” Jongdae mumbled, his hand reaching out to Baekhyun but freezing mid way. “I’m sorry.”
Baekhyun reached for Jongdae’s head and patted it softly. “You can do it,” he simply let out and walked away. Jongdae has haunted his mind more since. He worried and chewed himself for not making sure the man was okay before letting go.
Their coincidental meeting happened this time in a hospital. An assistant had an accident and Baekhyun was in a rush as he drove his family to the hospital when he noticed Jongdae outside, standing there alone with a paper bag. He managed to find Jongdae on his way out.
“Jongdae?” he called the man who looked at him, absent minded. “What are you doing here?”
Baekhyun didn’t receive an answer and reached for Jongdae, holding his arm as the man looked like he would faint anytime. “I’m fine,” Jongdae let out as he pushed Baekhyun away. “We meet often, don’t we?”
“Maybe it has a meaning,” Baekhyun teased. “Like we are meant to be friends.”
Jongdae didn’t answer and his eyes only looked at him absently. Baekhyun led him to a seat outside and held his hands, which made Jongdae drop the bag. They didn’t bother picking it up. Jongdae looked at their hands and noticed how cold Baekhyun’s hands were as he too tried to warm them softly.
“That man was my boyfriend,” He confessed. “I followed your advice and I managed to break things up but… He turned the world against me.”
Jongdae seemed like he wanted to say more but his throat got clogged and Baekhyun pulled him into a hug. He kept Jongdae nestled in his chest. “If you need an escape, I can give it to you,” Baekhyun offered. “I have an opening in my company, but it’s a manager position. We provide housing for those who need it and I have the best cafeteria food in the history of the workforce in Korea. You will like it there.”
Jongdae looked up, shocked for a second. “How did you know I lost my job?” he asked.
“I met enough people to differentiate when someone had lost a job from when he lost anyone else,” Baekhyun reassured. “You look defeated, as if you can tell your savings will run out and you have no shoulder to lean on.”
“That’s creepy but accurate,” Jongdae commented and Baekhyun chuckled. “When can I apply?”
“Your work starts from tomorrow,” Baekhyun let out as he pulled the phone. “I’ll let my assistant handle the paperwork for you and you start a week internship to get to know our work then work is yours from there.”
Jongdae seemed overwhelmed to hear Baekhyun say so as he started shedding tears. Baekhyun reached to dry his tears when Jongdae held his hand. “Thank you for saving me again, Mr. Byun.”
Mr. Byun? Everyone called him so. Yet, why did it irk him to hear Jongdae call him so?
He offered his hand as he stood up. His assistants were standing by the car as he announced that Jongdae would apply as a manager. None of the assistants behaved like it was a shocking thing so Jongdae leaned to ask. “Is he always like that?”
The assistant smiled and nodded. “He has a good hunch in people,” he commented and Baekhyun smiled. He waved goodbye to Jongdae as he had a schedule to follow and one assistant to replace.
Their meetings from there were no longer coincidental. Whenever Baekhyun went to the warehouse, Jongdae was there with his coffee in hand. He bought Baekhyun a different blend every single time Baekhyun was scheduled to go to the company.
He was giving inputs as an avid consumer of coffee which Baekhyun loved. He also seemed to adapt faster than Baekhyun expected. The man couldn’t pin on why it made him happy until one of his assistants, the one who lost mobility due to an accident, resigned.
Of course, Baekhyun refused and instead, opened a spot for assistant while still sending the assistant his monthly pay, without bonuses. He knew his assistants well and knew what they used their money for so he didn’t want to keep the man without health insurance or steady monthly pay.
The other assistants were those who handled the recruiting process until Young Bok approached Baekhyun with a paper. Jongdae’s CV was in their hand and Baekhyun felt his heart race. “I want to hire this man,” Yong Bok let out, “but the others seem hesitant due to his lack of experience in a similar position.”
Baekhyun looked up, confused. “If he lacks the requirement, why do you want to hire him?”
The man bit his lips, hesitant, and fidgeted for a second before admitting, “because he makes you happy.”
Baekhyun’s heart skipped a beat or two before reaching for Young Bok’s head. “You grew up well, Felix,” he commented and the man smiled. “Thank you for thinking of me but I need someone to help me out at work, I am happy where he is now.”
Young Bok nodded, thinking. “Then why don’t you ask him out? You like him, boss. We all see it in the company,” he commented. “It will hurt no one if you give it a try.”
Baekhyun didn’t mind dating men, it happened before. He dated all sorts of people, men and women, in every part of the world. He slept with many, from the vanilla to the traumatizing, and his experience was extensive in dating.
Yet, what Young Bok offered brought him a sudden weight of uncertainty. “You think I should? Ask him out, I mean,” he asked the man who nodded, excited. “I’ll think of it but still no to recruiting him as my assistant. The workload will be affected by any wrong choice we make.”
Young Bok nodded and left with the CV while Baekhyun leaned on his chair.
Why was this Jongdae so special?
He met so many Jongdaes in his life that he couldn’t count it so why none of them moved his heart the way this man did. Was it because they met often? Was it because now Baekhyun lost interest in many things in life?
He couldn’t tell and if his assistant was right and he was happy with Jongdae, he also didn’t care. Happiness was a rare state of mind for Baekhyun. He didn’t expect to see Jongdae that exact day in a coffee shop. “Hi, Boss,” Jongdae called and Baekhyun smiled. “Do you want some coffee?”
“Sure,” Baekhyun let out as he finished supplying the coffee shop with beans. He stood by Jongdae who waited for their drinks and leaned closer to sniff his scent. “Nice perfume.”
“I indulged into perfumes lately,” Jongdae admitted. “It was a passion I couldn’t follow because of my salary but now that I have a better paying job, I am dabbing back.”
Baekhyun nodded, understanding. “I have a collection of perfumes at home, trust me when I say that I know the obsession,” he commented.
“You wear the same perfume, though,” Jongdae pointed out.
“That’s your luck,” Baekhyun teased. “I’m always meeting you when I wear savage, it’s a professional scent and it gives my look a boost.”
The discussion shifted to an animated one and Jongdae followed Baekhyun who held his hand as they spoke. The coffee was barely an accessory as they sipped on it. Jongdae followed Baekhyun through most of his rounds, as apparently it was his day off, and they spoke the entire time.
It was the first time the assistants saw their boss speak so loudly and brightly. Baekhyun could see them ruffle Young Bok’s hair from time to time, sharing a knowing look. It made him smile.
“Are you free tonight?” He asked Jongdae who helped the assistants sort papers. Jongdae merely looked up from the papers, focused on his task, and nodded. “Let’s eat dinner together.”
Jongdae didn’t react for a second and the assistant managed to snatch the papers before Jongdae lost his footing. “What?”
“I’m asking you out for dinner,” Baekhyun repeated, smiling brightly. “I know a steakhouse, one of the firsts and the best steakhouses in Ilsan. You will love it.”
Jongdae blushed, confused, before an assistant reassured him that they would take it from here and that Baekhyun could go for dinner. Baekhyun pulled Jongdae and hailed a taxi. The drive was silent but never, in the entire time inside, did Baekhyun let go of Jongdae. He paid the taxi generously and pulled Jongdae out. The steakhouse looked quite old and had a vintage sense to it. “It was built in 1985,” Baekhyun commented. “By an American soldier who married a Korean woman and settled for her here. For the last forty years, it retained the exact same style inside, just jt”
“It looks cozy,” Jongdae pointed out. “He must have loved her.”
Baekhyun hummed. “I can’t tell for sure,” he let out, lost in a memory. “He died a year after the steakhouse was open but she for sure loved him. Until this day, she kept celebrating his birthday, kept the restaurant as he made it, and refused to sell anything.”
Jongdae glanced at Baekhyun, confusion written on his face despite his stoicness. Baekhyun got in when an old man led him to a VIP seat. He didn’t even say a word and they already knew where to seat him and what he wanted. He requested a menu for Jongdae. “Feel free to check their options,” he ushered Jongdae, when an old woman approached their boot. “Mrs. Jackson. It’s a pleasure to see you.”
The woman seemed to revere Baekhyun as she bowed to him, thanking him for passing by. She kept behaving as if Baekhyun was a savior. Jongdae just observed the situation and said nothing. Jongdae requested to go to the bathroom and the woman offered to lead him.
Baekhyun considered following them in a minute as he remembered not washing his hands from the taxi. “You mean, this man is the man I’m sitting with?” Jongdae’s shaken voice reached him before he could see Jongdae with the woman looking at a picture. It was a forty years old picture of him with both Daniel Jackson, the original owner of the steakhouse, and his wife. He stood there, unable to react. People usually laugh it off, thinking it was a family member who shared the same face with him but the shock on Jongdae’s face was clearer.
Jongdae had doubts but also knew it was impossible for relatives to be a hundred percent match. It scared Baekhyun who approached them. “What are you doing?” he asked and Jongdae pushed the frame to the woman, hiding her from Baekhyun.
“She was showing me old pictures,” Jongdae let out, awkward, shaken, and clearly scared. “You?”
“We were in a taxi so I rather wash my hands before we eat,” Baekhyun let out as he walked past them to the sink. Jongdae awkwardly did the same. They took their seats and Jongdae ended up ordering the same as Baekhyun.
“So, what did she tell you?” Baekhyun asked, leaning on his hands as he observed Jongdae struggle to form a sentence. “You looked out of it ever since she showed you the picture.”
“She said you are a benefactor who invested in the steakhouse, since the beginning,” Jongdae admitted after a long moment of silence. “I didn’t believe it but…”
“The picture is too real to be faked, isn’t it?” Baekhyun asked him back with a smile. “But I’m not forty.”
“That’s… That’s true but the resemblance is too much. Nobody looks a hundred percent the same as his father or relative,” Jongdae reasonned. “There is no perfect resemblance, there is always a percentage of difference.”
“True,” Baekhyun admitted to that, hence why he also tried to change hairstyles and modify his outfits to neutral, basic styles. “But it’s not an impossible possibility.”
Jongdae was a living proof of it. He was an exact copy of a man Baekhyun saw at least once every century. He smiled as Jongdae seemed pondering on it. “The woman is old, almost in her sixties, and I look exactly like her long lost generous friend, I wouldn’t behave any different from what she expects me to,” Baekhyun reasonned. “Hence, I behave like I’m the exact Byun Baekhyun she met forty years ago.”
“Isn’t it deception?” Jongdae asked, scolding.
“Is it hurting her? I just want to make her happy and besides, I invested in this restaurant as well,” He reasoned. “I didn’t lie to her, I just didn’t correct her.”
Jongdae sighed. “Fine,” he let out as the waiters came with their food and Baekhyun managed to shift the discussion toward a totally different subject. He managed to, because soon, Jongdae was all smiles and inputs. He enjoyed the dinner more than he expected.
“I need this steak recipe,” Jongdae let out as massaged his stomach. “I never had such delicious mouth watering steaks in my entire life.”
Baekhyun laughed at his face. “We didn’t have desserts yet,” he commented and Jongdae’s eyes widened as he lifted his hand to call for the waiter's attention. Baekhyun took the dessert he found the lightest and ordered it for Jongdae. “It’s a light one. Don’t worry.”
“Can we have coffee after this? I think I’ll need it after such a heavy dinner,” Jongdae teasingly said and Baekhyun nodded to the waiter who brought two shots of espresso with a vanilla tart with strawberry sorbet. It was indeed less heavy than he expected and he enjoyed it.
They carried on the discussion until Baekhyun drove Jongdae home. “How was your dinner?” Baekhyun asked, curious.
“I enjoyed it,” Jongdae admitted with a smile. “You are a great company, Mr. Byun.”
“Baekhyun, you can call me Baekhyun out of work,” Baekhyun offered and Jongdae beamed, nodding shyly.
“Thank you for tonight, Baekhyun,” he let out, as he opened the front door. “I enjoyed it.”
“It’s a pleasure,” Baekhyun reassured. He stepped back and waved to Jongdae who got in. Jongdae made sure to rush to the nearest window and waved. It was then when it hit Baekhyun that Young Bok was true.
He liked Jongdae a lot.
He was happy.
They met often after that and Baekhyun dared to approach Jongdae after work. They even exchanged numbers. Baekhyun was excited every time he asked Jongdae out and he hoped it would last long enough for him to prepare his heart for the loss.
He knew eventually Jongdae would leave his side but he grew used to the loss, he just needed memories to hold onto. He was deep in that thought that when he saw Jongdae, his heart squeezed. “Are you okay, Baekhyun?” Jongdae asked as he approached Baekhyun with a frown. “You paled.”
“Nothing,” Baekhyun reassured. They were walking in the park that night, eating late snacks, when a car swerved so sharply Baekhyun shielded Jongdae and took the hit. They were pushed aside but Jongdae remained unharmed while Baekhyun’s entire face was scratched. “Are you okay, Dae?”
“Am I ok? Are you serious?” Jongdae was freaking out as he held Baekhyun from moving. “Let me check for injuries.”
Baekhyun held Jongdae’s hands which were shaking and he squeezed them reassuringly. “I’m fine,” he reassured as he straightened his posture. He must have cracked some bones but nothing major. His body was indestructible. He made a few jumps to show he was okay. “This is why people learn martial arts, Dae. I took the hit but the impact didn’t do much more than scratch my skin.”
“You do martial arts?” Jongdae asked him in shock.
“I have a belt or two in Taekwondo,” Baekhyun brushed it off as he didn’t want to freak Jongdae out.
If there was something Baekhyun was good at aside from being a business person, it was that his body soaked any skill he tried during his lifetime. He had plenty of time to master crochet, sewing, silk waving, woodwork, even bamboo craving, so martial arts wasn’t a difficult thing to learn for him. He even practices every morning after he wakes up and before breakfast so he can remain in shape.
Jongdae didn’t need to know that now. He was freaking out and Baekhyun needed to ground him down. “Are you scratched though? You were projected with me,” he let out checking the man.
“No, you took all of it,” Jongdae commented in a whisper and Baekhyun looked up to meet his eyes. Jongdae looked like he would cry at any given moment. “I thought we would die, Baekhyun.”
Baekhyun hugged Jongdae at that. He didn’t know how to ease the man’s shock and sudden fear of death. “I’m here, always, Dae,” Baekhyun let out in a comforting tone. “I’ll always be here no matter what happens, okay? I’ll protect you.”
Jongdae tightened his hold on Baekhyun but said nothing. That night, they went to the hospital where they cleaned and bandaged Baekhyun’s wounds on his face. He was glad they considered bandaging it as he healed overnight and he didn’t know how to explain it to the people around. He never got injured around anyone before.
Jongdae was eaten with worries that night and even when Baekhyun drove him home. “Call me when you are home, okay?” he asked Baekhyun who nodded, beaming.
“I’ll call you as soon as I park my car in the garage,” Baekhyun reassured. “I swear on it.”
It didn’t seem to be enough for Jongdae but he didn’t hold onto Baekhyun who waved him goodnight and took off. It was later when he realized it was a wrong decision. Once he was in his garage, he called Jongdae who answered almost instantly.
“Hyung,” he whispered, his voice shaken. Baekhyun’s blood froze over. “He’s here.”
“I’ll be back in a second,” He promised and drove back so fast he ended up skipping several red lights. When he got to Jongdae’s house, Jongdae was half naked, shaken, and clearly beaten up. Facing him stood a familiar tall man.
Baekhyun parked right by Jongdae's side, opening the door. “Get in,” he let out and Jongdae ran to sit inside and closed the door which Baekhyun locked before driving off. He drove Jongdae home, leading him inside.
Jongdae was shaken and he already had a bruise forming on his cheek. Baekhyun silently gave him pajamas to change into. “Go shower,” he let out softly. “My guest room is in the second room at the hall on your left.”
Jongdae nodded, clearly glad Baekhyun didn’t push. He walked to the room and didn’t leave it. Baekhyun didn’t push as he called the police on Jongdae’s boyfriend, filling a complaint. Of course, he also alerted the police that he may have broken the rules to get to his “friend’s house.”
It was the only way to avoid them using his behavior against him. He saved a friend. He was ready to pay fines or even lose his driving license over it. He went to Jongdae’s bedroom and knocked. “I filed a police report against your ex,” he confessed. “He clearly came with vindictive intentions and he will never stop unless we try.”
Jongdae didn’t take time to open the door. “What if it will make things worse?” He asked Baekhyun, anger clear in his eyes. “Who gave you the right to call the police anyway?”
Baekhyun reached for Jongdae’s cheek, which turned black. “This gave me the right,” he firmly said as Jongdae swatted his hand. “Nobody touches the people I care for and I stand still. If the police can’t stop him, I have plenty of tricks to make him disappear. Trust me, the police are the least of his worries.”
It was enough to ease Jongdae’s frown. “Don’t be reckless, Baekhyun,” he let out and Baekhyun sighed. “I’m fine.”
“Fine will be if you ever meet the man on a road and he turns to the other way or crosses the street or looks down to his toes,” Baekhyun insisted. “That’s fine for me. Not this. He got in your house, punched and god knows what he tried to do.”
Jongdae opened his mouth to speak but Baekhyun kissed him on the cheek and he flinched away. “Baek…”
“Good night, Dae,” Baekhyun said as he turned away. “We will talk tomorrow when I’m sane and I have enough coffee in my system to not burst into a fit of rage.”
He went to his own bedroom, showered and changed before lying in bed. He couldn’t sleep so he was wide awake when a knock echoed in the silence of his room. “It’s open,” he called and Jongdae opened the door.
“Can I stay here?” he asked and Baekhyun looked at him in shock. He noticed that Jongdae had a pillow and duvet with him. Baekhyun scooted over and pulled his own duvet before patting the empty space. Jongdae settled in and whispered: “Thank you.”
Baekhyun hummed but he didn’t say more because Jongdae needed rest and they needed to go to the police early. He managed to wake up on time to train without waking Jongdae. He trained in pure silence, breathing slow and steady, which contrasted his usual yells. His house was sound proofed from the outside but not the inside so he would very likely wake Jongdae up if he was louder than usual.
“What are you doing?” A voice snapped him from his concentration. He lost his footing and nearly fell if not for Jongdae rushing to hold him. “What happened?”
“Why are you up so early? I made sure to be silent,” Baekhyun asked in panic and Jongdae chuckled at his expression.
“I wake up at this hour for breakfast,” He let out. “It’s already six thirty. Do you want to get ready together?” Baekhyun nodded and Jongdae helped him up. “What were you doing by the way?”
Baekhyun was embarrassed and explained he was training everyday like that. Jongdae let out an amazed sound but didn’t comment as Baekhyun offered to lend him a suit for work and that they could shower at the same time to save up time. Breakfast was fun, Jongdae teased Baekhyun’s skills.
Baekhyun was a good cook but he never mastered the art of cutting vegetables in a thin way; he tried. He allowed Jongdae to tease him as they ate their food fast. The morning turned sour when Baekhyun drove to the police department. Jongdae filled his statement and so did Baekhyun before they drove to work.
Everybody was surprised to see them come together, more when Baekhyun had the bandaged face. “I got a scratch trying to save him from a car accident, so we went to the police department together to leave statements,” Baekhyun told everyone and it spread like fire. It shifted the relationship a little between Baekhyun and Jongdae as everybody gushed over how heroic Baekhyun was.
The day almost went well if not for the man waiting by Jongdae’s door when Baekhyun dropped him off. “Dae,” Jongdae let out and Baekhyun rushed to shield Jongdae. “Back off.”
“Do you have a death wish?” Baekhyun asked him, cold and calm. “I can grant you that wish.”
The man scoffed and was about to shove Baekhyun who suddenly held his hand, pressing on a specific spot until the man crawled to his knees. He was in clear pain but tried not to scream. Baekhyun kept his expression calm.
“You won’t die from this,” He commented as the silence lingered. “But I can do more. I can do worse.”
Jongdae held on Baekhyun’s shoulder the entire time, hiding, so he peeked to see the man down. Baekhyun didn’t even flinch, picking his phone with his other hand and calling the police. He kept the man there until the car approached them. He let go and the man stood to scream that Baekhyun attacked him. Jongdae was about to object when Baekhyun told him to pack clothes and follow him back to the car.
He shook hands with the police and the man fired accusations on the police officers that he was corrupt but the police officer didn’t enjoy the accusation, asking the man to follow him to the car. Apparently, the man wasn’t aware they filed a complaint against him the day before. Baekhyun told one of his assistants who was there, watching, to take Jongdae to his house and set the guest room for him.
He instead followed the police, sharing videos he had on the building CCTV and his car dashcam. It recorded everything. The man wasn’t aware Jongdae’s house had CCTV and he kept quiet ever since it was announced. He only requested a lawyer while Baekhyun called for his own.
The hassle of the lawsuit was long but Baekhyun saw it through, making sure Jongdae had a restraining order against that man and also changed houses. It was one of the things that made Jongdae and Baekhyun grow close and he didn’t know why he didn’t rely on the man before.
He admitted in court that the man was violent ever since they broke up. In fact, he sustained many injuries that he took pictures of but never shared, too scared to speak up. It was a discovery that nearly turned Baekhyun mad.
During that period, Jongdae somehow distanced himself from Baekhyun who noticed but didn’t push. He didn’t want to be another trauma for Jongdae and waited, patiently.
They met coincidentally often and greeted each other but Jongdae excused himself before Baekhyun would try to step closer. It hurt Baekhyun beyond what he expected. He realized he wouldn’t survive life without Jongdae, without seeing him, without smelling his coffee in the morning, without hearing his shy giggles.
Baekhyun was desperate but still didn’t push. His chest contracted every single time Jongdae ignored him yet he still didn’t try to invade Jongdae’s space. It was maddening to live and even more for the people who witnessed it and couldn’t do much about it. Baekhyun swam in work like a desperate diver swimming to the surface, losing air the more he struggled. It felt like that.
How will he survive after Jongdae’s death? He wondered.
“Boss,” an assistant called upon his attention and he looked up from the papers he was filling to see his assistants look at the opposite side. He turned to see Jongdae standing there, awkward. Baekhyun nearly dropped the papers and he had to look away. He looked at his assistants who smoothly took over, leaving standing there.
“Did I come at the wrong time?” Jongdae asked and Baekhyun shook his head. He didn’t look at Jongdae until a minute passed, their silence lingering. “Can we talk?”
Baekhyun nodded and followed Jongdae who walked ahead until they were a distance away from the coffee shop where the assistants waited. “Hi,” Baekhyun managed to say, his voice steady.
Jongdae seemed taken aback by the sudden greeting and smiled. “Hey,” he whispered. He played with the hem of his sleeve and fidgeted for a second before noticing how patiently Baekhyun waited. “I’m sorry. I needed space right now and I didn’t know how to be a good company and…”
Baekhyun didn’t let him finish because he wrapped his arms around Jongdae and tightened his hold. “I am here, you know,” he said eventually and Jongdae, who was stiff, started shaking. He could soon hear the man sniff and he simply repeated it. “I’m here. Always here.”
They stood there for a moment, neither talking. Baekhyun simply patted his back until he stopped sniffing and just held him there. They let go when the assistant called Baekhyun.
“I have to go,” he let out as he checked his phone. “Tomorrow, at dinner, can I take you out for food?”
Jongdae nodded as he smiled and Baekhyun rushed away, holding his brightest smile. His assistants shared a look as they chuckled among themselves while Baekhyun ignored it.
He wanted to cherish every second he had left with Jongdae. He already made a reservation for his favorite table in a very highly sought after restaurant. He cleared his schedule and went to bed with a much lighter heart.
He knew it would hurt more once death takes Jongdae away from him but it didn’t stop him from eagerly grasping every straw given to him. He met Jongdae who showed up in his work suit, still slick and well kept. Baekhyun could smell a distinctive scent on him.
“Is that Hermes Green orange perfume?” He asked in shock and Jongdae chuckled and nodded.
“I got the tiniest of the bottles,” Jongdae admitted. “I couldn’t afford it before but now I saved up to take many small bottles.” Baekhyun pouted and gave Jongdae a look. “What?”
“I’m spoiling you, that’s final,” He announced as he held Jongdae by the hand. He led Jongdae inside as he listed all the potential perfumes Jongdae would love. Jongdae shook his head, Baekhyun noticed, but kept a wide smile the entire time.
The food came in a happier mood than Baekhyun expected as Jongdae spoke more. They didn’t touch anything personal but it was enough. This discussion about food, fashion and perfumes was enough to make Baekhyun feel like he had the most fulfilling date ever.
He took Jongdae to his apartment as he felt it was too late for Jongdae to go home and his house was a ten minute walk from the restaurant, less by car. Baekhyun was tipsy, almost drunk, which is a tolerance he didn't learn to have despite his many years living.
“Drunk?” Jongdae asked him as the man picked pajamas from Baekhyun’s tired hands. Baekhyun smiled and nodded. “Let’s go to bed.”
Baekhyun nodded and walked to his bedroom tiredly. He showered fast and just dropped in his bed in his underwear. He almost made it to dreamland when a gasp startled his eyes open. “You will catch a cold,” Jongdae’s voice reached his ears. “Get under the covers at least.”
Baekhyun allowed Jongdae to tuck him in and he laid there, observing Jongdae place a towel under his head. “I like you,” he commented. “I like you so much that I wished I could just die when you ignored me.”
The silence following his confession felt heavy. Baekhyun knew his mind was too drunk to control yet, he didn’t resist the urge to reach for Jongdae’s hand on his chest.
“Don’t disappear on me, Dae,” he whispered. “You will die eventually and I’ll live the next centuries mourning you. Can’t you stay so I can hold onto as many memories as possible?”
It was an odd request, even to Baekhyun's ears, and he closed his eyes, letting himself drift to sleep. He woke up alone and went to train. His body felt heavier than usual but he managed to finish his sequence before Jongdae woke up, walking on him training in boxers.
“Good morning,” Jongdae commented sleepily, trotting to the kitchen still heavy with sleep. “You woke up early.”
Baekhyun kissed his head and walked to his bedroom. “I’ll get ready in a minute,” he commented as he walked away. He got in his dressing room and changed fast but when he got in the kitchen, Jongdae had made enough food to feed him all day. “You are fast.”
Jongdae smiled, giving him the egg sandwich, his coffee and a plate of sausages, kimchi, and his bowl of rice. “I guessed you worked out and you would be hungry for a busy day at work,” Jongdae let out as he sat down. He made sure to wait for Baekhyun to start before starting as well.
It was a pleasant morning until they met at lunch and Jongdae seemed like he had to ask him something. He went back and forth without saying anything. “Dae,” Baekhyun called him and the man paused. “Do you want to join us?”
“I don’t want to impose,” Jongdae dismissed. “But can we talk like… tonight?”
Baekhyun nodded but he frowned as Jongdae seemed eaten by something. He worried about Jongdae until he found Jongdae actually waiting for him at work. “Do you want me to drop you off?”
“Didn’t they take your license away?” Jongdae asked and shook his head. “Let’s take a taxi if you want.”
Baekhyun took his wallet and showed his license, still tucked inside. “I can drive just fine and I paid a fine for what happened since I didn’t cause any accident,” Baekhyun reassured as he encircled Jongdae’s waist. He walked the man to the car and made sure Jongdae was safely seated before walking to the driver seat. He could feel Jongdae’s eyes bear holes in his soul the entire time.
He barely drove a minute before Jongdae asked. “How old are you?”
“Twenty eight, and you?” Baekhyun asked back, diverting the question.
“I mean before these fake IDs and fake identity, how old are you supposed to be?” Jongdae asked, calm even. “Is your name even Baekhyun?”
“It is,” Baekhyun reassured. “I am twenty eight, for sure.”
Jongdae kept silent for a second. “If you are twenty eight then why did you ask me to stay and give you memories you can hold onto after I die?” Jongdae asked suddenly and Baekhyun’s hold on the car shifted and he nearly lost control of it if not for how fast he reacted normally. He parked in the nearest parking spot and turned the car off. “I didn’t dream it, Baekhyun. I heard you.”
Baekhyun massaged his temples and didn’t know what to say. Jongdae was suspicious of him and lying could make him lose Jongdae for real. “Asking about it wouldn’t change a thing, Dae,” he commented. “I care about you and I want to spoil you. Can’t I just do that?”
Jongdae pouted at him and he sighed.
“I just want to know if you are human or some sort of creature like vampires and werewolves,” Jongdae whined and Baekhyun couldn’t help and laughed. “It’s not funny.”
Baekhyun reached for Jongdae’s hands, holding onto it as he laughed still. “God, you are adorable. I’m human, a million percent human,” Baekhyun assured. He debated into telling the truth and decided that, fuck it, Jongdae deserved to know. “I’m actually cursed.”
“Cursed?”
“To be this young forever,” Baekhyun confirmed. “I lived a long life, Jongdae.”
Jongdae frowned. “How long though?”
“Long enough to know when I want to be with someone and to realize their time is fleeting so I need to take as many memories and store them deep in my heart,” He admitted and Jongdae’s expression sored. “I will cherish it, Dae. Every single second you grant me, I will cherish it until the end of time.”
Jongdae nodded, absent minded, before he looked up. “How can you be sure you won't forget me?” Jongdae asked. “People move on and forget about the past all the time.”
Baekhyun smiled and observed him, his eyes dancing on Jongdae’s features softly. “You know, this isn't our first meeting,” Baekhyun reassured. “I met you before.”
Jongdae frowned. “I don't remember,” he admitted and Baekhyun chuckled.
“I meant centuries ago or at least once in every previous century,” Baekhyun clarified. “I met you as a child, as a teen and even as an old man. The exact same face. The exact same voice.”
“Same name?” Jongdae asked him in confusion.
“Dae is always part of your name but it's not always the same name, no.”
Jongdae blinked as his mind seemed to run miles. “What?” He let out a loud outburst and slammed his hands on his lips before whispering. “Sorry.”
Baekhyun chuckled, still looking at Jongdae and soaking every expression in. “Shocked much?”
“I thought I was something else in my previous life,” Jongdae admitted. “Not that I reincarnate as myself every single time.”
Baekhyun shrugged. “Someone has to be the exception to the rule,” he teased and Jongdae groaned, massaging his temples. “I only spoke to you twice, though. Once when you were a child in the early Joseon era, I approached you and I asked you why I keep meeting you but you just looked at me like I lost my mind.”
“The second time?” Jongdae asked, curious.
“Now, here, in this era. I wondered why in this lifetime, we met often, and approached me, all smiles and so bright you put the sun to shame,” Baekhyun commented as he reached for Jongdae’s face. “I wanted more of that warmth before I could control it. I am sorry.”
Jongdae shook his head and pulled Baekhyun close enough to place a kiss at the corner of his mouth.
Baekhyun’s eyes widened for merely a second before he reacted fast and pulled Jongdae to a kiss they sank into so deep Baekhyun felt shaken when he let go.
Jongdae’s breathing felt hot on his skin and his eyes struggled to look away from Jongdae’s eyes. They remained that way until a knock startled them.
“You can't park here,” a police man said and Baekhyun nodded to him, bowing his head with an apology. Baekhyun didn’t say much until they drove to his house.
He parked inside the garage and sat there shaken when he felt Jongdae unbuckle his seat belt. He looked at the man who left the car in silence and followed suit.
“Can't we finish this discussion inside?” Jongdae asked and Baekhyun sighed.
“Dae,” Baekhyun called. “I won't let you go If you step inside.”
Jongdae was merely illuminated by the car's lights but his smile looked blinding. Baekhyun turned off the engine and opened the door for Jongdae who tossed his bag to the nearest chair.
Their hands reached for each other instinctively and Baekhyun pulled Jongdae to his convertible sofa where they sat side by side in silence.
“Are you scared?” Jongdae asked as The silence stretched.
“Nervous,” Baekhyun admitted. “I don't want you to disappear from my life.”
“I won't,” Jongdae reassured, reaching for Baekhyun’s cheek to share comfort. It led to a kiss which led them to the bedroom, their clothes sliding out of their way as they chased each other's lips. They stumbled here and there, giggling giddily before Jongdae landed on the bed.
Baekhyun reached for his inner thigh as he tried to push himself to the pillows, keeping him in place. Baekhyun enjoyed the loud moans that left the man’s lips as he bit and nibbled his way to the rim, sliding skillful fingers which massaged his prostate as he kissed his way up to Jongdae’s nipples, sucking them like a thirsty child. Jongdae fisted his hair as he moaned Baekhyun’s name like a mantra. HE looked as wrecked as Baekhyun felt when he lifted himself to meet Jongdae’s eyes.
He sank deep inside Jongdae to the point he started shedding tears while Jongdae held on the pillow, moaning shamelessly loud. Moving wasn’t an option as Baekhyun edged insanity and he needed to regain some.
He had to.
“Baek,” Jongdae whimpered. “Please, move. Please.”
Oh how he wanted to.
“Don’t hold back,” Jongdae managed to moan as he pulled Baekhyun to a kiss. Baekhyun managed a few thrusts before he lost control, sending Jongdae to a crushing wave of pleasure. He was taken with spasms of orgasm before he and Baekhyun regained some grasp of reality.
They had sex and for the first time, for both of them, they enjoyed it beyond their limit.
“Am I crazy to ask for another round?” Jongdae asked.
“No but I’ll be,” Baekhyun admitted. “Any more than this and I’ll lock you in this bed for the rest of your life, Dae.”
Jongdae blinked before laughing. “I don’t mind that,” Jongdae whispered as he pulled Baekhyun who hadn’t pulled out. “Second round please? Then the third one, then the fourth… Just wreck me.”
“You want me to go insane,” Baekhyun objected but he was already moving, giving Jongdae tiny jabs in the guts. Jongdae matched Baekhyun’s movements, leading Baekhyun’s hand to his own abandoned length which pulsated, begging, between them.
The round wasn’t different from the one before nor the ones after but when they woke up from their daze, they had slept through the morning and Baekhyun’s assistants had left tons of messages and calls. Baekhyun awkwardly explained to Young Bok that he overslept after a drunken night and so did Jongdae so they would be absent for the day.
Young Bok was silent for a moment before sighing. “If he’s limping tomorrow, it would be difficult to say he was drunk, Boss,” he let out. “Take him to the hospital and get him a sick leave.”
Baekhyun looked at the phone like Young Bok was wiring it or reading minds through it and the young assistant just ended the call. He looked at the curious Jongdae who blinked at him, confused. “I don't know how this kid knows what I feel or go through but he is terrifyingly perceptive.”
“Felix?” Jongdae asked and Baekhyun looked back at him with a frown. “He asked me to apply to be your assistant a while back. He knew you were interested in me. In fact, I knew it too.”
Baekhyun tilted his head, frowning even more. “What does that mean?”
“You confidently show if you like something or someone,” Jongdae admitted. “So I started connecting the dots even since you took me out for a steak.”
Then Jongdae knew from the beginning. Baekhyun groaned, massaging his face. “I guess I got used to the fact that everybody is going to die eventually so being embarrassed about something no one will eventually remember in fifty years seemed like a waste of time and energy.”
“Time sure doesn’t feel the same for you,” Jongdae teased.
“You don’t live long,” Baekhyun commented. “Every friend I made in the past millennia or two died, leaving me seeking warmth of new strangers.”
A cup fell and he looked up to meet Jongdae’s shocked eyes. He was confused until Jongdae asked back, “Millennia?”
“Two,” Baekhyun admitted. “I’m around two thousand and twenty eight years old. I can’t tell you in which month I was born, I long lost the old calendar we had in my time.”
“Two thousand? And you just told me now?”
Baekhyun felt his heart drop as the empty tone Jongdae used. “Does it matter?”
“It doesn’t,” Jongdae reassured. “I just feel a little shocked and unable to grasp the number.”
Baekhyun held his hands. “I prayed to have someone like you in my life before, Dae. I can’t lose you when I just got you,” Baekhyun pleaded. “Don’t let me go. Please.”
Jongdae pulled Baekhyun at that and tightened his hold into the man who hugged Jongdae like he was a bundle of smoke, evaporating soon.
“I don’t care how old you are, Baek,” Jongdae reassured, eventually. “I am terrified of leaving you behind in the future, though, but we can handle it later, can we?”
“Yes,” Baekhyun eagerly said, tightening his hold even. They called in sick for the next day and just slept through it, cuddling. The before and after was blatant ever since that everybody in the company could see it. They didn’t publicize their relationship, being discreet and traveling to LGBT friendly places to be the couple they wanted to be.
They kept at it until one day, Jongdae approached Baekhyun at work and left a velvet box in the middle of the office, ignoring the assistants. He had a mischievous expression as he walked out. Baekhyun was confused so he opened the box and found two rings. Both had their names and the date they became official. Inside the box also laid a folded piece of paper with “Will you marry me?” written on it.
“What on earth,” Baekhyun let out as he left his chair to follow Jongdae out. He found Jongdae by the elevator and the man walked away, smiling as he disappeared. Baekhyun rushed to catch him and Jongdae got them in the restroom, inside a cubicle and locked it. “You are one naughty man.”
“Naughty? I thought you enjoyed my surprise,” Jongdae teased.
“I loved it,” Baekhyun mumbled as he kissed Jongdae and they made it out for a moment before someone got in the restroom. Jongdae seemed confused for a second as he reached Baekhyun’s hair and pulled it. It made Baekhyun hiss “Ouch.”
“A gray hair,” Jongdae whispered. “You have a strand of gray hair.”
Baekhyun held it as it indeed looked too white to be mistaken for something else. He started getting gray hair. He looked at Jongdae in shock before hugging him tight as tears streamed down his face.
They stood there until the silence lingered, the intruder gone, and Jongdae pushed Baekhyun to leave the cubicle. “Are you okay?” he asked and Baekhyun nodded, shedding tears.
“I’m going to grow old and die with you, Dae,” Baekhyun whispered as realization came crashing on him. “Don’t you get it? I am going to die.”
He sounded so happy that Jongdae didn’t mind his word choice. He had no idea what Baekhyun had to endure. He dried Baekhyun’s tears and picked the box from Baekhyun’s hand and pushed the ring into Baekhyun’s ring finger before Baekhyun did the same.
“I didn’t plan to ask you to marry me in the company’s toilets,” Baekhyun let out, happy and still sobbing. “But marry me, Dae.”
“I’d love to,” he reassured as he pulled Baekhyun to a kiss. Once out, he walked Baekhyun to the office as he thought about how Baekhun met so many Jongdaes in his life but settled up with him.
“Where did your mind wander to?” Baekhyun asked.
“Just feeling lucky that despite meeting so many Jongdae, you ended up being a normal man with me,” Jongdae pointed out and Baekhyun froze in a manner that startled Baekhyun. “What?”
Baekhun looked him in the eyes and asked, “Do you think you were the key to the curse? from the beginning?”
“We don’t have a way to know,” Jongdae pointed out. “Why are you wondering now?”
“I just…” Baekhyun started before tilting his head, confused. “It means the curse was linked to you too. No wonder your soul came back the same, every single time.”
Jongdae held his cheeks and made him look back at him. “Forget the past. It will never come back and you no longer have time to worry about it,” Jongdae let out, firm, and Baekhyun beamed.
“I have a lot else to worry about, indeed,” he commented as he squeezed Jongdae’s butt. Jongdae yelped and slapped his arm softly. “Let’s celebrate tonight?”
“Steakhouse?”
“Steakhouse.”