Salus - Chanyeol (mafia!au) | Prologue
genre: romance/drama/angst
summary: The thought of being back home always tormented you, ever since you left. You thought about all possibilities, but not one where your ex-boyfriend would want to be your friend again, just like before all that mess, as if it would be easy to ignore how your heart still races just by seeing him.
Glasses of champagne were being served around the room. Two, three? Maybe five glasses. Those people could barely remember changing their empty glasses for full ones.
You look at your own glass. It’s your first, for sure, and even this is too much for you. You know that, and Minseok also knows that. Maybe that’s why he’s not leaving your side since your arrival.
“Gosh. Minseok, don’t you have people to greet?” You make sure that he’s seeing your eyes rolling. “I won’t drink more than I already have, if that’s what is worrying you”.
Minseok sighs and you realize he’s closer than you thought.
“I’m just…” He seems nervous and you already know what he’s going to say. “I’m worried about you, don’t blame me”.
“There’s no reason.” You look at the crowd, trying to find old friends, some of them are Minseok’s friends too. “I’m totally fine alone. Go talk to Junmyeon, I’ll be right here. Pretty and quiet”.
You can see in his face that he’s in doubt. It was easy to solve it if you went with him while he greeted them, but easy was not an option. Not in this case.
Minseok’s worries were understandable. You were surrounded by people you once knew, but so much time passed that you doubted they even remembered your name.
“Minseok.” Carla calls him. “Y/N will be fine. Let’s greet them and if one of you is still uncomfortable, we leave.” You smile at her, thankful. She would always be the first to help you with Minseok.
“Stop overreacting and go. It’s been years now. Even I got over it. Why can’t you?”
You know, the moment those words leave your mouth, how mean you sounded. All these years, it was him and you, one looking after each other in a distant country. Distant from everyone you knew, distant from being completely fine. He was really trying to protect you, you got that, but you were not the same silly heartbroken teenager. You were a woman now.
But being a woman didn’t include talking to Junmyeon and telling him how sorry you were about his sister’s death, right?
Not that you weren’t. Of course you were. That was horrible. And all that mess was not her fault, after all she didn’t even knew before Junmyeon told her. But you couldn’t help feeling resentful.
Knowing you would not give up, Minseok sighed and left with Carla, not even one single word said. You can finally breath.
His intentions were good, but being worried about you the whole time didn’t help.
You spot Baekhyun in the crowd and your heart aches. You were so close before. He was a good motive to come back home. Jongdae by his side. You can’t fight the smile on your lips. He helped you countless times escaping out, to meet up with friends late at night, when your parents were already sleeping.
You turn around to check if your evening dress is still looking good. With your face looking a little bit red from drinking and lipstick all gone, you feel okay to go there and say “Hi, did you miss me?”, but you were not sure about their answers. What if they were still pissed at you?
Talking by calls, and with time only messages, was not enough. When was the last time you talked to one of them? Maybe Jongdae, last year?
“No. Right now is not time to overthink.” You whisper to yourself and start walking towards them.
In the middle of your path, you can see someone got their attention before you reached them. Your guts know who it was before your eyes can see it. He was someone you didn’t want to face right now. Talking to him would be worst than greeting Junmyeon.
You turn around, glad none of them saw you before escaping, or else you would be part of the most awkward greeting ever.
“Y/N?” Junmyeon calls, in front of you. You’re sure your heart stoped for a brief moment. Damn you, Minseok, for always being right. You were not ready for it.
“Hello, Junmyeon. How are you?” You smile briefly.
You were not close to Junmyeon before, you only knew him better because of the other guys. He would always be polite and nice to you, specially after…
“I’m great. You?” You notice a girl by his side, holding his arm and your smile grows. “I didn’t knew you were coming. Minseok said nothing”.
“This is, I suppose, your fiancé?” You ignore the question he didn’t make.
“I’m María. Nice to meet you”.
“I’m Y/N.” You ignore her hand and gets closer to give her a hug. She seems surprised, but her arms hold you back.
“She’s Minseok’s cousin. We all kinda grew up together”.
Her surprised face seems genuine. You’re glad Junmyeon found a girl so nice. You once bet with Jongdae who would be the last one to get married, and Junmyeon, because of his distant behaviour, was your pick. Jongdae’s pick was Chanyeol.
“Does it mean you will be around for the marriage too, right?” He asks you, genuinely happy. Marriage was part of the reason you came. “Is your fiancé here too? You were engaged, right?”
You nod, and he notices something is up, so you feel like explaining.
“We decided for a break.” The look in his face is enough for you to know what he’s going to say. “ Don’t, you too. I’m already tired of Minseok worrying, I’m completely fine”.
Junmyeon is different of Minseok. He knows who he can push, and for the first time, you’re glad he doesn’t consider you friendly enough for that. Glad, and also a little bit of you is disappointed.
“I know I’m late but…” You bring the glass at your mouth, trying to get courage. It’s empty. When did you drink it all? And you clearly remember giving your glass to a waiter. “I’m sorry about Meri. She was good and kind. And I’m sorry I took eight years to tell you that personally. I was really sad when I heard”.
Junmyeon got silent for a few moments, but that didn’t bother you. His fiancé seemed curious about it. It means she didn’t know anything, yet. It makes you sad. Life doesn’t pause just because you’re away. People move on with their lives, and one day, you’re erased from their old stories, their pictures. Their lives.
“Thank you.” He whispers. “I know how hard this all was… And I appreciate your effort, even if late”.
His smile is back, but not for too long. Your guts tell you again who it is.
“Did he see you already?” Junmyeon whispers. You deny. “If you don’t want to see him, just go talk to someone else, I can make an excuse for you”.
You smile to him, thankful.
“What is going on?” You hear Maria questioning, but you can’t hear his answer with all those people chatting by your side.
It’s not hard to find Minseok, since he’s also looking for you, with worried eyes.
“Calm down, dad.” You joke, but you’re sure he can see it in your eyes. “Can we leave, please?” You can feel a different hand in your arm, scaring you enough to scream.
“Y/N? Sorry I scared you.” Jongdae surprised you. “I can’t believe you’re here and did not talk to us. I thought I was going nuts”
“Jongdae.” You say his name, very low. He seemed hurt. “Jongdae.” You can say anything else, emotion getting over you.
“Look at you, all elegant and well dressed.” You feel tears in your eyes. “How could I miss this change?”
“Let’s go talk to the others. They will be so happy to see you after so many years…” He tries to pull you along, but you stay firm. “What’s wrong?”
At this moment, he realizes what’s going on.
“It was not a coincidence. You didn’t want to talk to us.” If you thought that he was hurt before, now he broke your already broken heart. “Why?”
The reason was just behind him, with Baekhyun, staring you with shocked eyes, and with the same superpower that made your knees weak and heartbeat increases with just a look. You stare Chanyeol back, and with more courage than what you had while talking to Junmyeon, more courage you had your whole life, you say:
