Though it had been a long time since he had lived with Chanyeol, Kibum had kept the key for his own purposes, and probably the other’s, since even though he had wanted his own place and privacy he was never really not welcomed to the house. To this day he hadn’t used the key, thinking that there would be nobody there to visit. Now there was, and Kibum had something with him that he wanted to give to his flight risk master even though he was quite sure his gift wasn’t going to be appreciated in the way he meant it.
It was a big house but knowing the other, it wasn’t too hard for Kibum to find him from all the rooms. He didn’t spoke, just walked through the place glancing around and stopping at the door of the study. His visit had been unnoticed so far, and for a moment he just watched Chanyeol with his laptop, looking like he was focusing on something hard. Kibum took an envelope from his clutch back and cleared his throat to let the other know that he was there.
“Hey,” he started, walking on the other side of the desk and leaned his hips against it with a baffling expression on his face. He didn’t know where to start but he did it before the other had time to start asking dumb questions about the sudden visit. Like he couldn’t drop by anytime he wanted, pft. Kibum could do whatever he wanted. That much was sure, and even if he wasn’t allowed to do something he was going to do it anyway. He slid the envelope closer to Chanyeol and pulled his hands away fast like he was throwing the other a bomb and it was about to go off.
“I got you something.” That something was 80 million won check.
“I’m paying you back my hospital bills. All of it from the chemotherapies to speech therapy. It’s not all of it yet, but I’ll get to it,” he continued, not keeping a long pause because he wanted to get his words out before letting you to speak.
“It was my tumor, my illness and I should carry the responsibilities of it, and of everything that crosses my path. I know you have someone you love endlessly and someday you will want to pursuit to that with all you got. And once that day comes, I don’t want to owe you anything. Not financially or emotionally. So I’m paying you back. I’ve been working really hard because… Well, I haven’t had anything else in my life anyway, so I can afford it now.”
Kibum bit his lower lip and took a step back, away from the bomb, avoiding it like the plague. He wanted you to have it and that was it. No other options. “It’s the end of discussion. There won’t even be a discussion. And now I’ll make us dinner.”
Giving a key to Kibum was something he had decided upon a long, long time ago. Chanyeol had given it to other in case he ever wanted another place to crash, locked himself out if he came to stay over for a few days, or just any other reason that would require the other to come over at a time when Chanyeol was unavailable. It had been such a long time ago (and so unused), that Chanyeol had even forgotten there was a second-party with access to his home.
Which is why he doesn’t even flinch when he hears noise from outside the study, too into correcting and re-writing errors in his draft. He has a deadline coming up next week, and he promised his publisher he’d submit a rough draft for his third book. Finally, get the book off his shoulders and just complete it, end the series that’s blocking him from presenting any more work. He doesn’t know why he’s having such a hard time finishing it, when he had written the first two books in a span of less than a year.
His eyes raise for a moment, blinking at Kibum before looking back down at his laptop. His eyes widen and he does a double take, the expression unchanging even when the other lays a kiss on his cheek. “What are you doing here?” He says in wonder, looking up at the pet. He wanted to ask more - why didn’t you call me? text me? why didn’t you tell me you were coming over? - but he’s cut off short with the sight of an envelope sliding towards him, his eyebrows knitting in confusion.
Money? Chanyeol only gives Kibum a second surprised look, before he’s reaching out for the envelope, opening it and peering inside at the contents. There’s a stack of bills inside, and Chanyeol doesn’t need to count it to know the sum is hefty as the other man claims to be.
It’s like a punch to the gut, as Kibum speaks and explains what the money’s for, it’s purpose. He thumbs over the edges of the bills, before he’s promptly closing it and gripping it between his fingers.
“What do you think this will accomplish?” He can’t even keep himself sitting down with the unbidden anger that flares inside of him, raising to his feet and looking at Kibum with a complete look of confusion and part betrayal. “I never asked you to return the money I spent on you. Where is this coming from?”
Someone he loves? “Is this some kind of joke?” He doesn’t mean for his voice to raise, but just who does the other think he is? “Do you think I paid those bills to keep you tied to me? Is this some way of breaking things off with me?” Chanyeol can’t help the way he jumps to such a drastic conclusion, but for Kibum to be intending to paying back such a high amount of money…Chanyeol wonders if this is some way to quietly and progressively end things as time goes.
The envelope is thrown down at the table, before his hand slams down over it. “Kibum, you are not to leave this room,” he orders, his word clear and ringing in the emptiness of the room. “I don’t want your money back. Take this back. I don’t want it.”
