You surveyed your face in the visor mirror and gasped. Your makeup was smudged and smeared like you had slept overnight without washing your face.

"Oh, wow. I look awful," you said as you swiped two fingers under your eyes in an attempt to ble nd the smudges out.

"No you don't," he giggled from the back seat. "You're always pretty!" You could see his arms flailing about in the reflection behind you. Getting dressed inside a car was proving to be more difficult than undressing had been.

"I highly doubt that, but thank you."

You rummaged in your bag for your travel case and fished out a tissue. After a long swig from your water bottle, you poured some onto the tissue and attempted to salvage your eye makeup. A few minutes later and after some much needed concealer, you ended up with the attempt at a smoky eye, but it was a vast improvement from how you looked a few minutes ago.

Baekhyun had climbed over the center console and was now back in the driver seat. He had just pulled his sock on and was trying his best to slip his shoe on in the tight space in front of him. He grunted as he struggled to lace his boots and finally opened the door for more leg room.

He, too, was now surveying himself in his visor mirror.

"You look perfect as always, my angel," you said, envying the way he just looked like that. He chuckled and waved the compliment off, as if he didn't know how beautiful he truly was.

You opened kakao maps to see if you had saved any dinner spots anywhere close to the rural area Baekhyun had driven you to.

"Oooh, baby have you ever eaten hairtail?"

"Hair… what? Let me see," he said as he leaned in to look closer. "Ahhhh, galchi! Neomu mashisso!" It's really delicious! It came as no surprise to you that he had eaten hairtail (less commonly known as as cutlassfish) considering how much he liked seafood. The yard-long fish wasn't even on your radar before researching Jeju as it wasn't found in your part of the world.

"Does that sound good to you? It's this restaurant's specialty and they do a prix fixe menu we could share." You ran your fingers through his hair, fixing the fuzzy clump that had formed on the back of his head during the epic face-sitting incident not long ago.

"Mmm, yes. Hopefully it isn't crowded. It should be early enough," he said.

"If it's too busy, we can go somewhere else. I think by the time we get there, I'll be getting hungry too." you said. "I'm not too hungry right now after the protein shake I just had." You waited for the joke to land. A few seconds ticked by in silence, then he turned to you with bemusement and shock on his face.

"Protein sh— HA HA HA!", he burst out. "Yah!!"

"There it is." You joined in as he clapped his hands once and covered his mouth as he let out an almighty laugh, alternating between wheezing and chuckling as tears formed in his eyes. "Ahhhh jjinja! Ahh, apa! Apa!" Ahhh really! Ahh, it hurts! It hurts! He clutched his stomach, dramatically wincing in pain.

He pressed his cheek into the palm of your hand that had moved to caress his face, still laughing. The puppy-like, affectionate side of Baekhyun was just as delightful as the other aspects of his personality, and you wondered if you were actually becoming a little too obsessed with him. Would you be able to function as a normal human without his constant presence? It scared you to think about it, so you distracted yourself by choosing a playlist for the drive to the restaurant as he started the engine and put the car in reverse.

"Let's go," he said, laughing still.

You and Baekhyun had so naturally fallen into a rhythm today. Things just felt right, and you couldn't exactly say why. Your chemistry was undeniable, but there was such an ease to being with him. Even when he was in the mood to tease you, he never took it too far. In fact, as you knew teasing was his love language, you felt flattered.

You continued the search for the perfect playlist to accompany the scenic drive to the restaurant on the north coast of Jeju.

"What is that song you keep humming?" You finally had to ask. It was driving you crazy. The tune felt familiar, yet you didn't think you had heard this particular melody before.

"I don't really know. It just came to me recently, and now it's stuck in my head. I don't even know if its a real song, or just a random melody."

"It's pretty. I like it," you said, still caressing the hair at the nape of his neck. "If it's just your genius brain making music, I think you should explore it more. I think you'd be brilliant at writing songs, baby. You're good at everything else."

"Yeah, I don't know. I want to. I really do. But the company never gave me the opportunity. I tried once, but… it didn't work out."

"Well," you said, "It's a good thing that you're your own boss now. No one can tell you what to do!"

"Yeah," he chuckled. "I don't think I'm good enough yet. But I'll try."

"Sing it for me again? Pleeeease," you begged.

He hummed the simple tune, and your immediate thought was that it sat perfectly within his range, not too high, and not too low, but right at the ideal notes where his voice sounded the most comfortable and effortless. The sweet notes rose and fell about half an octave, and the melody instilled playful, even flirty emotions. You didn't know how or why, but somehow it sounded very… Baekhyun.

"Baby, if this isn't a song already, it needs to be one. And it needs to be yours."

"Yeah?" He smiled sweetly as you nodded enthusiastically.

"I mean, I am a little bit biased. But as someone who has listened to you sing for many years, I stand by what I said… it sounds really great."

"Thank you. I'll try," he said, smiling playfully as he held his fist up.

***********************************

The sea was a stunning gradient of more blues than you had ever seen; the aquamarines and turquoises of the water close to the shore shifted to cerulean and a much deeper cobalt as it stretched out toward the horizon. Windmills jutted up unnaturally from the peninsula in the distance, adding a bit of whimsy to the otherwise untarnished terrain of Aewol's coastline.

You sat, rooted in place, taking time to appreciate yet another otherworldly sight on this paradise island as the click of Baekhyun's seatbelt brought you back to your body. He had just unfastened, turned the car off, gotten out of the driver's side and was now crossing your line of sight, adjusting his pants and straightening his hoodie as he made his way around to the passenger side. You snapped the shutter of your mind's imaginary camera. He was squinting in the bright sunlight, framed by the windshield with the impossibly blue water behind him and the restaurant closer in the foreground. It was a split-moment in time, too quick to get out your phone and take a real photo, but it would undoubtedly leave an indelible impression in your head. The sun, the sea, and Baekhyun.

"Wae?", he asked, smiling sheepishly as he opened the car door and held a hand out. What? You simply stared at him, a stupid, love-drunk grin on your face, his silhouette and the rays of sunlight burning the shape of him into your vision so that even when you blinked, you could still see it.

My light.

"Can't a girl admire her insanely gorgeous boyfriend?", you said.

He giggled.

Eyes slightly watering from the afternoon sun, you grabbed his hand and stepped out of the car only to fall back on your seat. You hadn't expected the wobbly, baby fawn sensation in your fatigued thighs. Face-sitting had required more fine muscle control than you were expecting.

"Come here," he laughed, grabbing both hands and yanking you upward so hard that you crashed into him, still unsure if your shaky legs could support your full weight. He held you close and as a wish granted, he kissed you hard, smashing his lips against yours, smiling and rocking you back and forth.

The parking lot was empty, but you still scanned the area to make sure no one was watching.

"Ahhhh, jota," he said with eyes still closed. Ahhh, that's nice. He inhaled deeply and let go, locked the car and grabbed your hand. "Gaja! Baegopa, nae yeo sin nim?" Let's go! Are you hungry, my goddess? He slipped his mask on, and you followed his example.

"Yes, my angel," you said as you linked your arm around his, concentrating on not falling as your thighs shuddered with each step down the steepening pavers towards the restaurant.

***************************

Galchibada, your expert restaurant pick, had a modern and industrial yet rustic vibe with its linear architecture and whitewashed wood paneled interior.

Baekhyun felt relief wash over him as there were only two other patrons and they were an elderly couple, already engrossed in their delicious-looking meal. As the hostess showed you to your table, he pulled the chair out for you, making sure you got the good view of the ocean. Plus, at this angle, he could monitor the situation. As of now, it felt relatively safe to take his mask and hat off.

After ordering the special of the day, a meal for two with hairtail as the centerpiece and accomodating side dishes, you took a few pictures and videos of the view. You were focused on your camera settings, a look of concentration on your face as you chewed on your lower lip. Ever so subtly, he aimed his phone at you and took a few photos, his chest tightening at how beautiful you looked in the natural lighting of the giant window.

"Jagi," he said in the tone of voice reserved only for his most precious people, "look at me!" You looked up at him and his finger tapped the shutter button, catching you off guard in a series of candids. Your shy smirk cracked wide into a devastatingly pretty smile he couldn't help but take more photos of. In his future moments of missing you, he would turn to this exact moment, swiping through as your smile widened after being called affectionately.

*******************************

"I think it's going to take me a long time to get used to you calling me that," you said. You could feel the blood heating your cheeks. Even after the insanely hot sex you had experienced today, it still took you by surprise that it was Baekhyun on the other end of this relationship. You wondered if the novelty would ever wear off. You didn't think so. You hoped it wouldn't.

Two servers arrived and transferred many dishes from their trays to the table, setting the unusually long fish in the center of it all. With your camera ready, you took the necessary shots, and Baekhyun as a second shooter took some b-reel footage with your phone camera.

"Oh my god," you said as the server deboning the fish laughed. It was quite impressive as he extricated the spine in one piece. He was probably used to this reaction. The tray spanned the length of the table, with the smaller dishes artfully framing it on either side.

"Wah, masigetta," Baekhyun said, sucking his saliva back. Wow, looks delicious.

"Ne. Masikke deuseyo," the waiter said as he bowed and walked away. Yes. Please enjoy your meal.

"Jal meoggeseumnida," you called after him. I will eat well!

"Oho! Jal haesseo!", he said as he held a thumb up and genuine approval on his face. Oho! Good job! It was your first time speaking Korean so confidently in public with him. If only you had another two weeks to spend here. Don't think about that now.

**********************************

His phone had buzzed in his pocket a few times, and only after the delicious feast did he finally check it.

Be careful. It looks like a gift shop employee recognized you today.No photos, just her saying she is almost sure it was you. Not many believe her, but I think people will be more observant nowIt would be good to lay low until you leave. I'm sorry. Hope you can still enjoy your time with her. Last thing… please check your emails when you get a chance.

He sent a short and simple reply.

Got it. Thanks.

The pit in his stomach made him feel sick. You both had worn masks in the store, thank god. That lady didn't have any photo evidence, just. knowledge of what he bought. There were probably people all over Jeju wearing the same hat. Anger swirled in his stomach. His lips pursed. Why couldn't he just have this one thing? Just for him?

"You okay, baby?" You asked him innocently but there was concern in your eyes. Of course you would notice.

"Uhh, yeah. I think I ate too much. My stomach hurts a little bit," he said. It wasn't a lie, not really.

"Me too, I'm stuffed! Want to go home?"

"Would that be okay with you? I know we had more plans, but," he trailed off.

"I'm actually getting tired and I really want a shower. It's okay." You squeezed his hand. "Today was perfect."

"Let's get out of here, then," he said with a tight smile. He slipped his mask back on and asked for the check.

***

The ride home was gorgeous despite the anxiety bubbling in his gut. The sun now hung low, transforming the bright blue sky to a spectacular display of purples and oranges, its rays shooting out from behind fluffy, cartoonish clouds. Jejudo truly was a beautiful place. He would miss it.

The house had engulfed him in safety, a haven after his skin had felt prickly outside its walls. It had felt as though thousands of eyes were trained on him until he had closed and locked the gate behind you. He was sure no one else had seen him with you, but what if? His mind raced and searched for any other times throughout the day where you could have been spotted. There was the coffee shop, but the owner had seemed oblivious. Today felt different than being on stage with so many eyes upon him, or at a schedule of some kind. This felt invasive and highly unsettling. He had someone to protect now. It wasn't just about him getting recognized in public. He could handle that. But the thought of you being identified scared him to death. It was too soon. He needed more time.

As soon as you got in the shower, he opened his laptop, almost afraid to check his email. He opened the first one sent by his manager. It contained screenshots of what appeared to be a group chat. An INB100 media manager had been tasked since the company's inception with infiltrating and monitoring what the most dedicated, obsessive, and sometimes problematic fans were saying. It was one side of this industry he hated, but it was a necessary evil. To monitor what the most perceptive and nosey people put together was important and imperative to keep one step ahead as much as possible.

An account on twitter with no profile picture and no followers had made a vague post:

"I work in a gift shop in Jejudo. Today, I think Byun Baekhyun came in with a woman and bought a hat. He had a mask on but I would know those eyes and voice anywhere. They seemed to be very familiar."

They had also posted a picture of the hat.

As of the time the screenshot was taken, the post only had a few likes and one reply:

"Why the hell would Baekhyun be buying a cheesy souvenir? Have you ever seen the way the man dresses? He wouldn't be caught dead in something like that. Delete this."

He couldn't help but huff in amusement. They weren't wrong. It was cute on you, but it's not something he would ever be seen wearing.

The next few screenshots were from a private chat:

Ummm, what the hell is this?" (The post in question was forwarded to the chat.)

There is no way. They're crazy.

We would know if he had flown to Jeju, right?

Does he have a schedule there?

He hasn't bubbled in a few days… I was actually just wondering why he's been so quiet 👀

This person just wants attention.

We should keep this quiet just in case. Don't give that post any more interactions.

If he is dating someone, I will end it all 🔪

If he IS with someone, I’m happy for him! He should be getting some ass.

Congrats to whoever is bouncing on it I guess 😔

He had to laugh at that last one. He found it oddly comforting that his fans wanted to protect him from public scrutiny. And they were right. He had been very quiet for the past several days. He took his phone out and sent a bubble message along with a photo of the sky from his rooftop garden back home. He hoped it would satisfy and divert their attention from the twitter post.

I miss you! Did you miss me? ㅎㅎ The weather has been so pretty lately, right?!

He opened twitter and refreshed the feed a few times.

Finally! I missed him so much!

My husband breathed!!

This photo can't have been taken today… It was rainy and cloudy.

There was no fooling his eris. They were too smart. He refreshed his feed again.

Baekhyunah, where have you been??

Baekhyun, did you eat today?

He swiped back to bubble.

I've been so busy! ㅠㅠ BUT! You will see me very soon!!!!

The responses flooded in:

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I want to see you NOW!

Baekhyunah you can't do this to me!!

He loved it when his eris got all needy and demanding. They never failed to lift his spirits. He wondered if they would still love him if they knew he had a girlfriend. He would undoubtedly lose a fraction of his fan base, but how large that fraction would be, he had no clue. Some day, he would have to tell them. He had to prepare himself better for the inevitability of being discovered. He would have to be more careful. He made a promise to protect you no matter what.

He was debating on telling you about the Twitter post when you emerged fresh from your shower. Your hair was wrapped up in a towel like a turban, and the large t-shirt he had given you that first night covered you from shoulders to mid-thigh. God, you looked sexy in his clothes and he couldn't help but stare as you sat down next to him on the bed and collapsed back with a big sigh.

"That might be the best shower I've ever had," you said dreamily. Your eyes shut softly and your hands rested over your head in a pose of utter relaxation.

"Feel better, pretty?"

"Mmhmm." Your eyes remained closed and you were already far off, perhaps slipping into the space between.

Her profile. My girl.

"I think I will take a shower too. We made a mess earlier, didn't we?", he said.

"Hmph," you laughed with the little energy left in your body.

"Gatta olge," he said sweetly in your ear. I'll go now and come back.

A dreamy smile played across your lips but you made no sound.

********************

Somewhere off in the distance you could your hear your phone buzzing with incessant notifications. You could have sworn you fell asleep, but it couldn't have been that long considering that you could still hear the shower running. Baekhyun was humming the tune that had been stuck in his head, and this time, he added a bit more to the end of it.

* buzz *

You tried to ignore it, focusing on his voice coming softly from the shower, but curiosity got the better of you and you got up to retrieve your exploding phone.

"He bubbled?!" You said it out loud, delighted that you still got the same thrill getting the notification even though he was your boyfriend. CRAZY.

You sent him a bubble message back, wondering if he would actually see it. You made a mental note to have him show you how the app worked on the his end. You were always so curious to see what he saw when thousands of people were messaging him at once.

Switching to twitter, you wondered what the fans were saying about his messages.

Nothing but the usual missing Baekhyun posts on your timeline. The source of your phone blowing up must have come from one of your group chats.

"Let's see… what are my BBHL girlies saying?" You opened the chat and were met with words you couldn't quite process. And there it was. The hat. Your hat. What the HELL?!

A mutual friend with connections to the Korean side of Twitter assured the chat that they were trying to keep the rumor squashed, and your friends agreed to keep it all hushed at least from your group.

Icy dread traveled to your nerve endings, your spine tingling as you sat up straight, trying to make sense of what you were reading. The cashier at the gift shop. His weird behavior as you left the shop. His slightly unnerved energy earlier in the day… It was all adding up. You frantically read through the chat, your heart in your throat and guilt settling in your stomach like a rock.

This was your fault. Thank god she didn't get a picture of him. With you. He had already taken too many chances being out with you all day. Your mind was racing, planning for the next few days until you had to fly home. Did he already know? Why did he send those bubble messages and the photo from a few days ago? Or was it just a coincidence?

You heard the shower lever squeak closed and the water stop flowing. Baekhyun was finished with his shower and you would have to pretend like nothing was wrong. At least the fans who knew about the post were protecting his privacy, or didn't believe it themselves. You prayed the post wouldn't be discovered and blow up overnight.

Your jaw dropped as he walked in from the bathroom wearing a towel slung low on his hips, the subtle V line pointing down beneath the towel practically inviting you to "lick here". He rubbed a smaller towel across his hair and smiled at your expression.

"Did you have a nice nap?" Your mouth still hung open. "Waeeee," he said in the cutest tone you had ever heard.

Fucking hell.

You wanted to squeal and kick your feet and swallow him whole.

"Baby. Come here," you said, opening your arms and legs for him to join you. "I need you to get on top of me now." Make me feel like a pressed flower in a book.

He giggled and obliged, kneeling down and crawling over you so that the length of his thigh was exposed where his towel parted. FUCK ME SIDEWAYS.

"Aigoo, aigoo," he said as he settled down on your body, his full weight pressing you down an inch or so into the mattress, making you almost forget about the alarming and unsettling news you had just seen online. His head rested on your chest and his arms pressed into you from both sides, his warm hands hooked on your shoulders.

"Thank you for today," you said after a few moments. His hair was creating a damp spot on your chest but you never cared less. "I'll never forget it, baby. It was perfect." Well, almost perfect. There is the whole almost getting caught in a dating scandal thing. Guilt nagged at you again. His career could have been jeopardized.

"It was so refreshing. I love being with you, holding your hand… it felt so nice, right?"

With your eyes closed, you absentmindedly played with his hair as those mental snapshots so vividly flashed in reverse — Baekhyun framed by the windshield with the sea and the windmills in the background, the look of ecstasy on his face as you swallowed him up, the look he gave you in the cute cafe, the gift shop. Oh god, the gift shop. How would you tell him? How could you not?

Your heart rate picked up and your breath quickened as you gathered up the resolve to tell him what you had seen. Would he be angry? Annoyed? You didn't think you could handle him being upset, even indirectly, with you.

His head popped up and he met your eyes. His smile melted into concern as your eyes began to water.

No. Stop it.

Why did you always have to cry? In times like these, you wished you could be strong and reassuring, but you felt it all at once, and the emotions were spilling over regardless of your desire to hold it back like he was so good at doing.

"Gwaenchana?" Are you okay? His eyes darted back and forth as you blinked your tears back, resolving to tell him the unsettling news. "What's wrong, pretty?"

"I— I saw something very concerning in one of my group chats just now… I'm so sorry, baby—" The tears were welling up again and your voice shook as you tried to speak.

"Is it about the hat? The woman in the gift shop? I know." His soft smile eased your worry slightly, and the relief that he didn't appear upset or angry was enough to calm your nerves a bit. "I didn't want you to find out. My manager thinks it's okay, but we are going to have to be extra careful until we leave. I'm sorry, y/n. It was supposed to be the perfect birthday trip… this happens to me all the time, but it's too soon to be—"

"Are you kidding me? I wouldn't trade this experience with you for anything in the entire world, Baek. I don't care what we do, as long as you're here with me. I just felt so scared… what could have happened. How close we were to being found out. And I was afraid you would be upset."

"Me too. I didn't want you to worry or be scared. But, y/n… you have to understand. I have loved every second we have had together," he said. "I don't regret coming here."

You nodded and exhaled deeply.

"Can you tell me what your group chat is saying? I want to tell my manager about it just in case."

You opened the chat and read aloud every message that pertained to the rumor.

"Yeah, I think it's okay. Don't worry too much," he said and kissed you on the nose, then the cheek, then the other cheek.

"But what if more people see it? And what if you're spotted at the airport?"

"Then I'll make something up. There are plenty of good reasons why I could be in Jejudo." He kissed the spot under your ear and your breath quickened, but you weren't done yet.

"I guess we will have to lay super low then, you know, until we have to leave," you said. It had been a very close call, but right now, with a barely clothed Baekhyun on top of you and kissing you, your worries were fading fast. "I can think of a few things we could do instead of going out."

"Mmmhmmm," he hummed as he continued his soft kisses along your neck. Tingles spread from the spots he kissed, and blood flowed to the areas where his body weight pressed into you.

"We still haven't used the swimming pool," he suggested innocently.

Thoughts of long, drawn-out kisses and your legs wrapped around him as his hands cradled your ass swam around in your imagination.

"Very true. Although I just washed my hair," you teased.

"I'll wash it again for you after we are done," he replied. You lingered on the thought of him massaging shampoo into your hair, and at the endless intimate moments you were lucky enough to share with him.

"Then I'll wash yours too. Make it even ."

"Mmm…" he rasped.

"This is so comfy. I could just stay like this forever." He had rested his head on your chest again. Your eyes closed as you reveled in the way his body had melted on top of you, keeping you still and held in place, unable to move even if you wanted to. There was nothing rushed about tonight. The time for mind-blowing sex would come, but how could you ever want to rush past the moment when Baekhyun was right here, like this?

"Me too," he said lazily. You felt the pace of his breaths slow and become more rhythmic. In. Out. He truly was like a puppy, able to fall asleep anywhere he felt safe. It was the best feeling in the world.

Thanks so much for reading!! Chapter 21 is sure to be interesting 🫢

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