18 [Byun Baekhyun] Apple and You

Park Chanyeol has changed. Hes turned a littleno, very strange.

He started to visit me in the hospital more often, but rarely together with the other members. Even
though he never spoke much when he came, it was still pretty unbelievable.
Park Chanyeol, whats in your mind?
The higher I climb, the harder Ill fall that, I know.
But if its related to him, it would become difficult for me to understand.
Its fine, even though he might be lying to me by doing this. Because he wants me to lose harder. Its
also fine, even though he might doing this only because he is pitying me out of his conscience.
Just let me continue to fall deeper.
Ill bear all the pain that you give me, so how can I miss any second when you are treating me well.
---
Days became more boring after I switched to the single ward. Everyday passed by with me merely
lying on the bed while flipping through magazines, or playing video games.
I did ask Luhan Hyung to bring me some books, not because I wanted to read, but it was for those
flowers from Chanyeol. I couldnt bear to see them wilt to nothing.
I carefully tore off a few petals from the flowers and placed it in between the pages of the book,
thinking about when hed come again to visit me.
There had to be something to look forward to when the days were boring and slow.
But today, the result of my looking forward was someone else.
I heard the door open and turned my head towards it, only to see Wu Yifan.
Mr Wu?
He came over and sat down, acting as if we were close friends. He had that usual strong gaze.
You look pretty good huh.
Huh?
Im talking about your current situation.
Oh, I guess Im fine.
I still felt rather uncomfortable with him, but there were some things I had to say, Oh yea, thanks by
the way.
He looked at me with a brow slightly raised.
What for?
The surgery thingI heard you helped me a lot, Ive heard from people that Wu Yifan got
someone to push forward my surgery date, and also arranged for a surgeon with a good record, such
that my surgery would be in a weeks time. And thats why Ive decided to stay in the hospital until
the day itself.
Oh, you knew about that, He spoke as if there was no big deal.
Yeah, Tae Shin Hyung told me.
Whos Tae Shin Hyung? He looked at me, slightly puzzled.
I was almost amazed by his weak memory, Nevermind. He probably wont remember
it anyway.
But then somehow I remembered that scene when I first met him in the suite. Back then in that dim
yet chaotic place, he took a look at my ID and said Byun Baekhyun right? Ok, Ill remember you.
And hes remembered my name ever since.
I watched for a moment in daze.
Whats wrong, He looked at me with a strange expression, Why are you staring at me?
Nothing, I realised that I was being kind of rude, and turned away immediately.
Youve fallen for my spell huh? He joked as he took the book lying on the bed frame to flip through
it.
The pages swept across his slender fingers, a few pieces of the pressed flower petals spiralled out
from between.
I immediately reached my hand out to try to pick them up, but the IV tube connected to my hand did
not allow so.
Hey! For a moment, I forgot who the person in front of me was and demanded urgently, Quickly,
pick that up!
He was stumped for a moment after hearing my shout, but actually bent down obediently to pick up
the petals.
I took them over and carefully put them in the book again.
He looked at me silently, then looked at the vase by the bed. The bunch of light orange flowers it held
was losing its beauty, close to withering.
Park Chanyeol gave that to you? The bouquet? Wu Yifan asked.
I answered him simply.
You like him that much huh? He sneered.
How is this any of your business. It wasnt anything easy to answer, so I didnt bother to reply.
Ha, that little rascal. Seriously.
Hey why are you calling him that. I looked at Wu Yifan with a frown.
Whats wrong? Am I not allowed to? He looked at me with an arched eyebrow, For someone that
I hate, its already quite polite of me.
Even though I understood that it was possible to get everyone to like him, but the person I like was
being disliked, and it didnt feel good.
You dont even understand him, you cant hate him.
Who says that I dont understand him? He asked with a smile.
Wu Yifan always had an arrogant notion that they knew everything.
Ive met him, Seeing that Ive ignored him, he continued on, And we chatted for a long time.
I was immediately alerted, Youve met him? What did you talk about? I immediately thought of his
strange recent behaviours and asked, You didnt threaten him right?
Just as I had expected the man opposite looked at me as if I were a moron.
You fool .
What exactly did the two of you talk about? When did it happen? I started to get anxious, thinking
about how Chanyeol hated it whenever met up with Wu Yifan. I was afraid that Wu Yifan would do
something to further anger Chanyeol.
He stared at me for a moment and replied, You.
Huh?
What is there to talk about between me and him? Isnt it you? If not Hayeon?
So what exactly did you talk about me! What kind of suspense was this person trying to make? I
was already brimming with anxiousness.
Just
Just as Wu Yifan opened his mouth to speak, the door was pushed open.
I looked towards it, shocked to see Park Chanyeol standing at the door. He looked alarmed when he
saw Wu Yifan, but soon returned to his cold and expression.
He stood at the door without moving, neither did he close the door, as if waiting for someone to leave.
I felt uncomfortable; there was an ominous feeling bubbling up.
Looks like I have to leave, Wu Yifan stood up.
Bye, I said while watching him. I did not dare to say anything else.
Take care of yourself, He said as he walked towards the door.
Park Chanyeol stared at him as if he wanted to swallow him up.
There was a small pause when Wu Yifan walked by Chanyeol as if he wanted to make some form of
communication, but nothing was exchanged in the end.
Afterwards, Park Chanyeol closed the door and walked forward.
Chanyeol. I was slightly afraid of him. I wanted to explain, but did not know how to.
How are you feeling today, He sat down on a chair by the bed, face still expressionless.
Not bad. I watched him with apprehension.
He looked at me with a frown, Can you not do this. Am I really that scary?
I forced a smile by lifting the corners of my lips. Even though those were his words, but Ive been
around him for too long, such that I knew every single of his expression every single of his actions.
I knew he was probably feeling rather angered at heart.
This state of Chanyeol was a dangerous one.
After a long period of silence, he finally spoke, Why did he come.
JustJust to visit me, nothing much.
Cant be that he still wants to have sex with you right? He asked blatantly, the way he watched me
was rather terrifying.
I secretly grabbed the corners of the bed sheet tight.
Probably for my whole life Id be seen by him to be lowly and dirty.
NoMy justifications felt useless, He really did come just to visit me.
He continued to stare at me.
Really? He suddenly asked with seriousness, as if he was really trying to confirm.
As if I said Really, he would believe me for real.
Then
Yeah, really. I mustered up my courage to look back at him.
He didnt speak, instead he continued to looked at me for a while. Then he let out a silent sigh, like he
was trying to suppress his anger.
Followed by that, he turned his head to the side, fiddling with the things on table mindlessly. I was
contemplating if I should continue to explain myself, but he suddenly jumped to another topic.
Why do you have apples here, He eyed the plastic bag on the table, I thought you werent
supposed to eat such stuff before the surgery.
Ah, that, I smiled bitterly, Tae Shin Hyung bought that, I guess he also forgot.
I immediately regretted after finishing my sentence, because I instantly realised that the word also
was slightly inappropriate.
I was suddenly reminded of Chanyeols biscuits.
Just as expected, his expression looked as if he had just swallowed a fly. It took long for him to speak.
You cant eat those right? Then Ill eat those, He returned to his serious expression, I want to eat
an apple.
...Go ahead, What is this supposed to be, requesting for permission? Arent those apples just next
to you.
You pass it to me. He looked at it stilly.
I froze. The image from the past suddenly flashed across me.
I cant eat anything right now, but do you want to eat it? It looks pretty sweet
No, he answered coldly, I dislike dirty things.
For the longest time I had no idea how to react. As I saw his brows knit, signalling that he was about
to get angry, I had to reach to the bedside to take an apple.
Ill go wash it. I said, about to get up.
Thats fine. He immediately grabbed the apple over from me, and before I could react, he took a
large bite off it.
I was taken aback by his action for a while; I finally spoke after much internal conflict, ReallyI
mean it should be washed, since theres so much bacteria in the hospital.
Not like itll kill me. He didnt care and continued eating.
I watched him, in a momentary daze.
Park Chanyeol, what exactly is in your mind right now.
I watched him like that as his eyes turned to side-eye me.
Why do you keep on staring at me.
My cheeks flushed upon his words.
Do you like me that much, He continued to shoot me with his direct questions.
I was reminded of Wu Yifans question from earlier on.
You like him that much huh?
Yea. I do like him that much. To the extent where Id put my life, my everything, my whole world at
stake.
At an age of twenty, I guess I was still pretty childish. Liking someone was similar to a moth darting
for the flame self destruction, and putting in all that I can. As if if I didnt love someone this way, I
wouldnt be myself.
The person before me was holding the apple, and his beautiful wide eyes looked towards me.
This is the face of the person Ive loved for numerous years.
Just a while ago, those answers that I couldnt tell Wu Yifan, suddenly felt like they could easily burst
out of me. Even if I would be taunted by the person before me, I still had to let him know the answer.
Yes, I like you very much.
And I waited for his sneers.
But all he did was smile.
For so long, Ive yet to see Park Chanyeol smile at me, but he was suddenly watching me with a smile.
Eyes slightly curved, the way he was looking at me made me hard to believe my eyes. Why would
you smile at me like that. I felt my heart barely able to cope.
I watched him in a daze, even forgetting to speak.
I know, He said with a smile.
Of course you know, you jerk. The fact that I like you of course youd know it better than anyone
else.
After he finished the apple, he took out another one from the bag. And after that, he took out a marker
from his bag.
Youre pretty bored staying here alone right? He asked.
I looked at him with a puzzled expression, not knowing what he was about to do.
Ill give you a friend then.
He used the marker and drew something on the apple. Very carefully.
Ah, his smile was exchanged with an expression of concentration, but he still looked incredibly
handsome.
When Im not here, When he drew finish, he showed the apple to me, let it accompany you
instead.
The apple had big bright eyes resembling that of a manga character, while the bottom was a wide
smile.
And beside its features wrote its name *Apple-Chan.
I stared at the apple, unable to speak.
I felt my tears about to fall.
When you are bored, you can talk to him!

Dont you ever dare call Wu Yifan here.
It wasnt me
I was interrupted by him before I could finish.
Hey, catch it. He gently tossed Apple-Chan into my hands.
I immediately caught it, and held it tight in my hands.
Apple- Chan was smiling happily at me.
My name, it means a prosperous fruit.
I still remember a long long time ago, before any form of hate or desire for revenge, he introduced
himself to me like that, full of spirit.
My name is Chanyeol. Park Chanyeol.
Lets get along well.
I tightly held onto the apple in my hands, as if I was holding onto those old memories from the past.

---
Original Writer:
Translations by: chanbaek-xoxo.tumblr.com
Do not repost.
*Loving Note: Apple () in Korean can mean apology. It isnt random and meaningless ok. It does
mean something.