I wrote this chapter with Mixtape: Oh on repeat. I suggest you guys do the same!

⚠️Warning: Emotional

ACTIVE CHECK 4::

Your ALL-TIME Fav SKZ track + Your OC names, inline with Mixtape;

Mixtape::

Do the active check and enjoy the chapter! 

"That looks gorgeous!" Momo nodded, as Changbin and Lee Know hung up the small balloon arch over the doorway. "You think she'll like it?" Chan asked Sana, fidgeting around in nervousness. "Quit worrying Channie," Sana assured, gently patting his shoulder. "She'll love it. Just see the chance and talk to her, hm?"

The way she smiled was always reassuring to Chan. If Sana Noona was smiling, then there was less to worry about. "Don't blow it out this time Channie, please," Sana sighed. "I want my two best friends back,"

"I'll fix it this time, Noona." Chan nodded, pursing his lips. "I'll get my best friend back," Sana smiled, before going back to setting the cake with Momo.

They were busy with the preparations for Chae's birthday on the terrace. She was busy somewhere in the castle and once everything was set, Han and Changbin would go call her here.

"Haeun!" Risa yelled, catching the girl's attention. "Let's go upstairs, Sana Eunnie's calling you." "What's upstairs?" She raised an eyebrow. "The party," Risa stated, as though obvious. "What party?" Haeun was getting more confused.

"What do you mean- "Risa stopped suddenly like she remembered something. "Of course, you wouldn't know!" She nodded. "We've arranged a birthday party for Chae Eunnie on the terrace. Actually, Chan Oppa did, we were just helping and Sana Eunnie wanted your help with something." Risa kept on talking but Haeun wasn't listening in anymore. Blood rushed up to her ears, the back of her neck was starting to feel stiff and her fists clenched in sheer anger.

"Haeun!" Han yelled, running down the stairs. He was panicking. The second he heard that Haeun wasn't informed of the plan, he came down rushing. Because he knew the truth, he knew that Haeun would burst the second she heard of this. And he needed to stop her.

"Risa, I'll take it from here," He said, pleading with his eyes for the girl to leave. Risa pressed her lips together before nodding and going about her way.

"Short stack, calm down please!" Han pleaded, holding her shoulders. Her frame was shaking with anger, the rigidness of her posture seeming almost painful.

"Where's Han?" Chan looked around, realizing the youngest of the bunch was missing. "He went downstairs for something," Lee Know answered hanging streamers. "He'll be back soon,"

Chan shrugged before going forward to help them. No less than 10 minutes later, the double doors separating the terrace from the rest of the castle burst open and in ran Lee Haeun, tears streaming down her face and expression clear enough to read the rage coursing. Han ran in, hot on her heels, panting and sweating.

"Why are you doing this?!" She asked Chan without context, who was beyond confused. "What are you- "

"Why are you doing this now!?!" Haeun demanded, her voice shaking. "Haeun, what are you doing?" Sana asked, bewildered. The cherry mood from mere 5 minutes ago was long gone.

"Why are you doing this, Chan Oppa?" Haeun demanded, tearfully, ignoring Sana's question and the confused looks the others cast her. "Why now?"

"What do you mean why now?!" Chan demanded, struggling to keep his voice steady. "It's Chae's birthday, Haeun!"

"Oh, so now you care!" She spat, rage flashing through her eyes. "Haeun, please-!" "Now you care?!" Haeun's yell covered Han's nervous voice as his gaze shifted back and forth between his Hyung and the tear-stained girl. "What are you talking about?!" Chan demanded, "She's my best friend, of course, I care!"

Haeun scoffed at Chan's words. Taking in a staggering breath, she seethed, "So now you remember she's your best friend. What happened all these years, huh?!" "Haeun please, stop it-!"

"No Han!" She yelled at the boy, who flinched. "I need to know why he suddenly cares now?!" She was sobbing but her words were loud and clear. Like she wanted to get the message through. She saw her suffering for years and now she was going to end this.

"I need to know where was his care for the past 5 years! I need to know how he forgot that Han Chaewon is his best friend for the past 5 years. Where was his care then? Where was he being the best friend in the entire galaxy as she named him for the past years? Why now?! Why not 5 years before?!"

"BECAUSE SHE FUCKING GHOSTED ME GOD DAMN IT!!" Chan yelled, making everyone draw in a sharp breath. Wave, Yun Hyeok, Risa, Wonhan, and Yukio were guarding the way to the terrace to make sure that Chae didn't turn up before time; flinched upon hearing the voice. "We need to get upstairs," Yun Hyeok stated before rushing up, others following close by.

"So that's what you think, huh?" Haeun sighed, her tears never stopping. Jieun, Eun Kyung, Hajun and Jina who were helping the boys now stood wide-eyed and shocked. 

 "You think she ghosted you, huh?!" "Haeun, Chae did cut off all of us. She basically disappeared from our lives!" Changbin stated, finally grasping himself enough to talk.

"Of course, she would!" Haeun gritted out, "Wouldn't you want to get away from the person who hurt you, ghosted you, stood you up on your God damn birthday?!"

The entire terrace gasped as a whole. It was out. Chae's secret, her explanation and her reasoning; it was out. "What are you- "

"All she wanted was one day! Mere 2 hours of your time!" Haeun continued, finally letting the dam break. "You promised her you'd be there! And she believed you! 4 hours! She was in that café for 4 damn hours before it closed. Thank God it did otherwise, she'd be there for who knows how long!"

"You stood her up!" Haeun pointed an accusing finger at Chan, who was as still as a statue. "And that idiot kept on waiting for you, pretending not to notice the pitying stares of every damn person who laid their eyes on her. She stayed put because she did not want to accept that her best friend would break a promise!"

"She was missing you so much! You were too busy with your responsibilities and barely got the time to see her or anyone!" Her voice had started showing signs of strain, her knees shaking and her vision blurry. "She was so excited to see you! That you guys would get to hang out again. That you finally had the time to be her best friend again!"

She stumbled in her place; Han instantly reached her shoulder, steadying her. "Haeun calm down!" He pleaded, holding her steady. His face too was stained with tears. Sana stood at the corner, silent tears making their way down her cheek as Momo held onto her.

"I don't hate you about the fact that you stood her up! I really don't!" Haeun sobbed, not really struggling against Han's grip.

"What I really do hate you for is that you never once called. Not once!" She inhaled deeply before continuing. "She wasn't calling because for once, she wanted you to make the first move. She wasn't ghosting you for fuck's sake! She was waiting for your God damn call!"

"She wanted to be reassured that you cared for her as much as she cared for you. She wanted to be the one to be approached. But what did you do? You left it on her to stop ghosting you! You waited for her to come forward and tell you, her problem! She waited for you to realize that you stood her up on her fucking birthday and you completely forgot about it! And you didn't!"

Chan stood horror-struck as Haeun's words slapped the reality on his face like a whip on the skin. He sure waited for her call but not once did he call Chae on his own. All these years, he was waiting for her to make the first call and all this time, she was waiting for him to cross the distance. What a game of push and pull!

"She loves you more than you can imagine. And let me tell you this, no one has been in pain more than her, all this time." Haeun's voice lowered; her sobs turned into sniffles. "Chan," Sana approached him, cautiously. He breathed deeply before running towards the exit.

"Get out of the way!" Wonhan hissed, tugging Yeseul and Ryanne away from the door. 

Yun Hyeok pulled Sora and Yukio out of the way and held her breath in hopes that Chan didn't catch them eavesdropping. But she had nothing to worry about. He was far too distraught and blinded with tears to take in his surroundings as he rushed down the stairs. 

Yun Hyeok watched him go, her face twisted with an odd emotion. She wanted to hold him, tell him it was gonna be alright. But right now, she knew she wasn't the one he needed by his side. Kwon Yun Hyeok wanted Han Chaewon would cease to exist. 

"Short stack, calm down please!" Han pleaded, supporting Haeun's weight as her knees finally gave away. "Han, get her here," Momo instructed, finally pulling herself together. Han gently placed the girl on the garden chair, letting her relax her body after what felt like hours of rigidness.

She was tired. Watching Chae break every single day, watching Chan throwing darts in the dark trying in vain to find the solution. To fix everything.

She broke! Her patience broke. She had promised Chae that she wouldn't be the one to tell Chan. That she wouldn't help him see. But Haeun broke the promise. And she knew Chae would forgive her for it. You might get used to pain, but it's always a relief to put an end to it.

Flashback

"I swear one of these days, you'll be the reason I break my bones!" Chan hissed, climbing out of the window of the castle. "Oh, shut up Channie!" Chae teased as the boy landed on the grass. 

"See? That wasn't too hard now, was it?" Dusting his pants, Chan glared at his best friend. "Seriously Won, climbing out a window? What is this? A battlefield?" Chae laughed she'd heard the most hilarious joke ever.

"Oh Channie, live a little!" She teased further, loving how worked up he got under situations that he wasn't strictly used to. "The things I do for you!" Chan finally cracked a smile, which Chae took as an invitation to run into his embrace.

They'd met after 5 weeks; Chan being busy with his newly entrusted duties and Chae being busy with her father and his training.

Laughing in each other's embrace the two best friends kept on cracking jokes and teasing each other; just enjoying each other's company.

"The kid was really cute honestly! You should've seen the smile on his face when he found his sister!" Chan finished the tale of how he reunited a little boy with his sister, one day at the castle.

"Prince Chan to the rescue!" Chae clapped, giggling softly. It had been a while since they'd spent time together. Chae missed her best friend.

At the same time, she was proud of him. He was young himself, with the weight of a whole kingdom on his shoulders. And 7 brothers who looked up to him.

The pressure of so much on his shoulders was starting to show. His cheeks were hollower, eyes somewhat sunken and hair messed up. But one thing that didn't change about him was his smile. The same warm and kind smile that felt like the warmest hug. The same smile made Chae feel protected around him. The smile that made her love him...

"Hello!" Chan snapped his fingers in front of her, gently smiling at her dazed state. This friend of his had her head up in the clouds and also had it squarely upon her shoulders.

She could be the most serious and the curtest person he'd come across one second the biggest baby the next. "Where's Chaewon Express going to now?" He joked, making her scoff. "None of your business, Christopher," She stuck her tongue out.

"Fine don't tell me now!" Chan shrugged, "You'll eventually tell me anyway,"

"Confident, aren't we?" Chae wiggled her eyebrows in a teasing manner. "Because you're still sitting here, aren't you?" Chan tilted his head in her direction,

"Oh right!" She suddenly exclaimed, "What do you wanna do next week?" "What's next week?" Chan earned a flick on his forehead as an answer. "OW! What was that for?"

"Quite a friend you are, huh, Christopher!" She scolded, "Forgetting your best friend's birthday?" Chan's face drained off colour as he was reminded. This time, next week, his best friend would have put 16 winters behind her.

"I'm sorry Chae! It totally slipped off my mind," He squeezed her hands. "Chill out Channie! It's not like you forgot about it completely. And honestly," She hung her arm around his shoulder. "With the years I've spent reminding you of your own birthday, I'd rather be surprised if you remembered mine,"

"You deserve a better best friend," Chan stated. "Oh hell yeah I do!" Chae agreed. "But I don't think I'd be able to tolerate someone that isn't you,"

"You get along just fine with the kids," He reminded her. "That's different," Chae clicked her tongue. "I get along with them with or without you, you're not exactly a deciding factor here," She lied through her teeth. He was always the deciding factor—the only exception.

"Some friend you are," He rolled his eyes, making Chae shove at his shoulder. "For your birthday, meet me at the café near your house."

"Skzoo café?" Chan nodded in confirmation. "I know you've been basically dying to get your hands on those plushies!"

"Can you blame me though?" Chae huffed, thinking back to the adorable stuffed animals. "The Wolf though!"

"Alright alright!" Chan nodded. "My treat best friend, just be there at 5, and after that, you can come and meet the boys! They've been pestering me about seeing you!" 

"You'll be there? You won't forget?" Chae asked, tilting her. "I won't," He assured. 

"You promise Channie?" She held out her pinkie finger. "I promise Wonnie," Chan intertwined their fingers, smiling. They'd never broken a pinkie promise. It was their thing.

End of flashback...

Except he broke one. And he completely forgot about it. Burying his face in his hands, Chan cried. Because he was sorry. Because he missed his best friend. Because he wanted to make it right but had no idea how to do it.

All she wanted from him was the first step. All these years, he waited for her to call first. Not once had the thought of calling her first ever occurred. Why didn't it? Why did he wait for so long? Why didn't he call first?

The train of thoughts was crazing him up. Clutching his hair by the roots, Chan screwed his eyes shut. So hard that it sparked a mild throbbing behind his eyes.

"Been a while hasn't it, Berry?" A faint voice sounded, making him go still. He recognized it. Of course, he would! Shooting up from the chair, Chan ran out of his room, to the balcony, the voice growing clearer.

"Oh, dear Ms Berry!" She gasped, giggling softly. "All these kisses! Tell me, dear girl, are you making for the past years?" She was sitting on the swing of the balcony, a royal king Charles spaniel on her lap. Berry barked, licking the expanse of her cheek making Chae giggle out again.

"Oh, you sure are!" Chae patted her head. "I'm sorry Ms Berry, I didn't come around. I had some beef going on with your dad," she said light-heartedly. "But you know what?" She lifted the dog to her eye level. "I think I'm gonna tell that dumb ass what he did. I swear Berry, your dad's simply clueless." She bopped her nose, urging Berry to lick at her nose.

"Ms Berry, you're gonna drown me all these kisses!" Chae laughed, placing her back on her lap. "I think we should go and find him. What say, Berry? Wanna come and help me find your dad so we can give him a good whack on the head?"

"Might as well just take up on that," Chan said, softly. Chae turned back and Berry peeked around from her lap. "Chan..." 

Her eyes didn't go ice cold anymore, her expression didn't turn stony and nor did she suddenly become very curious about the existence of the nearest exit. Her eyes were glassy and her expression was soft. Like she was happy to see him. "Come here," She called, patting the seat beside her. Chan obliged, eyes brimming with tears. Berry gave a happy bark to say, 'Dad, you're here!'

"Haeun told me," He started, wanting to start somewhere. "You mean yelled at you?" Chae asked, her voice laced with slight amusement. "How'd you-"

"Christopher, I'm literally a floor down and Haeun isn't exactly silent," There was that name again. She always used to call him that when they were joking around or simply because she wanted to. It was nice to hear her call him that again,

"I was gonna rush in and stop her but then I thought, maybe I'd just let it be." She sighed, her fingers gently combing through Berry's fur. "I guess it's about time, you know." He could feel her gaze on him. "And I put this behind me..."

Chan threw himself in her arms, essentially scaring the living daylights out of Berry who jumped out of Chae's lap and onto the table, in front of them. He just sobbed on her shoulder, finally feeling her hands around his frame. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" He sobbed. Chae swallowed hard, the tears she held back all this time, threatening to spill. "Chan, it's okay! Calm down, shh!" She rubbed his back, sighing in relief. It felt nice to be held by him again.

He just continued crying, drenching the shoulder of her shirt. "Channie, please!" Chae pleaded, holding him tighter. "You'll fall sick with all that crying and have all these years' worth of hanging out to make up for!"

No avail. Still sobs. 5 years' worth of pain wasn't gonna disappear that easily. He needed time.  Chae swallowed her tears, gently combing through his hair. "Chan, come on;" She smiled into his hair, rubbing his shoulders soothingly. "Let me see your face! It's okay, I promise! We're good! Channie, please!"

He finally let go. "Han Chaewon, the next time I forgot a promise, you might as well march down the courtyard and punch me in the nose!" He said, the tip of his nose bright red and tears still streaming down. "Quit it with the ignoring game! I don't like it!"

"You're talking like I do," Chae pouted, finding his face too cute. "And yet you continued at it for 5 whole years!" He huffed. "Hey! It was just me being me, Chan! You know how I get,"

"Oh, I know all too well!" He too was pouting. "Stubborn woman!"

"Christopher Bang Chan, none of this would've happened if you set your priorities straight for once!" She huffed. "Forgetful panda!" She mumbled under her breath.

"You seriously forgive me?" He asked, still in doubt. "I was never mad Chan," She laid her head on his shoulder. "I just wanted an explanation. And my best friend. I've got it so we're good. But-" She glared at him. "You do something like this one more time and I'll make sure that little nose of yours is smashed. You get me?"

"I do," Chan nodded, pulling her back to his shoulder. "Oh, sorry Berry!" Berry finally quit squinting at the both of them as Chan grabbed her off the table and placed her on his lap.

"She's grown so much!" She said, admiring her, as the dog snuggled into Chan's lap. "Yep! She's my good girl! Also, my second-best friend,"

"Replacing me, huh?" Chae glared. "You have no idea how much I missed you..." Chan started. "No, YOU have no idea, Chan," "You deserve better friends, Chae,"

"Nah, I'll pass!" She shrugged. "I have a best friend of my liking, thank you very much," 

Chan smiled softly, just holding her. It would've been soo easy, to fix all of that. But then again, without the long wait in between, he would never truly learn to cherish this best friend of his the way she deserves to be cherished.  Sometimes, you need to learn the value of things the hard way and Chan's glad he did.

"If you guys are done, can ya'all get here?!" It was Lee Know who yelled from the terrace shattering the resting silence.  "I suppose we should," Chae laughed, grabbing his hand to pull him up.

I know I wrote a whole chapter dedicated to Chan and Chae but I'd say, about darn time! And this is my birthday present [late] to my bug _aikov

Hey, bug! I hope you liked your much-awaited chapter. Chan and Chae were purely your characters in your story and I hope I was able to do justice to them. Thank you for being the way you are and for being the friend you are to me. For supporting me in whatever I do, for listening to the rants I somehow always seem to have and for being my number 1 motivator. I'm very proud of you and I hope you know that. 

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Now that we have the cold war out of the way, we will get on with the more romantic aspects of the story. For the next chapter, I hope you all have your hearts prepared cause something's about to happen.

That's it for this week! I'll see you guys in the next one,

Stay you;

Fay