Baekhyun was getting thinner day by day.

And Chanyeol knew why, because he watched a nurse struggle to force a spoonful of soup into Baekhyun's mouth every single morning and every single afternoon.

He would shake his head "no" and look down at the floor with his mouth tightly closed. There were days when he walked out of the cafeteria, and there were days when the nurse coaxed him for hours before giving up and taking him back to his room.

Of course, Chanyeol knew where to find him if he walked out.

Baekhyun would always be crouched in the corner of the staircase, his head covered by his elbows and his knees at his chest.

Every time Chanyeol came to find him, Baekhyun would look up, making sure that it was Chanyeol, and then cover his head again.

It was a few hours past noon when Chanyeol found Baekhyun curled up behind the door of the stairs on the fourth floor.

"What did you eat today?" Chanyeol sat down next to Baekhyun and stretched his legs out in front of him.

"I can't eat," Baekhyun whispered, "They seem to think that I don't eat because I don't want to, but I just can't. I knew I had to start eating years ago. But if it was easy to fix, I wouldn't be here right now."

The stairway was quiet, deathly silent except for the sound of their breathing and the air vent on the wall.

"Can you eat something?" Chanyeol asked, "Just close your eyes and swallow it with some water, please?"

"I might throw up."

"But getting something in your mouth is a start."

Baekhyun raised his head and leaned it against the wall.

"I've been doing this for two years," he said, "Do you really think you'll be able to change me? There's a good chance I'll be in here until I die."

"I can get you to try harder," Chanyeol stood up and grabbed Baekhyun's wrist, "A few pieces of toast, come on. That's all."

Baekhyun stood up reluctantly and followed after Chanyeol.
-----
"I can't eat anymore," Baekhyun swallowed one last piece of toast before looking up at the nurse.

"You did good today," she smiled, urging him to smile back.

She led him back to his room and left, closing the door behind her.

He always felt so trapped.

He was always inside, and whether it was his room or the hallway or the elevator, he felt caged and he knew how limited his freedom was.

They were trying to fix him, but perhaps he was broken beyond repair.

And there was also a chance that they were killing him more.
-----
"What are you planning on doing when you leave?"

"Leave?" Baekhyun sat up and leaned against the window. They were in the so-called park, sitting on a bench that went against a window.

"As in, when you leave the rehab center."

"I... " Baekhyun hesitated, "If I get out of here before you, we probably won't see each other again."

Chanyeol sighed, "Baekhyun, don't tell me you're planning on-"

"I am. There's nowhere for me to go. My dad sent me here to get rid of me, whether I have an eating disorder or not, and I'm not capable of getting a job other than one at a fast-food place. I'll probably end up on the streets."

Chanyeol seemed to hesitate, "Can you rethink it? Please?"

"Chan," Baekhyun smiled a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. It wasn't really a smile, it was more of an act to relieve Chanyeol and show him that he was okay, "I've been thinking about this since I ended up in here, and I've thought and thought about it, over and over again. I've tried talking myself out of this. But the thing is, sleeping numbs the pain; I can't feel as deep when I'm asleep, and I think that if I want to numb my pain forever, I'll have to sleep. Forever," he paused, "Die."

"What if I give you a reason not to die?"

"What?"

"Nine reasons. I'll give you nine reasons on why you need to stay."

"Eleven," Baekhyun said, "I like eleven better."

"Fine. Eleven reasons on why you need to stay and you'll wait until I get out of this hellhole and we'll meet again. Deal?"

"Deal. But you'd better get out of here fast, I'm not planning on waiting years for you. This isn't a novel."

"I'll be out in no time," Chanyeol said, "I promise."

"And when will you give me those eleven reasons?"

"I'll give them to you when you're about to leave. Just remember to tell me when the doctor tells you you're allowed to go, okay?"

"Okay. But what if you get out first?"

"Then I'll wait for you."

Baekhyun had vowed to never trust people again.

But somewhere in his heart, he knew he was trusting Chanyeol already.

And they had met six days ago. ||