It’s really wonderful to know how much people care for one another, and today’s a pretty special day for a certain beloved member of the popular Korean-Chinese boy band and my bias, Zhang Yixing a.k.a. Lay.

Ah~where to begin? I guess, when starting with EXO, guess I might as well start with m first getting into Kpop. So, it’s been roughly a bit more than a year since I’ve been into Korean music, actually. Super Junior started it all, and well…once I’m hooked to something, I’m hooked. And, then, suddenly I hear a bunch of my friends fangirling about SM’s new big thing: EXO.

Of course, being the little, innocent newbie that I was to Kpop, I was like:

And, actually, all I kept hearing was LuhanLuhanLuhanLuhan (Don’t get me wrong, I think Luhan’s AMAZING, but, his name was the one that I heard the most in my circle of friends XD), and well, I didn’t know what to think. Plus, I was still in my Suju and Big Bang phase, so, I didn’t focus on EXO. I just listened to MAMA and History, and liked them, but God, nowhere NEAR was I obsessed with them like my friends XD I guess there was just too much hype, and I just decided to check them out after all that died down a bit.

But, then…Oh. My. God. I listened to What Is Love…(yes, I’m the stupid dork that didn’t know much about Kpop and listened to the songs out of order and didn’t even see any of the MANY teasers….please don’t stone me to death…)

And, I knew that that was the moment I fell in love with EXO ..after listening to What Is Love several months later XD But, of course, I’ve gone on much too long on my back story of EXO, that I even haven’t talked about who I should be talking about >.<

So, going back…while all my friends were spazzing over Luhan (they got into EXO-M before EXO-K), I spotted the guy that sang next, whom I thought actually had quite a nice voice. Immediately looking him up, I found that his name was Lay like the chips. NOW HERE IT STARTS. Yixing-ssi…this is my letter to you…

Dear Yixing/Lay-ssi,

I’m very well aware that, of course, you’ll never see and may not even understand this, but I, along with thousands of your other fans, truly do appreciate you, and felt a lot of joy in our hearts when writing our respective notes of admiration to our healing unicorn. 

How was it that out of 12 boys, you caught my eye first, the quickest? Sure, I have my bias in EXO-K whom I love just as much as you (Baekhyun), but you just crossed the finishing line to my attention first. Sometimes, it amazes me as to how readily I pointed you out as my favorite, and, I do say sometimes because, most of the time, I’ve got a bazillion reasons as to why you captured me heart. There was something about you, perhaps the way you danced, or the way you sang, or that look in your eyes that made me blink back in interest, but I just knew, yup..he’s my favorite. I wasn’t even that knowledgeable about the Kpop world when you debuted like I am now, and yet, I couldn’t help but single you out. Even, my friends were a bit surprised when I said I liked you when everyone else was always talking about Luhan or Tao.

But after seeing all those interviews, variety shows, etc. I realized that..gosh, Yixing-ssi…you really are such a pure-hearted person. This passion for music…you really do show in an amount that I wouldn’t have thought was too healthy XD The way you work, how hard you work, and all that you’ve had to endure from your trainee days, I don’t think I’d have the guts to do that…I guess that’s why you’re so inspiring to me. Despite the injuries, the long ours of training and schedules, and the trouble with crazy fans, you still do your best and smile and genuinely care about your fans. You take letters/gifts, work your healing magic, and offer that innocent and beautiful personality that really made me proud to be your fan.

Ever heard of, “beauty captures my attention, personality captures my heart”? That describes you so well to me, Yixing. Your envy-inducing dance moves, charisma, and amazing looks did catch my eye, but finding out about this genuine, adorable, hard-working man? I was a goner XD A lot of qualities I look in my ideal type, actually^^ Your sincerity encourages me to be more caring and genuine to people, your unwavering sense of gratitude and perseverance inspires me to chase after my dreams a little harder. I’ll think of you during my ACTs ^^ My heart swelled seeing you cry after your group’s first win. You really care so much, so infinitely much. I guess, I can never truly describe how you captured my heart and was my first EXO bias…you just did it. I think you’ll always be an inspiration to me, and I’m glad to haven given your group more of a chance.You never failed to make me laugh, grin like an idiot, gush, and just be in awe of how you really are unlike many of the people I’ve met in my life and that you are definitely such a genuine and sincere person. Two wonderful words that I’ll always use to describe you and two words that are such big compliments when referring to a someone’s personality. When I’m down, I can definitely count on you to do your healing, Lay-ssi.

All in all, after such a long letter, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being so genuine, so resilient, and such a wonderful person. I’m glad you captured my attention, because it ultimately led to you capturing my heart. That gentle voice that sings so whole-heartedly, matching to the the beat of that pure heart. Always keep pursuing that dream of yours, Yixing. I know there will always be people behind you (including me) when dark hours come. You don’t know how anxious I was to get out of school today just to write this post, the tears pricking my eyes and the smile gracing my face as I think “I hope he has a nice birthday.” There’s so much I want to say, but sometimes, words just aren’t needed. You’re beautiful, Yixing. I really do love you, as much as a fan and friend could. Wo ai ni^^ I hope to always see that smile, the smile that makes me smile too.

Thank you…Thank you for everything.

-Anika