Chapter Four: And They Came Crashing In. Like the Plague

 

Sehun noticed Luhan’s strange mood and he was curious. Among the EXO members, he was closest with Luhan. He doesn’t know how he became close to the EXO-M member. Maybe because they look so much alike they could pass as brothers or because they felt a bit uncomfortable when they met the whole group for the first time, but Luhan became the first person he talked to when he has problem or just someone to talk to.

 

Sehun watched his hyung carefully as he piled up his clothes and folded them in a neat pile, whistling a familiar tune.

 

Luhan sang under his breath, “I wanna rock ‘yo body, I wanna make some noise. Geokjjeong ttawin nallyeo beoryeo—oh.”

 

2ne1’s 박수쳐 (Clap Your Hands) MV was the go-to music of EXO for a week straight. Old but gold, they said—and the best part? Their Dara noona’s parts were daebak!

 

But Sehun was absolutely sure that the atmosphere in EXO’s dorm was tense and miserable because of the disturbing news brought home by those who were in the CF shooting three days ago, and not happy and jolly judging Luhan’s upbeat whistling.

 

EXO’s maknae and face of the group was then confused by his hyung’s attitude. If there was someone who should be sulking with their leaders and the fanboys, which included everyone in the dorm, it should be Luhan. He won’t be surprised if Luhan started playing darts with Min-ho’s face on the board.

 

“Ne, hyung, you alright?”

 

“Ah, ne, ‘Hun. Do you need anything?”

 

“Aniyo—but you seem…happy.”

 

To confirm Sehun’s observation, the eldest member beamed, white pearly teeth almost blinding him with their brightness. “I’m not happy! I’m wonderful!”

 

Sehun’s eyebrows rose up to his hairline. Luhan hyung needs to be checked, he thought.

 

He didn’t know what to do with his recently bipolar hyung so he went to the second best decision, just above calling a psychologist and below setting the obviously delirious Luhan loose on their current frenemy, SHINee.

 

“Suho hyung!”

 

Suho, on the other hand, felt like he was being divided into fifteen pieces: four of him went to Tao the panda and the rest went to the others. After Kai returned with three downtrodden fanboys, he knew the situation took a turn for the worst.

 

Skinship.

 

Kissing.

 

On the lips.

 

Choi Min-ho is so dead.

 

Chanyeol was never the same again, screaming words like injustice, vengeance, SHINee, and “More fanboys! You people are more than enough! Argh! I’m going to scream!”

 

The noise in the dorm grew to unparalleled heights so Suho, who loves peace, quiet, and order dammit, kicked everyone out. Lay dragged Chanyeol and Tao to buy comfort food for the others who were too stunned with what happened. Kris and Chen were uncharacteristically quiet, eyebrows scrunched together in disapproval.

 

Suho was devastated--he liked Min-ho sunbae! But he knew he doesn't have the right to be mad at his sunbaes. They just did their jobs well—too well, in fact, that they chose to improvise and make the skinship real. The possessive feeling was irrational of him so he chose to push the nagging thought away and turned to help s pick themselves up.

 

Lay and Xiumin were both easy to cheer up. He just had to make one phone call, some crocodile tears, and lot of bribing with Kyungsoo's famous dishes and he got the vacation extended for another week.

 

Tao was a vacuum cleaner for his wallet. He spent so much money on Gucci shirts and limited edition Sandara Park merchandise in a day that his credit card was put on hold. He tried to hide from the panda but the panda channeled the animal's strong grip and never let him go.

 

Kai, Kyungsoo, Baekhyun, and Chanyeol's case was a bit tricky because they were very vocal in confronting SHINee and threatening them to stop loving their noona. Suho was almost too late to stop the scheming boys and the sight of the four wearing a black ensemble with kitty facemasks and NERF guns strapped comfortably on their backs pushed the stressed leader to his limit.

 

So his lecture was composed of half-meant threats on selling a sneaker collection to an auction, delivering some expensive ceramic plates to Lee Soo-man Sajangnim for his birthday, letting Kris use eleven sets of eyeliners as crayons for his next doodle session, and gifting all limited edition 2ne1 merchandise stashed in an underwear drawer to fortunate BLACKJACKs.

 

Three days after and Suho was ready to cry and beg for his Dara noona to save him again.

 

Then Sehun came up to him, screaming things that remotely sound like Luhan hyung, crazy, and apocalypse.

 

Making Luhan stop and be serious was a nightmare. He was so happy, for reasons unknown, that he took the initiative to clean EXO dorm at four in the morning and gather the laundry. He even picked up the groceries by himself.

 

Suho felt deeply worried while Kris felt that everything was perfect in the world.

 

Kris’ strong support towards Luhan’s newfound cleaning talent must have had something to do with his miraculously arranged wardrobe.

 

With Xiumin’s help, Luhan was placed on the “Seat of Doom”. The chair, as requested by Kai, had the exact name as it implied and was printed in a vinyl plastered on the back.

 

Luhan was tough and firm. He did not break under the relentless questions and stares. In the end, eleven EXO members were left unsatisfied and one deer prancing away, cackling madly.

 

Suho was within his rights to be suspicious when Luhan asked permission to go out for the whole day. And he was within his rights to ask for backup.

 

“Hyung, where are you going?”

 

Luhan looked up, startled at the presence of Suho, Kris, Chen, Xiumin, and Lay. He planned to leave the dorm at half-past five and meet up two blocks away to avoid any more prying from s. It was three hours early but he begged to be fetched at that time so that he can leave without getting caught.

 

He was nervous about what happened last. Under the nonchalant responses during the interrogation was a sweating deer. He wasn’t that good under pressure, unlike Sehun, Kyungsoo, and Kai, but he stood firm, kept his mouth shut, and succeeded in eluding the sharpest EXO members.

 

He thought his lady luck was listening to him for once. But then these five specific hyungs were awake at five in the morning when they’re normally still dead to the world, sharp and ready to ask more questions.

 

“Eh, I’m going to do a morning run.”

 

“Wearing that?”

 

Luhan looked down at his nicer-than-normal outfit: grey long-sleeved blazer over a statement design shirt, black distressed jeans, and Converse sneakers. He patted his slightly windswept hair, checking for flyaway strands.

 

“Ne.”

 

Lay stood up from the couch, arms folded. “I don’t believe you, Lu-ge. Spill.”

 

Silence.

 

He got caught already and there’s no way he could escape undetected—his power’s telepathy, not teleportation. Gah! Why didn’t he trust his instincts and leave an hour early?

 

Luhan sighed in defeat. “Donghae hyung invited me to Ku Hye-sun-ssi book signing.”

 

Chen snorted. “And that’s the reason why you’re over the moon these days? Because of Ku Hye-sun-ssi?”

 

“What? No! Don’t you know the saying the friend of a friend is my friend?”

 

“Uh, that’s kinda wrong—“

 

 Luhan rolled his eyes. “Whatever, you get the gist anyway. So now you know where I’m going. Bye.”

 

“Wait.”

 

Luhan’s heart jumped to his throat. Suho was his greatest obstacle at the moment.

 

“Aish! What now, Suho?”

 

“Your driver’s license’s not released yet, hyung. And event places are still closed until eight, so where are you going to go?”

 

Luhan looked up, hoping for some intervention, but someone up above felt that Luhan was pushing his luck too much. So, not one form of intervention for the deer, and his secret’s out. EXO’s visual grabbed the doorknob, ready to bolt, as he turned to s.

 

“Eh, she’s a friend of Ku Hye-sun-ssi so she volunteered to fetch me today because I can’t drive yet.”

 

Kris leaned forward. “Who’s fetching you, Luhan-ge?”

 

“Oh, Dara noona’s fetching me.”

 

Luhan did not wait for the news to sink in. He bolted and ran for his life.

 

 

 

 

 

Xiumin brushed the invisible lint on his button-down shirt. He was seated on the sidewalk, waiting for the others to finish dressing. Luhan was seated beside him, with Lay nursing the small bruise on his right arm. Kris was leaning on the wall, playing on his phone.

 

Lay finished dressing up first, followed by Kris. Since they were roommates, they got to dress up easier. Xiumin had to tiptoe around Tao; the resident panda was unpredictable. He could sleep through the apocalypse but could wake up at the slightest movement. He had to resort to a complicated routine of tiptoeing, pirouetting, and skipping in a zigzag formation.

 

Chen arrived in a red plaid shirt, panting heavily. “Kyungsoo woke up.”

 

Suho, in a black field jacket and contrast sleeve shirt, frowned. “And what did you say?”

 

“I told him we’re going to a photo shoot and we’ll go first.”

 

Kris smirked. “Good answer.”

 

Luhan was pissed at the others, mostly at Chen, Lay, and Kris. He did not expect Chen to tackle him on the side and Lay to drag him into the staircase and out of the dorm by the back door. The others followed, hissing at them to be quiet. It was still dark outside, cool air rubbing their arms and making them shiver. The most important detail is that there was no one in sight.

 

Kris used his special brand of intimidation and mild browbeating on the poor deer. Luhan had no choice but to call Donghae hyung and let him know the change of plans. He was fortunate that Donghae of Super Junior was already awake and drinking his daily dose of caffeine when he called. Donghae was surprised to know the addition of five more EXO members. But he knew Hye-sun noona wouldn’t mind because she’s a fan of EXO.

 

“But Dara-yah knows the change of plans, ne?”

 

“Eh, I’m about to call her now—had to call you first because you were the one who invited me.”

 

“Oh, alright. I’m fine with Kris, Suho, Lay, Xiumin, and Chen coming. I’ll just call noona later to add five more people on the list.”

 

“Mianhe, Donghae hyung—“

 

“Don’t sweat on it, Luhan. I kind of expected the whole EXO group to tag along, so minus six members is not a big deal really. To be honest, you’re the third person I invited. I thought you’d refuse my invitation—“

 

“Refuse? Not a chance.”

 

“Ha! So you do like Hye-sun noona? She’d be delighted to know that! Anyway, I’ll see you guys later.”

 

“Kamsahamnida, hyung, for inviting us!”

 

“You’re welcome, Luhan! Got to go! Annyeong.”

 

The call ended.

 

Chen grinned. “Told you he’d be okay with it.”

 

Luhan threw a pebble at EXO’s troll.

 

The group was silent for a while, enjoying the peace the early morning brought. Luhan looked around, trying to look for her.

 

“Luhan? Omo! Suho, Xiumin, Chen, and Kris too! Annyeong!”

 

Kris was not a morning person. Waking him up before the sun is up is such a long shot that any other person would do better at making Lay remember EXO’s entire plan of activities for a year. But Suho wasn’t the leader for nothing—he knew a lot of blackmail materials, especially about him.

 

And Suho rarely bluffs.

 

Kris had no choice but to stay up the whole night, going through Lay’s IPod song list. He cursed Suho’s talent in bullying s to dishing out the secrets about other members to him. EXO’s duizhang released his annoyance at the deer in the morning. Luhan was sneaking out and he just wanted to make someone suffer.

 

Imagine his surprise when Luhan admitted that Donghae of Super Junior, one of the veteran male groups of SM Entertainment, invited him to a book-signing event. The part about Donghae inviting Luhan or Donghae sunbaenim’s apparent friendship with Ku Hye-sun, despite the famous actress being a part of YG Entertainment, did not catch his attention.

 

Kris’s one-track mind narrowed on the fact that his Dara noona is invited as well.

 

Suho, as usual, had the right instinct to confront Luhan in the morning, fully knowing that EXO’s resident deer is an early riser.

 

And now, he just reaped the fruits of his sleepless night.

 

“Aigoo—you all look so handsome! Were you going to come with Luhan and I, by any chance? Oh well, come, palli! Let’s get out of here before someone sees us.”

 

She was so bright and beautiful and the guys couldn’t help but stare. They have all seen her up-close, but she never stopped astounding them further. Park Sandara was a unique idol among idols—graceful yet wily, dignified yet casual, beautiful yet simple.

 

A skeptic Kris always thought Chanyeol was exaggerating over his goddess and often argued with him about his questionable obsession over typical female idol. He had SNSD sunbaes and f (x) sunbaes to fanboy over, why he looks at other female groups to drool over was a mystery to the EXO-M rapper.

 

It was his second time meeting Dara noona, and yet he couldn’t help but remember his promise to give Chanyeol a good gift of apology.

 

The giant rapper was right, for once.

 

The six EXO members fixed their shirts and dusted their jeans as they followed the beaming girl. The streets were quiet and void of fans and sasaengs, to the relief of Suho. His Dara noona led them around a vacant lot and stopped before the only vehicle in the area.

 

If you can call it just a “vehicle”, Suho gaped.

 

“Uh, noona?”

 

“Ne, Suho?”

 

Suho’s incredulous voice rose up a few octaves. “You drove that here?”

 

“Well, Cheondoong—I mean, Sanghyun dongsaeng borrowed the Range Rover for the weekend and Minzy borrowed my two other cars for her, Manager Jjangmae, and Bommie—er, Park Bom, for a photo shoot. I wanted to ask Manager Jjangmae if I could borrow a different car to drive to Hye-sun noona’s event but he left early.”

 

“Oh no, mianhe, noona, if I knew you didn’t have a car for the event then I would have asked Donghae hyung to pick us up—“

 

“Oh, hush, Luhan! It was an emergency anyway and I made a promise. I got a car in the end. Aigoo, Jiyong-ah was always nice to me…” She muttered to herself.

 

Luhan, whose ears are big enough to hear her whisper, frowned at the implication of G-Dragon sunbaenim “always being nice” to his goddess.

 

Chen raised an eyebrow at the girl. “Just a ‘car’, noona?”

 

“Well, alright, it’s BigBang’s Chevy Conversion van. But don’t worry! They’re in China right now, promoting their comeback, so we get to use the van for today!”

 

EXO was nervously looking at the black vehicle, expecting it to turn into a giant snake ready to eat them alive. BigBang is one of their idols in fashion, music, and charisma. Being one of the longest-running male groups, together with Super Junior sunbaes, they’re the ones who propagated the Korean hallyu around the world. To be able to ride in BigBang’s official vehicle and have their goddess for the whole day was more than what their fanboy hearts can take.

 

Dara saw their hesitation. “Yah! It won’t bite! But I would if you won’t hurry up and get in the van! Palli!”

 

Chen smirked. “Well, noona, I wouldn’t mind getting bitten by you—“

 

Suho was close enough to “accidentally” hit the troll in the face. They piled up in the van, awed at being one of the few people who had the chance to ride BigBang’s van, Luhan greeted Dara noona with a smile, thanking her repeatedly when she handed a canned chocolate drink and bread to the blushing deer.

 

Dara plugged her phone and shuffled her playlist. The ride in the van was noisy and fun. Even though it was only six in the morning, they felt energized already—must be the effect of both their Dara noona and BigBang sunbaenim’s van.

 

BigBang sunbaenims sure knew how to pimp their ride—leather reclining seats with cup holders, cabinets stocked with beverages like vitamin water, sodas, cocoa, coffee, and liquor, ornate glasses and modern-designed mugs lined up neatly on the lowermost cabinets, snacks, both local and foreign, piled up on the small counter, and a popcorn vending machine beside the refrigerator. There was even a flat screen LED TV, an iMac computer, and a surround system placed strategically on the four corners of the van. If not for BigBang’s name and logo engraved and lined with LED lights on the roof of the van, they would think it was Dara noona’s car.

 

They were hesitant to touch the bread and canned beverages on the corner but Dara noona insisted that they could touch the any food in the refrigerator because she was the one who stocked it to the brim. Chen, who was starving because he didn’t eat dinner last night, grabbed the coffee cans and the loaf of bread with a mad cackle.

 

Dara glanced at the rearview mirror and let out a laugh. “Not what you expected, eh? I removed all of their belongings last night and left them in their apartment.”

 

Xiumin frowned, the delicious coffee in his hand forgotten. “Ne, noona, you must be close to BigBang sunbaenims that you could borrow their cars and enter their apartments.”

 

Lay sent a warning look at EXO’s baozi but the girl in question was not offended. Dara smiled at the suddenly blushing Xiumin in the rearview mirror. “I’ve always been close to BigBang. They’re my dongsaengs—Seungri’s like Tao, spoiled and full of energy but cute and cuddly—“

 

“Yah! Tao, cuddly?”

 

The girl laughed. “It’s true! I always think of hugging Tao whenever I see him in MVs and TV shows. Then there’s Daesung, YG’s resident troll. He’s like my Thunder dongsaeng, but funnier and jollier. He always makes me laugh, that silly guy.”

 

“But noona, are you close to G-Dragon sunbaenim, Taeyang sunbaenim, and T.O.P sunbaenim? I mean, I see them on stage and they’re so charismatic.”

 

She laughed. “Well, Jiyong, Youngbae, and Seung-hyun-ah have always been weird and overprotective. The reason why 2ne1 don’t have a security detail when they’re around is because they’re more than enough. There’s a running joke in YG about Jiyong living in a cave, watching over us like a mama dragon protecting her babies, with Youngbae and Seung-hyun as watch guards to back mama dragon.”

 

Luhan felt something seeping through his veins. He wasn’t hallucinating. EXO and SNSD sunbaes were not that close to each other, unlike Super Junior sunbaes, f (x) sunbaes, and SNSD sunbaes. They were the rookie idol group, their experience was nothing compared to them, thus they respect each other and were not too close of friends that they can enter Super Junior sunbaenims apartments without permission or ask SNSD sunbaes for lunch.

 

Dara noona was close with BigBang sunbaenims—too close for comfort, too close for something to develop between them.

 

He had to ask.

 

“Eh, noona, is it true?”

 

“About the dating thing?”

 

“Oh, the dating bans? Bommie and I still have a little over two years before we can have YG Sajangnim’s official permission—“

 

“Ani, noona. That’s not what I was referring to. It’s just—I remember G-Dragon sunbaenim’s interview about strictly no dating in the YG family.”

 

The van was quiet as EXO stared at Luhan, who turned to his side to face the girl. Dara, on the other hand, was expressionless as she concentrated on the road, cursing herself for slightly veering off to the right.

 

“Oh. Uh, well, it’s true. YG family must stick together, and relationships in-house would just ruin the family.”

 

Luhan knew he managed to uncover something troubling.

 

His Dara noona was a bad liar.

 

Dara entered her condominium building. She parked the van. “Oh! That’s fast! We’re here.”

 

Xiumin looked around, squinting his eyes to see through the dark windows.

 

“Where’s here exactly, noona?”

 

“Oh, we’re going to stay in my apartment for a while.”

 

 

 

 

 

Chen’s favorite hobby is trolling around and making his EXO brothers’ lives chaotic and fun. He claimed the position of EXO’s resident troll before anyone else could. He started his job a week after they were first introduced—and he did it with a bang.

 

Suho omma became so paranoid after the prank that he’s afraid of his own shadow.

 

It was a good thing for Chen that s weren’t killjoys, though. They go along with his trolls even in public, which makes their dorm a hazardous area for stray people. He even heard their manager-nim warning off the other managers from entering any vicinity that they’re in. Chen found that he was more flattered than guilty. His job as a troll and resident “funny guy” was his—not anyone else.

 

Which is why he understood the possessive feeling of his when Lay started to joke around with his noona.

 

“Lay-ge! Stop teasing noona!”

 

Lay and Dara noona looked up from the photo album in Xiumin’s hands. Suho, Kris, and Luhan were standing behind the couch, looking down at the album and continually glaring at the smug Xiumin who was seated between Lay and their noona. Because there were no more seats, Chen sullenly went with his hyungs.

 

They tried to hide their anticipation as Dara led them to her apartment. EXO’s 2ne1 expert Chanyeol and Baekhyun, by association, were the only ones who have seen the inside of the girls’ apartments. They have been watching 2ne1 TV these past months but Chanyeol stalked all social media accounts and stolen pictures of the group the moment he wakes up and never failed to read the news about his bias before he goes to sleep.

 

Suho should’ve bullied Chanyeol into sending all of his 2ne1 videos to him.

 

Dara noona was simplistic by nature, and it was evident in her lifestyle—tall glass windows enhanced the beautiful park below and contrasted with the monochromatic theme of the living room. Kitchen was fully furnished with marble counters, oven and electric stove, and a large refrigerator that would surely make Kyungsoo drool. Pictures adorned the walls, from Dara noona’s family, 2ne1, Yang Hyun-suk Sajangnim and YG family to BigBang sunbaenims.

 

There was even a Kim Won Bin poster plastered near the refrigerator.

 

Dara noona stared dreamily at the poster. “Now that’s art! Omo—Kim Won Bin oppa!”

 

Suho glared at the offending piece of “art” that his noona was referring to.

 

Her room was so different from the cool living room and dining room—it was pink and princess-like. Dara noona blushed as she regaled the story of how Yang Hyun-suk Sajangnim gifted the room to his princess “daughter”. Apparently, the CEO of YG Entertainment spoiled his artists rotten, especially the girl artists of YG.

 

“Whoa! You have your own gym, noona?”

 

“I do have to stay fit, you know. And I’ve been trying some endurance training because having full energy for just fourteen minutes .”

 

After eating some of the grilled ribs called galbi and bean sprout rice called kongnamul bab that she prepared at three a.m., Dara noona volunteered to show some of her photo albums to kill some time before the book signing, extracting a promise from them not to laugh too much. Lay and Xiumin were the faster ones to sit on the couch and the others were left cursing the two for their fast response.

 

After viewing the album, Dara noona went to her room to change for the book-signing event.

 

As soon as she disappeared around the corner, Luhan felt the digging stares. He was a little surprised it took them two hours and twenty minutes to grill him for answers. All EXO members were impatient; they just vary in intensity.

 

“Luhan.”

 

Luhan pretended to look out the window. “Omo! Look at that giant bird!”

 

“What happened back there, Lu-ge?”

 

Lay looked on as Suho and Kris kept on asking Luhan about the dating question. Xiumin and Chen sipped on their white chocolate mocha coffee that Dara had prepared. Lay stared at the annoyed Luhan.

 

Lay was not that bothered with Luhan’s blunt question; he was more bothered by his noona’s answer. EXO’s unicorn chose the power of healing because he possessed the traits of a healer—kind, gentle, and most of all, observant. Luhan had a reason why he pushed that kind of questioning, and if he were to be honest with himself, he would have asked the same thing. Only in a more appropriate setting and not scaring the driving girl out of her wits.

 

Lay glanced at the picture of Dara surrounded by BigBang sunbaenims hanging over the fireplace. BigBang was making faces at the camera with Dara smiling and holding a BigBang light stick. BigBang’s leader G-Dragon’s fingers formed a V on top of her head as BigBang’s visual T.O.P leaned close to her and the group’s main vocal Taeyang pushed himself between the rapper and 2ne1’visual.

 

A burning feeling rose to his heart—he turned away, incensed.

 

“So, what do you think? Do I look presentable? Gah! I should’ve known Bommie would break in and burn all of my jeans and shirts. Why that corn-maniac…”

 

Dara continued to rant about strangling Park Bom the corn monster with her shoelaces and gutting Donghae the fish for telling said corn monster to burn all of her clothes. The girl didn’t notice the silence that descended upon the six guys.

 

She looked radiant in a floral short dress and strappy pumps. Her hair was pulled up in a bun, accentuating her slender neck and collarbones.

 

Xiumin elbowed his open-mouthed hyungs while trying not to stare at his Dara noona, afraid that he’d say something stupid.

 

Dara noona smiled and Suho got the most impact because she was smiling at him. He felt his face burn as he complimented her—or tried to compliment her.

 

“You look, er, uh, beautiful to you, noona.”

 

Dara noona laughed as she patted the shoulder of one mortified leader. “Kamsahamnida, Suho-ah.”

 

Xiumin just shook his head. “Pabo, hyung.”

 

 

 

 

 

The trip to the book-signing event was fast and they arrived in the venue fifteen minutes before the event starts.

 

Suho tried to redeem his failure as he raised his arm and let a blushing Dara noona to let her hand rest on them. Suho gently smiled at her but his mind was doing alien-like dance moves and chants as he ecstatically guided the goddess to their chariot/van. Pushing his tongue out to taunt his hyungs, he got in the passenger seat. He heard Kris mutter, “You’re so dead when we get back to the dorm” as they glumly got in the back.

 

Dara noona led the nervous guys away from the cameras and into the back door. The Chevy van was recognizable as an idol group’s vehicle but not BigBang’s. Chen thanked their lucky stars that BigBang sunbaenims’ vehicle was not as conspicuous as SNSD sunbaes white conversion van. True to Dara noona’s advice, Suho memorized the place where they parked the van—behind a convenience store a few blocks away—and the passcode of Dara noona’s dressing room—for a quick escape, of course.

 

“Okay, here’s the plan: we can’t be seen together for the whole event, too many prying eyes. But Hye-sun unnie planned an after party for us and there’ll be no cameras, just a few close friends, some idols, actresses, and maybe YG Sajangnim will come—“

 

“Mwoh?”

 

“Oh, don’t give me that look, Kris-ah. Hye-sun unnie is from YG, you know? And YG Sajangnim usually turns a blind eye when there are artists from different agencies present in after parties so there’s no problem.”

 

“I’m cautious of the term “usually”?”

 

Dara looked flustered. “Yah! It’s just a possibility, you never know with him and his creepy smile. So, yeah, just stay cool and don’t be nervous. YG Sajangnim smells fear.”

 

“So with that, I’ll text you later to meet me here so we can go together for the after party.”

 

EXO was left fearing the CEO of YG.

 

 

 

 

 

Lay smiled at the cameras fighting for his attention but in his mind he was yelling at them to scram and let him pass. The life of an idol is cool because you get to know so many people and perform in front of fans, but it’s also tough because cameras are always there to watch your every move. One mistake, you’re done with your career, and the reporters couldn’t care less about what you do unless you did something scandalous in their eyes.

 

As soon as they stepped in the room, people lost their cool. Camera flashes almost blinded them but they’d take the blindness than the hearing problem. Reporters were shameless, shrieking at them as they asked why they’re here in Ku Hye-sun’s book-signing event. They repeatedly mentioned YG Entertainment and SM Entertainment and speculated on the reason why half of the group was not present in the event. They even mentioned their goodbye stage a month ago and the disaster at their fansigning event at the mall.

 

If that were the reaction of the media at their presence in Ku Hye-sun’s book-signing event, a YG actress that they’ve never met, then their friendship with Park Sandara, YG Princess, and 2ne1’s fresh vocal and visual would blow the roof off.

 

Lay’s resolve strengthened: he’d protect Dara from everyone, even if he must hide his friendship from Lee Soo-Man Sajangnim himself.

 

They went in the event and greeted Donghae hyung. Dressed smartly in a black polo underneath a red blazer, he was a comfort to the nervous Luhan. Lee Donghae was one of the SM sunbaes that Luhan was close to. His friendship with Donghae grew when he saved the Super Junior member from being mobbed in Beijing. He was on vacation and Donghae hyung happened to be in China for vacation. He was seated in a restaurant, disguised under a red beret and dark sunglasses. He knew he looked silly wearing his get-up but being looked at for being silly is tons better than being mobbed by fans.

 

Which is what happened to Donghae.

 

Long story short: Luhan saved his co-idol by creating a scene in the middle of the park, pulling the shocked Donghae by the arm, and running as fast as they can towards Luhan’s secret apartment.

 

After the incident, they got close and became brothers by sasaeng circumstances. Donghae hyung was the one who taught him Korean and toured him around the city. They rarely talk to each other due to hectic schedules, so the knowledge of their friendship was new to EXO.

 

Donghae patted Luhan’s back. “Ne, Luhan, you came.”

 

Luhan rolled his eyes, “Of course hyung. As if I could bail on you. Knowing your manic tendencies, you’d send your bodyguard to drag me here screaming.”

 

EXO’s visual introduced the Super Junior member to his group, catching up with their current projects and activities. Luhan could only smile as they conversed with their hyung for the first time.

 

“Ne, Donghae hyung, I didn’t know you were friends with Ku Hye-sun-ssi.”

 

“I met her in a gala. Back then Super Junior were rookies and I was the only one to come so I was shy to mingle. Hye-sun noona was the first to approach me, breaking the stereotype of YG artists being antisocial.  We’ve been friends ever since.”

 

“Wow, that’s so cool, hyung!”

 

“Yeah. Oh, and Hye-sun noona was also the first to introduce me to Dara-yah.”

 

That stopped EXO short. Suho, who was looking around the star-studded event, snapped his head back to the smiling Donghae. “Wae? You know Dara noo—I mean, Sandara-ssi?”

 

“Ne, for seven years, I think? I knew her even before she debuted in 2ne1. That Santoki! Aish! I remember the first time I met her. She didn’t know Super Junior back then so she brushed me off! The second time I met her was in Hye-sun noona’s first exhibit. She introduced us to each other and Dara-yah had an accident and poured her orange juice on my shirt. Yah, that clumsy rabbit! Why…”

 

Donghae continued to rant and didn’t notice the speechless audience that he had.

 

Xiumin felt inferior. Even before EXO debuted, people compared them to their sunbaenims, calling them “washed up” clones of Super Junior. It hurt them but they persevered. They practiced till midnight to perfect their choreography, to polish their parts in their debut album.

 

They ignored the bashing from other fandoms and gathered strength from the EXO-L fans. But it’s hard to sometimes ignore the voice telling them they’re not enough, that they won’t make it to where Super Junior is now.

 

His Dara noona was friends with Donghae hyung, a member of the elite SM group Super Junior.

 

EXO’s resident baozi tried to ignore the same voice that was telling him that Lee Donghae of Super Junior is more suitable to be Dara noona’s friend than him.

 

Xiumin glanced at the others as the book-signing event started. Chen tried to be attentive but he occasionally glared at the back of Donghae hyung’s head. Lay and Kris were quiet, more quiet than what is normal. Suho was stoically watching as Ku Hye-sun entered the event with Dara noona by her side.

 

Luhan was…smiling?

 

Xiumin wanted answers and he knew Luhan must be the one questioned first.

 

 

 

 

 

Kris was not in the mood to socialize.

 

Not a chance.

 

After the bomb that Donghae dropped on them, he was unsettled with the rush of emotions in his body. He wasn’t worried with the news of Donghae hyung’s friendship with his Dara. He kind of expected it, really. Super Junior was still active and they debuted back in 2005 and BigBang sunbaenims debuted a year after and is still active.

 

With 2ne1’s close association with BigBang and BigBang’s slightly-more-than-acquaintance relationship with Super Junior, it was no brainer that Dara noona must have met at least one Super Junior member in her idol life.

 

The thing that troubled the duizhang was the strange feelings that rose up in him as Donghae hyung told stories about being friends with one “crazy, ajumma Santoki”.

 

He thought he knew himself so well that he could explain anything that he was thinking or feeling.

 

It was a scary realization that Kris Wu could explain but couldn’t justify his feelings towards Dara noona.

 

His eyes strayed back to the laughing girl as she punched Donghae hyung in the gut.

 

Suho observed the sullen Kris across the room. He had a good guess as to what caused the normally scary face of Kris to deepen into an I’m-so-scary-and-not-in-the-mood-so-don’t-approach-me-unless-you-want-to-lose-an eye face. He, too, wanted to go home and stay in his room because his mood was at an all-time low.

 

Donghae and Dara noona are friends.

 

Suho throttled the familiar feeling welling up in his heart as he stared at the two idols laughing with each other. Chen and the others were scattered in the room, making conversation with the other idols. It was their chance to talk to their sunbaenims without any fancams judging the person they were talking to. But he really was not in the mood to smile and have fun with their sunbaenims so he hid himself in the shadows of the wall column and watched the happenings silently.

 

After the book-signing event, Donghae approached the six EXO members and told them Dara noona was held up with Ku Hye-sun by, the surprise of the morning, YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk and YG producer Teddy Park’s arrival. To avoid suspicion, they went with Donghae and Super Junior’s Manager-nim to the after party.

 

The ride was silent but Donghae hyung was oblivious to the heavy atmosphere that settled among the EXO members. They arrived at the event, nervous, but their anxiety was ill placed. The guests were welcoming and excited at the sight of EXO. Some of them even pulled out CDs from their bags and handed it over to them for an autograph sign. YG artists and actors came in, Ku Hye-sun talking with YG Producer Teddy Park, and YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk and Dara noona bringing up the rear.

 

The proof of Dara noona’s allure towards other people clearly showed as the guests, both male and female, turned to stare at 2ne1’s visual’s entrance. She did not look up, other than to smile amiably, as she spoke with fervor to the YG CEO as if they’re best friends catching up with each other.

 

YG CEO’s welcome and congratulation speech was short and brief, but the clear pride for one of his talents was oozing from the impersonal words that he gave. The party slowly began because there were new people in the scene and YG artists were not used to SM talents present in the after party. But Ku Hye-sun was so nice to EXO that they can’t help but call her noona as well.

 

Ku Hye-sun patted her cheeks. “Omo! EXO hoobaes are so kyeopta!” Then she leaned in to whisper, “Ne, I know they’ll kill me for this, but I’m an EXO-L too!”

 

Lay winked at the budding author. “Your secret’s safe with us, noona.”

 

They went their separate ways: Chen went off to eat at the buffet table, Kris and Suho quietly disappeared from the scene, and Lay, Luhan, and Xiumin approached the new arrival f (x) Amber, who was being introduced by Donghae to a fangirl-ing Hye-sun noona.

 

“Yah, hyung! I thought no one wanted to come with you!”

 

“I did tell you that you’re the third person I invited, ne? Amber happened to be the second and Eunhyuk was the first, that pabo. Aish! I’ll wring his neck the next time I see him!”

 

SM’s girl group f (x)’s rapper grabbed Donghae’s arm. “Yah, Donghae hyung! You’ll hit Hye-sun noona with your flapping!”

 

EXO felt at ease in the party but they’re disappointed because they haven’t had the chance to approach their Dara noona, who was with Yang Hyun-suk Sajangnim and Teddy Park the whole time. They weren’t stopping her from socializing with the other guests but their combined glares were more than enough to stop EXO from coming towards her. Luhan saw Teddy Park show his phone to the interested girl as they shared a laugh.

 

The party was about to end and only a few people were left. Donghae hyung asked the members to join him so he could drop them off to their dorms. Suho was about to refuse the offer because he wanted his noona to drop them off. He ignored the voice that was telling him he was jealous at Donghae and he doesn’t want to go with him because he’s afraid to hear more about their stories together.

 

Donghae frowned. “But who’s going to drop you off?”

 

Kris shrugged. “Well, Dara noona told us to wait for her—“

 

“Kris. Wait.”

 

Kris glared at Suho for interrupting. “What, Suho?”

 

Suho only gestured his head towards the exit. The look of hidden jealousy in Suho’s eyes did not escape the EXO-M rapper. He turned to the exit. His face closed up in the same sullen expression that he was in a while ago.

 

BigBang sunbaenims arrived in the picture.

 

Donghae frowned further. “Wae? BigBang arrived early? I thought they’re due next week?”

 

Hye-sun noona, too, was curious and confused. “Ne, their promotions in China must’ve ended early. Excuse me EXO hoobaes, Amber-yah, and Donghae-yah. I have to stop them before they choke Dara-yang to death.”

 

Donghae shrugged at her answer and dragged Amber with him to also greet BigBang.

 

“Yah, EXO! We’ll be waiting for you in the van, ne?”

 

Kris could only watch as his Dara noona was passed around by BigBang sunbaenims.

 

Seungri sunbaenim, in a grey blazer, black scarf, and eyeglasses, lifted and swung her around and around and passed her to an annoyed Daesung wearing an all-black ensemble and swung her around for a second time.

 

Daesung sunbaenim smiled cheekily at the incensed Dara, who was gently grabbed by a bonnet-wearing Taeyang sunbaenim. He hugged her gently and kissed her left cheek.

 

T.O.P sunbaenim, in a black sweater and khaki pants, removed his sunglasses greeted the girl by kissing her on her right cheek.

 

G-Dragon sunbaenim was the last to approach the smiling girl. He looked intimidating in his denim overalls but Dara noona just laughed at him when he pouted. He opened his black leather satchel and pulled out two turquoise boxes. He gave one to a laughing Hye-sun noona and handed the other to Dara noona. He gave Hye-sun noona a hug then grabbed Dara and pulled her into a hug and imitated BigBang’s maknae’s greeting.

 

Kris wasn’t stupid. He knew what the box contained.

 

He gave his mother a necklace from Tiffany & Co. for her birthday six months ago.

 

Lay grabbed his arm. “Kris-ge, Dara noona and G-Dragon sunbaenim are so close.”

 

They were too far to hear the conversation, but the look of annoyance and exasperation in the members’ faces as their leader leaned in and kissed EXO’s goddess on the forehead did not escape their sharp gaze.

 

Kris looked away, gritting his teeth. “Yeah, they do.”

 

Downtrodden, they trudged towards the exit and met Donghae hyung and Amber sunbae in the SM van.