The Seoul sun rose tenderly in the Saturday morning sky. Streaks of sunlight beamed through my windows and onto my face. With a deep breath and a sigh, I turned around on my other side in the bed. Then I felt something wet on my face, followed by fast panting. Faster and faster...

I opened my eyes.

Monggu!

"No... silly dog..." I complained. I pushed Monggu lightly away from my face and he started to whimper. I opened my eyes and looked at him again. "Five more minutes, Monggu.. don't bother your hyung..." I groaned. But he kept my face. He was being annoyingly persistent. "Monggu, stop! It's not like today is anything import-"

Oh crapsticks.

TODAY IS THE DAY WHERE THE MEMBERS OF THE NEXT IDOL GROUP WILL BE CHOSEN.

I jumped out of bed, in a t-shirt and boxers (yes, I sleep with my boxers... got a problem?) and ran straight to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth in world-record time, quickly washed up, made an attempt to fix my hair in 0.3 seconds, and practically jumped downstairs. My parents already woke up and went to work. Great. 

"Bye Monggu!" I screamed. He barked in return. I grabbed my phone, wallet, and keys, ran out the door, and made sure I locked it.

Then I started sprinting for the bus.

----

When I got on the bus, people were looking at me with extremely weird looks.

"AHJUSSHI, FASTER!" I yelled.

"Hey! Don't talk to your elder like that!" an ahjumma beside me scolded. 

"Sorry..." I replied, meekly. Then she slapped me with her giant purse. "OW!" 

"Learn some manners!" she croaked again. What did she keep in her purse? ROCKS?!

I made a 90 degree bow to the ahjumma and in the direction of the bus driver.

"Sorry ahjusshi! Take your time! ........ But if you can, speed up a little, please!" I quickly pleaded. The ahjumma gave me a glare, and was about to hit my with her rock-filled purse again, but she probably decided against it because she already used up too much energy.

I checked my phone. 

O to the M to the O.

It's 9:26am. And the announcement at SM starts at 9:30am. At the SM office building. And I'm about a block away. You know that? I think I can make it. 4 minutes, 1 block. No big deal.

People were STILL staring at me for some reason. Did I have a booger hanging out of my nose or something?

Then the ahjumma began to speak again. "Wait.... I don't think you're weari-"

At the next stop, I rushed out of the door. 

"Gotta run, ahjumma! Thanks ahjusshi!" I screamed, without looking back. And then I started to sprint in the direction of the SM building.

So close... a few more steps... I'M THERE!

I rushed through the automatic doors, past the receptionist counter, past all the staff offices, straight down the hallway into SM's auditorium, where they hold contests, showcases, and where trainees like me have a chance to practice on stage in front of staff and other trainees. It's also where SM announces important things.. like today. 

I checked my phone. 9:30! Just on time!

11 other guys that I barely knew were already standing on stage, lined up beside Kim Young Min, the CEO. He was announcing who was going to be in the next boy idol group, called EXO! Other trainees were in the audience, and I sat down next to them. Everybody was nervous about who would be picked... but I'll let you in on a secret - I'm one of SM's favourite trainees... and the CEO already told me, and only me in advance, that I had made the cut. I just needed to be here for the ceremony. 

People around me were still giving me disgusted looks. But before a female trainee on my right could say something, KYM spoke up.

"And our final trainee in EXO.... Kim Jongin!" As expected!

I stood up, with the biggest smile on my face. I got to sleep in, and I still made it to the announcement ceremony. Success! I also made EXO... success! I walked on stage confidently and stood beside the last guy, in a row. 

Kim Young Min stared at me.

The other EXO boys stared at me.

One boy in particular, the one next to me, the one with the big puppy eyes, started chuckling, smiling from ear to ear.

The audience stared at me.

What the heck were they staring at. Some people in the audience were holding in their laughter. 

Kim Young Min then spoke shyly but bluntly into the microphone, in a disappointed tone. "Mr. Jongin... you forgot to wear pants."

The audience and the EXO boys next to me burst into laughter. I could swear I saw Kim Young Min sneak a giggle. I looked down at my legs. I was still in my boxers. I must have been in such a rush this morning that I forgot to change and put on pants...... The ahjumma on the bus was probably trying to tell me that I forgot my pants when she noticed before I left... she must have thought they were shorts at first but then realized they were boxers. The boy next to me started to laugh as hysterically. He was handsome.. I don't know why but it made me feel even more embarrassed.

Crapsticks.