Chapter 8

pinkspades: I need to sort this out; people don't usually comment on my stories, and this specific person also didn't. She or he, however, messaged me on Tumblr as an anon, saying that I suck at writing because I put Kimberly in the spotlight and such while there are twelve characters there. So, maybe it isn't clear enough that Kimberly is the main girl here. I mean, I had to, because it's not a bit easy to contribute lines for all twelve (or even just six) of them equally and still sound cool. Yes, I suck at writing. I apologize.

                    “I’m sorry for being late!”

                    The doors cracked opened a bit before the girl peeked inside and finally stepped in fully. Kimberly bowed to whoever she bumped into and apologized. Nonetheless, she seemed to be invisible in their eyes, until someone found her and pulled her along to the center of the room where the rest were at.

                    “Is this your Kimberly?” Shinah asked, looking at Pegasus.

                    “Kimmy! Finally!”

                    All eyes turned towards her. She bowed and apologized awkwardly. So many people were surrounding her including Pegasus and a group of boys she assumed to be EXO-K she was going to meet. The eleven of them were already sitting on the couch and sofas on set in different positions but still looking comfortable.

                    “Kim,” D.O called out with a smile.

                    She gazed at him and almost froze in surprise and shock. She wasn’t stupid, and her brain took only a split second to analyze and come up with the conclusion that, “You’re in EXO?”

                    “You two know each other?” Kai cut with curiosity.

                    “Wait, what?!”

                    “Kyungsoo, explain!”

                    “Hey!-”

                    “Stop, stop! What did you say, Kim?” D.O asked, staring wide-eyed at her in disbelief. Everyone was puzzled at the name he used to call her.

                    “Right… You’re in EXO. I’m sorry I didn’t know…” she trailed off, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

                    “You… didn’t know that I’m in EXO?”

                    Right then, Shinah lost her temper, “What is it, you two?! Explain!”

                    The production team couldn’t wait any longer, so Shinah decided to fix Kimberly’s hair and makeup right on the set while Director Han was explaining the concept to all of them.

                    The girls found out just then that they weren’t shooting the music video that day. It was just an interview and that they would have to stick around with SM crew for a while until they wrap up the whole production.

                    “An interview?”

                    “Correct. As I said, this is a big project for EXO’s comeback. If we were going to use all of you in their music video, you have to be part of this big thing also. This music video could rather be called a documentary film. We’re making a short movie. This is part of the film. Has Hyunkyun not informed you about this?”

                    Manager Im hurriedly cut in before he could be blamed, “I thought it was supposed to be a secret, in case they did not accept the job.”

                    “It’s okay. Then we have a lot to talk about, girls. For now, just act normal, a bit of politeness would be appreciated however, and be yourself. Jubi and Hyunkyun will be on set with you, asking you questions and leading the interview. All you have to do is just answer them honestly. If anything goes wrong, we can always edit it out. One thing, don’t look at the camera, look at the person you’re talking to.”

                    Another female staff named No Jubi greeted them with a cheerful smile. She was Shinah’s assistant. She looked a lot younger than her and just more comfortable to be around.

                    The production crew started to move around, getting ready for the shooting.

                    “And… queue!”

                    Pegasus introduced themselves with their names and age right when the interview started. Jubi then asked further into their personal identities. Kimberly was the one answering most of the questions because they asked her to, just so she looked more like the leader, due to the fact that she was quiet and looked pretty young compared to the biracial members.

                    “Wendy is the youngest. She’s from China, and apparently she cannot speak Korean very well,” she explained.

                    “How do you communicate with each other?”

                    “We usually speak English. It’s the one thing we have in common besides our love for music.”

                    “So, Wendy, do you understand what we’re saying?” Manager Im asked.

                    Wendy smiled widely and answered, “Yes, sir!” They all laughed.

                    “I assume that all of you have different personality. How did you come together?”

                    The interview went deeper into their personalities and such. The atmosphere was getting comfortable than before, and then it was the time when they moved onto the next topic: EXO.

                    “So, now we know you, and you know EXO but not in person. Let me put it this way; who’s your favorite member in EXO? Can be EXO-M,” Jubi questioned and giggled. Kimberly told Fiona to be the one answering first, since the rest of them would have to struggle in this part.

                    “I like Chanyeol,” she stated and was finished by Kimberly who added an “oppa” for her.

                    Chanyeol shifted in his seat. He smiled before bowing lightly.

                    “I think he’s quite an unexpected person. I mean, he’s tall, but he has a baby face. Despite that baby face, his voice is deep. He looks cute, but he raps and writes lyrics. He also plays so many instruments, and that’s what caught my attention as a musician,” Fiona explained.

                    Jubi remarked, “Rather than ‘unexpected’, you made him sound like a total alien there.” They all burst out laughing, and the subject only made a pouting face.

                    “We also have one like that in our team,” Julianne spoke, “Ours is even cooler.” She giggled before cocking her head towards the leader’s direction.

                    “Kimberly?” D.O asked.

                    “Yes, Kimberly-unnie. Even though she’s shorter than me, she’s still considered tall,” Julianne raised her fingers, counting each point as she spoke, “And she has a baby face. She looks quite average and quiet, but she’s scary-”

                    “Julianne,” Kimberly warned.

                    “You’re wrong if you think she’s just our leader because she’s the oldest, because she’s actually capable of many things you can’t imagine,” despite the dead glare, she continued.

                    Jubi asked, “Like what kind of things?”

                    “Like Chanyeol-oppa, unnie can play more than five instruments,” she paused while everyone on the other side raised their brows, “She can also write lyrics, yeah?”

                    Sora confirmed, “Yes. She’s the best.”

                    “Wow… You girls are very special.”

                    “We’re looking forward to hearing your songs in the future,” Manager Im stated, “Before we go anymore off-topic, let’s get back to this. Your favorite EXO member, anyone?”

                    “Me. I prefer Kai-oppa,” Julianne continued.

                    It was quite a surprise to the production team and EXO-K themselves when they found out right on the set that only two of Pegasus knew exactly who they were. They kept the camera rolling, but the part where Manager Im stopped everyone and explained about it to the team was most likely to be cut out. The part where D.O and Kimberly were revealed to be high school friends, however, was kept.

                    The staff off-set took down notes and planned their next moves right away while watching the live interview. Director Han spoke to their producers behind the camera and finally ended the interview.

                    “We’ll need more interview shots in the future. Enough for today. I think you two need to get to know each other a lot more before we continue filming. This is the old plan for the shooting,” the director handed out some copies of the paper, “We’ve changed some of it so take note. The rest remain unchanged.”

                    “This is part of the old plan; we need you all to pair up,” he said, “EXO, you’re going to be the gentleman and let the girls choose.”

                    They started choosing. Julianne chose Kai, who was totally fine with anything, and Fiona chose Chanyeol. D.O and Kimberly looked at each other silently before nodding.

                    “I’ll pair up with Kyungsoo.” They all agreed.

                    The rest did not know who to choose. Min was totally uninterested and wouldn’t speak a word. Shinah came up with a solution.

                    “Let me just choose for you. In case you didn’t know, this pairing will change again once or twice in the future, so don’t be so picky. Wendy, you go with Suho.” The girl just smiled at the announcement.

                    “Min, you’re with… Sehu- No, Baekhyun.” Baekhyun smiled at his partner who emotionlessly half-bowed, and Shinah continued, “And Sora, you’re with Sehu- No!”

                    They all jumped at the suddenly rising voice of hers. All eyes glued to Shinah’s frustrated expression. She groaned, looking at Sehun. “Kyungsoo and Kimberly, can you two separate?”

                    The two looked at each other, confused.

                    “Kimberly, can you be a good leader and sacrifice this time?”

                    “Y-Yes, unnie?”

                    “Let Sora pair up with Kyungsoo. You’ll have to take care of Sehun for me, okay?” The girl just blinked a few times at the statement. The production team already took it as a yes.

                    Sora spoke up carefully, “What are we going to do with this pairings, unnie?”

                    Director Han replied, “It’s on the paper. You’re gonna go shopping with your partner.”

                    Only then, EXO-K and the production team understood Shinah’s intention. Pegasus, however, was left standing there, dumbfounded, and even more shocked with the manager’s last words.

                    “See the end note on that paper? The contract lasts for six months not only because we have to secure any incidents after the music video is released, but also because it’s going to take long to wrap up the whole project. So, go pack your things, girls. Take enough for at least a month. We’ll be staying at this hotel together and will be very busy that you won’t have a chance to go back home. Be back here by five o’clock.”