Every year, an unforeseen buzz would shake throughout the yellow painted building. New trainees found themselves scramming to figure out the directions to which room was where in a map that was impossible to translate into anything that's comprehendible to the norm. Annually, SM took in fresh faces from near and far in numbers that can make one dizzy. With the abundance of newcomers, it was always an essential to bring the hormone enraging newbies together where unity was a word that's stressed. They were to live in the dog eat dog world in a competition to debut as the next big thing, where the fact was that they would all be seeing each other day in and day out. 

Throughout the period, they'd meet their friends and their "frenemies". In time, they would learn who to trust and who not to. 
That day was SM's inauguration.

Changmin disliked such events. Sure, he's the infamous club goer that hopped from one music banging place to another, but he disliked these intimate settings---ones where he couldn't flirt his way out of uncomfortable situations. And by the looks of it, the extremely perky people that bounced off the walls in the room were the definition of exactly what an uncomfortable situation was. So naturally, he found himself hiding behind the refreshment table, face stuffed with all the contents of food laid out. It was the perfect excuse to showcase his disinterest in chit chatting with anyone without needing to be brutally honest with a half assed head nod here and a lifeless "oh really" reply there. 

During his time of devouring the entire world, he had lost the ever so happy Victoria to a crowd of other trainees whose voices were nothing short of enthusiasm. She's a nice girl he thought as he looked at her smile that was constantly glued along her face, never faltering one bit. It was obvious that she was a crowd pleaser, a person whom one just automatically liked, as if you just needed to.

And apparently the two of them knew each other in the past. A sense of guilt slowly crept inside of Changmin the more he saw her little charms. 
 

--

Along the entrance of the building was a tall framed boy whose teeth gleamed like no other. He just couldn't shut his mouth. No matter how hard he'd try, the presence of the slim figured beauty to his side was enough of a reason to keep that foolish smile. He was proud of the creation that now donned atop of her perfect silhouette—slim jeans that hugged her feminine lines with a buttoned up boyfriend style light blue shirt. It reminded him of his own; the shirt that is. He was sure he owned the same style at home which was somewhere neatly hung in his closet, pressed to a crisp. When the design caught his eye in the store, he was sure to convince Sooyoung into purchasing it as if his life depended on it. Surely on a faithful day, the two would wear it accordingly and display to the world the corny couple look. At least that was what Kyuhyun had planned out in his imaginative world when he sneakily threw out compliments at how perfectly pristine of a product that simple shirt was. The man was spouting out nonsense that no one would ever question because honestly by doing so, it would develop into a longer tale of ridiculousness that everyone saw through.

What Kyuhyun didn’t know was that Sooyoung was a girl who enjoyed the beauty of simplicity. She needed no convincing, that when the delicate fabric fell against her skin, she was already sold. She personally got a kick out of the boy continuously rambling on about the tiniest details as if he was a child begging a mother to buy a desired toy.

Cute. She would think as she watched him tilt his head slightly to the side, the wheels turning in his mind oh so obvious.

 “Welcome to your new playground~” Sooyoung sang out happily, pushing the doors open to a place that she poured blood, sweat, and tears into training.

Almost instantly, a skinny tall kid with curly locks in the form of a mullet greeted him with endearing eyes, wanting to be friends.

“Anyeonghasayeo. My name is Minho…last name Choi”.

Kyuhyun stared back at him troubled with not knowing exactly what to do.

Choi? He looked on at Sooyoung’s backside which had drifted off to mingling with unknown faces in the crowd. Kyuhyun eyed the friendly boy in front of him. He sure was tall…just like her. They were easily taller than the average. Both had dark almond shaped eyes and shared that little habit of scrunching their noses like chipmunks.

Could they possibly be siblings?

“Oh, anyeong. Cho Kyuhyun imnida”.

He surprised the younger one by not only accepting the handshake, but also bringing him in for a small hug.

“You, Sooyoung, and I will get along just nicely my dear friend. Let’s head out and celebrate our coming together tonight, my treat”. There he was again, with that wide stupid grin on his face with a snarky giggle playing along in his head. His assumption was totally wrong, but he was still very much clueless.

“Noona?” Minho curled his eyebrows upward at the remark.

Sooyoung was easily known as one of the most respected sunbae trainees in the company. And although she had her moments where she could and would drop it down low on the dance floor like no other, she was also one of the very last ones leaving the SM grounds at night. While the girl knew how to have fun, she knew even more how much she wanted to debut.  It was a new training year period and during this time, everyone including Minho knew that Sooyoung meant business.

“Good luck hyung,” Minho couldn’t help but laugh at Kyuhyun’s over expectations as he dragged his new friend over to others, wanting to show off the funny guy.

He knew that at the end of the day, both of them would be headed back to the dorms solo.

--

“Perhaps are you the one?” A soft whisper called out.

Changmin lifted his face out of the rice ball he was engulfing to stare at what seemed like an anime character that somehow escaped into the real world. He had to admit that the fellow was good looking; pretty face accompanied with a soft voice. Changmin couldn’t help but wonder if he ever used his features for his benefit. In other terms, whether or not the guy had ever tried anything on a certain someone. From the looks of it, it seemed like he was the type to swoon whatever woman would bat their eyelashes his way. For that reason, Changmin kept his suspicions up and continued on with the soft mouth watering treat in his hands.

“Yunho-ah, I think this is the guy”.

An equally tall person was then being dragged rather so aggressively by the anime-like one with the inflated voice.

“Hey kid. if you’re not serious about this, just quit right now.”  He was strict and rather surprisingly blunt for Changmin to take in.

“Excuse me?”

It was like a punch to the face. Sure, it was true that his initial reason in accepting the trainee offer was for the wrong intentions, but who was that dark haired, sharp chinned guy to tell him to leave?

Changmin took the statement with offence and from that moment on, he was determined to show not only him, but to the whole damn world what he was capable of.

The Yunho guy didn’t know him, didn’t know how in the past every time spent under that willow tree he sung his lungs out to Sooyoung---that singing was his way of expressing what words could not explain: that he loved her.

Changmin was more than convinced that he was blessed with this gift. Those past times when her cherry lips would effortlessly curl in awe at his notes which flowed off his tongue was more than enough of evidence that he had a voice of an angel.

It didn’t take long for him to spot his reason to sing. She ran through his mind endlessly, a person of his obsession. He was addicted to her like a complete junkie, totally infatuated. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted her. He knew his answer.

“Shim Changmin, that’s my name”.

Changmin threw back the last bit of the rice ball into his mouth. He bowed politely before stretching out his arm in an attempt to exchange handshakes with what he would respect from then on as his sunbaes. One by one, he took hold of them with a firm grip, indicating that he wasn’t going to take things lightly.

“I’m serious,” he replied, eyes busy elsewhere as they settled on a beautiful someone whom he wanted nothing more than to run over to.

The two rather impressed by the set of balls the newbie had, accepted his gutsy response.

Changmin was there to stay.

Sooyoung noticed him from the distance. Although quite some space separating them, his face paved way amongst the crowd. She laughed at his untameable hair that messily drooped over his head. The guy looked like a clueless idiot. It was obvious that he had scourged through the food table, crumbs smeared all over his face. She was pretty pissed off that he didn’t have the decency to leave some behind for the others and for herself. After all, the guy did just steal a bite from her bagel and to come to think of it, she was ridiculously hungry after all that shopping.

She began to trek his way, wondering what exactly the troublesome ex of hers did while she was basically kidnapped into a shopping spree by the smiley friend of his. Sooyoung never did forget about the guy she had accompanied over, every once in a while stealing a glance his way. She found it precious that he had befriended the kind hearted Minho and was glad he was fitting in rather quickly.

Changmin on the other hand seemed to be caught in what could be a really promising situation or a rather troublesome one.

She bit her bottom lip as she made her way over to the trio. She was worried for his sake. That idiot was sure to spill something stupid in front of two incredibly prestigious figures in the trainee field. Sooyoung knew very well of Changmin’s attitude…where he could be rather overly confident that it strikes others the wrong way, calling for a punch to the face. She quickened her pace, but was surprised when her close oppas grabbed hold of Changmin’s thin neck, playfully wrestling him as if he was the cutest little thing that walked the earth.

This is not good.

Sooyoung was aware of his little tempers that shot from zero to a hundred in an instant. He was quite the feisty fellow if you pushed the wrong buttons and at that moment, it looked as if Yunho and Jaejoong were hitting them with no mercy.

The lanky kid broke his hands free and had snapped his arm like a bullet towards Jaejoong’s stomach.

He’s definitely an idiot.

There it was, proof that although he may look like Chicken Little; all that food he consumed was the fire to his strength….meaning: he was damn ing strong.

“Oppa~ he didn’t mean it!!!!” the tall girl called out, eyes blood shot wide open with prayers of hope running through her head.

“Oh Sooyoung ah~” Yunho instantly let go of the bait and replaced it with her, hands entangling her strands of hair as he shook her head playfully side to side.

Sooyoung to him was a precious dongsaeng, adorable to every bit. Majority of the time, he would notice her head floating behind the glass door of the practice rooms---she was much shorter back then. It amazed him at how she flourished into having such endless legs. She had her roots settled in; he was convinced that no one would knock her down.

She smiled as he destroyed her hairstyle like he always would. Honestly, it would be a complete lie to say she never held a crush on the guy. He was after all pretty much flawless in the eyes of many. Both kind and talented, Sooyoung did have those random times where shots of tingles would run throughout her body as she watched him practice.

But nothing would ever happen between the two…she always knew that. He adored her and so did she, but a romantic journey for them was never an option. No, she wasn’t disappointed since her stubborn heart tended to flutter in ridiculous amounts over stupid idiots with screwed up hair like the one that stood before her.

Changmin’s eyes were twitching as he watched the two. Yup, he was an addict---Sooyoung his drug.

The anime-like Jaejoong was trying hard dealing with the massive blow he just received from the new guy, wrapping his arm along the targeted area. But he kept his smile glowing as if nothing happened. For some reason he found Changmin cute. Like a small little puppy that often would let out a bark here and there. He’d enjoy playing with the guy as the days would pass on by, but wasn’t sure if he could continue to live with all the hitting.

The two older ones then excused themselves, dashing off while laughing at how precious the Shim Changmin kid was. He had a character like no other, truly one of a kind and they were definitely ready to watch him shake the company up.

Sooyoung watched the two figures disappear and only then did she slowly continue to approach Changmin any further.

Naturally, she drew her fingers over to his hair, repositioning each bit back into its rightful position…not as if it mattered since his locks truly had a mind of its own. He cocked a small grin as he watched her, the seriousness in her eyes as she tried to solve the puzzle of where to bush this strand and that strand. She could feel his gaze on her like a ton of weight suddenly lying atop her body, but she decided not to let that get to her.

Just a few more seconds wouldn’t hurt.

And so she listened to herself, remaining close to him as she fixed the mess.

“Soo~” It felt great for Changmin to finally call out her name.

Pulling her arm down from his face, he took a step closer to her.

She retracted away. Unlike Changmin, she remembered that they were currently standing in a room full of hundreds of others; too many pairs of eyes to count were bound to catch on if they decided to do anything. Besides, she wasn’t anticipating a grand gesture of any sort…nothing risqué either. In addition, she wasn’t exactly too pleased with him as she remembered her unanswered text. Sure, she never did quite ask him anything from it and normal people would never expect a reply from the childish thing she sent. But she wasn’t just anyone.

Call me if anything.

She was sure he wrote that and even if she texted instead, wouldn’t he have at least replied with a stupid emoticon? She wanted something…anything; although, the reality was hat her inbox was still empty.

Sooyoung disliked how idiotic he was at times. Doesn’t he remember how much she enjoyed such small things? Her immature side took over as she drew her foot down over his, stepping atop his shoe. Surprised by her attack, Changmin’s face crumpled in confusion.

“You’re trying to act cool huh? Playing me for a fool?”

Pabo ya.

She was upset, but he couldn’t help but flash a small grin at her.

It was the way she pouted, lips puffed out and crinkles forming between her eyebrows that were just too darn precious in his mind.

Obviously not the reaction she was wanting, her head boiled even more with annoyance. She attacked his hair until it seemed like it would permanently stay fuzzed out before storming off from him.

“Where are you going Soo~”

By now, Changmin was dying of laughter. He was at a loss as to what happened, but it felt good that they seemed to be slowly breaking away from that awkwardness that was hovering over them.

“I’m going to find Kyuhyun,” she retorted back in a rather ‘take that’ sort of tone.

At least I could stand looking at his face.

She wanted to separate herself from Changmin before he crawled into her skin too deep for her to control. Even his laugh was annoying...the way he would try ever so hard to hold it all in, but end up exploding like a volcano.

Her feet were busy walking, but she honestly didn’t know where to go. Even if she was never quite going to search for him, Kyuhyun was no where to be seen either. Everything was a blur except for that fool, Changmin. She could feel his shadow following behind her and like being tied by an invisible rope, her speed decreased as he kept tugging at the other end. She came to a complete halt as his hand wrapped itself perfectly around her small wrist. The side of her lips curled upward.

Pabo ya. Why do you make me like this?

“You already found me. What else is there to look for?”

Changmin was a dictionary full of corny lines that were vomit worthy, an infamous Casanova. Usually she was prone to such sentences, but something tingled inside her.

Sooyoung turned around slowly, in a way wanting to savour the moment.

She slipped his hand down to hers, holding it ever so lightly as their warmth escaped onto the other.

“Welcome to SM, you fool.”

She smiled gently at the food stealing-no replying-scraggly haired idiot.  

What she didn’t know was that he would definitely agree that he was a complete fool, a fool for her

That time, Changmin’s lips pulled back into a sincere smile. He unwrapped her hand and led it towards him as he placed his arms securely around her. Sooyoung’s head had found its position back onto his all too familiar chest; there was nothing more comfortable than the sound of his beating heart lightly against her ears. He won’t let go this time.  

How could one ever describe the warmth in the affection of that hug? You just couldn’t.

That was it. One of his happiest moments…stepping into SM.

The great Houdini had the ability to disappear in an instant and at that moment, Changmin wanted nothing more than to escape with her in his arms.

Together. 

============================

A/N: As you can tell, I just can't quite really write anything that's not angsty lol which is exactly why this story is so damn long...and by the looks of it, I'm probably gonna have who knows how many freaking chapters >_< I'm kinda annoyed at my flaw...like why am I writing this story?? Bleh, IDEK