Chapter 3 – faded smiles and glowing sparks

PRESENT

Taeyeon always liked the English phrase “falling in love”. Love is really about falling. You can’t control when and with whom, it’s not your choice: love chooses you. She didn’t mean to fall in love with him. But she just couldn’t help it.

“You should rest a little, Tae,” said Sooyoung and smiled at her under her new haircut. Short and blond matched her; she seemed like a grown-up woman. On the other hand, the leader had thin face so the BoA-inspired medium-long blonde hair – which used to be half pink – made her look younger. It was the purpose: she wanted to be younger because of him. Because a lot of fans were angry and disappointed with their age difference. The 3-years gap always bothered her, too. Most times, she didn’t notice it but sometimes it was too obvious. Baekhyun often complained when they had a fight that she treated him like a child. Sometimes she really thought about him as one.

“I will. I’m just thinking.” Taeyeon smiled back and rested her head back at her comfortable seat. They reached the airport in time, everything was fine.

Well, everything should have been fine.

“About what?”  enquired further the other girl after she took the seat next to her friend.

“The past.”

“Whoa, that’s big,” Sooyoung joked and Taeyeon rolled her eyes. “What exactly?”

“About how it all started,” she answered trustfully and her gaze drifted away. She tried to recall Baekhyun’s unique smile. The one thatonly she got but she almost couldn’t.

2012

Even thought three music videos were already out, EXO’s first mini album, MAMA, was only released on 8th April. Their carrier is originally dated from this day and the first showcase where they had to perform as a 12-membered group was really important for them. Taeyeon knew that very well. SNSD congratulated them and supported the boys but she hadn’t got the opportunity to say anything to Baekhyun in person. At least not until the shooting of Twinkle’s music video.

On 19th April, S.M. Entertainment announced officially the creation of their sub-unit, TaeTiSeo but they had already been rehearsing for months. Nothing more left but the music video before the single’s release. The girls were excited and a little nervous of course but Taeyeon was the one who had the most things to fear. Not just as leader but as woman too. She didn’t know how much her behaviour of last time would affect their work together. She didn’t mean to hug him. It was just an ‘in the heat of the moment’ thing. Or at least she tried to tell herself that. She didn’t want it to complicate anything between them, their friendship and career. But most of all: she didn’t want Baekhyun to misunderstand.

“Girls, you are dashing as always,” the director complimented them as he entered their dressing room following by quite familiar faces. Taeyeon felt her nervousness appear once again. “Let me