Their presence that night was far from what was expected. It was not projected that they would do this well so late in the game. All they hoped for their debut was to put them out there for people to recognize. They didn’t expect the success this fast. Some would say it was due to the company being well known but people knew that JYPE was not what it’s used to be back in their golden days. The group, the staff, the whole company worked exceptionally hard for their promotion and its paying off.

The invitation came the day before the big event. There’s no performance in line for them. They’re just there to be part of the audience and to accept the award. Since the notice came in late, the staff was rushing for the preparations. They weren’t able to go to HK until in the afternoon of the day itself. Since this was their first big award, they were all a nervous wreck. Thankfully they weren’t alone. Their label mate sunbaes were with them.

After arriving backstage, the girls settled inside their waiting room. There wasn’t much more to do other than hair and makeup touch ups. A while later they were called out to get ready as the show was about to start. They were making their way to the seats, when it happened. She saw him walking pass them together with his group members. He stood out because of his height and his demeanor. At least to Mina he did. Dressed in formal clothes, he looked pristine and intimidating the way his eyebrows furrowed slightly. They bowed in respect, still in awe of the moment they get to be face to face with a group as big as Exo. When she looked up she swore he was looking at her.

Sehun scanned their faces as they walked by. ‘So, this is the group everybody’s talking about.’ He thought to himself. His gaze lingered a little longer at the girl with the red hair who was looking at her feet. When she looked up she met his eyes but only for a split second. It was enough for her face to be engraved in his mind. Both unaware, it was in that split second that both of them felt the first 'palddak' of their hearts. It was that instance that will transcend them into a rollercoaster ride of emotions and events. The girl ignorant of the situation and the boy is just as clueless.

***

“They were pretty cute huh.” Chanyeol broke the silence in the car while he was busy playing with his phone.

They were on the way back to the hotel after the event was done. “Nugu?” Their leader asked lazily, exhausted from their schedule.

“Twice, the rookie winners. I heard they were all visuals but thought it was just all media play to hype them up, you know. It seems like the articles about them are pretty accurate. They were all pretty, especially in person.” He continued still staring at his phone.

Sehun, who was sitting beside him, peeked at what he was watching. Turns out, Chanyeol was looking up Twice videos online. He couldn’t help but watch them with his hyung. After arriving at their respective rooms, curiosity got the best of the maknae. He looked them up and ended up downloading a bunch of videos and individual fancams since he didn’t have time to watch them as they were already getting ready to leave for another schedule.

They left for the airport within an hour. After boarding the plane, he slumped on his seat by the window and took out his phone. He plugged in his earphones and his attention was glued to his phone for the entirety of the trip. The rest of s were either doing the same or slept in their respective seats. He was relieved nobody went to bother him or snooped at what he was doing as he sometimes couldn’t help but smile to himself. Sehun went from being curious to being interested. He was captivated by her graceful movements, her soft wispy voice, even her shy awkward personality. He has this urge to want to get to know more about the girl in the videos. The ballerina that is, Myoui Mina.

***              

2015 SBS Gayo Daejun

“Ugh. I hate this. We look like sparkly plastic picnic tablecloths.” Mina could hear Jeongyeon’s frustrated mutter under her breath.

“Yah. Don’t let the stylist unnies hear you.” Nayeon warned with a frown on her face. Clearly, she doesn’t like what they were wearing as well and they knew their eldest for her uncontrolled facial expressions.

“They’re not bad. I think we’re pretty cute in it.” Sana chimed in infecting the other girls with her optimistic outlook on everything. Mina quietly walked up to her, linking her arm to the older girl. “Yeah, I think we make everything look cute” She said encouragingly. They spent the next hour jokingly dissing each other’s outfits, away from the staff’s earshot of course.

Mina found herself restless somehow. She went out for a bit and her eyes kept wandering all over the place, trying to get a glimpse of the groups that were coming in and out of the waiting area. “Who are you