Tomorrow had come very fast for both Exy and Junseo. Exy had practiced the whole day, while Junseo had physical therapy for his shoulder. Both were nervous, yet excited for the dinner. Now Junseo was waiting for Exy outside of her supposed “dorm” room. Who knew that she was only a few floors above this whole time, but only got to see her now.

The door opens to Exy in the clothes the girls picked for her and Eunseo’s makeup. “Hey, sorry if I kept you waiting.”

Junseo couldn’t believe his eyes. Exy yesterday was stunning, but today she was on another level of attractive. Beautiful was the one word Junseo had in mind, but he only realized he was staring when she was just staring back at him. “Oh, it’s nothing. You must have been busy today. Shall we go?”

Exy, on the other hand, was also distracted with Junseo. He was wearing something very simple, but it looked so attractive on him. He really had a charming smile. “Ready!”

As Exy exits the dorm to head to the elevator, there’s a snap of a camera. The rest of the girls were all there by the living room. “Have fun with your date!” they all shout, leaving both Junseo and Exy blushing.

In the elevator, it’s Junseo who first initiates the conversation “So, how was your day? You look great by the way.”

Exy usually gets compliments from the ujungs, but something feels different when Junseo says it. “Thank you. It was okay, the practice was tiring as usual. How’s your shoulder?”

“Better. I’ll be able to play again in a month though so I can rest. But hopefully I’ll be in the national team by then, so training won’t start till much later.”

To think that just yesterday they were shouting inside that elevator, and now they were on their first (unofficial) date. The atmosphere though was still a bit awkward even with the small talk, so Junseo decided to give his first surprise for Exy that night. “I actually got you something for tonight. I hope you like it.”

Junseo takes out a black beanie out of his coat with a matching scarf. “I know you idols have your “dating” scandals, so just to be careful.”

Exy couldn’t help but smile at the thoughtful gift, the scarf and beanie even had a cute beagle design. She’s never had a experience with any sasaeng fans or with the media, but she rather not start now. “Thank you so much! This is so cute. I didn’t get you anything though”.

“Going out with me is enough for now” Junseo winks at Exy and smiles, slowly breaking the ice.

The elevator doors open. “Great, the taxi’s here also. Let’s go to dinner!”

“This is the place!” Junseo had led them to a small café that had a good view of Bampo bridge. The place was dimly lit, in order to have a greater view of the lights around the bridge. They were also the only people in the café, and a nicely set table was there for just the two of them.

Exy was quite surprised, Junseo really prepared for tonight in such a short time.

“I used to run jog around the park here when I moved in from out of town. I’d go to this café to rest, and I ended up making friends with the owner. We got this place for ourselves for now.” Junseo seemed to read Exy’s mind.

“You’re not from Seoul? Where are you from?” Exy asks as she sits down on the chair Junseo offered.

“I’m from Yeoju, it’s a city right next to Incheon. I moved here a couple years ago to train for the national team.” Junseo reaches his seat across Exy. “I haven’t been home for 2 years actually.”

“Really? Don’t you miss your family?” Exy says a bit shocked

“Of course, I do. Jaesung used to make fun of me a lot because I cried a lot in our first few months here! Enough about me, are you from Seoul?” Seems Exy met her match for crybaby title.

“I’m actually from Busan. I moved here 13 years ago as a trainee, and-”

Exy and Junseo talked endlessly into the dinner. Time ran slow for them, and the topics were endless; from their past like Exy’s trainee days and Junseo’s numerous injuries, to recent events like Exy’s feelings on promoting with only 10 members and Junseo’s recovery from his shoulder injury.

Junseo couldn’t help but notice Exy laughs like a crow sometimes and holds her nose when she does laugh. It’s quite adorable, and he’s glad he gets to make her laugh. Exy on the otherhand notices Junseo likes to play with his hair. It's very messy but it looks cute on him.

Junseo checks his watch, he could ask one more question before taking her to “the spot”.

“What was the hardest thing that happened to you during your trainee days?”

Exy takes a while to think of an answer. Moving out of Busan was definitely hard, all the practices and tests were hell, even her failed debut with Seola wasn’t easy to move on from. But one stuck to her good which scared her for a while.

“When they told me, I had a problem with my vocal cords. That’s why I became a rapper. It scared me because I thought I’d never get to debut. I thought I’d never be good in rapping, and it took me awhile before I became what I am today. I could still sing, but I was really sad for a while.”

Exy releases a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She hasn’t told anyone like that in a while. The only people who know about this are her members. It felt refreshing to able to talk to someone so naturally.

“I know how you feel. My injury earlier this year scared me. I couldn’t play for months, I thought all my dreams and efforts were just a waste. But I’m glad I had Jaesung by my side. He’s like a younger brother.” Junseo smiles at the progress he’s made now. He hopes that in a month the national team will be waiting for him.

After paying the bill, Junseo stands up and offers his hand to Exy. “I hate to end this dinner, but we gotta go somewhere if that’s okay with you? Remember to wear the beanie and scarf too.”

Exy’s nervous for numerous reasons; she has no idea where they’re about to go, it’s almost time for to get back before Minji starts to call her, and the date is about to end. Instinctively she grabs his hand and Junseo starts to drag her out the café.

Exy’s trying to keep pace with Junseo, but she can’t help but laugh as they race down the part to a secluded side where they could really see the Bampo bridge in its beauty. She’s only met Junseo yesterday, but she feels so vibrant and brave with him. She’s only like this on stage, and with the girls. It almost feels dangerous.

Junseo finally slows down and sits by the water’s edge. Exy’s right next to him, still holding his hand. He’s only brought Jaesung and his family here, no one else. Something feels different with Exy. She has these fierce sad eyes that scream bravery to him, and even though he just met her he’s never talked to anyone like that other than Jaesung.

“I found this place by accident also. I realized here how much I wanted to play badminton. It’s more than a passion, it’s my life.” Junseo’s smiling wide now, he’s never expressed this much in a while. It feels so liberating.

Exy could relate. She never realized how much she wanted to be an idol until she set foot on her debut stage with 11 different girls. Adding a 13^thjust made their cozy family even more special.

“Thank you for bringing me here. I’ve seen the bridge from a far, but not like this.”

As Exy says this she gets a text from Seola

Minji-nim is asking you to come home now. Will try to stall her.

“Something wrong?” Junseo asks.

“I hate to cut this short, but time to go home” Exy pouts a bit, she really had fun in this “date”. She might not be able to be this free for a while.

“Okay, but before we go back can I ask you something?” Junseo’s heart is trying to beat right out his chest from what he’s about to ask.

Exy suddenly gets nervous too. “What is it?”

“Can we see each other more? I know it’s going to be hard, but we can try?”

Exy’s at a loss of words. Dating is hard in her unpredictable life. Would they able to do it? And they just met. “We might not see each other every day, even if we are in the same building…”

“Then we have every other day. By then we can just relax, get to know each other, and have fun. Do you trust me?” Junseo loses all that nervousness in a flash, realizing he rather had tried than not at all.

Exy knows the answer. She looks into the hand she’s holding, and this moment will always remind her that she’s still very human. And that her goals and dreams are just as normal as his, and never impossible.

“So, when’s our official date?”