After the show’s meet and greet, I bid the crowd one last goodnight as I exited the stage with a smile. I always loved performing as it had always been my dream. To actually make it as big as I have is a dream come true to me and it just made me so happy.

When I got backstage I was covered in sweat and so I went straight to my dressing room and changed. Afterwards, while everyone was celebrating for yet another successful show, I saw Taemin having a conversation with a staff. I smiled at how easy-going his nature was and how wrong everyone is when they claim that Taemin’s the childish one when he’s so funny to me.

I took one look at Taemin and all the unease and nervousness left me, I knew this is the last chance I get as all my courage keeps slipping off around him, so I will take my chances today.

I took a deep breath and walked up to him, letting the adrenaline after my performance take place.

“Taemin, can I talk to you?” I asked him, I smiled at one of the crew he was talking to and said. “Can I borrow him for a minute?”

He smiled back and said: “Sure, take your time.”

I took Taemin’s hand and dragged him away from the small crowd gathered backstage. I needed this to be private.

“What is all this Taemin? You keep coming here and you’re being all protective over me, you’ve been protective over Minhyuk and Hyungsik when they came for a visit and you’re making me like it. Honestly Taemin, this is just all too confusing and if you’re not gonna clear things out for me then-“

I was cut off by his soft lips pressing against mine. I was surprised but did not pull back. For so many years I’ve imagined kissing him, even during the early days of the first trainee, and now here it was, the kiss I’ve always dreamt of, and it felt exactly the way I imagined it.

Sparks flew everywhere, my knees was going weak and I would have fallen if not for his hand in my hips, helping me stand still. This one kiss invaded all of my senses and I could not think straight, all I could smell was his musky perfume and all I can feel is his soft lips pressed against mine and all I know is that time seemed to stop just for the two of us.

“Does that stop the confusion?” He asked playfully, after the kiss.

I shook my head. “I think it only added a lot more confusion on my part.” I admitted but dragged him into another kiss.

He smiled against my lips and pulled back a little, not too far that I could still feel his breath blowing on my face.

“I think I’ve fallen in love with you.” He confessed.

Those words just sounded so perfect coming from him that I couldn’t help but smile.

This boy in front of me was so sane and composed all the time that I’m surprised he’d feel such things towards a mess like me.

He pressed his lips against mine again and I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around him in an attempt to get him closer.

He pulled out of the kiss, his expression serious before the smirk appeared on his face.

“If you want to date me I’m expecting a proper proposal. ” he said, teasingly.

I playfully punched him on the chest.

He grinned and took my hand, pressing it over his heart.

“In all honesty Soojung, the whole three months that I’ve been spending with you, all of those days were my failed attempts in asking you out. Everyday I find a reason why it’s wrong for there to be an us and now I realized that I shouldn’t really care about the ‘why nots’ and ‘what ifs’ and that what I should care about is the ‘I’ll take a chance.’ But I can’t take full credit because you’re the one who opened up this conversation. I’m sorry for being such a coward but…” He took a deep breath. “Soojung, will you go out with me?”

I faked a frown, “It’s too complicated, I’ll have to think about it.”

The easy-going smile slipped off of his lips, replaced by a trembling lips and I couldn’t help but laugh. How can he even think I’d say no to a guy like him?

I took the collar of his shirt and dragged him to me, kissing him again.

“Does that answer your question?”

He smirked.

“Not sure I got the message clearly, can you pass it again?”

I smiled and slapped his arm.

“How about a movie date then, you up for it?” He asked.

“Sure.” I didn’t care what we did as long as This was reality and not some dream.

I have been wishing that this would happen to Taemin and I. That we could actually be together.

My eyes flicked back to his lips, wanting nothing but to kiss him again. Damn his kisses were addicting and I just kissed him not more than a moment ago.

He smirked and leaned on me, knowing exactly what I wanted.

“I’ll pick you up at eight, then?” He whispered, his breath blowing on my ears, sending tingles through my whole body.

“Eight’s great.” Definitely enough time to prepare.

He smiled.

“My god, I can’t pick, Jessica just help me out please.” I begged my sister who was supposed to be helping me pick up a dress but was texting away instead.

“Soojung, stop panicking, you already look awesome, Taemin’s so in love with you he probably won’t even notice what you’re wearing.”

“He didn’t say he was ‘so in love with me’”

I told Jessica how it went with Taemin earlier and obviously, she forgot some important bits.

She snorted.

“That’s an understatement of the century.”

I looked at her with s frown.

“Oh please, the boy’s been in love with you since years ago just as you have been. The both of you were just too pathetic to make a move on each other.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. Was that true, had he been in love with me since then? I took a deep breath and looked at Jessica.

“Can you please, please help me pick my outfit?”

She rolled her eyes with a smile.

“Fine.”

Ding dong.

The sound made me freeze. Oh my god, this really is happening, I am going on a date with Taemin just like I had always wished.

“Soojung, Mr. Dreamboy’s here!” Taemin called from downstairs.

I felt myself getting nervous again. I silently walked down the stairs, listening to the conversation they were having.

“Bring her home before curfew.” Jessica said, pretending to be a responsible sister.

“Yes ma’am, I will.” Taemin said, amusement in his voice.

I heard Jessica begin to laugh.

“Wow, I’ve missed you, Minnie.” She commented.

“Likewise.”

Jessica snorted.

“For a short moment there I forgot you were the boring one.”

Taemin gasped.

“Take that back!” He teased.

After what seemed like going down the longest staircase, I finally reached the bottom and their conversation ended.

Taemin looked at me with a dazed expression. I took that as a positive sign. He didn’t look bad himself, he was rocking his usual wear, A white t-shirt under his ed long-sleeved checkered polo, a pair of jeans and his well-loved converse shoes.

“Hi.” He said, finally.

I smiled.

“Hi.” I said biting my lip nervously.

Jessica pushed him, grabbed my hand and dragged us both out of the door.

“Okay, now, enjoy your little date and I want you both back here later with a smile. Bye.” She pushed us out and shut the door on our faces.

Taemin and I both laughed, he held out his hand to me and I interlaced my fingers with his.

I couldn’t help but smile at the feel of it. It just felt perfect.

I looked at Taemin and smiled at him, he was just so perfect it’s unreal and I couldn’t help but wonder, why me? Out of all the girls he could have, why me? The broken mess that went into treatment and not some hot model he could easily charm?

“You look beautiful.” He said with a smile as he led me to his car.

“Thanks.” I replied.

He smiled.

“And you look definitely like my type.” He continued as he opened his door.

“And what’s your type?” I asked.

“Just you.” He replied simply and those two words made me forget that I was ever broken.