"You can change her feelings. It's not crime."   'Can I...really do that? I mean...is that even possible? For her to change to like someone like me, from someone like Mr. Perfect English? But...what if she hates me and end up not wanting to be even friends anymore? And this...well, Kevin knows nothing. I probably shouldn't make things hard on him.'   "Hey, you ready for practice? Here's the line I distributed. What you think about it? Any changes?" Kevin handed the photocopied paper of the lyrics for song they're going to perform tomorrow evening. They're left with one day to practice from scratch. Kwanghee took the paper nonchalantly and glanced at it briefly before sitting down opposite Kevin at the table.   "Whatever. Surely you know what's best right? Let's just practice. You start, right? Go on."   Creases formed on Kevin's forehead at the cold, disinterest reaction. This wasn't quite like the cheerful, talkative Kwanghee he's used too. In fact, now that he thought of it, Kwanghee had changed. He didn't remember since when. And he actually still see Kwanghee cracking up jokes with other members occassionally, but he now realized that he didn't remember the last time Kwanghee had approached him to chat. And that was odd. Kwanghee, being the friendly free spirit, would always approach the members from time to time just to bond over jokes or stories or anything funny.   "Kwanghee. Are you...mad at me over something?" He couldn't help the curiosity and naturally spilled it out, while carefully observing as Kwanghee's eyes grew large and the latter began to panicked. The body language somehow confirmed him that Kwanghee was indeed, mad at him. But what he wanted to know was, why.   "Yah! Why...Why would I be mad at you? Tch. Just practice, Kim Jiyeob!"    Again, Kwanghee gave away obvious act of overcompensating the truth by talking extra loud, with a very awkward, fake 'Kwanghee tone' and act. Kevin felt a little relieved though that at least, Kwanghee could still mention his name. Which means, he hadn't really done something that made Kwanghee hated him.   He wanted to get to the root of their supposedly non-existant problem, but knowing Kwanghee who always avoid confronting issues and would rather pretend nothing happened and keep it to himself, Kevin dismissed his thoughts and decided to just play along. Maybe he could try confront Kwanghee after the showcase, but now...getting along to produce a good stage for the fans felt more crucial.   "Well, I was planning for a acapella version or piano version, and if we're going for piano version, I can play the piano and you tap your fingers. So which one you're thinking? Oh...and we can perform the song in English..if that's alright with you. You know, since you're pretty good in English. What say you?"   "Whichever."   Kevin started to have the desire to gave in to his frustration at Kwanghee's behaviour, but he knew better than to let his anger ruin their show.   "So, I guess...we practice the singing first, okay?"   Kwanghee simply nodded and hid his face behind his lyrics sheet. Kevin smiled a little, happy that his patience might lead them to some progress with the practice and he started singing his parts.   "Neoui soneul jabeumyeon maybe, naui pum-e aneumyeon maybe,"   There was a silence. Kevin frowned. "Uhm, Kwanghee...it's written there...next line is yours."   "Oh. Okay. dalkom salkomhange johaseo,....ibmajchugo sipeoseo, seolleneun nae mam-eul alkka."   He finished the line with much difficulty, especially when it reminded him yet again of Mihee, Kevin, and Heechul's advice. He let out an audible sigh, subconsciously before catching on his own frivolous act.   "Sorry. I can't do this now. I need fresh air." He stood up immediately. A little too ready to fled away.   "Wait! What's wrong with you? The show is tomorrow!" Finally, Kevin found himself unable to held his frustration any longer and flared his temper at Kwanghee, though his temper was nothing much to boast, since it was just not in his nature to scold people.   "I will practice on my own first! Later we can practice together!" Kwanghee tried defending himself, fully aware he was in the wrong, but couldn't control his own inner thoughts, especially not when he was left inside this empty space just with his rival who happens to be perfect in all aspect. It made him even more self-conscious, fragile and unconfident of his own ability. How would he continue practice with those feelings all hovering over him?   "Ya~! Kwanghee!...you..." He heard that, that wasn't the last of Kevin's words. He was sure Kevin cursed him, but could he even blame Kevin? Their eldest member had all the rights to be mad at him now. He was being immature and irresponsible. He just couldn't go through it. And God knows how he'd go through their showcase tomorrow.   He walked fast, aimlessly, with sole purpose of getting as far away as possible from Kevin. At a corridor's junction though, he bumped into someone and almost lost his bearing.    "Oh?...Kwanghee ssi?"   "M...Mihee ssi?"   "Sorry. I didn't see you. Are you okay?" She looked genuinely worried, and that somehow lifted his gloom a bit.   "Of course. Are you alright?" He spoke quietly, far from the loud image of himself everyone knows him for. She only nodded with a smile. He was ready to see her leave, but she didn't. And he could see she had something to say.   "Is there anything you wanted to say or ask?"   "Uhh...I...heard about tomorrow's showcase for ZE:A."   "Oh, that."   "I just want to say...Fighting! I'm sure Kevin ssi and you would do well, for your duet. Can't wait to see it."   'Kevin, huh?' He sighed inwardly. The next thing that came out off his mouth was totally unplanned. But perhaps, somewhere at the back of his mind, he had decided to try his luck.   "Mihee ssi...tomorrow, the special showcase, would you like to come watch our final practice and be our special audience?"   "Really?" Her eyes lit up with sunshine glimmers of excitement.   "Come to Practice Room 3 at about...5 p.m.? What do you think about that?"   "I'd love to! Thanks Kwanghee ssi! You're the best!" She clasped her hands and skipped away in all her giddiness. He watched as her back slowly becoming smaller and smaller in his view and disappeared.   'Maybe, the next time you'd be this happy, the reason would be...me?'   ----------------   It was the showcase evening, and Kwanghee felt scared. Scared if he made the wrong decision. He wondered if he should back off now, and just throw away Heechul's crazy ideas that had somehow made its way and invaded his sane piece of mind.  He remembered the morning encounter he had at the cafeteria. She was shining brighter than the usual. Today, she wore a cute hoodie jacket with colourful stars pattern. She even gave him extra portion food when he went to take his breakfast, though he could not concentrate on anything and couldn't shove in even a single spoon of food down his throat. He had been feeling confused and terrible. He was scared of her reaction and possible rejection. He felt guilty when he thought of his practice with Kevin that hardly happened while the other teams were diligently working on perfecting their upcoming performance. Though he did try to practice his parts on his own.   Maybe, maybe he could lift up the ugly mess murking his mind once the day is over. He pushed open the practice room assigned to him and Kevin, he hadn't even seen Kevin for the whole day eversince their little fight, if you could call it that. He had thought of apologizing, but at the same time, he didn't want to practice that kind of song with Kevin. It made him mad. And it made him embarrassed at the thought of having Kevin crooning to the song beautifully while he, he'd just mess it up and made it sound funny. In front of her, who probably wouldn't even notice because she'd be too busy ogling Kevin.   That's it. Maybe he should just...   Now he noticed that the dimly lit room wasn't empty. There she was, seated pristinely at the piano bench still in her hoodie with her back facing the door where he entered, playing a little with the piano keys. She randomly tapped her fingers on the piano and what came out was pure magic. Yet again, Kwanghee found himself enarmoured by her. She seemed to be effortlessly attractive in every sense. He didn't even know she could play the piano. Why was she working in the cafeteria then and not joining as trainee, if she's this amazing?   When his hands tremblingly reached out to pull her towards himself,