She tried to look at the other members, listen to what Suho was saying but it was hard because Luhan was semi-right in front of her, and he was looking at her, an amused smile on his lips and a glint of interest in his eyes. They both jumped, though when Suho was bringing the talking segment to a close and they all bowed together, their contact broken as they all positioned themselves to perform HISTORY from their first mini album, MAMA.

As the iconic machine sounds thrummed through the speakers, she got herself back into fangirl mode and not lovestruck-omg-Luhan-wa- just-looking-at-me mode. She began to jump and follow the hype of the people. But then again, it was hard to ignore the fact that Luhan was still looking at her as they performed. The song ended and another started. She gasped; her hand covered as she heard the ever so familiar piano chords being played. She watched as two members from the line stepped forward, Luhan and Chen, and began singing.

They were singing Baby Don’t Cry in Chinese. She felt her heart soften and warm at the sight of them, singing their song in Chinese in Korea. The fact that she was in Korea gave her enough reason to give up the chance to hear them sing a whole song in Chinese and there Luhan and Chen were, singing their hearts out, singing about a girl they loved that was scared to be left, to be broken and disappear. Jenny’s personal favorite part was the fact that Luhan was looking straight at her as he sang with his eyes soft and warm, like the song, like his voice. She couldn’t help but to be enthralled by his beauty, by his voice, by his sincerity, by his eyes.

Her sight swayed, though when Eunsoo hissed beside her.

“,” Eunsoo cursed quite loudly because she heard it before he pulled her by the elbow and led her out of the crowd and ducked her under the restraints towards the backstage. “People are noticing.” Eunsoo muttered under his breath then. He led her into a long dark hallway with a series of doors in either side of them. Towards the end of the hall, she could see a wide platform a foot below the stairs that led up to the stage which was blaring with lights. She could hear the song playing and it was of an indie band which meant EXO was off stage. All of them. She swallowed. Before she could think anything else, she let out a loud “ungmbf,” because she hit herself on Eunsoo’s back. She saw that he stopped in front of a dressing room to their left. But before anything, he looked behind him, a irritably scratching his head.

“Stay still,” he ordered her, “I’ll be right back,” he said sternly and so she stood there silently.

She daydreamed then, thinking of how to greet them for the first time….will she bow? Or just shake their hands? She was from Canada, should she shake their hands? But she’s Chinese still so she should bow and she was in Korea…yes she should really bow. How was she going to introduce herself, though? “Hi, I’m Jenny from Canada and I won a contest”——or “Hi, I’m Jenny and I am a big fan of yours and I——” her thoughts were cut off when hand patted her shoulder. She looked up and gasped.

Luhan was in front of her, smiling his gentle smile and even he himself looked excited. 

“Hi!” he greeted in English and smiled some more, “I’m Luhan and you?” he started, still in English and the urge. Her urge to just pinch his cheeks and hug him and—- “Hey,” he said and she must’ve been holding her breath and her face must’ve been crimson because the next thing he asked, as excitement turned into worry on his face he asked, “Are you okay? I—-” he snapped his head up then and his face turned from worry for her to stern. He let go of her shoulder and someone walked passed her, grabbing Luhan by the shoulder. She looked and saw Eunsoo. She furrowed her eyebrows and tried to open her ears and filter what he was saying through the noise.

“You weren’t supposed to stir up anything. Were you thinking? She’ll be exposed. What is wrong with you?” Eunsoo hissed in harsh Korean and Luhan only looked at Eunsoo, his eyes big.

“Sorry,” he only whispered and stepped inside the door without giving even just a glance at her.

She looked at Eunsoo and glared. He looked at her and raised his eyebrows before she snapped back and shook her head and bowed for respect he didn’t deserve.

“You,” he addressed Jenny and she raised her eyebrows…you? How very disrespectful, “Stand here,” he pulled her elbow a good five doors down the hallway, “In three, start walking towards their door. Look at the camera in excitement at least once before getting there and opening it. When you look at the camera, look at the red light, alright?” she only looked at him and nodded slightly. It was obvious he was a little put off by that but ignored it and went back to EXO’s door, no doubt to instruct them as well. The camera crew were setting up beside her and they all smiled at her sympathetically. They knew how Eunsoo was and they themselves didn’t like it. Another less than a minute later, Eunsoo came out of the door and signaled the crew to standby.

“In three okay, Jenny?” he asked and she just grinned at him, her lips shut tight. “Okay, ready?” He asked the camera men around them harshly, “One,” he started and she breathed in sharply then, reminded that in a breath, she will be meeting the idols of her dreams.

“Two,” she heard Eunsoo continue and she could feel her nose getting itchy and her eyes getting irritable.

No, oh my goodness don’t cry now! She thought to herself as she fanned her face.

“Three!!” Eunsoo yelled and she saw at her peripheral view the red light from cameras. She started walking towards the dressing room door and saw faintly Eunsoo’s signal for her to look at the camera. Mustering up a small smile, she faced the camera nearest her in genuine excitement. She saw the thumbs up from Eunsoo and fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him and just turned around to face EXO’s dressing room.

She reached over and touched the cool handle and she bit her lip. Eunsoo did hand gestures from behind the cameras to get on with it and, holding her breath, pushed the door open and there they were, though busy from getting ready, all turned to smile at her and she couldn’t help but turn crimson. It was full of people, dress stylists, hair stylists, makeup artists, sweat wiping noonas and event managers plus the EXO members were all bustling about and it almost felt like her presence was a bit of a nuisance but they all greeted her and smiled even if they just passed by her, rushing to another artist or another room or to get other accessories and such. She never realized how chaotic and stressful being backstage alone was. So she just stood there, looking around until a camera and a reporter looking lady approached her. 

They stood in front of her, blocking her view of anything, really. They fired her questions, such as her name, her age, her interests, her likes, her dislikes, the reason why she entered the contest, and many more questions that she answered with the first things that came to mind. She hoped she answered with well filtered phrases. The reporter smiled at her and thanked her, telling her that it was over. Wiping sweat from her forehead, she watched as the reporter and camera man left her sight, giving back her view of the whole room and everyone. She choked when what was in front of her came to view, though.

In dressing rooms, you do your makeup, you fix your hair, you practice your performance if you can and you…..change. 

In front of Jenny’s eyes was a half Luhan waiting for a shirt, standing at a good fifteen feet away from her in all his flawless glory. He ran a hand through his dark sandy hair and his lower lip was trapped between his lips. She knew her name was being called but she didn’t care less. Luhan was in front of her, half , sweaty and breathing heavily. He chewed on his lip a little and looked to the side, at HER. Then he smirked. He damn SMIRKED at her and if she didn’t die yet, then she must be dying soon.

“Jenny!” Eunsoo yelled exasperatedly and, with a disappointed pout and a chuckle by Luhan’s actions, Jenny turned to Eunsoo and was taken aback when she saw Kris beside him.

“I figured you should meet Kris first,” Eunsoo was saying and Jenny bowed unconsciously and Kris chuckled, “Because he speaks about the same amount of languages you speak…so I guessed it would be easier for you to communicate with the rest if you get to know Kris first,” Eunsoo said and patted Kris’ back before leaving them alone. She had a love and hate relationship with Eunsoo for sure.

“Hey,” Kris greeted in English.

“Hello, I am Jenny! Very nice to meet you!” she answered and bowed to which Kris chuckled again. She didn’t mean to bow this time, though, she meant to extend a hand for him to shake.

“I’m going to assume you know who I am?” Kris laughed and Jenny was reminded that Kris was a cheerful guy, not a cold guy like everyone thought he was the first time.

“Yifan!” Jenny froze when she heard this because the person that that voice belonged to was the very one she was just staring at a minute ago. Her cheeks burned and she turned away a bit from Kris as the still shirtless Luhan stood beside him and she felt the painful urge to maybe kiss him. The thought was inappropriate but how can she NOT think of that if Luhan was SHIRTLESS in front of her?

“Go put a shirt on, you’re embarrassing,” she heard Kris tease and she had to smile at that.