The boys were so close to debuting you could taste it, the days whirled by in a massive stress filled with laughter and tears, but you still had many memories to make with the twelve before the penultimate day... 

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'Ahhhh the teasers done but my hands hurt so much!' Tao exclaimed walking into the apartment, dumping his bag on the floor and flailing his arms around, rubbing his palms and whining. 

'Oh Tao what happened!?' You took your apron off, folding it onto the counter before rushing to Tao's side from the kitchen - Tao's whines always made you drop whatever you were doing and rush over to him, you spoiled him too much, you knew it. 

'I had to do so many takes of it, my Wushu choreography....It hurts-' Tao exclaimed rubbing his palms. 

You tucked some loose hair behind your ear before taking charge. 

Tao flinched at the contact. 

You held onto his hands, concern evident all over your face while you flipped Tao's palms over; witnessing the burn-like marks appearing on his skin, rubbing your fingers over them and bringing his hands to your mouth, blowing into his palms to ease the stinging sensation. Your fingers trailed over the burn softly, sending a sensation of sparks up Tao's arm. 

'Gosh it looks bad, here use some of this, I always keep some handy.'  You whipped out some wet wipes from your pockets, wrapping it around his hands slowly and delicately, lifting his hands and blowing onto them some more. 

Tao's eyes widened.

'It’s-It's fine.' Tao mumbled staring at you in surprise, blinking widely as if he'd seen you for the first time.  He tried to slip his hands away from yours, but you held them in place, finishing off wrapping the wipes around his palms, too focused on the job to catch Tao's stares.

'Ok just leave it for a bit to clean your palms, then take it off - try not to irritate that area so much.' You said looking into Tao's eyes worriedly.

'Ok...' Tao mumbled looking away, blushing slightly. 

'Oh we're going to go watch a film, want to come you two?' Junmyeon asked flicking the collar of his coat down. 

'No, I'm going to go sleep...' Tao mumbled some other inaudible words before walking into his dorm room and shutting the door behind him. 

'What's he blushing about jeez, anyways, _______-ah, would you like to come?' Yixing offered putting his beanie on. 

'Ah I can't sorry; I'm going to have some bubble tea.' You replied bowing in apology. 

'How about you Kyungsoo, you like the cinema don't you?' You asked redirecting the question. 

'Ah, yeah, I'll grab my coat...' Kyungsoo replied sliding his coat on, checking the coat pocket for his wallet. 

'Hyung bubble tea, let's go.' Sehun said emerging from his room and tugging on Luhan's arm. 

'________-ah, you're coming too?' Sehun asked making sure you were coming. 

'Yep, count me in.' You exclaimed getting your coat. 

You were used to the routine since you, Sehun and Luhan frequently went to get bubble tea ever since that incident; it was amazing how interesting and lively these two boys got once you'd sat down and had your drinks. It was fun walking to the cafe and chatting and chatting on the way back, usually buying snacks and sweets for the others they'd message you to get.  

You tried all the flavours the shop offered and now knew your favourites, without chocking on a piece yet to date. 

'Ah-ah, I would love to have bubble tea, but Sehun-ah, they're going to the cinema, I want to go~~' Luhan pouted looking at Minseok putting his coat on. 

'Yaaah Hyung, but it's bubble tea.' Sehun moaned nudging Luhan.

'Ahhh but it's so cold outside, I don't want to get cold.' Luhan added pouting. 

'Aish ok, ______-ah, let's go.' Sehun concluded, walking over to you and wrapping himself with a scarf before tugging on your arm. 

'Have fun~~' Luhan nearly sung. 

'Wait, Hyung.'

Sehun kicked the arm rest Junmyeon was resting on. 

'What?' Junmyeon asked concerned. 

'I don't have money, I'll pay you back.' Sehun replied offering his hand towards Junmyeon. 

'Ok.' Junmyeon replied dipping his hand into his pocket, pulling his card out and giving it to Sehun without a second thought. 

You watched the both of them extremely dazed at the scene. 

'Uh guys, Sehun, you do realise I can just pay for-'

'NO.' Both Junmyeon and Sehun interjected in full agreement that you would not be paying. 

You turned bright red, lifting your hands in surrender before stuffing them back into your pocket. 

'Ok, ok, forget I said anything.' You couldn't help but giggle, these boys took way too much care of you.

'Junmyeon, you sure you don't want to come for bubble tea?' You asked politely. 

'Ohhhh....I'd love to but, I'm the one taking these boys to the cinema.' He replied happy you offered. 

'Thank you though.'

'No problem.' You shrugged as Sehun pulled you away from the others.  

'See you later~' you waved walking out. 

'Bye.' They chimed in unison. 

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The moment you entered the outside world, the conversation between you and Sehun easily flowed. 

All kinds of topics were discussed; some fleetingly, and some were in detail. 

'So how's training going? Excited to debut?' You asked nudging Sehun inquisitively. 

Sehun his bottom lip before looking around absentmindedly.

'It's ok, nothing special, filming music videos and teasers, the usual. Training is long but what can I do.' He replied breathing out a small sigh. 

'And as for debuting, yeah it's exciting, we've all wanted it for so long, so it's good, I'm glad you'll be with us when we do.' 

'Aww, I'm glad too, I’m just as excited.' You couldn't help but smile. 

'It we won’t all be together though. I've gotten used to this group.' Sehun shrugged, kicking a pebble with his shoe. 

You couldn't do more than sigh; you didn't want to start crying in front of Sehun....again. 

'I'm going to miss Luhan.''

'Why Luhan specifically?'

'Because he was one of my first friends during our trainee days. He was so friendly to everyone, and even though he's Chinese, he didn't get bullied like some of the others because he was so good at everything, even our superiors praised him.' Sehun continued;

'I'm a little shy and introverted when it comes to meeting new people, and he approached me first. I didn't know what true friendship was until I met Luhan...' Sehun muttered stuffing his hands into his pockets. 

Sehun looked at your expression, you eyed him with an eyebrow raised.

'What, why are you looking at me like that?' Sehun panicked flinching away from you.

'Teee heee have you got something to tell me Sehun?' You teased poking his cheek.

'What, no ahhh chin cha I said friendship, friendship.' Sehun accentuated his point by rolling his eyes. 

'Nah that's really sweet Sehun-ah, I'm sure Luhan will miss you just as much.'

'Not as much as you.'

'Hm what?' You asked momentarily being distracted by a couple of kids running past you both. 

'Luhan introduced me to bubble tea.'

'Oh really?? that's so wonderful!' You gasped.

'Yep, and here we are.' He concluded stuffing his hands back into his pockets to keep them warm. 

'And here we are.' You mimicked smiling, but then your mind wandered off topic;

 'Your whole lives are going to change soon, you'll be famous idols, and you'll hang out with famous people~' You sighed concentrating on walking. 

'This'll be the last time we can do this without being recognised...' Sehun seemed a little put out by that statement. 

"Meh, don't worry, if we need to go out in masks just so we can get bubble tea together we'll do it" You nudged him again cheerfully, you managed to crack a small smirk from Sehun. 

'Hahaha, but really, this'll be one of the last times I can walk down the street and not be recognised by screaming girls...'

*sigh*

'Aww that means I can’t walk with you anymore' You said thinking aloud, that thought made you feel a tinge of sadness. Going out, having fun with these guys and eating at different food stalls was so fun...would all that really change forever?

'What do you mean?'

'Like, I can’t be seen with you or go out with you anymore.' You moped staring at the ground. 

'Why?' Sehun asked confused, he obviously didn't get it. 

'Because I will be a nobody and besides, girls will start to make up rumours and what not if they see me out and about with you.' 

'But you're somebody to me - TO US I MEAN.' Sehun quickly recognised his blunder and corrected the situation before continuing, you couldn't help but notice his ears turned slightly pink. He pressed on;

'And I don’t care what those girls say anyway.'

'Aish you can't say that, those girls will be your fans...but thank you Sehun-ah.' You said humbly, you tried to fight back the smile that grew from ear to ear, feeling yourself blush at his words. 

'I mean it, regardless of what they say, we can even do something like this...'

With little effort, without giving you a chance to even think twice, Sehun slid his large hand into yours, holding your hand in his gently. 

Your eyes widened, you couldn't stop yourself. 

'...And I won’t care what they'll say.' He muttered seriously. 

'Y-yahhh Sehun...' You tried not to be awkward, you tried to keep it light, but his hand fit so perfectly in yours. You couldn't really believe it, you were amazed more than anything else. You tried to slowly feel if Sehun would let go, but there was no sign of it, you continued to breath normally. 

'Friends can hold hands you know.' Sehun muttered rolling his eyes. 

'That is true.' You concluded trying to not blush. 

'You're going to be with us for a while ______-ah, so don't think you're a nobody to us.' Sehun stated with a final nod. 

'Thank you.' you said quietly, you didn't want to well up so a change of topic felt like a good idea. 

'Do you remember the first time we got bubble tea? You looked like you really didn't want to go with me haha.' You remembere