“And now, we’ll now reveal this week’s number one!” IU, one of the MC’s of the day had announced as the other two competitors of this week’s number one spot stared ahead at the screen, seeing all their numbers rise along with yours on the screen as well. You were one of the artists whose songs’ were in the number one spot of the week on M!Countdown, a music program in South Korea.

You nervously held onto the microphone, unsure of how to feel about this because it’s been a long time since you’ve made a comeback. Nights of just thinking of how nervous you would be on today’s stage increased the pace of your heartbeat. Your fingers fiddled with the microphone you had in your hands and your eyes couldn’t help but catch the banner right before your eyes from one of your fans (one out of the many, really). It had your name on it along with an encouraging message of; ‘I LOVE YOU! YOU’RE THE BEST!’

Unintentionally, a smile spread on your face as you locked gazes with her for a second, using one of your hands to wave at the girl who hid half of her face with the banner. Just like that, she broke out into a huge grin and started to wave back excitedly – it somehow made your heart calm down. Your fans were one of the reasons why you were here today and you were so grateful for that. However, your fans weren’t the only people whom could calm you down. There was also someone else…

“Love, you’ll do more than just amazing. I can feel it.” He had this determination in his voice and it was just talking to him over the phone. You could imagine his serious gaze in front of you as if he was really here even though he wasn’t. He was away, to be exact, for a concert in Tokyo. You were here, having your comeback in Korea and soon you’d start promoting. When that time comes, God knows if you’ll ever have much time with him but you knew and he knew, the both of you could overcome anything together.

As long as the two of you loved each other – that was what mattered the most.

You sighed and rolled on the bed, wishing that he was beside you so you could curl up beside him but having him over the phone where you could hear his voice was good enough. “I’m still nervous, though… Will you be watching the broadcast?”

He hummed a bit, thoughtfully thinking, “Hm… I don’t know… Maybe?”

You groaned and kicked your own legs, “Lay!”

He chuckled and shook his head as if you could see it, “I’m kidding! It’s been two years since your comeback – do you think I’ll slip this one?”

A huge grin spread out on your lips as you thought about it – he has been here with you every step of the way despite him being in a popular-rising group, EXO. Regardless of how busy he was and how packed his schedule was, he never fails in putting you on his top priority. You always had a special spot in his heart and that will never change. It was as if your name was engraved on his heart.

“Get some rest, love. You’ll need the energy for tomorrow. I’ll see… you in Korea, soon!” You noticed how he suddenly sped up his speed in talking, as if he had a plane to catch. You narrowed your eyes ahead of you and you could tell he knew what was going on based on how you called his name out in a warning tone, “Lay…”

“I love you, my love! Bye! Duty calls!”

“W-Wait! What duty?”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

“Lay!"

“Congratulations! You are this week’s number one!” Kwanghee, another MC with IU had congratulated you as they handed you the trophy together. Your eyes widened and you felt yourself being reeled back into reality – how long have you exactly spaced out like that? You sheepishly held onto the trophy with one hand, while the other gripped onto the microphone. You felt your heart beating so fast, it felt like it was impossible to keep calm at a moment like this. You would never expect yourself to win first place – all the support, all the love, really?

“Make your speech!” IU cheerfully gave you a light nudge on the shoulder, making you step forward where the fans started to cheer. It felt so surreal, it felt like a dream. Despite being an artist for a long while, every time when you win an award it felt like you have just started – it brought you back to your debut days.

And your speech never changed. You were still thankful for the very same people who stood by you through it all.

“T-Thank you to all my fans, the president of my company, my parents and everyone who had stood by me through it all. I… I would’ve never expected this, really. Thank y-you guys so, so much.” You realized that even when you had stopped talking, you were still trembling from the shock that took over your body. However, thank God the rest of the MC’s went back to continue with their ending of the program before your song would come up as a replay.

The moment when their synchronized goodbyes came to an end, the intro of your song started to play and you were taken back by this. Fans started to cheer louder, as if their roars increased by tenfold and you were surprised, too.

They seemed happier than you were and you couldn’t believe it that you won, as well. However, fans started to point over your shoulder, making you furrow your eyebrows in confusion. You wanted to go around to bow, to give respect to the other artists here with you but you couldn’t help but follow what the fans were trying to inform you of. Like a lost and clueless puppy, you turned around slowly only to meet with a pair of eyes that seemed so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. All the other artists had dispersed to somewhere else, back to the backstage only to leave one person standing here with you.

Your eyes widened and somehow, the microphone managed to catch your voice calling his name out before his arms wrapped around you tight. Fans screamed louder and with more excitement when Lay’s arms were tighter around you, lifting you off the ground to spin you around. You couldn’t help but squeal quietly into his ears, your arms thrown around his neck as he held you close – you’ve been missing him so much and to have him here at this moment where you have won your first trophy after two years of not being active felt incredible.

You have no idea how he came here and when he came here but that would be questioned later.

He was here to celebrate this special moment and needless to say, he stood by you throughout your last performance for the day. When it all came to an end, one simple word that he said was enough to send the butterflies roaming into your stomach.

“Congratulations.”