“I can’t do it…” Jongdae muttered to himself, closing his Mandarin textbook and rubbing his eyes, fighting back tears of frustration. He felt as if his head was full of tongue twisters and syllables that made no sense and sounded so foreign to his ears, even with the months of study and the constant repetition. Minseok-hyung was learning faster than he was and he just couldn't keep up. His nightmares were a mishmash of Korean and Mandarin and he could see everyone laughing at him. He never thought it would happen but he was beginning to regret volunteering for M.


The usually cheerful lead singer’s change in attitude didn’t go unnoticed. Wufan tried to help the younger male but Jongdae’s tears sent him fleeing. Even kind-hearted Yixing couldn’t bring a smile to their singer’s face and Tao’s attempts to cheer him failed, nearly leaving the youngest in tears himself. Jongdae’s smiles came less frequently and when they did appear they were forced, never reaching his eyes.


He awakened one morning, sleepily trudging to the bathroom before anyone one else got up. Standing in front of the mirror he finally opened his eyes - to see a yellow post-it in front of him. Written in scrawling script was the phrase:


Küss mich, ich bin Deutsch


Jongdae blinked, sounding out the words in a voice half-slurred with sleepiness. It wasn’t Korean and he was pretty sure it wasn’t Mandarin. Shaking his head, he finished brushing his teeth and headed back to his room, only to find another yellow slip of paper on the door to his room, the same familiar handwriting:


Csókolj meg, Magyar vagyok


Now, the other he thought might be German but this one he had no idea. Pulling open his dresser drawers he found another yellow post-it, nestled amongst his socks:


целуйте меня; я русский!


Huh? What was going on?


No longer quite so sleepy, Jongdae found himself bemused as he dressed, pulling on a familiar, comfy hoodie and heading down to breakfast. Opening the refrigerator he found himself laughing out loud, the now familiar sunny sheet taped to the orange juice:


Bésame soy Español


Smile on his face he turned, and found himself face to face with Luhan. His hyung smiled - and promptly put a post-it on his forehead. “Finish your breakfast then read it,” he murmured before disappearing into his room.


After the fastest breakfast ever (who knew you could inhale pancakes that quickly?) Jongdae took the slip of paper - and his smile broadened, the heavy burden easing from his shoulders.


It doesn’t matter what language you speak. Sometimes things are universal, Chenchen.

Now come give your gege a kiss.


Jongdae had a feeling things would be okay.



A/N: Languages used are as follows - 1. German, 2. Hungarian, 3. Russian, 4. Spanish, 5. Luhan-ese. :)