Y/N

Once I was done changing into my clothes, Doyeon, Soomi, and I went out of the dressing room and immediately found the staffs gathering in front of Baekhyun. He's still standing on the same spot where I last saw him earlier.

"I would like to say few words before we start filming." he was stuttering, his hands shaking a little as he gestured for everyone to gather around. My friends and I exchange confused glances but went to follow after the rest anyway.

When Baekhyun saw me joining the crowd, it's like he suddenly gained some strength and the anxiety in his eyes decreased, hint of confident taking over him. Although I have no idea what's going on and what is this all about. I smiled at him to let him know he has my full support.

People could be heard murmuring, confusedly asking about why would Baekhyun gather like this, or sharing their own thoughts of what they think is this sudden gathering all about. Once Baekhyun cleared his throat, everyone fell silent.

He takes a deep breath before speaking, "I... I would like to acknowledge how I was to each and one of you, for the past three years." Baekhyun glances at me and then back at the crowd.

"I admit to being rude because of the wrong person. While it's not a valid reason to treat you all like shit, I hope you understand that I was blinded by what I thought was pure love." his eyes glides from staff to staff until they find mine. Baekhyun heaves out and continued, "As someone who was not allowed to have such feelings while I'm paving my way to where I stood right now, I was easily overwhelmed with the emotions I grew for that person who stayed beside me till I made it up the stage."

No wonder why Baekhyun fell in love with me, too. Even when I'm the person he hated the most. I'm the one who stood still beside him despite treating me bad, looked after him accompanied by my genuine love, and most of all being his fan from the very start. Like what he said, he was easily swayed by Jian who stayed beside him. He probably grew feelings for me because I did the same.

But unlike Jian, my love for Baekhyun is real and I won't ever betray him like what his former manager did.

"I sincerely apologize to all of you. For the things I have done to you, for everything. It was so wrong of me to treat you badly in attempt to get someone back. Rest assured that I am not the same Baekhyun who was rude to all of you before."

I swear my heart jumped when he turns to me. "Also, I want to apologize to my manager who suffered the most while sticking around me during those times I'm putting up my worst facade. Y/n... I'm really sorry."

I usually look away from people when I can feel my tears threatening to fall. But I can't seem to blink my eyes nor tilt my head and miss seeing this sight of this Baekhyun. The kind of Baekhyun that I want everyone to see, to make them believe that he's not the worst person to ever walk in this world. And that people are really capable of change.

"Words aren't enough to show how sorry I am. To make it up, I will do my best for this project we're all working on together - a smooth process to its perfection. Once again, I apologize." and he bend his body for a formal bow and stayed that way.

None of us were able to react, still surprised with Baekhyun's apology. I saw Baekhyun shutting his eyes close and nibbling on his lip anxiously, his body still inclined. I assume he's thinking that his apology isn't accepted when I can hear Doyeon and Soomi whispering how his words melted their hearts.

I had to initiate a reaction and slowly clapped my hands, catching everyone's attention.

"Apology accepted, Baekhyun. Thank you..." I couldn't find my words anymore, I didn't know what to say. I'm too overwhelmed. Especially when everyone started clapping along with me.

Baekhyun straightened up and smiles at me. With every person saying that he's forgiven, his smile widens. And my heart can't help but swell in happiness.

I'm so proud of my man.

As soon as everyone got to tell Baekhyun that his apology is accepted, they started going back to work with satisfied smiles on their faces. From that, I can tell that better days in work will be anticipated.

Baekhyun was discussing with the director, while a group of staffs decided to include me in a conversation about what just happened.

"I actually tried to never hate Baekhyun, knowing how oblivious he was about Jian. But the way he treated me gave it away." Hyunkyu admitted.

"Yeah, I'm glad he apologized to us. I can feel that we'll have better interactions with him from now on."

"Though I'm still feeling raw. It'll eventually fade and we're all going to be friends with him like how we all were before Jian got fired."

That statement from Doyeon caught my attention. "You all were friends before?" I asked. Ever since I found out that Baekhyun's rude, I thought he had been like that from the very start. So, it was kinda unbelievable to hear that he was once friends with the staffs.

"Of course. We work well together, along with Jian. That was before we knew what kind of person she really is and got fired for it. Baekhyun had always been a good person, it's just that bitch who ruined him." Doyeon rolled her eyes at the memory from before and added, "I literally treated her like my bestie."

And so their conversation went on. They were so busy looking back to the past, while I'm busy keeping my eyes on Baekhyun. Seems like their discussion ended and another staff led Baekhyun towards the dressing room. I need a way to get to him and be alone together. I want to tell him how much I'm proud of him, and I want him to be the only person to hear those words.

If I were to follow after Baekhyun, that'll be suspicious. I tilted my head everywhere, discreetly wandering my eyes to look for an excuse to escape when I saw Soomi heading towards the dressing room with Baekhyun's clothes in her hand. I excused myself from the staffs and ran after Soomi, then snatching the clothes from her and she gasped in shock.

I twirled around and walked backwards, finally seeing how surprised she is. "I'm gonna help my artist change." I winked at Soomi and didn't wait for any response as I ran towards Baekhyun's dressing room.

Once inside, I closed the door as quietly as I can and tiptoed to the small room where Baekhyun change his clothes. The door was ajar so I peeked and saw him standing, his back facing my direction. I heard him sigh heavily. Seems like he has something a lot in his mind, or he's doubtful if his really forgiven by those staffs.

I suddenly pushed the door open. "Knock knock. I'm here to help you-" a loud gasp immediately erupts from me when Baekhyun turns to me, now shirtless. "My love! I'm so sorry." I jumped around to avoid seeing him. I swear he had his shirt on before I opened the door!?

"You literally walk in to this every morning to wake me up."

I sucked my teeth and slowly turned back to him, shamelessly sliding my eyes on his bare body. "If this it what Soomi sees when she brings your clothes to you-"

"Oh, no. I usually wait for her to bring my clothes in before I change." he grabs my hand and pulled me inside the room, then kicking the door to close it.

"And I'm sure you're not here to just help me." he stands in front of me, towering over my figure, looking down on me. And just like that, he sweeps me off my feet with his eyes and deepening voice.

I snapped myself out of my thoughts and looked away. "A penny for your thoughts?" I asked, pulling his clothes off the hanger to help him change. "I heard you sighing. You know you can tell me everything. I'm your girlfriend after all."

He held his arms out and I helped him put his white t-shirt on. "I'm just not sure if what I said were enough for them to forgive me. I mean, are words enough to make up to those times I gave them a hard time to do their jobs just because they're intimidated by me?" Baekhyun looks away from me and sighed.

Then he spreads his arms so I could slip them into the sleeves of his denim jacket "Why would you think that way? Their eyes were literally sparkling with each words you're saying."

"There's this... I don't know, my love. It's just me overthinking things." he tried to shake it off, giving me a gentle smile.

"Your apology moved my heart even when you already apologized to me. I'm sure they have forgiven you." I dusted his shoulders. "You did great, baby." then I reached for his cheek and gently pinch it.

He stares at me, slightly biting his lip. I know what that look means and he knows that I have figured out what he wants from me. "I know, no flirting when we're at work." he slightly rolled his eyes.

I shook my head and chuckled before throwing my arms around his neck and tugged him closer until our lips linked. Only to pull away seconds after, just to whisper into his mouth. "I'm so proud of you."

He pressed himself against my body, pushing me to walk backwards. I gasped into the kiss once my back hits the wall, but nevertheless continued keeping up with how Baekhyun's lips skillfully moved against mine.

"You are driving me crazy. Do you know that?"

I giggled as I shook my head.

"Well at least now you do."

Amidst leaning closer to kiss me back, a knock totally paused Baekhyun's movement. Hyunkyu could be heard from outside, asking if we're done and ready to film. He pulls himself away with a contented sigh and smiled slightly.

"We should go." he walks out of the changing room first and I tailed behind him.

Just before he could open the door of the dressing room, I grabbed his hand and slip my fingers in between the gaps of his, intertwining our hands together. Baekhyun slowly turned to look at me and I gave him a gentle gaze. I know he loves being clingy even if it's risky. I always nag at him about it, but I don't know why I want to try the idea of being suspicious to people.

However, Baekhyun's free hand reached to carefully separate our linked hands and spoke, "I'm proud of us, of our relationship. There may be times I'm stubborn and playful about wanting to show off to people how much I love you. But I respect you, your privacy, and our agreement to keep our relationship from everyone for now."

I can't help my smile from showing up. "That's my baby."

"Let's do well today." he pecks the back of my hand before leaving the room first.

I can feel a different atmosphere as soon as I got into the set where Baekhyun, the director, and some staffs had been waiting for me. Though unlike before, which I can feel the heavy tension between people and Baekhyun. There's this sense of belongingness and comfort, emitted by how Baekhyun seems to ease around people and the other way around. Totally different than before, back when I just got my job as his manager.

"There you are." the director greets me with a smile as soon as he saw me walking into the set.

"I'm ready to film the last scene." I said as a matter of fact, not knowing what to say actually.

He nods his head and flips a page of the script he's holding, giving it a few read before saying, "Here's the scene we'll be shooting."

The filming progressed smoothly as expected and soon enough, I'm laying lifeless in front of Baekhyun after someone shot me to death from behind. I want to see his reaction to that, but I shouldn't open my eyes at all and do my best to look dead even if it means I have to hold my breath; and I did. I have died.

Next thing Baekhyun did, though I still can't see how he executed, totally caused goosebumps running across my skin.

His heart-clenching scream lasted for seconds and with each number I count inside my head, I can feel several emotions along with his painful voice. He's angry, hurt, sad. Just... Everything negative. It almost felt like he finally was able to scream everything out after a long time of bottling up his agony to himself.

A thud against the ground was all it took for me to pop one eye open, they won't have to show my face anyway so I guess I'm allowed to take a peek. Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I immediately saw Baekhyun kneeling down before me. His teary eyes stared down and locked gazes with my innocent ones, blinking up at him in amusement.

I bet my pupils are dilating, expanding like how it does when I drink my daily dose of iced coffee and I get too hyper. That's what happens when people looks at the person they love the most.

For a second, I caught a glimpse of how Baekhyun was so close to losing in his character. Knowing how it thrills him when he finds me cute that he badly needs to pinch my cheeks for it — as if it's his next breath. I had to close my eyes so he can focus and get things done as soon as we can.

----

Right after the filming was wrapped up, we had a little celebration for a job well-done. Though it's a bummer that we couldn't stay to enjoy the party with the team, Baekhyun and I had the tiniest time to compliment our acting skills (and maybe flirt) as we made our way to SM for his first concert rehearsals.

"Wow, I've never seen you cry like that, Baek." I wiggled my brows to tease him as soon as I'm sure we're the only ones in the room. He proceeds to the middle to start practicing, while I went to straight to the couch on the far side of the room and added, "Will I ever hear you scream like that? Like, you were really in pain and so angry-"

"Only if it really happened to you, baby." he eyed me through the mirror in front of him. "I'd be hurt enough to cry like that if I were to lose you. If we break up, you probably left because of me or what I did and I'll surely be angry at myself for that. I will never break up with you, my love. Mark my words."

That response left me speechless as he stared back at me, rather with sincere eyes instead of what I was expecting: offended and the same time embarrassed as he had the tendency to react like that when you tease him for his hard work instead of praising him. I was trying to tease him, hoping to have his attention in a not-so-Baekhyun way.

And by that I mean I wanted him to approach me and address how I had offended him instead of putting up with it, gently, as always. He might be spoiling me, but I don't have any intention to take advantage of it. I just want to see how he'd deal with my randomness.

And I got the answer.

"I never thought that my dream of you getting shot in front of me is actually a foreshadow of the scene we filmed today. No wonder why I got deja vu." he scoffed to himself before turning his attention back to me. "I was imagining it really happened, to help me cry."

And why did that made me blush? Wait, am I supposed to get offended that he actually pictured me out dead so he can cry for that scene?

"Would you mind joining me?"

I was brought back to reality and immediately blinked down on the hand he offered me — and then looking up at him again, eyes now glistening in confusion.

"Remember when we danced to Candy together?"

"What about that?"

He laughs lightly. "Well, isn't that one of your suggestions for me to perform? Why don't you help me?"

Before I could even protest, he's already pulling me join him on the dance floor. We stood right in the middle, feeling like can't take our eyes off each other's, faint color of pink dusting our cheeks. I love that moment when everything suddenly disappears and it's just the two of us. No one else. No covering up, no pretending we hate each other, no thinking how this relationship is going to affect both of our careers as an individual.

"Can we just skip to my favorite part?" Baekhyun lets go of my hand and took small steps back to draw distance.

"What part?"

"The chorus. That's when I have to look at you."

I sneered, trying to hide how that actually flattered me. "You are not dancing with me during your concert though."

"At least I could practice with you. It's more private and no one has to see how you're so good with me."

Another sneer from me and I crossed my arms. "Whatever. If you practice with me, you will start looking at your backup dancer the way you look at me and you'll lose that iconic gaze you hold only for me." followed by a smug look and a smirk. "Have I ever told you I'm a jealous girlfriend?"

"I don't know if that's an excuse to avoid dancing to my song, now that you're my girlfriend. But I totally get your point."

Satisfied, I nodded once before turning around to leave the dance floor and go back to the couch where I will be watching him practice for the rest of the night. Just when I was about to sit, I noticed that my blanket's on the floor. It was probably pulled along with me when Baekhyun pulled me up to stand.

But it was wrapped around my strawberry tumbler-

"Ah!"

I have never whipped my gaze behind faster when I heard a loud thud after Baekhyun screamed. He was down, curling on the floor and clutching one foot. His face twisted into the most pained expression I've ever seen in him as he wailed.

And it took me a whole five seconds to register what happened before I came running towards my boyfriend. Only to stop few steps away from him, too afraid to scratch his body at least a small part of me — or it will hurt him.

"Baekhyun..." I have no idea what to do, I want to help him but I don't know how.

But then I heard voices from outside the practice room and that woke me up to do something. I made another run to greet whoever is outside and after a harsh pull on the door, a group of people that I recognized as Baekhyun's backup dancers appeared right before my eyes.

"Help... Baekhyun... He..." I couldn't form a sentence and just pointed a finger at my boyfriend lying on the floor to let them know what happened.

It was this kind of moment that makes me desperately wish for the time to run fast. And heaven listened to me when I forgot how I cried while we're on our way to the hospital and soon sat beside Baekhyun's bed in the emergency room, still weeping secretly.

I could've been bawling, as seeing my love ones in pain hurts me too. But I also don't want to get people's attention and swallowing my sobs is the only option for me to stay quiet.

"I'm okay." Baekhyun tried to convince me for the nth time tonight. I just can't stop sobbing as I shook my head to show him that I'm not taking his word. "Y/n, it's just a sprained ankle."

"And it surely hurt." I sniffed.

He peeks behind me, cautiously checking to see if someone is watching. Once he's sure that the curtains around are completely concealing us from the rest of the room, he lifts a hand to cup my cheek and guided my gaze to cling with his.

"My love, I swear I'm fine now." he whispered.

I looked away, forcing his hand to let go of my face. "No, you're not. You will have to rest for... Until it heals." I took my iPad and started going through his schedules. "I still have to adjust your schedules or maybe even cancel some. If you excuse me." I didn't let him answer and just walked out, still holding my sobs.

I never meant to be rude, it's just making me upset that this happened because of me. Now until he fully recovers from the sprain, I will feel guilty just by looking at him.

Literally a few steps after exiting the emergency room, I saw Sooman approaching my way. I quickly cleaned my face from any tear stains and bowed formally once he's near enough to recognize me.

"Is Baekhyun fine now?"

I gulped, silently