"How's Solhee? I haven't heard about her since then. Is she gonna release another single?"

All throughout the grocery, Saemi asked her brother all the things she missed in the company. When she had left as a producer, she could not stay in touch every time with her old colleagues, one of which was Solhee, for she has been caught up with work.

"She's doing fine, I guess? I don't know much, Noona. We're busy with our comeback, too." He replied, pushing the cart beside her.

"Oh, right. How about you? How's the song you've been working on?"

"About that," he trailed. "I actually want you to check on it. You know, producer thangs."

The older chuckled at his words. Whenever Mark had a song working on, he'd always find time to ask Saemi to see to it that the piece is worthy enough of its composer. There would be instances as well that they would both create their own world of music.

Closing the car trunk, Min Hyung walked to the car seat taking over his sister who's supposed to drive.

"What are you doing?" she questioned, hands placed on her waistband.

"I know you're tired from work, Noona. Let me drive."

He entered the car and Saemi could only get in as well, unable to argue of this matter any more. Mark drove the car with ease even if there would be times he'd suddenly step the break because of his uncertainty.

"Oh my goodness, Min Hyung! I'll drive—"

"No!" He shouted back that shocked the latter.

"Did you just yell at me?" She glared at him. Min Hyung averted his gaze and nervously waved his hand off.

He was insanely acting odd.

"N-no, of course not, Noona. I just don't want you tiring yourself even more. I can do this."

Releasing a heave of relief, Min Hyung resumed driving. They were almost at the street near Saemi's house when he took a sharp turn that caused the older to shriek in fear.

"Lee Min Hyung! Where are you taking us?! My house is that way!"

"Sorry, Noona!"

Saemi was stupefied on her seat as she now sees a bettew view of where they're heading. Her grip on the roof handle became tighter as her younger brother steps on the gas.

I knew it.

Why didn't she predict that coming? She should've known better from the tactics of her own brother ever since they got in the car. From the nervous halts, the panic shouts. Mark Lee was being painfully evident of his plans for his sister.

"You're not getting me in that stadium." Saemi muttered with gritted teeth as she glares at the establishment in front of her.

"Oh yes, I am." The latter let out a devilish chuckle in which his sister felt shivers down her spine.

Evil. Her brother is evil.

As soon as the car stopped in the parking lot, Saemi pulled the knob but failed due to Min Hyung's lock control in the driver's seat. She slowly turned to face him only to be greeted with the same sly grin.

"Lee Min Hyung, unlock the door."

"Nope."

To make it look simpler, her brother called some officials and staffs from inside that surprised the already stunt Saemi, anticipating that she would physically oppose. However, she chose not to make a scene.

How can she scream at the top of her lungs, struggle and push everyone at the most of her strength when she's a well-known CEO and her brother is a member of a blossoming rookie group?

Rather calmly, she stepped inside the stadium that's filled with screams and crowds shouting the least thing she wanted to hear as of now.

"E-X-O!"

"E-X-O!"

"E-X-O!"

She closes her eyes in hopes of soothing herself and sat down on the VIP seat beside Min Hyung who took out a lightstick just as what the other fans have. From where she was sitting, she heard gasps and shouts of her brother's name, emitting an amused laugh.

"Mark! I love you!"

"Please notice me!"

"You're so handsome, Mark!"

"Who's that beside you?"

"That must be his sister.."

"How did they know that?" She asked her brother, leaning to his side while the concert hasn't started yet.

"I think I said it in an interview,"

"That's supposed to be a secret! Can't I have a low profile now that I'm known as your relative?"

"Relax, Noona. You're a CEO anyway. You don't have that low profile to begin with."

"Min Hyung, get me out of here please."

The lights dimmed, "Shh! It's starting!"

Baekhyun's voice boomed inside the stadium, the fans grew wild. And as Saemi try to make it to see his face from the rising fog on the stage, the more her heart races. 

It was only the start of Saemi's agony. EXO has changed costumes, performed their songs from the intro to the outro, yet every time Baekhyun's line comes near the VIP section, the woman he once admitted to love seem to always try to catch her breath. 

For Baekhyun was breathtaking. 

"EXO-L!" 

It was their time to give a message to the fans. The fans made a roaring noise in response to Suho's start, but Saemi's eyes were only trailed to Baekhyun who seem to be acting odd. He doesn't look good.

She immediately held her brother's hand to take heed. 

"What's wrong?"

"Look at Baekhyun. Can you ask someone to escort him back?"

"Why?"

It was only then that Min Hyung saw the state of his senior. Sehun was beside the older, holding him as his support. The fans have been noticing it as well but he still managed to paint a smile on his face for the fans. He was given a water bottle and after drinking it, he was able to stand properly this time. 

"EXO-L, saranghaja!" 

Then it was his turn. Their eyes met as Baekhyun took the mic from Minseok and let out a chuckle. 

"EXO-L, wazzup!"

His greeting was like of an imitation of Saemi's brother's swagger-like introduction whenever. Min Hyung laughed at his senior only for it to disappear when he saw the look on his sister's face. 

Despite the smile that the idol is showing, Saemi could not seem to believe that he's genuinely alright. 

"Get someone to help him, Min Hyungie."

"He's okay, Noona. See?"

The younger's hand raised to point at Baekhyun. However, when Saemi bored her eyes on him, the idol collapsed on stage causing a commotion. 

Immediately, Saemi rose from her seat and as if she was poured over a bucket of ice. She could not move a muscle. She knew there was something wrong. The members cautiously helped Baekhyun to be moved backstage and Suho glanced over the thousands of fans groan in worry. 

"We're sorry, everyone. Please wait a minute."

The staff came on stage and though Saemi herself wants to go up and carry Baekhyun, she was hindered by the guards down the stage. Min Hyung ran up to his sister and pulled her back before she gets hurt from the men. 

"She's with me." Noticing that an idol also appeared, they let go of Saemi whose eyes teared up. 

She couldn't do anything. Not even see him up close to check if he's okay just as Mark had told her earlier.

"I need to see him, Min Hyung-a."

The people near the lane their standing were all seeing the agitation of the rising CEO of a famous company. Min Hyung knew Saemi would be in the headlines if they continue seeing her like this. 

And so, he brought her to a much secluded place. They were about to enter the hallway going to the restrooms when a woman who seem to be one of the staff in a black outfit came running towards them.

"Saemi," she called. 

The female was actually one of the friends Saemi made back in SME, and when she saw her, she didn't hesitate to come with her to the backstage where Baekhyun was. Min Hyung followed the two, still holding his sister by the arm. 

"Relax, Noona. He's gonna be okay."

"You don't know that."

The younger could only purse his lips in response. 

They arrived in the backstage and almost immediately, Saemi saw the disorder inside the room. People were coming in and out of the room to get facilities for the idol and she knew right then that this was indeed serious. 

Chanyeol and Sehun were the only ones from the members to be staying there because the other could not leave the audience hanging. While everyone was in a fuss, Saemi heard her name being called. 

"He kept saying your name earlier," the medic informed. 

Baekhyun hasn't woken up yet. And as the minute went by, Saemi grew more anxious of what might happen. 

"He's gonna be okay, Saemi." Chanyeol patted her back before he and Sehun left to go back on stage. Sehun merely smiled reassuringly at her.

The people occupying the room lessened and soon it was only just the medic, her and Min Hyung. 

"Is he going to be fine?" She asked the medic. 

He nodded, "It would be best if he would wake up already."

Saemi's grasped his hand tight, kissing the back of it as she urges the man to wake up. 

"Byun, please wake up," she whispered. "I'm here. I'm right here."

"Noona, do you want something to drink? You look pale." Min Hyung asked in concern. She hasn't removed her hand from Baekhyun's until now. 

She shook her head in retort. "I'm good."

"Are you sure? You look like you're gonna pass out next. God forbid."

"I'm really fine, Min Hyung. You can just fetch me a water if that would make you worry less.

Better. The younger bobbed his head in agreement then went out to get what his sibling told him. 

It must have been a miracle when she felt a flinch from her hand. Baekhyun was slowly recovering from his lost of consciousness. A mewl came out of his lips as he opened his eyes and adjusted from the blinding light from the ceiling he's facing. 

"Baekhyun-ssi, Baekhyun-ssi. Do you see me?" The medic said and checked everything he needed until the idol was fully awake. 

"Are you okay, Byun? Can you see me clearly? Do you still know me?" 

The latter could not contain his laughter at Saemi's questions. 

"I just lost consciousness, chippy. I didn't come from a tragic accident." 

Angered, Saemi threw a slap on his shoulder in which he hissed. "Oh? Is this how you treat someone who fainted?" 

She shot him a glare that he only chuckled. After the medic finished checking his vitals and asked him of his previous activities, he was soon dismissed, advising to take a leave and rest for the next days because of his exhaustion. 

"You shouldn't push yourself like that too much, Byun."

"Byun? You must be thinking I haven't noticed you calling me that. Is this you telling me that we're good now?"

She scoffed, "What are you saying? Aren't you Byun? Byun Baekhyun. Is this you speaking from your unconscious state?"

Baekhyun mimicked her reaction and avoided her gaze that she didn't contemplate to break. 

"I was supposed to propose to you earlier."

Silence. Even the beating of her heart must've stilled from the words he blurted out. How can he do this to her when he just woke up from the incident he faced awhile ago? Saemi tried to catch her breath yet again because of the person who caused this just as before. 

She could not quite get herself to speak a word from her tongue-tied state. The hand she was holding held her firm, causing her to meet his eyes that said things she couldn't speak of herself. 

"I'm sorry, chippy." He said. "I'm sorry for leaving you like that—"

"Stop," she cut him off. "Forget that. And I'll forget everything that didn't serve as a good memory."

For a moment, Baekhyun hesitated to reply for he did not know what to say either. It's like all the guilt had eaten him up alive, but looking at Saemi's bewitching eyes, he could abruptly say yes and leave this world to make a new one with the woman he has high regard of. 

"I won't leave you again, baby," he said. "Unless you want me to. You know, when you want me to buy you desserts you crave for. When you're already fed up seeing my annoying face everyday. When I have to leave for a schedule because of my work. When I have to take our daughter on a special date because I can't bring you with us—"

"I think you're going too fast, Byun." Saemi giggled in which Baekhyun followed, chuckling at his own emotions that was overtaking him. 

He reached to touch her face, bringing it closer to him to see a better view of her eyes that uttered nothing but the same adoration he flashes in his. 

"How about you? What's your offer?" He kiddingly said. 

"Myself." 

She brought his hand to her lips, kissing it lovingly with honey eyes directing to him. 

"Just make sure you won't take back what you offered, Byun."

"Oh, I won't. Brace yourself, chippy."

Before he knows it, she already crashed her lips on his that he didn't hesitate to return. 

"Hyung, why don't you just enter?" Min Hyung, whose hands are full with the drinks he bought, stands behind Chanyeol and Sehun who's towering the small opening of the door. 

"We shouldn't disturb them," Sehun replied. 

"But— wait, can I see?"

"NO!" The two said in sync in which the younger grew suspicious of, furrowing his brows. "Why not?!" He tried to push them but only failed for how can you do that when they're a bunch of giant humans dominating the doorway. 

"You're too young to see such things." Chanyeol said, carefully closing the door. 

"But—"

"Hey, you two! Go back on stage!"

i published a story of a kyungsoo ff called, Backstage. soon i will be publishing an nct dream series as well. i will be publishing those soon but won't be updating chapters just yet.

if yall want to read it, u can keep it in your library for the meantime hehe :>>

this is the last chapter and the next up is the epilogue. i think i've gotten used to using the third pov rather than each characters' pov. you'll be seeing more of that then.  

thank you for reading up until here!!