BAEKHYUN'S POV

"You wanna come along?" I'm on my way to our rehearsal in MBC for our comeback this coming Friday. I thought it would be nice to bring Saemi with me since the boys also ask a lot about her.

"Sure. I'll just go change." She put down the book she was reading on the sofa and went up to her room.

After a couple of minutes, she went down on her usual hoodie and jeans matched with white converse.

"Let's go." She went ahead and got inside the car while I was left behind to lock the door.

***

"SAEMI-YA!"

Chanyeol practically came running towards Saemi when we arrived at the MBC building for the rehearsal. We were at the backstage when it happened so I was relaxed about the fans that might react at Chanyeol's childish greeting.

"Ch-chanyeol.." The tower just crashed his frame to the small chippy causing her to stumble and even catch her breath.

"Oh, sorry.." He took a step back, still grinning. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at the scene and carried on preparing for the practice.

Chen and Kai were having a run down on the song for 'The Eve'. Suho hyung and Sehun were arguing about some mess our maknae did in our dorm. Kyungsoo's spacing out and Minseok hyung was the only one who greeted me with a smile.

"Good thing you brought her with you. That giant just won't stop talking about her." He said as he looks for something in his bag as I put my bag on the chair next to his. I shake my head unbelievably to what he said and chug my water bottle.

"Guys, we're on in 5 minutes. Get ready!"

I immediately went to Saemi's direction while they're busy whispering to each other's ears about something I don't even give a damn and pulled her away from Chanyeol. The scene just made my blood boil. 

They were too close again.

This is some sort of the reason why I feel relieved that Saemi has to deal with something else rather than coming with during rehearsals. Atleast when she's not around, I don't have any reason to watch over Chanyeol's actions. His stunts just make everything more confusing than what I'm already feeling.

"Yah, we're talking!" He whined and pulled her back to his side but I didn't back down.

"Didn't you hear that we're going in 5 minutes, Yeol?" I raised him an eyebrow and pulled Saemi to sit on the chair near the dressing room.

When I walked back to my chair, I felt him follow me from behind. So I turned to face him as he places his hands on both of my shoulders, plastering a grin on his face that I badly want to wipe off.

"You look so tensed, Baek."

"The heck, Park?"

"I noticed you seem a bit hot-headed when it comes to her. Why? I thought you were just friends?" We were inches away, glaring at each other, ready to throw a physical fight if ever one gets an offense.

"Do you really wanna know?" I eyed him.

"Actually, no. You're too easy to read by now. Relax, Baekhyun-a." He rub-down my shoulders while grinning. "I'm not aiming for anything that's not mine to begin with." He tapped my shoulders twice before he turns around and began messing with Sehun who was watching us, preparing if ever anything gets more heated.

I released a frustrating sigh before Suho hyung came to me and slung his arm on my shoulder.

"Loosen up, Baekhyun-a."

***

SAEMI'S POV

"What the heck was that?" I whispered to myself when Baekhyun and the others went on stage. I was still at a daze at what happened to the two just now. I wasn't able to hear what they were talking about because of the reason that their voices were just meant to be heard from their reach.

"Don't worry. They'll be fine later." One of the stylist said, having another bite of her apple.

"Did you see them fight like that before?" I asked. She was just sitting across me.

"Oh, I've seen worse." She plastered a smug look and went on arranging the clothes piled up on the table next to her.

"They fought a lot of times. Even made bruises on their beautiful faces just to prove a point. They look like grown men but when they fight, it's like the inner isolated boys just shout freedom from their cages." She continued and let out a chuckle, shaking her head as if she was reminiscing those times she has seen.

"But they're very close, yeah?" It was an obvious question that I had asked. Of course, they are all close to each other.

"Those fights they had made their bond stronger. Whether their times were bad or good, the outcome to their relationship always ends up to be better."

Her words and insights made me a lot envious of their friendship. Compared to what they have, I always land with the wrong people. I know to myself that I'm friendly but I don't even have friends to consider close at the moment.

I thought I had the 'close friends' but eventually knew that they weren't. They were just there during the golden age of my life and didn't wait for the best part.

***

I watched their performance from the backstage behind the curtains that were covering the door. It was a shame that I haven't known them before because I wouldn't even stop supporting them because of how talented they are.

But it's not yet late to reconsider.

When they got back to the backstage, they all went to the dressing room and changed their clothes. Some of them like Kai and Sehun removed their shirts once they stepped here and changed.

I didn't notice that I was looking when Baekhyun came into the picture and looked at me in a judging way.

"Oh? Why are you checking out our maknaes?" My cheeks heated in embarrassment. His voice didn't have to be so loud but I remembered he's a freaking main vocalist to have an announcing voice.

The stylists heard what he said and even their manager laughed at us.

"Yah! I am not!" Denying it didn't help because they only laughed even more. I palmed my face in shame.

"Ey, Saemi. I don't mind. You can stare at me as long as you want." Kai commented and chuckled.

"Consider it as a fan service." Sehun added causing more laughter in the backstage. I closed my eyes, still covering my face with my hands and went to go the chair I sat on earlier.

"You don't need to look at their abs, chippy. I have one too. You can stare at mine later."

I heard a whisper to my ear, making me jolt in surprise and end up looking at Baekhyun's teasing expression. I instantly slapped his shoulder in annoyance and embarrassment.

"Cut it out, Byun!" He laughed at my remark.

"Aw, poor thing.." Heji unnie commented, one of the stylist I have talked to earlier.

"Her face is red as a tomato, oh my. Baekhyun-a, stop teasing her." Soo-ah unnie said, the one I talked to about EXO's relationship with each other.

"Alright, alright. I won't show my abs to you, chippy. I'll show you when you're ready."

"BYUN BAEKHYUN!"

"Saemi-ya, can you hand me my bag, please?" I suddenly heard Chanyeol's voice from the dressing room beside me and so, I stood up from my seat and went to get Chanyeol's bag from across the room. Sehun and Kai were still giving me teasing looks and I pierced them a look.

I went inside the small hall I had to pass through before the dressing room and knocked on the door.

"Chanyeol-a, here's your bag."

He unlocked the door and took the bag from me.

"Thanks— Saemi-ya!"

My heart tightened, the beating of my heart turned to fast-pace causing me to almost lose my balance but Chanyeol was able to catch me before I even hit the ground.

"Sht. Saemi, are you okay?" I clutched my chest, catching my breath in the process. He was about to carry me when I stopped him. No one should see me like this. They will worry. Especially Baekhyun.

"D-don't. This w-will go a-away soon."

"But we need help, Saemi-ya. I can't just—"

"Hyung?"

My eyes were starting to blur. But I couldn't afford to lose consciousness now. It's too risky.

"G-get my m-medicine f-from my bag." I managed to speak to Chanyeol and hand him instructions.

"What the— What happened?!"

"No time to lose. Sehun, get her medicine from her bag. Make sure no one notices."

"Why? We should tell them—" 

"Just do it, Sehun!" Chanyeol's voice loudened and the youngest was forced to do what he was told, complaining on his way.

"Aish, why can't we just call the hospital?"