20 | veinte

After sitting at her photoshoot for a long three hours, watching her get different concept photos taken in several different outfits, it was time for Sehun to head out to his own schedules for the day. It was nothing too heavy, only several hours of dance practices ahead of him. Nothing he wasn't used to already. At least it was better than the days when they were promoting an album. Those were the days he barely even had any time to eat, live, breathe, and exist. His dance practice days were more comfortable. Then there was the fact that Sehun was hardly given any side projects to work on. That was for the hyungs with vocals--Baekhyun, Kyungsoo, and Jongdae. They were the priority in the group. Sehun liked it that way. It wasn't that he didn't have any goals or aspirations of his own. It was merely that he was perfectly happy where he was at that moment in his career. He was still young and he knew he could venture into other interests if he wanted to. 

He walked up at the end of their third set of photos when there was a pause, just as the photographer was signaling that he had enough pictures of her current look. She looked away from all the eyes she had on her and a tired smile formed on her lips as she was finally able to relax for a moment. She was currently inside a big pink cardboard box, and she stepped out because it was currently time to take a break. The pink box was one of the concepts the SM executives had thought up for her upcoming debut--a Barbie doll. Sehun thought it was the theme that most fit her, as she was absolutely stunning. She genuinely did resemble a doll.

The other two debut themes they had thought up were a preppy school girl, daydreaming about young love in school, scribbling on her notebooks and a nature themed hippie vibe. Sehun thought they all suited her, but the doll one was the most accurate in his opinion. The only thing he didn't like was how heavily they were sexualizing her. The skirts were almost too short the blouses were very low cut. Florencia had once mentioned to him that because she had been doing beauty pageants all her life, it was something she was used to. But Sehun saw the differences in how they treated the Korean idols. The girls were made to look cute, sweet, and innocent. Florencia was being dressed up to look cute, and sweet. But definitely not innocent. It was the kind of stuff that would give any man fantasies. He wondered if she was okay with all of it. But whether she was or not, and the executives loved  to throw the phrase around in the idols' faces. You signed that contract.

Another concept that was being thrown around unofficially--which Sehun was listening creative designers discuss while he watched Florencia--was that of her being made a part of EXO's super hero concept. She was to be some kind of princess in their concept's universe, like a parallel universe to their own. And she was to be like a damsel in distress who needed to be saved by none other than Jongdae, that was where he was fitting into the story. That was to justify his heavy involvement in her debut. He didn't recall anything being mentioned before about his hyung being involved in Florencia's debut. He would have to ask someone for clarification later. 

Sehun didn't like that concept because it meant they would be spending more time together and there was a feeling in the pit of his stomach that told him Jongdae was just a little too interested in Florencia. H had no problem with them being friends, if that were actually the case. But something about the way his hung looked at her made it obvious that he had something of a crush on her. At the same time, Sehun didn't know why it bothered him so much. He and Florencia weren't actually in a relationship. It was all for show.

But he thought, since they were actually getting along now, maybe it could open up an opportunity for him. They had such a rocky start that he was unsure if that would ever be a possibility thought. 

Florencia heaved a tired sigh. 

"Time to go Sehunnie?" She eyed him with a pout.

He gave a nod of his head, his expression crinkling up into a look of displeasure. He didn't want to leave, especially since he knew she was uncomfortable having no one familiar there. But he knew that he had to. "My schedules start at eight today, and I have to be at the SM building. I'm already late enough as it is. The hyungs are going to be mad at me." He looked down at the time on his phone as he said this, and noticed it was already eight, which meant he was already supposed to be in the dance practice room, dressed in his dance clothes and ready to start rehearsals.

For the most part the other members coddled him. Though he was already an adult and he wasn't even too much younger than the other members, they treated him as though he were a child that needed to be protected at all costs.

They still had five months before their upcoming album would release anyway, and they weren't in a hurry to learn the choreography for the new songs anyway. 

Florencia extended her arms out to give him a hug and he took her in his arms, lifting her off the floor since he was taller than her, and she gave him a kiss which he assumed was for the cameras and many people who were there watching their interaction. Sehun wasn't the best actor, but he tried his best and smiled into the kiss. He was more of a person with a cold exterior. But he had to show more when it came to his relationship with Florencia. It was just that much more difficult for him because she was so pretty. 

"I'll see you later." She smiled at him as they pulled away.

He gave a nod of his head and turned to walk away, leaving her in the studio for several more hours to complete her debut photos.

-

He went to the changing rooms first with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder and changed into his dance practice attire before racing into the practice room. The other boys had already started without him, their dance instructor in the front of the room paused the music and everyone turned to look at the boy who had just entered the room. The whole experience almost made him feel like he was back in high school. Except he didn't even exactly have a normal high school experience back when he was an SM trainee. 

"Nice of you to join us, Sehunnie." said their dance instructor, calling him Sehunnie sarcastically.  The group's maknae apologized with a bow of his head silently, getting into formation with the rest of the group.

They were practicing their dance moves for the music video first of their upcoming song, which would be filmed in the next few weeks. Then they would practice another version for variety and music shows. It was for a song that did not have a definitive name yet, but their managers and music executives were brainstorming that they wanted it to be called Call Me, or Call Me Baby. The latter was a name they were trying to avoid because it was too similar sounding to Carly Rae Jepsen's song Call Me Maybe and SM didn't want a repeat of the Wolf debate. 

When EXO's first full length album XOXO debuted, one of the singles on the album was Wolf. In the following months, they had seen an increasing amount of hate coming at EXO from One Direction fans because the British group had a song called Wolves, and 1D fans were claiming that EXO was trying to copy One Direction. The songs didn't even sound the same. Just about the only thing they had in common was the fact that there were howling noises in the background of the song. Still, that didn't stop the One Direction fans from sending hate EXO's way. SM executives didn't want all that negative attention to happen again.

They were three hours into their dance practice for the day when Jongdae stepped out of formation when Junmyeon had messed up one of the dance steps for the new song and their instructor said they would have to start again from the top.

"Sonsaeng-nim," Jongdae said with a bow of his head as he stepped out of formation. Once the instructor acknowledged him, he continued. "I'm not sure if my manager hyung mentioned this to you, but I have a prior engagement I need to get to."

The dance instructor gave a nod of his head, remembering exactly what Jongdae was referring to. IT wasn't unheard of for this to happen with idols at SM Entertainment. Though many of them were part of groups, some of them had solo activities. Whether it was interviews, variety shows, or practice for their other activities. Their various instructors at the SM building were made to understand that sometimes some of the members would have to step out of practice. They just needed to be given prior notice. The instructor looked at the clock on the wall behind the group and signaled that it was okay for the vocalist to step out for the day. "Yes, Jongdae-ssi, your manager spoke to me yesterday. You may go."

Jongdae nodded gratefully towards his dance teacher and waved a quick goodbye to his bandmates before running out of the room. He would need to go to the locker room, have the fastest shower of his life and change out of his sweaty clothes and he was already late enough as it was. At the same time, the other members groaned that their group member was getting to leave early, while they had five more hours of dance practice. Sehun was outraged. He had to stay there, when he could have been spending the day with Florencia instead. His hand shot up high in the air to get his dance instructor's attention next. 

"May I be excused too, sonsaeng-nim?" He asked, thinking it was worth a shot. The worst his instructor could do was say no.

And that was exactly what he did. "Absolutely not." The instructor replied with a vehement shake of his head and Sheen's expression dropped. 

From behind him, Baekhyun and Chanyeol whispered to each other after snickering in amusement that Sheen's request to leave had been rejected. "I wonder what Jongdae-ssi went to go do. He didn't mention having any solo activities this week when we were handed our itinerary." As Sehun heard that, he started making connections in his mind. Florencia's schedules had changed last minute too because of SM's hasty decision to try launching her as a soloist. 

Sehun thought to himself that maybe Florencia and Jongdae were going to debut as soloists together.

-

When dance practices were over for EXO for the day, Sehun made it his mission to find out where Florencia was. He had sent her a text and she never replied, which meant that she was busy. Then he sent Jongdae a text as well and got nothing. He had gone into the locker rooms and had a quick shower before changing into a fresh set of clothes. The other members were having friendly banter and conversation, trying to decide where they would be eating the afternoon. They were tired after a long day of dance practices and none of them wanted to volunteer to cook. Which meant they would have to solve by going out to eat to a restaurant or getting takeout. 

Sehun excused himself from their side as they reached the lobby and asked Junmyeon to text him the address of where they would be going. He informed them that he would be waiting on Florencia and then joining them shortly. Junmyeon shot him a knowing smile. "If you're bringing Kkot-ah, I'm inviting Sarang." He said, grinning from ear to ear. 

Sarang was his girlfriend and member of another idol group called Baby Lips. Everyone had grown so much, after nearly three years of having debuted. They had started off debuting around the same time, with the same amount of members, and similar concepts. As a result, there was a big rivalry between the two groups. But now, two of his members were dating two of their members. Sarang was dating Junmyeon, and Yixing was dating Mae. 

Sehun was happy for them. Sometimes the life of an idol was so busy that there was no time for a personal life. So it made him happy to know Junmyeon had someone to love him and take care of him, and Yixing as well. 

He gave a nod of his head and smiled. "I think Knot-ah would like that." Gesturing to the other members of the group, he added, "Maybe Baekhyun hyung can invite Taeyeon noona, Kyungsoo hyung can invite Nari, and Chanyeol hyung can invite Guti." 

Junmyeon grinned at the idea and jogged to catch up to the other members as they were leaving the building.

At the same time, there was a ding heard in the lobby and Sehun turned his attention quickly. He needed to take an elevator up to the fourth floor, which was where the vocal practice rooms were. Florencia had mentioned she had vocal practice after her photoshoot. As he turned and the doors opened, he was met with Florencia and Jongdae stepping out of the elevator having a conversation and the two of them laughing together.

Sehun couldn't help but feel a little discouraged, as he had never seen Florencia smile like that when she was with him.

-

wow guys!

how long has it been since I updated this story? literal years. I believe it has been around five years.

buuuuuuut. let me tell you guys a little story. I was cleaning up my room and saw an old shelf in the back of my closet where I stuffed all my Kpop albums and merch. bc I had just gotten so caught up with work and crying over my situationship 24/7 that I just lost track of my life and stopped doing the things that made me happy. 

suddenly, I was only hanging out with HIM, only talking and texting with HIM, going out of my way to help HIM. and I put my hobbies and interest on the back burner. and then a month ago I thought to myself. its time to get my life back together. and stop making this man a priority. because he claims to love me, but he won't commit because he's "terrified" to commit. and this is not to say he isn't a nice guy. he's been great to me, other than the fact that he just has commitment issues that he has to work on. 

so I'm cleaning my room and I ask my mom for a box so I can put stuff I no longer want in our storage shed in the back yard. and I start sifting through my merch and my albums and all my memories of being an exo-l come flooding back. I was so happy being their fan. I wasn't depressed all the time like I am now. and so I thought to myself "how is exo doing nowadays?" and I looked them up and...

I am officially obsessed with them again. I want to give myself this space again to write, which was something I stopped doing bc I was too preoccupied with A. he's cool and all, and I have a great time with him. but my life revolved around him, and its about time my life revolved around me (and exo).

so I'm back with this story. most of you who were reading are probably long gone, to new stages of your lives. but im still here if anyone remembers reading this. and to any new readers...welcome! :)

lets see if I still got a knack for writing and lets see where my crazy brain takes our two protagonists sehun and florencia.  

-clary