Only you can handle your kids, please come back.
-

We were all gathered for the meeting. I think it's the first time in these three months when we were all together. All thirteen- uh- eleven. Eleven of us.

It hurts to say this. How can a mere number be so precious to me? Thirteen.

These days were way too hard for all of us. We wanted to console each other but gathering together meant to remind us that we were incomplete. So we chose the easiest path for us, run away. Run away as far as we could to ignore the void of our lives.

We never imagined that this day would ever come in our lives but here it was. Unpredictable and unacceptable.

The meeting was going on. We were going to receive awards. Congratulations to us. And the next moment, the CEO dropped the question we never wanted to hear. Why? Because we simply didn't have the answer.

I'm glad that we got some privacy. Henceforth, our discussion started. As expected, our group was split into two sides. Some wanted a bright future for Seventeen and some wanted to end it then and there.

I was sitting silently, hearing them all and trying to align my thoughts with them.

What did I want? I clearly wanted to be Seventeen. But this was a will. I had zero confidence if I was going to say it out loud.

Were we ready to stand on stage, in front of numerous fans and tell them that we were going to continue the legacy without two of the members?

What about the diamond we were creating while sitting according to our ages? What about our 13+3+1 theory? What about the four membered hip hop unit and five membered vocal unit? What about the parents of our group? Everything that was special about this team was now gone?

Was it a sign that now we had to stop? Probably.

But one more question came to my mind. Will Seungcheol hyung and Jeonghan hyung be proud of us if we disband their favourite team? Will our fans be happy to lose eleven more members? Will we be happy to not being able to present ourselves as Seventeen for which we had struggled so much?

Was a full stop really better than a semi colon? Not at all.

The battle amidst my own mind was over. Now it was the time to win the battle which my members were having. I stood up and inhaled a deep breath, "Let's go to our practice room and talk there."

Everyone looked at me in disbelief. Yeah, no one wanted to go there, me neither. But little steps mattered right? Before going up on the stage, we had to go to our practice room, no matter what.

"Guys." I was firm with my words, "Trust me and come. I'm sure that it's the only place which will bring a decision for us."

Gradually, everyone agreed. We were gathering our courage and consoling each other. Amidst the eyes of the staff and the fellow artists, we finally reached our practice room. We got in and closed the door shut.

The lights were turned on as we looked at the room. All the memories started to flood in. Us practising until all of our energy was drained, joking and teasing around each other, our little random fights and bickerings and of course, the last day when we cried our hearts out at this place.

"These scratches." I bent down to stare at the floor, "They are the proof of our efforts and hard work. Are we really going to dump it all?"

"I swear I don't want to let it go." Hoshi teared up as he sat on the floor, "This team is very precious to me but- I don't have the courage. The passion and determination I had three months ago, is all gone. All I have are these pathetic tears."

"Your tears are not pathetic, hyung." Mingyu sat beside him, "They're your emotions and trust me, they're precious."

Gradually everyone sat down on the floor in a circle and an idea struck me. It was really ridiculous but the only way to unite them was to make them cry their hearts out once again, to let their suppressed emotions flow out of them.

I connected my phone to the speaker and played, circles. One second into the song and everyone was in tears, "Please listen and feel the lyrics."

No voice coming out
Although I've been breathing for many days
With the song we shared with each other
Gather courage for that one day

Let's all sing together
So that the powerful song can cover up the sadness
It'll be okay like the hands of a clock
It will spin again and come back to its original place

Remember we're always together

"La la la la~~" I sang even though my voice was cracking. But still, I encouraged everyone to sing along with me.

And we did it. With shaky voices, glossy eyes, trembling hands, dizzy minds, but we did it, together.

Do you know why? Because team Seventeen is the strongest.

Do you know why? Because team Seventeen is always made up of thirteen members.

Do you know why? Because team Seventeen lives in our hearts.

"I know we're not ready right now." Woozi stated, "But we will be ready."

"Maybe after one more month? Or two more? Three more?" Seungkwan wiped his tears, "But we will be ready."

I smiled, "We're strong."

"We're each other's strength." Minghao mumbled.

"Maybe not a brand new glittery album to break records." Joshua hyung stated, "Let's re-open the doors of caratland, first."

"Let's be the team our hyungs always wanted." Dino stood up, "We can do it."

"Seventeen's pride is Seventeen itself." Mingyu patted Hoshi's arm and made him stand as everyone gradually stood up.

"Please, this can't be the end." I stated as, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Seokmin and Vernon were still silent.

"2015." Joshua hyung's voice echoed as he was standing at a corner, "A band of thirteen young boys made it's debut with the minimal resources. Thirteen boys who were passionate as hell with fire burning in their eyes, with a goal to succeed."

I smiled at him as I continued, "All they had were each other. People criticized them, didn't believe that they will ever make their name. Oh it's just some crazy boys who have the audacity to call themselves self produced, huh. They'll probably not last longer, it's too many members to handle."

"Oh hi boys, what did you get at your first mama? Aww nothing? Must be hurtful." Woozi chuckled bitterly, "But they endured everything with a smile on their faces and continued to work hard to prove everyone wrong."

"Can they even sing? What about stage presence? What about the emotions? Passion? Dedication? Finance? Music? Choreography? Synchronisation?" Mingyu continued, "Too many question marks which slowly got converted into full stops. Singers? Yes. Synchronisation, yes. Stage presence? Yes, fucking yes!"

"Thirteen boys who were called nothing were now known for their talent and dedication." Seungkwan nodded, "A success which didn't come overnight. It came step by step. From nothing to everything, we made it till here. From a green room basement to stadium tours, it has been a long journey."

"But now, these grown up versions have much less confidence than their rookie versions. What about the expectations of our fans and the staff who worked equally hard as us?" I gulped the lump in my throat, "Are we really going to let everything go in vain? The title we EARNED by our hard work, are we going to prove everyone right who told us that we'll fail?"

"No." Hoshi nodeed in denial after which he looked up.

"No." Vernon muttered.

"Never." Wonwoo stepped forward.

"No." Seokmin also stated

Everyone finally came together. We connected our hands in a circle as our team rings shone with glory and pride.

Joshua hyung inhaled a deep breath, "Say the name."

"SEVENTEEN." Everyone confidently stated.

I gave it a final thought, we were ready, finally.

Scream it to the word, SEVENTEEN. IS. BACK.