Kang Ji Eun searched up and down the busy street, her expectations waning every passing second. All she needs was a glimpse of that familiar vehicle, or honestly, just anything that would tell her that Baekhyun was arriving to the front of Kang's Kickin Chicken for their final farewell.
Why wasn't he here? Did the early morning program take too long and now he was running late? Did he possibly get caught in traffic miles away? Her heart sunk at the high probability that yesterday might be the last time she'd be able to see her boyfriend before leaving to Tokyo, Japan.
"Eunnie, you're making it too obvious that you're looking for your boyfriend." The short-haired brunette snapped her gaze to her longtime best friend, who bared a supportive smile. Su Bin grasped her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, hoping it'd give her some sort of ease. "He'll see you one way or another, alright?"
"I'm supposed to head over to the airport in like five minutes," Ji Eun murmured with disappointment practically dripping from her voice. She gave her cheek a good smack to bring her back to her senses. It was already a long stretch to expect Baekhyun to always be there at these moments. She did just say to her mother that she would become more independent, knowing fully well of the fast-paced life of an idol. The girl just needs to calm down. If anything, she'll try to video chat with him when she's free. "Am I being too selfish for wanting to see his face one last time?"
"Of course not, sweetheart," Wook Yong chimed as she fixed the uneven collar of Ji Eun's jacket for her with a grin for reassurance. "With the boy here or not, you should still be excited that you're about to fly over to Japan for a very successful photography company. You're one step closer to your dream, so I better not expect a dramatic sequence of missing your boyfriend and throwing everything out the window just to return home to see him. There are plenty of fan sites to help you with that dilemma."
Not quite the words Ji Eun wanted to hear, but definitely words of truth. She really was being selfish for her own good. "Hell, I'm not that kind of dramatic person."
"Do I really need to tell you of all the times you were dramatic?" Ji Eun paused and shook her head at the older coworker quickly. "We'll miss you a lot, Ji Eun-ah. I just hope our replacement for you will be as cute and hardworking."
"Well, cute isn't really an important factor, but hardworking is a must," Mister Kang replied with his arms crossed over his chest. "The girl seemed reliable when I interviewed her the other day, so I have high expectations."
"Are you sure she didn't apply for the job just for the discount of the chicken, ahjusshi?" Jong Hoon input, his eyebrow raised with interest. "I mean, remember when I used to work here during high school and you got tired for treating me everyday?"
Ji Eun's father gave the younger male a grave glance. "Jong Hoon, you seriously were the purpose for the lack of chicken wings back then."
"Can you blame me for your amazing chicken?"
"What did I tell you about being a kiss ass?"
The soon-to-be-lawyer frowned, "To not be one." Sun Woo, Ji Eun, and Su Bin all giggled at their friend's failure. Jong Hoon turned towards them, his lips tugged downwards even more. "Yeah, okay, thanks. Sun Woo, I thought we were bros."
"That fact won't stop me from laughing at you," the college kid snickered.
Ji Eun beamed at the group of people that had gathered around her. This was a bittersweet time for her, but they made it more sweet rather than bitter for her sake. Baekhyun may not be here, but she was happy that everyone else was. Her eyes began to mist at the crushing fact that she won't be able to see any of them every single day for five month. She truly was so used to all of them and it'll be too weird not having their presence for that long.
"Sweetheart, are you crying?" her father murmured. The light sniffling was an enough answer and Mister Kang scooped his daughter into his arms, patting her back for comfort. However, the mere warmth of the hug brought Ji Eun more into tears, the salty liquid rolling down her cheeks in streams. "Aw, Ji Eun." Everyone closed in around the two, uttering words of encouragement and support for the crying girl, because if they don't do so, they were positive the young girl would have second thoughts about the whole thing. "It's only five months, sweetheart."
"Yeah, Eunnie, we'll throw a big, big party when you return in October!" Su Bin told her. "I'll call you every single day, so it won't even feel like we're apart, okay?"
"I'll miss you all, seriously..."
Ji Eun went ahead and gave every single person a lasting hug, tight and firm to hopefully keep her energized for her trip to the other country. Once doing so, Mister Kang began calling down a taxi. At least, to Ji Eun's relief, her father was tagging along with her to the airport. Just before a taxi would notice them, she decided she should try to call Baekhyun to see where he was.
... However, the call went straight to voicemail.
And a taxi driver finally spotted them and drove up along the curb for the Kangs.
Ji Eun exhaled a shaky breath as the beep of the voicemail commenced. "Baek, looks like I'l have to miss you for today, I'm going to go to the airport now. If I wait any longer, then I might miss my flight. It's really okay, alright? After all, you're Byun Baekhyun of EXO. At least try to call me before I get on my flight. It'd be nice to hear your voice before I actually go. I'll leave you to your activities now, goodbye." She stopped the message right there.
It really is okay, Ji Eun.
She said her last goodbyes to her friends as her father placed her luggage into the trunk of the taxi. Stepping in, windows down, she waved frantically at them until she could barely see them in the distance. And at last, she was on her way to the airport.
Checked in, luggage taken, nearly at the gate she had to go to, Ji Eun had to say goodbye to her father one last time. "Ah, I'm so happy and sad for my precious daughter," Mister Kang sighed as he gave his daughter yet another hug. "You better not eat only instant ramen every day. I talked to Haejin-sshi, and she promised she'll feed you properly for me."
"Appa, I'm glad you could trust your own daughter with her eating habits."
"Can I really?" With a small pout in reply to the sarcastic comment, the two Kangs let out a laugh. "Make sure you work the hardest you can, sweetheart, but it's good to always take breaks every once in a while. I would prefer not to get some random call of my daughter fainting."
Ji Eun scoffed, "I've been doing better and I have my medicine for whenever I need it."
"Good."
As the two walked further into the amazingly near-deserted airport, closer to the point that they'll have to separate ways, something caught both their attention. Two men stood nearby, all holding up paper signs with her name messily scribbled onto each one. The man that stood to the right waved at her enthusiastically and despite the very covered outfits from each man, Ji Eun knew too damn well.
She burst out into a run and attacked the right man into a crushing hug with such force that he nearly toppled over.
"You really thought I wouldn't see you, gamja girl?" Baekhyun muffled into her shoulder with a laugh. "You are insane."
"Idiot, you could've at least texted me that you would see me here." The girl tightened her hold on him. She won't be feeling his comfortable warmth in five months, so she needs to savor every single second of this right now or she'll regret it. Ji Eun pulled away once having her fill, her eyes to the other visitor. "I just can't believe that you're here. Even you, manager-nim."
"Well, I come as representative for the rest of the boys to bid you a safe trip to Japan," EXO's manager told her with a kind smile. He slipped out his cell phone and showed Ji Eun his screen, which surprisingly the rest of EXO were on through video chat. The girl was clearly taken aback with all the boys suddenly showering her with good luck, but she was touched by the gesture all the same and she thanked the group in a messy fluster. From manager's shoulder bag, he slipped out what looked to be a white booklet to give to her. "The boys wanted to give you a copy."
The brunette eyed the booklet with her mouth agape. Flipping it open, she saw the CD to their soon-to-be comeback as well as autographs from each member, all with a small message of support for her Japan internship. "A-Are you sure?" she stammered out through her shock, glancing up at her boyfriend, manager, and the small screen of the phone.
"Yes, Ji Eun-ah!" Chanyeol chimed from the video chat. "We want you to know that we're all rooting for you."
Jongdae piped up next, "Yeah, you'll be busy so who knows when you'd be able to get our album when it comes out? Root for us too!"
"We're trusting you to not leak our songs, Ji Eun," Kyungsoo uttered with an intensely serious expression.
The girl laughed at the boys' frantic babbling; she could only nod her head repeatedly for them, to reassure them that she will cherish and keep their songs secret. "I promise, but seriously, this is too much. How can I accept this?"
"It's too late. We're not taking it back, Ji Eun-ah," Junmyeon responded, a chuckle leaving his lips.
"Just listen to them, okay? You know they can be stubborn," EXO's manager said with a tired sigh.
From behind, Mister Kang stepped forward and placed a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but, honey, your flight to Tokyo is going to start boarding in about fourteen minutes, and the walk to that gate is quite the length."
"Oh." Ji Eun glanced over at Baekhyun. The boy held a solemn expression, but he did his best to bare a smile. He stepped forward to her, hands to her cheek, and left a soft kiss to her forehead. Nope, it never fails to send delighted chills down her spine. "Knock them all dead in Japan, alright? Show them how much a pro photographer you are, gamja girl."
"I will, bacon bits."
Ji Eun tore herself away from the idol. She bid her hundredth goodbye to him, her father, manager, and EXO and finally left with backpack slung over her shoulders.
Waving, grinning, and misty eyed, Kang Ji Eun left.
And finally, left South Korea to start her new journey to being a professional photographer.
6 Months Later
Byun Baekhyun hasn't heard anything from his girlfriend for the past month and a half. Unanswered calls, unread messages, and millions of voicemails left, nothing to inform him what his girl has been up to. She was supposed to have returned to Seoul last month, but apparently, according to her father, the last person she seemed to have contacted, her return was postponed due to some unseen circumstances.
What on earth happened?
Why hasn't she replied to him at all?!
Baekhyun may be in the middle of his EXO'rDIUM tour with his members, but he was one smidgen close to flying over to Tokyo, Japan himself and go on a full out search for his girlfriend. He even attempted contacting Haejin for any kind of news, any idea, of what they're doing in the other country. However, the possibility of contacting the Mystic photographer was as rare as finding dinosaur bones in the dirt beneath his feet.
This whole situation was driving him up the wall.
The couple had been fantastic at keeping in touch before October. They didn't break the promise of sending each other pictures whenever they can, nor call one another when at their scheduled time in the late hours of the night. But, the moment October had drifted by, all of that vanished, Kang Ji Eun disappeared without a trace.
The only thing that stopped him from making the sudden trip to Japan was his absolute trust in her. Whatever she may be doing, it must be something important. So important that she doesn't have the time to be distracted. And if something horrible were to have happened to her, he would've been informed by now.
But wasn't this wait a bit too long? Baekhyun was keeling over in his own emotions and he tried so damn hard not to be swayed away from his idol activities. His mind wasn't kind, though.
He missed her.
He missed his gamja girl so terribly much.
If only the tour had Japan next on their lineup, he could have time to do some investigating, but no, that was next month. Baekhyun would be dead from his yearning heart by then.
By the least, EXO has week break in Seoul so to do their interviews, photoshoots, and such that were appointed in advance. It was a breather, and he had some time to visit his favorite chicken restaurant before his manager could pick him up to bring to their late afternoon activity.
With a ding, he entered Kang's Kickin Chicken, the delicious smell of food wafting through the air, just urging him to eat. How odd, there wasn't a lot of customers today; Baekhyun would have expected the usual line out the door. The chilly weather should have urged more people to get some delicious chicken.
"Omo, look who it is!"
But, he guessed that it was to his advantage.
Baekhyun greeted Wook Yong with a smile. All of a sudden, he felt a light smack to his shoulder. He craned his head to the perpetrator, and saw Su Bin by him, sporting a new auburn hairdo. "This is quite the surprise, superstar. What are you doing here?"
Smiling at her as well, he gave the girl a hug in welcome. "Had to return here for some duties. You know."
"Baekhyun, if you want to eat, I think it'd be best if you go to the separate room," Wook Yong told the idol. He gave her a nod, thankful as the older woman lead her further back of the restaurant. He did manage to see he restaurant's newest staff member, Jae Rin, waiting tables, eyeing him suspiciously. He decided to shake his thoughts away of the possible chance she recognized him and entered the empty private room after Wook Yong. "What drink would you like for me to get you, Baekhyun-sshi?"
"I'll have hot tea. And I know what I want to order. Just some fried chicken, steamed rice, as well as some sauteed vegetables," Baekhyun told her as he sat down at one of the many tables.
"Coming right up! I'll be back." Just as Wook Yong left the room, Su Bin and Sun Woo come inside.
"Hyung!" Sun Woo greeted excitedly, giving a handshake as well. "It has been way too long."
"I know! I see that the restaurant has been renovated since the last time I've visited."
"Mhm, it has," Su Bin answered with a nod.
Sun Woo took the chair to the idol's left, slightly catching him off guard. "Hyung, do me a favor?"
"What kind of favor?"
Su Bin narrowly eyed the college boy. "Oh god, please don't tell me it's what I think."
"Noona, please. This is for the sake of my love life."
Amusement twinkled in Baekhyun's eyes once he finally connected what Sun Woo must be talking about. He crossed his arms and laid back on his chair as he stared at the youngest of them. "Oh, right. This has got to be about Jae Rin, right?"
"Um yes, the beautiful angel that has graced my life like a miracle," Sun Woo deadpanned, a dreamy look to his face. He let out a feathery sigh, goofy smile tugging at his lips at the thought of his young coworker. "You know just the other day while the two of us had to share cleaning duty at closing time, it really did feel like there was some spark there. It felt intimate."
"Why yes, the smell of window cleaner can have such an effect," Su Bin snorted across the table.
"Noona please. Jae Rin is the girl for me," the college boy defended himself. "I'm sure this time! She's nice, you know that."
"Yeah, she's a kind, sweet girl. However, I knew there was something off about her the moment I saw her."
"Noona, her taste of music doesn't change anything about her perfect personality."
Su Bin shrugged, "Well, doesn't matter now. Being the wonderful unnie I am, I have graced her with awesome music. I mean, how can one not listen to EXO?"
"Anyway!" Sun Woo turned his focus back on the idol, who had been watching the two's dispute as before-lunch entertainment. "It would be really rad of you if you can hook a brother up with a signed poster or something? Jae Rin really likes your music now, and I thought that if I give her something EXO related, I might have a better chance."
"Ugh, listen to me, Sun Woo-yah," the irritated female cut in again. "Don't date her if she only accepts a date through materialistic ways. It's not worth it."
"Su Bin is right," Baekhyun input, earning a frown from the younger male and triumphant fist pump into the air from Su Bin. "It won't be genuine if you use her interests in my group to your advantage. You should just try to serenade her and confess. Woo her... or who know Sun Woo her."
"...That was awful."
The idol chuckled at his own pun and just gave a shrug. It wasn't like he could take back the poor joke, so might as well own it. Sun Woo still didn't seem confident at the idea of straight up confessing to Jae Rin. Poor boy works with her every single day, only pushing him to do so, but for once, he was scared for rejection. "Baekhyun-hyung, how did you confess to Ji Eun-noona?" The question struck a chord within Baekhyun. He was rendered into silence as his girlfriend's name rang into his ears. Even with slim chances, he did think that maybe Ji Eun would be in her family's restaurant.
Once seeing the uneasy look on the idol's face, Su Bin smacked the back of Sun Woo's head for the insensitive question. It was then he realized the poor mention of the name. "Oh... right, sorry."
"It's okay... So have either of you heard from her?" Baekhyun asked in a hopeful tone.
"No," Su Bin replied sadly, gaze cast down. "Not since last month or so."
"Mmm."
"Baekhyun, she will come back someday."
"I know... I just miss her a lot."
About an hour later, a car had come to pick Baekhyun up from the restaurant. He bid his goodbyes to everyone and left. The ride was quiet, odd for the usually loud member of EXO, but his mind was just too occupied. He couldn't even bother looking at his cell phone anymore, he knew none of the unread texts and emails were from Ji Eun.
The destination for EXO's activity happened to be at a cleared out veranda, the place decorated with nicely tiled floors, high glass ceilings, and random array of flowers scattered around. Equipment for a photoshoot was set up.
Ah, okay, a photoshoot, that's what we're doing.
Baekhyun approached his friends as they were being touched up on makeup, all already changed into slick outfits. "Oh, you took your sweet ass time at the restaurant," Jongdae quipped as he glanced up at his fellow beagle. "Was she there?"
He shook his head in reply.
"It's okay, Baekhyun-ah. Maybe she'll appear sometime," Yixing uttered.
Minseok, being the closest to the sad member, patted his shoulder. "Don't lose hope for Ji Eun."
"I guess. I just wished she would answer my calls and texts."
Baekhyun went to change into the outfit his stylists informed him to wear for the photoshoot. It was a classic look, a maroon button-up shirt tucked into black slacks. The stylists went ahead to give him a simple makeup and his black hair to be somewhat messy. Along with his band mates, they all looked to be young, wealthy conglomerates about to attend a late night event.
Assistants were quick to place all of EXO in their right places and positions in front the marble fountain. With the sun beginning to set, its warm rays cast the whole room in a mellow orange.
A man who looked to be in his fifties stepped forward, undoubtedly the main photographer for this shoot. "Hello, thank you for allowing us to work with you boys today. We wanted to take advantage of the natural light as of now, so we'll only be doing some group and sub unit photos today. Tomorrow will be for individual shots," the man explained. "These photos will be released for promotion of your second half of the tour, so lets hope for some very nice shots."
The boys chanted their yes in unison. It seemed simple enough and this wasn't anything new to the boys who are nearing their fifth year as idols.
"Yes, thank you, thank you. I'm letting you all know right now that I do have a guest photographer that will be helping me with the individual shots tomorrow. She'll be working with four of you while I have five. Having her on the team will help maintain time limit and I trust her shots to be fantastic, as she was one who recently gotten her scenery shots to be displayed on billboards around Seoul by coming in third place in an international competition. I'm sure you have seen some of those billboards a couple times."
Baekhyun did remember them. The gorgeous shots of forests, beaches, and fields of flowers really did add an aesthetic edge to their busy city. A very nice touch, indeed.
"She won't be working today but will be supervising today's shoot, so I would like all of you to treat her nicely, since she's still very much a beginner in the business."
Baekhyun, and the rest of the boy's, attention were instantly captured as a young woman entered the room. Her brunette hair had slight waves, reaching just past her shoulders, a clip as well to keep her bangs out of her doe-like eyes. There was a rosy tint to her round cheeks, contrasting against her snow white skin. She wore an oversized teal sweater over her collared shirt, with navy blue leggings and black laced-up boots to match.
"Hello EXO. My name is Kang Ji Eun," the young girl greeted, her adorable smile striking at everyone's hearts, mostly on one in particular. "I just arrived from Tokyo early morning, but I'm so very excited to be working with you all, so I hope for a good job done for the next two days."
It's her.
Gamja girl.
Right in front of me.
All air was knocked out of Baekhyun's lungs at the sight of his beautiful girlfriend. Was six months really all it took for her to look more grown, more mature? Ji Eun definitely had a new vibe to her, one a professional would have.
Before one of the boys could blurt out, Ji Eun pressed her index finger to her lips, silencing them. "We need to work fast, EXO. At this time right now, with the orange streaming into the room, is perfect. So we need to work fast," the girl told the boys. She stepped back and let the main photographer take the floor. Even in their daze at the turn of events, they did their best to work with the shots, hoping that if they perfect their poses now, they can finish early.
But could Baekhyun help himself from making a couple mistakes? The girl he was so enamored with had finally returned home and to be more shocking, working with them at this very moment, doing the very thing she loves doing.
His gaze was locked on her. He had to make sure that the woman standing before them was real, there in the flesh. If he looked away, would she disappear? He wasn't going to take that risk. And Ji Eun just smiled and shook her head at the idol's dazed antics, shooting his heart to the heavens above.
Once finishing the the shoot thirty minutes, Baekhyun strode over to Ji Eun and scooped her up into his arms, spinning her around in the air. A giggle escaped her lips as she snaked her arms around the male's neck to hold him close.
It has been way too long.
The universe finally granted Byun Baekhyun his wish.
Once placing Ji Eun back onto her feet, she chimed with a soft hello. "You're lucky Junwu-sshi was okay with you staring at the same direction in every picture."
"You think I care about that?" Baekhyun scoffed. "Ji Eun, why haven't you contacted me or your father or friends for a month? Don't you know how worried we were about you?"
"I was preparing for that international competition Junwu-sshi said," Ji Eun replied with a pout. "Haejin-unnie signed me up for it last minute so I was working a lot to get my shots together. I have been leaving short messages to appa, but I told him to keep everything a secret. I kind of wanted to surprise everyone!" She grabbed onto the idol's hands and gave them a squeeze. "I really do apologize for not messaging you for so long. I felt like that if I were to answer anything from you, then I would have dropped out of the competition and come home right when I was supposed to last October. But, I just really wanted to do this."
Baekhyun beamed at her, "Are you kidding me? You're amazing and I'm now happy that you decided to do this. International competition?! Holy shit, my girlfriend is so talented!"
"So, good surprise?"
"Fantastic surprise!"
"Ji Eun-ah~" The rest of EXO stepped forward and greeted the young photographer with warm welcomes. All of ten of them fell quickly into conversation, exchanging quality stories that one or the other must know about. From what Ji Eun had ranted on about, it sounded like her experience in Japan was phenomenal. The girl even managed to tell them a few of the many Japanese phrases she learned for her own survival. What a sweet reunion.
"Wait, what do you mean, Ji Eun-ah?" Baekhyun uttered in shock, his stare wide.
Ji Eun let out an agitated sigh before repeating the plans for the photoshoot tomorrow. "The four I'm going to be working with tomorrow is Kyungsoo, Junmyeon, Yixing, and Minseok."
"We can't wait to work with you, Ji Eun-ah!" The four chosen boys told the girl, too sickeningly sweet for Baekhyun's liking... Wait, even Kyungsoo? That little shit.
"But why?"
"Because I know we wouldn't be able to get anywhere if we worked together," his girlfriend explained. "We only have two hours to work with everyone and I'm positive we would have to take the whole day to get some decent pictures... I feel like we'd be too distracted to work."
"Ugh, that was like diabetes sweet," Jongdae uttered over to Chanyeol, but everyone still heard.
"Jagi, one day, I want to have a photoshoot with you. We should make that possible."
"Hoebag, getting this task was hard enough," Ji Eun replied, arms crossed over her chest. "I was lucky Haejin-unnie decided to stay in Tokyo a little longer and passed this job to me. So, I have to do very well before we can reach that hurdle."
"Ah, I miss your cursing."
"I miss your face."
"Oh god, let's go please," Kyungsoo piped up as he began ushering the rest of the EXO members to the dressing rooms. "They're getting gross."
As if to spite his members even more, Baekhyun tugged Ji Eun closer to him and left a quick peck to her cheek, sending her whole body warm at the contact. Gags and haughty sighs were received, but, of course, that didn't matter. The two were finally reunited, and they're not going to waste any time to catch up.
Ji Eun had gotten permission from EXO's manager to have the rest of Baekhyun for the rest of the day. So, the two were off to a destination chosen by the girl specifically. Baekhyun didn't even bother to question where they were walking to, all he cared was that he was with his girlfriend at this very moment spending quality time with her.
It was convenient that the day was extremely cold, so the layers of clothes were perfect in hiding the identities of the couple. And with it being extremely busy along the sidewalks, no one cared about giving them a glance, which was perfect for them. Their fingers interlocked, strolling side by side, they did just look like any other man and woman out on a date.
They were far into the depths of the city, tall buildings surrounding them. Electric billboards and street lamps were their only source of light for the already dark night. Ji Eun slowed down to a stop in front one building in particular with a humongous screen attached, Baekhyun followed suit and halted.
"Baekhyun, I learned so much things while I was in Japan, much more than I could have ever imagined," Ji Eun suddenly said, her gaze on the bright screen above them. "Despite mistakes I made over there, Haejin-unnie and everyone else were patient with me, which in the real world, I wouldn't have gotten. I feel like I've been way too lucky with how things turned out. I've worked my ass off over there, and I've told you about some things that seemed too hard to deal with, but I've overcome them." Eyes drifted over to the idol, smile warm enough for this winter weather. Ji Eun stared at him with so much admiration. She licked her cold lips and continued, "I feel like I don't say thank you enough, Baek, so thank you. Thank you for being there for me, thank you for giving me this chance to become more who I want to be, for giving me a new life. Thank you for approaching me Valentine's night."
Ji Eun wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her head to his chest, the faint sound of his beating heart heard. The EXO vocal returned the embrace and held onto the girl, gloved fingers running through her dark locks. "And I'll have to thank you, too, Ji Eun-ah."
"Me?"
"Because, just when I thought my idol life was beginning to be tiring, you came into my life. Now, I just want to work harder at what I love too and be someone everyone could look up to," Baekhyun murmured.
From the large screen, a scenic picture appeared. The picture showed a lone girl, back to the screen, in a field of white flowers. The sun looked to be setting, casting a shadow from the person, somehow making the photo more aesthetic. Words then flashed in a grey box at the bottom left corner:
Photos courtesy by Kang Ji Eun, third place winner of the International Photography Competition, 2016.
Congratulations to our young South Korean born photographer!
A wave of pride washed over Byun Baekhyun as he read those words. The following pictures were still of her work, a couple at different locations, all beautiful to stare at. These very pictures, one that's shown in a very public, crowded place, were displayed for everyone to see. Baekhyun was sure that this might have been an impossible idea when he first met the girl, who was reserved and fighting her emotions on her own. But now she was getting recognition for her hard work, he was incredibly proud.
A thought came to mind, one that has been popping a lot lately every since the day Ji Eun left six months ago.
"Ji Eun-ah, I want to go public with our relationship."
The shorter eyed him incredulously, not believing what he just said. "W-What?" she sputtered out flabbergasted.
"I want to go public. I want to flaunt off my adorable, beautiful, talented professional photographer girlfriend to my EXO-Ls and show them how happy I am with her. To show off the person I love so very much. If we tell them now, it'll give them time to get used to it."
"Baekhyun, listen--" Eyebrow raised once she caught the certain L word from his proposition. "Wait, hold up!"
The idol gave her a surprise attack, a chaste kiss to her lips. Looked like kissing her into silence was still valid. "Kang Ji Eun, my gamja girl, my chicken delivery girl who drinks a little too much and can cuss like there's no tomorrow, I love you and I want everyone to know how much I love you!" Baekhyun snuggled up close to her again. "I mean, as much as I want it soon, I am okay if you don't want to. This is a scary thought, and my members who went public with their relationships have gotten some flack. It's just going to be hard to hide it more in the future, I just thought it would be good to make it known as soon as possible."
The girl sighed, her head returning back onto his shoulder. "You're lucky I love you too, Byun Baekhyun, but before we let your fans know, we should tell all of our friends and family about our relationship. I doubt your parents would be pleased if they found out about us through the media."
Pulling away, Baekhyun looked at her with an excited glint in his eyes. "So, you're okay with it?"
"Yeah, bring on the haters," Ji Eun giggled. "I'm ready to take it all in. It may be a bit unfair, but they need to know that idols deserve a private life too."
In the distance, the two could hear people calling out towards them. Approaching them from down the hallway were the people Ji Eun could trust completely now. With Mister Kang leading the group, Wook Yong followed by him, a smile so wide at the sight of the returned girl. Sun Woo waved enthusiastically over at the couple, the enthusiasm a bit too much for this hour of the night. It was even a pleasure to see Mona walking alongside Jong Hoon and Su Bin as they hurried over. Ji Eun's father did well on bringing everyone out to meet her, to share this glorious moment of her photos being displayed. Ji Eun just thought this was a nice way of reuniting with everyone along with Baekhyun.
Kang Ji Eun bared her happiest smile, waving back at the group. From this point on, her future seemingly bright with the new job at Mystic Photo Company and her friends and family ready to support her with anything, she was ready to face any problem head on. She was ready to stand alongside Baekhyun with anything that will be thrown at them.
After all, this was a new part of her life that she was willing to fight for.
A/n: author's note right after!