< Things spoken in Korean will be in italics >
Today was the day. The day NCT 127 was going to debut. The day Donghyuck had been looking forward to yet dreading all at the same time.
You sat with your back pressed against the cold wall backstage of M Countdown accompanied by the restless staff. Making sure to keep your distance from the boys, you were sure not to get in their way or be a distraction while they got ready.
Some members were in various places just going over choreography or lyrics to themselves. Others, like Donghyuck, sat in a chair in front of the miror allowing themselves to be fixed up by their stylists.
After watching closely for a bit, Donghyuck kept sweating from nervousness and overthinking causing the stylist to have to come back over and correct his makeup.
You stood up slowly using the wall for support, tired or sitting around for so long. "Having fun?" Somone comes up next to you, resting against the same wall. Turning to face Sooman, you smile seeing it was him.
"Were they like this when NCT U debuted?" you question seeing bodies bustling around left and right.
SM thought for a moment, then laughed slightly to himself. "Worse." There was a subtle pause between you both as you watched everyone at work. "I've never seen Donghyuck this way before."
"He was really upset the other day." You admit. "Would I be allowed to go over and talk to him?" you ask with precaution, not knowing if you'd be allowed to or not.
But seeing the way SM's face lit up at the idea, you felt nothing but relief. "I think that'd be best." You bowed thankfully in his direction as you excused yourself to make your way across the busy room to a worried Donghyuck. His hands were folded together in his lap while he sat hunched over, eyes staring into space while the stylist fumbled to touch up his hair. Seeing you approaching them both, she smiled up at you, walking away to allow you to speak with him.
He still had no clue of your presence, staring at the table in front of him like nothing else existed. His mind running. You silently stood behind his chair, looking at him through the mirror. He looked so nice in the silver jeans and blue shirt from the music video that was prepared for this stage. You just wished he could see it for himself and wash all this unnecessary nervousness away.
"Donghyuck," you eventually whispered, placing your hands on too of his joined ones from behind, almost how he did for you that day you were struggling to get your homework done. It seemed like ages ago to you now.
He flinched hearing his name, but quickly settled under your touch realizing it was you. He adjusted your hands so he was now entwining them in his lap. "I don't feel so good." he whispered, leaning back against you while he gazed at you in the mirror.
"I can see that clearly." You chuckle feeling his thumb nervously stroke over your hand.
"Everyone you have fifteen minutes until it's your turn to go up on stage!" NCT's manager appeared from a curtain, informing the boys they'd be going on stage very soon. Donghyuck's grip on your hand turned his knuckles white, hands slightly beginning to shake.
"I'm not ready." His voice shook, and his whole body spun around in the chair to actually look at your face like a deer caught in headlights. He was sweating like crazy, hair matted against his forehead.
"Dongh-" he unsteadily stood from his chair, holding on to your shoulder for support. Hands ran through his hair in distress. You gently placed your hands on either side of his face, feeling his skin burn under your touch. Something was wrong with him.
"___." He breathed shakily. "I'm freaking out right now. I'm— help me I don't know what'swrong." He looked at you with wide eyes shooting in every direction.
"Sh, you're okay. Let's get you out of here." Your eyes hurriedly searched the back of the stage where you'd be able to take him privately and get him to cool off a bit. Everyone was watching the scene playing out in front of them in sheer confusion while you simply ignored the stare and helped Donghyuck over to a door you found away from everyone. Opening it slowly you hooked your arm around Donghyuck's waist escorting him carefully into the room.
Donghyuck's whole body seemed to be shaking uncontrollably as you shut the door behind you. You were scared for him, and just didn't know what to do to calm him down. He was having a panic attack right in front of your eyes, and you'd never thought that the boy who was always so strong helping you get through this whole year would break down so easily like this in front of you.
His held himself up against a wall, chest heaving up and down as he exasperated breathing could be heard from every corner of the room. "I'm scared ___." Tears welled up in Donghyuck's eyes, causing tears of your ow n start to form at the sight of such a terrified boy.
"Donghyuck, you're going to be okay. Just look at me." His eyes looked everywhere but your face when be turned to meet you. You turned his jaw in your direction, forcing his eyes on to your own. "Just focus on me and nothing else." He nodded softly, still trembling while his eyes searched all over your face.
Next you didn't know how it happened or why you did it, but your lips were suddenly pressed harshly against Donghyuck's in such a way that his shaking stopped, his heaving chest slowed to a steady rate, and his hands were on waist. He gripped onto hips, sighing into the kiss in relief.
You both pulled away slowly, eyes still closed as Donghyuck rested his forehead against your own. "You, um—" you began feeling his hot breath fan against you. "You stopped panicing."
"Yeah," he chuckled still not pulling away from you. "T-thank you." Donghyuck stuttered over his words, nervousness now shifting over to how close he was to you. His lips hovered over yours now, not kissing touching but brushing over one another's when you spoke.
"I should be the one thanking you." Donghyuck didn't give you the chance to say anything more as he took your head in his hands and pressed his lips to yours once more. He pulled you body tight against his, desperate for your touch after that one kiss you both shared at the park. Only this time it was different. This time it felt real.
Your hands gently played with the ends of his hair while his hands slid down from your face and held the small of your back. His lips came away from yours and began attaching to other places. Loving pecks tracing up your jaw and landing just under your ear.
"Finally!" A voice yells excitedly along with the sound of a door creaking open. Donghyuck was too focused on kissing you though — for when you craned your head to look at the voice erupting from the entrance, Donghyuck was forced to to move down to your neck, oblivious.
"Okay Donghyuck, at least stop for a second."
Donghyuck's head suddenly snapped up at Yuta, face going bright red in embarrassment. He stood behind you, clinging to your shirt until you pushed him in front of you. He grabbed your waist and pulled you into him, swallowing awkwardly. "What do you want hyung?"
Every single member was now staring at you two with smirks on there faces, waiting expectantly. "___ when I offerred to help you with Korean, this was the last thing I expected to get out of it." Mark teased and you could only roll your eyes at him hugging into Donghyuck some more.
"We were just going to tell you that we go on in five minutes but we see you're busy so..." Taeyong trailed off, another announcement for the boys to go on stage being heard in the background.
Jaehyun breaks the silence. "Are you okay though?"
"Yeah we saw you kind of freaking out earlier." Taeil pitches in.
"Yeah," Donghyuck sighs, looking over your whole face while he spoke. "I'm okay. I'll be out soon, just give me a minute."
"Winwin why can't you look at me like that?" Yuta jokes while the boys all turned for the door.
"Shut up, Yuta." Winwin smacks him following his members. You turn to Donghyuck at the sound of the door closing, smile spread acorss your face.
"You're membes really care about you."
"That was so embarrassing though." He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Are you saying I'm an embarrassment?"
Donghyuck's eyes widen at what he said. "What? No! I-I didn't mean it like that. Why would I think that. You're perfect. I'm just-"
"Be quiet." you laugh. "I'm kidding. You're cute when you're flustered."
"I hate you sometimes." It grew quiet between you both as you looked at each other not really knowing what to say. "____?"
"Hm?"
"I guess this is the right time for me to ask this." He giggled at you scrunching your eyebrows in confusion. He cleared his throat before holding your hands and saying "Will you please be my g—"
"NCT 127 you are needed on stage!" voice announced throughout the room. Donghyuck threw his head back and groaned in annoyance. You knew what he was going to ask though. You've been waiting for that question forever.
"I'll give you an answer after you perform." you smirked, hooking your arms around his neck. He knew what your answer would be already, and so did you. He looked down with a smile in disbelief this was happened. "Go kick some butt."
"I love you ___." Donghyuck suddenly said outloud without thinking about it.
You smiled, responding without any hesitation. "I love you too Donghyuck." He kissed you again almost like it was the first time, and you could almost feel tears welling in your eyes.
"Donghyuck!" A voice yelled from outside the door.
"You better go now." You shoved Donghyuck away from you and out the door. He gave you a small smirk before walking out onto the stage. You watched him until he disappeared behind the curtain, screams erupted immediately from the thousands of fans waiting to watch the performance. You rested you back against the wall, smiling reminiscing on everything that just happened.
"Why do you look like you're in love or something?" Sooman joked with you as he approached once the boys left.
"Oh, hello Sooman." He startled you, standing straight up at his presence.
"You do know I don't normally allow idols and trainees to date under the company." SM began slowly, peaking at you from the corner of his eye to see you reaction.
Your heartbeat sped up hearing SM's words. "D-Donghyuck and I-"
"Relax." Sooman laughed seeing how worked up he got you. "I can make an exception for once."
You stared at him in disbelief, for this was the last thing you were worried about. "Thank you." you sighed in relief, a little annoyed he would scare you like that.
"Come on let's go watch them on the TV." you followed him over to a set of TV's where the performance was being broadcasted. Eyes filled with wonderment followed Donghyuck's form across the screen. He was doing so great, you would have never been able to tell he was even the slightest bit nervous before hand.
And the entire time you watched him, all you could think about what how much you'd been through with him to get to this point. All the confusion, the embarrassmen, the anxiety and awkwardness of not being able to communicate with each other.
How ironic it was that two different had managed to find each other after having lived on opposite sides of the world, and began learning the other persons' langauge for each other.
So many questions were still left unanswered in your head as you had no idea how something so obscure could even become possible. And now it was just your reality. But you were sure about one thing. You loved Donghyuck, and Donghyuck loved you.
And amidst all the uncertainties in the world, languages are simply not enough to keep you two apart.
Languages were not big enough a barrier.