Soulmates - Cai Bing

8. Backstage Pass

Luckily you don't have to be responsible for filming to stop because the PD's announce that there is going to be a 15-20 minute break before the next team performs. 

This timing is perfect, you thought as you walked away from the table. You headed backstage to find the girls that just finished performing.

More specifically, you headed backstage to find Cai Bing. 

You noticed that Mihawk was walking in the same direction behind you. 

"Oh Y/N ssi, are you going to find the girls too?" Mihawk asked you.

"Yes...it breaks my heart to see them like that...I just want to let them know they did well" you responded. 

"Nado (me too), giving criticism is never easy even when it's necessary" Mihawk replied. 

"Majayo (that's right), it's such a shame because they were doing so well in practice" you added. 

Once you guys had reached backstage, you saw the heartbroken girls. They were standing at the bottom of the stairs that led to the stage. Everyone looked so defeated. 

Xiaoting was the first person you saw and she held her hair up in a ponytail as tears fell down her face. 

You were making your way to her until you looked around and saw Cai Bing to her right. 

Once you saw her, you immediately turned to the right and started walking towards them. Cai Bing had her head down and she was surrounded by Yujin and May. 

"It's okay, it's okay" Yujin said as she tried to comfort Cai Bing. 

"I'm so disappointed" Cai Bing said while crying as Yujin patted her head.

You walked up to the group and stood across Yujin, in between May and Cai Bing. 

You raised your arm and put it around Cai Bing's waist without hesitation and pulled her towards you. 

She kept her head down and continued to wipe her falling tears away. 

"It's okay" you whispered while rubbing her back. You weren't even sure if she knew it was you but she closed the distance between you two by leaning her body against yours. 

You tightened your grip around her and held her close to you. 

"It's okay, you'll show them in the next performance" you said to her. 

Cai Bing kept her head down and you felt how much regret she had for not showing a perfect performance that she had practiced so hard for. 

You kept your arm around Cai Bing and continued to comfort her. 

You put your other arm around May and patted her to let her know she did well. 

In that moment, you didn't care about the cameras that were capturing every moment backstage. You didn't care what people would say or think, you just wanted to be there for Cai Bing. 

You hated the circumstances but you loved the feeling of Cai Bing in your arms, snuggling up against you. Even after her intense performance, you could still smell her perfume and she smelled so good. You had met a lot of people and idols in your life but you had never met anyone who smelled as good as her. It was cold backstage but she kept you warm with her body heat. 

You were an idol who liked skinship, but only with the people that you are comfortable with. You and your groupmates were always touchy with one another so this was not something uncommon to you but it definitely felt different with Cai Bing. 

With Cai Bing, you felt the blood in your body rush to your cheeks. With Cai Bing, you felt your heartbeat pounding like a drum in your chest. With Cai Bing, you felt the fluttering butterflies in your stomach. With Cai Bing, your mind spins and you can't focus on anything except for her. With Cai Bing, you long for her whenever you're not with her. 

You wanted to continue holding her but the PDs announced that filming was going to resume in 5 minutes. The PDs then asked you and Mihawk, who was with the other HYLT team, to head back to the masters' table. 

You gave Cai Bing, May, and Yujin one last group hug before saying goodbye. Before you left you turned to look at Cai Bing one more time and patted her on the back gently. 

You walked ahead to the other group with Xiaoting and gave her a hug as well. You guys were walking in the same direction so you took this as an opportunity to comfort her and give her some encouragement. You spent the majority of the break with the 22U cell and while you did go backstage to find Cai Bing, you also didn't want anyone to feel left out or neglected. 

"Xiaoting, you did well. I know you will show a perfect performance next time. It's okay, you did well." you said to her in Chinese. You patted her back gently and she gave you a little nod. 

"You did well, you did well" you said to everyone in the group, including 22U cell who was behind you. 

It was time for you and Mihawk to head in a different direction so you stopped and said your goodbyes and a few last words of encouragement to the girls. 

Your eyes dart back to Cai Bing as you can't seem to take your eyes off of her. She doesn't face you and continues to keep her head down. 

The girls began to head back to the audience seating area and went to find their seats so you turn around to head to yours.

You take your seat and say hello again to the other masters. The PDs announce that filming will begin again and you see someone about to hit the slate on stage. 

Of course, you can't stop yourself from glancing at Cai Bing so you give into what your heart wants and look in her direction. 

When you look over, your eyes meet hers.