✰ Rap Star ⤑ Changlix

13

The club is as active as ever. I haven't seen Changbin for the hour that I've been here. It's our turn soon so I won't likely see him for another one. Not because we are performing for that long, but because 3racha is after us. I don't know if Minho planned this, but it turned out this way. Hyunjin grabs my arm to get my attention. We have to get ready. I sigh and follow him backstage where Minho, Jeongin, and Seungmin await us.
"Anyone else's stomach bubbling?" Jeongin asks, cracking a joke to lighten to tension.
"Only a little bit, surprisingly I'm not as scared as I should be," I say, fixing the green and black shirt I'm wearing. I have a black turtleneck underneath it and I also have some light blue jeans. Everyone has different styles. Minho's and Seungmin's are more loose. Probably for dancing. Jeongin looks like a little kid ready to play on the play ground, and Jisung has a similar appearance to mine.
When I hear the act before us end, I take a deep breath. Time for nothing. Hyunjin salutes us quickly before heading toward the edge of the stage, sliding into the crowds view when the lyrics "I think I'm losing my mind" leave his mouth. Everyone besides me is using headgear. I don't actually know what they are called. It's those small microphones that tape to your face. On the other hand, I have to hold a heavy microphone in my hand while I rap. Jeongin jumps onto the stage singing and running in place like the lyrics say. "It's like I'm running in place. How you keep staying the same?" It's funny cause this song isn't exactly a love song. It's Changbin's favorite though, so it holds value, right? Minho slides in next and sings his part dramatically. This particular verse really fits him. "Baby, I, I guess I'm something different and I'm okay with that. I can't fake no more smiles. That shit gon' drive me mad."
Seungmin's part fits him well too. "I'm focused on the future, don't care 'bout nothin' else." It's kind of funny how this song fits them all but me. Still, I'll act like it does and make this performance amazing. They all share a line before Seungmin and Jeongin start to sing the chorus. Hyunjin and Minho's dancing is amazing. I can't believe I'm going to be on stage with them. Ah, the nerves are kicking in. I don't have time to let them set in, as my lines are in a few seconds. I make my way to the edge of the curtains, taking a deep breath before walking out. "Keep that away from me, I put the Heisman up to bad energy. No empathy, especially when the kid off Hennessy. Fake friends to me make my mood go south like Tennessee. Make the fool come out like, "Who is he?" I mean, I tried to tell y'all," Jeongin and I share a smile as I take my place beside him. He and Seungmin start the chorus again. Now all of us are dancing. I can't help but laugh a bit at Minho. He's taking it so seriously. It's like watching Changbin when he raps. This feeling of performing; I've felt it before. On the stage during the talent show. Before I know it my second part comes up again. The song is nearing its end sadly. "I don't know who to trust. These days everyone's shady. Fool me once, I'm on my own, there is no second time, baby. That's the shit I don't like. Please no yes, no maybes. What else?" Seungmin and Jeongin finish up the song and when it's done, cheers echo out. Hyunjin swings his arm around me, is two sharing a loud laugh and bow to the crowd. I just hope Changbin was watching. I can't see him in the crowd. Getting off stage, we change so people don't know it was us that danced, and then push our way into the front so we can watch the 3racha performance up close. Chris and Jisung came out first, singing a popular song that has been going around lately. B-Day by iKON. Changbin comes in shortly after the start. They look like they are having fun. I laugh as I sip my drink.
"Felix," Hyunjin calls over the music.
"What?" I yell, Minho turning his attention to us after hearing it.
"When do we get to meet your boyfriend?"
I forgot I promised to introduce them. "Later! He's actually performing tonight too!" I inform, smiling when Changbin looks my way.
Hyunjin and Minho don't say anything else about it. The few songs 3racha sings are amazing as always, but I'm most excited to hear the song Changbin has saved for me. Of course, he just has to save it for the ending act. That's so like him.
"How's everyone doing tonight? Hyped up?" The crowd screams at Changbin. I don't think they are excited at all. I'm kidding. "That's good that's good. Any birthdays tonight?" He asks. A few people yell out that it's theirs. If they're lying, well, there's no way to tell. "Oh really? Guess we share a birthday then. Well, anyway. To close up our act tonight, I'm going to be doing something a little different," Changbin says, taking a mic stand from Chris.
"Did Jisung mention any of this to you?" Hyunjin asks Minho. The dancer shakes his head.
"So, since I'm twenty-two tonight, I had a thought. Oh, I can drink, I can rap, sing a little too. I'm as free as free can get besides the studying, right?" The crowd shouts again. "Right, right. So, my significant other is here tonight,"
"Changbin's dating someone?" Hyunjin gasps.
"He did tell Jisung he was with someone the other day," Minho mutters.
"He gave me a really surprising birthday present. Which, can I say, I really wasn't expecting something that amazing. Shout out to my Angel for that. Anyway, I'm going to be changing it up a bit tonight. It's a love song. Yeah, yeah, I know. Dark and gloomy rapper got his heart melted. Boohoo, be jealous." I snicker, my arm crossing over my chest. He called me Angel. Fuck he's so cute. "I hope all the couples out here tonight have a good time. So, with that, I shall begin."
My heart is slamming against my chest as Changbin adjusts his grip on the mic stand. Is he really going to sing? I've never heard him sing anything super ballad like. The beat drops and I laugh to myself. No, it's not his style to sing a ballad.

"This my baby, this my, look,"
Changbin takes the mic from its stand and looks to the side. Jisung comes out, grinning like an idiot. Changbin rolls his eyes as he sings, his hand drawing the outline of Jisung's body. "Touching you slowly," he wraps his arm around his waist as he continues, "love how you old me." Jisung comes over and places his arm on Changbin's shoulder. "I was a player," my boyfriend looks at the other and shrugs him off. "That was the old me."
I know for sure Changbin wasn't a player. I laugh for the millionth time that night. What an idiot. At least he's having fun though. He continues to dance and express the lyrics with Jisung, Chris coming in to play around with the crowd. Natural born entertainers. Changbin looks my way when he sings "you 20, but intelligent, now all them other bitches so irrelevant," Changbin starts walking away from Jisung and toward the area where I am. He's still singing even when he squats down to see my face clearer. "Chef B with the recipe, yeah with you it's a better me," I wrinkle my nose when he sticks out his hand for me to take. I give it to him reluctantly. I know my face is a burning mess. People are staring. What an idiot. "I guess what I'm saying, I guess what I'm saying is, I, I fucking love you." Screams fill my ears and Changbin gives me a large grin, pressing a kiss to the back of my hand which he's still holding onto. He lets go and stands up, continuing the song as he walks back to the center of the stage. When the lyrics "if I wrote a love song would you sing it," come up, I roll my eyes. How did he find such a perfect song to sing? I already sang his damn love song. Saying "that's my baby" while he points at me makes me shy, so I look away and sip my drink. Ah, what a way to tell our friends we are dating. Jisung still has a shocked expression on his face. At some point when Minho and Hyunjin aren't looking at me, I slip away and head toward the back, leaning against the wall to wait for my boyfriend. When I spot the three guys coming my way, I push myself off and offer them a smile. Changbin's already big smile grows and he jogs up to me, tackling me in a hug.
"Did you like it?" he asks.
"No, I hated it," I say.
"Don't play that joke on me again," he whines.
I laugh and poke his chest. "I hate it cause I wasn't up there singing with you."
"So now you are complaining about singing with me? Choose one. Dancing or Singing. Next you'll say you want to rap by me," he teases.
"Doesn't sound so bad," I tell him, grabbing his neck to pull him into a kiss. He hums into my lips, his hand meeting with the side of my face.
When we pull away, he starts giggling like an idiot. At least he's a cute idiot. "What'd you think of the dance?"
"I loved it. Now I know why you asked for my favorite song so suddenly. You could've just looked at the Spotify playlist and chosen one from there."
"It's more meaningful and shocking when you tell me yourself," I stick my tongue out at him after I say this. "Happy birthday."
"Best birthday I've ever had," Changbin whispers in my ear. "There's something that could make it even better though." I roll my eyes and shove him a bit, but he doesn't let me go. Instead, he whips me around and takes an incoming smack to the back from Hyunjin.
"First you hide the fact you're dating Changbin, and now you are letting him take the beating for you!" Hyunjin yells in irritation. It's playful. I know he's more happy for me than upset.
"He's the one that took the hit! I didn't tell him to do it!" I laugh.
"Idol Prince Charming love story shit," Hyunjin mumbles. "Who else knew?"
Everyone shakes their head. "We agreed to tell you guys today for a reverse present. We didn't want to make it awkward just in case it didn't work out," Changbin explains.
"It can't have been that long then," Chris says.
"Six weeks?" I say, unsure about the actual date. I have it in my calendar but it's not a note I keep in my mind at all times.
"Around that, yeah," Changbin confirms.
"That's really long what the fuck guys!" Jisung complains.
I shrug. "I wanted to enjoy my time with him without getting constantly teased," I tell them, eyeing Hyunjin who's pouting. He knows I mean him mostly.
"Plus, we aren't a fling. It's a serious relationship. I really love him. If it hadn't worked out, an aspect of that break up probably would have been not getting enough time to really get to know each other," Changbin adds.
"You say it like we are married. It's only been a month and a half," I mumble.
"I guess what I'm saying, I guess what I'm saying is," Changbin sings into my ear. I elbow his stomach and roll my eyes. "I fucking love you," He wheezes out, head falling onto my shoulder. I pat his head and smile at Jeongin, who's obviously trying to hold back his excitement.
"We should go out and eat. I want to hear the whole story," Seungmin finally speaks. We all agree and head to a restaurant that Changbin likes.