First Love [Jung Jaehyun Fanfiction]

~Chapter 38~

The loud cheers from the fans echoed throughout the huge stadium. Everyone was busy backstage getting ready for the concert, attending to the needs of the different groups. People were running back and forth to get resources along the narrow hallway, squeezing past each other so that everything would go as planned.

I was in the NCT boys' dressing room waiting for Taeil to be done so that I could do my make up. I sat on the couch and watched Girls Generation perform their recent comeback song through the small television that was placed right next to the door. Without even realizing, Johnny had took a seat next to me. I was so absorbed in the performances that I didn't notice him beside me. He placed a hand on my shoulder, making me flinch. He let out a low chuckle before moving closer and taking out a red box wrapped in a while ribbon.

He held it out for me to take and I looked at him hesitantly, before he sighed and shoved the box into my hand. I took it and pulled on the ribbon carefully, scared of it's contents. I placed the ribbon my lap before shooting a nervous glance at Johnny and opening the box ever so slowly, to only reveal a beautiful silver locket in a shape of a heart. I picked it up, careful not to drop it, opening it, to see the picture of the boys and I at the amusement park. When I turned it around, I found the date that I first met the boys engraved on it.

When I lifted my head to look at my brother, he had this look where he was expecting a reaction out of me. I stared at him in disbelief before springing up from my seat and embracing him into a tight hug. He was taken aback by the sudden action but eventually returned the hug. When we finally let go, he offered to put it on for me so I gave the locket to him and turned around, putting my hair to the side so that he could put it on. When he was done, I turned back around and gave him another hug, thanking him profusely.

"You know, all the boys chipped in to get this locket for you so you should thank them too," he told me.

I nodded and thanked him one last time before going around the dressing room and hugging each and every one of the boys, thanking them for the locket. I was in the middle of hugging Mark when the stylist unnie called me so that I could get my hair and makeup done. I gave him an apologetic look and promised to thank him properly before heading towards the dressing table across the room. I sat down in the chair and stared at myself in the mirror as the stylist unnies did my hair and makeup at the same time.

"That's a really beautiful locket," one of them complimented.

I smiled and thanked her, telling her that it was from the boys. Not long after, I was done and I had to change into a black crop top, black ripped jeans and a red jacket. I also took a red bandanna and wrapped it around my thigh. Right when I stepped out of the changing area, the boys and I were already being called up.

The whole time, I stood next to Johnny, clinging onto his arm out of nervousness. When they gave out the mics, I took mine with shaking hands, almost dropping it twice. Johnny came from behind and wrapped an arm around me, patting my shoulder, assuring me that I was going to do great.

"NCT and Kim Joohyun!," I heard our names get called through the speakers as the cheers became louder, causing me to be even more nervous.

The boys made their way onto the stage one by one as I followed behind them, not daring to lift my head. I used the tape that was pasted on the floor to guide myself to my position. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath before opening them, only lifting my head up when the music started playing. Song after song, the cheers from the fans remained just as loud. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all. I skipped down the long catwalk into the smaller stage in the middle of the fans like we practice and waited for Jaehyun before placing my hand on his shoulder just like how we practiced it.

The screams increased when 'Trouble Maker' started to play. My hands were literally trembling but Jaehyun's touch somehow calmed me down a little bit. Since I wasn't wearing any in-ears, I could hear the cheers and screams from the fans. Most of them were positive which boosted my confidence. Smiling, I continued through the whole song with my new found confidence until the end.

The rest of the NCT boys came up from the side stairs and joined the both of us on the small stage as we ended with 'Let Me Love You'. I put in all my remaining energy into this last song, wanting to end the performance with a bang. When the song finally ended, only the screams form the fans were heard. I held my pose as I looked at each and every one of the fans, relieved that nothing had gone wrong.

It really wasn't so bad after all.