Tell Me What is Love (D.O. Kyungsoo/EXO Fanfic)

Chapter 36: It's Time to Shine

Hey guys :) Here's the time you've all been waiting for, kinda... ;) Don't worry, there's more to come ahahah

Enjoy your read :)

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If our schedule wasn't busy enough for the past year, it became even worse now.

Young Hee, our vocal coach, pushed our vocal lessons and breathing exercises to the limit. Then me and my band members flew in and out of studios for the production and recording of our debut single titled "We Are One". We practiced and rehearsed none-stop the choreography that Jae Seop invented. The dance was poppy, complex and fast, but it came naturally and fitted so well with the song. Every movement has become second nature to us, and we transitioned around to our positions fluidly like water on rock.

We also underwent our final makeovers for the debut. Min Jee had her hair tinted blonde, Rei had hers in a dark brown with a reddish reflection, Jui Yu' s was dyed a lighter brown, and Lin had hers in a pinkish color. They all looked breathtaking before, but now they upgraded to resembling total goddesses. As for me, I got the same shade of color as Jui Yu's mane as well as square bangs with the sides drooping along the sides of my face. I do admit that I looked good too, but still nothing compared to the four of them. I was just grateful to the company that no one had to undergo plastic surgery.

Every day we were driven to multiple locations and sets for the filming of our video, from bright sandy beaches and wild night life in the city, to uni-colored background sets and flashy studios. Directors, makeup artists, stylists, cameramen and other crew members followed us 24/7. Perfection was demanded, and we must have shot multiple scenes a countless number of times, but each take was always better than the previous, so we eventually got the scenes that made the directors euphoric.

In between lights, cameras and actions, we did not stop nor took a break. We were filming our solo teasers. Each member was given a specific two-part task each, the first consisting of a short choreography and the other more dramatic, just staring or smiling at the camera. Some of it was funny and a little awkward, but we all had an amazing and fun time filming.

Sung Jun was there every step of the way and guided us through the chaos and excitement of it all. We worked from 5am to 2am the next day, but exhaustion was no stranger to us. We were already used to it.

We were very thankful for the hardcore and difficult training we've been through. It's been paying off really well. We had finished everything in less than a week and a half. We were out of energy, half dead physically and wrecked mentally, yes, but we were also a little bit ahead of our schedule. We were extremely proud of ourselves. The final product of the song and video was amazing, unique and powerful, sure to be a blast once it was released.

Our solo teasers, kick ass and eye-catching as they were, were out during the next five days after the completion of the MV. Our debut was finally announced to the rest of YMC and its affiliated companies. The sunbae groups and the trainees, as well as the high ranked officials and all teachers and coaches, applauded and cheered for us loudly at the ceremony. As expected, Minah was nowhere to be seen in the crowd of artists and paparazzis.

Min Hyun approached Min Jee, recognizing her from the other night when he found us at the park.

"Annyeong," he smiled, bowing formally.

"Annyeong, uhh, do we know each other?" Min Jee wondered, gawking at him with big eyes. She knew he was in a boy band under YMC too, and had seen him around the company during rare times, but they have never spoken to one another.

"Well, now I get a chance to meet you conscious, so I guess that's gotta count for something," he replied with an even bigger grin and a little chuckle.

"Huh?" my member asked, looking puzzled.

I wanted to chime in and tell her he was the one who saved her by calling an ambulance, but I let them handle their own business. They looked way too cute, anyhow I was busy being photographed and interviewed by some journalists.

"Let's just say I caught you and your eonnie, you know, when you fainted at the park," Min Hyun responded shyly. "I'm Hwang Min Hyun, from Wanna One. It's nice to officially meet you, Min Jee."

He extended his hand to her for a hand-shake, and she held it. Both turned red and smiled at each other sweetly.

The promoting team did a great job at capturing the best moments and snapping the brightest pictures of the event. Along with the editing department, they had the media buzz about 5 Nations online and in newspapers, causing the public to get very curious about us. Everyone, meet 5 Nations' maknae, Kim Min Jee. Within less than 24 hours, her teaser, the first one to be released, hit a million views on Youtube. She wasn't the face of the group for nothing. Not to forget that she was also Xiumin's sister.

On September 5th, 2017, the music video for "We Are One" was finally released. It had a lot of attention and hyped up the whole Kpop industry as well as the international listeners. After one week, it received over 12 million hits on youtube. The song played everywhere, from being broadcasted in the radio for restaurants and shopping centers to booming in night clubs and being remixed during raves. Soon enough there were huge posters and billboards of our girl group all around the city.

Internationally, each of us were the favorite member within our respective countries. I was hyping up the Philippines, Min Jee was the deal in Korea, Rei was big in Japan, Jui Yu was a wonder in Taiwan and Lin was the queen in China. Outside of Asia, I was popular in Latin America and Canada, Min Jee was the heart throb in the United States, Rei was the best among the European countries, Jui Yu was loved in Australia, and Lin was reverred in Africa and the Middle-East. Our numbers and results among the global music charts and online views was skyrocketting, which was surprising for a rookie, a VERY rookie group in such a shocking small amount of time.

Mr. Tae was overwhelmed with everything, and when he called us in his office one time, he couldn't contain his tears of joy and sobbed like a baby for a good half an hour.

We cried with him, but our water works intensified when he told us "My children, naneun nega jalang seuleobda (I'm so proud of you all)... I told you that I believed in you, and that you'd all be great stars someday... I'm so happy that I found you all... Thank you so much for everything..."

"No, Tae seonsaengnim, it is us who thank you," the girls and I replied in perfect synchrony.

Even Sung Jun got emotional and joined in the group hug.

We have passed from a bunch of ordinary girls who led ordinary lives, to exhausted hardworking trainees, to a major debuting girl band. All of that happened in the span of one year.

Our debut stage was set for September 21 at M Countdown, which fun fact, was also Chen's birthday. As Mr. Tae had promised us, our debut was going to be one of a kind, and it literally was going to be.

The public was heading in for a big surprise...