Everything Seventeen

Chan (Dino)

I retrieved my luggage and headed out the automatic glass doors. I scanned the small crowd, looking for my loved ones. I had just returned to Seoul after studying in the U.K for 2 years. It was hard to maintain my long-distance relationship with Chan then but we still managed to find a way to make it work. Chan, along with my family, had promised to receive me tonight.
My eyes caught on a group of familiar faces. They waved and I smiled upon seeing them. I walked quickly over to them and dragged my heavy luggage along with me.

"Carat! It's been so long," my mother said as she embraced me for the first time in 2 years.

"I missed you guys so much!" I mentioned as I hugged each and every one of my 5 family members.

I looked around, feeling that someone was missing.

"Where is Chan? He said he'd be here," I asked.

"We didn't see him around either. We thought you'd meet him on another day," my father informed me, looking rather confused.

I nodded. Perhaps he forgot. I gave him a call right there and then but he did not pick up. I called him a few more times in the car on the way home. No response too. My heart slowly sank. He was so hyped to finally be able to see me again during our Skype call the day before. I got home with my family and after setting my things down, I decided to head out.

"I'm going to go see Chan. I'm not that tired so it's fine," I told my parents before leaving the house at 2 am.

I drove my father's car to the company building. Chan should be there. It was like his 2nd home. I went straight to the basement where the practice rooms were. I stopped outside Seventeen's practice room that was completely quiet. I checked the time and it was 2.16am. I knocked the door three times.

No response.

Was he in the dorm, totally forgetting his girlfriend who had been away for 2 years was returning to Seoul today? Perhaps he was not as hyped up about my return as he showed. Either way, I opened the door to be sure no one was there.

Oh.

There Chan was except he was passed out, fast asleep on the wooden floor in front of the mirror. No one else was in the room. Just him. Beside the door was a table where his phone laid on. I pressed the power button on the phone and the screen lit up. How dumb of him to leave his phone on silent... I shook my head.

I approached the sleeping figure. I crouched down beside him. I poked his arm and was shocked at how hard it was. If so, did that mean... I poked his tummy area. Oh! He really did work out a lot as he kept telling me! His abs were rock hard. I poked him a few more times and it woke him up. He laughed.

"Yah yah yah! Stop it- Carat? You're back?! OMG! What time is it?" he exclaimed.

I turned on my phone and showed him the time displayed on my lock screen. He was quick to wrap his arms around me and apologise repeatedly.

"I am so so sorry I overslept. Y-you see, I was really tired and I thought I would take a short nap but as you can see... I guess the other members snuck out while I fell asleep too..." he explained himself, looking around the empty room.

"You'll forgive me, right?" he asked, filled with hope.

He kept gazing at me. I could not think straight every time I made eye contact with him. Him oversleeping was pretty reasonable since he was a k-pop idol after all.

"Of course. I mean, I got to see you either way and on top of that, you're probably

tired out from your schedule. I respect that," I said to him with a smile on my face.

He thanked me for being such a nice, understanding girlfriend. Psh, of course. If I could stand being away from him, only contacting him at most once or twice a week for 2 years, I could handle this too. I was just too used to missing him.

"It's been 2 years since I kissed you. Can I...?" he asked, a little awkward.

"Why not?" I replied with a giggle.

He held my hands and leaned forward to kiss me. Before his lips could touch mine, I moved back and he almost stumbled. The betrayed look on his face was priceless.

"I'm kinda hungry. Do you know a place open at this time?" I asked, holding in my laughter.

He pursed his lips and sighed.

"There is a noodle restaurant open 24 hours but it's pretty far if we're walking," he told me.

"I'll drive," I announced as I stood up.

"Nonono, I'll drive," he rushed to the door, grabbing his belongings on the way out.

I took the opportunity while he took his things to get a head start. I dashed off to where I parked the car and got there first. Rushing to classes after waking up late helped me build my speed and stamina.

I got in the driver's seat while Chan got in the passenger seat.

"You're tired from practice, right?"

"You're jet-lagged from your flight, right?"

"You've been more tired the past few days from schedules."

"You've been more tired the past 2 years from studying and missing me," he made his last attempt to persuade

me to let him drive.

I started the car despite whatever he said. Before I drove off, I turned to him.

"Hey, Chan," I called him.

"Yeah?"

I pulled his arm and kissed him.