Keys to Happiness

19. Aliah

I'm in SHINee's dorm! I was screaming inside my head. The ride to the dorm had been normal after we had finally both calmed down. What had freaked me out though, was when we had pulled up to the large building that housed one of the biggest K-pop groups in existence and I saw the inside of the place.

It was if I had stepped onto the set of My Love from Another Star; the dwelling was so spacious and it was only the hallway. When we had rung on the doorbell, loud voices could be heard from inside and the excited yelling came closer and closer to the door before it was opened in a rush by all the members.

They spent one long minute in the doorway, staring at both KiBum and myself before he told them to move in a sharp voice. They quickly hustled away and I found myself smiling as I walked into the apartment, my nervousness floating away like a puff of smoke. Clearly my favorite group was just as adorkable in real life as they had been on TV and I was in no way displeased by that fact.

"Anneyonghaesyo. Chonun Aliah Thomas imnida. Pangawayo," I said with a bow to all of them as I stepped over the threshold, the door closing behind me. They all returned the bow to me, JongHyun and MinHo smiling widely. They waited patiently while I took my shoes off and put on the slippers that KiBum handed to me, his smile evident. As I walked from their foyer to the open living room, the members hovered around me slightly, all with eager grins on their faces. It was overwhelming to say the least. To be a such big fan and the all of a sudden be face to face with them almost had me swooning from the awesomeness of it all.

KiBum had brought in the tissues and had placed it on the floor in the living room after we'd entered. The members had laughed when they saw it, asking KiBum what he planned to do with so much tissue, but I quickly told them that I had bought it for them as I gift, telling them that I knew it was always in short supply.

"Why would you think that Aliah-ssi?", JongHyun asked me with a puzzled look.

"Oh, well KiBum told me about you and TaeMin's stomach problems and that it might be useful," I said brightly.

JongHyun's eyebrows shot up at that, TaeMin cheeks turned pink, and all of a sudden KiBum was sputtering loudly behind them, his laugh echoing against the vaulted ceilings. Realization hit slowly and then I knew that dummy had totally lied and I felt my face get hot. I wasn't really embarrassed, but things were sure to be awkward now. Trust KiBum to make things difficult for no reason. A table and soft cushions had been placed around a table in the middle of the living room, and we all took seats around it, KiBum sitting on my right and MinHo on my left.

"Noona, you speak Korean so well; did you just start learning?" TaeMin said to me so quickly that I could just barely make it out.

"Kamsahapnida. I tried to learn a lot and took an intensive course, but I'm still not 100 percent," I demurred, speaking slower so that he'd catch my hint.

"Ah yeh, mianhaeyo," he said with a significant pause between each word. I gave him a big smile in return, delighted at his joke, and his answering one was dazzling. It took all I had not to fall off my cushion in surprise. I'd seen the maknae smile before but it had never been in person or directed at me fully. KiBum had been right; maybe I should try my best not to fall for any of them. After that short exchange, the table became quiet and I pushed on KiBum's leg, hoping he would break the mood.

"Well, don't just sit here. You can talk to her," he said in exasperation to the guys sitting around us. I internally groaned; it wasn't what I was expecting, but it had the desired effect.

"Alright," JongHyun said in a loud voice. "What are your intentions with our KiBummie?" His mischievous smile took over his whole face and I watched as KiBum's face turned bright red.