Don't go, Suho Hyung.

Part 1- Rattled Maknae

Last few months had been tough. To be precise last 3 months. Only if the lyrics to song 'Wake me up when September ends' could be changed to 'Wake me up when all this ends'!

Oh Sehun prided himself in handling his emotions well. He was known as 'Pokerface Sehun'. It was hard for most people to decipher his inner most feelings. He was the maknae of the group but still he was someone who didn't allow emotions to overwhelm him. But the last few months had completely drained him emotionally.

All things had come down on him and weighed heavily. DO hyung and Xiumin hyung had joined military. He knew it was inevitable but still not having them in the dorms and training room left a huge void. He wasnot really the kinds to call them or meet up with them frequently but now knowing he couldn't even if he wanted bothered him. It bothered him a great deal. Then there were talks of Suho hyung enrolling soon. Suho hyung was his family in SM. Suho hyung was someone they all pushed forward when they didn't know what to do. Suho hyung was that one person who took charge. When they were lost they just needed to look at Suho hyung and he would find a way. He was their magician with a wand. What were they supposed to do without him? More precisely what was he supposed to do with him? He could call up Suho any time he wanted.

Hell! He could call up anyone in EXO anytime he wanted. This was the maknae privilege. Now soon there would be three gone with just five left. He had literally begged SM to let him enroll with Suho hyung but they had point blank refused. He had reasoned with them, argued with them and begged with them but they hadn't budged. He then requested them to let him enroll with Chanyeol hyung but SM had told him that they couldn't have both the rappers of EXO serving at the same time. Sehun was probably the only one in EXO who had no clarity about his serving.

All the projects that had come for him had been dismissed by SM. He had been asked to give 3 weeks for an international fashion collaboration with Burberry but SM had maintained that the next two months were busy EXO months but there had been no schedule provided. Lee Seung-gi hyung had called him to ask him to feature in his next drama as a parallel lead but SM again had refused. This time around he didn't even bother knowing the reason. There was no point. He had lived by the philosophy 'Either convince or get convinced'. With SM's personal vendetta it was impossible getting them to agree to anything. EXO-SC had materialized because Chanyeol hyung had absolutely decided that he was going to release it. He had almost threatened SM in a very Chanyeol like manner that he would release the album as a free album not making a cent but he would release him. Only if Sehun had Chanyeol's conviction and persuasion!

There were two people he called when he was stressed. His two hyungs from EXO. Suho hyung and Baekhyun hyung. Baekhyun had not received his call and had dropped a message saying that he was still in Japan working on a collaboration with a Japanese artist and he would be back in a week to and eat their favorite Sushi. This had happened two weeks ago and Baekhyun hadn't called back. Person he was most annoyed with was Suho hyung. He had never ever ignored Sehun's call. Even if he did , he made sure he called back. If not that he texted back and pestered him to tell him why he had called. He had called Suho for two straight days. He had received his call and it had been a very short conversation. Suho had asked him everything was alright and Sehun with slight hesitation had told him all was well. Normally, Suho would latch on to that hesitation and understand that he needed to meet Sehun but he had just dismissed it that day. He told Sehun he was in the middle of a conference and he would call him the next day. Soldier' promise kept , Suho called Sehun the next day but he was at the airport waiting to board his flight. Knowing Suho didn't have the time Sehun just wished him luck and asked him to get a souvenier.

With all these thoughts plaguing his mind, he opened his flat door and stepped inside. He was half expecting Vivi to be there but then he remembered that his parents were watching Vivi for the next one week. He hung his coat on the right side and planted the car keys on the door stand. He walked to the kitchen to get himself a glass of water and he heard his phone buzz. There was a message from the manager.

"EXO meeting and practice scheduled for tomorrow at 9am. All members will be attending."

Sehun looked at the message and smiled. How was Kai going to reach SM at 10. There was no way he would make it until and unless he got up early , didn't practice dancing at night and didn't make too much effort to find his outfit. The phone buzzed again. Right on point! Kai had mentioned on the group chat about the ungodly hour of reporting. He had asked Suho to step in and intervene. Suho had sternly in replied in capitals saying that the practice was later and they were reporting early for schedule meeting. Suho hyung resorted to capitals only when he knew an uproar of messages was expected on the group chat and the capitals were the final words. Baekhyun had just sent a straight face smiley and Chanyeol had sent a thumbs up. Sehun stared at his phone and sent a thumbs up like Chanyeol. Last he checked his phone Kai had mentioned how they were all ditchers and how he resented them. Sehun put his phone on silent and switched off the side lamp. Atleast tomorrow they would all be together albeit temporarily but they would be together.