In His Arms

Chapter 5: Hand Shake (Baekhyun's POV)

After that very disturbing shower, I groomed myself up until I looked decent enough to go to my photoshoot. I went to the studio with my manager. When we got there, some men were still setting up the area. "There you are. What took you so long?" A female coordinator asked. "Sorry, family issues." I said. "She's still in bad shape?" She asked and I just tried to smile. Her facial expression changed. "Sorry about that." She slightly shook her head to return to her working mode. "Anyway, you only have fifteen minutes remaining for your make up and styling. Go dressed now." She said. "Now? Can't I have a little coffee break. Besides, I'm starv-" "I'll go get your coffee and a little snack. You go to that room to have your make up." She pushed me to the direction of my room. I entered the room and saw my make up artists and stylists. "Finally! You came." My stylist sarcastically said. He stood up and took the clothing line. He pulled out a handful of hangers and threw it to me. Good thing I was able to catch it. "Get dressed now." He said and I followed. I stripped my own clothes and wore the ensemble he told me to wear.

I sat down on the chair and the make up artist started to draw on my face. Concealer, foundation, powder, eyeliner, eyeshadow, a little bronzer and little rogue. The same thing they always do on my face. They also did my hair. It didn't need much styling though, I'm naturally handsome. The door opened while one of the was blowdrying my hair. "Here's your coffee." She placed a cup of Starbucks on the dresser. "And here's your snack." She placed a brown paperbag on the dresser as well. I reached out to the paperbag and unravel what's inside- chocolate chip muffin. I took it out of the paperbag and took a big bite. "Thanks noona, you're really he best." I muffled as I showed her my 'like' thumb gesture. "You brat. You only say nice things when we do you a favor." She said.

Seuri, she's the coordinator who always handles my photoshoot and other fashion errands. Whenever I'm with her, my manger gets useless. She does everything. She's very well organized and not a thing goes out of place. And a good thing more, she's been one of my good friends in the industry. In this business, it's not new that a staff and a celebrity become good friends. They always talk to once in a while and you can't avoid to spill things that you can never tell anyone else. Well, I'm just lucky with Seuri noona. She's very dependable and not a secret of mine that I told her came out on the tabloid. I trust her like a sister.

"So noona, how's it been with your boyfriend?" I asked her before I took another bite. She plopped herself down on the sofa. "He's an asshole. I hate him already." She whined. I just smirked by myself. It feels good to know that I'm not the only one who failed love. "Should I kick someone's ass now?" I asked and she laughed. "No, I think I'm he one who needs a kick on the ass." She said. The hairstylist is finally done with my hair. It turned the chair around to look at noona. "Huh? Why?" I asked in confusion. "Well, Hawoon is very gentle, very sweet. But sometimes it gets over the top. He's very possessive and weak." She said. "Like a masochist?" I asked. "Right, like a masochist. He loves me so much that he would even die for me. I mean, who does that?" She asked sarcastically. "Me.." I whispered enough for her to hear. "You? Oh please. You didn't die for Taeyeon." Myself was shaken with that name. "Look at you. You're alive and kic-" she stopped talking when I stood up and threw my almost finished muffin on the floor. "Oops.. Sorry about that." She apologized quietly. First, Kendra. And now, Taeyeon. What is wrong with this day? "Fifteen minutes is over. We should get the shoot started. The photographer might be waiting already." I said bitterly. "Right. We should just.. get it started." She said still apologetic. Without further ado, we left the room and started the shoot.

Lights. Bright lights. "Ok, look to the right." I did as what the photographer asked. "Ok, steady." And just like that, the lights flashed. "Ok. Ten minutes break. And another fifteen minutes to prepare for the next set up." The photographer said. Seuri noona met me half way and hamded me a bottle of water. "How was it?" I asked as I twisted the cap. "You did great." She complimented. "Let's get you dressed up again." She said and we both headed to the room again.

Seuri's phone rang just before she could pass the the door. She answered the call outside while I stayed inside the dressing room to get myself groomed. As always, they get to chose my next ensemble. My stylist's team were just doing some minor touches when Seuri noona entered the room. "Well that was such a long call. Hawoon?" I asked. "Naa, it's a good friend of mine. He gave me a gig." She said. "Gig? What gig?" I asked in curiosity. "Styling gig. It's for tonight. His talent needs a stylist for his guesting tonight." She answered. "Really? What channel?" I asked. "MBC." "Wow. What a coincidence. I have a schedule in MBC tonight. What show will he be in?" I asked. "Strong Heart." "Well would you look at that. I'm guesting in Strong Heart tonight, too." I said. "I'm going after this shoot, should we go together?" I offered. "Sure. That will be great. I don't have my car with me anyway, so I'll need a ride." She said. "But for now, retouch Baek's make up please!" She mildly yelled at my stylists.

The shoot resumed but with a different concept. The set was completely different from a while ago. I gave my best to this shoot. I did allot of poses. The whole team managed to get great photos and the photographer liked the outtakes. "Today's session was nice. I'm looking forward to working with you again." The photographer complimented. We shook each other's hands then bowed down. I changed to my regular clothes before we left for MBC.

"So who's the artist you're gonna style tonight?" I asked Seuri who is beside me. The ride was completely silent. My manager is sleeping and there is no one left to talk to but Seuri noona. "I still don't know actually. He wasn't able to tell me who exactly I am going to style. But he did tell me some little details." She talked while she tapped her phone. "Details? What kind of details?" I asked. Seuri continued to tap her phone. "Ah shit." She cursed when she lost the game she's playing. In frustration, she locked her phone. "He's some kind of idol. He's in a group named.." she continually snapped her fingers as she tried to recall something. "Ukiss? Yeah. I think it's UKISS." She said. "UKISS? But haven't the disbanded a year ago?" I asked and she responded with a giggle. "Well, he's been in the industry for a long time, you know. He became a vj a did some modeling, too. It's no surprise that he's still surviving the cut throat." She said. "It's the same as you and the other Exo members, right? You're still in the industry even though you're no longer active as group." She's right. It has only been a year since we disbanded. Well, as Exo, we're not doing promotions together anymore. But atleast we're still close and connected. Once in a while, we get to meet each other and do things we used to do like just fooling around.

Exo? About Exo, we did reach our goal. We became number one not only in Asia, but in various countries on the west, too. It just so happened that when we succeeded, there was nothing left to excell at. Some of us had the urge to become fathers. Luhan finally found the woman who thinks he's the manliest of all. Kai? We all know Kai. A sex magnet he is, but throught the years, he became faithful to his wife. Sehun married two years ago and his wife bore twins. Chen is engaged. I heard he's planning for their wedding already. Kyungsoo on the other hand enjoys his bachelor life. The loser still believes in true love. Same with Suho, he's busy with all his stocks and other investments. He gets a hundred thousand dollar richer every three hours. Lay is currently in China. He's mentoring his fellow countrymen who wants to be a star just like him. Lately, he also opened his own dance studio. Xiumin is very private. Until now, he seldom talks about personal matters. But it's obvious, he's inlove. We are all aware about his on and off relationship with his girlfriend. The man is sill organized as hell until this very hour. Tao has his own clothing line. He is currently preparing for the Fashion Week. Chanyeol, he became a producer. He's still works for SME not as an artist but as the producer of some popular hits. He really can make music. Kris? Wu Yi Fan made it to Hollywood. We all got shocked four years ago when he visited us during our tour. He never forgot us. All became well, we all moved on and enjoyed a new chapter or brotherhood all together. And me? I'm still me. Musicals here and there. Cameras everywhere. Seven years, it was only seven years. Some things never changed and some things changed for the better. Time has passed.

"You're right. Not everyone gets lost in this industry." I agreed to Seuri noona. The car stopped. We made it to MBC. "Thanks noona. You're really the best." I said before we part ways. "It was nothing. I'll see you later in the set." She said then waved her hands. I watched her open a door before I went inside mine. As usual, make up here, style everywhere. The team groomed me for tonight's guesting. When I was ready to go, I went to the set and waited with the other artists. I finally saw Seuri noona with the artist he styled for tonight. And then he came. That man, he looked very familiar to me. "Ah Baekhyun!" Noona waved at me while she and the artist approached me. "He's the artist I'm talking about." She said. "Baekhyun, meet Eli. Eli, meet Baekhyun." She introduced us to each other. Eli just smiled. "Baekhyun of Exo, right?" He handed out his hand for a shake. "I'm Eli of UKISS. I have heard so much about you." I knew he was familiar.