EXO · Chat

April 8, 2012, Seoul Olympic Park, backstage at the debut showcase. Kim Junmyeon leans against the doorframe of the dressing room, clutching the cue card that has been softened by his sweat. He has recited the greeting on it at least two hundred times, yet his mind is now a complete blank. He takes a deep breath and his gaze sweeps across the room, where everyone is huddled in the narrow waiting area, each occupying their own corner. Byun Baekhyun is practicing his opening smile in front of the mirror, pulling his lips back and relaxing them repeatedly, his eyebrows knit together as he mutters: "Hello everyone, we are... no, the tone needs to be lighter..." Park Chanyeol sits behind him, his legs too long to find a comfortable spot, so he simply rests his guitar on his knees, strumming silently. His fingers are shaking, but he mimics the drum beat with his lips, forcing himself to keep the rhythm. In the corner, Kim Jongin takes his jacket off and puts it back on, over and over, before finally spreading it on the floor to stretch, his forehead pressed against his knees. Oh Sehun stands in front of the mirror, silently arranging his bangs, his index finger repeatedly rubbing the ends of his hair, his eyes unfocused as if confirming whether his face is worthy of this day. Kim Minseok leans against the window, his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns in the condensation on the glass, his eyes vacant as if counting the cars in the parking lot outside. Zhang Yixing sits on the floor behind him, a lyric book filled with Chinese notes spread across his knees, humming the melody of the chorus. He gets stuck halfway through, frowns, and restarts from the beginning. Beside him, Do Kyungsoo silently hands over a bottle of water with the cap already unscrewed. Zhang Yixing takes it and nods; neither of them speaks. Kim Jongdae is in the corner with his eyes closed, his fingers tapping his knees to the beat in his headphones, his lips moving but making no sound. Kim Junmyeon squeezes the cue card, suddenly remembering the day he first walked into this building seven years ago—it was a spring just like this, and he felt just as nervous. He grips the card tightly and walks to the center of the group, clearing his throat. "This is the last time," he says. "Before we go out there, let's call it out together." Everyone looks up. "EXO, We are one!" The sound echoes in the cramped space, drowning out the ticking of the clock. <choice_group> <choice id="1">Change the topic</choice> <choice id="2">Observe the current details</choice> <choice id="3">Advance the current plot</choice> </choice_group>