Chapter Text
The MAMA awards, aka Mnet Asian Music Awards. A big stage, big crowd, and a bunch of popular K-pop idols. Well, you were an idol yourself, but you were still pretty low under the others. A girls group with five members, including a main and lead dancer, a main and lead rapper and a vocalist, which you were apart of. It was fun and all, as you were popular enough to even get selected in the awards, but it lacked drama in general.
So, when you entered the backstage with your group and saw all the famous signer rushing around, a wave of anxiety crashed onto you. A bunch of producers and people in suits were running around, pushing people through the small hallways behind the stage. It was overall quite the experience.
You settled in the main area, where a big couch and a few vanities laid. It was less cramped there, and you could finally breathe without being pushing around by sweaty strangers. Except for two other groups you didn't quite know, you were alone with your producer and two stylist. The other, richer groups probably had private rooms somewhere, that's why you haven't really seen any of your favs yet. Meeting your own idols, as another idol, was an exciting thought, even more because you were backstage with them and not amongst a crowd of crazy fans.
Time flew and in the blink of an eye, the first group was already on stage, performing. You expected a lot, and you weren't disappointed. You didn't know the group, but damn, they were good, and it slightly made you doubt your skills. As the main rapper, both your group and the crowd awaited a lot from you, and messing up a single lyric could get you to fail. Anyways, it was mostly all for the fun of performing.
Your stylist got you ready. Makeup, costume, accessories, the whole thing. It was a shit load of stuff, even more than during your other concerts, but it was so pretty. Your band mates looked just as good, maybe even better than you, in your eyes. Though, your turn was only after six other performances, which you couldn't wait to watch from backstage. Before finally being able to rest, your producer got you to go in a storing room to get something, whatever, so you obliged.
Back in the cramped hallways, back with the sweaty strangers already stinking up your clean outfit. Cool, for a first competition. While complaining silently and day dreaming about going outside to finally breathe in fresh air, you weren't looking in front of you and quickly enough, you bumped face first into someone. Tall enough, because you only felt a hard chest and you were the only one to recoil. It took you a minute to be able to get back to the world and see who was in front of you.
"You alright?"
Oh. My. God.
Choi Seung-Hyun, like, T.O.P. Like the T.O.P. It took you another whole minute to be able to get words out of you.
"Yes, yeah, I'm fine." You finally answered, looking at him up and down before settling your eyes on his face. He was taller and way more handsome in real life. "Sorry."
He shakes his head, a small smile tugging at his lips, looking down at you almost like you were a kid. "No no, it's fine." He laughs off, giving a glance around before looking back down at you, and shifting to the side so they aren't in the way of anyone. "You're new here, right?"
The question took you by surprise, but you surely couldn't just stand there and be embarrassing. "Yes, at such a big event. I've been at smaller concerts, but this is something else." You say, slightly fidgeting with your hands. "It's nerve raking."
"I can tell." Was his response, studying your face and your body language. You didn't take as much offense as you would have in another situation, because fuck, how could you? He was just.. T.O.P. The one and only. One of your favs, as you liked to call them. "You should relax, y'know? It's really not that much of a deal. And being calm's going to help you remember your lines."
You nodded, looking away for a moment before looking back up at him. His eyes, the same you practically dreamed of seeing in real life, were now looking right down at you, not giving the other people a second of attention. Uh oh, that wasn't good for you. "Yeah, haha, thanks." You said sheepishly, quickly adding on; "it's nice to meet you, by the way."
"Nice to meet you too.." he said, trailing off, an eyebrow raised in a silent question. His eyes were mesmerizing, and you could just straight drown in them.
"Oh uh, Y/N." you answered, a small crooked smile tugging at your lips. You just realized he probably didn't know you, considering he wouldn't have to care about smaller creators. As happy as you were to have this conversation, there was something telling you this wouldn't last and that your ways would separate again when the event is finished.
He stared at you for a second or two, like thinking about something, before giving you a kind smile, wrinkles forming at the outer corners of his eyes. "Well, nice to meet you too, Y/N." He said, almost respectful. "I wish you good luck and, don't let others get in your way."
And with that, he left, waving a small goodbye to you before disappearing in the crowd of impatient people. Wishing you could talk more, but now it being too late to do anything, you made your way to your tasked destination.
Two more performances to go, and then it's your turn. It's even more nerves raking now, since you saw how all the groups are watching from the main area. And, as you were looking over the list, you noticed Bigbang went directly after you, which was a bit calming. At least you could watch them, and not be pacing the floors with anxiety dripping from you.
Every now and then, from the corner of your eyes, you caught Seung-Hyun. He wasn't especially looking at you, but he did look fine as fuck, like he usually did. And while you were anxious about what he would think of you on stage, you were excited to see him, and to hear his voice from the loud speakers. It felt like going to a private concert, or something like that, and it was a feeling you never wanted to forget.
Again, in the blink of an eye, your name was called and your group was rushed behind the huge screens. A familiar beat started, and quickly enough, the background dancers went on stage, followed by you and your group. The first part was just the vocalist and the lead rapper, the dancers doing their jobs behind you.
Once it was your turn, you gave it your all. The main rapper not only had the longest part, but the hardest. You worked a lot on the lyrics and you knew everything by heart, and by everything i mean you dreamed of signing the whole solo at least four nights in a row type memory. The beat had picked up and, while everything felt like it was going two times faster, it felt incredibly good. The stress you felt quickly dissipated, leaving for a feeling of happiness and almost freedom, like rapping was something you did since you were born. Which was practically the case.
It all finished with a loud wave if applause, and you stayed just a bit longer on stage to wave at the crowd, a huge smile on your face. It felt nice to know so much people liked your performance, to know you did so well. And, to your biggest surprise, the first person to come up to you was no other than Seung-Hyun, aka T.O.P.
"I didn't know you rapped," he said, his eyes locked on your face, a small smile on his lips. "You did good out there."
It pulled a small chuckle out of you and you nodded, a silent thanks. "Yeah, i get told that i don't look like a rapper often." You say, looking up at him like you did on your first conversation. "I did my best, and i guess the crowd liked it."
A poor exuse of a joke, trying to make it as less embarrassing as you could. You were sweaty, no better than the strangers you kept insulting quietly earlier, ready to change clothes as fast as possible.
"That's what i like to hear." He answered, looking like he hesitated for a second, only to add something else, "It's my turn soon, eh? Make sure to watch closely, baby."
And again, he left, giving you a little wink before he went with the other members of his group. God, he was hot.