Chapter Text
Maya
Why did I agree to this? The question wonders through my mind for the hundredth time. It’s a Friday night and my friends from Uni dragged me to this club in Itaewon. I could’ve been at my dorm eating ramyeon and listening to my favorite playlist. But noooo, my friends insisted that I get the full “Seoul experience,” and apparently that includes clubbing. Clubbing really isn’t my thing, even though I love music and dancing. You know, I actually wouldn’t mind spending a few hours singing and dancing without a care in the world with my friends. I try to do that, but it never seems to happen. I tried sticking to my friends and dancing with them, somehow I always seem to get separated and end up dancing with a dude that tries to get handsy. Some of my girlfriends have been to this club and few times and they assured me that guys weren’t like that at this club. And maybe, it’s usually not like that for them, but for me… it’s all too familiar.
Guys take one look at me and who I am as a person disappears. They see my curly hair and my mix of African-American and Asian features and suddenly I become this “thing” that they want to try out. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times guys have told me they were interested in my because I look “exotic.” And by looking exotic in a place like South Korea, I am immediately identified as being a foreigner and to Korean guys, being a foreigner automatically means you’re also easy.
I head to the bar hoping the guy I was dancing with gives up and finds someone else to bother. I’ll grab a soda and then find my friends and tell them I’m calling it a night. On the outskirts of the dance floor, I have to pass by the stairway to the entrance for the VIP section. A small group of about three or four men are coming down the stairs and I almost dismiss them as a normal group of club goers, but something made me look twice. I don’t recognize three of the men, but I’m certain that the fourth man at the back is Baekhyun from EXO.
Oh my God, am I hallucinating? I didn’t think I had that much to drink.
I have to look again just to make sure I’m right. Damn, that’s definitely him. He is dressed really understated, plain black tee-shirt and black pants, his hair a mess of curls. Without the fancy clothes and makeup, he blends into the crowed. I’m sure none of the other club goers have noticed him and I probably wouldn’t have either if I wasn’t such a huge fan. It’s almost embarrassing how many hours I’ve spent looking at videos of Baekhyun. Baekhyun and who I assume are his friends pass right in front of me to head to the hallway that holds the restrooms and at the very end, the exit for the back of the club, were I assume VIP parking is.
Before they can leave my sight, I make a split second decision to follow them. This is my chance, when would I ever get another opportunity to approach him? We pass the very busy entrance to the women’s bathroom and I know I definitely don’t want to call attention Baekhyun in front of all of them. I don’t want to poor guy to get mobbed. After walking a few more feet, we come up on the men’s bathroom and I decide to make my presence known.
Okay, you can do this.
“Excuse me, are you Baekhyun?” I speak up from behind him.
I can see Baekhyun shoulders stiffen and he freezes in his tracks. Damn, I hope I didn’t scare the poor guy.
He turns with a polite smile on his face, “Hi, are you EXO-L?” he asks kindly. “Would you like a picture?”
For a moment I can’t even breathe. My brain turns to mush and all thought leaves my head. Baekhyun is looking right at me, he is speaking to me.
“No-” I break off, struggling to find the words, especially words in a language that I’m still getting used to. “I mean yes… I would love to take a picture, but I was hoping I could sing for you? I know that you started your own company and I would love to be signed to it.”
Despite me me stumbling over my words and switching back and forth between Korean and English, Baekhyun keeps a soft patient smile on his face.
“I’m sorry, but the company is really small and we aren’t really in the position to sign other talent.” He says with a gentle tone to let me down soft.
“Even if you can’t sign me, I would really still like to sing for you. I promise you won’t regret it.” He glances behind him at his group of friends and they shrug their shoulders at him. He turns back to look at me and says, “Okay, but where? It’s really loud in here. I can barely hear you as is.”
“We can go in there,” I say as I gesture to the door of the men’s bathroom.
I see Baekhyun do a double take and he starts to giggle, “What?! we can’t go in there.”
“Why not, it’ll be quieter in there. Just make sure no one is inside and have one of your friends make sure no one comes in.”
I can still feel the hesitation from him as he brings his hand to his mouth in thought. I can’t let this moment pass me by. “I just need five minutes, I promise.”
“Let’s say I go in there with you, how do I know you won’t try to attack me?” I can tell he isn’t being all that serious, his tone sounds playful and I can see a hint of a smile hiding behind his hand.
“Well, I don’t think I’m much of a threat. I mean look at me.” I’m barely 5 foot and have almost no muscles. I hear Baekhyun hum in agreement and watch as his eyes look me up and down. Just that 5 second glance is enough to make me lose my mind.
“Fair enough,” he turns to his friends, “you heard the lady, check the bathroom please.”
After making sure we wouldn’t be disturbed, we enter the restroom. The resounding click of the door shutting sends my heart into overdrive. This is it, I’m really going to sing for my idol. I never thought something like this would ever happen.
Not wanting to waste too much time and chicken out; I clear my throat to get started.
“No music,” he asks in confusion.
“I want you to hear me clearly.” And with that I launch into my a cappella rendition of Ariana Grande’s “Tattooed Heart.”
No music, no mic, just my voice. I pour ever emotion I have into the song. Nothing else matters in this moment. It’s just me and Baekhyun.
When the last note fades… the only sound is the distant thump of the bass heard from the club. I slowly open my eyes; to nervous to keep them open while I sung, and see Baekhyun staring right back at me like he couldn’t believe his ears.
“I don’t think you ever told me what your name is,” he says quietly after a minute.
I walk up to him and give him a proper bow. “I apologize, my name is Maya and I am a huge fan of yours.”
Baekhyun returns the bow and reaches out to shake my hand, “It’s nice to meet you Maya,” and with a firm squeeze and a bright smile,”And welcome to INB100.”