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Even from backstage the sound of the crowd roars in Soobin’s ears. It’s exhilarating, but also distracting. As much as he wants to get swept up in it, he can’t afford to be distracted, not tonight.
Tonight, Soobin needs to be a calmer, cooler, more confident MC. He needs to show the rookie idols here that he’s a sunbae they can look up to and rely on. (Well, one rookie idol in particular.)
The cue card in his hands trembles.
He shouldn’t be this nervous, this is Music Bank, his home turf! So what if he might see a certain Chinese rookie idol tonight? A specific rookie that's his age, who he’s been texting nonstop for the past three weeks, sometimes until the smallest hours of the morning? A certain survival show winner who makes his skin prickle and heart pound whenever his ID pops up on his phone? Who would be anxious to see that boy?
Certainly not Soobin, no sir.
Lying to himself, Soobin holds his hands over his ears to try and block out all noise and concentrates. With the din slightly muffled, he can finally focus. His hands steady and he starts to rehearse. He wraps his lips and tongue around the script with practiced precision, easily gliding through the corny jokes and forced transitions.
It’s going well. Soobin can feel his nervous system relaxing as his body remembers what to do. He nearly reaches the end of his script when he feels someone else’s hands cover his own.
He looks up to see plush, pouty lips and a pair of big, sparkling eyes.
“Soobin-ah.” Zhang Hao coos, pulling Soobin’s hands away from his ears and holding them in his own. “You look even more handsome when you’re concentrating.”
“Hao-ssi!” Soobin gulps. “That’s, uh, kind of you to say.”
Hao grins and Soobin’s heart takes off on a high speed rail. It’s so different being face to face. There’s no hiding behind a few typos and cute emoji or two when Hao is right in front of him. He’s here and he’s so pretty and he’s smiling at Soobin and —
“I’m disappointed you know.” Hao pouts.
“Huh?” Soobin mumbles, forcing his eyes away from his friend’s lips.
Hao leans in closer and plays with the hair on the nape of Soobin’s neck. “I thought we’d gotten close, but you greeted me so formally just now.” He teases.
Soobin swallows and tries to hold onto his sanity even as Hao’s teasing fingers send shivers down his spine.
“I even called you handsome.” Hao whines, low and petulant, “And then you responded like I was any other rookie.”
“Hao, I—“
“I snuck away from my team just to see you, you know.” Hao murmurs, his dark eyes shining with sincerity.
His confession hangs between them like a shimmering moonbeam. It illuminates Soobin’s memories and suddenly the hazy fog around all those late nights texting clears.
“Are you—?” Soobin clears his throat awkwardly. “Are you flirting with me?”
Hao breaks into a bright smile. “Wow,” he giggles. “You finally noticed.”