"Epeksu imnida, annyeonghaseyo!" we said in chorus, bowing towards the claps our fans were cheering us on with.
I looked at my legs and spotted a bit of lotion on my kneecap, so I remained leaning forward and blended it out. Victoria was holding the microphone, speaking to them. With every question she asked came a huge "NE!!" as a response and I couldn't help but to smile because they were never not smiling towards us.
I missed what Victoria asked until she said "and Amber? Does she look cool?"
"SO CUTE!" I heard them shout back, cheering.
It made me smile. I covered my mouth with my hand, and stepped back laughing--they screamed louder. Sulli came up to my right and put her lips next to my ear,
"I think we may have to cover Krystal a little more, her shorts are shorter when she walks." she whispered quickly. I nodded at her, and she moved to my left and went to Luna's ear, likely to say the same.
This had happened before; the stylist would choose our outfits, but not exactly take into account Krystal's ever growing legs and frame because this damn spider kept growing and growing in the legs department. We kept it from her to avoid a panic-like paced trip to our dressing room till she got it fixed. Especially not when we had around two minutes before live recording started.
I saw a familiar face and held my fingers in a peace sign next to my eyes as I smiled towards a camera that was pointed right at me. "AMBER!" I saw her say, so I blinked at the girl holding the camera to let her know I noticed her. I see her and a few others around often when we are promoting.
She looked so ecstatic and in return made me feel so warm and happy, that I put my hands next to my eyes. "Bbuing-bbuing..." I said while moving my closed fists up and down.
I think Victoria almost choked on her laugh. The room just echoed "I LOVE YOU!" "YOU ARE SO CUTE!!"
"Thirty seconds!" we heard a voice say.
Sulli and Luna started forming the circle that marked the first eight count of the choreography, followed by Krystal and Victoria who were last second discussing some dance moves. I put my earpiece in, and the screaming volume lowered considerably enough for me to say my quickest prayer.
The lights were lowered and the balloons with "f(x)" stamped on them glowed through the dark, making another smile appear on my face. I stood next to Victoria and put my hands on my sides. The music started, and we were on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Why were you all so close, give me more room next time." Krystal quietly said the moment we got in our dressing room; her Korean falling sloppy as she was out of breath. We all exchanged looks and muttered "sorry" and "I will remember"s at her. We shook off the mild scolding and grabbed each other however we could, laughing and lost in a circle of really cheesy happiness as the joy and energy from the performance flowed through us as a whole.
"Thank you for your hard work! Thank you," we started bowing continuously towards the rest of our seniors and some fellow idols once they walked in after us to say congratulations. Krystal smiled at them and after bowing her thank yous walked to the mirror closest to me. She happily said "excuse me!" to me before standing in front to tuck in a few loose strands of hair, and that was when I saw what Sulli meant earlier.
Krystal reached up to part her hair again and as she did so, her shorts rose ever so slightly from behind. At least enough so that I could see the lower half of her rear. I tore my eyes away instantly, and had to blink a multiple amount of times to erase the sight. I turned around and walked to the chairs behind me, plopping harshly down on one and digging through my backpack on the floor for my phone, when I heard the chair next to me move as somebody sat in it.
"You okay?" I heard Krystal ask in English.
I found my phone and opened it, not looking at her. The image still in my mind.
"Yeah. Thanks. Are you?" My own English a little accented due to the language changes I am always forcing down my own throat. I opened my phone and pressed the 'on' button.
"Yeah." she replied while she linked her arm through mine and rested her head on my shoulder. At the touch of her hands the floor under me seemed to become lava as my entire body was engulfed in a rapid blush.
This happened every single time she made contact with my body in any way. Oh you want a high five? How about I do it and then blush. She pats me on the back? Blush. Handing me a water bottle? Blush.
I was already an idiot with a barely-there attention span but she made me feel like a moron because if being frank, love always made me stupid.
After we first met and as time passed, my interest in her had not faded. My attempt to write it off as a crush was proved wrong by the fact that crushes do not last years. I had, however, grown to be excellent at hiding it. I initially only saw her as an amazing friend, but as she matured and her personality began to show itself I found myself attracted to her as a person. As a loveless romantic fool if you will. And at one point I was even ridiculously close to acting on it, but thought better and resisted.
And I've been resisting since.
So I sat back and pretended it did not feel like I was standing on the sun.
Luna and Sulli suddenly came up to us holding a confused looking Victoria from either side of her arms, both of their hair up in the high ponytail Krystal wears during the "Jet" performance.
"HANAL, DUL, SEHT!" they echoed before spinning their heads around, whipping Victoria in the face with the tips of their ponytails. The staff giggled and she ran away, fake shrieking in fear but I could tell she was truly whining because that had to sting a little. Krystal chuckled and I smiled, pulling Luna's shirt down with my free hand as it rose too high on her flat stomach.
"AIGOO, you're such a mom!!" Luna complained to me, slapping my hand off.
I felt a pinch on my lower left thigh and jumped half an inch. That hurt.
The door opened again and Krystal and I stood to bow our goodbyes to the guests in the room that had opened it to leave before sitting back down, but seconds after sitting Victoria called us over to review the performance. I tried to stand but Krystal put a lot pressure on my arm. It may seem unbelievable, but she is ridiculously strong for somebody so tiny. I casually crossed my right leg over my left, making it seem as if I had not just been denied getting up by a minuscule girl.
"Can I help you?" I asked her, slipping back to English. I was feeling lazy...and also because I liked her voice when she spoke the language.
"I just want to stay here. Your arm feels cold."
We stayed quiet for a few moments and I smirked to myself.
"Krystal?" I said.
"Hm." she hummed.
"You are making me a little uncomfortable."
The moment the words left my mouth (and way before I could laugh and say I was kidding) she had instantly pulled her arm out while lightly getting up, and walking away.
God damn it, I keep forgetting she does not take jokes well.
I sighed and finally remembered I had put off looking at my phone: 16 unread messages. All congratulations on the performances. I smiled despite the stupid foot-in-mouth moment I just had.
I shot them all a mass message, "ㅋㅋ thank you for your support! ^^" before turning it off and putting it back in my bag.
I rested my forearms on my knees and looked towards the other girls. Krystal was watching the performance with Luna and Sulli, smiling and pointing things out and Victoria was fixing her bangs. Are we always this vain, how many mirrors do we look in per day? I mean Jesus.
I walked past Victoria, who gave me a huge Totoro smile that I returned before sneaking up behind Krystal who had her hands on her hips and put my own hands through the spaces her arms were making, resting my chin on her shoulder.
"I was kidding, Krystal." I said quietly, barely moving my lips while pretending to point out and watch the performance.
She did not say anything. She did, however, raise her hand up to my arm and pinch the skin on my shoulder.
OW.
***
