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jaemin doesn’t get starstruck often  – perks of having had a rockstar for a dad certainly cemented his lackluster shock value to a minimum. but he’s certain from the eyes that fell upon the girl just across the cafe ; she had to be somebody, right? more or less, jaemin probably would have steered clear of the situation ; it didn’t look like this was a time for an impromptu meet and greet scenario but leave it to him to get caught up in his friends’ schemes. when they saw a cute, probably famous girl, the lot of them were like a pack of puppies, waiting to be praised ; tails wagging in anticipation. while jaemin didn’t like to be one of them, he couldn’t help but grow curious as to who this famous person was.

“i think she’s from the kt girl group – the one named after the moon or something.” jaemin furrows his eyebrows, not entirely sure who his friend was referencing. he wasn’t too keen in kpop – sure they had notable jams here and there, but none that were thoroughly his style or anything. “dude! do you think you can get her autograph for me? i’m too nervous.” and suddenly a set of puppy dog eyes turn to him and it’s something jaemin can’t help but roll his eyes to. not only did he not want to do that  –  it looked like he had no choice, he knew his friend was determined, and it wouldn’t give up until jaemin did it ; unfortunately for jaemin, his friend was also a coward and that always got jaemin into sticky situations.

so, with a groan; he grabs the napkin his friend tosses to him and makes quick footwork towards the girl ; side-eyeing the surroundings as he excuses himself from the horde of fans who had just left her. hand coming up to scratch the back of his own neck out of nervousness – heck, where did those nerves come from? was he starstruck or something? nah, he needed to play it cool. 

“um,” he blinks, sliding the napkin over to the girl. “do you think i could get an autograph please?”

// uncle gray

there are countless tiny actions that people take each day that lead to many other countless actions, going on and on and so forth that there is no way that life can be predictable. she doesn’t know the exact combination of different choices she’s made on this day that lead to this current interaction between herself and gray and his precious little niece, but she’s glad she’s ended up where she is now because it’s been a calming experience, cleansing, washing away all of her doubts and insecurities, even if only for a moment. in a way, she feels like she was meant to meet eunchae.

she narrows her eyes when gray shakes his head at her comment, frowning at him as she wags a finger. “hey, hey, none of that!” she says, forming a fist with her hand to knock it against his head gently. she realizes how hypocritical she sounds when she says this, seeing as how she, too, can get quite down on herself and her own talents, but she had told him that compliment in complete seriousness, even if she had said it in a joking tone. “don’t sell yourself short!”

he catches her off guard, though, when he mentions rapping, and she can’t help but withdraw, cringing a bit as she makes a face. rapping has never been her forte, and as much as she hates to admit she has any weaknesses, especially out loud, she would even go so far as to say she’s god awful at it. still, she can’t very well say such a thing when she’d just scolded gray about having more confidence, so she forces on a face of bravado, nodding her head with feigned confidence. “of course i will!” she says, reaching over to pat the child on the head, turning away to sneak a stuck out tongue at gray. “i’ll definitely impress you next time~”

gray was more than aware that selling himself short was one of his faults, but with all the setbacks that had occured throughout his whole life, he couldn’t help but trying to stay as realistic as possible. he disliked showing off too much. the older man was simply not the type to do so. in his eyes, it was better to be modest than arrogant. he shrugs his shoulders and fixes his slightly dishevelled hair. “i am just saying that i am not a great singer.”

now he knew that kt was not the company known for the strongest rappers around, but as someone whose forte laid exactly there, he felt the need to challenge joohyun the way she had done to him earlier. it was obvious that he wasn’t too serious about it, as he didn’t wanted to make her feel forced to go out of any comfort zones at all, but then again he believed that the two of them shared enough mutual understanding that all of this was just teasing and joking between friends and meant no harm at all.

her bold answer satiesfies him and he smiles at her, as she caresses his niece’s head softly. joohyun sticks out her tongue at him and it makes him laugh out loud. “why do you want to impress uncle, unnie?” eunchae throws in and blinks and looks at both of them, waiting for an answer. the sudden question makes him laugh even more, and he leans back in his seat, before grinning at the idol. “yeah, joohyun. why would you want to impress me next time?”