Step: Chapter 5
Step: Chapter 5
chi-eng translated, 4805 words, luhan centric, all members involved, various pairings
"With each step, 15 years of your lives will deplete"
As the sun shines brightly the next day, Kris and Luhan are nowhere to be found. Junmyeon is over at Tao's house as he directs Sehun. "Try calling Luhan again." His eyes shift to the clock, the needle almost nearing twelve. "Tell him that we're leaving at two." He adds.
Sehun picks up his phone grudgingly, punching in the familiar number he has been trying to call for the past ten times. He waits for that friendly voice to tell him that the other party has switched off his phone, but it never comes. Instead, he hears a beep before someone picks up on the other end.
"Sehun." Luhan's voice travels through the phone.
"Hyung." Sehun stands up, "Where are you guys? Why aren't your phones on?"
"We...went to buy some things." Luhan answers, "Don't worry, I'm aware of our schedule today; we'll be back before two."
"Where are you?" Sehun tightly clutches onto his phone with both hands, eyes wandering to the outsides of the window. "Did you guys get into a fight last night?" Luhan grows silent for a moment before coughing slightly.
"Sehun, if we're not back 2pm, bring someone to the Northern Han Mountains to find us. Keep this to yourself and don't tell anyone else about it."
Sehun's expression slightly falters. "Why?" He sneaks a peek at Junmyeon.
"Just remember that; but don't worry, we'll be back safely. I'll see you later." Luhan hangs up.
Sehun eyes his phone as the rest look at him expectantly.
"What did he say?" Junmyeon asks, furrowing his eyebrows.
"He said...", Sehun hesitates for a moment before continuing. "He said they've gone to get some things and will be back before 2pm."
"Buy ‘things’?" Jongin incredulously repeats. "They've been gone since midnight. What can they be buying?"
Cautiously, Chanyeol asks a "Is it related to Yixing hyung?" and everyone turns quiet.
"Did he say anything else?" Junmyeon points to Sehun's phone. Lowering his head, Sehun pauses before shaking it.
Tao sits at the edge of his bed, holding up his phone, while dialing Kris' number. The call gets through, but no one picks up. Mouthing a handful of curses, Tao hurls his phone onto the the bed and gazes outside with his hands in his pockets.
"That night, Luhan hyung was drunk and running a fever," Baekhyun solemnly recalls. "We wanted to help him but it wasn't of any use. A while later when the manager was heading out, he pulled me along and I saw Kris supporting Luhan into the restroom."
"Luhan hyung didn't look well that night. I should have stayed behind and went with them." Chanyeol thinks back and mused, that rainy night appearing in front of his eyes again.
"It was around 10.45pm that night. I sent Luhan a message while I was at KTV, asking if they were done with the dinner and if they wanted to join us. But, the one who replied to me was Yixing. He told me that Luhan accidentally took his phone by mistake and that they weren't home yet," Junmyeon recalls. "Then when I asked him if he wanted to come with us he said that he was waiting for someone." Junmyeon sits down. "When we were on the way back, you guys were stuck in a jam, no one was home and even Yixing went missing." Chanyeol flashes a look at Baekhyun.
"And you, the both of you weren't around that night either." Junmyeon stares at Jongin and Baekhyun, who were both looking everywhere but at him.
"I went to meet my sister after that." Baekhyun replies.
"I was at a friend's birthday party." Jongin states, staring intently at the wall.
Soon after, came the news of the crash. The few of them remain silent until Tao speaks up. "Why did those guys give Luhan so much to drink?"
"Because it was about Japan's subgroup," Baekhyun answers. "He might be the leader."
"So the leader has to get drunk?" Tao scrunches his eyebrows, confused. "Didn't you tell them that he isn't a good drinker? And that he was running a fever?"
Baekhyun and Chanyeol kept mum when Junmyeon finally speaks up. "It isn't as simple as you think it is." He plays with the lamp on the table. "If he's really chosen as the leader, it'd be impossible to avoid such things in the future."
"So the few of you are leaving for Japan then?" Jongin whirls around to face Baekhyun.
"Maybe not," Baekhyun replies, looking straight into his eyes. "I'm thinking that Kris hyung definitely wouldn't want to go. He was probably called up to attend the dinner because of his popularity."
"How about you?" Jongin continues to question. Baekhyun turns on his heels and looks away. "I don't know. Don't ask me."
"There's only twelve of us in total, isn't it enough having two subgroups?" Jongin kicks the wall next to him.
"It isn't up to us to make the choice," Baekhyun says, face completely void of any comprehensible emotion. "We're only here to listen and to follow orders. That’s all we can do."
"I don't believe that anyone would force me to go if I don't want to though." Jongin says, turning back to Baekhyun once again.
"Well nobody is asking you to go." Baekhyun retorts, "You can continue being the lead dancer in K."
"But you..." Jongin bursts out then slows down, "and Chanyeol. If you guys leave then what will happen to us?"
"They'll probably get replacements," Kyungsoo chips in, lowering his eyes.
--
Pulling out a brand new hammer from his bag, Luhan plays with it, testing its weight.
"It's pretty light."
Kris tears away the packaging and carelessly throws a box of nails on the floor.
"Only these two right?"
Luhan kicks at the box of nails. "Do you remember all the details I've told you?"
"The number of times the first person who returns to the past knocks on the doors, decides on the duration allowed for the other person to return; I remember." He picks up one of the nails and glances at the wall.
"The last time I went back for 5 hours, I'd only been sleeping on Yixing's shoulders for a few minutes," Luhan says from behind him. "The difference in time for the both of us is around 30 minutes, which is around a few seconds. It's enough for us to know who's the first one to go. That person will have to follow the plan closely and act accordingly." Luhan explains, "he can't let the person going after him clean up his mess."
"I understand." Kris replies.
"Fifteen years. One last chance." Luhan looks back at him. "Are you ready?"
Kris smiles and answers, "I have a pretty long life."
Luhan grins before lowering his head. The tall and intimidating stone wall staring down at them. Vapour in the air shining all sorts of colours, glistening under the sun. Kris bends down and holds up two nails, tossing one of them to Luhan. Both of them high five each other silently before facing the stone wall, positioning their nails before hammering. By the time Luhan turns around, Kris has already fallen asleep while leaning against the wall.
--
"There's no need to film that portion again, is there?" The slightly plump MC from the same company argues with the production crew. Fans sitting down in neat little rows on the floor, secretly taking pictures.
The crew members about hurriedly gestures at the not so stealthy fans and pleads. "Ah, haven't we told you no photography is allowed? The more you take the more we'll have to edit out from the broadcast!"
Kris takes in his surroundings; the familiar set along with the familiar faces beside him. Yixing is sitting at his side, smiling cheekily and waving good naturedly at the fans. Luhan pointing to the rotating panel on the other side while chatting with Sehun. Jongin, staring at Baekhyun who is busy interacting with the fans then smoothing out a tuft of hair which had been sticking out as he leans against the wall, relaxed.
Kris is sure that this is something recent, something which had happened in March not too long ago. He turns around and grabs Jongdae's shoulder. "What's the date today?" Jongdae squints his eyes and thinks before answering. "1st or the 2nd?" Kris pulls out his phone and eyes the crew around him before turning it on. There it was on the screen: March 2nd 2013, 10.05pm.
Turning his head around, he watches the people around him. Luhan turns his head to follow suit. "What are you doing?"
"20 days." Kris simply states while staring into his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" Luhan raises his eyebrows. Not answering, Kris abruptly stands up and sprints towards the backstage. Startling the fans and causing a few to gasp, Yixing realizes that something isn't right so he follows.
--
The host who was discussing with the crew finally raises his head and announces. "Okay, now we're on to our next segment. A round of applause please." The audience claps. The cameras, recording devices and lighting all perfectly in place. As he finishes his sentence, he looks over at the members then backstage, unconsciously furrowing his eyebrows.
After managing to enter backstage, everyone stops and stares at Kris. He looks around, eyes settling on all the possible doors he can spot.
"Kris, what are you doing off stage?" Their makeup artist appears behind. The voice lost within his own thoughts. The waiting room, dressing room, preparation room, restroom...
"Who knocked on the door?" A head pops out from behind the company's rising star's dressing room. It's his assistant. He looks around for answers only to be met with puzzled expressions. 16, 17, 18...
Kris runs around while looking frantically. He has already knocked on all the doors he had been able to find within the two storeys backstage. Finding a dead end, he decides to head back, only to find their manager standing in the middle of the corridor. The manager lunges forward and grabs him. "What are you doing?! The recording has already started!" Proceeding to guide Kris in what he believed to be the ‘right direction’, the manager maneuvers him towards the set. However, while walking, Kris spots a door from a side of the exit and quickly taps on it before getting thrown onstage.
--
The host directs his attention into his direction, maintaining his humor. Sehun and Tao are both standing at the center of the stage, facing two turntables. While Tao faces a turntable of K group and the names of their six members, Sehun faces a one with of the M group and their six names.
“Where have you been?” Chanyeol asks, “it was supposed to be you and Junmyeon throwing the darts but there were last minute changes and now it’s the two youngest members.” Kris scans through the rather familiar scene, remembering that not longer, Tao had thrown the dart at Chanyeol’s name while Junmyeon had his darted at Luhan’s.
Just like the one from my memory, two seats were placed in the middle of the stage, face to face on the stage with an induction instrument resting on each of its handrails. Beneath each seat is a platform which is already hoisted upwards, facing the two doors in the audience’s direction. Above the exit are two cameras and in between them is a well packaged gift hung.
"Do the two maknaes get any special treatment from the other members?" The MC smiles, teasing Sehun and Tao. "Don't lie to me because I know everything." The mic inches towards Sehun's mouth.
Sehun forces a laugh, "Uh... Not having to do chores?"
"Oh really? You have a group of really caring brothers then. What about Tao? Do these hyungs bully you?" The MC smiles yet again, his eyes turning into a line. Tao scoffs and gives the members a slanted look.
"Them? Bullying me?" The audience bursts out in laughter.
“Tao means to say that it’s good enough he doesn’t bully the older brothers.” The host speaks to the audience and then turns back to Tao, “Then do you usually get along well with the K members?”
Tao smiles and looks at the six of them, all returning his glances with great interest, “It’s alright.”
The host nods and repeats his sentence, “So it’s an ‘alright’, which was a pretty cautious reply.” He then passes the mike to Tao again, “So amongst all, which would you like of all to speak the truth?” The host asks. Tao ponders for a second, smiles and looks at the opposite end.
“Oh?” The host struts towards the middle of K’s group, “This has caught my interest, why Baekhyun?” Dragging Baekhyun forward as he speaks.
Tao looks at Baekhyun and the rest of the K members, smiles, and shakes his head, “Ah, something I can’t talk about...”
“The less you indulge us on what you’re talking about, the more interested we are.” Says the host, gesturing for everyone to boo at Tao.
“What are you people booing at,” Tao helplessly blurts out, shaking his head and looking at the ground, “can I throw the dart already?”
“Alright then, Tao can’t even wait any longer.” Says the host as he observes the flow before distributing each a dart to Tao and Sehun.
--
The host directs his attention into his direction, maintaining his humor. Sehun and Tao are both standing at the center of the stage, facing two turntables. While Tao faces a turntable of K group and the names of their six members, Sehun faces one with of the M group and their six names.
“Where have you been?” Chanyeol asks, “it was supposed to be you and Junmyeon throwing the darts but there were last minute changes and now it’s the two youngest members.” Kris scans through the rather familiar scene, remembering that not longer, Tao had thrown the dart at Chanyeol’s name while Junmyeon had his darted at Luhan’s.
As like the one from my memory, two seats are placed in the middle of the stage; face to face on the stage with an induction instrument resting on each of its handrails. Beneath each seat was a platform which is hoisted upwards, facing the two doors in the audience’s direction. Above the exit are two cameras and hung in between them, a well packaged gift.
"Do the two maknaes get any special treatment from the other members?" The MC smiles, teasing Sehun and Tao. "Don't lie to me because I know everything." The mic inches towards Sehun's mouth.
Sehun forces a laugh, "Uh... Not having to do chores?"
"Oh really? You have a group of really caring brothers then. What about Tao? Do these hyungs bully you?" The MC smiles yet again, his eyes turning into a line. Tao scoffs and gives the members a slanted look.
"Them? Bullying me?" The audience bursts out in laughter.
“Tao means to say that it’s good enough he doesn’t bully the older brothers.” The host speaks to the audience and then turns back to Tao, “usually, do you get along well with the K members?”
Tao smiles and looks at the six of them, all returning his glances with great interest, “It’s alright.”
The host nods and repeats his sentence, “So it’s an ‘alright’, which was a pretty cautious reply.” He then passes the mike to Tao again, “So amongst all, which would you like of all to speak the truth?” The host asks. Tao ponders for a second, smiles and looks at the opposite end.
“Oh?” The host struts towards the middle of K’s group, “This has caught my interest, why Baekhyun?” Dragging Baekhyun forward as he speaks.
Tao looks at Baekhyun and the rest of the K members, smiles, and shakes his head, “Ah, something I can’t talk about...”
”The less you indulge us on what you’re talking about, the more interested we are.” Says the host, gesturing for everyone to boo at Tao.
“What are you people booing at,” Tao helplessly blurts out, shaking his head and looking at the ground, “can I throw the dart already?”
“Alright then, Tao can’t even wait any longer.” Says the host as he observes the flow before distributing each a dart to Tao and Sehun.
“This paper basket contains a total of 30 folded strips, which all contain very tricky questions.” The host lifts a 10-centimeter paper tube, “the person who is ‘darted’ at has to pick out two questions each, which makes it four questions in total, and then sit on these two lie detections. This lie detector will gradually be lifted to the height of this center platform and the doors and seats will be adjusted according to the honesty of your answers. Only upon passing our questionnaire, will you be able to clinch our ultimate prize. Otherwise,” the host looks up at the wiring staff, “the seats will continue rising upwards, and frightening punishments will await you.”
Kris lifts his head. As he recalled in his memory, Chanyeol had answered the questions correctly one by one as he watched the intersecting bridge rise upwards level by level, passing the entire inquiry and being freed by the chair before pushing open the doors to retrieve the hanging gift.
“Please take note of your target, don’t aim out of the boundary.” The host gestures for Tao to throw it first while fans on the side seemingly have no confidence in his aimings, standing and moving away from their positions.
The dartboard on the opposite end indicates 6 of K group’s names, the host turns the dartboard while Tao leans slightly forward to check it out. The dart flies its way onto the dartboard, three words are written by the side: KAI.
“Oh~~ It seems that your wish can’t be fulfilled.” Kris looks frantically at the time on his mobile: 10:15 pm, he has 20 minutes. He turns slightly to the entrance joint to the backstage, the manager, assistant and director are all standing by there, the turns towards the door located behind the auditorium and at the groups of fans in the front before turning helplessly back.
He shuts his eyes. In his impression, the entire game’s answering time limit was short, it was a one-time recording.
“It’s your turn.” The host hands a dart to Sehun.
“Wait.” Kris speaks abruptly.
Both the host and Sehun turn to him.
“I volunteer.” He raises his hands.
The host looks towards the audience, seemingly unable to believe him, “it seems like someone has volunteered.” The host walks towards his side, “I would like to know the reason.” He raises the mic towards his mouth.
Searching for a reason, Kris is instantly rendered speechless.
“Is it because......” The host smiles a little, “you are afraid that whoever is picked will speak the truth?” And as he speaks, the host looks towards the remaining 5 people from M.
Looking at the host, Kris tilts his head, “yes.” He says.
“May I know who is he?” The host asks.
“Why should I tell you?” Replies Kris.
The host looks at him and smiles.
“If I pick this question amongst those in the tube, I’ll gladly answer them.” Kris points towards the lie detector.
Sealing his lips and smiling as he looks that Kris, the host turns to reply, “alright.” Kris walks towards the lie detector on the lift and sits down, fastening it fast on the arm rest.
Beckoning the remaining members to stand beside each member’s lie detector, the host places a tube packed lavishly with slips of paper in front of the two, a total of 4 slips of paper are soon handed back to him. Gesturing for it ot begin, the host passed both of them each a mic and back away from the lie detector himself,. The manager lifts his head to look at wiring staff above the platform, “is it safe?” he asks the director, he then waves an OK sign.
The stage lights dim, the spotlights land on the two seats the the elevated platforms. The lie detector gradually rises and comes to a half, Kris looks at the door just inches away, the camera which is aligned to him gives off a few sounds of operation softly.
“From now on, you will be idols without masks, you are simply experimental objects of these two lie detectors.” A dull voice coming from the machine reverberates through the entire sound system.
“You will face a test of 4 questions, its contents will be related to the private relationship between your members and yourself. Please answer according to your ability, there is a time limit of ten seconds for every question.” The machine proclaims slowly.
“Please remember, you only have one chance to change your lie, if you pass the game, you can push open the door and claim what is yours, however, if you fail it, you’ll face torturous punishments.” The machine continues creating the atmosphere.
“Kai, Kris, are the both of you ready?” Says the machine, as though awaiting their answer.
“I’m ready.” Jongin answers with a smirk, holding the mic.
“I’m ready.” Kris speaks into the mic with his head down.
In an instant, the machine seemed to have stopped, a few seconds later, in the darkness comes a “dooo” sound, the lights on both lie detector chairs are yellow, the entire audience remains silent.
“First question,” the machine says, “to be able to outstand so many trainees and debut, what do you feel you have relied on?” The machine pauses for a moment and says, “please answer.”
As the time ticks away through the broadcast system, 1 second, 2 second, 3 second.......
“Dance.” Jongin answers clearly.
In the darkness, Yixing lifts his head to look at Kris, in that level of light, all he sees is the expressionless back view.
A few seconds later, an answer comes from that direction, “appearance.”
The seconds tick away under the time limit, both of their back seats light up in green while the platform in the centre rises yet another level higher.
“Question two.” The machine continues spinning, “in a tragic war when you’ve lost all your followers and the remaining subordinates sustain their life by living in your enemy’s camp while the rest await their deaths, 11 of your groupmates disperse and eventually 1 fights all the way with you to the end, by your first instinct, who would it be?” After pausing for an instant, the machine voices, “please answer.”
The countdown ticks away, however both of them remain silent.
Baekhyun slowly sits down in the corner, stretching one leg out and lifting his head in boredom and laziness. On the other side of the stage, Luhan has his hands on his forehead as he looks at Yixing.
“Chanyeol.”
“Tao.”
Both sounds seem to have answered at the same time, the time limit ticks a few times and both bright lights light up,the platform continues rising.
“Why weren’t this questions discussed beforehand?” The manager frowns and whispers to the director.
“The sample questions can’t possibly encompass all the questions, these ones were chosen by themselves.” Says the director to the manager peacefully, “well, having the show hit higher views isn’t a bad issue for them either.”
“The bridge we built with much difficulty is now being shot by you, just by that few short questions.” The manager shakes his head helplessly.
“Question 3.” The machine, being unable to witness the unnatural expression of both parties continue his monotonous and slow enquiry, “upon debut, have you ever experienced kissing an adult?” The machine pauses, “please answer.”
The manager looks calmly towards the stage, not seeming to be the least bit worried. The tick tocks of the clock seems to gradually loudens, Luhan turns his head, facing Baekhyun who has his eyelids drooped, not moving.
“There has been.” Kris says.
The manager hasn’t recovered to his senses, yet another voice reverberates through his ears.
“There has been.” Jongin says.
Both green lights light up, the platform raises to a height of three quarter. The dangling camera automatically revolves 360 degrees, the director struts away from the manager excitedly towrds another backstage staff, “the instant this programme finishes recording, take it to edit.”
“Final question.” The machine announces slowly.
“A prospective and well known director holds a excellent movie script, the funds have been acquired and the production team is packed with experience. The movie’s content involve homosexuality, you have been confirmed as one of the main characters, the other protagonist will also be selected from EXO, who do you hope it would be?” Then question ends and the machine says monotonously, “please answer.”
“What the hell are these questions?” The manager’s coarse voice reverberates through while he points at the director backstage, the latter eyes someone by his side and pulls him across, “aiya, these are the kind of questions the audience would love!” The assistant beside him proceeds to pour a cup of water before dragging him away.
“None of the sample questions you gave me have been asked!” Says the manager through his fumes.
“It’s nothing, since it’s already being recorded halfway through, it isn’t good to interrupted, we’ll just discuss on whether it should be broadcasted later.” The director hollers while his assistant chuckles by the side, she recalls back when she had been given the questions to be written on the paper slips, the director had strolled past and glanced at her saying, “don’t be too serious, just do whatever.”
Backstage erupts into chaos while the shooting venue remains silent. Half of the time has ran out, kris and Jongin listen as the tune reminds them about their last three second countdown. They lift their heads.
“Se, Sehun......” Jongin says unbearably through his clenched teeth.
“Lay......” Kris takes a chance, giving the name out through the surrounding darkness.
Sehun on the opposite side drops his jaw, Yixing gradually lifts his head in the darkness, watching the light on the person’s back while fans beneath keep their silence.
Both lights light up, projecting a screechy sound.
Turning his head gradually, Kris looks vaguely at the blinking red light, it feels as though something is pounding against his brains, what it is announcing, he does not know.
Indeed, there is one more name.
When the red light lights up, or even before the answer is given, the name has already been decided, perhaps he already has it screwed up before being announced, however that is impossible, he tells himself.
“You have one chance to change, please make your choice.” The machine sounds, both the makeup artist and stylist poke their heads out from backstage to absorb the scene on the outside.
The clock hands tick and tock, the manager walks off stage to the audience section and starts waving vigorously at them, a question which could initially be answered normally has now become suspicious and abnormal all thanks to the first lies of both parties.
Jongin looks at the door ahead of him and loses strength in an instant, “I give up.” He hangs his head down.
Amidst the sounds of respiration, Kris reminds himself of the motive of this trip traveling back, it’s just one more door you useless piece of shit, he tells himself.
The three second countdown starts.
What do you want, he speaks to the lie detector deep in his heart, what would you like to hear.
Two seconds.
Whatever, I’ll speak whatever you love you hear.
One second.
Picking up the mic to his mouth, “Luhan.” He says.
The entire crowd plunges into silence.
The green light on the back of Kris’ seat lights up, he is now well aligned with the middle platform, Jongin’s chair however continues rising upwards, way pass the platform.
The lie detector looses up with a splat, Kris stands in silence and walks over to tap the door, however, ignoring the hanging present.
The platform gradually lowers, Kris walks back towards M group, expressionless, the 5 of them remain speechless.
“What time is it?” He looks to Yixing.
As though electrocuted, Yixing vaguely returns to his senses and looks at his watch, “ten thirty.”
Heaving a huge sigh of relief, Kris looks at Luhan from the side of his eyes, who returns the gaze, whatever, since you on the other side is still unaware of everything.
If we weren’t doing what we are right now, I would have thought that it was a good choice you had laughed off the last question, actually, you were not even the slightest bit afraid of height.
Whatever, as long as the audience is happy. “Goodluck.” He drops his eyelids, whispering in his softest tone to Luhan who is avoiding his gaze.
Original fic
Translated by heecups and ohbaeks, proofread by wayve and pineapplepharts!
chi-eng translated, 4805 words, luhan centric, all members involved, various pairings
"With each step, 15 years of your lives will deplete"
As the sun shines brightly the next day, Kris and Luhan are nowhere to be found. Junmyeon is over at Tao's house as he directs Sehun. "Try calling Luhan again." His eyes shift to the clock, the needle almost nearing twelve. "Tell him that we're leaving at two." He adds.
Sehun picks up his phone grudgingly, punching in the familiar number he has been trying to call for the past ten times. He waits for that friendly voice to tell him that the other party has switched off his phone, but it never comes. Instead, he hears a beep before someone picks up on the other end.
"Sehun." Luhan's voice travels through the phone.
"Hyung." Sehun stands up, "Where are you guys? Why aren't your phones on?"
"We...went to buy some things." Luhan answers, "Don't worry, I'm aware of our schedule today; we'll be back before two."
"Where are you?" Sehun tightly clutches onto his phone with both hands, eyes wandering to the outsides of the window. "Did you guys get into a fight last night?" Luhan grows silent for a moment before coughing slightly.
"Sehun, if we're not back 2pm, bring someone to the Northern Han Mountains to find us. Keep this to yourself and don't tell anyone else about it."
Sehun's expression slightly falters. "Why?" He sneaks a peek at Junmyeon.
"Just remember that; but don't worry, we'll be back safely. I'll see you later." Luhan hangs up.
Sehun eyes his phone as the rest look at him expectantly.
"What did he say?" Junmyeon asks, furrowing his eyebrows.
"He said...", Sehun hesitates for a moment before continuing. "He said they've gone to get some things and will be back before 2pm."
"Buy ‘things’?" Jongin incredulously repeats. "They've been gone since midnight. What can they be buying?"
Cautiously, Chanyeol asks a "Is it related to Yixing hyung?" and everyone turns quiet.
"Did he say anything else?" Junmyeon points to Sehun's phone. Lowering his head, Sehun pauses before shaking it.
Tao sits at the edge of his bed, holding up his phone, while dialing Kris' number. The call gets through, but no one picks up. Mouthing a handful of curses, Tao hurls his phone onto the the bed and gazes outside with his hands in his pockets.
"That night, Luhan hyung was drunk and running a fever," Baekhyun solemnly recalls. "We wanted to help him but it wasn't of any use. A while later when the manager was heading out, he pulled me along and I saw Kris supporting Luhan into the restroom."
"Luhan hyung didn't look well that night. I should have stayed behind and went with them." Chanyeol thinks back and mused, that rainy night appearing in front of his eyes again.
"It was around 10.45pm that night. I sent Luhan a message while I was at KTV, asking if they were done with the dinner and if they wanted to join us. But, the one who replied to me was Yixing. He told me that Luhan accidentally took his phone by mistake and that they weren't home yet," Junmyeon recalls. "Then when I asked him if he wanted to come with us he said that he was waiting for someone." Junmyeon sits down. "When we were on the way back, you guys were stuck in a jam, no one was home and even Yixing went missing." Chanyeol flashes a look at Baekhyun.
"And you, the both of you weren't around that night either." Junmyeon stares at Jongin and Baekhyun, who were both looking everywhere but at him.
"I went to meet my sister after that." Baekhyun replies.
"I was at a friend's birthday party." Jongin states, staring intently at the wall.
Soon after, came the news of the crash. The few of them remain silent until Tao speaks up. "Why did those guys give Luhan so much to drink?"
"Because it was about Japan's subgroup," Baekhyun answers. "He might be the leader."
"So the leader has to get drunk?" Tao scrunches his eyebrows, confused. "Didn't you tell them that he isn't a good drinker? And that he was running a fever?"
Baekhyun and Chanyeol kept mum when Junmyeon finally speaks up. "It isn't as simple as you think it is." He plays with the lamp on the table. "If he's really chosen as the leader, it'd be impossible to avoid such things in the future."
"So the few of you are leaving for Japan then?" Jongin whirls around to face Baekhyun.
"Maybe not," Baekhyun replies, looking straight into his eyes. "I'm thinking that Kris hyung definitely wouldn't want to go. He was probably called up to attend the dinner because of his popularity."
"How about you?" Jongin continues to question. Baekhyun turns on his heels and looks away. "I don't know. Don't ask me."
"There's only twelve of us in total, isn't it enough having two subgroups?" Jongin kicks the wall next to him.
"It isn't up to us to make the choice," Baekhyun says, face completely void of any comprehensible emotion. "We're only here to listen and to follow orders. That’s all we can do."
"I don't believe that anyone would force me to go if I don't want to though." Jongin says, turning back to Baekhyun once again.
"Well nobody is asking you to go." Baekhyun retorts, "You can continue being the lead dancer in K."
"But you..." Jongin bursts out then slows down, "and Chanyeol. If you guys leave then what will happen to us?"
"They'll probably get replacements," Kyungsoo chips in, lowering his eyes.
--
Pulling out a brand new hammer from his bag, Luhan plays with it, testing its weight.
"It's pretty light."
Kris tears away the packaging and carelessly throws a box of nails on the floor.
"Only these two right?"
Luhan kicks at the box of nails. "Do you remember all the details I've told you?"
"The number of times the first person who returns to the past knocks on the doors, decides on the duration allowed for the other person to return; I remember." He picks up one of the nails and glances at the wall.
"The last time I went back for 5 hours, I'd only been sleeping on Yixing's shoulders for a few minutes," Luhan says from behind him. "The difference in time for the both of us is around 30 minutes, which is around a few seconds. It's enough for us to know who's the first one to go. That person will have to follow the plan closely and act accordingly." Luhan explains, "he can't let the person going after him clean up his mess."
"I understand." Kris replies.
"Fifteen years. One last chance." Luhan looks back at him. "Are you ready?"
Kris smiles and answers, "I have a pretty long life."
Luhan grins before lowering his head. The tall and intimidating stone wall staring down at them. Vapour in the air shining all sorts of colours, glistening under the sun. Kris bends down and holds up two nails, tossing one of them to Luhan. Both of them high five each other silently before facing the stone wall, positioning their nails before hammering. By the time Luhan turns around, Kris has already fallen asleep while leaning against the wall.
--
"There's no need to film that portion again, is there?" The slightly plump MC from the same company argues with the production crew. Fans sitting down in neat little rows on the floor, secretly taking pictures.
The crew members about hurriedly gestures at the not so stealthy fans and pleads. "Ah, haven't we told you no photography is allowed? The more you take the more we'll have to edit out from the broadcast!"
Kris takes in his surroundings; the familiar set along with the familiar faces beside him. Yixing is sitting at his side, smiling cheekily and waving good naturedly at the fans. Luhan pointing to the rotating panel on the other side while chatting with Sehun. Jongin, staring at Baekhyun who is busy interacting with the fans then smoothing out a tuft of hair which had been sticking out as he leans against the wall, relaxed.
Kris is sure that this is something recent, something which had happened in March not too long ago. He turns around and grabs Jongdae's shoulder. "What's the date today?" Jongdae squints his eyes and thinks before answering. "1st or the 2nd?" Kris pulls out his phone and eyes the crew around him before turning it on. There it was on the screen: March 2nd 2013, 10.05pm.
Turning his head around, he watches the people around him. Luhan turns his head to follow suit. "What are you doing?"
"20 days." Kris simply states while staring into his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" Luhan raises his eyebrows. Not answering, Kris abruptly stands up and sprints towards the backstage. Startling the fans and causing a few to gasp, Yixing realizes that something isn't right so he follows.
--
The host who was discussing with the crew finally raises his head and announces. "Okay, now we're on to our next segment. A round of applause please." The audience claps. The cameras, recording devices and lighting all perfectly in place. As he finishes his sentence, he looks over at the members then backstage, unconsciously furrowing his eyebrows.
After managing to enter backstage, everyone stops and stares at Kris. He looks around, eyes settling on all the possible doors he can spot.
"Kris, what are you doing off stage?" Their makeup artist appears behind. The voice lost within his own thoughts. The waiting room, dressing room, preparation room, restroom...
"Who knocked on the door?" A head pops out from behind the company's rising star's dressing room. It's his assistant. He looks around for answers only to be met with puzzled expressions. 16, 17, 18...
Kris runs around while looking frantically. He has already knocked on all the doors he had been able to find within the two storeys backstage. Finding a dead end, he decides to head back, only to find their manager standing in the middle of the corridor. The manager lunges forward and grabs him. "What are you doing?! The recording has already started!" Proceeding to guide Kris in what he believed to be the ‘right direction’, the manager maneuvers him towards the set. However, while walking, Kris spots a door from a side of the exit and quickly taps on it before getting thrown onstage.
--
The host directs his attention into his direction, maintaining his humor. Sehun and Tao are both standing at the center of the stage, facing two turntables. While Tao faces a turntable of K group and the names of their six members, Sehun faces a one with of the M group and their six names.
“Where have you been?” Chanyeol asks, “it was supposed to be you and Junmyeon throwing the darts but there were last minute changes and now it’s the two youngest members.” Kris scans through the rather familiar scene, remembering that not longer, Tao had thrown the dart at Chanyeol’s name while Junmyeon had his darted at Luhan’s.
Just like the one from my memory, two seats were placed in the middle of the stage, face to face on the stage with an induction instrument resting on each of its handrails. Beneath each seat is a platform which is already hoisted upwards, facing the two doors in the audience’s direction. Above the exit are two cameras and in between them is a well packaged gift hung.
"Do the two maknaes get any special treatment from the other members?" The MC smiles, teasing Sehun and Tao. "Don't lie to me because I know everything." The mic inches towards Sehun's mouth.
Sehun forces a laugh, "Uh... Not having to do chores?"
"Oh really? You have a group of really caring brothers then. What about Tao? Do these hyungs bully you?" The MC smiles yet again, his eyes turning into a line. Tao scoffs and gives the members a slanted look.
"Them? Bullying me?" The audience bursts out in laughter.
“Tao means to say that it’s good enough he doesn’t bully the older brothers.” The host speaks to the audience and then turns back to Tao, “Then do you usually get along well with the K members?”
Tao smiles and looks at the six of them, all returning his glances with great interest, “It’s alright.”
The host nods and repeats his sentence, “So it’s an ‘alright’, which was a pretty cautious reply.” He then passes the mike to Tao again, “So amongst all, which would you like of all to speak the truth?” The host asks. Tao ponders for a second, smiles and looks at the opposite end.
“Oh?” The host struts towards the middle of K’s group, “This has caught my interest, why Baekhyun?” Dragging Baekhyun forward as he speaks.
Tao looks at Baekhyun and the rest of the K members, smiles, and shakes his head, “Ah, something I can’t talk about...”
“The less you indulge us on what you’re talking about, the more interested we are.” Says the host, gesturing for everyone to boo at Tao.
“What are you people booing at,” Tao helplessly blurts out, shaking his head and looking at the ground, “can I throw the dart already?”
“Alright then, Tao can’t even wait any longer.” Says the host as he observes the flow before distributing each a dart to Tao and Sehun.
--
The host directs his attention into his direction, maintaining his humor. Sehun and Tao are both standing at the center of the stage, facing two turntables. While Tao faces a turntable of K group and the names of their six members, Sehun faces one with of the M group and their six names.
“Where have you been?” Chanyeol asks, “it was supposed to be you and Junmyeon throwing the darts but there were last minute changes and now it’s the two youngest members.” Kris scans through the rather familiar scene, remembering that not longer, Tao had thrown the dart at Chanyeol’s name while Junmyeon had his darted at Luhan’s.
As like the one from my memory, two seats are placed in the middle of the stage; face to face on the stage with an induction instrument resting on each of its handrails. Beneath each seat was a platform which is hoisted upwards, facing the two doors in the audience’s direction. Above the exit are two cameras and hung in between them, a well packaged gift.
"Do the two maknaes get any special treatment from the other members?" The MC smiles, teasing Sehun and Tao. "Don't lie to me because I know everything." The mic inches towards Sehun's mouth.
Sehun forces a laugh, "Uh... Not having to do chores?"
"Oh really? You have a group of really caring brothers then. What about Tao? Do these hyungs bully you?" The MC smiles yet again, his eyes turning into a line. Tao scoffs and gives the members a slanted look.
"Them? Bullying me?" The audience bursts out in laughter.
“Tao means to say that it’s good enough he doesn’t bully the older brothers.” The host speaks to the audience and then turns back to Tao, “usually, do you get along well with the K members?”
Tao smiles and looks at the six of them, all returning his glances with great interest, “It’s alright.”
The host nods and repeats his sentence, “So it’s an ‘alright’, which was a pretty cautious reply.” He then passes the mike to Tao again, “So amongst all, which would you like of all to speak the truth?” The host asks. Tao ponders for a second, smiles and looks at the opposite end.
“Oh?” The host struts towards the middle of K’s group, “This has caught my interest, why Baekhyun?” Dragging Baekhyun forward as he speaks.
Tao looks at Baekhyun and the rest of the K members, smiles, and shakes his head, “Ah, something I can’t talk about...”
”The less you indulge us on what you’re talking about, the more interested we are.” Says the host, gesturing for everyone to boo at Tao.
“What are you people booing at,” Tao helplessly blurts out, shaking his head and looking at the ground, “can I throw the dart already?”
“Alright then, Tao can’t even wait any longer.” Says the host as he observes the flow before distributing each a dart to Tao and Sehun.
“This paper basket contains a total of 30 folded strips, which all contain very tricky questions.” The host lifts a 10-centimeter paper tube, “the person who is ‘darted’ at has to pick out two questions each, which makes it four questions in total, and then sit on these two lie detections. This lie detector will gradually be lifted to the height of this center platform and the doors and seats will be adjusted according to the honesty of your answers. Only upon passing our questionnaire, will you be able to clinch our ultimate prize. Otherwise,” the host looks up at the wiring staff, “the seats will continue rising upwards, and frightening punishments will await you.”
Kris lifts his head. As he recalled in his memory, Chanyeol had answered the questions correctly one by one as he watched the intersecting bridge rise upwards level by level, passing the entire inquiry and being freed by the chair before pushing open the doors to retrieve the hanging gift.
“Please take note of your target, don’t aim out of the boundary.” The host gestures for Tao to throw it first while fans on the side seemingly have no confidence in his aimings, standing and moving away from their positions.
The dartboard on the opposite end indicates 6 of K group’s names, the host turns the dartboard while Tao leans slightly forward to check it out. The dart flies its way onto the dartboard, three words are written by the side: KAI.
“Oh~~ It seems that your wish can’t be fulfilled.” Kris looks frantically at the time on his mobile: 10:15 pm, he has 20 minutes. He turns slightly to the entrance joint to the backstage, the manager, assistant and director are all standing by there, the turns towards the door located behind the auditorium and at the groups of fans in the front before turning helplessly back.
He shuts his eyes. In his impression, the entire game’s answering time limit was short, it was a one-time recording.
“It’s your turn.” The host hands a dart to Sehun.
“Wait.” Kris speaks abruptly.
Both the host and Sehun turn to him.
“I volunteer.” He raises his hands.
The host looks towards the audience, seemingly unable to believe him, “it seems like someone has volunteered.” The host walks towards his side, “I would like to know the reason.” He raises the mic towards his mouth.
Searching for a reason, Kris is instantly rendered speechless.
“Is it because......” The host smiles a little, “you are afraid that whoever is picked will speak the truth?” And as he speaks, the host looks towards the remaining 5 people from M.
Looking at the host, Kris tilts his head, “yes.” He says.
“May I know who is he?” The host asks.
“Why should I tell you?” Replies Kris.
The host looks at him and smiles.
“If I pick this question amongst those in the tube, I’ll gladly answer them.” Kris points towards the lie detector.
Sealing his lips and smiling as he looks that Kris, the host turns to reply, “alright.” Kris walks towards the lie detector on the lift and sits down, fastening it fast on the arm rest.
Beckoning the remaining members to stand beside each member’s lie detector, the host places a tube packed lavishly with slips of paper in front of the two, a total of 4 slips of paper are soon handed back to him. Gesturing for it ot begin, the host passed both of them each a mic and back away from the lie detector himself,. The manager lifts his head to look at wiring staff above the platform, “is it safe?” he asks the director, he then waves an OK sign.
The stage lights dim, the spotlights land on the two seats the the elevated platforms. The lie detector gradually rises and comes to a half, Kris looks at the door just inches away, the camera which is aligned to him gives off a few sounds of operation softly.
“From now on, you will be idols without masks, you are simply experimental objects of these two lie detectors.” A dull voice coming from the machine reverberates through the entire sound system.
“You will face a test of 4 questions, its contents will be related to the private relationship between your members and yourself. Please answer according to your ability, there is a time limit of ten seconds for every question.” The machine proclaims slowly.
“Please remember, you only have one chance to change your lie, if you pass the game, you can push open the door and claim what is yours, however, if you fail it, you’ll face torturous punishments.” The machine continues creating the atmosphere.
“Kai, Kris, are the both of you ready?” Says the machine, as though awaiting their answer.
“I’m ready.” Jongin answers with a smirk, holding the mic.
“I’m ready.” Kris speaks into the mic with his head down.
In an instant, the machine seemed to have stopped, a few seconds later, in the darkness comes a “dooo” sound, the lights on both lie detector chairs are yellow, the entire audience remains silent.
“First question,” the machine says, “to be able to outstand so many trainees and debut, what do you feel you have relied on?” The machine pauses for a moment and says, “please answer.”
As the time ticks away through the broadcast system, 1 second, 2 second, 3 second.......
“Dance.” Jongin answers clearly.
In the darkness, Yixing lifts his head to look at Kris, in that level of light, all he sees is the expressionless back view.
A few seconds later, an answer comes from that direction, “appearance.”
The seconds tick away under the time limit, both of their back seats light up in green while the platform in the centre rises yet another level higher.
“Question two.” The machine continues spinning, “in a tragic war when you’ve lost all your followers and the remaining subordinates sustain their life by living in your enemy’s camp while the rest await their deaths, 11 of your groupmates disperse and eventually 1 fights all the way with you to the end, by your first instinct, who would it be?” After pausing for an instant, the machine voices, “please answer.”
The countdown ticks away, however both of them remain silent.
Baekhyun slowly sits down in the corner, stretching one leg out and lifting his head in boredom and laziness. On the other side of the stage, Luhan has his hands on his forehead as he looks at Yixing.
“Chanyeol.”
“Tao.”
Both sounds seem to have answered at the same time, the time limit ticks a few times and both bright lights light up,the platform continues rising.
“Why weren’t this questions discussed beforehand?” The manager frowns and whispers to the director.
“The sample questions can’t possibly encompass all the questions, these ones were chosen by themselves.” Says the director to the manager peacefully, “well, having the show hit higher views isn’t a bad issue for them either.”
“The bridge we built with much difficulty is now being shot by you, just by that few short questions.” The manager shakes his head helplessly.
“Question 3.” The machine, being unable to witness the unnatural expression of both parties continue his monotonous and slow enquiry, “upon debut, have you ever experienced kissing an adult?” The machine pauses, “please answer.”
The manager looks calmly towards the stage, not seeming to be the least bit worried. The tick tocks of the clock seems to gradually loudens, Luhan turns his head, facing Baekhyun who has his eyelids drooped, not moving.
“There has been.” Kris says.
The manager hasn’t recovered to his senses, yet another voice reverberates through his ears.
“There has been.” Jongin says.
Both green lights light up, the platform raises to a height of three quarter. The dangling camera automatically revolves 360 degrees, the director struts away from the manager excitedly towrds another backstage staff, “the instant this programme finishes recording, take it to edit.”
“Final question.” The machine announces slowly.
“A prospective and well known director holds a excellent movie script, the funds have been acquired and the production team is packed with experience. The movie’s content involve homosexuality, you have been confirmed as one of the main characters, the other protagonist will also be selected from EXO, who do you hope it would be?” Then question ends and the machine says monotonously, “please answer.”
“What the hell are these questions?” The manager’s coarse voice reverberates through while he points at the director backstage, the latter eyes someone by his side and pulls him across, “aiya, these are the kind of questions the audience would love!” The assistant beside him proceeds to pour a cup of water before dragging him away.
“None of the sample questions you gave me have been asked!” Says the manager through his fumes.
“It’s nothing, since it’s already being recorded halfway through, it isn’t good to interrupted, we’ll just discuss on whether it should be broadcasted later.” The director hollers while his assistant chuckles by the side, she recalls back when she had been given the questions to be written on the paper slips, the director had strolled past and glanced at her saying, “don’t be too serious, just do whatever.”
Backstage erupts into chaos while the shooting venue remains silent. Half of the time has ran out, kris and Jongin listen as the tune reminds them about their last three second countdown. They lift their heads.
“Se, Sehun......” Jongin says unbearably through his clenched teeth.
“Lay......” Kris takes a chance, giving the name out through the surrounding darkness.
Sehun on the opposite side drops his jaw, Yixing gradually lifts his head in the darkness, watching the light on the person’s back while fans beneath keep their silence.
Both lights light up, projecting a screechy sound.
Turning his head gradually, Kris looks vaguely at the blinking red light, it feels as though something is pounding against his brains, what it is announcing, he does not know.
Indeed, there is one more name.
When the red light lights up, or even before the answer is given, the name has already been decided, perhaps he already has it screwed up before being announced, however that is impossible, he tells himself.
“You have one chance to change, please make your choice.” The machine sounds, both the makeup artist and stylist poke their heads out from backstage to absorb the scene on the outside.
The clock hands tick and tock, the manager walks off stage to the audience section and starts waving vigorously at them, a question which could initially be answered normally has now become suspicious and abnormal all thanks to the first lies of both parties.
Jongin looks at the door ahead of him and loses strength in an instant, “I give up.” He hangs his head down.
Amidst the sounds of respiration, Kris reminds himself of the motive of this trip traveling back, it’s just one more door you useless piece of shit, he tells himself.
The three second countdown starts.
What do you want, he speaks to the lie detector deep in his heart, what would you like to hear.
Two seconds.
Whatever, I’ll speak whatever you love you hear.
One second.
Picking up the mic to his mouth, “Luhan.” He says.
The entire crowd plunges into silence.
The green light on the back of Kris’ seat lights up, he is now well aligned with the middle platform, Jongin’s chair however continues rising upwards, way pass the platform.
The lie detector looses up with a splat, Kris stands in silence and walks over to tap the door, however, ignoring the hanging present.
The platform gradually lowers, Kris walks back towards M group, expressionless, the 5 of them remain speechless.
“What time is it?” He looks to Yixing.
As though electrocuted, Yixing vaguely returns to his senses and looks at his watch, “ten thirty.”
Heaving a huge sigh of relief, Kris looks at Luhan from the side of his eyes, who returns the gaze, whatever, since you on the other side is still unaware of everything.
If we weren’t doing what we are right now, I would have thought that it was a good choice you had laughed off the last question, actually, you were not even the slightest bit afraid of height.
Whatever, as long as the audience is happy. “Goodluck.” He drops his eyelids, whispering in his softest tone to Luhan who is avoiding his gaze.
Original fic
Translated by heecups and ohbaeks, proofread by wayve and pineapplepharts!