SALOME'S P.O.V

'At this rate, I'll learn the damn tomato song', mumbled Neena as she sat on the floor watching the Run BTS episode where they had to memorize the nursery rhyme.

I had successfully brought her over to the dark side in less than a week which was also the time it took for me to be a full-fledged Army and now she was hypnotized by their Korean magic as well. All it took was a video edit of Jimin dancing to the Macarena song and a few body rolls later, she was head over heels for him.

Which was also the reason why the couch now housed eight new fluffy members in the form of BT21 cushions. I was cuddling Tata while going through my phone while the other seven surrounded Neena in a circle as if they were watching as well.

'Na-nun-ya choom-eul chool-geo-ya!', I sang, ' Bbom-nae-nun tomato', concluded Neena and we both laughed at how whipped we were but in all honesty, I was glad that I had found this fandom just when I needed it.

It's been a week since Ethan talked to me and with each passing day, it was getting easier to close the door on him which made me feel relieved but at the same time, disappointed. But what irritated me was with whom I was disappointed at; him or me?

'How is it possible to have a fan account on Tumblr and Twitter when you're not even that famous?', I asked as I looked through the Tumblr pages dedicated to Ethan. I couldn't even stomach half of the posts yet alone the account names.

'He must be famous one way or another', shrugged Neena.

'It doesn't make any sense. He's just an heir', I frowned and Neena paused the video to face me.

'Lemme see', she said and took the phone from my hands. Neena had many hidden talents and one of them was stalking celebrities. She could join new fandoms and in less than a week figure everything that she had to know about them. Sometimes I used this talent of her's to help me find papers for my research topics thanks to her knack of using the right keywords and knowing which site to search on.

'Oh my gosh', she said and blew a low whistle.

'What?'

'Do you know what his net worth is?', she asked looking bewildered and I shook my head.

'Sixty million dollars', and I started to violently cough.

'How about we knock him out next time he comes over and strike a deal with his manager, that is if he has one?', she grinned and I shook my head at her as I tried to catch my breath.

'He doesn't even look like a million dollars', I said trying to think of one moment where he resembled a celebrity.

'He looks damn good in these and - HOLY CUPCAKES', and she pushed the phone into my face to reveal a photo of him wearing an open shirt while striking a dance pose.

'He is ripped! Does he still look like this?!', she asked excitedly.

'Oh I'm sorry, I never really got a chance to ask him to strip down', and moved the phone out of my face because I could feel my cheeks burning up.

'Rich people often wear flashy clothes', she shrugged.

'All he wears are jeans and turtlenecks', and my mind immediately reminded me of how good he looked in them.

No. Don't go there Omi.

'Maybe they're really costly. Most expensive clothes look normal'

'Yeah I never really understood the concept of spending thousands of dollars to look normal. If I were to spend a thousand dollars, I would be wearing a long silk gown with a tiara', I said and tried to imagine what it would feel like.

'Which is why no one will give you a thousand dollars', and I threw Tata in her face.

'But seriously, Omi. He is popular and by my short research, it's not just the face. He's done some pretty impressive projects and social services back in the U.K. He's like a national figure that everyone knows and loves', she concluded and then went back to her episode.

My phone felt heavier now with the new knowledge it had just provided me and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed at how someone like Ethan would want to be my friend. Moreover, the fact that he could give up, just like that and not even try again to convince me else wise when it was clearly his fault.

Maybe it was better this way. I mean did I really want to get myself involved with a celebrity?

Returning to university on the past Monday had answered my question because every single female was suddenly glaring at me as if I had done something to them.

'Ah, you've got the mark of Ethan', sighed Aravind as he noticed as well.

'The mark of what now?'

'You know like the mark of Cain?', he asked.

'You mean she's cursed to live forever?', asked a confused Nadia and he chuckled.

'No, something much worse. She's cursed to be envied and attacked by every other woman because she's Ethan's friend', he grinned.

'Hold up. Attacked?', I asked thrown off guard.

'Oh yeah that's happened one time with Naomi-', but he stopped once he saw my expression.

So not only was I lied to but also victim to unwanted attention and sneers. It was because of this that I decided to skip charity week and stay at the apartment to catch up on some well-needed sleep and also some BTS therapy.

'Aren't we going to the show tonight?', asked Neena and I looked at her confused.

'You said that Aravind and Ethan were performing'

Oh. That.

'I'd rather binge-watch Run episodes', I scowled but she wouldn't have it.

'Omi, he didn't break your heart or anything; he lied to you about who he was. Maybe there was a reason but I don't think you should let it affect you so much', she finally said.

'I almost made him someone like Karthick', I said and hung my head in guilt.

'And that's a good thing! Your heart is healing and it was ready to try again. Stop being so hard on yourself', she said softly and pulled me in for a hug.

'I'm trying. It's just that he hasn't even texted me and I don't know if I can face him', I sighed feeling pathetic at my self-confidence.

'Your worth does not depend on anyone but you. Going there and showing your face means that he hasn't hurt you and that you haven't given anyone the power to make you feel that way', and pulled back from the hug to look at me.

'You're right', I smiled feeling better.

'Hell yeah I am', she laughed and I couldn't help but wish that I had the amount of confidence that Neena had when it came to self-worth. Maybe I learn how to give myself the proper care during this time of confusion.

'Now go! Go get dressed! I invited Declan too so we have a ride!', she squealed and I was up on my feet determined not to let Ethan get the best of me.

The university auditorium was packed but thankfully, Nadia had saved us some seats in the center.

'I'm impressed that you got the center ones', I grinned.

'I'm convenor, I might as well do something for myself', she shrugged and I couldn't help but laugh at her rare sassy moments.

'Did Ethan call yet?', she asked and I shook my head.

'Strange', she said with a faraway look.

'What?'

'He seemed fine when I met him backstage', she said looking at me with furrowed eyebrows.

Ha. So that was his game. To see who would fall first? Oh, Ethan, you've picked the wrong woman to mess with and it only made me more determined to sit through the damn show as I promised myself I wouldn't react one bit to whatever he did on stage.

'I'm quite curious about what they're both up to! I saw Aravind with some glittery shawls', she said and that got my attention.

'Shawls?'

'I know right? I can't wait!', she squealed and my heart did a tiny jump as well but I scolded it back in place.

The shows put up by the male students was pure entertainment. It was clear that they were all desperate for those free internal marks that it made me wonder what Ethan had up his sleeve to make his act the last one.

But I scolded myself again and concentrated on the shows that displayed the feminine side of the students. Some earned cheers while some earned boos and there were even some acts that managed to make people cry. I wondered what kind of place the world would be if men could be less toxic towards women and embrace their emotional side. Why was it so wrong for a man to feel his emotions like a normal human being?

The announcement for the final act brought me back and I felt my stomach do a flip as I heard them call Ethan's name which was followed by an ear-splitting cheer by the female students as if Brad Pitt had suddenly appeared before them.

'Why are they so loud?', asked a confused Declan.

'Ethan's the university celebrity', explained Neena, and I internally groaned.

The lights dimmed and out came a barefoot Ethan wearing a black loose-fitting shirt that seemed to be missing a few top buttons and a pair of black pants.

'Oh my gosh he really is fit!', exclaimed Neena to the horror of both Declan and me.

I had to admit though, he definitely had a figure worth admiring and his face looked extremely passionate but then he suddenly broke into a small smile which earned him another cheer from the crowd.

'He's not even doing anything!', exclaimed a perplexed Declan and I felt sorry that his girlfriend happened to be a part of the fangirls.

A piece of soft music played and Ethan started to dance with the grace of a swan that the whole auditorium fell silent. It was like his entire body had put us under a spell and I couldn't help but feel amazed at how much control he had over his body or at how perfect hi poses were as his body hit every single note.

'Where's the feminity?', whispered Nadia as if she was afraid to break the spell but I couldn't respond. Maybe it was the graceful body movement but it didn't make sense, why would Aravind blackmail him with something like this? This was nothing to be embarrassed about instead it was the complete opposite!

Suddenly as if to answer our doubts, the white lights turned red and he was gone from the stage causing another loud cry from the crowd.

'Where did he go?', frowned Neena and I shook my head at her concern.

It was immediately followed by the black curtain background falling to reveal a ridiculously glittery silver one through which Aravind came in dressed like a rapper and the music that played was the intro of a very familiar Spanish song;

'I never really knew that she could dance like this

She makes a man want to sing Spanish'

NO.

Cómo se llama?

NO WAY

(Sí), bonita (sí)

NO WAY IN HELL

Mi casa, su casa

The glittery curtains parted and out came Ethan.

Shakira, Shakira!

There he stood in all of his bare-chested (was that a six-pack?!) glory wearing a glittery red shawl around his waist and the impact was like someone had electrocuted the women in the auditorium because they all shot up from their seats and started to scream; including Neena.

It was like my body had forgotten how to function. I couldn't speak or move, all I could do was watch Ethan's hips move as if Shakira herself had possessed them and I could feel my insides turn to jelly.

'Damn he can move!', and I looked horrified at Nadia, who's eyes had turned into saucers.

'You're not supposed to watch stuff like this!', I exclaimed and covered her eyes but she tore my hand away with a laugh.

'I'd regret not watching this even if it means hell', she said.

I looked at the stage again and watched as Ethan performed with a devilish grin and he even had a rose in his mouth which someone had thrown on stage. As much as I hated to admit it, the man looked undeniably hot with each body roll that I finally felt my ears tinge and ended up covering my face in my hands.

Why the heck was I feeling this way?! I had seen enough BTS dance videos of them rolling their bodies and hitting each beat to not feel like this was some new thing! Why couldn't I react like anyone else in the room instead of feeling like a melting marshmallow on the way to becoming useless goo?!

The performance finally ended with a thundering response of claps and whistles, one of which was sponsored by Neena who hadn't sat down once throughout the whole performance.

'Neena', came Declan's timid voice and I found him with a completely lost expression.

'What?', she asked looking flushed from all the screaming.

'Would you mind kissing me? I can't remember whether I'm straight or not', he said in a small voice.

'You're not the only one who's feeling confused', she grinned and I found myself, victim, to their collective mocking stares.