The lights were absolutely blinding.

However, this wasn't anything EXO's Park Chanyeol was a beginner of.

All the reporters and representatives of SM could see the exhaustion etched onto his face, despite the amount of makeup that was added on it. He tried to dress up, to show he did in fact care about this press conference, but there was some place he would much rather be at the very moment.

"Alright, we'll start the press conference," one SM's most trusted representatives, Han Seokju, announced for the whole, crowded room to hear. "We, at SM, would like to send our humblest wishes to Miss Yoon Dalnim, as many of you have heard that she had gotten injured just yesterday and was taken to the hospital, thus why she could not attend today to help clear up this matter. But willingly, our Park Chanyeol insisted we continue with this press conference, so he will be explaining for today."

The older man glanced over at the tall idol, gesturing for him to begin. Chanyeol shifted in his seat, hands folded before him on the table, and held his most serious stare. His eyes didn't land on anyone in particular, but he made sure to look at everyone to make them know that he did not come to play around and mutter an apology. He needed everyone in this room to know that what will come out his lips are the truth, and nothing but the truth. 

"Professional volleyball player, Yoon Dalnim, is a very special person to me."

Day before; 12 p.m.

Chanyeol was running.

Rushing.

Anything to reach Gold Hospital as fast as possible.

The male was in the middle of recording a rap for one of the songs to EXO's soon-to-be album. He was doing well getting into the flow of it, no mistakes. Chanyeol does really well in focusing when he allows himself to. And with the press conference scheduled tomorrow morning, he's letting today's work distract him.

But all of a sudden, outside of the recording studio, Chanyeol could see through the glass the sound producer and his manager suddenly chatting. His manager kept glancing over at him, furthering his suspicions to what they could possibly be talking about. The two older men held grave expressions.

"What is it?" Chanyeol asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.

"It's Dalnim... She was just rushed to Gold Hospital a couple hours ago."

The news jolted through him like a lightning strike. All exhaustion he had through the morning was instantly washed away at the mention of his girlfriend's name.

"Why?"

"Her coach didn't specify why..." The concern was extremely evident on Chanyeol's pale features, as well as his pure white knuckles as he clutched on the music stand with such strength. Manager glanced at the time of his phone, a sigh leaving his lips as he came to a decision. "Go ahead. I'm sure she would want to see you right now."

The rapper didn't have to be told twice to speed out.

Bursting out of the recording studio, he startled the members who were waiting to go next. Eyes wide and their attention averted away from the sheets in hand, they all gawked at Chanyeol. "What happened?" Junmyeon asked the taller.

The poor boy's mind was racing. He had to go, he had to see if his girlfriend was okay. "Something's wrong with Dalnim," he sputtered out in reply as he swooped up his thick jacket from the chair nearby.

"What's wrong with her?" Jongin questioned next. At this point, Chanyeol had gained all his members' focus.

"She's in the hospital right now." Chanyeol rushed to put on his jacket and a hat over his messy locks. The panic was obvious now. She was fine, right? "I need to go."

"Did manager-nim say you can?" Sehun uttered, a thick brow perched. "Did you finish your parts for today?"

"I can't. I gotta go." Chanyeol couldn't bare to listen to his friends any longer. He bid one last jumbled goodbyes and left SM.

The taxi ride to Gold Hospital wasn't nearly fast enough to ease his thumping heart. Chanyeol had to get himself together, he was nearly about to lose his shit over this. Why on earth was Dalnim in the hospital? She must've hurt herself during volleyball practice, surely.

He gulped.

Hopefully, it wasn't too bad.

Chanyeol stumbled out of the taxi once it pulled up to the curb to Gold Hospital. He halted when he spotted the small group of reporters outside the entrance. It didn't take long for one of them to take notice of the maskless idol's arrival. The poor man was suddenly surrounded, questions flinging at him at every direction and the snaps of cameras echoing in his ears.

"Park Chanyeol, does your visit confirm the rumors?"

"Chanyeol, do you know of Yoon Dalnim's condition right now?"

"Do you think this is some publicity stunt?"

The last question made Chanyeol sick to his stomach.

He shoved his way through, mumbling no comment until he succeeded on entering the hospital. He couldn't be more thankful that the hospital was keen on security.

Chanyeol rushed to the front desk, nearly breathless. The way the receptionist's eyes widened at his presence, she must know of his identity... After all, he wasn't really trying hard to disguise himself at this critical moment. "Yoon Dalnim," he heaved out. "What room is she in right now?"

"Um, she's on the second floor, room 24."

"Thank you!" The boy turned his heel, nearly running into a young woman. He blinked in realization of the person he nearly knocked over with his significantly larger body. "Hana?"

"Chanyeol," Dalnim's fellow spiker mate murmured in surprise at the sight of him. The idol was now just realizing that the whole volleyball team was there, just sitting about in the waiting room. All the ladies gazed at him with a painful expression, the uneasiness getting worst in his stomach. Hana just knew what he must be going through. "We just gotten the knees that she tore a ligament in her knee." The girl gulped as she tried to get the words to escape her, but it was difficult. She knew the kind of pain Dalnim was going through, and it felt like she was going through with it again. "She'll have to get surgery... while we know she won't be able to participate in the upcoming competition but it's a high possibility that she won't be able to go to the Olympics either."

A hundred different emotions swirled within Chanyeol. As he was relieved that Dalnim didn't get into kind of fatal injury, this news didn't make him feel any better. He knew very well that attending the Olympics and representing South Korea was a lifelong dream to his girlfriend. She worked her ass off to come to this point and suddenly, something just had take that dream away from her? Bullshit. All of it was bullshit.

"Chanyeol-sshi, I think I should let you know that ever since this scandal became public, Dalnim had been overworking herself during practices," Hana uttered next, the sadness evident in her voice. "She has been coming to the gym 4:30 in the morning ever single day to avoid the press and I feel like she doesn't take as much breaks as she should. She definitely doesn't look like she has been getting enough sleep either. At first, I thought it was okay because it was a distraction from all the shit, but... It just became unhealthy, I just wish I realized it sooner. I'm sorry."

Chanyeol placed a hand on her shoulder, earning a wide-eyed gaze. "Hana, it's not your fault."

She sighed, giving a meek nod. "You should go see her. You're probably the one Dalnim wants to see the most. The girls and I will visit her after you." Chanyeol nodded at her. And once bidding a goodbye, he sped off. He didn't even bother to go to the elevator, his long legs leapt over three steps at a time while reaching the floor above.

Finally reaching the door, he gave a light knock to make sure he wouldn't intrude on anything. When he was greeted with silence, he cautiously opened the door. Inside, he saw three people, one person that he would much rather throw out the window.

But for now, he shoved past the male nurse and reached Dalnim's bedside, instantly grabbing onto her hand.

"Chanyeol," she breathed out in awe.

Dalnim looked... Not like herself.

Her face was completely pale and the dark circles under her eyes were incredibly visible. To go along with that, she looked to have cried, her eyes bloodshot and the tear stains down her cheeks.

He placed a hand to her cheek, thumb gently caressing. Dalnim appreciated the warmth. "Dalnim-ah... I heard," the idol murmured as he sunk into the seat behind him, his hands not once leaving the girl. "I'm so sorry."

But he knew an apology won't ever be enough.

A simple sorry won't reverse anything and bring them back to before the year began, before everything began going south.

Nothing to help heal Dalnim's knee to perfect condition so she could go to the Olympics in Rio.

Nothing.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

From Chanyeol's jacket pockets, he took out a small stack of photos. He took out one at random and showed the anticipating reporters, one that had two 8 year old kids, one girl and one boy, bundled up in winter wear for the snowy outside. Their facial features were enough to show who the identity of these kids were.

"This is me and Yoon Dalnim."

Another photo: the two children were even younger, possibly 5 years old of age. They sat on the couch of someone's living room along with an older girl, Chanyeol's sister. The three smiled brightly for the camera.

"As you can see, Dalnim and I were childhood friends. Our parents were really good friends so we've known each other since birth," Chanyeol explained with no sense of his usual jokester self to show. Completely serious, a tint of anger dripping from his voice. "We've done a lot together through the years. It was then when I began training under SM that I drifted away from her, just due to the circumstances that we were too focused on achieving our dreams."

He held up the third picture; he and Dalnim were wearing school uniforms. It was a more proper picture, since this was one that their parents insisted they should take for the first day of school together. But nonetheless, they were obviously happy.

"Dalnim and I met again just recently and caught up on life and... Yes, rekindled something. I hope you and my fans can understand that no matter what, Dalnim is someone I admire and care for. So seeing the false rumors spreading around hurts me too."

"But Chanyeol!" A reporter called out, her hand raised in the air to get his attention. "How do we know for certain that she's not dating that one male nurse? He himself admitted that they were dating."

"Isn't that a lot like fans?" Chanyeol shot back, his gaze piercing through the female's poor soul like a knife. "Having someone they like so much and claiming them for their own? The fact they're actually friends is what made this issue known. Maybe the reporter have misheard him, maybe he said it so to protect Dalnim in some way. But either way, him dating the volleyball player is false."

"Then what is true?"

"That Dalnim and I are officially dating, that part is true. We are together."

The reporters went crazy, the uproar of it all deafening to Chanyeol's ears, but he kept calm for his sake and Dalnim's.

Day before; 12:30 p.m.

Dalnim had just finished her phone call with her parents and her sister. With the surgery scheduled for tomorrow in the afternoon, it should give the Yoon family enough time to arrive so to support their daughter.

Chanyeol sat with her, his presence all that Dalnim needed to keep herself from bursting out crying again. Coach Seon and Young Gi had left them a while ago so they can have their time together, but it was about time her teammates had some time to visit Dalnim before the surgery.

As much Dalnim enjoyed seeing the faces of her teammates, they all brought a depressing aura with them. Surely not assuring to both Dalnim nor Chanyeol. The ladies came by either two or three at a time, since there was a limit to how many people were allowed in her room at a time. And whether they had mentioned it or not, Dalnim could sense that they were all now uneasy about the upcoming national competition, as it was now official that she won't be participating.

Even when Tae Ri, Hye Rin, and Yeon Kyun entered the room, the three who would always cheer Dalnim up, they held an sad and frustrated attitude. Tae Ri didn't even bother to hide her lowkey rage of the whole situation, voicing how they'd be able to win anything without their star wing spiker playing. With Hye Rin agreeing to every word and Yeon Kyun silently nodding her head, it goes to show how much faith they really had.

Why wasn't her team confident enough?

They were all professional players for a reason but now that Dalnim was out of commission, they begin doubting themselves?

Dalnim couldn't help feel that because of her individual rising popularity, it might have crumbled her teammates' self-esteem. She shouldn't have agreed to doing that interview at CHEER Magazine. She should have tried to not be more well-known.

Even her team, her soul sisters, were suffering because of her.

The last one to visit Dalnim was Hana.

"Hello, Dalnim-ah, Chanyeol-sshi," the girl greeted as she approached the two. She stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets. "You must be tired from seeing everyone."

"It's fine," Dalnim replied, her voice soft. "Them greeting me good luck for the surgery did make me feel better."

Both Hana and Chanyeol knew that the girl wasn't.

"I just wish... none of this happened." Dalnim's eyes drifted over to her calloused hands, which only felt weak right now. "I wish I was never noticed."

"I wish you were never noticed too," Hana sighed in a fake disappointed tone. "Just to think, I used to be the well-known one in our team. Completely stole my thunder." Dalnim glanced up at her teammate. She knew fully well the girl was trying to lift her spirits, but honestly, she just felt a little more guilty. "Yah, you couldn't help being chosen, alright? You're a really pretty, skilled player in our team. It was just about time you would be noticed, alright? You shouldn't feel bad for all of this happening, it was just a stroke of bad luck."

"Hana, I don't know. I'm just kind of regretting everything..."

"Dalnim," Hana interjected, catching the girl by surprise. "Don't you dare say that. Don't tell me you regret reuniting with Chanyeol and falling in love with him."

Dalnim's gaze turned to Chanyeol instantly. He only held onto her hand tighter, looking back at her with only adoration and concern. "Of course I don't regret that," she sighed before pressing her lips to the back of Chanyeol's hand.

"Then, you shouldn't feel regretful about anything else. Trust me when I say I've been in your shoes, Dalnim-ah," Hana continued. "After all, I was still in the midst of recovering when you first joined the team. But, look at me, I've gotten back onto my feet just fine. And I know how much you probably wanted to participate in the Olympics, but you're young, we'll definitely make it back there in four years. And this scandal thing? It'll blow over in due time."  

"I guess you're right," the ravenette meekly replied, giving her teammate a small, appreciative smile. "You really are like an unnie to me." Pursing her lips, she then piped up again. "Hana-yah, I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?"

"Please, help our team realize that they're amazing," Dalnim said. "I want them to know that even without me, they're still strong. Me not being there doesn't mean automatic defeat. We have a team full of skilled players. They all need to realize that I don't win all the matches, we, as a team, do. I'm just a spiker, I'm someone that needs the help of the others to get points... Also, Hana, hit twice as hard for me at the competition."

"Wow, some speech you got there," Hana uttered with a whistle. She returned the smile. "I know the team doesn't trust themselves now, but I'll make them. And, really, you should give yourself pep talks. Your words do wonders."

Then the first time for that day, Yoon Dalnim laughed, the very sound Chanyeol loves hearing every time.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Believe it or not, Dalnim and I started dating Christmas time. And that saleslady at that watch shop that claimed their relationship as true only assumed it." Chanyeol held up his wrist, the one that Dalnim's very Christmas gift was worn on. "That lady mentioned that Dalnim had bought a limited edition watch from their shop to give to her boyfriend. I'm that boyfriend, if it wasn't obvious enough.

"So, I'm saying right now, that the lady meant no harm, she only stated what she thought was true. This goes as well as the rumored other guy in Dalnim's life, he didn't mean for anything bad to happen out of this." The idol let out one last sigh. He had said it all, he had said everything he really needed to clear this matter up. Hopefully, this would be enough to lessen the idiotic slander on Dalnim. "And, if you really need to hear Dalnim's side of the story, please wait until she's better. But for now, I could only hope for the support from our fans for our relationship, thank you."

Han Seokju patted Chanyeol's shoulder for a job well done and took the microphone from his hands so he could talk to the reporters as well. "Well, looks like Chanyeol had said everything he needed to for this press conference. Any questions about this?"

A good few hands shot up into the air at this opportunity. Chanyeol did his best to answer the questions Seokju had picked from the bunch. None seemed too threatening, just mildly curious, and oddly supporting. However, Seokju pointed at one woman from the very back of the room that didn't give the idol the same vibe. The woman, who had her seemingly long hair tied into a tight bun, stood up. "Yes hello, I'm from the Seoul Stars News team, and my question is whether you think Dalnim injuring herself was her way of gaining sympathy for this scandal."

It was unreal. Chanyeol honestly couldn't believe that those words have left the lady's burgundy lips.

Gaining sympathy?

"Do you really think Dalnim would do something like that?" Chanyeol scoffed, the rage bubbling inside him. He tried so damn hard to be patient for the past hour, he had answered the people's answers as kindly and understanding as he could. But this woman's question was just the icing on the cake. At least the other reporters had the audacity to be gentle with their questions. Outlandish. That was what her question was. "You think that she would purposely tear a ligament in her knee and cost herself and her team chances of winning in the upcoming volleyball competition and the Olympics just for this insane rumor? That has got to be the most insane question I've heard all day. But the thing that's more insane than that is the possibility of people thinking that true."

The EXO rapper's jaw clenched. He wanted to yell. He wanted to yell for all the world to hear that Yoon Dalnim was not someone to be so manipulative, someone who was untrustworthy. She was the embodiment of amazingness. For god's sakes, she teaches sick children english for free! How could someone as pure as that would do something as crazy as injuring herself on purpose?!

"It's time to conclude this press conference!" Seokju interjected, stepping before the idol. At the man's words, the reporters were in a frenzy. Questions and claims were shouted from different directions, getting the poor boy disoriented. With a hand on his back, Seokju lead Chanyeol towards the exits with the security making a pathway for them to escape. "Don't worry, Chanyeol, we have a car pulled up for you to use to go to the hospital at the back. Her surgery will start without you if you don't leave now."

Chanyeol sputtered out his thanks to SM's representative as he rushed off towards the direction of the back entrance of the company building. Quickly stumbling into the awaiting vehicle, he was off to Gold Hospital.

The drive was enough to calm him down from his high from the press conference. Other than the last moments of the conference when he lost his composure, he was sure he had done a good enough job. Surely, more people would come to their damn senses and believe them. He had made the effort to admit their relationship in the flesh.

Either way, he'd do anything to protect Yoon Dalnim.

Chanyeol burst out of the doors of the car to get to the hospital. He paid none of the paparazzi any mind, who all seemed crazier than before, he only had one train of thought. He had to hurry.

Once reaching the room, he saw the Yoon family inside along with the volleyball star. Dalnim perked up once hearing the new pair of footsteps and she grinned at the idol. "Good job at that press conference, my ray of sunshine. Sorry I had to leave you to it on your own."

"Babe, don't even worry about it," Chanyeol breathed out in relief. He made it, he got to see his girl before she went off into surgery. Thank god.

"Really though, Chanyeol, thank you for doing that, we all appreciate it," Dalnim's mother said while giving the tall male a hug. "And thank you for being here with us."

"Of course, eomeoni."

A faint knock was heard from the doorway. There stood what looks to be the main doctor alongside Young Gi. "So, it's time for your surgery, Miss Yoon Dalnim. Are you ready?"

Dalnim nodded her head. "Yeah, let's get this over with." She glimpsed over at Chanyeol. "Will you be here when I'm done and I wake up?"

Chanyeol reached down and pressed his lips to her forehead, sending both their heart to a fluttering rush.

"I'll be here, love. Don't you worry, I'll always be here for you."  

A/n: I hope this chapter wasn't confusing. This does go back and forth in time from the press conference to the past day before.

Is it weird that this story might be ending soon too? It definitely doesn't feel like it since I legit just got back to writing into it.

Again, for those who haven't, please vote for which story (Onism, Nodus Tollens, or Lavish) you would like to see written next in my latest update in The Mindset. It'd be really nice of y'all ~