What if?

Chapter 6: A group of artist

Nick

“Hi Michael, I hope that you are not annoying as much as the real Michael.” I said to the blue Elmo that I just swapped together with Michael.

I am now here in my room sitting on my bed while talking to my new toy. I really like the color of this Elmo, luckily I managed to change it with Michael.

“How did Michael get to know that I really like his Elmo.” I asked myself. It didn’t come to me back then but now I just remembered that he asked me to change it. “But I didn’t even tell him.” I answered myself. “Was he staring at me while I was looking at his Elmo?” I asked myself again. I really think he did. “Ughhh! so embarrassing…!” I exclaimed loudly to myself.

*Knock *Knock *Knock

I heard someone was knocking on the door so I hurried myself and opened the door. “Yes?” I said as I opened the door. “Is there something wrong?” Janice asked. “Nothing. There isn’t.” I answered her question. “Oh, gladly. It is only because I heard shouting in your room.” She said, “I thought I saw a rat.” I answered. s**t! What kind of reason was that? “Oh really? Inside your room? It isn’t possible because there are people cleaning this house thoroughly so that no pestilence will stay here.” Janice said. She believed it, maybe she wasn’t able to hear what I said clearly.

I feel sorry for Janice because I made her explain and worry to me. “I just thought it was but it wasn’t.” I said. “Oh great. Then I’ll leave.” She said,

“Janice, by the way how did you hear me?” I asked Janice because it is impossible for her to hear me if she was downstairs. “It happened that I was in Nick’s room to see if there are clothes that need to be washed already,” Janice said. “Why didn’t you come to my room then?” I asked because if she really were she should have gotten my clothes too. “I got your clothes already while you were at Michael’s bedroom.” She answered. “I see, okay. Thank you Janice.” I said.

Janice then went downstairs. So I locked the door and jumped on my bed. I looked at the clock that is above the wall right in front of my bed. “So it is 11:47 o’clock, I should call Michael to get downstairs already.” I said to myself.

I got out of my bed and went straight to Michael’s bedroom’s door. I was about to knock on his door when it opened. “Oh, s**t!” I shouted. It is because Michael’s face was so close to mine. “Bad mouth.” Michael said while he walked out of his bedroom. “I was just shocked, that is why I said such a word.” I explained. He turned to look at me and went closer. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Is there something wrong if I am this close?” He asked me back. “Actually, there isn’t but I just don’t want you to be this close to me.” I answered.

I continued to walk until I reached downstairs. I can sense that Michael is behind me. I looked at the clock on the wall in front of the stairs. It is already 11:52 o’clock. “Michael, let's go to the kitchen and eat lunch, it is near 12 o’clock.” I said. “Oh you care a lot for me.” He tried to annoy me with his tone. “No I don’t. I just don’t want you to trouble the cooks and make them cook more for you.” I answered.

Everyone in this household knows that Michael has a weird habit. It is really really troublesome if he is not going to eat at 12 o’clock because the cooks need to cook more food for him which is an additional workload to the cooks.

“Ehhh? Hmmm you are just saying that.” He said trying to annoy me more. “Believe what you want to believe Michael.” I said and continued to walk in the kitchen. As soon as we arrived I sat on my chair. “Sitting next to me.” Michael said as he arrived. “Shut up Michael, Mom and Dad said that this is my permanent chair.” I explained, Why does Michael think that everything I do has something to do with him?''

Michael is the same age as mine although he is actually months older than me. I was born on October 17 while he was born on August 19. He is a very versatile person and I keep on discovering things that he can do well but one thing he can’t do well is that a good older brother to me. I mean he is good but most of the time he is very annoying.

“What are you thinking?” He asked. “Nothing, we need to eat before it is too late.” I replied. “Yeah, I know.” He said. Oh I didn’t mention that Michael can actually eat lunch before 12 o’clock but it shouldn’t pass 12 o’clock sharp.

The food is ready on the table. They just prepared us both two meals for lunch but are all enough for us to eat. This family might be rich but they never abuse the money that they have. Unlike other rich families that we often see on tv that will have a bunch of food every meal. Which is very unlikely, because it is not good to use money excessively.

I used to think that all rich families are like that but I was wrong, this family is not like those that I watch on TV. I learned that not all sorts of things from the first day I came here and until now. I am really blessed to be part of this family, thanks to Michael. I looked at Michael who was eating beside me. “What are you looking at?” He said and turned at my side. “I wasn’t looking at you, I was looking at the food you are eating.” I said and started to eat also.

“We are finished!” Michael shouted and Janice went straight to us. “How was your lunch?” Janice asked. “Great as always.” Michael said. “It was delicious, thank you.” I said. “That is so good to hear, you two always like the food that the cooks make for the two of you.” Janice said. “We are just being honest Janice. By the way thank you Janice, we will watch some videos in the living room now.” Michael said. As soon as Michael said that he grabbed my hand and walked to the living room.

“You don’t need to grab my hand.” I said. “I know, but I just thought that maybe you will go to the garden again so I grabbed it.” He said. “I am not going there.” I said. “You are always there. Is it wrong to think that way?” He said. “Whatever Michael, let us just go straight to the reason why you got me here.” I said irritably.

“Look at the TV screen.” He said so I looked at the screen while he was searching something on YouTube.

“You said that you kinda like EXO too right?” Michael said while looking at me. “Yeah, I like them. I searched for some of their songs and I like them.” I said. “Have you heard their live vocals yet?” He said. “No, I haven’t. I just listened to their studio version songs.” I answered his question. “Okay since you still haven’t heard any of their live vocals I want you to listen to this.” Michael said and he looked at the TV screen again.

He searched “EXO Live Vocals” then pushed the play button using the remote control. “Look at this and listen.” He said. I did not reply to him, instead I looked at the TV screen. The group started singing, you can really hear their live vocals. “Can you hear that breathe?” Michael turned to me and asked. “I can. Whaa! How did they do that?” I asked back as soon as I answered his question.

This is the first time I knew about KPOP and listened to their songs. I have never listened to any KPOP songs not until Michael introduced them to me.

“You know Nick, there are actually a lot of KPOP artists in Korea.” Michael said. “Really?” I asked. “Yes! Many more.” He answered confidently. “Are they as good as EXO too?” I asked again. I am so curious right now and I really want to learn more about KPOP songs and EXO. “Actually, I can’t accurately answer your question.” He answered. “Why is that?” I asked one more time.

Michael doesn’t make sense at all. I kept asking questions because he kept on giving me small answers and information.

“I meant that yes there are a lot of KPOP groups and some people think that most of them are great artists.” Michael said. “And?” I asked because I know that Michael is still not finished with what he wants to say to me. “For me, EXO is the best KPOP group out there. And with that, I think there are no other KPOP groups that are as good as EXO.” He explained.

Finally he was able to tell me what he really meant all this time having this discussion. “So what’s wrong with that?” I asked irritably. “You know people?” He said. “What?!” I said with a lot of confusion. “People are meant to have different preferences. Some think that EXO is not good enough and some say the opposite.” Michael explained carefully. “So what?” I said.

Michael was like explaining a lot to me just because of that? I feel so stupid right now. “Michael, can you search for your favorite EXO song and let me watch it?” I said to Michael. I really want to hear more good songs by EXO. Besides, I want to know what Michael's favorite EXO song is because I still haven’t one of my preferences.

“Wait a minute, I’m thinking.” He said while scratching his head. “Why?” I asked confusedly. “Well, I know you heard some of EXO's songs and I believe that you think that they are all good right?” He asked me a question. “Yeah, all the songs that I heard were great.” I answered. Michael makes sense. “See, so it is hard for me to pick just one song you know.” He explained. “Yeah yeah, continue to think. I will give you time to think.” I said.

Michael continued to think and scratch his head. “Oh I know, I know.” He said. “What is it then?” I asked. “Look at the screen.” He said so I looked at the screen. He searched for the song title and chose the concert version of it and clicked the start button. “The title is Promise or EXO 2014. This song is composed by one EXO member named Lay, he is Chinese and his name is originally Zhang Yixing or Zhang Lay.” He said.

Michael seemed so focused and sad at the same time while explaining it. It is really amazing to hear that one of the members composed this song though. I continued to look and listen to the song playing on the TV screen. The song is kinda sad but encouraging. “Is this a sad song?” I asked to clear my curiosity.

“I don’t know actually, I just know that this song is the story of EXO in 2014. They have been through a lot.” He explained.

“What do you mean by a lot?” I asked again. “How many members can you see now?” He asked me back. “Nine?” I was not really confident with my answer. “Yes, they are now nine members?” He said. “What do you mean by now?” I asked again. “There were originally twelve of them.” He said. “Twelve? That is so many.” I asked in shock. “Yeah, because originally there were EXO-M and EXO-K. Mandarin and Korean.” Michael said. “Continue.” I said shortly because I wanted to know more. “There were 6 members each. But actually EXO only had 4 Mandarin members but their entertainment added two more members in order to fill the lacking number of members needed.” He said.

“Don’t cut your sentences. Just continue.” I said. Michael just keeps on cutting his sentences which is really frustrating for me. “So again the three Mandarin members left the group one by one until EXO left with one Mandarin member so EXO-M no longer exist because of that.”. He said. “That is so sad.” I said. “Yeah it was and it still is sad for us (the fans).” He said. I can feel the sadness in Michael’s voice. “So after all that, fans as well as the EXO members left suffered a lot so one of the members made a song to reach the fans and the members altogether.” He said. “That is the reason why you like it right?” I asked. “I like it but I think it is more like the most memorable EXO song for me.” He explained.

I think Michael is right, it is not just a good song that you will like but a song that will make you remember. After hearing all of these from Michael, I wanted to learn more about EXO and know all of them. I faced Michael and said. “I want to know more about them.”