I stand behind the guards, waiting. The tiny hall seems cramped with the few other fans who managed to get backstage passes. I can’t help but stare at the door. In a few minutes, I’ll be breathing the same air as Wish. My heart begins to race. I am the only guy here at the moment but it feels like I am the most nervous. The girls are to my left, whispering quietly to each other as they do little shakes and hops.

"You can wait here until Wish shows up." One of the staff members replies in broken English before giving us a smile. There was no way I could do this.

"Is there a bathroom?" I blurt out.

Another staff member points behind me to a door that is clearly marked bathroom. Thanking her quietly, I move quickly into the small room, locking myself in a stall.

Calm down, Morgan. I pace the tiny stall, running a hand through my hair, making it messy. The knots in my stomach continue to grow until it feels like I am on the verge of hyperventilating. So I do the only acceptable thing I can think of. Smack. I rub my stinging cheek and exit the stall. You got this. You can definitely do this. I jerk open the door and step out. A body collides with mine and I instantly reach out, yanking them against me to keep us from crashing to the ground. The smell of the ocean and citrus fills my nose. It's intoxicating. Someone speaks in Korean, and I look at the body that I am holding so close to me.

"I'm so sorry." I blurt before releasing Kang. I step back as the other staff surrounds us. "I didn't know you were there."

Kang smiles, his eyes crinkling in amusement as he waves his hands. "It's okay." His damp silver hair clings to his forehead.

My eyes take in the other six. They’re here. They are … fucking perfect. I hold the lanyard that has the pass up for everyone to see that I wasn't a creeper. I mean, sure, I've dreamt of attacking one of them once or twice, but …

“Let's go in and talk," Jay supplies as he jerks his head towards the closed door across from us.

Ah. Right. I nod and follow behind them as they enter the room. Squeals and talking commence while I stand in the far corner, watching them. I cross my arms, my gaze straying to Kang. He has on his tight leather pants and a blinding white shirt that flows from his lower arm to wrist. He is grinning as he responds to something that another person says. His grey contact-colored eyes warm with each person he talks to.

I take in the others. Hajoon is busy laughing at something DaeDae says. Dragon is leaning against the wall, his sullen form watching the interactions as Sunshine tries to perk him up. Jun is entertaining another girl by singing something in that deep baritone voice of his. Kang's eyes lock onto mine and I have a moment to straighten before he is moving towards me.

I have a few inches on him since his head comes up to my nose.

"What is your name?" He sounds like a damn siren, pulling me in with his voice.

"Morgan." I swallow hard. "I'm sorry again about the bathroom incident." Rubbing a hand against my hair, I give him a tiny smile.

Kang grabs my shoulder. "No one was hurt. How was the concert?"

His hand is so warm. "Perfect. You looked like you were having fun. All of you are the reason I'm trying to become fluent in Korean."

Kang's eyes widen as he laughs. "Korean is hard but I feel like you will do well." He drops his hand and tilts his head to the side as he studies me. Something burns inside my gut but I instantly try to stomp it out.

DaeDae begins to sing in the background, his voice melodic as a familiar song fills the air. I begin to sing softly, trying to remember the words.

Jun walks towards us, his voice joining in as he nudges Kang. I cut off before I embarrass myself.

"Have you had a chance to see the town?" I ask suddenly. The others raise their eyebrows and shake their heads.

"We don't have much time here so we try to see what we can," Kang explains before playing with his shirt. He keeps buttoning and unbuttoning the top button, showing off skin. One of the staff members opens the door and calls something out in Korean before leaving again.

"Five minutes left," Hajoon tells me as he stands next to Kang. He wraps his arm around Kang's shoulders. "Who's your favorite member?"

“Hajoon!" Jun whines. "Not this again."

Hajoon cackles. "I'm just asking him."

"Kang," I reply without thinking. The other members burst out laughing, teasing Kang as I lower my head, my face burning. I can feel eyes on me. "I mean, I like all of you." I’ve just stuck my foot into my mouth.

My idol comes over and wraps his arms around me, hugging me tightly. "It's okay. You can admit you only like me."

"I-" I choke on the rest of the words as someone calls for pictures. The rest of the group crowds around me, posing as I stand like a statue in Kang's arms. Air tickles my ear as he stands on his tip toes, giving the camera a blinding grin. Someone snaps the picture and I feel my lungs constrict as his hands slide across my chest.

"It was nice meeting you." Sunshine grabs my hand and shakes it. Watching our meeting end like this leaves me feeling like everything is moving too fast. Can’t I stay longer? I just got here. It can't be time to go home yet. I'm led out of the room with the others. Everything blurs as I turn and watch as the door begins to close, shutting out the best moment of my life.

"I'm dreaming," a girl whispers in awe. "Pinch me."

I rub a hand against my chest. It has to be a dream.

When I arrive at work the next day, Kim is already there ready to grill me about last night.

"Are you going to stay mad at me?" I ask as I wipe the table down. Kim glares as she leans over the counter top.

"You had one job." She holds up a finger before pointing it at me. "Topless pics. Did you get any? Nope."

I crack a grin before sitting on the edge of the table. "I'm sorry."

Kim purses her lips before coming around the counter. "A part of me will loathe you for that, but I am glad that you had a great time. You actually touched their hands. Who can say they actually touched the gods themselves?"

I thought about it. "A few thousand can. I just can't believe that I saw my idol in front of me and I didn't scream or faint."

"You’re a much better person than I am," she admires. The door swings open and a hooded person races in. I straighten as they lunge behind the counter and duck down. A robber? I grab a chair and move behind the counter slowly. If he has a gun, we’re screwed. The figure tips his head back when he sees me and I watch the hood fall off. My hands loosen and the chair tumbles to the ground.

The door opens and a few girls with cameras step in. "Is he here?"

"There's no one," another comments.

They curse under their breath before leaving the cafe. I turn to Kang and raise an eyebrow. He is peeking over the counter before dropping back into a crouch.

"Kang? Where's the others?" How? What? Was I dreaming? Was he actually here?!

He grins in embarrassment and relief before scooting closer towards me. "They're off doing different things. Morgan, right?"

My heart flips in my chest as he says my name. He remembers me.

"Holy Mother of God," Kim gasps behind me. "I've been blessed."

"We need to get you out of here," I reply just as the door opens again with different people scouring the place before leaving. "Or maybe not. Do you have a phone?"

Kang opens his mouth before closing it with a wince. He pats his pockets and shrugs.

"Manager?"

He points to the door. "Lost. We got separated."

Figures. I chew on my lip and glance at the door. "If you leave now, you'll be ambushed. You might as well stay here."

"Thank you." He relaxes. Drawing a leg up to his chest, he lays his arm on it, watching me carefully. "You work here?"

Realizing that he is at my job and that I am in my work uniform, I stiffen. "Yeah. This is Kim. She likes your band too."

Kim just stares at Kang as if she can't comprehend that he is here. Then she bows as low as she can before huffing out a shy hello in Korean. Kang replies immediately with a slight bow. The door opens again.

"We don't have a single goddamn person in this cafe. Either buy a drink or get the fuck out."

"Kim!" I facepalm. The door closes immediately.

"Damn fans. You'd think they'd get a life and leave famous people alone. Kang, do you want anything to drink?" She turns her usual charm on.

I roll my eyes and take off my apron. "Maybe we should get him away from you before you become one of them."

She scoffs, "I'm a lover not a stalker."

"We'll see about that," I mumble as I grab my hoodie from under the counter. Handing it to Kang, I nod to his own. "You might want to take that off."

Kang grabs it and begins pulling his off. I watch his shirt lift upwards, revealing smooth skin and abs that were definitely real.

"Holy-" I shoot Kim a look. She swallows the rest of her words and leaves. The black hoodie falls to the ground before it’s replaced with my bright blue one. It is a size or two too big but it works. That is all that matters. I take a step forward and pull the hood up to cover his face. My fingers accidentally brush against his skin. Kang's cheeks turn red when I drop my hands.

"Where's your hotel?"

He pulls out a card and hands it to me. Serenity Hotel. That’s a few blocks from here.

"Kim, could you cause a distraction out front while we make a dash out the back?"

Kim waves a spatula at me. "Distraction? Do you even realize who you’re talking to? Get out of here." She waves to both of us.

I grab Kang's arm and pull him up. Keeping a firm hold of him, we rush to the back door. I peek out into the alleyway to make sure it’s clear.

“Hey, are you looking for this Greek Adonis hottie? Yeah, he’s in the bathroom.” I can hear Kim as she tries to distract whoever came into the cafe.

"Stay near me," I warn. It was time for Operation Get the Idol Home.

I could feel Kang's body brushing against mine every few feet. He was taking the whole keep close thing a little too personal. I pause, watching as the girls who came in earlier walk towards us. Kang bumps into my back and I spin around, pushing him backwards. He stumbles and I feel myself falling forward. At the last moment, I turn, grabbing his hoodie and spinning us around to keep him from tripping. My back hits the wall and I curse loudly as my head knocks against the brick.

I yank Kang closer, his body pressing against mine as the girls appear at the mouth of the alleyway. Again I am hit by the scent that is uniquely Kang. I can’t allow myself to react.

Kang tilts his head away from them, pressing his hands on the wall near my head. Our eyes meet. He is so close, his face mere inches from mine. He mutters something in Korean but it’s too low and too fast for me to understand. The girls pass by, barely paying us any attention.

"Are you okay?" His voice is low and full of concern.

I nod. Clearing my throat, I duck under his arm and spin around to point towards the street. "We should go before they come back."

He drops his head, following behind me. The street is packed which for once I am thankful for. We can easily blend in with the crowd. Would the others worry that Kang isn’t back yet? I wonder if his manager was trying to find him. Up ahead I can see the front of the hotel. Kang flashes the key card to the guy.

"Sir." The doorman nods as he allows us through. The deserted lobby makes it easier for us to get on the elevator.

Kang reaches across me hitting the button for his floor before pulling the hood off his head. He lets out a sigh, leaning back against the wall.

"We did it." I choke out.

He chuckles, his voice smokey as the bell dings for his floor. "That was close."

Too close, I want to comment as the doors open. We both step out and I follow. He moves down the hall with more ease now. The tension that was in his shoulders is gone.

"Kang!" Hajoon bellows from down the hall. Kang pauses with the key in his hand. He slips the key into the slot and unlocks the door before pushing it open. Kang points in and I frown.

"Come in."

Come...in? I stare at him, dumbstruck before shaking it off and moving into the room. He starts talking rapidly with Hajoon before the door closes behind me. This was his room? It is huge. A bay like window shows the city's view with a tiny settee underneath it. The door unlocks again and I watch as Kang steps in. He drags the hoodie off before straightening his Star Wars shirt.

"Thank you." He hands me the hoodie.

"You're welcome." I take it, clutching it tightly. "I should head out."

Kang grabs my head, halting my heart and my thoughts. "You hit your head hard." I could feel his fingers running through my hair, pressing against my scalp. He touches a tender spot and I couldn't help but wince.

"Sorry." He mumbles before moving his hands away.

I take a step away rubbing the back of my neck. "It's fine. Really." The door unlocks again and I watch as an unfamiliar man steps into the room. His eyes lock onto me before he turns to Kang.

They begin to speak rapidly before the idol winces.

“Everything okay?"

"Someone leaked that we’re staying here." The man replies in English.

Well that sucks. At least everyone is in their rooms.

He continues. "You can't leave this room. Not until the security can drive the reporters away."

"Say what?" I raise an eyebrow. "I can't leave?"