Leo sighs like he’s in love.

“Gross,” Iseul deadpans.

While fans are leaving the arena, Leo lingers at the barricade right beneath the stage, still in awe from the concert. He’s typically a happy guy, only now he’s stupidly happy. “Don’t tell me that you weren’t the slightest bit impressed.”

“The show was fine.” Iseul tips the brim of his baseball cap downward and adjusts his face mask. Fine is an understatement when the intensity of their music is still pulsating in his eardrums, but the soreness in his muscles can’t be ignored after being pressed against the barricade the entire time. Having the best view for the show was undoubtedly both a blessing and a curse.

Leo sends him a sly grin. “Better than watching videos, right?”

Iseul turns away.

“Are we going to your autograph signing or what?”

That draws Leo back to reality and he follows. They move into another hall where the autograph session is reserved for only VIP fans. Usually autograph signings only take place during fansign events where fans have to buy hundreds of albums for a chance to get admission, but Phantom’s company provides their fans with more opportunities to meet them. Iseul truly didn’t want to attend, but it would have been a waste of tickets if he refused Leo.

The fans around them have the brightest smiles on their faces, speaking animatedly about how everything and everyone is a blur, about their favorite moments of the night. Despite that they’re standing towards the end of the line, several fans look back to steal glances before whispering to their peers. It’s difficult not to stand out, given the fact that they’re the only men surrounded by female fans. But they’re probably still irked that someone with Leo’s tall height blocked the view of so many fans.

Leo lets out a whistle. “I’m glad you came with me tonight.”

“Not like I had a choice.” What Iseul feels is indescribable, too complex to be translated into words, how he was able to actually be there. It hurts his pride to admit that he didn’t spend time scrutinizing their choreography and searching for mistakes; instead, he let himself enjoy the performances like they were meant to be. There’s a small smile hidden beneath his mask, and perhaps he’s glad that he came too. “I didn’t expect you to be this big of a fan.”

“Are you kidding me,” Leo says in a hush. “The fanclub’s going to pay big bucks for a photobook of these pictures.”

“I should have known,” Iseul groans. It doesn’t come as a surprise that he’s so invested in profiting off fans, and it wouldn’t be unexpected if he ended up auctioning off the autographed merchandise. “I guess I’ve never seen you look like that when you watch me perform.”

“Don’t forget that I’m your biggest fan.” Leo puts his arm around Iseul’s shoulder and offers a bright grin. “But I’m allowed to like other idols too, you know? I don’t think I could ever live like one of those hardcore fans dedicated to one group.”

Ironically, Leo looks more like a fan than anyone else in the room. Iseul’s outfit was meant to avoid recognition from onlookers, but apparently, Leo didn’t get the memo. Perhaps that is why they have continued to garner attention around them, curious eyes and hushed whispers.

Leo turns around when a hand taps him on the shoulder. One of the girls, carrying an LED sign with Kuro’s name on it, shyly asks him who his favorite Phantom member is.

“Lee Kuro,” Leo answers without missing a beat. There’s a bright gleam in the girl’s eyes, a kind that speaks of kinship. “He’s the kind of guy that men like!”

Leo lets go of him to engage her in conversation, singing endless praise of charisma and natural-born talent, and he can’t help but feel a little betrayed when Leo’s his manager. It’s something that he would never expect to feel, but also a reminder that he should never take Leo for granted. The Phantom members are well-deserving of love, so he can’t exactly blame him.

As Iseul lets the line carry him, he peers at the other girls waiting in front of them. Looking at their heels makes him wince when he’s in pain only from wearing comfortable sneakers. Numerous gift bags hang from their arms, filled with fan letters and expensive products. Even with his excellent memory, there are times when Iseul has difficulty remembering his own fans, regardless of how lovely they look or what gifts they bring, so he can’t imagine the members always doing so either.

A woman flushes when she gets to speak to Mina, from the absolute euphoria that comes from meeting someone who has made such an impact in her life. A soft smile graces Mina’s lips when she’s said to never smile in front of the camera and possess a heart of ice. Iseul appreciates that she doesn’t appear to be as cold as her image makes her out to be.

“What do you have there?” Mina asks, looking up from signing the album.

“A scarf for you since it’s getting cold.” Pink cashmere pools in her hand, and she visibly hesitates when one of the bodyguards glares at her. “It’s not much, but will you accept it?

“Sure,” Mina says, waving the man away without even breaking eye contact with the fan. She lowers her head in front of her. “Put it on me?”

With trembling hands, the woman wraps the scarf around her, swathing her in a shade of pink that matches her hair. “Thank you so much!”

“I should be thanking you. Make sure to stay warm.” Mina passes the album over the expanse of the table to Bora, where the fan moves onward, delighted to have had the courage to give the gift to her.

Even if they don’t remember their fans, it’s thoughtful that the members make an effort to make their fans’ experience worthwhile without the need to act perfectly polite or keep disingenuous smiles on their faces the entire time.

They’re only about ten feet away from the table when Leo returns to his side. “Almost our turn.”

“Do you know what you want to say to them?”

Leo just radiates with confidence. “Of course.”

Iseul’s looking forward to what he has to say. When it’s their turn, the bodyguard by Mina’s side motions for Leo to walk up to the table. He plasters the biggest grin he can manage on his face, the corners of his eyes creasing from the force of it.

With a click, Mina uncaps a marker and takes one of the albums from the stack. “Who am I making this out to?”

Iseul expects him to tell her the most handsome man in the world or something along those lines.

Instead, Leo just stares.

Like he’s trying not to pass out and die.

Mina raises an eyebrow, and Iseul does the same. It takes an elbow to the side before Leo makes a pained sound and composes himself. He doesn’t even say anything before accepting Mina’s signature and sliding over to meet Bora. So much for that.

“What’s up with him?”

Iseul shrugs. “I guess he likes you guys so much that he forgot what to say.”

As she looks up at him, a flicker of recognition passes through her blue eyes. She’s the kind of artist who sings songs that tear boys like Iseul apart, and being in her vicinity makes him slightly nervous now.

“Have we met before?”

“Ah, this is my first time coming to your show.” It’s the truth. He lifts his face mask a bit higher to cover his nose. He doesn’t want to say too much and it’s not that he needs to avoid being recognized by the members of Phantom themselves, but it would certainly make him uncomfortable.

“Well, alright. I hope you enjoyed the show.” Mina hands the album over, and he receives it with both hands in quiet thankfulness. “Thank you for coming tonight.”

He has only been on the other side of the table for his own fan signs, so it feels a bit strange to act like a fan now. He’s not sure if he can really call himself a fan, though he did appreciate their performances tonight. At this point, he realizes that Leo is no longer by his side and has most likely finished meeting everyone.

Before long, he’s standing in front of Kuro.

“Hi.” Kuro smiles with an overwhelming amount of charm. His styled hair is losing its hold, but the loose strands fall nicely across his forehead. “Did you have fun tonight?”

“I did,” Iseul admits.

Perhaps Kuro simply has the ability to make people fall for him in the span of a heartbeat. Or perhaps Iseul was so swept up in the moment that he lost himself in the atmosphere of the concert. But he feels like he gained something from the concert, something that no one can take from him, empowering him to put in as much passion into his own work as he witnessed tonight.

“I’m glad.” Kuro spins the marker in his hands and looks at him like he’s seducing an audience of one instead of thousands. “Did you come see me? Looked like you couldn’t take your eyes off me tonight.”