Time moves at a crawl when you're hiding from the world. Seonho, Jaewook, and I have become experts at laying low. We avoid crowded places, stay off social media, and carefully orchestrate our public appearances. The buzz around us gradually dies down, but the media never truly forgets.
Seonho leans against the kitchen counter in my apartment, scrolling through his phone. "It's been quiet lately," he remarks, eyes flicking up to meet mine.
"Too quiet," Jaewook adds, stretching out on the couch. His dimples flash as he grins. "Maybe it's time we shake things up a bit."
I smile at their playful banter. "So actually, I do have the AMA's coming up. How would you two like to be my dates and take a little trip stateside?" I suggest, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.
Both their heads snap up in unison. "You serious?" Seonho's beaming smile widens.
"Dead serious." I nod, already feeling a surge of excitement.
Jaewook sits up straight. "When do we leave?"
"Next week," I say, unable to hide my grin. "We'll have seats together on the plane and one hotel room for all of us."
***
The flight to Los Angeles feels surreal. We're tucked away in first class, far from prying eyes. Seonho sits by the window, staring out at the clouds with childlike wonder. Jaewook is next to him, flipping through a magazine but clearly more interested in whispering jokes to Seonho that make him snicker.
"How does it feel to be flying under the radar?" I ask them both, leaning over from my aisle seat.
"Feels like we're on some secret mission," Seonho says with a wink.
Jaewook nods in agreement. "Yeah, like spies or something."
I laugh softly, shaking my head. "Well, let's hope our cover isn't blown."
The plane lands smoothly at LAX, and we navigate through the airport with minimal fuss. Our hotel is a sleek high-rise with tinted windows and a lobby that screams opulence. We check into our single suite without attracting any unwanted attention.
The room is luxurious—a king-sized bed flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city skyline. Seonho immediately claims one side of the bed while Jaewook sprawls out on the other side.
"I call dibs on getting ready first," I announce, heading toward the bathroom with my garment bag slung over my shoulder.
Seonho laughs. "You always get ready first."
Jaewook rolls his eyes playfully. "Because she takes forever."
"Perfection takes time," I retort with a smirk before disappearing into the bathroom.
An hour later, I'm halfway through my makeup routine when Seonho and Jaewook knock on the door. "Need any help in there?" Jaewook's voice is teasing but genuine.
I crack open the door just enough to peek out at them. "Actually … yeah."
They step inside, careful not to crowd me too much in the spacious bathroom. Jaewook takes over applying eyeliner with steady hands while Seonho holds up different jewelry options against my neck for me to choose from.
"You've got an eye for this stuff," I tell Jaewook as he finishes one eye and moves on to the next.
He shrugs modestly but looks pleased. "I've had some practice."
Seonho holds up a pair of chandelier earrings next to my face and tilts his head thoughtfully. "These ones?"
I nod in approval, taking them from him and putting them on myself while Jaewook finishes my eyeliner. The three of us work seamlessly together like we've done this a hundred times before—though it's our first international trip as a trio.
Once I'm fully dressed and ready—my hair cascading in loose waves down my back—I step back to admire myself in the mirror. Seonho whistles appreciatively while Jaewook gives me an approving nod.
"You look stunning," Seonho says softly.
Jaewook smiles warmly at me through the mirror's reflection. "Ready to conquer LA?"
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling more grounded than I have in weeks—maybe even months—with these two by my side.
"Ready."
The car pulls up to the curb, and the energy outside is electric. Flashing lights, fans screaming, cameras everywhere. It's the typical awards show chaos, and I thrive on it. My heart races, not just from the anticipation of the night, but from the presence of Seonho beside me.
"Ready to make an entrance?" I glance at Seonho, who's adjusting his jacket. He looks effortlessly stylish, his devilish grin adding to his allure.
"Always," he replies with a wink.
The door opens, and I step out first, immediately greeted by a wall of sound. The screams get louder as Seonho follows me out. There's a noticeable shift in the crowd's reaction—excitement mixed with confusion. They didn't expect this duo tonight.
"Is that Seonho with Iseul?" someone in the crowd shouts.
"Look! It's Seonho from Orion!" another voice echoes.
We walk down the red carpet together, cameras capturing every moment. I can feel the buzz around us; reporters are dying to ask questions, but we keep moving, flashing smiles and waving at fans. The synergy between us is palpable.
"Enjoying the attention?" I murmur to Seonho as we pause for a few photos.
"Absolutely," he replies, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "But it's your night. I'm just here to support you."
His words warm my heart. Despite his own fame, he's here for me tonight. We finally make it inside and find our seats near the front. The venue is grand—chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, plush seating, and an air of elegance that makes the night feel even more special.
As we settle in, Seonho leans close and whispers, "You look stunning tonight."
I smile, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself."
The show starts with a bang—performances, speeches, awards being handed out left and right. Seonho and I exchange commentary throughout, our laughter blending into the background noise of applause and music.
"And now," the announcer's voice booms through the speakers, "the award for Top Female Solo Single."
My heart pounds as they read out the nominees. This is it.
"And the winner is … Kwon Iseul!"
The crowd erupts into applause as I stand up. Seonho gives me a supportive squeeze on my hand before letting go. I make my way to the stage, my steps confident yet filled with emotion.
As I accept the award and step up to the microphone, I take a moment to soak it all in—the lights, the faces looking up at me expectantly.
"I'm truly honored to receive this award," I begin, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "This album was a journey—a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and defiance against those who tried to silence me."
I glance at Seonho in the audience; he's beaming with pride.
"I want to thank everyone who believed in me," I continue. "To my fans, who stood by me through thick and thin—you are my inspiration. To my friends who never let me fall—you are my strength."
I pause for a moment before adding, "And to those who doubted me or tried to bring me down—thank you for giving me something to fight against."
The audience applauds louder at that last line—my defiance resonating with them as always.
"Thank you," I say one last time before stepping offstage.
As soon as I return to my seat, Seonho stands up and pulls me into a tight hug. "You were amazing up there," he says softly into my ear.
"Thanks," I reply, feeling tears prickling at the corners of my eyes—not from sadness, but from overwhelming joy and gratitude.
We sit back down together as more awards are handed out and performances light up the stage. Throughout it all, Seonho keeps his hand intertwined with mine—a silent gesture of support that means everything to me.
As we watch other artists take their turns on stage—some winning awards they've worked their entire careers for—I just feel incredibly lucky to have moments like these shared with someone who understands this world so well yet chooses to stand beside me tonight purely out of affection and solidarity.
It's surreal—the flashing lights fading into background noise while genuine connections take center stage amidst all this glamour and chaos—and in this fleeting moment, under those dazzling chandeliers above us both—it feels like anything is possible.