As Lumina took the stage, Soojin's excitement reached a fever pitch. She waved her lightstick wildly, her heart racing as the music pulsed through the auditorium.
The moment the first notes filled the air, a surge of energy washed over her, making her feel alive. Surrounded by fellow fans, she sang along to every word, each lyric a reminder of why she loved Lumina so much.
"Hana, can you believe this? They're right in front of us!" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the deafening cheers of the crowd.
Hana, standing beside her with a bemused expression, laughed and covered her ears. "Soojin, calm down! You're going to lose your voice!"
But Soojin wouldn't be silenced. Instead, she danced with abandon, her body moving instinctively to the beat.
Every flick of her wrist, every twist of her hips, felt like an expression of pure joy. She was in her element, caught up in the electric atmosphere, and nothing could dampen her spirits.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of vibrant performances and heart-thumping beats, Lumina finished their set.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as the members took their well-deserved bows. Soojin was practically glowing, her face flushed with excitement.
"That was amazing!" she squealed, turning to Hana, her eyes sparkling. "I'm so glad we came!"
Hana smiled good-naturedly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Soojin. But now, can we please find the washroom? I really need to go."
Soojin nodded, still bouncing with energy. "Okay, okay. Let's go!"
As they made their way out of the crowd, Soojin felt the tide of fans surge around her. She was swept up in the excitement, waving her lightstick and cheering as they pushed forward.
"Hana, wait!" she called, but her voice was lost in the sea of faces.
Soojin turned to look for her friend, but Hana had already disappeared into the crowd. A wave of disappointment washed over her. "Great," she muttered, but the anticipation of the next part of the show soon pulled her back into the moment.
Soojin finally reached the edge of the throng and glanced back toward the stage. The atmosphere was still electric, and the remaining energy of the performance lingered in the air like the afterglow of fireworks.
"Okay, just a few more minutes," she told herself, deciding to savor the moment. She took a deep breath, letting the excitement wash over her again. She joined in with other fans, chanting Lumina's name, her heart soaring with the thrill of the performance.
---
Hana quickly made her way out to the open, not noticing when Soojin got swept up in the crowd. She hurried down the hallway, oblivious to the fact that she is in a restricted area.
There was a lot going on that she had barely paid attention to her surroundings. Turning a corner, she managed to find the washroom sign, beckoning her like oasis. She pushed through the door, gasping with relief as the quiet peaceful space engulfed her.
She hurried into one of the cubicles. She did her business and stepped out after a few minutes. Someone was already there when she walked over to the sink. Out of courtesy, she slightly bow to her.
The young lady smiled brightly at her with a slight bow.
But as she washed her hands and checked her reflection, she realized she had no idea where she was. The washroom was sleek and modern, but it didn't look like the usual public facilities.
And when she stepped out into the hallway, she was greeted by a flurry of activity - staff members rushing to and fro, carrying equipment and clipboards.
The few that walked passed her slightly bowed in greeting, thinking she was a manager for one of the idols.
---
After what felt like an eternity, she finally found herself near the exit. "Hana!" she shouted again, hoping her friend would hear her. But the crowd was thick, and her voice was swallowed by the noise.
"Ugh, where are you?" she said, turning around in a small circle. The reality of losing Hana sank in, and a tiny flicker of worry ignited in her chest. But Soojin pushed it aside, reminding herself that Hana was resourceful and would probably be fine.
"I'll just find the washroom first, then I'll look for her," she decided, quickly making her way toward the nearest exit.
Meanwhile, Hana found herself lost in the maze of hallways backstage, oblivious to Soojin's search.
Hana assumed she was just in a restricted area, but she didn't think much of it. She was too busy trying to find her way back to Soojin. She hurried down the hallway, trying to blend in with the busy staff. That's when she stumbled into him.
Kai, who was walking back to the band's resting room after having a talk with their manager had not expected to come in contact with that weird girl from last night.
His eyes narrowed, immediately recognizing the face and those eyes.
"You?" he said, his voice low and questioning.
Hana's brows creased, not expecting such response from some stranger who was in her way. Intuitively, she scoffed- thinking on how she had been running into rude and weird people lately.
"Excuse me?" Hana replied, her tone sharp. "Do I know you?"
Kai's eyes scanned her face, his expression unreadable. "We met last night," he said, his voice still low. "You were... quite something."
Hana's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. She didn't remember meeting him before, but there was something familiar about his face.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, trying to brush past him.
But Kai stepped in front of her, his eyes locked onto hers. "Don't play dumb," he said, his voice firm. "I know it's you. You're the girl who... never mind. What are you doing here?"
Hana's eyes flashed with anger. "I'm just trying to find my friend," she said, her voice rising. "And you're in my way."
Kai's eyes never left hers, his expression unyielding. "You're not supposed to be here," he said, his voice firm. "This is a restricted area."
Hana's eyes rolled. "Oh, great. Another one of these 'you can't be here' people. Look, I don't know what's going on, but I just need to find my friend and get out of here."
Kai's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "You're coming with me," he said, his voice low and commanding.
Hana's eyes widened in outrage. "Excuse me? I don't think so." She said, but as she looked into Kai's eyes, something clicked. They looked familiar, and suddenly, she remembered where she had seen them before.
Her hand shot out, hovering in the air in front of Kai's face, as if tracing the shape of a mask.
Kai's eyes flashed with surprise, and he took a step back, his hands rising to grab her wrist.
But Hana held her hand firm, her eyes locked onto his. "You're... you're the guy from last night," she accused, her voice barely above a whisper. The moment the words left her lips, Kai's hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in a tight grip.
"Security!" he called out, his voice firm.
Hana struggled in his grip, trying to break free. "Let me go," She demanded. But Kai held tight, dragging her towards the security. As they approached him, Kai handed her over to him, his eyes never leaving hers.
Hana glanced at him in annoyance, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Great, thanks for the assistance," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Kai's expression remained neutral, but Hana could sense a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
"Please escort this fan back to the auditorium," he instructed the security guards. "She's not supposed to be here."
Hana struggled in his grip, trying to break free. "I can find my own way out, thanks."
But the security guard just smiled and led her away, ignoring her protests.
As they turned on their heels, Hana caught sight of one of the Lumina members calling out to Kai from behind. Though she was not a fan, her friend's continues hybe about them had made her involuntarily taken notice of about 2 of the members whom she found cute.
"Kai, what's going on?"
Kai turned, and Hana's eyes followed his gaze.
That was when she saw him - Min-soo, the lead singer of Lumina, standing behind Kai with a curious expression.
Hana's eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. Kai was Min-soo's bandmate, and he had been the one wearing the mask last night. She gasped, her eyes widening in surprise as she realized Kai's identity. She struggled again, trying to break free from the security guard's grip.
"Wait, you're... you're Kai from Lumina!" she exclaimed.