Backstage after the show was chaos.
The good kind.
Staff congratulating the members.
Coordinators managing the flood of press requests.
Manager Park on the phone with Korea. Speaking rapid-fire. Excited.
The members were high on adrenaline.
Sweaty. Breathless. Ecstatic.
Jisoo bounced around like he'd mainlined caffeine.
"Did you see? Did you hear them? They knew every word!"
Every. Single. Word.
"You were amazing," Soorin told him.
"Really?"
"Really."
He hugged her.
Quick. Enthusiastic. All puppy energy.
Then bounced away to bother Taekyung.
Doyun collapsed on a couch.
Sprawled dramatically.
"I'm dead. Actually dead."
"You were perfect," Minjae said.
"I know. But I'm still dead."
He looked at Soorin.
That knowing grin already forming.
"Unlike hyung. Who seems very much alive. Energized, even."
Haejin threw a towel at him.
"Shut up."
"Just saying. All that early morning exercise really pays off."
Haejin's face reddened.
"Ryu—"
