Summer stared up at the large, curved structure she stood in front of, feeling Mei bouncing up and down beside her.  She still wasn’t really sure how she managed to actually be standing here but knew it was almost entirely due to the seven boys that were splattered on a giant poster across the entrance.  The blonde had come to learn about the strange glint in Bobby’s eye the next night at work when he had cryptically suggested she lodge a request for the night off two Saturdays from then.  It seemed Heejin was expecting her when she approached the older woman, and Summer had no idea what Bobby had said or done but before she had even finished asking she was being told that it was granted provided she put in extra hours on Sunday.

When she had returned to clean the hallway after she had found Donghyuk waiting for her with two concert tickets and his dimples on full display.  He had handed them over, telling her it was a thank you for helping him out when he had injured his ankle and she had no idea how to react other than to take them and stutter out her appreciation.  Summer may have only been working at YG for a few months but it had been full on, especially considering the work placement, and she thought that if anyone deserved the night off it was her.  

Which was how she found herself standing in front of the Daegu EXCO with her best friend and a guaranteed spot beside the stage.  It was the of what was proving to be the best day in a long time.  Given the fact that the city was two and a half hours away from Seoul her and Mei had decided to head out early that morning and spent the day in the city.  At first they had considered focusing on the shopping district, but Summer had reminded Mei that they hadn’t gone as far as booking a hotel room, and any purchases would have to be lugged to the concert.  So instead they had decided to bus between the temples that Daegu was well known for and gained nothing but pictures and memories.

“We should go in,” Mei urged, breaking Summer out of her reverie and the blonde nodded, taking her friend by the hand and allowing her to lead the way.  At the doors to the venue they flashed their tickets and stepped into the foyer area of the venue.  There were already legions of people milling about, all determined to get their spots in plenty of time.  Mei didn’t lead them straight through however, instead tugging Summer over to a merchandise stand.  There was any number of items for sale, ranging from hoodies to posters, keychains to caps, and everything in between.

Summer plucked up one of the caps to inspect it when a giggling Mei pulled her attention and she turned to find the Japanese girl holding a sleeping mask up to her face.  “Hey Summer, what would you do if I bought a June sleeping mask and you woke up every morning to this gaze?”

“I would throw one of us out the window,” she replied, snapping it out of the girl’s grasp and tossing it back down with a shudder.  Mei was cackling in response, covering with difficulty as she tried to reach for two konbats and eventually had to concede to reach for her wallet.

“We have to at least get these.  Oh and throw in this badge set too,” the girl said, exchanging the money for the items and then beckoned Summer over to the side.  Immediately the blonde was handed the konbats as Mei broke into the badge packet, pulling them out one by one and beginning to stick some to Summer’s front.  “You get Bobby, Donghyuk, and Chanwoo.  And I’ll have B.I, Yunhyeong, and Jinhwan.”

Then there was an evil glint in her eye and she took Junhoe’s badges, turning back to the stall enquired about borrowing a pair of scissors.  Summer watched on with far too much amusement as the girl began to hack away at them.  There was a few moments pause afterwards when they tried to figure out how to stick it to themselves with half a pin each, but eventually Mei succeeded, jamming it between others in the hope for extra support.  With them finally all decked out the pair made their way into the actual concert area, having to duck and dodge amongst others until they made it to a spot pressed up against one the stage runway.  Looking around them at everything Mei broke into a grin, letting out a squeal as it finally hit her.  Then she was leaning in, making sure that no one else could hear her words.

“You should have brought your work pass and we could have tried getting backstage.”

“One, my pass states that I’m a cleaner and two, we have a train to catch afterwards,” Summer pointed out and Mei let out a huff, folding her arms and leaning against the side of the stage as she did so.

“We should have lashed out and stayed the night.”  Summer couldn’t help but agreeing, even just to avoid the chance of missed trains and having to rush places after standing there for several hours.  It wasn’t long before the venue began to properly fill up, and before either of them knew it they were being pressed in by a screaming crowd of people.  It only escalated as the lights dimmed and the show began.  

It was Rhythm Ta that got the crowd going and Summer found herself joining the rest of the crowd bouncing up and down and waving their lightsticks.  A short introduction from the boys and a welcome to all the fans followed, before Dumb and Dumber struck up and it was during this the idols made their way down the runway for closer interactions with the fans.  Hanbin recognised them first as he walked along their side, reaching his hand out to brush against the fans’.  When he spotted them he waved, his professionalism making it seem like merely a random gesture and Summer was sure that Mei almost hitting the girl next to her in the face with her konbat probably only solidified the gesture.

In each of the member’s down time from singing word seemed to get around until all seven were aware of where the two girls were.  Even Junhoe hovered by their area at one point, Mei happily pointing out it was only after Bobby had come over and winked down at them.  Silently as the boys sung one of their slower songs Summer wondered whether she could have Mei trampled and make it seem like an accident.  Soon iKON’s music gave way to another familiar tune and Summer’s manslaughter planning went up a notch as Mei grabbed her arm and squeezed tightly.

“Oh my god Summer, it’s their Bang Bang Bang version.  Summer, I may not survive this,” the girl squeaked and Summer had to refrain from answering with the word ‘good’.  A moment later though, she realised why not only Mei, but everyone else had started screaming even louder.  Half the members were baring their torsos and as Hanbin came forward with abs rippling Summer wondered if her friend would do the job for her, as she seemed incredibly close to a heart attack.  

She was so busy laughing that when she looked back up at the stage all she saw was torn jeans, an open fluffy vest, and toned stomach.  It almost seemed to her as if the dread of recognising the voice hit her just before her gaze met the face.  She thought that perhaps Mei might have been attempting to rid her of clothes too with the way she was tugging and it took Summer longer than she liked to turn and look at her friend.

“Did you know that was underneath his shirt?” The question came as a hiss right in her ear and Summer looked at the girl as if she had grown an extra head.

“I don’t exactly go around lifting his shirt up,” she called back, her eyes almost unwillingly drifting back up to the stage.  “And I’m pretty sure Taeyang’s the only idol that might practice shirtless.”

Mei obviously heard as she let out a snort, but was quickly distracted by Hanbin taking over once more.  Summer let out a deep breath as she tried to refocus, chiding herself for actually thinking the boy attractive in the second or two before she realised who it was.  It made her feel like a shallow, ravenous teen.  But if she acted unlike herself for one moment, what was this entire concert to Junhoe?  She had never seen the idol so upbeat as he jumped around, laughing and joking with the other members and the crowd.  In fact as the concert continued and she watched him grinning as Jinhwan tugged off his jacket, looking innocent and almost embarrassed it hit her that it was the first time she had seen him smile in person.  If this could count as in person.

She didn’t like the fact that her eyes kept ending up back on Junhoe and she absolutely despised her inability to stop wondering what she had ever done to deserve nothing but smirks, sneers, and vacancy.  Her only distraction came all the way at the end during the encore when Bobby decided to jump off the stage and land in front of them, grinning broadly and she couldn’t refrain from rolling her eyes as Mei waggled her fingers at him in a cheeky wave.

And yet, as the concert came to an end and Summer and Mei slowly made their way out of the venue and towards the train station the blonde still couldn’t help but wonder what exactly it was Koo Junhoe had against her.