Yerin looked into the viewfinder of her camera, adjusting the lens so that it could focus properly on the green-haired girl who was currently wearing a police cap and waving at fans to pass the time before another album slid her way. 

 

Freeze! You have the right to remain y, Yerin thought to herself, blushing as she pressed the shutter button. A rapid-fire of clicks blended with the other fansites who were also taking pictures of one of Korea's top girl groups. 

 

GFriend, the five-piece pop group, was in the midst of promoting their new mini album. Each member looked gorgeous, sporting their new hairstyles as they embarked on a new era of their career. And while Yerin may have joined the fandom just a year and a half ago, her fansite, Serendipity603, had grown exponentially. It was a new world she had entered becoming a fansite master. Balancing work and play. Saving money to attend concerts and music shows. Having to get her camera repaired after it was trampled on by a swarm of fans at the airport. Despite it all, she never regretted the path she chose. Because each time she looked through her viewfinder, Yerin was almost guaranteed to find Hwang Eunbi better known as SinB, her ultimate bias, smiling in her direction. 

 

Well, except now since the back of a fan’s head was blocking SinB’s face. The fan had given her a toy gun that blew bubbles, and SinB was nothing less than giddy to play with it. 

 

Such a little kid. Yerin let out a small chuckle, shaking her head as she lowered her camera, letting it dangle by the neck strap. 

 

Yerin usually abstained from taking pictures when SinB was conversing with a fan. Digging her hands in her green blazer, she pursed her lips and examined the other members. Yuju was trying on a puppy-eared headband, Umji was posing seductively with a rose behind her ear, and Sowon was teasing Eunha with a toy squishy in the shape of a burger. Eunha grabbed the toy burger from Sowon's hand and held it up to her lips, pretending to take a bite. Sowon positioned her face on the other end of the toy so that it would seem like they were sharing it alá the spaghetti scene from Lady & the Tramp. 

 

Fans began to woo in delight at the pair. Yerin readied her camera, taking pictures of the comical, yet oddly romantic scene taking place before their eyes. Eunha then suddenly dropped the squishy before sneakily planting a kiss on Sowon's cheek. The room filled with gasps, hollers, and a deafening buzz of camera shutters going off. 

 

Yerin decided to zoom out on the WonHa couple to capture the rest of the group's reactions. But as her view refocused, she caught sight of SinB staring directly at her. The idol's expression was ice-cold as she shook her head at Yerin before jutting a thumb at her chest as if to say, “You're only supposed to take pictures of me.”

 

A little dumbfounded, Yerin timidly lowered her camera and instantly locked eyes with SinB. All the fansite master could do was smile in the most apologetic manner she could. SinB exhaled an exasperated breath. Her demeanor softened as she mouthed a playful, “I’m watching you.” The idol then held up her bubble gun and sprayed bubbles at the sickening sweet fox and bunny pair next to her who began to pop them, unbothered. 

 

Yerin looked at her camera screen of the last picture she had taken. It was of SinB's serious façade, jealous eyes solely concentrating on her. Unnerving to most, Yerin's heart couldn't help but skip a beat. 

 

*****

Though the group had finished signing albums, the event wasn’t over yet. Because this particular fansign was unlike any other. A couple of days prior, it was announced that a raffle was going to be held on their first fansign for their new album. What does the winner of the raffle receive? None other than a dinner date with a member of their choosing. 

 

Yerin clutched onto her ticket as the five idols lined up on stage in their usual arrangement: Sowon, Eunha, Umji, Yuju, and SinB. A staff member handed Sowon a decorative cardboard box. The leader began to swirl and toss the tickets around in the box, eyeing the audience with a mischievous smile. Reaching for a microphone on the table, Sowon gathered everyone's attention. After wishing good luck to the Buddies, she extended the box to Umji. The fate of each fan in that room laid at the hand of GFriend's maknae. Umji dove her hand inside the box and whirled it around several times. 

 

Yerin sat in anticipation, knee bouncing anxiously. She pulled the back of her green golf cap, unsure why since it was quite snug on her head already. The last time she felt this nervous was at her first ever GFriend concert. And although she was seated all the way in the balcony, just to be able to see them (to see SinB, especially) in real life made her heart want to implode with excitement. 

 

At last, the maknae stopped shuffling. Pausing for dramatic effect, out popped her hand that held a single ticket. The audience gasped in anticipation. 

 

Yuju relayed Umji a microphone as the rest of the group did their best impression of a drum roll. 

 

“And the winning ticket is…” 

 

Umji began to read the numbers aloud. 

 

“... 1... 1... 5…”

 

A handful of attendees let out a sharp sigh at their misfortune. Meanwhile, Yerin's pulse quickened. So far so good. 

 

“... 9... 8…”

 

More than half of the audience were in despair of not being the winner. Yerin, on the other hand, couldn't believe her eyes. When have I ever been this lucky? 

 

One more number remained. “... ... ... 6!”

 

It was like Yerin had forgotten how to read. Over and over again, she scanned the numbers on her ticket, double-checking and making sure she wasn't seeing things incorrectly. Noticing Yerin's frozen state, the girl seated next to her leaned over to glance at her ticket. 

 

“Omo! Yerin-unnie is the winner!” 

 

Soon, everybody's eyes were on Yerin who was so shocked that her seatmate had to pull her out of her chair to stand. Snapping back to reality, Yerin noticed that people were now cheering and congratulating her. She looked up at the stage and saw SinB stifling a giggle as she clapped. Pumping her ticket-clenched fist in the air, Yerin hurried to the front where a staff member rechecked the two tickets and confirmed that she was indeed the victor. 

 

Yerin climbed the steps of the stage and was met with the sunshine faces of her favorite group. Acting as MC, Sowon asked Yerin to introduce herself, though it was safe to say that many people (GFriend included) knew of her. 

 

“Jung Yerin-ssi,” Sowon spoke, “the choice is yours. Who would you like to spend your special dinner with?”

 

One by one, each member tried to get Yerin's attention by showing their charms. Sowon struck a model-like pose, Eunha cutely pointed at her puffed up cheeks, Umji sent several finger hearts her way, and Yuju coolly leaned back in an alluring manner. SinB, though, was indifferent. She simply stood there, hands behind her back and waiting patiently for Yerin's answer. 

 

Yerin inhaled a breath, letting the seconds pass before responding. “I would like to eat dinner with… SinB-ssi.” 

 

Not a soul in that building was surprised. 

 

*****

Yerin didn’t know what to expect. She would have been fine dining with SinB at a simple food stall or even at a McDonalds. The location didn’t matter as long as she could spend time with her dream girl. But when the car pulled up at what appeared to be a mega-fancy hotel, Yerin started to have her doubts. 

 

She stepped out of the car, still in the same green blazer, shorts, and golf cap she usually wears whenever she’s on the job as a fansite master. It became her uniform of sorts, one that allowed the GFriend members to always take notice of her. But to be wearing something so juvenile and unfashionable at a place like this, Yerin soon felt inadequate. 

 

A manager escorted Yerin into the building. They rode the elevator to one of the highest floors. Yerin’s knees wobbled with every floor they ascended until, at last, the doors dinged open to their destination. Casually, the manager traipsed out from the elevator, almost leaving behind an astounded Yerin who was immediately in awe of her surroundings.

 

Eloquent was the first word that came to Yerin’s mind. But it sounded too old-fashioned of a word to describe the place. It was certainly classy with its art deco furniture, yet also very modern as most of the patrons seemed to be in their late twenties and mid-thirties. Très chic, Yerin internalized as she passed by the table where a dolled-up woman and a handsome man toasted their flutes of bubbly champagne. 

 

Remembering that she looked like she could be the Incredible Hulk’s golf caddy, a wave of panic struck within Yerin. Do I really deserve this opportunity of a lifetime? 

 

Yerin began to breathe deeply, heavier to the point where she was worried that she might start hyperventilating. But then, she saw her. Sitting behind the crystal clear window which presented a panoramic view of the night sky and the cityscape glowing beneath was SinB, nonchalantly flipping through the menu. As if by a sixth sense, the idol looked up; her gaze instantly connected with Yerin’s. The manager quietly briefed Yerin that she and SinB were going to have dinner together in private and that he and several other staff members will be several tables away if they needed anything. Yerin nodded blankly as she forced her legs to move. Don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip. 

 

As Yerin neared the table, SinB rose up from her seat. She had changed out of the outfit she wore at the fansign to something more casual, yet undoubtedly expensive. The Blanc & Eclare t-shirt. The Chanel tweed jacket. And heaven knows what brand those pants she was sporting. Overall, SinB looked good, extremely good. 

 

“Annyeonghaseyo, Yerin-ssi,” SinB greeted brightly, bustling over Yerin’s side of the table to pull her chair for her. 

 

“Annyeonghaseyo,” Yerin shyly bowed before taking a seat. 

 

“I hope you don’t find this place to be intimidating,” SinB said with a chuckle as she went back to her spot. “I tried convincing my manager that we should go somewhere more modest, but he insisted on this place. Probably because the company is paying for it.” 

 

Shaking her head, Yerin giggled. “No, it’s completely fine. The place is beautiful. I just wish I wasn’t wearing something so dorky.”

 

“You don’t look that bad. Ok, maybe your outfit is a little dorky, but in a cute way. It always puts a smile on my face whenever I look at the crowd and see those green clothes.” 

 

Yerin’s gaze dropped, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. “You’re just saying that to be nice.”

 

“You’re right,” SinB replied frankly, “but that doesn’t mean I was lying.” 

 

Yerin was glad a waiter had come by their table to serve them wine, thus intercepting the moment. She wouldn’t have known how to respond to SinB’s somewhat flirtatious answer. But who was Yerin kidding? SinB wasn’t the type to flirt. She was probably messing around, trying to get a rise out of Yerin. Unless…? For heaven’s sake, don’t be so delusional, Yerin. 

 

Once the waiter left, they both took a sip from their glasses. Yerin glanced at the window, trying to calm her nerves which was not easy when the object of her adoration sat a mere two-feet in front of her. 

 

“By the way,” SinB spoke, garnering Yerin’s attention, “thank you for choosing me.”

 

Furrowing her brow, a nervous giggle escaped Yerin’s mouth. “Of course, I would choose you, SinB-ssi. I have an entire fansite dedicated to you.”

 

SinB smirked, running her finger along the edge of her wine glass. “It didn’t look like it to me earlier today when you were taking pictures of Sowon and Eunha.”

 

“Well…,” Yerin searched for an excuse, “I’m sure all the other fansites were also distracted by them. And in fairness, they were being awfully cute with each other. Fans love it when they’re paired up together.”

 

“I see.” SinB leaned closer in a conspiratorial manner. “Out of curiosity, do I get paired up with any of the members?” 

 

Yerin’s eyes widened like she was injected with a shot of caffeine. Her body and face remained still like a mannequin until her malfunctioning brain could reboot itself. “Uhh… yeaahh, but…” This is a weird topic to talk about with your bias.

 

After a couple more seconds of tortured silence, SinB’s mouth cracked into a humorous grin. 

 

“It’s alright, Yerin-ssi. I’m aware of the certain things that get put upon idols. And between you and me, I may have dabbled in Krystal and Amber fanfiction in my youth. Which reminds me, the company wants me to tell you that everything we talk about tonight is off the record. So, it’s very much appreciated if we keep it to ourselves and not spread it on social media.”

 

“Understood,” Yerin breathed out, relieved to not have to explain the concept of “shipping.” Yet, she was also intrigued by SinB’s aforementioned OTP. 

 

The waiter returned to their table with a basket of toasted bread with a side of butter. He asked if they were ready to order. While Yerin frantically flipped through the menu, SinB calmly asked about the specials. In the end, SinB went with the pasta Da Vinci and Yerin settled with a classic spaghetti and meatballs. The waiter took their menus and left, and a semi-awkward silence transpired between the two. Simultaneously, they reached into the basket and, like a cliché out of a romantic comedy, had grabbed the same piece of bread. As if she had touched a flame, Yerin quickly let go, insisting SinB have it. The girl group member didn’t object. Quietly, she spread butter on the bread, held it up to Yerin’s mouth, and pantomimed for Yerin to bite it. Unable to resist, Yein did so, taking the bread and leaving SinB pleased.  

 

“So,” SinB said, brushing the crumbs off her hands, “I’ve seen some of your work. You’re really talented. It’s like you know how to capture my best angle. Then again, I have no bad angles, so it must not be that difficult for you.” Yerin almost choked on her bread from SinB’s narcissistic sarcasm. For a second, SinB was worried. But then, she saw Yerin’s eyes curve and dimples appear on the apples of her cheeks. The idol was caught in a daze. It wasn’t long, though, before she forced herself out of it. “How did you get into photography?”

 

“Part-time passion,” Yerin answered, fanning herself as she drank some wine. “I was in the photography club in high school, and I thought about pursuing it as a profession. But, I knew it would be difficult to receive a steady income. I did work as a freelance photographer during university for special events like birthdays and anniversaries. It was frustrating, though, when clients tried to barter to get me to lower an already reasonable price.”

 

“A lack of appreciation for one’s craft. I get that,” SinB empathized. “What profession did you take up instead?”

 

“Accounting, believe it or not. It may not be the most exciting job in the world, but it pays the bills, and I’m surprisingly good at it.” SinB nodded in understanding. Yerin decided to ask a question of her own. “Did you always see yourself working in the entertainment industry, SinB-ssi?”

 

SinB stared at a random spot on the white tablecloth, pondering. “Honestly, yes. Ever since I was young and got the chance to perform with my dance group on Star King, right on national TV, I knew I wanted to achieve bigger things in my life. Graciously, I got scouted, passed my audition, became a trainee. I didn’t want to stop until my nine-year-old self was proud of me.”

 

“Do you think you’ve made her proud enough now?”

 

SinB’s eyes darted to the ceiling as if grasping for an answer. “If she saw me right at this moment, a member of a successful group, wearing these fancy clothes, and having dinner in a restaurant of a five-star hotel with a pretty fan,” she looked into Yerin’s attentive eyes, “I think she’ll be very proud.” 

 

Flustered, Yerin bobbed her head up and down, reaching for her glass for another swig. Was I hearing things or did THE Hwang SinB just called me pretty? She side-eyed the K-pop star in question who was innocently snacking on a slice of bread like she hadn’t been super charming (and maybe flirty) with her less than ten seconds ago. Yerin decided to keep mum and grabbed herself another piece. 

 

“I really like the name of your fansite,” SinB brought up. “Serendipity. It means an accidental discovery, right?”

 

“In the general sense of the word, yes. But it’s not just any discovery. It’s a discovery that’s desirable. Something that you didn’t expect to find, but it made you happy that you did.” Yerin debated on whether she should explain her origins of how she become a fan. One look at SinB’s captivated expression, Yerin shooed her nerves away and continued. 

 

“I like to think that coming across GFriend was a moment of serendipity for me. It was about a year and a half ago. I was in a rough patch. I was so tired of the monotony of work and the mediocrity of my life. There were times when I would be at my office desk inputting numbers and just have this sudden urge to cry. I held back the tears, of course. I had to. But the heavy feeling in my chest would remain even after I clocked out. One day on my lunch break, I was scrolling through Naver when my thumb slipped and I had accidentally tapped on a video link. The next thing I knew, I was watching the dance practice for “Time for the moonight”. I hadn’t taken much interest in newer idol groups, so I didn’t know who you girls were at the time. By the end of the video, my eyes had sprung a leak, and for once, it wasn’t due to sadness. I found it all to be beautiful. The music, the lyrics, the dance, the group itself. It made me feel something that I haven’t felt in a while. And since then, I became a devoted fan and realized a new purpose when I created the fansite.” Yerin straightened her posture, embarrassed that she might have been talking for too long. “Anyway, sorry for rambling. You probably heard something similar hundreds of times already.”

 

“And I wouldn’t mind listening to them a hundred times more,” SinB professed. “There are certain things that you get used to when you reach a level of fame. But hearing how much GFriend means to someone or how GFriend affected that person’s life for the better, that’s something that I’ll never get tired of. Every person’s story matters, and I’m grateful to be a part of it. I’m grateful to be a part of yours, Yerin-ssi.”

 

SinB smiled with sincerity, making her look like she had just descended from heaven. The warm ambiance of the restaurant lights further contributed to her celestial appearance. Yerin knew that if this was an actual date and if SinB wasn’t a celebrity, she would’ve kissed her without a second thought. Yerin mentally slapped herself. Get your delusional mind out of fantasy land, Jung! 

 

Saved by the waiter, their food arrived. Taking in the appetizing aromas, Yerin gulped and hoped that her stomach wouldn’t let out a humiliating growl. It had been hours since she had last eaten a meal. Needless to say, Yerin was famished. With mild patience, the fansite photographer watched as the waiter shredded Parmesan cheese onto their pasta. And with that, dinner was served. 

 

Both of them picked up their forks and dug in. Yerin twirled her fork, gathering as many noodles as she could suffice. With several wisps of breaths, she cooled it down before consuming it. A joyous smile blossomed on her lips soon afterward. How do they make a dish as simple as spaghetti taste so scrumptious? 

 

“I see that you’re enjoying it,” SinB commented. 

 

Yerin gestured a chef’s kiss, causing SinB to chuckle. The girl group member returned to her food, and Yerin thought it would be a good opportunity to sneak a peek at her ultimate bias. 

 

Out of the hundreds of pictures Yerin has taken of her, nothing compared to the true beauty that SinB exhibited in real life. The perfect angle of her jaw. The cute mole on the side of her nose. The way her eyelashes delicately fluttered whenever she blinked. Those supple lips that were filled with moxie. Perhaps, it was the ambiance of the restaurant. Perhaps, it was the cool clothes or the professionally styled hair. Perhaps, it was the wine playing with her perception. But the more Yerin stared at SinB, the more she got struck by Cupid’s arrow. 

 

“Normally, I would say, ‘Take a picture, it’ll last longer,’” SinB spoke, eyes still on her food, “but that’s sort of what you do already.” She looked up at Yerin with a smug expression on her face. 

 

Flustered to the nth degree, Yerin feverishly tried to pick up her fork and resume eating like she hadn’t just been caught staring. Her hand, though, somehow struck against the handle of the fork causing it and whatever contents on it to catapult off her plate. Helplessly, all Yerin could do was watch the disastrous event unfold in slow motion. Strands of al dente pasta danced in the air. A single marinara sauce-covered meatball took flight. And the fork wavered within the forces of gravity. But what goes up must come down. The pasta and fork safely landed back on the table. As for the dreaded meatball, it derailed off course and plummeted right onto Yerin’s white t-shirt. 

 

*****

Yerin stood by the hand dryer, stretching out the soaked part of her shirt and silently cursing to herself. As soon as her brain processed her major blunder, Yerin jumped out of her seat and scampered to the nearest restroom. Hurriedly, she tried to wash the sauce and cheese out. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, no matter how many times she lathered the area with hand soap, a bright blotch of orange remained. Defeated, Yerin decided to dry her shirt and then apologize to SinB for being an embarrassment followed by a taxi ride back home where she will probably cry herself to sleep. It seemed like a good plan until she caught the reflection of the restroom door swinging open and SinB walking into the enclosed space. 

 

“Hey, is everything ok?” SinB shouted over the noise of the hand dryer. 

 

Yerin desperately didn’t want to turn around, but she also didn’t want to ignore the idol. Mustering some courage, she stepped away from the machine and pulled the opened ends of her blazer together to cover her shirt. Slowly, she faced SinB. “I had a feeling that I was going to screw up things somehow.”

 

“I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think it is,” SinB reassured, stepping closer to Yerin. “A minor stain isn’t going to ruin this night. I mean, have you seen my mukbang v-lives and all the plenty of times I got tteokbokki sauce on my clothes?”

 

“At least those were little specks and blemishes,” Yerin refuted, avoiding eye contact. Feeling the weight of SinB’s stare, the bumbling fansite master pulled her blazer a little tighter over her body. “Mine looks like it was spit on by the spaghetti monster. I’m sorry if I sound out of my mind right now. I just don’t want you to be humiliated because of me in front of those people. I can see the caption on all the news outlets, ‘GFriend’s SinB has dinner with a klutz.’ I’m a fool. I feel ridiculous.”

 

Yerin sulked, eyes on the verge of tears. She didn’t know how this night would end up. But she certainly didn’t expect to be in the restroom crying over spilt spaghetti. 

 

“Lucky for you, I don’t mind feeling ridiculous every once in a while.”

 

Yerin furrowed her brow at what SinB said. Her line of vision moved away from the floor and made its way from the pop star’s stylish sneakers to the form-fitted pants to the designer jacket that SinB was currently taking off. She hung it on the door of the closest stall and proceeded to untuck her Blanc & Eclare shirt.

 

“Um, SinB-ssi,” Yerin timidly addressed, cheeks beckoning to blush, “what are you doing?”

 

Hands on her hips, SinB embodied the ambition of a superhero. “I have an idea. Let’s exchange shirts.”

 

“What?!” Yerin shook her head furiously. “No, no, SinB-ssi, I can’t…”

 

“It’s totally fine. I’m used to the attention. People can say what they want about me. But I’m not going to let any fan of mine feel ashamed or insecure.” SinB took another step forward and laid a hand on Yerin’s shoulder. “You’re the contest winner, Yerin-ssi. You deserve to enjoy this night.” 

 

With a small squeeze, SinB let go and went into the stall closing the door. Yerin heard the quick ruffling of clothes and the next thing she knew SinB was waving her shirt in the air. 

 

“I’m not leaving until you switch with me,” SinB declared. 

 

Apprehensively, Yerin bit the corner of her lip and stared at the empty stall next to SinB’s. There was no use in convincing SinB otherwise. And besides, the girl group member was probably starting to feel chilly without a shirt on. Mmm, shirtless SinB~ … NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THAT, YERIN!!! 

 

Fishing her mind out of the gutter, Yerin removed her cap and marched into the stall, closing it. She took a deep breath and shrugged off her blazer, hanging it on the hook. Looking down, she winced at the sight of the stain. With a sigh, Yerin quickly slipped off her shirt and draped it over the divider. SinB did the same thing. At once, they both grabbed the other’s in exchange. 

 

Yerin couldn’t believe what she was holding. The shirt still felt warm and a rich perfume fragrance lingered within the soft fabric. And although Yerin knew that what SinB did was simply a kind gesture out of the goodness of her heart, there was something oddly intimate about the situation. 

 

As Yerin heard the bolt of SinB’s door unlock, she quickly dressed herself, sliding on the shirt followed by her green blazer. And lastly, the green golf cap. Hesitantly, she crept out of the stall and saw SinB adjusting her outfit by the mirror. 

 

“You did a pretty good job washing most of the sauce out,” SinB credited. She had left her jacket ed, exposing the stain without a worry in the world. “Any passerby would think it was just tie-dye.”

 

Yerin shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you, SinB-ssi.” For a multitude of things. 

 

A warm smile, bright enough to light up the darkest nights, illuminated on SinB’s face. Like a gentlewoman, she offered her arm for Yerin to hold. With some reluctance, Yerin eventually did. 

 

“Let’s get back to our dinner,” said SinB. 

 

*****

The rest of their dinner went smoothly. The waiter had offered to bring Yerin a new plate of spaghetti, but she declined, not wanting the food she already possessed go to waste. SinB and Yerin continued asking one another questions. Some were personal, some were silly, but each inquiry uncovered a new layer that went deeper than just the “popstar” or the “fangirl”. Oftentimes, Yerin would forget about SinB’s celebrity status and talked to her like she was chatting with a good friend. 

 

After their meal and dessert (which comprised of two heavenly slices of dulce de leche cheesecake), the pair retreated outside to the secluded balcony adjoining the restaurant. It was fairly spacious and decorated with tropical plants and a lounging area. Yet, the two decided to stand by the ledge and take in the view.

 

“I know it’s still early,” said Yerin, “but I’m planning on doing a photo exhibition event for your birthday.”

 

“That’s cool. Hopefully, my schedule won’t be too busy and I’ll be able to attend it.” SinB flashed an appreciative smile.

 

“I-I mean, you don’t have to, but yeah, it would be pretty awesome to see you there.” Yerin hated how one innocent smile from SinB reverted her to an awkward mess. It also didn’t help that they were standing very close together. One minor move and their shoulders would brush. To get her mind off it, Yerin focused on the night sky. An array of stars twinkled and glimmered like they were winking at them. “The stars look really bright tonight,” she said dreamily.

 

“That’s because they’re happy to see you,” SinB responded sweetly. It wasn’t long before she cringed, disgusted by her own aegyo. Yerin broke out in uncontrollable laughter. “My apologies. Umji dared me to say something cheesy in a cute voice to you before our night ended.”

 

Yerin suddenly perked up. “Oh, that reminds me, should we switch back shirts before we leave? Or, I could get it dry cleaned and slip it to you in a big envelope at the next fanmeeting.”

 

“Keep it,” SinB replied coolly, nudging Yerin’s arm.

 

“Are you sure? But, it’s Blanc & Eclare. Your favorite brand.”

 

“Yeah, it’s alright. I don’t want you to go through the trouble. Besides, I have a dozen more of the same shirt at the dorm.”

 

“Thank you.” Yerin looked down at the shirt and was filled with an unexplainable warmth. She then remembered that SinB was still wearing her spaghetti-stained nightmare of a shirt. “You should just throw mine away when you get back. Or better yet, burn it.”

 

“I don’t know. I kind of want to keep it. For remembrance of our date.”

 

“Date?” Yerin repeated, caught off guard by how casual SinB said the word as if this whole night was a real, actual… 

 

“Our contest date,” SinB quickly clarified. She cleared . “Want to take a selfie? The scenery is really pretty.”

 

Feeling flustered for almost giving into her delusions for the hundredth time that evening, Yerin silently nodded as she took out her phone. SinB offered to take the picture since she was the designated camera holder whenever GFriend would take selfies. The two got into position, huddling closer and bending their knees slightly to capture both the starry sky and the mini botanical garden around them. They took multiple pictures, posing differently in each one. Peace sign, finger heart, and a classic hand connected heart. SinB gave Yerin’s phone back before checking the time on her watch. 

 

“We should be going soon. Any last burning questions you want to ask me?”

 

Yerin considered it thoughtfully. They had already discussed a variety of topics during dinner. She was almost going to say no when her demeanor suddenly revealed a cheeky smile. “What’s your ideal type?”

 

SinB laughed. “Ah, the age old question. To be honest, I never know what to answer.” 

 

“Just imagine the type of person you want to be with your whole life,” Yerin encouraged. 

 

SinB played with the idea in her head. After a moment, she clicked her tongue and prefaced, “I don’t want to get into specifics in terms of physical attributes. But as for personality, someone who is kind, of course. Respectful. Compassionate. Someone who has various interests that they pursue. Humble. Silly. Someone who makes me smile just by their presence alone.” SinB paused and turned to gaze into Yerin’s mystified orbs. “Someone who I’m willing to give the shirt off my back.”

 

Yerin was sure her brain had short-circuited the moment SinB’s last sentence entered her ears. Could it really, actually, truly be that she wasn’t so delusional after all? 

 

SinB shied away from saying anything more. As if perfectly timed, she received a text message. “The cars are ready. My manager and the staff are waiting for us in the lobby.”

 

“I guess it’s time to return to our lives,” Yerin said, a bit saddened. “Thank you, SinB-ssi, for being such a good… companion tonight. It was really nice how you took care of me.” 

 

“Well, it was a great pleasure to be your… companion.” They both hid behind well-meaning smiles, a little unsure, a little scared of what this ‘contest date’ really meant to the other. Suddenly, SinB pulled Yerin into a hug. “Take care, Yerin-ssi,” she said tenderly into her ear. “It was nice to actually get to know you and talk to you for more than twenty seconds like at the fansigns. I hope we get another chance to do something like this again. I mean it.”

 

SinB loosened her arms from Yerin. A meek, cute smile formed on her lips as her gaze darted to the ground. Meanwhile, every cell in Yerin’s body was in a frenzy. She felt like she could run laps around the hotel and never grow tired. Her eyes scanned the vibrant sky and, like a sign from above, a shooting star flew over them. With a newfound sense of confidence, Yerin grabbed SinB’s hand, causing the idol to look up and become transfixed on the fansite master’s brilliant eye smile. 

 

“You know what, SinB-ssi? Something tells me that we will.”