They had walked for just a little bit, when Myungsoo decided for them. “We’re going to drink some tea here, so you can calm down.” He didn’t look at them, nor waited for a reply. He was genuinely worried, but didn’t want to show it. The four of them entered a small cosy teashop. They hadn’t quite left the alleys yet and the shop was pretty much empty. Myungsoo sat down at the back of the store, followed by Sungyeol taking the seat next to him. Hee-jin and Dia took the seats opposite of them, without much thought.

Why would they be wearing sunglasses? It’s night, dark and now we are inside, was what both girls were thinking. Should I ask? Just as Dia was thinking this, Hee-jin said: “Why are you wearing sunglasses at night? At first, I thought you were going to help those scary guys!” Sungyeol was the first one to reply: “And here I thought we would look cool like this.” “Really?” all three others replied with disbelieve instantly. The fact that Myungsoo had also replied made Sungyeol frown a bit: “Even you, L-ie?” “So why do you do it?” “Maybe we just don’t want to show our face,” Myungsoo replied. “Because you are really ugly?” Hee-jin said innocently, while she was thinking about what was going on. Dia said his name was Myungsoo. His friend is Sungyeol and calls him L. But it can’t be, right? There’s no way. Just no way.

Hee-jin’s comment made the two boys laugh. “That’s it, yes,” Myungsoo said dryly, and immediately turned to order tea for the four of them, hoping that the subject was now done with. “Ugly, really?” This time it was Sungyeol who was surprised. Two people who were often described as the visual from their group, now suddenly calling themselves ugly. “Are you really?” Hee-jin asked suspiciously. She was pretty sure she had figured out who they were, but didn’t want to embarrass herself in case she was wrong.

“You don’t believe we are ugly? We’re too handsome even with sunglasses?” Sungyeol asked. “Well, I’ll tell you a secret. I’m not ugly, I just wear sunglasses to support L-ie, who is very, very ugly.” This caused Myungsoo to look at him indignantly, but he didn’t say anything. The tea arrived and once again Myungsoo tried to use it as a diversion to steer the subject to something else. “I just ordered Korean tea for the four of us. It will help you calm down. Sorry for ordering without asking.” “It’s okay. It’s not like we can speak Korean,” Dia replied dryly. “Then why wander around dark alleys at night,” Myungsoo mumbled, barely audible.

“So you are not going to tell us why you wear them?” Hee-jin was now determined to find out the truth. It was Sungyeol who gave in first. He removed his glasses, smiled and then asked her: “So, was it because I am ugly?” Hee-jin’s thoughts were confirmed. This were not regular boys. As she had suspected they were from infinite. The reason they didn’t show their face, was because they were famous idols. Dia however still had no clue, being as uninformed about kpop as she was. Hee-jin had gotten so lost in her own excited thoughts, that she had forgotten to answer Sungyeol’s question. “I guess she does think you are ugly,” Myungsoo said with a smirk. It was payback for being called ugly earlier. His comment, and the look it produced on Sungyeol’s face made Dia softly laugh. “So you can still laugh,” Myungsoo said softly, his smirk softening into a relieved smile.

At the same time, Hee-jin was frantically apologizing to Sungyeol. “You are not ugly at all! You are very handsome. I was just… surprised… to see who you really are. I never would have imagined… meeting you.” “You know who I am?” he looked amused. Hee-jin nodded. “I like your music.” An awkward smile appeard on Sungyeol’s face. “I kind of… figured you wouldn’t… since you’re not Korean… I’m happy you like our music… but then I really… shouldn’t have shown my face.” He wasn’t quite sure of what to do next. She wasn’t screaming, or doing anything wrong in any way, so he decided to shrug it off. So what, this girl knew he was famous. More people knew that. And if she would change her opinion of him based on that… then he wouldn’t like it. But it couldn’t be helped.

Hee-jin was too shocked to be screaming right now. All days she had spent looking for and buying kpop merchandise, but never had she imagined meeting actual kpop idols. She had dreamed about it, but to have it actually happen… She wasn’t quite sure how to react. “Then are you also?” she turned to Myungsoo. “Am I also what? Not ugly?” he lifted his eyebrows when he answered her. He had clearly not been paying much attention to the conversation between Sungyeol and Hee-jin. Dia on the other hand had heard everything and was quite possibly even more in shock than Hee-jin. Instead of thinking about what to say or do next, she just focussed on her tea and listened to the others talk. Hee-jin sighed. “I meant famous.” Myungsoo looked at Dia from the corner of his eyes, to keep track of her reaction, before nodding once. “I knew it!” Hee-jin exclaimed triumphantly.

Dia just kept sipping her tea slowly, while Hee-jin asked the two idols about all kind of things. The fact that she had discovered they were idols had taken Hee-jin’s mind of the things that had happened earlier, and she seemed to have gone from scared to excited. But the fact that her friend kept quiet bothered her and instead of asking more questions, she directed the conversation to her. “How is your wrist?” Dia touched her wrist softly and almost managed to keep the pain of her face. “It’s okay, just a bit bruised. Nothing to worry about,” she then answered with a smile. “Were you hurt?” Sungyeol asked her immediately. “Not really, one of the guys just grabbed my wrist.” “Let me see,” Sungyeol said kindly, but as she stretched out her hand, instead of Sungyeol, Myungsoo took it. “Seems fine to me. Might be a bruise later though.”

“That’s what I said,” Dia rolled her eyes as she said it. “You’re lucky it’s not something a lot worse,” Myungsoo replied. “They could have had knives or something,” Sungyeol agreed with his friend. “That’s so scary!” Hee-jin exclaimed. “You shouldn’t walk around by yourself, especially at night,” Myungsoo muttered. “Then next time I’ll just ask Nick to walk us around. I’m sure he won’t mind, especially if I tell him what happened. At night he should be free from university and in the weekend he can show us around the whole day, what do you think?” Dia had turned completely to Hee-jin. “You think he would do that? Every night?” “He has to, right? He’s the only one we can turn to here!” It was as if she had already forgotten about the two boys currently sitting on the table.

“I.. We could show you around?” Myungsoo suggested. “You know we can’t L-ie! While I agree they shouldn’t wander around by themselves, Sunggyu hyung already got angry at you for disappearing yesterday. You said you were still at the airport, yet then Dongwoo hyung said you already dropped your bags off. You can’t go. Especially not after also sneaking out today.” Sungyeol interjected. Dia turned slightly red at hearing that and Myungsoo also got beet-red. He had not wanted Dia to find out about that. Sunggyu had been extremely angry when he had come home yesterday, because he had said he was still at the airport while he was really walking around with Dia. But she didn’t need to know any of that.

“Alright, ask that Nick guy,” Myungsoo muttered. “Just make sure you are safe or whatever.” “Don’t worry about us,” Dia said smiling, “What are the odds of something like this happening twice? For one, we are definitely not going to wander around without a plan anymore, right Hee-jin?” “Definitely not! I don’t want to get lost again!” But I wouldn’t mind getting saved again by really handsome idols.

When the four of them had finished their tea, Sungyeol suggested: “Shall we bring you two to your hotel? We also kind of need to get back soon.” As he said it, he once again put his sunglasses on. “Ah, I’m so sorry for calling you and then keeping you so long,” Dia looked to the ground.  “Well, we kind of sneaked out of practise to come and get you,” Sungyeol laughed. “Sunggyu hyung will be angry if we don’t get back on time.” “Then we have to hurry!” Hee-jin answered, while quickly getting up. Dia looked up again, smiled and then said: “You don’t have to bring us. We’re almost out of the alleys and from there we can find our way for sure.” “Chincha?” Sungyeol asked, “If that’s so that would be…” “I can see you shaking. We’ll bring you. A few minutes won’t matter,” Myungsoo interrupted. “You can go back first, if you want to,” he then suggested, looking at Sungyeol, who shook his head “You are right, a few minutes won’t matter,”Sungyeol agreed half-heartedly and the four of them left together.

It took them about ten minutes to leave the dark alleys and both Dia and Hee-jin were glad the boys were bringing them home. “We would have never found this,” Dia whispered to Hee-jin. “I know, I’m so glad they are still bringing us. And don’t act like you aren’t because I know you are.” Dia nodded, “I am, you are right.” A small smile appeared on Myungsoo’s face, causing Sungyeol to ask him what was funny. “Nothing, just thinking about how annoyed Sunggyu must be getting right now.” “That is not something to smile about! Ottoke! We’re going to be in so much trouble.”

They reached their hotel after a 20 minutes’ walk. “We didn’t get that lost,” Dia concluded. “You got lost enough to get in trouble,” Myungsoo answered. Dia sighed. “You’re never going to let me forget that are you?” “He’s just worried about you two,” Sungyeol said shrugging. “Thanks for worrying about us,” Hee-jin said with a smile. “Sorry for causing so much trouble,” Dia added. “Make sure you have that friend of you with you next time,” Sungyeol said; “Who knows what could happen if you get lost again.” “I will message him today,” Dia assured him. “Great,” Myungsoo said, yet sounded like he didn’t quite mean it.

Just as they were leaving, Myungsoo turned back. “Be careful. Don’t get lost again. Just, let me know you’re okay every few days.” With those words, he just left. His voice had sounded flat, emotionless even. And before Dia had even a chance to reply the two boys had disappeared in the distance.

“What was that!!” All of Hee-jin’s excitement had come out again. They entered their hotel room and there Hee-jin was flailing. “You should have told me he was an idol. Wait, did you know? If you knew, you should have told me! No, you would tell me! What, how, how can you just meet them and hang out for a full day. Aren’t they supposed to be super busy?” “I don’t really know either. It just happened I guess. And I didn’t know. Of course I didn’t know. He never told me, and who would guess she would meet an idol her first day in Korea.” She then added softer, “He never did remove his glasses.” “You SO wanted to see his face!” Dia blushed a little, but nodded. “I did. It’s so mean to just keep his sunglasses on even after we had already found out.” “I have the perfect solution! Internet!” Hee-jin suggested. This is a great opportunity to make Dia a kpop fan as well.