There was no trace of a smile on Evan’s face, who had been leisurely exchanging jokes with the members until just now. Leaving the waiting room with a rigidly hardened face, Evan took out his phone and quickly sent a message to someone.
It will be okay. He’s just preparing for any possible situation. Since there were quite a few people around, Evan formally bowed his head and greeted people as he passed through the hallway. His hardened expression softened a bit at the reply that came not long after sending the message.
Evan’s body, who had been bowing his head in greeting whenever he felt a presence and instinctively dodging their bodies faster than them, swayed slightly.
“…Let’s watch where you’re going.”
Evan, who had hesitantly stopped his steps, looked at the man standing in front of him. This was him intentionally bumping shoulders. However, after confirming the face of a popular idol who had debuted several years ahead, Evan bowed his head again.
“I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t an apology from the heart. He spoke words to avoid this situation and bowed even deeper than before. Because he knew exactly what he wanted.
“Right, you’re getting a bit popular and already walking around with your nose in the air? Bow properly when you see seniors. Work hard.”
As if it wasn’t enough to tap the shoulder of him who was still bowing his head, then grab it hard enough to furrow his brow before letting go, he even threw out reckless advice—Evan’s lips twisted up crookedly.
“I’ll keep that in mind. But sunbae-nim, enjoy yourself in moderation. If you’re not careful, your name will appear on the social pages, not the entertainment section.”
Straightening his body that had been bowed until just now, Evan’s face as he looked down at the alpha who was slightly shorter than him had no mercy whatsoever. He didn’t have time to care about even bullies like this. He’d been rolling around in this scene for decades. He remembered all the groups that debuted in the time period he’d been through and what path they took.
There was no need to lay a hand on him. The one in front of him was the guy who had scattered all sorts of scandals and caused the scandal of the century.
When a call happened to come in, Evan bowed his head once more in greeting and left that spot. Profanities poured out behind him, but he didn’t have the capacity to care about such things.
As soon as he finished the long call and returned, Evan had to go out to the hall with the members. Even until they greeted all the senior singers and sat in their assigned seats, Evan’s expression didn’t easily relax.
“Is something wrong?”
The audience seats were full behind them, and a glamorous stage unfolded before their eyes. Evan, who had been sitting with his legs crossed next to Sangjun, uncrossed his legs at his words. And he bent toward Sangjun to speak to him. At the same time, murmuring sounds could be heard from behind.
Right now, fans were reacting sensitively to their every small gesture. There would be more than just one or two fancams filming this way. Knowing that, even when Siwoo sat next to Sangjun, he didn’t bother to stretch out his arm to bring him to his side.
“Keep a good eye on Siwoo for me.”
So after asking, you’re looking after Siwoo again? Sangjun glanced at Siwoo, who was excitedly watching another idol’s stage and singing along.
“He’s having a great time.”
“There’s just something that bothers me.”
With those final words, Evan straightened his body and shifted his gaze to the stage. The Music Awards, consisting of singers’ stages and award ceremonies, was broadcast live for at least three to four hours. It would be better if it was a recorded broadcast, or at least if the live broadcast time was shorter.
“But you should smile a bit. You know your expression is really stiff, right?”
At Sangjun’s advice heard softly, a faint smile appeared on Evan’s hardened face. It wasn’t difficult at all to make the expression they wanted without containing even a bit of emotion. What was it called—a capitalist smile? Evan slightly turned his head and smiled at the fans, showing his teeth. Because this wasn’t even work.
Excitement. It was truly an emotion he was feeling for the first time in a long while.
It was a stage he had wanted to participate in so much. He was at the Music Awards he had wanted to come to, even just as an audience member.
Due to the concept of the second album, Siwoo’s clothes had many accessories and were flashy. The white shirt was covered in frills, and even though it was a similar jacket, Siwoo’s jacket always had embroidery or at least one flashy element.
Instead of a watch on his wrist, there were several layered bracelets, and dangling earrings always occupied his ears. His fingers were also basically packed with two or three or more rings.
But today there were no accessories whatsoever. All the members wore black slacks, white shirts, and black shoes. Though divided into bow ties or neckties, they were basically based on neat suits. Only the color or design of the jackets differed slightly.
Siwoo was wearing a fitted suit with a narrow black necktie instead of a bow tie. On his wrist that usually layered several bracelets, he wore an expensive watch, and instead of dangling earrings, he wore neat earrings. The numerous rings on his hands had also disappeared. In the end, all that remained was the platinum ring on his left index finger that he shared with Evan.
To attend the Music Awards, Siwoo’s hair had been bleached and dyed repeatedly again, changing to a pale yellow color close to blonde, and now that hair was making thick waves.
“Wow, so the rumors were really true.”
Siwoo, who had been listening to the music, turned his head toward the voice he heard from the side and smiled brightly. Though they had exchanged greetings when first sitting down, perhaps there had been movement among the members’ seats—Louis was next to Siwoo.
We got along quite well, but after the sudden regression, their activity periods didn’t overlap so he hadn’t been able to see his face. And seeing Ian next to him made him believe even less in where he was.
“Hello. I’m Kim Siwoo.”
Firmly suppressing the desire to immediately exchange a light hug and ask how he’d been doing, Siwoo answered in a bright voice.
“Hello. Phantom’s Louis, and this is Ian.”
Because Louis not only introduced himself but also called over Ian sitting next to him to greet, the three of them ended up bowing their heads together in greeting.
“I really wanted to see you at least once.”
When Louis reached out his hand first, Siwoo didn’t refuse and clasped his hand. Louis and Ian are still pretty. The glamorous appearance of all of Phantom’s members without exception caught everyone’s attention.
“Me too.”
“I heard a lot of stories, but I didn’t know if they were really true.”
As Louis leaned in and whispered as if sharing some secret story, Siwoo’s body also naturally leaned toward him.
“What stories are there?”
“That hyung is really pretty.”
At the words spoken while laughing clearly, Siwoo ended up laughing too. Right, this was Louis’s personality. An unadorned, bright kid. He spoke honestly rather than beating around the bush. Louis was also the one who first told him the awkward fact that Evan’s pheromones came from him.
“That doesn’t seem like something Phantom’s Louis-ssi should say.”
“I saw you at the airport, hyung!”
Though they were meeting for the first time, the moment he affectionately called him hyung and continued saying he saw him at the airport, Siwoo’s cheeks reddened.
“Ah, that was like an event penalty. Please forget it.”
“We’re starting activities now, but Ocean’s activities ended, right? It would be nice to see each other often if we were active together.”
“That’s true. Who knows? Maybe next time we’ll overlap. Even if we don’t overlap, we can contact each other anytime.”
As soon as Siwoo’s words ended, a phone suddenly appeared in front of him. Siwoo smiled at Louis, whose action was also quick, and left his number on his phone.
“Let’s get along well from now on.”
Siwoo nodded because Louis was cute, whispering until the end. He couldn’t easily distinguish whether the murmuring sounds and cheers from here and there were directed at the stage or at himself and Louis.
After finishing talking with Louis and straightening his body, Siwoo picked up the water bottle next to him. Though he had forgotten while briefly conversing, he couldn’t help but still be nervous. After opening the bottle and taking a sip of water to moisten his mouth and throat, Siwoo soon straightened his back and held his body upright. He chose to tap his toes and ride the rhythm rather than comfortably crossing his legs.
Because he must not show a disheveled appearance. Many people here looked at the stage and let out cheers, but even in this situation, he couldn’t know when or how he’d be captured on fans’ fancams.
“Be comfortable. Relax your back.”
At Evan’s voice suddenly heard, Siwoo’s head whipped to the side. Sangjun hyung was sitting there until just now, so when did he come next to me? Instead of answering, Siwoo slightly shook the water bottle he was drinking.
“Are you nervous?”
The water bottle in Siwoo’s hand passed to Evan’s hand. Nervous? Isn’t that obvious? Siwoo, who handed the water bottle to him, nodded slightly and shifted his gaze to the stage.
Evan opened the water bottle Siwoo had just been drinking from and immediately gulped down water. He definitely said he was okay. Even from outward appearances, Siwoo was clearly just a bit nervous and didn’t look uncomfortable anywhere. He tapped his toes to the music and also tilted his head slightly to the side.
The problem was the pheromones. Siwoo’s pheromones had thickened.
If the staff hadn’t mentioned it first, even Evan would have almost missed the flush on Siwoo’s cheeks. If the thickened pheromones were also due to nervousness, it was enough to nod that it could be. But why was it bothering him so much?
“Nothing hurts?”
“I ate well, slept well, and rested well, so what would be tiring?”
“If there’s even the slightest bit of something strange, tell me right away.”
Because Evan raised his hand to cover his mouth and whispered, Siwoo also leaned toward him and answered in a small voice.
As he finished the conversation and was straightening his body, Evan’s eyes met with a man who was looking at him and Siwoo.
Did he pick a fight from the hallway earlier and still hasn’t cooled down? His head was already complicated, and it seemed like useless trash had attached itself. Originally, things didn’t happen when they were going smoothly. They burst when things were tangled and tangled, when it was overwhelming to handle.
Evan, who had been crossing his arms and touching his chin, slightly leaned back. And he placed one arm behind Siwoo, who was sitting with his back straight. Even while continuously repeating that nothing would happen, the anxiety that somehow came surging in couldn’t be easily shaken off.
