‘Just faint already....’
The others had slicked-back pomade hair or wet-look styling, but maknae Jung Dajun stood out, wearing a black beret and waving both hands side to side cutely.
“We’re back again~.”
True to his nickname, “Bouncy,” he hopped around chattering, but her mind was drifting further away—whatever Dajun was saying didn’t register at all.
‘What the hell is this B-side....’
Right after the album dropped, Noeul fans had been abuzz about the lyrics of Candies. The Dawn had always done powerful stages, but never a song this dangerously sultry.
As they lined up in their provocative outfits, fans could barely keep quiet.
Waaaaaah—
The lights went down, cheers erupted, and a groovy EDM mixed with a thick bassline spilled out.
At the far left, Jung Dajun tilted his head to the beat.
【What’s the problem today?
Don’t be so fussy,
Don’t spit it out so harsh,
Let’s just keep it soft and nice, ah, I got it】
He walked over, resting his hand on Sung Jiwon’s shoulder. Jiwon flinched, shrinking back, but before he could turn his head, Kim Sunghyun snatched that arm and stepped forward.
【Babe, Babe I didn’t mean it】
With a faint smile, he leaned in toward Jiwon. Jiwon bent backward, face tilting aside.
【Even while we argue endlessly, I still want to check what time it is】
“Uwaaaaah!!”
The choreography flowed. Like checking his time, Sunghyun tapped Jiwon’s wrist lightly from behind.
【Don’t waste this time,
Don’t check your phone,
Grab my waist and hold me tight,
Be cold if you want, just smile once】
Sunghyun’s deep voice, ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) layered over the trendy beat, made the performance feel even more dangerous.
Jiwon spun away half a turn, brows tightening.
【Your problem is that your smile is too pretty】
The tempo quickened, then slowed.
Soft but firm, Jiwon’s voice slipped in.
【You are such a mess,
Sometimes it’s too much and I want to step back,
But the candy we shared was too sweet】
At his gesture, Seo Hoyun and Kang Ichae, still standing still until now, lifted their hands, brushing thumb and forefinger across their lips as if slipping candy into their mouths.
【Filled with sweet, delightful moments,
Babe you are such a big problem】
Dajun, too, lifted his hand to his mouth, whispering toward the camera with narrowed eyes.
【My problem is that I love you】
The formation shifted. Hoyun, spinning once with Sunghyun’s hand, landed center in dazzling fashion.
【Breath unsteady,
Heart racing】
He slid a hand down his throat, rippling a wave in sync with Sunghyun. Screams exploded like madness all around.
【The time that only we can share
Still lingers in my mouth】
Hoyun rolled his shoulder back, leaning away, and Ichae brushed past, stepping forward.
【I’ll match whatever you want,
What’s so hard about bending my pride once?】
He flicked his eyebrow playfully, tossed the mic and caught it upside down, launching into rap.
【Was it sour? Was it sweet?
I don’t know if you get what I’m saying,
It’s fine, honestly I’m trembling too, no, I mean it,
For now just ah—take my candy first】
His gritty whisper-rap made the song feel even more dangerous.
As Ichae’s lips curled upward,
【Either way, let’s make this moment electrifying】
Hoyun led the formation. Together, they crossed their arms, lifting their hips slow and deliberate.
【Breath unsteady,
Heart racing】
For a second, time itself seemed to slow.
The vocals stretched, Noeul’s screams dragged in slow motion, every breath from The Dawn sounded like it was right beside her. Even the bead of sweat sliding off Hoyun’s chin was vivid as it hit the stage floor.
And then—
“Uwaaaaahhh!!!”
The frenzy roared back, drilling into her ears.
【The time that only we can share
Still lingers in my mouth】
She’d stanned idols before, but this strange, overwhelming rush was something new. She clung to her senses desperately.
‘Is this... angels singing...?’
No, too wicked to be angels.
They filmed three more takes, but each time she couldn’t adjust. She just waved her lightstick aimlessly until the prerecording ended.
“Ah, it’s... it’s over.”
Shuffling out under staff direction, still dazed, she checked the time on her phone. There was still a little gap before the mini fanmeeting.
On SNS, live prerecord reactions were already flooding in.
[This comeback is fucking... fucking... fucking... unreal...
How is this allowed on broadcast...]
[When did Korea get this lenient...]
[I think Korea just became the #1 best country to live in.]
[What’s with the reactions... were the stages that good?
└ I wanted to stay there forever...
└└ Damn it, I’m dying of curiosity.]
Clearly, she wasn’t the only one hit this hard.
She scrolled a little longer, then shut her phone, repeating the same question in her head: how could she possibly speak to them?
The chatter around her cut off—then cheers exploded.
“Noeul~! Thank you so much for today!!”
The Dawn entered the fanmeeting space.
‘Oh my god....’
They’d looked amazing under stage lights with serious expressions, but now...
‘The fanservice today is insane....’
Under natural sunlight, smiling brightly, they radiated so much warmth her work stress evaporated.
Even better, they were still in their Candies outfits.
“You worked so hard from dawn...”
Jiwon was speaking sweetly, but she barely heard, too dazzled by his face. Beside him, Hoyun waved occasionally when fans called him. She could tell he was forcing himself to act sweet—because his real personality wasn’t—but that only made it better.
“We’ll just greet Noeul lightly!”
Ignoring staff protests, they stepped close to the fans.
“How have you been, everyone?”
Bodyguards rushed to follow.
A fan stamped her feet, glaring at Ichae who was joking around with Dajun, then shouted.
“Oppa, Ichae oppa!”
When he craned his neck, she threw him a finger heart.
“Oppa! Take my heart!”
Ichae’s eyes crinkled mischievously as he waved.
She waved back, startled—then he made a heart. She made another heart—he waved again.
He was clearly teasing.
“Hey, Kang Ichae! Enough!!”
“Ahaha, okay, sorry~.”
Laughing, he blew a kiss.
‘Holy shit....’
Even she almost fell for him. Add Jiwon’s warm words, Sunghyun carefully remembering each fan, Dajun’s bright aegyo—it was clear every member truly wanted to connect.
The short fanmeeting time felt painfully fleeting.
“Hoyun-ahhh!!”
As Hoyun neared, someone roared.
“I like cats betterrr!”
Laughter rippled everywhere.
“I like cats too!” Hoyun smiled.
“Oppa’s a rabbit!!”
“I like rabbits too~.”
Every ten seconds, his preferences changed. If a fan said they liked turtles, he’d have declared himself a turtle.
‘This crazy, crazy, crazy man.’
Normally she’d call him spineless, the ultimate idol. But not now.
With a lollipop between his lips, drawing closer, Hoyun overwhelmed her senses.
‘Is this really a human?’
“Hi~.”
He tried to meet fans’ eyes one by one. She steadied herself, speaking softly.
“...Hoyun-ah.”
Barely audible.
As he turned to answer voices farther off—
“Ah, Hoyun-ah...!”
She raised a hand, forming half a heart, and called again.
But he walked past, not hearing.
‘Ah... he just left....’
Disappointing, but common in stan life.
‘I should’ve called louder, kept trying.’
She was already resigning herself when—Hoyun stepped back.
‘Huh?’
Stunned, she froze. His gaze dropped to her raised half-heart.
“Sorry, almost missed that.”
Even with his lollipop muffling his words, his voice melted her.
Hoyun lifted his hand, completing her heart. The brush of fingers made her chest explode like her heart would burst through her throat.
He bent slightly, smiling wide.
“Here’s your heart.”
Phones all around shrieked in her stead.
After that, requests for hearts rained down.
Hoyun just laughed, blocking them with waves and fist-bumps.
“Bye! See you again!”
She’d given up hope—until, at the very end, he drew a huge heart with both arms, then pretended to blow it toward the fans.
Then he slung an arm around Sunghyun and left, casual again.
“...Why does Hoyun look so happy today?”
“No clue, but his push-and-pull game’s insane. His idol form’s peaking hard....”
“Who said Hoyun was sick? His face is glowing.”
While the crowd buzzed, she floated in a dream. Even when everyone else dispersed, she lingered, blank, until staff told her to move.
“......”
Stumbling, pressing her temple against dizziness, she texted her friend.
[Me: I don’t think I can date anyone anymore.............]
[Jungmin: ?]
[Jungmin: Did Seo Hoyun kiss your cheek or something?]
She’d thought seeing a handsome face would refresh her, help her work harder. But her erratic heart told her this life was doomed.
Her trembling fingers typed slowly.
[Me: He’s a real man.........]
.
.
.
“Hoyun-hyung, why are you so happy lately?”
“Do I look it?”
“Yes... uwaaaah!!”
Back in the waiting room, leaning on Jung Dajun, I pressed my chin down hard on his shoulder.
“Hyung, ow ow ow, stop!! My shoulder’s getting carved into pottery-level patterns!!”
“Wow, you know big words, our maknae.”
Not that Dajun actually knew what it meant.
I considered teasing him but let it slide like a generous hyung, glancing at the system window that had been hovering for days.
[Congratulations!
Status effect remaining time: 0 days 00 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds]
I didn’t bother to hide my grin.
“My condition’s just been good lately.”
