Award shows had to be the most hectic experience as a K-Pop idol.

You practice for months to nail choreography changes, music adjustments, vocal skills, everything. Early mornings, late nights, few breaks, it all makes you want to crumble. That is, until you finally perform for the audience, the fans, then you really realize why you did all that.

MAMA was perhaps the most stressful of all, as it is the biggest award show for K-Pop artists. You and your group, Stray Kids, has perfectly planned out everything for the performance, practicing daily. When it finally came time to perform, the group put all of their efforts into it, leading you guys to snag three awards.

After the show, there was the social portion, you know, journalists milling about to shrank into the tiniest bits of information they can get from artists as they enjoyed cocktails and appetizers. It served as a cooling down period before the actual afterparty began after the reporters left.

Bang Chan kept you close as he spoke quietly with Hyunjin and the manager, ensuring his Maknae was safe next to him. Felix and Lee Know were preoccupied with selecting drinks nearby, while Changbin and Han were sneaking snacks next to them, of course. Seungmin and I.N were snickering quietly as they took in the scene.

During this time, different groups would say hello to others they were friends with or interested in meeting. The manager suggested you meet LNGSHOT, a new rookie group that had just debuted.

Hyunjin sighed softly. “Do we have to?” He muttered to Chan, who nodded. “Come on, won’t kill you. Besides, the rookie group might want our advice on something.” He kept his arm slung around you as he gestured for the scattered guys to follow the manager towards another section of the party. The manager, Leehan, conversed quietly with another manager. The other man nodded, gesturing towards four guys standing a little ways away. LNGSHOT.

The group of four came up to bow slightly to your group, beginning to introduce themselves one by one while shaking each of your hands. “Hello, I am Ohyul, LNGSHOT’s hyung,” The tan one said, before the guy with spiky hair cut in. “I’m Ryul,” he said coolly as he shook each hand. A boy with longer hair rolled his eyes before smiling at Stray Kids. “I’m Woojin, it’s nice to meet you.” Only one member was left, this one taller than the others. You felt your breath hitch a little as he shook your hand, making eye contact with you as he offered a soft smile. “I’m Louis, I’m LNGSHOT’s Maknae.”

You could hear subtle snickers from the rest of Stray Kids behind you. You were so close with them, they were basically your brothers by now, despite you being much younger, so they liked to tease you relentlessly, especially about boys. And especially about ones your age. Like Louis was. And, god, was he perfect.