Alara had counted every single day from 2016 to 2022. Six years—it wasn't just time; it was the ache of a fan that grew deeper with every passing sunset. When the STARGAZER concert kicked off in Seoul on May 28, 2022, Alara decided she would no longer remain a ghost behind a glowing screen.
She dressed in her new Midnight Blue gown, draped the long coat over her shoulders, and pulled a black mask over her face. In the mirror, she stared at her most striking feature—her eyes. Large, deep, and framed by thick lashes, they were unmistakably non-Korean. They held a different kind of spark, a depth that felt like a quiet ocean.
With trembling fingers, she picked up the golden chalk and drew a circle on her bedroom wall. A moment later, she was standing in a shadowed corner of the JamsilArena. The roar of thousands of fans and the vibration of the bass nearly knocked the breath out of her.
Alara navigated through the sea of people, her Lumina light stick shaking in her hand. As she entered the main stadium, she was met with a breathtaking sight: a literal galaxy of pulsing blue lights. And there, at the center of that universe, stood Lucian (Lee-Su-ho).
He looked exactly as he did in her dreams—flawless skin, eyes that caught the light, and a smile that could heal a broken heart. When he began to sing, tears pooled in Alara's eyes, soaking into the fabric of her mask. It was the first time his voice wasn't coming through a speaker; it was vibrating in the very air she breathed.
Suddenly, during a slow, melodic bridge, Su-ho moved toward the edge of the stage right where Alara was standing. The spotlight followed him, reflecting off the tears in her eyes. As his gaze scanned the crowd, it suddenly stopped. Amidst the thousands of familiar faces, he saw those "Midnight Eyes"—different, hauntingly beautiful, and filled with a raw emotion he couldn't explain.
Su-ho's footsteps faltered. For a split second, he seemed to forget the lyrics, captivated by the intense gaze of the girl in the mask. Alara's heart hammered against her ribs. Frightened by the connection, she quickly looked down and retreated into the shadows.
She ran toward the restrooms, her lungs burning. She drew a frantic portal and collapsed back onto her bedroom floor. Her heart wouldn't stop racing. She had spent years looking at him, but for the first time in her life, Lucian had looked back.