Deja Vu Enthusiast

"Oh my gosh, there are so many people here," you exclaim when you get out of the car. You've arrived quite early at the venue, there are at least seven hours before the gates open, but there are more people around than you had expected, hence your surprise.

"ATEEZ has been rising in popularity, so I'm not surprised by the number of people queuing up already. Let's quickly get into the merch line and hope we'll still have enough time to line up for the GA." Jiyeon says while dragging you to the ever-growing merch line.

After an hour of waiting, you manage to buy what you wanted, special photo cards that are available at concerts only. The two of you quickly line up for the GA, happy to see only a handful of Atinys around despite the crowd. You talk to people, sharing stories about how you became a fan. Some even recognize you, wishing you luck for the upcoming competition.

When the gates to the stadium open, it is a mess of people, but you're glad when you manage to get quite close to the stage in the standing area. It isn't the VIP pit, but you don't mind it at all.

Jiyeon holds onto your hand when the lights dim, screaming in glee when the VCR starts playing on the screen. The concert begins then, and your heart beats faster as the boys appear on stage to perform the first song of the day, 'New World.' Other than the elation running through your veins, there's something else that's bugging you, like a thrum beneath your skin, but you brush it off, chalking it up to the excitement of seeing ATEEZ live.

Usually, you would give equal attention to all the members. However, today you can't help but be mesmerized by Wooyoung. He's glowing and performs with such grace that you find your breath stuck in your throat. You may have shed tears at one point when they perform 'Turbulence,' but you are too busy enjoying it to notice the tears on your cheeks.

You swear that at least half of the members notice you whenever they walk by or dance near your area. The thought is solidified when Mingi crouches before you with a blinding smile to give you a high-five and later points your section out to Wooyoung. Said boy shoots finger guns at you and winks with a smirk before going hard on the choreography, making everyone in your section scream. You roll your eyes fondly but hype him up nonetheless. After all, it's not your fault if he has a thing for losing at video games.

Right before the last song of the day, the staff brings out a bowl with lots of paper slips and gives it to Hongjoong. You and Jiyeon share a look, grabbing each other's hands because you know that the bowl holds ticket numbers for the raffle event.

"As mentioned on our social media, we're holding a raffle event where one ticket number will be chosen as the winner," Hongjoong announces with a grin. "If the person who wins has bought more than one ticket, everyone who has tickets under the winner's name will get a chance to meet us backstage today."

"Good luck, everyone!" San cheers, making a heart with Seonghwa, causing everyone in the arena to scream.

"Alright, then," Hongjoong holds out the bowl to Wooyoung. "Would you like to do the honors, Wooyoung-ah?"

"Hm... Which one should I pick? This one? No... Maybe this?" The red-haired boy smirks at the crowd, teasing everyone by not choosing a slip right away. This causes the other members to laugh at him while Atinys tell him to stop his shenanigans.

"Since our Atinys are asking so nicely, I'll not delay this any longer," Wooyoung winks, taking out a slip of paper and opening it up. "Okay, so the winner is... Ticket ID GA532N13."

Jiyeon goes still, causing you to look at her in question. It's only when you tug at her hand that she turns to you with wide eyes, "That's your ticket ID."

"What?" You whisper-shout amidst the sad exclamations of the others who realize that the ticket number Wooyoung has picked isn't theirs. You glance back at the stage, only to see Wooyoung looking at you with a raised eyebrow as if confirming whether it's you. When he discerns what your shocked expression means, he winks with a mischievous grin on his lips, whispering something in Mingi's ear the very next moment.

Yunho catches the exchange, and a smile makes its way onto his lips too before he is turning to face the crowd, "Congratulations to the Atiny or Atinys who won the raffle! We can't wait to see you backstage."

"And for those who didn't," Jongho adds. "I hope we can see you at the fansign tomorrow! You'll come to see us there, right?"

The many screams by fans around you finally break you out from your shock. You smile, giving Jiyeon's hand an affectionate squeeze when she hugs you, shouting about how this is the best day of her life.

After the amazing concert, you approach the staff member who is standing a few meters away from the exit and show her your tickets. Once she confirms that the two of you are indeed the winners, she brings you to a passageway that is meant for the staff.

"The boys are currently freshening up. I hope you don't mind waiting for fifteen minutes," she says, her shoulders relaxing when the three of you separate from the rest of the crowd.

"Not at all. It's an honor to be meeting them," Jiyeon answers for the both of you.

"Sorry to bother you…" you speak up hesitantly, only continuing when the staff member looks at you. "Is there a washroom here somewhere?"

"Oh, yes. There's one at the end of that hallway," she points it out for you. "You'll be meeting the boys here," she opens the door for Jiyeon and then smiles at you. "So come back here."

"Noted, thank you." You make your way to the end of the hallway as pointed by the staff member, humming a tune to yourself.

You return to the hallway after freshening up and fixing your makeup in record time, jogging a bit to make sure to be there before the boys. What you didn't expect was for someone to appear out of the corner and run into you. The person wraps one of their arms around your waist while the other hand rests against the wall to stop both of you from falling onto the ground.

"Careful, there," you hear the familiar high-pitched laugh of Wooyoung. "I know I'm your favorite, Y/N. But isn't it too early to fall for me?"

Your cheeks heat up at his teasing, and you step away from him, rolling your eyes, "Why do you think you're my bias?"

He gasps, resting his hands against the right side of his chest as if your words hurt him physically, "Oh, woe is me! You've broken my poor heart."

A surprised laugh bursts forth at his overdramatic whining, "Since when is your heart on the right side?"

"Since just now," he grins mischievously, dropping the act before gesturing towards where the two of you are supposed to go, "Shall we?"

You nod, easily falling into step with him. You noticed that he has changed out of his concert outfit and is now sporting a white hoodie and cargo pants. 

“By the way, you owe me another round of Mists of Time.”

You frown at him, “Does it count when Mingi was the one who told you where I was?”

“It does because eight makes one team,” he replies, laughing at your exasperated expression.

“Well, don’t whine when you lose,” you tease him back.

“That won’t happen.”

“Dream on,” you laugh, stopping in front of the door. You hear Jiyeon's laughter from the inside, which makes you smile. It's only when you hear the murmur of male voices that you raise an eyebrow at Wooyoung, "I thought you had fifteen minutes?"

"We did," he chuckles and holds the door open for you. "But when I told them that you were the one who won the raffle, they freshened up in record time. I think we surprised our stylist-noonas, we usually take our time with it."

You laugh at his honest answer, catching the attention of Jiyeon and the other members of ATEEZ, who all turn to look at you with smiles.

"Look who I found," Wooyoung chirps, lightly placing his hand on your back which causes your breath to catch in your throat. He ushers you inside regardless, either not noticing or ignoring the way you freeze momentarily under his gentle touch.

"Hi, guys," you smile, bowing in greeting.

"Oh no," Yeosang shakes his head at you, bringing you into a side hug. "You're not doing this formal stuff with us, young lady. We're not strangers. At least Woo and I aren't."

"What do you mean by that?" Mingi gasps, narrowing his eyes at the two boys in question.

"It's a secret," Wooyoung sing-songs before moving to greet Jiyeon. "Please tell me I'm your bias, Jiyeon-ssi. Your best friend betrayed me, I'm not her bias, apparently."

"As much as I love you, Wooyoung-ssi, my bias is Jongho," your friend replies, causing Wooyoung to fall to the floor dramatically, whining about how it is unfair and that he deserves to be loved as well.

"I'm sorry about him. He's just…" Hongjoong takes a step towards you and shrugs helplessly, smiling apologetically.

"Wait," you hear San's voice from the side. Breaking eye contact with Hongjoong, you turn to look at the former, "Now that we know Jiyeon's bias is Jongho. Who's yours, Y/N?"

Everyone gazes at you expectantly, eyes sparkling after his question, and you laugh, "Oh no, I'm not falling for that trap, San."

"Come on," Mingi pouts from his position next to Jiyeon on the couch. "Tell us. We won't hold it against you."

"Okay, that's enough," Seonghwa finally speaks up, shifting a bit to make space for you to sit on one of the other couches in the room and pats the area, inviting you to sit next to him. "Let's not pester her."

"Thank you," you smile at the eldest appreciatively, taking the seat next to him.

A few minutes later, the boys divide into groups of two; Hongjoong settles on the table in front of you with San, while Jongho plops down on your other side on the couch. The other four members settle around Jiyeon, and you smile at how happy she looks.

"You're quite fond of her, aren't you?" San asks you with a knowing glint, and you nod at him, your smile never truly leaving your face.

"I've known her my whole life," you explain. "She's practically family at this point. Without her, I wouldn't have found Zach and Hyunsik either."

"Oh yeah, I know that story," Jongho quips. "They were in her course in college, right? While you were in computer science?"

"Yes," you nod, surprised by how he knows that little tidbit of information. Unless someone has been around since your very early days as The Drifters, people don't really know about it.

"We know because of Yunho and Mingi," San says when he sees your expression. "Both of them were the first to find you on twitch, and it won't be a stretch to say that they've been Drifties since the beginning."

Blood rushes to your cheeks at his words, and you're sure you're flushed from the neck up, causing you to hide your face with your hands.

"I told you not to embarrass the Atinys who turn up here, San," Seonghwa groans, flicking San upside his head lightly, which makes you laugh, and you momentarily forget your shyness.

"I didn't do it on purpose, hyung," San whines, and the two bicker back and forth about how it is the younger's fault, regardless of whether he meant it or not.

"So, did you like the show?" Hongjoong asks, ignoring the two guys who are arguing next to you.

"I loved it! You guys are super amazing, and I won't lie, ‘Movement’ is my favorite album so far! So I had so much fun. Thank you for the amazing concert!" You gush, causing him and Jongho to softly murmur their thanks.

"Guys, let's switch?" You hear Yeosang say from the other couch, and they agree. The four of them wish you good luck for the upcoming competition and then leave to go to Jiyeon. Wooyoung and Yeosang sit down on either side of you while Yunho and Mingi take Hongjoong and San's places on the table.

"So," Yunho smiles at you. "What was your favorite song from the show?"

"Cyberpunk," Wooyoung answers in a know-it-all tone, causing you to scoff.

"Definitely not," you shake your head in denial, you love the song, but there are some others that you love a little bit more. "My favorite songs were Turbulence, New World, and The Ring. I mean, I might be a bit biased because they're already my favorite songs in your discography. But, they sounded so much more amazing live."

"But you cried while we were singing Turbulence," Yeosang raises an eyebrow at you.

"So did you."

Yeosang gapes at you, trying to come up with something smart but gives up when the others start laughing.

"I've never seen Yeosang not have a comeback for something," Wooyoung says while trying to stop laughing. "And I've known him for eight years."

You settle into conversation with ease, and it feels like you're catching up with friends rather than having a conversation with idols. They're all super nice. Not long after, Jiyeon and the rest of the members also join your group, and eventually, the conversation turns to videogames.

A sudden knock on the door startles all of you, and half of the members flinch visibly. The staff member who had brought you and Jiyeon enters, saying that you have one more minute before you have to leave. You want to ask them for their autographs, but someone else speaks up before you can.

"Can you tell me your PUBG username?" Mingi blurts out, eliciting a round of laughter from everyone in the room.