Airport fashion is a big deal in Korea. Most of the time, our fans only get to see us in concert where we’re wearing our performance clothes. The airport is where they can see us in our personal styles. There are entire Pinterest boards and Instagram accounts dedicated to K-pop airport fashion, and I know that among those photos, mine circulate widely. The rest of the girls look nice, but no one puts in as much time as I do in styling my outfits—or has as much fun doing it. I basically treat the airport like a runway.

As we walk out of the airport and into the three vans waiting for us, I adjust my camel Prada boho over my shoulder and inwardly grimace. The shoulder bag was my first big purchase for myself after our very first number-one hit, which feels like a century ago now. I still adore it, but it’s the one thing that I don’t love about my outfit today. I’ve been meaning to get a new carry-on bag for forever, one that has caught up to my aesthetic now, but I haven’t found The One.

Leah says I’m pickier with bags than I am with guys. It’s possible.

In the van, Sunhee starts reading aloud from her book. It’s an over-the-top period romance about a count and a scullery maid, but despite the flowery language, I actually find myself getting into the story of the star-crossed lovers. Even as the world tries to tear them apart, they are drawn to each other with the unstoppable force of true love. If only that’s how romance worked in real life.

“Sasha quivered as Francisco led her to the bedchamber…”

“Ugh. Sunheeeee,” Youngeun groans.

In the rearview mirror, I catch our driver’s eye and we both suppress a laugh. Jongseok is one of six managers who usher us from place to place and organize our schedules. Unlike our head manager, who packs our days as if we have thirty-seven hours, not twenty-four, Jongseok is always advocating for us to have time to rest and entertaining us with stories about his daredevil Australian shepherds. And he can be counted on to share a good-natured eye roll with me when the other girls are being silly.

A few turns later, we pull up to our villa in the posh neighborhood of Cheongdam-dong, just as a few flakes begin to drift lazily from the sky.