He smiles and raises his glass. “To both of us. And whatever our futures may hold.”

We clink our glasses and drink.

A fresh wave of determination courses through me as I return to my room to pack for the trip back to Seoul. When I get home, I’m going to start thinking more deeply about what I want and make some plans. Jason was right about one thing. It is probably well past time to start thinking about what comes next. With any luck, I can build a career with DB’s help that lasts beyond Girls Forever, though at the moment, it’s hard to imagine anything following forever.

TWO

The CIA should hire +EVER to work for them. Our fans’ tracking skills are seriously on another level. As soon as we step out of the arrival gate at Incheon International Airport, we’re met with a crowd of fans screaming our name.

Our fanbase has affectionately named themselves +EVER, pronounced and ever. It’s a play on the “Forever” in our name, but also meant to signify that they’ll be by our side for eternity. Sometimes +EVERs will buy plane tickets on the same flight as us just so they can be close to us. Most of the fans who do this are really sweet. If they see us, they’re totally respectful and mindful of our space. They don’t even need to talk to us. They’re just happy to be in our presence, a silent signal of support.

In fact, I’m pretty sure when I got up to stretch on our flight home, I saw a couple of +EVERs through the half-open curtain between first class and coach. I smiled, and could see their faces light up before I returned to my seat.

But now that we’ve landed, and are surrounded on all sides by more fans, our bodyguards try to keep everyone at a distance, clearing enough space for us to make our way out of the airport. Even so, it doesn’t deter our fans from snapping photo after photo and yelling out to us.

“Girls Forever, forever!”

“Unni, I love you!”

“Rachel, you’re a style icon!”

“Fashionista Forever!”

I grin at that. I’m especially pleased with my outfit today: a classic fitted blazer by Nell Kramer, paired with raw-hem boyfriend jeans and high-heeled ankle boots. I topped off the look with circular black sunglasses perched on top of my head, my hair in natural curls down my shoulders.