Page 52 of Idol Lives
Tae Hyun quickly jumped from his chair, rounded the table, and threw his arms around Jason. “Thank you,” he gushed,burying his face in Jason’s shoulder. “I never thought I’d see this again.” He kissed Jason’s cheek. “But don’t think I’m done being mad at you just because of this.”
“I would never,” Jason confessed with a dark chuckle. “Considering I’m still mad at you.”
Tae Hyun quietly huffed, lifting off Jason and settling against the table beside him. “So, what do we do about this? I already apologized to you, but I’ll do it again if it helps.”
Jason shook his head. “It’s not that.” He covered Tae Hyun’s hand with his own, absently tracing a circle with his thumb. “I think–” He shook his head. What did he think? Doubt gnawed at him, an unfamiliar ache of uncertainty. He prided himself on his decisive nature and his ability to cut ties with anyone who crossed him. But the thought of losing Tae Hyun was a pain he couldn’t bear, no matter how badly he might’ve felt betrayed. And he loved Tae Hyun too much to cage him or control his happiness. Even if it meant sharing him with someone else. “I don’t know. I know how much you’ve wanted to make friends and find someone who understands you. If you think Ren can be that for you, and he treats you right, then I’d never stand in your way.”
Tae Hyun frowned, narrow-eyed, as he considered Jason’s statement. “And if he doesn’t?”
Jason shrugged. “Then I’ll make him wish he was never born.”
Tae Hyun’s frown deepened. “Hyung, you can’t solve every problem like that.”
“Yeah.” Jason gently squeezed Tae Hyun’s hand. “But I could solve that problem like that.”
Tae Hyun sighed, gently pulling his hand from Jason’s before taking hold of it and lightly massaging the knuckles with histhumb. “I know. You’ve done that for me every time I’ve needed it. But I don’t want you to think I can’t take care of myself.”
“I would never,” Jason repeated, fully meaning it. Tae Hyun was one of the most capable, strong-willed people he knew. “But I’ve seen you get hurt too many times. I can’t just sit back and let it happen again.”
Tae Hyun elaborately frowned, drawing his brows together. “If it comes to that, hyung, I can handle myself just fine.”
Jason quietly chuckled. “Oh, I know. I saw that with my own eyes.” He caught Tae Hyun’s gaze, letting himself get drawn deep into his lovely brown eyes. “But you don’t have to. Because you have me.”
Tae Hyun slowly nodded, his frown fading as his expression softened. “Alright.” He allowed a small smile to grace his lips. “If you apologize to Ren, I’ll let it go.”
Jason scoffed. “Seriously?”
“Hyung–”
Jason huffed. “Alright, fine.”
Tae Hyun leaned forward, his lips pressing against Jason’s in a sweet, tender kiss that tasted faintly of coffee. The tension in Jason’s shoulders immediately eased. “Good,” he murmured against Jason’s mouth. “Now, eat your breakfast while I go get ready.”
The kiss lingered, a symbol of peace and a fragile truce. Jason watched as Tae Hyun slipped away, the tightness in his chest easing for a precious moment. He picked at the remnants of his breakfast, the flavors now a dull echo compared to the warmth of Tae Hyun’s lips.
A short time later, as the shiny black SUV pulled up to the Xinyi Dome, a different sort of tension replaced Jason’searlier unease. The atmosphere outside the venue crackled with a palpable hostility. A crowd had gathered, their faces contorted in anger, their fists pumping the air as they waved signs condemning Tae Hyun’s “immoral” behavior.
Jason’s temper surged. He hadn’t anticipated a protest, not in Taipei. His protective instincts flared, an almost welcome rage surging beneath the surface. He glanced at Tae Hyun, but his boyfriend’s face was a mask of stoic determination. It was a look Jason knew well–the one he wore when he was bracing himself for a fight.
“What the hell?” Jason spat.
Seong Hyeon, ever vigilant, spoke without taking his eyes off the road. “Protestors, sir. They’ve been gathering for the past hour. Local authorities are monitoring the situation.”
Jason scoffed, a bitter taste in his throat. “Monitoring? These assholes are waving around signs calling Tae Hyun a degenerate, and they’re justmonitoring?” His hands tightened into fists. His simmering anger threatened to boil over.
“What about the fans?” Tae Hyun asked. “Are the protesters giving my fans any trouble?”
Seong Hyeon shook his head, his gaze unwavering as he maneuvered through the thickening traffic. “My brother’s coordinating with the venue’s security team to keep the protesters clear of the main entrances.”
Tae Hyun nodded, apparently reassured. Jason usually would’ve had the same confidence in Seong Min, but his hair-trigger temper was too close to being set off.
“What about–”
Crack! Jason flinched as something–a rock?–glanced off his window, leaving a small chip in the blackout coating. “Seong Hyeon!”
Without hesitation, Seong Hyeon floored the gas pedal. The SUV surged forward, weaving around the lead vehicle in their procession to speed toward the arena’s loading zone entrance.
“Hyung?” Tae Hyun asked, sharp with worry. “What was that?”
