Page 56 of Idol Lives
Tae Hyun met Jason’s gaze, understanding that Jason wasn’t asking if he was injured. But he wasn’t sure if he was okay. “I think so. Nothing like that’s ever happened before.” He shrugged, attempting a weak smile. “It’s just paint, right?”
“Just paint?” Jason gently replied as he stared deeply into Tae Hyun’s eyes. “Maybe. But it doesn’t matter what it was. It was still meant to hurt you. To scare you.”
Tae Hyun nodded, a shiver running down his spine as he recalled the shock of the warm wetness splattering against his skin. “Yeah, maybe. I think I’ll feel better once I get this all washed off.”
Jason’s hands moved to Tae Hyun’s shoulders, gently squeezing them. “Let me help you with that.”
Tae Hyun nodded, grateful for the warmth of Jason’s hands as they undressed him. He quietly sighed as he stepped intothe shower’s comforting spray. The cool water sluiced over him, a welcome relief after the heat from the stage lights. He shivered as Jason joined him, his strong hands gently working shampoo into his hair. The scent of lavender filled the air, calming the adrenaline that still buzzed in his veins.
Jason’s touch was firm yet surprisingly tender. He worked methodically, scrubbing away the stubborn crimson stains that marred Tae Hyun’s skin. Warmth spread through Tae Hyun’s chest with each stroke, chasing away the lingering chill of doubt and fear. The shared intimacy of the moment, the simple act of caring for each other, reminded him of the unbreakable bond he shared with Jason. Even in the midst of their disagreements, Jason’s love was a constant, a comforting anchor in the storm.
Afterward, Jason wrapped Tae Hyun in a fluffy white towel, carefully drying his hair. “I swear,” he chuckled, “at first, I thought the whole thing was part of the act.”
“Really?” Tae Hyun laughed, hoping that would be the case. “That would’ve been some hardcore performance art.”
Jason’s fingers lingered on Tae Hyun’s skin, gently stroking the muscles of his upper back. “It was incredible,” He murmured, full of admiration. “You were incredible. The way you turned that attack into something beautiful? It was amazing.”
Tae Hyun shrugged, leaning into Jason’s embrace, seeking solace in his warmth. “It’s what we do, isn’t it?” he whispered, unable to disguise the weariness in his voice. “We turn pain into art.”
A gentle knock on the door interrupted the tender moment. Tae Hyun’s heart sank, but it was okay. They were in his dressing room, not at the hotel or at home. He reached forhis bathrobe. “Can you get that, hyung?”
Jason nodded. “Of course.” His brow furrowed as he crossed the room. He waited until Tae Hyun was covered before opening the door, revealing Mina’s anxious face. “What’s up, Mina?”
“Seong Hyeon sent me,” Mina explained, her voice strained from the undoubtedly many frantic conversations she’d recently had. “He asked me to bring you to the security office when you’re ready. He’s got some news.”
Jason glanced at Tae Hyun, a question in his eyes. “Are you up for that? I can handle it alone, otherwise.”
As much as Tae Hyun wanted to take Jason up on his offer to enjoy his brief moment of relaxation, his rekindled anger was enough motivation to join them. This was it, the aftermath of the attack. He had to face it and deal with it. He knew it wouldn’t be easy. The night’s events would cast a long shadow over their remaining shows. But he wasn’t alone. He had Jason by his side, and for the moment, that was enough.
“I can be ready in two minutes,” Tae Hyun said, reaching for the shirt he’d worn that morning. “Then we can go.”
17
The Xinyi Dome’s security office felt like a physical manifestation of Jason’s suffocating anxiety. The air was stale, thick with the scent of sweat and cheap coffee–a far cry from the luxurious penthouse suite he shared with Tae Hyun. With Seong Min, Mina, Yun Seo, and Tae Hyun crowded around him, he could barely focus on Seong Hyeon, hunched over the console, fingers dancing across the keyboard in a blur of motion. The bank of security monitors flickered, a chaotic mosaic of grainy images, while the overhead fluorescents relentlessly buzzed, casting a harsh, clinical glow over the cramped space.
Beside him, Tae Hyun tightly gripped his hand, either an offer of or a plea for reassurance that twisted Jason’s heart. He wanted to offer comfort and strength, but all he felt was festering guilt. Damn it. He’d wasted precious time–time that should have been spent enjoying Tae Hyun’s company–dissecting the incident with Ren. He’d let his temper get the better of him, hurling accusations like a petulant child. The memory of Tae Hyun’s hurt, shocked face burned into Jason’s mind, a painful reminder of his own shortcomings.
Jason should have listened to Tae Hyun and trusted hisjudgment. But the anger had been a familiar beast, easy to unleash but difficult to control. And then the paint attack. The thought that someone had intentionally targeted Tae Hyun and breached their supposedly tight security made his blood boil.
Jason wanted answers. He needed to know who was responsible. But he couldn’t let his anger blind him and risk another outburst that might push Tae Hyun further away. He had to focus and be the support that Tae Hyun so clearly needed. This was about more than just an angry protest now. It was a threat to Tae Hyun’s safety, and that was something Jason wouldn’t tolerate.
“Here we go,” Seong Hyeon announced, his steady baritone cutting through the tense silence. He pointed to the central monitor, where a grainy image flickered to life. “We’ve isolated footage from a camera near the stage. The perpetrator was in the VIP section.”
With a click of Seong Hyeon’s mouse, the image zoomed in, revealing a young man with his face obscured by a mask. He furtively pulled a small balloon from beneath his shirt in a grotesque parody of a magician’s trick. Then, the balloon, filled with red paint, arced through the air before splattering against Tae Hyun’s chest.
“That’s why it was so warm,” Tae Hyun murmured. “He had it under his shirt.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed, a cold fury settling over him. “He had to have a VIP ticket to get that close,” he added, his voice tight.
Seong Hyeon grimly nodded. “Yes, sir. We’ve confirmed his ticket purchase.”
“But how the hell did he get it inside?” Jason loudlydemanded.
Seong Hyeon’s jaw tightened. “We’re still investigating, sir. It’s unclear how he managed to bypass security. Everyone entering the venue was searched.”
“Except for me,” Tae Hyun interjected.
The room fell silent, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, amplifying the tension. Jason frowned as the truth dawned on him. “He’s right,” he growled, a cold fury settling over him. “No one searched us. The talent, the crew–we were all waved through.”
