Page 66 of Idol Lives
Jason scanned the room with fresh eyes until his gaze landed on his father’s desk. And there, gleaming in the dim light, was the gold fountain pen, identical to the one in Naomi’s office at the Brightstar building. With a surge of adrenaline, Jason rushed to the desk, his fingers fumbling with the pen’s base. The hidden compartment slid open, revealing a small, silver thumb drive. He snatched it up, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
“Gotcha, David.”
20
A familiar buzz of anticipation hummed in the air as Tae Hyun stepped inside the sprawling Vision Dayag Arena in Quezon City. It was a homecoming of sorts, a return to the venue whereXTChad faced one of their most well-known challenges. And where Tae Hyun had solidified his reputation as a fearless performer.
But Tae Hyun’s mind was elsewhere. Jason was gone, whisked back to Los Angeles after that devastating phone call about Naomi, leaving Tae Hyun to deal with the tour alone. The brief reunion had been bittersweet, the joy of their passionate reconciliation overshadowed by the grim reality of the accident. Tae Hyun had a team, a family, and a loyal manager in Mina. But Jason’s absence left an aching void.
Tae Hyun hadn’t spoken with Jason since their loving goodbye on the penthouse balcony, save for a handful of cryptic messages that offered little comfort. At least he knew Jason had landed safely and was back at home. Otherwise, everything else was up in the air.
Tae Hyun also had Ren. TheSweet Beastsinger had been an unexpected and welcome source of comfort since they landed in Manila. His easy laughter and playful teasing helped Tae Hyun ignore the void left by Jason.
“This place is huge!” Ren exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. He was right beside Tae Hyun as he surveyed the empty stadium with a broad grin. “I can’t believe we’re actually playing here.”
Tae Hyun chuckled at Ren’s excited antics. “Yeah, it’s pretty impressive. I’ve played here before, but it never gets old.”
Ren’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yeah! WithXTC, right?”
Tae Hyun nodded. “Yeah, back in the day.” He paused, suddenly caught up in the melancholy nostalgia that invariably flashed through his mind whenever he thought about the old days. “Actually,” he said with a wry smile, “this is the place where I almost got electrocuted.”
Ren’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
Tae Hyun laughed. “Okay, maybe not electrocuted. But it was still quite the night.” He launched into the story, recounting the earthquake, the power outage, and his impromptu acapella performance that had kept the crowd from panicking. He could still feel the adrenaline rush, the thrill of facing the unknown and emerging victorious.
“Oh, yeah, of course,” Ren interrupted, eagerly nodding. “I was there! In the audience.”
Tae Hyun almost couldn’t believe it. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” Ren eagerly confirmed. “I mean, I’ve felt a lot of earthquakes, but never in a place like this. I freaked when the lights went out. Then you started singing. I could barely hear it, but once the audience joined in, I did, too.” He rested his hand on Tae Hyun’s shoulder. “You’re a legend, Tae Hyun. I’ll never forget it.”
Tae Hyun’s heart swelled with a mix of pride and gratitude. He hadn’t realized Ren had been there that night. “Thanks. But it wasn’t just me. It was the whole crew and all the fans,too. We all came together that night.”
Ren thoughtfully nodded. “Maybe. But you were the one who took charge, who kept everyone calm. You’re a natural leader. A true inspiration.”
Tae Hyun’s ears warmed at the unexpected praise, even if it was a little much. But it was still nice to share the unique experiences and challenges of being an idol. Maybe Jason had been wrong. Maybe Ren was a genuine friend, after all.
“Thanks,” Tae Hyun replied, thick with a sudden, unexpected surge of emotion. He quickly cleared his throat, regaining his composure. “That means a lot.” He glanced towards the stage, where the crew was already bustling with activity. “Looks like our break’s over. We should probably head backstage.”
Ren nodded, using Tae Hyun’s shoulder to push himself up. “Yeah, I suppose.” He offered Tae Hyun a breezy wave as he walked away. “See you after soundcheck.”
Tae Hyun held back long enough to check his phone again, hoping for a message from Jason, but the screen remained stubbornly blank. With a wistful sigh, he got up and joined everyone backstage. He spotted Yun Seo chatting with Mina, nodding when she looked his way. She joined him a moment later.
“Any updates, oppa?”
Tae Hyun shook his head. “Nothing new. You?”
“No.” Yun Seo sighed. “I checked with Seong Min, too. He hasn’t heard from his brother, either.”
“I’m sure they’d tell us if something changed,” Tae Hyun replied, trying to convince himself as much as his sister.
Yun Seo snorted. “I know, I know. Seong Min isn’t really bothered, either. I wish I had his confidence.”
Tae Hyun chuckled. “Me, too. But I need to get ready for my soundcheck. Let me know if you hear anything?”
Yun Seo nodded as Tae Hyun walked away. He found his sound tech and, after a quick mic check, took the stage. Staring out at the empty seats as he sang, he was struck by how much the night’s show felt like coming full circle. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be another Manila incident.
After getting a thumbs up from his audio engineers, Tae Hyun pulled out his ear monitors as he wandered offstage. He stood by as his sound tech unhooked his mic, then took a towel from an assistant to wipe his brow on the way to his dressing room. He thought he remembered the way despite the years since his last visit to the arena. But he was wrong, getting turned around and finding himself in a long, silent corridor that definitely wasn’t where he needed to be.
