Page 77 of Idol Lives
“Is this about money?” Jason asked, interrupting again. Mina nodded. He grabbed the Kingston bottle Yun Seo must’ve left for him and gave himself a generous pour. Then, he tilted the bottle toward Mina. “Drink?”
Mina hesitated before nodding. “If it’ll help get me what I need–”
Jason chuckled. “Relax. I’m offering you a drink, not negotiating. You’ll get whatever you need either way.”
Mina’s eyebrows arched as she studied Jason’s face. “Whatever I need?”
Jason swallowed his bourbon and poured himself another. “Have I ever told you no?”
“Well, no,” Mina admitted, finally smiling.
“There you go.” Jason smiled and offered the bottle again. “Still want that drink?”
Mina stayed long enough for one drink. And Jason paid enough attention to her proposal to let her know he cared. The money didn’t matter to him. He’d already committed to selling everything he owned to finance Tae Hyun’s tour. But he didn’t need to anymore. He could buy the whole arena if he had to.
Once Mina left, Jason scrolled through his neglected social media feeds until the stage lights suddenly dimmed, plunging the arena into a hushed anticipation. Spotlights pierced the darkness, illuminating Tae Hyun and his dancers as they rose from beneath the stage on a hydraulic lift. A collective gasp rose from the crowd. Jason could feel their excitement even from his vantage point high above. Then the music started.
Jason watched, mesmerized, as Tae Hyun commanded the stage, his every move a calculated fusion of grace and power. His vocals, clear and strong, soared through the arena.
Jason found himself leaning forward, drawn into the performance as always, the troubles of his past few days completely forgotten. He watched as Tae Hyun danced, his movements fluid and effortless, connecting with his audience on a visceral level. It was more than just a performance. It was a spectacle. Jason’s heart swelled with pride, the familiar warmth of love and admiration flowing through him. This was his Tae Hyun, the man who had captured and commanded his heart.
A hush fell over the arena as Tae Hyun disappeared for a costume change. Jason beamed, already anticipating the next song. He knew the lyrics and melody by heart. It was their song,Freefall Into You, a secret love letter Tae Hyun had written just for him.
The spotlight snapped back on, revealing Tae Hyun, resplendent in pure white. Bathed in the glow of a single spotlight,he moved with an ethereal shine. Jason’s smile spread wider, his heart quickening as he waited for the familiar synth beats and soaring melody to fill the arena.
But the music never came.
Instead, a trio of stagehands rushed to meet Tae Hyun at his mark. One set up a stool, another handed him a guitar, while the third set up a mic on a stand, all three swift and efficient. The crowd buzzed with confusion, a collective murmur of anticipation rising like a wave. Jason’s nerves twitched with excitement as he jumped from his seat and went to the railing for a better look. Tae Hyun was doing something new! What was happening?
Tae Hyun settled onto the stool, his fingers testing the guitar strings with practiced ease. He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the vast expanse of the arena before locking onto Jason’s eyes. A knowing smile tugged at his lips.
“I know you’re wondering what I’m doing,” Tae Hyun said, his amplified voice rich and warm. “This is something I’ve been thinking about adding to the show.” He paused, his smile widening. “And I wanted to try it tonight, just for you.”
The crowd gasped. Thousands of eyes turned towards Jason, their gazes burning into him with envy and curiosity. Then Tae Hyun strummed his guitar, capturing their attention once again. The chords reverberated through the hushed arena as Tae Hyun began to sing.
You’re my gravity, always pulling me closer.
Tae Hyun’s voice rang clear and true over the raw, stripped-down music. Jason was instantly transported to his beach house the night Tae Hyun had serenaded him for the first time. The night they’d first confessed their love for one another. Jason’s eyes blurred with unshed tears as he watched Tae Hyunsing, his heart overflowing with love and gratitude. But he couldn’t look away. He wouldn’t miss a single moment of this intimate exchange played out on an epic scale.
Thunderous applause broke out when Tae Hyun strummed the final chord. The crowd knew they’d witnessed something special–something that Tae Hyun might never even do again. But Jason clapped the loudest of all, tears streaming down his cheeks. He’d never been more in love with Tae Hyun.
The rest of the concert passed by in a blur of lights, music, and Tae Hyun’s captivating energy. Jason retreated from the railing, seeking refuge in the privacy of the suite to avoid the lingering gazes of envy from the audience. After Tae Hyun’s final outfit change, Seong Hyeon and Carlos came to collect Jason, knowing he’d want to be there when Tae Hyun finally left the stage.
Jason followed his bodyguards, trusting that they somehow knew the way through the arena’s maze of corridors despite never having been there. The three arrived just in time for Jason to join Yun Seo and Mina. Yun Seo, her face alight with pride, immediately slipped her arm around Jason’s waist, pulling him closer to share in the moment. Jason’s gaze, however, remained fixed on the descending stage lift.
Tae Hyun, drenched in sweat, his red leather jacket gleaming under the stage lights, beamed with triumph as he and his dancers took their final bows to the crew’s rousing applause. Jason’s heart swelled with pride.
Tae Hyun rushed to Jason before the lift even hit the floor, a whirlwind of energy and excitement. “Hyung!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms around Jason in a tight embrace. “They told me you were here. I’m sorry I didn’t get to see you before the show.”
“It’s alright,” Jason replied, his arms tightening around him. “I enjoyed the show anyway.” He pulled back enough to drink in the sight of Tae Hyun’s flushed face and sparkling eyes.
“Come on,” Tae Hyun instructed, taking Jason’s hand and leading him toward the dressing room. “Let’s get me changed.”
Inside the sanctuary of the dressing room, Tae Hyun quickly shed his stage costume, his movements efficient and graceful. Jason watched with a mischievous smirk, appreciating the private show. He couldn’t resist reaching out, his fingers tracing the curve of Tae Hyun’s waist as he stepped out of his pants. Tae Hyun turned back, a playful grin on his face.
“You were incredible out there,” Jason said, low and husky. “The whole crowd was eating out of your hand.”
Tae Hyun bashfully chuckled as his ears turned a delicate pink. “I’m so glad you enjoyed it.” He paused, his smile slightly fading. “So, how’s Naomi?”
