Page 43 of Idol Lives
“Wait, wait,” Jason cut in, his anger softening. He took a deep, steadying breath. “I shouldn’t be mad at you. I’m not mad at you. I’m mad athim.” He gently squeezed Tae Hyun’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
Tae Hyun’s tears flowed freely, a sob wracking his body. “No, I’m sorry, hyung.”
“I know,” Jason softly replied, his simmering anger overpowered by his concern.
A harsh silence descended on them, punctuated by Tae Hyun’s heavy breathing and the occasional muffled sob. He leaned forward, seeking comfort in the familiar warmth of Jason’s shoulder. The pressure of the last few days still pressed down on him. Jason waited, his fingers gently combing through Tae Hyun’s hair as a silent apology and offering of support.
“I can’t believe he did that,” Jason growled, sharp with a lingering echo of anger.
“He didn’t mean anything by it,” Tae Hyun mumbled against Jason’s shoulder. “Okay, well, maybe he did. But we talked about it, and he apologized. He knows that it wasn’t okay.”
“You still don’t get it?” Jason huffed, frustration mingling with concern. “Do you honestly think you’re the first person he’s done that to?” He shook his head. “Not a fucking chance. If he’d do that to someone in a very public relationship like you are, that means he’s done it before.”
Tae Hyun frowned, his forehead creasing against Jason’s shoulder. Jason was right. He didn’t get it.
“It means that this whole thing with the tabloids has to be from someone else he’s fucked with. Some jealous ex-lover. Like Chang Min.”
Tae Hyun sat back, his eyes widened with sudden understanding. “Do you really think so?”
“Hell if I know,” Jason admitted, his anger fading into a grim resolve. “But I know someone who probably does.”
Tae Hyun slowly nodded. That time, he understood. He didn’t want to believe the worst of Ren, but he couldn’t ignore Jason’s logic. “We need to talk to him. But, hyung–” He hesitated, carefully choosing his words. “Don’t be too hard on him, okay? I know you’re upset, but I really want a friend like him. Someone who understands what it’s like. Someone who’s been through the same things as me. You know?”
Jason’s expression softened, his gaze meeting Tae Hyun’s with a warmth that melted away the earlier tension. “I know.” He gently brushed the stray hair from Tae Hyun’s forehead. “I’ll do my best. But we need answers. And you deserve friends who respect you.”
Tae Hyun shyly smiled as he leaned in and softly kissed Jason’s cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered. Then he kissed him beside his ear. “And,” he purred, “I think you should let me show you how much I appreciate it. Again.”
13
The jet engines’ roar filled the cabin, a constant hum vibrating through Jason’s plush seat. He stared out the window, the clouds below blurring into a white canvas as the plane cruised south toward Taiwan. He still couldn’t shake the image of Tae Hyun’s tear-streaked face the day before. He hadn’t seen Tae Hyun that shaken since the kidnapping, and it twisted his gut with guilt and protectiveness. But it was Jason that Tae Hyun had been afraid of. It hadn’t mattered how often Jason assured him he wouldn’t act jealous. Tae Hyun’s fear was insurmountable. But they’d argued, Tae Hyun confessed, and the pair emerged from the ordeal stronger than they’d started.
A small, satisfied smile pulled at the corner of Jason’s lips as he glanced over at Tae Hyun, curled up in the seat beside him, fast asleep. His fatigue from the past few days had taken its toll on him, but the peaceful serenity of his slumber smoothed away the worry lines. He reached for Tae Hyun, his fingers lightly brushing against his cheek. Tae Hyun softly sighed but didn’t stir. It was almost like they weren’t in the middle of a brewing tabloid scandal at all.
Jason inwardly sighed, the brief moment of peace evaporating. All it took was the thought of Ren for the knot oftension to reform in his back. Jason wished he knew more about him. He’d skimmed the report that Seong Woo’s team at Vital had put together but retained little more than the basics. Tae Hyun had gushed about him at first. Until the kiss. Jason automatically clenched his hand into a fist at the thought. Tae Hyun insisted it was a mistake and that Ren had apologized. But that didn’t change the fact that he’d thought kissing his very unavailable boyfriend was okay. There wasn’t much Ren could do to earn Jason’s trust at that point. But, if Tae Hyun forgave him, there wasn’t much Jason could do, either. At least until they finally spoke.
Jason forced his hand to relax, flexing it as he considered what he wanted to say to Ren when they finally met. He’d tried to catch him before they left for Taipei, but the band’s chartered flight left too early. So, he had to wait until they were all in Taiwan. And that time worked against him. Despite how much he wanted to shout and threaten, he’d promised Tae Hyun to do his best to go easy on his new friend. That would’ve been so much easier early in the day. The more time he had to think about it, the more he wanted to make a scene.
Seong Min appeared from the forward compartment where he’d been sitting with his brother and the new guys, a concerned look clouding his usual unbothered expression, nodding to get Jason’s attention.
“What’s up?” Jason whispered.
“Naomi’s been trying to reach you,” Seong Min quietly responded.
Jason frowned as he sat up. If there was one thing he could count on from Naomi, it was finding ways to reach him when he absolutely didn’t want to be found. “For real? This can’t wait until we land?”
“I don’t know, sir. I’m just passing on the message.”
Jason grumbled under his breath as he stood and followed Seong Min into the forward compartment. Carlos was watching a movie on his tablet while Andre chatted with one of the attendants in the galley. Jason pulled his phone out, about to switch it from airplane mode, when he noticed Seong Hyeon asleep in his seat. He emphatically gestured toward the elder Song brother. “You didn’t tell me he was asleep, too,” he whispered.
“He slept through my call,” Seong Min offered. “I don’t think you’ll wake him.”
Jason shrugged and let his phone connect to the plane’s WiFi. A stream of messages came through right away, but he ignored them to dial Naomi instead. She picked up almost immediately.
“Seriously, Jason?”
Jason rolled his eyes. “Please, don’t start with me.”
“I’ve been trying to reach you for two fucking days, Jason.” Naomi’s barely concealed panic was unmistakable. “If it wasn’t for Seong Hyeon, I wouldn’t even know where you were.”
