Page 73 of Idol Lives
“Alright, fine,” Jason reluctantly agreed. “Let’s go.”
22
The air in the conference room at Vision Dayag Arena had a nervous energy that vibrated beneath the hum of fluorescent lights and the hushed whispers of the assembled press. Tae Hyun–dressed in a plum velvet blazer paired with a crisp white button-down shirt with a slightly open collar and skinny black trousers–took his seat behind the long, polished table. The room was a sea of faces, some curious, some skeptical, but all hungry for the next juicy tidbit of gossip.
Tae Hyun glanced at Mina as she sat beside him, her face calm and composed. But her eyes conveyed a silent question. Are you ready for this? He offered the barest nod. Despite tossing and turning all night, the repercussions of his decision pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket, there was no avoiding what had to happen. He absently massaged his knuckles under the table until he made himself stop.
“Thank you for joining us, everyone,” Mina’s voice rang out, clear and confident. “I hope you’ve all read the statement we sent out. But, to summarize, due to a sudden health issue, Yoshida Ren has decided to leave the tour and return to Japan.” She paused, her gaze sweeping across the room, a silent challenge to anyone who dared to question her authority. “As such, we’ve had to replaceSweet Beaston the bill for theforeseeable future. Now–” She took a deep breath, readying herself for the inevitable onslaught before continuing. “Now,” she repeated, “that’s all the information we have to share at this time. But we’ll do our best to answer any questions you may have.”
A forest of hands shot up in a desperate clamor for attention. Tae Hyun was grateful for Mina’s presence, and her obvious ease with the media. It was one thing to field a few questions on a red carpet. But press conferences were another matter entirely.
No, Mina reiterated, she couldn’t say more about Ren’s health issue. No, Ren was already on his way back to Japan. No, she had no idea if he or his company would do a press conference of their own. Yes, they had every confidence in their new opening act. Then, the reporters shifted their focus.
“A question for Mr. Woo,” a reporter called out in English. Mina gestured for Tae Hyun to take control, and he nodded toward the reporter.
“Go ahead.”
“Kang Young Jae,K-Star Daily,” the reporter responded. “Did Jason Park have anything to do with Ren leaving the tour after the alleged affair between you and Ren?”
Mina tensed as she prepared to stand, but Tae Hyun shook his head. He’d expected the question.
“There was no affair,” Tae Hyun replied, clear and unwavering. “As Ms. Kim already stated, Ren is unwell and has decided to leave the tour to focus on his health.” That was false, but it was the story everyone, including Ren’s company, had agreed on.
“But Mr. Park is your manager,” the reporter boldly continued. “And, well, more than that, isn’t he? Surely, he–”
Tae Hyun briefly frowned, more from judgment than anything else, remembering the morning sun as it streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his Manila hotel suite, shining a harsh light on the remnants of the previous night’s emotional battle. He’d been sitting on the edge of the unmade bed, the luxurious linens twisted and tangled around his legs, a reflection of his own tangled emotions. He tightly clutched his phone as he dialed Jason’s number, anxiety tightening his chest. He was exhausted, physically and emotionally, but his need to hear Jason’s voice, to share the burden of last night’s revelations, was overwhelming.
The phone rang twice, then three times, each a painful reminder of the distance between them. Finally, Jason’s voice filled his ear. “Tae Hyun?”
Tae Hyun’s shoulders relaxed as sweet relief soothed his anxiety. “Hyung,” he breathed, his voice hoarse. “Can you talk?”
“Yeah, of course.” Jason paused, grunting as he shuffled or moved. “I’m sorry I haven’t called yet. You wouldn’t believe what’s been happening here.”
Tae Hyun’s stomach clenched. Jason’s exhaustion was unmistakable, but there was an underlying tension, a hint of something else he couldn’t quite decipher. “It’s alright, hyung. Naomi. How is she?”
“She’s better now than she was last night,” Jason gruffly admitted. “She’s a real fighter. But–” He trailed off.
“But, what?” Tae Hyun’s worry spiked. “Did something happen?”
“It’s–” Jason’s breath hitched. “It’s a lot, Tae Hyun. I don’t know if–”
“Just tell me.” Tae Hyun firmly insisted.
“Well, I’m still dealing with the fallout from everything. But, the short version is that David, Brightstar’s Chief Counsel, was behind Naomi’s accident.”
Tae Hyun’s breath caught in his throat. “What? Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” Jason’s voice suddenly grew hushed. “And, I should say Brightstar’s former Chief Counsel. Once he knew we were onto him, he killed himself last night.”
Tae Hyun was speechless, his mind reeling. The news was a punch to the gut, leaving him breathless and disoriented. “Are you sure?”
“Completely,” Jason confirmed, his exhaustion unmistakable in his heavy tone. “So, you can imagine the fucking mess I’m dealing with right now.”
“I’m sorry, hyung. I wish I was there to help.” Tae Hyun’s heart swelled with instinctive protectiveness. “Are you okay?”
The call went quiet except for Jason’s gentle breathing. “Yeah, I’m okay.”
“You don’t sound okay.”
