Page 75 of Idol Lives
“Relax, oppa. Seong Min is just joining us for lunch.” Yun Seo chuckled. “I mean, he needs to eat, too, right?”
Seong Min gently patted his stomach. “If you don’t mind, sir.”
“Of course not,” Tae Hyun replied, following Yun Seo inside.
The lavishly appointed space boasted plush seating, a well-stocked bar, and a breathtaking view of the empty arena below, where stagehands were already setting up for the night’s performance. A table adorned with crisp white linens and gleaming silverware had been set for three.
A waiter impeccably dressed in a black suit and bow tie approached them with a menu. Tae Hyun wanted to go light on lunch, so he chose the black cod kinilaw, marinated in verjus, and the hand-cut miki noodles tossed with crab and a delicate tomato-bacon marmalade.
“This is nice,” Tae Hyun commented as he sipped his sparkling water. “Thank you.”
Yun Seo beamed. “You deserve a little treat after everything that happened with Ren.”
Tae Hyun chuckled. “For a moment, I thought you were going to tell me you and Seong Min got engaged.”
Seong Min sputtered, nearly choking on his water. Yun Seo jumped in with a napkin, dabbing at the spilled water on his shirt and tie.
“That’s not funny, oppa,” Yun Seo scolded.
Tae Hyun quietly laughed. “I thought it was funny. But I appreciate the chance to sit and relax for a bit before tonight’s show. Even if I can’t stay long. I still have to meet with my new opening act.”
Yun Seo nodded. “Right. That’s next up on your schedule.” She pulled out her phone, briefly scrolling before nodding again. “It says their group is calledLiniwag? Am I saying that right?”
“Liwanag,” Tae Hyun corrected. “I think it means light in Tagalog.”
“Ah. What made you go with them?”
“Honestly? It’s mainly because they’re available,” Tae Hyun admitted with an anxious grin. “But I also like their sound a lot.” He’d listened toLiwanag’s energetic blend of P-pop, hip-hop, and R&B for weeks when he was still deciding who to approach to join his tour. But he was most drawn to the five-member P-Pop boy band’s positive message and infectious energy. “We almost went with them instead ofSweet Beast, but they wouldn’t have been available for the Seoul, Los Angeles, and Taipei shows.”
Seong Min quietly snorted. “Too bad. That would’ve saved us a lot of hassle, sir.”
Tae Hyun could hardly disagree. “Did you talk to Ren’smanagement?”
Seong Min nodded, grim satisfaction in his eyes. “They initially made a fuss, but I played back the recording we made. That made them change their tune.”
Yun Seo reached over to lay her hand on Tae Hyun’s. “How are you? Seong Min told me about what happened, but–” She shrugged, uncharacteristically struggling to find the right words.
Tae Hyun’s carefully constructed composure wavered, the hurt and anger threatening to bubble up from the depths where he’d tried to bury them. His conversation with Jason–and the reminder of his love and unwavering support–had soothed his wounded soul. But the pain of Ren’s betrayal still lingered–a raw ache that refused to fade.
“I don’t know,” Tae Hyun admitted. Then he shook his head. “No, that’s not true. I do know. But I’m not sure how to describe it.” He took a deep breath, searching for the right words. “It’s like–I have you both, who I care about very much. And I have Jason, who means the world to me. And Yoo Mi.” He wanted to stop, but the words kept spilling out before he could stop them. “But none of you are idols. And I don’t have Chang Min or Xiang anymore. They were my closest friends, but Chang Min changed all that.” His lingering sadness over Chang Min was bittersweet, but it was dull and well-worn by that point.
“So, when I met Ren?” Tae Hyun continued. “Another gay idol? Someone who understood my world? I thought I’d finally found my ideal friend. Someone who truly got it. Who got me.” He bitterly chuckled. “And, I maybe overlooked some red flags in the hopes that we could be friends.”
Tae Hyun met his sister’s gaze, searching for understanding.The truth was out there now, laid bare on the table. It was time to move on, to focus on the future. But the pain of betrayal and the sting of disappointment wouldn’t be so easily erased.
Yun Seo’s hand tightened around Tae Hyun’s, and her fiercely protective gaze softened with empathy. “I get it,” she offered. “It’s hard to find your people in this world. People who truly understand what you’re going through.” She squeezed his hand in reassurance. “But you have to remember, oppa,” she continued, her voice gaining strength, “you’re not alone. You have us. You have Jason. And you have millions of fans who love you for who you are, not for who the media tries to paint you as.”
A warm smile spread across Yun Seo’s face. “Ren’s loss is their gain,” she defiantly added. “Besides, who needs a fake friend like that asshole when you have a real sister who’s always got your back?” She leaned over, playfully bumping her shoulder against his. “Not to mention a badass bodyguard who happens to be my boyfriend,” she added with a wink, glancing at Seong Min.
Seong Min, who had been silently listening, cleared his throat. “She’s right, sir,” he said with genuine care. “Remember everything that you and I have been through together. I hope you know by now that I’ll always have your back, no matter what.”
Tae Hyun’s heart swelled with gratitude. He was surrounded by love, loyalty, and people who genuinely cared for him. He took a deep breath, the lingering bitterness of Ren’s betrayal slowly fading. “Thank you,” he said, an ache in his throat from the tears he held back. “Both of you.” He looked at Yun Seo, a newfound determination in his eyes. “I’m going to focus on the tour, my music, and the people who trulymatter.” He paused, showing his first genuine smile of the day. “And who knows? Maybe I’ll find some new friends along the way.”
23
The bustling energy of Bangkok’s nighttime streets assaulted Jason’s senses as his limo cruised along traffic-choked Sukhumvit Road. He’d never been to Bangkok–his only visits to Thailand were to Phuket and his family’s–no,his–beachfront villa. A wall of mid-rise buildings, their glassy facades shimmering with a million reflected lights, rose along either side, punctuated by neon-splashed shopping malls and the occasional temple. Thankfully, the drive to Bang Na from Suvarnabhumi Airport was short. Still, inside the cool, leather-scented SUV interior, Jason felt a world away from the vibrant excitement outside.
The past two days had been a blur of shock and grief, punctuated by the unexpected rush of adrenaline-fueled action. Jason had expected the fallout from David’s suicide to be far worse. But, it had been surprisingly swift–a single visit from the police, a brief statement to the press, and then a deafening silence. There’d been no witnesses and, thankfully, no security camera footage that placed Jason and David together that night. The press had floated several theories about why David had taken his own life—none of them were kind, and none of them involved Jason trying to talk him down from the edge. But he’d held on toNaomi’s damning files, just in case.
