15
The treadmill wasn’t working. Well, not exactly. It was functioning as expected but wasn’t producing the results Jason wanted. Usually, his morning runs were a form of meditation to clear his head and find his center. But the steady thump of his feet against the machine did nothing to chase away his demons. His usual therapeutic routine felt hollow, a futile attempt to escape his inner turmoil. At least the penthouse’s private gym offered a break from the emotional wreckage he’d left in the suite. So, he pushed himself harder, the sweat stinging his eyes as he tried to outrun the anger, frustration, and, unfortunately, the guilt that clung to him like a second skin.
Naturally, Jason’s thoughts kept returning to Tae Hyun. The events of the previous evening replayed in his mind, a montage of raised voices, accusatory stares, and Tae Hyun’s heartbroken expression. He hadn’t seen Tae Hyun since waking up, having slept in one of the suite’s spare bedrooms, using the space as a physical barrier against the words he feared he’d regret. He’d been a jerk. A jealous fool. He knew it. But the raw sting of betrayal refused to fade.
Jason glanced at the phone sitting on the treadmill’s control panel. The urge to call Naomi was almost overwhelming. She was the one constant in his chaotic life, the voice of reason he desperately needed, especially when it came to matters of the heart. But things were different now. He’d already dumped an avalanche of responsibility on her shoulders. Did he really have the right to ask for help with his love life anymore?
But the temptation was too much. Jason snatched up the phone, his fingers jabbing at the screen to find Naomi’s number. A conversation, that’s all he needed. A moment of clarity. A break from his own damn pride. With a heavy sigh, he pressed the call button, the ringtone an alarm bell echoing in his ear.
“What’s wrong?” Naomi’s brisk, sharp tone caught Jason by surprise.
Jason snorted, hoping it sounded casual. “What makes you think something’s wrong? Can’t I just call to check in?”
“Are you kidding?” Naomi’s laughter sliced through his false nonchalance like only she could do. “You’ve been avoiding me like a ghosted hookup for days now. You wouldn’t call unless something was up. Just tell me what it is so I can deal with it and get back to my dinner. ”
“Alright, fine.” Jason raked his fingers through his sweat-dampened hair. “I met Ren last night.”
“Ah.” Naomi’s knowing pause spoke volumes. “Lemme guess. You tore him a new one, and it pissed off Tae Hyun.”
Jason scoffed at how easily she could read him, even over the phone. “What the hell, Naomi?”
“Okay, then tell me I’m wrong.”
Jason groaned, grabbing his sweat towel to mop his brow. “Okay, fine. But it’s more than that. It’s–” He paused, swallowing his words before sharing that Ren had tried to kiss Tae Hyun. That wasn’t his story to tell. “He’s just off. Something about him doesn’t feel right.”
“And this isn’t jealousy talking?” Naomi’s skeptical tone grated.
“Since when have I ever let jealousy get in the way of my relationship with Tae Hyun?” Jason countered, his voice rising. “Besides, I trust Tae Hyun implicitly.”
“That’s a fair point,” Naomi conceded. “Then what is it?”
Jason stepped off the treadmill, his restless energy needing a new outlet. He started to pace before the giant window overlooking the Taipei skyline. “It’s a feeling, I guess. But that’s not even the problem. When I started questioning Ren about who leaked the photos, Tae Hyun took his side.” He bitterly laughed. “He told me to back off.”
“Ah. So it is jealousy.”
“No!” Jason protested. “That’s not what I–”
“Jealousy is a cunning foe, Jason.” Naomi’s voice softened, becoming almost motherly. “It’ll come at you from directions you never expect. In your case? It’s because you expected Tae Hyun to take your side, but he didn’t.”
“But he should’ve taken my side!” Jason knew he was getting loud but didn’t care. “That’s what we do.”
“It’s what you’ve done, yeah. But Tae Hyun isn’t you. He’s his own person.” Naomi sighed. “Listen, honey. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear. But you wouldn’t have called me if you didn’t think you needed to hear it.”
A heavy silence descended, broken only by Jason’s heartbeat pounding against his temples. He slowed his pace, the anger simmering down to a dull ache. “So what do I do?” he finally asked.
“First,” Naomi said, “take a breath. This isn’t the end of the world. And second–” She paused as if carefully choosing her words. “Try seeing it from Tae Hyun’s perspective. He’s been through a lot lately. Maybe he’s just trying to protect a new friend.”
“But what if Ren’s involved somehow?” The words burst out of Jason, raw and unfiltered. “What if there’s something more going on?”
“Then you talk to Tae Hyun about it,” Naomi replied, unwavering. “Honestly, openly. No accusations, no ultimatums. Just listen to him, hear him out. And trust him. You said it yourself. You trust him implicitly. So act like it.”
Jason paused, staring at the nearby skyscrapers and the bright blue sky beyond. “Okay.” The word was heavy, weighted down with his reluctant acceptance. “Okay, I can do that. Hey, since I got you, how’s everything going there?”
“Well, it’s funny you should ask. After your little pep talk yesterday, I realized there really was something I could do about the contract issue. So, I’m doing it.”
Jason snorted. “That’s nice and vague.”
“Sorry. I’m acting on a hunch, so I’m just sparing you the details for now. I’ll tell you more once I have a better idea of what’s happening.”
Jason grabbed a pristine white towel from the stack next to the equipment and wiped the sweat from his brow again. “Okay. I trust you. But I should go. Talk to you later, Ms. Bell.”
The hot shower did little to soothe Jason’s troubled mind. He quickly dressed and went downstairs, Naomi’s words echoing in his head. Trust, understanding, and seeing things from Tae Hyun’s perspective. Easier said than done, especially when his gut still screamed betrayal. But he had an idea about that, too .
Morning light bathed the penthouse in a golden glow, the city sprawling below with the bright promise of a new day. Tae Hyun sat at the dining table, already dressed and sipping a cup of coffee while he ignored a half-eaten bowl of yogurt and granola. Someone had set out a spread of fruit and pastries. Probably more of Mina’s meticulous planning.
Seeing Tae Hyun, his expression carefully guarded, almost made Jason give up. The walls were back up, fortified by a night of silence and unspoken resentment. But the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers restlessly tapped against the table, betrayed his inner turmoil. Jason hated feeling like he was walking on eggshells. But he knew it was partly his fault.
“Morning,” Jason cautiously said. He took the seat opposite Tae Hyun, eyeing the steaming coffee pot. “The coffee any good?”
It was a weak attempt at small talk–a desperate bid to break through the icy barrier that had risen between them. But Jason needed a starting point, a crack in Tae Hyun’s walls, to return to the trust they had shared so fiercely.
Tae Hyun nodded, his gaze fixated on the dark liquid in his cup. “It’s okay.” He took another sip before carefully placing the cup in its saucer as a punctuation mark to his answer. “How was your run?”
No offer to pour for Jason. And no mention of the fact that they’d slept in separate beds. The distance between them was hard to ignore. But it was a start. “The gym was a little stuffy,” Jason replied, reaching for the coffee pot and pouring himself a cup. “What’s our schedule for today?”
Tae Hyun’s eyes briefly narrowed. Jason probably would’ve missed it if he hadn’t been paying extra attention. “My schedule,” he replied, emphasizing the my , “is a sound check at noon while they set up the stage. We’ll do warm-ups after that, then the show.”
It had been a long time since Tae Hyun had so thoroughly shut him out like that. Jason almost laughed. But he also saw the tension in Tae Hyun’s jaw. He was holding back a lot of emotions behind that stony-faced facade. “Great. Then we’ve got some time to talk.”
Tae Hyun’s head snapped up, a shadow of anger or hurt briefly crossing his face. “I’m not sure what else–”
“I’m sorry,” Jason interrupted, surprising himself with the swiftness of his apology. “I let my feelings get in the way of reason. It doesn’t matter if I’m right or not. I shouldn’t have gone in so hard on Ren like that.”
Tae Hyun’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He seemed momentarily speechless, his guarded expression softening as his shoulders relaxed a fraction.
“And,” Jason said, using the silence to continue, “I’m also sorry I forgot to give you this.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box he’d dug from his luggage after getting dressed. He slid it across the table.
Frowning, Tae Hyun stared at the box with a mix of curiosity and confusion. His curiosity won out as he reached for it. Then his face lit up as he opened it. “Hyung!” He carefully pulled out a silver chain bracelet with a delicate blue charm. “You found it!”
Jason nodded, a smile touching his lips. He’d searched the house for hours, only to discover it under the nightstand on Tae Hyun’s side of the bed. “I meant to give it to you when I arrived, but–” He frowned. “Well, you know.”
Tae Hyun quickly jumped from his chair, rounded the table, and threw his arms around Jason. “Thank you,” he gushed, burying his face in Jason’s shoulder. “I never thought I’d see this again.” He kissed Jason’s cheek. “But don’t think I’m done being mad at you just because of this.”
“I would never,” Jason confessed with a dark chuckle. “Considering I’m still mad at you.”
Tae Hyun quietly huffed, lifting off Jason and settling against the table beside him. “So, what do we do about this? I already apologized to you, but I’ll do it again if it helps.”
Jason shook his head. “It’s not that.” He covered Tae Hyun’s hand with his own, absently tracing a circle with his thumb. “I think–” He shook his head. What did he think? Doubt gnawed at him, an unfamiliar ache of uncertainty. He prided himself on his decisive nature and his ability to cut ties with anyone who crossed him. But the thought of losing Tae Hyun was a pain he couldn’t bear, no matter how badly he might’ve felt betrayed. And he loved Tae Hyun too much to cage him or control his happiness. Even if it meant sharing him with someone else. “I don’t know. I know how much you’ve wanted to make friends and find someone who understands you. If you think Ren can be that for you, and he treats you right, then I’d never stand in your way.”
Tae Hyun frowned, narrow-eyed, as he considered Jason’s statement. “And if he doesn’t?”
Jason shrugged. “Then I’ll make him wish he was never born.”
Tae Hyun’s frown deepened. “Hyung, you can’t solve every problem like that.”
“Yeah.” Jason gently squeezed Tae Hyun’s hand. “But I could solve that problem like that.”
Tae Hyun sighed, gently pulling his hand from Jason’s before taking hold of it and lightly massaging the knuckles with his thumb. “I know. You’ve done that for me every time I’ve needed it. But I don’t want you to think I can’t take care of myself.”
“I would never,” Jason repeated, fully meaning it. Tae Hyun was one of the most capable, strong-willed people he knew. “But I’ve seen you get hurt too many times. I can’t just sit back and let it happen again.”
Tae Hyun elaborately frowned, drawing his brows together. “If it comes to that, hyung, I can handle myself just fine.”
Jason quietly chuckled. “Oh, I know. I saw that with my own eyes.” He caught Tae Hyun’s gaze, letting himself get drawn deep into his lovely brown eyes. “But you don’t have to. Because you have me.”
Tae Hyun slowly nodded, his frown fading as his expression softened. “Alright.” He allowed a small smile to grace his lips. “If you apologize to Ren, I’ll let it go.”
Jason scoffed. “Seriously?”
“Hyung–”
Jason huffed. “Alright, fine.”
Tae Hyun leaned forward, his lips pressing against Jason’s in a sweet, tender kiss that tasted faintly of coffee. The tension in Jason’s shoulders immediately eased. “Good,” he murmured against Jason’s mouth. “Now, eat your breakfast while I go get ready.”
The kiss lingered, a symbol of peace and a fragile truce. Jason watched as Tae Hyun slipped away, the tightness in his chest easing for a precious moment. He picked at the remnants of his breakfast, the flavors now a dull echo compared to the warmth of Tae Hyun’s lips.
A short time later, as the shiny black SUV pulled up to the Xinyi Dome, a different sort of tension replaced Jason’s earlier unease. The atmosphere outside the venue crackled with a palpable hostility. A crowd had gathered, their faces contorted in anger, their fists pumping the air as they waved signs condemning Tae Hyun’s “immoral” behavior.
Jason’s temper surged. He hadn’t anticipated a protest, not in Taipei. His protective instincts flared, an almost welcome rage surging beneath the surface. He glanced at Tae Hyun, but his boyfriend’s face was a mask of stoic determination. It was a look Jason knew well–the one he wore when he was bracing himself for a fight.
“What the hell?” Jason spat.
Seong Hyeon, ever vigilant, spoke without taking his eyes off the road. “Protestors, sir. They’ve been gathering for the past hour. Local authorities are monitoring the situation.”
Jason scoffed, a bitter taste in his throat. “Monitoring? These assholes are waving around signs calling Tae Hyun a degenerate, and they’re just monitoring ?” His hands tightened into fists. His simmering anger threatened to boil over.
“What about the fans?” Tae Hyun asked. “Are the protesters giving my fans any trouble?”
Seong Hyeon shook his head, his gaze unwavering as he maneuvered through the thickening traffic. “My brother’s coordinating with the venue’s security team to keep the protesters clear of the main entrances.”
Tae Hyun nodded, apparently reassured. Jason usually would’ve had the same confidence in Seong Min, but his hair-trigger temper was too close to being set off.
“What about–”
Crack! Jason flinched as something–a rock?–glanced off his window, leaving a small chip in the blackout coating. “Seong Hyeon! ”
Without hesitation, Seong Hyeon floored the gas pedal. The SUV surged forward, weaving around the lead vehicle in their procession to speed toward the arena’s loading zone entrance.
“Hyung?” Tae Hyun asked, sharp with worry. “What was that?”
“I don’t know.” Jason squeezed his hand. The warmth of Tae Hyun’s touch was a grounding force in his emotional storm. “Probably just a rock.” He leaned in as Seong Hyeon took the final turn at speed, then lurched forward as the SUV screeched to a halt.
“Shit,” Carlos muttered from the front passenger seat. “More of them.”
“Run them down,” Jason bitterly growled.
“Hyung–”
“I know, I know.” Jason huffed. “We can’t actually run them over.”
“No, hyung,” Tae Hyun anxiously replied. “You need to calm down. You’re hurting my hand.”
Jason let go and yanked his hand away. “Oh god. I’m so sorry! I–”
“It’s fine,” Tae Hyun assured him, his hand finding Jason’s and gently pulling it back. “We can’t let them get to us. We still have a show to put on.” The words were a simple statement of fact, but the unspoken message was clear. We’re in this together.
A squad of uniformed security personnel–or perhaps Taipei police–soon appeared, swiftly pushing the protestors back from the gate and clearing a path for the SUVs. The angry shouts became muffled as the vehicle finally entered the loading dock, the heavy metal door sealing out the chaos.
Flanked by Carlos and Seong Hyeon, an imposing wall of muscle, Jason and Tae Hyun navigated the maze of corridors within the Xinyi Dome. A symphony of movement and sound surrounded them–the thrum of loaders moving equipment, the chatter of technicians, the clang of metal against metal–but it did little to quell the tension in Jason’s chest.
Mina waited for them just inside the arena, her usual warm smile replaced by a tight-lipped expression of concern. “Sorry about all that,” she offered as a clipped apology. “We usually get a heads-up about protests, but this one came out of nowhere.”
“It’s alright,” Tae Hyun assured her before Jason could unload his rage on an undeserving person. “As long as they don’t interfere with the fans.”
“They won’t,” Mina confidently replied. “This is a sold-out show, so the venue is taking things very seriously. Now, your dressing room’s ready. You’ve got about an hour before you’re due onstage for your soundcheck.”
As they followed Mina down a crowded corridor, a figure burst from a side door, nearly colliding with them. It was Ren, his face flushed with excitement. His eyes sparkled with an almost manic energy as he looked up from his phone.
“Tae Hyun! Did you see them?” Ren exclaimed, gesturing vaguely towards the outside world. “It’s insane! They’re actually protesting us!”
Jason immediately bristled. Just last night, Ren had sobbed about the damage this could do to his career. Now, he was reveling in it? Was it an act, or was Ren truly that thoughtless? Jason fought to maintain his composure, reminding himself of his earlier promise. He would observe and gather information but not lash out.
Tae Hyun seemed unfazed by Ren’s outburst. He calmly nodded. “We did. Did you have any trouble getting in? ”
Ren shook his head, his playful grin momentarily replaced by a frown. “No. There wasn’t anybody at the loading dock when we arrived. Did you?”
“A little,” Tae Hyun admitted. “But I’m more worried about the fans.”
Ren’s expression turned serious. “Oh, yeah. I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“Everything’s fine,” Mina assured them both. “Trust me.”
Ren’s smile quickly reappeared. “Okay, great! Then, I should–”
“Ren,” Jason interrupted, reminding him that he was there. He was tempted not to say anything, but he’d made a promise to Tae Hyun. He took a deep breath, forcing a neutral tone. “I owe you an apology for last night. I was out of line and shouldn’t have said some of those things.”
Ren’s eyes flickered to Tae Hyun, then back to Jason. “It’s fine.” He shrugged, his attention already back on his phone as he scrolled through a flurry of notifications. “I’m good.”
Ren’s dismissive response was a slap in the face. Jason’s jaw clenched, but he held his tongue. He would play nice, for now, if only for Tae Hyun’s sake. “Okay, good.”
Mina diplomatically stepped between them, her calm smile a gentle nudge. “We should get you to your dressing room, Tae Hyun.” She guided them towards a door marked with a star and a printed sign that said Woo Tae Hyun in Hangul. “Your dancers should be here any minute, so I’ll round them up. Call if you need anything.”
Tae Hyun offered a grateful smile as he opened his dressing room door. “Thanks, Mina.”
Once inside, the door safely closed and locked behind them, Jason felt the tension in his shoulders finally easing. Tae Hyun, still smiling, reached for Jason’s hands, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“Thank you, hyung. I know that apology couldn’t have been easy.”
Jason shrugged, trying to downplay the effort. “He didn’t seem all that mad about it.”
“I know. But it meant a lot to me. Thank you.” Tae Hyun leaned in and kissed Jason’s cheek. “Now, I’ve got an hour to get ready.” He gestured toward a nearby clothing rack hung with his concert wardrobe. “Why don’t you help me get dressed?”