Chapter Text
People just didn’t know better than to be nosy bastards. It had always been that way. They happened to — pathetically— thrive off the idea of being better than anyone, really.
Endless comparisons of whose kid achieved what, of who got what promotion, what education.
And the bragging, oh the bragging. The boasting about the most insignificant achievements. Everyone who belonged to mankind had an ego complex like that. To paint themselves a little brighter, fake a little more status, more riches, more happiness.
The grass is always greener on the other side — but that doesn’t stop up from trying to make it wither. Extra sun-exposure usually did the trick; grass would dry and die out in no time.
It gave the same effect as placing a hot, scorching spotlight on humans.
Picking them apart, criticizing them until they broke.
Humans were fragile that way.
Famous boy group N3W RULES was on the rise. A monster of a debut stage, versatile concepts and a threesome of gods — not literally, but Michelangelo’s sculptures were disappointments next to their visuals. Talent, looks, personality; a killer combo.
And as with anything that seemed glorious, the commoners wanted to see dirt on it. Scandals, dark pasts, secrets, the people were greedy to know. They wanted proof that these idols — these untouchable beings — were just as pathetic and human as they were.
The group consisted of three members, Taehyun had learned through research. Choi Yeonjun, Choi Beomgyu and Huening Kai, the youngest. This was the most he’d been willing to do. He wouldn’t have to deal with them after that, only to stir up a little — big — fuss.
They’d debuted a little over two years ago, which meant they were no longer rookies. And that meant that the dating ban was lifted. It was a pot of boiling drama waiting to overflow.
That was how Kang Taehyun found himself in the field again. Camera secured around his neck, mask hiding his face, hoodie and cap; he was good to go.
The meeting with his boss earlier that day had been as unpleasant as all the other jobs he’d gotten. Commands and orders, ‘do this’, ‘follow that’. His boss reminded him of an angry chihuahua, always barking but never intimidating.
If Taehyun hadn’t been so darn good at his occupation and paid so well, he would’ve quit the moment he could just because of that asshole.
This time the call was to follow Choi Yeonjun, leader of the rising group, and to uncover his mysteries.
Yeonjun’s image was to be a bit of a rule breaker and a wild-child. A laidback, chill dude who did what he wanted. A person who made his own rules.
N3W RULES , ironic, was it not?
Taehyun wasn’t too familiar with the new generation of k-pop boys. He was a devoted Shawol and cried to Shinee’s discography as well as he bopped to it.
N3W RULES had bangers, sure, he’d forfeit, but they weren’t Shinee. No one would become Shinee. He sounded like a cranky second gen stan, but he was biased.
Back pressed against a brick wall he checked the time on his phone. 9.34PM it read in painfully bright letters.
Taehyun banged his head against the bricks with a long groan.
He’d been waiting outside of the group’s dorms for an hour and a half now. He’d wasted an hour and a half of his life he’d never get back in the cold of the night. He might as well leave, but Kang Taehyun was not a loser.
He didn’t believe Yeonjun would be coming out anymore. From what he had gotten — read: stolen, but it was for his work, so he’d blame it on that — he’d been informed N3W RULES had early activities set in the morning. They were amidst preparing for their next album and filming their MVs. They were working hard. They should be exhausted.
Yeonjun would prioritize his sleep, right?
Wrong.
The door creaked louder than an old metal gate and Taehyun wondered how the company even expected them to be discreet. It was like they set off an alarm: He’s here! Our guy is here! He’s going on a date! Get the cameras!
Taehyun readied himself like he was a sniper taking aim. If he imagined himself to be a secret agent, maybe he’d feel a little more hyped about it. He didn’t.
Choi Yeonjun slipped out of the complex, face covered by a mask and hair hidden with a bucket hat.
Taehyun heaved a sigh and raised his camera. He snapped a few quick shots. They were blurry, but netizens dug that type of content, so it would do.
Taehyun wasn’t too surprised to see him out, however. He knew idols were programmed to withstand hectic situations and to run on empty.
His best friend, Choi Soobin, had informed him about the hectic trainee life — not that Taehyun himself was inexperienced in that field. Lessons all day, practice at night. Sleep at three and wake at five.
And all the scolding and nagging and pushing. There had been enough days where Soobin had simply broken down in overwhelm. Taehyun had always been the one to console him. He’d rub his back, let him rant and offer a piece of mind, an outsider’s perspective.
But Soobin was a fighter; he’d return to the company the next day as if nothing had happened and prove everyone just how capable he was.
It paid off, all the blood, sweat and tears; Soobin was now a successful soloist who had fans lining up just to catch a glimpse of his dimples and a tremor of his voice.
Taehyun’s chest swelled with pride, seeing his friend stand on stage, seeing how he’d grown out of his shell and charmed the world as the Nation’s Boyfriend. God, he hated how sappy Soobin made him.
It was an odd combination, for an idol to be friends with the one whose back account got filled by exposing such people’s private lives, but Taehyun had sworn to keep Soobin safe.
Soobin was soft; hate and nasty remarks got to him easily and Taehyun would conquer the world to avenge his friend’s tears and hurt.
But Soobin was careful. Taehyun had warned him about the dangers of the media, pointed out the various spots they liked to hide and lurk. No amount of money would make Taehyun sell out his best friend.
Soobin was careful. He had to be.
Choi Yeonjun moved fast and soundlessly, checking around him left and right. He held his hand to his ear, most likely on the phone with someone.
Taehyun hoped, prayed it was just delivery service, maybe their manager. Yeonjun was probably just out on a late night snack trip to the convenience store. Another snap.
He could fake a story around this.
Taehyun didn’t particularly enjoy being a stalker for a paycheck. He was a person who valued their privacy a tremendous amount; he would hate it if it got revealed against his will. He’d throw a fit about it, sue the companies. But when word got out, people believed what they wanted to.
It felt dirty, money he earned, but a guy’s gotta do what he must in order to survive.
He wondered what he would’ve hated more; sharing his business without consent or being the one sharing other’s business without their consent.
Aim, focus, another snap. He checked the picture.
“Oh, red hair,” he said to himself, seeing the tufts escape from beneath Yeonjun’s hat. “How daring.”
Maybe exposing a hair color would be enough to still the crowds’ hunger and to distract them.
Taehyun was knocked out of his thoughts as Yeonjun rounded a corner.
He pulled down his cap, securing it so it wouldn’t fly off when he got into action. He didn’t have the time to check as his target moved out of his sight.
He was swift, knowing exactly how to be invisible. He’d learned how to make his steps as light as possible, how to sneak up on people; there wasn’t a chance Yeonjun knew he was there.
Yeonjun could crane his neck around all he wanted, but Kang Taehyun was a shadow. He was a ninja. A warrior of the night and more titles cooler than a media employee.
He crept up on the idol, his steps as a feather. He was focused ahead of him, eyes on the price. So invested his surroundings were an afterthought. He knocked over a can.
Swallowing a gasp, Taehyun jumped behind the closest container he could find. Hand pressed to his mouth — to block out the reeking of trash as well —, he peeped around the corner.
Yeonjun had whipped his head backwards, scanning the area like a hawk scanned a field before diving into attack.
Taehyun held his breath. He wasn’t usually the prey, but when the tables turned he could never fail to be extra careful. He’d gotten enough complaints from entertainment companies, bribes, water-to-the-face demands to delete his pictures; he needed to pass the first round before he could get extra cash. His boss didn’t need to know.
Yeonjun’s feet scraped over the tiles, diminishing into sturdy strides.
Taehyun bit his lip, thanking the gods that he was still alright. He hung his head around the corner again, this time to see if the coast was clear. He decided it was better to keep a good distance from Yeonjun; this man was prepared.
The echoes died down; Taehyun’s cue to get his ass moving.
He hoped the spin helping him back up to his feet looked as cool as it felt as he continued his mission.
The alley they’d entered was dark. The buildings were high, the shadows even more so. It looked like it was set in a black and white filter, had it not been for the streaks of yellow and orange escaping from the main road.
Taehyun felt like a creep, if he was to be completely honest with himself. Usually he invaded very private moments defined not meant for the public eye, but then again: a guy’s gotta do what he must.
He picked up his pace to a jog. Where the hell had that guy gone? How the hell did he lose a six foot adult?
He rested his hands in his neck, turning left and right. The street was dark, the streetlights flickering.
Taehyun squirmed. Yeonjun had picked the right place to meet up, had clearly thought it though; no one in their right mind would even think of turning into this street.
But, no one could outsmart Kang Taehyun, or shake him off for that matter.
Yeonjun may have thought to be a few steps ahead of him, but no, he was being naive.
Taehyun thrived off his adrenaline in that moment; his senses were heightened and he was prepared for anything. His alerted state was intense; everything moved faster, was louder and blurry with speed.
Taehyun closed his eyes and sucked in a deep inhale. Once, twice, thrice. He blinked. His mind was cleared again. The nervous tingling and buzzing had left him and the world got its voice back.
Focus, focus . Taehyun stocked his breathing, afraid even that might be audible.
Murmurs. He heard murmurs, coming from his right.
Seeing the area he wanted to slap himself across the face; how had he not thought of checking the side alleys?
Camera readied, he tiptoed into the direction of the sound. His hands felt clammy around the metal, that he feared the device might slip out of his grip. It was expensive, hella expensive. Taehyun couldn’t afford to lose it.
His heart thumped against his ribcage, only rising the discomfort churning his insides. He aimed the shutter around the corner, waiting for the image to clear.
He smirked. “Gotcha.”
Choi Yeonjun, caught red-handed, mystery lover pinned against the wall.
The shutter clicked, image captured.
Taehyun almost blushed at how passionate and intimate the moment was, but he waited it out; if he’d catch the other’s face — a man, it seemed, judging by the physique — he might get a raise.
Yeonjun’s body was covering him, but they were slowing down.
“The excitements of secret dating,” Taehyun chuckled under his breath.
The couple was too invested in their own world for them to even remember that the media was a bunch of sharks, ready to bite at the vulnerable.
Yeonjun cupped the man’s face, breaking them apart. They were still talking, but he was slowly moving away.
Taehyun zoomed in. It would be a million dollar jackpot.
It went as slowly as the moon passing over the sun during an eclipse.
Taehyun patted his fingers against his camera. He was a patient person — or so he liked to believe —, but Choi Yeonjun was being a tease.
It was impossible he didn’t know, if he was moving slower than snails on a summer day. He shifted. Almost, almost, almost.
And then Taehyun’s world collapsed, cracked like a glass knocked off the table.
Taehyun gasped and before his conscience had processed the ordeal his mouth had already screamed, loud and above the honking of cars on the highway.
“Choi fucking Soobin!”