SHINING STAR
The plane they're riding is about to land. He can already see the panoramic view of Seoul with its high buildings and busy roads, people are everywhere doing their own thing, walking down the road with no concern for their image at all, unlike him, unlike all of the idols he knows. He is part of SHINee, a five member idol group. He is Kibum to his family and friends, and Key to show business and fans. Unlike normal people, all their actions are scrutinized by the public eye. One false move and the entire group will be ruined.
How long has it been? Three years? Or is it four years already? It's been so long, he's dead tired with all the attention. The camera's flashes hold no glitter to him anymore. He wants to escape to this world of pretentions and just be Kibum, a normal guy in a normal world.
The stirring of the man beside him broke his reverie, it's their leader Onew. He's been asleep as soon as the plane took off from Jeju Island. Typical of him to sleep when he's tired, to eat when he's hungry, for him life is not complicated it is the people who complicates things.
"Are we there yet?" he asked sleepily trying to open his eyes from the blinding light of the afternoon sunshine that comes through the small window of the plane.
"Yes, we'll be landing any time now, have you had a good sleep?"
"Uh-hmm", then he lean his entire frame against me.
"It's really comfortable having you beside me Key," he said.
I didn't respond, ever since their trainee days Onew would often call him Key, not Kibum but Key. For him that name is too foreign. It wasn't him it's the different side of him that has no right to argue or feel pain. He is a celebrity he knows the show business inside and out. He's not naïve how some of his fellow celebrity would cross the line just to earn money and fame. It's not appealing to him anymore.
He want out, he want to escape even for a day.
"What are you thinking?" Onew asked, I felt rather than see that he was looking at me intently.
"I'm thinking of going somewhere to unwind, one week is enough I guess," I answered sarcastically with a smirk on my face.
"Really, do you mind if I come?"
The respond is so like him, very easy going.
"But it will be ages before we can do that, we still have promotions, T.V. guesting."
"We should ask manager about it," he replied cutting my sentence.
"Don't worry it'll be fine, I'm sure he'll help us have that one week vacation," he added smiling widely.
As soon as they arrived, all the fans went crazy. Flashes of camera are everywhere although all of them are tired they smiled and waved back to them. They left the crowded entrance of the airport and headed to Inkigayo stage where they'll be performing their latest comeback album Sherlock.
After a few rehearsals, the director asked them to stay for a while for the last comments and instructions. He and Jonghyun are quite close, that's why whenever Jonghyun would hug or hold his hand it doesn't matter to him anymore. On the contrary Onew's hands around his waist and his warm body against him is different story. He can smell his manly scent and any minute now he would be intoxicated by that erotic scent that sent shivers down his spine. To be able to save himself from shame he immediately unclamped Onew's hands around him. He looked up to Onew's face, wrong move. He's looking back to him as if he can read what feelings he could arouse to him. He's not even aware that Onew is looking at his slightly parted lips. Same intense desire crossed his eyes. He can feel his breathing on his face and knew in that instant that he would give him a kiss. He was about to close his eyes anticipating the kiss but Taemin chooses the moment to give bottled water to everyone.
Whew that was close, he immediately moved farthest from Onew to give himself time to breath. He took a quick glance to him and saw him smiling.
Hell and damnation, what is this effin' feeling?