Beyond the Spotlight | Volume: 1

2

Pushing open the door, his shoulders slumped, Seonghwa said, 'Finally, we're home.'" He dropped his bag by the door and kicked off his shoes.

Hongjoong followed behind, rubbing his neck. "That was a long day. But the fans were amazing, as always." He smiled tiredly.

Seonghwa collapsed onto the couch. "Yeah, they really give us energy, even when we're exhausted," he said, pausing for a moment. "But right now, I just want to lie here and not move for a week."

Hongjoong laughed softly. "I know what you mean." He joined Seonghwa on the couch, leaning back and closing his eyes. "I think my voice is gone from all the talking and singing."

Seonghwa glanced at Hongjoong. "Want some tea? It might help soothe your throat."

Hongjoong nodded. "That sounds perfect. Thanks, Seonghwa."

Seonghwa got up with a groan and headed to the kitchenette. "You know, despite how tiring these fanmeets are, I wouldn't trade them for anything. The fans' smiles, their stories... It's all worth it."

Hongjoong opened his eyes, watching Seonghwa. "I agree. It's those moments that remind us why we do this." He smirked. "Plus, seeing you trying to do aegyo for the fans was priceless."

Seonghwa laughed while boiling water for the tea. "Hey, I tried my best! But I think you won them over with your dance moves."

Grinning, Hongjoong said, "Well, I do have my charm." He leaned back, stretching his arms. "But honestly, it's all about connecting with them. Each one of them has their own story, and it's a privilege to be a part of their lives."

Seonghwa poured hot water into cups. "True." He brought the tea over, handing a cup to Hongjoong. "Here's to more moments like today, and to always doing our best for them."

"Cheers to that," Hongjoong said, raising his cup. He sipped his tea. "And cheers to us, for making it through another day."

"Cheers," Seonghwa responded, clinking his cup with Hongjoong's.

After a moment of silence, with a soft smile, Hongjoong said, "Thanks for being my partner in this journey, Seonghwa."

Smiling back, Seonghwa replied, "Always, Hongjoong. Always."

The two sat in comfortable silence, sipping their tea and enjoying the peace of their shared space, their bond as friends and idols stronger than ever.

The next day, Hongjoong and Seonghwa made their way to Mr Kim's office, in order to talk about an important matter at hand.

Mr. Kim glanced up from his papers, his expression serious. "I've got some news for you two," he began, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Regarding the promotion of your new song at Music Bank."

Hongjoong leaned forward, eager. "What is it?"

Mr. Kim sighed. "They've informed us that if we want to secure a prime slot for your performance, we'll need to pay a substantial promotion fee."

Seonghwa's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? We have to pay to promote our song?"

Mr. Kim nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. It's becoming more common in the industry. They claim it's to cover production costs and ensure fairness, but it really puts smaller groups at a disadvantage."

Hongjoong frowned, his enthusiasm dampened. "How much are we talking about?"

Mr. Kim handed them a sheet of paper with the details. "It's not cheap. We're looking at several thousand dollars."

Seonghwa's frustration was palpable. He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "This is ridiculous. We've worked so hard on this song, and now we have to pay just to get it heard?"