shadows in the spotlight

1

The final notes of Jaehwan's encore echoed through the stadium, the audience's applause reverberating off the walls. Drenched in sweat and high off adrenaline, Jaehwan took a deep bow and thanked his fans.

"Thank you, everyone, for such a wonderful night! I love you, and I'll see you soon!" he shouted through the microphone, his voice hoarse but filled with gratitude. The crowd roared even louder as the spotlight dimmed and the curtains closed. 

Backstage, Sanghyuk patiently waited for his star to come back, a proud smile plastered across his face. He was so proud of Jaehwan, a feeling he knew all too well..

"Jaehwan," Sanghyuk smiled, "you did wonderful!"

Jaehwan, bashfully smiling, leaned against a table and said, "Thanks, Sanghyuk." Sanghyuk handed him a towel, and he quickly wiped the sweat away from his face.

Another successful concert. All the hard work and practice finally paid off. The endless hours of singing, the restless nights full of dancing—it was all over now, at least until his next performance. It wouldn't happen for a while; Jaehwan was taking a brief hiatus from the spotlight to rest and take some time for himself. He had been working non-stop all year, and even Sanghyuk knew it was time to take a break. However, the CEOs—Sanghyuk's parents—kept pushing Jaehwan to start another activity immediately after finishing one. He was the star of their company, the face of it. When people heard the name "Eclipse Entertainment," Jaehwan's face was the first thing that came to mind.

"It's finally time for a break, huh?" Sanghyuk said to Jaehwan, taking the towel from Jaehwan and setting it aside. "Are you still going to be crashing at my place, or will you finally end up sleeping in your bed after god knows how long?" 

Laughing, Jaehwan answered, "I guess it's time for me to head back home and give you your space." He looked up at Sanghyuk's face, who towered over him. "Thanks for letting me crash and for helping me prepare for this. You really are the best manager."

Sanghyuk couldn't help but continue smiling. He was so proud of Jaehwan—as always. He knew how hard Jaehwan pushed himself, and he knew how much his parents pushed Jaehwan as well. The number of arguments he'd had on the side with his parents regarding Jaehwan's activities was outrageous. He hated how they overworked him, and it didn't help that Jaehwan would comply with whatever was asked of him.

"Shut up," Sanghyuk teased, "you're too professional. This is me, remember?"

"Haha, how could I forget?" Jaehwan joked back. "My steady rock, always there to calm me down when the stress gets too much for me to handle."

Sanghyuk took Jaehwan's hand and pulled him upright. His hands were clammy yet so familiar and soft in Sanghyuk's grasp. "Come on, go get your stuff, and I'll take you home."

Jaehwan pouted playfully and gave a cheeky smile. "Take me home? Booooo!" He chuckled as he began walking away. "Maybe one more night?" His eyes gleamed mischievously as he looked back at Sanghyuk. It wasn't that he was afraid of his apartment or avoiding anything at home; Jaehwan just felt more comfortable having Sanghyuk close by.

Sighing, Sanghyuk replied, "Fine." He rolled his eyes and pulled his phone out. "I'll even order food for you."

"Thanks!" Jaehwan grinned, his playfulness infectious. "You're the best!"

As he waited for Jaehwan, Sanghyuk couldn't shake off the messages he'd received from his parents.

[Sounds like our star had another successful performance. Things are looking good on social media. Fans have posted so much and left their happy memories. As to be expected from our most popular idol. Keep us updated. We don't want this break going on for too long. We'll start prepping the concept for his next comeback so we can begin as soon as his break is over.]