Locked Away

•40•

Hakyeon's POV

Arriving at the venue for NCT's performance still gives me butterflies even though I'm not performing.

It is day 12 and I'm still fanboying over what goes on backstage. Being Yuta and Jaehyun's manager gives me an all pass to everything that happens with them.

It's a really good experience. I just wish Hongbin was here to enjoy it with me. He would love it.

It hurts me to think that if that fan never got those photos, maybe Hongbin would be back stage at Hyuk's concerts.

But that will never happen all because of that one person who decided to ruin their idols career.

"Hakyeon can you please deal with the mics?" One of the staff members ask me and I nod before jogging into the main room back stage.

On three long white tables, evenly spaced out are the microphones. Each one has different initials. The members get specific ones.

I proceed to call out the members names and help each one to put on their mics.

"Yuta!" I fall out and the boy rushes over to me with a huge smile on his face.

"Hold this" I hand him the microphone and run the cords down to the server which has been slipped into his back pocket.

"Your not using a belt?" I ask him and he shrugs. "I don't usually for this song. It seems to sit fine in my back pocket."

"Your performing for nearly three hours. You may need a belt thing" I don't let him argue any further as I grab one from the box beneath the table.

I give it to him and no words need to be shared as he lifts his shirt up and clips it on.

"That's much better" I finish setting up his mic and he places a hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

"You'll be okay" he says as though he is trying to comfort me. "I am fine. I don't know what your trying to say."

He sighs heavily and lowers his arm.
"During the interval, go outside and wait near the entrance. Okay?"

"Why? What's happening?" I look at him, confused and he just looks at the last microphone to go. He calls out for Jaehyun and heads off to do the sound check.

Jaehyun walks over and he keeps a straight expression as I set up his microphone.

"Thanks" he mutters when I finish. He smiles sadly at me before heading up onto the stage.

I hang back and take a seat on the lounge in behind the tables.

Now I just sit back and watch the little screen as they perform.

—

The interval soon arrives and just as I was told to, I head to the entrance. There aren't too many people around. Most of the fans have stayed in their seats.

After waiting for 15 minutes, I go to head back inside but someone grabs my arm.

I turn to see Hongbin smiling at me.
"What are you doing here?" I exclaim as he wraps his arms around me tightly.

"I came here to see you" he says and steps back. "Let's sit down yeah?"

I follow him to a bench that is placed conveniently near the entrance to the hall.

"What's been happening?" I ask him as we sit down. He smiles and looks up at the sky.

"I came here to talk about you Hakyeon. We can focus on me later."