“What else?” His color hasn’t gone down.
“Nothing.”
“Jihoon.”
“Because I need the energy,” he mutters.
“For what?”
“You know. Performing.” I say nothing and he huffs. “She said I need to stay strong to keep you happy.”
I watch in astonishment as the flush travels to the tips of his ears, turning them fuchsia. He won’t look me in the face, and this shyness from a man who can eye fuck an arena of fans into a screaming mass is hilarious. I take pity on him and change the topic. “How long is the break you’re getting today?”
He almost pouts. “Until ten tonight.”
“Oh.” That’s not long.
“I’m due back for practice because of the concert,” he says as if in apology.
I look at him carefully. “Have you been eating?” He’s skin, muscle, and bone, and his jawline is much sharper. I had noticed last night but had put it down to the lighting.
“Comeback,” he says. “We all lose weight. It’s expected.”
“That’s not healthy.” He’s as streamlined as a greyhound.
“Not at all healthy. It’s the industry.”
“How long can you keep this up? Performing, I mean?” I already hold my back when I have to bend over.
“A good question.” He glances down at himself. “I don’t know. StarLune debuted ten years ago. We’re veterans but not superhuman.”
“What comes after being an idol?”
“I could host a variety show,” he says. “Act in a drama or shift into full-time producing. Songwriting.”
“That seems like a better match than variety shows.” I hesitate. “Your songs are incredible.”
His eyebrows lift. “You listened to manufactured K-pop?”
I wrinkle my nose at being deservedly called out. “I was wrong.”
He laughs. “An unexpected but appreciated vote of confidence.”He comes over and tucks himself into the chair beside me. I lean into him, taking physical satisfaction in his closeness.
“Now, tell me why you are in Seoul stalking idols at parties,” he says.
“I really did think you were a hologram,” I excuse myself as he slides his arm around my back.
“I don’t know how to take that, to be honest.”
“As a compliment. I’m here with Alex to work on some of the North American promotions for bands under Newlight. Not StarLune, though.”
“For how long?”
“A few more days.”
He picks up his phone and brings up the calendar. “The concert is soon, and I’ll have some time off after. Can you stay longer?”
“Ah, I am actually staying longer.”