Candid, adj.

-frank; outspoken; open and sincere; free from reservation

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InStyle magazine had acquired a special tell-all interview with the Nation’s Couple: Taemin and Naeun. They had a chance to do a complete photography session as well as an in-depth interview with them and it was a highly anticipated edition of their magazine.

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When you started your virtual marriage, both of you were chosen because you had no experience of love and dating. How do you feel about first love?

N: I think that it is real. I think that first love is the best form of love because you would experience many firsts with that person. I liked Oppa more because there were many things that I was able to try because I was “married” to him.

T: I’m like that too. First love is more memorable because, like it says, it is the first. I don’t think you ever forget the first time you do anything. Isn’t that why all firsts are significant? It’s like a rite of passage, and love, is one of the happiest things that you can go through.

You met as a “married couple” on a variety show. Do you think the title of marriage suited your situation and what is it like to film this type of variety show, compared to others?

T: Instead of marriage, it was more like dating. I mean, we didn’t do anything that married people do. It was funny because everything happened backwards for us. It was like we got married, then we divorced, and then we started dating. I don’t know. I just find that really funny.

N: I think that you go into a variety show to entertain people, but ‘We Got Married’ is different in the sense that you are given that title to be “married” to someone, and, besides being funny, it should show what happens in a relationship.

T: It’s also hard, because when you put people together, it either turns out really wrong or really right. When it comes to chemistry, even if it turns out to be friendship, you can’t fake that. That’s why, I think that in ‘We Got Married’, it’s hard not to develop some kind of feelings towards the other person, even if it is just friendly. I mean, look at me, I got this pretty girl next to me to be my girlfriend!

N: He was persistent and he was patient. He broke down all my walls!

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The photo shoot was to be held in the Philippines. Taemin and Naeun were performing as special guests at a k-pop concert in the country and InStyle jumped at the opportunity to do the shoot overseas. They had allowed Taemin and Naeun to choose their own concept and they came up with ‘memorable outdoor dates’. The first location was going to be in the Manila Bay area at sunset. They had photographs of them sitting by the bay with Naeun’s head leaning on Taemin’s shoulder, them walking arm in arm, eating some street food and ice cream and even getting a ride on the kalesa (horse-drawn carriage).

“Waaa…it’s a carriage!”

“Let’s go on it…”

They hopped on and went for a ride around the area, getting to see the night views of Manila.Naeun leaned her head on Taemin’s shoulder and sunk into her seat.

“This is nice…”

“It’s like in those fairytales…”

“Yeah…except the carriage isn’t made from a magic onion”

And the carriage was filled with laughter.

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He looks very proud of himself. Then, Taemin-ssi, do you have anything to say to the others who couldn’t break down Naeun-ssi’s walls?

T: No comment. She’s my girl now and that’s all that matters.

Since both of you had no experience, how are you sure that both of you are forever? Have you ever thought of dating other people?

T: Before meeting Naeun, I definitely had thoughts of dating or trying to date. I think that even with a lack of experience, when you meet someone, you have a feeling, I guess. I didn’t have it at first, but after we got closer, you start to do things, that are like symptoms of wanting or knowing that you’ve found that person. There was always this connection between us, and it became stronger once we got to know each other. After meeting her, I only looked at her. I’m a person that only looks at one girl and I also wanted a girl who only looked at me, like a sunflower.

N: I think that love really changes a person for the better. Because of Oppa, I learnt to come out of my shell and express myself more. I’m also the type that when I like someone, I only like them. I’m the type to fully commit to the other person. With Oppa, he was the only one I saw.

What kind of symptoms? Maybe, you have this insight into relationships?

T: Key Hyung, will laugh at this. He might think I’m trying to take his place as the love coach. Ahh…so funny! Mmmm…I guess you start to think about the future a lot. And when I thought about my future, somehow, it always involved Naeun. Even if we were tired, we’d make time for each other. I bought an apartment for her. Even though I said I would never do these things, I completely did a 360 degree turn and started saying cheesy things, and wanting to make her smile…

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The next location was on a yacht. They had various shots of them holding hands as they walked on to the boat. There was a shot of Taemin pretending to drive as Naeun watched him. And there was a shot of them sitting down on the seats on the sides of the boat as they looked out into the ocean.

During their break, Taemin had an idea.

“Naeun-ah…illiwa…”

He moved her so that she would be standing in front of him, then lifted her hands and hugged her from behind. Naeun chuckled and turned around slightly to hit him on the shoulder.

“Oppa…You really want to do the Titanic?”

“Wae? We haven’t done it before…”

“Ahrasso…”

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Do you ever wish that you two were normal people? What is it like to juggle idol life with a relationship?

N: At first, I wanted to be a normal person. It’s hard to date in secret. You have to plan things and be very aware and careful of your surroundings. Especially since SHINee was a senior to APINK, you have to be careful about scandals and you have to be considerate of fans. Of course, you can’t please everyone, but sometimes, especially since I was so inexperienced with dating and so young, the comments really get to you. But after a while, you get used to it and you learn to deal with it. Schedules are hard because you have to be professional when it comes to your job and so, sometimes, your personal life has to take a back seat, but when I got to see Taemin Oppa again, time was precious and we would try to make the best of everything.

T: It’s kind of like survival. You have to deal with everything that’s thrown at you, but in time, you get better and you improve. Everyone knows that we broke up for about a year, but I think that it was a good opportunity for both of us to prioritise and become better and more mature people. It also made getting back together all the more sweeter, because we missed each other so much.

Were there ever any problems within your group or between members because of your relationship?

T: For the both of us, I think we’re lucky because we have really supportive members. We get teased a lot, but you know that they care about you. They try to help you in situations too…

What was the turning point in your relationship? Was there a moment for both of you when you realised that the feelings were real?

N: I realised that my feelings were real during the show, but it wasn’t until we filmed the last episode that I had the courage to tell him. I think it was the fact that it was goodbye that made me realise I wanted to be in a relationship with Oppa.

T: The night before filming, I actually called her and told her that I loved her. She didn’t answer me until the next day. It’s quite funny. A lot of people were commenting on how real we seemed. It’s because we were real. Like some of them said, I couldn’t act. I’m a very transparent person, and you can tell my feelings just by looking at me. But, we got together during the last filming day.

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The final location was in Palawan. Taemin and Naeun utilised this time well to play on the beach instead of focusing on the photo shoot. It was fine because most of the shots that the photographer took were of them enjoying themselves. It was the most natural and the most romantic. There were shots of them picking out fruit at the local market to make their own juice, shots of them playing in the water, lying on the beach, holding hands, even a stolen moment of sharing a kiss.

“Oppa…look!”

Naeun pointed to a boy who was climbing up a tree to get some coconuts.

“I can do that too…”

Naeun gave him a sceptical look.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

“Do it!”

“There has to be a reward for me…”

“Yeah…fresh coconuts!”

“Something else…”

He pointed to his lips and made a duck face.

“Call!”

He ran over as she stayed seated on the beach. She saw him ask for some pointers from the boy that had climbed up and attempted to do it himself. She watched him get five steps up, and then miss a step and fall to the ground. She laughed but then rushed over. He was still lying down with his eyes closed when she came over. The boy spoke up.

“I think he needs CPR…”

Naeun saw Taemin’s eyes peek open when the boy spoke, and realised it was just a ploy to get her to kiss him. She gave in and gave him a peck to which he fully woke up. The boy then handed them the coconuts he had gotten and they thanked him. As they were walking back, Taemin said something.

“See…told you I could do it…”

“You didn’t…you fell…”

“Yeah…but I got a kiss from you…”

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What did you think about people’s reactions to your relationship? Or what made you decide to reveal your relationship?

N: Reactions were expected. Either you love it or you hate it or you didn’t care. It wasn’t a surprise but it was interesting that we were on the top of the search lists for about a week.

T: We got caught on a date. Like what we said to our CEO’s, if we lied about our relationship and then revealed it later, which would be like a betrayal to fans. It was better to reveal it and be honest, than lie. It also gave us the freedom to be seen in public together without any scandals erupting.

What do you see in your future, as individuals and as a couple?

T: Longevity as a performer and marriage. Right?

N: Right.

That was a very definite answer.

T: Like I said, you start to think about these things. And I believe that when you get into a relationship, it’s for the long haul. It’s a relationship that begins with the thought of marriage in the future.

Who is the hopeless romantic? What is the most romantic date or event that you’ve done for each other?

N: I’m the hopeless romantic.

T: She wanted to be a vampire.

N:Yah!

T: It’s true though…

N: Most romantic thing? There’s too many to count…

T: Let’s just say, we’re a very cheesy couple that likes to do all those clichéd couple things…

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They spent their last day in Manila going to the amusement park near the Mall of Asia. Naeun had suggested it when they saw the large ferris wheel called the MOA Eye. They got on the ferris wheel, contented, and thinking back to their first date at Wolmido Park. This time, they didn’t care that inside was hot, they were just happy to be together. When they reached the top, Taemin asked her a question, thinking to relive their first time on the ferris wheel.

“You know…in the ferris wheel…in dramas…they do that…”

Naeun didn’t hesitate this time.

“Like this?”

She leaned over and kissed him. When they pulled back, both had large grins on their faces.

“Exactly what I was thinking…”

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Do you believe in fate?

T&N: Yes.