hopeful hopelessness

The Red Shoes

I have to apologize for the long absence. I've been to Seoul in the meantime watching SHINee World IV twice and I'm slowly "recovering" ^^. It was such an incredible performance and such an unforgettable experience. I really really hope that all Shawols reading this will get the chance to see SHINee live one day. It's hard to really describe how awesome that is. Seeing them really close up (and I was standing in the first row for one of the concerts) is stunning. They're all tiny ^^, even Minho isn't really tall. But they look exactly what they look like on even the most polished of fashion pictures. They're just plain beautiful. I felt incredibly ugly and old ^^.

So anyway, I'm trying to get back into the flow now and I hope you're still reading and enjoying. Thank you for everything.

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 I don’t know what to say but both Minho and I have to grab Jjong anyway who lurches forward to attack Moon or Song or just run back into the stadium.

“Jjonggie”, I say while wrestling him to the ground, “we need to stay calm and think ... jaebal!”

He goes limp and I help him up.

“What shall I tell them?” he asks fighting back angry tears, “or shall I just sing ‘Can’t leave’.”

A new track has already started. As if to mock us the bomber chose SNDS’s ‘Gee’.

Kibum just counts in and dances but Taemin is too shocked by the latest revelation to follow immediately.

“Come on Taem”, Kibum says softly but still perceptable over the outside speakers, “let’s keep going and give the bomb-squad the time they need to get everybody out safely.”

Are they’re not aware yet that Taemin is not supposed to survive?

We can’t hear Taemin’s reply but Kibum turns away from the camera as our Maknae begins to dance again, stony-faced. He already understood.

“You can’t really expect us to accept this”, Minho says to Moon, agitated, “just standing here watching him die.”

“We need to find the guy. He’s the only one who can neutralize those explosives”, Moon answers, “that’s highest priority right now.”

“Our specialist just arrived”, Song interrupts and then confirms, “we’re not out of options yet.”

“But we need to tell them to give them something to hang on to”, Jjong says.

“You can’t”, Moon hastily replies, “although the guy will expect us to search for him, we shouldn’t give anything else away. “

Moon is right but I’m terribly afraid that Taemin might just want to give up if he is convinced there is no rescue. I can only count on Kibum’s optimism.

I’ve always enjoyed seeing the guys dance to girl-group choreographies and “Gee” is probably my all-time favorite. But right now it hurts more than anything else:

Kibum’s way to flirt with the audience while doing exact copies of the dance-moves has been replaced by a dark and twisted version of the up-beat choreography. He is glaring at the camera probably picturing the bomber watching them, while Taemin looks indifferent. I wonder what’s going on in his head.

A police-officer comes rushing over, a young man with a big metal-case in tow.

“Park Won-Bin”, the guy introduces himself, “I’m here to track the camera signal. Fill me in on the details please.”

“Won-Bin, eh?” Moon says with a smile.

“Yeah, Mom’s a big fan”, the young man answers grinning.

I don’t know why but it feels reassuring that he is cool and calm. He probably knows his job. I draw hope again. Maybe everything will still work out fine.

He unpacks the case and quickly installs the equipment not losing any time.

I revert my eyes to the screen again, when the music stops, only to witness a heart-wrenching scene: Kibum grabs our trembling Maknae who apparently just realized that he won’t be able to go on for much longer. He’s crying. It is such a rare sight that it always gets to me but in the current situation I can hardly bear to watch. My heart is screaming to them not to give up and that there still is hope. But I know I mustn’t do it.

“Everybody, everybody, every everybody ...” it blares out of the speakers.

“God, please no”, Minho says quietly and we helplessly watch Taemin collapsing into Kibum’s arms.

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bella0203
#1
I can't believe I've just found your story now! already finished reading all your story and I love them all
this one is my favorite, I really like taekey as my favorite ship and I can totally imagine kibum would do anything to save taemin
I love the way you wrote and potrayed all members. thank you so much for making this! I hope someday you'll write something like this again :)
aoajisai #2
Chapter 28: I really can't express how much I love this story. Thank you, author-nim for writing this wonderful story. The way you've captured their personalities, their bond...it's just too real.

I have a habit of observing people and what you've written here, what you've said on your thoughts about Key and the members, I've noticed that too. I hope that more and more fans would try to go beyond the visuals and persona being projected to the public. (This goes for any fandom and idols.) To try to understand SHINee better and support each one of them and their activities. To try and separate delusions from reality. Break free from the "Perfect Illusion" (as Lady Gaga would have said it).

I hope nothing like this or something similar happens in the future for SHINee or any idol group. May they be saved from psychotic fans or haters.

Continue writing author-nim! I'd love to read more of your stories. Gambatte!
sonnet_sartori #3
Chapter 28: *-*
i cannot thank you enough for writing this.
the way you wrote the story... your portayal of kibum and taemin..
i cried. i cried like a baby ;_;
my life is super busy.. super chaotic.. super stressing.. to the point that i hate it; but this story took me away from the mess for a bit; thank you for that <3 the plot kept me on my toes! it had me on the edge of my seat *-*
arrghhh i just love this so much :')
KimHaeRa
#4
Chapter 28: This story is really something,you made it look so real. It's really good!
bluestormysky
#5
Chapter 28: Good story, great job authornim
dibidibidis27 #6
Chapter 28: This story is so good. Honestly I really don't like reading fanfics, but I got bored and tried reading one, and yeah I stumbled upon this story, and I fell inlove with this story right away. I can't explain or even put into words how much this story moved and amazed me. Anyways I need to say this, thank you for this amazing story.
MissLocket #7
Chapter 28: Chapter 28: I have to thank you again so much for this amazing story. I enjoyed every moment even if I was scared to keep reading. About Key, I am one of your fans of the roles you had given Key till now because I believe as you that Kibum is a special person, he has something like an inner strenght and clean aura that attracts me in a very particular way. He is the one and only artist I would like to meet and become his friend. I find him extremely smart, interesting, sweet but not too sweet, and more. That's why I like your story so much, because you can put on words how I really think he is. Please keep doing that.
Abhirami #8
Chapter 28: This was a well written story and I enjoyed reading it. I'm an ELF but I like SHINee a lot so here I am. All the things you said about Key I think are really true. He is one of the most interesting person I have ever seen.
Jimmae #9
Chapter 28: I love you. Thank you. :-)