#6  Midnight Sun

The searing summer heat was in full swing.

There was a studio at the basement floor of a particular building in Cheongdam-dong. The sophisticated arrangement of the place caught one’s eye.

Inside, Jong Kook stared at the notes on the five-lined staff trying to put the words to melody. He had decided upon himself to release an 8th album and today marked a month since he had officially started his preparations. The very heart and soul he poured into the work was visible from his intense focus.

A week had passed in that state, living buried amongst the countless songs and sheets. So many melodies swirled inside his heart that his ears rang, so many lyrics floated across his mind that his brain seemed to be permanently imprinted with the words.

“Wow hyung, is this your first time releasing an album or something? Why are you working so hard on it?”

“Did you ever see me not working hard on it?” Jong Kook replied in a deadpan to his manager who seemed intent to as he brought out the snacks.

“Well no, but should I say it feels like a swan song?.... Anyways I’m seeing a passion in this one that I haven’t seen before.”

“Why would you mention swan song here? What swan song.”

“Hyung-nim, let’s be honest here. Anyone would tell you these songs are all practically serenades.”

Actually, receiving songs from well-accomplished composers was not a difficult job for Jong Kook.

But this time, he had hand-picked the songs and discussed quite extensively with the composers about their contents and lyrics. So far he had only managed to pick two songs in the span of the one month. It was such a stark contrast compared to his usual routine.

The manager set the snacks on the nearby table, and picked up the music sheet next to Jong Kook.

It looked like he had put a lot of thought into choosing this particular piece. The title caught his eye as he thumbed through the pages.

“What’s this….. ‘My Love’—”

“Ya, just leave it alone!”

“There’s no lyrics on this. It’s only got a title.”

“I’m going to write them in.”

“Ooh, you’re going to write them yourself hyung?”

“What’s with you? I wrote it last time too.”

“Nothing, I was just saying.”

Jong Kook grumbled as he cleaned up the sheets and pulled out the snacks the other man had bought. They were a late night snack in name only for the menu consisted entirely of vegetables and chicken s. Anyone could tell it was Jong Kook’s own selection of the food.

Gap Jin thought back to the song titled My Love, and wondered if this really was the same hyung he knew.

The manager knew quite well that it was the term of affection that Ji Hyo often called Jong Kook.

He had half-jokingly bothered his charge on multiple occasions to say the words ‘I love you’ to Ji Hyo and every single time Jong Kook had retorted for him to mind his own business.

“But hyung-nim, isn’t it about time you announced your relationship publically?”

“What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“They do say it’s easy to get caught when the tail is too long. You have to face it sooner or later, so wouldn’t it be better to get it over with sooner rather than later whene it could get out of hand?”

A small part of Jong Kook’s mind wanted to follow that advice.

But Running Man was still ongoing, and remained largely popular overseas. He didn’t know when the show would end, but he thought going public with their relationship wouldn’t do either of them any good while the show was still running.

“No, I can’t while Running Man is still going.”

“Hyung-nim, let’s just say Gary will be okay but what about Ji Hyo-noona? I think she’ll be hit pretty badly…”

“I’m worried about her too, that’s why I’m like this right now.”

“But it will be better that way than if a scandal breaks out and you two get swept along with it and get forced to tell the truth outside of your control.”

“Drop it. And don’t say stuff like that from now on.”

“But—” He caught Jong Kook’s eye. “Alright.”

Jae Suk had once said something similar.

Jong Kook wanted to be with her with his head held high, regardless of what the public might say. But the future was difficult to predict, and that was the point Jae Suk worried about. The PDs requested that they keep their hands and skinship to themselves within the program and while Jong Kook wanted to defy such orders, he told himself this was the best for Ji Hyo and held himself in check.

And each time Ji Hyo would vent her frustration and hurt with Jong Kook. He didn’t think he had any right to face her when he was so powerless, only lamenting that there were no real words of comfort he could offer her.

Oppa, I’m fine really. I think it’ll be better if we just come clean about the whole thing.

Ji Hyo, but you—

Do you think I can’t even bear this pain? I have to. For both you and me.

Jong Kook felt the moment drawing near, the moment when they would have to shoulder everything and face the problem head on.

But not now, Jong Kook thought.

Yes, let’s just wait a little longer. When that time comes…

Jong Kook steeled his resolve. The moment when he would bear everything for Ji Hyo was fast approaching. He made a solemn promise that he would bear through whatever criticism and arrows they would throw.

While Jong Kook was contemplating in the shelter of the studio, Jae Suk remained busy as ever.

Less than a day had passed since he had finished filming for Infinity Challenge, and everyone despite their exhausted bodies pulled through for a late night snack with Jae Suk conversing animatedly with the staff.

“Jae Suk-hyung.”

A person with a grim shadow cast over his face suddenly approached Jae Suk.

It was Haha.

He wore an expression that one normally never saw on the lighthearted man. Jae Suk had a very strange feeling about the whole thing.

“What’s wrong, Dong Hoon-ah?”

Haha looked like he had something to say.

After glancing around, he leaned into Jae Suk to whisper in his ear, “Hyung, can we talk somewhere in private?”

Jae Suk hesitated for a moment but followed.

The man-child was being overly conscious about their surroundings, and Jae Suk in turn noticed the people in groups of threes and fives talking in hushed whispers as out of place.

Haha continued walking, out of the set and into a dimly lit corner.

Jae Suk found himself entirely clueless as to why he was here. Even in this secluded position  Haha remained on guard, eyes scanning the area for any people.

Jae Suk couldn’t take the suspense anymore and finally said, “What is it, Dong Hoon-ah? Just tell me already.”

“Well it’s….”

“What is it?”

“Did you check the internet just now?”

“The internet? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

Indecision struck Haha for a moment, but he soon reached inside his pocket and pulled out his phone.

After a few quick taps, he handed the device to Jae Suk.

Jae Suk had thought to ask Haha about his rather suspicious behavior but the first order of things seemed to be looking at the screen Haha presented to him. He looked down at Haha’s phone.

“T-This is—”

The number one trending topic across portal sites lay before his eyes.

'Kim Jong Kook Song Ji Hyo relationship scandal'.

No wonder Haha had acted as he did, for even Jae Suk was stunned into silence.

“Hyung….”

“D-Dong Hoon-ah, what is going on exactly?”

“That’s what I wanted to ask. Did something happen between the two of them?”

A sigh escaped the older’s mouth. “How did it come to this…”

“So the two really were in a relationship.”

“You knew it too?”

“I had a hunch. I mean the vibe between those two these days is pretty suspicious. And it’s not like Ji Hyo liking Jong Kook-hyung is anything new….”

Jae Suk exhaled long and slow.

“No wait, that’s not even the important thing. Why are they on the news anyways?” Haha asked.

“I don’t know either.”

“Does Jong Kook-hyung and Ji Hyo know?”

“They probably don’t. I kept asking them to put off their announcement.”

“Ah, this is so confusing…. I don’t know what in the world in going on anymore..”

“Keep quiet for now. I’ll look around myself and see if I can find out just how and from where this happened.”

Jae Suk always knew the truth would come to light one day, but he never thought it would blow up so suddenly without warning as it did right now.

A bad feeling had followed him since his PD found out, and Jae Suk had made up his mind to provide a countermeasure in case it happened.

Yet Jae Suk could not think of a viable solution, only running his mind into circles and migraines.

He could only utter to himself a half-question.

“Why is this happe