IDOL TROUBLE

Pairing : Taemin (SHINee) x Maerin
Genre : Romance
Words : 5000
Written By : teenme14
 

The chants of the crowd continue to roar across the arena as his body began emerging from under the stage. Lightsticks began to sway according to the rhythm of the music. Soon enough, he was fully visible to everyone in the arena, his face plastered on all the display screens. Some screamed his name, some just let all their voice out and some were teary eyed from seeing him.

His presence, his existence, his face, just screamed trouble.

And he’s mine.

~.~

“Maerin, Maerin,” Hyunmi whispered to her friend beside her who was soundly sleeping, “Maerin, wake up,” she nudged her, this time with more force and this managed to wake her up. Upon opening her eyes, she was met with the eyes of the 6th grade Math teacher who was standing by her table.

“Uhh, I was just closing my ey-”

“Save your excuses, missy, and stand outside,” the teacher sternly ordered. Her face clearly showed that any objections would definitely be a really bad idea. Sleepily, Maerin navigated her way outside the class after receiving a sympathetic pat from her desk mate, Hyunmi.

The moment she went out, she proceeded to stand by the door, leaning her body and head on the wall behind her. Heaving out a sigh, she began close her eyes, the tired from last night still not going away.

“What’re you here for?” A voice startled her from her state of calmness. Turning her head towards the source of the voice, she was surprised that a boy whom she was just acquainted with in her class was standing beside her. This would probably be the first time that she was this close to this guy.

“Sleeping,” Maerin shortly replied, not wanted her precious time to actually rest be interrupted. But, things don’t always go the way you’d want it.

“I was here because I was passing notes with my friends,” the boy spoke, turning his body towards her while leaning on the wall.

Okay, that’s cute. She thought to herself as she took a peek to see him.

He continued, sulking“I guess you were asleep during that but like, I find it unfair that I was the only one to be sent outside when Jinki and Minho were involved with this too.

“Not only that, they won’t even help me out when I tried telling her that they were involved. Haa…”

“Look, uhhh...”

“Taemin,”

“Taemin. I would really love to hear your story now, but can I just rest for a while here? I am very tired,” pleaded Maerin, too lazy to even open her eyes to look at him.

“What happened? You weren’t able to sleep? Too much homework?” Taemin kept on asking. Whether it was of worry or just because he was bored, Maerin couldn’t even bother to know.

She just bolted up from her position and placed a finger against his lips, shushing him from speaking further. With the boy startled but keeping his silence, Maerin explained that all she asks is for him to make sure the teacher doesn’t come out when she’s resting here because she spent all night out trying to find her dog who followed a freaking butterfly to a house a few blocks away.

“So, will you be a dear and just stay quiet for a few minutes,” she ended.

Quietly, he nodded in agreement and that was the start of a long friendship between the two.

“But-,”

“I SWEAR!”

And also what landed the both of them in detention for the first time ever.

~.~

Monday was never her favourite day of the week. It just reminded her of all the classes she has to go through the whole week and all the deadlines that were somehow quickly catching up to her with every week that passes. Why does she never work on those assignments during the weekends?

“Maeeee~” called a voice from behind. A frustrated groan escaped her lips at the familiarity of the voice. Taemin slung his arm around her shoulder as he caught up to her on the way to their high school.

Apparently, as she got to know Taemin more during middle school, his house was only a block away from hers and apparently, they take the same route to school, even as they entered high school. They’d take the same buses together and go home together too. Never had she expected to befriend someone like Taemin, if she had to be completely honest.

“Earth to Maerin?” his face inches away from hers snapped her out of her train of thoughts. He was close. Too close.

“What is it?” she pushed his face away before he could notice the blush that crept up her cheeks and proceeded to walk towards the bus stop which was already beginning to fill with other people, all heading to their own destinations.

“What did you think of my dancing over the weekend?” asked Taemin, standing beside her, their arms barely grazing each other. Autumn just barely started but Maerin could still feel the leftover heat from the past summer.

“It was nice,” she replied, “If you’re still worrying if they’ll ever pick you to debut, don’t worry. You’ll do amazing,” she continued before he could ask more.

Debut, debut, debut. That was all that would come out of Taemin’s lips throughout the summer break as she watched him practice over and over for his final evaluation. Through the days of observing him and his passion in being an idol, she caught herself noticing more and more things about him. Especially of how hot he has become lately. Boy is dangerous.

“Ah, I really hope I pass this,” he muttered quietly as he fiddled with Maerin’s backpack strap. It was a good luck charm he made for her on her first birthday after they became friends. It was a mint-coloured diamond that he made in art class.

A few minutes passed with the two conversing about the next assignment deadline, and finally, the bus arrived. As they were entering the bus, Maerin was suddenly pushed by some teenage boys who were pushing their way into the bus like they were the only people who were trying to hurry.

“Hey, what even, man?” Taemin raised his voice to the boys as he grabbed Maerin from behind her, making sure she didn’t fall.

“Watch where you’re going, bro,” one of the boys taunting, sticking out his tongue teasingly as he continued laughing with his friends.

“Are you okay, Mae,” asked Taemin, looking over worryingly if she was hurt anywhere as she had her head down, “Mae?”

In an instant, Maerin pulled her loose backpack onto her shoulders and stomped into the bus, almost shouting, “You really wanna ruin my Monday, huh?!”

Taemin let out a small laugh as he watched humorously at how his dear friend was lecturing the poor boys on their poor mannerism and attitudes towards those older than them or even to strangers. Her straightforwardness was what he always liked in her.

And the fact that he is beginning to realise his feelings for her is probably going to be troublesome.

~.~

The sight of Taemin running towards her with his arms out wide would probably mean that he got good news but it was not a good sign for Maerin because she was stressfully discussing the group assignment that was due tomorrow with her group mates.

“Hyunmi, Woohyun, please hide me, quickly,” Maerin hurriedly told her two friends she was talking to, clumsily pulling their bodies in front of her as a shield between Taemin and her. The couple giggled at the antics of the two best friends.

“You know I saw you from a mile away, Mae,” said Taemin, already in front of them, hands on his hips as he peered over Woohyun and Hyunmi’s shoulders, seeing Maerin crouching on the floor.

With a huff, she stood up and told her two group mates that they’ll have to discuss the assignment later and turn towards the excited puppy-boy in front of her.

“Okay, what good news do you have for me?” she asked, tucking the loose strands of hair in front of her towards the back of her ear.

“Don’t be too shocked.”

“About what?”

“I’m debuting!”

Those words rang through her head. Taemin, her best friend is debuting. In disbelief, she asked him to repeat what he said. It’s true, he’s debuting.

“Oh my God! I’m so happy for you!” in a moment of pure happiness, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. By this age, Taemin was already growing at a rapid speed and was already a head taller than Maerin, the perfect height for a snuggly hug. Unbeknownst to her, Taemin was startled by the hug and he could feel the heat reaching his ears. Maybe it was the fact that he was just so happy right now that his heart was beating so fast. Yeah, that must be it.

Realising what she was doing, Maerin awkwardly let go of him and playfully hit his shoulder, saying how he deserved this and she couldn’t wait for his debut. Even as the bell rang, they kept on talking about all the things Taemin would be able to do once he debuted as they walked towards class.

“Don’t forget to give me your autograph later!”

~.~

The line to buy Taemin’s solo debut album was undeniably long. Even after he messaged that he’d be giving her a signed album to her, she still wanted to buy the album herself. It was his solo debut, so she’ll be supporting him whichever way is possible. Even if it means she has to stand in this line, waiting for her turn to buy the album.

And anyway, she wanted to get into that fansign. It’s been months since she has last properly seen Taemin. Life always has a way with fate. Who would’ve thought one of the people he joked around in middle school which led to him getting punished outside would be the people he debuted with in a duo. And now, he’s debuting solo.

And because of the immense popularity the duo gave him, the amount of fans she has to face off in this lucky draw for the fansign is extremely high.

Taem: And what do you think you’re doing lining up in the freezing weather?

Mae: I’m giving you your paycheck, idiot. And I wanna try the fansign slot thingy.

Taem: You could’ve told me, I would’ve given you a pass.

Mae: Like all the other times you said you’d give one but eventually couldn’t?

Taem: I told you I was sorry for those. It slipped through my mind.

Mae: Haa, I see how you’re treating your best friend like this. Hmph [sulking emoji]

Taem: Aww don’t be like this… I’m sorryyyyyyyyy [kneeling emoji]

Mae: Oh, the line’s moving. Gtg. [bye emoji]

Taem: See you at the fansign! Sorry I couldn’t make time to see you privately! [bye emoji]

She has seen him on stage and only God knows how different he is on-stage, off-stage, on-camera and off-camera. It’s like he has four different personalities and honestly, Maerin didn’t know how to handle her heart when she saw him perform on stage in a show for the first time when he first debuted.

He was obviously a bit nervous, but that didn’t change his expressions and executions on stage. He was captivating, powerful, and at the same time majestic and beautiful. There was not one word she could describe him as.

Like what his fans would call him; dangerous.

A few days passed and Maerin got the news that she got into the fansign and she was really happy. Is this what his fans felt like when they’re preparing to meet him at the fansign because honestly, it felt like she was preparing to go on a date.

Wearing her best outfit, making sure she had just enough perfume, her hair neat and shampooed. Yeah, this totally felt like a date. If only she was brave enough to actually ask