23 THE DUTY OF LOVE

“I’m not going to beat around the bush. When did you two start sleeping together? And I don’t mean sleeping together in the literal sense.” Jonghyun is intently eyeing Kibum and Taemin, who have only managed to order toasts for breakfast. The worry too evident on their faces.

Taemin looks like he is trying to melt the chunk of butter on his toast with his eyes so Kibum decides to speak up for them.

“Jjong, it only happened once. In Rio de Janeiro. I’m really sorry, but believe me, Taemin and I have been trying with all our might to control ourselves. It’s not our intention to mess things up for all of us.”

Jonghyun takes a deep sigh, prompting Jinki to rub his back for comfort.

“I think everyone in this table can agree that you two getting together is a wonderful thing. But you do understand why it cannot happen at this point in time, right?”

Without realizing it, Kibum and Taemin are nodding their heads in unison. The truth is that they both understand Jonghyun’s point. No words need to be spoken to justify the need for Jonghyun to keep things under control.

Taemin has been part of SM long enough to know what the company can do to him and Kibum should it reach their knowledge that there is something going on between them. Besides, it is in Taemin’s contract to keep the management informed if and when he decides to date someone, and it is their prerogative to decide what the public should or shouldn’t know about the matter. And considering the fact that Kibum is a man, Taemin knows better than to be reckless about their “closeness”.

As for Kibum, the words in the contract he signed not too long ago constantly pop in his memory: “Breaching professional relationship with the artist will be grounds for termination and total ban from any SM-related employment, project, activity, and event. This includes any inappropriate dalliance with the artist.”

Kibum realizes that being with Taemin feels like a dream because it is a dream. In the real world he lives in, he is penniless but is expected to provide for himself and for his mother, who is currently institutionalized. He needs this job. And with his enhanced role in Taemin’s career from just being his interpreter initially, Kibum is getting paid well enough to be able to afford paying the institution, his rent, and his mother’s medical needs.

But there are times when Kibum is more concerned about Taemin than himself. He believes Taemin has so much more to lose because if his career is wrecked, the future will be bleak for Lee Taemin. And all of Taemin’s hard work for many years will lose relevance in a blink of an eye.

Kibum and Taemin are well aware of the fragility of their situation. But at least they can be present in each other’s life and this should be enough for now. So they both promise Jonghyun, whose job is also on the line, that they will keep their relationship platonic.

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Their U.S. shows are so successful that it feels like the universe is trying to serve them a sense of balance or rewarding them for their sacrifice. After all, it isn’t easy being with the object of your affection all the time but only on professional or friendly terms.   

Jonghyun deeply admires Taemin and Kibum’s capacity to love each other selflessly. It is clear to him that both of them are doing this for each other’s welfare. Besides, they would rather work together than be pulled apart and banned from ever seei