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The Doberman has just finished their performance at The Masked Singer, and the audience is cheering loudly.
- It was phenomenal, I've got tears in my eyes! - G-Dragon, one of the judges, said, - But I have no idea who this is...
Oh, he is on the verge of tears? Seriously? He dares to say this in front of Wooyoung who sits right next to him at the judges' table?
- Such a poignant love song...- Hwasa remarked. - Is it dedicated to your special someone, Doberman?
- They are very lucky, - PSY smiled.
- I was lucky to have them, - Doberman replied in a low, almost robotic voice, distorted to disguise their real voice. - But I was too young, and I've lost them. I regret it a lot.
The audience and the judges applauded again. Wooyoung is an experienced artist so he knows music industry is built on lies, play-pretend and cheap soap opera performances. But oh...how he wishes Doberman were being sincere right now.
- It's clear beyond all doubt it's a male, though, - G-Dragon stated. - It's a male voice, not a low female voice.
- Well, I'm still not sure, - Hwasa argued.
- Today's show is record-breaking, - the host said with a smile. - This is the first performance on the Masked Singer ever when Woo hasn't uttered a word...
Everyone laughed, and Wooyoung chuckled awkwardly, feeling cold sweat run down his spine. He hopes the blush in his cheeks was not caught on camera.
- Uh, I don't have anything else to say, - Wooyoung has finally broken his silence. - I told you who it was last time. He might as well take his mask off.
- Oh, Yeosang, your ex-group mate? - Hwasa clarified.
Yes, his ex...His ex-group mate.
- Yeah, that's him, - Wooyoung confirmed, looking at Doberman attentively, with suspicion, as if challenging them. - That's totally him.
- Woo, correct me if I'm wrong but, - Doberman said. - Am I understanding this correctly? This is the most-viewed TV-channel of Korea, the most popular show, prime time, and you...Are you really promoting your friends?
The audience and the judges are laughing, and Wooyoung is smirking bitterly.
- Oh, Doberman, you're so witty, - Wooyoung replied sarcastically. - He is not my friend. His is my ex-group mate.
- It's even worse! Sorry, I don't even want to get into it! - Doberman keeps entertaining the public. - I don't want to get into whatever is going on between you and your ex...group mates!
- I love him! - Hwasa commented, laughing.
- He's got an amazing sense of humor, - G-Dragon agreed. - All while being a great singer!
- Please, don't praise him too much, it's bad for him, - Wooyoung warned them. - Don't encourage him!
- You're being too harsh! - PSY scolded Wooyoung.
- You better listen to your hyungs, Woo, - Doberman advised, and Wooyoung bit his lip, imagining how great it would feel to bite his neck and cover it in huge red marks, just like in good old times... - Stop calling me some weird names. You better sort the things out with...What's his name, Yechan?
- But wait, can Yeosang sing like this? - Hwasa asked Wooyoung. - This was another level, too much even for him...
- He can do everything, - Wooyoung said, not able to keep his eyes off of Doberman. - He's capable of anything. This is not even the peak of his abilities.
Wooyoung's heart is bleeding in his chest and banging against his ribcage, making him want to scream, cry and argue with Doberman more. He wants to poke fun at him, to mock him, to make him bitter, to make him jealous, to make him feel something because he makes Wooyoung go through all the strongest emotions every single day. Not a day has passed since Yeosang left PHEROMONE without Wooyoung thinking about him, hating him, cursing him, making fun of him to make it hurt less, fantasizing about him, seeing him in his dreams, longing for him, yearning for him, loving him...
- That's why I don't want to unmask our dear Doberman just yet, - Hwasa smiled. - So that we can admire him for a bit longer...
Even now Wooyoung has felt a sting of jealousy. This is ridiculous. This is what Yeosang does to him! How can Wooyoung not be angry at him?!
- He'll bite if you try to unmask him, - Wooyoung warned Hwasa, looking straight at Doberman.
Doberman barked at him. The audience laughed, and Wooyoung rolled his eyes, smiling broadly.
- Let's wish our Doberman luck and applaud him once more while he's going backstage! - the host said, and Wooyoung clapped his hands, not smiling anymore.
Biting Doberman back did not help. Wooyoung has tried many times but has failed to make Yeosang his. Despite their passionate quickies backstage and in dressing rooms, shared secrets, all the highs and lows they have overcome together, supporting each other, not with words but with actions, they did not end up together, as a normal happy couple.
There was nothing normal between them. Only fire, heat and electricity. It kept Wooyoung warm but also painfully burned him. He wanted the fire to be gentle, wanted to tame it. Maybe, this was his mistake.
Yeosang cannot be tamed. This is why he just left when he felt not valued enough by his company. With no fear and no regrets. And he has soared higher than one could ever imagine during his solitary journey.
He has left Wooyoung behind, in love and in pain. He drank Wooyoung until the last drop, leaving him empty.
Wooyoung has also tasted quite a bit of Yeosang. Quite a bit of his poison as well as of his healing potion. Yeosang did not seem empty, though, the other way round - he has been flourishing and thriving after leaving the group. This is what makes Wooyoung so angry and bitter, so much he wants to spit venom at Yeosang - Yeosang being better off without him.
- Woo? - Hongjoong, Wooyoung's manager and friend called him quietly, having found him cry on the floor in his dressing room after the show.
Now Yeosang is singing songs about burning passion, destructive jealousy and tender love, disguised as Doberman. Today's song is their song. It is theirs and no one else's, it cannot be dedicated to anyone else but Wooyoung! Is Yeosang just mocking him? He is so cruel!
Hongjoong read it all in Wooyoung's eyes when he looked up at him. There was as much anger in his gaze as despair and longing.
- It's him, - Wooyoung uttered softly. - I know it's him...
Hongjoong sighed. Whatever is going on between Wooyoung and Yeosang has always amazed him, ever since he started working for their company.
- What the hell does he think he's doing? - Wooyoung asked a rhetorical question. - Where is he going with that?
- Well, we don't know for sure if it's him... - Hongjoong said softly, sitting down on the couch.
Talking to Wooyoung about Yeosang feels like walking through a minefield or neutralizing a bomb. One wrong step, one wrong wire - and a devastating explosion is inevitable.
- I know it's him! - there is madness in Wooyoung's gaze. - I know him...No one knows him like I do!
- Well, if it's him, he's done a great job, - Hongjoong shrugged.
- Of course he did, - Wooyoung chuckled nervously, staring into the void. - As always. This fucker...
- You and Doberman bickering was very funny, - Hongjoong remarked, smiling.
- Oh, he thinks he's slick! - Wooyoung got up and looked at himself in the vanity mirror. - He thinks he's so fucking smart!
- Isn't he, though? - Hongjoong tried to provoke Wooyoung, gently and carefully. - He's just an artist acting on stage...
- Oh, of course, he thinks he's the smartest in the room! - Wooyoung started going back and forth in the dressing room. - He thinks he's the best, he thinks he's the fucking prince, and everyone else is his servant, his ego is fucking enormous! "Look at me, I'm a solo singer now, I'm everywhere, even on the fucking Masked Singer, everyone looks at me, only at me, not at my group mates, and worships only me!" I'm fucking sick of him!
Hongjoong crossed his arms on his chest, watching Wooyoung like a caretaker watches an animal in captivity.
- Well, he must still be here, at the studio, - Hongjoong said, holding back a smile. - You can say this to his face.
Wooyoung rolled his eyes and groaned, throwing his head back.
- What if he's eavesdropping by the door right now? - Hongjoong could not resist the urge to smile. - What if he came in right now to defend himself, what would you do?
- If he comes in right now, I'll kiss him on the lips so hard he can't breathe and his mouth is all swollen so he can barely talk, - Wooyoung replied, furrowing his eyebrows, - that's what I'll do.
Hongjoong smirked, shaking his head.
- He's walking around like he owns whatever place he's at, as if there's a huge fucking crown on his head! - Wooyoung went on with him tantrum. - He's hubris incarnated, thinks he's exceptional and better than everyone else, that he's a superstar...
Wooyoung stopped going back and forth and leaned on his arms in front of the vanity mirror.
- And he's absolutely fucking right, - he added, blinking the tears away. - He's the best that has ever happened to this planet. I'd throw the entire world to his feet. My sweet baby, my angel...
Hongjoong chuckled, rolling his eyes.
- And I fucking hate him for not being mine! - Wooyoung got angry again. - He's mine, Joong, he's supposed to mine! He was mine, we were like yin and yang, we're supposed to be together! And then he left! This is fucking ridiculous!
- Well, he's made his choice, - Hongjoong shrugged, not smiling anymore. - You know he's always been focused on his career most of all. That's why he's so incredibly successful as a solo artist.
- Fuck his career, fuck him, fuck all of this!!! - Wooyoung exclaimed and ran out of the dressing room so that Hongjoong would not see his tears.
- Well, at least you'll meet at the anniversary, - Hongjoong cried out as Wooyoung was leaving.
xXx
The anniversary day couldn't come soon enough.
- Today one of the most popular boy groups of the century, PHEROMONE, turns ten years old! - Hongjoong announced, and the guests cheered. - In honor of such a glorious event, we have a surprise for you!
Hongjoong smiled mysteriously, and Yeosang, the former PHEROMONE member, joined the three current members on stage. The public cheered loudly, and Yeosang's fans screamed at the top of their lungs with their lightsticks in the air.
Seonghwa smiled broadly, happy to see his old friend and colleague, and hugged him. Mingi, the member who replaced Yeosang, gave him a brotherly hug as well and shook his hand.
When it was Wooyoung's turn to hug Yeosang, everyone held their breaths.
Sparks are flying. The tension is rising. Wooyoung and Yeosang are smiling politely despite wishing to tear each other apart. A wave of whispers swept through the audience. "They hate each other!" is on everyone's tongue and in everyone's gaze. A few weeks before the event some people even gossiped that inviting Yeosang would be scandalous because of the tension between him and Wooyoung.
- I was the original red-haired one, - Yeosang said, chucking timidly, and the public laughed as well. - I'm so happy to be here today!
Mingi has been the new red-haired one after Yeosang left. The group's concept is rigid: there must be a red-haired, black-haired and a blonde-haired member. The members have not changed for the next five years after Yeosang left, and Mingi is the original ginger for the newer fans. Wooyoung was the only one who still has not forgotten the original ginger, and his wound is still fresh even after all these years.
Mingi was worried Wooyoung hated him after he saw Wooyoung's reaction to Yeosang being replaced with Mingi on a huge advertising banner right after Mingi joined the group.
- Now, let all the members pose for a group photo! - Hongjoong suggested, and the audience cheered.
- Please, don't kill each other! - Seonghwa, "the blonde one", joked when Wooyoung and Yeosang stood next to one another.
Their arms touched, and it felt like electric shock to both of them.
After smiling for the pictures, Yeosang went backstage while PHEROMONE performed their newer songs. The first song is about being happy after finally breaking free from a toxic relationship, after finally letting go of the partner who does not love you enough. This song is celebrating the freedom, freedom from someone who you loved so much but who did not give you the love you deserve in return. This was the title track on the group's album released after Yeosang had left the group. Wooyoung has the biggest amount of lines and even a dance break in it, and he always performs it impeccably.
As if he knows what he is singing about.
Yeosang is waiting for his turn in the dressing room. He will join Wooyoung and Seonghwa on stage to perform their old hits. He smiled sadly, feeling nostalgic. If only he could correct all his mistakes...
- Wow, that was powerful! - Hongjoong commented after PHEROMONE finished their performance. - Now, let's make a pause and relax a little bit, watching a documentary about PHEROMONE's early years!
Wooyoung performed thinking about Yeosang and went backstage still thinking about Yeosang. Earlier he had woken up thinking about Yeosang, eaten breakfast and dinner thinking about Yeosang and gotten ready thinking about Yeosang.
Yeosang was obviously present at the rehearsals before the anniversary but he only focused on work, avoiding eye-contact with Wooyoung and ignoring him. Wooyoung hates Yeosang's rigid professionalism sometimes! Wooyoung was ready to confront Yeosang regarding the songs he had chosen to cover at the Masked Singer but Yeosang was strict and nonchalant, acting busy and immersed in his thoughts. He came to the rehearsal at 3 pm sharp, not even a minute earlier or a minute later, only discussed work issues and did not even stay to hang out with the members after the rehearsal, hurrying to another event from his packed schedule.
Wooyoung was incredibly proud of him and happy for him but also angry at him at the same time. Yeosang did not give him a single opportunity to talk to him, to speak about their feelings and finally make up. Their stupid kindergarten-level rivalry is utterly ridiculous, and Yeosang slipped away from the studio before Wooyoung could say a word to him!
- I'll never drink sparkling water before performing again, I'm about to throw up! - Seonghwa complained when he and Wooyoung entered the dressing room.
Yeosang's heart started beating faster but he showed no emotion, as per usual.
- Hey, Yeo, - Seonghwa smiled. - Damn, it feels like the good old times! The three of us in the dressing room together!
- Yeah, - Wooyoung chuckled awkwardly and crouched to look at himself in the mirror in front of which Yeosang was sitting. Wooyoung started fixing his hair and make-up, standing right behind Yeosang's back, hovering above his shoulders so closely to him he could feel his breath on his skin.
- How are you, Yeo? - Seonghwa asked with a smile, sitting with his legs crossed on the couch. - I'm seeing you everywhere these days!
- Uh, I'm...I'm great, actually, - Yeosang nodded. - My world tour starts in two months.
- That's cool! - Seonghwa reacted.
- Yeah, - Yeosang smiled and nodded.
Tense silence ensued.
Seonghwa is feeling the notorious tension, and it is making him feel uneasy. Every word he says feels wrong, and he does not want to be in this room at this moment. Everyone flees the room if Wooyoung and Yeosang are in it simultaneously.
- Shit, I think I'm gonna throw up for real! - Seonghwa pretended to feel unwell, clutching his stomach, and quickly left the room. Wooyoung smirked.
- As you see, PHEROMONE has come a long way but will always remember its roots... - Hongjoong's voice could be heard even from the dressing room.
The original PHEROMONE is coming on stage in a few minutes. Wooyoung is sure Seonghwa is already waiting backstage.
Yeosang is trying to breathe quietly, as if hiding from a predator. The predator still hears him breathing, though.
- PHEROMONE is multi-faceted and true to itself in its every manifestation... - Hongjoong continued his speech which leads up to their performance.
Both Wooyoung and Yeosang got up, checking their in-ears.
- A lot of you have probably waited for this... - Hongjoong said, and Yeosang prepared to walk out, relieved, but the predator is still after him, desperate to finally catch him.
Wooyoung has been chasing after Yeosang for a while, and now Yeosang is finally trapped. No, he is not escaping this time...
Wooyoung stood in front of Yeosang, making his heart skip a beat. Yeosang gulped, widening his eyes, expecting another portion of venom. Wooyoung cupped his face gently and locked their lips.
Wooyoung did not bite his lips, did not shove his tongue down Yeosang's throat, did not try to assert dominance, have his revenge or prove something to Yeosang. He kissed him gently but passionately, expressing his despair, pain and desire.
- So now, ladies and gentlemen, please, meet the original PHEROMONE! - Hongjoong announced, and Wooyoung stormed out of the dressing room, leaving Yeosang breathless and perplexed.
Yeosang joined Seonghwa and Wooyoung on stage nonetheless, staying professional at all times. Could this kiss be an act of sabotage by Wooyoung? Is Wooyoung mocking him? Does he...still hate him?
Yeosang has performed brilliantly despite his inner turmoil. The ovation was long, and he smiled nervously, catching his breath, struggling to calm down. The performance has distracted him but now he has nowhere to escape. He paced backstage with no hurry while he still could be seen by the audience but then hurried to the dressing room with tears welled up in his eyes.
- I've missed performing this song with Yeo! - Seonghwa told Wooyoung. Wooyoung's eyes are looking for Yeosang to no avail.
Has he scared him off? Has he violated his personal borders again? Wooyoung's excessive clinginess was probably the main reason Yeosang moved on without him and left him in the past...
- Wow, it was legendary! - Hongjoong said into the mic. - The members will soon join some of you at the after party...
Wooyoung is praying Yeosang will at least stay for the after party so that they can finally talk.
Wooyoung overtook Seonghwa and ran to the dressing room. Luckily, Yeosang was there. Wooyoung closed the door, and their eyes met. There was no anger or contempt in Yeosang's eyes, only confusion and longing. This must be the first time the almighty Yeosang gives up and admits his defeat.
- Yeosangie... - Wooyoung uttered softly, holding back tears, and hugged Yeosang gently.
Yeosang hesitantly hugged him back, wrapping his arms around Wooyoung's waist.
- I'm sorry... - Wooyoung muttered. - I've missed you so much...
Yeosang blinked fast to hold back tears. His throat hurts from holding them back so he struggles to speak.
- You're the best, - Wooyoung whispered. - The best from the best. You've been brilliant at the Masked Singer. And everywhere else...
- You're...You're the best, - Yeosang muttered quietly. - Sorry, Woo. I've missed you too...
Wooyoung hugged him even tighter, and Yeosang closed his eyes from pleasure, feeling happy and at peace. The door has not been closed shut, Seonghwa saw them hug though a narrow gap, chuckled and left.
- It's fine, everything's fine, - Wooyoung assured Yeosang, cupping his face and rubbing his nose against Yeosang's. - I love you, Sangie, I still do...
Yeosang's eyes filled with tears.
- I love you too, Woo...- he muttered through tears. - I was young and dumb. Sorry...You were too good to be true, and I didn't know how to act...Sorry for avoiding you lately. I...I was just scared. Scared you'd reject me. Sorry...
- It's fine, Sangie, it's fine, darling, - Wooyoung whispered, covering his face in kisses. - You're still my baby. Always have been...
Yeosang chuckled happily.
- Let's go to my place, - Wooyoung pleaded, and Yeosang gladly agreed, nodding.
They left the party early, giggling and holding hands. It felt as if they were seventeen again, with wind in their hair and love in their hearts.
At Wooyoung's place they did not bite each other and did not pin each other against the wall. They did not have sex at all. They cuddled in bed, like they have always wanted, talking, kissing and touching each other tenderly before falling asleep in each other's arms.
They are not seventeen anymore. They have grown up. Jealousy-fueled rivalry is in the past. They are now adults who love each other dearly. This is the next page of their story.
- Good morning, sweetheart, - Wooyoung woke Yeosang up, kissing his face. - Slept well?
- Yeah, very well, - Yeosang nodded, smiling tenderly. - And you?
- Me too, baby, - Wooyoung smiled happily and left a peck on Yeosang's lips. - What would you like for breakfast?
They have spend the entire day together until The Masked Singer shooting. They went there separately, in accordance with the rules. Last night Wooyoung expressed his hope that Doberman would win because he is the most talented contestant. Yeosang kissed his wrist and chuckled quietly.
- Show your face, Doberman, - Wooyoung told his boyfriend with a smirk. - I'm ready to unmask you!
- Aren't you afraid I'll bite you? - Doberman asked.
- I'll bite you back, - Wooyoung replied, making the audience and judges laugh.