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Kihyun was getting ready to go on stage, doing some last vocal exercises (not like he hadn’t been doing that since the morning). He was thrilled about having his first solo stage of the year. He had taken his time to think about the perfect setlist, putting together some of his fan favourite songs, as well as a few covers he knew the public would love.
He was revising it for the last time, before he was called to go on stage- or, rather, get out of the backstage-like area. For this festival, he didn’t really have a stage. But the outdoor place where he was performing wasn’t too bad. The one problem? It had rained quite a bit, just before he got there. So there were some water puddles left behind, but he didn’t mind. As long as it didn’t rain again, that is.
He stood up from his chair and waited for the announcer to give the presentation speech. Once he heard the voices of people cheering for him, he finally grabbed the curtain separating him from his audience and took a step outside. He walked right to his microphone stand to give a brief speech.
“Thank you all so much for coming here. Even with the rain… will the Rainsta X curse ever be lifted?”
The crowd cheered him on and laughed at his comment. But, seriously, why did the rain always have to ruin everything?
“I have prepared what I believe to be one of the best setlists for this festival. It’s a mixture of fan favourites, covers, and a few surprises too. I hope you all like it!”
The crowd cheered, and Kihyun took that final moment to look at the faces of excitement, happiness, and even a few that looked like they were about to cry. He smiled widely showing his teeth. He also noticed a few flags and signs people had brought with them. “Team Kihyun” hah, that’s nice.
“So, are we ready to start?” Kihyun asked earning more screams from the audience. He finally gave a signal to his band, and the show began.
There were only 5 songs left from the setlist. Kihyun was taking a brief break to drink some water and talk to the people watching him for a bit, before resuming.
When he did, he noticed a specific sector of the audience started screaming louder. Then, he realised that wasn’t for him. Without stopping singing, he shifted his look there to see what the cause of the commotion was. That’s when he, without intending to, did stop singing for a slight second. He noticed a familiar, tall figure standing in the crowd. Hyungwon.
He couldn’t help but smile widely as he saw him. What was Hyungwon even doing here? Didn’t he have a packed schedule today? How did he even manage to make it on time?
Kihyun fixed his eyes on him and spoke, “Hyungwon? What are you doing here?” since the band kept playing without paying attention to this interruption, he got back to singing.
Hyungwon was simply standing there, between the people at the near end of the crowd. He was swinging his arms happily, covering his face slightly with a cap, which he proceeded to take off and hold in his hand.
Kihyun signaled something he knew only Hyungwon would understand. And approached one of the security people to tell them to clear some space so Hyungwon could join him. The security person nodded and sent one of their crew to look for Hyungwon, and get him to the stage.
The performance resumed, and Kihyun couldn’t contain his happiness anymore. He felt extremely grateful and joyous to know that Hyungwon was there.
Hyungwon joined him shortly after, and Kihyun moved to the side of his mic to allow him to speak.
“This is a very special, rare occasion. Now I’m not just Kihyun, now we are MONSTA X… or at least, two of them,” He joked, making the people cheer and laugh. “C’mon, present yourself to the audience,” Kihyun extended his hand to give Hyungwon the mic.
Hyungwon grabbed the mic from his hand and cleared his throat, “Hello everyone, I’m Hyungwon from MONSTA X,” the crowd cheered for him. “First and foremost, I have a complaint to make,” he turned to look at Kihyun, who was looking back at him with clear confusion in his eyes, “this guy right here. I made a song for him long ago, and he has never ever sung it live. I’m quite heartbroken to know that”.
Hyungwon faked wiping a tear from his cheek. Kihyun just looked at him and let the words sink in. It’s true. He had never sung Where Is This Love before, ever. Bad Liar was one of his favourite songs to perform, but why hadn’t he ever done Where Is This Love?
“Okay, I think I have interrupted enough. Take back your mic, Kihyunnie,” Hyungwon moved to the side, but stayed close to him.
Kihyun went back to his position in front of the mic stand and took the mic from the stand, turning to look at the crowd, and spoke.
“I think we will have a setlist change. I know it’s sudden, but I hope you don’t mind.”
People in the crowd started whispering and looking at each other curiously. What was Kihyun planning?
But Kihyun knew. And when he laid his eyes on Hyungwon, he understood Hyungwon caught on, too. Both of them smiled at each other, and Hyungwon nodded.
Kihyun’s band started playing. Where Is This Love instrumentals filled the sudden silence of the people expecting, waiting for the next song. With just the first note, almost everyone knew what song was coming, the silence was replaced by loud screams and cheering. When Kihyun started singing, the people went back into silence again, allowing his voice to shine.
Hyungwon was the happiest about this, since he could now hear Kihyun’s angelic vocals perfectly. Even more considering he was right next to him. He had to try his best to keep himself together, as he was in front of everyone. Even so, he allowed a smile to stay on his face throughout the whole song.
Kihyun on the other hand was a little bothered. He hadn’t really practised this song, so he forgot a word or two from a few lines, but he didn’t mind. He simply flowed with the song. He noticed Hyungwon walking closer to him raising his hands, he started slowly swinging them side to side. Everyone joined him, moving to the rhythm of the song, and Kihyun smiled again, he felt full, content.
Once the show was over, both of them thanked the crowd and bowed. Kihyun left to go to the backstage first. Hyungwon kept waving at the people, as he noticed he was alone, he trailed after Kihyun. In the back, the taller noticed him taking off his in-ears and earrings, setting them aside.
Kihyun sensed the presence behind him, so he turned around and spoke, “How did you even have time to be here today? I thought you would be busy until much later”.
“I wanted to surprise you. I promised I would come to one of your solo performances one day, and I’m a man of my word,” Hyungwon smiled.
“But… how?”
Hyungwon chuckled, “The fansign ended much earlier than I had calculated at first. I even had time to make a stop someplace else, but that doesn’t matter right now”.
Kihyun smiled again, “You genuinely surprise me sometimes. I wasn’t expecting you to be the first of you all to come and see me in one of these festivals”.
Hyungwon stayed still for a moment. Then, he took a step further, but still keeping their distance.
“Thank you for changing the setlist for me,” He said, looking at Kihyun’s eyes deeply while smiling.
Kihyun took notice of a specific spark he rarely saw in Hyungwon’s eyes.
“I think it was only fair. You came all the way here, despite everything, just for me,” Kihyun gave him a small smile, too. And he hesitated for a moment.
Hyungwon noticed it. He always did. He saw the way Kihyun’s arms twitched, and decided to take action. He got rid of the remaining distance between them and gave him a tight, warm hug.
Kihyun stood on the tips of his toes, for Hyungwon to not have to curve down and force his back too much. He put his arms around Hyungwon’s neck and smiled throughout the hug.
Once they got apart, they both looked at each other smiling, but it didn’t last long, since Kihyun lowered his gaze, feeling a bit overwhelmed at the sudden affection.
“Thank you so much for coming, and for everything you do for me, Hyungwon,” Kihyun looked at him again, smiling.
Hyungwon tried, he tried really hard to contain himself, until he couldn’t anymore. With a quick motion, his face approached Kihyun’s, as his left hand grabbed the smaller’s face, his lips planted a small, short kiss on his left cheek, specifically, on the mole below his eye.
“You did very well today. I’m happy I could come to see you.”
But Kihyun could not reply immediately, even if he desperately wanted to. He felt his face burn and the soft brush of Hyungwon’s lips lingering.
Hyungwon slowly caressed his cheek with his thumb before taking his hand off his face, trying to contain his laugh. He simply smiled and looked at the puzzled Kihyun in front of him.
“Shall we get going?” Hyungwon spoke again, taking Kihyun off his trance.
Kihyun shook his head slightly. His face still felt like it was burning, but not as much as before, “Y-yeah, let’s”.
Right after, a staff member informed them that they would take care of packing everything else and Kihyun and Hyungwon could wait inside the van to go back home.
Once inside, Kihyun could feel his heart pounding. He could not put into words the feeling inside of him. It was a mixture of anything, and everything. When they left the place and got into the road, every few minutes Kihyun would take brief looks at Hyungwon. He was looking at the sun setting outside, with the window closed. He was surprisingly calm, even after the kiss, unlike Kihyun. But, of course, Kihyun failed to take into account that Hyungwon could notice him through the reflection of the window.
Hyungwon decided to not say anything else for the rest of the ride, he preferred to talk to him once they were on their own.
As soon as they got out of the van, inside the parking lot and finally out of the eyes of the public, Kihyun grabbed Hyungwon’s arm to call his attention.
“What was that?” Kihyun wasted no time and asked the big question, letting go of the other’s arm.
Hyungwon tried to read his tone. It seemed more like a cross of confusion and uncertainty, rather than any disapproval or happiness.
“I’ve always wanted to do it. The mole under your eye is tempting. I guess I couldn’t hold back anymore,” Hyungwon simply confessed, shrugging.
Kihyun gave him an even more confused look back.
Hyungwon turned to face him and grabbed both of his hands, “You looked too beautiful today, that is all,” he said in a low, sweet tone.
Kihyun felt his cheeks start to burn, again, and his heartbeat became faster. “You… always wanted to do it?”
“Mhm. I like you, Kihyun. Quite a lot, actually,” Hyungwon smiled at him, opening his heart and offering it to him.
Kihyun couldn’t believe it. Suddenly, everything felt too real. Every sound of the night, every touch of Hyungwon’s hands on his, every look he gave him. Those eyes, shining brightly as they always had when Kihyun looked at them, fully transparent, showing Hyungwon’s deepest feelings.
“That’s kind of a lame confession,” Kihyun finally spoke, “at least invite me to a dinner or something?”
Hyungwon couldn’t contain his laugh, and Kihyun joined him in. After a moment, Kihyun spoke again.
“If you would stop laughing, and since you didn’t do it, I will do it myself. Chae Hyungwon, would you like to go out with me?” Kihyun smiled brightly at him.
Hyungwon didn’t immediately reply. He let his next action, another warm, long-lasting hug be the reply.
After a few minutes, Hyungwon voiced his answer, “yes, I would love to.” Hyungwon whispered on Kihyun’s ear.
Kihyun giggled at the feeling of the air from his breathe and voice in his ear. For once, he let himself be hugged for as long as Hyungwon wanted.