Chapter 51: A Flurry Of New Accounts
"Swing your arm to your left. Yes, just like that." "1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6, 7, 8." "Get lower Shun. Squat and then turn in a jump." "Let's take a break and come back."
Shun felt like he was just a baby duckling learning from his mother Kaiden. Yeah, that was a weird image, but who could blame him? Kaiden had the envy of all the trainees. He was perfect. Even when he was telling Shun what to do, the soon-to-be idol was calm, patient, and caring. Honestly, Ping would be at ease knowing Kaiden was looking after him.
'Geez. A prince, I tell you. I am surrounded by fucking princes.'
'Wait… did I just curse? Sorry mother!' He inwardly kowtowed, 'I will try not to cuss… again.'
When they were lying on their beds the night, Shun stared at the wall. His fingers dragged along the wall as he replayed an old memory of a time when his family was happy and all his siblings got along. His fingers drew a sun, the crest of his kingdom.
'Soon, I hope, I will return. I don't care if you hate me, but… I miss you all.'
His mind replayed the day as he closed his eyes, welcoming sleep, but his eyes suddenly flew open and his cheeks reddened.
'Did… Was Jin going to say he… he missed me? Ah~ If that guy didn't take the phone from me,' he whined and pulled the covers over his nose, hiding the grin he was sporting.
'I miss you too.'
Shun sighed and relaxed into sleep thinking of a particular idol prince.
Unbeknownst to the protagonist of the story, the lazy prince was blowing up the internet. His fan account, still active in support of him, was not the only sought after account. A flurry of new accounts were created and grew in supports.
What were these accounts?
ShunxKaiden or KaiShu Shippers.
ShunxHeeang or ShuAng Shippers.
ShunxPing or BabySP Shippers.
Not to mention the fan shippers of Shun with Wen Dong- ShuDong and Taemeng- ShunTae.
Suu Jin stared with narrowed green eyes at what he saw. Throwing his phone on his bed, he ran his fingers through his pink locks. Standing to stare our the window at his hotel, he looked at the stars and sighed.
There was no one shipping Shun with him. He usually got paired up quickly when anyone he knew, spoke to, spoke about him, and even people he never met, but when it came to Shun… not a peep of a possibility of anyone mentioning them.
'Why?'
==
Shun met with Kaiden at breakfast and they practiced their song together. Glancing over at Heeang and Mikey, who was also singing the same song as them, Shun saw both boys point two fingers at them and to their eyes, making the 'I am watching you' gesture. Shun, being the man he was, did the same only to poke his eyes in the process.
This only earned loud laughter from the boys and an icepack placed against his eyes.
'Yup. Not doing that again.'
When the time came, they were told to go to the first floor. Just like before, they were dressed, had their face done, and hair styled. He looked over at Kaiden to see his straight face, staring at nothing, and the man was not even at the makeup chair. Finishing at the hair stylist section, he joined his friend as they waited for the others.
"Something wrong?"
Kaiden shook his head with a smile.
"Silver looks good on you, Shun."
"It makes me look old. I rather have black hair like you. You look healthy," he deadpanned and the popular trainee touched his strands.
"Eh? You actually look younger and more interesting."
"Hey! I was interesting before too! I was wet noodle, remember?"
"Aren't you still?"
Shun opened his mouth and closed it, before opening and closing it again. Kaiden grinned and patted his back as they heard it was time to perform. Taking a deep breath, they nodded to one another and headed into the elevator. At the other end of the stage was Heeang and Mikey, who made the same gesture as before. Shun was about to do it again, but quickly switched it to a wave.
No way was he going to poke his eyes again!
'Good try sneaky boys! You can't fool me!' He patted himself on the back mentally, but karma loves him so much that when he turned, the mic stand smacked him on the face.
'Oh come on! Witch! Stop making me look like a fool!'
"Are you alright?" Kaiden questioned and he waved off the concern.
'Thank goodness Ms. Fire isn't here. She'd probably call me bad luck Shun.'
"Welcome to Duet Battle. 2 teams of 2 will go head to head in singing the same full song. Then the next 2 teams of 2 will sing a different song. We have our judges here and you, the audience, will get to vote who stays and who goes. 3 of the lowest earning scores will return home, leaving the last 5 competitors. Those who are not eliminated will become the debuting team. Is team 1 ready?"
"Yes, sir!" Heeang nodded with a fire in his eyes that Shun had not seen on the boy.
"Very well. Let the battles begin."
The lights dimmed down before flashing lights appeared on the television. Ping and Wen Dong were live watching the final battles. Their eyes were glued to the screen as the young trainees finished their performance.
"Wow. They did really good," Ping admitted, "Heeang looks so strong and Mikey's vocals improves so much! It is shocking!"
"I wonder if they had been hiding this side of them this whole time. It is a great strategy, actually," Wen Dong nodded and quickly shushed himself when their friend appeared on screen.
"Ah Shun's transformation is really awesome, just like yours Ah Ping. Though I don't like seeing you looking like Suu Jin."
"But I am cuter!" Ping stated with a grin and Wen Dong rubbed the boy's head.
"Obviously!"
Ping hugged his good friend and they watched as Shun did his performance along with Kaiden.
Wen Dong could not help the proudness he was feeling as he watched his best friend reached close to his dream. He was there when Xiong Shun declared his dream aloud. He was there when his best friend declared his dream to the graves. He was there when the man pushed himself until his body gave out. He was there through it all and Wen Dong was extremely happy for Shun.
He was also envious and worried.
Envious that Xiong Shun had a growing fanbase, was being talked about online- positive, negative, publicity is publicity, right? Although his own fanbase was growing, it was growing slowly and he knew for a fact, many followed him because he was Xiong Shun's best friend.
Most of all, he worried his friend would forget him. It was bound to happen eventually, right? When one got popular, they would leave their friends. Suu Jin did. Xiong Shun, no matter how much they love one another, may cast him aside as well.
"Gege is sooooo cooool! Vote for him everyone!" Ping cheered as Shun and Kaiden bowed, "Kaiden is super nice. He reminds me of you, Ah Dong."
"Hm? Really?"
"Mmhmm," Ping smiled at him and returned to look at the television.
Wen Dong smiled as his eyes softened. Dear little Ping Ping, Wen Dong wished the boy never would lose that kindness. He would make sure to protect it always.
****
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