JM firmly pressed the span of his palm into JKs back to direct him towards center stage. Unexpectedly, lovingly, JK returned his gesture with a soft grip around JMs waist, pulling him close as they rushed to join the other members. With a subtle movement.  JM turned to him and mouthed “I love you,” speaking more with his eyes than the quiet words  spoken from his mouth. The ever present sparkle in JKs eyes only grew brighter with the confession.They continued to walk upstage, touching flirtatiously as they smiled, joked& bathed in each other’s presence.   It had been a long time since they stood there, the seven of them, receiving the accolades they so much deserved.  The gravity of the moment was not lost on JM and JK.  

They stood close to each other, discreetly sharing touches that bestowed warmth and comfort between the two of them. A sudden fiery desire to kiss burned within their chests, as their gazes locked upon each other. The room full of thousands grew quiet bc the loud pounding in their chests muted every sound around them. The speeches were over, it was time to leave the stage, yet, the two of them found themselves frozen on the spot, holding hands, lost in the beauty of the other. It was Namjoon who retrieved them and rushed them from the stage, saving them from themselves.  They laughed sillily as their hypnotic trance of love was broken. They followed Namjoon off stage then paused momentarily to watch as he traveled in the opposite direction.  The place was buzzing with activity; actors, other Idol groups, staff, stage hands, hosts, everyone busily went about their duties as they produced the show.  The other members were all seated downstairs in their dressing rooms, waiting for the caravan of cars to take them back to the hotels.  They were also, undoubtedly, wondering where JM and JK disappeared too.

Just beyond the bright lights, far out of sight of all of the busy bodies, JM & JK found a quiet space amidst the darkness of the back staging area. A dense black curtain hanging from the top of rafters created a tiny private nook in the corner.  Immediately, they claimed the spot.  

Oh, how they ached.  Oh, how they longed for one private moment, that one delectable touch that would sustain them and keep them from going mad.  Oh, how they wanted to make love, create love - drown - in their love.  But the massive enormity of their aching desire that spanned greater than all of the earth’s seas had to be reconciled - through one little kiss.  It wasn’t fair, but it was the reality.

All at once, they held each other.  JM rested his hands on either side of JK’s hips and JK passionately pressed his hands into the small of JM’s back. Gracefully, they pressed the glossed skin of their lips together as their breathing temporarily suspended.  JK’s thin lips were fixed into a pucker as JM’s soft pillows rested against his. They took their first drag, careful not to introduce any tongue that could quickly intensify the moment.  They could taste the slight chemical undertone of each other’s lip gloss.  A soft pop sounded as the kiss began to moisten.  JM pushed further and further into JK’s face until his tongue met the even ridge of JK’s bottom teeth.  If felt too good.

Warmth and satisfaction passed between them as volleyed back and forth, alternating their grips, holding each other tighter and tighter.  A flurry of back stage staff swept past them quickly, causing the heavy black curtain to ruffle and brush against their legs.  They were startled.  Correctly, they pulled away. Jimin shoved his hands into his pockets and began to whistle, while JK turned towards the corner and vigorously wiped his lips.   

This time, they were extremely lucky.  Despite their very public lip lock, no one had actually witnessed the momentary lapse of judgement.  It was for the best, else they draw the eyre of their fearless leader who had warned them countless times about PDA, especially at award shows. 

The two were not just careless.  They were too respectful and professional for that.  What they were, however, was fed up.  For weeks and weeks and weeks, they had been forced apart through constant travel, endless performances and never ending touring.  They could have rooms near each other, but sharing a room was no longer allowed.  There were too many eyes upon them, too many rumors flying about, too many people on the verge of figuring it all out.  For the good of the group, the good of the pending military service and the good of their personal safety, they had to pretend as if their raging love affair...never existed.  Who could blame them for an innocent slip up?  Surely no one who’d ever been in love could speak one word of admonishment against the two tortured souls.

The brief kiss had done nothing but force the ache to grow even stronger.  It was the least desired result from their risky venture because now they felt even weaker in each other’s presence. The kiss was not everything they needed it to be, but it was enough to hold them steady for a little bit longer. The interaction was just enough to remind them that they had forever.  Forever.  Their schedules were almost complete.  Soon they would be home in Korea, living as “friendly neighbors”, traveling to the corner market and having private dinner parties.  Soon the cameras that constantly documented their lives would go dark.  Soon, they would once again have control of their own love affair, without intervention from those who wanted to keep them apart.  Their moment was coming.  They just had to be patient.

JM used his palm to take one swipe across his lips to remove JK’s gloss.  Their make up noona had decorated them both in the same pale pink gloss tone which made it much easier to discard the evidence.  

As they turned their attention towards finding the other members, JM faced his devilishly handsome JK and seductively uttered, “To be continued?” 

Jk replied with a deeply dimpled smile as he surveyed his lover and bandmate,“Your birthday is soon and we’ll be home by then. So yeah, this will definitely be continued.” 

 THE END