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The dorm was eerily quiet as the members gathered in the living room. It was the end of their ‘Thanxx’ promotions and they were preparing to take a long vacation before their next year’s promotions. ATEEZ has been practicing and honing their skills for the upcoming Kingdom show in February next year, and they need all the rest they can get.
Fortunately, all fan signs and activities finished tonight for most of them, so they took the chance to lounge and relax in their dormitory. Seonghwa hyung and Mingi were catching up on the anime they were watching. San was somewhere in the dorm, probably entertaining himself with games of SNS. They were the only ones in the dorm. Yeosang still had promotions with the music show as an MC, Hongjoong hyung was in the studio working on last-minute edits for their next album tracks, Yunho was in a meeting with BBTrippin leaders, and Jongho was out with manager hyung on an individual schedule.
The people in the dorm are doing their best to relax.
For the ever-hardworking Jung Wooyoung, there is no relaxing at all.
He's an opportunist. When else can he find the time when half the group are not in the dorm?
Hastily hugging a preoccupied Seonghwa hyung and Mingi, he said his goodbyes before rushing to his room. Inside, San was playing on his phone. Like a man set on a mission, Wooyoung threw himself on San and began to drag his friend out of bed. San was patient so he allowed him to drag him by the foot. But once he fell off the bed with a shout, he began to protest.
"What—"
"Have to do something. Get out."
Pushing a protesting San out of the room, Wooyoung locked the door. Wooyoung glanced at the clock on Yeosang’s nightstand and cursed. He rushed to the desktop computer, tripping over the ottoman blocking his way. He jumped on the desk chair and grabbed his notebooks from the opened vault. He was running late for the video meeting.
Heavy, demanding knocks shook the door. “Let me in, Wooyoung! What the hell are you doing?”
Fastening the mic on his collar, he yelled, “Stay out! Bunk with Mingi, Seonghwa hyung, or even your own room! I have things to do!”
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Wooyoung harshly pressed the mute button on his side while answering the call.
A second later the face of their manager flashed in the screen. Wooyoung waved to the screen before rapidly writing his message on a piece of paper with a stubby crayon.
The scrawled message said, San listening outside. Can’t speak. Status?
Manager hyung-nim nodded. “Understood. I told your team the schedule.”
Wooyoung jumped as the doors began to shake. Outside, San gasped, scandalized. “Hyung? You have a meeting with hyung? Hyung! Wooyoung locked me out! You better not be selling the dorm to Wooyoung!”
ATEEZ’ manager and stressed-all-day manager frowned. “Was that—”
“Nice talking with you, hyung! Thank you for letting me know.”
“What—Wait—”
Wooyoung dropped the call.
The main dancer of ATEEZ rubbed his temples, tired but feeling accomplished because he was able to disseminate the schedule information to his fansites.
If there is one description that Jung Wooyoung is proud of, it’s that he is a fan of the famous idol-and-ATEEZ-member Choi Jongho.
Or what the singer affectionally calls his fans, a “Jjong-Ppo”.
People would say that he’s very sweet for being supportive of the kid he has always treated like a little brother, but to him, it’s just common sense and having taste to support someone like Jongho.
He distinctly remembered one of the rare solo Jongho lives he watched under the safety of his blankets and was so happy with the cute fandom name that he gave his fans. He felt like his heart was about to explode from his adorable younger brother, and his bedside table was a testament to how hard he kicked it because he was about to burst from the cuteness of it all.
Wooyoung chuckled in disbelief. Honestly, it felt like a miracle that he was able to hide his little project from everyone. ATEEZ has so many projects over the years that it will take multiple notebooks for him to list down all their activities. He is proud to say that he remembers almost every activity he did, which says a lot because even their manager forgets sometimes.
But even with their tight schedule, he always makes time to connect with his, um, people, regarding the “little” fansite he made for Jongho.
He started it back in 2018, a few months shy of their debut. The idea was borne during a time of contemplation and fear of not making it in the industry. After their experience from the survival show, the industry will not be fair at all. He’s glad that their company is better than most companies out there, but KQ Entertainment has been inactive for a long time.
In a cesspit full of vipers, a small snakeling would need all its resources to survive. It’s not difficult to become greedy in this profession, but his mother taught him to stand up for his beliefs. To stand up for others.
He still remembers the way Jongho wilted at the unfair judgments made by the judges and the trainees against him. He was there when Jongho’s eyes lost its brightness when he was told he was not good enough to be an idol.
That night, he ranted to his mother about the injustice, discrimination, and the fact that people just don’t have taste at all. Their loss, not his, as his mother always says.
Still, he knew he had to do something.
He distinctly remembered the rainy night, chilly wind fanning his face from the open veranda doors in their spacious dormitory. The other members were doing their thing: some of them were taking a break spending their time with their family, while the others were in the studio of Eden hyung, working on the other tracks of the debut album. He was in the dormitory after finishing up with the choreography rehearsals and his recordings. He didn’t want to go home just yet because he’s waiting for a longer break period to spend time with his family, so SNS and video calls was sufficient for him now. Nursing a cup of coffee, he took a sip and looked at the kid beside him.
Jongho was in a lot of stress. His skill is not common in the idol industry. Heck, his members’ individual skill stands out in a room full of idols. It is a nice fact that motivates them to succeed in every comeback, to push boundaries and try new things, to develop their skills every day. But it doesn’t mean the burden is not there.
And Jongho has one of the heaviest amongst them.
“You okay?”
Jongho nodded. “I’m fine.”
Wooyoung frowned at the voice crack from frequent use. “You don’t sound okay. I’ll make you your ginger tea. Do you want that?”
Jongho looked down and shyly nodded. “With more ginger please?”
It was silent in the kitchen as Wooyoung carefully made the ginger tea. The tinkling of the tea cups was a loud but welcome sound in the room. Jongho didn’t mind it, anyway, since he was lost in his thoughts.
Wooyoung exhaled. “You know they’re just mean people, right?”
Silence, then, “Yeah. But it still hurts though.”
Clunk. Wooyoung looked down at the broken tea cup then at his fist tightly grasping the spoon. He heard shuffling before a gentle hand grabbed the utensil from his tight fists.
Jongho sighed. “It’s okay, hyung. I’ll just ignore them. I know my capabilities.”
Wooyoung resisted the urge to mother-hen the youngest. He knew that Jongho wouldn’t appreciate it anyway. It has been an on-going struggle for him not to wrap Jongho around in a cocoon and tie that cocoon to his back so that he can bring him everywhere he goes. Yeosang noticed him starting to be stick to Jongho more, but his friend just raised an eyebrow, dismissing the behavior as something Jung Wooyoung would usually do. Yeosang is usually right because they’ve known each other for years, but he doesn’t know the extent of how Wooyoung supports Jongho.
A thought suddenly flashed in his mind.
Then how can I show Jongho that I’m his biggest fan?
The answer was easy, really. Didn’t take him long.
He started with outlining his organizational chart, which he is thankful for the CEO for teaching him. What he planned to do was insane. He was not even sure if its allowed. It was just a small idea, but he was nothing if not determined. Starting a fansite takes a lot of time and dedication. One must have a connection in the company, tools and equipment to take photos, money to spend to get inside concerts and year-end shows, and a whole lot of grit because fansites are tough. They must get to places where no normal fan can get into. Fortunately for him, he has the connection in the company, which is himself and their managers.
What he needed was a decoy.
He worked with the staff under the guise of “promoting teamwork and camaraderie”. He ignored the disbelieving expression of Hongjoong hyung who smelled the bullshit a mile away. Still, he wanted to push through with his fansite project. The heavens must have looked down on him because he found the right staff, who recommended getting in touch with the few fansites that was formed during Mixnine but became inactive after KQ trainees all got eliminated. Wooyoung was relieved that the fansites did not have any nefarious schemes towards him and his members and that they’re more than willing to work with him on this project.
Three years in and the fansite is still going strong.
Wooyoung let out a chuckle as he opened the door, whistling his way towards the kitchen for some evening snack. His secret was easier to hide than he thought. However, there were times the secret almost came out.
For example, a fan call back in 2020 had one of his “decoys” meet with Jongho. He briefed his team about inevitably having close encounters with his members and how they should react. At that point, they were familiar with him that they were confident they can speak comfortably. But their mettle was tested when they met Jongho. The vocalists sang for them, and they crumpled like wet paper, saying that they adore him and that their “male friend” absolutely loves him too. Worse, they let slip that Jongho knows their “friend”.
Jongho laughed. “Really? You should bring him to the concert. I’d be happy to meet him.”
A few chairs down from Jongho, Wooyoung choked on his soda.
Then there’s the time he was watching Jongho’s ‘Answer’ fancam from his established fansite. He was giggling and having fun watching Jongho when he heard a cough behind him.
“I look cute in that, right, hyung?”
With formidable skill, Wooyoung immediately pressed the stop, exited the editing app, closed the browser, and turned off the computer in a few keystrokes.
Then he proceeded to panic and hyperventilate.
“JONGHO—WHAT—UM—It’s not what it looks like—“
The main vocalist chuckled. “Hyung, chill, I’m just joking.”
Joking my ass, I can’t breathe, Wooyoung wheezed as he tried to catch his breath.
Wooyoung shook his head at the memory. He never said his new project doesn’t have its thrill. He turned down the hallway.
“Wooyoung hyung.”
Wooyoung slowly turned. “Oh, hey, Jongho. How’s the promotion?”
Jongho nodded his head. “Can I talk to you?”
Wooyoung shrugged. He followed the youngest to their room. He sat down on his bed, staring at him with an unreadable expression. Wooyoung slowly sat down to face him.
Wooyoung frowned in worry. “Did—Did something happen?”
“Thank you. For appreciating me and loving me as family. ”
Wooyoung felt his heart melt into a puddle. He restrained his arms from going around his favorite member.
He smiled. “Of course. You know I’m always proud of you.”
Jongho blushed and nodded. He stood up and went to open the door.
“Oh, and hyung, let me know when you’re gonna join the fancall as Little Apple.”
Wooyoung tripped over the ottoman.