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“You can be scary as hell when you want to be, huh.”
“I was merely doing what I was told. Though, I would have preferred to not be part of it at all.”
The leaves rustled above them as a gentle breeze flew in, the shape of the shadows cast upon them shaking and morphing with every motion. Several feet ahead of them, people milled about on the set under the blazing sun, mindfully stepping out of the way of the many cords snaking along the ground. Adding to the background noise was the soft clacking of equipment, cameras being adjusted and microphones moved as the next scene’s preparations were underway.
The distinct crinkling sound of a plastic water bottle reached his ears, head slightly tilting upward as he took a sip from the container. Next to him, the guest star of the film sighed softly. “Still. Everyone, including myself, thought the director was a bit crazy to give you a role despite the lack of training. And yet, you literally brought everyone’s jaws to the floor with your performance.”
“It wasn’t like I had to do much other than speak a couple of words while standing.”
“Haitham, you literally made the entire crew feel chills.”
“So?” Alhaitham blinked as he glanced to the side, spotting those ever-familiar blonde locks of Kaveh’s. “I was told that I was supposed to make myself an “unnervingly calm presence”. I merely did what I thought felt right for the mood.”
“And you took to it like a fish in water. End of discussion.” Kaveh quietly huffed, hands on his hips as he continued half-seriously. “You sure you won’t consider taking up acting? You could do some truly impressive stuff if you really put your mind to it.”
“I told you before, I’m not interested in the slightest. Besides, I’d rather not get tied up in the messes that come with the entertainment industry and I like keeping my life private.”
“It’s always the same old answer with you.”
“And you knew my answer before you even thought to ask me that.”
“Well, excuse me for wanting to take a chance that something in that big brain of yours decided to tick in another direction.” Kaveh faintly smiled with amusement.
Before their conversation could continue, there was the distant call of Kaveh’s name. Both of them reactively turned their heads in the direction of the call, revealing it to be one of the members in charge of costumes and makeup.
“Ah, guess we’re getting back to work.” Kaveh hummed with contentment, taking a few steps away before quickly looking back to Alhaitham. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Alhaitham merely nodded and that was enough of an answer for Kaveh as he hurried away to get ready.
With a nearly silent sigh, Alhaitham continued to observe everything from afar, back still leaning against the rough bark of the tree behind him. In all honesty, he was not a part of any of this. The only reason he ended up getting roped into Kaveh’s line of work was because they happened to reignite an old friendship some time ago. If anything, getting to accompany Kaveh around like this was only possible due to being one of Kaveh’s personal connections.
Though, it still irked him slightly whenever people thought it was an opportunity to scout him out. Sometimes, Alhaitham wonders what kind of mess he has let himself get dragged into thanks to Kaveh.
The first time they met, it was because they happened to share a class one year.
They were not entirely unaware of each other’s presence. Other than initial introductions, they had not gone any further from there. Though, eventually, it seemed that Kaveh had taken note of Alhaitham’s elusive nature and took it as an incentive to seek the other out.
From there, they became acquaintances thanks to Kaveh’s pure curiosity. However, other than some idle and brief conversations, there was still a wedge between them. It wasn’t until a group project partially forced them to interact more that their relationship evolved into more than mere acquaintances.
From there, things seemed to blur and people could only wonder if their relationship was spiraling downward or upward. This was because their differing ideals and mixing personalities often caused clashes between them. In addition, there was the added pettiness that came with immaturity and youth.
And yet, at the same time, it was those very differences that kept making their lives overlap.
Alhaitham was silently rather glad to find someone to debate with and he could tell Kaveh shared the sentiment. Even if they could not agree on everything under the sun, they still got to learn more about each other bit by bit. They were able to find some sort of solace and growing knowledge with every interaction they had.
And though Alhaitham was able to see deeper past Kaveh’s walls than Kaveh himself was aware of, Alhaitham let himself remain quiet and never pried.
Kaveh, popularly known by his stage name “Paradisaea”, had gradually risen to fame quickly enough that it had taken many by surprise. No one knew who Kaveh was or when he suddenly started stepping onto the stage. And yet, with brilliant and vibrant looks, a charming smile, and endearing empathy, he had quickly captured many hearts.
Once upon a time, this young man was nothing more than a newcomer who had magically appeared out of the blue. And now, his pictures and recordings of his performances flooded the internet. The likes, views, and shares reached into the hundred-thousands and millions. Without a doubt, he had managed to become a hit sensation and the love and adoration aimed his way was suffocating to manage.
And it had all started with a chance encounter in a tiny cafe.
Kaveh would always remember the day he was scouted by Madam Faruzan. He had been typing away on a laptop in a quiet corner, nothing but looming deadlines running on a loop within his head among other things. He hadn’t even noticed when she slid into the seat across from him. It had taken her snapping her fingers in front of him that he was finally knocked out of his academic mania.
Madam Faruzan had seen something in him, a spark that had enough potential to ignite into flames. And so, she had decided to offer him an opportunity of a lifetime. At the time, her agency was struggling against the sea of competitors and she was actively searching for people who could help keep her side of things out of the gutters.
Initially, Kaveh had been full of uncertainty. After all, he had been spending a lot of his time studying and pursuing a completely different career goal. And suddenly, he was presented with becoming an idol – a career that could easily ruin any stability he had if it didn’t go as well as anyone hoped. As an appreciator of the arts, he was well informed about the business side of it and that it was often quite brutal unless you’re lucky enough to really strike gold.
“...I’m really sorry Miss Faruzan-”
“That’s Madam Faruzan to you, boy.”
“A…Ah, right. Still, I’m sorry Madam Faruzan, but I don’t think I’m qualified for any of that stardom stuff even if you say otherwise.”
She was a persistent woman – one of the most persistent and stubborn people Kaveh has ever had the pleasure of knowing. It wasn’t necessarily a bad trait, but at that moment, he really just wanted to forget all about this scouting incident and move on with his life. Besides…
How could someone like him ever fit the bill? Was he really someone who could make others happy? Could his smile really bring the truest of joys in people’s hearts? Could someone like him provide the love that is desired from him if he takes up such a role?
Once upon a time, he had been a young boy who knew what it was like to love and be loved. But then…his father had passed away in an accident and his mother may as well have died with him.
In the face of such a sudden loss, his mother had been dealt a fatal blow to her heart, mind, and soul. She could no longer bring herself to pick up a pencil and create things of beauty. She could no longer find her voice that would help fill the house with honey-like warmth. She had become despondent and incapable of smiling, something deep inside having withered like a dying flower. But it hadn’t stopped there. It seemingly continued to become a parasite that eroded whatever whisps of love and cheer she once held inside her.
Kaveh had taken up the mantle of responsibility, putting his mother before himself as he had done all he could to reignite what had been lost to time. And yet, he was never successful. Nothing he had tried worked and with his mother out of commission, he had to balance her health, his livelihood, and their income by himself.
In the end, his mother left him behind. And it was shortly after that she had found happiness again. But it was in a different place and because of a different person.
In the end, Kaveh had not brought an ounce of happiness. If anything, perhaps he was the only living reminder of what they had both lost and he was only hurting her more.
A love so fragile and replaceable it stung. It was like cauterizing a wound instead of letting it be properly sewn and treated with care.
Kaveh had not heard from his mother in years, and he wouldn’t intrude upon her ever again. He had no other family to turn to either. His personal life merely consisted of himself.
So, no. He could not become an idol. He wasn’t qualified to be one because idols brought happiness to others. Idols brought people love. And when was the last time he knew what it was like to truly have those for himself?
Surely, someone as unfortunate as him could not be what Madam Faruzan is looking for. Her intuition simply must be wrong. And so, he told her – he made the reasons why he was a bad choice loud and clear for her ears.
“You don’t have to be genuine about it. In fact, it’s both impossible and unhealthy to try and genuinely love hundreds to thousands of strangers.”
“But…”
“If you continue down the path you’re going, do you think you’ll find what you’re looking for?”
It had made him pause.
“Boy, idols may be all about the people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t consider yourself either.”
“...”
“If you struggle to find love and happiness for yourself, try and broaden your horizons to find it. I cannot promise anything, but the probability you could find what you’re searching for isn’t zero if you accept my offer. And this isn’t some sort of soul-bonding ritual either. If you find it really isn’t cut out for you, I don’t mind letting you go.”
Was this truly the right choice to make?
“Lying is a specialty and a needed skill in this area of work. As much as we enter the business with bright eyes and earnest hearts, business is business and it gets messy real quick. So, it’s perfectly fine to smile at people and say you love them even if it’s not true love. If anything, even those kinds of sugary words help bring them hope in a world as bleak as ours. And, as bad as it sounds, sometimes we need to lie to the world in order to keep things turning.”
Some part of himself, deep down, desired to be selfish. If he could grasp even a scrap of greed for himself, he would like to. And yet, there was an all-consuming guilt that came with it.
But if he could become a successful idol, he could help make others gain what he could not. As a fan of artists of all kinds of media, he knew what it was like to have their works pull you out of the darkening spiral of life even for a moment.
If there was a chance he could achieve the same for other poor souls looking for a light like him…
If there was a chance he could find what he’s been looking for all this time…
His headphones softly hummed against his ears, the gentle thump of music pumping into his head and threatening to leak out into the world around him. Filling his world of sound was nothing but familiar melodies and an even more familiar voice.
Sitting on the dashboard of the car was his phone, its screen revealing the saturated and vibrant colors of the digital album’s cover and every song being sung by the same, lone singer.
With a pop, the car door on the passenger side pulled open, catching Alhaitham’s attention.
“About time you returned.”
“Hey, this is a good opportunity for me! It’s not my fault that I want to help create good relations with the others.” Kaveh’s gaze wandered over, spotting the other’s phone before it was stored away. “Oh? Was someone listening to one of my songs? I thought you kept telling me they were tasteless.”
“They are. And that’s why it makes it easier for me to zone out while you leave me waiting for the next century.”
“You-!” Kaveh’s cheeks faintly puffed up with indignation, the click of his seatbelt echoing between them. “Just admit that you like my singing!”
“When pigs fly.” Alhaitham’s lips curved upward into the faintest hint of a smile. For many, it was an easy thing to miss, but Kaveh has long since become used to picking up on Alhaitham’s subtle tells.
Crossing his arms like a petulant child, Kaveh gave an exaggerated huff. “Just drive.”
“I’m dropping out.”
“...Excuse me?”
It was, perhaps, the very first time Kaveh had managed to well and truly catch Alhaitham off guard.
“What do you mean by that exactly?” Alhaitham’s gaze had turned sharp.
Kaveh refused to back down just as he always has. “I’ve had a change of plans for myself.”
“And what exactly are you choosing to do now that would require you to drop out mere months from your graduation?”
“...” Kaveh met Alhaitham’s eyes silently and wordlessly, mentally debating whether or not to confess what he had chosen for himself. But, finally, he blurted it out in simple words. “...I was scouted by someone to become an idol. I accepted.”
For Alhaitham, what was he to do when suddenly presented with such news? Kaveh, someone who he respected as a friend(?) and intellectual, was dropping out of school to pursue a career as an idol .
Naturally, Alhaitham had found it absolutely absurd. Kaveh was full of potential and anyone with eyes could see that. Alhaitham knew that Kaveh could accomplish great things. But an idol? The statistics for making a suitable living as anyone within the art and entertainment industry were as minimal as minimal could get. Not even skills, talent, or money could guarantee that your name will make it out there. And that wasn’t even including the grimy and ugly sides to it. Without a doubt, it was truly full of competition from all around like tossing a rabbit into a den of wolves.
Kaveh could easily earn himself a more stable and secure career and lifestyle by doing something else. And instead, Alhaitham had to be faced with the fact that Kaveh decided to throw it all away for something as silly as idol-hood.
“I’d be surprised if you could retain an audience. After all, how can you expect to give away smiles to a ton of strangers when you can't even smile for yourself?”
Those were the last words he had given Kaveh before the blonde had officially decided to cut ties with him. Looking back on it, it was a bit of a low blow. However, it was not without truth. That wasn’t to say that Kaveh was always putting up a front, but there was, without a doubt, something going on that Alhaitham never pried too deeply about. And in the middle of the biggest fight yet, he had torn the bandage off.
Had things gone differently, maybe he would have presented the underlying issue he noticed within Kaveh with a little more tact. But, alas, such a blunt and bold way of going about it was what came from his mouth. It did not take a genius to know that the blonde had taken those words like he had been struck with a hot iron.
But what was done was done. And all Alhaitham could do was let Kaveh go and support him from the sidelines as an eventual nameless member of Paradisaea’s loving and growing audience.
“Thanks for bringing me back home.”
“Mmn.”
Kaveh stood awkwardly by Alhaitham’s rolled-down car window. At times, he found himself at a loss for what to say to the other man. Especially, considering the negative note they had ended off with before reconnecting by chance.
Looking back on it, Alhaitham’s words were not wrong. In fact, it had unnerved Kaveh just how much the other had been able to see right through him without him knowing. Yet, the him of the past, and maybe even a little bit now, was not entirely prepared to handle the weight of the truth he had been avoiding.
Now that he has the full experience, Kaveh will admit that being an idol can truly be a hell of its own. However, a part of him had grown accustomed to it as it had woven itself into his being.
Does he ever regret it? Sometimes. Will he stop? No.
Kaveh knows that, despite it all, he does feel like he’s getting there – that he’s getting closer and closer to what he’s been hoping for. And, in all honestly, perhaps that final, major barricade was right in front of him.
More than anything, he wants what they used to have. And, in a way, they have regained it. However…
Can it truly be considered “resolved” when they have never sat down and properly talked about their huge fallout? Kaveh likes to think Alhaitham doesn’t hold anything against him for his own scathing words. However, doubts would pile up and up and Kaveh wonders if it was possible to ever speak of the unspoken.
What if talking about it only ended up destroying whatever sense of normalcy they’ve gained for each other since their reconnection? Kaveh, even though he has a lot of criticism about Alhaitham, would rather keep this unnamed relationship limbo between them than risk shattering anything they had left.
To this day, he isn’t sure if they could truly be classified as friends. And he could only wonder and wonder what Alhaitham thought of their relationship as it stands now.
“Are you going to stand there all day?”
“…! Of course not!” Kaveh blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. “Anyway, see you tomorrow afternoon I guess?”
“That is what we agreed upon.”
Yes, this was fine. They could still be a part of each other's lives like this even if the void of ambiguity lingered in his mind about each other.
He looked up from the table his face was smooshed against, a glass of wine loosely held in his hand.
A familiar head of silvery hair and colorful eyes greeted his blurring vision.
“Senior, this is no place to let yourself go in. Let me take you somewhere safer.”
Kaveh felt himself carefully being aided up, his weight mostly relying on the man who was assisting him. Hands gently adjusted his tinted glasses and hat, helping to obscure his appearance from revealing his identity in a public space.
Through the drunken haze and seemingly endless tread, there were words on the very tip of his tongue he had been yearning to speak.
Those words never made it past his throat much like the conflicting swirl of emotions that battered his heart’s chambers from the inside out.
His shoes tapped against the steps of the apartment complex as he made his way up, hands in his pockets and his phone passing music into his favorite pair of headphones. Idly, he glanced around, taking in the peaceful silence of the neighborhood and the bright, partially cloudy skies.
Though, eventually, he paused. His brow furrowed as he began to hear something that was not part of the music’s track. He quickly looked ahead only to gasp as someone nearly barreled into him.
“Watch it…!” Alhaitham barked out as he hastily gripped the nearest surface he could, fingers curling tightly around the stair’s railing as whoever shoved past him was nearly preparing to tumble down the stairs with every uncoordinated step. With how fast the mystery person was running, it wasn’t long until they were out of sight.
…It took a moment for the putrid, metallic scent to hit Alhaitham’s nose.
He froze, an instinctual urge guiding him to look downward. As he did, his eyes caught sight of an ominous trail of crimson droplets. The grim trail followed the same path that the stranger who ran by him was going.
As much as a part of him was telling him to catch the perpetrator who had, obviously, committed some sort of crime, he had not attempted to hunt the stranger down. Instead, as soon as his feet regained the ability to move, he was rushing up the stairs to a certain blonde’s apartment.
His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, an icy cold dread flooding his veins as he mentally tried to convince himself that the odds Kaveh had anything to do with this were small. And yet, every feeble line of reasoning remained weak enough to snap within an instant. Every pulse of his veins felt as if they were leaping out of his body like a high note that threatened to distort the audio.
By the time he made it to the correct floor, he merely had to look down the rows of doors to find the only one that was left open, gently swinging on its hinges.
It was the door to Kaveh’s apartment.
“K…Kaveh…!” Alhaitham cleared the distance in a time that felt simultaneously too slow and inhumanely fast. His palms slammed against the doorframe, feet practically sliding across the ground as he fumbled to make the turn.
“Ka-”
Alhaitham’s voice died out at the sight that greeted him.
The entryway was dim, leaving natural sunlight as its only source of light. Like a spotlight for the star on the stage, surrounded by a sea of darkness, Kaveh was slumped up against the wall directly across from the front door. An inky pool poured from his abdomen, spilling underneath his body like one of those fountain ponds within a mall. It slowly crept toward the beam of sunlight to reveal its crimson hue, no different than an abomination dragging its decrepit body from its fleshy pit. Scattered all about were flower petals torn from their stems, a ruined bouquet laying off to the side.
Delicately, the petals floated upon the bodies of blood like boats upon a still lake. And like boats with punctures within their hull, their dazzling and innocent shades were dyed with a fleeting life’s essence.
Eyes that shone like padparadscha sapphires under gleaming lights and bright cheers slowly opened. The only time they had ever looked so distant and out of touch was that night Alhaitham had found Kaveh wasting away in a bar. And yet, it was still incomparable to this.
“H…aith…am…?”
Alhaitham was already pulling out his phone, headphones knocked off of his head and hanging loosely around his neck as he hurriedly called for emergency services. He ignored the shaking that ran up and down his legs as he made his way to Kaveh’s side, dropping to his knees as he aggressively shouted at the person who answered.
It didn’t matter anymore as he let his phone fall to the floor as soon as the dispatcher announced that an ambulance was on its way.
It didn’t matter anymore because Alhaitham was staring straight at Kaveh, watching that brilliant sun flame dimming faster than an ambulance could ever go.
Alhaitham is no doctor and he only knows the most basic of emergency medical knowledge to heart. But he can tell that Kaveh was slipping away too fast for anyone to catch.
“Th-Think to…day’s shooting w-will be…can-canceled?”
Alhaitham blinked, looking down and finding that, at some point, his hand had found its way to Kaveh’s, their fingers intertwined. “...Y...You…”
“Ha…S-Speechless, h-huh? Th…at’s r-rare coming fr-om you.”
“Kaveh…” Alhaitham gritted his teeth, his grip on the other’s hand tightening. “You…You’re dying and that’s all you have to say…?!”
For a split second, Kaveh’s eyes widened by a fraction with surprise at the uncharacteristic outburst before his expression relaxed. “...Of a-all t-times to…not b-be punct-ual…’m glad i-it was now.” He sighed softly, only to grimace as it brought a painful tickle to his chest. He hacked, agonizing ripples shooting through his body at the harsh force of it.
The blood continued to flow like a tap with no way of stopping it.
“Kaveh, I need you to hold on for as long as possible.”
Kaveh glanced up at Alhaitham, and despite the panic within that usually calm gaze, all he could think of was how beautiful a final sight it is. The sun perfectly created a strong contrast with the dramatic shadows, casting a stunning glow on Alhaitham’s features. Hair shone like threads of the purest silver, eyes sparkling with hues that attempted to replicate alexandrite.
The longer he stared, the more those words he wished to say began to bubble up like a pot of water left to boil.
And soon, the first sign of bubbles would breach the surface and pop.
“...I…love y-you…”
Alhaitham stilled.
Kaveh couldn’t tell whether the other’s expression was positive or negative as his sight became blotchy with tears and hazy with lightheadedness.
“Alw…ays have. It..s…n-not a lie. D-Definitely, not.” Despite it all, he managed to smile.
Kaveh wished they had spoken sooner. Perhaps, they could’ve had something deeper all this time had they just communicated. But he was too scared and too worried. And yet, it was at this moment that he had nothing left to lose, pouring the last bit of his soul that he had never confessed to the other.
Regardless of how Alhaitham felt about their fight, their parting ways, their ideals, their different paths, and their unexpected reunion, Kaveh knew that Alhaitham had always become a new home to him.
When did it happen? When did it start? Was it before they fell out, while they were apart, or after they picked up whatever pieces were left? Kaveh doesn’t know, but he supposes it doesn’t matter anymore. Regardless of when, how, and why…
There was only one fact that was true. And that is that Alhaitham has become Kaveh’s home and that is a home Kaveh has only ever wanted to keep to himself – to selfishly claim the love and happiness he let the other carry for him. It was not a love out of obligation. It was not a love he was required to give.
It was genuine and something he had missed having for so long since his own family had fallen to shambles.
He just wished he had laid claim to it sooner.
“ Kaveh…! ”
The news of Paradisaea’s passing spread like wildfire.
Every social media site and news outlet were practically dogpiling on the story, word both true, false, and exaggerated flooding every channel like a plague. A countless number of people mourned for the loss of such a brilliant star, some with genuine sincerity while others mourned more for the concept of Paradisaea and the end of his works and talents.
The funeral was private upon Alhaitham’s insistence. Though, his word alone was insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Fortunately, however, Madam Faruzan and many others with more weight within the industry, who knew Kaveh, had desired the same.
And so, there was both a public funeral and a private one. Alhaitham had only appeared briefly for the private funeral before leaving without a word or change in his stoic expression. With what tiny crowd there was, some hadn’t even noticed he had attended while others wondered why he had shown up only to leave just as soon.
There was no sign of Kaveh’s mother or her newfound family she had made in another country. Even when Madam Faruzan reached out, there still had been no word. With nothing more she could do, she could only let it drop there.
“Madam Faruzan, I apologize for the sudden meeting.”
The woman looked over as she heard the door to her office open. She sighed softly as Alhaitham made his way into the room. “It’s fine.”
About half a year had passed since Kaveh’s passing and the world had already moved on for the most part. Like a nova, Kaveh’s death had brightened until it blinded everyone with its light. And just like that, it had returned to what it was.
Now, it was nothing more than aging news, records of the man’s face and voice being the only sign that he had existed as a person at all.
Alhaitham could understand this, for how could anyone truly mourn the loss of a life they only ever got to admire from afar? If anything, he’d be surprised if Kaveh’s existence remained relevant. Logically, it made sense and Kaveh was far from the only popular and famous figure in society who gained the same treatment.
“Now, what is it you wanted to discuss with me?” Faruzan looked at him solemnly, somewhat expecting that Alhaitham’s sudden contact had to do with Kaveh. What else would this man come back here for?
“Are you willing to take me in as one of your idols?”
Of all things she expected, this was not one of them. The woman was left sputtering for a moment, eyes wide as she was caught off guard. Especially since the last she saw of him was at the private funeral, way in the back. From then on, up until now, there was radio silence. No one really knew what Alhaitham had been up to all this time.
“E-Excuse me?” Her gaze looked him up and down before meeting his eyes.
He was serious about this.
Her eye narrowed, confusion mixing in with the swirl of emotions she was feeling. “...What exactly brought this about?”
Everyone knew how Alhaitham felt about being involved too deeply with the entertainment industry. And many heard enough complaints from Kaveh about Alhaitham’s “lack of appreciation for art, beauty, and romance”.
Alhaitham was quiet for a moment, his tone flat as he finally spoke up.
Under her watchful eyes, Alhaitham refused to back down just as he always has. “I’ve had a change of plans for myself.”
The words spilled from his lips, numb on his tongue and like a ghost playing an old reel within his mind.
Kaveh refused to back down just as he always has. “I’ve had a change of plans for myself.”
“And…” There was pressure by his eye, a delicate and skilled hand applying another stroke of eyeliner. “There.”
Nilou stepped back, double-checking her work before nodding with a soft hum of approval. “You are all set to go, Alhaitham.”
“Good. If it had taken any longer, we may have run the risk of running late according to the schedule.” Alhaitham slowly opened his eyes, his indifferent expression observing the reflection of himself that stared back at him.
Lingering for a moment longer, Alhaitham soon got up from his seat, adjusting the fabrics of his outfit and adjusting the feather-like accessory pinned to his person.
With every step, he counted every breath, the familiar weight of the microphone resting by his lips and hanging to his ear accompanying him. Gradually, he could hear the intelligible anticipation of the crowd waiting for the stage’s star.
The wait did not take long, Alhaitham plastering on a charming smile he once saw on television screens and in person some time ago.
With practiced ease, his voice sweetened naturally like a warm and soothing honey.
“Hello, everyone! Did I keep you waiting?”
With flowing hair, a charming smile, twinkling eyes, and a playful wink, the crowd roared for their new songbird.
“There were only so few in Kaveh’s life who could’ve figured out Kaveh’s new living arrangements. It couldn’t have been anyone in his personal life. Besides himself, there is me and whoever he befriended in the industry."
“Oddly enough, there have been idols in the past who apparently had personas similar to Kaveh’s, and they had met similar fates of a crazed fan murdering them when off work. And every murder I looked into lacked any known talents, skills, or equipment that would help in planning a murder of a highly protected individual…”
“Whether or not these incidents are or aren’t actually connected, there is no doubt that Kaveh must have had his whereabouts leaked by someone in the industry.”
“Since they won’t reveal themselves for me. I’ll simply have to draw them out myself.”
"Everyone told me how good of an actor I'd be... I guess it's time to put it to the test."
Lights sparkled, the vibrations coursing under his feet as the audience cheered and rejoiced with him. Under the spotlight and endearing persona, he thrived .
I will become an eagle – a hunter under the guise of a mere songbird.
Countless nights, albums playing on loop of a voice that will never speak a new word again.
I will become a star that attracts your gaze.
Recordings upon recordings of a bird of paradise whose vibrant feathers and flowing fabrics danced with him, blonde locks like the radiant sun. The images and every step burned into his memory.
Pause. Rewind. Play.
Pause. Rewind. Play.
“Feel free to hunt me down as you please.”
Somewhere, on the other side of the screen broadcasting the live performance, interest was piqued.
“I will be eagerly awaiting for the day we meet.”
“I will be eagerly awaiting for the day we meet.”