Chapter 14 - Fight For Me

Once everything settled, he didn't see his friend anywhere. Worried, he looked over at Ping to see he was live with his fans. Glancing over at his dance teacher, he walked over to see Tee giving him a nod.

"Congrats."

"I wouldn't even get chosen if it weren't for you. Thank you, Tee."

"I'll be rooting for you," the dancer smiled and Shun grinned.

"And I will be giving you a shoutout live!"

Tee laughed and he felt the tickle against his heart.

Walking over to Ping, the young boy excitedly spoke with his fans. Patting the boy's head and greeting Ping's fans, Shun stepped outside to see if Wen Dong was around. Not seeing anyone, he pulled out his phone from his pocket. He saw that he finished a task, but his mind was on his friend.

*Task completed: Be chosen for Idol Competition. Earned points.*

Calling his childhood, well… not technically his childhood, but he called the man, but there was no answer.

Digging into the memories Xiong Shun had with Wen Dong, there was a park they normally go to before joining the company a couple years ago. Deciding to head there to see if his friend was there, he got into his car and drove to the park. There, he found his friend at the bench with his head in his hands.

"Ah Dong," he called out walking to his friend, "Hey. Are you alright?"

His friend didn't say anything and he sat beside Wen Dong. He placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezed, doing his best to be comforting.

He was reminded of when his eldest brother would do the same, causing his heart to hurt. He wondered if his brother felt it was his fault for his death. He hoped not. His brother already carried so much as the first heir to the throne. He wouldn't want his death to be a burden.

"I'm sorry, Shun," he heard his friend mumbled, shaking him away from his past.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I promised we would make it together," Wen Dong still had his face covered by his hands.

"We still can!" Shun pulled his friend up so he was sitting and facing him, "Just because Ping and I were chosen for the show does not mean Manager Quang and Ling would stop putting a group together. You WILL be in that group and besides, if I don't make it then I will come back."

Wen Dong breathed out a smile through his tears. Wiping it with the back of his arms, he nodded.

"You better not come back unless you make it, Shun. Fight for me too."

"You got it."

They cupped one another's shoulder with the same determined look in their brown eyes. Wen Dong laughed and hugged his friend. He believed Xiong Shun would make it big. He just worried he would be forgotten and that scared him.

"Alright! Let's get back."

Shun smiled and they both headed to their cars to return to the studio.

The clicks of a camera sounded.

==

Shun was currently staring at the screen of his phone. He received a new task earlier and he really did not know what he was doing. Ping and Jin had charm when it came to being live, but Shun had not gone live on his own.

"This is like when big brother had to speak with the other royals and when father spoke with the villagers. Imagine them and you will be fine."

He self-talked to himself and suddenly saw hearts on the screen. The chat started flooding and his brown eyes widened. Letting out a laugh, he sent a smile to the screen and bowed.

"Hello everyone, Hi. It's me, Xiong Shun. How is everyone?"

He could barely read the excited chat but caught some questions.

"I wanted to come live to speak with you all. This is my first time, so if I do anything wrong, please forgive me."

He saw the heart emojis and he couldn't stop the grin from forming on his face.

"Before I post on Weebo, I wanted to tell you all first on my live. I was one of 3 selected to go on the Idol show! We weren't told what kind it would be or what it would be called, but please support us."

He received more hearts and "I love you!" in the chat with hearts floating on the screen. He received a few questioned and he addressed them the best he could.

"Ah Jin is great. He is kind, helpful, and handsome. A perfect prince, right?" He laughed softly, "Ah Dong and I are childhood friends. Yes, I like him. He is my friend. Hm? Who do I like best? I like both of them."

Shun really wanted to turn off the live and go to bed. This really was too much questions and too many people. He could feel his anxiety to just tuck himself under the blanket and call it a day. He thought back to how Suu Jin and Ping Ping ended their lives.

"I have to get up early tomorrow, so I must go."

The chat was animated with sadness and he felt his smile twitched. He began singing the song from the studio and made sure to use his fingers to accentuate the movements. He was not going to get up and dance again. That was already embarrassing to watch. He finished and thanked his fans, before shutting his application off.

Letting out a big exhale, he fell onto the bed with his back to the ceiling.

He was exhausted. As a prince, he was pretty spoiled and did just about anything he wanted. That included not working hard or speaking to people, unless he was forced to. Usually his older siblings took on most of the work, so he took care of the younger siblings.

But here…

He was working hard not just to save everyone, but also for Xiong Shun's dream. He felt the sores in his bones and muscles. His brain hurt from memorizing lyrics and dance steps, but he had to push forward. He had to make it. This time not just for Xiong Shun's dream, but also Wen Dong's.

"How does he do it?'" He mumbled into the sheet as he thought of Suu Jin, perfect idol extraordinaire, "Ugh, I am going to sleep," he heard the dings on his phone, "Nope. Tomorrow, witch. Too tired."

He fell asleep and dreamt of his past.

[Shun was currently hiding behind the bushes, as his mother called for him. No way was he going to speak with more princesses from other kingdoms. He heard his mother huffed and went back inside the castle. Breathing out his tension, he relaxed, but suddenly jumped from the hand to his shoulder.

"Sorry, Prince Shun. I didn't mean to startle you."

"Uh… that is alright Prince Peter."

The prince smiled at him and it did something to his heart. Pressing his palms to his chest, he pushed down so his heart won't leap out into the prince's hands. Brown eyes and dark brown hair, the prince was quite handsome.

"I see you are hiding away. May I join you?"

"Okay…" Shun flushed lightly and watched the prince sat beside him.

That was the day he knew his heart did not flutter this way with the princesses. His face did not warm this way with the girls. His stomach was not filled with the wings of butterflies nestled inside him. Not like with Prince Peter.

That was the day he knew.

He liked boys.]

Sitting up in bed, he rubbed his temples and sighed.

"I wonder how he is… Prince Peter…"