OUR STORY (BxB)

Chapter14

-TAMARO-

After everything, Akiro and I found our way back to each other. I let go of the past and chose him again—and every day since, he's reminded me why. His love has become my ordinary miracle, quiet but constant.

Today, we're off to Chile for the concert. At the airport, we sat side by side, watching a video together with my head resting on his shoulder. Around us, the other members busied themselves, passing time in their own way. But for us, the moment felt still.

Throughout the trip, we stayed inseparable. Shared seats, shared stories, shared silence. We were given the same room, and it felt like coming home.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel, Akiro collapsed into bed. Something in his face struck me—too pale, too still. I walked over, brushing the hair from his eyes. His skin was warm, too warm.

"Baby, you're burning up," I murmured, worry tightening my voice. "Why didn't you tell me you weren't feeling well?"

"I'm fine," he whispered, eyes fluttering shut. "I just need to rest."

I knelt beside him, unlaced his shoes, and pulled the blanket over his shoulders. He didn't resist—just sank deeper into sleep.

"Okay," I said softly, leaning in to kiss his forehead. "Rest, love. I'll grab some medicine."

And with that, I slipped out, carrying the quiet promise to take care of him—like he's always cared for me.

I asked the staff for medicine, and Mr. Brandon walked with me back to our room. He's been our manager since debut—present in every tour, every schedule, every sleepless night. And though he never says it aloud, I think he knows about me and Akiro. Maybe he's known for a while. But he's never judged. He's one of our quiet supporters.

After checking on Akiro, Mr. Brandon left everything in my care. Dinner had been sent up to our room, so we didn't have to go down. I helped him sit up, fed him gently before giving him his medicine, then pressed a cool towel to his forehead, hoping it would bring his fever down.

Once everything was cleaned up, I slipped into bed beside him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Roo, you might catch my fever," he murmured, nudging me weakly.

"Just let me hug you, baby," I whispered back. "I won't get sick—I'm strong."

He sighed and laced his fingers with mine. "Thank you for taking care of me, Roo."

I pressed closer, my voice soft. "I'm your boyfriend. It's my job to take care of you."

"I love you, Roo."

"I love you more, baby. Now rest—tomorrow we have rehearsal," I said, and kissed the top of his head, holding him close as he fell asleep in my arms.

Even though he wasn't feeling well, Tamaro still insisted on joining rehearsals. We all knew how he was on stage—he never held back, never gave less than everything. And that's what worried us most.

Backstage, the energy buzzed as everyone prepared. I watched him quietly.

"Baby, are you okay?" I asked, trying not to let the concern flood my voice.

"I'm fine, Roo. Don't worry." He gave me a small smile. I could tell—he wasn't fine.

During the performance, my gaze kept slipping back to him, even when I wasn't supposed to. He moved flawlessly, but I knew his body was hurting. Still, he shone, like always.

For our last song, I raised the "I love you" sign behind me where only he could see. He bumped my hand gently—his way of answering. It was small, but it meant everything.

After the concert, he was visibly exhausted. The staff told me to give him space. But I stayed beside him anyway. I couldn't care less about protocol or appearances. I cared about him.

After the concert, he rested quietly in our room. We didn't stay long in Chile—just long enough to breathe—and soon we were back in the Philippines. He's recovered now, and we've returned to our usual routine, preparing for our next concert in Brazil.

Things feel normal again. Maybe even better. We laugh, tease, mess around like we used to. Only now, there's more softness between us—more moments tucked in private glances, quiet touches, small affirmations that don't need words.

During our guestings and performances, we're often placed apart. The TamaKiro ship name has caught on with fans, and we can't do much but go along. They don't know the truth yet—what we share behind closed doors, the kind of love that doesn't need a spotlight. So, we tread gently, careful with our gestures. Careful with each other.

–Dance Studio

The others had gone home, leaving just the two of us behind. I stayed back, unsatisfied with my practice, needing a little more time to feel the movement right. Akiro stayed too—said he'd wait so we could walk home together.

While I danced, he stood in front of me, watching with a kind of quiet intensity. His lip caught between his teeth, eyes never leaving mine. I slowed, then stepped closer. When I reached him, he slipped his arms around my waist and pulled me in.

His warmth settled into me like breath. I looked at him, fingertips brushing back his hair.

"I'll never get tired of looking at you, Roo," he said with that soft, crooked smile I knew too well. "You're the most beautiful sight I want to see every day."

"You're kidding," I replied, pouting just a little.

"I'm not. I mean it." He held me closer. "I'm happy you gave me another chance. I'm going to prove my love every day."

"Everyone deserves a second chance, baby," I whispered, and kissed him gently. He leaned in, responding with quiet urgency. The kiss deepened, and in that moment, the world blurred—studio lights, hardwood floors, even time. It was just us.

Until the door slammed open.

Cold panic washed over us. We froze as Mr. William stepped inside, two staff members trailing behind. Akiro instinctively moved behind me. I reached for his hand—it was cold, trembling.

My own heart was racing, but I kept my face steady.

Mr. William's eyes were sharp as he approached. He stopped a few steps away, arms crossed, gaze locked on us.

"What did I just see?" he said, voice low and tight.

I swallowed hard. "We'll explain," I managed, meeting his eyes.

He was the owner of Bright Side Company. And right now, I couldn't read his expression—was it anger? Disappointment? Something else entirely?

I felt Akiro's fingers tighten around mine, and I held on. Whatever this moment meant, whatever consequences came next—we'd face it together.

I bowed instinctively as Mr. William's eyes narrowed at me. His presence filled the room with heavy silence, cold and commanding. At any moment, he could end this—everything we'd built.

I tightened my grip on Akiro's hand. He was trembling harder now. I could feel it through his fingers, and it made my heart ache more. He's always been the gentler one. The one I needed to protect.

Mr. William didn't speak for a long time. He just stared at us—at our clasped hands. Then, finally:

"Tomorrow. Nine a.m. sharp. We'll talk—with the members." His voice was low, final. He turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind him like a sentence passed.

I turned to Akiro. His eyes welled, then overflowed.

"Roo, what are we going to do?" he said through tears. "Are we getting kicked out of the group?"

"No, baby. I won't let that happen," I told him, holding his face gently. "The members will stand by us. I know they will."

I kissed his forehead and wiped his tears away.

"I'll handle everything," I said, trying to steady my voice. "Just trust me, okay?"

He nodded. I pulled him into a hug, holding him close as the fear pressed in from all sides.

Truthfully, I was scared too. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring. But I couldn't fall apart—not now. I had to fight for us. For what was real.

And even through all this—standing on the edge of uncertainty—I clung to the line I had read somewhere:

"The stars are proof that even in the darkest night, there is a little light."

-AKIRO-

When we returned to the dorm, we gathered everyone in the living room. The seven of us sat facing each other in uneasy silence. My nerves were barely contained—but Tamaro held my hand, steadying me. It was enough to remind me we were facing this together.

"What's going on? Why the sudden meeting?" Joshua asked, brows raised.

Tamaro squeezed my hand, about to speak.

"We—" he began.

But the door opened sharply, cutting him off. Brandon stepped in, his face unreadable. Two quiet staff members followed behind, but he was the only one who spoke.

No one moved.

All eyes flicked to Brandon as his gaze landed squarely on Tamaro and me. The shock on the members' faces was visible—Stephen, Jemuel, Renz. Even Joshua went quiet.

"Brandon, hold on," Stephen said, sitting forward. "Is something wrong?"

But Brandon didn't answer him. Instead, his eyes stayed locked on me.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked simply, but his voice was laced with disappointment.

We weren't surprised. It was clear now—Mr. William must've spoken to him.

"Sorry, Brandon. We were just scared, so we didn't tell you," Tamaro said quietly.

I kept my head down—I couldn't look up. My chest felt tight with nerves.

Brandon's gaze swept across the room. "And the five of you—you kept this from me too?" His voice wasn't loud, but it was heavy with hurt. "I'm your manager. I take care of you. Why didn't you trust me?"

"Brandon, we wanted to tell you," Renz replied gently. "We were waiting for the right time."

Brandon didn't respond immediately. His eyes flicked back to me and Tamaro.

"How long have you two been together?"

I swallowed. "More than a year," I said softly, still unable to meet his eyes.

He sighed, the kind that fills a room with unspoken history. For a few moments, no one spoke.

Then he delivered it. "You're all being summoned tomorrow. Mr. William caught them kissing in the studio."

"What?" the others echoed in shocked unison.

I bowed deeper, cheeks burning, but Tamaro stood firm beside me.

"That's normal in a relationship," he said, voice steady and unapologetic.

I glanced up at him, and despite everything, I smiled—just a little. He wasn't letting go. Not now.

Harly, always the thoughtful one, stepped in carefully. "It is normal," he said. "But you two still have to be cautious. What if someone else had seen it instead of Mr. William?"

Tamaro nodded slightly, but didn't look away. I felt his hand squeeze mine again.

"We didn't think Mr. William would go to the studio... practice was over," Tamaro said bravely, still holding my hand. He was standing by his word—he'd take care of everything.

"Mr. Brandon, I'm really sorry," he added, voice wavering. "We should've told you sooner."

I kept my head down, nerves twisting in my chest. Tamaro's hand in mine was the only thing steadying me.

Brandon crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Is there anything I can even do now?" he said, more hurt than angry. "I can't stop you. But if you'd told me earlier... I would've protected you."

"B-Bro..." Tamaro stammered, almost at a whisper.

Brandon's gaze softened.

"You think I didn't notice the way you two looked at each other?" he said, voice quiet. "I was waiting—just waiting for you to say it. I never wanted to confront you. I wanted you to trust me."

And that's when my tears fell.

In the middle of everything—fear, shame, uncertainty—there it was. Understanding. Someone who didn't judge, who saw us clearly, and still chose kindness.

I glanced at Tamaro. He was trying not to cry, lips pressed tight, eyes glistening. Stephen stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder—just that, and Tamaro broke. Silent tears began to fall.

Brandon walked over and pulled him into a hug; arms firm around his back. I stood there watching, the lump in my throat rising fast. Then Brandon reached out to me, his hand open, steady. I took it. He pulled me in and wrapped both of us in the kind of hug that says you're not alone.

And just like that, we were crying in each other's arms—me, Tamaro, and Brandon—one of our brothers.

"I've felt it," Brandon said quietly. "The way you treat each other, look out for each other—it's different. So, when Mr. William brought it up, I wasn't surprised."

He looked at us seriously then, the weight of the moment sitting quietly between all of us.

"You two have to face whatever comes next—this love, they'll call it forbidden. But don't worry. I'm here. Your other brothers are here. We'll protect you."

We pulled him tighter into the hug, tears falling freely now—not just from fear, but from relief. Because in a world where love could cost everything, someone had chosen to stand with us.

"Haiztt... the two youngest of Phonix fell in love," Stephen said with a soft laugh, and the others chuckled with him. Even Brandon, before leaving, offered a quiet smile. We thanked him for everything.

Now, the members sat in front of us, silent but steady.

"Will we be kicked out of the group?" I asked, unable to hide the tremble in my voice.

"No," Renz said firmly. "If they remove you, I'll Walk out too."

The others nodded, solemn and unwavering.

"Phonix isn't complete without the two of you," Stephen added. "You're our aces. If we lose you, we might as well disband."

In that moment, my heart felt held. We weren't just a group—we were family. Surrounded by people who understood our love, even when the world didn't.

After talking, we all went to bed.

Now, lying beside each other in the quiet of our room, Tamaro pulled me into his arms.

"Baby, don't be too nervous," he whispered. "Our Brothers won't leave us. Whatever Mr. William decides... we'll face it."

I hesitated. "What if we're separated, Roo?"

"That's not going to happen," he murmured, firm and close. I buried myself in his warmth, clutching the hope that his words would hold true. Because if he's taken from me—I don't know what I'll do.

The next morning, we woke early and made our way to Mr. William's office. Everyone was present—our members, Brandon too. We stood silently as Mr. William entered the room. Out of respect, we bowed. He motioned for us to sit, and we did.

His voice was serious. "When were you planning to tell me about your relationship?"

Anxiety rose quickly in my chest. I was shaking again, but Tamaro reached for my hand under the table and held it quietly.

"And you, Renz?" Mr. William asked, gaze fixed. "Did you know about these two?"

"Yes," Renz answered without hesitation. "We've known from the beginning. We were waiting for the right moment to tell you."

Mr. William's tone sharpened. "When? If I hadn't seen it myself, I'd still be in the dark. You know it's against company policy—relationships like this, they complicate everything."

My throat tightened. Tamaro, still holding my hand, sat up straighter.

"Mr. William," he began, voice steady, "we didn't plan to fall in love. We tried not to. We tried to ignore it, push it aside—but our love only grew stronger."

He paused, then added with quiet resolve, "Whatever your decision is, we'll accept it."

"All of you, out," Mr. William said, eyes scanning the room. "You two, stay."

I instinctively looked at the members, panic rising in my chest. But they gave quiet nods of encouragement before filing out, leaving just me, Tamaro, and him.

The silence was louder than anything.

Mr. William walked around his desk slowly before finally speaking.

"Do you know how many times I've caught you two?" he said calmly. "Not just yesterday. Before that too. But I didn't say anything."

Tamaro and I glanced at each other, stunned.

"I understood," he continued. "But you didn't tell me. You should've told me. I'm the one who brought you together. I'm the one who saw your potential long before anyone did."

His words didn't sound like punishment. They sounded... hurt. Not because we were in love—but because we hid it.

Neither of us spoke. We hadn't expected this. What we prepared for was rejection. Expulsion. A decision that would tear us apart.

Instead, what met us was something quieter. Disappointment laced with understanding.

"You are like my children," Mr. William said, voice gentle with concern. "That's why I've always looked after you so closely. If you're hurting... I'm hurting more. Because I brought you to this place, this life—and maybe I wasn't ready for what came with that."

He sighed, eyes lingering on us, steady and kind.

"I didn't want you to be hurt by the world's judgment, so I made the rule. No relationships. But I see now—that rule didn't protect you. It only made your love stronger in silence. Maybe that was my mistake."

We couldn't speak. The weight of his words sat quietly between us. I glanced at Tamaro—his lips pressed tight, eyes shining.

Guilt flickered in my chest. We hadn't thought about his feelings, not truly. We'd been so focused on hiding, surviving... we forgot how much he cared.

"I'm sorry," Tamaro said, voice soft. "We didn't mean to keep it from you. We were scared. This... this is our first time feeling something like this. Thank you for understanding us."

Mr. William stood slowly, then opened his arms, a quiet smile breaking across his face.

Tamaro and I looked at each other, tears in our eyes. Then, as if pulled by the same breath, we stepped forward—into his arms.

It wasn't just forgiveness. It was blessing.

"You're both the youngest in this family," Mr. William said gently. "You're our babies. I will support your relationship. I'll protect you—but there's only one way I can do that."

His tone shifted, eyes locking onto ours with finality.

Tamaro stiffened. I felt the air leave my lungs.

"That's the only way," Mr. William continued. "If you want to stay together, I'll need to separate you when you're in front of cameras."

Silence felt heavy.

I looked at Tamaro. He didn't speak. His eyes weren't defiant—but they weren't soft either. Just still. Serious. I couldn't read what he was thinking. And that scared me more than anything.

Would this silence pull us back into hiding? Would it protect us—or break us?

I didn't know what to say. I just knew... this was not how I wanted our love to survive.

-TAMARO-

I stared at Mr. William, heart pounding, my voice low but firm. "Mr. William... does it really have to lead to this?"

He looked at us with the weight of someone torn between protection and expectation. "It's the only way I can shield you. If you want to stay together, you'll need to stay apart—in public." Then, quieter, but no less serious: "Otherwise... maybe it's better to end things now."

A silence followed. Heavy. Breathless.

"That's not going to happen," I said, steady and unwavering.

He held my gaze. He wasn't trying to hurt us—he was trying to shield us from a world that didn't understand. But love like ours didn't fit easily into rules. And I wasn't about to let go.

Beside me, Tamaro tightened his grip on my hand, hidden under the table. I could feel the pulse of his defiance matching mine.

We were no longer scared kids. We were choosing each other, in every room, even the difficult ones.

"You, Akiro, need to do fanservice with Jemuel," Mr. William said firmly. "Create chemistry. Something that will stir the fans."

Akiro and I looked at each other instantly. Neither of us agreed. We didn't even need words to say it—our eyes were enough.

I stayed silent, but inside, my heart sank.

I understood the logic—fanservice was part of our world. It fueled interest, kept the fandom alive. But this? This felt different. It wasn't just a performance. It was Akiro, and I couldn't help but feel protective... possessive. Even if it was pretend, I hated the idea of someone else being attached to him. Let's call it "just fanservice," but deep down—I knew. That kind of closeness? I wanted it to be mine.

Mr. William had made his decision. And as much as we didn't want it, we had no choice but to follow.

For now, this was the reality. For our careers. For survival. Even if our hearts were screaming.

He turned me gently, his hands sliding down to mine as he looked into my eyes.

"But when it's just us," he said, voice low, "we don't have to pretend."

I blinked against the quiet tremor in my chest. "Still... it hurts to keep stepping back from you when all I want is to stand closer."

He nodded. "I feel it too. Every time they pair me with someone else, every time we smile like strangers. It feels like we're erasing something real for something safer."

I leaned into him, our foreheads touching.

"But I promise you, Roo," he whispered, "I'll make sure that what's ours never fades. Not in here," he tapped my chest lightly, "not in here," then his own. "Even if the whole world's looking somewhere else."

Outside, the city blinked with distant light. Akiro wrapped his arms around me again, and for a few quiet seconds, the world faded—all except this.

"We don't need to show what we have, right?" Akiro murmured, arms wrapped around me as we stood by the window. "The important thing is... behind the camera, we're still together."

I smiled, touched his cheek gently, and kissed his forehead before pulling him close.

"I promise you, baby. No one can separate us. And when we return..." I paused, just long enough to meet his eyes, "I want to introduce you to my parents."

His gaze flickered with surprise. "Are you... sure, Roo?" he whispered. "Do you think they'll understand us?"

I held his hand tighter, grounding him in our quiet certainty.

"If everyone else understands... why can't they?" I said with a smile.

Akiro studied me for a moment, then smiled too. "Okay, Roo. I'll introduce you to my parents as well."

I kissed him again, slower this time. A promise sealed in tenderness. In that moment, it didn't matter what the world expected. What mattered was the future we were choosing—openly, bravely.

I believe in that future. And in love that doesn't flinch.

The concert was a dream—every beat, every breath poured into the stage like it was the last time. Fans flooded the venue with cheers, light sticks blinking like stars. We gave them everything we had, and they gave it back tenfold.

Later that night, we shared a quiet dinner at the resort. Nothing grand—just laughter, simple food, and the comfort of being off-camera. The moment the lights went down, we were just us again. Whole. Together.

Everyone drifted back to their rooms after the celebration. I asked the staff if I could do a short broadcast in our space. They agreed, with one condition: Akiro must remain unseen and unheard.

Back inside, the room smelled faintly of sea breeze and comfort. Akiro moved around with that usual quiet grace, placing two cups of noodles on the table.

"Roo, I'll prepare the noodles," he said, smiling. "Let's eat first before you go live."

"Okay, baby," I answered, already warming at the ordinary sweetness of it all.

Even if the world doesn't see us together—this, right here, is ours. And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The noodles were cleared. The camera framed just me.

I was mid-sentence, chatting with the ARMY, when I tugged at my hoodie. It felt too warm, clinging to me uncomfortably. "Wait," I said with a grin, "I'll change really quick."

I turned, just out of frame—and that's when he pulled me gently onto his lap.

"Baby," I whispered, startled, "the live is still on."

He didn't flinch. Just kissed my neck like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Roo, I was craving a kiss," he murmured against my skin, and then his lips found mine.

I gave in for a second—soft, quiet, breathless.

But then I remembered the stream and pulled back, laughing into his shoulder.

He snuck in one more kiss on my lips and smiled. "Sorry," he whispered. "I couldn't help it."

I turned back to the broadcast, face glowing.

"Sorry for the wait!" I said, eyes brighter than before. And if the fans noticed the smile that lingered too long, the one that touched more than just my lips—they didn't say it out loud.

Not yet, at least.

I think my lips got swollen from that kiss. I pretended nothing happened behind the camera, but maybe I was wrong. Fans kept commenting that they heard it. I ignored them and continued the live.

After the broadcast, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen—it was Brandon.

"Brandon," I greeted as I answered.

"Tamaro, what was that?" he snapped. His voice was tight with annoyance. "What did you do on the broadcast?"

"Nothing, bro," I replied seriously, rubbing the back of my neck while smiling at Akiro, who was watching me.

"I'll talk to both of you tomorrow," he said, then hung up.

"You naughty bunny," I murmured, diving onto the bed and landing on top of him.

"Why? What did I do?" he asked, laughing.

"Really? You don't know?" I said with a teasing smile. "Okay, then I'll help you remember."

I kissed him on the lips. He responded immediately, wrapping his arms around my neck as the kiss deepened.

I felt my body reacting to the kiss—and Akiro's did too. My hand slipped under his shirt, fingers tracing over warm skin. He moaned softly, and we kissed like the world was ending.

But then I stopped, breathless. I looked into his eyes.

"Baby... I don't think this is the right time," I said, my voice low and thick with longing.

"Thank you, Roo," he murmured, and I kissed his forehead gently.

"I love you, baby. Let's rest now."

"I love you too, Roo," he replied, soft as a promise.

I lay beside him, pulling him close, wrapping myself around him from behind. There will be a time for this—just not tonight. We're old enough. We know that. But even self-control has its limits, and the way he looked at me earlier—his eyes heavy with desire—it scared me a little.

Because next time... I'm not sure I'll be able to stop.