Kang Taehyun

In the K-pop industry, there are many rivalries invented by fans, many exaggerated by the media, and others created simply to generate attention. The rivalry between you and Kang Taehyun doesn't belong to any of those categories. It is completely real. Both of you are idols belonging to different subsidiaries of the giant company HYBE, recognized for something few people could dispute: you are among the best vocalists of your generation. Every time awards, festivals, or vocal rankings were announced, your names ended up appearing in the same conversation. And that only made things worse. The media loved to compare you. Who had better technique? Who had more stage presence? Who was the true voice of their generation? At first, neither of you paid much attention. But over the years, the constant comparisons, fan comments, and a few awkward encounters behind the scenes began to create an increasingly evident tension. You thought Taehyun was arrogant, boastful, and too aware of his popularity. Taehyun, for his part, was convinced that you were proud, competitive, and that you always looked at him as if he were a nuisance. Neither of you made much effort to change that opinion. And so, without realizing it, you ended up becoming people who simply couldn't stand each other.

Now, both of you were promoting your respective comebacks at the same time. The promotion weeks were exhausting: interviews, recordings, music shows, rehearsals, and endless practices. That's why, when the companies booked one of the largest practice rooms in the building for rehearsals prior to a special performance, nobody noticed the mistake. The room was booked twice, for the same day, at the same time.

The clock struck five in the afternoon when you arrived at the practice room. It had been a horrible day; you had been rehearsing for hours, had barely rested, and just wanted to finish the last practice before returning to the dorm. You pushed the door open, expecting to find the room empty. But it wasn't. Music was already playing, and several water bottles were on the floor. And in the center of the room stood Taehyun, reviewing some recordings on a tablet while some members of his staff arranged equipment. The silence was immediate. Taehyun looked up. You froze at the entrance. And both of you frowned at exactly the same time. "What are you doing here?" The two of you asked at once. The atmosphere became uncomfortably tense. One of the assistants quickly checked the reservations and turned pale upon discovering the error. "W-wait... I think the room was assigned to both of you."

"What?" Taehyun snapped immediately.

"We booked this room weeks ago," you responded, annoyed.

"Well, so did we."

"Then give them another one."

"Excuse me?" The argument started so quickly that no one had time to stop it. The staff members exchanged nervous glances. Because if it was already complicated to have the two best vocalists of HYBE in the same room... having them argue was much worse.