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“Why did you ask Rui to be part of XLOV?” the interviewer asks Wumuti.
A standard question that he was asked about every member, since he was the creator of the group. Of course he handpicked all of his members because he believed in them and their abilities. All of his members possess extraordinary talent and he could see how disappointed everyone was getting after working so hard and to no avail. He knows how that feels when he, himself, participated in 3 different survival shows but his efforts never seemed to be enough. Wumuti thought that his friends and him were ready and he wanted to prove it to the world. This could easily be his answer, because it is true, but it’s not the whole truth. Kuanjui deserved a better answer than that.
“I thought to myself, I would regret it for the rest of my life if I hadn’t asked him.” He says sincerely. Everything in the room seems to pause as everyone is taking in his answer and Wumuti and Rui’s eyes meet. It looks like even Kuanjui didn’t expect that response, with his lips softly parted from surprise. “I just, he’s such a talented dancer you know! When I first saw him, I thought he didn’t have any bones.” Wumuti adds and everyone cracks up laughing. That eases the tension and the interviewer seems satisfied enough to continue onto the next questions.
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Wumuti hadn’t stopped thinking about Kuanjui since the day that they met. He remembers this skinny black haired boy coming up to him and introducing himself in broken English and how endearing he found him. He had responded with Chinese because Kuanjui’s accent and appearance betrayed that he was neither American nor Korean, and Kuanjui was shocked and embarrassed. Wumuti had reassured Rui that it was sweet and he had promised to himself that he would stay by this boy’s side forever. They had kept that promise. Throughout Boys Planet they shared their worries and motivated each other and when Wumuti’s inevitable elimination came up Kuanjui had hugged him and swore to him that he’d never forget him. Kuanjui had gotten eliminated not long after so there wasn’t actually much time for oblivion to take place. They had visited the Boys Planet finale together and supported their friends who made it to the final lineup, one of them being Kuanjui’s best friend. Wumuti felt sad since he wished Kuanjui would make it, even if himself didn’t. Their futures were uncertain now, they had to train even harder and they were getting older. The window for deputation was closing in and it felt suffocating.
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Wumuti had told Kuanjui that he’s joining yet another survival show. Kuanjui’s face had dropped.
“Are you sure you want to do this? It can’t be good for your health.” Kuanjui was worried about Wumuti’s mental sanity but Wumuti was more resilient than what Kuanjui thought.
Wumuti cupped Kuanjui’s soft face with his hands.
“I don’t want you to talk me out of it Rui, I just want you to support me.” he told him softly.
Kuanjui accepted defeat, knowing there’s no way that he could change Wumuti’s mind.
“Alright, if that’s what you really want to do, I will support you.” Wumuti smiled and kissed his forehead. “Thank you.”
Kuanjui always keeps his promises. Wumuti spotted him immediately in the crowd of the Build Up finale. Kuanjui had dyed his hair back to brown and he was dressed up so prettily that Wumuti thought that what would hurt more today was letting this man down. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it, for another time, and the only good part of his night was getting consoled in Rui’s arms.
Thankfully his team member was actually the owner of a company so they were actually able to debut as a vocal group. Wumuti still felt empty. It seemed like his purpose hadn’t been fulfilled and as much as he liked his members and his job, he longed for something more.
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He decided to take matters into his own hands and when his company approved of the idea of him making a new kpop group from scratch, he was rejoiced. He could pick whoever he wanted and produce the music he wanted. This has always been his dream. When he was coming up with the idea he already had a vision of who he wanted as his members: his best friends Hyun, Haru and Kuanjui. Although, he was hesitant about asking Kuanjui, he felt as if he’d be making him commit to something that has no guarantee of success and wasting his time. Kuanjui deserved so much more than that, he deserved to be recognized by the whole world and it would kill Wumuti if he was the reason for his hurt. He contemplated for a long time if he’s so persistent in Kuanjui joining because of his selfish desires until he eventually gave into them. And Kuanjui seemed so excited and so on board with Wumuti’s idea that all of his worries disappeared the moment he saw Rui’s radiant smile.
How could he not want to spend his lifetime with Chen Kuanjui? The boy that has been conquering his every waking thought for the past 2 years, the boy with a voice of honey that played like his favorite song on repeat in his head and the boy with a pretty face that could bring even the strongest to their knees. Of course he wanted to see him everyday and hear his thoughts and fulfill their dreams together. Conversation with Kuanjui was something that Wumuti enjoyed the most. Even when they would share opposite opinions, it was still nice to talk about it. He knew that at the end of the day they both wanted the best for each other and they encouraged the other to be the best version of themselves. Wumuti has wished many times that he could somehow get inside Rui’s head and learn how to not upset him and how to make him happy. Rui’s laughter brought him joy. He feared that he would get addicted to it, and spend his time trying to hear a sample of it again, like a patient addicted to morphine to numb the pain. Wumuti wanted to share a career with Kuanjui, as much as he wanted to share a home with him. He wanted to make Rui sit on their kitchen counter as he was trying out new recipes to feed him. He wanted to fall asleep with him on the couch and then wake up in the middle of the night and carry him to his bed. He was selfish for thinking he would be the best match for Kuanjui, but he is known to be right.
Their debut had finally arrived. It was received so well by the public that it shocked everyone in the group. They were getting more love and recognition each day and it filled them with so much happiness. They got to talk to their fans almost every day now and they were full of questions. One fan had asked them about horror movies. Rui answered that he can’t handle them and brought up that one time when Wumuti asked him to watch one together but Rui denied. When Wumuti’s turn arrived, his mind brought up the same memory. It is not in Wumuti’s character to give up so easily, even if Rui pouts at him so cutely. So, when they got home at the end of the day Wumuti proposed the idea again.
“Listen, this one is not as scary I promise you! The plot is sooo good that you forget it’s supposed to be a horror film.” Wumuti was trying to convince him to watch a particular horror movie trilogy titled ‘Fear Street’. Rui doubts that any movie with that name isn’t meant to scare him.
“The protagonists are lesbians.” Wumuti makes his final point
“What?? Okay now you’ve piqued my interest.” Rui has watched tons of shitty series just for the queer representation so what’s one more to the list? “But warn me for the scary parts!” he sets as his one condition.
Wumuti smiles big. “Of course, I’ll even cover your eyes for you princess.”
Rui blushes but tries to hide it by acting offended.
They arranged their movie night comfortably: warm and fluffy blankets and popcorn. Rui snuggled up next to Wumuti as he pressed play on the TV.
“You better not make me regret this, Umut.” Wumuti smiles.
Rui does his best to hold on after the first scare and he easily gets immersed in the plot, making comments about the characters and their relationships, especially the protagonists. The Fear Street trilogy are some of Wumuti’s favorite movies ever so he knows them by heart now.
“You won’t want to see this…” he says covering Rui’s eyes during the scariest and most heartbreaking part.
“Did she?” Wumuti hums. “Noo, I liked her.” Rui whines.
“We all did Rui, we all did.”
“At least the lesbians survived this time.” Wumuti nods agreeing with the shade towards every other Netflix show. The final scene plays and then the movie ends.
“Wait, what?? What was that? I thought they were fine now.” Rui is clearly invested in the plot, proving Wumuti right once again for suggesting it.
“Well, it wouldn’t be a trilogy if that was the case now, would it?” Wumuti teases.
“Then play the next film now! I want to see what happens.” Rui protests.
“Wow, look who became a horror movie fanatic all of a sudden.” Wumuti keeps teasing him, finding this amusing.
“I’m just a fan of lesbians.” Rui states the facts.
Wumuti plays the second movie of the trilogy which is placed in a different year from the first one, featuring a different cast.
“Honestly, Cindy should’ve been dating Alice. It would have literally saved everyone.” Rui comments towards the end of the throwback storyline.
“They definitely had something going on. Cindy herself said that she got away from Alice and started dating a guy to appear normal. I wish they had ended up happy together.” Wumuti shares his opinion.
The final scene leaves another cliffhanger. As if Wumuti can read the question in Rui’s mind he immediately plays the final movie.
“Last one!! Let’s find out the whole truth.” He says enthusiastically.
This time the vibes are more sad and infuriating rather than scary which makes the viewer want justice for the protagonists even more. The ending is as satisfying as the build up and there’s clear relief washing over Rui that the lesbians made it out alright.
“So?” Wumuti asks when the final credits roll.
“Okay yes, you were right. But these are the only horror movies you’ll ever get me to watch! I almost felt my heart stopping in some parts.” Rui sighs.
“Even if it did, I would bring you back just like Deena did.” Wumuti says referencing the first movie. Wumuti could see them so easily as the protagonists, even though he wouldn’t want to put any of his loved ones in that situation. But, if it were to happen, Wumuti would do anything to save Kuanjui from a centuries old curse.
“Actually, there’s a new Fear Street movie coming out this year.” Wumuti adds.
“Will this one have lesbians in it?” Rui asks the question that matters the most.
“I guess we’ll have to watch it and see.” Wumuti smiles at him knowing this year is going to be a lot like a horror film: scary and uncertain but at the end all the effort will be rewarding and the love they feel will only grow stronger.