HELLO LADIES and Gents, readers of all types! We know you’ve been dying to find out what’s been going on with Hollywood’s biggest heartthrob, Marcus Economidis, in both his professional life AND his personal one! We already all know what’s out there: he’s working on a hot new movie, Volkor Rising. Big cast, big characters, larger-than-life sci-fi plot. With a scorching romance of course!
Speaking of scorching romances, the other hot new thing in Marcus’s life is his new boyfriend! After several less than savory sources splashed a pleasant evening across tabloid pages, Marcus has come forward to confirm that yes, the rumors were true. Officially spoken for! He released a few statements (one of which was published in yours truly) about wanting their privacy respected but went pretty quiet on the details. This was especially interesting considering that Marcus’s man is very much an out-of-the-spotlight kind of guy. He’s got nothing to do with Hollywood and doesn’t work for the industry at all. Instead he’s the owner and Master Instructor of Choi’s Taekwondo Academy in Michigan. AND get this—that so happens to be in the area where Marcus grew up.
That’s right readers, we are happy to report a good ol’ fashioned homegrown romance has bloomed. But don’t take it from us, take it from the man himself! We’re happy to welcome Marcus into our midst today!
Popsugar: Hi Marcus! Good to see you. Thanks for taking the time to come and talk with us today.
Marcus: Thanks. And sure. I think there’s a lot of good stuff to talk about.
Popsugar: No kidding! And we have plenty of questions about how the new movie is coming, but first, we can’t help ourselves—are we allowed to ask you about your new romance?
Marcus: Sure. But you know… it’s actually not that new anymore.
Popsugar: It feels like it, since we never got much info. Care to share? When did you two meet?
Marcus: We met right when I got in to begin filming, back at the start of May.
Popsugar: And it’s September now! That’s a good chunk of time.
Marcus: I know. I can’t believe it. I don’t know what I did to make him think I was worth keeping around, but I’m doing my best to keep it up.
Popsugar: Oh stop, you know you’re a catch.
Marcus: Thanks. I’ll tell him you think so.
Popsugar: So? When did those sparks start to fly?
Marcus: Pretty much since I laid eyes on him. I basically followed him around for a week. Managed to work up the nerve to ask him out and… and he said he’d give me a chance.
Popsugar: If you could see his face right now, readers. He’s absolutely lovestruck.
Marcus: I’ll freely admit that.
Popsugar: Have you had any issue with dating someone not in the Hollywood scene?
Marcus: Actually, yeah. Yeah, I have.
Popsugar: Oh no, what’s been going on?
Marcus: Well, we talked about a lot of what to expect. Particularly the lack of privacy. That’s really important, especially since Taemin runs his own business. If people go bother him to try to take pap shots and stuff, that really interferes with his job. And his job is mostly about kids. So that really, really isn’t okay.
Popsugar: You look like you have more that you want to say.
Marcus: Yeah, I do. I’m sure you heard what happened to his school. And for readers who don’t know, a supposed fan of mine smashed the windows in Taemin’s building.
Popsugar: It was awful. We’re so sorry.
Marcus: Yeah. Yeah, it was… not a good time. The building still isn’t fixed either. It’ll still be another six weeks before the windows are supposed to come in. We do know they’re in process though, at least.
Popsugar: That’s good news.
Marcus: Yeah. But on that note, I do want to say something to my fans and your readers?
Popsugar: Of course, go ahead.
Marcus: Taemin is one of the hardest working, most special people I know. He has dedicated his life to helping others. He has a scholarship program at Choi’s, he volunteers, and he works with homeschool kids. And that’s on top of running a school designed to boost self-confidence and build kids up. Whoever it was that tried to hurt him tried to hurt someone truly good. And on top of that, they hurt all the students Taemin had to turn away while the school was being repaired, all the students who showed up to a place they loved to find it damaged, all the students Taemin wasn’t able to make his usual time for because he was dealing with hatred and jealousy. I like to think I can forgive a lot, you know? I’d never forgive that.
Popsugar: Totally, totally understandable.
Marcus: I think so too. And I know it brought the mood down a little, but it’s something I’ve been needing to say. In a way I hope it gets heard.
Popsugar: Of course! We get it. He’s special to you. You want to protect that.
Marcus: You have no idea. Though in terms of protection, I think he’s got me beat in the “literal” camp.
Popsugar: That sounds like a story!
Marcus: Not a long one, but a funny one.
Popsugar: Please, go on.
Marcus: So as you guys know, I do most of my own stunts and fights, right?
Popsugar: We do, and we’re VERY impressed.
Marcus: Haha, thanks, good to know. I’m proud of myself too and what I can do, but for Taemin it’s a way of life and skill that I’ll never be able to touch. But, you know, I’m bold. I wanted to show off. So I offer to spar him. Build it up too; say I’m going to give him a real workout… maybe flirting. Maybe.
Popsugar: And??
Marcus: *laugh* He wiped the actual floor with me. A normal round is supposed to last two minutes. I think he tapped me out in points at thirty seconds. It was fantastic. I was in total awe. Still am. He’s amazing.
Popsugar: We heard a little whisper about him being an Olympic hopeful?
Marcus: Oh god, yeah. Not this year unfortunately. And that’s not my story to tell so I won’t go into details, but he’s got a shot in another four years. I’ll be rooting for him either way.
Popsugar: So will we!
Marcus: And I could go on about how much I’m crazy about him for ages, but I don’t think we have enough time for ALL of that.
Popsugar: That’s fair. In that case, can we talk a little bit about Volkor Rising? You’re almost done with filming it, aren’t you?
Marcus: Yeah, we’re slated to wrap up in October.
Popsugar: That’s only a month away!
Marcus: I know. We’ve been working really hard to make sure we finish within the originally estimated time frame.
Popsugar: Well, we believe in you!
Marcus: Thanks. I’ll be sure to pass that along to the team.
“PREETI,” TAEMIN said, exasperated, “I already told you that you don’t have to come by. We’re not running classes.”
“I know we’re not running classes. That’s because you’re finally getting the windows in. I want to see the new windows!”
“They’ll look the same as the old windows, except that they won’t be broken,” he said dryly.
“Master Choi,” Preeti said evenly. “I’m coming by today once I’m done with school. You can’t stop me.”
“I won’t even be at the academy by then. The contractors should be finished installing everything by five.”
“I have my own key.”
“Oh fine, if you want to see them that badly—”
“Thank you.”
“You know, they’ll be there tomorrow too. When you’re actually supposed to come in. They won’t be going anywhere. That’s rather the point.”
“Then I’ll see them tonight and I’ll see you tomorrow. And okay, I got to my building, gotta go. Have a good day!”
“You too,” he said before she hung up.
He shook his head fondly as he put his phone back in his pocket. Eight weeks after the incident at Choi’s and today they were finally going to be able to take down the boards and plastic. He doubted anyone was looking forward to it as much as he was, but Preeti could probably give him a run for his money.
Marcus too. He’d wanted to come in for it, paying no mind to the fact that it was in the middle of the day in the middle of the week. Taemin had quickly nipped that thought in the bud, but he had promised to text him pictures of the progress. It was little after ten now, and the contractors were supposed to come at ten thirty. He’d been told that it would take around half an hour per window to deal with the detailing and cleanup, maybe a little longer just because each one was so massive. He’d decided to err on the cautious side and factor in about an hour per window, just in case. Even with that, they were supposed to be done well before five. And thus well before Preeti got out of her Wednesday classes and Marcus got out of filming.
According to Marcus, they were solidly in the home stretch of filming. He didn’t have a clear idea of when London decided things would be over, but they were shooting a lot of smaller scenes that didn’t need the same type of time and energy, even if the days were getting longer and longer. Marcus was spending almost every night over at Taemin’s now, if only because sometimes that was the only time they saw each other.
It was so nice, though, to see him even for that little bit. Just being able to sit quietly with him, sleep with him…. Taemin treasured every moment.
And he’d really miss them.
Marcus was, after all, going to be done with filming soon.
They hadn’t talked about it much. In passing, more than anywhere else. A few back-and-forth jokes about Marcus bringing Taemin with him to Hollywood—which was, of course, ridiculous, if only for the reason that Taemin could never leave Choi’s—or Taemin offering that Marcus just stay with him.
It’d been said lightly. In teasing, in passing. But it’d been said. And Taemin was starting to think about it more seriously, now that the weather was turning cooler. In the last month, Marcus had essentially moved in anyway; all he’d really brought with him to his short-stay apartment were his clothes and some accessories, so those just… all eventually ended up at Taemin’s. They weren’t always around at the same times, but they didn’t need to be. And sometimes one or the both of them weren’t up to talking, and that was all right too.
He simply so much enjoyed having Marcus around.
But Marcus had an entire life back in California. It was where his parents lived, it was where his friends all were, and it was where his main place of business was. Taemin felt selfish even bringing it up because he didn’t want to ask for something that Marcus might have to make himself refuse.
At the same time, however, he wasn’t about to deny his feelings. He loved Marcus. He wanted him in his life in whatever way he was able to have him. It was a big step asking him to move in—officially move in—instead of going back to California. Marcus always could say no, and Taemin would be the first to assure him that he respected that decision.
But first he needed to make the offer.
“CUT! AND that’s a wrap!”
The entire cast and crew burst into applause. Hailey jumped at Marcus for a hug, and he swung her around before setting her down again. “We did it!” she cried. “We’re done!”
He grinned at her. “Yup. Great job.”
“I am going to eat an entire thing of ice cream,” she enthused.
“Yeah? What flavor?”
“Chocolate chip.”
“Good choice,” he said wisely before turning to smile at Leo, who’d come barreling at him for a hug himself. “Hey!”
Leo grabbed him up tight. “We did it! Man, we did it!”
Marcus laughed and hugged back, exchanged hugs and celebratory congratulations with basically everyone on set. There was a lot of talking and laughing and eager conversations starting up about when and where to host the after party.
“I can’t believe it’s over,” Roger said from where he’d ended up at Marcus’s elbow. “This was such an amazing project.”
“And one of the longer ones you’ve ever worked on, right?”
“Oh yeah. This is over double what my last role was. I can’t wait to go back home.”
Back home. Right. “Missing Anita?”
“Of course. We talk every night and we’ve been FaceTiming and Skyping, but there’s nothing like actually being with the person you love, you know?”
“Yeah,” Marcus said with feeling. “I know.”
“Good job,” Billy said, coming up to him, expression proud. He held out Marcus’s phone. “Want to tell the world?”
Marcus took it. “I’ve got the go-ahead?” Billy nodded. “Awesome. Roger, you want to be in the shot?”
“Sure.”
Marcus slung an arm across Roger’s shoulders and took a selfie of them both grinning at the camera. A couple of hashtags later and it was trending on Twitter and Instagram. The next thing he used his phone for was a much more private party. Filming’s officially done! he sent to Taemin.
He got a reply back almost instantly, which was startling up until he remembered that Taemin had cancelled that night’s classes to ensure there were no complications with the window installation. That’s wonderful! Two things to celebrate today :)
Yeah! The windows look great, by the way.
I think so too. Would you like to do something to celebrate? Or are you going out with everyone?
That was a damn good question. Normally Marcus would be all for going out with everyone right now, especially since Taemin usually had evening classes at the same time. But he didn’t today. They would both have a full evening. And tomorrow was Thursday, so not even an early morning for Taemin. Could I come over? Maybe do our own little celebration? I could pick up dinner stuff.
That sounds wonderful. Come over whenever you want. I’ll be home.
Right, Marcus thought again. Home.
He’d been putting off bringing it up because he hadn’t wanted to push or sound like he was trying to get a commitment out of Taemin, but he—he had been living over at his apartment more often than not, especially in the last month. And he hadn’t enjoyed going “home” like that in years. He wanted to keep doing it. Or at least have the chance to do so.
He’d never ask Taemin if he could move in, but Marcus couldn’t help but maybe look into some real estate around the area. Close to Choi’s, in a nice neighborhood. Nothing huge, but a nicely sized house that would be good for two busy, active people.
Maybe… maybe more than two people, eventually. Though that was another conversation altogether.
Right now, Marcus just knew he loved his life and he loved Taemin, and he wanted more of the latter in the former. He worked in LA, but he also had money; he could afford to fly where he needed to be. His friends were mostly in the Hollywood scene, but they all traveled everywhere all the time. He was just as likely to see Leo again next week for lunch or in three months in New Zealand working on a new movie. Billy… was brilliant. If nothing else, he could work remote.
Marcus might have been mulling this over in his head for a while now.
TAEMIN KISSED Marcus hello and then stepped back to let him into his apartment. “Congratulations.” he said again, smiling up at him. “How does it feel?”
“Not real yet,” Marcus admitted. “Not until I meet with Billy tomorrow and we talk about what’s next.”
“Already planning, hm?”
Marcus stooped down to kiss him again. “You know it.”
“So what sorts of things will you be talking with Billy about tomorrow?” Taemin asked curiously after they’d both sat down at the table and served themselves. “Surely you don’t have something planned right away. Do you?”
Marcus shook his head. “Not in so many words. But uh… I do have some things to talk to him about in regards to our working relationship. Though that depends on something I wanted to talk to you about tonight, actually.”
Taemin nodded. “I’m all ears.”
“How… how would you feel about me staying in the area? For, uh, for a little more long-term.”
Taemin stared at him. “As in moving here? To Michigan?”
“Yeah. I—I’ve maybe been looking at properties. Houses. Obviously no pressure, but I… I really want to be closer to you. I’d be up for doing the long-distance thing of course, but—”
“What about California? Your work?”
Marcus shrugged. “The world is pretty flat when it comes to the film industry. People fly from all over for auditions and to work on movies and stuff. I don’t mind being one of those people. We’d honestly probably end up doing the long-distance thing anyway, at least some of the time, as I got new projects to work on. I’d just… I’d just really like to have you to come home to.”
“Me too,” Taemin said. “I mean, I’ve been thinking about it. I’ve wanted to broach the topic with you, but I wasn’t sure how to do it.”
Marcus took a breath. “Yeah?”
Taemin nodded. “Of course. I love you. I love having you in my life. And I’d love it if you stayed in the area. I, um, I wanted to offer my apartment.”
Marcus’s eyes went wide. “You mean it?”
“You’ve essentially been living here a month already. We fit well in each other’s space. I know it’s on the minimalist side, though, and if you wanted your own place, especially as we navigated what comes next—”
“I love your apartment,” Marcus said. “And being in it. I just couldn’t ask that you let me stay.”
Taemin smiled. “You’re not asking, I’m offering. For you to move in with me.”
“Then yes,” Marcus said fervently. “Absolutely, yes.”
“I LOOK ridiculous,” Taemin grumbled from their hotel’s en suite living room. “I haven’t worn a suit in years.”
“A dobok is basically a suit,” Marcus said absentmindedly as he did his tie in the mirror.
“Those are not even remotely similar to the same thing.”
Marcus laughed and smoothed down his tie before ducking into the living room to see Taemin fully dressed in the dark green suit they’d decided on. It took Marcus’s breath away.
“What?” Taemin said, looking down at himself. “I knew it. I knew I looked silly—”
“You look gorgeous,” Marcus said, stepping closer until he could take Taemin’s hand, press a kiss to his knuckles. “I’m the luckiest man in the world.”
“Second luckiest,” Taemin murmured, before pulling him down for a more thorough kiss.
They ended up having to check themselves over in the mirrors again to make sure they weren’t too rumpled. Then they left their hotel room and made their way to the waiting limo.
Taemin reached for Marcus’s hand again once they were inside. “I’m nervous. I’ve never even been to an opening night at the movies, much less a film premiere.”
“I know it’ll seem overwhelming, but it’s really not so bad. It’ll be loud, but I’ll be with you. People will stop us for pictures and we’ll smile. We might be asked questions and we’ll answer them. If you’re really uncomfortable, just let me know and I’ll make sure we keep walking until we’re done.”
“Okay. Okay, I can do that.”
“Just pretend you’re on a mat instead of on a carpet.” Marcus smiled. “It’s all about presence. And you certainly have plenty of that.”
Taemin rolled his eyes. “I’m not about to shout at your fans in Korean.”
Marcus laughed. “Maybe just give them your disappointed look. You know, the one that makes your students wish you were giving them push-ups to do.”
“Somehow I don’t think that will be very effective against a large crowd of your screaming fans.”
“At least they pretty much love you now,” Marcus said, squeezing Taemin’s hand. “Half my interviews are about me not being good enough for you. Especially after the Twitter thread about you and Kids Kicking Cancer that went viral a couple months ago.”
“Yes,” Taemin said blandly. “Because that’s what matters to me most. Social media.”
“I love you,” Marcus said, full of affection.
Taemin turned to peck him on the cheek. “I love you too.”
They arrived at the venue and their driver stopped the car. “Ready?” Marcus asked.
“Ready.”
Marcus opened the door. The onslaught of noise was sharp and sudden but nothing he wasn’t used to. And he was excited beyond measure to be sharing this part of himself with the love of his life. He stood, then turned and held out a hand for Taemin, who took it.
Showtime.