“Yes. They’re both here.”
Watching Daehwan talking to someone on the phone with a stiff expression and voice, Evan headed toward the bedroom door. Daehwan, who had been answering in short responses, ended the call and let out a long sigh.
“Siwoo. There’s a scandal with MBX’s Hwanhee.”
A brief silence flowed between the two. The hollow laugh that came from Evan’s mouth as he stood with his arms crossed in front of the bedroom door as if to prevent Daehwan from going to the bedroom broke the precarious atmosphere.
“……I should have killed him then. I put it off for a moment because things were hectic.”
At Evan’s words, spoken flatly while raising his hand to rub his lips, Daehwan unconsciously stepped back several steps.
“We’ll put out a rebuttal article and start a lawsuit.”
A faint smile permeated Evan’s face as he turned on his phone connected to the charger. He had been planning to get rid of him without a sound. It was fine to ruthlessly destroy him in front of people, but making him forgotten without anyone knowing was also one of the methods.
His ugly scandal would have broken out in about two years. Even when the scandal broke, the image and position he had built up during that time didn’t collapse in an instant. It started as a small scandal, but incidents and accidents that followed one after another brought him down.
Rather than waiting for that time, Evan planned to stop MBX’s activities.
He planned to prevent the next album from coming out and gradually cut off broadcast appearances. If he’s out of sight, being forgotten is only a matter of time. He had been planning to quietly eliminate him like that, but if he was going to grab his ankle like this, there was no reason to spare himself.
“First, with Siwoo……”
“Are you going to confirm the facts with Siwoo? Don’t you know? Or are you pretending not to know? Hyung, let’s not make this a big deal.”
Evan, who opened the search window, didn’t even need to bother searching. Seeing the filthy scandal on the main screen made his mouth bitter. People don’t need truth or lies. They just need gossip.
[MBX Hwanhee Dating Rumor Partner? Rookie Group Ocean’s Siwoo?]
[MBX Hwanhee Dating Rumor. Fact-Checking in Progress]
[MBX Hwanhee’s Number One Pick. Rookie Group Member?]
[Both MBX and Ocean Remain Silent]
Evan, who clicked on an internet news article, sat down on the sofa and began to carefully read the article that had written down a novel full of speculation.
They were seen in various places after their first meeting at the year-end awards ceremony…… Seeing the blurry photos posted as evidence only brought out a hollow laugh. Since the photos had appearances hidden with hats, masks, scarves, etc., it was impossible to tell exactly who they were.
However, considering the size difference with MBX’s Hwanhee and the blonde hair, he could understand how they could insist it was Siwoo if they wanted to make it fit.
Kindly, the article even explained that although MBX’s Hwanhee was an Alpha, most of his romantic partners so far had been Betas. And that Ocean’s member was also a Beta…….
“So this is why our phones died.”
Evan, who turned his stiff neck, looked at Daehwan sitting next to him with a crooked gaze. It wasn’t his fault, but just because he was there, Daehwan was receiving Evan’s rough mood in full.
“If it’s this hotel, Siwoo and I went there often too. You know, right? We frequent this lounge. This restaurant is famous for being delicious, so we went a couple times. We went to the club too. What to do, all the routes overlapped.”
At the words spoken while carefully looking at the photos, Daehwan’s body flinched.
“Should I just reveal it? The first romance within an idol group seems like it would be fine. That the person who went to these places together wasn’t that bastard but me. That would be good. I’ll make the reporter who wrote this article put down their pen. Instead, I’ll reveal a bigger truth.”
Seeing Evan smile brightly while saying the last words, thinking he would really do it, Daehwan quickly grabbed his arm. Myunghun-hyung had already warned Siwoo. And he said he had casually dropped a word of caution to Evan too…….
“That’s not it. Didn’t you talk to Myunghun-hyung? You guys are just starting, and everyone’s turning a blind eye to you and Siwoo’s relationship but……”
“Hyung, you didn’t hear what I answered to Myunghun-hyung. I said if he says useless things to Siwoo, I’ll disband Ocean that very day. Myunghun-hyung must not have told anyone. Are reporters camped out?”
“In front of the dorm and the agency.”
After seeming angry for a moment, Daehwan scratched his head wildly while watching Evan quickly return to his usual self and speak lightly as if it was no big deal. Really, the longer they lived together, the harder Evan was to understand.
“Tell me the reason you came rushing over like this.”
The conversation they’d had until now was the reason he had come here. But what other reason could there be?
“We need to confirm the facts with Siwoo and decide how our side will respond. A deal came in from their side.”
“What’s the deal?”
“A route where they acknowledge it, date for a few months, then break up. First of all, MBX’s recognition can’t be ignored. And we have a mini album in spring too……”
“Really funny bastards. Why didn’t I think to change their heads sooner? They’re going to do the same thing again? I didn’t know slitting open the belly of the goose that lays golden eggs was a hobby.”
Evan kept checking the fake news that was putting out similar content like copies, then threw down his phone and got up from his seat. He took out two water bottles from the refrigerator, threw one to Daehwan, and poured cold water down his throat.
“……Hyung, you’re here?”
The door that had been firmly closed until now opened, and Siwoo, who hadn’t fully woken up from sleep yet, rubbed his eyes and came out, stopped, and greeted Daehwan. At the same time, the empty water bottle Evan was holding was crushed miserably.
“Hyung, go to the study room. Siwoo and I will talk first.”
He couldn’t easily predict where the conversation would go again or how Siwoo would react. Not wanting Daehwan to hear the conversation between the two, Evan pointed with his chin to the study, the farthest from the bedroom. Then, holding a new water bottle, he grabbed the hand of Siwoo who had just come out of the bedroom and entered the bedroom again, locking the door.
Evan, who had Siwoo follow him obediently and sit on the bed, opened the water bottle he brought and handed it to Siwoo.
“Why? Is there a scheduled event?”
Evan looked silently at the clear face that drank a little water and looked up at him. When he reached out and cupped the soft cheek, Siwoo, who smiled slightly, rubbed his cheek against his hand and gently closed his eyes. Then he turned his head slightly and kissed his palm.
Why are we…… Why is everything so difficult? When we barely solve one thing, another obstacle blocks the way. In between, when we try to enjoy even a little happiness, a bigger problem erupts. When we desperately find a way, again…… How long must we stand precariously on a tightrope?
“Coco.”
“They’re telling me to hurry and get ready?”
“Don’t be surprised and listen. It can be solved, and I will solve it. Nothing will happen. And no big problems will arise.”
Evan, who knelt on one knee in front of Siwoo and lowered his body, opened his mouth with difficulty.
Siwoo’s actions of smiling, kissing his hand, and playing around just moments ago stopped. He hadn’t even brought up the story yet, but the moment he saw the wavering eyes, his heart ached. Even though he released pheromones to calm him, Siwoo’s expression gradually hardened.
“……It’s not that, right?”
Evan immediately understood what he was asking. Right now, Siwoo must be thinking of a scandal between the two of them.
“It’s not us. MBX Hwan……”
“Me. It’s not me. Evanie. It’s really not me.”
Before he could finish speaking, the small head shook. Siwoo, who tightly grasped Evan’s hand that was still stroking his cheek with both hands, urgently shouted.
“I know. I know you’ve never met that bastard.”
“……”
Seeing the deep red lips trembling and biting the lower lip tightly while suppressing emotions, Evan had to suppress his own emotions surging violently.
“I just need to clarify, right? Ah…… That’s why Daehwan-hyung came. Should I go to the agency now? I’ll go and say it’s not true in front of the director and everyone. Uh…… First, that it’s not, put out a rebuttal report that it’s not me.”
Siwoo didn’t seem to know how hard he was gripping his hands. Siwoo, who was slowly bringing up ways to deal with the situation while his lips trembled, was being consumed by fear. Unlike his appearance that seemed calm and rational, the raging intense emotions appealed that it was not so at all.
“I’ll reveal it’s not you and hold the reporter who wrote the false article responsible. This kind of scandal flashes briefly then quickly dies down, so it won’t be a problem.”
“I’ll wash up and go to the agency with Daehwan-hyung.”
Siwoo, who let go of Evan’s hand that he had been gripping tightly like a lifeline, got up from his seat and tried to avoid Evan to go to the bathroom. It was something he hadn’t thought of at all. What he had been worried about was a scandal between Evan and himself, but an issue with a third party.
“There’s no need to go.”
“I have to make it clear. A problem has already been created for you, other members, and the agency.”
Siwoo didn’t know what his expression looked like as he looked at Evan.
“Don’t think strange thoughts.”
“I’m not doing that. Let me wash up.”
Siwoo, who swept down his face with both hands, turned his body and headed to the bathroom. Feeling grateful to Evan for not grabbing him, Siwoo entered the bathroom, turned on the water in the shower booth, and sat down right there. He couldn’t even feel whether the water pouring over him now was hot or cold.
Siwoo, who tightly closed both eyes, buried his face in his knees.
It seems fate can’t allow even a little happiness. Why is it so cruel only to him? He thought he would become numb if it hurt and hurt. He wished emotions were like iron that becomes harder the more it’s tempered. And he thought it had become that way, but the wounds still hurt and the pain doesn’t diminish.
That face looking down at him arrogantly came to mind, and the dirty words he spat out rang in his ears. Why me? Why do these things only happen to me? After crouching for a long time, Siwoo slowly got up from his spot and took off the clothes that were wetly sticking to him after absorbing water.
When he tilted his head back, the stream of water poured down onto his face. A faint smile slowly bloomed on Siwoo’s face as he received that stream of water.
I’m fortunate. Really fortunate.
Because only I need to be like this. No blemish will reach Evan.
I’ve tarnished Ocean’s name, but there will be no problem with Evan’s personal career.
That’s enough. That’s all that matters.
