Taehyung tossed and turned, sleep refusing to come. The weight of the coming meeting with Bogum pressed on him, a cold knot in his chest. It was tangled with the sudden, sharp ache of seeing Jeongguk’s face again – a photograph unearthed from the depths of memory. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic rhythm mirroring the turmoil in his mind.
He wondered where Jeongguk was tonight, if he was safe, if he was happy. Jeongguk had vanished abruptly on his thirteenth birthday, leaving no note, no goodbye. His mother had explained it as a sudden move to Seoul, a relocation that hadn’t been planned. Taehyung hadn’t been angry, not truly, just profoundly saddened. Jeongguk had possessed his number, but never used it after changing his own.
A worn folder lay tucked away in Taehyung’s closet, filled with childhood photographs. Jeongguk was a constant presence in those images, their young faces intertwined in shared laughter and sun-drenched afternoons. It was obvious they knew each other well, a truth that would make convincing Bogum of a relationship, however fabricated, seem plausible.
Lost in thought, Taehyung instinctively opened the folder, placing his phone on the table. He didn’t notice Bogum surreptitiously snapping pictures as he was absorbed in the research paper they were meant to be reviewing. The meeting concluded without further incident, and Taehyung practically fled, desperate to escape Bogum’s scrutiny.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he messaged his friends, relief washing over him. He’d also created a new Twitter profile, complete with a bunny emoji – a clumsy attempt at anonymity.
With his friends’ help, Taehyung reported Bogum’s tweet. The post was swiftly taken down, accompanied by an explanation of the situation. The damage, however, was already done. Screenshots had already been taken, and a wave of hateful comments flooded the internet.
What disturbed Taehyung most was the inevitable fallout for Jeongguk. The photos were genuine, and no one would believe a secretary’s explanation. He was being dragged into this mess.
Jimin and Seokjin were currently with Taehyung, trying to devise a plan.
“Did you try to contact him?” Seokjin asked, scrolling through the barrage of tweets about Taehyung and Jeongguk. He didn’t look up, his gaze fixed on the screen.
“Of course not,” Taehyung sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sure he doesn’t even remember me. He has new friends, a new life… maybe even a boyfriend.” He felt utterly helpless.
“Or he’s single,” Jimin interjected with a gentle smile. “You don’t know what his situation is.”
“It doesn’t matter if he’s with someone or not. I’m ruining his career. It’s my fault, and he’s the victim.” Taehyung scrubbed at his face, fighting back tears.
Jimin placed his hand over Taehyung’s, his touch grounding. “No, baby. Bogum’s fault, not yours. He’s the one who went public. You just wanted him to stop harassing you.”
Jin moved closer, wrapping an arm around Taehyung’s shoulders. He stroked Taehyung's hair, a comforting gesture. “Jimin’s right. It’s not your fault.”