Episode 14: A Knife from Behind
The fan meeting aftermath was quieter than expected.
Though the media tried to spin the leaked video as scandalous, most fans were unexpectedly... calm. Supportive, even. Hashtags like #SingThroughIt and #SeonJaewonTruth trended globally for two days.
But that calm was the eye of a storm.
Because AX1's true threat wasn't public opinion anymore. It was internal.
---
In the agency's main building, CEO Kim looked grim.
"We've confirmed Orion Entertainment was behind the leaks," he told the boys. "They bribed a former AX1 backup dancer to install a bug in your dorm laptop."
"Wait," Minho interrupted, "you're saying they were watching us?"
"For months," Kim nodded. "It gets worse. A contract revision was slipped in through your email accounts last week. Only one of you approved it."
Everyone turned.
Seo-jin whispered, "Who?"
Kim sighed. "Jun."
---
Jun looked stunned. "What? I didn't— I don't remember signing anything!"
Kim handed him a printout. "This gives Orion legal right to use any footage from your training period. Including confidential videos."
Seon stepped forward. "He's being set up."
"I agree," Kim said. "But for now, we're liable."
---
That night
The dorm was silent.
Jun sat alone in the kitchen, eyes glassy, staring at the contract.
"I didn't betray you," he said, not looking up.
"I know," Seon said softly.
Jun finally met his eyes. "But it's my fault. Even if it wasn't me who clicked, it's my name. My hands."
Jaewon pulled a chair closer. "You've stood with us through worse. We stand with you now."
---
Three days later, AX1 had to face another press conference.
This one wasn't celebratory.
The press room was tense. Journalists were sharper. One by one, they asked questions designed to wound.
"Was AX1 formed on favoritism?"
"Is Seon a threat to Korean family values?"
"Did Jaewon manipulate the media for pity?"
Seon was silent until the last question.
"Do you feel like your group is being torn apart?"
He stood. "We're not a group because we wear matching clothes. We're a group because we've bled together. And we'll keep going until someone rips our voices from us."
The room went still.
---
Later that night, Jaewon and Seon found themselves alone again — on the rooftop.
This time, there were no cameras. No secrets. Just wind and silence.
"Do you regret it?" Jaewon asked.
Seon shook his head. "No. If I hadn't fallen in love with you, I wouldn't have survived what came after."
Jaewon turned. "And now?"
"I'm still falling."
Their fingers brushed.
Below, a camera lens peeked over the edge of the next building.
---
Back at Orion, Director Yoo smirked.
"They gave us the next headline themselves," she said.
On her monitor: a still frame of Seon and Jaewon's rooftop moment.
"Let's release this… with the perfect captio
n."
She typed:
> "Caught again: AX1's PR romance or real danger to the brand?"
---
To be continued…