The next morning started earlier than anyone wanted. The members were dragged into the company building before sunrise, shuttled past staff who looked more tense than usual. No one said a word in the van, the silence broken only by the hum of the engine.
By the time they entered the meeting room, the weight of what was coming pressed heavily on them. The room was stark, the air-conditioning too cold, the long table already stacked with printouts of headlines and screengrabs from social media.
Their manager, Mr. Kang, sat at the head of the table. He didn't raise his voice, but the sharpness in his tone cut through the room.
"Do you see this?" He tapped the stack of papers. "This is everywhere. Overnight."
The boys exchanged uneasy glances. Namjoon cleared his throat, always the one to take responsibility first. "Hyung, we should discuss how to—"
"No." Mr. Kang's interruption was firm. He pushed the papers forward. "There's nothing for you to discuss. You all need to understand the seriousness. One photo, one slip, and this is what happens."
The image on top was the now-infamous picture: Taehyung and Jungkook's fingers interlaced as they left the stage. Grainy, rushed, but undeniable.
Jin exhaled slowly, trying to keep calm. "It doesn't even look that bad. They're close. Everyone knows that."
"That's not how it's being spun," Mr. Kang shot back. His voice was low but heavy. "Fans are speculating, the press is circling, and the company is already drafting responses. If this grows, it can overshadow the comeback. Do you understand the scale?"
Jungkook kept his eyes fixed on the table. Taehyung, beside him, sat straighter, his expression unreadable but calm.
Yoongi spoke next, his tone even. "So what happens now?"
Mr. Kang folded his arms. "For now, nothing. No statements, no comments. You all keep your heads down. No unnecessary interactions in public, no risky moments on stage. We'll control the schedule tighter until this dies down."
Jungkook's chest tightened at the words. He knew this was coming, but hearing it confirmed made it worse. He glanced briefly at Taehyung, who was still too composed, almost stubbornly so.
Namjoon tried again, carefully. "And if it doesn't die down?"
"Then the company decides what to do," Mr. Kang replied flatly. "But make no mistake. There's no room for mistakes right now. Not from anyone." His eyes flicked briefly toward Jungkook and Taehyung before he looked back at the others.
The meeting ended with no room for argument. The boys filed out quietly, tension thick in the air.
Back in the van, Hoseok tried to lighten the mood with a joke, but no one laughed. Jungkook stared out the window, his reflection blurred in the glass, while Taehyung sat beside him, their shoulders barely brushing.
He didn't reach for Jungkook's hand this time. Not here, not with everyone watching.
But the silence between them wasn't empty. It was a promise.