Episode 8: The Leak
The next morning, chaos broke loose.
The leaked photo was all over the internet.
On Twitter, hashtags trended globally:
> #AX1Scandal #SeonWonExposed #TraineeLoveStory
Fans were divided. Some celebrated. Some were confused. Others were vicious.
> "So it's TRUE?? They dated before debut??" "I feel lied to ðŸ˜" "This is why Jaewon always looked awkward in interviews with Seon"
The agency called for an emergency lockdown. No one in or out of the dorm. Phones confiscated.
Manager Joon paced in front of them. "We're preparing a public statement. Until then, stay off socials. No interviews. No comments."
"But the damage is already done," Jaewon said quietly.
Seon sat beside him, face unreadable. "Let them say what they want."
Manager Joon threw his hands up. "This isn't about pride, Seon! This is AX1's future on the line!"
Seo-jin entered then, tablet in hand. "Forget future. We need to save the present."
She threw the tablet on the table. It was open to an article from an entertainment blog:
> "Insiders claim AX1's Jaewon and Seon were romantically involved pre-debut. Are they still entangled?"
The article cited anonymous sources. Old voice notes. Leaked trainee schedules.
They'd dug deep.
Too deep.
---
That night, Jaewon sat on the dorm floor, scrolling through a secret backup phone.
Hate comments. Threats. Rumors.
He felt numb.
"Hey."
Seon knelt in front of him, offering a half-warm drink. "You need to eat."
"I can't."
"You have to. We have a rehearsal tomorrow."
"I'm not sure I should go."
"Why?"
Jaewon looked up at him. "Because I'm not just hurting myself anymore."
Seon exhaled. "Then let me carry half of it."
Jaewon laughed bitterly. "You already did. Years ago. And look how that ended."
Seon didn't flinch. "That was then. I ran. I won't this time."
They sat in silence, hearts tangled in the quiet.
---
At the same time, Jun and the others held a whispered meeting in the other room.
"This will destroy our comeback," Minho said. "They're going to frame this like a betrayal."
"I don't care about the comeback," Jun replied. "I care about them."
"They lied to us."
"No. They hid something. That's different. And maybe we never gave them the space to tell us."
Minho looked away.
---
The next day, AX1 arrived at rehearsal under security escort.
The studio was half-lit. The choreographer gave them space, eyes darting between the duo.
Jaewon avoided Seon's gaze.
But during the bridge of their new song—a ballad-dance fusion—he glanced up.
Seon was already looking.
One step. Two.
Their choreography met in perfect sync. Muscle memory.
Emotion.
Connection.
The mirrors around them didn't lie: they still moved like two halves of a whole.
When the music stopped, the staff clapped.
But a producer nearby whispered, not quietly enough:
> "If they weren't famous, they'd be fired already."
Jaewon froze.
Seon stepped forward. "Say that louder."
The producer looked up. "I said what I said."
Jaewon grabbed Seon's arm. "Don't."
But Seon pulled free. "No. Not this time."
He turned back to the producer. "You want to fire me? Do it. But say it with your chest."
The room went silent.
No one moved.
Then Jun stepped forward. "Fire him and fire me too."
Minho: "Me too."
One by one, the members stood beside Seon.
United.
The producer backed off, muttering.
But the statement had been made.
---
That night, their agency made a decision:
AX1 would appear in a live press conference the following week. Together.
"What are we even going to say?" Jaewon asked.
Seon looked at him.
"The truth. Or at least… our versi
on of it."
Jaewon nodded slowly. "Then we do this on our terms."
Seon held out his hand.
And this time, Jaewon didn't hesitate.
---
To be continued...