Transparent

(21) ; Gone.

"What the fuck?"

Krystal's body involuntarily shivered upon hearing the profanity escaping his lips. Taehyung's huge build towered over her as he masked her body away from the two reporters, but to no avail the cameras kept on clicking.

The lad winced upon hearing the nonstop clicking of the cameras.

Shit, what to do? What to do?

Taehyung has never got caught in this type of situation before, and his first instinct was to panic and fall into the deep pits of mental breakdown.

"Hey," Krystal muttered, reaching out to comfortingly grasp onto his palms.

"Let's not engage. We'll get into the car, call up your company and figure this out, okay?"

Taehyung wanted to pipe up: But what if they were quick to post the pictures online? Wouldn't the after-effect be more severe?

But all he did was weakly nodding, pulling her harshly against his chest and walked away towards his car which were not too far away.

When they stepped into the car the atmosphere was dead silent. The reporters were still at the basement, a couple meters away, hawkish-ly looking at them. This made the hairs on the back of Krystal's neck stand. She remembers now what it feels like to have her privacy invaded, - and she didn't like it one bit. Amidst of falling in love, she forgets that the man she was dating indeed, are one of the biggest names in the music industry.

How foolish of her to lose her cautiousness. To not look around twice or thrice before leaving her house, or even when taking out her thrash. Reporters in South Korea are one of the worse, had she not remembered what happened to her some years ago with Kai?

She had to do something ... she knew she had to. Taehyung was still too young to go through this ... he was scared and hyperventilating next to her.

"I-I'll call Namjoon- he'll know what to do-no, he must know what to do,"

Upon hearing the band member's leader's name, Krystal smiles at him encouragingly, not wanting to worsen the situation. With his back turned against her and his concentration fully on the call, she managed to slip out of his car unbeknownst to him, and walked straight towards the reporters, face totally bare and exposed for them to see who she was.

It's not like it would be hard for anyone to recognize Krystal. Even with grainy shots, anyone could've known her from the blank look on her face, and her distinct choice in clothes. She was, afterall, - Korea's It Girl at one point of her life.

The reporters looked at her quizzically, but nevertheless kept their cameras clicking. When she was a meter away from them, she stops in her steps to give them a deep bow, as a sign of respect – before muttering a small "Annyeonghaesayo,".

"It's extremely cold tonight, isn't it?" She began, small vapors of air gathered infront of her face as she spoke.

"You must be working hard for your family, eo?" She pushed a small smile on her face, despite feeling her knees buckling beneath her. She was so scared. So, fucking scared, oh my god. It was a matter of life and death for Taehyung, - she can't let his career get ruined by something stupid like love. It wasn't even a matter of career, if these photos ever got leaked, - his future path may even change.

They didn't engage with her, just kept on staring at throwing looks at one another.

"Uh ... how do I do this? "Krystal awkwardly laughs before shaking her head and deciding to do this anyways.

Slowly, she dropped her legs onto the ground, putting her palms onto her knees, and bowing her head.

"Please ... give me the camera. I beg of you- you don't understand, he has so much to look forward to-"

"Krystal!" Taehyung shouts in disbelief, exiting his car.

"Please, I am begging you" she sniffed, hear tears slowly forming in the corner of her eyes.

Krystal has never been put into a situation where she had to beg something for, all her life. Her parents brought her up like a princess, her sister took care of her like one, and her friends and other relatives see her nothing less of her princess.

So for her to be on her knees, begging from some strangers for some man she liked, - it was a huge deal. Taehyung meant a huge deal for her.

"You bastards, you better stay where you are because reinforcements are coming!"

Taehyung threatened, feeling himself coming back. How could he not? The woman he loved was on her knees begging for mercy.

"Don't listen to him- I- you can use me for the news but please leave him out of it-"

"Jung Soojung! Stop it!" His deep, booming voice echoed through the basement, sprinting towards her to pull her up to her feet.

The reporters look petrified to his voice. If you had been there, you would know. Kim Taehyung was scary.

Krystal was too weak to remember what happened next. All she could catch was a glimpse of the police coming in, along with Taehyung's lines of "If it wasn't illegal, I would've broken your faces," before letting darkness taking over her mind and body.

///

She was home the next morning. She knew she was. She could feel the familiarity of the bedsheets beneath her, and the room even smelled like hers.

When she woke up, her sister was there, next to her.

"You're awake," Jessica muttered, brushing her hair. She reached to her back to grab a glass of water, before helping Krystal up and ushering her to finish the glass.

"Did my anemia take over again?" Krystal questioned, putting the glass aside after drinking a little from it. Her throat was parched but her curiosity even more. What happened after last night? And where was he?

"Did you know ... what happened?" Meekly, she asked her sister. Krystal never kept secrets with her sister, but she was too exhausted to tell her the story from A to Z.

"Yes, Taehyung filled me in,"

"Then where-"

"Don't worry Krystal, he's got the situation covered-"

"No unnie, where is he?"

There was something wrong. Something absolutely wrong. Jessica was talking to the wall, her eyes avoiding the younger sibling at all times.

"Where is he ... unnie?"

Jessica sighed, before finally meeting her eyes.

"He's gone, Soojung-ah. He left for America already."

And just like that, Krystal could also feel her soul leaving her body.

— AUTHOR'S NOTE —

Not meant to flex or anything, but I really wrote this chapter in just less than 45 minutes ... after a whole month abandoning this fanfic.

Hehe. It might have something to do about me stanning a new group, - which means I've got different priorities now ... I mean, Krystal is still my NUMBER ONE ULT, but Taehyung isn't anymore ... but no worries! I still love them both very much together <3

I mean, I can't really run away from Taehyung because my sister and mom literally stans BTS but I can safely say I am not head-over-heels for him anymore. Which is kinda good for my mental being by the way, because loving someone who's not real can really do things to do.

I have been thinking a lot lately. Should I end the fanfiction here? I never expected for it to end so angst-ly, and I want my readers to get the happy ending they deserve (BTW I kept on writing this for y'all !!!). Should I end this book and start a second book, as a continuation? Or should I just continue from this book!

Do let me know your thoughts. It is most important and vital for me to know. I loveeee you guys and I hope you stay safe. You guys are literally the reason why I am still writing. Thank you for that drive. I owe you guys the world.

word count: 1,099

date: 26/4/2021