The Light of Dead Stars | KSJ

50

You're not sure what you were expecting, pulling into work today, but maybe everyone avoiding you and Jin is better than them staring and gossiping to your face. You both make it to your respective rooms with barely anyone on your way, and you just take it as it is.

Everyone is tense during the executive committee meeting later that morning though. Those tasked to present are quite nervous, and it's towards the end when Jin asks if there are any more questions before someone tries to ask about the issue.

One of the directors is just about to form his question when Jin speaks first.

"Whatever it is you're worrying about, don't," he says calmly. "My wife, my family, my team, and I are working on it. Let's just focus on our work and our targets because those are the important things. Thank you again and I'll see you all soon."

He leaves the meeting and opts to stay in his room for lunch, while you meet up with your best friends as they requested. It's just you narrating in hushed tones what transpired in the last 2 nights, and them doing their own digging and sharing their own theories.

The days after are roughly the same. You and Jin focus on work and not talk about the issue with other co-workers, as they seem to be too nervous to bring it up. You'd like to think they respect Jin enough not to raise it, and that's a more comfortable thought to have.

In the evening though, it's quite different. You go home earlier since he prefers to stay after hours, and you think he just doesn't want you to ask him to stop reading articles and the comment sections, as you order him to when at home.

By Wednesday, you ask him to refrain from talking about it, and by Thursday, he stops talking altogether.

You're hugging him that night in bed when his phone beeps to signal a notification from Twitter. You didn't even know he had an account and you reckon he made it just so he could read people's comments and check the profiles of those who seem to have a lot to say. Most of them just theorize for fun; the others are a little too shady but you think they're just putting pieces together and are much better at it so they sound like they know the truth. But you notice Jin scroll and scroll, and you're unsure what he's looking for.

"Time for bed, love," you hum, trying not to sound disappointed.

"Uh-huh," he says, not putting the phone down.

"The light's bothersome," you reason.

"I'll just go through some stuff, okay? Sleep now, goodnight." He kisses your forehead then heads out the door.

It's past 3AM by the time he goes back to bed. You don't go to sleep until then.

**

You're seated at a park bench the next day, opting to go somewhere quiet for lunch with your best friend.

It's so unnerving when people are skirting around you, as what your team, and pretty much everyone, has been doing all week. It's noisy everywhere, and you just want some peace and quiet since your mind can't seem to find that.

"The story's died down a bit, right?" Jimin asks as he bites into a sandwich, watching the stillness of the river against the skyscrapers next to you. "There's less stuff online and nothing new since Wednesday. That should be a good sign."

"I guess," you shrug. "I haven't been keeping tabs, but perhaps my husband knows. I should ask him," you scoff.

"He's obsessing over it, I assume?"

"Pretty much. He's been sleeping late all week, just checking his phone. He has Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit now. Who knows what else. Never thought I'd see the day."

"Well, I guess he's just desperate for answers," Jimin offers.

"We all are, but he's close to the edge. I just don't know how to tell him. But I also can't blame him," you respond. "Stocks dropped, the Board wants to issue a statement, shareholders want assurance... I mean, everyone's been more wary since the multiple scandals from a few months ago, which I get. But what hurts Jin the most is his parents. They're still not speaking to him nor even asking how he's doing. They at least assured his siblings that the news won't reach their grandparents, but his father hasn't called to meet in days and that never happens."

"I just feel so bad for Jin," Jimin laments. "A good man just making stupid mistakes and this is what he gets. He almost lost you, and who knows what else he'd lose this time around."

"Not me," you insist. "I'm just not sure that's enough now."

"I didn't think he was that close to his parents, though. I mean, yeah they're not evil or rude, but I just always thought that rich people like that don't nurture, you know? They just... train."

"Fair assumption, I guess," you chuckle. Jin mentioned something similar before. "They're close enough but it's him, too. He doesn't like disappointing people, especially his parents. He wants them to be proud of him. You know how it is. And this whole thing is such a big disappointment; it's eating him up inside. That's not something I can resolve."

"So it's really about finding out who did this and clearing his name, huh?"

"Pretty much. But Jin said that Seri's phone hasn't been active. My brother just told me earlier that she's been on unpaid leave all week. I thought it wasn't her but now... I mean, aren't those signs of a person who's guilty?"

"Or a person in trouble," Jimin gasps.

"What?!" You turn to him.

He shows you his phone. "She just reached out to me."