Hyouka, feeling guilty about rejecting Tae, decided to tell the agency about the whole proposal thing. She didn't want Tae to get hurt, and she thought it would be best for everyone if the agency knew about what had happened.
But the agency had other plans. They saw Tae's proposal as a publicity stunt, and they decided to use it to their advantage. They leaked the story to the press and soon, Tae's proposal to Hyouka was all over the news.
Tae was humiliated. He had never intended for his proposal to become public, and he was mortified that his private feelings for Hyouka had been made into a spectacle. He felt exposed and vulnerable, and the constant attention was overwhelming.
Fans and fellow K-pop stars alike weighed in on the situation, with some taking Tae's side and others siding with Hyouka. Tae was shamed in public, with some calling him desperate and others calling him a publicity seeker.
The whole situation was a nightmare for Tae. He had never wanted any of this, and he just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
Ryan, his bandmate, noticed that Tae was struggling and offered to talk to him.
Ryan: "Hey man, I know this is tough, but you didn't do anything wrong. You were just expressing your feelings, and that's okay."
Tae: "But now everyone knows, and they're laughing at me."
Ryan: "I know it feels that way now, but it will blow over. And in the end, the people who truly matter, your fans and your bandmates, will still be here for you."
Tae: "Thanks, Ryan. I appreciate that."
Ryan: "Always here for you, brother. And remember, this too shall pass."
Tae's bandmates, Koo and Lin, also offered their support and comfort to Tae. They knew how much the situation was affecting him and they wanted to make sure he knew that he had their support. They spent time together and tried to take Tae's mind off the situation by doing things that he enjoyed.
But Tae couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal and abandonment. He had been looking forward to working with Jungkook again, but BTS's agency had put a halt to their collaboration due to the public shame that Tae was facing.
Jungkook, who had become a good friend of Tae, was also affected by the decision. He had not been involved in the situation, but he was told that he couldn't work with Tae anymore. He felt guilty and didn't know how to break the news to Tae.
Tae found out through a third party and was devastated. He couldn't understand why Jungkook would abandon him like that.
