Color Me Rainbow || MEANIE ✔

-50 || wonwoo-

The article had been released less than ten minutes before Wonwoo had seen it. He'd organizing the dictionaries when Jihoon came running over to him with a phone in his hand. Wonwoo almost fell off the step stool he was on. Every few seconds, they reloaded the screen. They couldn't actually believe that the article was real, and Wonwoo was hoping that it would just disappear.

Eventually, five minutes later, it was gone.

Now, an hour after it's initial release, Wonwoo was sitting in Chairman Kim's office across from the old man. Mingyu hadn't texted or called him yet which meant he probably never saw the article.

Oh God oh God oh God. Wonwoo was in absolute panic. He didn't know how many people saw the article or how any of them were going to react.

The office was cold, the AC running at full blast, but Wonwoo was sweating. He spun the bracelet Mingyu had given him around his wrist over and over again. He'd been doing it for a while now, so it was starting to leave a mark.

"I'm not mad," Chairman Kim started, "but I wish you'd told me sooner. This could have probably been avoided."

"I'm sorry, sir. It's just that this isn't something I was sure you would take lightly.  I was . . . scared." Those words were true.

He'd been afraid that he couldn't be with Mingyu anymore. He was afraid everyone would start talking again. He was scared his mom would fall into her depression.

"Look at where that got you," the older man said.

Wonwoo flinched. He was used to the articles by now. So far, they'd all been pretty harmless. This most recent article, though, was going to cause problems.

It told his family's story in detail. How his father had hurt him and his mother. How he had attempted to take revenge. It was horrible.

Chairman Kim sighed and collapsed in his chair. He looked tired. "I understand where you're coming from, with not telling me. I want to assure you that in no way am I judging you. It wasn't your actions that caused this."

The younger male was grateful for that. "How did this happen? How did anyone find out?"

The CEO hummed in thought. He asked, "Who all knows?"

"Mingyu, my mom, and my best friend. But I know they would never tell another soul." His mom wasn't one to go around telling everyone about her abusive husband, and the other two were a given.

"Well, I can't answer your question. But it seems a lot of people have seen the article." The elder tapped on the arm of his chair. "I managed to get it taken down quickly, but it's likely still out there somewhere."

Wonwoo felt tears sting his eyes but he wasn't going to let them fall. He quickly wiped at them with his sleeve and was grateful when Mingyu's father didn't comment on it.

"What now?" Wonwoo asked.

"I hate to say it, but this will affect the company badly. Mingyu is supposed to take over in a few years time, and the son of the criminal is supposedly his soulmate."

Wonwoo knew he meant nothing by it, but he still felt deflated at those words. It hurt, it was another label. The son if a criminal. A tear spilled over which he wiped away. This time, Chairman Kim grabbed a box of tissues off a table behind him and pushed them towards Wonwoo. 

"I have good news and bad news for you," the chairman said. "I know you and Mingyu are soulmates, and I can sense that you two are in love. There's nothing anyone can do to take that away from. But aside from that, I also have to protect the company."

Wonwoo nodded. He understood.

"The good news is, this can be cleared up. I can protect the company and your relationship with Mingyu, under two conditions.

"The first, you do everything in your power to stay out of trouble. You follow your father's footsteps, I'll have no option but to remove my son from the company."

Even though Mingyu had no interest in taking charge of the company now, Wonwoo knew that he'd want to sometime in the future. Wonwoo had no plan to commit any crimes, so it's not like he'd take that opportunity from Mingyu.

"The bad news?" Wonwoo asked because that put him even nore on edge.

"The bad news is it will take a long time," Chairman Kim said. "I understand you won a writing competition at school?"

Wonwoo nodded. "Yeah, but Jisoo and I forfeited the prize." He didn't like where this was going.

In place of forfeiting the prize, Wonwoo had Jisoo were offered the internship. But as much as the former wanted it, he knew Jisoo was heartbroken and wanted to get as far away as possible. Wonwoo let him leave, letting the third place winners take the internship. He'd get more opportunities. 

Chairman Kim nodded like he seemed to remember that. "That's right. Well, here's my offer and the second condition." He attempted to smile but failed. "Go to America for two years. I will fund your trip and your housing, and I can pull some strings to get you into that college you wanted to go to. They should have no problem accepting you."

Usually, Wonwoo would have rejected the idea. He wanted to earn his place in the college, but technically he did by winning that competition. In addition to that, he didn't want to stick around for the aftermath of this article either. He had to keep Mingyu in mind, too.

"If need be, I can get a place for your mother as well, if she would like to go with you," Mingyu's father said.

"And this is the only way?" Wonwoo asked, his emotions shrinking until they were barely there. He didn't want to feel anything anymore. He'd opened his heart, and this is where it got him. His father still managed to mess up everything even if he wasn't around. Wonwoo needed to close himself off again. A lot could change in two years, and he wasn't sure he could handle it.

"Yes. If you're around while I try to fix this issue, it'll only make things worse. Plus, if you manage to make yourself credible and well known in the photo industry, it should be easier for people to accept you when you come back."

"In America," Wonwoo said, dazed. His English wasn't bad, but it wasn't U.S. worthy either. "When would I leave?"

"I'd say a week from now," the older man answered. "That gives you time to tell people and pack your things. I'll have my secretary send you the details."

"Okay," Wonwoo said weakly.

"For what it's worth, I like you lot, Wonwoo," Chairman Kim told him. "I think you're perfect for my son."

Wonwoo gave him a weary smile and left the office.

Apparently not good enough to stay, he thought glumly then shook his head. No, he understood why he had to do this. Now, he just had to tell Mingyu.

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a/n: WE MADE IT TO CHAPTER 50 LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOO

should i do smth in celebration of this?? a Q&A? a fanart? a contest? y'all lmk what you think