𝟮 𝗛𝗢𝗧 | 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗰𝗸 || 𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗪

𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone gathered in the conference room of their manager Ms. Kim's office. The viral video and the ensuing drama had left everyone on edge, and the urgency of the meeting was clear.

Ms. Kim stood at the head of the table, her expression stern and unforgiving. "I've called this meeting because we need to address the situation immediately," she began, her voice commanding attention. "The video has caused a media frenzy, and we need to get ahead of this before it does any more damage."

Hope, Mark, Haechan, Jeno, Jaemin, Renjun, Trixie, and Misty sat around the table, their faces reflecting varying degrees of concern and frustration.

"I understand that tensions are high, but we need to find a way to turn this around," Ms. Kim continued. "Hope, you had mentioned an idea for a music video and song. Can you elaborate on that?"

Hope took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before she spoke. "I have a song that I wrote a while back. It's about my relationship with Jaemin—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. I never planned to release it, but given the current situation, I think it might be the right time to put it out there."

Jaemin's eyes widened slightly, but he remained silent, listening intently.

"It's raw and honest," Hope continued, "and I think it could help explain what happened between us. It's a chance to address the rumors and the truth head-on. I want to do a music video for it, and I want Jeno and Trixie to be in it."

Jeno raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You want us to play the parts of you and Jaemin?"

Hope nodded. "Yes. I think it would add another layer to the story, showing the complexities and the pain of the relationship. And I want to do a duet with Renjun. His voice and style would complement the song perfectly."

Renjun looked surprised but flattered. "I'd be honored, Hope. This could be a powerful way to tell your story."

Ms. Kim considered Hope's proposal carefully. "This is risky, but it might be the bold move we need to shift the narrative. If we go through with this, we need to be fully committed. The video has to be authentic and impactful."

Hope nodded, determination in her eyes. "I'm ready. I think it's time to tell the truth, no matter how painful it is."

Jaemin finally spoke, his voice soft but steady. "If this is what you want, Hope, I support you. It's our story, and it deserves to be told."

Ms. Kim glanced around the table, her gaze lingering on each person. "Alright. We'll start planning immediately. This needs to be executed flawlessly. Any objections?"

No one spoke, the gravity of the situation sinking in. They all understood the importance of this moment and the potential it had to change the course of their careers and personal lives.

"Good," Ms. Kim said, her tone final. "Let's get to work."

As the meeting adjourned, Hope felt a mix of anxiety and relief. The road ahead would be challenging, but she was ready to face it with the support of her friends and the strength of her truth. This music video could be the key to reclaiming her narrative and moving forward from the shadows of her past.

The meeting had adjourned, but the tension lingered in the air. Hope, Mark, and Haechan walked down the hallway towards the practice room, each lost in their own thoughts. As they entered the room and closed the door behind them, Mark finally broke the silence.

"Hope," Mark began, his voice gentle but serious, "we need to talk about something. About your past with Jaemin."

Haechan nodded in agreement, concern etched on his face. "Yeah, we need to understand what happened between you two. How toxic was it, really? And why did you break up?"

Hope took a deep breath, preparing herself to delve into memories she had tried to bury. She sat down on the edge of the couch, and Mark and Haechan joined her, their expressions filled with empathy and curiosity.

"It was... intense," Hope started, her voice trembling slightly. "We met at a party two years ago. From the moment we met, there was this instant connection, but it was built on a foundation of chaos. We partied all the time, and it felt exhilarating, but it also brought out the worst in us."

She paused, collecting her thoughts. "We were reckless, and our fights were explosive. What started as harmless banter quickly escalated into shouting matches. We cheated on each other, thinking it would somehow make us feel better or get back at each other for past hurts. But it only made things worse."

Haechan reached out, gently holding Hope's hand. "What was the final straw?"

Hope's eyes filled with tears as she remembered the night that changed everything. "One night, we were driving home from a party. I was behind the wheel, and we started arguing—again. It was about something stupid, but our emotions were so raw, so uncontrolled. I wasn't paying attention to the road, and Jaemin tried to grab the wheel. The car swerved, and we crashed."

Mark and Haechan listened intently, their concern growing with every word. "We were both hurt, physically and emotionally. Lying in the hospital, we realized how close we came to losing our lives. That was the wake-up call we needed. We knew we couldn't keep going like that. We were destroying each other."

Tears streamed down Hope's face as she continued, "We decided to break up right there in the hospital. It was painful, but we knew it was the right thing to do. Since then, I've tried to move on, to leave that part of my life behind. But now, with everything that's happened, it feels like it's all coming back."

Mark wrapped his arm around Hope's shoulders, pulling her close. "I'm sorry you went through that, Hope. But thank you for sharing it with us. We needed to understand."

Haechan nodded, his grip on her hand tightening. "We're here for you, Hope. We'll get through this together. The music video, the song—it's a chance to turn this pain into something meaningful."

Hope looked at both of them, feeling a renewed sense of strength and support. "Thank you. I couldn't do this without you two. We'll face this together, and we'll come out stronger on the other side."

As they sat there, holding onto each other, Hope felt a glimmer of hope for the future. The road ahead would be challenging, but with Mark and Haechan by her side, she knew they could overcome anything.