You saw it in my eyes forever ✓

chapter 9

The atmosphere in Namjoon ’s office is tense. On second thought, Jungkook  supposes it’s not limited to the office. The brief walks from the front lobby to the elevator and the elevator to the office managed to accrue more stares and gasps than Jungkook  wished. He feels like some kind of traitor. Even Air, who Jungkook  grew to think of as a supportive mentor, doesn’t smile. Jungkook ’s knee bounces in quiet anxiety.

Taehyung  enters the office next, and even though Jungkook ’s feelings are an overwhelming mix of guilt and confusion, he can’t help but feel relieved that he’s there.

“How are you doing?” Taehyung  asks, immediately sitting next to Jungkook . He runs a hand on the side of his head.

“I’m nervous,” Jungkook  replies honestly. “I feel like I’ve caused you a problem.”

“Don’t,” says Taehyung . “You are never my problem.”

“Just a bunny ?” Jungkook  jokes, smiling slightly.

Air coughs. “You both know I’m here, right?”

Namjoon  abruptly enters the room and sits at his desk. He looks frazzled. “You two really want to send me to an early grave.”

“We didn’t do anything wrong,” Taehyung  says first, taking Jungkook ’s hand.

“And since when have the media given a flying fuck about right and wrong?” Namjoon  retorts. “Tae, this is a bit bigger than you going out on a bender.”

“Why?” asks Jungkook .

“Because part of Taehyung ’s marketable image is that he’s single,” Air explains. “People can’t imagine being together with Taehyung  if he has a boyfriend.”

Taehyung  starts to say something that Jungkook  guesses begins with the phrase ‘Fuck that,’ but Namjoon  holds up a hand. “Let’s talk damage control. We need to stop the rumors immediately and give the media something else to focus on.”

“How?”

“Well, fortunately for you, we can’t fire you,” Namjoon  says to Jungkook . Jungkook  can’t tell if he means that sincerely or not. “It would only confirm that the rumors are true, and cast doubt on the integrity of SuperBright staff as a whole.”

“Then what?”

“We say it’s all a misunderstanding. Then we spread the word that Taehyung  is in a relationship with someone else, but we never confirm it. We tease a few photos with someone of our choice and let the tabloids take their course. Celebrities do it all the time.”

“Fuck that,” Taehyung  finally says. He squeezes Jungkook ’s hand tighter. “I’m not going to hide. I can’t do that to Jungkook .”

“I know this goes against your pre-conceived notions that I’m a selfish prick,” Namjoon  quips drily, rubbing his temples, “but I’m actually doing this to protect Jungkook .” Namjoon  takes out his phone. “‘Who’s trying to steal my husband?’” he reads, presumably from the Instagram feed that Jungkook  was too scared to look at that morning. “‘Poor Taehyung  must have been forced!’ ‘He must be a crazy stalker fan who got a job as his manager’ – oh, this one’s my personal favorite: ‘Find out where the bastard lives – he needs to learn that he can’t mess with #TeamTaehyungsWives.’ Namjoon  looks up and deadpan tosses his phone on the desk.

“You’ve made your point,” says Jungkook  quietly.

“I really don’t think I have,” Namjoon  replies. “Let me be clear: you two know how aggressive fans and the press were when Taehyung  was single. Now, imagine that times a thousand. The only things the media loves more than celebrity relationships are ones that try to be low-key. You two would become a mystery that the public would want to solve, especially disgruntled fans. You’d never be able to do anything in public. And Jungkook , no offense, but you are a newbie in this industry. You don’t have the training or understanding of public relations. They would eat you alive – some quite literally,” he adds, pointing to his phone.