Generations Expectation's | 8th member of BTS

61

Ae Cha's POV

Everything was perfect.

The kiss. His hands on me. My body was still trembling in the space between breaths. The night air was cool and heavy around us, the stars barely blinking through the tall trees above. For the first time in years, I let myself hope.

And then- 

FLASH.

A bright burst of light cracked through the dark like lightning. I blinked, my body stiffening instantly.

Jungkook pulled back just as suddenly, our hold parting, his eyes wide and alert like a deer caught in headlights. My heart, still racing from the kiss, now slammed against my ribs for a whole new reason.

No.

We both turned at the same time, bracing for the worst. But my mind was already racing, spiraling.
Oh God. Oh no. No, no, no—

I could already see it.

The headlines, blaring in bold across every gossip site and news app:
"BTS's Jungkook Caught Kissing Fellow Member in Private Wedding Getaway."
"Romance in BTS? Secret Relationship Exposed."
"Idol Scandal Erupts After Leaked Kiss Photo."

Panic spiked through me like ice in my veins. My breath caught in my throat, my chest tightening like a vice. My heart was no longer fluttering. It was pounding, wild, and erratic, like it was trying to burst free from my ribs.
I could see the photos being uploaded within seconds.
Clipped. Cropped. Zoomed in. Shared. Spun.

I could already imagine the thumbnails. The edits. The videos. The fansite threads dissect every frame.

"Is BTS Over?"

"Dating Rumors Confirmed."

"She was just a fame-chaser all along."

They'd drag us both, me harder. They always dragged the girls harder in the dating rumors.

I ruined everything.

I'd undone everything we worked for with one kiss. One moment. One selfish, beautiful second where I let myself want him back.
The fans. The company. The members. Would they forgive me? Would they understand?
I couldn't bear to imagine their reaction to them finding out. Jimin, oh, what would he think after he told me to stay away? 

My pulse pounded in my ears, blood rushing hot and dizzying. My hands had started to shake. I hadn't even noticed. My biggest fear, the one that had kept me silent for years, had just leapt out of the shadows.
But instead of a paparazzo or a screaming fan, there stood one of the wedding photographers.

A woman in a fitted black jumpsuit and a camera strapped around her neck. She looked completely oblivious, smiling brightly like she'd just stumbled on a good photo moment.
"Ah! So cute!" she gushed, bouncing slightly on her toes. "I just had to capture that moment! Y'all look great together!"

We didn't respond.

Still locked in place, Jungkook and I had started inching apart, the warmth of our bodies cooling far too fast. I didn't even realize I'd dropped his hand until I felt the night air between my fingers. The photographer blinked, suddenly catching on that we didn't expect to be interrupted at that moment. Her smile dimmed as she looked between our stunned, stricken faces.
"Oh... I'm so sorry." she said quickly, lifting a hand like she could wave away the tension. "The bride and groom wanted candid photos of all the guests. I was just out here for a smoke break and just saw you two out here.....The moment was perfect. I-I thought you'd love it." She started explaining, almost fumbling and manically trying to explain herself for why she was here.