Blue Eyes (BTS Namjoon X OC)

19 - First Proceedings

Eunmi's POV:

Today is the day. And I'm terrified. Here I am standing outside the courthouse about to go in, and finally, for the first time we're actually doing something about Mr Kwan. Up until today it didn't feel real but now that I'm here it's hit me hard. I half want to turn back, but I know that if I do I won't be able to do this again. I know that today is only the first of many but standing here in my stiff clothing it feels more like an ending. I mean what if something goes wrong, and by some freak turn about we loose the case. I'm the one who eventually took it to court, so I'd be the one responsible for the resulting explosion. A warm hand suddenly come to rest on my shoulder, I flinch, stiffening at the unexpected contact.

"Hey, you'll be fine. There's no way that we can loose. He won't be able to hurt anyone after this." I relax slightly at the sound of Joon's calming words.

"Thank you. You've helped so much, I couldn't have done this without you."

"It's the least the that we could do. I only wish that we could stay longer. I feel bad leaving after only one day."

His words remind me other the other thing adding to my stress. Tonight BTS would be leaving the country for a concert, I would no longer be able to hide in their protection, I wouldn't have their distraction. After five weeks of living with them I would be moving out to the hotel where the rest of Refract were staying. I would be moving the target on my back to where it could hurt them.

Taking a deep breath I start walking, it's time to start. It's time for this to end. As we enter the room I put on my stage face. I'm in the spotlight, I can't be weak, I can't show my nerves, I must be perfect. The things that he had drilled into me for years with punishment and pain, the things that I had hated so much, they kick in instantly. A mask falls into place and for perhaps the first time I'm grateful for what he put me though. Because now the mask is perfect, it won't crack. I can use it against him, to be strong, to finally bring him down.

I take my seat and have to remind myself to keep breathing, sitting no more that a few meters away is the man that caused everything. The judge enters and calls for order, the silence that the room falls into is suffocating, the very air seems thick and heavy. I'm thankful for the judge's dull words when she starts to speak, at least it's something. However that relief is one soon lost when she calls forward the victims to give their statements. And naturally the name on the top of the list is my own. Steeling myself, I rise to my feet. Walking through the room to the stand I notice how protected I was sitting among the others, now I feel stripped bare, naked and vulnerable. Thankfully the journey is only a short one and I am granted the meager shelter of the wooden desk. With a deep breath I ready myself to begin.

"State your name for the court." Her command is simple enough but I can feel my hands shake as I answer it.

"Go Eunmi." My training pays off and my voice stays steady.

"You may now give your statement." This is it, if my mask fails me it will be now.

"Since I became a trainee at SARAN Ent. and continuing after debut food has been restricted to the point where I have collapsed on more than one occasion, this applies not just to me and Refract but to the other idols at the company to. On top of this we are also overworked." I stick to the facts, start with the small things, perhaps if I do it this way it won't be so hard.

"Continue."

"Roughly two months after I joined the company, there was a rehearsal that I was a backup dancer in. Mr Kwan was watching the practice, I tripped.No one else even noticed. Later I was cornered and threatened. He said that if I messed up at the performance I would be fired and that he would make sure that I wouldn't be able to get another job in the industry ever again. It was the first performance that I had ever been in. Over the time that I've been with SARAN these threats became regular and increasingly violent. I have had to go to the hospital on 10 separate occasions because of him. Other idols were also targeted. I, I think he picks favourites." That was my first falter, I could feel my mask beginning to slide. Before any more damage can be done I continue, trying to get it over with as soon as possible.