Can I help you?

Chapter 79

About a few weeks in those last 3 months on touristvisa, there is a dispatch article. "BTS members secretly dating?" and some more articles. "International ARMY's rejoice, they have hope now." "BTS loses top chart position." "Many fans apparently only stanning for the offchange of dating their bias." RM throws his phone on the table and leans on his elbows, holding his head. Emma softly holds his shoulders. "How did this leak? We can't deny it cause it is true. And I refuse to lie to our fans. They will find out eventually because I am not giving up on you." He holds Emma's hand. "And if we would come clean in a few years, they will call us liars." Emma sees the CEO calling on RM's phone. RM just stares at it. "You should take it." "I'm scared." "I know, Joonie, but you'll have to face it eventually." RM stares at the phone a few more moments and the moment he grabs it, it stopped. Emma sighs. She is afraid too. Sarah looks around the corner and balls her fists. She storms out, but Jhope follows her.

Sarah is ringing the doorbell at the gate of a mansion. "OPEN UP I KNOW YOU ARE HOME!" She is shouting. The gate opens and Ji Hoon comes out. She bangs her fists on his chest. "WHY DID YOU DO IT?" He takes in the hits and holds Sarah at her shoulders. "I'm no sure what this is about, but I have a vague suspicion what it could be. This is about the media, right?" "YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW!" Sarah is crying now. "I know this might sound like an excuse, but technically I didn't go to the media." Sarah calms down and he coughs. "I am still broken hearted from you. Do you know what hell I've been through these past weeks? So I had a few drinks with my friends, who decided to interfere with my depression. I might or might not have told them when I was slightly drunk..." He scratches his head. "I'm really sorry about it... I didn't know they were this indiscrete..." Sarah stares at him with her big eyes. "I believe you. But you are still an accomplice." "I know. If I can make up for it somehow, I got a plan if you like. You can use me." Sarah looks at him. "What do you mean?" His arms slide down towards her hands and he holds them. "You could date me again, and we can make it official. That way the rumour will be shushed." Sarah stands there, his eyes are looking at her, she can see he feels guilty and she can still see the love in his eyes. "I still love you Sarah... Please...Can't you grow to love me, for real this time? I'll do anything. I'll have singing lessons, rapping lessons, produce music... if that is the thing you want." Sarah blinks her eyes, breaking his handsome spell over her.

"You can never be him... No. I refuse. I love Hoseok so much." she gently pulls her hands out of his. "Thanks for being honest to me. I...We will see what we can do about it ourself." Sarah turns her head and then her body that follows and she walks off. But she suddenly stops.

~Jhope sees Ji Hoon come out. He sees how Sarah falls in his chest. He can hear her crying and screaming at him. He sees how Ji Hoon tenderly holds her, and inside he is fuming. Is she still going to him? Fine... He turns away to walk off.

He can't help but to come back. He gets closer, ready to take her with him. He sees how Ji Hoon is holding hands with her and how they exchange a tender gaze at each other. He walks closer and hears her say "You can never be him... No I refuse. I love Hoseok so much." And how she pushes Ji Hoon's hands away and turns around. ~

As she walks off, she suddenly sees Jhope in front of her in the street. Ji Hoon sees it too, and sees how Sarah is running off to Jhope. Sarah jumps into Jhope's arms. "We'll get through this together." Jhope happily encloses her in his arms. Somehow it feels as if he has found her back after a while. Thank you...Sarah... He looks at Ji Hoon and their eyes meet. Jhope just gently smiles at Ji Hoon, and Ji Hoon can feel no hostility. More like a friendly gaze. He is shocked at the courtesy Jhope shows towards him. Ji Hoon smiles. I lost. I give up. Take good care of her. Jhope smiles wide and nods to Ji Hoon. Ji Hoon closes the gate.

She is walking, hand in hand with Jhope. They are not wearing masks or anything. They decided to not hide anymore. People snap pictures and more. They are the talk in every paper, website and restaurants. Both wearing the biggest smiles they possibly can wear.

They get called into the office. The CEO turns around in his chair and faces the couple. "We meet again, Ms. Sarah. After you handed in your resignation, you disappeared. We were very disappointed at your behaviour. Not professional at all, and not only that, you decided to start dating a member against our consent... What do you want me to do now?" He turns to Jhope now. "BTS is losing popularity. The PR department their phones are ringing non stop. We gave you freedom" Jhope's stomach squeezes and turns to ice. He hates me now... He'll withdraw all privileges. "But this is just too much for us to handle. We'll do our best to help you two." He smiles at the 2 most confused faces. "We put in the clausule not to be the devil. We put it in to protect you. From Sassaeng. I am sure you guys know what you want to do most with your lives. If making music is your passion, then go ahead and do it under my company. If you want to love on the side of that, then that is completely your area. If you lose fans because of it, it will mean less revenue for us, but we have earned so much already, and now we have many other groups too. If they choose to not be a fan anymore, they are no real fans of your music. But of you as a person. We don't need customers like that, because those are the kinds that tend to be the most negative online whenever someone does something wrong." Sarah and Jhope's face lights up. "So go ahead. I'll make an official press release. You guys made me this big, the least I can do is to let you guys live your life as you want it to." He starts to write down something, signing the conversation is over. They stay. The CEO looks up. "Anything else?" He puts the pen down and looks at the couple. "We aren't the only ones..." The CEO smiles amused and puts his hands together while leaning in his chair. "Okay, hit me." "Namjoon, Yoongi and Taehyung are also dating." The CEO draws a big breath between his teeth and leans forward again. He gets up and is pacing in his office, stands still and looks over the fantastic view he has from his windows. He is quiet for a long while. Jhope and Sarah grow fearful again.

Eventually he turns around and smiles, holding both hands up. "I guess I am tied here. BTS is probably doomed... Let's see what TXT is doing." He sits down and doesn't look at the two. They feel horrible. Suddenly he looks up with a smile. "We'll see. BTS might have more fans that are loyal to your music than you think. Now go before I die of high blood pressure." He grins at his joke. Sarah and Jhope are outside his door. They take in a deep breath and looks at each other. They jump in each other's arms. Sarah is crying. "We truly have the best company of them all." Jhope kisses her hair as he hides Sarah's crying face in his shoulder.

They come home, with 3 cakes and 4 bottles of Champagne. "What is the celebration for, hyung?" RM asks. Jhope shouts and calls everyone down. "TONIGHT WE FEAST!" "BUT WHY?" RM shouts, very confused about the sudden celebration. They all storm downstairs "What is happening?" "Where is the party?" "Wow what a feast!" Jimin looks at all the pies. Suga looks at all the champagne. Sarah puts on some Ego. "We had a talk with the CEO." Everyone their faces is even more confused. Emma almost faints. "HE APPROVED OF US! OF US ALL!" Sarah and Jhope do a silly dance, going all out on Ego. "WHAT? OMGOMGOMG!" Emma now truly faints and JK catches her. Mary and V are hugging each other. Doenja grabs Suga and kisses him. RM jumps up in cheer, only to see Emma in JK's arms and is immediately concerned about her. Jin claps in his hands. Jimin is also cheering and dancing. "WE HAVE THE BEST COMPANY EVER!!!!!" Jimin jumps on the couch and JK smiles at seeing him bounce like that. Jimin slips and loses his balance. JK catches him bridal style. Jimin throws his arms around JK's neck and smiles. JK melts and kisses Jimin. The others are cheering now too at seeing them. "We didn't tell them about you guys tho... We will leave that to you." Sarah laughs while saying this. Jhope and Suga are opening the champagne bottles with loud pops and are laughing at the spilling of the champagne. They fill the glasses. When everyone has a glass, they raise it and cheer. "To our lives. May they be prosper, glorious and most of all happy!" "Here here!" They cling glasses and drink. They are partying the whole evening through.

BTS did lose a lot of fans, but more than enough to keep being popular. JK and Jimin came out and because of that they gained so many new fans from the LGBTQ. Big Hit offered a new contract to all 4 of the ladies. Mary is official a freelance writer for Big Hit and is preparing her debut as a singer under them.