still you | baekyeon

Chapter 37

As the room filled with a mix of concern and curiosity, all eyes turned to Taeyeon, who felt a flutter of nervousness deep within. Sunny's serious demeanor intensified the tension in the air, prompting an exchange of uncertain glances.

"I'm feeling nervous for some reason," Taeyeon whispered, trying to lighten the atmosphere with a hint of humor. "Are you two dating or something?"

Sunny rolled her eyes playfully, responding, "Oh, come on. Don't think for a second we're stealing Baekhyun away from you. He's all yours." Her remark elicited laughter from the rest of the girls present in the room, lightening the mood.

However, Sunny's tone quickly shifted back to seriousness as she continued, "On a more serious note, we have something important to discuss, Taeyeon."

The room was filled with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension as all eyes remained fixed on Taeyeon, who could sense that whatever news was about to be shared was of significant importance. An air of suspense enveloped the space, causing her to tense up involuntarily.

"Why do I have a feeling that whatever you're about to say is making me nervous?" Taeyeon mumbled, her gaze darting between Sunny and Baekhyun, her mind racing to decipher the impending news.

"Believe me, we're not here to make you nervous," Baekhyun reassured her gently, his hand seeking hers and offering a reassuring squeeze.

With a composed demeanor, Sunny took a deep breath before continuing, "Taeyeon, the court proceedings regarding the incident... they've concluded."

Sitting on the chair beside her, Baekhyun took a deep breath before broaching the sensitive topic. "I wanted to talk to you about... those two men, the ones who tried to... harm you."

She looked at him, her expression a mix of apprehension and curiosity. "What about them?" Her voice quivered slightly, revealing the underlying nervousness she was experiencing. Baekhyun reached for her hand, a comforting gesture she didn't shy away from.

"We've made progress," he began, carefully choosing his words. "Two days ago, I was summoned by Boss Lee Soo Man to provide a testimonial statement in court. It was important because I was the only witness to the incident. And, well, the court has reached a verdict. The jury found them guilty."

She gasped softly, her grip on his hand tightening. "Guilty of what?"

Baekhyun averted his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. "Attempted assault and... attempted rape," he admitted, his voice heavy with the weight of the truth.

Her reaction was immediate; she pressed her other hand to her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears. Overwhelmed, she began to sob, her body trembling with emotion. Without hesitation, he rose from his seat and gathered her in his arms, offering her the comfort of his embrace.

As Taeyeon sobbed into his shoulder, her fellow Girls' Generation members took the opportunity to explain further. Sooyoung and Sunny, with compassion in their voices, shared the details they had withheld from her during her recovery. They revealed the extent of the news coverage and the precautions that had been taken to shield her from the harsh reality.

Amidst her sobs, Baekhyun continued to reassure her. "It's alright now, Taeyeon. We've taken steps to ensure that justice is served. Those men will regret their actions, and they'll be held accountable."

Baekhyun's comforting words seemed to provide some solace, his hand gently rubbing her back as he held her close. "You don't need to carry this burden alone. We're here for you, supporting you every step of the way."

"But there's more," Baekhyun interjected, exchanging a meaningful look with Sunny. "We wanted to let you know that the suspects will be brought in to apologize to you before their sentencing."