Episode 12: The Secret Tape
The morning after Seon's livestream, the dorm was unnaturally quiet. Phones were still buzzing, but no one wanted to look at them. Even Minho, usually the noisiest, was curled up with his head against a beanbag, scrolling in silence.
Seon, dressed in a hoodie two sizes too big, emerged from his room holding a mug.
"I'm going out," he said, voice calm.
Jaewon looked up, concerned. "Alone?"
Seon nodded. "I need air. And answers."
---
Flashback: Two Years Ago
A secret meeting. A backroom deal.
Ha-joon sat across from a low-level agency staff member, whispering as a small recorder blinked red between them.
"If I give you proof he's violating trainee conduct," Ha-joon said, "will you make sure I debut instead?"
The staff member smirked. "Depends on the proof."
"I have a recording. He kissed another boy. It's not just rumor. It's real."
The deal was struck.
But what Ha-joon didn't know — the staff member had made a copy.
---
Back in the present, Seon found himself standing outside that same staff member's apartment. Mr. Choi. Retired now. Out of the industry. Forgotten.
He rang the bell.
Choi opened the door, eyes widening. "I thought you'd come one day."
Seon blinked. "You knew I'd find out?"
"I knew it would find you. The truth has legs."
They sat down over tea.
Mr. Choi pulled out a dusty box. Inside, a USB. Labeled: 'Ha-joon 201X / Audio Evidence'.
"I kept it," he said. "Didn't know why. But maybe you'll use it better than I ever could."
Seon took it with trembling hands.
---
Back at the dorm, the others had gathered. Jaewon, Jun, Minho, even Seo-jin.
Seon plugged the USB into the dorm laptop. The file loaded. It played:
> "…I have a recording. He kissed another boy…"
"…I just want him gone. Let me debut. You won't regret it."
The room went ice cold.
Minho stood. "He set you up. Deliberately."
Seo-jin clenched her fists. "We can expose this. Finally."
Jaewon turned to Seon. "You okay?"
Seon looked down. "I don't feel vindicated. I feel… tired."
But then he looked up. "Let's finish this."
---
The agency meeting room, 24 hours later.
The six AX1 members entered together, a quiet army.
CEO Kim was already there, Ha-joon sitting beside him like a prince in waiting.
"Ah, the stormtroopers arrive," Ha-joon said smoothly.
Seon dropped the USB on the table.
"Play it," he said. "Now."
The assistant plugged it in. The audio played.
Silence. Then chaos.
Ha-joon jumped up. "That's fake! You're framing me!"
Kim didn't flinch. "Voice match confirms it's yours. From our own archives. You lied. You sabotaged a trainee."
Ha-joon froze.
"Your debut is canceled," Kim said. "Effective immediately. And you'll be answering to legal."
---
Outside, reporters swarmed the building.
Fans held signs: WE STAND WITH SEON
One even had: TRUTH IS LOUDER THAN LIES.
Seon stepped outside with Jaewon by his side.
The cameras clicked. Lights flashed. But this time, he didn't flinch.
Jaewon reached for his hand — and Seon let him.
---
That night, they sat on the roof. No words. Just starlight.
Seon whispered, "I'm scared this peace won't last."
Jaewon leaned against him. "Then let's make it count while it does."
---
Far away, in a dark room, a phone buzzed.
A voice on the line: "Seon survived. Time to activate Plan B."
Someone else answered: "Understood."
---
To be continued…