MIC Drop

"What's going on?" Seo-yeon demanded the too eager to please, Eun-ha.

Eun-ha had been intrigued when Yoongi had reached out to her. At first she thought that this was related to the photos and lawsuit being filed against Ae-cha. She had been in contact with him any time BigHit's lawyers needed to dive deeper into the contents of the drop box, and the journalist that Ae-cha had contacted. Although the information was based on fact, and they could not sue for defamation, they were pushing for infringement on privacy. Ae-cha had been forced to resign, and the journalist was the sacrificial lamb for their company.

Yoongi was the first person she had thought to reach out to when she discovered the file under Ae-cha's name. She knew that Jin and Seo-yeon were emotionally effected, and were not thinking clearly at the time. She didn't know the other members well enough to contact, and she was terrified of Bang PD. Yoongi was the only other person that sprang to her mind. They had shared a brief camaraderie moment and he was trustworthy, at least that was what she surmised from the way he had handled Jin and Seo's relationship.

He wasn't too please when she requested to meet with him.

"How'd you get my contact information?" he had demanded.

"I may have looked it up in our data base..."she murmured.

"In other words, you stole the information from your superiors?"

"I would never do something like this if it weren't important!" she impatiently sighed. She had forgotten how grumpy and unfriendly he could be. Why she felt he was her last hope, she was beginning to question her decision.

"Hurry up and say what you need to say before I hang up," he grumbled.

"I can't over the phone. Can we meet?"

It had taken a good ten minutes to persuade him that the information that she needed to share required a face to face meet. To her annoyance, he agreed with the deal that she would pay for his coffee. 'This guy makes more than I will ever make in a year, and he wants me to buy him coffee!'

They met at coffee shop that was located in a relatively unpopular area. Yoongi wasn't satisfied with the bland coffee, but given the situation, he let it go.

He slid into the booth across from her. He was clad in a black mask, and cap. He took off his sunglasses and squinted his eyes in annoyance at Eun-ha.

"Alright, I'm here. What was so important that we had to meet in such a secluded area?"

She ignored the urge to give a snooty comment. Instead, she slid an envelope full of documents towards him. He glanced down at it, then looked back at her face. He cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Are you filming a drama?"

"What?" she asked exasperated.

"The secretive meeting, the sketchy location, the envelope? It has all the elements of a crime drama," he mockingly said.

Her cheeks puffed in frustration which only made his grin widen. She normally would say something equally as irritating to him, but the situation didn't warrant this sort of back and forth behavior.

"If you don't take this seriously, it really will become a crime drama!" she snapped.

He raised his palms upwards in surrender. He leaned over and whispered, "There's nothing inappropriate in this, right?"

"No," she said through clenched teeth. He shrugged and opened the large envelope, and scanned the contents. She watched as his unfazed demeanor transformed into an instantly alert stance. He sat up and flipped through the other papers, eventually emptying the envelope to reveal a USB drive.

"What's in this?" he lifted the small object to get a closer inspection.

"Everything on those papers, plus more."

"Why didn't you contact BigHit, or at least Seo-yeon?"

She fidgeted in her seat, becoming uncomfortable under his intimidating stare.

"I wish to remain a hidden figure. I don't want word to get back to K-Magazine that I did this," she said so low that he had to lean over to hear her clearly. She glanced back at him and then clarified, "I don't think I'm wrong in doing this, but I know others won't trust me if they find out. I don't want to loose my job, but I don't want unnie to suffer either."

He continued to stare at her. He knew that the others would resent her to the point that no one would want to work with her. Eventually K-Magazine would create a reason to let her go. She was finally working as an assistant at the company thanks to Seo and it would be a shame to loose it all because of her loyalty to her friend.

"I knew that you would respect my wish, and work with me," she half smiled, "I also know that you care about Seo-yeon as much as I do."

He grinned at her, "I do. Not as you may be thinking, but none the less, I don't want Jin and Seo's perpetrator to get away with this."

"So you'll help?"

"Of course," he vowed.

They had been in contact ever since then. Each time he called it was all business. He never steered from the purpose of the call, and she didn't try to move outside that relationship. His sudden phone call, and request had taken her back. Given how he had kept her identity a secret, she was more than willing to repay him back. However, when he informed her that the task consisted of keeping Seo-yeon company at her apartment, he didn't really need to say more.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Unnie," she flopped herself on the couch, and turned on the tv. She had strict instructions to not mention the press conference. Yoongi and Jin didn't want Seo to know for fear she'd attempt to stop it.

"It's enough that Taehyung did everything in his power to keep me distracted, and then Yoongi was very curt with his answers to my questions. Hoseok couldn't even meet my eyes. And now you happen to be here. Another decoy."

"I'm offended!" Eun-ha dramatically placed her hand over her chest in shock. "I haven't seen you since the tour began, and I just wanted to see you before it begins again, and you're taken away."

Seo-yeon wasn't buying her excuse, "Who told you to come over? Jin?"

"I don't-"

"Eun-ha! You never lie to me, so don't start."

"Fine!" she whined. "Yoongi is going to kill me."

"Yoongi?" Seo-yeon shook her head. "I have so many questions. When did you two become so close? Why did you all set me up? Where's Jin?"

Eun-ha patted her friends knee in reassurance. She hated lying to her even if it was for her own good. She wasn't sure what Jin would be saying at the conference, but she could completely understand why it was wise to keep Seo far away from the event. What if someone recognized her? The picture of her had been blurred, but that was a risk no one was willing to take.

Deciding to distract her with how she and Yoongi began talking. She recounted the entire story. The distraction worked. Seo-yeon found the interaction hilarious.

"You're the only person I know brave enough to challenge the infamous Min Yoongi. I appreciate what you did for us," she clasped her hands tightly. "And he may seem unapproachable, but he's a wonderful friend."

"We share the same purpose, Unnie. We're simply allies fighting to protect our friends." Eun-ha crossed her arms, refusing to accept Yoongi as her friend. All they ever do is bicker, or talk business. He had a way of annoying her, and she him.

[Television] "BTS will take the stage in a panel conference. Originally, Kim Seok-jin was to make a statement alone, but it was decided that the members would accompany him." The announcer shared with viewers.

Seo-yeon gasped as Jin and the other members walked into the room. Cameras began to flash, and the clamor of the press rose as they did their greeting. All, but Jin took a seat. He bowed one more time, before standing tall. He held a microphone close to his mouth and began to speak.

The room grew still. Seo held her breath.

"Thank you for coming today. I am Kim Seok-jin of BTS, and given the inquiring questions regarding my current dating status, I, along with my team, decided to address the topic at hand."

To others he seemed cool, calm and collected. Seo-yeon could see the anxiety in his eyes. She caught the little breath he took before continuing.

"The pictures were not fabricated. I could have had my public relations team make a statement in my place, but I felt ARMY deserved an explanation straight from the source." He stared into the camera, "I have been in a relationship with a non-celebrity woman for the past few months. I will apologize for the hurt fans may feel with this news, but I could not lie to you when it was clear that the man in those pictures was indeed I. All I can ask for is privacy. I will continue to perform for ARMY, and love them to the full extent I have been for the past years."

He bowed in promise to the fans that were watching all over. The room began to buzz with this new revelation. The press began to fling questions towards him.

"How long have you known each other?"

"What do you think of the fans that feel you should quit BTS?"

Manager Sejin stepped forward and spoke over the press. "At this time, the group will join Jin in answering a few questions."

"How do the rest of you feel about this?"

Namjoon answered in a proud voice, "I speak for all of us when I say we fully support Jin's relationship. Jin's dedication to the group and ARMY has never wavered. If anything, he has worked even harder the past few months. Regardless of what others may think, she has never interfered in our business, nor attempted to stop Jin from tours, interviews, or anything else that would take him away from South Korea. She's his biggest supporter."

The other members nodded in agreement, recalling each time Seo-yeon encouraged Jin to continue the tour, or coming close to ending their relationship in fear of causing a scandal. She always placed his career first, and her heart last.

"Some fans are demanding that Jin be removed from the group. It's common that idols become less desirable when they are in a relationship. Will you step down?"

Yoongi spoke in a firm, and serious tone, "Jin is not going anywhere. I know that there are fans that may feel this way, and will petition to have him removed, but there is no BTS without Jin. ARMY are kind, understanding, and will support him as much as we do. I place this trust in them."

"Jin, are you revealing this news due to a pregnancy, or marriage?"

The room became an uproar at the scandalous question. This was a question that everyone was curious about but hadn't found a moment to ask. The question rendered the members speechless.

Seo-yeon blushed from her seat on the couch. She could not believe how vicious the media could be. Eun-ha glanced at Seo, who shook her head as if answering the woman's questioning eyes.

"I can assure you that there will not be a pregnancy scandal that follows," Jin blushingly stated. He faced the camera and declared, "I do see her in my future, and if she would have me, I would love nothing more than to take the next step as husband and wife."

The crowd filled with numerous questions. The other members broke out in grins at the sudden proposal he had made. They had not expected this announcement, and were as excited about this as the media was.

Seo-yeon stared in a daze at the man she loved on the screen. His declaration of love for her, and his sudden proposal. Eun-ha squealed from her seat.

"Unnie, fans on Weverse are blowing up the site! They're congratulating you two!" Eun-ha happily said. She chose to not mention the few hateful comments as she knew Big Hit would handle those. Besides, the majority were in support.

Seo didn't hear her. She could only hear the sound of her heart. She could only see Jin staring back at her on the screen. She could only feel the mixture of emotions flowing through her. Nothing else seemed to register to her, but the huge life decision she must make.