Starting of System trap
(The day of the press conference arrives. Fans expect an apology, a denial, an excuse. Instead…)
(Seungmin steps up to the mic, gripping it tightly. He takes a deep breath and looks directly at the camera.)
Seungmin
There’s no scandal. No secret. Just… the truth
(The room falls silent. The members tense. Even the company staff watching from the side seem frozen in shock.)
(Gasps fill the room. The staff scrambles to cut the broadcast, but it's too late. The internet explodes. The members exchange glances, and then—Leeknow does the unthinkable.)
(He steps beside Seungmin, reaches for his hand, and squeezes it in front of everyone.)
(There’s no turning back now. But looking at Seungmin’s determined gaze, Leeknow knows… he wouldn’t change a thing.)
(The press conference room is silent—except for the furious whispers of staff behind the cameras. Seungmin’s confession hangs in the air like a storm about to break.)
(Before Leeknow can react, the company representative steps forward, forcing a strained smile as he takes the mic.)
Company Rep: [laughs nervously] What a bold joke from our dear Seungmin! Always keeping things lively!
(The members tense. The audience stirs, some laughing awkwardly, others frowning in confusion. Seungmin clenches his fists. He knew they would try to cover it up, but hearing his truth reduced to a ‘joke’ makes something snap inside him.)
(Leeknow finally speaks, voice dangerously quiet.)
(The room erupts into chaos. Fans watching the live broadcast lose their minds. The internet is already on fire, hashtags trending worldwide. But inside the press conference, everything is unraveling fast.)
(The company execs rush toward the stage, whispering harsh warnings, but Seungmin doesn’t move. His grip on the mic tightens. He’s tired of running, tired of hiding. He looks at Leeknow, silently asking—)
(Leeknow meets his gaze, and for a split second, everything disappears. The noise, the cameras, the expectations. It’s just them.)
(And then... a sudden BANG! echoes through the room.)
(The back door bursts open. Security rushes in, surrounding the members. The staff’s voices rise in panic. But that’s not what makes Leeknow’s heart drop.)
(It’s the figure standing in the doorway—a masked sasaeng fan, trembling, holding something in their shaking hands.)
(A weapon.)
(Screams break out. Cameras are knocked over. The members are shoved back by security. But Leeknow barely registers the chaos—his eyes are locked on the masked figure. On the trembling hands gripping a knife.)
(The sasaeng’s voice is high-pitched, frantic.)
Sasaeng Fan: Liar! You’re lying! This isn’t real!
(They’re crying—tears falling behind the mask as they point the weapon toward Seungmin. Their voice is desperate, unhinged.)
Sasaeng Fan: He’s mine! You can’t take him!
(Time slows. Leeknow feels something dark coil in his chest—fear, rage, protectiveness all crashing into him at once.)
(And then, before anyone can react—)
The figure lunges
Straight at Seungmin)
(Leeknow doesn’t think. He moves on instinct, shoving Seungmin out of the way. A sharp pain shoots through him. The sound of gasps, shouts, running footsteps blur together. His vision slowly closes.)
(Someone tackles the sasaeng to the ground. Security drags them away, their screams fading. But Leeknow barely hears it.)
(Because all he sees is Seungmin kneeling beside him, hands shaking, eyes wide with horror.)
Seungmin
No—no, no, no—stay with me!
(Leeknow coughs, trying to keep his grip on reality. He forces a weak smile, reaching up to touch Seungmin’s face, wiping away a tear with his thumb.)
Leeknow
Hey… you’re crying. That’s rare.
(Seungmin lets out a broken laugh, but his hands press harder against Leeknow’s wound, trying to stop the bleeding.)
(The sirens are heard in the distance. The flashes of cameras never stopped. The world is still watching. But for them, in this moment—it doesn’t matter anymore.)
(Seungmin wakes up to the sound of a soft beeping. His neck aches from sleeping in an uncomfortable position, but the moment he opens his eyes, reality crashes down on him.)
(Leeknow is still unconscious, his breathing steady but shallow. The sight makes Seungmin’s chest tighten. His fingers, still intertwined with Leeknow’s, twitch as memories of the past few hours rush back.)
(The press conference. The confession. The attack. The blood.)
(He grips Leeknow’s hand tighter, voice barely above a whisper.)
Seungmin
You idiot… You should’ve let me get hurt instead
(A sudden noise startles him. He looks up and freezes when he sees the rest of the members standing at the doorway.)
(Bang Chan’s face is unreadable, his usual calm expression masking a storm underneath. Hyunjin’s eyes are red, as if he’s been crying. Felix looks relieved but also tense. Changbin looks pissed. The rest of them stand quietly, waiting for someone to speak.)
Hyunjin
What the hell were you two thinking?
Hyunjin
(Seungmin flinches. He expected this. He expected the anger, the frustration, the worry. But before he could answer...)
Changbin
Do you have any idea what kind of mess you’ve created?!
(His voice is sharp, but underneath it, there’s something else—fear. Worry. Seungmin swallows, unable to meet their eyes. He knows what they’re really asking.)
(Before he can answer, Leeknow stirs. A low groan escapes his lips, and Seungmin immediately turns back to him.)
(The room falls silent. A second later, Hyunjin lets out a half-laugh, half-sob. Felix sighs in relief. Even Changbin’s tense shoulders relax slightly. But the moment is short-lived, because Bang Chan steps forward, his voice serious.)
Bangchan
The company’s already making decisions without you
(Seungmin stiffens. Leeknow, still injured, slowly turns his head toward them.)
Leeknow
…What kind of decisions?
(Bang Chan hesitates before speaking.)
Bangchan
They’re considering putting you both on an indefinite hiatus
(Silence...)
(Seungmin’s heart drops. Leeknow’s eyes darken.)
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