Part 6: Love or Loyalty

Title: Debuting Into Love

The hand-touch during the duet went viral within minutes.

Fancams exploded. Edits flooded every platform. People started posting side-by-side screenshots of all their past moments—the glances, the notes, the small things that now made perfect sense.

“They’ve been in love this whole time.”

“Why does this feel like the most romantic K-drama I’ve ever seen?”

“I don’t care if it’s real. Let them be.”

“I support Eclipse, but if this is true, they’re being reckless.”

It was a storm—and BamBam and Yetao were right in the center of it.

Inside the Dorm: Heated Whispers

The other members of Eclipse noticed the shift. The energy. The way BamBam stayed quieter during meetings. The way Yetao smiled a little less when they were told where to stand.

It all came to a head during practice one night.

Jun, the leader, finally spoke what everyone was thinking.

“Is it true?” he asked. “Are you two… together?”

The room fell silent. No music. No movement. Just breath.

Yetao hesitated.

But BamBam didn’t.

“Yes,” he said calmly. “It’s real.”

Jun sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Then you have to be careful. We’re not against you—we’re worried. If this gets out officially, the group could suffer. You could suffer.”

“We’re already suffering,” Yetao said. “Hiding who we are. Pretending it’s not the best thing that’s ever happened to us.”

Jun looked torn. “I get it. I really do. But people aren’t ready.”

BamBam looked him in the eye. “Then we’ll help them get ready. One step at a time.”

The Turning Point: The Interview

Two weeks later, Eclipse was scheduled for a sit-down interview with a major entertainment network. It was supposed to be about the comeback, the group dynamics, their international success.

But of course, the host went there.

“So,” she said with a casual smile, “fans have noticed there’s a lot of… chemistry between BamBam and Yetao. Some are even speculating more. Care to comment?”

The room tensed. Managers behind the cameras exchanged worried glances. Staff leaned forward, waiting.

BamBam felt Yetao tense beside him. But instead of shutting it down, he spoke.

“There’s a lot of love in this group,” Yetao said carefully. “A lot of respect. Some of us connect deeply in ways that can’t always be explained.”

The host smiled, trying to press. “So… are you saying the rumors are true?”

BamBam answered, voice clear, calm, and steady.

“I’m saying love isn’t a scandal.”

The interview ended minutes later.

The silence backstage was deafening.

No one said anything—not the staff, not the members, not the managers. But BamBam and Yetao knew what they’d just done.

They hadn’t confirmed it outright.

But they hadn’t denied it either.

And that was everything.

Backlash

The next 24 hours were chaos.

News outlets ran headlines:

“BamBam and Yetao: Hidden Love?”

“‘Love Isn’t a Scandal’ — Idol Shocks Industry with Bold Statement.”

Some fans cheered. Others boycotted. A few sponsors paused deals. Messages poured in—supportive, hateful, confused, passionate.

Then came the internal meeting.

“We can’t protect you if you keep this up,” a manager said coldly.

“Then don’t,” BamBam replied. “We’ll protect ourselves.”

That Night: Breaking Point

On the rooftop, where everything had always felt safe, Yetao sat in silence.

“Are we selfish?” he whispered.

“No,” BamBam said, sitting beside him. “We’re brave. But bravery costs something.”

Yetao’s eyes were glassy. “Do you think we’ll lose everything?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

BamBam turned to him, brushing a thumb along his cheek.

“But I’d rather lose everything with you than have it all and be empty.”

Yetao leaned into him. “Then let’s fight. Even if it’s just the two of us.”

BamBam nodded. “No more hiding. No more fear. We’ve debuted to the world. Now let’s debut as ourselves.”

A Message to the Fans

Later that week, BamBam and Yetao sat side by side in a livestream. No PR. No script. Just them.

BamBam spoke first.

“To everyone who’s supported us—thank you. For the music. For the journey. For the love.”

Yetao continued, voice trembling but steady. “You’ve seen us on stage. But behind the choreography, behind the lights… we’re still human. We feel. We love.”

Then they said it.

Together.

“We’re in love. And we’re not sorry.”

The chat exploded.

Hearts. Tears. Applause. Hate. Confusion. But above all—

Truth.

Aftermath

The next few days were a blur.

Sponsors dropped. New ones reached out.

Fans left. New ones arrived—louder, fiercer, prouder.

The group held. The label panicked. The world watched.

But in the eye of the storm, BamBam and Yetao stood together—hands linked in the shadows and now, finally, in the light.