❛ TWENTY ❜
───── THE WEIGHT OF LOVE AND JUDGMENT

"SEVENTEEN's Kim Mingyu and LAVELLE's Jaerim Caught on a Date — Relationship Exposed!"
"Fans React to Mingyu and Jaerim's Relationship: Betrayal or True Love?"

Jaerim sat in the living room of LAVELLE's dorm, her fingers clutching her phone tightly. The text messages came in waves, some kind, some full of vitriol. Her mind buzzed with conflicting emotions. She felt exposed, her personal life now under the microscope of the entire world. How could she possibly navigate this?

She glanced around at her members— HANA, LYN, JINSEO and YUE—who were all gathered around her, their faces drawn with concern. The air felt thick with uncertainty.

"Hana, I..." Jaerim started, but her words got stuck in her throat. How could she apologize for something so deeply personal? She hadn't planned for any of this. Her love for Mingyu had been real. But now? Now it felt like a mistake, a mistake that was hurting everyone.

"Don't apologize, Jaerim," Hana said, her voice firm but gentle. She sat down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. You deserve to love and be loved. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise."

Jaerim wanted to believe her, but the weight of the comments flooding in made it so hard. "She's ruining Mingyu's career." "She doesn't deserve him." "How could she do this to us?"

The words hurt more than she was ready to admit. But the pain wasn't just from the comments. It was from the realization that the world now knew her secret, and it wasn't just about her anymore. It was about how the world would perceive her, about how they saw Mingyu and her together.

Sitting in the cold conference room at her agency, Jaerim gripped her phone tightly, staring at the screen but not reading the messages flooding in. The CEO stood at the head of the table, his eyes sharp and stern as he spoke. "You do realize the gravity of this situation, right, Jaerim? Do you understand what you've done to your group's image? To the brand we've worked so hard to build?"

Her throat felt dry, and her heart pounded in her chest. She could barely find her voice. "I... I'm sorry if this hurt the group, but—"

"But it did," the CEO interrupted. "We're drafting a public apology. You'll clarify that you'll focus on your career and—"

"No." Her voice was small, but firm. She lifted her head, meeting the CEO's sharp gaze with her own. "I won't apologize for having feelings. I'll address the fans, but I won't pretend that my love for Mingyu is something shameful."

The silence in the room was deafening. Her manager, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "She's right, sir. If we force her to hide or apologize for her relationship, it'll only make things worse."

The CEO sighed deeply, running a hand through his graying hair. "Fine. But we'll handle this carefully. No impulsive moves."

Meanwhile, across the city, Mingyu stood in HYBE's office, surrounded by his managers and the company director. His hands were shoved into his pockets, and his gaze was downcast, his thoughts heavy.

"Mingyu, this isn't just about you. It's about SEVENTEEN. Do you understand the weight of this?"

Mingyu nodded, his expression serious. "I know. And I'm ready to face it. But I won't let Jaerim go through this alone."

The director stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "Then we'll release a joint statement. But Mingyu... prepare yourself. The backlash won't be easy."

🌷

Mingyu sat alone in SEVENTEEN's dorm, his phone screen dim with the notifications that flooded in. He ran a hand through his hair, the guilt clawing at him. Had he been selfish? Had he exposed Jaerim to this chaos for his own happiness?

The door to the living room opened, and Seungcheol stepped in, his expression unreadable. "Mingyu-ah, are you okay?"

Mingyu nodded, but the lie hung in the air. No, he wasn't okay. He couldn't be. Jaerim was out there, facing all of this alone, just like he had always been afraid of.

"I don't know how to make this better," Mingyu admitted softly, his voice tight with frustration. "I didn't want this. I didn't want her to face this... this mess."

Seungcheol sat beside him, his hand resting on Mingyu's shoulder. "Mingyu, you didn't cause this. The world just doesn't get it sometimes. But you're not alone. Jaerim isn't alone. You have each other."

But did they? The weight of it all felt suffocating. Jaerim wasn't just facing this alone. He was facing it with her, but how could they both handle the pressure that came with being exposed like this?

Jeonghan, ever the calming presence, smiled faintly. "You're brave, Mingyu. Not everyone would stand by their feelings like this."

Dino, trying to lighten the mood, grinned. "Hyung, next time, just don't get caught."

The laughter that followed broke some of the tension in the room, and Mingyu felt the weight on his shoulders lift slightly. Still, his thoughts remained with Jaerim. He knew the storm they were facing was just beginning.

Later that night, both agencies released their statements. It was a soft blow to the drama, but it didn't quell the fire.

"Kim Mingyu and Seo Jaerim are indeed in a relationship. We ask for your understanding and support as they continue to pursue their careers while maintaining their personal lives."

Jaerim couldn't help but feel numb as she stared at the screen. It was one thing for the agencies to issue a statement, but she wanted to speak directly to her fans, to give them a piece of her heart. She sat on her bed and took a deep breath before typing the message she hoped would reach them:

"To my fans, I'm sorry if this news hurt or disappointed you. I never wanted to let you down. But my feelings for Mingyu are sincere, and I hope you'll understand. Thank you for loving and supporting me through everything."

She stared at the message for a long time before hitting 'send,' her heart racing. Mingyu soo. reposted her message on his own social media, adding a simple, heartfelt caption: "Thank you for supporting us. We'll keep doing our best."

The weight of the world still pressed on their shoulders, but for the first time that day, Jaerim felt a small sense of peace. Mingyu's words, his unwavering support, gave her the strength to keep going.

The night felt longer than it should. Jaerim stared at her phone screen, her thumb hovering over the messages that flooded in, but she couldn't bring herself to open them. But the messages, the judgment, they were right here. She was no longer just Jaerim, the quiet girl from a small town. She was LAVELLE's Jaerim, the idol caught in the storm.

She had thought the worst of it would be the day the pictures had been taken. But now, the real weight came—the weight of what was being said about her. About them.

A soft knock at her door broke her from her thoughts. It was almost midnight, and she hadn't expected anyone. She was sure that her members were all asleep

"Jaerim?" Mingyu's voice, barely above a whisper, made her heart skip a beat. His voice was laced with concern, and in that moment, everything around her seemed to fall silent.

She stood up and rushed to the door, opening it just a crack. Mingyu's figure stood in the dim hallway, his silhouette familiar but out of place in the middle of the night. His eyes, tired but wide with worry, met hers. His expression softened as he looked at her, and he stepped forward without waiting for an invitation.

"I was worried," Mingyu said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "I couldn't stop thinking about you. Are you... are you okay?"

Jaerim swallowed hard. She had been holding it all in—everything from the weight of the headlines to the anxiety gnawing at her insides. But in that moment, standing face-to-face with him, she couldn't hold back anymore.

"Honestly, no. I'm not okay, Mingyu."

LEE'S NOTE . 💌
it's been ages since i last updated
this book as i kind of lost inspiration
for it, but i am finally back to it
and yes !! i will try to update
more .