Eunjae didn’t hear anything more. A video looped on the screen, identical to the eight seconds of footage that Eric had shown him before. Here he was at the wedding, reaching for Jiyeon’s hand. But that was only the first eight seconds; the rest of the video focused on the elastic band glimpsed just under the cuff of his suit jacket, faded black, printed with flowers that used to be red. They’d spliced in a few clips of Emma Han wearing the same hair tie on her wrist, presenting posts from 2023, 2022, 2021.
He might have taken it better if Prism had stopped there. They didn’t. Below the embedded video were still shots of Jiyeon and Arthur on set, and a picture of them exiting the arrivals terminal at LAX. Eunjae knew who to thank for that one. Seeing nothing but bright, blazing red, he blew through the comments.
>> guys, emma went to that wedding w her EX BF
>> literally it’s a pic of them leaving the airport together
>> omg no wonder ari’s been so sad!!!!
>> this bitch flirted with him at the wedding but went home with another guy
>> She broke Ari’s heart
>> I’m not even a fan but that’s outrageous
>> did u see that ari’s mom unfollowed her on instagram?? bet this is why!
>> EMERALD OUR BOYS NEED HELP
>> THEY HAVE THE SHITTIEST TASTE IN WOMEN
Eunjae made himself read these words again and again. But that was Jiyeon's warm hand on his cheek, calling him back. Calling him home.
“Eunjae,” she said, softly. “This went up about twenty minutes ago. Emerald will respond for you, right? I know it's not even 4:00 in the morning there, but it won't be long before they see it. I can tell Colette to deny the claims. That way both sides are saying the same thing. Should I have her wait for the agency, though?”
Colette was her agent. She was asking him when to issue an official denial. His response was automatic, instinctual. “I don't want to deny it,” Eunjae told her. “Not the part about you and me.”
She lowered her hand, surprised. “We’re done hiding?”
Jiyeon’s level of surprise was nothing compared to his own; there was a part of Eunjae who couldn’t believe he’d reached this point. “If it’s okay with you. I know I’m asking a lot.”
It had never been normal, for them. That was something Eunjae had failed to give her, although he’d tried, and this would put any notion of normal well beyond their reach. They might regret it. If she didn’t want to, if she wanted to keep things as they were—
“Okay,” said Jiyeon. “Let’s do it.”
“Are you sure?”
Her smile was the sunrise. “I’m sure.”
Brothers went off, their reactions as explosive as fireworks. Again, he heard none of it. Eunjae went straight to the camera roll on his phone. He knew exactly which pictures he wanted to post.
They'd both been hoping for the right timing. But even though they'd lost the ability to decide when, it wasn't too lateto decide how. They could overwrite Prism’s version of the story with something better. Something good.
“You don’t have to post,” Trevor informed him. “A denial from Emerald should be enough to bury it, and then you just need write a standard apology. ‘Sorry for causing concern.’ You know how it goes.”
He didn’t even look up. “I won’t apologize. Not for this.”
“We’ll be fine, Trevor.” Jiyeon pushed a Wanna Waffle loyalty card across the table. “Come back sometime. We’ll save a spot for you.”
“That… sounded kind of scary…”
“Uh-huh.”
“Don’t talk to her.”
“She was talking to me—”
“And you’re grateful.”
