An Idol's Scandal

Chapter 3: Can't perform.

"WTF? They actually went on a date?"

"No way!"

"Yes way! I've been waiting for this, they're worthy for each other. Thank you Dispatch so so much!"

"Our Mochi Sunoo with that kind of person? She doesn't deserve that! She's not even pretty nor is her group popular like DOUBLE or REDfabric."

"I know right?! And to put it on top, JMH is not even that great of a company. I heard it was still in debt before the scandal happened and that it had abandoned many contracts with male trainees. Seems like the CEO only prefer girls, heh."

"Not only is she is a scumbag, but her company is also a scumbag!"

When Dispatch updated news confirming that Sunoo and Sooyoung's dating scandal was real, netizens went for real chaos. Thousands of copies of magazines updating their scandal were sold out under minutes and for the first time, Dispatch was received an overloaded amount of emails and comments. 

Fandoms of both bands had tried to bash into the security and enter their apartment. Fans were storms and thunder in the eyes of both BigHit and JMH. Even though the stock price of BigHit had returned to its original peak, the well-being of DXD and some of the staff members was threatened. Ong Jungwon was left in contemplation, and his fatigue was recognized by the DXD members. Subsequently, Sunoo was left in a desperate situation as he witnessed the struggle of his brothers and friends. Contempt grew larger in Sunoo along with the blame he put on himself.

"One more time please."

"Sunoo, this is the tenth time you've asked us. Take some rest, you've been challenging your health conditions." The staff member of BigHit complained.

"But we're going to have a concert soon, and I just want to perfect it. Just one more than I'll go home." Sunoo smiled apologetically as if deliberately using his eye smile to convince her.

"Your performance is already at its absolute best, Sunoo, and it's amazing as it should be. But," the middle-aged lady sighed. "After this time, promise me you'll go home."

"Thank you!" Sunoo squealed and jumped up to hug the staff member. He rushed to the laptop, played the list of tracks, and rehearsed all over again.

"Look at you, you're 24 and you still act like a kid. How did Sooyoung even tolerate you?"

The 2 days after.

Sunoo opened eyes and white was the first thing he saw. The lights on the ceiling was painful to him and he squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again. He attempted to sit up but his muscles did not listen to his command.

Sunoo looked to his sides. White mattress, white sheets, and Sooyoung sleeping in a sitting position with arms cushioning her head on the bed he was lying on. At his angle, he saw Sooyoung's bare face and took a glimpse of her clothing. She was in her pajamas, which consisted of her baggy sweatpants, a cheap oversized T-shirt, flip-flops, and his jacket.

"Why do you like to stir me up?" Sunoo mumbled to himself.

Fifteen minutes after he finally take in what had just happened, a doctor came in the room, followed by the other DXD members. He informed Sunoo about his state. The sight in front made them stopped in their track for a while before continuing with what they were supposed to be doing. Se Hwan approached his bed, carefully avoided waking Sooyoung up, and helped lifted Sunoo up to lean on the bed head.

"Sunoo, I'm afraid I have bad news." Said the doctor.

Sunoo nodded cautiously. His eyes darkened at the doctor's words.

"Don't worry, your health is in perfect condition, you just need rest properly. However, the stress that you've been going through have strained your voice. You'll have to avoid exercising your voice, talking even."

Seungkwan stared at Sunoo having a hard time admitting the truth.

"As a singer, it's hard for you and I understand that. However, you just collapsed while practicing, you'd have to at least give yourself 2 weeks to recover."

"But we're flying in 4 days and performing on the week after. The concert's in 11 days. Two weeks are too slow."

"Sadly, you'll have to remember that you are a singer. If you strain your voice within these two weeks, you're going to lose your voice, most likely forever."

Sunoo breathes heavily. His hands brushed his hair backward, gripped onto the strands and moved to rub his neck.

"I can't do this to the fans. They're out there, the situation's bad enough, I can't just quit the concert. They'll know that I'm in distress, they'll be suspicious, fans are waiting for me, they've been paying for DXD concert to see all of us, I can't just drag the entire team down." The more he talked, the more he coughed. When he managed to finish his last sentence, Sunoo was already curling up, a palm covering his throat.

"Sunoo, calm down." Said Hanbin. Sunoo nodded and steadied his breathe.

Se Hwan rubbed Sunoo's back and was replied with a grateful but tired smile from Sunoo.

"You should stay with Sooyoung when the time comes. She's been staying up at night to watch over you. She's worried about you." Said Seungkwan.

Sunoo spat: "And not her fame?"

"Sunoo." Yoonsu warned the patient.

"I don't wanna stay here. I want to go to the concert. I need to." Sunoo's stern eyes made Minho sighed.

"It's fine. We won't leave you in Seoul when the concert happens."

Yoonsu looked at Minho in disbelief, but his confusion died down when Minho gave him a reassuring look.

"Let's say there's a miracle, then, we should give it a try. After all, I'd rather if we're a complete team than leaving a member behind anyway." Sunoo's eyes brightened up at Minho's explanation before Minho added: "But! If on the day of the concert your throat doesn't recover, you're not allowed to sing, only dance."

"Alright, alright. Keep it down, everyone. Sooyoung's asleep." Said Minjun.

Little did everyone knew, Sooyoung was already awakened since Sunoo was awake.

Four days before DXD fly to China were like a downpour. 

UOI and JMH were hectic with cleaning up the mess created by the fandoms, at the same time, preparing for Diversi5's comeback and DXD's concert. Diversi5, even though was more reassured when their popularity rose, was facing problems within their own band and with Kim Heungmin. 

On one of the four days, Diversi5's third teaser was released. Coincidentally, Sooyoung also disappeared on that day and was spotted in China along with a male UOI staff member by fans. This triggered Diversi5's fans along with those of DXD. Within those days, JMH and Diversi5 had to confront criticism from fans, which questioned the JMH's management over its idols and Sooyoung's attitude toward her job and her love for Sunoo. 

DXD, on the other hand, was busy with rehearsals, commercials, and planning their upcoming album. Their packed schedule enabled them to forget the scandal and focus on the things they enjoy doing the most. Still, Sunoo was an exception. He was infuriated when he heard Sooyoung fled to China.

It was raining on the last night before DXD fly to China for their concert. Sunoo came home without an umbrella. He was under the weather, and his mood worsened when he was greeted by Sooyoung after her flight to China.

"Sunoo-sunbaenim, you've ran under the rain again." Sooyoung stood up from the sofa and approached him with a towel. Sunoo grabbed it and dried himself before throwing it onto the sofa.

"Has your voice gotten better?"

Sunoo ignored her.

"Sunoo-sunbaenim, I've made dinner, do you want to-"

"Drop the act. Stop it. I don't need it." He hissed. Sunoo glared at her, thin red strings crawled from the corners of his eyes. Then he laughed.

"You've been... giving me a lot of surprises. A lot." Sunoo smirked, glancing around the room and then to Sooyoung. "I don't know you, I barely know  you. And all of a sudden, you appeared out of nowhere. Wearing... no wait, stealing my necklace, showing it to the whole world!"

Sooyoung's lips trembled. Her eyes traveled to the floor, flickering here and there, anywhere but the rage in Sunoo's eyes.

"We're dating now. You've had your fame. And yet..." Sunoo inhaled sharply, clenching his impulse to scream his head off. Then, he whispered, loud enough for both of them to hear: "You had to go to China. With another man."

Sooyoung subconsciously moved back a few steps. Seeing this, Sunoo thought it was pathetic. All of this was her doing, why is she afraid of him? Shouldn't he be the one scared of her?

"If men are what you want, then so be it. After this drama ends, get out of my sight." Sunoo growled lowly before he brushed past her and proceeded to his room.

Sooyoung wiped her tears away, before comforting herself: "Well, it's not the first time this happened."

She entered the kitchen and looked at all the dishes displayed on the dining table. She wrapped Sunoo's portion of the food she cooked with the wrapping film, saved it in the fridge for tomorrow, and ate her potion alone.

Bzz. Bzz. Bzz. Sooyoung's phone vibrated. It was her boss, Kim Heungmin. Sooyoung tensed at the sight of his name, and still, she picked the phone up.

"Sooyoung, I need to have a word with you."

"Al-Alright."