Episode 18: The Whistle That Broke the Silence
The next morning, Seon woke to a phone vibrating endlessly beside his pillow.
It wasn't the lawsuit.
It wasn't a death threat.
It was something else.
"Check the news," Jaewon said, barging into the room, eyes wide with disbelief.
Seon blinked, still groggy.
But on every major news outlet, one headline echoed like a siren:
> 'Former Orion Staff Member Leaks Confidential Audio: "The System is Rigged"'
---
The Recording
It started simple.
> "I was in charge of internal damage control," the voice said. Modulated. Masked. "My job was to erase stories. Cover up trainee mistreatment. Fake evidence. Especially for male idols who were seen as too soft. Too... queer."
Seon's heart froze.
> "I handled the Han Seon file. I didn't want to. But I did. I have regrets."
---
The leak included:
Internal meetings discussing Seon's blacklist.
Fabrication files of the AI-generated messages used in the lawsuit.
Direct mentions of Director Yoo ordering the suppression of "anyone who can't be molded."
It was a corporate confession.
An unraveling.
---
Back at Orion
Director Yoo's PR team scrambled.
Press conferences were canceled. Social media went dark.
But the rot was too deep.
Journalists now had names, files, and full audio.
It was over.
The Seoul District Court issued an emergency injunction.
The lawsuit against Seon?
Dropped.
No — reversed.
An official investigation was now underway into Orion Entertainment for:
Labor abuse
Evidence tampering
Human rights violations
Seon stared at his reflection in the dorm mirror.
No longer hollow.
Just... real.
---
Flashback: The Kiss That Never Should've Happened
Two years ago.
Rain again.
Practice room. Empty.
Jaewon — seventeen. Seon — eighteen.
Tired. Afraid. Cracked wide open.
They had argued.
"Why won't you let me help you?" Jaewon had yelled.
"Because I'll drag you down!" Seon had shouted.
Silence.
Just breaths. Ragged. Shaky.
Jaewon stepped closer.
And kissed him.
Seon didn't move.
Didn't pull away.
But didn't kiss back.
"I'm sorry," Jaewon whispered. "I couldn't watch you disappear."
---
Present Day
They sat on the dorm balcony now.
Sharing headphones.
Listening to "Mute Heart."
Seon finally spoke.
"You kissed me once."
Jaewon froze.
Seon turned to him. "I didn't stop you. But I wasn't ready then."
A beat passed.
"And now?" Jaewon asked.
Seon exhaled slowly. "I don't know. But I'm not afraid to find out."
Jaewon smiled.
Not triumphant. Not desperate.
Just quiet. Like hope.
They didn't kiss again.
But maybe they would.
One day.
---
To be continued…