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"Leo ! Are you- oh."
The bright morning sunlight of Monaco alights the condo so that the white walls are almost blinding, but Layla forces her sleepy eyes open as she frantically searches for her brother. Finish him as quickly as she did was unexpected.
"You're already awake ?" she stared at the tall man, who stood in the kitchen, his iPad in hand whilst the other nursed a large cup of something hot.
Regarding how his eyes are hyper-focused on the screen of his iPad, Layla realizes that he already knew. Approaching slowly in the oversized band-tee (that definitely wasn't hers) she wears, she circles around the counter to saddle up next to her twin bro.
And, to no one's surprises, the article is open, Leo's thumb scrolling as he skims through the comments.
isabam02 - "he smokes !? eww."
Despite it being false, Layla cringes at that one.
"Are you...okay ?"
As if only now realizing he wasn't alone, Leo hums in response as his gaze leaves the screen to meet his sisters. "What do you mean ?"
She furrows her brows. "The article ? I bet your manager already called. Did you explain to her ?"
Layla's worried expression immediately switches to shock when she sees her brother smile - a genuine, carefree, smile.
"Oh, she didn't even bother calling. She just texted me."
The shorter girl's wide gaze flips to Leo's phone on the counter, and after silently asking permission, Leo nods and Layla grabs the phone. Already knowing his password, she flips through his contacts until finding his manager's name, and opening the chat.
MANAGER JINA - message at 07:23
i know it's not real, so just handle it okay jae ? company already gave clearance.
Layla's jaw goes slack as she reads the short message.
"She...you....they..." Layla isn't unfamiliar with the world of media, with being a YouTuber and having her own manager, but things domg exactly work the same for her world, and the idol world.
If it were her, her manager definitely would've said the same thing Leo's did - but majority, if not all that she's been aware of, idols are never allowed handle it themselves. Maybe it's Leo's a grown man, or maybe it's because the allegation is just not concerning enough to the company because it is, indeed, false.
"Wow." Layla, having gotten over the shock, places her brother's phone back down and looks back up at him. "So how are you gonna handle it ?"
Finishing his coffee, he sets the mug in the dishwasher before returning to his spot beside Layla, and leans against the counter on his hands.
"Well, I asked the group-chat for suggestions," a short laugh leaves Layla's lips when she sees the eyeroll Leo does. "Most of it was unhelpful, but Jun did suggest I do it in a very casual way."
"Really ?"
He nods his head as he takes his phone. "He mentioned how the comments from fans were tied between not caring about the article at all or just not believing it."
Layla nods slowly as she follow his words. "So basically, whatever the person was trying to achieve by snapping those pictures of you, didn't quite succeed."
Right. Whoever snapped those pictures intended on tarnishing Leo's reputation with false allegations, and must've wanted his fans to turn against him. In the end, what actually happened was the complete opposite - some fans just didn't care if he smokes or not, deeming it none of their business, whilst others didn't see the problem with the habit, and stressing that Leo, is in fact, a grown man and can do what he wants.
Layla watches as Leo goes into his instagram.
"Leo, it's like, really early in the morning back in Korea."
Leo hums in response, "And I can assure you, 90% of the country are eagerly awaiting my response," he smiles at her, before startling the girl by pushing her out of the frame as he sets the phone up against a fruit bowl.
"You're in the frame, and you're wearing Woo's shirt."
Layla's face turns bright red in embarrassment; she silently walks to take a seat on the couch, scowling slightly when she feels the snarky smile her brother regards her with before greeting the fans on the live.
