In a Split Second || BTS

Chapter 13

"The K-pop band called BTS whose fame has been spreading like wildfire across the world was recently involved in a fight in Lyon, France." Footage of the fight messily taken by a phone camera documents Yoongi's violent exchange with Auntie. Even from far away, the rage on his face is blatant. Auntie's shrieks and stammers are slightly muffled, but their presence makes her appear as an innocent victim. Beside me, Yoongi clenches his fists.

"The victim of the fight, Clara Bernard, claims that her former foster daughter was trying to hurt her child and she did what she could to defend her family. No word has been released from BigHit yet on the fight."

"What do we do?" Jungkook asks quietly, his alert eyes displaying his knowledge of the gravity of this situation.

"The only thing we ever do," Yoongi growls. "Take no responsibility and shove it under the damn rug until something good happens."

"That would hurt Cherisse."

"I know."

Namjoon's voice fades from the hallway, and his footsteps echo back into the living room, where we continue to stare grimly at the flickering television.

"Manager Jae-joon-nim isn't having it," he sighs, dropping his phone into his pocket. He drags a hand down his face and leans against the wall tiredly.

"What does he think we should do?" Jin asks.

"He wants to release a public statement claiming no responsibility for the fight and then wait until someone else's scandal pushes us out of the hot seat."

Jungkook bites his lip. "We can't wait that long, can we? We have another series of concerts in February."

"I-I don't see that there is anything else for us to do."

"Yes, there is!" Jimin says adamantly, jumping up from his seat. "We tell them the truth."

"And risk our reputation?"

"Whose side are you on, Namjoon?"

"Yah! You still have to show respect," Jin scolds.

"There are no sides, Jimin," Namjoon says patiently.

"Of course, there are sides - there is right and wrong! No matter what move we make, it will hurt us in some way and damage our reputation. The best thing we could do is tell the truth."

"But that would put Cherisse and her past in the spotlight."

"It doesn't matter," I murmur. All heads turn to me.

"Cherisse, we won't do anything you are not comfortable with," Namjoon assures me, taking Jimin's place beside me.

Tammy scoffs from the doorway. "This entire job is out of her comfort zone. Anything you do will hurt her."

I nod stiffly. "Right now, you all need to do what is best for the reputation and future of BTS. I would hate to see my past revealed, but I would hate it even more if BTS' reputation was ruined because of me."

"Exactly!" Tammy pauses to snicker. "Besides, I'd love to see the look on Clara's face when she realizes she's been exposed."

"She doesn't deserve that."

"Uh, are you hearing yourself? Of course, she deserves that! She hated you, made you work, abused you, and on top of all that, never gave a–"

"I don't want her to feel like I did!" I shout, my actions fueled with frustration as I launch up from my seat. "I don't want her to feel like... like some poor kid cast out in the snow with no worth and no reputation. I don't want her to have to consider the things I did. I don't want..." My voice trails off, and I look down at the floor as tears swim in my eyes. "I'm going on a walk." Complete silence follows my statement.