Episode 5: The Contract
The next morning was unusually quiet in the AX1 dorm.
No teasing. No laughter. Just an electric tension that buzzed through the walls.
Jaewon avoided eye contact as he ate cereal. Seon hadn't come out of his room.
Jun looked between the members. "Okay, what happened?"
"Nothing," Jaewon replied too quickly.
"Sure. And I'm debuting solo next week," Jun muttered, grabbing a banana.
Before Jaewon could escape, their manager arrived, tablet in hand.
"I need to see Jaewon and Seon. Now."
---
In the conference room, a tall woman in a blazer sat waiting.
"This is Min Seo-jin," their manager said. "She handles AX1's brand image and fan strategy."
She offered a smile too sharp to be friendly.
"We're launching a new campaign," Seo-jin said. "And you two are at the center."
Jaewon frowned. "Why?"
She turned the tablet toward them. A fan-edited video of their flower crown moment played on loop, with heart filters and dramatic music.
"SeonWon is trending in four countries. You two are practically printing gold."
Jaewon felt his stomach twist. "So you want more… fake flirting?"
Seo-jin leaned forward. "No. We want something bolder."
She slid a folder across the table.
A Fanservice Contract.
"Live streams. Exclusive behind-the-scenes. A fake dating storyline for six months. Scripted interactions. Occasional 'accidental' leaks. All pre-approved, of course."
Seon was silent.
Jaewon's throat went dry. "You want us to pretend to date?"
"Yes."
"No."
Seo-jin arched a brow. "You're both idols. That means you're actors, too. And actors don't get to say no when the role is right."
Seon finally spoke. "What if it's not acting?"
The room froze.
Seo-jin tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"Nothing," Seon said, tone cold. "I'll do it."
Jaewon stared at him. "Are you serious?"
"It's business," Seon said flatly.
"Right. Of course." Jaewon grabbed the contract and stood. "I'll think about it."
---
Later that night, Jaewon sat on the dorm rooftop alone.
The city lights blinked below. He clutched the contract in his hands, the words blurring.
"Pretend to love Seon again," he whispered. "What a joke."
The door creaked.
Seon appeared, hands in his pockets.
"You don't have to do it," he said quietly.
"You already agreed."
"I thought it'd make things easier."
"For who?" Jaewon's voice cracked.
"For you. For me. For everyone."
They stood in silence for a long time.
"Do you still mean what you said last night?" Jaewon asked.
Seon didn't look away. "Yes."
"Then how can you fake-date me like it's nothing?"
"Because I can't lose you again. Not even as pretend."
Jaewon blinked, stunned.
"But you already did," he said.
And walked away.
---
The next day, the contract lay signed on Seo-jin's desk.
She smiled. "Excellent. You'll announce it on your joint live stream tomorrow night."
Jaewon's hand trembled as he held the script.
The words blurred, but the l
ast line was burned into his brain:
"We're not just groupmates. We're more than that now."
---
To be continued...