Chapter Text
“The dark truth of SHAX finally comes to light”
Three years back we've seen the pioneer group "SHAX" lose their center member Lee Eunjo. Fans have been coming up with theories about his disappearence from the media and the members have been acting like nothing has changed.
Coincidentally enough during the same period of time, the yet to debut girl group "OMEGA-3", lost their member "Annie", who then was found dead. Today we speculate about what these two had in common and why no one ever cleared the air for Fins.
NOG Entertainment, stated that: "[...] Lee Eunjo will no longer participate in SHAX's future promotions and will officially departure from NOG Entertainment due to his health issues."
Since then no one has seen nor heard of Eunjos future projects. The same day after his absence on SHAX's concert we've found out about OMEGA-3 Annies death, whose group was under the direction of OMEGA Entertainment - a subsidiary of NOG's brand.
The debut of the 3 member girl group was cancelled and OMEGA Entertainments connections to NOG vanished from the public eye quickly.
...
That's what Kwonryuk read in the morning after Hyuk rushed into his room with the article opened.
His eyes scanned the part of the article multiple times before throwing his phone to the side and staring onto the empty bed next to him that once belonged to said Lee Eunjo. Lee Eunjo. A name that still send shudders through Kwonryuks body when hearing it. Lee Eunjo. A name that he used to have on his mind all of the time, every day, every hour, every minute. And now that he finally began to let go of the person behind that name, they just had to bring him up again. Eunjo was, like the rest of Shax, like a brother to him. He still is like a brother. Even though Kwonryuk didn’t know if Eunjo was still alive, sometimes it felt like he was still there. He used to be able to still hear him. He dreamt a lot of him. But recently even that had stopped.Maybe this is the universe telling me to never forget Eunjo ',sigh escaped Kwonryuks lips. It's been three years. Why can't I let you go.., he thought and couldn't believe how some dispatch journalists had the audacity to put SHAX's career on the line like that.
Not long after the news article was released the members were called to meet with the CEO Park Jinman, by their manager. They got a whole lecture about how they never should mention Eunjo in interviews or press conferences. What happened in the past also should stay there. Nor should they be associated with a trainees death.
It's not like they even thought about breaking the silence, the boys didn't bring back the past scandal.
For the sake of it, it's not our fault., Ryuk thought to himself and looked up to the door where the general manager Kim appeared after shortly knocking. He headed over to the CEO, handing him some documents, which caused even more silence in the office.Park Jinman read the letter with a stern look in his face and asked everyone except Kwonryuk to leave.
The singer widened his eyes at the following offer... Well more like an order, knowing that there was no way out of that if they wanna keep Fins and distract them from NOGs dark hidden history.
"You will play Lee Mahas boyfriend.", the manager said not as enthusiastic anymore. He was aware this could go a completely wrong way as well. "This won't work.", Ryuk disagreed right away before he could hear more of that."Yes. Yes, this will work. This has to work. Look, the two of you already played love interests in a movie, you were spotted when Maha gave you your jacket back. If we keep on giving hints this will lead to you two being a couple, feeding the news tabloids what they wanna see!", he finished off with a grin and left the actor speechless. No, no. This couldn't be it. They just couldn't make both of them consent to this. He wouldn't let this annoying girl hang around him for the entertainments sake.
Park Jinman eyed the entire conversation and nodded lightly. "This could work, however have you talked to Tea Party's manager? Lee Maha is causing trouble by having a copycat image and I'm not sure how that will benefit us, that move really could fail us and cause loss.", his eyes fell on the silent Kwonryuk who absently looked at a glass table next to the leather couch he sat on. He was in a situation he always hoped to avoid. He didn't think he would have to ever cover up for his best friend of so many years, who had to go to keep SHAX safe. He was still hurting. Kwonryuk lost his best friend because of a girl that he was dating back then. This was the last deal with the devil that he was willing to participate in.
'Ironic isn't it? Coming up with a dating scandal to cover up a far more serious dating scandal, tch-', his thoughts were stopped by the sudden voice he heard. The CEO got called and Ryuk just zoned out again.
Smiling for the cameras. Smiling through the pain, because certain feelings shouldn't be shown. It'll be fine. Both of us are actors and we can stay professional. It's not like we will get married for real.. He breathed in deeply after he was allowed to leave the office and the two youngest members rushed his way. "Hyung what did they say?", the maknae looked at him with big eyes and their manager called them to get in the car. "We shouldn't talk here.", Kwonryuk answered quickly before following the groups leader Jaewoo.
...
The whole car ride his head was spinning around Maha. He had to "date" the girl that was clearly ignoring his messages, nor did she seem interested. Well it wasn't like he himself was interested in anything more than friendship but sometimes it seemed like Maha straight up hated him, for no reason to be clear. To be very honest, the only person Lee Maha seemed to be interested in was her best friend. "Yoojin here, Yoojin there", he whispered to himself and caught Dojins attention, who knew that something was up with Ryuk nowdays. "You good?", he asked worriedly, yet before he could answer the van stood still and they had to leave.
...
"You have to date whom?", Jaewoo raised his voice at the groups favorite and immediately had the others around begging him to stop. "It's not his fault!", the maknae called out and looked at Leehyun and Doojin for help to tame the leader. Daekwon came closer to explain the situations good sides after having a talk with manager Kim. Kwonryuk nodded at that and started talking again. "I'll do it. I have to do it, we don't want our fans to doubt us hyung. What Eunjo did wasn't fair. Nor was it fair from you to snitch on him!", he yelled at the leader, still being mad and petty that he lost his best friend because of Jaewoo.