The weeks that followed their decision to rebuild their relationship were filled with both joy and tension. For every small victory they experienced—whether it was a moment of peace in the office, a quiet dinner together, or just the comfort of being in each other's presence—there was also a looming uncertainty. They knew that they couldn't keep living in a bubble, isolated from the reality of the world outside. Eventually, the world would come knocking, and they would have to face the consequences of their love.
One afternoon, as Chanyeol and Min Ho sat in Chanyeol's office after a long day of work, a knock on the door interrupted their quiet moment. It was Minji, her face serious as she stepped inside.
"Chanyeol, Min Ho… we need to talk," she said, her voice tense. Chanyeol immediately felt a knot in his stomach, knowing that the storm they had been avoiding had finally arrived.
Minji closed the door behind her and walked over to the desk. "There's been a leak," she said, her words cutting through the tension in the room like a knife. "Someone in the company found out about your relationship, and it's already starting to spread. It's only a matter of time before the media catches wind of it."
Chanyeol's eyes hardened, the familiar anger and frustration rising within him. "Who did this?" he asked, his voice cold.
"I don't know yet, but I'm working on it," Minji replied. "But what I do know is that we need to prepare for the fallout. This isn't going to be easy, and it's going to put both of you under a microscope."
Min Ho sat in silence, his heart sinking as he absorbed the reality of the situation. This was the moment he had feared—when their love would no longer be something private, something just for them. Now, it was something that the world would scrutinize, dissect, and judge.
Chanyeol stood up, pacing in front of the desk, his mind racing. "We can't let this destroy us. We've already fought so hard to get to this point. We won't let anyone take this from us."
"I agree," Min Ho said softly, standing up as well. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that Chanyeol hadn't heard before. "But it's not just the company, Chanyeol. It's everything. Our families. The public. If they find out…"
"They will," Chanyeol interrupted. "And we'll deal with it, together. I won't back down. Not now, not after everything we've been through. We'll face this together."
Minji watched the exchange quietly, a small smile forming on her lips at how resolute they both were. "I'll do everything I can to manage the situation," she said. "But the two of you need to decide how you want to handle this publicly. We can't keep this a secret anymore."
Chanyeol turned to Min Ho, his gaze softening. "What do you want to do? How do you want to handle this?"
Min Ho took a deep breath, his mind whirling with possibilities. He knew they couldn't keep hiding forever, but the idea of facing the world—especially after everything they had been through—was terrifying. Yet, as he looked into Chanyeol's eyes, he knew there was only one choice.
"I want to stand by you," Min Ho said, his voice steady. "No matter what happens. I'm not afraid of the world knowing. I'm afraid of losing you."
Chanyeol smiled softly, walking over to him and taking his hand. "You won't lose me. Not now, not ever."
---
The next few days were a whirlwind of preparation. Chanyeol and Min Ho met with Minji and a team of public relations experts to devise a strategy. The company would issue a statement, confirming their relationship, and they would deal with any backlash that came their way. It was a bold move, and one that Chanyeol knew would stir up controversy, but he was ready to face the storm head-on.
Meanwhile, Min Ho had to confront his own fears. His family—especially his father—had always had high expectations for him, and he knew they would not understand his relationship with Chanyeol. He dreaded the confrontation that was inevitable. But as he spent more time with Chanyeol, his resolve strengthened. He would not let anyone dictate his happiness.
When the day finally came for the public announcement, both Chanyeol and Min Ho were on edge. They had prepared themselves as much as they could, but there was still an undercurrent of fear—fear of rejection, fear of the consequences, fear that everything they had worked for would crumble.
Chanyeol stood beside Min Ho in the office, looking out over the city. The press conference was scheduled for later in the afternoon, and they had already drafted their statements. But the reality of what they were about to do—about to share with the world—was weighing heavily on both of them.
Min Ho reached out and took Chanyeol's hand, squeezing it tightly. "Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice quiet but filled with emotion.
Chanyeol turned to him, his face serious but his eyes filled with unwavering determination. "Yes. We're doing this together, Min Ho. I love you, and nothing else matters."
Min Ho nodded, feeling the same intensity in his chest. "I love you too. Let's face this world, no matter what it throws at us."
The press conference was a blur. They stood side by side, holding hands, as the questions came fast and furious. The reporters' voices overlapped as they asked about the relationship, about how it would affect the company, and about how they planned to navigate the public's scrutiny.
Chanyeol answered every question with confidence, but Min Ho could see the tension in his shoulders, the tightness in his jaw. This was the moment that would define everything. And yet, as he stood next to Chanyeol, he realized that this was the first time in a long while that he had felt truly alive. Their love was no longer something they had to hide. It was something they could be proud of.
As the conference ended, Min Ho and Chanyeol walked out of the room together, their hands still intertwined. They didn't know what the future would hold—what backlash or obstacles awaited them—but they knew one thing for certain: they would face it all together.