Chapter 28: Broken Chains and Unspoken Truths
The tension in the Eclipse dorm had not fully dissipated after the press conference. The media may have backed off, but the internal pressure was mounting. The members were preparing for their upcoming tour, but beneath the surface, something deeper was simmering, especially between Jisoo and Taehyun.
Jisoo had always been the one to maintain a steady calm, a quiet strength that held the group together. But lately, the facade had begun to crack. His irritation with the situation—being painted as part of a narrative he didn't want—was becoming harder to hide.
Taehyun, on the other hand, had always been the quiet, introspective one. But recently, his usually composed demeanor had morphed into something more volatile. Hana noticed the way his gaze lingered on the ground, his jaw clenched during meetings, his words measured but cold.
It was when the news came through—Eclipse's upcoming performance at a major award ceremony—that things took a drastic turn.
The CEO of the agency, Taehyun's adopted father, called for an emergency meeting with the group.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense, suffused with a palpable unease. Soyeon sat beside the members, her face tight with concern. The CEO—who was a commanding presence in the industry—stood at the head of the room, his sharp gaze sweeping across the group. He was a man known for his power, control, and no-nonsense attitude. He had raised Taehyun from a young age, and the relationship between them was complicated, full of love and bitterness in equal measure.
Taehyun shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his father spoke.
"We need to address the elephant in the room," the CEO began, his voice steady and cold. "Titan is becoming a problem. They've been gaining ground, and I believe there's a way for us to reclaim our position."
Jisoo exchanged a glance with Taehyun. The tension between the two was already thick enough, but now it was about to reach its boiling point.
"Reclaim our position?" Jisoo's voice was sharp, breaking through the silence. "What does that even mean? Are you asking us to manufacture a rivalry just for the sake of headlines?"
The CEO narrowed his eyes, a flicker of annoyance flashing in his gaze. "Jisoo, you should know better. We're in this business to win. Titan is gaining momentum, and Eclipse needs to stay at the top. We need to push harder, show them who's really in control."
Taehyun's posture stiffened, his usual restraint slipping away. "So, we're just supposed to play this game? Fuel this fake rivalry that you think will get us more attention?" His voice was low, but there was no mistaking the anger behind it.
Jisoo stood up, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "We're not puppets for you to control, and neither is Taehyun. Don't you see how this affects us? How it affects him?"
The CEO's eyes flashed with irritation. "You've always been so emotional, Jisoo. This is about survival. If you can't understand that, then maybe you're not cut out for this."
Taehyun's breathing grew heavier, and for a moment, it looked like he might lose his temper completely. But before anyone could react, he spoke again, his words colder than ever.
"You don't get it," Taehyun said, his voice laced with frustration. "I don't care about the charts. I don't care about the attention. What I care about is not being used. I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for you to adopt me just so you could control me, to make me into some kind of product."
The room fell silent.
Jisoo's expression softened, his anger giving way to concern. He could feel the weight of the words Taehyun had just thrown into the air. Taehyun had always been distant from his father, but this was the first time he had ever truly voiced how suffocated he felt.
The CEO, clearly taken aback, straightened his posture. "Taehyun, that's not what I intended—"
"No, you've never intended to do anything except turn me into a tool for your ambitions," Taehyun cut him off, his voice trembling with the rawness of his emotions. "You raised me like I was a project, like I was just some asset to you."
The CEO's face hardened, and for a moment, it looked like he might respond with force. But Taehyun was already on his feet, his hands shaking at his sides.
"I'm done," Taehyun muttered. "You can't control me anymore."
Hana's heart hammered in her chest. She could feel the anger radiating from Taehyun, the storm that had been building within him for so long finally breaking free. Jisoo moved closer to him, his hand on his shoulder as if trying to offer support, but Taehyun shook it off.
The CEO remained silent, his face unreadable. He had always been the one who controlled the narrative of his son's life, but now the truth was laid bare.
Taehyun's words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, leaving a palpable tension in the room. The other members sat frozen, unable to speak, unsure how to react.
Finally, after a long pause, the CEO's voice broke through the silence. "I didn't want this to happen, Taehyun. I wanted to give you the best. But if you feel this way…" He trailed off, his voice losing some of its authority. "I'll step back. For now."
Taehyun didn't respond. He just turned and walked out of the room.
The night that followed was quiet, but the silence was suffocating. Hana couldn't sleep, her mind racing with thoughts about what had just happened. She found herself walking down the hall, eventually stopping at Taehyun's door. She knocked softly, but there was no answer.
She pushed it open slowly, only to find him sitting by the window, staring out into the night. His face was unreadable, but there was a heaviness to him that she had never seen before.
"Taehyun?" she whispered.
He didn't turn to face her, but his voice was quiet when he spoke. "I didn't expect it to go that far."
Hana stepped into the room, sitting beside him. "You were right to speak up. You don't deserve to be treated like that."
He nodded, but his eyes were distant. "I've spent so much of my life trying to please him, trying to live up to his expectations. But I'm tired, Hana. I'm tired of being someone I'm not just because it's what he wants."
"I understand," she said softly, reaching out to place a hand on his. "You don't owe anyone that version of yourself. Not even him."
Taehyun looked at her then, his expression softening. "I don't know what to do next. But… I don't want to be that person anymore."
Hana smiled gently. "You don't have to be. You're Taehyun, just as you are. And that's enough."
As the silence stretched between them, Taehyun finally let out a deep breath, as if some of the weight had lifted off his shoulders. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he might just be free.