Chapter 7: Rumours

The comeback had been a resounding success. Eclipsé's new tracks climbed charts worldwide, and their collaborations with other groups, especially Enhypen, became a talking point across the industry. Fans shared clips from music shows, TikToks, and behind-the-scenes videos, praising their chemistry and performances.

But not all the attention was positive.

The rumors started small, barely noticeable amid the buzz of the comeback. A fan on social media posted a blurry screenshot of Hayoon and Ni-ki laughing during a break in filming, their heads tilted slightly toward each other.

"They look too close. Is something going on?"

That was all it took for speculation to ignite.

Hayoon sat in the dorm's small living room one evening, scrolling through her phone. The screen was filled with tagged posts, her name trending alongside Ni-ki's. At first, she thought it was just the usual chatter about the collaboration, but as she scrolled further, her stomach sank.

"Who does Hayoon think she is, getting close to Ni-ki? She's not even that talented."

"Hayoon is so fake. She's clearly using Ni-ki for clout."

"Stay away from our Ni-ki. You don't deserve him."

She stared at the words, her hands trembling slightly. Her first instinct was to look away, to pretend she hadn't seen them, but the comments kept flooding in. Each one felt sharper than the last, a thousand tiny cuts she couldn't stop.

"Hayoon?"

She jolted at the sound of Minseo's voice, quickly locking her phone.

"You okay?" Minseo asked, plopping onto the couch beside her.

Hayoon forced a smile, nodding. "Just tired."

Minseo didn't seem convinced but didn't press further. "Well, Jiwon wants to run through the choreography again before bed. Come on."

Hayoon followed her to the practice room, her phone still buzzing in her pocket.

The days that followed were a blur of rehearsals and schedules, but the online storm only grew. Every video of Hayoon and Ni-ki interacting was dissected, with fans creating elaborate theories about their supposed relationship.

Hayoon tried to block it out, but it was impossible to escape. Even when she wasn't online, she could feel the weight of it—the judgment, the scrutiny.

And then came the sasaengs.

It started with phone calls. Late at night, her phone would ring incessantly from unknown numbers. At first, she ignored them, assuming they were mistakes, but when she finally answered one, a cold voice greeted her:

"Stay away from Ni-ki, or you'll regret it."

Her blood ran cold. She hung up immediately, her hands shaking. The calls didn't stop.

One evening, as she returned from the company building, she noticed a group of people following her. They stayed just far enough behind to avoid suspicion, but their phones were clearly trained on her. Hayoon's pace quickened, her heart pounding.

By the time she reached the dorm, she was out of breath, her hands clutching the straps of her bag tightly. The moment she was inside, she locked the door behind her and sank to the floor, tears streaming down her face.

Videos began surfacing online of fans following her in public, taking pictures and recording her without her consent.

"Look at how smug she looks walking around like she owns the place."

"I saw her today, and she ignored everyone. So rude."

Hayoon felt like she couldn't breathe. She wanted to tell someone—Jiwon, maybe, or one of the managers—but every time she tried, the words stuck in her throat.

The members of Eclipsé were oblivious at first, too caught up in their schedules to notice the cracks in Hayoon's demeanor. But Jiwon eventually picked up on it.

One evening, as they rehearsed late into the night, Hayoon stumbled over a simple move for the third time.

"Hayoon," Jiwon said gently, stepping forward. "Are you okay?"

Hayoon nodded quickly, avoiding her gaze. "I'm fine. Just tired."

"You've been tired a lot lately," Jiwon said, her dark eyes studying Hayoon carefully. "If something's wrong, you can tell me."

Hayoon hesitated, her fingers twisting the hem of her sweater. She wanted to tell Jiwon everything—the hate, the calls, the fear that followed her everywhere—but the words refused to come.

"I'm fine," she said again, forcing a small smile. "Really."

Jiwon didn't look convinced, but she didn't push further.

That night, Hayoon lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and for a moment, she considered ignoring it. But when she saw Ni-ki's name on the screen, she couldn't resist.

Ni-ki: Hey, just checking in. You good?

Hayoon hesitated before typing back.

Hayoon: Yeah, just tired. You?

Ni-ki: Same. People keep saying weird stuff about us. Hope it's not stressing you out too much.

Her chest tightened at his words. She wanted to tell him the truth, but she didn't want to burden him.

Hayoon: It's fine. I'm used to it.

Ni-ki: You shouldn't have to be. Let me know if it gets bad, okay?

She stared at his message for a long time, tears welling up in her eyes.

Hayoon: Thanks. I will.

But deep down, she wasn't sure if she could.

The hate continued to escalate, and Hayoon felt herself retreating further into her shell. She threw herself into work, hoping the endless rehearsals and recordings would drown out the noise. But every time she stepped outside or picked up her phone, it was there—an inescapable shadow that loomed over her.

One night, after another threatening call, Hayoon sat on the floor of her room, her head in her hands. The weight of everything pressed down on her, suffocating and unrelenting.

She didn't know how much more she could take.

The night stretched endlessly, the quiet hum of the dorm amplifying every thought racing through Hayoon's mind. She hugged her knees to her chest, her phone lying silent on the floor beside her. She had blocked most of the unknown numbers, but it didn't stop the messages and threats flooding her social media accounts.

Her door creaked open slightly, and Sojin peeked in. "Hayoon? You didn't come to the kitchen for dinner."

Hayoon quickly wiped at her cheeks and forced a smile. "I wasn't hungry."

Sojin stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. She crossed her arms, her gaze soft but steady. "You've been skipping meals a lot lately. Are you okay?"

Hayoon tried to shrug it off. "I've just been tired. The comeback... you know how it is."

Sojin knelt in front of her, tilting her head to catch Hayoon's eyes. "This isn't just comeback stress. I've known you long enough to see that something's wrong."

For a moment, Hayoon considered brushing her off, but the concern in Sojin's expression cracked her defenses. She took a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's the fans... some of them hate me."

Sojin's brow furrowed, and she sat down beside Hayoon. "What do you mean?"

Hayoon hesitated before pulling out her phone and scrolling through the hate-filled messages and posts. She handed it to Sojin, who stared at the screen in silence, her face darkening with anger as she read.

"They're saying all this because of the rumors about you and Ni-ki?" Sojin asked, her voice sharp.

Hayoon nodded, her throat tight. "And there are sasaengs too. They call me and follow me... they've even taken videos of me walking home."

Sojin's grip on the phone tightened. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I didn't want to make it a big deal," Hayoon admitted. "We're all under so much pressure already. I didn't want to add to it."

Sojin shook her head, her voice firm. "This is a big deal, Hayoon. You shouldn't have to deal with this alone."

The next morning, Sojin brought the issue to Jiwon. The leader listened carefully as Hayoon explained everything, her voice trembling. Jiwon's expression remained calm, but her dark eyes burned with quiet determination.

"We're telling management," Jiwon said firmly.

Hayoon immediately shook her head. "No, please. If they find out, it might make things worse. What if they decide to pull me from promotions?"

"They won't," Jiwon reassured her. "And even if they try, I'll fight it. This isn't your fault, Hayoon. None of it is."

Minseo, Yeseul, and Haydon joined the conversation soon after, rallying around Hayoon with unwavering support.

"We've got your back," Minseo said, her voice unusually serious. "No fan has the right to treat you like this."

"You're not alone," Yeseul added, her red hair gleaming under the sunlight streaming through the dorm windows. "We'll make sure management takes this seriously."

Hayoon's chest tightened at their words. For the first time in weeks, she felt a glimmer of relief.

True to their word, Jiwon and the other members brought the issue to their company's attention. The management team responded swiftly, increasing security measures and assigning a dedicated staff member to monitor Hayoon's social media accounts for harmful content.

The company also released a statement condemning the harassment and warning sasaengs of legal action. Though the hate didn't disappear entirely, the measures helped Hayoon feel safer.

Meanwhile, Hayoon's interactions with Ni-ki became more cautious. She continued texting him, but she avoided responding publicly to anything that might add fuel to the rumors.

One evening, after a particularly long day, Ni-ki messaged her.

Ni-ki: Hey, I saw the company's statement. Are you okay?

Hayoon: Better. It's been a lot, though.

Ni-ki: I'm sorry you're going through this because of me.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. She didn't want him to feel guilty—it wasn't his fault.

Hayoon: It's not your fault, Ni-ki. These people just don't know the difference between reality and their imagination.

His response came quickly.

Ni-ki: Still, if you need anything, let me know. Even if it's just to vent.

She smiled faintly, his words bringing a small measure of comfort.

Hayoon: Thank you. I will.

As the days went on, Hayoon found herself leaning on her members more than ever. They were her anchor, pulling her back whenever the weight of the hate threatened to drown her.

During a late-night practice session, Minseo playfully draped an arm around Hayoon's shoulders. "You know, you're a lot stronger than you think."

Hayoon glanced at her, surprised. "What makes you say that?"

"Because even with everything going on, you're still here, still giving your all," Minseo said. "That takes strength."

Hayoon's eyes stung with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, Minseo."

Minseo grinned. "Anytime. Now let's crush this choreography so hard that no one will even remember the rumors."

The energy in the practice room shifted, the camaraderie between the members serving as a balm for Hayoon's battered spirit. They ran through their routine with renewed determination, the music pulsing through the space like a heartbeat. For the first time in weeks, Hayoon felt the joy of performing return, even if just for a moment.

The days leading up to their next stage were a mix of nerves and excitement. Hayoon couldn't shake the lingering anxiety, but her members' constant support helped her push forward. On the morning of the performance, she woke to find a handwritten note on her nightstand.

"You're incredible, Hayoon. We believe in you. Let's show the world what you're made of today. —Jiwon and the girls ❤️"

Her chest swelled with emotion as she clutched the note tightly.

Backstage at the music show, Eclipsé prepared for their performance. The air buzzed with energy as idols from various groups moved between dressing rooms and rehearsal spaces. Hayoon caught sight of Ni-ki across the hallway, surrounded by his Enhypen members. Their eyes met briefly, and he gave her a small, reassuring smile.

"Hayoon, focus!" Minseo called, snapping her fingers in front of Hayoon's face.

Hayoon laughed softly, shaking her head. "I am focused."

"Good," Minseo said, adjusting the hem of her stage outfit. "Because we're about to blow everyone away."

The performance was flawless. As the main vocalist, Hayoon's solo lines carried the emotional weight of their song, drawing the audience into the world they had created. The applause at the end was thunderous, and for a brief moment, Hayoon forgot all about the rumors and the hate. She was simply herself—a girl who loved to sing.

Later that night, as they sat in their dorm unwinding, Hayeon passed around bowls of instant ramen.

"You were amazing today, Hayoon," Hayeon said, her voice warm.

"So were all of you," Hayoon replied, her gratitude genuine.

Yeseul leaned back against the couch, her red hair glowing under the soft light. "The way the crowd reacted... it was like they forgot every rumor ever existed."

Minseo grinned. "That's because we're too good to ignore."

The girls burst into laughter, the sound filling the room with warmth.

Despite the hate she had faced, Hayoon felt a small spark of hope reigniting within her. She wasn't alone—not with her members by her side, and not with Ni-ki quietly supporting her in the background.

As she lay in bed that night, her phone buzzed with a new message.

Ni-ki: Saw your performance today. You killed it.

Hayoon smiled softly as she typed her response.

Hayoon: Thanks. That means a lot.

For the first time in weeks, she fell asleep with a light heart. The shadows still lingered, but they no longer felt insurmountable. With the people who cared about her by her side, Hayoon felt ready to face whatever came next.