022.
The truth, no matter how many lies obscure it, will always be the truth and will forever exist. No matter how many rumours exist to try probe into the truth and reveal what is actually there, the truth will simply be.
That's why, when Sungmin knocks on the door to his manager's office, hands steady but clenched, he takes a breath. He ignores the rumours he knows are running wild and the lies that have been hastily made to patch them up.
"Sungmin," their manager says, opening his door and gesturing inside. "What's the problem?"
Sungmin likes their manager -- they all do. Dealing with over ten boys for more than five years, they all hold a certain amount of respect towards him and love him in their different ways.
"Have you heard the rumours?" Sungmin asks as he seats himself in a chair, and the manager raises his eyebrows.
"I don't think you know how many rumours exist, especially around Super Junior. Why, is there one bothering you?"
Sungmin thinks of this manager as the older brother he never had, the one to take his hand in the dark and light the way. Brush away his fears and soften blows.
"There's one about me, about Lee Sungmin leaving Super Junior."
The manager tilts his head. Nothing fazes him these days.
"Is it bothering you? Rumours will exist no matter where you are in the world, Sungmin. Why do you ask about it?"
Sungmin takes a breath, clasping his hands on the tabletop.
"Maybe it's true."
The manager stills for a moment, before he sighs gently. They all have their moments of doubt, of being in Super Junior, but this is the first time Sungmin has spoken out about it. About wanting to leave.
"Do you really want to leave?"
Being a manager for so many years gives you insight into the boys. He knows Sungmin like he knows his own brother, knows that even before uttering such a thing, Sungmin would've thought long and hard about it, and the consequences.
"Maybe."
Sungmin's voice is soft, but the manager picks up the phone.
"Lee Sooman, please." Sungmin's eyes snap up. "Yes. It's about Sungmin from Super Junior. Yes. Okay, thank you."
He puts the phone down, and Sungmin smiles hesitantly, as if asking, is this okay?
"He'll see you at seven tonight. No more schedules for the rest of the day."
Sungmin stands before leaning over, giving their manager a hug.
"Thank you, hyung."
The first thing Sooman does when Sungmin enters is pour a glass of brandy.
"Would you like some?" he asks politely, and Sungmin shakes his head, standing by the doorway. "Sit."
Sungmin does.
"Now tell me, I heard that you wish to leave Super Junior."
"Yes..." Sungmin says, unsure.
"You understand that if you do, you are still bound by your contract to the company, and to me."
Sungmin nods.
"You understand that everything in the contract signed originally five years ago will still apply. You will still need to undergo promotions and any work you do will be in the name of SM Entertainment."
He nods again.
Sooman tilts his head, clasping his hands together, and Sungmin realises they're in the same position; hands clasped on the table in front of them, shoulders squared and forward, and head perfectly straight.
"You really wish to leave Super Junior?"
Sungmin hesitates. He knows he'll miss the others and the stagelights, as hot and heavy as they are. The dancing and singing for hours on end for just a glimpse of true fame and recognition with his own name. Not as a by product of some franchise with at least nine other people present at all times.
"I do, sir."
Sooman sighs and suddenly his posture drops. His shoulders drop, his arms are now limp and his head leans forward slightly, chin an inch closer to his chest.
"What people forget is that I'm not just the head of a company," Sooman starts, and Sungmin blinks. He did not expect this. "They forget that I am your mentor and while I am not in the practise rooms or the dance studios, I am with you every moment from acceptance into this company to the moment you leave. I am with you on stage, watching over you and making sure everything goes smoothly. I am with you behind the camera during an interview, prompting you when you lose the words and to ensure you are all together. I am not just a CEO but also your voice trainer, your choreographer, your composer and your manager."
Sungmin's grip loosens and his hands fall apart.
"Sir?" he asks, unsure.
"Sungmin, I'm sure you've thought about how much we've invested into Super Junior and everyone one of you, from Henry and Zhou Mi to Ryeowook and Kibum." He has. "The training and crash diet Ryeowook went through before debuting and the barriers we knocked down in China with Zhou Mi and Henry."
Sungmin winces here, not sure he wants to hear it.
"We've invested millions upon millions into Super Junior; into the choreography and the music, but also your costumes on stage, the rights to film your own movie and the freedom you now have to do what you want. We've invested billions into hosting your own Asia-wide tours and the freedom Kibum now has to film whatever he wishes. The CMs all of you do now, and the albums you've put out cannot be topped. Think carefully, Sungmin, if you really want to do this, if you really want to leave Super Junior."
There's an unmentioned name hovering between the lines somewhere here, and Sungmin swallows, wondering if he'll dare to mention it.
"I do," he says quietly, and Sooman sighs.
"As long as you're sure, Sungmin. I'll get the paperwork ready." Almost sympathetic, he says, "Do you want to tell the others, or should I get your manager to do it?"
Sungmin stills, a million reasons not to already flitting to mind, but he'll be strong. He'll stick to his word.
"I'll do it."
Sooman nods. "Okay. Come here tomorrow night at seven. Your schedule will remain unchanged until all the paperwork has been set and an announcement made to the fans. Let's hope you can make it solo, Sungmin."
Sungmin stands but nods.
"Thank you."
That's why, when Sungmin knocks on the door to his manager's office, hands steady but clenched, he takes a breath. He ignores the rumours he knows are running wild and the lies that have been hastily made to patch them up.
"Sungmin," their manager says, opening his door and gesturing inside. "What's the problem?"
Sungmin likes their manager -- they all do. Dealing with over ten boys for more than five years, they all hold a certain amount of respect towards him and love him in their different ways.
"Have you heard the rumours?" Sungmin asks as he seats himself in a chair, and the manager raises his eyebrows.
"I don't think you know how many rumours exist, especially around Super Junior. Why, is there one bothering you?"
Sungmin thinks of this manager as the older brother he never had, the one to take his hand in the dark and light the way. Brush away his fears and soften blows.
"There's one about me, about Lee Sungmin leaving Super Junior."
The manager tilts his head. Nothing fazes him these days.
"Is it bothering you? Rumours will exist no matter where you are in the world, Sungmin. Why do you ask about it?"
Sungmin takes a breath, clasping his hands on the tabletop.
"Maybe it's true."
The manager stills for a moment, before he sighs gently. They all have their moments of doubt, of being in Super Junior, but this is the first time Sungmin has spoken out about it. About wanting to leave.
"Do you really want to leave?"
Being a manager for so many years gives you insight into the boys. He knows Sungmin like he knows his own brother, knows that even before uttering such a thing, Sungmin would've thought long and hard about it, and the consequences.
"Maybe."
Sungmin's voice is soft, but the manager picks up the phone.
"Lee Sooman, please." Sungmin's eyes snap up. "Yes. It's about Sungmin from Super Junior. Yes. Okay, thank you."
He puts the phone down, and Sungmin smiles hesitantly, as if asking, is this okay?
"He'll see you at seven tonight. No more schedules for the rest of the day."
Sungmin stands before leaning over, giving their manager a hug.
"Thank you, hyung."
The first thing Sooman does when Sungmin enters is pour a glass of brandy.
"Would you like some?" he asks politely, and Sungmin shakes his head, standing by the doorway. "Sit."
Sungmin does.
"Now tell me, I heard that you wish to leave Super Junior."
"Yes..." Sungmin says, unsure.
"You understand that if you do, you are still bound by your contract to the company, and to me."
Sungmin nods.
"You understand that everything in the contract signed originally five years ago will still apply. You will still need to undergo promotions and any work you do will be in the name of SM Entertainment."
He nods again.
Sooman tilts his head, clasping his hands together, and Sungmin realises they're in the same position; hands clasped on the table in front of them, shoulders squared and forward, and head perfectly straight.
"You really wish to leave Super Junior?"
Sungmin hesitates. He knows he'll miss the others and the stagelights, as hot and heavy as they are. The dancing and singing for hours on end for just a glimpse of true fame and recognition with his own name. Not as a by product of some franchise with at least nine other people present at all times.
"I do, sir."
Sooman sighs and suddenly his posture drops. His shoulders drop, his arms are now limp and his head leans forward slightly, chin an inch closer to his chest.
"What people forget is that I'm not just the head of a company," Sooman starts, and Sungmin blinks. He did not expect this. "They forget that I am your mentor and while I am not in the practise rooms or the dance studios, I am with you every moment from acceptance into this company to the moment you leave. I am with you on stage, watching over you and making sure everything goes smoothly. I am with you behind the camera during an interview, prompting you when you lose the words and to ensure you are all together. I am not just a CEO but also your voice trainer, your choreographer, your composer and your manager."
Sungmin's grip loosens and his hands fall apart.
"Sir?" he asks, unsure.
"Sungmin, I'm sure you've thought about how much we've invested into Super Junior and everyone one of you, from Henry and Zhou Mi to Ryeowook and Kibum." He has. "The training and crash diet Ryeowook went through before debuting and the barriers we knocked down in China with Zhou Mi and Henry."
Sungmin winces here, not sure he wants to hear it.
"We've invested millions upon millions into Super Junior; into the choreography and the music, but also your costumes on stage, the rights to film your own movie and the freedom you now have to do what you want. We've invested billions into hosting your own Asia-wide tours and the freedom Kibum now has to film whatever he wishes. The CMs all of you do now, and the albums you've put out cannot be topped. Think carefully, Sungmin, if you really want to do this, if you really want to leave Super Junior."
There's an unmentioned name hovering between the lines somewhere here, and Sungmin swallows, wondering if he'll dare to mention it.
"I do," he says quietly, and Sooman sighs.
"As long as you're sure, Sungmin. I'll get the paperwork ready." Almost sympathetic, he says, "Do you want to tell the others, or should I get your manager to do it?"
Sungmin stills, a million reasons not to already flitting to mind, but he'll be strong. He'll stick to his word.
"I'll do it."
Sooman nods. "Okay. Come here tomorrow night at seven. Your schedule will remain unchanged until all the paperwork has been set and an announcement made to the fans. Let's hope you can make it solo, Sungmin."
Sungmin stands but nods.
"Thank you."