episode_0195

When Park Yoo-jung suddenly announced her withdrawal from Rookies, everyone in the studio was in an uproar.

“… Yes?”

“Sister, what is that…!”

“… Yoojung, what does that mean?”

But the person involved, Park Yu-jeong, just smiled calmly.

“Because it’s true.”

“… What?”

“It’s true that I was punished for school violence. No matter what I say, people won’t believe me.”

As she said that, Park Yu-jeong’s smile was bright as usual… .

“When I think about it rationally, I think it’s better for me to just leave Rookies. I’m sorry for causing trouble before the release of the new song.”

“… … .”

The expression on his face seemed somewhat empty.

When we were startled and stopped in our tracks by Park Yu-jeong’s first appearance, Park Yu-jeong stood up as if she was going to run out of there right away.

At this, I reflexively got up and grabbed Park Yu-jeong’s wrist.

“… Yoo Jeong-ah.”

“… Sister.”

“… Let’s think about it together.”

“… … .”

“I’ve spent time with you too. I don’t think you did something like that for no reason. Tell me what happened. Tell me the circumstances… , and we’ll help you.”

“… … ha.”

When I spoke desperately without letting go of the wrist I was holding, Park Yu-jeong let out a sigh as if she was frustrated.

And then….

“What does my sister know about me?”

He rebuked me in a cold voice, his face cold and his smile completely erased.

Because of that, I flinched for a moment, but I answered without taking my eyes off Park Yu-jeong, feeling that I would not give in.

but….

“… You know, you’re the first person I became close with in Naaah… .”

“I approached that on purpose.”

“What?”

Park Yu-jeong’s words pushing me away were harsher than I expected.

“At first glance, it seemed like my sister was a contestant that the production team was pushing for. I thought that if we became close, it would definitely help me raise my ranking…, so I approached her on purpose.”

“… … .”

Park Yoo-jung passed me by, who paused for a moment, and continued talking to the other members.

“Other people are like that too. Up until now, I’ve been smiling, approaching you as if I was friendly, and acting friendly. It was all my own survival strategy. I’m sorry for using you.”

“… … .”

“Eugene, I’m sorry I took you to the bathroom in week 1. I was a little angry back then and my true feelings came out.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on Seo Yu-jin when he said that he had once taken her to the bathroom and made her go to the bathroom.

‘really…?’

Did Park Yoo-jung really harass and hit Seo Yu-jin like the community post says?

If that was the case, then no matter how much I was like that, I couldn’t look at Park Yu-jeong favorably.

but….

“… Yes? Oh, no. At that time, it was definitely… , I was wrong. Rather, I am grateful to my sister for helping me come to my senses… .”

Looking at Seo Yu-jin’s expression, it didn’t seem like she was forcing herself to answer like that.

‘Oh my, it was the first week… Eugene was really a total loser back then… .’

Having roughly figured out what had happened based on the circumstances, I spoke again without letting go of Park Yu-jeong’s wrist.

“… Yoojung-ah. I don’t think you would bully or be violent to someone for no reason.”

“… … .”

“You were punished at school… , I think you definitely deserved it. So please don’t just think about running away like this.”

“Sigh… .”

Park Yu-jeong let out a deep sigh, seemingly giving up on responding to my continued pleading with harsh words.

But the emptiness that filled his eyes did not go away.

“… That’s right. I’m a materialistic bitch, but I’m not the kind of bitch who would hit someone for no reason.”

“Then… !”

“Then what changes?”

Park Yu-jeong’s tone was bitter, as if she had already given up on herself.

“Anyway, it’s true that I was punished for school violence… and many people won’t forgive me for that.”

“… … .”

“No matter what I do, it will follow me like a label… and in the end, it will be a burden to the Rookies.”

Ssuk-.

Park Yu-jeong raised the corners of her lips again and gently released my hand that was holding her wrist.

And then again she bowed her head to me with a small smile.

“Of course, I’m still causing trouble to Rookies in real time. I’m really sorry.”

“… … .”

“So I will take responsibility and leave Rookies.”

After saying that, Park Yu-jeong turned around and spoke to Director Jeong.

“Director Jeong. Could you please give me a ride? I’ll go to the dorm right away and unpack my bags.”

“… Miss Yoo-Jeong. It’s too hasty a choice. Think about it first… .”

“I’ve been preparing myself mentally for a long time. I think this is the best choice for our team and the company.”

Even the best chief of staff in the world was unable to change Park Yu-jeong’s mind and was at a loss.

In the meantime, Park Yu-jeong moved her body as if she had no regrets.

It seemed like Park Yoo-jung might leave Rookies at any moment.

A thousand thoughts crossed my mind in that short moment.

Is it right to kick Park Yoo-jung out of Rookies like this?

… … .

… … .

… No, I don’t think so.

I had a strong feeling that I would greatly regret letting Park Yu-jeong go like this.

‘But how do you stop it?’

It seems like Park Yoo-jung is already thinking about leaving Rookies… .

Didn’t Park Yu-jeong show a stubborn attitude even though I tried to persuade her earlier?

How can I persuade Park Yu-jeong?

Squeak.

At that moment, Park Yu-jeong opened the door to leave the conference room.

‘no…!’

Then, without even being able to gather my thoughts, I took a step forward to stop her once again.

That was the moment.

[You have met the conditions!]

[The special skill of the Heavenly Demon God skill, Heavenly Demon Sight, is automatically used!]

The world goes dark as the familiar status window notification sound rings… .

Swish.

When I came to, I was in someone else’s body.

**

Like many children, Park Yu-jeong found her dream on TV when she was young.

“Oh!”

“Yoo Jung-ah, are the older sisters on TV that cool?”

“Yes! That’s great! I want to be an idol like those girls!”

Park Yoo-jung, who thought the idols on TV looked cool, wanted to become an idol.

“Haha! That’s right, my daughter! She’s pretty like her dad, so she should be an idol!”

“Speak straight, honey! Yoojung doesn’t look like you, honey, she looks like me!”

“What? Hahaha!”

Park Yoo-jung’s parents also liked her dream of becoming an idol and supported her.

I know that the path of an idol is somewhat unstable and difficult, but since my daughter wants to do it, I plan to actively support and help her.

Park Yoo-jung’s father is a banker and her mother is a housewife.

Although he wasn’t so rich that his mouth would drop open… .

There is a house where three people can sleep comfortably… and where you don’t have to worry about food or clothing… .

It was a wealthy and happy family.

Park Yu-jeong grew up there as a bright and cheerful child.

but….

“Bar, your vitals are dropping rapidly!”

“Call the professor quickly!”

Park Yu-jeong’s family’s peace did not last long.

It was a car accident.

To be precise, it was a collision accident caused by the trailer driver’s drowsy driving.

Park Yoo-jung’s parents were transferred to the hospital but eventually died… Park Yoo-jung was able to survive by a stroke of luck.

But they say that death is the lot of those left behind.

Park Yoo-jung, who lost her parents before her 10th birthday, had to grow up at an early age.

“Yoo Jeong-ah, from now on, you’re going to live with your aunt and uncle instead of your mom and dad, okay?”

“… Yes.”

Although young Park Yu-jeong was taken in by her aunt and uncle, they were unable to fill the void her parents left behind.

“This is my aunt’s house. I think of it as my house and live comfortably.”

“… … .”

Think of it as your home and live comfortably.

The moment she heard those words, young Park Yu-jeong could no longer regard her aunt’s house as her own.

Park Yoo-jung’s aunt and uncle tried to love and take care of their children and Park Yoo-jung equally, but… .

The more the two of them tried, the more Park Yu-jeong felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness.

Park Yoo-jung, who was originally bright and energetic, was the first to lose her smile.

She no longer smiles and just looks droopy… .

Her friends kept their distance from her because she only gave off ominous vibes.

Maybe her friends’ mothers told her to stay away from them.

Every day, a blank-faced orphan girl… .

That must have been something that parents would have been reluctant to do.

Anyway, throughout elementary school, Park Yu-jeong had no friends… and she became even more lonely.

But Park Yu-jeong was smart.

She knew all too well that the reason she had no friends was because of her dark expression.

She, who hated loneliness, began to smile brightly like she did before she lost her parents.

As she smiled and became more active, people gathered around her again.

She acted so well towards her aunt and uncle that the two thought that Park Yoo-jung had forgotten her past wounds and returned to her old self.

… of course it wasn’t.

But, just like before, he was smiling brightly and surrounded by many people.

Hurt.

It’s just Park Yoo-jung wearing a mask.

At the time, the people around Park Yoo-jung were relationships that Park Yoo-jung had artificially created through meticulous calculation and acting.

‘… It’s okay though.’

Still, Park Yu-jeong was satisfied with her life at the time.

It’s not like I’m as lonely as I used to be… because on the outside I look like a happy person.

It hurts, it hurts.

Although she still felt empty and sore inside, Park Yoo-jung decided to live wearing a mask and meticulously acting like someone loved by those around her.

**

When I entered my second year of middle school, my friends, one by one, began to seriously think about their dreams.

“Yoo Jeong-ah, what did you write down for your future dreams this time?”

“Me? Civil servant!”

“Civil servant? You don’t get along with Yoojung?”

“Hey, I get a pension and I don’t have to worry about getting cut… . I like that!”

Of course, I gave up on my childhood dream of becoming an idol.

To become an idol, you need a lot of support, both material and spiritual. If you fail to debut and become successful, you may end up in debt.

Park Yu-jeong didn’t want to cause unnecessary trouble to her aunt and uncle.

So her dream is to become a civil servant.

You might say that this is a bit too harsh a dream for a growing middle school student, but… .

Park Yu-jeong liked the civil servant’s easygoing nature.

‘You shouldn’t even go to college. You should start preparing for the exam right after graduating from high school.’

Park Yu-jeong spent her school life thinking that way.

however….

When she was in her second year of middle school, an annoying presence appeared in her sight.

“Younghee, did you do your homework for me?”

“Younghee! Lend me some money! You’re an orphan, so what? Aren’t you getting a subsidy?”

“Our Younghee is an orphan, so her hair looks like a mess. Hehe, I’ll cut it for you!”

A girl who is bullied by a so-called group of bullies.

Although we weren’t close, I knew Park Yu-jeong’s name.

‘Kim Young-hee… She doesn’t have parents either.’

Kim Young-hee was once bullied by bullies for giving off a gloomy vibe, just like Park Yu-jeong had been.

For a moment, Park Yoo-jung saw herself in that girl… .

“Yoo Jeong-ah, what are you doing?”

“… No, let’s go.”

He soon shook his head.

Dreams, conscience, justice.

They are like a mirage that makes life easier if you just turn your head a little and close your eyes.

Park Yu-jeong didn’t have the luxury of chasing such illusions.

“Younghee, what’s with those nails? Didn’t your mom say anything? … Oh, she’s not here?”

“Phuhat! Now that I think about it, Younghee is completely immune to pad-lips? I’m a little jealous of that!”

The more I looked at it, the more my heart ached for some reason… but Park Yoo-jung just passed by.

And as always…, she wore the mask of ‘Park Yoo-jung’ that people around her liked.