Chapter 124

Chapter 124

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 124: Because I Like Him.

I hurriedly unclasped my hands, which had been interlocked. Although I felt it was too late since Gaeul had already seen it, I thought that keeping them clasped might cause an even stranger misunderstanding.

Perhaps disappointed, Yeoreum’s hand, which was crossed with mine, applied a little more pressure, but I half-heartedly pulled my hand away. Gaeul just watched this without saying anything.

“A-ahem, Gaeul, did you come from busking? I always see you at the company, but it’s nice to meet you in a place I didn’t expect.”

I cleared my throat awkwardly and changed the subject, but Yeo Gaeul, who was carrying a guitar case on her back, completely erased her usual Golden Retriever-like warmth and asked emotionlessly.

“What are you two doing here?”

“……”

This was bad.

After talking with Yeoreum during a volunteer activity at the orphanage, I realized that Yeoreum, being excluded from external activities because of her “nationally hated” title, might feel alienated compared to the other kids.

For that reason, under the pretext of increasing input to help ease her mind even a little and allow her to focus on practice, I added a touch of indulgence. This situation—spending time with Yeoreum by watching a concert together, eating ice cream, and sharing our thoughts—was the result of such an indulgence.

Fortunately, Yeoreum seemed to accept this positively, and showed a brighter attitude than usual, participating even more actively in future practices. As expected, even though Yeoreum was allowed some time off during practice, she remained diligent.

However, I was fully aware that this could be seen as special treatment by the other kids.

While I justified it as accommodating Yeoreum’s unique situation, where she had to refrain from external activities, I hadn’t given similar time to Gyeoul and Gaeul, who were equally participating diligently in practice and also putting their best effort into their busking and filming for Girl 100.

Because of that, I tried my best to keep this time away from the other kids.

Even if they found out, I planned to tell them only once Yeoreum’s image improved, and she was able to participate normally like the other kids.

So, for them to find out in a moment like this was the worst way possible.

“……”

But the situation had occurred, and rather than staying silent or pretending not to know, I had to handle it. That was the responsibility of the manager overseeing three kids.

So, as I struggled to figure out how to explain this without hurting Yeoreum, who felt alienated, or Gaeul, who would probably feel the same way now, Yeoreum, who had been quietly eating her ice cream, said with a bored expression,

“We’re on a date, you know?”

“……”

Her words were like throwing gasoline onto the already growing fire of the situation.

Even when receiving harsh words from Lee Hyerin or Song Johan, the TwoBear training room was always filled with enthusiasm and warmth. But now, it was filled with an unprecedented cold atmosphere.

This was due to Yeoreum and Gaeul, who had been trying not to acknowledge each other since yesterday.

It hadn’t been long since she joined, but Oh Yoori, who fully recognized that the current atmosphere wasn’t normal, cynically asked,

“Gyeoul unnie, why are those two acting like that?”

“Ugh… well…”

Thanks to my initial commitment to not give up communication to quickly restore team dynamics even if emotions were hurt, Gyeoul had a rough understanding of the situation, but I wasn’t sure where to start explaining it.

“So, well…”

Sighing softly at the scene of Gyeoul and Oh Yoori, Gaeul spoke calmly to Yeoreum.

“Yeoreum, can we talk for a minute?”

Yeoreum, understanding the need for it, nodded and said,

“Yeah, of course.”

“Thanks for saying that.”

Gaeul, as if she had carefully thought about what to say, began speaking slowly.

“First, I apologize for using an overly harsh tone and expression yesterday at the café. I’m really sorry, Yeoreum.”

Gaeul lowered her head slightly to express her feelings and continued speaking.

“I think when it comes to Taeyang oppa, it’s hard for me to control my emotions—no, I’m sure of it. If that hurt your feelings, I apologize now.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize for that. I feel the same way.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll apologize too, unnie. Even though Team Leader Seon already explained, that wasn’t a date. I just said that. It was just… Team Leader Seon was taking care of me when I was unstable.”

“Care… right, we all need care.”

“Yes, all of us.”

Their tone expressed mutual respect, and with the apologies, there was an understanding and consideration between them. However, the more they spoke, the more it seemed like the cold atmosphere around them froze even further.

Despite that, it was still difficult for Yeoreum and Gaeul to continue speaking.

In the end, it was Gaeul who spoke again.

“So, now that we’ve apologized, should we reconcile?”

“Yeah, unnie. Fighting over something so small and ruining the team’s atmosphere is not for anyone’s benefit.”

At that moment, Oh Yoori, who had been sensing the atmosphere, spoke up.

“Um, this might be a bit overstepping since I haven’t been here long, but there’s one thing I want to say.”

All eyes turned to Oh Yoori. She spoke with an air of calm and objectivity, as if she didn’t feel any pressure in the situation.

“I think it’s very good that you’re both apologizing and trying to understand each other. I admire how mature you both are, despite not being that old. However, as an outsider, it seems like you two are trying to cover up the issue without fully opening up.”

Gyeoul nodded unconsciously. She, too, felt that something would be wrong if they ended the conversation like this.

“I think we need to be a little more honest with each other. Since the four of us are dreaming of debuting under TwoBear, we’re going to be seeing each other for a long time, right?”

“……”

Yeoreum and Gaeul agreed with her words, so they spoke up again.

“Right. Just tying things up without talking about what’s really on our minds is just delaying the explosion. And, embarrassingly, I think this is that situation… So, I’ll be a bit more honest now.”

Gaeul continued speaking, recalling the glimmer of guilt on her face.

“I know. Just like you said, Yeoreum, and just like Team Leader Seon mentioned, that ‘output’ activity you did—just watching a concert or a movie—was nothing special. So, what bothered me wasn’t that part. It was the reason Taeyang oppa acted that way.”

In the gathered gaze, she looked at Yeoreum and opened her mouth.

“We all know that Taeyang oppa wouldn’t act like that without a reason, right?”

“……”

“Taeyang oppa doesn’t ignore people who need help. It doesn’t matter who they are or what the situation is. That means, if we ask for help, Taeyang oppa will make time for us in some way.”

This was an area that all the members here knew about, but no one dared to touch.

“We all know the answer to that too. If we want Taeyang oppa’s time, we know what we have to do. But we didn’t act on it. And if we did, it would have been in a really desperate situation. After all, Taeyang oppa’s body is one, and his time is limited. Naturally, if he’s helping someone, he can’t use that time for someone else. We know what it means to take away his time, especially now when he’s the busiest.”

They accepted this unspoken rule, knowing that Seon Taeyang lived a life where he woke up early, went to work, and didn’t return home until long after the sun had set. They knew there were people somewhere who desperately needed his help.

Jin Yeoreum didn’t deny it.

“Yes. Even knowing that, I made Team Leader Seon spend time with me. I exposed my weakness and asked for help so that Team Leader Seon couldn’t ignore me.”

Jin Yeoreum, who had opened up about her weaknesses in front of Taeyang at the orphanage, knew well what choice he would make upon hearing her words. She also knew it could burden Taeyang, but despite that, she chose to take his time.

“……”

Instead of Gaeul, who couldn’t speak, Gyeoul, who had been listening and pondering, spoke carefully.

“Yeoreum, that… it really wasn’t necessary, was it?”

“No, it was necessary.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“Because I like Team Leader Seon.”

“……”

There are many forms of love.

It might be the desire to receive without giving anything in return, or it might be the willingness to give everything without expecting any reward.

But no matter the value, if you love someone, you want to possess at least one thing of theirs—whether it’s their attention or their time.

You want their time to be yours.

“Because I want him to look at me, even just a little bit more.”

And Jin Yeoreum was in love.