Chapter 125

Chapter 125

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

Episode 125: Chapter 10 – Girls In Love (END).

“You already knew, didn’t you?”

“……”

It was impossible not to know.

About what kind of feelings Jin Yeoreum harbored for Seon Taeyang.

Even when Song Johan passionately lectured about vocals during training, her gaze always drifted toward Seon Taeyang passing by the window.

Whenever someone brought up Seon Taeyang, she had witnessed up close how her expression changed—those subtle shifts.

She had seen how someone so calm and emotionless, who sometimes seemed like a ghost, could show such vibrant expressions.

It was never possible to hide it.

But they both pretended not to know and never spoke of it.

Because once it was revealed, they would inevitably clash.

But that deception had now come to an end.

Gaeul had accepted that she could no longer pretend not to know.

“Yes, thank you for being honest. I understand how you feel.”

Even if they would clash.

“That makes sense, because I also like Taeyang oppa.”

The feelings that blossomed like dandelions swam across all of Gaeul’s heart, becoming seeds that floated beyond the blooming yellow flowers.

Gaeul’s sky was already filled with those seeds.

She was also in love.

“To be more honest, just saying I like him doesn’t seem enough. Yes, I love Taeyang oppa… I’m afraid to imagine life without him. But I know I shouldn’t express this feeling now. After all, we are idols about to debut.”

What they were meant to be was idols.

Though recently, the culture of respecting idols’ private lives had been growing, it was still a fact that the entertainment and love that idols engaged in tend to cause more harm than good.

Let alone the fact that they hadn’t even debuted yet; for them, it would have been pure poison.

“I know too, that my feelings would only be an obstacle for Team Leader Seon and for TwoBear.”

Yeoreum knew that too.

“But I don’t want to pretend this feeling doesn’t exist and suppress it. No, honestly, I can’t. No matter how hard I try to hold it in, I can’t.”

“Yeoreum…”

She knew. She understood.

And that’s why Gaeul couldn’t continue speaking. She, too, felt the same.

The gentle ripples of her heart had spread, and before she knew it, they had soaked everything around her.

Gaeul also couldn’t hold back.

In the wild urge toward Seon Taeyang, she found herself spiraling out of control.

And it was Han Gyeoul who stepped forward to say what had to be said on behalf of Gaeul.

“Yeoreum, I know it feels inappropriate for me to say this, but don’t you think we should endure just a little longer?”

“Yeah, Gyeoul, you’ve been enduring more than anyone.”

“What about me?”

As Gyeoul was about to ask what that meant, Jin Yeoreum turned to ask Gaeul.

“Can I ask you something, Gaeul unnie?”

“Mm? Oh, sure.”

Jin Yeoreum took a deep breath after Gaeul’s permission and unveiled her hidden question.

“How did you find that place where I spent time with Team Leader Seon?”

“Well… I just happened to stop by the cafe after finishing the busking performance…”

“But Gaeul unnie, the place where you did the busking is more than an hour away. It’s far from the company too. You just happened to stop by a cafe near that place?”

“……”

Gaeul remained silent. And that was enough of an answer.

“Okay, I won’t ask how you did it anymore.”

Seeing Gaeul trembling and unable to answer, Gyeoul spoke again.

“It’s because Gaeul unnie…”

“Gyeoul.”

Jin Yeoreum usually played the role of a calm listener in most conversations.

But now, she abruptly interrupted Gyeoul’s words, something uncharacteristic of her.

Gyeoul felt a shift in Jin Yeoreum’s voice. It had the usual cold and calm tone, but now it was filled with passion, almost as if she was angry.

“The weirdest thing right now is you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“……”

“I think it’s healthy to blame me for causing the discord. I understand why you feel that way. But there’s something in your actions that I just don’t get.”

“Something you don’t understand?”

“Why are you always trying to defend Gaeul unnie? No, that’s wrong. Why are you trying to endure all of this?”

“Well, I thought enduring was for the sake of everyone…”

“Does that ‘everyone’ include you?”

“……”

Seeing Gyeoul unable to respond, Jin Yeoreum bit her lower lip hard.

And she unleashed all the emotions she had been holding back.

“Gyeoul, you’re strange. You create opportunities for Gaeul unnie and Team Leader Seon to spend time together; you try to pass any chance to talk about him to Gaeul unnie; and even when you’re with Team Leader Seon, you bring up Gaeul unnie first. Or you force circumstances so they can be alone. What is that? It’s strange. Why are you helping Gaeul unnie when you’re supposed to be holding back?”

“Well… it’s because Taeyang oppa feels comfortable talking to Gaeul unnie. He doesn’t show it, but he depends on Gaeul unnie, who is the eldest. And I can offer Gaeul unnie help. So, I’m doing it for both of them…”

“You like Team Leader Seon too!”

“……”

Gyeoul thought she had to deny what Yeoreum was saying.

She thought that if she wanted to stay near Seon Taeyang in any form, she had to suppress these feelings now.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Because she could never lie about that feeling.

“……”

So, silence was the best she could do.

Even though everyone knew the meaning of that silence.

Seeing her friend in such frustration, Yeoreum couldn’t calm down and blurted out.

“I’m not upset with Gaeul unnie. In fact, I think her pure feelings are lovely, even as a woman myself. The way Gaeul unnie behaves is so natural. Honestly, I don’t intend to stop her, whether it’s tracking his location or stalking… I actually want to do it too!”

Oh Yoori, who had been quietly observing the situation in the corner, asked, “Wait, why is everyone nodding in agreement with this crazy statement?” but no one paid attention and continued speaking.

“But Gyeoul, you’re different, you shouldn’t do that.”

“I… I’m okay.”

“No! You’re not okay at all. That’s going to hurt you so much. It will leave a scar that will never fade. The feelings you’re holding onto are not something you can just suppress.”

This wasn’t something you say to someone who has a crush on another person.

It was something said to a friend who shares the same dreams, understanding, and reliance.

Jin Yeoreum had seen it. And she understood.

She understood Gyeoul’s longing and deep self-loathing, the defense mechanisms that her twisted heart had created.

If Gyeoul was left alone like this, she would surely break. Yeoreum was certain of it.

After all, Yeoreum had felt the same.

“Someday, I’ll confess my feelings to Team Leader Seon. And when that moment comes, I don’t want him to see it as a rebellious act from a manager’s perspective, or as an uncomfortable hassle. I want to leave behind a feeling of excitement and hesitation in his heart, something that will make him think about it. And in the end, I want it to lead somewhere.”

Simply expressing her feelings wasn’t enough. In the end, she wanted Seon Taeyang to accept her feelings. To achieve that, she couldn’t just stay still. She couldn’t sit back and suffer alone while Gyeoul and Gaeul grew closer.

Even if it caused discord and twisted their relationship, this was the reason for her little deception.

Jin Yeoreum wanted to leave a mark on Seon Taeyang’s heart.

“Gaeul unnie, I’m sorry for this situation. I understand your concerns. It must have seemed like I had a selfish desire to monopolize Team Leader Seon. Honestly, it wasn’t much different. But I know that can’t happen. So, I promise, I won’t do anything foolish to block TwoBear’s future in an attempt to get ahead. I want to succeed with everyone in TwoBear too. I will never allow myself to become an obstacle.”

Jin Yeoreum didn’t just like Seon Taeyang. She liked everyone in TwoBear, including Cheon Aram, Seo Soo-yeon, Lee Hyerin, Song Johan, Seok Hyun-woo, Han Gyeoul, Yoo Gaeul, and even the new trainee, Oh Yoori.

She wanted them all to be happy. She wanted to help them.

Despite that, there was something she couldn’t give up.

“But, as long as it doesn’t get in the way, I won’t stop creating these small moments like now. I don’t want to fall behind.”

“……”

“So, Gyeoul, face it properly. Don’t give up thinking it won’t work, and don’t compromise by just being by his side. Prepare yourself to confront your feelings someday.”

Jin Yeoreum forced a smile, lifting the trembling corners of her mouth, and spoke to Gyeoul.

“If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”

Even though she knew that she might be the one to regret this later.

After finishing her words, Jin Yeoreum left the training room to compose herself, but the room was filled with silence.

“……”

Gaeul also knew what Yeoreum had pointed out. She knew what kind of feelings Gyeoul had and what her actions toward her meant. At first, Gaeul hadn’t been sure when Gyeoul declared her support for Gaeul’s love, but over time, she became convinced of the true meaning of it.

Despite that, she accepted Gyeoul’s kindness almost automatically, because the time spent with Seon Taeyang within that kindness was too sweet.

Because of that, Gaeul thought she was the worst person here.

Shaking with guilt, Gaeul apologized to Gyeoul as if begging for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry, Gyeoul. I really…”

But Gyeoul didn’t hear her apology. What echoed in her mind was only Yeoreum’s warning that she would regret it someday.

“I love Taeyang ssam…”

Gyeoul murmured as if lost in thought.

The new trainee, Oh Yoori, who had been silently observing all of this from the corner, made her own assessment in secret.

“The group project’s totally screwed.”

Three crazy ticking time bombs had fallen right in front of her—her fellow trainees had a crush on their manager, just days before their debut.

It was, without exaggeration, a completely screwed situation.