Chapter 13 – Kim Seol’s Gag Order

As Kim Seol entered the BBQ restaurant, all noise inside instantly disappeared. The scene became so quiet that even the sound of the door opening couldn’t be heard, and all eyes naturally focused on her.

The living legend who had two songs reach #1 on the Billboard chart. It was Kim Seol, nicknamed the Snow Queen for her mysterious appearance. Kim Seol’s white hair gently brushed her shoulders, swaying slowly with her movements. The moment she stepped in, it felt as if time had stopped.

“This is Kim Seol.”

Kim Seol’s eyes slowly scanned the dinner venue. As she stood up and walked towards Kang Junho, the atmosphere of the dinner subtly changed. With each step she took, laughter and conversation began to fade one by one. As if everyone’s attention had suddenly shifted to her, the space became quiet.

Staff members put down their glasses, looking around nervously, and actors stopped their conversations. Kim Seol’s presence was that intense. As a successful female singer known to everyone in Korea, people couldn’t help but be tense with her every action.

However, Kim Seol didn’t mind such an atmosphere and continued to approach Kang Junho directly. Even as people murmured and looked around nervously, her gaze never wavered.

Kang Junho, drunk on alcohol, slowly raised his head to look at her. The moment their eyes met, the air grew heavier.

Kim Seol lightly opened her mouth. She took one more step towards Kang Junho. The tension in the dinner venue heightened even more. She was still wearing a gentle smile, but behind that smile lay a serious warning.

“Junho,” Kim Seol said softly, tilting her head slightly as if whispering. Her hand was pinching and stretching Kang Junho’s cheek.

“What did I tell you? I told you not to drink in front of other people, didn’t I?”

Her voice was still soft, but her words were firm. Everyone held their breath and watched them. Kang Junho couldn’t speak for a moment and slowly stared at her. Her words echoed heavily in his hazy, alcohol-affected eyes.

Ding!

The door opened roughly and Park Taeseong entered the BBQ restaurant, panting. His forehead, neck, and even clothes were soaked with sweat, and he looked around, roughly brushing up his disheveled hair with one hand.

“Wow, everyone’s quiet. What’s going on, did something happen?”

Park Taeseong immediately noticed that the atmosphere was unusual. Everyone was just sitting in silence, and the vibrant atmosphere typical of a celebration party was nowhere to be found. He immediately looked back and forth between Kim Seol and Kang Junho, as if trying to grasp the situation.

Kim Seol was still wearing a gentle smile, but Kang Junho had his head down and had put down his glass. It felt like he had missed an important moment by arriving late.

“Junho… didn’t tell that story again, did he?” Park Taeseong asked with a sigh, looking concerned.

“No, not yet,” Kim Seol quietly answered, shaking her head. She was still standing next to Kang Junho, patting his shoulder. “I think he only talked about his parents’ passing.”

If he had talked about more than that, attention wouldn’t have shifted to me when I came in.

If that much was an accident, what followed was a disaster created by human greed.

Hearing those words, Park Taeseong let out a sigh of relief and slumped into a nearby chair.

“Phew, that’s a relief. You never know what story might come out today. Last time, everyone was shocked too.”

He muttered quietly, licking his lips. By the way. Park Taeseong looked around. Indeed, no one but themselves could be okay after hearing that story.

“Ahaha. Looks like he’s quite drunk. Junho, let’s go home quickly.”

“Yeah, let’s go home! He’s very drunk.” Director Cho Makdun echoed Park Taeseong’s words.

Park Taeseong sighed and looked at Kang Junho slumped over the table. No more reaction could be expected from him after emptying several glasses. Kang Junho, who had been barely sitting on the chair, swaying, was now completely unconscious.

“Really… he blacked out.”

Park Taeseong shook his head, talking to himself. Such a lightweight, how many glasses did he drink.

“Park Taeseong. Take Junho home. I’ll be there soon.”

“What about you?”

Kim Seol smiled coldly. “I need to gag them.”

To prevent anyone from talking about Junho’s trauma.

#

When I opened my eyes, my head felt like it was about to split. I tried to steady my breathing while looking at the ceiling, but my body felt heavy. When I turned my head to the side, I saw my messy studio apartment. Trash and scattered clothes, and empty bottles rolling on the floor… it’s dirty, I should clean up.

My head is throbbing. I feel like something happened last night. But my mind was completely blank.

Yesterday… we had a company dinner, right? I remember that.

But I couldn’t recall anything after that. I vaguely remembered Kim Seol coming and her cold gaze, but I couldn’t remember what I did at all. Only a feeling that something had gone wrong lingered in my mind.

I tried to get up but ended up sitting back down on the bed. My stomach was churning, and my throat was parched. I picked up a water bottle, but it was empty as expected. Feeling drained, I put the water bottle back down and held my head.

Damn, did I black out again…

Checking my phone, I saw several missed calls from Park Taeseong.

[Bastard]: Kang Junho, you completely blacked out yesterday. Seol is angry. You’re in big trouble.

The next message had an even stranger content.

“Stay quiet for now. I don’t think Kim Seol will let this slide this time.”

I put down my phone and sighed. My head was still foggy, and I couldn’t remember anything, but the atmosphere was clearly not good.

My mind was still confused. I couldn’t remember at all what had happened yesterday. The uneasiness felt in Park Taeseong’s message suggested that this wasn’t a problem that could be solved just by blacking out.

Kim Seol is angry…?

Kim Seol… I remembered the gaze she gave me straight on at the dinner that day. That cold and sharp gaze. I couldn’t remember what she said, but it seemed like something important had happened. As if a moment had come where nothing more could be done.

I got up from the bed and walked towards the window. Light was dimly seeping through the curtains. The noise of passing cars resonated in one corner of my head through that gap. When I put my hand to my forehead, beads of sweat had formed.

Kim Seol… what did she say to me?

I grew increasingly anxious at the fact that I couldn’t recall Kim Seol’s voice. Kim Seol getting angry? The thought that anything could happen if Kim Seol really got angry wouldn’t leave my mind.

I picked up my phone again to call Park Taeseong, but hesitated. The desire to ask what on earth had happened conflicted with the fear of the answer. If I can’t remember anyway, should I just let it pass?

But Seol wouldn’t just let it slide…

I checked Park Taeseong’s message again.

“I don’t think Kim Seol will let this slide this time.”

That message wasn’t a simple warning. Kim Seol must have decided something last night. I didn’t know what that decision was, but it was clearly something that would happen to me.

I knew that fact all too well.

What on earth did I do last night?

Holding my head again, I slowly sat down on the bed. I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer. No matter how empty my head was, I couldn’t ignore this situation.

I picked up the phone again and dialed Park Taeseong’s number. I could feel sweat forming on my hand as the dial tone rang.

Please pick up, please…

After about four rings, Park Taeseong finally answered the phone.

“Kang Junho, you’re awake?”

His voice was heavy and tired. As if he hadn’t slept and had been up all night.

“Hey, are you okay? Why does your voice sound like that?”

“Ah, because of someone, yawn. I couldn’t even sleep properly. You bastard. Didn’t I tell you not to drink except with me and Kim Seol?”

I remained silent for a moment before speaking again.

“Yesterday… what did I do?”

I asked carefully.

“Well, it’s about time you knew. About your drunk behavior.”

Park Taeseong couldn’t continue for a moment. I heard him taking a breath, then he slowly began to speak. I quietly listened to what Park Taeseong was saying.

With each word, goosebumps started to form all over my body.

What? I said such things?

I was shocked. They didn’t tell me specifically. So I didn’t pay much attention. Since I didn’t drink often, I thought it didn’t matter much. But I noticed that many people who drank with me afterwards had become distant to a suspicious degree.

Who could put up with such outrageous drunk behavior!

“For now. Kim Seol agreed to gag everyone so your story doesn’t spread. You don’t like other people talking about your story, right?”

“Y-yeah, thanks.”

“Buy me a meal later. I’m tired, so I’m hanging up.”