Chapter 169

Chapter 169

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

Episode 169: Chapter 17 – Celebrating The Birth Of A Couple (END)

The rooftop of the TwoBear building—and Gaeul.

It was a place and a person I knew all too well, yet in that moment, everything felt painfully unfamiliar.

Perhaps it was because I had a feeling that, from now on, I would remember this moment in a completely different way.

And I hoped—deeply—that feeling would prove to be wrong.

“Not now, not ever.”

Gaeul, who was repeating my words to herself, looked at me and raised the corners of her mouth as much as she could, saying,

“What’s the reason? Don’t you see me as a woman? Is it because I’m not attractive? Or is it because of my age?”

Gaeul was undeniably attractive—so much so that I wouldn’t hesitate to rank her among the top four in the world.

On any other day, if she had asked whether she was attractive, I would have showered her with praise without holding back.

But now, in this moment, I couldn’t offer the same innocent compliments.

Whatever I said had to hurt. That truth alone made me hesitate to open my mouth.

“I do think I have some charm of my own. I’ve seen comments online where people say nice things about me. And…”

Gaeul wrapped both of her hands around my right hand, as if to bind it.

“I might still look young, but even my chest…”

Then Gaeul pulled my hand towards her chest.

I reflexively pushed her hand away before it could touch.

I was startled by my own movement and quickly apologized to her.

“Sorry, I got startled…”

But Gaeul, eyes lifeless, looked at me with a sultry, fragile smile and said,

“If it’s you, Taeyang Oppa… I don’t mind if you touch me…”

“…”

At that moment, I fully realized.

The gentle, harmless way was no longer possible.

It was now impossible to stay in the same kind of relationship with Gaeul as before.

‘If Team Leader Seon isn’t there, everyone’s disappointed! Especially the part we sing together—people love that so much… I do too, of course.’

Moments that once sparkled like jewels—those quiet, ordinary times that became special simply because of her. The way her presence made me look forward to the future. Every moment I had shared with Yoo Gaeul had shone so brightly.

They were all treasures to me. So precious, I didn’t want to trade them for anything.

I didn’t want to lose them. I wanted to protect them.

Even so, it was something that had to be done—if I truly wanted to protect TwoBear and Girl Revolution.

“You asked for the reason? I’ll tell you…”

Language, depending on how it’s used, could become the sharpest of blades. A blade that could gouge out and tear the heart apart—cruel and filthy in its precision.

“…Ah.”

Even knowing that, I spat out poison. I planted it.

I used words to make this girl in front of me realize just how far Seon Taeyang truly was from being an ideal man.

The affection and care I had carried for Gaeul, all the knowledge and warmth, became nothing more than tools to hurt her.

“…Ah.”

Perhaps, after today, Gaeul would never smile at me with that same innocent light again.

I would accept that.

That was the price a disgraceful adult had to pay—one who chose the company and the team’s benefit over a young girl’s pure heart.

“…”

And so, like a festering disease, the words fulfilled their only purpose: the ruin of our relationship.

“I trust you understand now. That’s reason enough. Let’s pretend this never happened. I’ll forget it—even if it’s not what you want.”

Gaeul collapsed into a sitting position, her legs giving way, as she cried, looking at me.

I couldn’t bring myself to meet her gaze anymore, so I turned my back.

“I’m going to leave first, so if you feel better, come down.”

Just as I was about to open the door and leave the rooftop, I heard her voice softly behind me.

“Taeyang Oppa.”

I slowly turned my head—and saw her.

“…Gaeul.”

She was standing just beyond the railing of the rooftop, her figure precarious, as if she might fall at any moment.

I reached out my hand and stepped toward her. But she took a step back. There was nowhere else for her to go.

Instinctively, I froze in place, as if one more step forward would mean losing her forever. No—there was a very real chance of that.

From that fragile inch of space, Gaeul spoke.

“Taeyang Oppa.”

“Yes, Gaeul. Just calm down, come back from there—”

“I love you, Taeyang Oppa.”

“…”

“I can’t live without you, Taeyang Oppa.”

Her sweet confession crumbled, like the sound of a dry branch snapping.

“If someone like me is hated by you… If I’m not even worthy of being loved… Then I don’t think I can keep living with any hope for the future.”

“Gaeul… The world is full of things worth dreaming for. There’s your music, your idol career, all the people you’ll meet—everything that’s made you who you are. Love? Romance? There are so many amazing people out there. People who will love you. People who will cherish you. You deserve all of that. So don’t throw everything away for someone like me—”

“You’re not just someone.”

Gaeul replied in a lifeless voice, completely flat.

“To me, you’re everything.”

“…”

“Taeyang Oppa… Without you, I’m nothing. None of what I have means anything if it doesn’t catch your interest.”

“How can you say that? You, Gaeul, you’re incredible. You’re beautiful. You have so much to offer—”

“But you said none of it is your type. You said you would never love me. That you would never, ever see me as a woman, not even for a moment.”

“…”

“Then what’s the point of all those things? I really don’t understand.”

My head felt like it was going to explode.

I had no idea what to do.

The only thought that came to me was the vague yet desperate need to stabilize Gaeul’s emotions. At the very least, I knew I couldn’t just leave her like this. That feeling came first—urgent and overpowering.

“Gaeul, so what I just said, all those words that hurt you… they were all lies.”

So what I chose was a pathetic act of desperation. At the very least, I just wanted her to step away from that dangerous edge.

“…Lies?”

“Yes, lies! That I hated you, that I’d never love you—it was all a lie! I’m just a selfish person. A coward. Instead of facing your feelings head-on, I ran away like a coward. How could anyone hate someone like you?”

In a trembling voice, Gaeul asked.

“…Then, do you find me attractive? As a woman?”

“Of course you’re attractive. You’re the idol I chose.”

“I’m not talking about objective judgment. I mean your personal feelings, Taeyang Oppa.”

…There was no avoiding it now. In the end…

I couldn’t lift my head, but I gave her an answer.

“You’re attractive. So much so that it’s dangerous for me.”

“Do you love me?”

“I do. Though I don’t know if it’s at the level you were hoping for.”

“Could you marry me someday and have children with me?”

“I could. It would be too much happiness for someone like me.”

“Then… can I take your answer as permission for what I said earlier? About dating after my contract ends?”

I closed my eyes tightly.

And I repeated the sins I swore never to commit again.

“Yeah, if you can wait 5 years and 7 months until the contract ends.”

“…”

I opened my eyes, overwhelmed with confusion.

And I lifted my head, so as not to turn away anymore.

To face Gaeul standing before me.

And I saw it.

The Gaeul who had been gripping the rooftop railing, precariously on the edge.

The Gaeul whose eyes had gone lifeless, shedding tears from the pain of my rejection.

“…”

She was smiling.

It seemed as though she didn’t care at all about the precarious space beyond the railing, as if she had been waiting only for my words.

Radiantly. Seductively. In sheer ecstasy, she smiled.

“Hehe.”

As if everything that had happened just now was a lie, or just a brief deviation or joke, Gaeul lightly crossed the railing and walked toward me.

I, foolishly watching her, took a step back reflexively as Gaeul and I got closer, almost about to touch noses.

“…”

Once again, there was silence between us.

That eerie silence felt like it was scraping sharply at my throat, and in that moment, Gaeul smiled faintly again and grabbed the end of my clothing, as if satisfied with this for now.

And on the rooftop, where the sunset bathed the world in crimson light, Gaeul, wearing the yellow training jacket I gave her, spoke as she looked at me.

“I love you, Taeyang Oppa.”

With a tear she couldn’t wipe from one eye, and a smile on her lips, she spoke, her eyes soaked with fulfillment and joy, as if this moment was utterly blissful.

“Now and forever.”