episode_0052

# 52

Turning back time to that morning.

I drove to the dormitory first thing in the morning.

Today, each member had completely different schedules.

Sea said she was going out with friends.

Sarangi had a work date with Han Myung-soo today. Since the meeting spot was near the dorm, I only needed to drop her off briefly.

Eun-chae… officially said she was going back to her family’s house in the countryside. We even agreed I’d drive her to the bus terminal.

But I didn’t know if Eun-chae’s words about going home were really true. Was she actually meeting Director Bura after being blackmailed?

Eun-chae never gave a clear answer, so I wasn’t sure.

Harin had no schedule at all. Once I dropped the girls off, my work was done. Only the two of us had nothing scheduled.

Though Sarangi brought it up yesterday… honestly, I had some expectations.

I wanted to take her out somewhere, but we couldn’t—people were watching.

We’d probably just have to stay at the dorm. Just the two of us.

……Not a bad plan.

Arriving at the dorm, I knocked on the door.

“I’m coming in.”

“Okay! Come in!”

Harin’s voice came from inside.

When I opened the door and entered, Harin and Eun-chae were already ready. Sarangi was drying her hair.

“……Where’s Sea?”

“Sea already left. She was getting ready since dawn?”

Sea? The kid who wouldn’t wake up even if you dragged her out of bed for work? Today, she got up herself, got ready, and left alone? What kind of wind blew her way?

“Manager-nim. Is Sarangi going out today too?”

Now that I think about it, I hadn’t told the others about Sarangi’s schedule.

“Yeah. ……She said she had something else to do.” “Really?” “That’s why I came to drop you guys off. Eun-chae, you’re going to the terminal, right?” “…? Ah. Yes.”

She had been fiddling with her phone on the couch before glancing at me and answering.

“The terminal trip should take about an hour… so around lunchtime.” “…Ah. Manager-nim, you’re not going straight home after this, right?” “Huh? Well, I’ll just head back to the dorm…”

As I tried to answer, Eun-chae looked at me. Even Sarangi, who was drying her hair, had turned off the dryer and was peeking over at me.

“……I’ll come back.”

At my response, Eun-chae stifled a laugh, and Sarangi also smirked.

……They totally saw through me. Seriously.

A little later, once everyone was ready, we put on our shoes by the entrance. Harin wasn’t coming along since she didn’t put on shoes.

“Alright. I’ll be back soon. Want me to bring anything?” “Just one strawberry milk, please.”

Harin answered immediately. Figured. I’ll grab it from the convenience store on the way back.

Leaving Harin behind, the three of us got into my car—Eun-chae in the passenger seat, Sarangi in the back.

“…….” “…….”

For some reason, neither of them spoke. Both just fiddled with their phones.

The awkwardness made me want to say something… but I didn’t know what.

Since Sarangi’s meeting spot with Director Han was close to the dorm, we arrived first.

“Okay, I’ll be back. Call me if anything happens.” “Yeah.”

Sarangi disappeared into the crowd with just that.

Director Han said he’d pick her up by car… so he should be here soon.

*Vrooom.*

A strangely shaped yellow coupe passed by on the opposite lane. What an odd-looking car.

Next, Eun-chae.

Glancing at the passenger seat, I noticed she wasn’t on her phone for once.

“Not on your phone?” “Huh?” “No, it’s just—you’ve always been glued to it lately.” “…Was I?” “Ever since that filming the other day, you’ve been—” “…….”

I prodded, but she didn’t answer.

“Something going on?”

I asked more directly this time.

Would Eun-chae tell me? About being blackmailed with photos by Baek Pan-su and Director Bura?

But after a long pause, she replied quietly:

“……No. Nothing’s wrong.” “…Really? You don’t look okay.” “I swear, I’m fine.” “…….”

Her tone didn’t match her words at all.

Should I just ask outright if she’s being blackmailed?

…No, forget it. If I say, *I already know everything*, she might be even more shocked.

Back during the hidden-camera incident, what she hated most—more than anything—was the idea of her photos being leaked to the members or acquaintances.

“…It’s just something minor. Like you said before, I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere with ’s activities.” “Yeah? Then that’s… fine, I guess.”

‘Minor’?

For something ‘minor,’ she sure seemed troubled.

Ever since the music show, I’d been agonizing over it.

How do we erase those photos? Should I tell the CEO? If others found out Eun-chae had those kinds of photos and videos taken of her…

But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find a clean solution.

That’s why, even though I knew something was wrong, I couldn’t act recklessly.

If I get the chance, I’ll meet those bastards myself and settle things.

Right now, this is the best I can do.

Before I knew it, we’d arrived at the bus terminal.

Eun-chae probably wasn’t taking a bus from here—she was going somewhere else.

“Thanks for the ride.” “Yeah. Let me know when you’re coming back.” “……Sure. Probably tomorrow morning.”

As she said this, Eun-chae bit her lip lightly.

*

Manager-nim dropped me off at the terminal before heading back to the dorm.

He must be going to meet Harin now. And then, just the two of them…

Even imagining it made my face heat up.

“Ugh…!”

I shook my head sharply.

Sex… well, I’ll be doing it too today.

The only difference is, it’s with someone I don’t want and don’t love.

[Glasses Loser – Are you here yet?]

A message arrived as if he’d been waiting.

I replied curtly.

[Yeah.]

[Glasses Loser – I’ll be right there.]

How obnoxiously persistent can he be with these damn messages? If I don’t reply, he threatens to leak the photos.

Because of these bastards, even Manager-nim got suspicious about me being on my phone so much. If not for that… at least I could’ve hidden it better.

*Honk honk.*

A car parked in front of me—the horn sounded.

The window rolled down, revealing Director Bura’s disgusting face.

“Heheh… Get in.”

Gritting my teeth, I sat in the passenger seat.

“Heh… Long time no see, Eun-chae-yang.” “…….”

“Where should we go today? A hotel? Or just a cheap motel? The restroom where you had fun with Executive Baek Pan-su is also an option. Hehehe.”

“Are you insane? We almost got caught there. Some… somewhere with no people. Somewhere nobody will know.”

“A hotel still?”

“Hotels—people will see us going in together! Isn’t there… somewhere no one will notice?”

“An adult motel, then. Heheh…”

An adult motel… at least I wouldn’t risk being seen. I’ve never been to one—but of course, my first time would be with this creep.

“You ate yet?” “I’m fine. I won’t.” “You’ll need stamina for today. Really sure?”

Stamina…

His insinuation made my face burn again.

“Nggh…! If we go to a restaurant, someone might see us! Idiot.” “Hehehe. Fine. I’ll order delivery after we get the room.”

Delivery… that’s better. I’ll just hide when it arrives.

“Heheh… Heard about what happened last time?”

“You guys… really just gossip about me, huh? No lives at all.”

“Important info, though. Hehehe… like your vulnerabilities.”

“Shut up. I’ll kill you.”

“Your asshole?”

“Kh—! I s-said I’ll kill you!”

“Heheh. Or should I say ‘anus’?”

“Seriously, stop…! Just quit with the perverted shit…!”

“Not like you’re one to talk—someone who pissed herself while coming—”

“Argh—shut up!!”

These guys treated me like their property.

…Property.

Right now, I *am* just their property.

Those photos and videos taken in the spur of the moment… I never imagined they’d come back like this.

Because of them, I’m effectively their sex slave now.

A slave who has to offer her body whenever they call.

No telling how long this will last.

Why… why did I even let them take those photos?

I don’t know. I don’t know why.

Just being touched… makes me…

I hate it. I *hate* it.

I feel like I’m losing my mind.

Is it me being weak, or are they just that good?

It’s forced. Blackmail. Rape.

Yet… ngh.

No.

I hate this.

My body betrays me.

Why am I like this?

“Heheh… Eun-chae-yang?”

Director Bura’s hand slowly slid onto my thigh.

*Fuck.* I hate this. Disgusting.

*Skkrrt… skkrrt…*

His fingers traced my skin lazily.

I wanted to pull away, but I couldn’t.

He kept touching me.

“Hehehe… Still nice and firm, huh?”

“Y-yeah? Well, I don’t care what you think…!”

“Want me to make you feel good? Hehehe…”

“Wha—? Don’t—Ah! Nghh…!”

*Damn it.*

Why his hand on my *ass*?

This bastard, that bastard—both obsessed with my ass.

Perverted freaks.

“Heheh… We’re here.”

While he groped me, the car turned into an alley near the red-light district.

On a weekday afternoon, the streets were empty.

At least… that’s a relief.

If someone saw me—an idol—with this disgusting old man…

Just imagining it made my skin crawl.

“Wait—before we go in.”

Director Bura suddenly parked.

Right beside the love motel—why not just go in?

“If you want… we could buy condoms at the convenience store. Hehehe…”

“Wh… what?”

Is he—

Making *me* go buy them?

“Or we could just go in. They have cheap ones inside… Unless you wanna rawdog it like last time? Hehehe. I’m fine either way—”

“I’ll—just buy them, okay?!”

Last time, at the music show, I had to take birth control pills—something I’d *never* taken before.

Do they even know how bad those are for my body?

I had to wear a disguise just to visit the hospital.

Condoms are *way* better.

Warily, I stepped out of the car—sunglasses and mask on.

This should hide my identity.

But…

“Wait—why are *you* coming too? I can go alone.”

Disgustingly, Director Bura approached and wrapped an arm around my waist—like a couple.

…Now we just *look* like people here to fuck!

“Hehehe… Shouldn’t we go together? To buy condoms.”

“Ugh…! You goddamn *freak*…!”

Cursing silently, I had no choice but to let him drag me toward the convenience store beside the love motel.