episode_0060

#60

“Wow~. Nice place you’ve got here? Great location. And the room’s bigger than I expected.”

Park Dong-chul looked around the dormitory as if he were a real estate agent, inspecting every corner. He even swung open the doors to the girls’ rooms without hesitation, but Ha-rin and I could only follow silently, unable to stop him.

“…We’re aware it was hard for the company to secure this.”

“Figured. A small agency like yours couldn’t afford a place like this for long. Makes sense.”

“……”

His tone carried the arrogance of someone who thought he had the company’s entire financial situation figured out. Having met countless idols and agency staff over the years, he probably had a rough idea.

And honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

“Still, if sells well, there shouldn’t be any problems, right?”

“……Yes.”

“You know that stunt you pulled on last week’s music show gave a temporary boost in recognition, right?”

“Yes, I’m aware.”

It was true—after the wardrobe malfunction incident on the music show, public interest in had surged.

Their music video views skyrocketed, and actual album sales increased significantly.

Though no articles explicitly mentioned the exposure, a few had begun taking notice of …

I could feel the undeniable power of broadcast exposure now more than ever.

“You know it’s all thanks to me, right? Since I let it all~ slide…”

“I sincerely appreciate it.”

I bowed my head to Park Dong-chul again.

No matter how humiliating it was in front of Ha-rin—

I had to do it. It was necessary right now.

“……Thank you.”

Ha-rin, standing beside me, glanced at me and bowed her head as well.

Only then did Park Dong-chul flash a satisfied smirk.

“Hey, it’s fine. People make mistakes, right?”

“……Yes. Thank you for understanding.”

The bastard had assaulted Ha-rin under the guise of covering up the wardrobe malfunction—and now he was acting magnanimous.

I felt sickened by his shamelessness, but I gritted my teeth.

If Ha-rin could endure it… so could I.

“By the way, where are the other members today?”

Other members?

The disgusting glint in Park Dong-chul’s eyes as he looked between us was unmistakable.

“Uh, the others are—”

“The others have individual schedules, so they’re not here right now.”

Before I could answer, Ha-rin stepped in.

“Oh? So it’s just you, Ha-rin? Every time I visit, the others conveniently disappear.”

“…It’s just how the schedule worked out today.”

“You sure they’re not ducking me whenever I come over? Tsk.”

“N-No, that’s not it.”

Looking at the situation, it was understandable he’d think that—but the girls really hadn’t left because of him.

“Yeah? Well, too bad then. Guess I’ll have to wait for another chance.”

He gave up faster than expected.

Park Dong-chul stroked his chin before stepping closer to where we stood.

“Well, in that case…”

“……?”

He approached Ha-rin—

Then, without hesitation—

“H-hhk…!”

—he grabbed her chest.

“Hgnh…!”

“Whoa~. Still as soft as ever, huh? Ha-rin’s chest.”

His hands kneaded relentlessly, reshaping her breasts under his grip.

Fuck.

My hands were shaking.

I knew I had to stop him…

But my trembling fingers could only tighten into fists.

Park Dong-chul glanced at me with a smirk.

“Hm? Manager Jeon, you don’t look too good. Something wrong?”

Squeeze.

“Nh…!”

Ha-rin kept her head lowered, letting him grope her without protest—without even trying to pull away. Just staying still.

“……Nothing.”

“Well, lighten up a little, then? I’m trying to relax here, and your grim face is kinda killing the mood. Yeah?”

“……My apologies.”

“Kehkeh… Instead of just standing there, why don’t you sit and chat?”

He glanced at the sofa in the living room.

The same sofa had used these past four years—where they’d laughed, eaten, and played together.

Park Dong-chul plopped down in the middle like he owned the place, then patted the seat beside him.

……Was he telling her to come here?

Before I could finish the thought, Ha-rin wordlessly walked over and sat where he’d indicated.

Her hands rested properly on her knees, posture straight—only tilting her head slightly to avoid my gaze.

“Keheheh. You listen so well now, Ha-rin—not like when we first met. Much better, right?”

“……”

No reply.

But Park Dong-chul didn’t care, casually wrapping an arm around her shoulder anyway.

“You know what you’ve got to do, right?”

“……Yes… I do.”

“Kkh. Good.”

“Hk…!”

His hand returned to her chest.

Like it was his property, he fondled her while keeping her pinned under his arm.

“Nh…! Hah…!”

Ha-rin avoided both our gazes, silently accepting his groping without resisting.

Please.

Take your hands off her, you bastard.

That chest—that body—

…It’s supposed to be **mine.**

“Hhk…!”

“Whoa, this spot’s sensitive, huh? Got it.”

Like he already knew her body, he rubbed his fingers insistently over the center of her chest, pressing down until—

“Hhah…! Nnn…!”

Ha-rin let out sharp, stifled gasps.

“Keheheh! Ah, young ones react the best. Maybe it’s ’cause you’re fresh, Ha-rin. Still prime flesh.”

“Nh… Hhk…!”

“Let’s try this side too.”

His other hand grabbed her other breast.

“Hhaaah…!”

Another moan escaped her.

Her bowed head couldn’t hide how flushed her face was.

Fuck…

Just fucking stop already…!

Right in front of me—

Watching Ha-rin sit obediently beside that bastard, letting him grope her—

Unspeakable fury surged inside me.

But all I could do was stand there.

The only thing left for me was to shut my eyes and turn away.

“Keheh… Manager Jeon.”

My eyes snapped open at his voice.

Park Dong-chul smirked at me, still squeezing Ha-rin’s chest.

“…Yes?”

“Earlier, I saw you carrying something. Where’d you put it?”

“……Huh?”

“Weird. Could’ve sworn I saw you with like… a cake box and a bouquet?”

He grinned knowingly.

He already knew—just wanted to hear me say it.

“……They were gifts.”

“Gifts? For who? Me?”

As if I’d ever give this bastard flowers.

“……No, I’m afraid not.”

“Then—?”

His gaze drifted toward Ha-rin.

Watching my reaction, Park Dong-chul let out an exaggerated gasp.

“Ohhh? No way~. Wow, Manager Jeon. Didn’t take you for the type.”

“……”

“C’mon, man. Just ‘cause you’ve got a decent face doesn’t mean you should mess around with your own idol.”

“I don’t follow.”

I feigned ignorance.

“Don’t ‘follow’ my ass. You know exactly what I’m saying. There’s a line between work and personal life—you shouldn’t cross it.”

………

Rage burned in my chest.

And who’s the one crossing lines right now? Who’s the one groping an idol here?

But I couldn’t argue—couldn’t lose my temper.

I couldn’t admit to Park Dong-chul that Ha-rin and I were together.

But denying it in front of Ha-rin was something I refused to do.

So the only thing I could do—

“……”

—was stay silent.

“Isn’t that right, Ha-rin?”

When I didn’t respond, Park Dong-chul turned to her, sliding his other hand onto her thigh.

“…Yes? ……Yes.”

“Tell me, Ha-rin. What’s your relationship with Manager Jeon?”

“……Um… Nh…!”

His hands roamed freely over her chest and thighs as he leaned in—close enough for his breath to brush her ear.

Ha-rin didn’t resist.

She endured everything without protest.

“You can tell me~.”

“……W-well… I…”

Ha-rin peeked up at me.

**Please.**

**Don’t answer him, Ha-rin.**

I tried to silently beg her with my eyes, but as soon as our gazes met, she turned away again.

Then—

“………We’re nothing.”

—she whispered in the faintest voice.

……Ha-rin.

“Nothing?”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely no relationship?”

“……Yes.”

“Huh. Could’ve fooled me. The way you look at each other…”

“……It’s really nothing.”

Again and again—

Ha-rin denied us.

She must’ve had her reasons.

She wasn’t stupid.

I **knew** that logically.

Yet—

“……We’re really… nothing.”

—her words carved straight through my chest.

“Kkh. See? Exactly. Can’t have rumors like *‘An idol dating her manager?’* spreading, right?”

“………Right.”

“Then Ha-rin’s still an untouched flower, huh?”

“…………Yes.”

“Good. Then you won’t mind putting on a little show today, yeah? In front of Manager Jeon.”

……What?

“……Excuse me?”

Ha-rin flinched, staring at Park Dong-chul before glancing back at me.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you just say you’re nothing to each other? Then it’s just work. Manager Jeon won’t mind watching, right?”

“…….”

“…….”

We could only stare at each other, speechless.

“What’s with the silence? You’ve done this before—just like last time, yeah?”

“I, I uh…”

“Ohhh, what? Too shy with an audience? Fine. Let’s see~ Hmm, which other group wanted to film a variety show again…?”

Casually, Park Dong-chul pulled out his phone and started scrolling through his contacts.

I couldn’t let this chance slip away.

But… **Ha-rin.**

Could I really stand by and let him violate her right in front of me? Could **she** endure it?

I had no answer.

And yet—the first to respond was… Ha-rin.

“PD-nim.”

“Hmm?”

Park Dong-chul looked up from his phone—

—just in time for Ha-rin’s lips to press against his.

*Peck.*

A brief, deliberate kiss before she hesitantly pulled back.

Ha-rin’s lips—

She’d… done it willingly.

Even my eyelids trembled.

But worse than that—

The way she looked at Park Dong-chul now…

I’d seen that gaze before.

It reminded me of how she’d looked… when confessing to me.

“Just for today… I’ll take good care of you, PD-nim~♡”