episode_0079

#79

“……What do you mean by that?”

My voice rises slightly in irritation.

But Do Jin-wook speaks nonchalantly.

“No, look closely. At the video. Sea’s walking is unmistakably like someone who’s drunk. Staggering.”

When the video plays again, her gait really does look like that.

Sea had said she wasn’t feeling well, but… interpreting it this way?

“Plus, she’s got her arms crossed. Doesn’t it look like she’s being dragged along?”

“……….”

It didn’t feel like that at all.

But when Sea’s body tilted, if you thought, *Is she being pulled?*—then maybe it could seem that way.

If releases a statement first and the media and fandoms push the narrative…

There was plenty of room for that interpretation.

“So our kind-hearted Geo couldn’t ignore his senior’s call and had no choice but to respond to Sea’s request… and couldn’t refuse when she drunkenly insisted on going to the hotel. The members, hearing the news late, came to pick him up and returned to the dorm together.”

“But the way they left…”

“Isn’t in the video, is it?”

The corner of Do Jin-wook’s mouth lifts.

Seeing that, my body trembles.

My words come out faster as I speak to him.

“CEO. This may be presumptuous, but rather than countermeasures after the leak, shouldn’t we first prevent the video from spreading…?!”

“Do you have the money? How much?”

“Ten bitcoins.”

Manager Sung Kyung-do answers for me.

“Right. That. Ten. Do you have it? Do you? Does your company?”

“……….”

We didn’t.

“What if that bastard takes the money and runs? I’ve been screwed over by thugs like that before… They’d say they wouldn’t spread rumors if I paid, but in the end, they did anyway. I lost money and took a lot of flak for it. My philosophy is this: no compromises with blackmailing thugs!”

“A wise stance, CEO.”

Manager Sung Kyung-do flatters him from the side.

“Then the video…?”

“Let them spread it or not, whatever. We’ve got our story straight. Like I said earlier. Do you think this is my first time dealing with rumors?”

The corner of Do Jin-wook’s mouth rises endlessly.

……This man never had any intention of negotiating from the start.

It’s no surprise Sea isn’t even on his radar.

. No, more accurately—

He only cares about his own assets, which he calls .

“Then we’re done here. Manager Sung, go prepare the press release in advance. If the video starts spreading, send it to all media outlets immediately.”

“Yes, CEO.”

Manager Sung Kyung-do responds, and the two start to get up.

“No… wait a minute.”

“Huh? Why? We’re done talking.”

Do Jin-wook pauses mid-rise.

I raise my voice just slightly.

“…Then it’s not the truth.”

“The truth isn’t different—it’s just that no one knows it. Your side and Sea are still verifying the situation, right?”

“That will be soon…”

“If the kids say they’re dating, will you admit it?”

“……….”

I couldn’t admit it.

Even if I did, both sides would take a hit, but—

Our image as an innocent girl group would suffer irreparable damage.

Meanwhile, those bastards on their side were thugs from the start.

Even if they admitted to dating… I couldn’t guarantee they’d take serious damage.

“If it’s not that, then how do you explain why they went to the hotel? And what about the second video where the other members show up? Are you planning to announce to the press that Sea had some kind of orgy with all of ?”

“…….”

……I couldn’t do that.

*‘1:7’*

*‘Group sex party’*

Just imagining the sensational headlines and the words that would flood the public made my head spin.

would take a critical hit too, but… Sea wouldn’t be able to show her face in public, let alone continue as an idol.

“That’s…”

“Of course, if you have other ideas, you wouldn’t say that. I’m doing this to protect Sea and your side too. Minimizing mutual damage. Right?”

He turns to Manager Sung Kyung-do.

“Ah, yes! A perfectly reasonable explanation. Brilliant, CEO.”

“Manager Sung agrees too.”

Bullshit……

Absolute bullshit.

If we announce things as Do Jin-wook says, Sea’s image will be ruined.

She’s an idol who attracts fans with her little-sister charm—what kind of damage would she suffer if we made that statement?

And to let those bastards, who actually gang-raped her, slip away with such shameless excuses—

That.

I couldn’t accept it.

But.

I couldn’t overturn things right here and now.

“……I’ll relay the details to our director.”

I absolutely did *not* say I agreed.

*

“……Oppa.”

When we got back to the car, Sea’s face was even paler than before.

Her eyes were streaked with tear stains and dark circles, and her hair was disheveled.

Of course—Sea hadn’t been able to rest properly since then.

“Sea-ya. Let’s go back to the dorm and rest…”

“The company… called me.”

“…What?”

“They called… about what happened yesterday.”

Sea’s phone screen was on.

The same video we’d been staring at endlessly was playing.

“……Where did you get that?”

“Manager… Kim sent it. Said this is the situation now……”

That bastard Manager Kim……

Why the hell would he tell Sea about this…?!

Another tear falls onto Sea’s phone screen.

“……Oppa. *Sob*… I’m sorry……!”

“…Sea-ya.”

“It’s my fault……. *Hic*…! Because of me……!”

“…It’s *not* your fault. and the bastard who filmed this are the scum. You didn’t do anything…!”

“But…! *Sob*! If I’d just listened to you…! *Hic*…! If I hadn’t done what you told me not to……! This wouldn’t have happened……. Because of me…!”

Sea trembled, unable to even meet my eyes.

*Sigh*…

I let out a breath.

How do I comfort her…?

“Unnie… called me too. They have a performance today……. They’re doing it without me. *Sob*. The unnies said… it’s okay, but……! Still……!”

“That was my call. It’s not your fault…!”

“ has *never* performed incomplete before……. *Hic*…! Because of me, the performance is ruined……!”

“Sea-ya, that’s…”

“I’msorryI’msorryI’msorryI’msorry……. I’m sorry. Oppa…….”

“Sea-ya…….”

No more words came out.

Sea wasn’t in a state to listen.

She trusted someone, followed them, got betrayed, was gang-raped all night, came back to find photos taken, the company being blackmailed, and now her performance is missing her—

All in a single day.

Sea did make a mistake, but the price was too steep, crashing down all at once.

It was too heavy a burden for a twenty-year-old to bear.

I was afraid.

What if Sea does something drastic…?

The worst-case scenario flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t stay still.

“First… let’s go back to the dorm.”

“……*Sob*. *Hic*……!”

Sea’s tears wouldn’t stop.

“…Let’s rest, take a breath first.”

I started the car and pressed the accelerator.

Even though Sea was right beside me, I kept glancing at her. I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a second.

Sea stared silently out the window.

Occasionally, her phone buzzed with messages, but she didn’t even glance at them.

Silent tears fell, then she wiped them away.

She zoned out, then cried again.

Just watching her, it was clear she wasn’t okay.

“We’ll be there soon. Just hang on a little longer.”

“…….”

She nodded without a word.

First, let her rest, then get her something good to eat.

Maybe the ice cream she likes…

*Buzz. Buzz.*

Then—this time, my phone rang.

The screen showed an unknown number.

010—not spam. …Who is it?

I answered with my earpiece.

“Hello?”

“It’s been a while since you received the email… but there’s been no reply, so I’m calling.”

The voice was unrecognizable.

A distorted male voice, like the ones often heard in crime documentaries. But—

*Email. Reply.*

Those words alone told me who it was.

“…You fucking bastard. What do you want?”

Glancing at Sea, I kept my voice low and calm.

“Heh heh… Think of me as someone who happened to film the video.”

“Why are you calling?”

“A reminder. I sent the email but forgot to include a deadline. The crypto wallet *does* have an expiration, though…”

“How long?”

“It already passed. A minute ago.”

I checked the time.

It was just past 5.

He’s demanding billions in coins and only gave us *this* short a deadline…?

“Then what? …You’ll leak it?”

“Watch your tone. I could spread it across every SNS and forum *right now*.”

“…….”

My mouth clamped shut.

Fucking bastard.

“Well, the deadline *has* passed… but it’s my fault for not specifying. And hearing your side, I feel a little bad. So I’ll give you one more chance.”

“How long?”

“Same time tomorrow. 24 hours.”

A text arrived at the same time.

A slightly different crypto wallet address.

“Send the payment there when you’re ready. Then—”

“W—wait!”

*Beep. Beep. Beep.*

The call ended before I could speak.

I tried calling back, but of course, no answer.

*Damn it.*

I tossed my phone onto the passenger seat.

“……Was that… the blackmailer?”

Sea looked at me with a pale face.

“…No. It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“……….”

It was a lie, but Sea didn’t seem convinced.

She silently stared at my phone screen before turning back to the window.

For the rest of the ride, she didn’t say another word about it.

I didn’t want to burden her any further.

As we neared the dorm, she finally spoke again.

“Do you… want ice cream?”

“…….”

She nodded without a word.

Ah. As expected.

Sea, who’s always been like a cute little sister to me.

The Sea beside me was still just a kid.

The kind who’d sulk but cheer up with a single ice cream, smiling again.

I have to protect her.

And protect .