episode_0080

#80

“Yes! CEO! You called for me?”

The CEO’s office at Gold Sun’s agency.

Jio, the main vocalist of Gold Sun, had hurried here after receiving the CEO’s summons during practice.

Judging by the manager’s stiff expression when he told Jio to come quickly… It must have been something serious.

“Yeah, Jio. Hard to see your face these days, huh?”

“Apologies for not visiting more often, CEO!”

Jio had no idea what the CEO’s words implied, but he answered smoothly and bowed deeply.

“This way.”

“Yes!”

In one swift motion, he dashed to where the CEO gestured and stood at attention.

“Not seeing your face is fine. Means you’re busy with schedules. That just proves Gold Sun is doing well.”

“All thanks to you, CEO!”

Jio smoothly laid on the flattery.

After over five years as a trainee here, scraping by under constant scrutiny, the words came naturally.

“Right. Gold Sun is our company’s—no, bluntly speaking, my face. It’s the most successful these days…”

“…Thank you.”

Even as he replied, Jio couldn’t hide his slight tension.

The CEO in front of him—Jio knew Do Jin-wook wouldn’t have called him just to give praise.

“But you can’t go throwing cold water on my face.”

Sure enough, Do Jin-wook’s expression turned icy in an instant.

‘…Called me in to scold me.’

Jio bit his lip slightly, unnoticed. He knew Jin-wook’s temperament well.

‘What’s it about? The only thing I can vaguely think of is…’

He decided to play dumb first.

“…I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

“…Not sure? Then I’ll have to teach you.”

Do Jin-wook turned his monitor to face Jio.

A video was playing—a recording of a phone screen showing another video.

In it… was footage of Jio and Sea from Sepia entering a hotel together.

“…Still don’t know?”

‘Fuck…’

Swearing internally, Jio’s mind raced.

How much does the CEO know?

Just this?

Does he know about the other members?

Nothing was certain.

“Jio. I remember always warning you… Don’t smear my face.”

“……Sorry.”

“I don’t care what you do outside. You know that, right? Screw idols, do whatever—I don’t care. Just make me money.”

“…….”

That’s the kind of bastard Do Jin-wook was.

A money-crazed freak.

“But getting caught sloppily like this? No. If you’re gonna do it, don’t get caught.”

“……Sorry. I was careless.”

Jio kept bowing his head repeatedly.

“Lucky for you, the other party’s a nobody and things worked out. Could’ve been a disaster. Huh?”

“I deeply apologize for causing you trouble, CEO.”

Despite his bleached, spiky hair and leather jacket, Jio maintained a deferential tone as he kept apologizing.

After several rounds of scolding and apologies, the CEO finally wrapped it up.

“Be more careful next time. There are plenty of ways not to get caught. It’s not like I didn’t teach you.”

“……I’ll remember, CEO.”

“Get out.”

Jio bowed once more and left the office.

It wasn’t a severe scolding. The matter seemed resolved, and he wasn’t explicitly told to stop anything.

Yet, the moment the door closed, Jio’s expression twisted as he immediately pulled out his phone and dialed.

“Hey. Jio. What’s up?”

Another member answered. Tae-ho.

“Hey. We got busted. That hotel trip yesterday. Some fucker filmed us.”

“…What? Filmed? Doing what?”

“Just entering the hotel. But the bastard sent the footage to the company—even the CEO knows now.”

“So? What happened?”

“Dunno. From the CEO’s tone, it seems handled, but damn, this is just ridiculous.”

“Shouldn’t we switch hotels now?”

“Fuck if I know. Just goddamn unlucky.”

Jio kept walking down the hallway while talking.

The secretary’s desk beside the elevator was empty. Probably in the restroom.

Like it was his own seat, Jio plopped down and continued the call.

“But who the hell filmed it? A sasaeng? Or some reporter bastard?”

“If it’s not out yet and just the company knows, it’s gotta be a reporter or industry insider. Sasaengs would’ve leaked it already.”

“Fuck, that bastard made the CEO rip into me. Pisses me off. If I find him…”

Then.

Something caught Jio’s eye.

The visitor log.

He’d signed it before entering the CEO’s office earlier.

Usually filled with employees and outside visitors, countless names were listed—but one in particular stood out.

“…Hey. Hold on. Think I found something.”

“What?”

[Visitor Log] [Sung Kyung-do / 15:22 / PR Team Leader] [Jeon Ho-gu / 15:22 / Manager of Girl Group ]

“Jeon Ho-gu……?”

“What? Someone you know?”

Ignoring the voice on the call, Jio memorized the name and the contact number written beside it.

“……No. Someone I’ll get to know now.”

—

“Sea-ya. Just get some rest first.”

Dorm.

The manager oppa pushed me, slumped on the sofa, into my room.

“…….”

“What? Ice cream? …You barely touched it. I’ll put it in the freezer. Eat it later. For now, get proper sleep.”

Forcing me onto the bed and tucking me in, oppa left the room.

“…What about you, oppa?”

“I… have to go to the company. Call me if anything comes up.”

“……Okay.”

The door closed as I nodded.

Even though it’s the same dorm bed I’ve used for four years, it feels entirely unfamiliar now.

Being here feels like a dream.

Last night, I barely slept… but as oppa said, sleep wouldn’t come easily.

I didn’t tell oppa, but my body still aches all over.

My legs can’t move naturally.

It still feels like something is inside me.

Mouth, between my legs, even my butt…

Their things are still…

Every time I close my eyes, last night’s events replay—I can’t even shut them.

The faces of the men I once admired on screen now look like devils.

‘If only I’d listened when oppa warned me…’

Regret loops endlessly, but it’s too late now.

Ring-ring-ring.

My phone startled me.

The ringtone is our latest title track—meaning it’s one of my unnies.

[Harin unnie♡]

I stare at the screen, taking deep breaths.

After a long moment, I press answer.

“…Unnie.”

“Sea-ya. Feeling better now?”

Her usual warm voice.

I expected anger… but Harin unnie wasn’t like that.

“…Huh?”

“The team leader said you weren’t feeling well. Went to the hospital, right? You sound exhausted.”

So oppa told them that.

“…Yeah.”

“What did the doctor say was wrong?”

“Just… uhm… a fever… or something.”

That’s the only excuse I could think of.

“I see… Better now?”

“…Mm. Oppa told me to rest, so… I’m at the dorm.”

“Good.”

Harin unnie’s voice was genuinely relieved.

In the background, other unnies asked if I was okay, and Harin unnie reassured them.

Every word piles more guilt on me.

“Unnie. The performance… How did it go?”

“Don’t worry about that. We readjusted the choreo for three. It went fine. More photographers than usual, but… the response was great. The music show appearance really helped.”

“…Unnie.”

Today’s setlist had two songs.

Obviously, the choreographies were designed for all four of .

Yet in just hours, they reworked formations, practiced, traveled to the venue, and performed…

Just imagining how hard they must’ve worked made my chest ache.

“Unnie… I’m so sorry! Because of me…!”

“No. It’s fine. It went well.”

“Sniff…! Unnie…!”

Tears came again.

I’ve cried so much today.

Ever since drinking that coffee last night, my heart won’t calm down.

My emotions feel uncontrollable.

“Sea-ya. Don’t cry. Cut it out! We’re on our way back to Seoul. We’ll be there soon, okay? Rest well. I’ll bring ice cream.”

“Sniff…! Unnie, the ice cream—”

I wanted to say manager oppa already got some, but—

“I know. Your favorite. Don’t worry—just rest!”

Click.

The call ended abruptly.

“Unnie……”

I wanted to call back immediately, but I was scared of burdening them further.

I pulled the blankets over myself again.

Fiddling with my phone, I opened YouTube.

Today. performance fancams.

Normally, four or five would be uploaded after a show—today, over ten were up already.

Because of last week’s music show appearance… It wasn’t hard to guess why.

Every unnie had individual fancams, but none of the thumbnails showed my face.

Seeing that just made me feel worse.

I clicked the most viewed video.

The comments… were predictably full of talk about me.

– Where’s Sea? └ Sea wasn’t feeling well today. Agency posted about it.

– First time seeing perform incomplete. Testing subunits? └ A 4-member group performing as 3 is just bullying lol.

– Sea’s so irresponsible. Did she break a leg? Zero presence.

– For real. If you’re sick, at least stand at the side and lipsync. └ Agency notice said it was health issues. └ Yeah, “health issues” lol. barely has schedules anyway. └ She’s sick, okay? Don’t be nasty. └ Other idols tough through injuries. She’s just weak-willed.

“…….”

Dozens more replies spiraled into fan wars beneath.

‘Because of me…’

I couldn’t keep watching the unnies’ performance.

Just seeing it made me ashamed.

Everything—it’s my fault.

If I hadn’t followed Jio oppa that day.

If I hadn’t drunk the coffee he gave me.

If I hadn’t replied to his DMs.

If I’d never… been a fan of .

None of this would’ve happened.

If only I was the only one suffering, fine.

But now there’s blackmail emails to the company too…

“The company’s in chaos. Huh? Sea-yah.”

“They’re asking for 300 million won. The company doesn’t HAVE that kind of money! What are you gonna do?”

Team Leader Kim’s accusatory voice echoed again.

All I could say was… sorry.

The staff must be working overnight to fix this.

From the CEO.

To manager oppa.

To every other employee. All because…

All because of me.

“………….”

I sat up.

I can’t stay like this.

I have to… take responsibility and end this.

I turned my phone back on and pressed the call button.

That person oppa called earlier in the car.

It must be the blackmailer.

I’ll…

I’ll… finish this.

I dialed the number I memorized and pressed call.