episode_0133

#133

“Fuck…….”

I drove through the nighttime streets.

“Fuckfuckfuckfuck.”

My hands clenched the steering wheel tightly. I stomped on the accelerator and brake harshly.

If it were any other time, Harin would’ve scolded me from the passenger seat for reckless driving.

I glanced at the seat beside me. No one was there.

Now… there was no one by my side.

The cold wind rushing in when I lowered the window only made it sink in deeper.

“Fuck……….”

No matter how much I cursed, no matter how angry I got, nothing changed.

Harin now belonged completely…… completely to Park Dong-chul.

While knowing full well I was listening.

While saying it directly to me.

After that, Harin kissed Park Dong-chul and went at it with him again.

The sound of Harin’s moans, loud enough to make my ears ache.

Harin trembling under Park Dong-chul’s thrusts.

I listened silently before finally yanking out my earpiece.

Then I quietly slipped out of the broadcasting station.

Whatever was happening there now…… I no longer needed to know.

As I drove past Sangam-dong, where the station was located, my phone rang.

Buzz. Buzz.

The phone lying face-up vibrated and slid slightly across the dashboard.

Who could it be?

Harin? Or Park Dong-chul?

Either way, the call was meaningless now.

I grabbed the phone intending to dismiss it.

“………Han Myeong-su?”

[Incoming Call – Love♡Forever]

I meant to change that damned contact name… but I forgot.

I couldn’t just let it keep ringing, so I ended up answering.

“Manager. It’s me, Han Myeong-su.”

“……Okay. Director.”

I spoke in a voice that made it clear I wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

Han Myeong-su ignored my tone and pressed on.

“Manager. *sigh*…… I’m sorry for calling so late.”

“No, it’s fine. What is it?”

Slightly sharp.

I’m the one who should be angry—what gives him the right…?

“Nothing much, I just wanted to ask you something straight up.”

“………?”

“Manager, did you arrange sponsors for ……?”

Squeak—!

I slammed on the brakes. The light ahead had turned red. There were still five meters left to the stop line, but I stopped dead.

How should I answer? Hesitation gripped me.

Was he asking because he already knew everything, or just probing? I couldn’t tell.

One thing was certain, though—Han Myeong-su sounded far more agitated than usual.

The composed aura of a corporate director was gone. Now, he sounded like he’d cuss at the slightest provocation.

Though his speech remained polite… probably just out of business habit.

“…Manager?”

Don’t rush me. I’m thinking.

Not that there was much to think about. The choice was practically made for me.

“No. What are you talking about?”

Even if the sponsorship was true, there was no way I could admit it.

“Huh……. Right. Manager?”

“Yes. I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”

“……Figures you’d say that. Fine. I must’ve asked the wrong question.”

His tone suggested he’d expected that answer. His words implied the sponsorship was already an open secret.

“Then what do you make of this?”

The moment Han Myeong-su spoke, my phone buzzed again. A notification popped up—he’d sent a link. A spam warning followed.

“What exactly are you referring to?”

“The link I just sent you.”

The URL led to a popular SNS post. I tapped into it. A post appeared moments later.

[ ’s Fan Service Reformer]

[A selfie of a fan pressing their face close to Sarang’s]

– Saw this unheard-of girl group at the broadcasting station today. They were selling merch, and if you bought some, they’d take pics with you. But damn, once I grabbed some goods, they let me get THIS close? They even egged me on, like they wanted it.

[Another selfie—the fan’s arm wrapped around Sarang’s waist]

– So yeah, I got some serious skinship with one of their members today—so damn sweet. I don’t even know their names lol. They must’ve thought I was a fan, letting me touch them all over while taking pics. Fucking bliss.

#Sepia #ProofShot #Selfie #Skinship

“………”

It was obvious—this happened during merchandise sales before the music show.

I’d specifically asked them to keep those photos private, yet here they were, openly posted…

“I looked into it—this isn’t the only one. Just counting the pics I found of Sarang being hugged by fans, there were nearly ten.”

“………”

“Was always this kind of group? I don’t recall that. Manager, was supposed to be an innocent, girl-next-door group.”

Right. was the pure, innocent type.

Thinking back now, it’s just laughable.

“First, you kept saying how was struggling after the CEO changed, how the company was in trouble…… Has the strategy shifted? Was this Nobia CEO’s idea?”

“That’s……”

“Even if the CEO ordered it, shouldn’t you have stopped this?”

“………”

This bastard—going on “dates” with idols as a cover for sex—now has the nerve to lecture *me*?

Buzz. Buzz.

Han Myeong-su kept sending more links—all photos of Sarang with various fans.

“Manager, I’m incredibly disappointed. Do you even know these are spreading around forums now?”

“……What?”

“The photos I just sent. They’re floating around idol communities. Washed-up idols offering skinship for merch buys? What are they, underground Japanese idols? People are clamoring for their turn.”

“………”

“Now ’s being called ‘exhibitionist sluts,’ ‘whore idols.’ Do you even realize this? Especially the exposure part. Last week, I thought it was accidental, but this week? Clearly intentional.”

Well, yeah—because it *was* intentional.

“As a fan who supports —who supports Sarang—let me be frank. The company shouldn’t be doing this. And neither should their manager.”

“……Director.”

“Our fandom is furious. People loved for their innocence. This isn’t just a shift to sexy—it’s full-blown perversion. Flashing skin, hugging guys who buy merch… Am I wrong?”

He wasn’t.

Among ’s long-time fans, some must’ve hated this.

Gachikoi, wasn’t it? The way hardcore fans see idols as their unrequited love—or outright girlfriends.

Han Myeong-su had always been devoted *only* to Sarang, so seeing her pressed against random men must’ve stung.

I get it. But *he* of all people has no right to talk.

“*sigh*……. Director.”

“Yes. Manager. Speak up if you’ve got a mouth.”

“……If Sarang was so precious to you… why did you call me *that* time?”

I remember asking this before.

Back then, I never got an answer.

“And you’ve met with Sarang several times since then, haven—”

“……….”

“Sarang told me.”

No reply. Not that I expected one.

I had no intention of sitting quietly while he spewed nonsense.

Maybe I just wanted to vent the bitterness of losing Harin on someone.

“……Manager.”

“Yes.”

After a protracted silence, Han Myeong-su finally forced out words.

“I… truly love Sarang.”

“……….”

“What happened that time… it was jealousy. Sarang clearly had feelings for you. I wanted her to be *mine*—through my own charm. And she… somewhat accepted it.”

Han Myeong-su sounded like some drama protagonist, assertive and firm.

Coming from a man in his 50s talking about a 21-year-old girl—utterly disgusting.

So why…

Why did his words carry such weight?

“After that, we kept in touch—even met for coffee. I’m sorry for not telling you. But I wasn’t about to share details with a rival.”

“……….”

Was Han Myeong-su really… *seriously* seeing me as competition?

Absurd. Sarang and I never dated—just idol and manager.

Sure, I knew she’d harbored feelings for me—she confessed as much.

But back then… I had Harin.

Now… I don’t.

“Manager.”

“Yes.”

“*deep breath*…… I’ll ask once more. Sponsors. You arranged them, didn’t you.”

His tone suggested he already knew—he repeated the question like a verdict.

In this mood, denial was pointless.

“………Yes. I did……”

“YOU FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!!”

His voice exploded through the phone.

“You—a *god damn* manager—have the gall! HUH!?”

“……Watch your language.”

“Watch WHAT!? You think I’m in the mood for manners!?”

“You don’t even know the full circumstances.”

“I KNOW! And it still doesn’t excuse this!”

“What exactly do you *know*?”

“Sarang’s right here.”

My steady gaze wavered suddenly.

My hands froze. Words stalled.

Why was Sarang—who should’ve been at the dorm—with Han Myeong-su?

His voice roared again, raw with fury.

“SHE’S *CRYING* IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW, YOU BASTARD!”

Only after losing Harin do I realize—

Maybe I understood these girls’ hearts far less than I thought.