episode_0146

#146

I am incompetent.

After graduating college, unable to find a proper job, I joined an entertainment agency as a temporary gig.

But there, for the first time, I was acknowledged. There was no particular reason. Just because I worked hard. Being a manager wasn’t difficult, but it required extreme diligence—and I was the right fit.

So when the CEO offered me the position of team leader for a new group’s launch, I thought I’d dedicate my life to this.

I should’ve known that was as far as I’d go.

That I had no sales skills, no musical sense, no marketing ability—just sheer hard work.

Maybe that’s why.

One kid caught my eye—someone just like me.

Harin.

A trainee who started late, far behind the others.

Harin made up for that lack with nothing but effort.

So I took a liking to them. Because they were like me.

I wanted to make their dream come true.

But by the time I realized my incompetence was ruining that dream, it was already too late.

Harin must’ve known too.

That the reason failed was me.

*

“I want to stay by your side, PD-nim.”

Harin stroked their stomach.

I couldn’t even bring myself to look.

“At first… I thought you were just a bad person. But you weren’t entirely like that.”

“……What?”

My head throbbed at Harin’s words.

I couldn’t understand.

“What. What the hell are you talking about?”

“Right now… You know all the other members are with the VIPs, right?”

I knew.

I’d seen the endless line of cars heading to the hotel.

“I was supposed to be there too… But you stopped me in front of the VIPs.”

“……?”

“‘She’s carrying my child. I can’t let this one do it.’”

“Hah…”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

I couldn’t believe Park Dong-chul, that human trash, had said such a thing.

“You stood your ground in front of those powerful people. Even though you knew they could shut down the show if they turned their backs.”

“…….”

“Maybe that’s why the VIPs accepted it. They didn’t oppose being selected either…”

Harin’s cheeks flushed slightly.

“Isn’t that amazing…? Against people like that. The final picks were clearly up to the VIPs, but you made sure it was … Because I was pregnant.”

I couldn’t believe it.

No—I didn’t want to believe it.

That bastard who took Harin away.

That sleazy, cunning Park Dong-chul.

All he’s good at is sex.

Harin just fell for it.

The only thing he has going for him is the connections he gained by selling girls—the product of trashy deeds.

So he’s just a villain.

And I’m just a guy who had his lover stolen by a villain.

That’s how it should be.

*

“He treats me completely differently now. Takes care of everything. Surprise events, gifts, comfort, attention… Like a real lover.”

“Lies.”

“You don’t believe me. Or… you don’t want to?”

I didn’t want to believe it.

Maybe I’m smaller than him down there. Maybe I’m worse in bed.

Maybe my desires are a little weird. Maybe I’m a little lacking.

But when it comes to caring for Harin—

I was sure my love was greater than his.

*

“Well. Unlike someone who sells out the person they love the moment things get tough.”

“Ah…!”

“Even when the higher-ups demanded it, he refused to hand over the woman carrying his child. Unlike you.”

“No… I…”

My voice trembled. I couldn’t speak properly.

“Do you really think… I left you just because of sex? Seriously?”

“That’s… That’s what it is… Harin.”

“No. You know I’m not that kind of person.”

“It’s because of sex, right? Because I’m bad at it…?”

“No. Team leader. I…”

Harin showed me their phone.

The wallpaper showed Harin and Park Dong-chul.

Harin was hugging him, kissing him.

With an expression so undeniably, genuinely full of love.

“I truly love PD-nim.”

“No. Harin. No…”

“So please, sign this.”

I looked down at the contract. The words blurred.

Only the blank signature line was visible.

Harin even kindly uncapped the pen and placed it in my hand. Their touch, after so long.

But now, Harin’s hand felt unbearably cold.

If I signed, I’d no longer be ’s manager.

would leave my hands and fall entirely into Park Dong-chul’s.

I’d lose everything.

“Ah… Haha…”

A laugh escaped me—absurd, disbelieving.

Drops fell onto the contract.

My hand shook. My vision blurred.

What a ridiculous situation.

Even now, as I signed away , my pants ached.

I’m truly a hopeless loser.

Harin must’ve known that too.

That’s why they chose Park Dong-chul over me.

I moved the pen. Wrote my worthless name in the blank space.

With this, my six years were over.

was no longer mine.

I was no longer their manager.

*

“Team leader.”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

At those parting words, I broke down sobbing.

Harin watched my tears but said nothing, quietly gathering the documents.

“Ah. Team leader. One more thing.”

Harin paused as they stood.

“Don’t worry about Sarang.”

“Sarang…?”

Right. Sarang.

My girlfriend. Sarang.

Then… what about her?

“Sarang must be… having a good time by now.”

“What…?”

“Room 1106.”

Harin handed me the key to room 1107.

“You’ll understand if you go.”

*

[1106]

The hotel door was firmly shut.

No sounds came from inside.

No—actually, the moans from all directions drowned everything out.

Countless idols and VIPs were having sex in rooms all over the hotel.

Violating girls others could only dream of touching.

And beyond this door… was Sarang.

My girlfriend.

The love I’d found.

Now, in this room, with some nameless VIP.

“Fuck…”

I’d been here before.

Coincidence? No, it was too deliberate.

The room where I first took Harin. Where Harin lost their virginity. This was that same room.

And just like back then, I quietly moved to the next room.

[1107]

I swiped the keycard and silently opened the door.

The room wasn’t large.

Just a queen-sized bed.

Sarang’s room probably had the same.

I unclenched my fist.

Two earbuds.

Given to me by Harin.

*Click.*

I turned up the volume and sat on the bed.

Static faded, and voices emerged.

“……How’s this? Huh?”

Sarang’s voice through the earbuds.

Too bright, too happy—nothing like someone forced to do this for work.

No.

This was the voice of a female in love.

“Do you like this outfit? Or this one? I wore this for our competition stage~. It’ll air later.”

“……#!@#%&@.”

The man’s voice was unclear. Too quiet or too far—I couldn’t tell.

But from Sarang’s words, I finally realized who he was.

“Ah~. So you like this one. Papa.”

Papa.

“Hehe… Of course, our Sarang looks best in clothes like this.”

There was only one person Sarang called “Papa.”

I knew who that voice belonged to.

“Then, Papa~. If I serve you in this outfit today… Will you fuck me a lot?”

“Of course.”

“All night long, like crazy?”

“Our Sarang must’ve missed it badly. Huh?”

“Of course~. Papa. I’ve been waiting and waiting since I texted you.”

“That bastard Junho must be pretty useless, huh?”

“What can I do? A body trained by Papa… can’t feel good with such a pathetic dick.”

Ah.

Ahhhhhhh.

For the first time, I regretted it.

And finally understood.

Why Harin sent me here.

This was their final message to me.

*‘Team leader, you don’t deserve to be loved.’*

I shouldn’t have come here.

I should’ve never come here from the start.

“Today… You’ll make me feel good with Papa’s dick, right?”

I offered what I shouldn’t have.

Lost what I shouldn’t have lost.

An empty, dark room.

Now, nothing remained for me.