chapter 42
42 – slept in the same bed
Episode 42
When I opened my eyes, I was sleeping in the same bed as Ga Eul.
… What situation is this?
When I looked around, it looked like a private room in a hospital, not my sister’s familiar home.
They probably hospitalized me after I collapsed.
The injury was not severe enough to require hospitalization.
I roughly figured it out.
However, this situation was not fully understood.
How could I understand Autumn, who was hugging me while lying next to me on the narrow bed in the hospital room?
Why on earth are you sleeping here? Autumn.
Ga Eul must have woken up at that time and started to move her body.
I was startled and closed my eyes again.
I didn’t want it to be known that I was aware of this awkward situation.
what… While caring for your child next to you, you may feel sleepy and the bed may seem soft.
If you toss and turn, you may be able to hug the person next to you like a bamboo lady.
As soon as Kaeul gets up and sits in the nursing chair, nothing has happened.
However, Autumn did not get out of bed even though it was clear that he had woken up.
Just be pierced and just look at my face.
… Autumn?
She didn’t stop there.
As if it was a joke, he began to carefully touch my face.
“… hehehehe.”
Why is he like this?
Even as Ga Eul’s touch became more and more bold, I couldn’t open my eyes.
Missing the timing was a big deal.
If I had known this would happen, I would have told you earlier that I just woke up… .
Now it felt like I had crossed a river.
How embarrassed would we be if we opened our eyes now?
I just lay there like a stone, waiting for Gaeul to lose interest.
Before I knew it, Gaeul started putting one leg on my body and one arm towards my chest.
And the faces got closer and closer.
I felt Ga Eul’s weak breath on my cheek.
… Oh, I can’t hold on any longer.
I decided to let everyone know that I gave up and woke up.
At that time, the door to the hospital room opened.
“Team leader Seon! “We’re here!”
Craddangtang!
“… “Why are you doing this, Ga Eul?”
When I narrowed my eyes, I saw that Ga Eul had fallen on the bed, knocked over the caregiver’s chair, and was rolling on the floor.
“ah… that… “I was sleeping and got startled and rolled over.”
Cheon A-ram spoke in a voice filled with concern.
“Well… I surprised you. I’m sorry that Gaeul must have been very tired. “We’ll guard Team Leader Sun’s side for a while, so why don’t you take a break?”
“no! no! are you okay! In fact, I’m fully rested and recharged!”
“Recharging?”
“… That, ah… ! “Charge your smartphone!”
Seo Soo-yeon, who was following Cheon A-ram, spoke quietly so as not to be heard.
“Boss, I guess Ga Eul… ”
“Suyeon, stay still now! “There are truths in the world that should not be revealed.”
Cheon A-ram and Seo Su-yeon whispered something in serious voices, but they could not be heard clearly due to the distance.
“… is it so. Anyway, I think Gaeul worked really hard. Did Team Leader Seon ever wake up while you were watching?”
“… no. “You haven’t woken up yet.”
Cheon A-ram rested her chin slightly and muttered.
“hmm… “Then let’s talk about it now.”
She spoke in a low, serious voice as if she had made up her mind.
“The lawyer hired by us at Two Bear told us about the progress. Perhaps Autumn’s father will serve a prison term on charges of illegal gambling, child abuse, attempted murder, and fraud.”
“… .”
“This is a problem, but bigger problems arise along with it.”
“… “What are you talking about?”
“About the future policy of Ga-eul and her younger brother, Ga-hyeon.”
“… ah.”
“Miss Gaeul is okay for now. Because there is accommodation for our Two Bear Entertainment. But Gahyeon is the problem.”
When Gaeul’s father disappears and Gaeul ends up living in a dormitory, Gahyeon, a third year middle school student, is left alone.
Cheon Aram was pointing out this point.
“Generally, when child abuse occurs and a child must be immediately separated from his or her parents, the child is first sent to a facility that can temporarily protect the child, such as a temporary shelter or youth shelter.”
Cheon A-ram’s words sounded extremely business-like.
It seemed like he was just saying what he had to say.
That would be Cheon A-ram’s own respect.
Because sympathy can be more painful than indifference.
“… But now the case is a little different. “As it is semi-confirmed that Autumn’s father will serve a sentence, it is also confirmed that the child will have to be separated from his parents for a certain period of time.”
She said that as casually as possible.
“At this time, for long-term protection of children, we must find childcare methods such as foster care and daycare centers.
“I think foster care is the best option.”
Gaeul probably doesn’t want to send Gahyeon to daycare either.
Cheon A-ram also seemed to want to take foster care as a direction because he understood that feeling.
“So I want to ask. Do you have a relative who can entrust Gahyeon to you? … “For example, a mother.”
“I don’t have any relatives who would allow that, … “It’s going to be difficult for my mother because she lost her connection.”
Cheon A-ram took a deep breath.
“ha… “Things have become difficult.”
Perhaps, considering Gaeul’s family environment, this was a predictable result.
Although it does not allow us to prepare for a specific solution.
“Then, Ms. Autumn has two options left.”
“… .”
With the silent autumn ahead, Cheon Ah-ram said.
“First, I send Gahyeon to an orphanage.”
As if trying to soothe the heavy atmosphere, Cheon Ah-ram brought out a kind voice.
“Miss Autumn may not have a good impression of the orphanage. But you don’t have to worry too much just because it’s an orphanage.”
That charming voice felt like it was meant for the listener.
“Because we, Two Bear, will do our best so that Gahyeon can go to the place with the best facilities and the best system. Maybe you will be treated better than before when the three of you, Autumn Yang and your father, lived together.”
“… “What is the second?”
“Ga-gaeul gave up being a trainee at 2 Bear Enter to protect Gahyeon herself.”
Cheon Ah-ram seemed to not want to say what he had to say.
Even so, he told Ga-eul without hesitation, as if he would not turn away.
“… And if she chooses this, Gaul will have to pay back the equivalent of 46 million won that her father used to gamble.”
From Autumn’s point of view, it would be unfair, but from Two Bear’s point of view, even though the down payment has already been paid, it is giving up on the performance, so of course the down payment must be refunded.
Cheon Ah-ram’s hands were not cruel. It was just something that had to be done.
However, it seemed that it was not something that she could comfortably do by pushing Ga-eul further.
“I don’t want to recommend this idea, both as a human being and as the president of an agency that wants to recruit Miss Gae-gae.”
When Cheon Ah-ram found it difficult to continue talking to Ga-eul, Seo Su-yeon took on the villain role instead and began to speak.
“You might feel reluctant because you think that sending Gahyeon to an orphanage may reduce the amount of time you spend together. But that’s a slightly wrong perspective.”
Seo Su-yeon spoke in an extremely business-like manner.
“At the moment, since the debut has not been confirmed, I have some time to spare, so I allowed Gaeul to commute, but once the debut group is decided, living in the dorms is essential. “This is an issue that Ga Eul also agreed to.”
“Yes, I know.”
“That’s right. Therefore, the decrease in the frequency of meeting Gahyeon was a situation that was expected even if this situation had not occurred.”
That’s true, but I didn’t think it would sound very good to Gaeul.
“We are not depriving you of the right to meet Gahyeon just because the situation has changed. Rather, taking into account the uniqueness of the situation, we plan to grant more free time to meet with Ms. Gahyeon.”
After Su-yeon Seo finished explaining the situation, she announced the company’s policy and threw a carrot.
“This is close to a privilege that I have no intention of granting to other trainees. Even if you feel inadequate, I would appreciate it if you would know that Two Bears are sincere in continuing their relationship with Mr. Gaeul.”
“I understand what you said. … “Maybe it would be better for Gahyeon to go to an orphanage.”
Gaeul spoke clearly, as if she did not take Seo Soo-yeon and Cheon A-ram’s words lightly.
“The professionals at the orphanage will take better care of Gahyeon than me, who has to work to protect Gahyeon and comes home late at night.”
“Of course, it may not be qualitatively better than doing it yourself, but in terms of time spent, it can be seen as such.”
“that’s right. Also, after listening to you, I think you will receive better facilities, food, and welfare at the orphanage than me.”
Seo Su-yeon said with a bit of joy at Ga-eul’s favorable response.
“then… .”
Ga Eul firmly cut off Seo Su-yeon’s words.
“… Still, I don’t want to send Gahyeon to daycare.”
““… .””
It was a pity.
If that was Autumn’s heart, there was nothing Two Bear could do.
Cheon A-ram exhaled softly and said.
“If that’s what Miss Gaeul’s intention is, I guess there’s nothing we can do. … “I will freeze the interest on the money to be paid for two years.”
She smiled bitterly and said, as if there was nothing she could do.
“I will support Ms. Gaeul’s choice.”
Ga Eul spoke urgently to Cheon A-ram.
“… I!”
Cheon A-ram, who was about to leave, turned her head and asked.
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
Ga Eul said in a trembling voice.
“… It’s really a shameless thing to say, but I think it’s a no-brainer, but still, I… ”
There was moisture in that voice.
“I want to be an idol too!”
After hearing Ga Eul’s words, Cheon A-ram said, rubbing her head as if she was embarrassed.
“Can I interpret that to mean that I don’t want to send Gahyeon to orphanage, but I want to stay at Two Bear?”
“… “It’s just as you said.”
Ga Eul didn’t seem to want to give up on either option.
The sight of him holding back tears as he couldn’t choose one was like a child.
But I liked the look
It was believed that the fact that a child who had to live as an adult was able to express his greed without immaturity was because he believed in me.
If that was Autumn’s true feelings, I had room to be strong.
Seo Soo-yeon looked into the folder she was taking notes in and said.
“I would like to ask you one question. Autumn obviously just said that she doesn’t have any relatives who can foster her. “But do you know of an alternative to sending Gahyeon to the orphanage?”
“… I don’t know what to do either. But I don’t want to send Gahyeon to daycare, and I don’t want to give up being an idol.”
Seo Soo-yeon calmly spoke to Ga-eul as if drawing a line.
“Mr. Autumn. It may be harsh to say, but we are treating Mr. Autumn as a bilateral contract. This means that we think of them as proper adults rather than minors who have difficulty expressing their opinions. So Gaeul also has to choose something.”
“… .”
Autumn couldn’t answer that question.
Instead of the silent autumn, I replied naturally.
“Should I choose something?”
Then the surroundings turned upside down.
Chen Ah-ram opened his mouth wide.
Seo Su-yeon was frightened and threw the file.
Gae-gae made a thud again and fell to the floor.
… I thought I joined in naturally, but it seems I was mistaken.
Cheon Ah-ram, who at least remained calm, took a deep breath and spoke.
“Team Leader Seon. “If you woke up, couldn’t you have given me a signal?”
… sorry.