ALL NOVEL Chapter 154
Chapter 154
While waiting in the meeting room with Gyeoul at the promised location, three individuals entered as the promised time crept past.
“Sorry, we’re a bit late. I’m the assistant writer, Ina Bi.”
“It’s okay. You weren’t that late. Given how traffic is around here, I think you actually arrived early.”
“Aha, thank you for understanding….”
After exchanging awkward greetings, just as Ina Bi extended her hand for a handshake, she suddenly stopped and stared intensely at my face.
“Are you an entertainer by any chance?”
I responded to her unexpected question without hesitation.
“No, I’m the manager.”
Ina Bi inspected my face with awe.
“Wow, that’s impressive. Why is someone who should be acting working as a manager? If you’re interested, I can introduce you to a company I know….”
“No way!”
That was Gyeoul, the baby sea otter and my protective guardian, blocking the offer.
“Teacher Taeyang will definitely remain as the manager here at TwoBear!”
Ina Bi looked at her with a smile, as if finding her cute.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry! I misspoke. Well then, shall we focus on the shoot? But first, let’s do some quick introductions. This is the main cameraman, Park Yeji.”
…Yeji?
As that nightmarish name popped back into my head, I flinched. Gyeoul showed the same reaction.
I asked with suspicion, “Yeji?”
Then a sturdy-looking man holding a heavy camera spoke up.
“Yes, Park Yeji.”
“Is your name really Yeji?”
“Yes, it is. Isn’t it interesting to have such a feminine name?”
“….”
Right, the name Yeji isn’t that rare. I could run into another one someday.
I need to let go of my prejudice towards names.
“This is the camera woman, Shin Eun-kyung. She’ll be handling the secondary camera.”
“Oh, nice to meet you. I’m Seon Taeyang, the manager. I look forward to working with you on this shoot.”
As I politely greeted the camera woman, Shin Eun-kyung averted her gaze slightly, her cheeks turning pink, and said:
“Don’t look at me like that with that face… it feels like I might get pregnant.”
“….”
What the heck is wrong with this crazy girl?
As everyone was shocked by Shin Eun-kyung’s insane remark, the door to the meeting room burst open dramatically, and someone entered with a chilly presence.
“Please watch your words. Otherwise, Team Leader Seon might feel uncomfortable.”
It was Gaeul, who must have been in the middle of training.
It was a fall day.
“Wow, it’s Gaeul. You look even prettier in person.”
“Uh, Gaeul? Why are you here…?”
“Gaeul? Are you a member of the agency?”
Unlike the reactions from the other filming teams, Shin Eun-kyung seemed not to recognize her, so Gaeul introduced herself.
“I’m Yoo Gaeul, Team Leader Seon’s manager.”
In response, Ina Bi looked flustered and asked, “So Team Leader Seon is your manager, and you’re the manager’s manager?”
“Even if I’m a manager, Team Leader Seon needs care… I think there are a lot of pests hanging around lately, so I’m going to take on that role.”
“But you’re a member of Girl Revolution and an idol, right? Why would you become a manager?”
“I can’t be an idol forever, so I have to prepare for my second life.”
“How can a 17-year-old like Gaeul already be planning for that…?”
I interrupted their conversation and said to Gaeul, “Gaeul, calm down, we need to go back to the training room. I understand how you feel, but I’m fine now.”
“Well, Team Leader Seon is always fine, but this time the surroundings are the problem…”
“Huh?”
When I questioned her statement, Gaeul hesitated, fidgeting, and spoke softly so that only I could hear.
“Um… honestly, I think those female foxes are the ones at fault…”
What the heck does that mean, Gaeul?
Just then, the meeting room door opened again, and Oh Yoori and Seo Eunbyeol appeared with confused expressions.
“Unnie, stop saying weird things and come out! You all are really just… today of all days…”
“No! Team Leader Seon needs my management! How can I leave Team Leader Seon alone like this? I have to… I have to protect her!”
“This unnie is really hopeless. Eunbyeol unnie, hold her legs. Let’s drag her out.”
“Okay, got it. Yoori, um… excuse me, Gaeul.”
Being dragged away, Gaeul gazed at Shin Eun-kyung as if she wouldn’t let go.
Shin Eun-kyung, caught off guard by that gaze, couldn’t hide her tension and said, “…Just now, Gaeul looked at me with eyes like she could drown someone, is everything really okay?”
“Of course it is. It’s just a little joke. It’s all acting, you see. How could such a nice girl like Gaeul have such scary thoughts?”
She’s always quick-witted, so when I feel awkward, she tends to diffuse the situation with antics like that, despite her acting potential being overshadowed.
Shin Eun-kyung murmured, sounding skeptical, “No, no matter how I look at it, it felt genuine…”
*
Gyeoul was particularly wary of the gazes around her today. It seemed like every girl was staring at Seon Taeyang with entranced eyes.
It seemed like she was sending a gaze that was mesmerized by the sun.
No, this couldn’t just be simple suspicion.
What woman in the world could see someone like that and not be intrigued?
In the first place, a sun only for winter was impossible.
But still, full of hope that he wouldn’t get entangled with a strange woman, Gyeoul actively guarded Seon Taeyang, making it seem like she was managing him rather than receiving his management.
“Hey, Gyeoul, wouldn’t it be okay to walk a bit apart outside? There are people filming over there, right? I’m worried it might look weird.”
“No way!”
“We’re okay too. The scene is just too amusing right now. It’s funny to see an artist and manager who are both eager to manage each other, isn’t it?”
“…Well, if that’s the case, I guess there’s no helping it.”
While proceeding with today’s schedule, closely attached to Seon Taeyang, Gyeoul spotted a piece of paper slightly stuck to his belt.
“Uh? Who put this here?”
Curious, Gyeoul removed the paper.
It seemed like it contained a message, neatly folded.
So she unfolded it to check the contents.
– “Gyeoul, don’t let him see you. If you don’t want to die.”
“…”
Cold sweat dripped down Gyeoul’s forehead.
Seon Taeyang’s death.
It was a nightmare that did not feel far from her.
“Hah, hah.”
Breathing became difficult.
She started to feel dizzy; even standing was becoming hard.
Thinking of his death made the surroundings spin.
Upon reading the message, she recalled the gazes that seemed to follow her recently.
And she felt that because she hadn’t been able to stop that person, a crisis had come upon Seon Taeyang.
The gravity of that fact felt overwhelmingly terrifying to Gyeoul.
Her head spun more and more.
Just as she was about to stumble and fall, Seon Taeyang caught her in his arms and asked,
“Are you okay, Gyeoul? What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Do you want to go to the hospital?”
Looking at him, Gyeoul thought to herself.
Even if he hated her or found her a nuisance, she shouldn’t hide it.
“I’m going to try to be a little more honest.”
She recalled the confession and feelings Jin Yeoreum had expressed during her hospital visit.
That had left a deep impression on the timid Han Gyeoul’s heart.
She had faith that if it was Taeyang, he would accept her if she were a little more honest too.
So she said everything.
“Um… Teacher Taeyang.”
“Teacher Taeyang.”
“Yeah, Gyeoul, why?”
“Actually….”
*
“So, you felt like you were being watched lately, and this message made you sure of it?”
“…Yup,”
Gyeoul replied with a sad face, looking about ready to burst into tears.
“…I’m sorry.”
I gently ruffled her hair and smiled.
“You’ve got nothing to apologize for. It’s not your fault. That weird stalker is the one who’s in the wrong.”
“….”
Gyeoul quietly accepted my gesture.
…So, how do we fix this situation?
There were plenty of options.
Honestly, I had experienced this to the point of exhaustion last time, so I had a diverse set of countermeasures ready to go.
The key to deciding which approach to take here was how much weight to give to safety.
After pondering it, I said,
“Let’s wrap up today’s schedule here.”
“Pardon?”
I didn’t want to give Gyeoul half-hearted measures. Even if it seemed a bit extreme and the loss would be considerable, I wanted to go with the safest method.
“I think we should report this to the police and increase our security personnel. It’ll be necessary to gather evidence and also to officially notify everyone of our stance again. For a while, let’s halt all external schedules. I’ll personally drive you to and from the accommodation and the company.”
And what else was there?
“Teacher Taeyang.”
“Hmm? What is it, Gyeoul?”
“Um… but we have an important broadcast coming up, right? Is it okay to just stop it like that?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt TwoBear.”
“….”
Gyeoul, who had been silent after my response, seemed to gather her resolve and said,
“Teacher Taeyang, the message from the stalker said, ‘Don’t be seen,’ right? Then, if we just follow that, it should be fine, right?”
Huh?
*
“Mom, what are those people doing?”
“Oh, it’s just a game that people in love play with each other.”
“Ah-ha.”
“…”
I quickly quickened my pace, feeling embarrassed under the gazes of those around us.
“Team Leader Seon, you seem to be walking a bit fast. Can you walk with us?”
“Uh, sure.”
Gyeoul, blindfolded, clung tightly to one of my arms, carefully following me, reliant only on me.
I guess following the stalker’s demand, I truly wouldn’t be visible.
“Gyeoul, no matter how I think about it, this isn’t right….”
“It’s… fine! We’re following the requirements, after all!”
“….”
…No, there’s no way this is fine.
“Hehe.”
But still, Gyeoul seemed to be having a good time.