Episode 82
“…huff, huff.”
In the early morning, while all the trainees were asleep in Girl 100’s accommodation, Gyeoul was sweating cold and breathing heavily.
She had a dream.
Or maybe she saw a memory.
Perhaps she was experiencing some sort of time slip.
One thing was certain: she saw Taeyang there.
His figure, standing by her side at the funeral, despite being busier than anyone.
His words about a hundred years and a bond that would last forever.
And his death.
[‘Memory of Possibilities’ has been completed!]
And as if to affirm that all those memories were not just illusions, a message appeared before Gyeoul’s eyes.
No, to be honest, even if someone called it a simple illusion, Gyeoul would deny it.
The raw reality of that moment, the chain of emotions creeping up on her like tentacles, was definitely not a delusion.
“…Teacher Taeyang.”
Gyeoul forcibly gripped her trembling hands, tossed off the blankets roughly, and got out of bed.
“Ugh, what’s going on?”
At the commotion, Kim Yujin, who was sleeping next to her, seemed to wake up, but Gyeoul couldn’t spare her any attention.
Gyeoul punched her relaxed legs to get some strength into them, put on a white t-shirt and dolphin pants she had been given as pajamas, and left the accommodation.
Leaving the accommodation without permission was a breach of contract for trainees appearing on Girl 100.
Clearly, Gyeoul’s actions right now would lead to significant disadvantages.
However, rational judgment didn’t even enter Gyeoul’s mind at this moment.
Instead, one thought saturated her mind.
“…Teacher Taeyang, …Teacher Taeyang.”
Gyeoul had to see Seon Taeyang.
Right now.
She climbed down the stairs, opened the emergency exit, and completely left the accommodation, pulling out the emergency funds of 50,000 won she had stashed between her socks to hail a taxi.
In slippers, dolphin pants, with a trembling body and beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead, she certainly didn’t look like a typical teenager at this hour.
Seeing Gyeoul, the taxi driver asked kindly, “Are you okay, student? Should I take you to the hospital?”
“…No, I’m okay. Please take me to a different place.”
Gyeoul gave him the address of the house that had felt so cozy after staying in Seoul for about a month.
It was Seon Taeyang’s house.
The discussion with Kim Seon-ye dragged on longer than expected.
Overall, while both sides agreed on the terms of the deal, opinions on editing Gyeoul’s image varied greatly.
“Ugh, what kind of twisted mind does that guy have?”
Among Kim Seon-ye’s demands was the extreme suggestion of turning Gyeoul into a national ‘brat.’
I thought to myself, “Why? It’s just one word, right?” I tried to brush it off casually, but the moment I uttered that word, I pictured myself meme’d and doomed to eternal ridicule in the community, so I strongly opposed it.
What I told her was that Gyeoul was someone whose fanbase had divided opinions; I wasn’t suggesting we create a target for stone-throwing.
Honestly, Kim Seon-ye knew exactly what that meant and was aware it would help with the broadcast. But she probably just said it hoping it would annoy me.
The fact that her intent was purely malicious made her truly sinister.
Looking back, she really was a tough character. So, it’s no surprise she was behind the vote manipulation.
“Really looking forward to this, Seon-ye. I’ll blow up the broadcast’s popularity!”
Though I would be getting hit from behind in the process.
Grumbling, I parked the car carefully in the cramped parking lot.
Sometimes I wondered if it was okay to drive the company car like this, but our kind President Cheon assured me he would buy another one, so I figured I’d be fine.
“Honestly, I’m really lucky to have met the president.”
He pays well, promotes someone with no experience to team leader, and gives bonuses if there’s any performance — it couldn’t get any better, right?
Truth be told, my work-life balance was in shambles…
But since I was often the one making nothing into something, I had no complaints.
I mumbled a few grumbles and climbed the stairs to my home, an old apartment.
As I walked down the hallway, I tapped the numbers on the door lock that was starting to malfunction and entered my home.
“I’m back.”
“Hey, Taeyang! You’re late!”
It seemed like my older sister had fallen asleep early; only Gahyeon welcomed me.
“What were you doing up at this hour? Were you waiting for me?”
“No, I just woke up because I craved ramen for a late-night snack.”
“…Well, enjoy it.”
I could scold others for this, but having experienced the luxury of midnight ramen, only to have my digestive system rebel later, I didn’t want to stop him.
I didn’t want to stop experiencing it.
At that age, one should enjoy it. Once you hit thirty, the worry the next day becomes exhausting.
“Hey Taeyang-hyung, should I boil some for you too? Don’t worry, it’s all good. Honestly, anyone can boil ramen for one person, but starting from two servings, that’s a realm of skill, right? And I happen to have remarkable skills in that area.”
Oh, so Gahyeon isn’t just talented in art and cat cuteness; he’s got skills in boiling ramen too?
I feel rewarded taking care of you here.
“Well then, should I take a little taste?”
“Are you adding an egg? Or just not mixing it?”
“Please don’t mix it with the broth.”
“Firm noodles? Or soft-cooked noodles?”
“Firm noodles.”
“Of course, Taeyang-hyung knows what he’s talking about! Just wait, hyung.”
Gahyeon started tearing open the ramen package while humming his favorite song, “Memories of Leaves and the Sea.” During that time, I thought I should change from my suit into something more comfortable and opened my door.
Maybe it was contagious, but I too started humming “Memories of Leaves and the Sea.”
As I remembered the past street performance, I shrugged off my clothes.
In that moment, I found Gyeoul crouched between the bed and the wardrobe, fast asleep.
…Huh?
I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was seeing things, then looked back again between the bed and the wardrobe.
No doubt about it, it was Gyeoul.
What are you doing here?
“…Isn’t this dangerous?”
Gradually, this dream-like situation started feeling real.
Thinking about the rule in Girl 100 that prohibits leaving the accommodation without permission, Gyeoul should absolutely not be here.
Especially not now, while I’m in negotiations with PD Kim Seon-ye in a tug-of-war.
It wasn’t the time to munch on ramen.
I had to figure this situation out somehow.
“…Gyeoul?”
I cautiously walked over to shake her awake.
“Gyeoul, wake up. You can’t be here.”
Gently nudging her, Gyeoul slowly lifted her head and opened her eyes a little.
With her dreamy gaze just waking up, she spoke in a fragile voice, as if she might break.
“…Teacher Taeyang?”
“Yep, it’s Team Leader Seon. Let’s get up for now, Gyeoul.”
Please save me, Gyeoul, I’m so flustered I’m breaking out in a cold sweat.
Gyeoul’s gaze gradually sharpened, and her eyes sparkled with life.
Then, at the same time, tears began to well up.
Desperately, she called my name.
“Teacher Taeyang!”
And Gyeoul wrapped her arms around me tightly.
I hugged her tightly.
“Teacher Taeyang, Teacher Taeyang!”
Winter’s voice calling my name felt incredibly precarious.
She definitely wasn’t in a normal emotional state. Otherwise, Winter, who absolutely loathes being a burden, wouldn’t have ignored the rules of Girl 100 and come all the way here.
“What’s wrong, Gyeoul? Is something happening?”
“…Teacher Taeyang, …sniff, …waaaah.”
Winter couldn’t answer my question and just burst out crying like a child. Whatever she experienced, she looked utterly exhausted.
Hoping to soothe her just a little, I embraced her tightly and gently patted her back.
“It’s okay, Gyeoul. Everything’s okay.”
When I ran into Lee Hyerin at work, and she mentioned how she was the strict type, it made me worry. I told her that since Gyeoul is quite sensitive, I hoped she’d handle her gently; otherwise, she might burst into tears. That was just a side note, of course.
Lee Hyerin responded with a look of disbelief.
“Is Gyeoul crying? No way!”
When I expressed my confusion, she explained that during classes, even when she was terrifying and spoke harshly, Gyeoul performed all her tasks without wavering. She even evaluated Gyeoul as the most mentally resilient among the three trainees of TwoBear.
When I reacted with skepticism and insisted on how well Gyeoul can cry, Lee Hyerin laughed and said, “Well, that’s probably just the side she shows to Team Leader Seon.”
That remark still lingered in my mind.
“If anything hard happens, or if you feel like you can’t hold on, I’ll take care of it. So please try to relax a bit.”
If this gentle side she shows is her way of trusting me despite her weakness, I wanted to repay that trust. So, I quietly comforted her while holding her close.
Then suddenly, the door burst open.
Bang!
“Taeyang hyung! This is crazy! The ramen turned out amazing! You gotta eat it before it cools down, for real!”
It was Gahyeon, holding steaming ramen.
He glanced at Winter in my arms and said, “…Oh, I’m sorry for interrupting.”
Then he pulled out his smartphone from his pocket, made a call, and started panicking as he said, “Breaking news, Taeyang hyung has a girlfriend!”
That’s not what’s happening, you idiot!
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
