Episode 42
When I opened my eyes, I found myself sleeping in the same bed as Gaeul.
…What on earth is this situation?
Looking around, it didn’t seem like my familiar older sister’s house; it looked more like a private room in a hospital.
They must have admitted me after I collapsed.
But honestly, I didn’t think my injuries were that serious.
I had a rough idea of what was going on.
But I still didn’t fully grasp the situation.
How could I possibly understand Gaeul snuggling up to me in this narrow hospital bed?
Why on earth are you sleeping here, Gaeul?
Just then, Gaeul seemed to wake up and started moving.
I was caught off guard and quickly closed my eyes again, not wanting her to know I was aware of this awkward situation.
Well… if you’re taking care of someone, it makes sense to get a bit sleepy, and the bed might look comfortable.
If you toss and turn a bit, it’s natural to wrap your arms around the person next to you like a pillow.
If Gaeul just sits up in the caregiver’s chair, then it’ll all be as if nothing happened.
But even though Gaeul clearly seemed to awaken, she didn’t get up from the bed.
Instead, she just stared at my face intently.
…Gaeul?
She didn’t stop there.
Maybe feeling a bit playful, she started to gently caress my face.
“…Hehehe.”
What’s gotten into her?
Despite Gaeul’s increasingly bold touches, I still couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes.
I really missed my timing.
If I had known this would happen, I should have just pretended to wake up sooner…
At this point, it felt like I had already crossed the river.
Goodness, if I opened my eyes now, wouldn’t it be so embarrassing for both of us?
I silently hoped Gaeul would lose interest and stop, lying still like a log.
Before I knew it, Gaeul had placed one leg over my body and lifted one arm toward my chest.
And her face was getting closer and closer.
I could feel her faint breath on my cheek.
…Ugh, I can’t take it anymore.
I decided I had to give up and let her know that I was awake.
Just then, the door to the hospital room burst open.
“Team Leader Seon! We’re here!”
Bam!
“…What is Gaeul doing like that?”
Sneaking a peek from half-closed eyes, I saw Gaeul rolling on the floor, having knocked over the caregiver’s chair.
“Ah… I, um… I was asleep and got startled, so I rolled over,” she said.
Cheon Aram responded with a worried tone.
“Oh dear… I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m sorry; Gaeul must be very tired too. How about we keep an eye on Team Leader Seon for a bit, and you take a little break?”
“No! No! It’s fine! I’ve actually rested plenty and gotten all charged up already!”
“Charged up?”
“…Um, ah! I mean, charged like a smartphone!”
Seo Soo-yeon, who was following behind Cheon Aram, quietly said, “President, it seems Gaeul is…”
“Soo-yeon, just be quiet for now! Sometimes there are truths in this world that shouldn’t be revealed.”
Cheon Aram and Seo Soo-yeon whispered something serious, but I couldn’t hear them well from the distance.
“…Right. Anyway, it looks like Gaeul really is working hard. Has Team Leader Seon woken up at all while you’ve been watching over him?”
“Seems like a lot. Has Team Leader Seon woken up at all while you’ve been watching?”
“…No. They still haven’t woken up.”
Cheon Aram rested her chin on her hand and muttered.
“Hmm… Should I talk about it now, then?”
She spoke in a low, serious voice as if she had made a decision.
“Our lawyer at TwoBear just informed us of the situation. It looks like Gaeul’s father will face jail time due to illegal gambling, child abuse, attempted murder, and fraud charges.”
“…..”
“That’s a problem, but a bigger issue arises from it,”
“…What do you mean?”
“Concerning Gaeul and her brother Gahyeon’s future plans.”
“…Ah.”
“Gaeul is okay for now. We have accommodations at TwoBear Entertainment. But Gahyeon is the issue.”
With Gaeul’s father gone and Gaeul moving into accommodations, Gahyeon, who is in the third year of middle school, would be left alone.
Cheon Aram pointed this out.
“In general, if child abuse occurs and a child must be separated from their parents immediately, they are sent to temporary shelters or youth centers, places that can protect children temporarily.”
Cheon Aram’s words sounded very businesslike. It seemed like she was just stating what needed to be said.
That must be her own way of showing respect. Sympathy can sometimes hurt more than indifference.
“…But right now, the case is a bit different. With Gaeul’s father likely facing prison time, it’s also been decided that the children must be temporarily separated from their parents.”
She stated this as calmly as possible.
“At this point, we need to find a long-term care method for the children, like foster care or an orphanage. I believe fostering is the best option.”
Gaeul likely wouldn’t want to send Gahyeon to an orphanage. Cheon Aram seemed to want to lean toward fostering because she understood that feeling.
“So, I want to ask. Do you have any relatives who could take Gahyeon in? …Like, perhaps a mother?”
“There are no relatives who would allow that… My mother is out of touch, making it difficult.”
Cheon Aram let out a deep sigh.
“Ah… Things have become complicated.”
Considering Gaeul’s family situation, it was perhaps an expected outcome. That didn’t make it any easier to prepare for a concrete solution, though.
“Then, Gaeul has two options left.”
“…..”
Facing the silent Gaeul, Cheon Aram continued.
“First, we send Gahyeon to an orphanage.”
Cheon Aram spoke softly, as if to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
“Gaeul might not have the best impression of orphanages. But there’s no need to worry excessively about them.”
Her soothing voice made it feel like she cared for the listener.
“Our team at TwoBear will do everything we can to ensure Gahyeon goes to the best facility with a well-organized system. He might even receive better treatment than when the three of you lived together before.”
“You might receive better treatment,”
“…What’s the second option?”
“It’s for Gaeul to give up being a trainee at TwoBear Entertainment and protect Gahyeon herself.”
Cheon Aram looked like she didn’t want to say the next part.
Yet, as if unwilling to look away, she said it plainly to Gaeul.
“…And if you choose this, you’ll have to pay back the 46 million won your father used for gambling.”
From Gaeul’s point of view, this was utterly unfair, but from TwoBear’s perspective, it was only natural to get the deposit back since she was breaking the contract despite having already received payment.
Cheon Aram’s hand wasn’t being cruel; it was just a necessary task.
But even for her, pushing Gaeul further didn’t seem like an easy thing to do.
“As both a human and the president of the agency wanting to recruit you, I wouldn’t want to recommend this option.”
As Cheon Aram struggled to continue her speech, Seo Soo-yeon took on the villain’s role and began to speak the necessary words.
“You might feel reluctant to send Gahyeon to the orphanage because it could reduce your time together. But that perspective is slightly off.”
Seo Soo-yeon said this very matter-of-factly.
“Since your debut hasn’t been confirmed yet, we’ve been able to allow Gaeul to commute, but once the debut group is decided, accommodation will be mandatory. This is something Gaeul agreed to.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Exactly. So, reducing the frequency of meetings with Gahyeon was something that would’ve happened even without this situation.”
She was right, but it didn’t sound very good to Gaeul.
“We’re not stripping you of your right to meet Gahyeon just because the situation has changed. On the contrary, given the special circumstances, we plan to allow more freedom for your meetings with her.”
After explaining the situation, Seo Soo-yeon revealed the company’s policy and tossed a carrot.
“This is a privilege we are not considering granting to other trainees. Even if it feels insufficient, we hope you understand that TwoBear is sincerely committed to maintaining a relationship with you.”
“I understand what you’re saying… Maybe sending Gahyeon to the orphanage would be better for her too.”
Gaeul replied firmly, as if she had taken Seo Soo-yeon and Cheon Aram’s words to heart.
“I have to work to protect Gahyeon, and surely the experts at the orphanage will take care of her better than I could, especially when I return home late.”
“Of course, it may not be better qualitatively than what you could provide, but in terms of time, it could be seen that way.”
“Yeah, and from what you’re saying, it sounds like the facilities, food, and welfare would probably be better at the orphanage than what I could provide.”
Seeing Gaeul’s positive response, Seo Soo-yeon looked a bit happy.
“Then…”
But Gaeul sharply interrupted Seo Soo-yeon.
“…I still don’t want to send Gahyeon to the orphanage.”
“…”
It was a sad matter. If that was Gaeul’s true feelings, there was nothing TwoBear could do.
Cheon Aram let out a low sigh and said, “If Gaeul’s intention is that, then there’s nothing we can do. …I’ll freeze the interest on the money owed for two years.”
She smiled bitterly as if resigned. “I’ll support Gaeul’s choice.”
Gaeul, in a hurry, called out to Cheon Aram, “…Me!”
As Cheon Aram turned her head to leave, she asked, “Do you have something else to say?”
Gaeul spoke with a trembling voice, “…It may be an unreasonable request, and I know it might be selfish, but still, still I…”
Her voice was trembling with emotion. “I want to be an idol too!”
Upon hearing Gaeul’s words, Cheon Aram seemed taken aback and pondered. “If I understand correctly, does that mean you don’t want to send Gahyeon to the orphanage but want to stay with TwoBear?”
“That’s exactly it.”
Gaeul didn’t seem to want to give up either option. Her tear-filled eyes looked like a child who couldn’t choose.
But I found that sight endearing; it meant that the child, who had to live like an adult, could express her selfish wishes because she believed in me.
If that’s Gaeul’s true intention, then there was room for me to muster my strength.
Seo Soo-yeon looked through the documents she was taking notes on and said, “I have one question. Gaeul, you clearly just said you have no relatives who can take you in. Yet, are you aware of any alternatives to not send Gahyeon to the orphanage?”
“…I really don’t know what to do. But I don’t want to send Gahyeon to the orphanage, nor do I want to give up on being an idol.”
To Gaeul, Seo Soo-yeon said coldly, as if drawing a line, “Gaeul. It’s a harsh thing to say, but we’re treating you as a binding contract partner. It means we consider you a proper adult, not a minor who has difficulty expressing her will. So, Gaeul, you must choose something.”
Gaeul couldn’t respond to that.
I answered for her in the silence. “Must we choose something?”
Suddenly, chaos erupted around us.
Cheon Aram’s mouth fell open, and Seo Soo-yeon yelped, throwing her documents away.
And Gaeul tumbled to the ground with a thud.
…I thought I had smoothly interjected, but it turned out I was mistaken.
Cheon Aram, who had managed to stay calm, took a deep breath and said, “Team Leader Seon, if you woke up, couldn’t you have given us a signal?”
…My apologies.
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