Chapter 28

# Chapter 028

Rika seemed to have forgotten that the place was full of people and let out a loud cry.

It was only natural that people's gazes would turn to her.

In the silent cafe, Seong Pil also fell silent, as if following the flow.

‘Did I discriminate against Rika...?’

If she felt that way, there was nothing Seong Pil could say.

When he thought about each of Rika's words, he realized that she could have felt that way.

"I'm sorry."

Seong Pil stood up and bowed to the cafe.

This helped to disperse the gazes somewhat.

He sat back down and looked at Rika.

‘I don't spend much time with Rika, do I?’

Apart from driving her to and from the academy, there was hardly any time to talk.

Rika would chatter away in the passenger seat every time they were in the car, and Seong Pil would give her vague responses.

He had to focus on driving, and their conversation styles were so different that it was hard to talk.

‘Was there something more I could have done for her?’

Seong Pil spends most of his mornings and afternoons scouting trainees.

Even if he wanted to take care of her, there weren't many opportunities.

He had even made time to visit Baek Seolha, and during Jo Ah's short training period, he had paid more attention to her.

‘Rika might have felt discriminated against.’

Ishika and Rika.

18 years old.

A brave girl who left her hometown and came to Korea alone.

She must feel like she's standing with her back to the river.

When she returns home, all she has is a cold room.

There's no one to talk to or comfort her. To her, Garo Enter must be like home.

"Rika."

"..."

"I didn't know you felt that way. I'm sorry."

Rika tried to maintain an angry expression, but it crumbled with just one apology from Seong Pil.

She sniffled and bowed her head deeply.

"I'm sorry."

Garo Enter is now like Rika's home. And the person who brought Rika to Garo Enter was Seong Pil.

Seong Pil had lured her in with all sorts of sweet talk.

Fortunately, Rika had believed his words and trusted Seong Pil, coming to Garo Enter.

In the company, Seong Pil was the person Rika trusted and relied on the most.

If such a person seemed to be giving more attention to other members, how frightening and lonely it must have been.

Seong Pil had the responsibility to take care of Rika's mental health.

"Hiiing..."

Rika couldn't hold back her tears.

Seong Pil gently but firmly patted her shoulder, enough to snap her out of it, and warmly.

"I didn't discriminate against you. Why would I? You're the prettiest in the world... um..."

What else was it?

Seong Pil tried to remember the words he had said to her a few months ago.

"Born to be an idol... You work harder than anyone else. Why would I discriminate against you? I didn't just bring you in casually. Have you ever seen me bring anyone in casually?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I try not to lie. Did you forget that I remembered you for over two years? When we decided to form an idol group at Garo Enter, you were the first person I thought of. That's why I brought you in first. I have more affection for you, of course."

"Really? Really?"

"I was secretly hoping you'd come out of KS Enter."

"Buy me a Hanrabong aid."

"No way."

"Kuh."

Rika quickly wiped away her tears.

"If you have any problems, speak up quickly. From now on, if you have any difficulties, tell me. I'll listen."

"I was afraid you'd dislike me if I said something unpleasant."

"Managers are supposed to listen to complaints. I'll listen even if I don't get paid... No, I'll listen even if I don't get paid, just for Rika."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay."

"Today, when we stood in front of the camera with the three of us, I felt a bit overwhelmed."

Rika had been at KS Enter for one and a half years.

Competition, competition, and more competition.

There were many peers at the company, but no friends.

They saw each other as competitors, so no one opened up to each other sincerely.

The life of a trainee makes you focus only on the future.

At an age when she should have been playing with friends and receiving care from teachers, she had to walk alone on a cold, barren field.

"I'm sorry. It felt like I was the only one drumming and playing the janggu."

Today, Rika faced a competitive situation for the first time at Garo Enter.

It was just a matter of standing in front of the camera, not really a competition.

But it probably reminded her of her time at the previous agency.

"Oh, Rika. You know what 'drumming and playing the janggu' means? You're smart."

"Yeah, I'm smart!"

"Do you want to be the center?"

"Of course! As you said, I'll shine more than anyone else! But, Seolha-sensei would fit it better."

Seong Pil tapped Rika's head with a gruff gesture.

"If you were just a few centimeters taller, you would have been a good match for Seolha."

"I grew 3 cm in 4 months."

"Even if you want to stand in the center, you shouldn't lie."

"Really."

"How can someone grow so fast? Your growth plates must be closed by now. Rika, it's okay to be short. You're the prettiest in the world, even if you're short."

"My height is above average."

Rika rubbed her face with her palms to wipe away her tears.

"I came here just for you, sir. Treat me better."

"Got it."

"Don't neglect me even if other trainees come in."

"Got it..."

A shadow fell on the table.

The staff member had brought a few tissues.

It was the actor-like staff member who had taken their order at the counter.

Seong Pil nodded in thanks and took the tissues. He watched the staff member walk back to the counter.

Waking from his reverie, he saw Rika with a pout.

"Do you know what 'puk' means?"

"Rika, you know what 'puk' means? You're smart."

"Give me the tissues."

It had been a while since they had gone out to eat.

He had given in to her tantrum.

Although he was worried about the calories, seeing Rika's happy face made Seong Pil feel good too.

* * *

[Seong Pil, did you meet her? How was it? If it went well, buy her a drink today. If not, buy her a drink anyway.]

"Bro, it's been a day. How could I have met her?"

[Why didn't you contact me sooner! Isn't that negligence?]

"I was planning to do it today. And I have work tomorrow, so it's hard to drink today."

Seong Yunsoo is a heavy drinker.

It's fine if he drinks alone, but he always insists on drinking with others.

It's fun if you run with the intention of dying, but if you have work the next day, drinking with him is like hell.

[What am I supposed to do? I cleared my evening to drink with you!]

"Don't lie."

[Then I'll buy it, so come out.]

"You're really going to do it."

Seong Pil performed his duties with a heavy heart all day, knowing that he would end up drinking heavily with him in the evening.

The inevitable evening finally arrived.

"Hey! Over here!"

When he entered the grilled intestine restaurant, Seong Yunsoo waved at him enthusiastically.

He was as boisterous as ever.

"Bro, you've gotten even fatter. Stop drinking so much."

"Life is tough at my age. What else is there but alcohol?"

"You have a company."

"Don't know. The company runs fine without me."

Seong Pil grilled the intestines as usual.

Before the first one was even done, the glasses had already gone around three times.

"Have you been in touch with Professor Nam lately?"

Professor Nam.

When he was writing a book related to broadcasting and entertainment, Seong Pil helped him.

Thanks to his book, Hankooki contacted Seong Pil, so he could be considered a benefactor who connected Garo Enter.

"I send him a text message on holidays and birthdays. I also send a light gift during the holidays."

"Why don't you send one to me?"

"He sends one first. I was surprised when I received it."

"Why would he do that for you?"

I don't know.

Maybe he just likes to take care of people.

Seong Pil doesn't send holiday gifts to important industry figures.

From this, it was clear that Professor Nam was special.

"Anyway, it's been a while. Let's see each other more often."

Seong Yunsoo was a mid-level manager when Seong Pil was a young manager.

He was the type who could start an agency if he had the funds, and he really did.

He currently runs a model agency smoothly.

"I'm busy too."

"Stop being so stubborn."

"Really."

As the bottles of soju increased, Seong Yunsoo's voice grew louder and he laughed more.

"So, you know. Uh? I? At the cafe where Go Yeonju works, uh? I stuck around for a few days."

"I've heard this story more than a hundred times."

"Really? Then listen again."

"I know the whole story. The actor Go Yeonju, moved by your sincerity, joined your agency, passed the drama audition, and became famous."

It's his 18th repertoire that comes out whenever he drinks.

Seong Pil already knew what he would do next.

Seong Yunsoo suddenly became somber and poured himself a drink.

"Go Yeonju, I raised her..."

Go Yeonju grew into a star and is now affiliated with a large actor management company.

When Seong Yunsoo sees her on TV, he feels both happy and bitter.

"Seong Pil."

"Yes, bro."

"A manager's life is about meeting many people, but try to stick with them as long as possible. Moving around a lot isn't good. Try to avoid changing companies as much as possible."

"I know."

"Did you know that a kid left the agency they were originally in?"

"There were circumstances."

They drank until the cars stopped and then went their separate ways.

Seong Pil lost all his memories.

* * *

"Sir!"

I'm tired.

My eyes won't open.

But my senses are coming back.

I can feel the rough texture of the sofa on my cheek.

My neck hurts, probably from sleeping in an awkward position.

"Manager!"

The voice right next to me is annoying.

I want to sleep more.

"Manager!"

I opened my eyes wide.

Rika was fidgeting and looking down at me.

Seeing her, not only my eyes but also my mind snapped awake.

Why is Rika the first thing I see when I wake up?

"Mm, mm, what? Why are you..."

"The CEO will be here soon! What if we get in trouble! Get up quickly, wash up, and get ready!"

"Ugh?"

"Hayaku (quickly)!"

Rika forced Seong Pil to get up.

As I walked in the direction she pushed me, my drowsy body gradually woke up.

"What's going on? Why am I sleeping at the office?"

"Does this look like home? Hurry up! If you use the company building for sleeping, the tax office will come after you!"

Seong Pil went into the shower room on the second floor.

At the same time, the entrance door opened, and Hong Gyuheon's voice was heard.

"What's this strange smell? Alcohol?"

"I, I, I don't know!"

"..."

Seong Pil finished his shower in less than 10 minutes and went down to the first floor, feeling grateful to Rika.

Hong Gyuheon was sniffing the sofa. She wrinkled her nose and looked at Seong Pil.

"Manager Park."

"..."

"You can't sleep here. Do you have any excuses?"

"No. If my drinking with an industry figure can be considered an excuse, then maybe."

"Don't do this again. Even if the company feels like home, it's not."

"I'm sorry."

Hong Gyuheon went up to the CEO's office without saying anything else.

Seong Pil and Rika both let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks, Rika. I would have been so embarrassed if you saw me sleeping on the sofa."

"Hanrabong aid."

"No."

"If everyone in the world was like you, there would be no crime, except for sleeping at the office without permission."

Rika said this with a hint of disappointment but smiled.

In the past two days, since Rika confessed her feelings, she seemed to be smiling more often.

As time passed, Baek Seolha also came to work.

Jo Ah would come to the agency after lunch because of school.

Until then, the two of them practiced on their own.

"What should we eat for lunch today?"

The familiar lunch scene at Garo Enter.

Seong Pil, Hong Gyuheon, and Hankooki each sat in their spots and looked at the food delivery app.

"How about Korean fast food? It's cheap and there's a lot of it."

"Hmm, I like the idea of it being cheap."

"I think cold noodles would be good. There's a place that gives you a free grill with the open service, and there's no delivery tip."

"Hmm, a free grill."

"What do you think?"

"Korean fast food."

Hankooki looked disappointed.

It took over an hour for the delivery to arrive, probably because it was lunchtime and the orders were backed up.

Seong Pil entered the room with the food, followed by Rika and Jo Ah.

"I'll just taste it, really."

"I'll just eat one blood sausage."

"No way. What if you lose your willpower after just one bite?"

"Aaah! Just one bite, please! The smell of tteokbokki is everywhere on the first floor, it's too much!"

"Manager Han made a nutritious rice dish. One bowl of that is probably more expensive than what we ordered."

"There's no meat!"

"Rika, the nutritional balance is perfect."

"There's no meat!"

"..."

Hong Gyuheon looked at the pleading Rika and Jo Ah with a warm smile.

"Manager Park, just put a little bit of each in one bowl."

"Is that okay?"

"Just for today."

Rika expressed her gratitude as if she were doing a three-kowtow, and Jo Ah was happy but not as much as Rika.

Jo Ah probably didn't stick to a strict diet at home.

She often ate delicious things, so she wasn't as desperate as Rika.

"By the way, CEO."

"What is it?"

"You've been making the kids exercise and follow a diet."

"Yes."

"But since all the members will eventually go to the gym, wouldn't it be better to give them a break now?"

"Once they fall, they fall hard. I'm saying this based on what I've seen. Manager Park, don't be too soft on Rika just because she's begging. I know you'll keep it up even if I don't say this."

Seong Pil had taken Rika out to eat a few days ago.

Feeling guilty towards Hong Gyuheon, Seong Pil silently played with his chopsticks.

After the meal, it was time to take the kids to the academy.

'30 minutes, so I have some time to spare.'

Seong Pil left the building to smoke.

He usually smokes in a place far from the company.

He doesn't want the trainees to see him smoking.

He also does it to get rid of the smell on his way back.

He put a cigarette in his mouth in an alley where no one was around.

That's when the phone rang.

With no particular reason to answer, he picked it up with a "Who is it?" in mind.

"Hello?"

[Manager Park Seong Pil?]

An unknown number. An unknown person.

But the voice sounded familiar.

Seong Pil furrowed his brows, trying to identify the voice.

"Yes, that's me."

[Ah...]

A voice mixed with surprise and absurdity.

Seong Pil felt a sense of oppression even without knowing the context.

[When are you coming?]

When am I coming?

Did I make an appointment?

Seong Pil felt a chill run down his spine and put the cigarette back in the pack.

"Just a moment."

Remember.

Recall.

There's no more irresponsible act than making an appointment and then pretending you don't know about it.

I have to remember.

'Something, something is there.'

His mind raced, and something seemed to be within reach but just out of grasp.

[Manager?]

Unfortunately, nothing came to mind.

Seong Pil, bracing himself for rudeness, asked:

"Sorry, where was the meeting place?"

Silence, then a sigh.

Fortunately, she told him the location.

[Did you have something important to do?]

"Huh? Um..."

[You're an hour late.]

Seong Pil ran towards the car he had left at the company.

"I'm on my way right now!"

While driving, he checked his phone.

10:04 PM, a call to an unknown number.

The call he just received was from the same number.

Seong Pil opened his notes app out of curiosity and saw a familiar number.

'This is the number of the person introduced by Brother Yunsoo!'

There was no time to be surprised.

Seong Pil, who was nearly an hour and a half late, drove as fast as possible to the meeting place.

Seong Pil rushed into the cafe.

In the cafe, full of people enjoying their post-meal coffee, Seong Pil's eyes were fixed on one person.

It seemed like he could only see her.

'That cafe staff member?'

On the day Rika opened up to him, the staff member had brought tissues to help her wipe away her tears.

Her appearance was so striking that she was immediately recognizable.

Seong Pil called the person he was supposed to meet.

"Hello?"

She answered the call.