Chapter 57

# Chapter 057

Soon, Jang Hayang's first morning practice session will be over. I anxiously focused all my attention on the second floor, waiting for 10 o'clock to arrive.

At 10 o'clock, the door of Practice Room 2 opened, and Jang Hayang came out.

Seong Pil pretended not to care and sat on the sofa, but he couldn't help shaking his legs.

Thump, thump, thump.

'Is she coming? Is she coming this way?'

Thump, thump, thump.

Jang Hayang, who had come to the first-floor lounge to get water, went back up to the second-floor practice room.

"......"

Outside the window, the branches of the trees swayed violently.

'Me?!'

Why didn't I get anything?

At that moment, I suddenly remembered something Jang Hayang had said in the past.

'When I'm with Manager, I get so nervous that I can't sleep.'

'If I feel awkward, I should have said something. From now on, should I only let Manager go with you?'

'Ahaha, would you like that?'

At the time, I thought it was just a joke, but Jang Hayang had continued to say similar things.

'When I'm with Manager, I get nervous.'

Really, I thought it was just a joke...

'Was it real?'

That's why you didn't give me a gift?

It feels strangely disappointing.

No, it's just disappointing.

I wanted to break the window and run outside, shouting so that everyone in the world could hear.

'This... This shouldn't happen...'

Gifts are a sensitive issue in the workplace.

If you give a gift, you should give it to everyone.

If someone doesn't receive it, they will feel bad, and there's a possibility of conflict among the members.

That's why the agency sometimes bans gift exchanges on days like Stick Day or White Day.

They don't want to cause trouble among the trainees, who are already in a competitive environment.

'If it were something else, I wouldn't mind, but clothes are too noticeable.'

If one of the members hadn't received a gift, Seong Pil would have reported it to Hong Gyuheon.

And he would have called Jang Hayang to advise her not to do that.

The problem is that the person who didn't receive the gift is Seong Pil.

'If I make an issue of this, it will seem like I'm complaining about not getting a gift.'

Even with all my experience from my previous life, I don't know how to handle this situation.

Most of all, it's shocking to realize that Jang Hayang avoids me in some way.

"Is something bothering you?"

After sitting in the same spot for hours in a thinking pose, Baek Seolha spoke to me.

Indeed, in situations like this, I can only consult with Baek Seolha.

"Ah, well..."

Seong Pil was about to explain the situation but stopped when he saw the fur gloves sticking out of her padded jacket pocket.

Baek Seolha, noticing Seong Pil's gaze, laughed softly.

"Hayang gave them to me. She used to knit every night. I feel both grateful and guilty."

"Hayang takes good care of the members."

"Really. I was worried because she's been quiet lately, but she was just a bit sensitive because she was focused on knitting this. She wanted to finish it by Christmas, even though she could have taken breaks if she was tired."

"Haha..."

"Ah, I'm sorry. You were about to say something, right?"

"Seolha, I was wondering why you often wear pre-sized clothes."

"......You were thinking about that for hours?"

Baek Seolha blushed and fidgeted.

Then she quietly said it was because of people's gazes.

Hmm, I see.

"If you have a question, just ask. You don't need to worry so much. No one will think strangely of you."

"Thank you."

Seong Pil felt even more depressed.

It was evening.

"Manager, I don't feel well today. Can I go back to the dorm early?"

Jang Hayang announced she was leaving early.

Although it seemed odd to leave in the evening, the official training and self-practice hours at Garo Entertainment end at 10 PM.

It's like being in the third year of high school.

"Should you go to the hospital?"

"No, I think I'll feel better if I rest."

Seong Pil got permission from Hong Gyuheon and was about to take Jang Hayang back.

Since Han Gugun was in charge of returning today, he offered to do it, but Seong Pil declined.

"You came to work. I'll do it."

These days, Han Gugun is very busy.

He's similar to Seong Pil when he was scouting for trainees in the past.

In contrast, Seong Pil has been quite idle lately.

"No, I should follow the schedule."

Seong Pil forcibly sat the conscientious Han Gugun on the sofa.

In the end, Seong Pil took Jang Hayang back.

She chatted with Seong Pil as usual, laughing, changing the radio, and occasionally looking out the window, just like always.

Seong Pil was trying to figure out how to bring up the topic.

'Why didn't you give me a gift?'

No, that sounds like a demand.

'You gave gloves to the kids, and to the manager and Manager.'

It sounds like a subtle threat.

'I didn't get one...?'

That sounds pitiful.

Seong Pil took a deep breath and decided to just say what came to mind.

"Hayang... Ah?!"

"What?"

Suddenly, Jang Hayang started bleeding from her nose. She was flustered and tried to catch the blood with her hand.

"Uh, uh? Uh?"

"Lean forward and tilt your chin up! Press here, above your nose!"

Seong Pil handed her a tissue.

Since he was driving, he couldn't fully focus on her.

After passing her the tissue and grabbing the steering wheel again, Seong Pil noticed his hand was also covered in blood.

Seong Pil pressed the accelerator to the max. He then stopped the car by the roadside and took Jang Hayang into the nearest store.

"Welcome...?"

"Where's the restroom?!"

"Over there."

Seong Pil led Jang Hayang into the restroom.

"Come out when the bleeding stops!"

"Y-Yes."

I was 100 times more anxious than when I realized I didn't get a gift.

Pacing around the restroom, Seong Pil suddenly realized it was a bakery when a female customer approached.

People sitting at the cafe tables were whispering and looking at Seong Pil.

Seong Pil approached the counter and ordered naturally.

"Is there a drink that's good for nosebleeds?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind, just give me an Americano."

When the Americano came, Jang Hayang also came out.

"Are you okay? Did it stop?"

"Yes."

"Let's go to the hospital. You said you weren't feeling well, so you must be really sick."

"No, I've had nosebleeds before, and this one is fine."

"There's no such thing as a 'good' nosebleed!"

They rushed to a family medicine clinic just before it closed and begged the doctor to see her.

The prescription was surprisingly simple.

"You seem very tired. I'll give you some medicine."

Of course...

As soon as they got back to the car, Jang Hayang smiled. Seeing her smile, Seong Pil felt like he was back to his normal self.

'I overreacted. Shouting in the store and all. She must think I'm ridiculous.'

Thinking about it, going to the hospital was really overreacting.

'There's no such thing as a 'good' nosebleed?'

Recalling those words made Seong Pil want to hide in a hole.

"Manager, look at this."

Jang Hayang rolled up her sleeve to show her wrist.

It was red.

"Why is it like that?"

"Manager, you grabbed my wrist. Very tightly."

"Earlier? Oh, I see. I was in a hurry. Sorry. No, really, really sorry. Did it hurt a lot? Ha..."

"It's okay."

Her pale skin made the red mark stand out even more.

Feeling both sorry and embarrassed, Seong Pil couldn't speak until they reached the dorm.

Jang Hayang was also quiet, which made it worse.

"Get some rest."

"Yes, thank you."

After Jang Hayang went inside, Seong Pil squatted on the street.

"Ha."

Today is exhausting.

Because of myself.

'I hate that I was thinking about the gift even in this situation.'

Jang Hayang was not feeling well, tired, and had a nosebleed.

* * *

On Christmas Eve.

All the members of Garo Entertainment gathered at the dorm.

Everyone, except Han Gugun, gathered in the living room because the kitchen was busy.

Han Gugun had chased everyone away, so no one even mentioned helping.

"Manager Han is scary."

"He's really serious about cooking."

Rika brought a board game from her room.

Board games have been her hobby since she was a child.

She said she has a mountain of them at home, and her parents send them to her from her hometown.

"What game is it?"

"Chal-Gal-Li!"

It's a game where you flip cards in turn, and when five of the same fruit appear on the table, you ring the bell to score points.

Seong Pil and Jang Hayang, who weren't interested, sat out, and the remaining four played the game.

Bang!

"Keeeeeek!"

Hong Gyuheon hit Rika's hand when she tried to ring the bell.

"Sorry. Did you get hurt?"

"'Sorry, did you get hurt?'! You did it three times! It was clearly intentional?!"

"Isn't this how the game is supposed to be?"

"No! Show some consideration for others!"

"Everyone, play seriously."

Rika, fuming, moved on to the next game.

When the same fruit appeared five times, Hong Gyuheon's hand, with the best reflexes, moved first.

Rika, seeing this, reached for the bell.

Bang!

Rika hit Hong Gyuheon's hand.

"......"

Smiling in triumph, Rika looked at Hong Gyuheon proudly.

Hong Gyuheon was serious.

Rika, hiding her lips, avoided his gaze, but her smile didn't fade.

She apologized in a voice mixed with fear and satisfaction.

"Ugh, uh, uh, sorry, hehe..."

"This is dangerous. Should we play a different game?"

"Uh, yeah. This is dangerous. Hey, Rika. Why did you bring this?"

"No, let's keep playing. We have to keep playing."

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Chal-Gal-Li turned into a physical battle between Rika and Hong Gyuheon. Baek Seolha and Jo Ahra, as spectators, shivered.

The game ended with Hong Gyuheon and Rika's hands turning red.

"I really like Rika. Her defiance against authority is the true human spirit I aspire to."

"Her hand looks broken."

"Stop whining."

"Manager Park... Manager is bullying me... Please soothe my hand."

"You also hit Manager's hand. If there was a hammer, you would have used it."

While different, both have strong egos.

After playing a few board games, Han Gugun finished cooking.

Everyone helped move the food to the table.

"Manager Han, I have a question!"

"Go ahead."

"Did you study hotel culinary arts?"

"Haha, my skills are far inferior to theirs."

They're not.

Most of the dishes were meat-based, with land, sea, and air all represented, stimulating everyone's noses.

They looked incredibly delicious.

"Please enjoy your meal."

"Wait."

Hong Gyuheon, a Christian, clasped his hands and closed his eyes.

For some reason, Rika followed.

"Let's eat."

"Manager, wait."

"Why?"

"I, I have something to do."

Jang Hayang quickly went to her room and came back with a gift-wrapped package.

"Manager Park."

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes. It's a gift."

"......Me, me?"

"Yes."

When he tore open the wrapping, a fur scarf appeared.

Han Gugun's scarf was navy, but Seong Pil's was black.

"Did you knit it yourself?"

"Yes. I was supposed to give it to everyone together, but Manager's took longer. I thought I wouldn't finish it by Christmas, so I gave the others first. It would be strange if only Manager didn't get one by Christmas."

Fortunately, the scarf was completed by Christmas.

Jang Hayang had left early and knitted until dawn at the dorm.

That's how she barely finished it.

"What? Only Manager Park didn't get a gift?"

"No wonder you weren't wearing anything. I thought you didn't give gifts."

"Try it on!"

Seong Pil put on the scarf and started crying.

"Manager?!"

"I, I don't know what to say. It was just late. I thought you didn't like me."

"Why would I not like you?"

"No, just... I thought so. Only me."

"Very touching."

Hong Gyuheon wiped Seong Pil's tears with a tissue, treating him like a child.

Before the mood could drop, Hong Gyuheon announced the start of the meal.

As expected, it was delicious.

While everyone was marveling, Hong Gyuheon said,

"Don't think you have to give gifts to everyone just because Jang Hayang did. You don't have to. If you want to, do it secretly. Don't tell others. It's not that Jang Hayang did something wrong, but don't create unnecessary pressure by making it a tradition. Understand?"

Seong Pil agreed enthusiastically.

The meal ended satisfactorily, and the only thing left was the hellish cleanup.

Baek Seolha and Jo Ahra lost the rock-paper-scissors and had to do it.

"Why does this always happen to me?"

"It'll be faster if you two do it together."

"Han Manager made the kitchen look like it was bombed. When will we finish this?"

"......I'll help too."

"Han Manager, rest."

Jo Ahra made Han Gugun sit on the floor.

She even made him lie down so he couldn't do anything.

"I have to go now."

"Okay. We'll leave too. Have fun. Manager Park, are you going?"

"Yes."

"Aah! Wait! Take a picture before you go! With all the gifts Jang Hayang gave!"

Hong Gyuheon, who hated taking pictures, reluctantly put on a fur hat under everyone's insistence.

"Jang Hayang, you don't have gloves?"

"Yes. I couldn't finish mine."

"Ah, then put on mine."

"Me too."

"Me too."

Jang Hayang not only wore gloves on both hands but also had one hanging from her ear.

She only had two hands.

"Put on the scarf too!"

Jang Hayang shared the scarf with Han Gugun and Seong Pil.

Naturally, Jang Hayang ended up in the center.

Hong Gyuheon even put a fur hat on her.

At first, Jang Hayang was flustered, but she eventually smiled happily.

It was her first family-like Christmas.

"Go, Garo Entertainment!"

Snow was falling outside the window.

* * *

[The schedule is out. We'll start the trainee retreat at the end of February.]

"How long will the retreat be?"

[Exactly 100 days. During this time, you won't be able to use your phones for security reasons. Is that okay?]

"Of course. That's to be expected."

Rika's appearance on 'Project Poryu' has been scheduled.