Chapter 75

# Chapter 075

"I'll leave first."

"You both did a great job today."

"Thanks, Manager Han."

Today, Han Goo-in was in charge of seeing the members off.

Seong Pil and Son Hae-bin walked out of the company together. They didn't speak until they reached the parking lot.

"Big sister."

"What?"

"Do you want to have a drink?"

"Sure."

They naturally headed to a nearby bar.

Even after the appetizers came and a few drinks had been poured, they didn't speak.

"Big sister."

"What."

"What about a double title track?"

"It's not possible. If we're going to attach a title, it means we're not just releasing the song. We need to make a music video and choreography. Do you know how much that costs?"

"It's not like it's going to cost a fortune... Then, which one do you think would be good as a B-side track?"

"Try saying that to Elic. The moment he hears that 'Tingle' is going to be a B-side track, he'll probably collapse and grab his neck."

"That's true..."

"If you're going to say things like that, don't open your mouth."

"Okay."

Seong Pil didn't do anything wrong.

'If there's anything, it's that I'm too good at talking.'

Is that not the case?

The vote among the staff ended in a tie.

'Baek Seol-ha won because of the votes from the members. Honestly, it feels like a trick.'

'Baek Seol-ha called the guide for 'Ani.' Of course, she would have an attachment to 'Ani.'

'At least I got one vote from the start. I also helped the members choose the lyrics.'

The other members likely had an attachment to 'Ani' as well. In fact, Son Hae-bin's defeat might have been decided the moment the members were called.

That's why Seong Pil felt guilty towards Son Hae-bin.

Although Hong Gyu-hyun called the members, it felt like he won because of the close relationship he had built with them.

In reality, the members' opinions were also tied 2-2, but Seong Pil couldn't know that, so he could only be mistaken.

"Did I say something harsh?"

"What do you mean?"

"That song. You and Ji-eum worked hard on it and even made a guide."

"Oh, that. It's fine. What's wrong with expressing your thoughts?"

"I think 'Ani' is good too. I just said it harshly on purpose. I thought your opinion was too set, and I wanted you to look at it more objectively."

"You have a plan, don't you?"

"It still seems a bit set to me."

"Of course. You're completely hooked."

Even though they were drinking slowly, the amount of alcohol had already decreased significantly.

"What are you going to tell Elic?"

"What can I do? I have to tell him it wasn't chosen."

"Will he get angry?"

"He probably will."

"What if he refuses to give us songs in the future?"

"Then we won't get them. Composers have a lot of pride. They're artists, sensitive people. Singers, lyricists, me, everyone is like that."

"Try to explain it well."

"Sure."

They drank a reasonable amount and left the bar.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Son Hae-bin stretched and made a loud noise.

"Done with being depressed! Let's have fun now!"

"Have fun? We have work tomorrow."

"So what? Let's go to a karaoke bar, a karaoke bar!"

Seong Pil was dragged to the karaoke bar by Son Hae-bin. She seemed to have completely forgotten about today's events, singing a lot, laughing a lot, and eating a lot.

After 11 PM, the two called a designated driver as they left the karaoke bar.

While waiting, Son Hae-bin smiled sweetly.

"Our Seong Pil, when did you grow up so much?"

"How long are you going to tease me? What are you trying to say?"

"You really have grown a lot. When I first met you, you were small and cute. If I said a watermelon was a pumpkin, you wouldn't even doubt it."

"It wasn't that bad. I had my own principles."

"Sure. You did. You still do. You've grown well, our Seong Pil."

Son Hae-bin patted Seong Pil's head.

Normally, he would have roughly pushed her hand away, but today he let her.

* * *

Seong Pil was about to enter the manager's office when he hesitated.

[If you play an April Fool's joke on me, you're fired.]

It was a serious warning.

Seong Pil put the gum box toy he brought from home deep into his pocket.

It was a toy that would make a cockroach model bite your finger when you pulled out the gum. He almost got fired.

"'Ani' recording will be done when the members are ready. For the choreography... we'll do it after the final version of the song is out. I feel uneasy about doing it with just the guide. We'll talk about the album design later."

The morning meeting ended.

Seong Pil headed to the practice room to take the members to the academy.

On the way, he met Rika.

She was walking with a mischievous look in her eyes, clearly planning an April Fool's joke.

Seong Pil beat her to it.

"Rika, you have a bug on your shoulder."

"EEEEEEEEK!"

"April Fool's!"

"..."

"Hahaha!"

Seong Pil didn't give Rika time to retaliate and walked past her.

Rika glared at Seong Pil, clearly upset.

Thus, April Fool's Day at Garo Entertainment began.

"Manager Han."

"Yes."

"I'm considering a job change."

"Wh-What?! B-Baek Manager, if you leave, what will I do? Why suddenly? Why are you doing this? Is it about the salary?"

"April Fool's!"

"..."

"Hehe."

The mischief spread like wildfire.

Jo Ara, who had just finished school and come to work, was the perfect victim.

"Ara, today's lunch is fried grasshoppers. I caught a few while helping in the countryside."

"That sounds delicious. I ate a few at my grandfather's house when I was young."

"R-Really? I'm sorry, but it's April Fool's..."

"You lied to me?!"

"I'm sorry..."

However, the first mischief Jo Ara encountered was surprisingly innocent.

Still, the April Fool's wind swept through Garo Entertainment until evening.

Most of it was caused by Seong Pil.

He seemed determined to bring all kinds of toys. It was a level of effort far beyond just telling a lie.

"What happened to Ara?"

"They said your zipper was open."

"Did she fall for it?"

"The uncle's expression was really convincing. When I bowed, he said I was greeting well. I should have hit him with a dead fish."

"What about the teacher?"

"A snake jumped out when I opened the cookie lid..."

"A real snake?!"

"It was made of cotton and fabric. It seems to be spring-operated."

"That must have been scary."

"I lent it to Hae-bin, but she didn't get scared."

"Famous people are different, aren't they?"

"She said she was already fooled by Manager Park before."

"Ah... What happened to Hye-bin?"

"Nothing."

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

Jang Ha-yang looked angry, so Rika didn't dare to ask her more.

The four of them kept talking about the pranks Seong Pil had pulled.

While none of them were severe, when their stories combined, Seong Pil became the ultimate trickster.

"I'm angry! I can't stand Manager Park running around like that!"

"Rika, you shouldn't say 'running around' to an adult."

"Then what should I say?"

"'Rampaging through everything'?"

"I can't stand Manager Park rampaging through everything!"

"You shouldn't tease adults."

"It's fine if I get permission!"

Rika ran to Hong Gyu-hyun, flailing her arms as she explained her unfair treatment.

"I want to see Manager Park raging around!"

"You're having fun, aren't you?"

"Take down the paper on the manager's office door and say it."

"So, you came to get my permission?"

"Yes!"

"What are you going to do to make him rage?"

Hong Gyu-hyun was also interested in how Seong Pil would react. What kind of lie would make him angry?

"I'll confess and get scolded!"

"Huh?"

"I'll make him really flustered! Make him think! I'll turn it into a joke by saying it's April Fool's! The moment he starts to take it seriously, I'll tease him relentlessly!"

"Hey, Rika. That's crossing the line. Playing with someone's feelings..."

"It's fine."

Han Goo-in, who had been silent, spoke with a lukewarm anger.

"Rika, it's fine. Please do it."

Han Goo-in was still bothered by the lie Seong Pil told him in the morning.

How could he say he was leaving the company?

That was a betrayal of the trust built up until now.

Han Goo-in had been researching lies that could fool Seong Pil since the morning, and Rika's idea came at the perfect time.

"...Okay, that sounds fun."

Hong Gyu-hyun approved Rika's prank.

"Call Hae-bin too!"

"PD Son is out on business today."

Everyone except Son Hae-bin and Seong Pil gathered in the manager's office to prepare the prank.

"I'll go to Manager Park with the call on speaker. Everyone listen to my performance!"

Rika left the manager's office with determination.

"What if Manager Park really accepts it?"

Baek Seol-ha brought up the obvious question.

The scary part of such pranks is that if the other person takes it seriously, it's very hard to clean up the mess.

"Will he accept it, Manager Park?"

Hong Gyu-hyun dismissed it casually.

[Manager!]

Rika's strong voice echoed from Hong Gyu-hyun's phone.

It seemed Rika had approached Seong Pil in the office.

Everyone perked up their ears.

[Rika. No matter what prank you pull, I won't be fooled. Give up and go practice.]

[It's not that. I have something to ask.]

[Is it a consultation?]

The sound of Seong Pil pushing his chair back was heard. His voice also got closer.

[What is it?]

[My chest feels tight.]

[Are you sick again? How long has it been since you had appendicitis? Does it hurt a lot? Should we go to the emergency room?]

[It's not that. Lately, when I see you, my heart beats fast, I can't breathe, and I can't make eye contact. Why is this happening?]

"How many manga have you read?"

Jo Ara sighed. Her fingers were already curled into a ball.

The others also chuckled at Rika's confession. Anyone would realize it was a prank if they spoke like that.

[What kind of feeling is this?]

[It's respect.]

[What?]

[You respect me, that's why.]

"Manager Park knows it's a prank."

I knew it would turn out this way.

[Is that so...?]

[Keep respecting me.]

[Yes, no, no! If I respect someone, my heart would beat when I read history books! There must be something else!]

[Rika. Stop the prank. It's not funny.]

[Ah... Yes...]

Rika's voice dropped.

She seemed disappointed that her well-prepared lie didn't work.

[Manager Park is bad. You're just having fun... Please be fooled once...]

[Even as a prank, you shouldn't do that. Especially not to Manager Han.]

Han Goo-in received everyone's gaze.

"Are you all thinking something about me?"

[Go on.]

[Ugh, look forward to next year!]

Rika's weak footsteps were heard a few times.

[Rika. Come here for a moment.]

[Yes?]

[This is just between us. Can you keep a secret?]

[I'm very tight-lipped!]

"Anyone can see you're planning a prank."

"Rika is falling for it without any doubt."

Seong Pil didn't speak for a while after saying he would.

"Is the call disconnected? No."

"Maybe they're having a private conversation?"

"Ha, Manager Park is really using April Fool's to the fullest. Is he planning to come back and prank us?"

"It's more scary that he noticed the speaker was on."

"How did he know? Rika put her phone in her back pocket."

Just as everyone's interest was waning, thinking the prank was really over,

Rika asked in a serious tone.

[Is it a difficult topic to talk about?]

[Rika. I'm going to leave the company soon.]

[What?!]

[While working on the song this time, I realized I don't match with the CEO.]

[No, no, we should talk it out!]

"Does Rika really believe that?"

"It seems so..."

Rika's flustered reaction was easy to imagine.

[Even if we talk, it won't work. I've already talked to the CEO a few times, and our thoughts are completely different.]

[Oh...]

[I thought I should tell you in advance.]

[...]

[I'm sorry.]

[Ugh, traitor! You said you'd stay here! You lured me in and now you're leaving!]

[That's why. Let's leave together.]

[What?]

"Are they in on it? Or does Rika really believe it?"

"Rika is so naive."

[If we leave, we have to pay a penalty... We can't leave. Manager, please, please try harder! I'll help you convince the CEO!]

[I'll pay the penalty.]

[What?]

[What will you do?]

A long silence followed. At the end, Seong Pil's resigned voice continued.

[...I understand. Don't tell the others.]

"That's ridiculous."

Hong Gyu-hyun chuckled.

I thought only people with bad tastes liked hidden cameras, but watching it directly was a different level of interest.

'Even Rika will notice at this point.'

He suggested leaving together without telling her what they would do.

It's impossible not to be suspicious when someone suggests leaving without any explanation.

Seong Pil's resignation was also unreasonably quick.

Even Rika would realize it was a prank at this point.

'Manager Park must be ending the prank now.'

[Ugh, I'll go. I'll follow you, Manager... Don't leave me behind...]

"Wait, what did she just say?"

No one answered.

Everyone was still in shock from Rika's surprising response.

Just now, Rika said she would leave the company and follow Seong Pil.

[Click]

The call ended.

Now, only silence remained in the manager's office.