Teddy Bear Doll (5)
"What the hell are you doing? You can't just barge in here!"
Manager Noona hurriedly blocked the path of the masked woman intruding into the waiting room. The mask meant she was a celebrity appearing on the show, so Noona couldn't shove her aside by force.
I let out a small sigh as I realized this was the woman who'd spewed that filthy talk on stage earlier. What the hell was she planning to pull now?
"Who the fuck are you, kid?"
"...This voice sounds familiar. Hey, please leave. If you don't, I'll call the production staff."
"Shut up! You think a measly manager gets to step up here?"
Manager Noona recognized the voice from that outburst and spoke up. "That voice... Ah! Singer No Heekyung, right?"
"Yeah, that's me, No Heekyung."
She got even more arrogant now that Noona knew who she was. The problem was, I had no clue who No Heekyung even was.
"No Heekyung-ssi, you're not some newbie to broadcasting—you can't just act like this. Why are you doing this? Talk to me instead. Haesol-ah, go hang out in the back."
"I got nothing to say to you. I just wanna talk to my junior, so why block me? I'm No Heekyung! You think I'm gonna eat the kid or something?"
"I know you wouldn't, but this is Mask Singer—you can't just storm into your rival's waiting room like that. Plus, we need to focus before going on stage soon."
"I'm her Round 1 opponent. Focus my ass. Cut the bullshit and get over here, you."
She pointed rudely at me, barking orders. She'd been spewing nasty shit without hesitation since the moment we met.
Manager Noona's face hardened, her temper finally flaring. "Touch my boy and you won't get away with it. Back off now while I'm warning you."
"Ha! And what're you gonna do if I don't? Go cry to your sugar daddy?"
"What? Sugar daddy? You done talking shit?"
Noona's face flushed red. The bitch had spewed the same dirty crap on stage, and now here too. Maybe I should've told Noona about the stage incident—that might've been the trigger.
Noona suddenly dropped all pretense and laid into her. "Hey!!! No Heekyung!! You think you're still hot shit from your glory days?! You know how many bitches got buried in this industry for running their mouths?! Want me to do the same to you?!"
"!!"
The woman who'd been strutting around like she owned the place backed off at Noona's words, clearly not expecting that fire.
Hell, even I was shocked by Noona's intensity.
"W-what? Y-you just say that to me?"
"Yeah, you fucking bitch. That's right, No Heekyung! You think there's another one here? You washed-up rotten hag—how dare you spew that crap? You think you can insult my precious boy I raised like gold and walk away scot-free?!"
"Wha-wha-what...! Y-you crazy bitch?"
She was so flustered she could barely speak. Whatever balls she'd had to come here, Noona had crushed them completely.
Thoroughly cowed, No Heekyung got shoved out of the waiting room by Noona.
"Kyaaak! The manager's hitting me!!"
"Shut the fuck up, you slut. Don't talk to my boy. Even if you use the show as an excuse, you're out. Got it?!"
"B-but I'm No-No Heekyung...!"
"So what?! You know who I am? Loose lips don't mean you get to flap 'em whenever, you idiot!"
"You think I'll just take this lying down?!"
"Try it if you wanna get stepped on and buried. You think only you can retaliate? Let's see who has the better backing. Everyone in this industry knows your connections are dust. You should've quit rampaging five years ago."
Murmurs rose.
"Y-you bitch!!!"
The commotion drew footsteps—people gathering. No Heekyung stomped in rage.
Noona sneered at the banished bitch in the hallway. "I warned you. Touch him once more. I can bury you, wanna test it?"
Staff arrived nearby. Noona slammed the door shut with a bang, figuring it wouldn't look good to keep brawling in front of production.
"Ugh, screaming my lungs out—my throat's killing me. Who the hell does she think she is, talking that low-class trash?"
Still fuming, Noona panted roughly, muttering curses.
"Noona, drink this."
"Hoo! Sorry, kid. Had to make you hear that ugly shit."
"She seems kinda famous— is this okay?"
"Washed-up hag long past her prime. Probably dragged here 'cause the network squeezed her dry and tossed her. Don't worry. Pairing her with you? One-and-done obvious. She's got skills people acknowledge, but you'll steal all that buzz."
Was Manager Noona always this badass? She'd always protected us fiercely from sasaeng fans, but with other celebs, she'd been passive—pulling us back to avoid direct clashes, resolving low-key to prevent drama.
But today? She straight-up cursed her out and dominated.
Who the hell is this No Heekyung anyway?
Noona hadn't overreacted from insignificance. That 'sugar daddy' jab, treating me like a whore—it must've hit her button.
Once calmed, Noona told me, "If that bitch approaches again, call Nu-na. Don't respond—just polite bow if eyes are on you. She's filthy and petty; skip the greeting as her junior, she'll grab that leverage."
"She's that famous?"
"You don't know No Heekyung?"
"Nope."
"Damn, she's deader than dead. Makes sense—only old-timers know her. Kids like you wouldn't. Big star back in the day, solid vocals. Not anymore. Busted for drugs, in and out of jail, popularity tanked. Now she's a pathetic old hag scrambling to cling to the industry."
"...Whoa."
Drugs too? Scandals pop up often, nothing shocking, but...
First druggie I've met.
As an average Joe before, it felt wild.
My curiosity at 'drugs' prompted Noona: "Guess it's time you kids got the drug education talk."
"We get that?"
"Duh. Celebs ain't dumb. Sane folks never touch it. But even sane ones slip—unwitting addiction. Like, 'It's just a cig, try it'—bam, hooked."
"Heard rumors. Usually peers push it. Curiosity starters."
"Yup. But you ask a clear-headed person, 'Wanna try drugs?' They'd say?"
"Hell no."
"They target emotions. Depressed celebs, say. 'Try once, blues gone.' Suicidal types? They'll crave the dependency."
Plans for counseling all members as fame grows.
"Even with care, some stray. Drains me every time."
"You guys hate clubs, homebodies—huge relief. Club kids always spell trouble later."
Friendly celebs invite sometimes. Fun vibe? Maybe. But...
Not my scene.
Plus, guys at clubs? Every chick there gunning, eyes glowing. Streets swarm enough—no need to be club bait.
Can't fathom guys here chasing clubs.
Topic shifted to drugs mid-chat when knock-knock-knock.
"Her again? I'll handle—hide in the corner, out of sight."
"Got it."
I obeyed. Noona opened the door—thank god, PD-nim, not the bitch.
"Heard a ruckus here. You okay?"
"Ah! PD-nim, come in."
"Where's Haesol-ssi...?"
"Haesol-ah, come out."
I stepped from the corner. PD-nim sighed, clocking why. "No Heekyung made a scene here, right?"
"Yes. Came spewing insults at my boy. Unbelievable. What'd he do to deserve that?"
"Sigh, sorry. Heard bad rumors, but didn't think she'd go that far."
"Not your fault, but he's shaken. Once bitten, twice shy. Not sure he can perform now."
I wasn't fazed by her tantrum—shocked by Noona's curses.
"Heard your rehearsal vocals—seemed crushed. Insecure, threw a fit. We'll bump your slot back."
"Thanks. Oh, and keep her path off ours max. Worried what she'll pull. Barged in, dumped unspeakable filth. Haesol's toughest among members—still hid scared. Others? Instant tears."
"Got it. Script change—no stage chat either."
PD this accommodating? Rare. Her tantrum, not PD's mess. If PD got prickly, we'd suck it up.
But Noona milked the 'victim' act hard, and staff perks kicked in.
"Whatever threats, ignore. Nobody. Strings cut ages ago."
"Rehearsal flop—no shame? Tsk tsk."
"Poor Haesol-ssi, must've been terrified."
They pitied me as the big victim. Noona said take it quiet—I did.
Slot adjusted. Last in Round 1.
Opposite side, masked No Heekyung slunk out meek—PD must've tipped her.
MC, knowing the drama, read cautiously. "Final Round 1 stage. The white-haired prince riding the black horse, versus the soaring fire dragon. I Want to Hold Your Hand."
Soft piano opened.
My turn first—mic to lips.
"I saw a couple walking hand in hand down the street."
My rich tone on the opener drew roars from the Mask Singer crowd.
Whoaaa~!