Chapter 61 #11. Stalker (2)
Jin Haesol had a sasaeng fan on his tail! An unavoidable plague for any idol. The company sprang into action with practiced efficiency at the news, starting to collect all sorts of evidence to hand the creep over to the police.
Security was a given, of course.
"Change your phone number. And don't give it out to anyone except family and close friends."
"Got it."
Ahyun spoke to me in a surprisingly businesslike tone. I swallowed a grin that threatened to burst out and answered flatly. We were communicating with our eyes.
Since she was part of the dedicated team supporting my group, we sometimes crossed paths like this in front of others. Pretending not to be close while exchanging glances was its own kind of fun.
"But are you sure you don't need counseling?"
"I'm really fine."
"It might seem minor now, but it could build up into something serious later."
"No shock, no need for counseling."
"Even after texts like that…?"
Ahyun's eyes turned fierce for a moment.
"Doesn't it creep you out? Make you feel dirty? Pathetic?"
"They're just fans who like me a bit too much. Sure, it's unpleasant, but I don't think it's dirty or pathetic."
I wasn't defending sasaeng behavior, but writing them off as filthy or pitiful felt over the top. They were my fans, after all.
"Even if you're okay with it, we can't go easy! Setting a precedent like letting it slide once is dangerous. And you're supposed to feel upset about this. If you don't, it'll only get worse. We have to handle it firmly!"
"Yes, ma'am! I'll be careful!"
"Sasaengs aren't fans. You have to remember that!"
After getting an earful from Ahyun, we unfortunately didn't get any alone time. But these stolen moments at the company let us savor the thrill of secret dating.
Plus, we'd already planned to meet up tonight.
I'll spoil her rotten tonight.
But my plans hit a snag.
"Hey, where you headed?"
"?!"
I'd left the doppelganger doll in the dorm and was slipping out when a woman popped out of the darkness.
"Who are you?"
"Men shouldn't wander around late at night."
She wore a mask, a cap pulled low, and a black hood up—eerie as hell. But she was small and skinny, so she didn't seem like much of a threat.
"From the company?"
"……."
I'd said it, but a company staffer showing up at the dorm late at night was suspicious from the jump. I kept my distance.
"Didn't you just talk to me?"
"…Go home."
"Go home? You know me?"
"It's what Haesol wants! Go home!! I told you it's dangerous!!"
She suddenly yelled. I listened closely—voice I'd never heard before. A stranger who knew me? Lurking at the dorm late at night?
"Sasaeng?"
She flinched!
"No!"
"Showing up here this late is suspicious enough. And you know me, so probably a fan. Oh, right—the company said to call the cops in cases like this?"
"I said no! I was here to protect you!"
"Protect me from what, exactly? The real danger here's sasaengs like you."
Ahyun was right. We shouldn't call sasaengs fans.
She was waiting in front of the dorm to 'protect' me?
If anything, the threat was this sasaeng popping up at night. With no one else gunning for me, where'd she get that idea? Unbelievable.
"Where you going? Gotta go? Want me to come with?"
"No, you're the danger. Go home. Or I'll call the cops."
The agency hadn't actually said to call the police—just the manager. A rookie idol tangling with cops could blow up if reporters caught wind. Better to play it safe.
Especially since I'm sneaking out. Officially, I'm fast asleep right now.
"Tell me where you're headed!"
"Why should I?"
"To protect you!"
"No thanks."
"You're so naive, you don't even know. There are tons of girls after you. One wrong move, and who knows what they'll do!"
This and that? I was curious what she meant specifically.
She'd clearly been tailing me for days, not just once or twice. That suspicious message on my phone came to mind naturally.
"Was that you?"
"Huh?"
"The sasaeng sending creepy texts the past few days."
"W-what? No idea what you're talking about."
She was playing dumb. But she backed away, looking guilty.
Handle her now, and maybe no more hassle.
She showed no signs of leaving me alone. Even after the cop threat, she just stared.
Huh? Camera?
Then she raised her camera.
"Night's dangerous—stay with me and let's take a pic? I can make you look cool!"
-Whoosh, smack!
I lunged, grabbing her camera hand.
"Ah!"
"No pics. Acting on your whims and calling it 'for me'? Shameless."
I couldn't use too much force on her. Cops could turn messy. Needed to settle this quietly.
I yanked the camera away fully, grabbed her wrist, and dragged her from the dorm. Getting caught nearby would be disaster.
If anyone spots the doppelganger doll, that's 4,000 points gone!
I'd sworn to Poni no one else would see the item. If busted, I'd sell the doll to repay the loaned coins.
Take her somewhere remote, scare her off, and send her packing.
She didn't resist when I took the camera or dragged her. I led her obediently to a deserted spot and let go of her wrist.
A dark alley, no streetlights. Faces barely visible. Any woman would be terrified.
But the sasaeng just grinned creepily. Mask hid her expression, but she wasn't scared.
"Not scared?"
"Where we headed? Wanted a date with me that bad? Didn't expect it this soon—came out all sloppy. Give me a bit, I'll change into something cute and come back. Wait for me?"
Playing crazy, or actually nuts?
"Does this look like a date invite?"
"I'm way prettier than this. Right now, I'm a total mess. Wanna show you my best!"
Now's not the time for that!
So much for scaring her off. No effect.
How to deal with this crazy sasaeng?
Delusional? Fight delusion with delusion.
It'd been ages since I'd seen Ahyun. Ruining that meant she owed me.
She won't leave if I tell her to. She'll tail me secretly. Then pics of me with Ahyun, scandal city.
Horrifying. Made my decision easy.
No more sasaeng bullshit. Ever.
"Fine, come back all prettied up. We'll date then."
"R-really? A date? Eeee! Gotta snap pics for memories forever! And show everyone at our wedding!"
…Already fantasizing the wedding?
Anyway, she forgot the camera and bolted in excitement. Didn't even get to tell her to take it.
Problem solved, sorta?
Not fully, but she'd have a headache. Tell anyone at the company or around, no one'd believe her. No evidence without her camera.
Me? Doppelganger alibi had me sleeping soundly.
Though even the doll might not cover everything. Sasaeng's one thing, but paparazzi tailing? Could blow up.
Might need new items sooner than thought.
I bluffed the sasaeng away and had a steamy night with Ahyun. The overwhelming heat of it pushed the stalker crap right out of my mind.
Couldn't tell the members or company anyway. Planned to make it a non-event from the start—no need to dwell.
But from her side? Her beloved idol had asked her on a date!
Too excited to sleep, she toughed it out till dawn, then rushed to the dorm and waited for Haesol to emerge.
Buzz buzz—
"Isn't it super noisy outside for some reason?"
We were up early for schedules, washing up to head out, when the racket outside hit.
Ki Uyeon peeked out the window and yelped in shock.
"Some woman's arguing with Manager Noona!"
"A woman?"
"Gasp!"
"Who is it?"
"Hey, don't stick your faces out! Could be trouble."
Jeki yanked Nam Eungyu and Kang Jun—dangling from the window—back inside.
"Call Manager Noona."
"This won't blow up, right? Should we call the cops?"
"Better hit up the team lead?"
I pushed through the fidgety members and peered down.
Road Manager Noona was tangling with some woman.
Prettier than I thought?
Probably the sasaeng from last night. She'd dolled up hard, like she said.
Didn't expect her to show at dawn demanding a date, though.
Obviously, Manager Noona had zero plans to let her up.
Especially with her spouting nonsense and insisting.
Finally, the manager blocking her made a call somewhere.
"Huh? It's Manager Noona?"
Call to leader Jeki's phone.
"Yes, Manager."
"Stay put in the dorm."
"Something's up outside—everything okay?"
"Looks like a sasaeng. Keep Haesol inside no matter what."
"Got it."
On speaker, so we all heard Manager Noona loud and clear.