That Bitch
That Bitch
Goosebumps ran down my spine.
But still, could something like that really happen in broad daylight?
The fact that I was the target was absurd too.
It felt a bit weird to say this, but wasn't that the kind of crime usually aimed at people living alone, or at young children?
I was already twenty, though.
Or was it a real stalker?
No.
Come to think of it, they seemed to know that this place was Song A-ra's home.
They clearly knew.
They might have seen the mail downstairs, but...
Should I report this, or should I tell A-ra?
I honestly didn't want to make her worry, but what if I hid it and it caused a scene later?
And on top of that, I'd gone and posted about it on the community forum without even knowing what it was, so the police might contact me too.
It seemed like some people in those communities, whether there or here, thought reporting was half a joke.
I agonized over it again and again, and finally pressed and held speed dial 1.
Tturururu....
A-ra's ringback tone, which I always heard, felt especially long.
Anyone watching would've thought I was the one in trouble.
Ttuk.
Ah, she answered.
-Seong-hwan? What's wrong?
She guessed it right away.
A wry smile escaped me.
She must have been worrying about me even while doing the program.
"Are you busy right now?"
-No? The sound director had a mishap, so we were taking a short break.
-Did something really happen?
"If something happened, I guess I should say it did... well..."
I told A-ra everything that had just happened.
A-ra, who'd been listening with 'yeah, yeah,' stopped responding at some point.
That was a bit scary.
"A-ra Noona?"
-..................
"Noona? Are you listening?"
-Seong-hwan. For now, I'll send Yeji over, so stay with her.
"Huh? Yeji Nuna?
Yeji, who could be considered the eldest daughter of Queens that Noona was part of, was twenty-four this year.
Since A-ra was twenty-two, that meant a two-year difference.
I'd seen her in person at the last graduation ceremony, and her looks didn't pale in comparison to A-ra at all.
Still, was it really okay to just call up an idol like that?
-Isn't Yeji Nuna with you?
-She doesn't really do programs like that.
-For now, lock the front door chain until Yeji gets there.
"Yeah, got it."
-I'm sorry, Seong-hwan. I'll come up right now, so just wait a little.
"No...Noona? There's no need-......."
Ah, she hung up.
What should I do about this.
***
"Sound Director! How's it over there!"
The woman called the sound director shook her head from side to side and made an X with her arms.
The background mic that had been working fine just last night wasn't working.
If they couldn't use it, a delay was inevitable.
The directors were racking their brains.
"What do we do?"
The words the head director muttered weren't an attempt to pass the buck.
It was just an unconscious remark that slipped out in this truly hopeless situation.
"Anyway, the delay is happening, and it's not because something came up with the cast, but because of the recording equipment... I have nothing to say."
"It's not the sound director's fault, so don't blame yourself too much. Sensitive equipment is always like that, you know."
The cinematographer consoled the sound director.
The two of them knew better than anyone that electronic devices could break down overnight.
"Since it's come to this... I wish something would happen."
"....."
"....."
The lighting director's remark was the height of irresponsibility, but everyone sitting there racking their brains was probably thinking the same thing.
Just as the directors, clutching their aching heads, were discussing solutions again, a producer ran up.
"D-Director!"
"What's the matter? You're sweating so much."
"How hard must they have grilled the rookie PD... tsk tsk...."
In broadcasting, a single accident could make everything go up in smoke.
Maybe that was why the executive director was being quite strict with her staff.
It was for the viewers' benefit; it wasn't a bad thing.
Of course, there were probably few who appreciated their efforts.
"Song A-ra suddenly had something come up and said she had to go..."
"......"
Speak of the devil.
Still, none of the directors sitting there had anything to say.
In the first place, they hadn't managed the mics properly and the day's schedule was about to go up in smoke; what could they say?
If anything, it was a situation they could quietly go along with; they might even have cheered.
"Ah... they say she just left."
It was like she threw the program aside and left,
but none of them voiced any complaints.
***
Ding-dong~♬
The incredibly cheerful doorbell sound pierced my eardrums.
The person I saw on the intercom screen was Yeji, with her attractive black hair and dark eyes and a cool personality that made her popular.
Without thinking, I unhooked the front door chain and opened the door.
And without a word, she came inside, took off her shoes, crouched to tidy them, stood up, and flicked my forehead with her finger.
"Ow..."
"Why did you open the door without even checking the voice on the intercom?"
"Uh... I did check the face."
Yeji let out a big sigh.
It seemed my actions were incredibly reckless.
"First off, your crisis awareness score is zero. A guy shouldn't just open the door for anyone when he's alone at home."
"But Yeji Nuna isn't just anyone."
"When your noona tells you something, you say 'Yes, I understand.'"
"....Yes, I understand."
"That's right, that's right..."
Yeji gently stroked my hair.
Normally, that would be something you shouldn't do to a married man, but it seemed A-ra had given a pass for a head pat.
"Anyway, I already went around to the security office and everything."
"Yes, yes."
"After checking, it's clear that it wasn't a postal carrier."
"......"
"You almost got yourself in big trouble. Do you realize that?"
On the A4 paper Yeji handed me, a stranger stood in a familiar landscape.
With a hat pulled low, and face wrapped tightly in sunglasses and a mask, even her parents wouldn't have been able to recognize her.
It was a completely different vibe from what I saw on the screen.
At that time, she looked exactly like a delivery driver, so I didn't suspect a thing.
"I really... almost got into serious trouble."
"....."
It suddenly hit me, and I was fucking terrified.
Because, you see, the woman captured on the A4 paper was holding work gloves and blue tape in her hand.
If that person's plan had succeeded, I would have been raped or kidnapped with my mouth, arms, and legs bound tightly.
"You're thinking weird thoughts again, aren't you? I told you there's nothing more pointless than dwelling on something that didn't even happen."
"Yes..."
"Let's go inside first. A-ra said to make sure you eat."
"Should I cook for you?"
"That would be great. I'll get to try Seong-hwan-style home cooking that A-ra always brags about."
I chuckled.
Fans probably don't know, right?
That Yeji, an idol with a cool style concept, was actually an incredibly chatty person.
"Why are you laughing?"
"No reason. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"
"Hmm... meat?"
"I have pork belly. Shall I grill it with kimchi?"
"You have ssamjang too, right?"
"Without that, eating pork belly loses half its meaning."
Were the Queens members a gathering of gluttons or something?
I gave a wry smile as I watched Yeji looking forward to pork belly.
Still, it was more comforting than being alone.
***
"That was good."
"Are you a monster too, Noona?"
One kilogram of pork belly had completely disappeared.
Even the fact it all went into her stomach was amazing, but what she said next surprised me even more.
"Today, since it's A-ra's place, I held back a little though?"
".......That's holding back?"
Did this world have a writing system I didn't know about?
Maybe "eating lightly" meant a cow's meal, like "moo~".
Or maybe there was some new Chinese character meaning a "gargantuan meal" or something.
"I'll do the dishes."
"A guest shouldn't do the dishes. Please sit."
I gathered the dishes one by one and put them in the sink.
And I put on rubber gloves.
"I envy A-ra. Snagging a husband like Seong-hwan."
"Don't you have a boyfriend, Noona?"
"23 years of being single..."
"Well... that's a shame."
I smiled wryly and started doing the dishes.
And around when the dishes were done, the doorbell rang.
There was no way A-ra had arrived already, so I looked at the intercom screen.
"Wait a minute..."
"Noona?"
"Shh. Quiet."
Yeji covered my mouth with her hand.
For some reason, it was a bit soft...
She checked the intercom screen, then picked up the handset and gave it to me.
And she whispered in my ear.
"When you answer, that bitch will come up with some weird excuse to get you to come out. Then just say you understand and hang up."
"Uh... yeah? I get it for now... but wouldn't it be better to just call the police...?"
-Seong-hwan, don't you remember how strong this noona is?
Ah... come to think of it...
I took the intercom and pressed the talk button.
"Who is it?"
-Ah, sorry. I'm the postal carrier who stopped by earlier. I accidentally left the waybill behind. Could you come out for a moment so I can write it down for you?
"Please wait a moment."
Click.
I put the handset back in place as Yeji had instructed.
When I nodded, she nodded back as if she understood.
Yeji pushed me into the master bedroom and told me to lock the door.
I was worried about Yeji, but she told me not to worry and firmly stroked my head.
She was an idol, so she shouldn't get hurt...
When I went into the room and locked the door, I heard the front door lock open.
"Whoaah! What the fuck!"
"You fucking bitch, who the hell are you trying to mess with!"
Then I heard the sound of someone getting beaten one-sidedly.
Thwack... thwack...
It was that crisp yet terrifying sound I'd heard at the boxing match when I went to watch.
I opened the door I had locked.
And there I saw a woman who'd dropped a kitchen knife and was being beaten one-sidedly, and Yeji on top of her, beating her.
....
Come to think of it, Yeji had been a bantamweight boxer before becoming an idol.
I'd forgotten about that.