The Truth Behind the Rumors (6)

He never imagined she'd actually remember those words he'd tossed out just to mock her. Pretty impressive, huh.

'But that doesn't mean I'm going easy on her.'

With her submission maxed out, he planned to extract weaknesses so deep she'd never dream of rebelling again. The initial video alone would've sufficed as leverage, but thoroughness never hurt.

'Kim Su-ji and Mun Ji-min. Hope something juicy comes up on those bitches too.'

A moment later, Seo Joo-hwan unleashed his seventh ejaculation. Park Do-hee shuddered violently before blacking out. Fainted again.

Pop.

As he pulled out, the cum he'd poured into her pussy bubbled out in thick waves. He watched for a beat, then stretched languidly. Item backlash and excessive release brought on heavy fatigue.

But soon, messages chased it away, scrolling up one after another.

Seo Joo-hwan's eyes widened at the flood of messages. A whopping 48,000 LP racked up. Who knew Park Do-hee would yield this much?

Scanning his gains, one message caught his eye, drawing a dry chuckle.

'Went a bit overboard, huh. Lesbian fetish wiped clean. Swapped for Narratophilia.'

Narratophilia—arousal from dirty talk, curses, and erotic narratives. He'd seen it on Choi Mi-hwa before. From the moment her submission peaked, Park Do-hee had been screaming about how great his cock was, her whole sexual mindset flipped. Twelve orgasms would do that. Pleasure on that level was basically violence.

Not that he cared much.

He rose, heading to the bathroom.

'Time to head home.'

No way was he crashing in the same bed as her. A quick text to contact him later, and she'd obey without funny ideas. Then, at his place, cuffs, hot wax—max submission, full interrogation.

Showered and dressed, he was stepping out when—

"Messages from So-jeong. Ji-kyeong too?"

Missed calls piled up too. From Jeong Ha-yeon, Yoo Ji-kyeong, Yoo So-jeong.

Whatever she planned to spill. Yoo Ji-kyeong's raccoon antics flashed in his mind, bringing a grin. Unlike Park Do-hee, just thinking of her healed him.

'Okay? What's that about?'

He texted back he was fine, but no reply—probably asleep.

Next, Yoo So-jeong's chats.

Seo Joo-hwan blinked, then smiled. That must've been what Ji-kyeong meant. They'd caught Kim Su-ji and Mun Ji-min in the act. Things might wrap up easier than expected.

But the follow-ups were odd.

His head tilted. Victim? What nonsense.

Yoo So-jeong must've misunderstood.

His gaze snapped to the bed. Park Do-hee lay there like a corpse.

'Then what the hell is she?'

Not one of them?

*

At first, he figured Yoo So-jeong was mistaken. He'd seen it himself, after all. Park Do-hee had dug a trap, lured him home, recorded audio snippets, blackmailed him to drop out. More than enough. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ma'an confirmed Kim Su-ji and Mun Ji-min were in on it.

So naturally, Yoo So-jeong had to be wrong.

But a call confirmed otherwise.

"Yawn. Oppa, not asleep? Ah, whatever. You okay? Weren't picking up."

Yoo So-jeong yawned, half-asleep.

"I'm fine. But what's this about Park Do-hee being a victim?"

"Huh? I Kakao'd you."

"Still doesn't make sense. She seemed tight with those two."

"Aaaah..." Yoo So-jeong trailed off sympathetically.

"That's just what she thinks. They don't see her as a friend at all."

"What?"

"Yawn. Ji-kyeong and I checked ourselves. Remember karaoke?"

"Yeah. You, Ha-yeon, Ji-kyeong, three or four others?"

"Yep. Su-ji and Ji-min were there. Soon as Ha-yeon noona stepped out, they started badmouthing. Super sly—'I heard so-and-so said this' bullshit."

"And?"

"We played along, egged 'em on. They spilled. But every rant ended with 'Do-hee said,' and it felt off. I knew they were 'friends,' but the tone? Straight-up dismissive."

"So she's the victim?"

"Pretty much? They definitely don't see her as a friend."

Her "pretty much" carried ironclad certainty now.

"How sure?"

"Ha-yeon noona busted 'em mid-rant. Checked their phones. Kakao logs full of Do-hee trash-talk."

"Ah..."

He pictured Jeong Ha-yeon's fury crystal clear.

"Heh. Imagining it? First time seeing noona that pissed. Scary when mad... Had me shook too."

"Ha-yeon's scary when angry. She's got a temper but holds back usually."

"Screaming would've been fine. That silent glare? Couldn't breathe. Never messing with her again..."

Jeong Ha-yeon's talents included Latent Rank A, current C+ Charisma. When she turned it on, the weak-willed crumbled.

"Anyway, one down. Details later—got their logs. So sleepy."

"Got it. Thanks. Sorry for waking you."

"No prob. Night, oppa."

He hung up, eyes back on the bed. Park Do-hee sprawled unconscious, ass red-hot, crotch a cum-soaked mess.

"Tch."

No regret now. Betrayed by friends? Tragic, but not his burden. She still trapped and blackmailed him—fact. If not her spreading Ha-yeon's rumors, maybe some leniency.

'Was gonna make dropout hell. Other two first, though.'

Yoo So-jeong called it solved. He wasn't letting it slide. He cleaned her up and left the motel.

*

Next day, with friends, they reviewed Kim Su-ji and Mun Ji-min's Kakao logs.

More followed, same shit: bashing Seo Joo-hwan, plotting to "convert" Jeong Ha-yeon, guy-hating rants.

"Fucking psychos."

"Holy..."

Newbies' faces hardened. Jeong Ha-yeon and Yoo Ji-kyeong, already briefed, just scowled.

Park Do-hee, summoned by Seo Joo-hwan, took it hardest.

"N-no way. Su-ji and Ji-min... How... Impossible..."

She babbled in shock. Couldn't believe her only two friends trashed her like that.

Seo Joo-hwan finished, tossed his phone on the bed. Their chats reeked of disgust; group chat was fake concern pushing her: do this, do that. She'd eagerly complied.

'Regularly deleting logs.'

Only a week's worth. Rest deliberately wiped.

As he mulled, Jeong Ha-yeon approached.

"Joo-hwan, what's with her? Logs hint she targeted you."

"Yeah, oppa okay? Nothing happened?"

Jeong Ha-yeon and Yoo Ji-kyeong eyed him worriedly. Logs implied something, but details missing—deleted.

"I'm fine. Worry later. Park Do-hee."

"Y-yes? Yes!"

She jolted from daze, submission kicking in.

"What now?"

"W-what?"

"Let those two off? You didn't spread rumors. Or did you?"

"N-no!"

Park Do-hee shook her head furiously.

"I-I didn't spread 'em. Heard from Su-ji and Ji-min... Thought Ha-yeon noona was being blackmailed by oppa..."

Tears welled; she trailed off. Answering only because he asked—mind unraveling. Wanted to wail and pass out.

Couldn't accept lifelong friends' betrayal—or that her middle school bullying was their doing.

Didn't want to believe. But evidence stared back.

Park Do-hee bowed her head, reality crushing her. Tears plopped down.