Chapter 32: Dodging the Hawaii Trap
"...President, I can't do this."
Choi Dae-pyo was fiddling with his phone, his face the picture of shamelessness.
"No, if you don't go, who else is going to manage Lee Ji-yeon?"
He glanced at me, avoiding my gaze as if he knew better, then swiveled his chair away entirely. He must realize how ridiculous his demand was.
Ever since I'd stepped back from managing Lee Ji-yeon, Choi, the section chief, had been handling most of her work. He should be more than capable.
"...Isn't Section Chief Choi available?"
"...He's swamped. No good."
The president hammered out every excuse, real or made-up, to shut it down. But this crossed the line.
I kept pressing, anger rising, until he finally snapped back.
"...I have two artists to raise now. And Hyeon Ha-yeon is debuting soon..."
"Ah, who's saying go forever? It's just a week!"
"...Whether it's a week or two, how can I step away?"
"Cho-in... please, I'm begging you... just go!"
When snapping didn't work, he switched to wheedling.
"Hawaii, right? Sounds great! When else would you get to go? I haven't even been!"
"We'll cover all expenses generously, so please just come back alive... If you don't go, I'm dead meat..."
I wondered what dirt Lee Ji-yeon had on him, making him act so desperate. It was just a hunch.
A few days ago, a passport had appeared on my desk. I'd never applied for one, but somehow they'd used my employee ID photo to get it made.
Then today, they dropped the schedule: accompany Lee Ji-yeon on her overseas shoot. Three days of actual filming out of a full week, the rest "free time." Absurd.
Lee Ji-yeon must have pulled strings to clear her busy calendar like this. No wonder she'd been buying tons of summer vacation clothes... It all made sense now.
Asking me to vanish for a week at this critical juncture? It was sabotage, plain and simple.
As Hyeon Ha-yeon's manager, I needed to meddle in every detail. We'd just finalized her song title—how could I bail next week?
CG Entertainment was a major agency. This might be my last shot to take the lead.
But in the end, I left the president's office without resolving a thing.
Recently, Hyeon Ha-yeon had been doing PT sessions for her debut stage. With her height and insane strength despite low muscle mass, she was blowing up as a rising star in the fitness world.
Hyeon Ha-yeon seemed uncomfortable with all the attention on her power.
I arrived at the gym to find her mid-stretch. She waved when she spotted me.
"Ah, oppa! I'll be done soon!"
"Ah~ hello~"
The trainer correcting her form greeted me with a nasal drawl. Her pink leggings and skin-tight tank top were eye magnets for the guys.
"...Hello."
"It'll wrap up quick~ You can watch if you want~"
"...No, I'll wait over there."
I gave Hyeon Ha-yeon a quick nod and headed to the counter.
Watching the burly dudes grunt through their sets across the room made the wait fly by.
"Oppa, I'm done!"
Hyeon Ha-yeon approached after her workout, dark leggings paired with a cropped top that accentuated her ample chest. Sweat-mussed bangs framed her face.
She was still catching her breath, each deep exhale stirring something in me.
"Ah, sweat... I'll go wash up..."
Her hips gave a slight jiggle as she darted to the women's locker room, stealing my gaze.
I cursed myself for getting rattled by my little-sister-like charge.
Staring at the guys wrestling iron plates helped clear my head of Hyeon Ha-yeon thoughts.
Soon she emerged in black pants and a white hoodie.
"Oppa, you waited a long time..."
"...Nah, let's go."
On the drive back, with her PT lesson done, Hyeon Ha-yeon fidgeted before blurting as if it just hit her.
"Oh yeah, earlier, Trainer Yul asked about you."
She had zero talent for acting.
"...She did? Why?"
"Just... if you have a girlfriend."
"...What'd you say?"
"...That you do."
With my ex glaring daggers while playing girlfriend, it wasn't wrong. Hyeon Ha-yeon peeked at me, guilty for speaking for me—adorable enough to make me chuckle.
"Good call."
"...Don't you date, oppa?"
Her sudden dive into this topic was new. She'd confessed her crush before, and now romance seemed on her mind more.
"Too busy for dating right now."
"...Eh, too busy with what?"
"You debuting first. Then maybe."
I skipped mentioning Baek Ga-eun's debut, of course.
"Ah... I see..."
Her soulless tone hung heavy. Silence fell; I glanced over—she stared out the window, lost in thought.
After a long look, still averted, she spoke cautiously.
"Oppa, if I debut and make it big... trust only me, okay?"
...Yeah, your success is my survival...
I couldn't voice my inner truth. Instead:
"...Sure, just you, Ha-yeon."
She paused the radio, switched to her debut track Pure Love, as if resolved.
"How long~..."
Seeing her study the lyrics on her phone warmed my heart.
After dropping Hyeon Ha-yeon off, I sat at my desk when Baek Ga-eun popped up.
She frowned, displeased.
"Oppa, why didn't you pick up?"
"...Huh?"
"...Huh?"
Habit had me using formal speech with her lately; she'd mimic it back with a pout.
"Ah... sorry."
"...So why ignore my calls?"
Three missed from her. I'd silenced my phone during her song practice.
Wonder what was so urgent.
"...Sorry, was driving—must've missed them."
She shook her head, peering into my eyes.
"...Lunch?"
"Ah... no."
Hyeon Ha-yeon skipped lunch to cut calories; matching her schedule meant I often did too.
Baek Ga-eun sighed softly, handing over a small plastic bag.
"Eat this and get back to work."
"...What's this?"
"Figured you'd skip following Ha-yeon around. Prepared it."
"..."
Inside: sandwich, drink, strawberry vitamins—my favorites.
She'd ghost in like this with supplements or snacks, then vanish. Somehow knew I'd skipped lunch today and got my go-to sandwich.
Even if she was rich, mooching off a trainee felt off.
"...Thanks, really, but..."
"Oppa, manage your health now so you don't suffer trailing me later. Eat up~"
She smiled, ignoring me, and headed to practice.
"...Haa."
I sighed, pulling out the peach drink—another favorite.
...How does she know my tastes?
"...Cho-in-ssi, casual with Ga-eun-ssi now?"
A coworker's voice from across made me flinch. She'd overheard, tone sly.
"...Yeah."
"...Formal with me, though..."
She wore round glasses; we'd known each other ages, but she stuck to formal. I'd asked her to drop it since she was younger, but no dice. Shocked I'd gone casual with new-girl Baek Ga-eun so quick.
Flustered, she beat me to it.
"...Loosen up later, okay?"
"...Got it."
I grabbed the bag and fled to the break room to escape the awkwardness.
For once, I met the goddess with a clear head.
[...Long time no see.]
"...Yeah."
The goddess looked worn—her holy glow dimmer, voice faintly trembling. First time seeing her like this.
"...Busy times, huh."
[...No.]
Something was up, but not ready to share.
Dealing with Hyeon Ha-yeon and Baek Ga-eun lately had piled up questions. Time to clarify and set direction.
"...Before regaining memories, are the hero and demon king different from their past selves in personality?"
[...Yes. Environment shapes them a lot, but core nature stays.]
Both Hyeon Ha-yeon and Baek Ga-eun seemed sweet, but their actions screamed hero and demon king.
Not at alert level yet.
"...Signs when memories start returning?"
[...Yes. Hero gets competitive, seeks recognition. Demon king turns stalkerish, controlling...]
Common in past lives.
Hyeon Ha-yeon showed drive from responsibility, but not extreme like the old hero.
Baek Ga-eun? Interested in me, but not stalking. More like trust—no control vibes.
Good, no red flags yet.
"How do memories return, exactly?"
[...This level should be fine. They'll get memories in dreams, like you.]