Faith (1)
“...Do you have nothing to say?”
Choi Dae-pyo spun his chair around, pretending to manage his work.
“Ahem... This girl Nan...”
Seeing him desperately trying to change the subject snapped my patience.
“President! This time it's really serious! What if Lee Ji-yeon gets pregnant...”
The president whipped his chair around at my words and started shouting.
“Argh! As if an actress's career ends just because she gets pregnant!?”
“...Well...”
Well, no. She's not an idol; there's no rule saying an actress has to retire if she's pregnant. His words left me speechless.
Seizing the moment, the president unleashed a torrent.
“Frankly, isn't this because you took on management duties to look important!?”
He slammed the desk repeatedly, venting ten times over.
“You should've just married Lee Ji-yeon nicely... Why would she act out? It's because you were being ambiguous that she dragged you to Hawaii and all that! Am I wrong?”
Seeing him side so firmly with Lee Ji-yeon confirmed something was up. I had suspicions, but no proof, so no way to uncover it.
As I stayed silent, he let out a deep sigh and lowered his voice.
“...Cho-in, I heard about Ha-yeon.”
In the end, even the president's ears had caught wind of Hyeon Ha-yeon's situation.
“I get you're anxious right now, but let's debut her first and think it over...”
“It's not even been two weeks, so we don't know for sure. Handle the stuff right in front of us first.”
For once, his words made perfect sense, which only frustrated me more. But they were spot on, so I couldn't argue.
In the end, I backed down and decided to tackle the immediate issues, just as he said.
*
A few days after my meeting with the president, Baek Ga-eun came by because a minor side effect had been found in the vitamins she'd given me, and she took one batch back. I said I was fine with no issues, but she insisted it might be risky, so I handed them all over.
She looked genuinely sorry as she said,
“Think of the last payment as compensation for the clinical trial side gig.”
“...Still, that money...”
“Are you going to make me seem ungrateful?”
She shut me down with firm words, but her actions felt oddly cute. In an instant, my 7 million won debt turned into side gig pay.
Hyeon Ha-yeon's team had halted all work, waiting for her return. The recording team lead, who patted my shoulder sympathetically, even brought high-end chocolate, saying it was good for depression.
Lately, Hyeon Ha-yeon had barely eaten anything except what I provided. I started waking earlier to prepare her breakfast and rushed straight home after work to make dinner. It was a hassle, but I wanted her back in the studio ASAP.
Lee Ji-yeon, meanwhile, was holed up at home for entirely different reasons, lost in shopping.
The photos she sent were maternity gear and baby clothes. My complicated feelings delayed my reply, and she started harassing me with calls to the office. I couldn't retort to her demand for paternity leave out of jealousy.
Not yet able to confirm implantation, every day felt like my blood was drying up.
Days blurred by in a frenzy, time flying before I knew it. Baek Ga-eun began submitting audition applications. Originally slated for a CG Entertainment drama, her condition spurred her to hunt public audition info with fiery passion, accelerating her debut.
Today, after registering her paperwork, I headed home. I'd packed porridge for Hyeon Ha-yeon's breakfast, but she'd refused, so I was spoon-feeding her. Fearing dinner refusal too, I needed easy food. Lately, I stopped first at her place post-work, naturally eating together more while feeding her.
Right before leaving, I ordered porridge nearby and drove straight over. Parked, went up, rang the bell.
“I-I'm here.”
The door opened shortly after. Her little sister greeted me today.
“Hello. Porridge for Ha-yeon.”
“Come in. Thanks for your hard work today.”
I exchanged natural greetings with her family, took the tray her mom prepared, knocked on Hyeon Ha-yeon's door.
“Ha-yeon-ah, oppa's here.”
She flung it open with a smile; I grinned back, and she beamed, letting me in.
I set up a small table on the floor, placed the tray. Her face fell at the porridge.
“...Oppa, I don't wanna eat...”
Ignoring her pitiful gaze and complaints, I spooned it up. Only after tapping her lips with the spoon did she reluctantly open, baby-like. Chewing and peeking at me cutely, but I worried how long this would last.
My portion too—we alternated feeding each other slowly, soon scraping bottom. Cleared dishes, sat beside her; she extended one hand naturally.
Hand massage request. Started innocently, now she ignores me without it.
Pressing firmly, she smiled contentedly. Finished one hand, she shifted, baring her back.
“...Ha-yeon-ah, we agreed no more there.”
It was the day she'd stopped crying. Back ached, she begged; I obliged with the massage I'd learned for Lee Ji-yeon. Awkward vibe ensued; we promised no more beyond hands.
“...Just today, last time, please...”
Couldn't push away her pleading. Tried conditioning her to quit herself—backfired.
“...If I do, will you tell me why you've been hurting?”
“...Huh? S-sure!”
Seemed delighted—was it my imagination? She flopped on the bed, legs kicking playfully.
“O-oppa... please.”
Her shaky sigh stirred me, but I schooled my face, squatted over her hips. Lifted higher to avoid contact—ironically brought my face near her back.
All-day bed life infused sweet scent deeply into my nose. Room faintly perfumed; up close, intense.
She glanced back, eyes trembling in meeting.
“...Please.”
Knees shook from workout lack. Braced hard, reached out.
“Nngh...”
Touch drew small moan, face buried deep in pillow. Ignored, pressed firmly.
Learned massage: knead from nape to hips—source unknown, just followed Lee Ji-yeon's internet demo.
Eased shoulders first to loosen. Deep into collarbone to shoulder blades, soft strokes. Repetition dropped tense shoulders gradually.
Ten minutes in, fully relaxed. Neck next. Scooted to her waist, gripped like squeezing, kneaded.
Cool relief muffled moans into pillow. Gained confidence, pressed harder.
Bed firm, might pinch neck—but she said fine, harder. Bone-cracking pressure satisfied her.
Shoulders and upper back now. Worried her large chest might hurt, but she insisted hard.
Kneaded shoulders and blades; pale skin peeked from sleeveless armpit. Gulped unwittingly.
Regained calm, focused. Down from blades—rough moan, soft flesh yielded, stealing gaze. Overpressed instinctively, asked if okay.
“...F-fine...”
Sweet sigh, face replunged.
Back done, waist last. Skipped hips to calves normally, but couldn't knead her butt, sister or not. Upper waist and sides firm—twitched, thighs clenched.
Pillow-muffled moans startled, tensed hand—but she quivered pleasurably.
Final: lower back above butt. Careful near pelvis, pressed. Intense relief shook her repeatedly; limp till end.
Sleeveless damp with sweat, clinging—muscles loosened well.
Smiled satisfied, rose—but foot slipped.
“Ack!”
Plopped right on her butt. Efforts to avoid contact wasted.
“Hnnngh!”
Shocked scream from pillow panicked me; scrambled off bed.
“A-are you okay? Sorry! Tripped by accident...”
Badly startled, trembling; caught breath, glanced back.
“Haa... Fine, haa... Good work, oppa.”
Drool trailed stickily from mouth to pillow.
*
Sweaty, she shooed me to change; fifteen minutes later, reentered. Face beet-red under thick hoodie, she said cautiously,
“...Oppa, a promise is a promise. I'll tell you.”
“...Okay.”
She'd start recording a day after I left. Initially sang emotively fine, but met Baek Ga-eun while eating.
“...Baek Ga-eun?”
“...Yeah, got food, spot empty.”
Chatting, heard shocking news.
“...That oppa went on honeymoon with Ji-yeon unnie... Marry when back...”
She spoke, voice cracking, holding back tears.
...How did Baek Ga-eun know?