Childhood Friend Who Sees the Future Utters Nonsense

106 – The Boss is Crazy

dripping.

Sister Jiwon knocked on the door to the president’s office on my behalf. Soon after, a calm voice said, “Come in,” and the door opened.

When the scandal first broke out, the expression on the CEO’s face was much more indifferent than I had expected. I don’t know if he was just suppressing his anger. He’s a very difficult person to read.

“Yes, come quickly Yuna. It’s a shame that you can’t enjoy your long-awaited vacation because something suddenly came up.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. Rather, I just feel sorry.”

The owner greeted us as if he was talking about someone else’s story, and then nodded to us as if telling us to sit down.

As I sat down on the soft sofa, the CEO, who had been rustling something, personally brought me tea. It was a sight I could always see when I was called to the CEO’s office, but somehow today it felt particularly new.

I thought it would be better if they gave me some water since I had made such a sudden incident. But somehow, I felt grateful because it seemed like they were silently comforting me by saying, “It’s okay” while handing me tea.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve offered you tea. I’m sorry I only have green tea.”

“Oh, no, sir. I will enjoy my drink.”

On the other hand, Jiwon received the teacup while sitting upright, as if she was uncomfortable with the car her employer personally drove her. The boss smiled broadly at her and belatedly sat down at the head of the table.

“Did you say that the place where the photos were taken today was the wedding hall?”

“Huh? Oh, right, that’s right. My friend’s wedding is coming up.”

The boss didn’t pursue the case, but asked a question calmly as if he was asking about the destination of his daughter who had gone out. I didn’t expect the conversation to start like this, so I answered in a slightly flustered tone.

“I already saw it in the news. I heard you’re a famous internet broadcaster?”

“I know that. I don’t know much about that field either….”

“Well, I don’t know either. I heard that these days, you have to know young people well to get along with them, but it’s not easy.”

When I saw the boss awkwardly laughing with a self-deprecating tone, I realized that he was a little younger than my father. He lives so young that sometimes I forget.

Hurup.

I took a sip of warm green tea and avoided the gaze of the boss who was staring at me. Although I had prepared myself mentally, I felt a little nervous because of the boss’s unexpected reaction.

Why aren’t you making any remarks? Are you planning to lighten the mood first and then slowly bring up the subject? But it doesn’t seem like you’re holding back your anger…

“Yuna.”

“yes yes!?”

As I was trying to guess the boss’s true intentions, my name was suddenly called and I levitated.

Phew, I almost spilled the green tea.

“Don’t be so nervous, I just have something to ask you.”

“Oh, yes… .”

I wanted to say, “How can you not be nervous?” but I swallowed hard and waited for the boss to continue speaking.

“Is the person in the photo Siyoon by any chance?”

“… … .”

“Siyoon… Are you talking about Yuna’s cousin whom I’ve met a few times?”

I lowered my head, thinking that she already knew, and Jiwon opened her eyes wide at the familiar name.

“Yes, it’s Siyoon.”

“What? Then it’s not a scandal or anything! Boss, write an explanatory article right away…!”

Soon after my affirmation, Jiwon snapped her fingers as if she had found light. She knew that Siyoon was my cousin, so she probably meant that she would publish an article clarifying the truth and refute it.

“Ms. Jiwon, please wait a moment. I’m talking to Yuna right now.”

“Huh? Oh… I’m sorry.”

But the boss, who knew that Siyoon and I were not cousins, stopped Jiwon’s excitement and just stared at me.

“I had a rough idea. I remember hearing that Shiyoon works as an editor for an internet broadcaster, so I thought maybe you weren’t invited, but went with Shiyoon.”

“It is exactly as you said.”

I felt really impressed by the CEO who could recall all the facts and deduce them in an instant, as if he were a detective. Because it was the correct answer without a single mistake.

“Wasn’t the person you went to Danseong Park with a while ago Siyoon?”

“Huh? How about that…?”

Then, as the details that I thought the CEO would never know started pouring out, my eyes opened wide.

“Actually, during the meeting, Jiwon showed me the photos you guys sent in the group chat. But the place you posted in the photos seemed to be a famous date spot, so I thought, ‘Maybe?’”

“ah….”

Something like that happened without me knowing. That means the boss had some idea that Siyoon and I were dating.

That’s why he had a calm expression on his face when I came into the room earlier. From the boss’s perspective, it was probably something he had already guessed happened but happened later.

“I wish you had been honest with me, but I understand your position. Which agency’s new idol would be able to confidently tell their CEO, ‘I started dating!’?”

“…I’m sorry, sir.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me. Instead, you and I should apologize to Jiwon, who is next to us.”

I turned my head at the boss’s actions of wryly smiling and nodding to Jiwon, who was sitting next to me. Jiwon was there, still with a blank expression on her face, as if she didn’t understand the situation.

Yes, that’s right.

At least the boss knew that Siyoon and I weren’t cousins, and thanks to that he could at least suspect that we were dating, but my sister wasn’t. She probably feels like she got hit in the head by now.

“Don’t blame Yuna too much, Jiwon. I was the one who told everyone around her to tell her that she was Siyoon’s cousin.”

“Oh, no. I don’t really blame you. I’m just a little embarrassed.”

Even organizing her words seemed difficult, as if Jiwon was still looking back and forth between me and the president with a blank look in her eyes.

Well, it must be a nerve-racking thing for a manager.

Even if you somehow understand that the idol you’re in charge of was secretly dating, it’s hard to believe that the person who knew about it and turned a blind eye to it was none other than the CEO of the agency.

“Anyway, to sum it up, Yuna, you are currently dating Siyoon, and the scandal that broke out today is all true, right?”

“… Yes, sir.”

“This is… This is a problem. I honestly didn’t think such a major accident would happen in just one month.”

“I thought you’d at least hide it for a year,” said the CEO, who was joking and not sure if he was serious. His face, which had seemed calm just a moment ago, had hardened a little.

Of course, he was considerate of me and didn’t scold or scold me for no reason, but he must have been really surprised inside. That’s natural.

Do you think that the CEO of any entertainment agency in the world would suddenly bring up a scandal about a popular idol who debuted only a month ago and say, “It’s true.” It would be fortunate if he wasn’t kicked out of the group right away.

I have never thought that what I did was right. I deserved to be criticized, and I will accept whatever criticism the boss gives me.

“Yuna, as you know, there’s a big difference between a scandal involving an idol with a long career and a scandal involving a rookie idol. Even though our fandom was formed quickly, it means that our loyalty isn’t that strong. Do you know what I mean?”

“yes.”

I nodded straight at the CEO who was trying to make me aware of reality.

That’s right. Even though we’re a big rookie, and we’re expected to be the best rookie of the year, we’re still rookies. Time is an essential element for building trust between idols and fans, and for a fandom to be completely solidified.

In the case of mid-level idols, even when a scandal breaks out, it’s often taken as a joke among the fandom, with people saying, “Oh, it’s time for our unnie to go,” but we have a different stance.

Ultimately, unless there is a compelling reason to convince them, the best option would be to bury this scandal.

And no matter how much the CEO cares about us, he is ultimately someone who has to act in the direction of the company’s benefit. Given that position, he will probably advise me to deny this dating rumor somehow.

“Knowing that, Yuna, what do you want to do? This dating rumor.”

“… … .”

The question that was thrown out flew into my heart and sank into my heart.

On the surface, it seems like you’re asking for my opinion, but inside, you’ve decided on only one answer. You probably wouldn’t even dream of me suggesting any other option.

Kuk.

As I clenched my hands tightly on my thighs, my whole body began to tremble.

It was the first step toward the future I had seen, and the first and last gamble I would make in life. The process of saying it out loud was quite difficult. My voice was squeaking as if something was stuck in my throat, refusing to come out.

But I have to say it. I came here determined that no matter how much criticism I receive from the boss, I will never give up on this determination. I also asked Shiyoon to trust me and wait for me.

But what would happen if I didn’t step forward?

“Boss, I…”

I finally raised my head, which had been lowered while biting my lip, and barely opened my mouth while meeting the boss’s gaze. The moment I let out those words, there was no turning back. That fact weighed heavily on my shoulders.

But as I imagined Si-yoon’s face waiting for me at home, I clenched my fists even tighter and began to stammer out my words. The boss waited silently without rushing me or scolding me.

With a kind look in her eyes, as if she already knew what I was going to say and was urging me to say it quickly.

“I want to reveal the truth about my relationship. I know it sounds reckless, but….”

I finally revealed my true feelings that I had been holding back to the CEO. At that moment, Jiwon’s face was filled with shock, and she was so shocked that she couldn’t say anything and looked back and forth between me and the CEO.

“hmm….”

In that quiet room, the president nodded his head a couple of times. Was this the calm before a storm? My heart pounded as if something would explode at any moment.

Why aren’t you saying anything? If you’re going to scold me, I wish you would say something right now. On the contrary, this moment of silence is even scarier.

“…Okay, let’s do that.”

“I’m sorry, I know that sounds ridiculous… . Yes?”

Soon, something came out of the boss’s mouth, but I couldn’t even hear it properly and just started apologizing in detail.

Then, I felt like I misheard something, so I looked at the boss with a dumbfounded expression for a moment. What did you just say?

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even speak properly. I glared at the boss and asked him to say it again.

Then, a faint smile appeared on the CEO’s lips, and he opened his mouth again, downing the cold green tea.

“Let’s admit that we’re in love. I was planning to do that from the beginning anyway.”

“… … .”

The boss, who was so cool that he accepted my request in an extremely calm tone. That sight was so different from what I had in mind that I unconsciously blinked my eyes and pinched my cheek.

Am I dreaming?