Seulgi's POV
My manager was right. The video that trended last night? It's gone. It's like it wasn't even out and that resulted to fans being confused. I'm scrolling through social media and my name's still trending, but no news outlet seemed to acknowledge it.
@:Where was that video of Seulgi, last night? Why can't I see it now?
@:What's making the press quite now? After what trended last night and what's still trending now? Where's that vid though?"
@:Usually, every little thing Seulgi does will always end up the news. Why not now?
@:Oh my God! What if there was really something going on in that video? What if there's no news about it now because they covered it up already?
@:What video? Did I miss something?
@:I have a strange hunch. I just saw the video saved by a friend of mine. Seulgi went out hand and hand with that mystery girl. From what's happening now, they seemed to hiding something. What if, I mean just what if her relationship with that person is something more than we think?
"What the fuck!?" I exclaimed.
"Seulgi! lower your tone." Dad said while he's eating. "And put down your phone." He said in full authority. I listened and put down my phone.
"Dad." I called. I know he knows what's already happening. "I'm so--"
"The next time you flirt with someone, check first where you are or if anyone's watching. You chose to be this famous Seulgi, watch out for your every move." I paused hearing that.
"I wasn't flirting, Dad. And I was with Joohyun, Uncle's dau--"
"Exactly, Seulgi!" He raised his voice. "You were in public, with a person who cherished her privacy so much."
"It's not like I knew that!" I burst out, close to crying already. "I didn't even knew her, since last night!"
I never thought talking to her, would cause this much trouble. I wouldn't have gone close, if only I knew.
"You took her home Seulgi."
"I just offered a ride Dad! You're making it seemed like I literally took her home and fucked her!" I stand up from the table. Dad look up to me. He leaned back to his chair.
"I want you to voluntarily quit being an Idol." He looked at me straight in the eye. What? "I'll only give you a month to think about it. By the end of it, if you still won't listen. I'll have them terminate your contract." I can't believe this!
"Dad!"
"No more of this shit, Seulgi! I can't tolerate this anymore!" He stand up. I laugh sarcastically.
"When will you ever hear me out, huh?" I said, crying already. "I never, not even once caused you, your name, or even the company any trouble. You're right! I chose this life, I---" He cut me off
"This Idol life will ruin you." Dad said. I shook my head. "People are cruel, Seulgi! Look at what's happening now!" He shouted
"The only person who's being cruel right now is you!" I said. "This is so unfair! If only Mom was here, she would've be--" I was startled with a smash on the table. I look at my father. He avoided my gaze and turn away.
"You'll quit whether you want to or not." He then walked out of the dinning area. I was left there dumbfounded of what just happened.
I had my hands covering my face as I continue to cry. As soon as 5 minutes passed I had my phone ringing. I wipe my tears and sit properly.
Unknown number? Should I? Regardless, I answered the phone.
"Hel-lo?" My voice is still a little out of it, and it cracked.
"Hey Seulgi, it's Joohyun." As soon as I heard the name, I had mixed feelings.
"Oh! Hey, why'd you call?" I asked. Trying to hide that I just came out of crying. "Is this about the dinner? I'll have--
"Seulgi, I'm sorry." I stopped as soon as I heard her say that. "I just had to do it." She said and that had me build up questions inside my head.
As much as I want to understand it, I really can't. It affected my entire career, my life.
"Why?" From all the questions I had. That's the only thing that came out of my mouth.
"Seulgi, I can't--"
"If you didn't want to be seen or be publicized, you shouldn't have let me drag you out of that fucking event Joohyun!" I let that out frustratedly.
Thinking about the first time I met her? I badly want to get to know her better. That's why seeing her again last night made me excited. But then this happened... I never thought it would turn out like this.
"That's why I'm apologizing here!" She raised her voice, that made me surprised. I laugh at that.
"Now you're the one angry?" I asked in disbelief. Looks like I just saw her in a different light that night.
"Seulgi, I get it. You're angry I made this an issue, as I am protecting myself, and I'm really sorry for it. I really am. But you know it yourself this issue won't turn huge without those news outlets. There's nothing to worry about, really." I scoff when she said that.
"How about the fact that my father is making me quit, just after this incident?" I said to her.
"H-huh?" She stuttered, surprised.
"So you really can't blame me if I'm acting like this, or that I am questioning you why you did that. It's because what you did, made Dad left me with no choice but to quit the industry, I fought to be in." I said that and all I heard was silence from the other side. "You know what? I would've wanted to understand why you did it, but I really don't have the will to do that now. It just ruined everything for me."
I know for myself that my father is serious with what he said. He asked me to quit tons of times already but I didn't, and he just let me go on with it. But this time, I know I have to listen. I know what's happening now, is what made him say that.
"Seulgi, I didn't mean it... I didn't know... I'll talk to uncle about thi--"
"You wont change his mind." I said directly.
"Maybe I would." I laugh at that. Someone then fake a cough not so far from me. I look up to se my manager's standing in front of me.
"Seul, listen. I'm really sorry." I heard her say that again.
"Joohyun, can we just talk about this some other time?" I said. The mention of name made my manager's eyes open wide.
"Oh, okay." She said, then I hang up. I look up to my manager again.
"That was Joohyun right?" I nodded. "She apologized, didn't she?" I nodded again. "As expected."
She sat down at the chair in front of me and signaled me to sit, which I did.
"Seulgi, about what's happening now. I know you're a little upset with her, but can I asked for your understanding?"
"What?!" I asked in disbelief. "I'm the one loosing my career here, just because she doesn't want to be known by the public."
"You're not loosing your career over this, Seulgi." She's trying to assure me with that.
"Tell that to my father, who I think was only waiting for me to make a mistake and find a reason to make me quit." I said
"Uncle's making you quit?" She asked in surprise. "He won't do that. Making you quit will be a huge loss for the company and he knows that!" I leaned back to my chair.
"Well, that is what's happening." I said. Tiffany unnie seemed to be thinking so deeply now.
"So, they're really serious about it huh?" That made me confused.
"Serious about what?" I asked that made her look up to me again.
"Seulgi. Can you handle both being an idol and manage a company, at the same time?" She leans towards the table, seriously asking me.
"No. I don't think so." I said to her. That would literally drain me.
"Then it's really time for you to quit, Seulgi." I look at her in disbelief.
"Unnie!"
"Our parents will be stepping down from their positions soon." I look at her surprised. "We need to prepare for it."
What the hell?! Dad's retiring? I really thought he would just work until, he can't make it to the office anymore. But what's more unbelievably crazy here is, he's retiring along with his friends. That absurd!
"What hell of a connection does our fathers have, to do this things together?" I asked.
"I'm still trying to figure out the answer to that." She said to me. that made me think...
"Is this why Joohyun...?"
"Joohyun had different reasons for it, Seulgi." Oh.