Part 4

"London is incredible. You should have come with me," the voice said to Seong-rok through the phone.

"Not this again, hyung," Seung-rok chuckled at the familiar, enthusiastic voice. 

Eui-jin Lee, the staff leader and producer for "The ZERO," was on the other end of the line. 

Unlike the typical teacher-student dynamic between K-pop idols and their A&R staff, Seung-rok and Eui-jin had a different relationship. 

Seung-rok, the team's leader and a composer himself, shared a unique bond with Eui-jin, who also produced music for the team. 

Despite being the youngest among the executives in the label, Eui-jin's relationship with Seung-rok was more casual.

"Have a blast, hyung. Hit up some concerts and soak in all that British music you love," Seong-rok said.

"I wish you were here to go clubbing with us. Have some drinks. Taesang was saying that he miss drinking with you," Eui-jin replied.

"I've got songs to write, hyung. We need to wrap up the album in two months, and we don't even have a lead single yet. Just keep an eye on the guys and make sure they don't overdo it on the junk food."

"Got it. By the way, did you pay for the hotel rooms for the guys?"

"Sure, it's not a big deal." 

"The company should cover it."

"We're not rookies. It's common knowledge that the company doesn't just casually swipe that card for these things. They did not ask us to research music abroad. It's our greed."

"The guys were touched. Taesang was wondering what kind of gift he should get you to show gratitude," Eui-jin said.

"I'm raking in the royalties because of them. My songs are chart-toppers because the lads put their noses to the grindstone. And as for footing the hotel bills, it's the least I can manage. So tell 'em to kick back and take it easy."

"Hey, Mr. genius composer and the top vocalist in Korea, Seung-rok."

"What?" Seung-rok narrowed his eyes. 

Eui-jin only used such flowery language when he wanted something.

"Would you cover my travel expenses too?"

"I'm hanging up."

"Hey! I was kidding. Don't hang up."

Though his words were cold, Seung-rok couldn't help but smile a little. 

The conversation drifted into various topics, and soon enough, he found himself nagging.

"Listen up, hyung. Those blokes better not go all bananas at the clubs. Our European fan base is growing at least a little bit, and getting nabbed would be a downright catastrophe. The lads don't pay attention to the manager these days, so you better keep those peepers peeled, alright?"

"Got it," Eui-jin agreed. 

'THE ZERO' was already a global sensation, and the only thing that could bring them down was a scandal. 

While the members were usually careful, they tended to let their guard down during overseas trips. 

Seung-rok had accurately pointed out danger within the team.

After a brief silence, Eui-jin asked, "Hey man. I am just curious. How do you come up with those ballad lyrics? You've never even had a fling, let alone a real relationship. It's amazing—your lover song lyrics feel so real."

Seung-rok pulled the phone away from his ear and almost laughed. 

He didn't need any more love experiences. 

He had already gone through it all: first date, separation, even the pain of losing someone to death, and the unconditional love of raising a child by himself. 

He hadn't intended to become a K-pop idol. 

He had joined a major agency to prove himself to his girlfriend, but while preparing for debut, she had passed away whilst giving birth to their child. 

By the time he found out, it was too late.

Other K-pop idols might have had their share of romantic experiences, but none had lived through what he had. 

No, he was not short of any dating experience.

Yet, he couldn't share these backstories with anyone, even to his best buddy. 

So, he chose to lie.

"Listen, hyung, actors don't go around committing homicides just to portray killers on screen. It's all make-believe. As for love songs, well, you don't necessarily have to be head over heels to pen those heart-tugging melodies," he said.

"Cold as ever. You're such a T(as of MBTI). How do you write ballads?" Eui-jin muttered.

"You done, hyung? I'm hanging up now."

"Oh, by the way. I heard you started playing golf. How's that? It's your first hobby besides music and working out, right?"

It was actually his daughter who had started playing, but he couldn't tell the company about his child, so he had spread the word that he was taking golf lessons.

It was a convenient excuse if he ran into colleagues at the golf course with the coach.

"Yeah, something like that."

"Good. Lots of people meet their potential dates on the golf course. No journalists around to spy on you. Enjoy yourself. Don't just work all the time."

"Stop talking nonsense and get some sleep, hyung."

After ending the call, Seung-rok felt a vibration. 

A message had come from Mina.

[Due to an unexpected commitment, I can't make the lesson tomorrow. I'll start the day after. This won't happen again after this month. Sorry.]

Seung-rok narrowed his eyes as he read the message.

***

I was at Jeju Island's golf course. 

Only thing I could do was to let out a heavy sigh. 

Just yesterday, I had proudly declared that golf was not like a strip joint.

Yet, here I was today, roped into being a caddy for a round of golf like a geisha.

It felt humiliating. 

It wasn't my idea, of course. 

Last night, I received a call from the wife of the man who lent me money for my mother's hospital bills.

A woman always draped in Hermes jackets.

"My friends are playing golf tomorrow. Be their caddy, dear."

Her tone was condescending, as if she were my stepmother.

"And don't tell me you're busy. Do you even know how much interest you owe on the money I lent?"

How could I have known? 

My mother had borrowed an astronomical amount of money from my biological father to pay for my golf training. 

It was all so obvious, now that I think of.

How could my mother, who couldn't manage a household chore, run a café alone and raise me to be a pro golfer? 

It turned out it was all funded by loans from my biological father, a businessman.

"Did you think your mother conceived you alone? A virgin birth? Oh dear, is she a Madonna or something?"

I bit my lip. 

I knew I had a father, but how could I have known I was the product of a one-night stand with a married businessman? 

My mother always said that my father died early, so I took it as truth. 

But as it turned out, I was the unwanted child born from a fling, and my foolish mother bore me hoping he'd come back to her, leaving his own family. 

Of course, that never happened. 

The man sent money but stayed with his family. 

Recently, he died, and around the same time, my mother had a stroke. 

Suddenly, his wife became a lender, and worse, she began bossing me around like a real mother, making 'requests' I couldn't refuse, like today.

And her 'clients' were from her work. 

Two middle-aged men with bulging bellies and two women in their twenties, clearly married men and their mistresses.

Worse, they reeked of whiskey.

"You can't drink on the course," I said quietly.

"Oh, who's drinking? This is just a cup of tea!"

Of course, it was a lie. 

Even a six-year-old would know that brown liquid stinking of alcohol wasn't a cup of tea. 

But I let it slide, figuring it wasn't my problem. 

That was, until their behavior started escalating.

"Oops! Left my driver at the last hole. What a blunder."

"Oh, you fool~."

"Sorry, caddy. Can you get it?"

Why should I fetch the club they left behind? 

Because if it got lost, the caddy would be responsible. 

Besides, the man had an expensive club that would cost a lot to replace. 

Grumbling, I started walking back when I overheard their loud whispers.

"How old do you think she is?"

"Dunno, maybe thirty-five? Looks way older than you."

"But you kept staring at her butt."

"Shut up! You're the only one for me!"

I sighed. 

Idiots. 

They weren't entirely wrong. 

The girls did look barely twenty, and me thirty. 

I might seem old. 

But hearing such things from men over forty was infuriating. 

It had been building up. 

They spent more time groping each other and making sexy jokes than playing golf. 

I had to endure their lewd comments and smile as I catered to them. 

These two girls were clearly golfers, yet these were what they were doing.

Maybe KROCK was right, maybe golf really was all about prostitution.

'Why did I even start this?'

Lost in bitter thoughts, I grabbed the club and headed back. 

Suddenly, I heard a trickling sound. 

What the…? 

I turned to see where it was coming from, and there it was—an old man's little thingy.

"My eyes!"

I screamed instinctively. 

The man quickly zipped up, yelling.

"Hey! Never seen a dick before? What's the big deal?"

"Sir, what in the world are you doing?"

My voice was high with shock, but he snapped back.

"So what? Can't a man pee on the grass? What's with the fuss?"

Behind me, the women giggled.

"Look at her, she must be a virgin."

"Never seen a dick before? With that big butt, I guess it could happen."

I bit my lip harder. 

I had enough.

"I'm done."

The men's smirks turned into scowls.

"What did you say?"

"I said I'm done. I'll go bring a male caddy to replace me. I'm leaving—"

I stopped mid-sentence, feeling a sharp pain. 

The man had yanked my hair.

"You think you can leave? I spent a fortune here today. Who do you think you are? You are not a boss!"

He wasn't strong, just a fat old man. 

But I felt weak, humiliated. 

My mind raced with thoughts of my mother. 

Why did she teach me golf? 

Why expose me to such a dirty world? 

I could have had a normal life, working a part-time job as a student. 

Why this hell? 

How could I teach KROCK's daughter—or sister, whatever—golf with any integrity?

Did a six-year-old girl really need to learn golf? 

This dirty business?

I was shaking with humiliation when suddenly, the grip on my hair loosened. 

"Huh?"

I looked up to see the man dangling in the air. 

A massive man in a suit was holding him by the collar. 

And behind him was—

"What are you doing here?"

It was Seung-rok. 

His cold eyes met mine as he spoke.

"What are YOU doing here? Is caddying some irresistible gig for you? I distinctly remember offering you the cash, but here you are, still playing the role of the world's most dedicated caddy."

I cut him off, needing to know.

"Why are you here?"

Why was a K-pop idol at a golf course, especially one not open to the public?

"Why?"

Seung-rok shrugged nonchalantly.

"I own this place."