Chapter 60 : Stalker 1

Our popularity is steadily rising without much effort. We have many invitations, and I heard that we already have a fandom with a considerable number of members. Although we dropped off the Billboard Global Chart, our brief appearance significantly boosted the group's status. Now is the time to increase the group's overall fan base, not to think about individual fans.

"If we do a photo shoot, will our group become known overseas too?"

"Probably, right?"

"I'm looking forward to it."

"We'll gain a lot of fans!!"

"That's right! Overseas fans!"

Listening to the members talk, I clicked my tongue internally. It's so immature to already complain about the schedule when they've only worked a bit. Then, Jackie in a heavy voice.

"Other groups don't have any invitations and are resting in their dorms. Instead of being grateful, you're already complaining about the schedule? If others heard you, it would be a controversy, and you'd have to reflect. Do you think it's okay because it's just us here? If you don't watch your mouth, it becomes a habit. Do you think other groups want to make mistakes? Remember how senior groups who were doing well disappeared one by one because of controversies? Just because we debuted, is it all over? Do you think the world is yours just because you gained some popularity?"

"I'm sorry, hyung."

"...I'm sorry."

"I was wrong."

"I must have been out of my mind for a moment."

The atmosphere quickly became solemn. Fortunately, no members rebelled against the leader's scolding. It seemed like they hadn't completely lost their minds.

"I know you're tired. It must be annoying. I also feel like I'm going crazy from being in the car all day. But we can't complain about the schedule. Those people invited us because they want to see our performance and paid money for it."

It's surprising how mature the words of a 19-year-old are. As an adult, I should have said this first, but since I didn't speak up and ended up being scolded, I feel embarrassed. Especially Gyeong-tae, the oldest among us (though only 21), felt embarrassed and said,

"I'm sorry. I haven't been doing my job as the oldest."

"No, it's my fault. I said something rude. As Jackie g said, I must have gotten too full of myself."

The reason flash-in-the-pan stars fade quickly is that they change once they become famous. When we were trainees, we said we wouldn't become like them, but now that we're famous, our minds have changed. I'm not even 20, and as a 30-something adult, I can keep my composure better than the kids.

'I hope they pay us a lot of money.'

Since I haven't been a trainee for long, I heard I can receive my earnings right after this activity. The other members have to work more to get paid, so the manager told me this secretly.

'I need to earn as much as possible to support the women in my life.'

After receiving the diamond ring, Joo-ah love for me reached its peak. Please don't misunderstand; it's not because of the money.

'The important thing is that the ring is an engagement ring.'

The reason I gave Joo-ah an expensive ring was to show that I take our relationship seriously. Meeting many women is inevitable as an idol, and she used to show her anxiety about it. But after receiving the ring, she didn't show much anxiety. Now, she is diligently preparing for childbirth under her mother's care.

After a commotion and a series of apologies, everyone insisted on including me.

"Hyung!! You have to join us too. Why are you acting like you're not part of the group?"

"No, I don't have anything to apologize for…?"

"We are one!! All together!!"

In the end, I was swept up by the kids and had to say some embarrassing words together.

••••°°°•••°°°•••

**S.K.Y**

A boy group ambitiously planned and launched by Honey Entertainment. Even before their debut, they captivated people's attention with their stunning visuals. With their flawless visuals and skills, they quickly gained popularity. Thanks to aggressive promotion, they achieved the unprecedented feat of entering the Billboard Global Chart right after their debut. As a result, their fan base grew rapidly. Airplane is the first group to receive such massive attention from the start, and the idol industry is keeping a close eye on them.

"They're so cool! Kyaaah!!"

Kim Woo-ri screamed while watching a live performance video. Her younger brother sighed and shook his head in disapproval.

'Disgusting.'

He found it disgusting to see her drooling over younger men and working part-time jobs to buy them gifts. Her room was plastered with idol posters, and she even carried around photoshopped pictures of herself with her favorite idols. Worse still, she would go out with a camera and not come home for days.

'She even went to the police station for stalking, and she's still doing this. She has no loyalty! Trash! Nuclear waste!'

Living with her, he couldn't help but know which male idols Kim Woo-ri liked. But every time he checked, she had moved on to a new idol. If she had consistently liked one group, he wouldn't have despised her so much. He thought that since she loved them so much, stalking might be understandable. But Kim Woo-ri would obsess over one idol and then suddenly switch to another, changing her attitude completely. She was a gold digger with no loyalty, the worst kind of person.

"Ugh, what happened to the ones she said she loved to death? Now she's screaming over some new guys. She's the worst."

"Shut up!"

"Mom!!!! She swore at me!!"

Kim!!! Woo!!!! Ri!!!!!!

"Oh, you little shit. Get out of my room!"

Kim Woo-ri gritted her teeth as she watched her snitch of a brother run to their mom. Other people's younger brothers might be different, but hers was a little shit. After kicking him out, Kim Woo-ri focused back on her computer. Her mood, which had hit rock bottom, was now filled with happiness again.

"Hehe, he's so cool."

On her computer screen were multiple photos of 'Jin Hae-sol,' a member of the rookie boy group S.K.Y. She had fallen in love at first sight. No, it was more accurate to say she had been struck by his beauty. His stunning looks were so perfect and overwhelming that she couldn't help but be captivated.

'I want to meet him.'

After years of being a fan, she naturally felt the urge to meet him. But her desire didn't stop at just meeting him. She wanted to know everything about him: what food he liked, what colors he preferred, what he ate, and every detail of his life.

"Ah!"

Thud!

Her hand moved down to her lower body. Familiar with the routine, she spread her legs and started again. Her fingers moved quickly, and the wet, squelching sounds filled the room. Her eyes remained fixed on the computer screen the entire time.

Ten minutes later, with her cheeks flushed, she wiped herself with a wet tissue. After catching her breath, she made up her mind.

"...I can't take it anymore."

After being reported for stalking, her mom threatened to disown her if she did it again. But now, she couldn't hold back anymore.

"He's waiting for me…!"

If her brother had heard her, he would have immediately told their mom that she was crazy. Kim Woo-ri took out her hidden 'equipment.' Just being a fan at home wasn't enough; it was just an empty shell. How could she truly love him without sharing memories together? What she did was love, not stalking. She resented the world for not understanding her.

'Not enough, not enough, not enough, not enough!!!! Is this the best they can do? Why can't they capture his full beauty? If it were me, I would never settle for such amateurish skills! I should be by his side…!'

She came to her senses. Her mom's warning echoed in her mind.

'If you get called to the police station again for chasing idols, I'll disown you!'

Is family more important than love? Love vs. Family. Family vs. Love.

"None of it matters. None of it matters at all!!!"

Kim Woo-ri stood up from her chair. Being a fan from her room was no longer enough. Besides, there wasn't much information available since they were rookies.

'So, so I can't take it anymore!!'

Even if she gets disowned. She must know everything about 'him'!!

•••°°°•••°°°•••

"Whaaat?!?"

"Stalking????????"

"I guess this counts as stalking, right?"

"What is it? Tell us more!!"

The members gathered around. I took out my phone and showed them.

[I love you, baby. Fighting today too! I'll always cheer for you by your side.]

"I've been getting messages like this for a few days, but I ignored them."

"How did she get hyung's number?"

"I can't believe you can ignore something like this. If it were me, I would have told the manager right away."

"Same here."

"At first, I thought it was a wrong number. But then I got another message the next day."

I scrolled to the next message.

[You look really cool today. Actually, you always look cool. The yellow hoodie is so cute. I love you.]

"Is this about the yellow hoodie you wore a few days ago?"

"Yeah."

"Aaahhh!!"

"Aaahhh!!"

"That's creepy!!"

The members shuddered in horror. They were worried about me, but it also felt too close to home.

"We should contact the manager! Right now!!"

"Do you think the company can handle this?"

"Why aren't you scared!!! Aren't you afraid?"

The members were trembling. But….

'Being stalked by a woman doesn't seem that scary…'

I feel strange. Of course, I'm not happy about it, but I'm not as terrified as the members are.

'Whose daughter is doing this…? Tsk tsk, really?'

It's been 10 days since I started receiving these messages. I thought it would stop after a day or two, so I waited. But when the messages continued for 10 days, I realized I couldn't handle it alone and told the members.

'It's fortunate that I'm the first one to get a stalker. If it happened to them, they would have complained non-stop about how scared they were.'

If I handle this stalker well, maybe the members won't be so scared if they get stalkers in the future.