Chapter 61 : Stalker (2)

Hae-sol has a stalker!

An inevitable presence for idols.

The company began preparing as soon as the stalker appeared, collecting various evidence to hand over to the police.

Security naturally followed.

"Change your phone number. And don't give your number to anyone except family and close friends."

"Got it."

Ahyeon spoke to me in a professional manner. I tried to hold back my laughter and responded calmly. We were communicating with our eyes. Since she was part of the team supporting my group, we sometimes met in places where others were present. It was fun to pretend we weren't close and communicate with our eyes.

"Are you sure you don't need counseling?"

"I'm really fine."

"It might not seem like a big deal now, but it could become a serious issue later."

"I'm not shocked, so I don't need counseling."

"Even after receiving such messages?"

Ahyeon's eyes suddenly became fierce.

"Aren't you disgusted? Don't you feel dirty? Don't you think it's pathetic?"

"They just like me too much. Of course, it's not pleasant, but I don't think it's dirty or pathetic."

I'm not defending the actions of stalkers, but I don't think their actions are dirty or pathetic. After all, they are my fans.

"Even if you're fine, leniency is not an option! If we set a precedent for leniency, it's dangerous. This is something you should feel uncomfortable about. If you don't, it will get worse. You need to deal with it firmly."

"Understood! I'll be careful!"

"Stalkers are not fans. You must understand that."

After getting a lecture from Ahyeon, unfortunately, we couldn't have a private moment together. But meeting briefly at the company gave us the thrill of secretly dating. Besides, I had plans to meet her later that night.

'I'll make her feel special tonight.'

But my plans were disrupted.

"Where are you going?"

"?!"

As I was leaving the dorm with the doppelganger doll, a woman suddenly appeared from the darkness.

"Who are you?"

"Men shouldn't be out late at night."

The woman wore a mask, a hat pulled low, and a black hoodie. Her appearance was eerily dark, but her small and thin frame didn't seem threatening.

"Are you from the company?"

"...."

Although I said that, it was strange for a company employee to appear at the dorm late at night. I kept a safe distance and spoke.

"Didn't you just speak to me?"

"…Go back."

"Go back? Do you know me?"

"Hae-sol i telling you! Go back!! It's dangerous!"

The woman suddenly shouted. I listened carefully, but it was a voice I hadn't heard before.

Does a stranger know me? And is here late at night?

"Stalker?"

"No!"

"It's suspicious for you to be here so late. You know me, so you must be a fan. The company said to call the police in situations like this."

"I said no! I'm here to protect you!"

"Protect me from what? You're the dangerous one here."

Ahyeon was right. Stalkers should not be considered fans.

'She's here to protect me?'

The real threat was the stalker who appeared late at night. There was no one else threatening me, so I couldn't understand her thinking.

"Where are you going? Do you have to go? Should I come with you?"

"No, you're the dangerous one. Don't follow me. Go home, or I'll call the police."

Actually, the company didn't tell us to call the police. They said to call the manager. As a rookie idol, getting involved with the police could be a big deal if a reporter found out. It was best to keep a low profile.

'Besides, I snuck out, so officially, I'm supposed to be sleeping.'

"Tell me where you're going!"

"Why should I?"

"I have to protect you!"

"I don't need your protection."

"You're too naive. There are many girls out to get you. You might end up in trouble!"

What kind of trouble? I was curious about the specifics. This woman didn't seem like she had just started stalking me. I remembered the suspicious messages I had received.

"Is it you?"

"Huh?"

"The stalker who sent me suspicious messages a few days ago."

"I, I don't know what you're talking about."

She was pretending not to know, but she seemed guilty and stepped back.

'If I deal with this woman now, I won't have to worry about her anymore.'

The stalker didn't seem like she was going to leave. She wasn't scared by the threat of calling the police and kept staring at me.

'Huh? A camera?'

Then, the stalker raised a camera.

"The night is dangerous, so don't go. Want to take a picture together? I can take a great photo!"

I rushed towards the stalker and grabbed the camera from her hand.

"Ah!"

"No pictures. It's shameless to act like this and say it's for my sake."

I couldn't use too much force on a woman. If she called the police, it would be a big problem. I needed to handle this quietly. After taking the camera, I grabbed her wrist and led her away from the dorm. If someone saw us, it would be a disaster.

'If someone finds out about the doppelganger doll, I'll lose 4,000 points!'

I promised Pony that I wouldn't let anyone find out about the items I used. If someone did, I would have to sell the doppelganger doll to pay back the coins I borrowed.

'I need to take her somewhere quiet and scold her before sending her away.'

The stalker didn't resist when I took the camera or when I dragged her by the wrist. I took her to a secluded alley where there were no streetlights. It was so dark that we could barely see each other's faces. The environment would be scary for any woman, but the stalker was smiling. Although she wore a mask, I could tell she wasn't scared.

"Aren't you scared?"

"Where are we going? Are we on a date? I didn't dress up because I didn't think we'd go on a date so soon. Can you wait a bit? I'll go change into something pretty."

Is she pretending to be crazy, or is she actually crazy?

"Does this look like a date to you?"

"I can look much prettier. I look terrible right now. I want to show you my best side!"

This isn't the time for that. I wanted to scare her away, but it seemed like it wouldn't work. What should I do with this crazy stalker?

'Maybe I should fight fire with fire.'

It had been a while since I had plans with Ahyeon. This woman ruined it, so she needed to take responsibility.

'Even if I tell her to go, she won't. She'll follow me secretly. Then this camera might capture me meeting Ahyeon, leading to a scandal.'

That would be a terrible outcome. Thanks to her, I made a quick decision. I would never tolerate stalkers again.

"Then come back looking pretty. We'll go on a date then"

"Really? We're going on a date? I'll take a picture to remember it forever! And we can show it to everyone at our wedding!"

'…She's already thinking about the wedding?'

Anyway, the stalker forgot about the camera and quickly disappeared. I didn't even get to tell her to take the camera with her.

'Did I solve the problem?'

I hadn't completely solved it, but it would be a headache. Even if I told people about what happened, no one would believe me. She had the camera, so there was no evidence. On the other hand, I had an alibi with the doppelganger doll, showing that I was sleeping in bed.

'But it seems like the doppelganger doll isn't enough. Even if I deal with the stalker, reporters might find out.'

I might need a new item sooner than I thought.

•••°°°•••°°°•••

I dealt with the stalker with a lie and had a great night with Ahyeon. The intense night with Ahyeon was so memorable that I quickly forgot about the stalker incident. Besides, I couldn't tell the members or the company about what happened. I planned to forget about it anyway. But the stalker had a different perspective.

Her beloved idol had asked her out on a date! Excited, she couldn't sleep and arrived at the dorm early in the morning. She eagerly waited for Hae-sol to come out.

"Why is it so noisy outside?"

As we were getting ready to leave for our schedule, we heard a commotion outside. Ki Woo-yeon opened the window and was shocked.

"There's a woman arguing with the manager!"

"A woman?"

"Who is it?"

"Don't stick your heads out the window! Someone might see you."

Jackie quickly pulled Eungyu, Kang Jun, and Woo-yeon away from the window.

"Someone call the manager."

"Is something wrong? Should we call the police?"

"We should call the director."

I pushed through the anxious members and looked out the window. The road manager was arguing with a woman who looked like the stalker from last night.

'She's prettier than I thought.'

The stalker had said she would dress up, and she did. But I didn't expect her to show up so early in the morning for a date. Of course, the road manager wouldn't let her into the dorm. Especially since she was making ridiculous demands. Eventually, the road manager called someone.

"Is that the manager?"

Jackie, the leader, received the call.

"Yes, manager."

-You all stay inside the dorm.

"Is everything okay outside? It sounds like there's a problem."

-It seems to be a stalker. Especially, don't let Hae-sol go outside.

"Understood."

Since the call was on speaker, we all heard the road manager's instructions.