Idol of the Heavenly One - Chapter 67.1
It didn’t feel real.
Father.
That single word from Baek Jae-heon’s mouth still echoed in my ears.
Before my thoughts could even process what was happening, our managers rushed in and pulled Baek Jae-heon and the man apart. A scuffle broke out, and the parking lot filled with the sound of harsh breathing and angry curses. Even the security guards joined in to stop it, but the man refused to back down.
“I heard you became an idol! Making good money, huh? Then hand it over!”
It was impossible to believe that this man could be described with the word father. There wasn’t an ounce of warmth for his child in his expression. Humiliation, rage, and greed were all tangled together, twisting his features into something grotesque. He was the complete opposite of what I thought the word father meant.
“Everyone, get in the car!”
When the manager shouted, the members didn’t hesitate to head for the van. Joo I-rip pushed Jae-heon and me from behind, telling us to go together, and only then did I manage to move my feet.
Baek Jae-heon closed his eyes for a brief moment. A deep sigh escaped his lips, as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Then he started walking to the car as though nothing had happened, but his jaw was clenched tight.
“Hey, you!”
His father’s furious voice rang out behind us. Jae-heon’s steps halted for an instant.
“If you don’t give me the money, I’ll tell everyone! That your mother ran away, that you abandoned your father to become a celebrity! I’ll tell the whole world!”
My heart sank. How could a parent say that to their own child? Had Baek Jae-heon been enduring this all alone until now? The shadow that always lingered over his face suddenly made perfect sense.
I stopped walking too.
Baek Jae-heon said nothing. His face was blank, but restrained emotion flickered in his eyes.
“……”
His chest rose and fell sharply a few times, as though he were swallowing something down. But in the end, he didn’t say a word. He simply opened the car door and got in.
The air inside the van was so heavy it was hard to breathe.
As the vehicle slowly exited the parking lot, his father’s curses still carried through the closed windows. I couldn’t help but look back. The man’s figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance, while a weight like a stone settled deep inside my chest.
When I first heard about Jae-heon’s restraining order, I vaguely thought, He must’ve had some family problems. But I never imagined it would be something this raw, this ugly, right before my eyes.
What could I possibly say to him? Are you okay? You can lean on me if it’s too hard?
But no words would come out. They all got stuck in my throat. What right did I have to comfort him when I couldn’t even handle my own anxieties?
So in the end, none of us said a word on the way back to the dorm.
Once we were inside, I finally managed to speak.
“…What are you going to do?”
Baek Jae-heon sat on the edge of the bed, his head bowed for a long time. The darkness covered half his face, hiding his expression. After a long silence, he dragged a hand down his face as if trying to wash away everything.
“I just want to give him the money and end it.”
His voice sounded drained, like he was speaking to the air itself.
“I’m tired. I don’t even want to see him anymore.”
His hand was trembling again.
But it wasn’t just fear this time. It was anger barely held in check, mixed with helplessness.
All I could do was stare at that shaking hand.
I wanted to hold it, but couldn’t bring myself to. I wanted to say something to comfort him, but even that felt impossible. I was afraid that my clumsy words would only tear his wounds open even more.
The next day, we went to the company for practice on the new song, but Baek Jae-heon went straight into the conference room to speak with the directors. Through the glass walls, I could see them talking in serious tones.
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