MDQ Ch 3

Three years ago, Given, which had been hitting record highs with every promotion, had a chronic problem that the public never knew about.

The problem was that their manager changed frequently.

The reason was the members. They subtly put pressure on the managers.

For example, they would treat managers living in the dorm like thieves or subtly ostracize them to make life difficult.

At first, there were countless instances where I was accused of being a thief who stole a member’s wallet or a corrupt manager colluding with sasaengs.

Of course, I was innocent. I had no reason to do such things.

Strangely enough, the members who created these situations would usually trust my innocence and, rather generously, say, “Hyung, don’t do that next time. I’ll let it slide this time. If you ever feel like quitting, just tell me.”

As these misunderstandings accumulated, I eventually realized that the members were playing pranks on me.

They seemed to create situations that would trouble the managers and then watch the managers’ reactions.

Other managers who had quit before seemed to have gotten angry while defending their innocence.

I overheard Saebit mumbling once that I was the first person to apologize politely.

Thanks to the mischievous behavior of Given’s members, even a rookie manager like me had the chance to become their manager.

I didn’t want to miss that opportunity, so I endured and endured, even serving the members and working hard to get close to them.

It was all to provide my father, who had just begun to regain hope, a chance to meet Jung Yohan.

After enduring what felt like a series of tests, the members stopped bothering me.

After a whole year, it seemed they finally accepted me as their manager. It was a blessing in misfortune.

But Jung Yohan still treated me as if I didn’t exist.

I tried, for no reason, to strike up a conversation with him and get closer, but it was all in vain.

When returning to the dorm, he would keep his expression blank and shut his mouth. So, I had no idea how to get close to him.

Yet, I had to be the closest to Jung Yohan for my father’s sake.

Watching him closely, I noticed something strange.

He always left for a short while after every performance.

Even the other Given members didn’t know where he went.

“Does anyone know where Yohan goes after every stage?”

“Hyung, how would I know? Maybe he just needs the bathroom. He moved a lot on stage, didn’t he?”

“Maybe he’s calling his girlfriend.”

Ugh, useless guys.

I gave up asking the other members for help.

Of course, I also asked Jung Yohan directly, but he didn’t tell me where he went.

“Mind your own business.”

He just kept a cold distance.

He was never late when we had to move to another schedule, so I couldn’t press him.

But as time passed, my curiosity only grew. If I could learn his secret, it felt like I could get closer to him.

Eventually, on the day the mini 4th album stage ended—two years ago, a rainy day—I quietly followed Jung Yohan.

He walked confidently, as if he knew the broadcasting station inside out, and disappeared into a secluded bathroom.

A secluded bathroom? Could it be, as the other members half-jokingly suggested, that he was secretly meeting his girlfriend?

I crept closer, trying to peek inside without making a sound.

However, at that moment, I met Jung Yohan’s eyes, as if he had been waiting for me to come in.

He smiled slightly. It was a beautiful smile, but his eyes didn’t smile. Instead, it gave off a strange chill.

From his red lips, a low voice flowed.

“Hyung, you got caught,” He spoke in a whisper, like a devil skilled in seduction.

“I-I! I mean…”

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me completely into the bathroom. Then, his voice whispered in my ear, sounding dark and unsettling.

“You were so curious, weren’t you?”

“…”

“Then I’ll tell you. I always get excited after the stage.”

Jung Yohan used his free hand to roughly touch my face.

Where his fingertips passed, I felt sensitivity heighten. My blank face burned hot.

“I was getting bored dealing with this alone. Looks like you’ll help me, Hyung.”

His fingers pressed firmly on my lips.

“Your scared face… is actually quite arousing.”

His smooth face, seemingly sculpted by a god, wore a gentle smile.

Even so, I felt an overwhelming pressure from him. I couldn’t speak a word of denial.

“Have you ever kissed a guy before?”

“N-no.”

“Then I guess I’ll be your first.”

“…”

“Don’t be too nervous. I’m not going to ask you to suck anything.”

I decided not to ask what he meant by that.

I had lived without assuming I could like men, never imagining putting a man’s thing in my mouth.

Before I could answer, our lips met.

Jung Yohan didn’t know yet, but that was my first kiss.

And strangely, I didn’t feel any resistance.

I couldn’t forget the scent of his cologne from that day. That sweet, subtle scent lingered at the tip of my nose.

The clumsy first kiss ended when Jung Yohan pulled back.

That was the first time I saw Jung Yohan’s true face, instead of his usual blank expression.

His face, heavy with a languid glow, was completely different from the gentle expression he had shown on stage.

It was more sensual, more erotic.

Above all, he looked satisfied as if his claim of being bored dealing with this alone wasn’t a lie.

I stared at that face, mesmerized, and unintentionally said, “I-I’ll keep helping from now on.”

“Hyung, you know how to make naughty suggestions too. Impressive.”

“But I have a condition too.”

“Go on.”

I caught my breath and explained why I approached him.

“Please, meet… my father.”

Without hesitation, Jung Yohan accepted my proposal.

In exchange for satisfying his desires, he started meeting my father.

Of course, there were some personal conditions. Once a month, at our house, for 30 minutes. Those were the terms Jung Yohan proposed.

For me, it was a fair deal. I was just grateful that he would privately meet my father, even for 30 minutes.

Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations. After all, Jung Yohan became cold as soon as the cameras were off.

I just hoped he wouldn’t speak harshly to my father.

But unexpectedly, he was sincere with my father.

As if cameras might be watching, he spoke kindly and smiled at my father.

Maybe he even thought my father was one of his fans.

In the end, my father grew to like Jung Yohan even more.

Thanks to Jung Yohan, his depression, which started after losing my brother, improved significantly.

“Yohan, thank you.”

I thanked him, but as soon as the meeting ended, he treated me with a cold expression.

“It’s a deal, after all.”

Still, that was fine as long as my father could be happy.

My father’s face would brighten whenever he met Jung Yohan; I couldn’t ruin that.

So even now, two years later, I continued to fulfill Jung Yohan’s desires.

The fortunate part was that he didn’t push his swollen member against me.

It seemed he had no intention of escalating things, only asking for kisses.

‘But how long will this go on?’

I fiddled with my lips, which still carried the warmth of Jung Yohan. My heart was still racing.

The kisses with him, which I had started out of obligation for my father, had felt overwhelming at first.

But at some point, I felt my heart racing more intensely, as if the kiss we had shared without emotion had suddenly gained meaning.

It was a change I didn’t like.

If Jung Yohan suddenly decided to stop…

I stared at the glass door he had exited. My heart prickled for some reason.