Loving A Triple Threat

Chapter 50: The World Turns

Gi was confused and angry at herself for being confused. She knew Sena had feelings for her and she had rebuffed him. He had withdrawn, and she had forgotten about him. But now she realised his feelings towards her had not abated. He loved her so much he withdrew from her life because he felt he would cause her trouble.

He was dangerous and gallant at the same time. When he declared his love for her, he showed no fear of rejection nor commitment. And now that her interest was piqued it was too late. He was right, she would be packed in cotton wool by YG and Mr Tong would have Sena blacklisted soon, if not already.

Mr Tong, speak of the devil's name, broke her thoughts with his annoying voice, "The boss wants me to get you out of here. There is alcohol and you aren't eighteen. We don't want to start off on the wrong foot."

She stood wanting to get away from him and to chase after Sena, but Mr Tong misunderstood, he thought she stood to leave with him and took her by the elbow.

"I can walk by myself Mr Tong," she said tersely.

"There's a car outside. We'll put you up in the dorms tonight and move your contract signing forward to tomorrow," he said ignoring her.

It suddenly dawned on Gi that all this power and control he was exerting on her was prem.a.t.u.r.e. YG had not fully committed to her and had her on a standby contract. Locking her to them, giving her some money to help her parents, but she was not on a full contract. She wondered if they were always like this, overstepping their bounds unless called to account.

"Mr Tong?" Gi said suddenly. "What if I decide to go home instead?"

He paused and thought before answering, "Miss Reyn we want to protect you, if this is your choice - I will accompany you to your parent's door. Mr Lee has already emailed your mother with an appointment update for tomorrow."

"But Mr Tong, I am not currently under contract. I can do as I please. If I want to stay with my friends for one last night of celebrations, I can do that and there is nothing you can do," Gi replied.

Mr Tong huffed and puffed as if offended. "Miss Reyn, I act only in your interest. Why would you disrespect me so?"

Miss Gi Reyn was only seventeen, but she was smart, and she would remember this day for the rest of her life.

She nodded and acquiesced, she was probing her options and didn't want to fight with Mr Tong. "Very well. I'd like to see the dorms and now is a good a time as any."

Mr Tong sighed in relief, "You will like it and there's only two girls there at the moment, you won't be short on personal space."

Which only made Gi wonder if she would usually be short of personal space.

As they sat in the car in silence Gi wondered about her friends. Would they get plenty of offers from agents and scouts? She did not want to think about Sena, it would only lead to feelings of loss, so she texted her once rivals - now friends.

            Gi to Misha, Suzie: did you get offers?

She waited patiently for a reply.

            Misha: where are you?

            Suzie: scared YG will replace you with me?

She laughed at Suzie's reply.

            Gi: I'm heading to YG now they are going crazy with control.

            Suzie: lol. That's not a problem, that's a good thing. We're having a hard time partying here because several agents are messaging me on facebook, ig and twitter. They keep asking for my email, what do I tell them?

            Gi: your email. Use a new gmail or yahoo address - just in case.

            Misha: how do you know so much?

            Gi: I pay attention?… Just ask Seok to look after you if you're worried.

            Suzie: yeah. You got a nerd boyfriend this is the time to use him.

"We're here," Mr Tong announced and led the way through security to the elevator. "I don't have an RFID for you yet, so stay inside until I come for you tomorrow."

His statement filled Gi with apprehension, she should have opted to go home. As soon as the door closed behind them, she felt like a prisoner.

"We normally have a no phone policy for new recruits, but…," he paused, "We can discuss that tomorrow. Please don't use your phone to contact anyone but your parents."

Gi suddenly remembered her mother and called her immediately, ignoring Mr Tong who was waiting to give her a quick tour.

"Mom," Gi said, "Sorry I didn't call earlier. YG are putting me in a dorm now and I'm… Mom? Why are you crying mom?"

"Gi we cannot afford what they are asking…"

"What do you mean? What are they asking? Who is asking?" The questions fired out her mouth in rapid succession.

Mr Tong was listening and became agitated, "Put her on speaker." He demanded.

"Mrs Reyn, it's Mr Tong here. Can you please start from the beginning and go slowly?"

Gi could hear her mother take a deep breath. "A man called. He said he has a video of Gi having s.e.x.u.a.l relations with a boy in a cave. He wants 500M won or he will post the videos and take the ad revenue instead. He gave us one week to come up with the money."

Mr Tong thought furiously, "500 million he must know about Gi going viral tonight. It's probably a hoax Mrs Reyn, please relax."

Mr Tong muted the phone, turned to Gi and asked, "It's a hoax?"

The look of horror on her face answered his question. All Gi could think of was the time she had s.e.x with Ren on the mountain. It could look like a cave.

"It's impossible," she said after a minute. But Mr Tong had moved on he didn't want to listen to her now, the look of guilt was all he needed.

Mr Tong took out his own phone and began sending messages. To Mr Lee and Mr Gok. Gi did not like the way he typed furiously. After reading a reply Mr Tong took Gi's phone off mute.

"Mrs Reyn. Tell them you will pay for now, you just need time to get the money together."

Mrs Reyn sounded worried, "But Mr Tong, it's not true. Gi would never."

Mr Tong bowed his head. "Don't worry Mrs Reyn, we have experts who handle this sort of thing. It's not uncommon for unfounded threats but they need to be handled properly. Rumours can catch like wildfire especially when they aren't true."

Mr Tong then handed the phone back to Gi and walked off. He sat down in the kitchen and pulled out a cigarette, lit it and began to smoke quietly.

Gi spoke to her mother in whispers, "They'll handle it mom… Calm down… I'm sorry... I guess it's just part of the business… I never wanted you to go through this…"… etc.

When she finally hung on her mom, she walked into the kitchen where Mr Tong was waiting ominously.

"There is no way …" Gi began.

"Stop," he said menacingly. "Did you have s.e.x with a boy in a cave?"

Gi nodded.

"Then stop saying it was impossible for the act to be filmed. It was. I'm guessing it was that hoodlum. Sena was his name?"

"No!" Gi protested. She wanted to say Sena would never allow this sort of thing to happen, but she felt the same way about Ren. And it had happened. Her trust in men was obliterated. She didn't trust her brother at this point, let alone someone who wasn't immediate family.

"Then it was another? How many boyfriends do you have girl?" Mr Tong said in a disrespectful tone.

He then stood. Angrily put out his cigarette and announced, "I knew you would be trouble from our first meeting. The whole zero thing, the way you disrespect elders and now this. You know, I'm not even surprised. What does that tell you?"

"That you're an arsehole," Gi replied angrily.

"Your future hangs in the balance and this is how you conduct yourself," Mr Tong said dismissively. "Be thankful that it is Mister Lee who will make the call and not me.  But know this. If you are kept - I will resign. I will not have my career destroyed by the likes of you."

Mr Tong walked towards the door while Gi stood in disgrace. Her head hung low, her shoulders slumped. He saw her heave, as if she was crying silently. He could have said something kind, something commiserating her predicament. He flicked his RFID card against the panel and said, "See you tomorrow," before letting the door shut loudly behind him.

The smell of smoke wafted throughout the kitchen and Gi was disgusted by it. She didn't know where the windows were or even which was the door to her bedroom. It was then a door creaked open and one her of trainee group companions showed her face. The girl gave a shy smile and opened a window. She then opened another bedroom door to wave Gi inside.

"Thank you," Gi said. The girl would not look her in the eyes. She was kind, but she must have heard every word, so this was all she would do. Gi was beyond embarrassed.

Gi lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. She had no idea how a video of her and Ren got into someone's hands, but she was unnerved. Veteran idols didn't survive this sort of thing, she had no chance. Her only chance was YG would pay the extortionist off.

She cried when she realised, she just called Mr Tong an arsehole and YG were her only hope. She slapped herself in the face. Why did she have to be so headstrong? Why couldn't she just be a good girl and do as she was told?

When she finished crying, she made a promise to herself. If YG came through and rescued her, she would be obedient for the rest of her days.