Idols | LisRene (Revised Version)

15

"But, sir, don't we have a school music festival performance next week?" Wendy asks.

"Oh, do you?" His smile is the most two-faced one I've ever seen, though Wendy doesn't seem to notice. "Alright then, check your individual schedule and inform your manager so adjustments can be made in advance."

Wendy suddenly looks at me, her eyes asking the question she can't say out loud: Will you be okay if I leave? Of course, she has to go. That's exactly what he wants—to talk to me alone. The moment Wendy steps out, the smile on his face vanishes. He massages his temple before pulling out a folder from his desk. In an instant, the atmosphere shifts.

"Irene... Irene... Irene..." he hums my name as he adjusts his glasses. "Of all people, it had to be you."

I know exactly what he means. We've been caught.

My mind drifts to her. Lisa.

"Do you remember when the four of you were finalized as Red Velvet's lineup? No one could decide who should be the leader," he says, leaning back in his chair, swiveling slightly. "But when I looked at you, I knew. You had what it took to lead. Turns out, I made the right decision."

I say nothing, just listening. He continues, reminiscing about our trainee days, the struggles we endured, the sacrifices we made to get here. He's forcing me to look back.

"You were always the most responsible one," he says. "You put the group before yourself. You had the courage a leader needs. And you still do."

Then, his tone shifts. "Do you remember back in 2016, when Seulgi was seeing that BTS guy? You stepped in before things got serious. I admired you for that."

I furrow my brows, and he chuckles at my reaction.

"You put out a spark before it could turn into a fire," he says. "But now? You've started one. And this one is much bigger."

I exhale slowly. "As far as I'm concerned, whatever happened between him and Seulgi started as a bet," I say, my voice steady. "I was protecting her from being played. I put a stop to what was happening between them because he was just playing with her. If I had seen that he was serious, I never would have interfered."

"Bae Joohyun," he says, his voice laced with something close to amusement. "You're stepping into the depths of hell barefoot. Tell me—can you survive it?"

I stay silent, pressing my lips together.

He exhales sharply, closing his eyes for a moment. "I need an answer, Irene. You're smart enough to understand what I'm asking."

"I can survive it... with her, sir," I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

He chuckles, but it's not out of amusement. It feels more like an insult.

"No matter what you face in the coming days, you'll only have yourself, Irene. You'll be alone in this. Lisa might stand at the starting line with you, but what happens when she leaves halfway through? You'll be left to finish alone. Do you really think this is worth it? It's just a fleeting emotion—don't let it control your decisions."

"Lisa won't leave me," I reply, but my knees tremble when I see his fists clench at my response.

"Lisa has the world in the palm of her hand. Everyone is willing to accept her. But what about you?" His eyes bore into mine, his words deliberate and sharp. "She'll leave you, Irene. Maybe not now, but she will. And what about your family? What will they think? Your members—how will this affect them? Red Velvet—are you really willing to risk everything your group has built for the sake of this feeling?"