‘That’s an unbelievable future.’
[The gift of prophecy has never been wrong.]
‘Never been wrong, my foot. You’re telling me this group, teetering on disbandment, will go from three members to five and even win 17 music show awards? That’s ridiculous.’
[It may seem that way now, but it will happen.]
‘How?’
[Because the person who received this gift will make it happen. It’s a future shaped by that person’s will.]
I was speechless.
They’re basically telling me to make that future happen.
How is that even prophecy?
[Just follow the path the Lord has prepared. Right now, it may feel like you’re wandering in the wilderness, but you’ll lead those girls to a land flowing with milk and honey. Don’t worry.]
They’re trying to reassure me with words I don’t quite understand.
But that “land flowing with milk and honey” only comes after drowning a bunch of Egyptians, doesn’t it?
Sigh.
The screen disappeared, but time was still frozen.
An idea came to mind, and I asked the spirit a question.
‘Can you stop time a little longer?’
[More than a minute is difficult. Once you get more used to your gift, you’ll be able to extend it.]
‘Thirty seconds is enough.’
I opened the refrigerator in the living room.
I quickly scanned the ingredients I’d bought for cooking.
I wanted to know what they usually ate.
‘Got it.’
The world flashed, and time started flowing again.
*
After greeting the girls, I stepped outside with my senior.
I’d kept quiet in the officetel because of the girls, but once we reached the parking lot, I couldn’t hold back my emotions anymore.
As soon as I got behind the wheel, I exploded.
“Isn’t this too much? They debuted them, and now they’re just abandoning them because they aren’t making money?”
My voice rose, and my senior, startled, pressed himself against the car door.
“Sorry, I just got so angry all of a sudden.”
“N-No… Honestly, I’m frustrated too.”
“Right? I mean, they’re a girl group — how can they treat them like this?”
I didn’t start the engine.
I was too worked up to drive safely.
I needed to vent before I could calm down.
“I get how you feel, but there are things the company can’t help.”
“Like what?”
“Out of a thousand trainees, only one actually debuts — even if it’s a failed group, that’s still an incredible achievement. They beat 0.1% odds.”
I hadn’t realized it was that intense.
It really was a cutthroat industry.
“And do you know how much the company invests in that one debuting trainee?”
“No idea.”
“For groups they take seriously, about a billion won a year. More commonly, about 500 million. Red Blossom has five members, so that’s 2.5 billion. Considering their training period, they’d already spent 7 billion before debuting.”
My jaw dropped.
The amount of investment was no joke.
“During their five-week debut promotion, they spent another 5 billion on the album, MV, marketing, styling, and other costs. Every comeback costs another 3 to 4 billion.”
He sighed and continued.
“They’ve burned through 20 billion so far, but how much do you think they’ve recouped? 1 billion? 2 billion? Of course the company’s frustrated.”
My anger faded.
The girls worked hard, but the company had poured a fortune into them.
“They can’t promote because they’re short on members, but adding more for a comeback is risky, so the company’s just leaving them be. They’re letting them survive but quietly suggesting they find other paths.”
Ah.
“Given the situation, I thought they’d disband the team and the group. But then you showed up. I don’t know what the company’s thinking, but I doubt you alone will change much. Two years of failure weighs too heavily on them.”
He leaned back and gazed out the window.
I said nothing as I finally started the engine.
*****
If you want to help someone, it’s best to meet their needs.
That’s why I always get close to people before offering help.
You need to become someone they trust enough to share their struggles with.
If someone asks for something without that bond, you should be wary.
They’re either tactless or trying to scam you.
“I’m here.”
“Oh, Oppa! Breakfast again?”
I ran into Rina at the practice room.
She hates being pitied as a “failed idol,” so she practices alone early in the morning when no one’s around.
She often skips breakfast to avoid waking the others.
After hearing that, I started bringing simple breakfasts to the practice room.
Nothing beats sharing food for building closeness.
“Sandwiches and fruit juice. Is that okay?”
“Hehe, thanks! I love whole wheat bread.”
Before I knew it, I’d gone from “Ahjussi” to “Oppa,” and her tone had become more casual.
I was getting used to my gift too — now I could hear her thoughts in both English and Korean.
In just three days, she’d spilled all the members’ secrets.
“I auditioned for SN in California. I didn’t make the top ranks, but one of the judges thought I was good and introduced me to Pine Entertainment.”
“Yeoreum unnie has a barista license. She works part-time at a café run by her senior. She says she’ll open her own café after retiring from entertainment.”
“Um… Yeoreum unnie told me not to talk about this, but we’ve been working part-time jobs to help Sera unnie. Her mom keeps giving all their money to the church, so Sera unnie has to support her younger siblings. We pitch in to help. I’m only telling you because you’re Oppa.”
That last part stuck with me.
A normal church wouldn’t drain a family’s finances like that.
[I think you should look into this, Master. That Sera girl… I sensed a shadow around her from the start.]
‘Yeoreum probably knows the details. I’ll ask when we get closer.’
*
“Did you buy groceries again? There’s no room left in the fridge!”
Yeoreum likes cooking, so I’d been winning her over with ingredients.
That’s why I’d scanned the fridge when time was frozen — to learn what she liked.
Since then, I’d been stocking their fridge every time I visited.
Funding this?
Surprisingly, the director helped.
“Two days earlier …”
The director called me up to his office.
“Getting used to the job?”
“It’s only been three days, so I’m still learning from Manager Park and Chief Song.”
“Good. The chairman and I have high hopes for you, so keep it up.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And take a look at this.”
He turned his laptop toward me.
It showed security CCTV footage from the underground parking lot.
Before I could ask why, he spoke.
“You really didn’t know that was Cha Soyeon?”
“Yes. I only realized after the guards took the guy away.”
He stared at the screen, impressed.
“Watching this… You handled a knife-wielding attacker like it was nothing. That’s no ordinary skill.”
The footage really did look like a martial arts movie.
“After seeing this, I couldn’t just ignore it. I need to reward you.”
He handed me a thick envelope.
“Cha Soyeon’s like a daughter to me. Thank you for saving her.”
And that’s how I ended up with a generous grocery budget.
“Back to the present…”
“Want to stay for dinner? Sera and Rina will be back soon.”
“If you’re cooking, I’d be honored. I was planning to just eat something simple at home.”
Her face lit up at my answer.
“Just relax in the living room. I’ll get everything ready.”
She tied her hair back and put on an apron.
Even in simple casual clothes, she looked like a scene from a painting.
As I sat on their worn-out sofa, scrolling through my phone, Sera and Rina came through the door.
“Hmm~ Smells so good. Oh? Oppa’s here!”
“…Hello.”
The two saw me and greeted me.
“Welcome back. I’m just waiting to mooch some dinner.”
“Boooring. I thought you came to make a move on unnie.”
“Rina, you—!”
When Yeoreum turned around holding a kitchen knife, she was pure terror.
“Aaaah! I’m sorry!”
Rina disappeared into her room in a flash.
They’re only two years apart, but they really seem like a big sister and a mischievous younger sibling.
*
There was just one stew and a few side dishes, but it was unbelievably delicious.
Maybe it’s because I always eat alone — I realized how much I missed this lively atmosphere and the warmth of people.
Even if they’re called a “failed idol group,” they’re still a girl group.
Where else would I get a chance to have dinner with girls like this?
“A rooftop room is a room on the roof, right?”
When they asked where I lived, I told them about my rooftop room.
“Yeah, it looks like a storage shed from the outside, but it’s got everything I need inside, so it’s comfortable enough.”
“If it’s on the roof, does that mean you can use the rooftop too?”
“Of course. There’s even a wooden bench up there — if you lie down at night and look up, the stars are so clear.”
“Wow, I wanna see that! Can we visit sometime?”
Rina’s eyes sparkled as she leaned in closer.
Why does this girl get so close and make my heart skip a beat like this?