120 - Upki Girl

<Can You Handle This Atmosphere?> The gaze of the patrons in the café, made up mostly of people in their twenties and thirties, was simultaneously directed towards us. Yona wasn't the only one who had come to the café. Other than Hong-i, who was absent due to preparations for the girl group finals, there were units 1, 2, and 5. A cluster of purple auras gathered around us, dazzling in their brilliance. Like ducklings following their mother, they swarmed around me. Yona stood, her face sullen, facing her father. The expression of Yona's father, once fierce enough to battle a bear, now appeared restless as he observed her. "You, well, it seems you've gained a little weight..." "Annoyed. Why did you come without telling me? You know I hate surprises like this." "No, Yona, it's not like that..." Wait, is Yona getting annoyed? Witnessing Yona's rare display of irritation, her father was at a loss for words, scratching his eyebrows while casting a reproachful glance at me. His expression seemed to say, ‘I told you not to tell her we were meeting.’ "I didn't mention it." "I did..." The culprit was unit 2, clinging to my left arm like a piece of the Voltron robot. As Yona's father and I looked at her in disbelief, she responded boldly. "I said it because I was worried about you, sir. Yona's dad is said to be scary." "Huuu..." Yona's father sighed, and the straw wrapper on the table flew away from him. He scanned Suwon, Eun-bit, and Riya, who encircled me like a magic circle. Eun-bit, observing the situation, was the first to greet him. "Hello... I'm Yu Eun-bit, Yona unnie's groupmate." She attempted a polite bow, but her eyes were fixed on him, so her head didn't lower. Riya followed with her greeting. "Hi, Daddy. I'm Aliya, the youngest dancer from Upkey Girl. Yona unnie always adored Aliya, thank you." Yona’s father replied, “Oh, sure, sure. Eun-bit and Aliya. And you must be the main vocalist, Suwon,” looking at each one in turn. What’s with this man? Trying hard not to show it, yet an unmistakable smile was playing on his face. He suddenly softened into a friendly bear. A young couple sitting nearby seemed to recognize the children and began whispering behind their hands. I thought this area wouldn't even flinch if Robert Downey Jr. appeared in an Iron Man suit, but they do seem interested in celebrities. Feeling uneasy under the scrutiny, Yona lowered her head and tugged on her father's arm. "Let's talk outside. It's embarrassing that you came here like this." It was the first time seeing Yona this embarrassed. She looked like a teenage daughter pouting at her father. This wasn’t the Yona I knew. Now, she seemed like a genuine twenty-one-year-old girl. In contrast, her father resisted, pulling back as if he didn’t want to be led away like an unwilling dog. "It's cold outside. Why go out? Let's just stay here. Would you like something warm to drink? Hmm? Yeah, let the kids have something too. Hmm? Get some bread. Hmm? Go and choose." Ah, now I understand why he insisted I not tell Yona and come alone. This man, who seems as tough as the Terminator to outsiders, turns into a doting daddy who can’t get a word in edgewise when it comes to Yona. Not only that, but he even knows all the Upkey Girl members’ names and preferences by heart. Without daring to make eye contact with Yona, he continuously converses with the kids, as if grasping at straws. "Mmm, right. I was wondering who was missing, it’s Yeonhong? Where’s she?" "Unnie Hong-hong went to practice." "Right, Eun-bit. You like ice cream, don't you? They sell gelato here. Go and order something. Hmm? With Suwon and Riya." As he tried to hand his card to Eun-bit, Yona pulled his arm again, speaking in a high-pitched, insistent voice. "Why do you keep offering food? We’ll gain weight; we can’t. We need to go outside quickly. People are staring. Hurry." Unable to contain myself, I let out a chuckle at Yona’s unfamiliar, endearing demeanor. The other kids likely felt the same. Yona's father’s awkward chatter continued as he carefully released Yona's hand pulling at his arm and sat down on the chair. "Alright, alright. I’ll just finish my drink and go on my own. Sorry for not giving you a heads up before coming. You’re not sick anywhere, right? Wow, our daughter has become so beautiful. But don’t wear clothes that are too short. Like last time, in the girl crush. Hmm? The pants were too low. Did the stylist tell you to wear them like that?" "Dad... I’m seriously going to get mad?" Yona's face looked as if she might cry. The professor downed his apple juice and stood up. "Okay, okay, Dad will go. Sorry. Stay warm and don’t catch a cold. Make sure to cover up at night. Hmm?" Why is this farewell scene so touching? Unexpectedly, I found myself rooting for Yona's father rather than Yona. This unexpected display of paternal love moved not only me. "Mister, don't go. I want to eat ice cream.” Eun-bit threw her support. Watching for Yona’s reaction, her father asked softly, "Oh, Eun-bit wants ice cream...?" Riya and Suwon’s attitudes also shifted. They realized he wasn’t the typical strict and unyielding father they had imagined. "Daddy, you’re so cute." "Mister, just stay. I can handle Yona." It was a chance to win points with Yona’s father, who had a negative view of idol pursuits. I quickly added my voice to the cause. "Let's all just sit down, Father. Yona, take a seat too. Things are getting chaotic." Yona didn't seem pleased with her father's every move. But it was clear this wasn't the same kind of animosity Suwon had shown toward "that person." It was more of a daughter whining at her dad. Before sitting down, Yona secured a promise from him. "If you say anything weird, I'm just going to leave." Her father nodded as if coaxing a small child. "Okay, okay. I won't say anything." Watching the two, a thought crossed my mind. Was it Yona who broke off the relationship first, not her father? He didn't seem like the type of person who would push her away. In the short time I'd observed their interactions, this was my impression. Everyone settled into their seats. Yona wasted no time in confronting her father. "What did you say to the manager? Told him to cancel my contract, didn't you?" "No, I just came to take care of some business nearby and check on you, to see if you're doing well, if you're healthy, since you refused to see me..." "How did you know our dorm is here? And how did you get the manager's phone number?" "I went to your office, and they told me." "How did you find out where the office was?" "I looked it up online..." "When did you tell everyone to get out because you couldn't stand the sight of me, and now you're showing up?" "Yona. I told you I was too angry then and made a mistake. You and your mom went ahead and signed the contract without discussing it..." "Because I knew you wouldn't allow it, Dad." This is such a typical father-daughter conversation. Yona had always wanted to gain her father's approval, acting maturely, but when he showed up, she reverted to the sulking youngest daughter. That's just how it is. The general story goes something like this: After her sister Sara's failure, Dad opposed the idol career → Yona and Mom secretly signed with Karma → Dad got angry and snapped → Yona hurt → Limited contact → Naturally grew apart Yona's father loves his daughter dearly and thus opposes the harsh entertainment industry, where it's hard to survive without solid mental strength and tenacity. In fact, his concerns aren't groundless. If Yona hadn't met me, terrible things could have indeed happened to her. Remembering the bad blood with Kim Seok-won made me understand the father's concerns even more. But it's not like Yona can just give up. If one person must bend, it should be the father. "Dad asked to cancel the contract, right?" Yona interrogated me like a detective checking a witness's statement. Considering what he'd done to me, I was tempted to just spill the truth, but understanding his fatherly concern, I opted for a little white lie sprinkled with a pinch of embellishment to improve their relationship. "He really just came to check on you, Yona. Plus, he said he enjoyed watching your girl crush performance. His students recognized you, and he felt proud." Yet, Yona saw through my attempt. "Don't lie, manager. Do you think I don't know my dad? He would have been mortified, not pleased, if his students recognized me. He's here to terminate the contract. It's obvious." Correct. "You came planning to demand company documents, like the contract or accounting details, right?" Nailed it. "Looking to find any issue to take to court." Perfect hit. It felt like there was a bug planted on me, but apparently, this was the strategy Sara used to break her contract with a trashy company. Come to think of it, we used a similar approach to extract Yona from Karma. Yona's father stopped evading and spoke with the strictest face he'd shown since Yona arrived. "You've done enough." "What do you mean enough?" "You've been doing this since before you started middle school, so it's nearly been ten years." "That includes trainee years; I haven't debuted that long ago." "I'm worried about you getting hurt. You can always pursue singing and dancing as a hobby, can't you?" "Dad... it's my life, and I choose it myself. I'm not a child anymore." "I know. I understand. But look at Sara, she was confident too, and now she’s back studying to get into college." Yona's face was full of frustration and indignation. "That's because her company was terrible. Ours isn't like that. I'm doing well with my current company and members. Can’t you just trust me and watch over us?" Even though they sat side by side, neither looked at the other. Her father shook his head with a complex expression. "I just don't understand... I find it too hard when my daughter's name is on everyone's lips. The more you succeed, the heavier the burden. And I hoped you'd live normally, going to school, enjoying meals, dating a boyfriend like your peers." "That's your wish, isn't it? Aren't you considering my life? I prefer being on stage, and I can do the rest later. Why do you keep trying to clip my wings and cage me?" "What else can I say?" "The worst part about you, Dad, is that you're not just dismissing my dreams but also those of our members and the manager here." "I'm not dismissing them. I respect them, but..." "Don't lie because we're in public. You think all entertainers are just circus performers." Yona's voice trembled, and her father didn't deny the reality she exposed. How many times had they had this type of conversation? The glaring difference in opinions meant a somber mood had long settled. I'm frustrated too. If Yona's father's worry was simply about the 'uncertain future of a celebrity,' it’s an area I could negotiate. Yona possesses exceptional talent. With her relentless dedication, she has every potential to become a top star. I could promise with all my being that I would take responsibility for her success. However, if he dislikes the very idea of celebrities and fame, there's not much I can say to change his mind. Once again, it's the same story. Just when things seem to be going well, a tackle aims right for our vulnerable shins. When will we ever be free from such crises? "Huh..." What was that? Breaking the somber atmosphere, it was Eunbit, sitting to the left of the professor, who let out the first signal of tears with a sniffle—Stage 1 of crying. This was quickly followed by Stage 2: facial muscle spasms. Her eyebrows twitched, her lips pouted, and her nostrils flared. "What will we do without Yona unnie... We can't..." "Yu Eunbit, don't cry. People are watching." Suwon tried to caution her in a whisper, but Eunbit’s rising emotions couldn't be contained. Stage 3, a sniff and a teardrop like a chicken’s egg, fell onto the table with a plop. "Kehee..." As the saying goes, when the needle moves, so does the thread. If Eunbit cries, Riya is right behind her, and sure enough, Riya, who shares a similar emotional wavelength with Eunbit, was already gearing up. "Daddy... Please don’t take Yona unnie from us. Without our leader, we’ll be in chaos… Aliya is so sad…” "Even my elderly grandmother supports us, so why are you against it, Dad? Imagine how lonely Yona unnie must be. Yona unnie's dad is really mean...” "Daddy, I hate it so much! Totally hate it!" "Guys... Please, you're embarrassing me here. We're not the only ones in the café, okay?" "Suwon unnie, you're mean too. Aren't you worried at all about Yona unnie leaving?" "Eunbit, that's an overreaction. Yona is never quitting, so don't worry. If she were going to give up over this, she would have never made it this far. So stop crying." Suwon, it’s too late. There's no turning back. "Sniff, sob, waaahhh!" "Waaahhh! Yona unnie! Don't go!" There it was—an eruption! So intense that café staff came out to check on what was happening. The one most taken aback by this sudden outburst of tears from our tearful duo was none other than Yona's father. His once healthy complexion turned the color of molten lava, and beads of cold sweat dotted his forehead. Oh, Father. Can you handle this atmosphere? Can you truly take Yona away from these children? <Can You Handle This Atmosphere?> End