Chapter 48: Sarah, The Manager of Chaos
Val let out a sharp, quiet snort, shot me a dry, unamused glare, and turned on her heel, striding out of the double doors without another word.
[PFFFFT! Hahaha!] Paige’s hysterical laughter flared up inside my head, practically rolling on the floor. [Host, you are terrible! You broke your stoic bodyguard’s brain twice in one day.]
’Hey, she started it by blackmailing me this morning,’ I replied mentally, watching the doors close behind Val. ’If she’s going to try teasing me, she’s gotta expect a little payback.’
Still, seeing how much more expressive Val was becoming around me brought a comfortable, warm feeling to my chest.
Turning my attention back to the dining table, I shifted my chair closer to Yerin. I leaned in, resting my chin on my hand as a teasing smirk touched my lips. "So... why did you turn into a red tomato just now? I thought you were completely fearless and shameless, especially when we’re in bed?"
The sudden tease made Yerin snap her head back toward me. In an instant, her blushing, embarrassed demeanor vanished, replaced by her familiar, confident, and mischievous grin. She leaned right into my space, her dark eyes sparkling with playful audacity.
"Psh! There’s a huge difference, babe!" Yerin hummed, poking my chest playfully with her index finger. "I don’t mind being wild with you, but having our stoic bodyguard casually comment on it makes me embarrassed! What happens between us stays between us."
I chuckled, reaching over to catch her finger in my hand. "Fair enough—"
Before I could finish my sentence, the sharp, energetic chime of a ringtone broke the quiet room. Yerin reached into her hoodie pocket and pulled out her smartphone, her eyes scanning the caller ID.
I started to push my chair back to give her some privacy, but the second I moved, Yerin reached out and grabbed my forearm, pulling me right back down beside her. She gave me a sweet, reassuring smile, silently telling me she didn’t mind me staying, before tapping the screen and putting the call on speaker.
"Hey, Sarah," Yerin spoke into the phone, her voice shifting back into her professional, casual pop-star tone.
"Yerin! Oh, thank God you finally picked up!" a frantic, exhausted female voice practically wailed through the speaker. "Where on earth have you been?! Do you have any idea how many calls I’ve had to dodge from venue managers, sponsors, and media outlets after you abruptly cancelled the tour!"
Yerin winced slightly, looking genuinely apologetic. "I’m really sorry, Sarah. I know I left you with a massive mess to clean up. But... something really important came up. I had to come back to the Capital."
A long, heavy sigh echoed from the speaker. Sarah’s tone softened, carrying the familiar, worn-out patience of a manager who had been dealing with Yerin’s sudden disappearances for years. "I figured as much. You only drop everything like this when it involves the Fernando estate or your family. But Yerin... what are we supposed to tell the public? The fans are going crazy. Speculation is everywhere, and people are genuinely worried about you."
Yerin bit her lip, her dark eyes dimming with a flicker of guilt as she stared at the tablecloth. She took a quiet breath, making a firm decision.
"Sarah... I’m quitting professional music. I’m taking a full hiatus for at least two years," Yerin said quietly. "I have to attend Avalon Academy."
I raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised to hear her casually mention the supernatural academy to her manager. But then I realized Sarah was Nova’s top personal manager; given how closely they worked together, Sarah obviously knew about Yerin’s true identity, her Rothschild background, and the hidden supernatural world.
On the other side of the call, Sarah went completely silent for three seconds.
"Avalon...?"Sarah whispered, her tone shifting into a mix of profound shock and genuine warmth. "You’re finally going? I thought you’d keep dodging your mandatory terms forever."
"Circumstances changed," Yerin murmured, shooting me a soft, subtle glance.
"Well... congratulations, Yerin,"Sarah said, her voice filled with genuine relief and happiness for her artist. "I’m happy for you. Truly. But... whew, this is going to be an absolute nightmare to handle publicly. A sudden two-year hiatus right after cancelling a world tour? The fanbases are going to mourn."
"I know..." Yerin sighed, her chest sinking as she leaned her forehead against my arm. "I feel so terrible about it, Sarah. My fans have supported me for years. My original plan was to meet Seth, stay here for a bit, and then host a series of low-cost pop-up concerts around the country to make it up to them before leaving... but with the Avalon departure date pushed up so fast, I don’t even have time for that."
Listening to her heavy, disappointed voice, my heart pinched slightly. I could tell how much she genuinely cared about her music and the millions of fans who adored her. She was hurting because she felt like she was letting them down.
A sudden, brilliant idea flashed in my mind.
Without interrupting her call, I pulled my phone out of my pocket with my free hand, opened my notes app, and quickly typed a new line onto my official bucket list.
I tapped Yerin’s shoulder, holding the screen up in front of her face.
Yerin blinked, pausing her conversation as her dark eyes scanned my phone screen. She read the new entry aloud in a quiet, confused whisper.
"Item #144: Attend a massive, once-in-a-lifetime music concert?"
Yerin looked up at me, her eyes wide with bewilderment. "Wait... Seth, you’ve genuinely never been to a real concert before?"
I shook my head with a dry, self-deprecating smile. "Nope. Back when I was working eighty-hour shifts, tickets were way too expensive, and I never had the time. The closest I ever got was standing outside the Grand Avenue arena listening to the bass vibrations through the street pavement while walking home from my shift."
"There are probably millions of your fans who feel exactly the same way, Yerin," I said softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "People who love your music but can’t afford expensive tickets or travel across the world to see you perform. And since you’re my official bucket-list coordinator... I think you should help me check this one off."