Perfect Love

Chapter 1

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. The events that take place here have no connection to the real-life people mentioned in this work.

I really hope you enjoy this journey. Feel free to let me know the healing paths you may find as a result of my work.

____________________________________________

"Any way I look at it, I can't see it ending well," Mr. Oh said with his head in his hands. "How could you let this happen?" he asked Karina, who was cracking her knuckles nervously.

"It's not like I did it on purpose," she defended. "It was a contraceptive failure. It's not like I set out for this to happen."

"It doesn't matter how it happened. You'd better get used to the idea that you only have a few more months in this business. As soon as you start to show, it's game over," Mr. Oh warned her. "I would say you should get an abortion, but I'm certain the news would leak. And we all know how that news would go over in Korea."

"I don't want to do that anyway," she replied. "I'm Catholic, remember?" she said, holding out her hand that displayed her Rosary ring.

"There's only one thing I can think of that might work," Mr. Oh said. "We could find someone to enter into a contract marriage with you. You drop out of aespa for a few months. You have the baby, and then you get back as soon as you can. If word got out that you were pregnant, at least we would have the cover of your marriage. The marriage would give you the legitimacy to be able to return. Otherwise, you will be utterly cast out of the K-pop world."

"Well, that idea sounds just crazy enough to be --- totally ridiculous!" Karina countered. "I can't marry some guy I don't know. And who's to say he wouldn't tell the media about our plan?" she asked.

"Well, we'd have get him to sign an NDA, and of course, the marriage contract as well," Mr. Oh replied.

"Well, I can see you've given this a lot of thought," Karina said sarcastically. "Did you ever think how I would feel being forced into a fake marriage?"

"Did you ever think how I would feel having to clean up your mess?" Mr. Oh countered.

"I told you it was a contraceptive failure!" Karina repeated.

"It was a contraceptive failure," Mr. Oh mimicked. "I'm tired of hearing you say that. And you want to know what really kills me about all of this?" he asked, not waiting for a response. "You refuse to tell me who the father is. I'm your agent, for God's sake!" he groused.

Karina shook her head. "My career is likely over. There's no need to involve someone else's career," she reasoned.

"I don't see why you're protecting him," Mr. Oh complained. "He deserves to carry some of this scandal too."

"Look," Karina said with irritation, "we both know that, as the man, he wouldn't carry much of this scandal. Per usual, the woman will carry the shame and hurt on her shoulders. So, why even bring him up?"

"Have you even told him the truth?" Mr. Oh inquired. "Don't you think he might want to know that he's having a kid?"

"He doesn't deserve to know," she replied. "You said before that I was protecting him. You're wrong about that," she corrected. "I'm protecting myself by not telling him."

"I don't even know how to talk to you right now," Mr. Oh said, raising his hands in despair. "You know what? I'm going to take care of this the best way I know. You'd better get your head on straight by then," he warned.