Echoes of Asael: A Manager's Second Chance

The Weight of Unbearable Regret (1)

"Like a cunning puppeteer,
they weave strings of influence,
using the virtuous as unwitting weapons to dismantle their adversaries.
In the game of power, they orchestrate a symphony of manipulation,
where the melody of destruction is masked by the harmony of righteousness."
~~~

My intention to turn on the television that night was merely to catch up on the latest news. Instead, I heard someone reciting a poem about someone who wanted to bring down their enemy, using someone else who was better than the hated one.

Was that a jab at me?

Feeling the weight of my guilt growing thicker, I switched to another channel, tuning in to a Korean drama currently airing. Ah, 'The Love That Swings by Wind'. This is my favorite Kdrama.

~~~

"I couldn't help but notice how everyone hangs on to every word Eunsang says," Chae-rin remarked, her gaze fixed on the bustling office floor below.

"I know, right?" replied Aein, leaning against the railing beside her. "It's like she's got this magnetic pull. People just gravitate towards her."

I nodded in agreement, though my mind was elsewhere, concocting schemes beneath a facade of casual conversation. "Funny how influence can be wielded like a double-edged sword, isn't it?"

Aein raised an eyebrow, shooting me a curious glance. "What do you mean?"

"Well," I began, a sly smile curling at the corners of my lips, "imagine if someone were to harness that influence, using Eunsang's reputation to their advantage without her even realizing it. A subtle manipulation, hidden in plain sight."

Chae-rin turned to me, her expression a mix of intrigue and suspicion. "Are you suggesting someone here would do that?"

I shrugged nonchalantly, though my mind raced with possibilities. "Who's to say? But in a world where power is everything, it pays to be the puppeteer rather than the puppet."
~~~

...Damn. Even the drama is about that. What? Am I being punished right now? Oh God, please don't make me out to be a villain. I didn't intend to use Yaara to bring down Eun-ju, I mean, M-maybe, but not that evil! This is for the sake of ASAEL, and, You know I miss her terribly, so, I want to meet her too.

I've known Yaara for quite some time, and she's always been one to persevere. Even after her brother's passing, she clung to her dream of becoming an idol, fueled by her connection to her brother, Lee Yangmin, a K-pop artist himself.

There was a moment when I doubted Yaara's ability to withstand the trials of the K-pop industry after Yangmin's death. However, she surprised me by expressing her unwavering determination to pursue her dream. I stood by her side until she caught the attention of MANA Company and was recruited. Sadly, after that, life pulled us apart; I had to return to Busan due to an unexpected accident, and we lost touch.

Years later, I returned to Seoul with aspirations of becoming an idol manager and was fortunate to be hired by AZ. As I climbed the ranks and became ASAEL Manager, I never stopped searching for news of you. Despite my efforts scouring social media and reaching out to other managers, there was scant information about her beyond her initial rise with MANA.