Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

enjoy

After that evening, the lingering gaze and the burning warmth on the surface of Grox's cheek remained crystal clear in Froggy's memory. It wasn't merely an impression; it was permission the very thing that completely shattered the glass cage of the young sasaeng's patience and restraint.

Where he had previously remained in the shadows adjusting the practice room lights or secretly taking photos from a safe distance Froggy now began executing a new plan, far more twisted and sophisticated than before.

Whatever remaining shred of common sense he had vanished entirely. The desire to possess Grox, a thought buried deep within his psyche, was triggered by those simple words.

He threw massive amounts of money into leveraging his high-tier sponsor contacts, buying up additional shares of the agency and music label Grox belonged to until he became one of the board members with access to insider information. Not stopping there, Froggy quietly used his financial power to intervene in Grox's schedule. He covertly allocated more rest time for the young idol, adjusted unfair practice routines, and secretly swapped out the drinking water, skincare products, and even the dance practice clothes in the artist's waiting room for the highest premium brands Grox preferred all under the alias of an "Anonymous Donor."

Every night in his pitch-black bedroom, lit only by the dull blue glow of a dozen monitor screens illuminating Froggy's handsome face, live feeds from high-angle CCTV cameras inside the agency building, close-up snapshots of Grox stepping into his car, and hidden wireless audio logs played on an endless loop. The sound of the young idol's breathing blended seamlessly with the rapid, pounding rhythm of Froggy's own heart.

Hands gloved in sleek black fabric gently stroked every image across the screens, feeling the icy touch of the glass surface while his mind replayed the vivid, burning heat of the sweat-drenched cheek his palm had touched in the practice room that day.

"Lord Grox..."

Froggy murmured in a low, husky rasp into the silence. A twisted smile gradually formed on his lips, his vivid green eyes gleaming with an utterly warped, dark obsession.

In public, Froggy impeccably maintained his mask of a devoted fan. He walked in and out of the agency building as a major shareholder and influential sponsor, bowing politely and lowering himself to present pre-opened bottles of premium mineral water to Grox with flawless deference. His calm smile and lowered, respectful eyes made his presence appear completely harmless and pure like a worshipper bowing before a deity.

The black cloth gloves he wore at all times were not just for neatness; they were the only thing suppressing his ravenous impulse to reach out and grip Grox's skin, trace his jawline, or yank the idol into a deep, suffocating embrace. Every time he finished handing over a towel to wipe Grox's sweat, the moment he stepped out of sight into his private room, Froggy would bury his face in that towel, inhaling the lingering scent, warmth, and residual sweat in intoxicated bliss until his body trembled.

He knew Grox's clothing sizes, waist measurement, eating schedule, sleeping schedule, and even the exact way Grox tossed and turned at night through a high-frequency tracking system he had paid to install inside the idol's private car.

He envisioned the day Grox would be unable to move anywhere without him the day the exalted idol on the pedestal would look down at him with that same challenging gaze again. But that time, it wouldn't be a tease; it would be total surrender beneath his body on a bed.

"If you don't want to be perfect..."

Froggy pressed a kiss onto a large photograph of Grox mounted on the wall, his vivid green eyes gazing at the beautiful eyes in the picture with a dark, suffocating adoration.

"Then I'll get dirty right alongside you... I'll become the golden cage that enfolds you, so no one else gets to see this dark side of you except me."

Grox's touch that day was no warning; it was the highest-grade fuel fanning the flames of his dark obsession. Froggy let out a soft, bone-chilling smile as his gloved hands adjusted his suit buttons, smoothing his composure back into that of a polite, tranquil young fan.

A faint static hum from a high-frequency signal echoed through the high-end wireless earpiece Froggy was wearing.

His vivid green eyes drifted down to the monitor displaying the real-time tracking coordinates of the blue gemstone necklace Grox always wore. The sound of breathing, the rustle of fabric against skin whenever Grox moved, and even the faint hummed tunes vibrating in the idol's throat were transmitted straight through the miniature bug, feeding into the sasaeng's ears and sending his heart into a frantic, ecstatic flutter.

…

Whenever there was a concert performance or a rehearsal session, Froggy always volunteered to operate the lighting system himself. Dressed in his dark suit with black cloth gloves, he stood quietly behind the massive lighting control board, his green eyes tracking Grox's every breath and movement on stage. Whenever the spotlight illuminated Grox's sweat-glistening skin, or when Grox danced with captivating grace, Froggy would meticulously adjust the angles and color tones to ensure the idol of his heart shone brighter and more beautifully than anyone else in the world.

Yet the brighter Grox shone, the more violent Froggy's thrill and longing became to drag that figure down into his own shadows.

In every sharp angle of the spotlight sweeping across Grox on stage, Froggy no longer saw merely a artist's performance or an angel; he saw deep within it a "work of art" that he himself helped shape and cradle. His black-gloved fingers stroked the faders and brightness dials on the console softly yet firmly. Every color shift from warm amber to deep indigo was precisely calculated to highlight the contours of Grox's face and accentuate the drops of sweat sparkling on his skin.

As Grox moved to the beat of the music, his fluid yet powerful movements were observed by Froggy through the technical viewport behind the console. Froggy's sharp green eyes memorized every angle of Grox's neck tilt, the way he raised his head into the draft of the stage fans, and the way he gripped the microphone. Every detail not only reflected the radiance on stage, but also reinforced the quiet sense of possession taking root inside his mind.

When the stage lights reached peak intensity and the fans below screamed in ecstasy, Froggy would slowly allow a faint, composed smile to form in the darkness of the control room. He glanced down at the small screen linked to the high-frequency transmitter inside the blue gemstone necklace Grox wore. The heavy panting after the chorus and the rapid heartbeat of the young idol streamed directly into Froggy's earpiece a song's rhythm that only he had the right to hear.

However while Froggy was sinking deeper into his twisted longing, a secret plan orchestrated behind the scenes by Grace and Froggydoom began moving forward.

In an executive office on the upper floor, Doom leaned back against a soft leather chair, holding a high-end pen and spinning it absentmindedly while staring at a monitor displaying the results of a audit into the company's historical financial transactions.

His dark brows knit tightly together upon spotting an abnormality large sums of liquid cash were repeatedly transferred to various nominee companies, and the ultimate destination of those funds was purchasing shares in the music label and agency Grox belonged to Furthermore, purchase orders for premium goods from imported mineral water to luxury skincare and artist lounge supplies were all approved through Froggy's personal budget.

While FroggyDoom was reviewing the figures with deep concern, his high-end smartphone on the desk began chiming rapidly with chat notifications.

[GC]: Mr.FroggyDoom... do you have a moment to talk?

[GC]: Grace just received a revised schedule for the practice room and Brother Grox's work itinerary... sent directly from the new shareholder's side, which is Mr. Froggy.

[GC]: Besides the schedule, Mr. Froggy also requested to swap out all personal supply brands in the artist lounge... Grace feels this is truly getting out of hand.

FroggyDoom picked up his phone to read the messages. Grace's polite yet noticeably anxious tone caused the young CEO to let out a low sigh. His long fingers quickly typed a reply.

[Doom_D]: I happen to be auditing his financial trails right now, Ms. Grace. The accounting department just sent over the report. He's using nominee companies to continuously buy up shares to expand his voting quota on the board.

[Doom_D]: As for the work schedule and personal supplies, I've already instructed my secretarial team to block all approvals from the shareholder side. Please don't worry.

[GC]: Thank you so much, Mr. Doom... but Grace still can't help feeling worried.

[GC]: Even though Grace doesn't know every detail, the way Mr. Froggy is meddling and infiltrating Brother Grox's daily life like this goes far beyond the boundary of a normal fan or sponsor.

[GC]: Grace is genuinely concerned for Brother Grox's safety and privacy... If we let Mr. Froggy keep using his financial power to interfere like this, Grace fears it won't end well for anyone.

[Doom_D]: I agree, Ms. Grace... Froggy's behavior has crossed the line of propriety significantly. I am preparing to exercise my authority as CEO to freeze transactions and revoke his rights—

Before FroggyDoom could finish typing, his phone screen switched to an incoming call from Grace.

— GC Calling —

FroggyDoom paused briefly, surprised that the idol he secretly admired and followed was calling him personally. Remembering the gravity of the situation, he quickly took a deep breath to calm his nerves before answering politely and bringing the phone to his ear.

"Yes, Ms. Grace..."

("Mr.FroggyDoom... I'm so sorry for calling out of the blue, but typing made me so anxious I couldn't sit still.")

Grace's voice over the line, though polite and composed, trembled slightly with obvious worry.

("Grace has been thinking about this for a while... The way Mr. Froggy is trying to control everything in Brother Grox's environment just isn't normal. Even though Grace respects Mr. Froggy as a shareholder, Grace fears Brother Grox might feel suffocated and lose all privacy.")

"I completely understand how you feel, Ms. Grace..." FroggyDoom replied softly yet firmly. "As his older brother, I've noticed something off for a while too. I didn't expect him to pour in this much money and influence just to interfere with Mr. Grox."

("Yes... so Grace wanted to ask Mr. Doom if you have any strict measures to handle this?") Grace asked politely but directly. ("Because if we only block documents temporarily, Mr. Froggy will just find another loophole to interfere again. Grace wants this to end safely for everyone.")

That question made Doom go silent for a moment...

The young CEO couldn't help feeling a bit flustered not out of feeling scolded, but out of sheer deference toward the young woman on the line.

"Uh... yes, Ms. Grace," Doom cleared his throat lightly to regain composure. "I've decided to exercise my full authority as Executive CEO to immediately terminate all sponsorship rights and business ties between our company and Mr. Grox's agency."

("Is that true, Mr.FroggyDoom?") Relief was evident in her voice.

("If Mr.FroggyDoom can go that far, it will truly stop Mr. Froggy from using his shareholder power to interfere with work... But will Mr. Froggy agree to that?")

"He probably won't..."

FroggyDoom answered with a solemn expression. "But I won't let him act as he pleases any longer. I will personally take all the termination documents to the agency building right now."

("Thank you so much, Mr.FroggyDoom, for listening and taking action right away,") Grace said with genuine gratitude and politeness. ("Grace will wait for you in front of the building so I can help coordinate the paperwork smoothly.")

"My pleasure, Ms. Grace... See you in about half an hour."

After hanging up, FroggyDoom placed his phone on the desk and let out a long sigh. He rested his forehead in his hand and muttered to himself with a heavy heart.

"Good grief... Even someone as polite and mature as Ms. Grace can sense how abnormal this is. Damn it, Froggy... causing trouble for everyone."

FroggyDoom straightened his suit jacket, grabbed the prepared termination folder, and stepped out of his office, heading straight for the agency building to put an immediate stop to his twin brother's boundary-crossing behavior.

The engine of the executive sedan cut off under the agency building. Froggydoom stepped out with a calm posture, the revocation documents and contract terminations meticulously prepared in hand.

Upon stepping inside, Grace, who was waiting to receive him with a polite and mature demeanor, escorted Doom up to the executive conference room. The legal process using CEO authority to strip sponsorship rights, nullify shares bought through nominee companies, and sever all business ties between both parties was executed officially. Every document was signed on the spot for immediate legal effect.

Once the contract cancellations and revocation steps were complete, Doom and Grace walked out of the conference room and down the wide hallway of the agency building.

At the intersection of the hallway near the executive elevator, the tall, slender figure of Grox the famous idol and Grace's older twin brother appeared, walking out of the artist lounge with a towel draped over his shoulder. Both sides paused unexpectedly. Grace froze slightly, looking at her older twin brother, who still looked completely unbothered and relaxed. She stepped closer to Doom and leaned in slightly, whispering a serious warning from behind in a polite tone:

"Mr.FroggyDoom... could you please help caution Brother Grox? Maybe hearing it from your side will make him take things more seriously."

FroggyDoom glanced at Grace. The moment his eyes met the idol he had been secretly fond of and following for so long, his heart skipped a beat. A sudden flush warmed his handsome face, forcing him to swallow and take a deep breath to hide his shyness and embarrassment. Straightening his suit, he took a step forward, adjusting his expression and tone to be formal and composed, fitting for an executive.

"Mr. Grox... I am Froggydoom, Froggy's older brother—"

Froggydoom introduced himself and explained at length what had transpired today regarding the revocation of shares and contracts made by Froggy. "—and I must apologize for all the trouble and chaos that has occurred recently."

Grox paused, raising an eyebrow slightly. He looked at FroggyDoom and then at his twin sister with eyes that were sparkling yet unreadable.

"What Froggy did... isn't just normal fan admiration. His behavior borders on an obsessive 'sasaeng' trying to infiltrate and control someone else's life beyond safe boundaries."

FroggyDoom looked directly into Grox's eyes to emphasize his genuine concern.

"From now on, I would like to ask you to be more careful, Mr. Grox. Please do not attempt to converse with or give hope to someone displaying this kind of obsessive behavior, as it could cause unnecessary danger or trouble."

Grox listened to the warning with a slightly surprised expression, his beautiful eyes flickering as if processing the CEO's words. He gave a slight nod with a faint, unreadable smile.

"I understand... Thank you for handling the documents and warning me, Mr.FroggyDoom,"

Grox replied casually, as if listening to ordinary chatter, before excusing himself and walking past them toward the practice room.

Yet despite his polite response, Grace's eyes as she watched her twin brother walk away were filled with deep distress. She noticed the beads of sweat on his face and the chillingly calm glint in his eyes That wasn't the face of someone who was truly "listening" or taking the danger of this twisted relationship seriously at all.

Escorting FroggyDoom to the front doors of the agency building, Grace gently rubbed her temple in exhaustion and let out a sigh.

"Thank you so much again, Mr.FroggyDoom, for taking the time to handle the documents yourself today," Grace said politely and sincerely. "From now on, Grace will instruct the security team to strictly monitor building safety."

"I-It was my pleasure, Ms. Grace..."

FroggyDoom replied, his voice wavering slightly for a moment as he met her eyes directly. The embarrassment he had tried to suppress rushed back, bringing a faint blush to his cheeks. He quickly recovered his composed posture. "If anything unusual happens or if you need any assistance, please feel free to contact me twenty-four hours a day."

"Thank you once again, Mr.FroggyDoom. Have a safe journey back,"

Grace smiled politely.

At the penthouse...

"Come inside and talk to me... Froggy."

FroggyDoom's low, commanding voice echoed in front of the study door. Froggy bleary-eyed looked at his older brother in annoyance at being interrupted he was in the middle of planning a "coincidental" encounter with Lord Grox on one of the idol's rare days off. Still, he reluctantly got up and followed him into the executive reception room.

Once the door locked shut, the atmosphere inside grew so suffocatingly tense that it was hard to breathe.

"What is it? I still have to go manage the lighting system for Lord Grox's concert," Froggy said in a flat tone, reaching out his black-gloved hand to adjust his suit button.

"You don't have any job left to do!"
FroggyDoom shouted in a rage, slamming a contract termination file down onto the glass table.

Clang!

Froggy's brows furrowed sharply as he looked down at the documents. It was the official file revoking all sponsorship rights and exercising executive power to sever all business ties between their company and Grox's agency.

"What is the meaning of this, Doom?!" Froggy's voice trembled, his vivid green eyes burning with madness. "How could you revoke my rights?! I'm a shareholder! I am Lord Grox's primary sponsor!"

"Because I am the Executive CEO, and I have the right to veto all of your orders!" FroggyDoom closed the distance, his sharp eyes flashing with intense fury and deep disappointment. "I've let you act like a lunatic for far too long, Froggy! You're not a fan anymore! You're just a twisted creep who is going to ruin Grox's life and trash our family's reputation!"

"I am NOT ruining anything!" Froggy snapped back, shouting louder than he ever had before as his polite fan mask shattered completely. "He needs me! He gave me permission to infiltrate his life!"

"He's playing with you! He's just messing with your head for fun, you idiot!!"
FroggyDoom roared, grabbing his younger brother by the collar and yelling straight into his face. "You only listen to what you want to hear! Your mind is so consumed by twisted delusions that your common sense is completely warped!"

"Let go of me!" Froggy lost his sanity entirely. He lunged forward, intending to push past his brother to get to his car and speed over to Grox at the practice building. "I'm going to see Lord Grox! Nobody can stop me—"

SLAP!

The sound of a hand striking a handsome face echoed sharply across the room

Froggy's face jerked violently from the sheer force of the blow A burning, stinging pain exploded across his cheek. The tall young man stared in utter shock, cupping his face as he looked at his twin brother a brother who had never once raised a hand against him, but today had slapped him out of intense anger, his own hand trembling uncontrollably.

"You've completely lost your mind, Froggy!!"
FroggyDoom pointed a finger at his brother, his voice shaking with pent-up frustration. "I'm your older brother! I've tolerated your weird behavior all along. Whether you were acting foolish, being a crazy fan, squandering money day after day, or wasting your brain on useless things, the most I ever did was nag you. But I will NOT stand by and watch you fall so deep that you become an enemy or a threat to someone else's life!"

FroggyDoom took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure, though his face maintained a resolute, uncompromising expression.

Froggy slowly lowered his hand from his numb, burning cheek. The vivid green eyes that once held a polite, gentle demeanor now burned with intense rage and hatred. The way he looked at Doom was no longer the look given to a brother, but the look reserved for an enemy someone who had stepped in to destroy his exquisite golden cage.

"You forbid me... You revoke my rights..." Froggy rasped out in a low, bitter voice, a cold, twisted smile slowly creeping onto his lips. "Fine... Since you want to play the honorable big brother who commands everything and thinks he can stop me with a few pieces of paper, go right ahead."

Froggy brushed past him and walked straight out of the reception room without looking back. The heavy sound of his heels against the floor echoed into the distance, signaling the absolute severance of their bond as brothers on that day.

...

Having his sponsorship revoked and his agency contracts canceled meant Froggy could no longer freely walk in and out of the music label's building or volunteer to handle the practice room lighting. However, for a young sasaeng steeped deep in dark, obsessive devotion, a hurdle like this was far from enough to stop him... It merely forced him to completely overhaul his tracking system.

Returning to his pitch-black private study, Froggy found that the signals from several miniature hidden cameras he had installed inside the agency building and practice rooms had gone dark. It seemed the security team and Grace had begun sweeping the premises and removing them. Yet, a twisted, subtle smirk still graced his handsome face.

Because the most critical signals the high-frequency bug inside the blue gemstone necklace and the high-definition CCTV overlooking the private parking lot were still functioning flawlessly

The sound of Grox's breathing, the rustle of his clothes, and his soft mumblings continued to transmit straight through the wireless earpiece to indulge Froggy's ears at all times. He kept a close eye on the coordinates, meticulously logging the idol's schedule, practice hours, and precious few moments of free time into his private notes.

And upon learning that Grox had a brief break outside his official schedule, Froggy lost no time.

Dressed in a fine suit with sleek black cloth gloves, carrying a camera fitted with a long zoom lens, he quietly stalked Grox in public. He greedily captured photographs from a safe distance whenever the idol walked through hallways or stepped into his car, recording every perfect angle of his posture onto the memory card.

The following afternoon, as the sun began to dip Froggy secretly followed Grox to a quiet private park near the agency building. Passing by Doom, who happened to be handling work nearby, Froggy pretended not to see him and ignored his twin brother's greetings entirely. He slipped away to sit alone on a wooden bench beneath the shade of a large tree.

Reaching into his coat, Froggy pulled out a palm-sized object and cradled it close to his chest. He gently hugged a handmade vintage Skeleton doll dressed in a suit with a red tie one of the handcrafted items he had originally intended to give to Grox. His black-gloved fingers softly stroked the fabric of the doll's square head while he gazed blankly ahead with doting, infatuated eyes.

The lingering ache and anxiety from having his sponsorship revoked still gnawed at his chest... In his mind, the young sasaeng tried desperately to devise a way to "cross the line" to greet him or construct a seamless "coincidental" encounter without raising suspicion or causing discomfort to the idol of his heart.

However... while Froggy was lost in his inner fantasies and dazed daydreams:

Grab-

Snatch

A warm palm reached out out of nowhere and swiftly snatched the mini Grox doll right out of his arms!

"Ah! Hey, you—!!"

Froggy instantly panicked. His vivid green eyes widened in shock. He opened his mouth, ready to yell and hurl curses at whoever dared to yank his precious item away, but the words froze in his throat. Because the person who had taken the liberty of grabbing the doll and sitting down on the wooden bench right beside him... was the real Grox.

The young idol wore a comfortable long coat, his dark beret tilted up slightly to reveal his handsome face and beautiful eyes. He casually spun the red-tied suit doll in his hand, letting out a soft, melodic laugh at the sight of the young sasaeng's wide-eyed, stunned reaction and the sudden, fiery blush exploding across his face.

"What's this, Mr. Froggy?"
Grox tilted his head with a playful, teasing smile, his eyes sparkling with a subtle challenge. "Hugging a doll that looks just like me so tightly... Were you afraid someone would steal it?"

"L-Lord Grox?!"

Froggy gasped out in a trembling voice, his brain short-circuiting entirely. His tall frame froze stiff, his breath catching in his chest as he nearly forgot how to breathe. His vivid green eyes stared up close at the idol's captivating face in absolute shock. Grox had simply happened to walk by and spot his devoted fan sitting alone looking gloomy while hugging a doll; finding it amusing that he looked so sad over being removed as a sponsor, Grox took the opportunity to tease and greet him as was his nature.

Grox tapped his slender finger softly against the doll's head before leaning a little closer to Froggy, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"You look like you've seen a ghost..."

Froggy blinked rapidly, his smooth skin blushing bright red all the way to the tips of his ears. He sat so rigid he hardly dared to move, his lungs tight as the idol's alluring face drew near. His vivid green eyes trembled with panic mixed with an overflowing, dark obsession.

Grox looked down at the doll in his hand again, noticing that the fabric and stitching didn't resemble official agency merchandise in the slightest. Instead, it was a handcrafted cloth doll sewn with extreme care, every stitch on the suit and red tie embroidered with painstaking detail, as if the creator's very soul and love were embedded into every single inch.

"Hmm... This isn't official merch, is it?" Grox gently shook the doll's head with a ring-adorned finger before looking up at the sasaeng with a playful smirk. "How cute... It's handmade, too. Can I have it?"

The teasing question left Froggy completely frozen, his mind going entirely blank. His green eyes darted around in utter panic. He swallowed hard; in truth, he had spent many late nights sewing this doll himself, hoping to present it to Grox with his own hands one day as a meaningful gift.

Seeing Froggy look so utterly dazed and flustered, Grox let out a soft chuckle. The idol raised an eyebrow and held the doll back out to him.

"Just kidding. Don't look so alarmed... Here, take it back."

However, Froggy didn't reach out to take the doll back. Instead, he took a deep breath and forced out a raspy, trembling, yet stubborn voice.

"I-I'm not taking it as a joke... I... I sewed it myself specifically to give to you, Lord Grox! If you like it... please keep it!"

Grox paused slightly at the boy's overly serious tone before a wide smile gradually bloomed on his lips... This time, it wasn't a playful tease or a stage-ready smirking gaze. It was a gentle, genuine smile the same kind of smile from his early days, back when he first received handmade flowers from fans before carrying such immense pressure.

"Is that so...?" Grox chuckled softly, his face illuminated by the bright smile. "Thank you... I'll take good care of it."

If Froggy weren't so blinded by dark, twisted obsession and delusions... if he approached Grox as a normal person who understood his true self rather than a fan worshiping an idol on a pedestal like Grace tried to be... Froggy would have deeply treasured that smile and known what it took to bring such pure, unvarnished warmth to the idol's face again.

Regrettably in the young sasaeng's head, there was only a dark desire to possess, force, and consume the figure before him inside his own golden cage.

Grox, still cradling the handmade doll in his arms, shifted his expression slightly. He tilted his head, eyeing Froggy with a lingering glint before bringing up recent events.

"By the way... I heard about the complete cancellation of the shareholder and sponsorship contracts," Grox said in an easy, casual tone that carried a hint of genuine concern. "From what I heard from Mr. Doom, it seems he handled everything himself... How are you holding up, Mr. Froggy? Are you alright?"

The question hit right at his sore spot... Froggy's face darkened instantly, a wave of gloom washing over his heart. He lowered his head in defeat, his vivid green eyes unable to hide the hurt and resentment within.

"I... I didn't want it to end up like this, Lord Grox..."

Froggy whispered in a low tone. "I just wanted to take care of you, to make sure you only received the very best..."

Grox looked at his gloomy posture and let out a soft sigh. The idol moved a little closer, tapping Froggy's shoulder lightly with a finger to bring him back to reality.

"That's exactly the problem..."

Grox spoke in a slightly more serious tone, offering a gentle caution and guidance. "You really crossed the line... Trying to organize and control someone else's life to that extent isn't normal. Loosen up a bit, soften your approach... If you agree to fix these obsessive tendencies, I'm always open to giving you a chance and letting you close as an important fan."

Hearing those words from the person he elevated high on a pedestal made Froggy's heart skip a beat. He raised his eyes to look at Grox with trembling wonder. The young sasaeng's mind immediately processed that well-meaning warning in his own twisted way... A chance?

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Grox offered a subtle smile at the corner of his lips as he stood up, tucking the handmade doll securely into his arms. "Well, I'll take my leave then. It's almost time for my evening practice session."

"Yes... Lord Grox, please travel safely," Froggy replied softly, bowing slightly with formal politeness to send off the idol of his heart.

Grox waved his hand lightly before turning around and heading back toward the agency building...

However, behind the slender figure of the young idol as he walked away... the plain smile on Froggy's face slowly twisted once more. The warning and options Grox had painstakingly offered went completely in one ear and out the other. In the young sasaeng's head, there was not a single thought of "fixing his habits" as requested. Instead, it only reinforced his belief that "Lord Grox cares about him and values him more than anyone else."

As for parting ways? ...Not a chance!

Froggy slowly stepped down from the wooden bench. His black-gloved hand tightened its grip on the long-range zoom camera. The young man began silently and seamlessly stalking Grace's older twin brother from close behind.

... Click

The faint, rapid sounds of the shutter echoed from the dark shadows behind the trees. Images of Grox walking while cradling the handmade red-tied suit doll, a subtle smile on his face, were recorded on the memory card in every movement. Vivid green eyes gazed through the camera lens with ultimate, twisted obsession. The dusk's orange light cast across the foliage. Froggy pressed the shutter one last time before smoothly retreating into the dark shadows. The faint "click" was drowned out by the rustling leaves in the wind. The young man raised his camera to review the latest set of photos, a twisted smile gradually spreading across his lips. The image of Grox holding the handmade doll while walking back into the agency building was captured perfectly.

‘Wants me to soften up, huh...’

Froggy softly stroked the camera lens while murmuring under his breath, his vivid green eyes gleaming with an unextinguishable obsession. The young man processed the idol's warning in his own way. Phrases like "giving a chance" and "soften up a bit" didn't mean he should back off; they were a "new challenge" Grox had left for him. Since the old plan using sponsor power and shareholder rights was no longer viable... it was time to escalate the plan into something faster and far more ambitious.

Froggy quickly walked back to his private car, refusing to waste a single second. He opened his laptop and connected directly to his private hacking system. The audio signal from the listening device inside the necklace was still echoing through his wireless earpiece, but this time, Froggy didn't just sit and listen. His long fingers, clad in black gloves, rapidly tapped the keyboard at high speed to ping the necklace's GPS signal and sync it with his car's navigation system.

The young man closed his eyes and took a deep breath, savoring every rhythm of the idol's breathing through the earpiece like an intoxicating drug.

"Good boy... I'll be the good boy you want, Lord Grox," Froggy whispered to the silence inside the car, rapturously stroking his black cloth gloves.

…

Grox walked back into the artist lounge, sinking onto the soft leather sofa and placing the handmade red-tied suit cloth doll on the glass table in front of him. He looked at the doll for a moment, using a slender finger to lightly nudge its head back and forth.

The lounge door opened softly as Grace, his younger twin sister, walked in and hugged her taller brother from behind, stopping in her tracks when she noticed the unfamiliar doll sitting on the table.

"Brother Grox... what is that doll?"

Grace knit her brows slightly, looking up at her brother demandingly. "It's not listed in the official merch catalog. Did a fan give it to you?"

"Oh... this?" Grox leaned back against the cushion, raising an eyebrow at his twin sister with a teasing smile. "It's Mr. Froggy's. He sewed it by hand. I saw him sitting gloomily hugging it under a tree just now, so I walked over to talk, and he gave it to me."

"Mr. Froggy?!" Grace's eyes widened immediately, her cheerful expression instantly flipping into tension and anxiety. "Brother Grox! Mr. Doom just came to revoke his sponsorship rights and warned us about Mr. Froggy a moment ago! How did you run into him? Did he stalk you?!"

"No, not at all..." Grox chuckled softly under his breath. "It was more of a sudden, coincidental encounter. I saw him looking sad about being cut off by Mr. Doom, so I went over to say hi and warned him about his boundary-crossing behavior."

"You warned him?" Grace let out a long sigh, softly rubbing her temples in exhaustion. "Brother Grox... you're being far too optimistic. Mr. Froggy's behavior doesn't stop at sitting around looking sad. The fact that he's still loitering around here and managed to hand you something handmade means there's still a flaw in our security system."

"Grace..." Grox's voice softened, his captivating eyes meeting his twin sister's. "I know you're worried, but I'm not stupid... I saw the look in his eyes."

Grox paused slightly, his expression turning calm and profound as he recalled the young sasaeng's vivid green eyes looking at him up close.

"He might have gone overboard... but isn't that kind of fun?" The young idol murmured, raising an eyebrow mischievously. "Besides, the craftsmanship on this doll is pretty cute. I told him to soften up. If he obeys the warning, what's the harm in giving him a chance to be an important fan?"

"Grox!"
Grace called her brother's name sternly, scolding him with her eyes. "Don't play with your own safety like this! That level of dark obsession isn't easily fixed with just 'soften up a bit'!"

Even though she warned her brother, Grace knew all too well how much Grox enjoyed playing with fire. The young woman sighed heavily once more before deciding to pick up her phone.

"Grace will order an increase in the security guard detail around the building and emphasize to Mr. Doom that he shouldn't let his younger brother get anywhere near you again," Grace said in a firm tone before lightly punching her brother's shoulder with her small fist, as she often did. "Go back to practice. Grace will handle this."

Grox watched his twin sister walk out of the room and let out a sigh. The young idol smiled faintly out of the corner of his mouth, holding the handmade cloth doll securely in his hand as he stood up to head toward the dance practice room.

...

After the day Grace ordered the security detail increased and tried to tighten the agency building's security measures, Froggy was nowhere to be seen. The young man vanished as if into thin air. However... his physical presence was replaced by gifts left behind as mysteries.

Every day when Grox finished his work schedule and walked down to his private parking space under the building, there would always be an elegantly designed gift box or paper bag resting on the hood of his car.

When checking the agency's CCTV footage, they only saw a tall figure in a dark suit, wearing a hat, beanie, and face mask completely concealing his identity. The mysterious young man always took advantage of a few seconds during the guard shift changes to walk in, place the item, and vanish into the shadows seamlessly.

Although the guards were bewildered, Grox knew immediately from the very first item... that this was Froggy's doing.

The first day was a handcrafted bouquet neatly folded from sheet music notes.

The second day was freshly baked homemade sweets with a short message wishing him plenty of rest.

The third day, the fourth day... continuing until it became a habit.

Handcrafted gifts, desserts, and flowers were presented on the hood of his car daily without fail. Although it seemed overbearing, in the eyes of Grox who enjoyed playing with fire the young idol found it amusing and saw it as the young sasaeng actually behaving like a "good boy" as he had previously warned. Thus, Grox simply picked up those gifts and put them in his car without giving it much thought.

Until... it reached the thirty-second day.

Over the past four to five days, Grox's schedule had been so packed he barely slept, juggling concert tours, promotional work, and family business management to help Grace. He hadn't opened his messages or interacted with anyone in particular.

On the night of the thirty-second day, after finishing late-night rehearsal, Grox walked to his private car to head home and rest. Realizing he hadn't checked his personal phone for several days, the young idol tapped open the chat screen he had previously used with Froggy.

However the moment the latest messages loaded onto the screen, a icy chill ran from the base of his spine up to the nape of his neck! The blood in the young idol's body turned stone-cold!

Dozens of photos had been sent from Froggy's side but they were not photos taken on stage or from a distance like before.

They were photos of Grox's back in casual late-night clothes side-angle shots of him unlocking his door code and photos taken directly in front of the door to his private condo.

Every single photo was taken at extremely close range so close that the person taking them had been standing just a few steps behind his back. Furthermore, the timestamp indicated on the photos was 2:00 AM last night, a time when he was certain he had walked back to his room alone with no one following him.

"What the hell is this..."

Grox muttered in a raspy voice, his eyes staring at the screen in absolute panic.

The thrill and sense of challenge he once felt crumbled in a split second. This wasn't "softening up" at all; it was an intrusion into the most private and secure space of his life. It had crossed the boundaries of safety to a terrifying degree.

Out of shock and self-preservation instinct, Grox didn't hesitate. His trembling fingers quickly tapped to [Block] Froggy's account immediately. He turned off the screen and took a deep breath to regain his scattered senses.

His eyes scanned the dark shadows around him, his heart pounding erratically. As expected, resting on the hood of his car was another mysterious paper bag left behind just like every other day.

Grox knit his brows tightly, all amusement gone, replaced entirely by paranoia. The young idol walked over, intending to throw the bag straight into the trash to get it out of sight. However, as his hand touched the top of the bag, his eyes peeked inside... and that caused him to lose his composure even further

Inside the paper bag... it was filled with hundreds of secret photos of himself in every imaginable posture sleeping, eating, changing clothes in the breakroom alongside heart-shaped paper notes covered in dense, handwritten love letters. Unhinged, twisted messages about wanting to possess him were written repeatedly across the entire sheets.

"Holy shit..."

Grox shoved the paper bag forcefully into a nearby trash can without any intention of keeping a single piece. The young idol hurried into his car, locked every door instantly, and sped out of the agency's parking lot toward his condo at high speed, his heart beating wildly.

As the luxury car sped off into the night Grox had no idea that in the dark shadows beneath the parking lot light poles, Froggy's tall frame was standing there, watching the rear of his car with a twisted smile. Vivid green eyes gleamed in the darkness before his black-gloved hand raised his phone to look at the notification reading

[ You have been blocked ]

his eyes narrowing slightly.

The sudden surge of paranoia forced Grox to order a complete "step back." The young idol refused all types of gifts, temporarily stopped using his personal car, and chose to travel in the company van with a tight squad of bodyguards flanking his every step. He began to realize the exhausting truth: Froggy’s twisted brain interpreted words like "crossing the line" and "hope" completely differently from a normal person. Verbal warnings or compromises were only deluded into self-serving fantasies, making the situation continuously worse.

The tension and changes radiating from Grox could not escape Grace's sharp eyes.

In the artists' lounge that afternoon, Grace stood with her arms crossed, looking at her twin brother, who sat staring blankly into space with dark circles under his eyes from several sleepless nights. The young woman walked closer and knit her brows, asking in a serious tone:

"Grox... are you hiding something from Grace?" Grace stared deep into her brother's eyes. "Lately you look paranoid all the time, and you refuse to even touch your personal car... Did Mr. Froggy do something to you?"

Grox froze for a second before dropping his gaze. He knew all too well that if he told the truth, his younger sister would panic and the matter would blow up, affecting both the agency and their family. The young idol let out a soft sigh, forced a faint smile onto his lips, and reached out to gently stroke and ruffle his twin sister's hair as he often did when trying to gloss things over.

"You're overthinking, Grace..." Grox said in a casual voice he tried hard to squeeze out. "Lately rehearsal has been a bit intense, plus executive work is piling up, so my body is just exhausted. It's nothing."

"Grox..."

Grace scolded in a low voice, swatting her brother's hand away with mild annoyance, but her mature eyes remained full of distress and didn't believe that excuse in the slightest.

...

However while Grox tried to act normal on the surface, behind the scenes, Froggy's stalking plan escalated in intensity to another level!

Late one night, after completing a personal schedule unrelated to the music agency, Grox chose to slip away alone to get some fresh air. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a mask concealing his face, he strolled down a side street. But that night, he happened to run into a young man a close friend from outside the industry whom he hadn't seen since his debut days. The two stopped to greet each other intimately before inviting each other to walk down a quiet alley toward a hidden restaurant they used to frequent.

In a dark corner at the bend of the street... Froggy, clad in a dark long coat and pitch-black cloth gloves, stood leaning his back silently against the concrete wall. Vivid green eyes tracked Grox's back through his long-range zoom camera all the way.

The young man stared at the image of Grox with his usual obsession However, the moment the male stranger beside Grox moved closer, overstepping the boundaries with the young idol, the atmosphere around Froggy suddenly snapped into extreme tension. The man laughed aloud, reaching out to touch Grox's arm before slinging an arm over his shoulder and leaning his face in close to whisper a joke.

Snap!

Froggy's black-gloved fingers squeezed the camera body tightly until a creaking sound echoed. The vivid green eyes that had been filled with obsession now blazed with violent rage and ruthless jealousy

‘Who... who the hell are you...’

‘How dare you touch Lord Grox... How dare you bring your filthy self close to my idol!’

The veins on Froggy's temples bulged. His sanity and the harmless gentleman façade he had strived to construct collapsed in a fraction of a second! The young sasaeng no longer registered anything else; his twisted brain held only one command: 'Eliminate the foreign entity' that dared to touch his belonging.

Swish!

Froggy discarded the expensive camera onto the ground without a care and strode out of the dark shadows, his boot heels striking the concrete floor with heavy, rapid thuds like a beast pouncing on its prey

Before the male stranger could even realize what was happening, Froggy's strong, black-gloved arm shot out from behind, forcefully shoving the man's body so hard he lost his balance and slammed into the alley wall.

Thud!!

"Ugh!"

"Froggy?!"

Grox gasped in absolute shock, his beautiful eyes widening as he saw the tall, slender frame of the young sasaeng, whose handsome face was now casting an intensely murderous look unlike anything he had ever seen before.

Before anyone could react, Froggy pulled his right fist back as far as his arm would go and delivered a heavy punch straight into the man's face

Smack-!

The sound of fist impacting cheekbone echoed heavily through the deserted alley! The stranger's body snapped back from the force of the blow, collapsing limply onto the concrete ground in complete defeat. Fresh red blood immediately oozed from the corner of his mouth.

"Argh! What the hell is this?!"

The man cried out in pain, raising a hand to cup his numb face. "St-stop! It hurts—ow?!"

"Froggy! Stop it!!" Grox yelled at the top of his lungs, hurriedly rushing in to tightly grab Froggy's arm to prevent him from attacking further. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Stop right now!!"

Grox's echoing shouts failed to reach the consciousness of the young sasaeng, who was now completely consumed by violent rage. Froggy forcefully yanked his arm out of Grox's grip, causing the slender idol to stumble backward. The young man threw himself down, pinning the stranger to the ice-cold concrete ground, and pulled back his fist to hammer blow after blow onto the other man's face.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The sound of knuckles striking flesh and bone resonated mercilessly throughout the dark alley. Crimson blood spurted from the wounds on the face and lips of Grox's close friend, staining the black cloth gloves. The man could only make muffled groans in his throat before his eyes rolled back and he passed out cold from the sheer pain and severe concussion.

"Enough! Stop it already!!"

Grox decided to throw his entire body between Froggy and the unconscious frame. The young idol used his chest to push against Froggy's wide chest with all his strength. His slender hands trembled uncontrollably as he hastily pulled his smartphone out of his coat pocket, his beautiful eyes wide with unprecedented shock and terror. The thick, fresh blood on the ground and his friend's severe injuries caused his brain to short-circuit. His fingers shook so violently he could barely type the number to call an ambulance.

Froggy froze, his tightly clenched fist dripping with blood. His vivid green eyes blazed as he stared at Grox's pale face and eyes trembling with horror. The young sasaeng didn't feel a shred of guilt for the body lying in a pool of blood behind him, but tears of rage and resentment welled up in his eyes instead.

"Why..." Froggy yelled out until the veins in his neck bulged, his voice shaking with twisted emotion. "Why do you have to avoid my face?! Why do you have to act like I'm some kind of freak?!"

"You're crazy, Froggy! I—I need to call an ambulance..."

"You were the one who said it yourself!!"

Froggy shouted, cutting him off so loudly it echoed down the alley. The young man lunged forward close to Grox without listening to any warnings.

"You were the one who said you were giving me a chance! You said if I agreed to soften up, you'd open your heart and let me get close! And when I tried to do everything to take care of you, tried to eliminate this trash from your life... why do you look at me with those eyes?!"

"Let go of me! Froggy, stop!"

Froggy refused to listen. The young man reached out with his bloody, black-gloved hands and violently grabbed both of Grox's shoulders. The immense pressure made Grox wince in pain before Froggy exerted force to pull the smaller frame into a tight hug, pressing him against his chest. The embrace was suffocatingly tight and trembled with chilling obsession. Froggy rested his face on the young idol's shoulder, inhaling his body scent mixed with the smell of blood obsessively, whispering near his ear in a low, husky voice that was entirely unhinged.

"No one can love you as much as I do..." Froggy whispered breathlessly, pressing his lips against Grox's neck through the fabric. "All of them just want something from you, but I... I'd give my whole life for you! The only person who understands you and deserves to be by your side... is me alone!"

"Let go! I said let go!!"

Grox used every bit of strength he had, trying to push Froggy's broad chest away. The young idol's breath came in panicked hitches. His eyes met the sasaeng's handsome face directly as he forced a raspy, trembling voice out of his throat:

"Get away from me... I'm scared of you, Froggy! Do you hear me? You're making me scared!!"

The word "scared" slipping from Grox's mouth alongside tears welling in his eyes seemed to freeze time itself in that dark alley.

Froggy recoiled two or three steps back, the vivid green eyes that had been trembling with rage suddenly showing a look of confusion and panic. His gaze dropped down to his own black-gloved hands, which were now stained with crimson blood, then shifted back to Grox's body, which was trembling as he tried to shield his unconscious, bloody friend on the concrete floor.

That look...

Those beautiful eyes that Froggy had adored and admired through camera lenses tens of thousands of times eyes he had once imagined would one day look at him with love, understanding, or at least gratitude... those eyes were now wide, trembling, and filled with utter terror.

And the person who brought that terror upon his idol... was none other than himself.

"You're... scared of me?"

Froggy's voice was raspy and faint, barely louder than a dying breath. The young man froze completely, as if time had stopped moving altogether. The grip on Grox's shoulders loosened unconsciously. His black-gloved hands, soaked in the stranger's fresh blood, slowly dropped limply to his sides.

The twisted mind that had been consumed by rage, jealousy, and delusional fantasies of possession... now felt as if icy water had been poured over it, numbing him completely. The harsh reality struck Froggy's chest with full force.

He hadn't just made Grox angry...

He hadn't just annoyed Grox...

He had made Grox scared... Scared of him like he was a monster, scared like he was a dangerous beast coming to tear him apart!

"Why..." Froggy muttered, taking a confused step backward. The vivid green eyes that had once shone brightly now trembled with panic and utter heartbreak. "Why are you scared of me, Lord Grox...? I... I did everything for you..."

Grox didn't answer. The only reply was his rapid, panicked breathing. The young idol's body trembled as he backed away, using his back to shield his friend lying unconscious in a pool of blood. Grox stared at Froggy as if looking at an insane murderer who might strike again at any moment.

That act of backing away... crushed Froggy's twisted heart into pieces.

"I love you..."

Froggy sobbed softly, tears brimming in his eyes to replace his previous fury. The young man raised his bloody hand to clutch his own heart, which was pounding with agonizing pain. "The person who understands you most in this world is me! The person willing to die in your place is me! Then why... why is the person you choose to protect that piece of trash?! Why are your eyes looking at me... with nothing but disgust and fear like this!!"

He lunged forward another step with a sliver of hope to reach out and snatch his idol back.

"Don't come near me!!" Grox screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice shrill and trembling with unprecedented horror. "Don't come near me! Get away!!"

Freeze.

Froggy's feet stopped dead in their tracks. A chilling coldness gnawed at him down to his core.

Looking past his obsession, Froggy finally saw the picture in front of him clearly. Grox's handsome face was pale, drained of color. Large drops of sweat beaded along his hairline. His beautiful eyes trembled with terror, and the body that was once so elegant on stage was now hunched over, shaking in fear with himself standing right in front of him as a living nightmare.

The humiliating truth slapped Froggy square in the face... The idol he had placed high on a pedestal no longer saw him as a "special fan" or a protector.

Instead, Grox saw him as a nightmare a threat no different from a rabid beast.

"A nightmare... huh..."

Froggy muttered to himself with a painfully twisted smile. Heartbroken tears flowed down his cheeks, mixing with the bloodstains on his face. A deep, plummeting feeling washed over him, as if his entire world had collapsed on top of him. He cast his eyes down at his bloody hands in disgust before slowly taking steps backward into the dark shadows, step by step.

"If my existence... makes you this scared..."

The young sasaeng's voice grew fainter and fainter, as if he had run out of strength. The vivid green eyes snuffed out all remaining hope, leaving behind only permanent darkness and emptiness.

"I'm sorry... Lord Grox..."

Froggy looked at the young idol one last time with an obsession intertwined with profound heartbreak, before turning around, abandoning his expensive camera and everything else on the ground, and disappearing into the dark shadows of the alley... leaving the silence and deep pain to consume his heart forever.

…

When the ambulance and police officers arrived, the situation was quickly brought under control. Grox’s close friend was immediately rushed to the hospital to treat his injuries. Fortunately, although his condition looked severe and he was bleeding heavily, most of the wounds were not life-threatening and did not affect any vital organs.

Upon receiving the news, Grace hurried to both the police station and the hospital with a grave expression. The young woman rushed over to her twin brother, who was sitting quietly on a chair, brimming with deep worry.

"Grox! Are you alright?!"
Grace turned her brother back and forth to check for injuries before wrapping him in a tight hug. Grox hugged his twin sister back gently. The young idol let out a long sigh; the feelings of excitement, thrill, or the urge to "play with fire" he once held were completely burned away, leaving behind nothing but utter exhaustion. The young man rested his face against his sister’s shoulder.

Years passed...

Time acted like flowing water, slowly helping the razor-sharp wounds of the past form scabs, even if the scars remained and never truly faded away.

Grox stayed in the entertainment industry for only a few more years before officially retiring from the spotlight. He stepped down to take on a full-time executive role, managing his family's music agency and business enterprises. The young man buried himself in documents, meetings, directing senior artists, and the chaos of corporate management. The crushing pressure of the business world gradually displaced and replaced the dark nightmares of his past. Grox tried to shove the memory box of that dark alley deep into the back of his mind never mentioning it, never looking back, and striving to believe he had "forgotten" it all.

However, for another person... that wound had never scabbed over. It remained an open, festering sore within his heart.

On that fateful night, Froggy's family an influential, prominent family in high society learned of the criminal case the moment he set foot in the police station. The fury of Froggy Doom's family was so immense that they physically beat Froggy until he was in a state hardly different from the victim that night.

With vast power and money, the entire affair was quietly settled under the table. A massive sum in damages and compensation was paid to Grox's close friend in exchange for dropping all charges and signing a non-disclosure agreement. The case was erased from the system, leaving no criminal record to be found.

Yet for Froggy, escaping legal punishment did nothing to save him from spiritual condemnation.

The sin and devastation of that night slapped him back to his senses, shattering his twisted mind. He viewed himself as a repulsive monster. Froggy severed all ties with the idol world entirely. He threw away his camera, tossed all photos and collectibles into the trash, strictly underwent psychiatric therapy as ordered by his family, and drowned in a heavy, suffocating guilt that devoured his soul every time he closed his eyes.

Through years of therapy and medication, he learned to control himself and live without harming others. Froggy became an ordinary man quiet, invisible, and striving to live humbly. He took a job at an investment consulting firm, not as a wealthy heir of a major family, but as an ordinary office employee grinding away day by day to distract himself from the nightmares of the past.

...

Until one day, during a joint venture project between Grox’s music agency and the investment consulting firm, the glass doors of the conference room opened. Grox, clad in a impeccably tailored suit fitting his status as an executive, stepped inside alongside his team. The young man gave a polite nod to the attendees with a worldly, professional smile—until his gaze suddenly caught sight of a tall figure in a plain, dark suit sitting at the end of the conference table.

Thump...

Grox’s heart skipped a beat, and his breath hitched instantly. Memories he thought were long forgotten surged back into his mind like a bursting dam.

That sharp face, now much leaner than in the past Those vivid green eyes, now dull and stripped of their crazy luster 

Froggy...

Grox froze. His body instinctively reacted with intense paranoia. His slender hand in his trousers pocket clenched tightly into a fist. His breathing became ragged, and cold sweat soaked his back. The young man stared at the other with extreme suspicion, his heart pounding with fear that the nightmare from years ago was about to repeat itself.

Meanwhile... the moment Froggy raised his head and met Grox’s eyes, the tall man froze as well.

His vivid green eyes widened in shock before turning into terror and self-loathing... deep disgust at himself. Froggy turned pale instantly. His hands trembled under the table, forcing him to clench his fists tightly. He clearly saw the paranoid glare and the rigid posture of Grox—the exact same gaze from that dark alley years ago.

Froggy immediately cast his eyes downward. He didn't even dare to look Grox in the face. His tall frame shifted his chair back slightly in a humble gesture, as if trying to shrink his presence as much as possible so a piece of trash like him wouldn't disturb or make the man in front of him feel unsafe.

The two-hour meeting proceeded under immense tension for both of them. Grox constantly monitored Froggy's every move with paranoia. Yet throughout the entire time, Froggy kept his head down, taking notes, presenting data in a flat, respectful tone, and strictly maintaining his distance. He never attempted eye contact, never brought up personal matters, and as soon as the meeting ended, Froggy quickly bowed to everyone and left the room first.

...

After the meeting concluded, Grox stood watching Froggy's back disappear down the hallway. Confusion and paranoia still churned in his chest, but Froggy's calm, humble demeanor and eyes filled with overwhelming guilt made Grox realize... the man in front of him was no longer that "obsessed, insane sasaeng."

That evening... heavy rain poured down without warning.

Grox walked down to the underground parking lot. He paused when he saw Froggy's tall figure standing near the exit door, waiting for a taxi. The quiet atmosphere beneath the building brought the emotions of the past rushing back once more.

Grox gripped his bag strap tightly, let out a long sigh, and decided to walk over... not as an idol fleeing a sasaeng, but as an executive choosing to confront reality.

The sound of approaching footsteps startled Froggy. He turned around, and upon seeing that it was Grox, his face grew even paler. Froggy instinctively took a large step backward, raising his hand slightly in an apologetic gesture.

"I... I'm sorry, Sir—uh... Mr. Grox," Froggy rasped out in a shaky voice. The respectful title from the past was swallowed back, leaving only a polite name according to proper etiquette. "I didn't mean to wait for you or bother you... I was just leaving."

Grox looked at the panicked, retreating man. His lovely eyes trembled slightly. Though paranoia still lingered in his heart, the sincerity and clear scars of guilt reflected in Froggy's eyes compelled Grox to say something.

"You... aren't following me anymore, are you?" Grox asked in a flat tone, maintaining a distance of two or three steps.

Froggy shook his head rapidly, his green eyes so panicked they almost welled with tears.

"Never! I... I stopped doing those terrible things long ago," Froggy said, his voice deep, broken, and filled with remorse. "I got treatment... I take medication, and I know full well how awful my past actions were... I'm so sorry, Mr. Grox. I'm sorry for giving you nightmares, sorry for making you feel afraid..."

Froggy bowed deeply to Grox, his tall frame trembling under the weight of years of accumulated guilt.

"I don't want anything at all... Regarding today's work, if you feel uncomfortable having me on this project, I will step down and let someone else take over immediately."

Grox stood silently, observing the young man in front of him. The image of the wild, obsessed sasaeng overlapped with this ordinary office worker trembling in repentance. The fear in Grox's heart gradually receded, transforming into a complex feeling of relief.

There were no cameras... no twisted letters... no predatory gaze aiming to consume him...

There was only a man desperately trying to redeem his warped past.

"You don't need to step down," Grox said after a long silence. His voice wasn't sweet, but it held no hatred either. "Work is work. Just do your job."

Froggy slowly raised his head, his green eyes looking at Grox in disbelief.

Grox looked back, his lovely eyes remaining calm and reserved as expected of an executive. He let out a soft sigh before continuing in a firm yet unresentful voice.

"The past... can't be changed, Froggy," Grox said. "I won't lie and say I've forgotten everything. I'm still paranoid, and I still don't trust you... but I can see that you've changed."

Grox took a step forward. A distance still remained between them, but it was no longer the gap between an 'idol and a sasaeng.'

"If we have to work together... let's start over from scratch as two normal people," Grox looked him straight in the eyes. "No need to worship me, no need to keep apologizing... Just be an employee who does good work and respects each other's boundaries. Can you do that?"

The words 'start over as two normal people' fell like rain on Froggy's parched and shattered heart. His lips trembled, and tears of relief welled up in the corners of his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he tried to compose himself and forced out the firmest response he could manage.

"I can..." Froggy nodded slowly. "I can do that, Mr. Grox."

Without sweet promises, without improper closeness...

There was only the rain falling softly beneath the building, and two people who had survived a nightmare together, cautiously taking their first steps onto the path of being 'normal people.'

…

The atmosphere inside the private office on the top floor of the Doom family building was so quiet that only the hum of the air conditioner could be heard. Warm lights reflected off the large glass windows, overlooking the sprawling city skyline at night.

FroggyDoom stared at the latest joint venture performance summary in his hand. The name of the operational staff member, Froggy, was listed with an outstanding evaluation. FroggyDoom let out a long sigh, the furrow in his brow relaxing slightly. He raised a hand to rub his temples as vivid memories from years ago inevitably flashed in his mind.

The day he received the call about the lawsuit; the day he had to use all his power, money, and rage to erase the criminal record; the day he lost control and beat his twin brother until he was bleeding from the mouth out of pure disappointment and fury

At that time, the relationship between the twin brothers could be described as 'shattered and plunged into an abyss' far worse than ever before.

FroggyDoom saw Froggy as a disgrace, a dark stain on the family, and an obsessed sasaeng whose sanity was twisted beyond redemption. Meanwhile, Froggy saw FroggyDoom as merely an oppressive guardian void of understanding and relying solely on force to solve problems. After the incident in the dark alley, Froggy was grounded, forced into therapy, and cut off from almost all family funds. Over the years, they barely exchanged a handful of words. Every time they met, an uncomfortable silence and psychological scars stood between them.

Yet today... the report in front of him stated that Froggy had worked alongside Grox's company professionally, without any issues, without harassing behavior, and without crossing any lines.

A gentle knock sounded twice at the office door before a tall, lean figure in a simple office suit stepped inside.

Froggy stopped in front of the large executive desk. He instinctively kept his gaze cast downward a humble habit built over years of training not daring to meet his twin brother's eyes directly.

"Doom... You called for me. Is there something wrong?"

The simple form of address and the unusual submissiveness from his twin brother made Doom pause for a moment. He looked at Froggy's figure, which was entirely devoid of its past madness. FroggyDoom's brows furrowed tightly before he tossed the document folder lightly onto the desk.

"Sit down first," Doom said in a flat tone.

Froggy hesitated slightly before carefully lowering himself into the chair opposite him. His back was stiff, and his hands were clasped tightly in his lap, his body displaying constant caution in the presence of the brother who had once beaten him severely.

Silence enveloped the office for several seconds before FroggyDoom broke it.

"The joint project with Grox's music agency... went well, didn't it?"

Hearing the name 'Grox' leave Doom's mouth caused Froggy to flinch slightly. Panic flashed in his green eyes for a moment before he quickly lowered his head and gave a soft nod.

"Yes... Mr. Grox and his team were very professional. Everything went smoothly," Froggy quickly added in a raspy, trembling voice. "I... I didn't cause any trouble for Mr. Grox at all, Doom. I respected his boundaries as best as I could—"

"I haven't accused you of anything," FroggyDoom interrupted. His voice wasn't annoyed, but rather held a faint trace of a sigh. "Why are you panicking, Froggy?"

Froggy went quiet immediately. He bit his lower lip tightly, raising his eyes just enough to look at his brother's tie knot.

FroggyDoom leaned back against his chair, gazing at his twin brother who looked identical to him like a mirror image, yet exuded a completely different aura. One had grown into a decisive family leader, while the other had become an office worker trying to erase his own existence from the world.

"I talked to Grace a few days ago..."
FroggyDoom continued, his voice calm yet serious. "Grace said Grox mentioned you... He said you've changed a lot and handled your work well."

Froggy froze, his green eyes trembling with a mixture of intense emotions. A compliment or even just a brief token of acknowledgment from Grox still held immense sway over his heart. But this time, it wasn't an obsessive desire to possess; it was a soothing rain on the soul of a sinner who had been given a chance at redemption.

"I... didn't think Mr. Grox would say that about me," Froggy whispered softly. "I just did my best to perform my duties... to make amends for what I did."

FroggyDoom looked silently at his brother. He picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and set it back down. The quiet clink of porcelain echoed softly in the silence.

"Froggy..." FroggyDoom spoke, his throat dry. "Do you still resent me?"

That direct question caused Froggy to look up and meet his twin brother's eyes for the first time in years. Two pairs of vivid green eyes met... one filled with guilt and past scars, and the other holding a hidden warmth beneath a stern mask.

"Resent you... for what?" Froggy asked softly.

"For slapping you... for punching you until your face was bloody that night. For using money to cover it up and sending you to a psychiatric hospital like you were some kind of freak..." Doom forced out the words softly, the leader's eyes exposing a pain he couldn't hide. "For... never listening to you, and doing nothing but blaming you for being the trash of the family."

Froggy listened in silence. Those words dragged him back into the past the night he was brutally punished by his twin brother. The physical pain of that day paled in comparison to his psychological breakdown. But today, looking back

"I've never resented you, Doom..." Froggy replied in a surprisingly calm voice. "That night... if you hadn't hit me, if you hadn't knocked sense into me, I would have gone completely insane and hurt Mr. Grox, or done something even worse."

Froggy clenched his fists in his lap slightly before relaxing them.

"You did the right thing, Doom... Back then, I really was like a rabid, insane beast. Sending me to therapy, cutting off my money, and forcing me to face the world as an ordinary person... it saved my life. If you hadn't handled everything that day, I would be in prison, or would have ended my life long ago."

FroggyDoom stared quietly at his twin brother Froggy's answer was devoid of sarcasm, void of resentment only full, heartfelt acceptance of his own mistakes.

"Still, I went too far..." FroggyDoom murmured, his deep voice trembling slightly. "I'm your older brother your twin. Yet on the day you were broken and lost, I only used force and power to judge you. I never once asked why you sank so deep. Our brotherhood... was torn apart to the point it couldn't be mended until today."

Silence rotated in the office once more, but this time, it was not uncomfortable like before. It was the silence of overcoming an old, festering wound. Froggy looked at his twin brother, who had always been strong and perfect; right now, Doom's face was filled with a guilt no different from his own.

"It can be mended, Doom..." Froggy said softly, a faint smile one that hadn't been seen in years appearing on his thin face. "If Mr. Grox can forgive me and agree to start over as acquaintances... why can't twin brothers like us start over too?"

FroggyDoom paused. His green eyes widened slightly before a short laugh escaped his throat a laugh that was the most relaxed he had felt in years.

"I suppose... you're right."

FroggyDoom let out a long breath before standing up from his executive chair. He walked around the large desk and stood beside his brother's chair. Froggy slowly rose to his feet as well.

FroggyDoom looked straight into Froggy's face, the distance between them shrinking to just a few steps. The older brother raised his broad hand, placing it on his twin's shoulder and squeezing gently.

"Come back and have dinner at the main house sometime," FroggyDoom said, his tone softening into something much warmer and familiar. "You don't have to stay in that old apartment anymore. Move back. Your old room... I've had it cleaned regularly. No one has ever touched it."

"Thank you...FroggyDoom," Froggy nodded softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Once I finish work this week... I'll come home for dinner."

"Good,"
FroggyDoom smiled faintly, patting his brother's shoulder a few times.

"As for work... you're doing great. Keep it up. And remember, you're 'Froggy'... my quirky younger brother."

Time rolled past slowly, yet steadily

From that first re-encounter in the underground parking garage filled with intense paranoia, the atmosphere between Grox and Froggy gradually softened over time. Even if the scars of the past could never be fully erased, Froggy’s strict observance of boundaries and his genuine determination to live as a "normal person" slowly chipped away at the shell of fear within Grox’s heart, piece by piece.

The joint venture between their two companies concluded successfully. Froggy’s professionalism and humble demeanor allowed the project to proceed smoothly. From two individuals who once shared a deeply twisted past, today they were able to sit face-to-face in a quiet, cozy café near the business district, chatting comfortably about random topics and work schedules.

A gentle evening breeze blew past the clear glass window of the café. Grox, clad in a relaxed button-down shirt, lifted his cup of black coffee and took a slow sip. His lovely eyes drifted toward Froggy, who was intently reviewing documents on his tablet. The young man in front of him had truly changed... The frantic aura was gone; the gaze that once threatened to consume him was entirely gone. All that remained was a hard-working, humble office employee.

"Oh... right, Froggy."

Grox set his coffee cup down gently. The faint clink of the spoon hitting the porcelain caused Froggy to look up from his screen.

"Yes, Mr. Grox? Is there a section in the contract that needs revising?" Froggy asked eagerly, his bright green eyes shining with a worker's natural focus.

Grox leaned back against his chair, a faint smile touching the corner of his lips. He looked at the other man with a playful glint in his eyes that was rarely seen.

"There's nothing wrong with the contract... but there's another matter I just remembered," Grox paused briefly before speaking in a casual tone. "About your older brother... he's already talked with my sister, right?"

Froggy froze for a moment, his slender brows furrowing in confusion. "My brother? Ah... he’s been a fan of Ms. Grace for a long time. I heard he's been attending the agency's events quite often lately. Did something happen? Did he do anything to make Ms. Grace feel uncomfortable? If he did... I'll go warn him right—"

"No, it's nothing uncomfortable," Grox interrupted, his tone even more relaxed than before. "I just assumed you already knew..."

"Knew what?"

Grox took another sip of his coffee before speaking as casually as if he were discussing the weather.

"Well... about your brother and my sister dating now. You knew, right?"

At that exact moment, Froggy happened to be taking a gulp of cold water.

"Pfft!— Cough! Cough, cough!!"

The cold water in his mouth sprayed out almost instantly! Luckily, Froggy's fast instincts kicked in, and he jerked his head aside just in time, spraying the floor beside the table instead of the young executive's face The former sasaeng choked violently, his face flushing red as he coughed heavily, his whole body shaking. His trembling hands hurriedly grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth and frantically clean the floor.

"C... cough! I'm so sorry! I'm truly sorry, Mr. Grox! I didn't mean to—"

Froggy babbled out apologies in sheer panic, his green eyes wide as saucers. He stared at Grox with an expression of utter disbelief, as if he had just been told the Earth was spinning backward!

"W... What?! Just now... what did you say, Mr. Grox?!"

The sight of Froggy completely losing his composure with a thoroughly stunned face made the usually reserved Grox burst into a soft laugh. A bright, cheerful laughter that hadn't been heard in years radiated from the young idol. Grox shrugged nonchalantly, playing with his coffee cup using his slender fingers.

"I said your brother and Grace are officially dating," Grox repeated clearly, word by word, with an amused smile. "I heard they agreed to be a couple just last week. Did you think he was just a fan chasing after her?"

"D... Dating?!" Froggy cried out, blurting it in disbelief, his hands clutching the crumpled napkin tightly. "My brother?! That brother who spends his days collecting photos of Ms. Grace, wearing sharp suits just to stand far off-stage and watch her, not even daring to ask for a photo... is dating Ms. Grace?! How... how is that even possible?!"

Froggy's brain went into severe overload. His mind could only picture his eldest brother the cold-eyed, stoic, silent, and powerful, whenever he thought of Ms. Grace, would secretly sit and smile by himself in his office... becoming the boyfriend of Grox's twin idol sister?!

"Right?"

Grox chuckled softly, leaning forward slightly to rest his chin on his hand, looking at Froggy with amused eyes. "I was shocked at first, too. I thought your brother was just the quiet type who found my sister striking... but do you know who made the first move?"

Froggy swallowed hard, his green eyes fixed on Grox without blinking. "Don't tell me..."

"Yep," Grox shrugged again. "Grace was the one who hit on him first."

"Whoa..." Froggy let out a long, heavy sigh, uttering a massive 'whoa' in sheer disbelief. His tall frame sank back into the chair as if his soul had left his body, utterly shocked by news of such massive impact. "Ms. Grace hit on my brother first... Unbelievable."

"I'm serious," Grox said with fond warmth in his voice as he thought of his twin sister. "Her taste has always like this . She likes men who are quiet, warm, composed, mature... yet a little shy. Your brother hits every single box on her list. So when she saw him standing silently at every event without ever crossing the line, Grace walked right up to talk to him, flustered him, and pursued him until he didn't know what to do."

As Froggy listened to the story, he could only hold his head, imagining the dignified family patriarch blushing and helpless under Ms. Grace's aggressive flirting It was a sight both bizarre and inexplicably hilarious.

"How can the world be this small..."

Froggy murmured, a certain emotion flickering unmistakably in his vivid green eyes.

The atmosphere in the café settled back into quietude. However, this time it was neither tense nor filled with suspicion like before. Instead, it was filled with a gentle warmth and relaxation, where two people could laugh together over life's bizarre twists.

Grox looked at Froggy, who was sitting there with a subtle, amused smile over the news about his brother. The heavy burden that had rested in Grox's chest for years slowly melted away along with his recent laughter.

"Indeed... it really is a small world," Grox said softly. "But still... at least your brother is a good man. Grace is happy around him, so as her brother, I have nothing to worry about."

Froggy raised his head to meet Grox's eyes, his bright green eyes shining with sincere gratitude. A polite smile reached his eyes.

"Thank you, Mr. Grox... Thank you for opening your heart to my family."

Grox didn't say anything; he merely offered a faint smile in acceptance of the thanks before lifting his coffee cup to take another sip... amidst the evening sunlight streaming into the shop, crafting a new chapter of memories free from nightmares where only a truly peaceful future was beginning.

After that day, a semi-familial relationship between the two households gradually wove together naturally, without feeling forced.

From that humorous conversation about his brother at the café, Froggy began stepping into the role of a "middleman," helping Grace evade the family and reporters whenever she met up with his brother. Froggy's respectful, proper, and humble demeanor led Grace to gradually drop her prejudice against him bit by bit. She began to see that the man before her was no longer the insane sasaeng of the past, but simply an ordinary man striving with all his heart to make amends and live as a normal person.

…

The Friday evening atmosphere high up in the building began to be draped in the dusk of sunset. Faint orange light filtered through the large glass windows, falling upon the polished parquet floor. A peaceful silence expanded across the agency executive's office as the week's packed schedule came to an official close.

Grox stood adjusting the collar of his fine suit jacket in front of the mirror beside his desk. Buttoning the top button, he let out a long sigh of fatigue. But when his gaze passed through the clear glass window toward the reception hall outside, his hands paused.

A tall figure in a neat, dark suit stood awkwardly in the middle of the hall, clutching two paper bags tightly with both hands. That fidgety posture resembling a student lost in the principal's office starkly contrasted with his tall frame.

Grox slid the door open and stepped out.

"Froggy? Waiting for Grace?"

Froggy flinched slightly, causing the paper bags in his hands to sway. He was a young man who was normally strict about manners and deeply humble. Upon seeing the owner of the room step out, he quickly turned and bowed respectfully at nearly ninety degrees.

"Good evening, Mr. Grox... My brother got caught in an urgent meeting out of town, so he asked me to bring some documents and treats for Ms. Grace. And... my brother also sent treats from your favorite shop for you, Mr. Grox."

Saying this, Froggy carefully held out one of the paper bags with both hands. Grox hesitated briefly, looking at the paper bag for a moment before accepting it and looking inside. He found fresh berry fruit tarts with glistening glaze from a famous premium bakery known for month-long waiting lists.

"Mm, thank you," Grox said, his lovely eyes lowering to look at the paper bag in his hands with a fresh, profound feeling... A paper bag that once, in a terrible memory, had been a symbol of horror and harassment in a dark alley, now held only exquisite pastries from a familiar person who was trying his best to mend the past.

"Grace is still recording in the studio downstairs. She should be done in about half an hour," Grox led the way to the leather sofa set in the middle of the room, lightly patting the soft cushion beside him. "Come sit and wait inside."

Froggy looked at the seat beside him and hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes flashing with uncertainty. He instinctively declined out of deep-seated humbleness.

"Uh... it's alright. I can wait here standing—"

"Just sit down. You came all this way; stop acting like such a rigid office worker," Grox said with a soft chuckle, his voice relaxed, completely devoid of threat, paranoia, or the fearful glare of days gone by.

Those friendly words felt like unlocking his tension. Froggy gave a small nod before carefully walking in and taking a seat at the far end of the opposite sofa. Although he maintained a respectful distance out of politeness, his stiff posture and hunched shoulders slowly relaxed.

Grox picked up a fruit tart from the bag and handed another to Froggy. "Eat together. Your brother bought a lot."

Froggy accepted it delicately. The young man looked at the scene before him with a pounding heart The idol of his dreams in days past once like a distant star beyond reach, and someone he had mistakenly inflicted emotional trauma upon had now become a charming, composed, and dignified executive. The eyes that had once looked at him with terror in the dark that day now looked upon him with calm, simplicity, and genuine openness.

"What are you staring at?"

Grox took a bite of his fruit tart before asking teasingly, seeing the other man just sitting there staring at him.

"Nothing..." Froggy formed a faint smile, his bright green eyes glistening with deep gratitude. "I just feel... sometimes, after stepping past a nightmare, seeing you happy and sitting here eating treats and chatting like this is a hundred times better than my foolish fantasies in the past."

Grox paused his chewing slightly, his lovely eyes meeting Froggy's quietly for a moment. Silence draped over the room briefly, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence; rather, it was a silence filled with mutual understanding. A warm smile gradually formed at the corner of the former idol's lips. The young man leaned back against the sofa cushion, letting out the most relaxed sigh he had shared in weeks.

"Yeah... I think so too," Grox replied gently. "Welcome to the world of normal people, Froggy."

Those words were simple, yet they had a profound effect, soothing Froggy's soul. The heavy guilt that had once weighed on his chest dissolved into the air. The young man lowered his head and took a bite of the tart in his hand, the sweet and tangy flavor of the fresh fruit completely overcoming the bitterness of the past.

The end