𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 ―𝐝.𝐨.𝐝

Chapter 35

- You're delusional

- It's true that no one's found information about him, but isn't this too much?
└ Aren't you suspicious at all?
└ He's already said before that he doesn't have any social media. Of course there wouldn't be a lot of information about him
└ The fact that he doesn't use any social media makes him more suspicious. He's lying

- I think he doesn't go to school. He doesn't even know what aegyo is. I bet he's got no social life.

- Jeez, I knew I wasn't the only one who thought this. He just looks too scary to not be

- Those scars on his abs...they're not normal scars
└ Wtf, are you a doctor? If not, shut your mouth. Everyone has scars from childhood years

- I don't want such a scary guy going near Eugene ㅠㅠ please, let's knock him down

Even if people were commenting rebuttals, the suspicion of me grew.

At first, I asked B to suppress all the rumors of me being a delinquent. Then I saw the ranking results and changed my mind. I had more purchased votes than I intended to have. I didn't want to rank over Moondae hyung in the final ranking. I needed more minus votes.

So, I told B to let the rumors go.

- Guys, did you see how many minus votes Seungmin got?
└ Almost 30,000...
└ I bet you those rumors about him being a bully is true. Victims are selling his stocks in retaliation because they're too scared to post anything. Why else would he have so many?
└ Because people like you are spreading lies!!
└ People wouldn't spend money on something they didn't believe. There's good reason to think he's a delinquent. Don't come at me ㅅㅂ

- <Screenshot of Seungmin sleeping on Moondae>. Really, I feel like he sleeps more often now. Is it because he feels comfortable using Moondae as his personal pillow?
└ I feel like he doesn't care as much as other participants about becoming an idol
└ He always just says things are fun. He's a hedonist. Like most bullies
└ You guys are really reaching...

People were speculating off of speculations confidently because no one found evidence to refute them. It was fun to read through them. But I didn't know the entertainment industry was so complicated with public opinions.

Dear Deer: I did good rt?

I opened B's message and liked it.

Dear Deer: Then should I start spreading photos of you? To show how the drinking photo is photoshopped

Cho Seungmin: No. I know someone from school will speak up

Dear Deer: But you barely talked to anyone at school...

I left her on read and went back on the internet. I looked at other hate comments.

Most were targeted at Ahyun hyung. People were upset that his group's award pushed others down unfairly. It served as a pretext for people to pass the grey line of morality. Comments making fun of his stuttering and saying Ahyun hyung survived by pity votes were overwhelming.

I searched for the more favorable posts.

- Seriously ㅠㅠ look at the way Seungmin trails behind Moondae everywhere...

- Seungmin, Raebin, and Eugene! The young talent line! I support you!

- Look at how Moonpuppy put Seungmin's head on his shoulder when he fell asleep. Augh my heart 
<Photo from the talent show>

- Did you see how happy Chungwoo looked when Seungmin ranked in the top 5? Their relationship is so sweet ㅠㅠ 
└ They've gotten closer after being together for two team matches
└ The sporty duo

The dorm room was quiet. Others were staring at their phones without a word. Only Ahyun hyung was sitting in the dark.

I slid out of the bed and rummaged through my bag.

"Does anyone want tea?" I asked.

"Oh, me~" Sejin hyung answered from the bed across the room. Below him, Ahyun hyung nodded his head.

I took three tea bags out of my backpack and made the hot tea in the kitchen. When I got back, Moondae hyung was talking.

"Let's not look for anything else on the internet and just research the data. It might get you concerned for no reason."

Ahyun hyung answered in a weak shout, "I-I already knew, so it's okay."

I handed him and Sejin hyung a cup of tea and sat down at the desk.

"I...I knew this would happen. I-I'm used to it."

I frowned. He must have seen the hate targeted toward him.

"Don't worry. If we do well on stage, the comments will disappear again," Moondae hyung muttered.

"I-is that so?"

"Yes, it's a survival program," Moondae hyung shrugged. "Who knows, I might get cursed from tomorrow on."

Ahyun hyung almost dropped his cup.

"H-huh? No! Y-you didn't do anything wrong..."

"You didn't do anything wrong either."

When Ahyun hyung was flustered, the leader took over the conversation.

"So you're telling Ahyun not to take the insults to heart, right? Kya~ Moondae is too cool. Let's work hard together, guys!"

From his bed, Raebin muttered in a small voice, "I've found and organized example materials for our costumes and props...Is it okay to post it in the group chat now?"

"Oh! Of course of course," Sejin hyung grinned.

When my phone buzzed, I opened the chat and swiped through the photos he gathered. I stopped at the last photo. It was a conceptual idea for the rabbit masks. While others complimented Raebin for his hard work, I raised my hand.

"For the mask, is it alright if we only cover half the face instead? That way, the audience can see which of us is vocal and see our smiles."

Everyone seemed to like the explanation, so it was quickly agreed on.

I breathed a sigh. The rabbit mask looked too similar to the one I use as J. I didn't think I would ever have to wear such a mask in this life...