Unaware of my disdainful gaze, Joo Woosung continued in a nonchalant tone.
“Was it about two years ago that we dated…? Long time no see.”
“Did you date for a short period?”
“What? No, it lasted quite a while. About six months?”
“…Have you lost your mind?”
Seeing Joo Woosung adopt an American mindset before even starting activities in the US made me feel like my common sense was about to run away from home.
Facing an impending rendezvous with an ex-girlfriend only made Woosung seem even more alien.
“How can you be so shameless in front of your ex-girlfriend?”
“Huh?”
However, Joo Woosung tilted his head, appearing not to understand what I was saying.
“So, what? We’re already over, aren’t we?”
“…”
“It’s not like we’re going to get back together.”
This guy’s common sense was not just on Mars but beyond the Solar System.
Thank heavens I sent the kids away first.
I had saved them from hearing such nonsense.
Being sane myself, I felt my energy levels plummet every time I met Woosung.
As I naturally reached into my pocket for a candy, Woosung snatched it away and peeled it open.
“Hoyun, but should I give you a piece of advice?”
I didn’t need it, kid.
“People who dwell on past relationships do so because they didn’t treat them well when they were together.”
“Yeah, right.”
“What do I mean? If you screw up anything, the regret later is huge. That’s why I always treat my relationships really well??”
So spoke the legendary trash car.
He managed his affairs so well that he even got a basin of water dumped on him by Han Chaeri.
Ignoring Joo Woosung’s seemingly useless advice, I tried to walk away, but he blocked my path.
“But you’re exactly that type, you know.”
“…What did you say?”
Joo Woosung threw the candy into his mouth and grinned mischievously.
Hey, could it be…
No, impossible.
In this world, I had nothing to do with Kim Heeyeon.
Woosung grumbled beside me.
“You’ve dated before, right? You wouldn’t have that attitude otherwise.”
“…”
“And it all went spectacularly bad, huh?”
This son of a…
“Your face is asking ‘how did you know’? It’s obvious. Seo Hoyun, what kind of romantic are you? Guys like you are smooth talkers at first, but because the girlfriend isn’t a priority, conflicts pile up, and you end up getting slapped and dumped.”
“Why not just ruin it with a ritual then?”
…But everything Woosung said was spot-on.
Objectively speaking, I really did wrong by her.
Seeing me speechless, Joo Woosung deliberately sighed heavily and patted my shoulder.
“See, Seo Hoyun.”
“…”
“You…”
Gulp.
“Before it’s too late, give up on Cheongbeom-noona. From what I see, it’s already doomed.”
Ha…
I felt stupid for being anxious over such a 2% hopeless case.
Seeing Joo Woosung tease me about tidying up my feelings before Cheongbeom-noona returns from California made me sigh.
“Joo Woosung.”
“What?”
“You seem to be under a serious misconception. But putting that aside…”
I proudly propped my chin with both hands.
“Hoyun is an idol, so he doesn’t date~.”
Joo Woosung’s eyebrows twitched.
“…Are you pissed?”
“Not like someone who can’t keep their mind straight, and then changes partners every three months without getting caught in photos.”
“…”
“Or getting trapped by some unknown hoobae and losing their pride, being manipulated left and right like a fool.”
“Hey!”
Perhaps because he was indeed bothered by being manipulated by me over the past year, Woosung’s eyelashes fluttered furiously.
“Sigh… I get the content, but doesn’t that third-person speech and tone give you the creeps?”
“Why? Does it creep you out?”
“You should improve your dancing instead of picking up weird stuff….”
Ding!
[Joo Woosung is right about everything!!]
[When did you become so shameless?!!]
I sneakily glanced at the system window that popped up, agreeing with Woosung’s words.
Having become accustomed to being called a rabbit, what else couldn’t I do?
With Kang Ichae by my side, constantly whining to not let others touch him, calling himself pretty and cute, and stirring up more trouble.
Seeing me become shameless to the point of being encased in armor under their bad influence, Joo Woosung clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.
“I’ve never seen someone like you in my life.”
Woosung seemed indifferent, but I was slightly worried.
He had irritated me here and there since the Black Call Christmas album, talking about concerts and all.
Should I tease him a bit?
Yes.
After briefly contemplating, I deliberately tilted my head to catch the right angle.
“Human?”
“…?”
Woosung stiffened as if startled, but it was already too late.
“What are you talking about? I’m a baby rabbit.”
“…”
[tlqkf…]
The system window censored the profanity in its own quirky way, but it was the first time it used such language.
Joo Woosung also let out a low curse in front of me.
“Crazy son of a bitch…”
“Ahaha, why?”
[Has he lost his mind…?]
[This is insane, looks like there’s no need to hand out dialogue boxes anymore]
Right?
Thinking that if it had to give out dialogue boxes now, it’d have to wrap its head too, I sneakily glanced at the rising system window with just my eyes and chuckled.
Joo Woosung stepped back a few paces with a completely disgusted face.
“Seo Hoyun, you lunatic…”
“Think only Joo Woosung can do it?”
“I’m no match for you…”
Shaking his head as though he couldn’t handle it anymore, Joo Woosung stopped in his tracks and suddenly widened his eyes.
Then, he quickly tapped me and gave me a look.
“Oh, hello.”
“…?”
A sinister feeling suddenly overtook me.
It was similar to the chills that crept up my back when I realized Kang Ichae was watching me practice aegyo alone in the practice room, or the shock that struck my head when Kang Ichae exposed that fact on a variety show.[1]
Krreeeek.
I turned my head toward where Joo Woosung’s gaze was fixed.
“Oh…”
…Kim Heeyeon stood there.
“…”
“…”
“…”
An awkward and chilly breeze swept between us.
Unable to even greet her as I froze, Kim Heeyeon, who seemed to have come to smoke a cigarette with one in her mouth, scratched her cheek.
And then, in an attempt to lighten the mood, she stuck out her thumb.
“Typical idol. Accepting being turned into an animal and even consuming it…”
“…”
“I’ve seen the videos that pop up sometimes. Your professional spirit is admirable.”
Then, as if nothing was wrong, she lit her cigarette with a lighter.
After taking a deep drag and exhaling the smoke, Kim Heeyeon threw in another joke amidst the still tense atmosphere.
“Baby rabbit, hoo hoo~.”
“…”
“…”
“…Erm, yeah, good, good. Ahaha.”
She had a sense of humor that wouldn’t even work on an AD.
Obviously, it fell flat, so Kim Heeyeon awkwardly smiled and went into the smoking area.
“…”
Ding!
Ding!!
[Ah]
[ㅠ]
[Aaaaaah]
[Aaaaaaaaah]
The system window poured out incessantly.
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Why does it have to be like this ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ??? ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Finally coming to my senses with the continuous alerts, I turned my gaze toward the direction Kim Heeyeon moved and then lowered my head.
[Ahㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Life, fuck…
“…I’ll go first.”
“Eh?”
As I quickly moved away, I could hear Joo Woosung following behind me.
“Crazy rabbit, where the hell are you going?”
Joo Woosung, still not fully grasping the situation, mockingly caught up with my pace and then flinched away when he saw my eyes.
“…Excuse me.”
It was clear.
Even without seeing, he could feel there was something seriously wrong with my expression.
My jaw clenched tight.
“Joo Woosung…”
“Eh?”
“Don’t call me like that, really, before I lose my shit…”
“You were the one saying it just a moment ago.”
“No! When did I?!”
“What??”
He wondered why I was acting like this.
Roasting Joo Woosung only to end up calling myself a fucking baby rabbit (dammit) in front of my ex?
Might as well have said I wanted to die.
Why the hell did I even speak up, fuck…?
“…What is it?”
As Joo Woosung muttered, seemingly confused by everything, I was too overwhelmed by my own embarrassment to even listen.
[Deep breath]
[Sigh]
[Ahㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Thinking about it again drives me crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Should I bite my tongue now?
***
“Isn’t this really cool?”
“Wow…”
After parting ways with Joo Woosung, who headed off for his mentorship duties, I found myself waiting at the designated meeting place for our scheduled meeting to commence.
Several cameras were already set up there.
The members huddled together, engrossed in a video on their phones showing Joo Woosung’s cover of the famous pop singer’s song, “BerXche on the Floor,” from a recent Black Call concert.
Shit…
I was still squirming in embarrassment.
“Wow, the lyrics are a bit risky… But how does he manage to sing such a sexy song so plainly?”
“Exactly, you wouldn’t know because of his dancing, but Joo Woosung-sunbae really sings well.”
“The emotional line is no joke!”
That was because he was inspired by his own real experiences….
I lay down, burying my face in my arms, amidst these naïve guys entranced by Woosung.
Should I just give up on Season 2?
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“Life’s just too hard…”
Kang Ichae looked puzzled, but I was deeply pondering a way to avoid seeing Kim Heeyeon’s face, knowing it would be difficult.
“Hello~.”
“Ah! Hello.”
As I racked my brain, Kim Heeyeon entered.
The staff following her turned on the cameras and quickly went back outside.
I quickly composed my expression and greeted her along with the other members.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. Ah, don’t mind the cameras. It’s a preliminary meeting, so we’re filming just in case, but it won’t be much footage.”
“Yep!”
“Today, as I mentioned over the phone, we’ll briefly go over the program’s direction. First, there’s a pre-competition meeting to explain how things will proceed.”
“Yes, I understand!”
Until we had entered the broadcasting station, everyone seemed nervous, but then they all responded briskly.
Kim Heeyeon continued her explanation, rifling through documents, as though she had forgotten the earlier incident.
“First off, it will be organized into six episodes like last time. After that, as a special bonus, there will be a gala concert exclusively for the winner.”
“…!”
“Expecting a lot from The Dawn? You should aim for first place.”
Eyes sparkled at the mention of the gala concert.
Perhaps because they hadn’t yet experienced a concert, everyone’s eyes gleamed with ambition.
I, too, pulled myself together.
Right, let’s be the shining star and take first place.
Let’s win and break the scenario quickly.
“The first competition is… Ah, one moment.”
Kim Heeyeon, having smiled at The Dawn’s reaction, paused mid-sentence at the sound of her ringing phone, raised her hand slightly, and stood up.
…?
Kim Heeyeon seemed unusually lively today.
From that moment, I felt a slight sense of unease.
“I’ll take this call and be right back. Just wait a moment.”
“Yep!”
Kim Heeyeon left with a chuckle at the sight of four young men obediently nodding their heads.
“Concert…??”
“We can do it, if we take first.”
Kim Seonghyeon fiddled with his fingers, filled with anticipation about the kind of stage he would like to create for the concert.
The other members added their thoughts one by one.
However, I just rubbed my forehead in thought.
Kim Heeyeon, why is she so energetic?
It was impossible for a PD worn out by overtime to be like that.
As I looked around, feeling some discord, a sudden realization hit me.
…Hmm?
From the moment I stepped into this place, something had been off.
Why were there so many cameras set up for a preliminary meeting?
“…Can I start being hopeful now?”
“How should we do the opening?”
The unmanned cameras moved around, capturing the members’ actions.
I carefully observed the seams between walls and the ceiling, making sure not to frown.
The patterns don’t match.
It was as if makeshift partitions had been hastily erected.
A shoddy set, numerous cameras, few staff, and Kim Heeyeon, who seemed to have left at just the right time.
“…Ah.”
So that’s what it was.
Seong Jiwon, puzzled by my reaction, turned to me.
“Why?”
At that moment, the lights went out.
“Why the lights…”
“Is it a blackout?”
Right on cue, a terrifying scream came from outside.
“Aaaaaaah!”
***********
[1] See Episode 48 for the incident. See Episode 61 for Ichae’s display of courage.
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