Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Jeong Eun-seong's Crush Playlist
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“You left Ji-su somewhere and came alone. She’s coming up anyway, so why not come together?”
“Then what about you?”
“What about me?”
“She’s coming up anyway, so why leave me behind and go first?”
“You were talking with Ji-su.”
“We could talk while going up together.”
“Fine, got it. Next time, let’s definitely come together.”
You, me, Eun-ji, and Ji-su, all four of us linking arms and blocking the whole hallway as we go up.
“Good?”
It was sarcastic, but Jeong Eun-seong nodded.
“Definitely.”
“Fine.”
“Definitely.”
“Fine!”
I shoved Jeong Eun-seong’s back, who kept making me promise over and over, sending him into the classroom first. Once the useless giant disappeared, Bang Eun-ji peeled herself off the wall she’d been plastered to and clutched her heart.
“Ugh... he’s too handsome......”
“......”
Even seeing that childish personality, she calls him handsome?
“I’ve hung out with Yeo-reum and seen a lot of handsome guys. There was even a mall model guy and a band member. But none of them compare.”
“Well, isn’t this something. Think you can handle a fitting room session just the two of you?”
“I don’t know... but you take Han Ji-su.”
“Fine, got it.”
“Definitely.”
I narrowed my eyes at Bang Eun-ji, who was emphasizing it.
Bang Eun-ji’s gaze met mine and slid away smoothly.
“But Kang Da-hye.”
“Yeah?”
“Does Seo Jae-kyeom look like that up close too? Like, heart-explodingly?”
“Uh, well...”
I don’t know about exploding, but he was great at ripping it apart......
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 🎵 Crush Playlist 🎵 [Jeong Eun-seong's Unrequited Love Playlist]
-Even if you meet someone else, I'm okay, even if I'm your second choice... -My head is so bad, you're the only one I know... ☆ -Go confess that you like her! Say you'll do anything if she accepts! It feels totally crazy! -Until the perfect person you want shows up, I'll just watch over her for now. Whenever you need me, use me freely—I'll always be within reach... ♧ -Juliet, I'll devote my soul to you “Eun-seong-ah, why’s your vibe like this?”
The trainee hyung next to him peeked at Eun-seong’s phone, where he was intently reading the lyrics, and asked with a disgusted look.
“These are songs from forever ago.”
Whatever. Eun-seong glared at the iced Americano in his hyung’s hand and asked.
“Hyung, why don’t you ever use a tumbler?”
“Ugh, nagging... I just forgot today, just once.”
“Protect the environment a bit. One of my friends seems like she’ll live to 120.”
“Okay, okay. Hey, isn’t this a song from when you were in elementary school?”
“Masterpieces transcend eras.”
“What’s this one? ‘A man’s ability, but no matter what, that sleek appearance.’”
“I added it to engrave it on my heart.”
“That one fits.”
The hyung who agreed lifted his t-shirt to check his abs.
Working out next to Jeong Eun-seong, who’d been obsessing over abs like crazy lately, had put muscle all over his body. He used to be slim enough to get called deer-like, but now he heard big dog comparisons. Not bad. Image changed a bit, though.
Proudly touching his stomach, the hyung heard Eun-seong say from beside him.
“Hyung. I think I have a fever.”
“Whoa, really? Let me see.”
“No, not my forehead.”
“Then where?”
“My heart’s burning up.”
“......”
Damn kid, seriously.
The hyung thought to himself but smiled benevolently like an adult.
Right. He’s 18. Stormy adolescence. I’ll endure.
“My take is, I’m really good at hiding these feelings.”
“You?”
“Yeah. You didn’t notice I don’t like you much, right?”
“What?!”
Hey, for real? The startled hyung grabbed and shook Eun-seong’s arm. Whoa, check out those firm biceps. Gotta work out more.
“Kidding. Anyway, I’m a natural at hiding.”
No, you’re leaking everywhere.
Even your partner Yeon-hee noticed.
Lost in his delusion, Eun-seong pressed the elevator button. Lesson over, now self-practice time.
Gotta work hard. Not just hard—smart. To debut.
“But why were you late today? You’re always here first practicing.”
“Getting my resident registration reissued.”
“Reissued? You just got it, didn’t you?”
“......”
“Ah.”
Right. Got pickpocketed in Paris.
“Sorry...”
The awkward hyung joked.
“If it turns out a sasaeng stole it, that’d be creepy. Remember the other day, someone rushed at you in front of the company? Imagine on the next flight, they’re in the seat next to you and...”
“Hyung...”
“...Was that actually possible?”
“Yeah.”
“Ugh.”
Maybe because they’d been exposed in media? Even as trainees, they had intense sasaengs.
The company just told them to drop out.
Like, suffering from sasaengs, so why drop out?
“You’re not thinking of dropping out, right?”
“No.”
“I don’t recommend it either, but lately the head’s ignoring your greetings.”
Probably pissed because you don’t listen. The hyung added worriedly, but Jeong Eun-seong was steadfast.
“Still, I won’t.”
“Some other reason?”
Shouldn’t he be asking why I won’t drop out, not why I would? Thinking it odd, Eun-seong replied flatly.
“High school teaches common sense.”
“Whoa. Guess I lack it.”
“......I was already leaning against dropping out since I didn’t want debut credentials questioned later, but now it’s firm. Gotta study. So no one can rip me off without me noticing.”
“Right. If you don’t want to, don’t. Dropping out and skipping school doesn’t mean more practice anyway.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Oh, speak of the devil. The guy who actually dropped out last week. He’s middle school grad now... Wait, why’s he crying?”
The hyung grabbed the trainee sobbing past them. Tears and snot streaming, oblivious to anyone around—a 17-year-old looking soulless. Staff passing by ignored him routinely.
Eun-seong stared blankly at them, then dragged the hyung and the 17-year-old to a corner break room.
“Expelled?!”
“Yeah...”
“Whoa...”
“Hyungs, what do I do?”
Eun-seong and the hyung had no words for the sobbing kid.
Like society, this place was a battlefield—friends sweating together yesterday could be cut today. So it wasn’t shock at another expulsion.
But.
“Shouldn’t they have told him before he dropped out?”
Expelled less than a week after submitting dropout papers? He wouldn’t have if he knew.
“Results weren’t out today. Decided last week already—why not stop him? Instead of discouraging dropout, they push harder practice and...”
“Hyung.”
Jeong Eun-seong stopped the hyung as his voice rose in anger.
Through the half-open break room door, cocky guys sauntered in.
The debut group in chaos lately after their main vocal got busted and kicked out. How’d they gather nothing but delinquents?
Eun-seong and hyung greeted, but they ignored as if natural.
“Let’s go.”
The hyung jerked his chin, leading Eun-seong and the still-crying 17-year-old out.
“Said if I don’t pack and leave in an hour, they’ll drag me out.”
The 17-year-old vanished, soulless still, and the hyung grumbled.
“Their main vocal flew, and they’re still like that.”
“......”
“Even debuting with them would suck. That psycho kid earlier? Famous. Drains blood from roommates.”
“How?”
“Games all night next to sleeping roommate, never cleans up food—leaves bowls on table. Sometimes doesn’t flush. Doesn’t shower or laundry, steals roommate’s clothes, wears ’em, doesn’t wash, puts back.”
“......”
“Watch out. Rumors he steals money from wallets too.”
Especially you. You’ve been pickpocketed. The hyung warned.
“Well, if we debut together anyway. ...Just let us debut first.”
Silent, Eun-seong kicked the floor.
“Girls too. Manager’ll suffer policing them post-debut.”
“......”
Still.
Debuting with them beats not debuting.
I...
Don’t want to show a pathetic side.
“Hyung, I’ll head out first.”
“Huh? Where!”
“Gonna ask that kid if his dropout’s processed first. I’ll pack his stuff, so handle that.”
“......”
“I promised to take responsibility.”
To Kang Da-hye.
“Hey, then let’s go together!”