Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Top Student Hides Her Regression
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“Who’s dating!”
The trainer, who had ghosted onto the word “dating,” stopped fiddling with his phone and yelled.
“Who is it! Who!”
“It’s a romance with the fans who love me!”
Eek. The trainee brother, who had shrunk back with his shoulders hunched, shouted in an exaggerated voice. The trainer sneered at the trainee who was giggling and putting on an aegyo act.
“Hey, you need to debut first to get any sasaeng fans. Who’s gonna debut you?”
“Ah, teacher! Why are you crushing my dreams like that...”
“I’m not the one crushing your dreams—you are. With that ugly mug of yours that can’t even seduce a single frumpy housewife, and your charm that’s worse than a Serengeti BJ. You? You?”
“......”
“If you keep slacking like this, you won’t make it into a debut group before you enlist. You know what happens if you just age out like that? You get cut. Cut!”
The trainer, who had snarled his words, slurped down the iced coffee that was nothing but ice now.
“Get your act together. Unless you want to drop out of school, deliver Chinese food for the rest of your life as a high school grad.”
It was a talent in itself to cram that one sentence full of all sorts of insults.
But what the trainer had just said was also the worst nightmare shared by every trainee there.
As early as elementary school, as late as high school. They’d come in at a young age chasing the single dream of becoming singers, skipping studying and making friends while everyone else went to school, giving up basic education and their school days entirely to focus solely on debuting.
And if that fell through?
What happens to me if I can’t debut?
What about my life?
An industry that makes you think your life is over in your early twenties.
A place where everyone wants to stay as eternal boys and girls forever, where people would gladly sell their souls to Peter Pan.
“You know we’re debuting a seven-member boy group next year, right?”
“...Yes.”
“You know there won’t be any male idol debuts for a while after they go, right?”
“...Yes.”
“The 13- and 14-year-olds are fine. But you. You. You. Especially you. You’re already 20, aren’t you? What are you guys gonna do?”
“......”
“Stop laughing and think about it seriously. Eh? I’m really saying this out of worry for you guys as your hyung.”
The trainer turned the mood into a funeral parlor in an instant, then said “Eh,” and left to smoke a cigarette.
In the heavy silence, the trainee brother scratched his head vigorously and spoke.
“He said everything I was gonna say. ...Though I wasn’t planning to say it that harshly.”
Even though he’d just been openly singled out as “especially you,” the brother didn’t seem fazed at all. Well, if he got hurt by insults at this level, he wouldn’t have lasted this long.
“Hey, Eun-seong. Normally, I’d tell you ‘Date a lot while you’re a trainee—once you debut, you won’t be able to for a while.’ But.”
The brother looked around and leaned toward Eun-seong.
“You heard it too, right? The guy who screwed up this time? They’re pushing that next-gen top seven-member boy group. How are they gonna debut without a main vocal?”
There were plenty of guys who could dance decently, but good singers were rare. Among all these male trainees, Eun-seong was the only main vocal material.
What the brother was implying was clear.
You could fill that spot, and you’re gonna mess up at this timing?
“Not my place to say, but you’re 18 too, Eun-seong. You’re not a kid. Sure, you’ve got it better than me since you sing well, but you don’t want to wait a few more years indefinitely either.”
Eun-seong listened to the mix of worry, persuasion, and threats with a blank expression.
Debuting with those punks? Waiting a few years wouldn’t be so bad.
He was thinking so casually.
But the next words made even Eun-seong perk up his ears.
“Didn’t you say that Su-cream girl is good at studying? Like, Korea University level?”
“...Yes.”
“Alright, say she goes to Korea University, and you’re still a trainee. Right now, in high school, the kids go ‘Whoa, a trainee!’ But you think that’ll fly in college too?”
“......”
“Once she gets into Korea University, she’ll be all high on that prestige. She’s living it up on a prestigious campus, and her boyfriend can’t even get into college, chasing some pipe dream in entertainment? She’ll think you’re pathetic.”
The brother landed the finishing blow on Eun-seong, who had his eyes wide and frozen.
“Snap out of it. If you don’t debut this time, it’s over with her too. If you don’t debut now, your life’s ruined, and she won’t even look at you.”
Jeong Eun-seong, whose life falls apart at 18.
Some people get rich at 12, and my life’s over at just 18?
But despite the cynicism in his head, Eun-seong’s insides were already in turmoil.
...She’ll think I’m pathetic.
“Then what do I do?”
“Don’t talk to her for a while. And show them you’re working your ass off.”
In truth, Eun-seong didn’t talk to Kang Da-hye that often even now. He studied pretty diligently too.
But the brother arbitrarily assumed Eun-seong was chasing that girl around school and doing nothing.
“Why can’t I talk to her?”
“Because.”
The brother said firmly.
“You need to show them a cold, aloof image focused only on your own career.”
“Ah.”
He nodded.
“I’m good at that.”
“Good.”
“But I don’t really like her or anything. I just don’t want her to think I’m pathetic.”
“Yeah, yeah. Anyway.”
“......”
“......But you got a pic?”
“No.”
“Oh, okay?”
I’m curious though. The brother muttered to himself as he got up to get some water.
The trainer didn’t come back from his smoke break, and the others were lying around all gloomy. Left alone, Eun-seong pulled out his phone.
He opened the class KakaoTalk and tapped the gallery, where a bunch of photos from homeroom teacher on class president election day popped up. Kang Da-hye with an animal headband and the ugly guy.
He zoomed in, and the ugly guy’s face got cut off, leaving only Kang Da-hye.
“Hyung!”
“Yeah, what?”
“Have we ever promised to become great adults?”
“Huh? Who makes a promise like that?”
“......I did.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Kang Da-hye would definitely succeed.
She’d achieve everything she wanted and live happily.
Because she was smart. Diligent. Funny. Brave for others’ sake (multiple times even). And she knew how to pull not just herself but her friends along too.
She’d definitely be even better next year than now, and in 10 years, 20, 30—she’d be an amazing person.
But me?
Truth be told, since I don’t show it, in Kang Da-hye’s eyes, I might as well be Do Hye-jun No. 2.
“...This pisses me off.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “I’m not talking to you anymore.”
“???”
What?
I stared open-mouthed at Jeong Eun-seong leaving the practice room.
Why’s he acting like that all of a sudden?
“Kang Da-hye.”
Han Ji-su, who came up beside me while I was spacing out, stuck her finger in my open mouth.
“Why’re you like that?”
“I was just standing there and got punched out of nowhere.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
I spat out her finger and packed my bag.
“You’re going to the teachers’ office, right, Ji-su?”
“Yeah... I have to tell the teacher about today.”
“Want me to come with?”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
You’re scared of Teacher Yi Mong-ryong.
Even so, the absurdity hadn’t faded.
What the hell is up with Jeong Eun-seong?
“Ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous!”
“What is?”
“Forget it. Da-hye’s been like that since yesterday.”
Gyeong Se-in flinched and looked at me as I yelled into the air mid-meal. Next to her, Do-yeon stuck a straw into her juice.
Q. What’s today’s cafeteria menu?
A. Gochujang grilled pork belly, seasoned cabbage, soybean paste stew, Jeju mandarin juice.
“Ridiculous!”
“Why’s it ridiculous? You’ve got Heo Jun.”
“That’s different.”
I grumbled while eating, grumbled while walking laps around the field with the kids after, grumbled while climbing the stairs after that. Every time it crossed my mind, I’d get absurd all over again, and right then Jeong Eun-seong happened to pass by.
“Hey, Eun-seong!”
“Hey.”
Our eyes met as he replied to Ye-su-a’s greeting.
“......”
“......”
Jeong Eun-seong whipped his head away first and climbed the stairs. I narrowed my eyes, watching him stride off.
“Hey, guys. This is a story about my friend.”
...No, that’s basically just saying ‘This is about me, so pay attention.’
Cancel. Let’s rephrase.
Something no one could suspect is about me...
“Hey, guys. This is a story about my grandma.”
