Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Pitiful?
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“Pitiful?”
Are you maybe talking about...
‘The face Koreans really like’ abbreviated?
Just blinking at him made Jeong Eun-seong add an explanation.
“I mean, in the eyes of someone like you who studies so well, someone my age who’s older...”
“You’re older than me?”
You’re actually 11 years younger than me in real terms?
“Jeong Eun-seong, aren’t we the same age?”
“What I mean is, my expiration date is coming up soon.”
“Expiration date?!”
“Idols usually debut in their teens, right?”
“???”
I couldn’t make sense of what he was saying.
Idol. Teens. Expiration date.
“So what you’re saying, Jeong Eun-seong, is that since you’re 18, you’re not young for a trainee anymore, and you’re still clinging to debuting, so it looks pitiful to me?”
“...Yeah.”
“Not at all?”
Of course, you don’t know your future, so you might feel anxious, but I know you’ll debut next year.
And you’ll be hugely successful.
Sure, your members are all delinquents and scandals waiting to happen, dragging you into hiatuses, hand-written apologies, enlisting in the military mid-career while sobbing and choking it down, getting trashed online anyway, suffering through all sorts of rumors and hate comments, and on top of that, the aftereffects of a car accident caused by a sasaeng fan leave you unable to dance anymore, with leaked photos of you sleeping in the dorm, in just shorts after a shower, your passport photo—tons of colorful hardships...
‘Listing it out like this, Jeong Eun-seong’s future is a thorny path too.’
Anyway, you succeed.
And even if you don’t.
“What’s pitiful about it? You’re chasing your dream.”
“What if I fail?”
“Not really... It’s not like you’re fine if you succeed and suddenly pitiful if you fail, right? What matters is that you tried.”
“But people laugh at failures.”
“Those people are the ones too cowardly to even start. They’re the biggest losers, so who are they to laugh at anyone.”
People who’ve actually challenged something and succeeded don’t carelessly mock others. They know how tough the process is.
Only those too scared to try anything mock failures.
Failures at least gain experience; those people have nothing.
“What if failing ruins my life?”
“What are you talking about? Life doesn’t fall apart that easily.”
I shook my head firmly.
I bombed the college entrance exam at 19, but my life didn’t end. I could keep challenging myself after that.
Even if those failed too, my life didn’t crumble.
Well, I thought it did... but right at that moment, I regressed!
Life really doesn’t fall apart easily!
“Unless you gamble, get addicted to drugs, or commit heavy crimes like murder or robbery. A mere failure won’t ruin you.”
“......”
“If you’re really worried, study a bit on the side. Prepare for the worst case. Every job needs basic knowledge, right?”
He averted his eyes and mumbled.
Am I acting too high and mighty when I know nothing about the entertainment industry?
But it’s true.
Jeong Eun-seong won’t fail. Even if the future changes and he doesn’t debut, failing to debut isn’t failing at life.
“Anyway, my point is... I’ve never thought you were pitiful. If anything, you’re amazing. Finding what you want to do at your age and going for it.”
I don’t really have any dreams yet... Korea University entrance is my only one. I added in a mutter.
I gently released his school uniform tie, which I’d been fiddling with moments ago.
It was more wrinkled than I thought. I smoothed the fabric carefully, glancing at him. His silent face...
“So you don’t think I’m pitiful?”
“Yeah. Not one bit.”
“Don’t take it back later.”
“I won’t.”
‘My opinion matters that much?’ I wanted to ask, but his satisfied expression as he made me promise repeatedly made me let it go.
“But what does this have to do with you not talking to me?”
I pulled the topic back from where it had wandered. Jeong Eun-seong replied with a hint of grievance.
“You hate it when Do Ha-jun talks to you.”
“...And?”
“......”
“Are you worried I’d lump you in with him? Think you’re pitiful like him?”
He nodded.
“Good grief.”
How does your mind jump like that? How could you be on the same level as him?
Did you shake your leg nonstop in class, muttering ‘gimmotti~’ every 10 seconds? Pretend to know everything while knowing jack squat and nitpick constantly? Mess up and refuse to apologize? Or do you stink, maybe?
“You worried for nothing.”
I shook my head. Jeong Eun-seong pouted his lips. Being so handsome made it not cute, just funny.
‘I still don’t fully get Jeong Eun-seong’s thought process.’
He’s so weird, his thinking must be weird too. I decided to accept it.
“We’re almost there.”
I pulled away from Jeong Eun-seong, who’d been pressed close, and looked out the window. We’d already turned into the familiar alley. The taxi slowed down.
I fixed my wrinkled tie and turned to Jeong Eun-seong, who still looked pleased.
“By the way, Jeong Eun-seong.”
“Yeah.”
“It’s Do Ha-jun. Not Do Hye-jun.”
“Do I really need to know that?”
“Yes!”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Isn’t that sister there again today?”
“Don’t even. The landlady brings you up every time we run into each other now.”
“She really likes me, huh.”
“Jeong Eun-seong, when did you decide you wanted to be a singer?”
“Actually...”
“Yeah?”
“Never mind.”
“What.”
“Still, it turned out well. You’re getting close with Ji-su too.”
“We’re not close.”
“Then who are you close with?”
“You.”
Chatting away, we reached the end of the stairs.
Our crumbling villa came into view.
I called out to Jeong Eun-seong, who was watching until I went inside as always.
“Oh, right, Jeong Eun-seong.”
I said it like it just occurred to me, but I’d been preparing it since getting out of the taxi.
“Happy birthday.”
Have fun for the remaining few hours at least.
“You won’t forget this birthday, right?”
He laughed at my joke. With that face smiling under the streetlight, who needs one?
Suddenly serious, Jeong Eun-seong demanded.
“Where’s my gift?”
“I gave it earlier.”
“I had a hard day. Give me two.”
“Why do I have to give you a gift when you suffered...”
I protested, but he was brazen.
“Teach me to study.”
“I’m already teaching you.”
“Not that.”
“?”
What, extract knowledge from my brain and hand it over?
“Study for exams together.”
That’s the gift?
“I don’t mind... but you’ll actually study?”
“Gotta prepare for failure.”
“I’m pretty intense about it.”
“That’s fine. I like intense.”
“Alright, then.”
I nodded. He stuck out his hand.
“Promise.”
“You ask for everything.”
Tsking my tongue, I hooked my pinky with his anyway.
I notice every time, but his hands are huge and warm. Long fingers too.
“Stamp.”
“Okay.”
“Sign.”
“Okay.”
“Copy.”
Last time he hated stamping, but now he did it first.
Full of study motivation, I guess. I looked up at him fondly.
Even after the promise, Jeong Eun-seong didn’t leave.
“That’s the sister’s place?”
“Yeah. Top floor.”
“Kang Da-hye, where do you usually study?”
“Library or... reading room?”
“Does it work well?”
“I just do it.”
“When are we switching seats again?”
“No idea?”
“Tomorrow would be nice.”
“Don’t like your current one?”
“Not really.”
After some pointless chit-chat, Jeong Eun-seong scratched his eyebrow and blurted.
“Every time I walk you home, we end up making some promise, huh?”
“...Yeah.”
Second time, and promises both times.
“Gotta think of something for next time.”
His casual mention of ‘next’ stuck in my ear, but I played it cool.
“Got something you wanna promise?”
“Secret.”
“What. Just say it.”
“No.”
“Say it now and promise now.”
“No. Has to be next time.”
What kind of promise? I wrinkled my nose. He winked—or smiled with one eye?—playfully.
“If I don’t say, you’ll be curious and ask me to walk you next time too.”
“......”
“I’ll be waiting?”
“......”
Fisherman...!