Chapter 202: Side Story. A Certain March 30th
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202: Side Story. A Certain March 30th
Morning dawned. Turning off his alarm, Jeong Seong-bin rose from his bed.
Perhaps because it was spring, the weather was exceptionally pleasant. Unlike in the winter, opening his eyes didn't feel like a chore. Getting up immediately, Seong-bin busily gathered a change of clothes.
Maybe it was the restless energy of the season, but his mother’s words from a recent phone call drifted through his mind.
‘It’s your birthday soon, and I’m worried you won’t even get to have seaweed soup.’
Seong-bin had told her he was fine. That he was eating well.
Among trainees, they weren't exactly affectionate enough to go out of their way to celebrate birthdays, nor did they have the luxury of time. He was content enough if an old friend or a younger trainee with a particularly good memory wished him a happy birthday.
Still, he couldn't tell his mother that, especially since she was already worrying.
Seong-bin decided he would call her after practice to thank her for giving birth to him. It would be late by the time he returned to the dorm, so he planned to just greet his parents and go to sleep quietly.
With that thought, he stepped toward the living room, where a delicious aroma was wafting—
‘A delicious aroma?’
Usually, the smell in the dorm at this hour was predictable. It was the scent of toasted bread made by Kim I-wol, the trainee who had joined them not long ago.
After realizing that the student group often went to school on an empty stomach or settled for a quick snack, Kim I-wol had volunteered to toast bread and fry eggs. It was only recently that he had nagged the members to use that time to get more sleep instead.
Since then, Kim I-wol had consistently provided breakfast for the members. Thanks to him, Seong-bin and the others could wake up to the savory scent of toast.
But today was different. A rich, salty aroma leaked through the gap in the door. He could also hear the sound of something boiling.
Feeling puzzled, Seong-bin opened the door. In the kitchen, Kim I-wol stood with his back to the living room, just like any other day.
“Hyung, good morning.”
“Yeah. Go wash up quickly.”
Kim I-wol spoke without even looking back. He looked quite busy. No sooner had he finished speaking than the rice cooker chimed, signaling that the rice was done.
‘Is he really hungry?’
For Kim I-wol, who had been an ordinary citizen until recently, extreme dietary management might have been a bit harsh. Watching Kim I-wol stir the steaming rice with a paddle, Seong-bin resolved to look the other way just this once, even if his hyung gained a little weight.
This resolution of Seong-bin’s became moot within twenty minutes.
It was because three bowls of freshly cooked white rice and seaweed soup had been set on the table.
Though it was more meat than seaweed soup, really. Even the usual fried eggs were served as a side dish.
“That’s for breakfast today instead of bread. It’s low-sodium, so it might not taste as good as what you’re used to.”
“Wait, what?”
“I put in a lot of meat because I thought you guys needed the protein. Try not to leave any leftovers.”
Seong-bin was more than a little surprised. The timing and the menu were far too perfect to be a coincidence.
Just then, Kang Gi-yeon appeared behind Seong-bin and asked, “What’s with the seaweed soup?”
Kim I-wol replied as he took off his apron.
“It’s Seong-bin’s birthday today.”
It was, truly, the last thing he had expected to hear.
-
“Seong-bin-ie! Happy birthday!”
“What, it’s Seong-bin’s birthday today? Come out right at lunchtime. Noona will take the photo of your life under the cherry blossoms. They’re all in bloom by the back gate.”
“Just say the word, Jeong Seong-bin. Hyung is treating you to the snack bar today.”
As soon as he opened the classroom door, a flood of congratulations poured over Seong-bin.
After his bag was pulled off by some unknown friend, he received a refreshing round of thumps on his back under the guise of a birthday smack.
“Wait a sec, wasn't that a bit too hard? Did I do something wrong? You’re not using this as an excuse for revenge, are you?”
His friends laughed nonchalantly at Seong-bin’s joke.
“Don’t play the victim, you’re in great shape. We know you can’t even feel that.”
“I’m the one who got hit, so why are you the one deciding I’m faking it!”
Seong-bin laughed brightly as he got his bag back.
On his desk sat six packs of instant egg soup. In this school, where most students were managing their diets, food gifts were a rare sight.
“Who are these from?”
“Me. I was going to give you seaweed soup, but they were out of stock today. Sorry, Bin-ie.”
“Don’t be sorry. I love egg soup!”
Seong-bin pulled the egg soups together, thanking them.
“Still, you should have seaweed soup on your birthday.”
To his disappointed friend, Seong-bin said, “Actually, I already had seaweed soup today.”
“Huh? When?”
“This morning. The new hyung who joined us made it for me.”
“Ah, that new face hyung-nim?”
His friend acted like he knew who he was talking about.
When you’re preparing to be idols together, you eventually learn about each other’s situations. Seong-bin’s friends felt bad that a talented guy like Seong-bin was stuck at UA, which was practically a wasteland for idols.
Perhaps that was why everyone tended to look out for Seong-bin even more.
How sharp had their reactions been when he first told them about Kim I-wol joining?
‘Your agency really has no sense. They finally put together a golden lineup, so why are they gambling at the last minute?’
‘I heard he wasn't even a trainee. Is this for real?’
Seong-bin had said he wasn't sure, but he tried to say the best things he could. Things like how he seemed reliable, or that he was tall and handsome.
But his friends, who shared the same dream, weren't fools; they easily found the things Seong-bin was trying to hide.
‘Let’s say he can sing a bit. What about dancing? You know it’s a total waste if you have Choi Je-ho and don’t become a dance group, right? I bet there are still agencies eyeing that hyung.’
‘If it weren't for the rumors about his terrible personality, a major agency would have definitely snatched him up.’
‘Anyway, you can’t just be a dance group; you have to nail the performance. Can the new guy handle that?’
‘Don’t be like that. Hyung is working hard too!’
His friends' criticism was so scathing that he couldn't help but intervene.
Watching Seong-bin look troubled among his friends, someone said:
‘You know that working hard isn't everything.’
Seong-bin couldn't say anything for a moment. It was a time when effort didn't always lead to results.
He knew all too well that his friend was right.
But now, he could refute those words. Because the Kim I-wol he had observed for a month was someone who would succeed at whatever he did.
“Hyung makes us breakfast every time. Today, he made seaweed soup.”
“Wow... What’s with the new face hyung-nim’s character?”
“I didn't know a Secret Helper Brother lived in Seong-bin’s dorm.”
“I told you he was a good person.”
Kim I-wol is a good person. He’s quick-witted and has great instincts.
He’s kind to everyone while looking after each person with meticulous care.
Since he joined late, he works the hardest, yet he doesn't show it and silently finds things to do. It even feels like he takes on things that aren't his responsibility.
‘Still, I can rely on him.’
It was hard to believe, even to himself, that he could trust someone he had known for such a short time this much.
But then again...
“How did he know it was your birthday? You don’t usually talk about that stuff.”
...Kim I-wol really did know everything.
An amazing amount of everything.
Seong-bin recalled a conversation from a few weeks ago, when the wind was still biting cold.
The talk he had shared with Kim I-wol at the playground in the middle of the night remained vivid in his mind.
The Kim I-wol of that day, who had boldly said that Seong-bin would definitely be recognized.
‘You seem very certain, hyung.’
‘Of course.’
Looking at him, Kim I-wol had smiled—a smile as cold as a winter wind, yet as cozy as fallen snow.
‘Because I know the future.’
Seong-bin decided to believe those words, even if they sounded like a joke. Because just believing them made his heart feel at ease.
“Hyung knows everything.”
Seong-bin laughed heartily. It was a smile without a trace of doubt.
“I’m back.”
With a polite bow, Seong-bin opened the door to the practice room. In the center of the room, Kim I-wol and Choi Je-ho were in a standoff.
Kim I-wol waved at the younger members entering the room.
“Welcome back, everyone. He’s just mad at me, so don’t mind him and start warming up.”
“How can a human body move like this? I mean, you saw it with your eyes, so why don’t you understand?”
“I told you, I don’t understand it, and I can’t output it either.”
“You sound proud of that.”
Choi Je-ho sighed. Unable to watch any longer, Kang Gi-yeon pulled his practice clothes out of his bag and hurried to change.
“That’s why I told you to learn from Ju-woo hyung while I was gone,” Kang Gi-yeon scolded Kim I-wol.
Kim I-wol simply pointed toward the corner of the practice room.
“Ju-woo is already out for the count.”
Hidden by the sofa, his friend’s two feet were sticking out.
“Ah, my head hurts.”
“Be careful. If you’re not careful, it’ll become a chronic migraine.”
“It’s because of you, so I wish you would be the one being careful.”
Watching Kim I-wol look sincerely concerned, Choi Je-ho shook his head as if he’d had enough and walked away.
Turning his gaze from Choi Je-ho, Kim I-wol looked at Seong-bin and Kang Gi-yeon.
“How about you two? Anything happen today?”
“Nothing much for me,” Kang Gi-yeon replied dryly while warming up.
Normally, Seong-bin would have also said nothing much happened.
Normally.
“I bragged about you making seaweed soup for me, hyung.”
Kim I-wol’s eyes went wide. It was a rare sight.
“Why would you do that?”
“The kids all said you seem like a really great person.”
At Seong-bin’s words, Kim I-wol looked away. His hand went to the back of his neck as if he were embarrassed.
“Anything else happen besides that?”
Kim I-wol changed the subject. The clumsy transition made Seong-bin laugh in spite of himself.
Still, he shouldn't tease his elder.
Seong-bin suppressed his playfulness and obediently followed Kim I-wol’s lead.
“The cherry blossoms bloomed at school. My friends took some photos for my birthday. Should I back these up too?”
“Isn't that obvious? Take Gi-yeon with you tomorrow and take photos together. 50 individual shots, 50 group shots. For the individual shots, take 25 with your blazer on and 25 with it off. Got it?”
“Lunchtime won’t be long enough for that,” Kang Gi-yeon protested.
Kim I-wol didn't care at all.
Because it was spring.
The weather was nice, there were many people celebrating his birthday, and the members by his side were gathered together, sharing pleasant conversation.
It was a good season.