Chapter 278: The Santa Boys Know (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 278: The Santa Boys Know (1)
Pyeong Dae-yeon saw for the first time just how busy idols are at the end of the year. Starting with the Music Grand Festival, a deluge of year-end stages and variety show schedules poured in.
Because of this, Spark had to bounce between practice and schedules without a moment's rest. In the midst of it all, there were many secondary tasks, such as reviewing the activity plans for the following year.
To ensure safe driving, Pyeong Dae-yeon often took the wheel instead of Im Chan-yeong, who was getting less than three hours of sleep a day.
Even though Spark must have been just as sleep-deprived as Im Chan-yeong, the members didn't show a single sign of exhaustion.
They were incredibly sociable; even amidst that hectic schedule, the members called Pyeong Dae-yeon "Manager Hyung" and even encouraged him to speak comfortably to them.
‘They’re amazing.’
Someone might disparage their efforts, saying it was only possible because they were young.
However, considering that most people only start their social lives in their mid-twenties, one couldn't deny the fact that idols, including Spark, suffered through hardships from a very early age.
That was why Pyeong Dae-yeon wanted Spark to rest as much as possible whenever they could. No matter how much they had "active" and "inactive" periods, the year-end schedule was truly murderous.
But Spark was truly passionate.
Just how passionate were they? Well...
"You want to borrow a camera?"
"Yes."
"Because you want to do a surprise event for the members?"
...To the point that the two youngest members came to borrow a camera, saying they wanted to throw a Christmas event for their hyungs and release it as self-produced content.
He had wondered what they were up to when they followed him so secretly. Pyeong Dae-yeon brushed off his internal surprise.
"We usually talk to the Planning Team about things like this, but we thought we’d get caught if just the two of us went to the office. Could you pass the word along for us, Hyung?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon spoke with a firm expression. His face, flashy yet still possessing a youthful aura, held a sense of solemnity.
"Sure. I’m sure they won't say no. How should I get the camera to you?"
"Please put it inside the shoe rack at the dorm. We’ve cleared a spot here."
Kang Gi-yeon even showed him a photo of the shoe rack he had taken himself to confirm the location.
Pyeong Dae-yeon headed straight for the dedicated team. Since the primary manager was Im Chan-yeong, Pyeong Dae-yeon still had some freedom of movement. This was exactly why Lee Cheong-hyeon and Kang Gi-yeon had asked him for the favor.
The Planning Team staff and Min Ju-gyeong looked surprised when they heard the news from Pyeong Dae-yeon.
"Goodness, why won't our boys rest even when we tell them to? We’re filming a live broadcast on Christmas evening, and they want to film another video that morning?"
"They said they wanted to do an event for themselves, and they figured if they were doing it anyway, they might as well film it well so it could be used as self-produced content."
"We can certainly lend them the equipment. But I’m worried the kids might hit a wall and burn out."
the Planning Team staff member fretted, clutching their head.
Min Ju-gyeong, who was also smiling awkwardly, suddenly looked at Pyeong Dae-yeon and asked, "By the way, Dae-yeon, did you hear the details of the event?"
"I didn't hear the specifics. They just said it was a surprise event."
"It shouldn't be anything that involves scaring anyone. I-wol’s heart isn't very good."
This was news to Pyeong Dae-yeon. Perhaps noticing his reaction, Min Ju-gyeong scratched her head sheepishly.
"Since you’re still in your probationary period, I don't think Chan-yeong told you yet, but I-wol’s heart is a bit weak. It’s not that he’s ill, but it’s something he needs to be careful with. That’s also why he can't have caffeine."
If it was a health issue—especially one that could affect his activities—it made sense why they wouldn't tell just anyone.
"I don't think the kids would plan something while forgetting that, but just in case, could you check for me, Dae-yeon?"
So, Pyeong Dae-yeon had to go back down to the basement and listen to the details of the surprise event under the guise of giving them drinks.
The event was smaller and more modest than Pyeong Dae-yeon had expected. Above all, it was a cute event that wouldn't startle anyone.
Pyeong Dae-yeon relayed the contents of the surprise event exactly as they were to the dedicated team. Then, he successfully received the cameras, checked the batteries, and placed them in the promised corner of the shoe rack, hiding them well behind the long and folding umbrellas.
Me
[Cheong-hyeon, I put the six cameras and the mounts behind the umbrellas.]
[Let me know if you need anything else.]
Spark Cheong-hyeon
[I love you, Hyung!]
[♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡]
They really are sociable.
Locking the dorm door securely, Pyeong Dae-yeon prayed that the adorable maknaes' event would end in success.
"Kang Gyeon, what do you think? Does it look okay?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon asked, holding up a large sock made of red felt.
"Try decorating the sock a bit more. It looks too flimsy right now."
"Even though the sock isn't the main point?"
"Still, we can't just give the gifts covered in plain felt."
Lee Cheong-hyeon was quickly convinced by Kang Gi-yeon's words. He then squeezed a generous amount of wood glue onto the sock.
The cheeky idea of becoming Santas and giving gifts to the hyungs had come from Lee Cheong-hyeon. Kang Gi-yeon had readily agreed to go along with it.
Thus, the two had secretly purchased gifts for their respective roommates. Thanks to using Pyeong Dae-yeon’s home as the delivery address—the two had agonized over whether this constituted an idol power trip before being caught by Pyeong Dae-yeon and receiving his help—preparing the gifts had been easy.
As he tore and pasted cotton wool, Lee Cheong-hyeon explained to the camera.
"The reason we can be so relaxed like this is because none of the hyungs are at the dorm."
"We expect to be alone until... 4 AM."
Kang Gi-yeon added, checking the clock.
"I-wol Hyung and Je-ho Hyung went to a schedule, and Seong-bin Hyung and Ju-woo Hyung are... can I say it?"
"Isn't it better not to?"
"Right? Please edit this part out."
Lee Cheong-hyeon bowed toward the camera. Kang Gi-yeon, who was cutting felt, bowed along with him. They couldn't afford to rain on the hyungs' college entrance parade before it even started.
"When are we writing the rolling papers?"
"Only two people are writing, can we even call that a rolling paper?"
"If it's not a rolling paper, what do you call it?"
"...A rolling card?"
Even while engaging in silly conversation, the two didn't stop working. In fact, their hands became busier as time passed.
After making a total of four red socks, the gift explanations followed.
"Je-ho Hyung has poor night vision, so he sometimes bumps into the corners of the bed or furniture. So, I prepared a set of decorative fairy lights that can be attached to the bed!"
"Good choice. Are you going to put them at the head of the bed?"
"Can't he just put them anywhere?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon tucked the well-packaged LED lights into a sock.
"I have to write the card, too. What good deeds did Je-ho Hyung do this year?"
"How can you buy a gift and not think of that?"
"Ah! I remembered."
"What?"
"He gave me an orange candy."
"That just came out of his bag."
Despite Kang Gi-yeon’s scolding, Lee Cheong-hyeon was undeterred. Kang Gi-yeon picked up one of the cameras to capture Lee Cheong-hyeon carefully writing: 'I shall give a gift to the good child Je-ho, who shares candy with his younger brother.'
"Kang Gyeon, what did you buy for Seong-bin Hyung?"
"A notebook."
"You mean like the 'Patience Mark' notebook where three marks can prevent a murder?"
"It looked like he’d almost used it all up."
"Already?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s eyes went wide.
"What on earth is happening to our hyung?"
Lee Cheong-hyeon asked, but Kang Gi-yeon didn't answer. He just silently wrote the card.
"Won't the sock look too empty with just a notebook?"
"That’s why I bought pens and stickers, too."
"Oh, show me."
At Lee Cheong-hyeon’s request, Kang Gi-yeon rummaged through a plastic bag and pulled out the items.
Ten bright red pens and a set of stickers with phrases like "None of my business" and "Yeah, didn't ask" appeared.
"...Has Hyung been having a really hard time lately?"
"No. I just thought it would be good to have stickers that represent his true feelings."
A brief silence fell over the living room. It felt like a moment of mourning.
To brighten the heavy atmosphere, Lee Cheong-hyeon spoke in a cheerful voice.
"Look at the gift I bought for I-wol Hyung."
Something wrapped in bubble wrap was pulled out of a gray courier bag like it was being grabbed by the hair.
"Why is the packaging so excessive?"
"Because it’s glass."
Lee Cheong-hyeon carefully removed a small collection of glass from the bubble wrap. A jellyfish-shaped mobile in brilliant colors was revealed.
"Jellyfish have great regenerative powers, so they recover quickly even if they’re hurt. Turritopsis nutricula can theoretically live forever."
As Lee Cheong-hyeon gently shook the mobile, colorful lights refracted through the glass and spread around.
"I bought it so our hyung stays healthy for a long, long time! Wouldn't it look pretty hanging in the window?"
"It would."
Finally, Kang Gi-yeon pulled out the gift for Park Ju-woo. It was a cozy-looking white microfiber blanket.
"Hey, you picked a good gift."
"Right?"
Kang Gi-yeon didn't hide his pride.
"But will it fit in the sock?"
"I’m just going to slip the sock over the corner of the blanket."
"Yeah, the content is what matters."
In the end, one sock was destined to be tucked onto one end of the wrapped blanket. The two pushed the finished gifts into a corner of the living room and finished writing the cards.
An hour before the members were due to return, they didn't forget to hide the gifts and clean the living room until it was spotless.
5:00 AM.
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s phone glowed faintly. A message had arrived from Kang Gi-yeon.
MBF
[The hyungs are asleep.]
Me
[I-wol Hyung won't freaking go to sleep.]
[Do you want to sleep first? I'll set up the cameras.]
MBF
[Don't we need to knock that hyung out or something?]
Me
[Wait, I think he’s about to sleep.]
Lee Cheong-hyeon held his breath and waited, still as a mouse.
Soon, the sound of even breathing came from the bottom bunk.
If you let your guard down and looked down now, you’d make eye contact with a wide-awake Kim I-wol. So, he had to wait cautiously.
After waiting for three minutes while making small breathing sounds as if he were asleep himself—
Me
[These hyungs are asleep too.]
The time had come for the cute maknae Santas to mobilize.