Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Reactions Roll In
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I picked up my smartphone and blinked. That was when it happened. A ringtone suddenly blared.
I checked the screen and answered right away. It was my sister.
"Cha Dowon! What the hell are you doing!"
"Ah, it slipped my mind. Sis! I debuted."
"You should've told me ahead of time!"
"It just kinda happened..."
"I watched it because everyone was raving about Jjeotdol, and there you were—I nearly barfed!"
For a moment, I had nothing to say.
*That's so like her.*
Yeah, if the roles were reversed, I'd do the same.
*If my sister showed up as a beauty doctor in a magazine, I'd puke too.*
My sister kept grumbling.
"That was live, right? There were lightning effects and stuff—are you okay? Did any of the members catch a cold? No, wait! Kang Minje! Why the hell is Kang Minje there!"
"He's a member too."
"That guy as an idol! The world's gone mad!"
I gave a wry smile.
*Tell me about it. It's insane.*
Kang Minje as a celebrity? Fine, whatever. But as a teammate? Totally nuts.
*And I was the one who started that mess from the beginning?*
Does that make me the crazy one? Suddenly, words failed me.
"It's so weird. Everyone around me's talking about you."
"Get used to it. It'll be like that from now on."
"Don't get cocky. Shut it, Cha Dowon."
"I was just speaking the truth."
My sister sighed over the phone.
"You're a rookie—you need to stay humble, or you'll slip up."
"Who's more humble than me in this world?"
"I said shut it! Still... I gotta admit. I had no idea."
My sister whispered softly.
"You dance pretty well."
"I practiced a lot."
"You really didn't catch a cold?"
"I'm perfectly healthy."
"Do your best. I'll do mine too."
"You too—don't overdo it with studying."
That was a genuine worry.
*She never complains about how tough it is.*
Honestly, after Mom passed, it must've been hard for her to even cope emotionally. The world felt too heavy for my just-turned-20 sister.
*How did she hold on before I regressed?*
Why couldn't I be her strength back then?
"Hanging up."
"Yeah."
The call ended. I pocketed my smartphone.
"Your sister?"
"Yeah. She must've seen our debut stage since it went viral."
Lee Seungjun's eyes sparkled.
*Oh crap, shouldn't talk about sisters in front of this guy.*
Lee Seungjun spoke in a wistful tone.
"I wonder if my sister liked it too."
"Of course she did."
Ah, damn.
*The mood's getting weird.*
Bear Cub cracked a faint smile.
"Yeah, right?"
"Wanna eat something?"
I shot to my feet.
"I'll grab whatever."
Gotta feed him quick and tuck him in. I hurried out of the room. Sensitive teenager and all that.
*Take sister calls outside from now on.*
How much he must miss her. A sigh escaped me naturally. But snacks were in order, so I headed to the kitchen—and there was Kang Minje.
*Ah, damn.*
The last guy I wanted to see. Kang Minje was drinking water as he asked,
"Need anything?"
"Looking for a snack."
Kang Minje's hair was dripping—he must've just showered.
"Why're you out here?"
"Uh, throat was dry?"
His room had its own fridge stocked full of bottled water.
*Don't ask.*
He wanted to come out, I guess.
But it was too late. Kang Minje spilled his unasked-for story.
"Couldn't sleep, y'know."
Ah, got it. You have sleepless nights too.
*Doesn't he pass out the second his eyes close anywhere?*
Kang Minje set his glass on the table and said,
"Still doesn't feel real."
"What doesn't?"
"It's not a dream, right?"
He leaned one hip against the table.
*Damn. What's with this heavy mood?*
Why's he suddenly getting serious? Annoying.
"We're blowing up right now."
What're you talking about?
"Still a ways to go."
Our debut stage was buzzing, sure. The head director and planning team looked swamped. The manager said schedules would pile up soon—brace yourselves.
*But this much?*
It was like soup after starving—a bowl goes down, but you'll be hungry again soon. I hadn't even chewed proper meat, and I wasn't ready to get all sentimental over this.
"Hyung, our goal isn't just 'kinda popular' idols, right?"
I smirked, but Kang Minje didn't smile.
He looked at me with trembling eyes.
"You wouldn't settle for this."
I still remembered.
Before regression, he'd scarfed down my budae jjigae and said,
~Dowon-ah. I wanna be even greater. I want everyone to know me. No matter where I go, I want them to know who I am.~
What did I say back then?
*'Me too. But the goal's always too far away.'*
So why's this guy acting weak?
"Yeah, I'm pretty greedy."
"Well, me too."
"Dowon-ah, I..."
Kang Minje said cautiously.
"I'm just... glad I could lean on you."
I couldn't hide my expression for a second.
*What the hell is this nonsense?*
Did I hear that right? Lean on me? Kang Minje?
"Who?"
"You, obviously."
A wave of disgust hit me. I forced deep breaths.
*Okay, fine. I did nag him about making good music.*
And the Vita thing—he could think that way.
*Stay calm.*
How to use this? Not bad. Him thinking like that benefits me.
I flashed a grin.
"We're teammates."
Even if I wanna kick him in the solar plexus, I can't now. Funny thing is, one member screwing up tanks our stock.
"Yeah, I'm glad to share the stage with you too, hyung."
A memory flashed. Back when the troupe was on the brink financially, I'd told this jerk,
~Someday I wanna stand on stage with you, hyung. I know it's impossible. But maybe as a backup dancer?~
Damn.
*So naive back then.*
Expecting that from this scum.
Kang Minje scratched his cheek with moist eyes. Looked bashfully pathetic, which made it worse.
"Busy starting tomorrow. Let's crash."
"Uh, yeah. Hey, Dowon-ah."
He leaned in close.
"I liked it too. Sharing the stage with you."
I couldn't help a chuckle.
*This guy's a riot. Kang Minje.*
Kang Minje kept scratching his cheek.
"Keep trusting me from now on. I'll be a good hyung to you."
Wow.
I clenched my fist tight.
*I'd sooner trust a stray dog.*
Hot rage boiled inside, but I suppressed it.
Another memory surfaced.
~Dowon-ah. I'll take responsibility for you.~
I believed him. Foolishly.
I exhaled deeply. My gut burned more, but I didn't show it.
I said the exact same thing as back then.
"I trust you."
Yeah. The old me trusted you like an idiot.
*'Til you stole my girlfriend.'*
That's when I saw your true colors.
Kang Minje beamed in front of me. I gripped my rising fist with the other hand.
"Let's rest."
"Yeah."
My insides churned. I returned to my room and shut the door.
"Dowon-ah?"
My fingers trembled slightly.
Ah, right—Lee Seungjun was in the room.
"Ah, saw something gross."
"What?"
"Even taking a shit would've been prettier."
Fine, say the past changed for the better. Still.
*Kang Minje's Kang Minje.*
I sighed deeply. Lee Seungjun stared blankly but didn't pry.
*His silence is a blessing right now.*
I lay on the bed and said,
"Sorry. No snacks."
"It's fine. Let's sleep."
Overly considerate, this guy.
Eyes closed, sleep crashed over me. Pre-regression scenes flickered and faded.
Immature, stupid past me.
Damn.
Wanna strangle 'em all—do you know that?
*I won't fall for it again. Kang Minje.*
Sleep overtook me. I drifted off quietly.
***
"Schedules are piling up~"
We were eating breakfast when the manager danced in. I eyed his jiggling belly and said,
"You look healthy."
"Things are going great—I'm thrilled to death! How's this? Rumba!"
I quietly looked away. Manager's morning dance was terrorism.
"Good morning, everyone! Woo-hoo~!"
Lee Seungjun looked elsewhere and muttered,
"Ugh, my stomach..."
You can't handle it either, huh.
To stop the dance, I cut to the chase.
"Quit dancing. So, what's up?"
"First off, we're on *Immortal Songs*."
Clang—
Something hit the floor from the table. Obviously Kang Minje's spoon—I ignored it quietly.
"Whose special? It's by singer, right?"
"Kim Sang-seok special—poetic lyrics that touch the heart!"
Thud—
A person hit the floor this time. Obviously Kang Minje—I didn't even turn.
*Kim Sang-seok—that's a big one.*
I'd seen clips on video sites before. Big names, kept gasping in awe.
Sure enough, the manager said,
"It's split into Part 1 and 2, two champions picked."
Ah, yeah.
Kang Minje yelled from the floor,
"Kim... Sang-seok!"
I stared at him blankly.
*This guy's a fan.*
Pre-regression, he'd played his arrangements a few times.
~Wanted to do Kim Sang-seok special so bad, but we weren't big enough to even ask.~
Glad you made it, jerk.
I turned back to the manager.
"It's confirmed?"
"Of course. And that's not all. Woo-hoo!"
The manager resumed his rumba. Eyes down to avoid the horror, Yoo Hajin asked,
"*Our Idol* too?"
"That and more."
Ki Jaeyoon jumped in,
"I've always wanted to do *Our Idol*!"
I sipped water and asked,
"What's *Our Idol*?"
"Show where idols compete in weird stuff! Two teams go head-to-head!"
Nerve-wracking battles, huh.
*Bad taste, but fun when I win.*
"That too, plus three interviews, tons of events."
Sounded like the company's raking it in.
"And the big one!"
The manager shook his belly dancing again.
"All four music shows locked in!"
Ugh, stomachache.
Yoo Hajin grinned.
"Changing in the hallway again?"
"They'll give us a waiting room."
"Makes it doable. Easier for Stylist Noona too."
Ki Jaeyoon said,
"But are we really blowing up? MV comments are exploding, but it doesn't feel real."
I agreed.
*Feels like I'm still pre-regression.*
Position changed, but no real sense.
"You guys blew up! Completely! Oh, one thing—don't overdo SNS! Stir up scandal and you're dead! Headache city!"
Ah, right.
*Gotta be careful.*
"Followers too—celebs okay, fans never."
Got it.
"You're idols. Don't forget—you plant dreams and fantasies worldwide. Fans aren't curious about the real honest you. They're curious about idol you."
Image game.
*That's the truth.*
Raw honesty? Who wants that.
*Everyone wants the polished version.*
The manager pointed at each one.
"Caring leader, Yoo Hajin!"
Yoo Hajin smiled brightly.
"Music genius, Kang Minje!"
Kang Minje crouched, picking up his spoon from the floor.
"Stoic buff rapper, Lee Seungjun!"
Lee Seungjun scratched his arms—goosebumps?
"Lively, energetic, humorous Ki Jaeyoon!"
Ki Jaeyoon pouted.
"I hate that image! Gimme something cool!"
"And maknae on top! Sane psycho! Acting genius! Cha Dowon!"
Like a campaign slogan.
Yoo Hajin stood with his rice bowl and said,
"Overall image feels dated. Not 21st century."
Oho, sharp.
I grinned and said,
"They say classic is always best."