Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: A Strange Place
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Dragging my trunk, we headed to a room with six bunk beds. Of course, the room's occupants weren't there yet.
"Usually just for sleeping."
I chuckled. It felt like being back in the military.
'Well, similar enough.'
Living with total strangers was a pain in the ass. Especially with a bunch of grubby guys.
I looked around and asked,
"Where should I put my stuff?"
"Pick an empty spot. There's probably one open because of the end-of-month evaluations."
The bottom left bunk was empty. Come to think of it, only two people seemed to be in the room.
"They packed up and went home."
"I see."
"Look at this guy. Aren't you scared? If you don't show results, you'll be packing too."
I shrugged.
"Why would I be scared?"
Better spend that time practicing.
I opened my trunk and pulled out my workout clothes. Then, casually stripped off my shirt.
"W-What are you doing?!"
Why's he freaking out? We're both guys.
I ignored him and changed into my workout clothes.
"Sorry, but could you tell me..."
"Tell you what? I don't have any dirty magazines."
I furrowed my brow. What the hell is he thinking?
"The practice room."
"What? Practice? Already?"
"If not, I'll go jogging. There's a treadmill here, right?"
"There is, but it's at the company building. Five minutes' walk."
"Let's go."
Time is money, after all. Gotta use it wisely. I pocketed my smartphone and recorder.
"Y-You're taking that too?"
I grinned widely.
"You went out of your way to give it to me."
Auntie's love was mysterious and amazing.
'Though a bit too amazing.'
Such thorough affection was so very auntie-like.
"Y-You're Dowon, right? Don't live life so intensely, kid. If you're like this already..."
The manager clicked his tongue, but I finished his sentence.
"If I'm like this already, I'll live great."
I flashed a bright smile.
"Please show me the way."
Manager Brother shook his head and opened the door. That's when it happened. A vaguely familiar guy was standing right outside, waving and smiling.
"Hey, Minje? What brings you here?"
He walked over calmly and stood in front of me. I forced my narrowing eyes open and managed a smile.
"Minje Hyung!"
"You're here. Just arrived?"
"Yeah. Got here a minute ago."
"I live upstairs. Came to give you the front door passcode."
Damn. A passcode? And why tell me?
'No way!'
Even running into him pisses me off—why would I go there?
"W-What? Minje, you're giving him your house passcode?"
The plump manager looked shocked.
"Yeah. We're close."
We're not.
"How?"
Afraid it'd look like we were even closer, I said,
"We were neighbors before."
"Minje, you have close friends? More than that, the front door passcode! I don't even know it!"
Huh.
"You don't know it either, Manager?"
"It's a secret. Hate the hassle."
"Is that okay?"
"It's a company dorm, but upstairs is my house, so no problem."
I sorted my thoughts. So he bought the upstairs unit? That's why even the manager can't go up?
'Rich guy?'
Was Kang Minje always loaded?
"The passcode is my birthday."
"Ah..."
I let out a small breath and nodded. I had no choice but to remember that guy's birthday.
'Same as Noona's.'
When we were kids, we'd even blown out candles on the same cake.
'It was just stacked Choco Pies back then since we were broke...'
It was a warm memory that now made me sick. As annoyed as I was, I smiled brightly.
"I'm heading to the practice room."
"It's probably empty right now? Might be locked. Vocal room's open, maybe?"
"Yeah? Then I'll hit the gym and run on the treadmill."
Kang Minje glanced at the manager, then back at me.
"I'll take you. Go ahead with your work, Hyung. I got this."
"You, Minje? You guys really are close."
"Yeah. That's right."
We're not. I didn't agree.
Kang Minje strode ahead. I followed like I was being dragged along.
Just as we stepped out of the villa, he said,
"You really came here."
"Told you I was."
"Yeah. I knew. Been waiting. Dorm too cramped? Wanted you to stay at my place instead, but the boss said no. Said dorm life is part of training."
Whoever he is, thanks. The thought of sharing space with that guy gives me chills.
"Too bad."
"Hurry up and get into a debut lineup. Then you can move into my place. Just live there."
Great service. Still not going.
I glared at the back of his head, then jogged a bit to catch up.
'Disgusting, but gotta play nice.'
That's how I score something out of it.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Kang Minje smiled at me. I asked amiably,
"Hyung, give me the rundown on the company."
You seemed like an insider—spill some info.
"Friends Entertainment? Funding's decent, at least."
"No shady money?"
"Yeah. President's upright, always looking ahead."
That's why the company succeeded.
"But they cut trainees ruthlessly. Tough to survive."
"Were you struggling too, Hyung?"
He shook his head.
"Nah. I don't stir up trouble from the start. Skills lacking, so I work hard."
Good for you.
"But I'm a bit worried about you, Dowon."
What?
"Lots of jealousy here."
Huh? How'd he know?
As we entered the company building, Kang Minje said,
"Not about you. The trainees. They're all desperate to debut, so they get heated. Pick fights easy."
Makes sense.
'Trainees fighting each other?'
That's annoying.
In the elevator, Kang Minje hit the 5th floor button smoothly.
"5th floor has practice rooms, gym, showers—all there."
"Free for trainees?"
"Yeah."
Wonder if they have soap and stuff. Gotta save money.
I looked around as we walked. The place was reasonably clean.
"Lots of CCTV."
"For accident prevention, personality checks, all that. Feel watched?"
I shook my head.
"Don't care."
Someone's watching, huh.
"That's the practice room. This is the gym."
Kang Minje opened the gym door and said,
"Ready for it?"
"Of course."
As I said that, I turned my head and froze in shock.
What the hell is that?
"Trainees here are no joke. And accidents happen more than you'd think."
"Yeah...?"
I rubbed my eyes quietly. Couldn't believe what I was seeing.
This an accident too?
"They're all on edge. Even if higher-ups try to control it, there's limits. Especially with so few staff watching trainees."
"Y-Yeah, but..."
A large figure dangled back and forth. I rubbed my eyes again.
'Not a ghost, right?'
A guy I'd never seen was gripping a noose around his neck with both hands, swinging like a pendulum.
What? A prank? He's holding the rope tight, so not suicide...
Just in case, I asked,
"Hyung, no hazing or welcome parties here, right?"
"Of course not."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Why?"
I pointed at the hanging guy.
"Then what's that?"
Kang Minje followed my finger, then jumped back. Shit, it's real! I rushed over and grabbed the guy's legs.
"Hyung! Call someone and dial 119!"
"H-Huh?!"
Kang Minje flung open the door and yelled for help. Soon, a woman came running in. She saw the figure and recoiled, screaming,
"Seungjun!"
Ow, my ears.
"Loosen the rope first!"
She cut the cord with scissors, and Kang Minje caught him and laid him on the floor. I pressed my ear to his chest to check his heartbeat, then looked at the mark on his neck.
'Looks fine.'
But he lay there motionless like a corpse. Passed out? Face wasn't flushed, though.
'He was holding it with his hands.'
In short, this guy was perfectly fine and alive.
I glared at him. Pissed me off for some reason.
"I'll do chest compressions."
I cut his shirt open with the scissors. Kang Minje hurriedly asked,
"You know how?"
"Yeah."
Knew it wasn't needed. But I was mad.
'What the fuck.'
His exposed body showed well-built muscles. Big guy pulling this childish stunt?
I placed both hands on his healthy chest and pressed hard with my body weight.
'Give you some bruises.'
Wanted to crack his ribs, but I'm generous. I'll hold back.
I heard sirens calling 119. The guy on the floor should've been in serious pain from the compressions, but he didn't twitch. Even light compressions are tough, so I was sweating bullets as I kept going.
How much time passed? Just as handprint bruises formed, 119 arrived. I wiped the sweat from my forehead as they loaded him onto the stretcher.
'Crazy bastard.'
He's fine but didn't open his eyes once—embarrassing.
"You okay?"
Kang Minje asked worriedly.
"Of course."
"Not tired?"
"Of course I am."
What a dumb question.
"You did the CPR well."
"Learned it."
Couldn't say I picked it up as a swim instructor pre-regression. I sighed softly. Come to think of it, I did all kinds of part-time jobs back then.
He'd ask where next. Annoyed, I bullshitted,
"Learned it in school. Ah, wasted sweat for nothing."
I stood up. Better exercise now. Wasted time on this weirdo.
I quietly stepped onto the treadmill. Kang Minje stared at me blankly.
"Why stare? Something on my face?"
"Nah. Just a bit weird."
"What?"
"Why'd you do it? His heart didn't seem stopped."
Sharp bastard. Knows and still asks.
"Oh, just did. To mess with him. Scaring people like that—what's the point. Didn't even look like he wanted to die."
Kang Minje blinked.
"He was gripping the rope with both hands so he wouldn't choke. Good arm strength kept him up."
I glanced at the cord on the floor.
"Annoying guy. Did the compressions on purpose to hurt. Real ones need to be deeper and faster."
Kang Minje didn't look away. Why's he like this?
"Hyung, not working out?"
"Nah, but..."
He finally looked elsewhere.
"I hear from the president I'm a weird one. But you, Dowon—you seem weirder."
An insult?
"Not just a little change."
"No idea what kind of kid I was in your memories."
"Bright, clumsy, loud voice. Pure."
Yeah, five years ago maybe. Should an elementary kid be jaded?
I started running on the treadmill and said,
"You're right, Hyung."
He looked at me.
"This place seems strange. Trainees attempting suicide and all."
"You're plenty strange too."
Then the gym door opened, and trainees poured in. They saw me on the treadmill and Kang Minje standing blankly, and started murmuring.
'Damn. What's that about.'
The vibe was off.
'Don't they usually chat?'
Isn't Kang Minje a trainee too? Someone should ask what happened, but no one approached.
But Kang Minje casually asked me,
"Hey, Dowon. After practice, wanna grab food?"
No reason to refuse came to mind. Gross, but I quietly changed my tune.
'He seems rich, right?'
I grinned. Got it! Time to mooch! He won't make his little bro pay, right?
'Gotta save to live well!'
To finish Noona's med school without selling the house, tighten the belt max.
'Disgust is momentary, fullness lasts two hours.'
Nutrition matters. Plus, I got 20cm left to grow.
"Yeah! Hyung! Let's eat something tasty!"
That's when it happened. Sudden murmurs around us. I quietly looked toward the noise. The trainees were openly pointing at me and Kang Minje.
'What now.'
Why not approach or talk—just stare and point?