Chapter 122
Chapter 122
Choi Won-gil. The guy who caused constant friction during every team match in Idol Inc., eventually getting hit by the evil editing beam and seeing his popularity plummet.
I suppose you could call him a case of someone who tried to act sly but failed because it was so obvious.
In a way, he was consistently impressive, considering he even made Seon A-hyun huff and puff, saying, "He’s such a mean person."
‘Hmm, did he drop out when he ran away to Gold 1’s agency?’
So, seeing the two of them moving together wasn't particularly surprising, but the fact that they were at a broadcasting station during the year-end music programs was unexpected.
‘They shouldn't have debuted yet.’
I had checked all of this year’s rookie trends because of that Rookie of the Year Award, and their agency wasn't in the lineup.
Meanwhile, Gold 1 was chatting and giggling with the members.
"Wow, it’s really good to see you! Oh, wait, should I call you 'sunbaenim'? You guys are seriously amazing~"
"Oh, stop it~"
"P-please speak comfortably, Hyung...!"
"Hey, A-hyun, you’re still such a sweet kid!"
In the middle of the friendly atmosphere, I took a quick look at Gold 1 and Choi Won-gil’s appearance.
Then I realized.
‘They came as dancers.’
A female solo artist from that agency, a former idol, had been doing very well recently.
It wasn't unusual for agencies to use trainees from their debut lineup as dancers to give them experience and generate media coverage.
Sure enough, Gold 1 pushed forward the guys around him, who were wearing the same black outfits as him, and introduced them.
"Right, these are the younger guys I'm practicing with!"
"Oh, hello!"
"Hello!"
The eyes of the guys greeting us sparkled with curiosity, envy, and admiration. Some of the members exchanged awkward greetings, seemingly uncomfortable with such a reaction.
Then, I was suddenly singled out.
"U-um, Park Moon-dae sunbaenim!"
"Yes?"
"Could I... could I please get a handshake...!! Just once...!!"
Someone next to him suppressed him in horror.
"Hey, hey! Don't overstep!"
"Aigoo, you little rascal, even here? Hah!"
What are these guys doing?
I nodded, hiding my discomfort.
"...Of course."
"...! T-thank you!"
And so, a handshake was exchanged with extreme politeness, as if he were meeting the chairman of a major corporation.
"Ah, I'm so happy!"
As the handshake enthusiast rejoiced, Gold 1’s teammates whispered among themselves.
"Man, I guess you really do need courage."
"I know, right?"
...Anyone watching would think they’d met a legendary veteran of the music industry.
From the looks of it, their team was already finalized. If they were to officially debut early next year, there wouldn't even be a full year's difference in seniority between them and TeSTAR.
‘...Well, results are everything.’
That look of reverence was purely a psychological gap directed toward a 'successful group.'
And it seemed those kids weren't the only ones feeling it.
Though it was in a slightly different direction.
"Wow, even though I wasn't the one being filmed during the pre-recording, I was so nervous."
"Wait, aren't you exaggerating a bit for someone who has fancams with hundreds of thousands of views~?"
"Hey, that’s different! It’s scarier to mess up a senior’s stage!"
"Hmm, that seems like a difficult problem to rank."
Behind Gold 1 and the TeSTAR members who were catching up, Choi Won-gil stood with his head bowed, avoiding everyone's gaze.
"……."
‘He’s been suppressed.’
He seemed like the type whose behavior would end once the hierarchy was completely established.
Since TeSTAR’s activities this year had been so successful, he probably didn't even dare to say anything.
In the meantime, Gold 1 managed to finish greeting Bae Se-jin as well. He then gave a closing remark with a slightly regretful expression.
"Ah~ I have so much to talk about, but you guys are busy, right? I'll buy you a meal sometime!"
It was a polite way of saying we should get going.
However, there happened to be someone there who wasn't very good at picking up on empty pleasantries.
Namely, Kim Rae-bin.
"Ah, we have plenty of time until our next stage. I believe there would be no difficulty in continuing our conversation if we move to the waiting room."
Gold 1 was flustered.
"Haha, Rae-bin, thanks for the offer, but wouldn't it be uncomfortable for the people I don't know well~?"
But then there were Cha Yu-jin and Ryu Cheong-woo.
"It’s not uncomfortable!"
"Ah, it’s fine. Make yourself at home."
"I-is that so?"
Gold 1 was taken aback by the clean 'okay.'
And Gold 1’s teammates, sensing the situation, quickly made their escape.
"Hyung, have a good time. We'll be at the dorm!"
"Bring back some Melona when you come!"
"Good luck with the Idol Inc. reunion talk~!"
"You crazy bastards!"
The guys in black ran down the hallway in a swarm and disappeared.
However, Choi Won-gil, who had missed his timing, remained where he was.
"……."
It seemed he wasn't fitting in well because he had just joined the team, or perhaps they had left him behind because he was also from Idol Inc.
‘The situation is awkward.’
Fortunately, Gold 1 looked after Choi Won-gil.
"Ah, Won-gil, since it's our first time visiting these guys' waiting room, should we go buy some drinks?"
"I'll go buy them."
"Huh?"
And before Gold 1 could say anything more, Choi Won-gil ran off.
‘He’s probably not coming back.’
Gold 1 sighed.
"Sorry, that was a bit uncomfortable, wasn't it?"
"I-it’s okay!"
"How is it okay... But Won-gil, he’s improved a lot. I'm a bit worried that he looks up internet reactions too much, though... Well, not much is being said these days anyway."
Gold 1 let out a deep sigh. It seemed he had gone through quite a bit of emotional distress.
Keun Se-jin smiled and glanced at the spot where Choi Won-gil had disappeared.
"He’s in the debut lineup too, right?"
"Yeah. Honestly, well, he’s a good singer... and young. He has recognition, too."
Indeed, he hadn't debuted through Idol Inc., and since it was ultimately a matter of his broadcast image, they could just brush it off as evil editing.
There was no major problem with including one person like him in a group.
‘Well, it’s none of my business.’
If their first-week sales exceed 300,000 copies next year, maybe I'll analyze them then.
"Oh, Moon-dae, where are you going?"
"Restroom."
I slipped out of the group heading to the waiting room and walked down the hallway.
‘There weren't many people on the floor below.’
Since I had plenty of time, I planned to go somewhere where I wouldn't run into anyone.
And before I even reached the restroom, I ran into Choi Won-gil.
Surprisingly, instead of the convenience store, he was sitting in a corner of the emergency staircase, wallowing in solitude.
"……."
"……."
Let's just go to the restroom.
I gave a slight nod and walked past Choi Won-gil to go down the stairs.
Then, Choi Won-gil suddenly shouted.
"Must be nice for you, Hyung."
"……??"
"Everything going well... Everyone liking you."
Why is he suddenly dropping lines like he's in a daily soap opera?
I don't know. Rather than being absurd... it’s just very solemn and embarrassing.
‘The sound echoes because it’s an emergency staircase.’
It made me cringe even more.
I hoped there was no one above or below these secluded stairs.
Because I didn't want anyone to know that I was the one hearing these lines.
"What does it feel like to live like that? Like the whole world is revolving exactly the way you want it to."
I never dreamed there would be a punk who would actually say such things in real life.
To make matters worse, Choi Won-gil was now sniffing.
‘Just what is wrong with his emotional state?’
I was once again feeling that sense of disconnect I occasionally felt from idol hopefuls.
‘Should I just go?’
I took a step, but then I spotted a silhouette moving far below the railing.
"……!"
Can they hear?
The distance was quite far. But since the sound echoed, even if it was unclear, it seemed like they might have heard bits and pieces.
If I let this guy keep talking, wouldn't some weird rumor start?
‘...Should I clean this up before I leave?’
I looked at Choi Won-gil.
"Everyone else lives like that too! As if I was the only one... Everyone fought over parts and cursed at each other."
"……."
Now he was just talking however he wanted. It seemed that once he started, he couldn't control himself.
‘But why are you doing this to me?’
"H-Hyung, you took my part too. And, and... Se-jin Hyung was annoyed too, but only I was portrayed as the mean one. I even apologized to Hee-seung, but that wasn't aired."
Choi Won-gil continued to mutter, replaying the screen time he had received during the latter half of Idol Inc.
‘His head still hasn't left Idol Inc.’
Well, it could happen.
A young guy with a strong ego had suddenly been subjected to months of crude insults from an unspecified multitude.
TeSTAR, having gone through various crazy events over the past six months, had quickly shaken off the feelings from the Idol Inc. days. But this guy, who had only been practicing, would be different.
The reason he was acting like this toward me was probably because his competitive spirit and inferiority complex from the initial grade evaluation still remained.
It seemed that encountering me as an individual, rather than as one of TeSTAR, had caused it to burst out.
‘...At that level, wouldn't it be better to get some counseling?’
Of course, I had neither the need nor the desire to say such things. Let's just wrap this up well so no rumors start and get out of here.
I held back a sigh and spoke.
"You're envious of me? Why?"
"...Because everything went well for you, Hyung."
"That's not true."
I stared intently at Choi Won-gil.
"If I told you to trade places with me, would you do it?"
"……We can't trade...!"
"So you do have the desire to trade. Hmm..."
I massaged the back of my neck.
"But honestly, you wouldn't want to trade families, would you?"
"……!"
Choi Won-gil flinched while still curled up. Naturally, it seemed this guy also knew about Park Moon-dae’s family history.
I spoke slowly on purpose.
"What you're envious of is just... my current professional status. And who knows how that might change in a few years."
"……."
"Do you get along well with your parents?"
"...Yes."
"Good. I hope it stays that way."
"……."
Choi Won-gil bowed his head deeply.
‘That’s it.’
The unblockable move worked well.
‘He’s probably discarded some of that useless inferiority complex now.’
I guess having a famous tragic backstory can be used like this.
‘Let's just say something like "hang in there" and end it.’
But before I could open my mouth again, something surprising happened.
"...I'm sorry."
"……!"
An apology came out of Choi Won-gil’s mouth.
"For saying... you were just lucky at first. I'm sorry."
Hmm... did he say that?
It was probably one of the things Choi Won-gil had said sarcastically during the grade evaluation practice.
‘Isn't it a universal rule that the one who spat it out forgets, and only the one who heard it remembers?’
I didn't know he would be the only one still remembering it until now.
Anyway, it was a good conversation to wrap up the situation. It was even better if someone was listening.
I nodded.
"Sure. I accept your apology. Good luck with your debut preparations."
"……."
Choi Won-gil gave a small nod.
In truth, Choi Won-gil was a bit of an annoying brat, but he hadn't committed any major crime. He wasn't even clever enough to be truly malicious.
‘I suppose you could say he lacked the ability to ruin someone through political maneuvering.’
Even Gold 2, whom he had openly ignored, was doing better than him now.
Overall, he was just an irritating troll.
‘I hope I don't have to see him again.’
I walked back down the stairs.
Just in case, I double-checked below the railing, but the silhouette I had seen earlier was already gone.
"Happy New Year!!"
"Happy New Year~"
TeSTAR welcomed the New Year while staying at MBS for the countdown.
But of course, they didn't have the luxury to leisurely enjoy the New Year sentiment.
This was because a new awards ceremony was waiting for them in just five days.
The Golden Disc Awards.
Since it was one of the fairly famous and long-standing ceremonies, it was also among the candidates for the 'most prestigious awards ceremony' that I had arbitrarily set.
It was held over two days, divided into digital and physical album categories, but there was still only one Rookie of the Year Award.
And the cue sheet for the physical album category ceremony, which TeSTAR attended, included the Rookie of the Year segment.
Everyone thought to themselves:
‘Honestly, it would be weirder if TeSTAR didn't get it.’
And as everyone expected, TeSTAR won the Rookie of the Year Award early on, even before their own performance turn.
"Congratulations! TeSTAR!"
It wasn't a surprising result.
But perhaps because there had been so many obstacles, both the fans and TeSTAR were overflowing with a sense of exhilaration!
"Waaaaaaaah!!"
Recalling everything that had happened on the internet over the past two months, the fans vigorously waved their lightsticks and cheered.
"Thank you!"
TeSTAR bowed as they walked up onto the stage.
However, upon receiving the bouquets and the trophy, they suddenly exchanged glances with mischievous smiles.
And they immediately handed the microphone to Seon A-hyun.
"……??"
For a moment, a slightly bewildered atmosphere passed through the audience.
Anyone who had watched even a single episode of Idol Inc. couldn't help but know about Seon A-hyun’s stuttering.
Handing the microphone to Seon A-hyun first was something that had never happened before. There were even times when he himself had stepped back in panic.
But Seon A-hyun, though his face looked a bit tense, immediately took the microphone.
"……Thank you so much... for giving us... such an undeserved award."
"……!!"