Chapter 145
Chapter 145
[Successful Win!]
In the midst of public recognition at the ‘Most Prestigious Domestic Awards Ceremony,’ you have successfully won the Rookie of the Year award!
!Time Limit: Satisfied (Great Success)
!Status Effect: ‘Death if Not an Award’ removed!
: Verify Truth ☜ Click!
First, I had to click ‘Verify Truth’ to remove this status effect before I could move on to the next one.
The problem was that every time I clicked it, some uncomfortable backstories about other people would pop up.
‘I definitely don’t want to see any more of Cheong-ryeo for now.’
It was helpful at the time, but now I didn't feel like digging into his business anymore.
‘I’d rather see more of the original Park Moon-dae’s circumstances.’
…Come to think of it, I had completely lost touch with Cheong-ryeo recently.
Since the reaction to my appearance on the Nerdy Andy Show was quite good, I’d been getting congratulatory texts from all sorts of people, even those I wasn't close to.
I even got an apology-slash-congratulatory text from Choi Won-gil.
—Sunbae-nim, congratulations on your US debut. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you in the past.
Seeing that text, which only contained the necessary business, naturally reminded me of the apology text I’d received from Cheong-ryeo before, which simply said, ‘I’m sorry.’
But there was no other contact from that guy. I only received a barrage of emojis from two other VTIC members I’d met on a variety show.
‘It’s better for my emotional well-being.’
I hoped we could continue this trend of cutting each other out of our lives.
I shook my head and looked back at the pop-up.
‘Let’s go.’
No matter what came out, there was no need to overreact.
I touched the pop-up.
And just like last time, my vision went black.
*
What came into view was the inside of a moving intercity bus.
Vroooooom.
People were sitting in their seats, chatting and laughing.
I could guess the situation from the unusually harmonious atmosphere and the walls that lacked any route maps.
‘It’s a chartered bus.’
It wasn't public transportation; it seemed to be carrying a group of tourists. It felt a bit dated, perhaps from quite a while ago, but everyone seemed well-dressed.
And that’s when I realized.
Unlike my previous experiences, I wasn't in someone else's shoes; my own sense of self was distinct.
‘What is this?’
In the midst of my confusion, I saw a familiar face sitting in the window seat on the left.
It was a young Ryu Cheong-woo.
“……!”
Ryu Cheong-woo was asleep with his arms crossed, leaning against the window. Even though he was young, his sturdy frame was already beginning to show.
It was incredibly… random.
‘What am I supposed to do with Ryu Cheong-woo sleeping?’
As I watched him with a sense of bewilderment, a memory flashed through my mind like a bolt of lightning.
It was something Ryu Cheong-woo had said during a drinking session once.
—I was in a pretty big car accident when I was a kid… I guess something got messed up because the aftereffects only showed up after I was fully grown. My hands shake when I apply pressure.
‘…No way.’
No fucking way. Please, no.
But my worst fears were realized.
The bus, which had been cruising smoothly down the highway, suddenly swerved.
In an instant, the bus lurched violently.
“Aaaah!!”
As screams and the bus driver’s shouts collided, the left window shattered, and something came flying in.
It was a torn-off side mirror.
The hunk of metal slammed directly into Ryu Cheong-woo’s shoulder.
“……!!”
“Cheong-woo!!”
The bus turned into a scene of carnage filled with shouts and screams.
‘What kind of psychopath shows this kind of thing live?!’
Reflexively, I reached out to pull Ryu Cheong-woo away, only to realize I didn't have a body.
I watched as an ambulance carried away Ryu Cheong-woo, who had collapsed in a truly gruesome state.
……I felt heavy-hearted.
I could hear the paramedics talking to the passengers.
“The report came in as ‘one child injured,’ so that’s the size of the transport vehicle we have right now.”
“Oh, we’re fine! If we’re hurting, we can just go to the hospital ourselves.”
Indeed, Ryu Cheong-woo was the only one seriously injured.
The paramedics, agreeing immediately, put the unconscious Ryu Cheong-woo and his wailing parents into the ambulance and headed for the hospital.
The remaining passengers seemed to agree to have one or two representatives stay behind for insurance purposes while the rest took taxis to get off the road.
And I remained stuck in this vision.
‘What now?’
If I were following Ryu Cheong-woo, that would be one thing, but I didn't understand why I was still here.
And the moment my gaze turned back toward the passengers.
“So, we’re going like this?”
“Yeah.”
My… my thoughts came to a halt.
People I thought I’d never see again were standing there, perfectly fine.
…It was Mom and Dad.
“You guys go ahead. We’ll take the next one.”
“Oh, thank you~”
That’s right. That was their voice.
Unlike their images, which remained in photos, not a single note of their voices had been preserved.
Since the video taken during my first birthday had been lost during a move, the voices that remained only in my memory had quickly grown faint.
Sometimes I would remember them in my sleep. But because I couldn't record them, they soon crumbled away.
It felt like my heart was going to leap out of my chest.
But since I was currently nothing more than a consciousness, I was able to piece together the puzzle instead.
‘……It was a family gathering.’
This bus must have been for a Pungsan Ryu clan gathering. The surname of Ryu Cheong-woo… and me, ‘Ryu Gun-woo,’ before I entered Park Moon-dae’s body.
It seemed Ryu Cheong-woo’s accident happened while they were on some kind of family trip.
I felt sorry for Ryu Cheong-woo, but… I was so, so relieved that my vision didn't follow him and stayed here instead.
…I was truly relieved.
My parents got into a taxi with a few other relatives. I saw familiar faces I had been indebted to for a year or two during middle and high school.
‘It really is a family gathering.’
I was nodding to myself when suddenly… a strange thought occurred to me.
‘When… exactly is this?’
This time, which was so incredibly close to the image of my parents that I remembered.
‘No.’
Like a conditioned reflex, a chilling premonition hammered at my skull.
The taxi started moving immediately.
I heard my mother’s voice.
“I hope the boy is okay. I’m worried.”
“I know. Everyone must have been so shocked. Let’s get some rest once we reach the pension and then head back. To think this happened during a family event, of all things.”
“I can only imagine how his parents must feel, coming all the way to Gangwon-do for this to happen…… Sigh.”
Family event. Gangwon-do.
Keywords that shouldn't be coming out kept appearing…….
“Still, it’s a relief Gun-woo didn't come. They said he’s preparing for the foreign language high school; the boy works so hard~ I wonder who he takes after?”
“He takes after his mother, of course. Those two are exactly the same when it comes to being smart.”
“Oh my. You two are still so lovey-dovey.”
“Haha!”
The sound of laughter made my head spin. Something was wrong.
Something…….
“We’ve arrived.”
“Let’s lie down for a bit, then catch a bus or a train back to Seoul, shall we?”
Outside the window, I saw the pension.
It was a tasteful wooden building that blended well with the mountains.
I felt like I’d only seen photos of it after it had burned down…….
‘Stop.’
But the people in the taxi got out together, took their luggage, and entered the pension.
I remained there.
‘I said stop.’
But my vision shifted in an instant.
Time fast-forwarded.
And soon, smoke began to rise from the pension.
Crackle, snap, pop…
Small sparks flickered inside. Looking from the outside, it was broad daylight, so the brightness was nothing special.
But people could die from things like that.
Especially in a building constructed with unauthorized flammable materials… that is.
Because toxic smoke was generated.
Because they couldn't get out in time while sleeping.
Wiaaaaaaaa—
The sound of belated sirens shook my brain.
*
It was over.
“Gasp.”
I shoved my hand into my mouth. Even so, a sound leaked out.
I buried my face into the duvet. Finally, my mouth was muffled.
‘What the hell was that?’
I didn't know. What kind of situation was this? Why the fuck did I have to see that?
My brain was malfunctioning. I couldn't think straight.
I had to calm down. The reason I had to calm down was because, because…….
‘W Live tomorrow.’
Right. I had a schedule tomorrow. We were going to broadcast ourselves hanging out at the hotel, timed for the evening in Korea, so…….
Can I even stand in front of a camera?
Can I really work in this state… Why the hell am I worrying about this?
“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”
To hell with the camera, why the fuck did I have to see that? Did I live my life that poorly?
“Park Moon-dae, are you okay? What is it?”
“Don’t talk to me.”
“What?”
“I said don’t fucking talk to me…!”
I don't even know what I babbled because of the blanket. But the guy who was talking to me must have understood. He didn't say anything else.
Good. I need to think… think…….
[Sudden!]
Status Effect: ‘Death if Not an Audience’ occurred!
“Fucking hell, seriously.”
I slammed my head against the bedside table.
“Hey!!”
“Moon-dae!”
The noise increased. It seemed more people had gathered.
The bed sank as several hands grabbed my shoulders.
“…Do you want to go to the hospital now? Where does it hurt?”
“It doesn't hurt.”
“Then why are you like this? …Did something happen? Just tell us for now. I won't tell the company.”
“…….”
I was exhausted.
Since I couldn't explain this… I just wanted them to shut up and leave. That was the best option, but it was a situation where even explaining that would sound irrational.
“M-Moon-dae. Here.”
Someone pressed something into my hand. A glass. And… medicine?
I tossed it into my mouth and swallowed the water.
It felt like it was going to come right back up, but it went down.
“…….”
The surroundings grew quiet.
And my head cooled down a bit, too.
“…Is it a sedative?”
“…! P-Painkillers and, sleeping pills…….”
Ah, right. You can't buy sedatives without a prescription.
Still, putting something in my mouth brought back a sense of reality. And by talking to familiar people, I felt like I had escaped my messy thoughts for a moment.
‘Let’s stay calm.’
I coughed a few times and then lifted my head.
“……I just had a bad dream. Sorry. For causing a scene.”
“I-It’s okay!”
“…Are you feeling a bit better?”
But the moment I saw Ryu Cheong-woo among the faces of the worried members, I felt a strong urge to slam that bastard’s face right into the nightstand.
‘This isn't working.’
My head was clearly still messed up.
I lay back down on the bed.
“Again, I’m sorry……. I took the medicine, so I’ll try to go back to sleep.”
But I was immediately countered.
“…No, go to the hospital.”
“What?”
It was Bae Se-jin’s voice. I could sense his nervousness.
“I’ll call the manager hyung, so go get a medical certificate and some sedatives. ……There’s no reason not to do it when you can.”
“…….”
I couldn't deny it.
In the end, I got out of bed.
Accompanied by a manager who had rushed over in surprise, I actually went through an emergency room in the middle of America and bought sedatives.
The sedatives I received, using insomnia as a convenient excuse, were quite effective. I was able to sleep without much trouble from that day on.
And except for one W Live that I skipped for health reasons immediately after, I was able to handle my schedule without any issues. I just had to do it without thinking about anything else.
Once I’d sorted things out like that, two problems remained.
One was… that I was incredibly reluctant to call up the status window.
Since there was a generous grace period for this, it was fine for now. The other side was much more of a headache.
It was the fact that I couldn't stand interacting with Ryu Cheong-woo.
I could barely manage a greeting, but if I went any deeper, I’d immediately think of that fucking ‘Truth Verification’ and it would drive me crazy.
……But of all things, my roommate for the next shoot was Ryu Cheong-woo.
‘I’m going insane.’
It looked like I’d have to choose between discord rumors and my mental health.