Chapter 164
Chapter 164
It was 11 PM by the time we finished the day’s schedule, including the W-Live, and returned to the dorm.
The rest of the guys had cleared out a room for the two who had been fighting and gathered in the living room again. For the record, the room they gave up was the three-person room. It was more spacious, after all.
Seon A-hyun, who had even left behind the dish scrubber he’d been about to use in his hurry to leave the room, muttered anxiously.
“I-I hope they... they work things out well.”
“I hope so too.”
Honestly, I’d wondered if we should have sent Ryu Cheong-woo in there with them, but I scrapped the idea, fearing they might just keep things superficial out of consciousness of a third party.
‘Better to just let them have a massive blowout.’
Now that they’d had some time to think and were prepared to talk, even if they fought, they’d at least hear what the other was thinking.
‘That way, they can maintain boundaries once some time passes.’
Intense emotions fade, but memories remain. And since both of them were the type to overthink, it wouldn't take long.
“Let’s turn on Netplus!”
“Sure. Watch whatever you want.”
At Ryu Cheong-woo’s permission, Cha Yu-jin nonchalantly put on an American sitcom. As the living room filled with the noisy chatter of English, I looked down at my smartphone. The call history with the company was displayed on the screen.
[Assistant Manager Oh Seo-hyung, Operations Team]
To put it bluntly, it was a record of my protest. I was calling about the fact that the two who had fought were paired up on the W-Live today, despite my explicit requests and warnings.
‘If I don't get angry after this happening more than once or twice, I’m just a pushover.’
Since this industry is notorious for having zero work-life balance, I can overlook most mistakes. But they should have known to be careful about something this critical.
‘How could they handle a potential discord rumor like this?’
Their excuse was that the instruction "don't pick the one with the mark" was miscommunicated as "pick it," which led to this. Fine, I get that. The problem was the nuance.
—But honestly, there weren't any big issues between the two while filming... It’s good to be cautious, and it was a mistake on our part, but don't you think you might be reacting a bit too sensitively...?
In short, they were saying, "It wasn't a big deal to begin with, so aren't you guys overreacting?"
‘These guys have gotten way too complacent.’
It seemed that because so many external issues had cropped up lately and they’d been focusing solely on those, they’d started to lazily rely on TeSTAR’s usual easygoing nature. I didn't like it; if someone actually did something impulsive, their response would be too slow.
‘I’ll have to do some maintenance on this later.’
I briefly considered how to handle it, then shrugged and put my phone down.
‘First... let’s see those two get sorted out.’
In front of the sofa, Cha Yu-jin was excitedly babbling about a character in the sitcom he liked. Kim Rae-bin cut him off sternly.
“Please refrain... as that might be a spoiler for someone who hasn't seen this drama yet.”
“It’s not a spoiler!”
“It is a spoiler!”
The sound of the drama was barely audible over their voices. I wouldn't even be able to hear it if the two in the room started screaming at each other.
Just as I thought that, the door in question swung open and someone rushed out. It was Bae Se-jin, his face flushed as if it were about to explode.
“Park Moon-dae!”
‘I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him call my name.’
Did they somehow reach a conclusion to team up and attack me? Of course, that wasn't it.
“Y-You... just, come in for a second.”
“Pardon?”
“Just come here.”
I didn't know what was going on. Regardless, I didn't want to stir up trouble for no reason, so I stood up obediently. And so, I was practically ushered into the room by Bae Se-jin.
“Oh! Are the hyungs fight—”
“Now, now, watch the TV, Yu-jin.”
Bae Se-jin closed the door behind us. The noisy sound of the drama was instantly muffled. Keun Se-jin, who was sitting in the quiet room, had a composed expression. It didn't look like a physical brawl was about to break out.
‘It looks like things are going okay, so why did they call me?’
As I sat down on the floor with a look of reluctance, Keun Se-jin spoke up as if he’d been waiting.
“First... I talked with hyung for a bit and we tried to organize things.”
“Okay.”
“Listen.”
Keun Se-jin calmly explained the current situation. It was a perfectly refined attitude, even giving Bae Se-jin room to interject here and there.
‘How businesslike.’
It seemed they had focused their conversation on their future attitudes.
“We’re going to try our best not to hurt each other’s feelings from now on.”
Keun Se-jin apologized for acting dismissively because of his bad feelings toward Bae Se-jin, and Bae Se-jin reportedly apologized for suddenly attacking so harshly out of his own complicated state of mind.
“We decided to be a bit more careful with each other in the future.”
So far, so good.
“But there are some parts we just can't understand about each other.”
Apparently, there were things they found impossible to accept as they talked. Bae Se-jin nodded.
“...Listen to this and give us an objective opinion. Tell us what you think.”
The words "We have a leader, Ryu Cheong-woo, so why did you have to summon me as a juror?" rose to my throat, but I held them back.
‘If it weren't for this status effect, seriously.’
These guys should be grateful for my terminal condition.
“What is it?”
Bae Se-jin gulped and opened his mouth.
“Am I... still being that uncooperative?”
“...!”
Bae Se-jin’s face was pale as he tightly clenched both hands.
“I... I know I’m not good at this, and if that’s the problem, I get it. But... I’m doing my absolute best. Really.”
“...Everyone knows you’re working hard, hyung.”
Keun Se-jin sighed as if he were fed up.
“That’s why... I’m saying it’s not that you aren't trying, hyung! But since you don't care about anything other than your own efforts...”
Bae Se-jin’s voice dropped.
“...I don't, care?”
Keun Se-jin sighed again.
“See? You get angry before you even try to listen. This is why I just...”
“Wait.”
I saw what was happening. I cut Keun Se-jin off before he could pour out more.
“You need to explain more. What are the 'other things' hyung doesn't care about?”
“You know too.”
Keun Se-jin continued his explanation in a slightly calmer tone.
“That he doesn't care at all about showing the group rather than himself.”
“What...?”
“I know you aren't interested in making us look like a group where all the members are close and get along. But even if you aren't that interested in the survival of this group, I wish you’d at least do that much when the cameras are rolling.”
Keun Se-jin spoke in a weary tone.
“We’re an idol group. That kind of thing is important too.”
“...!”
Bae Se-jin froze. For a moment, he looked down at the floor with his mouth tightly shut. His answer came slowly.
“I see.”
“...!”
“...I didn't really know about that... I’m sorry. I’ll pay attention to it from now on.”
This time, it was Keun Se-jin who was speechless.
‘I guess things are going differently than you thought?’
It was only natural, in a way. An idol group was something Bae Se-jin wasn't familiar with to begin with, and he’d even made it through a survival show as an individual competitor. So, he wouldn't have had the presence of mind to notice or care about things like group chemistry.
‘He was probably overwhelmed just practicing for the stages.’
In fact, if Keun Se-jin had thought without prejudice, he might have avoided the misunderstanding long ago. However, his thoughts had become fixed because of his trauma of being dropped from a debut lineup because of an "actor."
He’d assumed, ‘He’s going to be an actor anyway, so he’s probably just trying to endure for now.’
And to Keun Se-jin’s shock, Bae Se-jin wasn't even finished.
“I also think this team is a good team. I want to do well, and I don't want to be a burden. Also, I’m... happy that I can promote with this team.”
“...”
Bae Se-jin hesitated before his next words, but he continued in a strained voice.
“And... I’m sorry for saying you only act close when the cameras are rolling. You were just trying to do a good job.”
“...!”
Keun Se-jin’s expression became complicated. His response came a beat late, after he’d thought it through.
“No. I made reckless assumptions. I’m sorry.”
“...!”
This time, Bae Se-jin looked surprised, then cleared his throat as he answered.
“A-Ahem. I-It’s fine!”
Looking at him, he’d been slightly annoyed and conflicted about whether to get angry or not, but he held it in. That guy has grown a lot too.
Keun Se-jin replied with a faint smile.
“And well, it’s true I was trying to gain something! The same-name character is great, after all~”
It was his usual supple tone. However, it felt much more sincere than his usual soulless conversations with Bae Se-jin.
Bae Se-jin muttered while avoiding eye contact.
“Well... yeah, sure.”
At this point, a denial would have led to a conversation that further resolved things and reconciled them, but I guess this was Bae Se-jin’s limit.
Sure enough, Keun Se-jin was already wearing a bitter smile. He probably didn't understand why his gesture of reconciliation was brushed off.
‘It’s fine. Even this much is a five-star development.’
At the very least, hadn't they clearly proven with one example that there was no great malice in each other’s actions? From now on, whenever they got pissed off at the other, they’d be able to move past it by thinking, ‘That’s just how he is,’ instead of getting stressed out by making excessive assumptions.
‘I’ve barely managed to bring them back to the starting point.’
I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
‘I’ve really done all I can.’
I was desperately craving a beer. I had to go find one.
“Then, since we’ve established that Bae Se-jin hyung is being cooperative... I’ll be heading out.”
Bae Se-jin was startled.
“Huh? W-Wait.”
“Hey, let’s go out together~ Ah, hyung, do you have anything else to say?”
“...No.”
“He says he doesn't.”
Keun Se-jin nodded with a smile. It seemed neither of them had any desire to talk further.
“Um, okay.”
It was better to keep things as they were, since I didn't know what might explode if I made them have a deeper conversation. I walked out of the room with the two of them.
And to avoid the voices of relief and welcome pouring out from the living room, I headed for the refrigerator.
‘I think there were about two cans left.’
My weight was fine now, so one drink late at night should be okay.
Click.
“...”
There were none.
“The beer here...”
“Here!”
“Gasp, I’m sorry, Cha Yu-jin just took it without knowing it was the last can...”
In the hand of Cha Yu-jin, who was lying in the living room, an empty, crushed can was swaying.
“...”
This little punk...
“M-Moon-dae. I have some liquor I received, if you want to drink...”
“Thanks.”
“I-It’s nothing!”
No matter how much I thought about it, Seon A-hyun was the only one who was good for my mental health. I ended the day in my room with Seon A-hyun’s liquor.
“C-Cheers!”
My roommate, Bae Se-jin, also seemed intoxicated by the feeling of being released from extreme stress. He willingly joined the liquor tasting and then fell into a dead sleep, which was the final event of the day.
*
And the next day.
“Um... a proposal came in for Little Se-jin.”
In the car on the way to the salon, the manager tentatively brought back the cause of the conflict.
“It’s a drama, and the writer says they know Little Se-jin... Guys?”
“...”
Talk to Bae Se-jin separately, you idiot.
The manager was flustered by the atmosphere in the car, which had frozen in an instant, but Bae Se-jin in the back seat shook his head without much agitation, his eyes hollow from a hangover.
“No. I’m not doing it.”
“I-Is that so? But it’s not a big role...”
Before the manager could get more flustered, Ryu Cheong-woo asked Bae Se-jin.
“...Se-jin, still, it might overlap with our off-season, so wouldn't it be better to at least take a look?”
“...!”
Bae Se-jin hunched his shoulders, perhaps embarrassed that he was slightly swayed.
“No... I...”
“Cheong-woo made a good point! Everyone’s okay with it, right?”
The first manager, who hadn't been in the car on the day they had the massive fight, designated the ‘affable guy’ in the front seat to give a reaction. That was Keun Se-jin.
“...Hmm.”
Keun Se-jin, who had been looking at the manager without any particular expression, spoke up.
“As long as it doesn't interfere with our promotions, wouldn't it be fine? Hyung will decide for himself~”
“...!”
It was a plain and polite declaration of neutrality. This time, Bae Se-jin didn't seem to get the feeling of "behave yourself," as he looked toward Keun Se-jin’s seat with a slightly surprised face. Then, after gulping, he spoke to the manager.
“...Then. I’ll look at the synopsis.”
“Oh~ Great!”
However, the manager added an explanation with a slightly troubled face.
“But I don't think you’ll need a synopsis...”
“Pardon?”
“Uh, it’s like a cameo.”
“...!!”
“You know that child shaman role Little Se-jin did in a movie before? It’s like a surprise appearance of that character... Se-jin? Are you listening?”
“...”
That’s right. This whole dogfight had originated from a misunderstanding from the very beginning...
Keun Se-jin and Bae Se-jin couldn't snap out of it the entire time they were getting their hair and makeup done that day, their faces blank.
And anyway, a few days later, Bae Se-jin finished filming his surprise appearance in episodes 1 and 2 as the ‘child shaman who grew up to be a crazy guy’ in just one day.
“Wow...”
“Uh, uh...”
The result of watching it on the day of the broadcast was that his synchronization with the shaman was excellent, almost to a ghostly level, and it was incredibly powerful. Except for the fact that the ghostly energy seemed to stem from actual anger... that is.
“Hyung, your acting skills are truly amazing.”
“It’s cool!”
“...I-It’s nothing much.”
Well, in the end, Bae Se-jin liked it too. However, the teaser that came out after the drama ended was even more shocking.
[Re-listing! Idol Inc. 2]
[Airing Friday at 10 PM]
The broadcast of Aju-sa Season 4 was truly just around the corner.