Chapter 265
Chapter 265
As expected, the encore itself went off without a hitch.
[See ya!!]
Cha Yu-jin sprinted across the stage, seeking out the cameras and the audience as if he’d never screamed in the first place. He maintained that high tension right up until the moment we stepped offstage.
‘Good.’
I calmed my mind, which was still buzzing with the lingering excitement of the concert.
I planned to head down, talk to Cha Yu-jin, and then use that as a basis to have a word with the production crew through the company. I knew they wanted to get their "story," but they needed to know when to stop.
However, before I even had the chance, the bastards holding cameras in the wings swarmed us as we descended from the stage.
‘These guys really don’t know when to quit.’
I had a strong feeling that if I got angry, they’d secretly love it, thinking the boundary between the show and real life was breaking down.
“…….”
Cha Yu-jin glanced at the documentary crew but said nothing as he took a bottle of water and drank.
‘He seems to have calmed down.’
Maybe performing helped him vent some of that frustration. I wiped my neck with a towel, mentally organizing the situation.
That was when it happened.
A staff member from the production crew quickly approached me. A camera followed closely, practically shoved in my face.
“Yu-jin seems to have regained his composure very quickly… Could it be that from the previous accident—”
“Stop it.”
“…!”
Cha Yu-jin suddenly cut in and pressed his hand against the camera lens. It was an impulsive move.
“Whoa!”
“I told you. Why won’t you listen?”
“Wait a second.”
What the hell was wrong with this guy all of a sudden?
‘If he does this, it makes it look like we’re the ones crossing the line.’
The members, who had been catching their breath, were startled by the sudden action and rushed over. However, Cha Yu-jin didn’t take his hand off the camera for a long time, staring intensely at the crew.
“Yu-jin, let go of the camera.”
“What do you think you’re doing right now?!”
“Wait, just a moment. Director, I’m sorry, but we need to talk amongst ourselves for a second. Just a moment, please.”
Keun Se-jin managed to break the tension and smoothly steered the production crew away before heading straight for the waiting room.
Click.
“Let’s sit.”
“…….”
Cha Yu-jin sat on the sofa in silence. Ryu Cheong-woo was the first to speak.
“Yu-jin, the crew might be frustrating… but even so, you shouldn’t lead with your hands while they’re working. You have to use your words.”
“They didn’t listen to my words.”
“Hold on, Hyung. Cha Yu-jin, listen.”
Keun Se-jin cut in.
“Back during Idol Inc., you endured it even when you were crying. Even when we first debuted and filmed the reality show with cameras all over the dorm, you didn’t say a word, right?”
Perhaps because of the urgency and seriousness of the situation, his tone wasn't as gentle as usual.
“But if you act like this now, do you think people will care whether you’re right or wrong? They’ll just think you’ve changed because you’ve made it big.”
“This is different.”
“It might be different to you. But if the viewers don’t see it that way, it doesn’t matter.”
“…….”
“Yu-jin, when you’re working, not everything can be rational or right in your eyes. If that were possible, we’d be gods, not humans. For now, apologize for touching the camera first….”
But as soon as he finished speaking, a rebuttal came.
“…No, those people were the ones in the wrong first. They were rude.”
“…!”
It was Bae Se-jin.
“I think we need to be clear about that. It’s strange to say he should endure it now just because he endured it at debut.”
“Se-Se-jin Hyung.”
Seon A-hyun called out anxiously, but Bae Se-jin didn’t take back his words. Instead, a brief flash of annoyance crossed Keun Se-jin’s face.
“Hyung. Is now really the time to… No, I’m not saying those people were right. I’m saying he should apologize to move past this.”
“Right, you’re trying to smooth things over. But do we have to do that?”
“…Wow, seriously… Sigh.”
“Stop.”
I raised my hand and rubbed my temples.
“There’s no need for us to keep arguing about this. We can just talk to the production crew and have that footage removed.”
It was a situation where opinions could differ, but there was no need to take it to the extreme. We just needed to be careful in this moment. I settled the situation with a single sentence.
“Things like this happen when you’re working.”
“…….”
The two of them fell silent. They had been trying so hard not to clash, but as expected, they just didn't click.
‘That almost turned into a total mess.’
I suppressed a sigh and spoke to Cha Yu-jin, who still had his head bowed.
“…Go cool your head.”
“…….”
There was no answer.
I saw Kim Rae-bin hesitating before staying behind in the room. I placed some water in front of them and stepped outside.
I had intended to talk to the production crew with Ryu Cheong-woo, but a camera started following us again… Fuck, they really need to give it a rest.
I offered a few empty words to support Ryu Cheong-woo as he checked on the state of the camera and the cameraman Yu-jin had shoved, then I got to the point.
“I think the members need to rest for today. How about we meet tomorrow to talk again?”
“Yes, yes. But I’m truly sorry—would it be possible to do just a very short interview now? I know you’re resting tomorrow, so just a very brief moment, please.”
“…Just a moment.”
Wow, they really don't listen.
‘Is this why Cha Yu-jin was so pissed?’
Since it wasn't a fixed camera but people physically sticking to him, it probably felt like being back in a den of paparazzi to an American kid, making him even more livid.
‘And from the crew’s perspective, they can’t miss this chance.’
It’s easier to get honest answers when people are exhausted and emotionally shaken. Seeing us handle Cha Yu-jin probably gave them the impression that we weren't the type to say, "Fuck the documentary, I quit!"
Fortunately, the company staff came running like bullets, intervening to soothe the crew and send them away.
“You really can’t do this, it’s difficult for us! We ask for your understanding.”
Then, with anxious faces, they asked us, “Did Yu-jin… uh, have a conflict with the documentary crew??”
“It seems like there’s a bit of an issue.”
Ryu Cheong-woo looked back at the room, caught my eye, and let out a short sigh.
“Let’s just leave him for today. Let him cool off.”
“Yeah. That’s for the best.”
We didn't have any schedules tomorrow anyway. After the concert, the exhausted guys were just going to hole up in the hotel and maybe record some commentary for the documentary.
The staff looked nervous, but they eventually agreed and decided to wait for Cha Yu-jin to come out of the room.
“I think it’s best not to touch him too much right now.”
“Yes, yes. We’ll definitely be careful.”
Since they usually worked with guys who resolved things internally or just let things slide, the staff seemed quite unfamiliar and flustered by this kind of situation. Still, they did their jobs well enough.
“Everyone, please go in and rest. We’ll wait until those two come out.”
“…….”
Fine. We’d see each other tomorrow morning anyway, so let’s just go. It would be a loss if people with different views stayed together and sparked another useless fight like before.
‘Kim Rae-bin is with him, so it should be fine.’
In times like this, a same-age friend is more comfortable than an older one.
“Let’s head in.”
“…Alright.”
The members looked a bit uneasy, but they eventually agreed and moved to the cars.
“Sh-should I try sending a text…? In English.”
“Hmm, wouldn’t it be better to just see his face and talk slowly over breakfast tomorrow morning?”
“Yeah….”
Comfort is all well and good, but he probably needs time to think about his own actions too.
I returned to my hotel room in a state of extreme exhaustion. I washed up and went straight to sleep.
“…Whew.”
I’d have to cater to Cha Yu-jin’s tastes tomorrow morning. And I planned to hear exactly what had happened with the production crew in detail.
However, the next morning.
While the other guys all showed up by the usual breakfast gathering time, Cha Yu-jin did not appear.
“…….”
“It’s past 9:30 now, right?”
“Yeah.”
I spoke up.
“Rae-bin.”
“Yes!”
“How was Cha Yu-jin yesterday?”
“He was quiet and seemed somewhat drained, but he didn't express any further anger!”
“…Really?”
“Yes. I suspect the current situation is either him oversleeping or a form of protest!”
Is that so?
I adjusted my hat.
“I’ll go get him. You come too.”
“Me…? I mean, yes! Understood!”
Leaving behind the others, who were waving with complicated expressions, I headed to Cha Yu-jin’s room with Kim Rae-bin in tow. I rang the doorbell immediately.
Ding-dong.
“…….”
There was no response.
“Cha Yu-jin. Open the door.”
Still nothing. Even though we had booked this entire floor, I couldn't exactly start shouting. He definitely should have heard that much.
‘Is he really protesting?’
He’s taking this pretty far. I sighed, pulled out my smartphone, and called Cha Yu-jin. But the call… wouldn't go through.
[The subscriber’s phone is turned off—]
“…….”
This… feels ominous.
“Hyung?”
I tried calling one more time before accepting the situation.
“Rae-bin.”
“Yes?”
“Call the manager hyung.”
I stared at Cha Yu-jin’s door.
“I don’t think Cha Yu-jin is in his room.”
“…!!”
A short while later.
“It’s true.”
We opened the room with a hotel staff member, and Cha Yu-jin’s room was… empty.
‘Dammit.’
It was a situation I hadn't even imagined.
‘Was it a mistake?’
Should I have sat him down last night with some drinks to coax and comfort him instead of letting him cool his head until morning?
‘Even so, it’s not like he’s a ninja, why would he run away….’
I almost bit my tongue in frustration before barely managing to ask the manager.
“Did you receive any contact from him during the night?”
“No! I haven't heard anything from Yu-jin…!?”
The company staff were in a state of near-panic. It was understandable. This was the first case of someone going AWOL since we started our activities.
However, he hadn't vanished without a trace entirely.
—I’m going out.
At least he had left this one note. He’d even written it in large Korean letters.
“Yu-Yu-jin must have been really hurt….”
“Even so, disappearing like this is weird……. Wait, could it be a kidnapping or something?”
“If that were the case, I believe this room would be in a more gruesome state. This idiot went out on his own accord!”
“True.”
That was right. For a kidnapping, the room was in too good a condition, and it wasn't a hotel where an intrusion would be easy in the first place.
However, looking at it calmly, I could guess what the situation was.
“……Hmm.”
I looked around the room once and nodded.
“He didn't go far.”
“D-do you think so…?”
“Yeah. He left all his luggage. He only took his wallet and phone… Did he do this impulsively?”
I guessed he probably woke up still angry and just decided to head out for a bit…
At that moment, Kim Rae-bin raised his hand high.
“Excuse me, I apologize for interrupting, but may I offer my opinion?”
“…? Sure.”
He swallowed hard and spoke with a bit of hesitation.
“I think… he just went out to play since there’s no schedule.”
“…….”
“…….”
Wait.
“That… could be it.”
“Yes!”
Bae Se-jin hurriedly cut in.
“But! His smartphone is off…!”
“I think he just turned it off so he wouldn't be disturbed while playing.”
“…….”
Right. Since it was a day off, there was a high probability he thought he didn't need the company’s permission…
The members were flustered.
“R-right. That could be it.”
“…To think someone could have such a thought process…….”
Ryu Cheong-woo changed the atmosphere.
“Well, it might not be the case, so let’s look into the situation a bit more and prepare.”
“Okay. Got it~ Then should we check the CCTV?”
“I’ll check it right away, so everyone please wait here. Someone else will be coming!”
The manager ran off immediately with the hotel staff. It was good that he was working hard, but I could understand the feeling of having a bomb dropped on him.
However, as for the search itself, I didn't think it was something to worry about that much.
“I think I can find him with this.”
I pulled out my smartphone.
Cha Yu-jin felt the sea breeze and kicked the sand with the tip of his toe.
Going out on a bright morning during a rare holiday was quite a leisurely thing to do.
‘The weather is nice.’
However, his mood wasn't exactly refreshing. He clasped his hands behind his neck to shake off the gloom.
He had come out to "cool his head" as suggested, but his conclusion was that, one way or another, he didn't think he had done anything particularly wrong.
‘Yeah, I’m not apologizing.’
Instead, he decided he should explain well to his teammates why he wouldn't apologize to those idiots with cameras.
Still, he felt a bit disgruntled.
‘No one even cares about how I’m doing.’
He grumbled to himself, thinking it was ridiculous that no one had sent a single text all night given the situation. Was there really no one who would understand and acknowledge his feelings….
“Cha Yu-jin.”
“…!”
At the familiar but unexpected voice, Cha Yu-jin almost jumped out of his chair.
“Hyung??”
“Yeah. It’s me.”
It was Park Moon-dae.
‘Oh my god.’
His teammate had run across the sandy beach to get to him. It was a welcome sight, but also a surprising one. What kind of magic had he used?
“How did you find me? Were you looking for me?”
“Is that what’s important right now?”
Park Moon-dae was dressed lightly. His pink hair was windswept from the sea breeze, suggesting he had been searching quite hard.
But instead of getting angry, he gave a small smirk and held out a paper bag. Inside was ice cream from a nearby shop.
“It was obvious where you’d go. I searched for places that sold sweets near the beach, and this cafe street was close to the hotel.”
“…….”
“I knew you’d be around here.”
It was an accurate deduction. Before feeling disgruntled or creeped out, Cha Yu-jin was simply impressed.
“Hyung, you’re amazing.”
“Yeah. I know, so just eat your ice cream for now. They allow outside food here, right?”
[If the tip is big enough. It’s not like this is Disneyland, right?]
It was a decent joke, but Park Moon-dae didn't seem to quite get it. Cha Yu-jin, used to such situations, just let it slide.
In terms of culture, the sight of a guy his age sitting there with brilliantly dyed hair wasn't exactly "American" anyway.
But Park Moon-dae’s real point began when Cha Yu-jin had finished more than half of the ice cream.
“Then tell me while you eat. Why exactly did you do that to the production crew?”
[That sounds like an interrogation.]
“It’s not an interrogation. I’m asking because you must have had a reason.”
Park Moon-dae crossed his arms.
“You’re a smart guy.”
Cha Yu-jin was, uncharacteristically, a little touched.
So, he shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth immediately.