Chapter 283
Chapter 283
The situation unfolded exactly as expected. However, it was more pleasant than I had anticipated.
Since he said it was a place a former national athlete frequented, I expected something like hellish rock scrambling.
"It’s nice here, right?"
"Yes."
I looked around as I walked.
We were at a hiking trail on the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do, about an hour's drive away. It didn't feel particularly well-maintained, but the slope wasn't steep, making it manageable.
...Is he taking it easy on me?
I recalled what this guy had said during our last hike on the deserted island.
—You... your physical strength has already dropped due to the aftereffects. If it were before, a hike like this wouldn't even make you out of breath.
It was a guess riddled with errors, but I decided to accept the situation without pushing back.
Work-life balance over pride.
However, there was one thing that puzzled me.
"But there really aren't many people."
Aside from a few middle-aged hikers in sight, the place was empty. Even for a weekday afternoon, you'd usually see a fair number of people hiking.
"Ah, there was some construction over there. See?"
Ryu Cheong-woo pointed toward a small stream on the left. Nets and construction materials were scattered here and there along the path.
"That's why most people seem to go the other way. They say the path is better paved over there."
"Ah."
"Well, it's a local mountain to begin with, so it doesn't get that many visitors. There are no mineral springs or famous rock formations."
"You know a lot about it."
"I used to live around here when I was a kid," Ryu Cheong-woo said with an awkward smile. "The archery range I went to was nearby, so I kept coming back even after I moved."
"..."
The fact that a guy who couldn't even shoot properly anymore due to his injury specifically came near his old archery range... never mind.
It's not like he's in a position to be pitied right now.
I just gave a casual nod.
"The facilities must have been good."
"It was more about the memories, I guess."
Ryu Cheong-woo fell silent for a moment before continuing a beat later.
"I think it would be nice to come here with the other guys next time. The owner is very kind."
If I flat-out refused this, I’d be someone who threw their social skills into a fire.
"Sure, why not."
"Great."
Ryu Cheong-woo beamed.
"Since the tour ended, we haven't really had a chance to go out and hang out separately. This is good. Even when you guys went out a few days ago, I had a schedule."
Ah, he meant that.
I remembered a few members going out for Seon A-hyun's birthday. Ryu Cheong-woo and a few others couldn't make it because of their individual schedules.
"We didn't do much. There were too many people."
"Haha, for 'not doing much,' you even left a proof shot."
My eyebrows twitched as I thought of the Polaroid Keun Se-jin had left behind after the escape room.
—TeSTAR Friendship Forever☆ 5/7
A-hyun, Happy Birthday!
I’d be lying if I said I didn't know that would end up on the internet immediately, but the fans liked it, so I guess it was fine.
"We went straight back to the dorm after taking that. A crowd started to gather."
"I see. This job is definitely rewarding, but that part is tough. It's hard to just go out."
"True."
I shrugged as I broke into a light jog along the path.
"But even if you hadn't become an idol, it probably would've been the same for you, Hyung. Being a national archer and all."
"What? Haha!"
It took a good while for Ryu Cheong-woo to stop laughing.
"You're right. That kind of thing doesn't really suit my personality, but I guess that's just how it is in sports and arts."
Ryu Cheong-woo's tone didn't sound like a lament or a complaint; it sounded refreshing. Well, it was proof of success, after all.
I guess that's a dilemma only winners can have.
Ryu Cheong-woo and I continued running along the suburban trail we had sought out because of the side effects of being "winners."
It was only a short while later that I realized something was wrong.
"Whew."
The slope grew steeper the higher we went. After taking a few deep breaths, I realized that my stamina bar, which I had built up quite a bit, was more than half depleted.
My stamina should definitely be above the average adult male's.
Moreover, looking around, it seemed like almost no one came up this far.
...And on top of that, we were the only ones running up.
It was then that I realized.
I've been played.
He started with a flat walking path and then subtly increased the incline, making me keep climbing like a frog in slowly boiling water...
The flat path wasn't a courtesy; it was bait. I suppressed a groan.
Then again, Ryu Cheong-woo isn't an idiot. He's seen me working out, so he obviously knows my stamina has improved.
I've been thoroughly toyed with...
It looked like it would take quite a while to reach the summit.
However, even if I complained, it would only hurt my social standing and I wouldn't be able to head down anyway, so I decided to just shut up and keep moving my feet. It wasn't like I couldn't do it.
I'm getting a hell of a workout.
I moved forward, silently staring ahead.
After some time had passed, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Moon-dae, look over there."
"Whew, what...?"
We were still far from the top. I lifted my head and followed his hand.
"..."
Spread out before my eyes was the city in the middle of the day.
Winding mountains and fortress walls, a stream flowing down below, and dense clusters of buildings. It was a city painted in the colors of spring.
Whoosh.
A breeze blew, the mountain air swirling past my nose. It was a good sight.
"Nice, isn't it?" Ryu Cheong-woo said leisurely.
"There's no need to go any higher. This spot has the best view. ...I found out back when I quit archery and climbed up here every day while preparing for this career."
"..."
I leaned against the railing while looking at the scenery.
So he never intended to go to the summit.
Well, then.
"How is it? It's a bit motivating... isn't it? For me, it was better than just exercising."
"Yes. It is."
I answered firmly. A secured route, anticipated hardships, and a clear reward. It wasn't exactly my style, but hiking might not be a bad hobby.
"Hm, I'm glad."
I leaned against the railing with him and slowly looked down at the mountain below.
Only after a sufficient amount of time had passed did Ryu Cheong-woo speak.
"Shall we head down?"
"Let's."
I felt quite refreshed.
I was about to stretch when I finally voiced the thought that had been on my mind since I first saw the trail.
"Hyung."
"Yeah?"
"Everything was great, but I actually needed to do anaerobic muscle training today."
"Ah."
I only kept quiet because I thought if I refused the moment I saw the trail, he wouldn't believe me and the atmosphere would turn to shit.
Ryu Cheong-woo replied with an awkward face.
"Since it was an uphill climb... you must have used some muscle strength."
"..."
What a professional bit of rationalization. Fine.
I didn't have any particular complaints as we descended. I even agreed when Ryu Cheong-woo suggested, "Let's come for a run occasionally."
The intensity of the workout is appropriate, and since we're roommates now, it's good to do this once in a while.
*
Two weeks after the room swap. Not just us, but all the owners of the new rooms had adapted to their situations in their own way.
"Would you like some?"
"Oh, sure."
For instance, Bae Se-jin surprisingly spent less time holed up in the living room. Now, he only came out during the day to avoid Cha Yu-jin.
"It's a bit noisy at night, but as long as I have earplugs, there's no problem at all!"
Bae Se-jin had once said with a bright face that, surprisingly, Cha Yu-jin respected his roommate's individualistic tendencies.
Is it because he's American?
Of course, even that had its limits.
"As long as I play games or watch videos with him once in a while, he's quiet when it's time to sleep..."
I calmly informed him of the reality.
"That won't last long."
"What?"
"If talking to you doesn't work, he'll start shaking your shoulders soon."
"..."
"Congratulations on becoming a night owl."
Bae Se-jin looked at his room with a blank expression.
And the guy who ended up with a single room all to himself... was living his best life, hopping from room to room.
"Wow, Moon-dae, you and Cheong-woo Hyung are practically besties now~ You're going to work out tomorrow too, right?"
Is it this room today? I replied half-heartedly to Keun Se-jin, who was lying on Ryu Cheong-woo's bed playing with his smartphone.
"Well... we're roommates, so might as well. You can come too if you want."
"Ayy~ I'm not that tactless! Have a good workout~"
"..."
Keun Se-jin didn't add anything else, but there was no way I could miss his meaning.
He's telling me to use this opportunity to completely change the atmosphere.
There were still people dwelling on how shitty my attitude toward Ryu Cheong-woo had been during that Summer Package shoot. Even regarding this roommate assignment, people seemed to be making snide remarks, and there was no need to leave such embers in a fandom we had barely managed to unite.
We need to look comfortable together even at a glance.
Since I had already decided to get along with him anyway, these guys were just providing extra motivation.
I waved at Keun Se-jin and went in to wash up.
And the next day, at the hiking trail.
"Do you want to try for the summit today? Just as a test."
Ryu Cheong-woo made a new proposal. He had been quiet during the climb; he must have been thinking about that.
Well, it wouldn't hurt to go up at least once.
The period where we could leisurely come out for outdoor exercise was slowly coming to an end. We were entering the phase where we had to devote ourselves to comeback preparations again.
After calculating my remaining stamina, I nodded immediately.
"Let's do it."
"Good."
And so, at 4 PM—an awkward time—we began walking toward the summit. Since the slope had become steeper, we didn't run, so it was manageable.
After about forty more minutes of climbing, the summit came into view.
"Whew."
There was no one at the top. Ryu Cheong-woo and I picked up our pace slightly and moved to the summit marker in one go.
"Whew, it's been a while."
Ryu Cheong-woo stood holding the wooden fence next to the marker, and I stood beside him, looking down.
I confirmed that what Ryu Cheong-woo had said on the first day of hiking was true.
"The view from back there... definitely seemed better."
The scenery from the summit wasn't as impressive as what we saw from the midpoint. Of course, there was a sense of being overwhelmed by the height, but...
"Right."
Ryu Cheong-woo nodded as he looked at the view. He took a bottle of water out of his backpack and drank.
I did the same, and a peaceful silence flowed between us for a moment.
Hmm, things have definitely become more comfortable than before.
"..."
"Moon-dae."
"Yes."
"Is it okay if I ask you something?"
"Yes, sure. Go ahead," I answered without much thought.
Ryu Cheong-woo kept his eyes fixed on the scenery and slowly opened his mouth.
"Actually... that person you mentioned after watching the family video last Chuseok. I asked around the clan a few more times."
"...!"
"That 'Ryu Gun-woo' person."
I almost choked on my water. I quickly lowered the bottle and formed a hypothesis.
Did he find out the location?
"By any chance, his whereabouts...?"
"Um, no. Sorry, but that wasn't it. I just... happened to hear a bit about his past."
"..."
"All of his family members, except for him, were in an accident during a trip with his father's side of the family. It seems it was a car accident compounded by a fire."
Ryu Cheong-woo paused for a moment, then continued with a voice that was almost unnaturally calm.
"And that former part... I think it's the same car accident that caused my aftereffects."
Shit.
I took another swig of water at the unwelcome topic.
If those clan people didn't know his whereabouts, they should've just said they didn't know and left it at that.
Why on earth would they... this is driving me crazy.
But Ryu Cheong-woo wasn't finished.
"And Moon-dae, do you know something?"
What.
"...Your parents didn't die in a car accident. It was a plane crash."
"..."
What?
"Actually, an article was about to be released last year, but the company blocked it. They thought it might be a shock to you, so they only briefly consulted with me. It was shortly after you were discharged from the hospital."
I lifted my head.
"But you... you have trauma related to car accidents and fire. Not planes."
Ryu Cheong-woo had turned away from the scenery and was now staring directly at me.
"That's the story of the Ryu Gun-woo you were looking for."
"..."
"Moon-dae. Who exactly are you looking for?"