Chapter 18: The Most Effective Way to Defuse a Bomb (3)
18. The Most Effective Way to Defuse a Bomb (3)
"Seven years. Seven damn years. I've been doing this shit for seven whole years."
Like something inside him had snapped, Seo Taehyun began pouring out his grievances.
"They made me do the same aegyo act over and over as 'Cherry Boy.' Even when I begged to try different songs, they only let me do bright, bubbly concepts. And I took it. I swallowed it all because just being able to stand on stage felt like a blessing."
"......"
"But then they eliminated me in the finals for being 'too refreshing.' Said I was too childish. They never even gave me a chance to show anything else."
He must be talking about his time on Boyhood Under Heaven. I recalled watching Taehyun on that survival show in my past life with complicated feelings, listening quietly as he continued.
"I endured when the department head made me run around doing nothing but events. I endured when I was stuck in the practice room while others got opportunities. Because I wanted to debut. I desperately wanted to stand on that stage."
"If you endured that much, you should've endured a little longer."
"What's the point when I'll never debut anyway!"
Taehyun exploded, unable to contain his frustration. But as if startled by his own outburst, he gulped and bit his lip, remembering my earlier words, before bowing his head. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"...Sorry for yelling."
"......"
"I'm done with all of it. I'm sick of forcing smiles for other people's sake."
"Hyung, what are you talking about? What do you mean you're quitting?"
Dan Haru whimpered like a puppy, trying to console Taehyun who was visibly holding back tears, his resolve already set.
And I thought to myself:
'What exactly is this kid?'
I'd briefly suspected he might be a Fixed Regressor. Among Miro's trainees, few would have clearer motivation to keep regressing for another chance.
'But if he were a regressor, he would've gone back and debuted already instead of complaining about seven years. Not Taehyun.'
Second possibility:
Was Seo Taehyun suitable as a comrade for a successful debut? I'd considered this while watching him sleep at the animal hospital. At least he had guaranteed public recognition.
'But I know his future.'
He won't make it. Didn't make it. Even I feel bitter about his failure, but my past life's data doesn't lie.
That leaves one last possibility:
'A bomb that needs defusing... This one's problematic.'
An idol trainee who couldn't control his emotions, went to another agency before debut, and got into a physical altercation with their upcoming male group's main member.
Some might say boys will be boys—no serious injuries, what's the big deal? But for idols, it's different. If this blows up, if rumors spread after debut, he'll instantly become labeled as violent and get torn apart.
[Forum] Idols really have it easy
Fans will defend them even for assault
ㅡ Exactly lol shameless
ㅡ If this were a female idol they'd be crucified
└ Why drag gender into this
└ They're already getting flamed
└ 22 Honestly true... Male idols get away with so much
└ "Boys will be boys" defense is insane
'Already dreading the fan reactions.'
I need a "successful" debut. If Taehyun's a bomb, I shouldn't waste effort stopping him from leaving.
Yet something keeps nagging at me.
"Seo Taehyun."
"......"
"Why did you hit Cha Minseok?"
The look on his face—giving up on debut, ready to bury himself in bed—reminded me too much of my past self.
"Answer me. Why would a Miro trainee go to another agency and assault their future male idol?"
"......"
"Not answering?"
"I... didn't hit him."
I was ready to decide whether to let Taehyun be "removed" based on his answer, but—
"We just had a loud argument. A passing staff noona misunderstood and blew it up."
What the—who's that statue?
A white marble statue that looked like it belonged in a "this golden office was built for me" exhibit was suddenly standing at the conference room door with an indignant expression. Handsome in a way that felt familiar.
"...M-Minseok hyung."
Ah, Cha Minseok.
Only after hearing Dan Haru's voice did I match him to my past life's memory of Minseok. More polished and understated than I remembered, Rene's upcoming "statue" walked in with a scowl.
In a black coat and gray turtleneck pulled up to his chin, Minseok's face showed no injuries. None at all.
"What, you said he beat you up?"
"Stop wasting time bullying someone who wouldn't dare hit back."
"......"
"Stop escalating this and leave."
This guy's mouth is something else. Taehyun glared daggers at the irritable Minseok before looking away in disgust.
"Making a scene won't help me, so just go."
Wait, this bastard's been—
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"Can't you see we're disciplining someone here? Keep it down."
"To the victim—"
"You just said there was no victim. That it was just a conversation?"
"This is our company!"
"Says who?"
Minseok blinked at my sharp retort. With his princely looks, you'd expect better manners. Instead, he stood his ground, tension thickening between us.
Just as things were about to turn ugly—
"Let's go. Come on out. Taehyun-ah, prepare to get scolded."
Perfect timing—Ji Sooho opened the conference room door. As our de facto guardian, we couldn't defy him, especially since we were the ones who barged in.
We left in an awkward silence.
"Seo Taehyun."
Minseok called out as Taehyun walked past with Dan Haru. Taehyun ignored him, but Minseok wasn't done.
"My debut's confirmed for June."
"...So?"
"If you don't want to call me 'sunbaenim,' you should be practicing your vocals instead of causing scenes here."
"...What?"
"Not that practice would help."
This fucking bastard—
[System Alert: The system is impressed by 'Cha Minseok's' remarkable personality...]
Is that really the takeaway?
I barely suppressed the urge to punch him myself. Thankfully, Taehyun kept his cool, silently walking past Minseok and out the door.
I saw him bite his lip hard enough to bleed, but this time, I couldn't intervene.
"......"
An endless silence filled the car as we headed to the parking lot where Sooho had parked.
Now fully rational again, Taehyun seemed to be calculating the fallout of his actions, his expression like a defeated soldier. Sooho looked preoccupied with how to explain this to the company.
Meanwhile, Dan Haru—who just wanted to eat tteokbokki with his hyung—was on the verge of tears, clinging to Taehyun's arm as if he'd vanish.
"Dan Haru. I'll leave you behind if you cry."
"...I won't."
"Stop sniffling when you talk."
Taehyun looked horrified when Haru and I sandwiched him in the backseat.
"The passenger seat's empty!"
"Hyung is exercising his right to remain silent starting now."
"Since when do you decide that for me?"
"Suspects talk too much. Let's go, Team Leader."
As the car pulled out, bickering faded behind us. Though many thoughts swirled in our heads, no one voiced them.
At a red light, while Sooho was distracted reporting to the company, Haru whispered:
"Hyung... are you really quitting?"
"...What? You'll miss me?"
"Yes."
"......"
"I want to debut with someone like you."
Taehyun froze briefly. Only when the car started moving again did he finally speak.
"...I was just angry."
Haru finally relaxed his tense posture. Though why Taehyun caused a scene at Rene remained a mystery, today wasn't the day to press further.
'I'll buy him coffee tomorrow and grill him then.'
Little did I know how wrong I was—within 24 hours.
"So no one's heard from Taehyun? Got it. Call me immediately if anyone does."
Seo Taehyun had vanished.
This crazy bastard cleared out his dorm completely. His phone stayed off, and even calls to his parents in the countryside revealed they didn't know he'd disappeared.
'Wait... isn't this convenient?'
Minseok denied it, but Taehyun causing trouble at another agency was fact. And I'd already thought debuting with a ticking time bomb would be difficult.
'He packed up and left on his own—what can I do?'
The realization actually brought relief. Apparently, Taehyun's fixed event was bouncing between debut teams before disappearing from the industry.
'Right, maybe this was his fate this life. Live well, Taehyun. Quitting early might be better for—'
"Let's go find him!"
"But... we don't know where he went?"
"I have an idea."
Why am I involved in this again?
"Remember where we all hung out together? When Minseok hyung was still here."
"Oh, you mean—"
"That pension his uncle runs. He must be there—Taehyun's close with that uncle."
"Wait, wait. Stop. Everyone shut up."
I urgently waved my hands to cut off Dan Haru and Joo Eunchan before they could plan Taehyun's retrieval mission down to transportation details.
We were at Eunchan's officetel, a place I'd grown familiar with after several visits. After practice, I'd been heading home when these two practically kidnapped me.
"Let me be clear—I'm not going. Don't drag me into this."
Their shocked faces at my firm refusal were almost comical.
"How can you say that, hyung!"
Haru looked at me like I'd betrayed him.
What did I even do...?