19. The Most Effective Way to Defuse a Bomb (4)

Dan Ha-ru's large, sparkling eyes widened as he passionately argued.

"When we went to Rene last time! What if he went into hiding because you emotionally wrecked him with your brutal honesty? You should feel guilty!"

"You mean remorse. And how is this my fault now?"

At my words, Dan Ha-ru pouted and admitted there might be some truth to it. Joo Eun-chan immediately nodded in agreement.

These damn kids...

"Fine, let's say Seo Tae-hyun went into hiding because my blunt words shocked him. Then shouldn't I stay away? Just seeing my face would probably piss him ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off."

"Only a sincere apology from the perpetrator can heal the victim's wounded heart."

"Now I'm the perpetrator? Wasn't Cha Min-seok the actual perpetrator in that situation?"

"Should we bring Min-seok hyung along then?"

"...Forget it. Let's stop talking."

Despite my logical rebuttals, Dan Ha-ru remained adamant. His eyes even sparkled at the idea—he looked ready to drag along Rene's entire trainee roster.

Seeing Dan Ha-ru was a lost cause, I turned to Joo Eun-chan. But he'd already made up his mind, his face set with determination as he solemnly searched for the pension's address.

"Eun-chan, don't make that face. You scare me the most when you look like that."

With his sharp features that naturally resembled a noir film's mafia heir, his serious expression made him look downright menacing.

Exhausted from arguing with these unreasonable teenagers, I flopped onto the bed. Joo Eun-chan, who'd been intently staring at his phone, quietly sidled up to me.

"...Why don't you want to go?"

"Want me to be honest?"

When I asked if he really wanted to hear the truth, he hesitated briefly before nodding.

"I don't see the merit in going to such lengths to bring Tae-hyun back."

"......"

"You guys want this to be a fair game for everyone, so I'm making it happen. But Seo Tae-hyun—a survival show veteran with an established fanbase? To me, he's just a high-level competitor, nothing more or less. Sorry."

Those two might have known him longer and still be at that sentimental teenage phase, but I wasn't.

In my past life, I might have felt some pity for his situation, but that was it. In this life, we'd only exchanged words a few times. I knew I was being harsh, but it was the truth.

Joo Eun-chan wore an inscrutable expression, as if waiting for someone to ask the right question. After a moment of thought, he spoke.

"If there is merit... would you come with us then?"

"Hey, Tae-hyun and I aren't that close. Why are you pushing so hard? Nothing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠changes whether I go or not."

"The investors."

Just as I was about to ask why they were so insistent on dragging me along, Eun-chan casually dropped the bombshell. Before I could ask what he meant, he quickly continued.

"I saw the PPT you were working on last time. Tae-hyun hyung was in it too—as the frontman to generate early buzz and recognition."

Oh?

"Miro's trainees don't have much pre-existing public recognition. Sure, it's 'that' Miro, so the survival show will make waves regardless. But having 'Boyhood Under Heaven' Seo Tae-hyun or not makes a world of difference in terms of publicity."

I couldn't deny that. I was almost convinced.

Under the intense gazes of Joo Eun-chan and Dan Ha-ru, their eyes like pleading kittens, my resolve began to waver...

...Not a chance!

"I'm absolutely not going to find him, so stop talking nonsense and let's just eat chicken."

I'm busy enough trying to live my own life, and they want me to go on some wild goose chase after a potential time bomb? They must be brushing their teeth with mint chocolate toothpaste.

'...It's quiet.'

Meanwhile.

Seo Tae-hyun, the one who'd turned Miro upside down, lay sprawled comfortably on a wooden deck, enjoying the cool sea breeze.

"Tae-hyun. Your mom called again today, asking if you're okay. Are you sure you can stay here?"

His uncle, who'd just finished cleaning a vacated room, clicked his tongue in concern. Tae-hyun nodded with half-lidded eyes.

"I just need a few quiet days. Then I'll go back."

"I don't mind having you here... but your mom's so worried, kid."

"It's fine. I'll call Mom."

"Alright then... Let me know when the next guests arrive."

His uncle, perhaps sensing Tae-hyun needed space, left without further nagging. Instead, he placed some eggs and traditional sweet drink on the deck before quietly retreating.

Tae-hyun slowly opened his eyes.

'What should I tell Mom?'

His parents had supported him for seven years. Even three years ago, after Boyhood Under Heaven, when his father wanted him to quit immediately, it was his mother who fought harder than him to let him continue as a trainee. And now he'd thrown even that away—his idol dreams were over.

'...How do I tell them I'll never debut?'

Tae-hyun sighed deeply, thinking of the department head—the root cause of his downfall and the one blocking his path to debut.

How did it come to this?

He recalled the day it all began.

ㅡ"If I bring you, they'll debut you for sure. Let's debut together, Tae-hyun. Okay?"

There were many reasons he'd agreed to Min-seok's proposal, but loneliness after Boyhood Under Heaven ended played a big part.

As the youngest among much older contestants without an agency, Tae-hyun had survived alone. More than the promised debut or staggering contract money, he'd wanted a friend to share the uncertainty with.

ㅡ"Department Head, what is...?"

ㅡ"You know Ocean Blue? They really like you. Sign now, and they'll debut you solo immediately with packed schedules. Sign here."

It started with a contract the department head suddenly presented one day.

ㅡ"I was going to refuse, but I'm giving you this chance for your sake."

ㅡ"...I'm not ready for a solo debut yet. I want to keep training at Miro."

ㅡ"What? This is a golden opportunity!"

A renowned foreign-funded agency. A contract sum a teenage boy could only dream of. A guaranteed debut. To exhausted trainees, it was an irresistible offer. But Tae-hyun knew:

Where things seem too sweet, there's always a trap.

ㅡ"You really think you can ignore this? You're 'Boyhood Under Heaven' Seo Tae-hyun now, but give it a few months. The public will forget you in a blink. Whether you debut or not means nothing to me."

When things didn't go his way, the department head grew vindictive. Though in the special training class, Tae-hyun was excluded from all its privileges. Attempts to find another agency mysteriously fell through.

Days piled up with no direction in sight.

ㅡ"Min-seok said he'd take care of it?"

ㅡ"I'm safer than you living in the dorms. I'll keep it until we meet the reporter."

Realizing he couldn't take this lying down, Tae-hyun began collecting evidence—from the dual contracts the department head showed him to his abuses toward other trainees. It was scary, but evidence was his only way out.

Even when his friend Min-seok offered to safeguard it, Tae-hyun didn't suspect a thing.

ㅡ"What if you lose it!"

ㅡ"Sorry. I'm still looking..."

ㅡ"The reporter said they need it to write the article! You promised to keep it safe!"

ㅡ"Sorry, Tae-hyun. I'm really sorry."

Tae-hyun truly didn't know what that apology was for.

ㅡ"You really didn't know? Cha Min-seok sold you out to get into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Rene. He knew about Rene's offer to you and asked the department head to send him instead."

What Min-seok traded with that evidence, why he transferred to Rene without a word—Tae-hyun never saw it coming.

"...That bastard."

Tae-hyun was sick of it all. What kind of dream makes you betray friends? Though his long-cherished dream stirred indignantly deep inside, Tae-hyun was too exhausted to care.

ㅡ"I gave you your chance too."

ㅡ"...What?"

ㅡ"Boyhood Under Heaven—you took my spot. Consider this you returning the favor."

ㅡ"Are you serious right now?"

ㅡ"Ah, fuck! What's your problem! You can debut without this anyway!"

His head throbbed remembering that conversation with Min-seok. Tae-hyun squeezed his eyes shut. It was pathetic realizing his closest friend had nurtured envy, not friendship.

"Worst. Really."

His uncle's seaside pension was perfect for sorting out his thoughts alone. Though he'd often come here with Min-seok... The unwanted memory soured his mood again.

"Ah. Ha-ru."

Other faces from those memories surfaced too.

ㅡ"I want to debut with someone like you, hyung.

"We didn't even get to eat tteokbokki together..."

He worried Eun-chan might blame himself too. They hadn't even properly talked.

...Should I call? As those faces kept haunting him, Tae-hyun finally rose from the deck.

"...?"

"You little—"

Someone stood before him, casting a shadow. The familiar pissed-off voice made him look up—and Tae-hyun froze in shock.

"Found you."

There stood Kang Ha-jin, looking like the Grim Reaper himself.

"Gah—!"

"Where do you think—"

The moment our eyes met, Seo Tae-hyun instinctively tried to bolt. But I'd anticipated that. Grabbing his hoodie, I plopped him back onto the deck.

"Hyung, why are you here!?"

"'Why are you here' is informal. Tae-hyun-ah."

"How the hell are you here!?"

I glared at the bastard who'd dragged me to this Gangwon Province coastline, grinding my teeth.

"Ygr dr nteu tmeuneujneun..."

Ding! A familiar notification popped up above Tae-hyun's head.

[System Alert: 'Seo Tae-hyun' is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reacting to you. Future dialogue will determine recruitment based on his 'reaction rate'.]

[Comrade Recruitment Status: 1/??]

Damn quest!