Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Keyword Music Rose Special (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Alright, we're announcing the winner right now! The victor of this Keyword Music Rose Special is…!"
We had been swallowing dryly, waiting anxiously for the results, when the MC's mouth finally opened.
"It's Manwol's Boys!"
…What?
I couldn't believe it and looked around. The other members were reacting the same way as me.
"Really?"
"We're the winners?"
"That's right! Manwol's Boys' [Rose-Tinted Circus] took first place in the teen and twenty-something votes, and second in the thirty-something votes. Congratulations once again!"
The MC then bowed his head and began reading from the cue card.
"Here's a memorable review from the twenty-something panel. MC Seobin, please read it."
"Yes. One of the twenty-something judges evaluated Manwol's Boys' stage like this: 'Today's Manwol's Boys performance was a refreshing strike back at the anonymous trolls who hide behind their screens and throw shade.'"
I was dumbfounded.
The guests watching us started clapping and offering their congratulations.
"Now, let's present the winner's trophy."
The MC picked up the trophy and bouquet from the table and stood. We awkwardly got to our feet as well.
"Congrats for real."
"A rookie group getting first on Keyword Music in their debut appearance? True super rookies."
"Mark my words, Manwol's Boys is going to blow up big time."
Amid the guests' congratulations, we held up the trophy and flashed bright smiles at the camera.
That's when the MC shouted.
"Acceptance speech!"
"Huh?"
"Oh, you have to give an acceptance speech."
Cha Jae-hyun clutched the trophy to his chest and spoke.
"Um… First off, it's such an honor to be the winners of this special among all these amazing artists. We're so grateful to the audience who voted for our stage, and we'll keep working hard to deliver even better performances as Manwol's Boys."
Clap clap clap clap—
As we started to sit back down, my eyes met Hwang Tae-seok's across the table.
Among the smiling Black Dice members, only Hwang Tae-seok sat there with a stiff expression.
'That face of his…'
I silently gave him a nod while holding the bouquet. His face soured even more.
'Feels good to land one on him.'
Leaving Hwang Tae-seok behind with his arms crossed and stone-cold face, I chatted with the MCs who were congratulating us.
The shoot wrapped up in that joyful atmosphere.
"Man, today feels amazing!"
We walked through the broadcasting station parking lot, chatting with the members.
Everyone looked happy.
"Us in first place. I still can't believe it."
Song Yu-bin, leaning on the other members as he walked, spoke with a smile.
"All that effort dancing on my sore leg paid off."
"Good job, Yu-bin."
"You did great, Yu-binnie!"
In the warm, lively mood, Cha Jae-hyun beamed with a bright smile, bouquet in hand. It had been a while since I'd seen him smile like that—he was usually so expressionless.
'Well, he's probably been through a lot mentally too.'
The manager was chattering away beside us, but I was so thrilled that his words barely registered.
Then Baek Si-woo threw his arms around the members' shoulders and whispered.
"Chicken when we get back to the dorm."
"Call."
Just as we opened the van door to get in, someone calling us from behind made us stop.
"Hey!"
When I turned around, there stood Hwang Tae-seok, looking seriously pissed.
His appearance instantly chilled the great vibe.
'What the hell.'
With one hand shoved in his pocket, he swaggered over arrogantly.
He stopped in front of us and shifted his gaze to the manager.
"Hey. You, manager."
"Yes?"
The manager, who had been hovering timidly behind us, poked his head forward.
"I've got business with these guys, so do us a favor and step away for a bit."
"Uh, step… where?"
"Anywhere."
Overpowered by Hwang Tae-seok's aura, the manager slunk backward. Soon, he was scurrying off without looking back.
'Pathetic guy. Shouldn't he at least ask what's going on?'
I watched the manager's retreating back, then turned my head. Hwang Tae-seok was right in my face, glaring at me threateningly.
He must've thought I'd be scared if he stared me down—his eyes were boring into my face.
'What is this nonsense.'
Watching this grown man pull a middle-school staring contest, I could only laugh.
That's when Cha Jae-hyun stepped up.
"What is it?"
"……"
"I heard you have something to say to us… A few of us aren't feeling great physically, so could you make it quick?"
Hwang Tae-seok smirked.
"Get in."
"Pardon?"
"I said get in."
'You think we're gonna pile into your car and chat like besties?'
I wanted to say, but…
"Just get in."
I said that and opened the van door.
'I'm curious what he wants to say, and anyway, we outnumber him.'
I nodded toward the van at Hwang Tae-seok, as if to say hop in.
Seeing my gesture, his face twisted.
"What? You told me to get in. You coming or not?"
"What?"
I flashed a grin at Hwang Tae-seok, who was glaring daggers at us.
"We can't ride before a senior like you who's basically a god, right?"
At my words, the members next to me covered their mouths and laughed.
"Ha…"
Hwang Tae-seok stared at us for a moment, then irritably stomped into the van like he had no choice.
We followed him in one by one.
Finally, the door shut.
"Get to the point."
Cha Jae-hyun's cold voice rang out the moment we were all in the van.
"I was just about to, you rude punks."
As he spoke, Hwang Tae-seok suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled something out.
A pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
'What the fuck. Why's he lighting up in our van?'
He flicked the lighter and lit one up. He took a drag, then blew the smoke right at my face with a nasty smirk.
In the rearview mirror, I saw Baek Si-woo in the back seat pinching his nose and grimacing.
I looked at Hwang Tae-seok and spoke up.
"Excuse me, sunbae."
"Yeah?"
"Our van isn't tinted."
"…What?"
At my words, Hwang Tae-seok's relaxed smoking face went pale.
"Our usual van broke down, so this is a last-minute rental. So right now, everyone outside can see you smoking… You okay with that?"
"Shit!"
Before I could finish, he frantically dropped the cigarette on the floor and stomped it out.
"Fuck, you little shit! Why didn't you say that sooner? Cameras everywhere—if that got caught, what then!"
I muttered while watching him.
"Lie."
His head snapped up at my words.
"What did you say, you punk?"
"Sorry. Just messing with you."
"Hey, you wanna die?"
"Yeah, you almost killed me for real. I'm allergic to nicotine."
"What? For real?"
"Nah, that was a lie too."
"You…!"
For a split second, I saw Hwang Tae-seok reach out toward me with a furious expression.
I jerked my head back to dodge when—
Slide—
Just before his hand reached my face, the van door opened.
The person who opened it was…
"Hey! What the hell are you doing here!"
It was Black Dice's Seo I-jin.
He peered into the van and grimaced like he'd seen something he shouldn't have.
"Hwang Tae-seok! Are you insane?"
"Hyung, get out. I'm just giving these juniors some education today."
"Education my ass! Can't even congratulate the kids and you're picking fights? Get out now!"
"Hyung, come on…"
Seo I-jin yelled with a face full of frustration.
"Out! You skipping schedule?"
Prodded by Seo I-jin, Hwang Tae-seok scowled reluctantly and climbed out of the van.
"Ugh, annoying."
Once outside, he lowered his voice threateningly at us.
"See you next time."
I waved both hands at him teasingly.
"Bye-bye."
Slam—
As the door shut, I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes.
From outside, I heard Hwang Tae-seok whining, "What am I supposed to do if you do that, hyung?" But it faded quickly.
"Whew…"
My head throbbed.
I pressed my temples and leaned against the window when I heard the window rolling down behind me. Turning, I saw Baek Si-woo pinching his nose and venting the cigarette smell out the window.
"Ugh, the smell! Why smoke in here and make a fuss? What a weirdo."
In the midst of it, Cha Jae-hyun asked worriedly.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Whatever… We've seen all his cards now, and if we look weak, he'll keep pulling this crap, so I went hard on purpose."
Cha Jae-hyun silently patted my back in response.
Baek Si-woo rolled the window back up.
"No real damage anyway. Let's head to the dorm and tear into some chicken. Okay?"
Just as the mood returned to normal shortly after Hwang Tae-seok left, and I was smiling at it,
Eun Hae-sol muttered while looking out the window.
"It's the manager."
I turned toward where he pointed and saw the manager standing behind a parked truck, looking serious as he talked on the phone.
'What are they talking about?'
Staring blankly at the manager, a weird feeling hit me, and I sat up straight.
"I'll go grab the manager. You guys wait here."
Leaving the members staring at me, I opened the van door and stepped out. I quietly approached the back of the parked truck.
The closer I got, the clearer the manager's voice became.
"Yeah. Just finished Keyword Music. The results? Can't tell you that. And be careful from now on. This one was really dangerous."
I pressed closer to where the sound was coming from, ears tuned to the manager's call.
Then came his low murmur, like he was sharing a secret.
"Song Yu-bin—he got hurt, didn't he? If I get fired over this, you gonna take responsibility?"
…What?