Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: This Life is Space Star 60
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As soon as I finished speaking, comments like '???' started flooding the chat window.
The people in the booth also looked curious.
Wondering what this guy was talking about.
“I think we have to consider realistic issues.”
In the previous consultation, Han Jo had suggested, “Express your opinion straightforwardly without hurting the other person's feelings.”
It wasn't wrong.
If you don't handle things sharply in social life going forward, situations like this could happen again anytime.
But....
“Like Han Jo said, opening up your true feelings is really a good thing. It's better than bottling it up alone—telling your friend honestly, 'I felt hurt by this and that,' can lead to a deeper understanding between you two.”
But what I was worried about was the situation worsening.
“From what the writer said, it sounds like a very long-time friend, someone precious. Your friend probably thinks the same. But if you open up honestly, your friend might think, 'What? Are you doing this just because you hate lending me one notebook?'”
No matter how close the writer and the friend are, I don't think being honest is good.
Would a friend who borrowed the notebook without any apology suddenly realize, “Ah, I've been wrong all this time,” from one honest word?
On the contrary, they're more likely to feel awkward, get upset to cover it up, and rationalize it.
“Of course, I'm not saying your friend would do that. It's just a possibility. And even if they think that way, if you both care about each other equally, the relationship will recover eventually.”
But until it does?
In the end, the one suffering is the writer themselves.
“I'm worried about the hurt you'll endure while the relationship is strained. You're only in your second year now, and you still have a lot of school life ahead. It's painful enough to fall out with a close friend, but you have to see them every day, whether you like it or not. You might even get hurt in relationships with other friends.”
Suffer from the worry before speaking, and suffer from the strained friendship after.
It's funny to divide victim and perpetrator, but from the victim's—the writer's—perspective, it just ends with a broken heart.
Being honest is good, but....
Wouldn't being a bit more flexible be better?
Above all, reputation can't be ignored.
I felt it during trainee days too—the scariest thing in a peer group is your image turning bad within it.
“You can't ignore reputation in school life. We understand your true feelings, but other friends probably won't. You could get labeled as narrow-minded in an instant.”
“That could happen.”
“Of course, this is all hypothetical.”
I said it toward the writer, who might be listening somewhere.
“But I can't tell you to take the risk just based on the possibility it might work out.”
“So, think realistically.”
“Yes. In dramas or movies, there are those satisfying scenes where someone says everything on their mind. But what those media don't show is that in reality, you have to keep facing that person afterward. It's hard to tell you to endure that stress.”
“Then what's your recommended solution, Woojoo?”
“There are two.”
I carefully chose the words floating in my head.
“If it were me, I'd quietly distance myself from that friend. It's better than messing up by bringing it up awkwardly, and from experience, those relationships only hurt me the longer they drag on.”
“Don't mention the notebook and gradually pull away?”
“Yes, if it were me.”
I added quickly in case of misunderstanding.
“This is just what I'd do—not saying you have to do the same. You said it's a precious friend. There are ways to keep the relationship without cutting it off. Um... by asking your friend for favors.”
“Favors?”
“Like how your friend borrows your notebook, you ask for small things in return. A best friend surely has areas where they can help. If they're good at fashion, ask them to pick clothes while shopping. If they're athletic, ask for help with PE evaluations.”
“If they take something, you take something back?”
“Yes. Balancing the relationship emotionally balances it too. When you think, 'They give as much as I give,' it evens out. That naturally reduces the stress from the worry.”
That was the point I wanted to make.
Realistically, you don't know what might happen if you speak your mind satisfyingly.
So, quietly end it or gradually change it.
I nodded at the DJ's signal to wrap up.
“Ultimately, it's a matter of choice. If you're outgoing, Han Jo's solution might suit you better. Honestly, it's more effective for fundamentally resolving relationship issues.”
Han Jo, who had been listening quietly, looked at me.
“But if you're introverted like me and think, 'I can't do that,' I wanted to let you know there are other options. So, no pressure—pick what fits you best. Or don't pick at all. Maybe a better idea will come to you?”
I finished with a smile.
“Whatever you choose, I'll cheer you on from behind. Thanks for listening. This has been New Black's Woojoo.”
While the song I requested, “I'll Be on Your Side,” played, I quickly scanned the chat reactions.
Pretty good responses.
I took a deep breath and removed the headphones.
Now, just the results left.
* * *
At the same time. New Black dorm.
The members huddled in the cramped living room, staring at the laptop screen.
An exclamation burst from the maknae.
“Wow. Did you see Woojoo hyung just now? Even in low quality, how are his features like that? Only his is different. Everyone else is 480p, but Woojoo hyung is full HD.”
“480p? What's that?”
“Uh... it means Woojoo hyung is handsome, hyung.”
“Oh, got it.”
Kim Bi-ju nodded in understanding.
While stroking the hair of his dongsaeng sprawled on his lap, he turned to the laptop monitor.
“Yeah. Ri-hyuk is pretty too, but Woojoo hyung looks really refined today.”
Gotta save this, thought Kim Bi-ju as he hit the capture button.
Wang Ji-ho blinked at that proud smile.
“Hyung, what about me?”
“Of course our Ji-ho is handsome too.”
“Doesn't your answer lack soul?”
“Does this capture and save, Jung-hyun?”
“Probably.”
While Wang Ji-ho pouted, Kim Jung-hyun, who had been squeezing a hand gripper, looked at the screen.
“Woojoo hyung is really good at counseling.”
“He bragged about it before going out. Said he always counseled the dongsaengs when he was at TJ.”
“Did he?”
Scanning the comments, Kim Jung-hyun said,
“Reactions are split half and half. But ‘so…’? Did Woojoo hyung tell the friend to ‘trim’? Why is everyone saying to trim?”
“Jung-hyun, it's not trim, it's cut ties.”
“Oh, misread. Anyway, opinions are split.”
“It's worth splitting. Both make sense.”
“Yeah?”
Kim Bi-ju tilted his head.
“I think I'd quietly cut ties like Woojoo hyung said.”
“Who knows. I think I'd speak up. It's friends—you have to say when you're upset for them to know.”
“I'm not sure.”
“It's a tough dilemma.”
As opinions split among the members, the chat window buzzed with who’s right debates.
Break time.
While Kim Bi-ju searched '480p' on the portal, the maknae sneakily gauged reactions.
“Hyung.”
“No.”
“You knew what I'd say.”
“You wanna post a comment, right?”
Kim Bi-ju laughed at the maknae's guilty look.
He couldn't stop him earlier because he was making snacks in the kitchen.
By the time he brought the tray of French toast, everything had already happened.
They luckily saved the broadcast footage.
But with the nickname exposed, more comments wouldn't help—that was his thought.
Seon Wooju would probably agree if he were here.
“Ji-ho.”
Kim Bi-ju gently scolded.
“Let's stop here for today.”
“Just one comment.”
“If there's another schedule like this, you can post then. Got it?”
“......Okay.”
Wang Ji-ho sulked but agreed.
But soon the DJ announced the text vote start, wiping that expression away.
They all busily moved their fingers.
“Everyone sent?”
“Yeah. I'm even urging my school friends to text.”
“Jung-hyun, you?”
“Uh, what number were we?”
“2. You sent 2?”
“Uh... probably.”
At the uncertain voice, Kim Bi-ju furrowed his brows.
“You with your wallet and all, really, this......”
Struggling for a negative word, Kim Bi-ju held out his hand.
“Give me your phone. Dummy.”
“Not a dummy.”
Taking Jung-hyun's phone, he punched in the password familiarly.
“Hey. You know my passcode?”
“Who doesn't know 0000?”
“......”
Fortunately, sent texts showed 2.
Kim Bi-ju sighed in relief and handed back the phone.
Kim Jung-hyun scratched his cheek awkwardly and changed the subject.
“But weirdly, I'm not worried.”
“Huh?”
“The result. I don't feel like we'll lose.”
The two pondered then nodded.
“Yeah, true.”
“Me too. Can't imagine Woojoo hyung losing to anyone.”
The other two laughed at the maknae's words.
Exactly.
Hard to imagine Seon Wooju losing to anyone.
Whether from his built image or the recent a cappella live, their leader was like that in their minds.
Someone who turns any situation to his advantage wherever he goes.
Selling refrigerators in Alaska, hot packs in the desert—that was Seon Wooju.
So, watching felt relaxed.
“Look at Ri-hyuk hyung. Normally he'd be nervous and fidgety, but he's so chill now.”
They laughed at the main vocal's somehow relaxed expression.
They understood why.
—Yes, time to wrap up part 3. Now for the text vote results.
Finally, after ads, Jang So-won's voice flowed out.
Wang Ji-ho shot up, ears perked, Kim Bi-ju straightened up.
Kim Jung-hyun quietly set down the hand gripper he'd been clenching.
They said they weren't worried, but waiting for results made them jittery anyway.
Not a huge prize like #1 on music shows, but against this opponent, they really wanted to win.
As the three gathered at the laptop.
—It was a close battle. Really tight. Huh? Vote difference? Let me see... 27 votes? Wait. Staff says 37.
The chat was flooded with “Our unnie is weak at numbers,” and Jang So-won smiled sheepishly.
“But sunbae really MCs well.”
“Yeah. Like a survival show.”
At her natural teasing of listeners, Jung-hyun and Bi-ju swallowed hard.
Right then.
—Eh, who cares about the margin? It's the result that matters! Now, winner announcement. Intense close match! The winner is......
When Jang So-won named the winner.
—Ah......!
—Uh......
On the monitor, the two teams' faces showed joy and sorrow divided.