Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Debut Countdown (5)
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After finishing our meal, we headed back to the dorm, savoring the taste of the meat.
"It was really delicious."
"The best meat of my life. The best meat ever..."
"But I wonder if we ate too much. It was so good I ended up having a little extra without realizing."
"Me too..."
"That's why you should've just tasted it like I did."
Kim Kwang-myeong shook his head as he looked at the four of us sprawled out on the floor and sofa. Park Su-rim, who was lying on the floor, lifted his head slightly and said,
"You're one to talk, Kwang-myeong. You had your face buried in your plate too."
"...Quiet. When did I? I only had exactly one serving."
"Oh? What's with that attitude toward your hyung?"
"That kid's so cheeky. Skipping practice on his own and all."
"Ah, you're not a hyung if you don't act like one!"
"Don't blame hyung. When have you ever treated anyone like a proper dongsaeng?"
"As the maknae, I'm saying no. Kwang-myeong hyung is never hyung-like."
I chuckled at their bickering and went into my room to change clothes.
Tomorrow's the real debut.
Even after eating the meat Oh Rep bought us, it still didn't feel real.
It just felt like I was dreaming.
Everything since I started living Ha Jae's life felt like a dream.
A good dream I never wanted to wake up from.
'At first, I thought surviving as EverPlanet was impossible.'
And understandably so—they all end up in huge scandals later and crash.
But the more time I spent with them, the more I wondered.
How could these guys cause all that trouble?
None of them seemed like the type with personality flaws bad enough for that.
These guys—they open their eyes to practice and close them to sleep. Proper, upright men.
'It must've been the circumstances that pushed them there.'
Even the nicest people can act completely differently depending on the situation.
And those actions pile up, changing their personality itself.
I know because I went through it.
I never knew I could beat someone to a pulp like that.
'But as long as I'm here, I can't let them go down that path.'
If EverPlanet fails, I die too.
Not some dramatic resolve—I'll literally die.
I sighed as I recalled the ridiculous penalty of the main quest.
Anyway, I'll do my best to keep them from turning dark.
To do that... some rules would help. Rules...
That's when an idea flashed through my mind as I pondered.
That'll do it.
I grabbed a sheet of A4 paper and a pen from the corner of the room and headed to the living room.
I clapped my hands to draw the attention of the guys huddled together there.
"Look here for a sec."
"What's up, Jae?"
"I had a great idea. How about we make this together?"
"Make what?"
I smiled at Park Su-rim's question and answered.
"Our group rules."
"What's that?"
Everyone in the living room stared at me like they'd never heard of such a thing.
Of course. I just came up with it.
These guys, who all cause massive scandals without exception far in the future—maybe setting rules like the Ten Commandments ahead of time would help? That's what sparked the idea.
"It's exactly what it sounds like: ten rules we absolutely have to follow as we move forward as EverPlanet. Like... the Ten Commandments. Break them, and there's punishment."
"We have dorm rules."
"This would be more specific. Sure, there are dorm rules and company rules, but... re-making them ourselves the night before debut feels more meaningful, right? I heard famous sunbaes do this kind of thing."
"Which sunbaes?"
"Uh... Blue Black."
"Really? Blue Black?"
"Sounds good. Let's try it."
Lee Jae-oh, the Blue Black fan, backed me up, and the others came around easily. Such innocent guys.
We placed the A4 sheet on the living room floor and dove into a heated discussion. A real brainstorming session.
"How about always being polite? Once we blow up, someone might get celebrity syndrome and skip greetings."
"That's you, Eun-young. Watch out."
"I've been cured of celebrity syndrome ages ago. Hilarious."
"Stick to chore rotations and order. It's a dorm rule, but we've been slacking lately."
"Yeah. Add that."
The secretary role went to leader Park Su-rim. He had pretty good handwriting. Cooking too—he's good at anything hands-on. Meanwhile, I'm all thumbs.
"What else, guys?"
"No dating."
This one had to go in, no question.
This idea was pretty much for this, Kwang-myeong. Listen up.
I added my input and glanced at Kim Kwang-myeong.
"Whatever. I don't have a girlfriend."
He glared at me with axe eyes.
Dude. You don't have the right to look at me like that.
The others nodded at my suggestion.
"No dating is key."
"Rep Oh already banned it, but twice isn't enough."
"Yeah. If you wanna date, get approval from the other six. Try sneaking around and getting caught."
"No Love, No Romance."
"Oh, good one, Teddy. Add that line."
Of course, one clause won't stop fiery young love... so I'll have to keep watch.
Same for the others.
This just raises awareness.
I'll stay in the middle and keep the balance so nothing scandalous happens.
Whether that'll actually work, who knows.
After the debate, our group's rules—aka the "EverPlanet Ten Commandments"—were complete.
[[EverPlanet Ten Commandments]
1. Always be considerate of each other
2. Stick to chore rotations and order (please)
3. Clean up your own room and snack leftovers (please 2)
4. No dating! (No Love, No Romance.)
5. EverPlanet comes first in everything. No excessive personal activities!
6. Always be humble, humble, humble
7. Greet everyone properly
8. Consult everyone if something comes up (no suffering in silence!)
9. Always work hard with the mindset that we will succeed
10. Never forget these promises. Don't lose our初心.
If any EverPlanet member is found breaking the above, the members will decide on and carry out a punishment by consensus.
201X, June 2
Park Su-rim, Han Tae-hee, Lee Jae-oh, Ha Jae, Theodore Choi, Kim Kwang-myeong, Go Eun-young]
Not bad.
I smiled satisfactorily at the neatly organized list.
"Jae came up with it, but it feels kinda proud now that it's done."
"Right? Feels like we've become real pro idols."
"We become pro idols for real tomorrow."
"Pro? We don't know anything yet."
Park Su-rim picked up the paper amid Go Eun-young and Kim Kwang-myeong's bickering and headed to the table.
"Should we stick this here?"
"Perfect spot."
"Want me to get tape?"
The spot for the EverPlanet Ten Commandments was decided: the wall by the table, next to the calendar.
As Park Su-rim taped the list next to the calendar, ding! A notification popped up.
[EverPlanet's rules have been set. For one week, all members' passion recovery speed increases by 50%.]
Setting rules always fires up passion for about a week.
Now to make sure it doesn't fizzle out like a one-week resolution.
First, I won't forget it myself.
I read the Ten Commandments once more to steel my resolve.
After taping it up, we all washed up and got ready for bed.
Gotta sleep early tonight.
That way, we can hit the salon early tomorrow for hair and makeup, then head to the stage on schedule.
At 10 p.m., we turned off all the dorm lights.
I lay in bed and closed my eyes.
Sleep quick.
I started counting sheep slowly.
One sheep jumps the fence... two go over... three too...
That's when it happened. A rustling sound came from above the bed.
I cautiously opened my eyes.
"Whoa, you scared me."
"Jae, you asleep?"
My eyes met Teddy's, who was hanging upside down from the bunk bed railing, looking down at me.
"Why aren't you sleeping, Teddy?"
"Jae. My heart's pounding like crazy."
"Probably thumping."
"What's the difference?"
"Thudding-thudding is for drinking water."
"Oh."
Teddy, learning new vocab even now, sighed and climbed down the ladder. He squatted in the corner of my bed.
Hearing him, Park Su-rim turned from his mattress on the floor.
"Teddy, Jae. Not sleeping?"
"Su-rim hyung. I can't sleep."
"You still gotta... so we can do the broadcast tomorrow."
"I know... but I can't sleep."
"...Honestly, me neither."
What? You too? Come up?
With Park Su-rim climbing up, the narrow bed was packed.
Guys, I'm suffocating.
I wanted to say it, but Park Su-rim's expression looked off.
Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a ghostly pallor on his face.
I watched him quietly for now.
"How you guys feeling?"
"Feeling what?"
"Just. About debuting."
"Nervous. That's why I can't sleep."
Park Su-rim licked his lips at Teddy's answer. His fingers fidgeted, crawling over the blanket.
"I'm feeling kinda unsettled."
"What's that mean? Unsettled?"
"Weird vibe. Just doesn't feel real. That I'm actually debuting."
You too? Same here.
Of course. I'd heard Park Su-rim trained for over ten years.
Hopped companies before settling at UJ.
He's the leader, but still just twenty-one—a kid.
Scary's right. Trainee and debuted idol are worlds apart.
"Talked to my parents earlier, and it still didn't sink in. 'Do well, we'll cheer you on.' Even hearing that felt like it wasn't for me. After wanting it so bad. Weird, right?"
"Nah, not weird. Me too. That's why my heart's racing like this."
His fingertips trembled faintly from the tension.
I looked at the two and organized my thoughts.
As Ha Jae, what would resonate most?
After a moment, I spoke slowly.
"I'm scared, actually."
"What?"
"You know. My memories still aren't all there since... that time."
"..."
"Just went with the flow after, and suddenly we're here. Thinking about singing in front of tons of people tomorrow... it's vaguely terrifying."
"Jae..."
"Jae..."
Their eyes filled with pity instantly.
Right. When you're anxious, show someone more anxious—it vanishes.
I let out a soft sigh and continued.
"But on the flip side, kinda... excited."
"...Why?"
"I still remember why I wanted to be a singer at first. Singing at the school festival as a kid, winning a prize—that euphoria. That's why I wanted to be a singer."
"Similar. Me too."
"I got into it listening to My Girls."
Why My Girls, Teddy? I skipped it.
Gotta speak before the mood breaks.
"Anyway, thinking about that... standing on stage tomorrow really thrills me. Makes my heart race. That's what the old me dreamed of and ran toward."
These words don't come easy once the emotion fades.
Gotta spill it in that late-night haze. Even if it's not midnight.
"And above all, I'm not alone. We're doing it together, all of us members. With people I can trust."
"..."
"..."
In moments like this, nothing beats "together."
That's a group's strength.
I scooted closer and patted their shoulders.
Thought about hugging, but too embarrassing—pass.
"So don't worry too much. Sleep well, and let's nail tomorrow together. It'll be fine."
It has to be.
That's when.
"Oh, Jae! That really touched me!"
"Oof."
Teddy hugged me tight in a flash.
Ah, didn't wanna.
Park Su-rim watched us and chuckled lightly.
"Yeah. Tension's easing. Thanks, Jae. Feels clearer now."
Turning to him, his face definitely looked more relaxed.
Good. Can't have the leader shrinking—revived him well.
He sighed deeply and stared at me, mumbling.
"Jae, you've really become a different person since losing your memories."
"Yeah. Still prickly like a hedgehog, but... more mature in how you talk."
"..."
Of course. I am a different person.
But can't say that.
I slipped out of Teddy's arms with a smile.
"I'll take it as a compliment. Anyway, sleep now. Teddy, up. Hyung, down. Even now, we won't get much."
"Yeah, let's."
"OK."
They returned to their spots.
I lay back down too.
"Let's do our best tomorrow."
"Fighting."
"Sleep tight, guys."
And so, we reaffirmed our resolve in the cramped room.
The night before debut, one midsummer's eve.