Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: What I'd Forgotten
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The waiting time before music shows had become just another part of our daily routine.
For rookie idols like us, it was a wait that felt almost like our destiny.
After so much waiting, the members had each found their own ways to make productive use of the time.
I usually read books or watched L-Tube videos. Sometimes I'd hang out with the others.
Today, I was reading a novel I'd gotten from Manager hyung in advance.
'Still, why hasn't anyone shown up yet.'
The guys who'd gone to nap in the car hadn't come back, nor had the ones who'd stepped out to grab something.
It was really strange.
That's when Go Eun-young, the only one still with me in the waiting area, suddenly called out.
"Hyung, hyung. Jae hyung."
"What's up, Eun-young-ah."
"Look at this."
I shifted my gaze from the book to Go Eun-young.
She was holding the camcorder from the company and filming me.
"What're you filming?"
At my question, Go Eun-young flashed a bright smile.
"The admirable sight of Jae hyung diligently building his knowledge even during waiting time."
"Well, aren't you sweet."
Sudden flattery out of nowhere. But it didn't sound half bad.
I chuckled and turned back to my book.
Then Go Eun-young asked again.
"Hyung, how's your mood today?"
"My mood today? Not bad."
"Be more specific."
"Slept well, feeling great. Rehearsal went smoothly. Couldn't ask for more."
"That means good, right?"
"You could say that."
As I played along, Go Eun-young seemed to get really into it.
She got excited and started grilling me with questions in earnest.
"What book are you reading right now?"
"Ena Jackson's [At the Waves' Edge]."
"What's it about? Give me a rundown."
"Why so curious, our little Eun-young."
There had to be a reason she was suddenly interviewing me like a reporter.
But Go Eun-young grinned innocently, like she had no ulterior motive.
"It's the Very Pretty Interview by Go Eun-young. Please cooperate."
"Oh... the Very Pretty Interview by Go Eun-young... New segment?"
"Something like that."
Probably for a Planet Log upload. Not a bad idea.
I gave a quick summary of the book's plot.
"It's about a protagonist in a seaside village who goes for a walk, finds an unconscious sailor washed up, and brings him home. The sailor can't remember his name, age, hometown... nothing. So the protagonist names him and takes really good care of him. And then... no spoilers past that. Read it yourself if you're curious."
"Ah, you cut it off right at the good part. Everyone, this is Jae hyung. This heartless guy."
"Can't spoil it for the fans."
I chuckled as Go Eun-young pretended to cry into the camcorder.
Man, she was pretty funny.
Once she set the camcorder down on the table, I focused back on my book.
But I couldn't concentrate for long.
Go Eun-young poked me again.
"Jae hyung, stop reading and come with me to the van."
Her sudden request made me tilt my head.
"The van? Why me?"
"Just 'cause. I need to grab something, and it'd be boring alone."
"Hmm."
"Pleeease?"
"Alright. Let's go."
Can't coldly turn down the maknae when she asks like that.
I marked my page and followed her.
But the whole way, she kept filming my face up close with the camera.
Hmm, kinda annoying.
"Why keep filming like that?"
"Close-up coverage. Gonna capture how Jae hyung walks, how he breathes, everything on this camcorder."
"Well, aren't you sweet."
Didn't seem like she'd stop if I asked.
I decided to ignore it.
As we entered the underground parking lot, our white van came into view way over there.
"Hurry up and grab it."
"Hang on. Looks like the engine's off."
Go Eun-young tilted her head and dashed toward the van.
I followed at a leisurely pace.
The door seemed locked. No keys either. What now.
"What'd you come to get anyway?"
If it wasn't urgent, better to just ask Manager hyung to bring it later.
But at my question, Go Eun-young's expression flipped.
From awkward to scheming villain.
"...Curious?"
...What? Right as I sensed something off.
Pop, bang bang pop! A massive firecracker exploded from behind the van.
The unexpected noise startled me rigid on the spot.
Then a familiar melody started playing from somewhere, and
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you."
All five members except Go Eun-young emerged from behind the van, holding a lit cake, walking toward me.
Oh. Come to think of it, today's date...
Staring blankly at them, I hurriedly pulled out my phone to check.
June 22nd. My birthday. Ha Jae's too.
...God. I'd completely forgotten.
"Happy birthday to our beloved Jae!"
They even sang the full birthday song.
Teddy, holding the cake, offered me a pure white cream cake.
Two big candles flickered in the heat.
Lee Jae-oh whispered softly in a warm voice.
"Blow out the candles quick, Jae-ya."
"Blow, blow!"
Haha. I grabbed my irrepressible smile and blew out the candles with a puff.
Acrid smoke filled the air along with applause echoing through the parking lot.
I took the cream cake from Teddy and muttered.
"...When'd you even prepare this."
I was more touched than I thought.
My own voice, subtly subdued, surprised even me.
Then Han Tae-hee puffed up proudly and lifted her chin.
"We've got plans."
"You can see the full prep in the Planet Log later."
Kim Kwang-myeong chimed in smugly, but Park Su-rim stepped in to sort things out.
"Okay, okay. Let's hear some thoughts from our birthday boy Ha Jae."
"Ah..."
What to say.
I glanced between the members and the cake they'd handed me, then slowly spoke.
"First off, thanks so much for remembering and celebrating. Truth is, I'd totally forgotten my own birthday. Schedules have been so packed lately... lost track of dates."
"We figured. You didn't even ask why no seaweed soup this morning."
Oh yeah, breakfast was kimchi jjigae today.
Now I remembered—Park Su-rim had made kimchi jjigae for Kim Kwang-myeong's birthday hidden cam too.
I'd just thought it was tasty, but there was this deep conspiracy.
Still, they remembered a birthday even I forgot. I was so grateful. You rascals...
Just as the wave of emotion was cresting.
I caught them exchanging glances. Something felt off.
Sensing my unease, Park Su-rim smirked slyly and stepped closer.
"Alright, celebrations done... Everyone ready?"
"...Hold on. Guys?"
I could guess what these punks were up to.
I'd been through it once before.
The day my debut team was confirmed, Teddy smashed a cream cake right in my face, no mercy.
And now, another cream cake...
"Heh heh heh..."
With some hyena-like grins already forming.
I waved my hands and backed away.
"Come on, guys. Let's talk this out."
"The cake wants to chat with you too."
"Think about it. We have a stage. Makeup redo? How much hassle for coordi noonas? Not cool."
Crisis sharpened my coping skills in a flash.
And luckily, my persuasion worked.
"Fair point."
"Then just a light cream smear."
"Okay."
"Phew..."
Yeah. I could handle that much.
...Thank God my birthday fell on a schedule day.
I nodded, and they pounced like starving hyenas.
I felt six hands scooping cream from the cake and meticulously smearing it all over my face, bursting into puhaha laughter.
Can't do anything with these guys.
Sharing and eating the cake amid the raucous laughter, I thought to myself.
'This is fun.'
Funny thing. Living someone else's life as someone else, and feeling this happy.
In the recent years living as myself, as Seo Il-hyun's life. Had there been a moment more joyful?
Times crushed by life, by unfulfilled dreams.
Even though it was my life, it never felt like living, like the clothes didn't fit—those hollow days.
Remembering them left a bitter taste.
What had I been fighting so hard for in a life I didn't even want? Nihilistic thoughts flitted through my mind.
'But if I'm happy right now, that's enough, right.'
Amid the bitterness, this surprise event had me in a great mood here and now—that was certain.
For the moment, that'd do.
Mountains of things to uncover and achieve still loomed, but the first destination on that road felt this good.
Then, amid my wandering thoughts, a notification chimed—a birthday tune remix.
A yellow alert popped up, celebrating my birthday.
[Happy birthday celebrated by everyone. The system celebrates your birthday too! Luck +3]
Whoa. 3 points? Luck rarely budged without special events, and now this much.
Birthday gift, I guess. Nice.
Might even get chummy with the system at this rate.
Anyway, June 22nd... my birthday.
Reminded of the date, one thing came to mind.
The event that always dominated the internet from portal sites on this day.
'The day those guys debut.'
Realizing it brought an inexplicable bitterness.
No, snap out of it. It's still my birthday either way. Stay happy.
I shook my head vigorously to shake it off.
But soon after, I tasted it again.
Even more vividly.
Because of the familiar faces we ran into on the way back with the members.