Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Fight Erupts
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The moment I hung up the phone, Lee Jae-ha and I bolted to the break room, where Lim Joo-won and Kim Ha-woon were screaming at each other.
I was a little taken aback, but at the same time, it was a relief. At least it hadn't escalated to fists yet.
From overhearing their argument, I could piece together what had happened.
Things had finally blown up. Sure, faster than I'd expected, but what did you expect?
"You're one to talk—you can't even dance properly! And what was that crap you pulled with Trainer Kim earlier? Trying to get us all in trouble?"
"You're one to talk? Listen to that attitude. Acting all high and mighty over a little dancing."
"If you're such an expert at that 'little dancing,' then why can't you even do it right?"
"I told you. The company says they need me. You think I want to be some damn idol? Be grateful I'm even bothering with you guys."
Lim Joo-won finished with a smirk, curling his lip upward.
Wow, how does someone make a face that punchable? Anyone would want to deck him.
But as expected, the guy didn't stop there.
"At least you've got some pride."
"What?"
"Ha-woon, cut it out!"
"Hey, hey! Stop him!"
As Kim Ha-woon lunged forward in a rage, the other trainees quickly grabbed him. Lee Jae-ha and I started to rush in too, but let out small sighs of relief.
Thank goodness it hadn't turned into a real fight, but with all that pent-up frustration exploding, Kim Ha-woon wasn't done saying his piece.
It had only been two days since he'd clashed with Lim Joo-won, but these things don't care about time.
"If you're so great, go solo! That's why the company has to push you out as a group. All talk, no action, hyung."
"What? You little punk!"
"Punk? You're the one lacking manners. What you did to Trainer Kim—was that polite?"
I knew I should break it up, but damn, Kim Ha-woon was saying everything so refreshingly. I wanted to hear a bit more.
"Feels good, doesn't it."
Lee Jae-ha muttered the same thing.
That's when it happened.
"You cocky little shit!"
Thwack!
In an instant, the noisy break room—full of trainees whispering among themselves—fell deathly silent.
...What the hell just happened?
"...W-What? Did he just hit him?"
Park Tae-hoo's stunned voice rang out. I was so shocked I couldn't even move.
It wasn't a full punch, but I'd clearly seen a big hand smack the side of Kim Ha-woon's head.
"You bastard!"
Snapping out of his daze, Kim Ha-woon unleashed a curse that didn't suit his face and charged at Lim Joo-won.
I finally came to my senses and yelled.
"Grab them!"
As if on my signal, Lee Jae-ha and Park Tae-hoo jumped between them.
'This is bad...'
I never imagined it'd blow up this fast. What the hell had gone down?
"A dancer who doesn't know his place! Let go! I said let go!"
...Obviously, that jerk started it.
Even with all the trainees pulling them apart, things weren't calming down.
"Let me go! He hit me first!"
"Move! You assholes!"
This was chaos like no other.
What do we do? With actual hands thrown, word's definitely getting back upstairs.
'No hiding this.'
No choice. Time to turn this to our advantage.
I grabbed a trainee standing by the door.
"Sorry, but could you get Team Leader Kim Han-soo from Team 2? I have to hold these guys back."
"Huh? Oh, sure."
He looked surprised at being singled out but nodded and hurried out.
In the meantime, Lee Jae-ha had mediated enough to defuse the immediate explosion. Kim Ha-woon and Lim Joo-won were just huffing now, not lunging anymore.
I smiled at the other trainees standing around awkwardly.
"Sorry about this. Mind giving us some space to sort it out ourselves? Please."
Better to have witnesses, but with so many gawkers drawn by the spectacle, more eyes weren't helping. This was about the team's reputation too.
And everyone had seen Kim Ha-woon get hit first anyway.
Once the trainees were all out, I shut the break room door and secretly pulled out my phone to start recording.
Then I approached Lim Joo-won.
Alright, Do-jun. Time to choose your words carefully.
"Hey, Lim Joo-won. Even so, hitting your junior? That's too much."
"What? Taking sides now?"
"No, you hit Ha-woon first. That's the issue."
As expected, Lim Joo-won didn't budge, just scoffing.
"A punk who can't even show ID properly starts talking smack. Shouldn't you call that out first?"
"You started picking a fight!"
"Picking a fight?"
With a blatantly mocking face, he sneered at Ha-woon.
"Same as last time—you call every truth a fight? Why? Hit a nerve?"
"What did you say?"
I quickly covered Kim Ha-woon's mouth as he bristled. No way we'd let damaging words slip while recording.
"Truth? What'd you say?"
"No! In the break room, this hyung was badmouthing us with another trainee! I told him to focus on lessons first, and he starts cursing!"
"Is that true?"
I didn't need to ask—Lim Joo-won was exactly the type—but confirmation was key.
I fiddled nervously with my phone.
"Saying an overeager hack with no talent is full of himself—is that cursing? Thinking it's cursing just proves you're the hack."
...His whole mindset's different. Does it have to be f-bombs to count as trash talk?
I stayed calm and even-toned.
"Either way, you threw the first hand."
"Look at you, playing protector. Why not teach your punk some manners first? He'll cause trouble the second he debuts."
"The one starting trouble by raising hands first is you."
"What?"
Now for the important part. I lifted my chin, meeting his glare head-on to bait him.
"What? Wanna hit me too? Makes sense—you're the type calling Trainer 'stupid fuck,' whining 'this shitty company can't even debut us properly.' Scared of much?"
If it seems like I added a little, it's your imagination. Probably.
As expected, the already riled-up Lim Joo-won didn't call me out and let it slide.
No, he went further and nailed his own coffin.
"So what? Was I wrong? You gonna threaten me with that? Upper management won't care. You really have no idea how I got into this company?"
"What do you mean?"
"Casting director begged me to come—no decent trainees for singer material. Had to join."
Spreading his legs arrogantly, he kept bragging.
"Think you're the same as me? You four couldn't debut without me. Tell upstairs whatever. Nothing changes."
We'll see. If it's just the casting director favoring you, things could change plenty.
'I thought he had exec family or something.'
Not the worst-case anymore. With just the hit on Kim Ha-woon and what he's saying now, it's enough. They can't ignore this.
But Lim Joo-won's rant didn't end there.
"Shouldn't have come here. Company's incompetence wasting talent like me. Anyway, shut up and assist till contract ends. Then they'll beg me to stay, crying."
I was speechless from sheer absurdity and anger, but he misunderstood, continuing in that mocking tone.
"Just wait till I blow up. Contract or not, I'm out. Shitty company. So if you wanna shine on my coattails, shut up and follow orders. Don't boss me around."
Crazy bastard...
That sealed it. Easy to swing fists is bad enough, but debuting with someone this deranged is suicide. Hundred percent flop.
'Kick him out, end of story.'
I'd thought as fellow trainees, fix his attitude and roll together...
'...but that'd kill me first.'
Can't have that. He hates debuting as an idol anyway—helping him by granting that wish.
'Once Kim Han-soo gets here, smooth it over, then talk privately...'
But then, Lim Joo-won reignited the powder keg in the barely calmed room.
"But this punk's out. I'll get him kicked no matter what. Got it?"
His finger pointed straight at Kim Ha-woon.
Face flushed with barely contained rage, Kim Ha-woon shook off Lee Jae-ha's grip and charged like lightning.
"What the hell is going on here!"
That's when the break room door slammed open, someone storming in.
An furious-faced Kim Han-soo, and...
"E-Executive Director?"
Go Moo-seo.
The entertainment division head—whom I'd seen only once at signing—glared at us with a terrifying scowl.
❤
Kim Han-soo's head throbbed at the sudden trainee bursting into the office.
"Say that again, calmly. What?"
"Lim Joo-won and Kim Ha-woon are fighting!"
Of all times, Go Moo-seo—who'd just failed to convince the VP—was there too.
Sure enough, Go Moo-seo shot him a demonic glare.
'How the hell do you manage these kids?'
He could hear the sharp voice without a word spoken. Kim Han-soo hurriedly asked.
"Where?"
"Break room—they were arguing, then Lim Joo-won hit Kim Ha-woon! Others held them back..."
...What? Hit him?
His mind went blank. He'd figured at worst some bickering, not actual violence.
A low growl from Go Moo-seo reached his ears.
"Team Leader Kim."
"Y-Yes! Executive Director."
"What are you doing?"
"Pardon?"
Bam!
"Why aren't you sprinting to the break room?!"
Snapping to, Kim Han-soo shot up. Go Moo-seo clicked his tongue at the trainee.
"Don't go down. Stay and rest here."
The two rushed to the elevator. Kim Han-soo swallowed his anger, ignoring the exec's stiff expression.
'These crazy idiots!'
Clashes happen with bad chemistry. He knew Lim Joo-won's interpersonal scores sucked. But hands? Two days after team formation?
The short ride to the basement felt eternal.
Before the doors fully opened, Kim Han-soo squeezed out and dashed to the break room, flinging the door open.
Bam!
"What the hell is going on here!"
He caught Kim Ha-woon grabbing Lim Joo-won's collar, then hastily backing off. No serious fight—both faces unscathed.
Relieved inwardly, Kim Han-soo crossed his arms and nodded.
"Finish your talk. Why go quiet now?"
"It just ended."
Lim Joo-won tried to leave nonchalantly, but Go Moo-seo, who'd followed, blocked the door.
"Where to?"
"Bathroom."
"Explain everything that happened first."
Chilling tone. Even Kim Han-soo stayed silent, no mediating. Seizing the chance, Kim Ha-woon raised his hand.
But Do-jun beat him to it.
"Lim Joo-won said the incompetent shitty company would pick him over us four."
"What?"
Lim Joo-won finally looked rattled.
"When did I? Got proof? You're framing me for stuff I didn't say."
Park Tae-hoo and Kim Ha-woon erupted in protest. Even Kim Han-soo struggled to interject.
He'd heard Kim Ha-woon's story last night and trainer reports, but couldn't confirm it all true yet. No proof the four weren't slandering.
Couldn't take sides without facts. This tied to trainee morale too.
Then.
"Proof? Got it."
Do-jun held out his phone. All eyes, including Lim Joo-won's, turned to it.
Recording screen.
"Everything we said is right here."
"W-Wait!"
Lim Joo-won lunged reflexively. His eyes shook like reeds, cool facade shattered.
But Do-jun didn't flinch, tapping the red button to stop.
Click.
With a small touch sound, the play button was pressed.