Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Realizing Jealousy
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I finally came to my senses and headed straight to the company to meet Kim Min-jae.
I'd been discharged from the hospital, and we needed to talk about what to do next. That way, things would start to become clear.
But just as the company building came into view up ahead, my phone rang with a call from Kim Min-jae. What? I wasn't late.
- Where are you?
"I'm right in front of the company. I'll be there soon."
- No, no. It's not that. I'm running a bit late.
"Weren't you at the company?"
- With everything going on with Flame lately... Ahem.
He trailed off awkwardly and cleared his throat. As if he hadn't already said it all.
- Anyway, I'm on my way back, so wait for me at the cafe in front of the company.
Was there even a seat at the cafe in front of the company? It was always packed with fans waiting to catch a glimpse of their favorite celebrities.
"Flame's coming, right?"
"I heard the kids on site are heading over."
Sure enough, the area by the cafe windows was crammed with people. Fans waiting for Flame, no doubt.
I couldn't quite put my finger on why, but it soured my mood for no reason.
I ignored the instinctive twitch in my ear and headed to the counter.
"Ah, one of those, please. And that cake over there."
"Oh, customer. Instead of that cake today, may I recommend this limited-edition one? It's absolutely delicious."
"Oh, really?"
Oh? Delicious, huh?
"Then I'll take that one."
"Shall I get you the limited edition?"
"No, the fanciest one over there."
Taste didn't matter. Not right now. Pretty was what counted.
That way, I'd get at least one more 'like' when I posted the photo.
Click.
'Not this one.'
Click, click.
'This one's no good either!'
Click, click. Click.
A few customers glanced curiously at a grown man delicately holding a dessert while snapping selfies, but I'd gotten used to those looks by now, so it didn't bother me much.
I was deep into taking photos when the cafe suddenly buzzed near the windows.
"Hey, isn't that Flame's van?"
Flame? Had Kim Min-jae arrived?
"Where?"
"Right now! The van that's stopping!"
"Whoa, it is Flame!"
The crowd erupted in shouts and surged toward the van.
They hadn't even debuted for a full year yet, and they were getting this kind of reaction.
"……."
The coffee I'd been sipping suddenly tasted bitter. Or maybe it was the cake not being sweet enough.
"Kyaa! It's Lee Jae-yoon! What do we do?!"
"Huh? They're coming this way?"
Lee Jae-yoon? The familiar name drew my gaze as well.
Kim Min-jae entered first, taking the lead in managing the crowd inside the cafe.
Trailing slightly behind him was a face I recognized, though far more polished than I remembered.
And then, our eyes met.
"Hyung!"
Lee Jae-yoon spotted me and approached with a bright smile. I awkwardly raised a hand in greeting.
"You okay? I heard you woke up and wanted to visit, but the schedule was packed... Sorry!"
"Nah, it's fine."
Something felt off in the pit of my stomach. Like I'd swallowed sand—gritty and uncomfortable.
Until I'd opened my eyes in the hospital, we'd shared everything, thick and thin. But now, there was this inexplicable distance.
"Who's that? Another celebrity?"
"Don't recognize him, but he's handsome."
The whispers rang clear. The attention that had been on Lee Jae-yoon shifted to me. I could feel every eye in the place on me.
But it was fleeting. Soon, the cafe's murmurs centered on Lee Jae-yoon again.
'Ah.'
That's when I finally pinpointed the nagging unease I'd felt since stepping into the cafe.
Jealousy.
……Yeah, this was jealousy.
"Hyung?"
While I'd been lost in thought, Lee Jae-yoon had sat down across from me.
His flashy outfit and makeup screamed "just wrapped a shoot," despite claiming a packed schedule.
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
"What's wrong? You sure you're okay?"
He scanned me with a serious look. I waved it off.
"If I wasn't fine, I wouldn't have been discharged, man. What about the others?"
"They went to the company. We were gonna come together, but Min-jae hyung said no, so I came as rep."
"If all of you showed up, this place would be chaos. It'd be a mess."
"You're heading to the company anyway, right, hyung? Let's go together. Been too long since we talked."
Kim Min-jae scowled at that.
"Where do you guys find the time?"
"Schedules are killer tight. Look at this, hyung! He's getting more short-tempered by the day. Say something."
Lee Jae-yoon grinned cheekily after his complaint.
Even that casual act drew gasps from around us: "He's insane.", "Hey, photo! Photo!"
"Uh... Min-jae hyung's always like that."
I tried to play it cool, but it came out awkward. Lee Jae-yoon and Kim Min-jae exchanged odd looks.
"Sorry, hyung! I was too thoughtless."
"What're you sorry for."
My tone came out snappier than intended. I definitely felt it this time.
"It was my fault for causing that dumb accident."
"Why's it your fault, hyung?!"
Lee Jae-yoon raised his voice. The air turned icy. Kim Min-jae quickly intervened.
"Lower your voice."
"Oh? Sorry."
Reading the room, Lee Jae-yoon flashed his bright smile again. The chill thawed.
Kim Min-jae let out a small sigh and continued.
"Those stage setup guys screwed up. They got fired on the spot! Probably can't find work now."
"What'd they do wrong."
Of course they were at fault.
But for some reason, I didn't want to say it. Felt like I'd be conceding something.
"……."
Silence hung between us three. Neither Lee Jae-yoon nor Kim Min-jae could find words easily.
Makes sense. It wasn't their fault anyway. I was acting childish.
I broke the ice first.
"Don't make those faces. I'll be debuting soon enough and seeing you all. Lighten up, man. You too, hyung."
Lee Jae-yoon's expression softened instantly.
"Yeah, of course. You're our leader, hyung."
"Leader, my ass. You're the leader now."
"Nah, once a leader, always a leader!"
His exaggerated reply drew a chuckle from me, though it didn't feel bad.
I appreciated that he treated me the same even after debuting and succeeding. Not everyone does.
"But hyung, weren't you taking photos earlier?"
How'd he spot that?
"Let's take one together!"
"What?"
Before I could react, he scooted next to me.
"What's with the sudden photo?"
"While visiting you in the hospital, I realized we trained together for five years but have zero photos."
……Not like it's a funeral portrait or anything. Ominous much.
No. Spotting the horde of fans eyeing us—Lee Jae-yoon specifically—a idea flashed.
"Photo's great. But let's use my phone."
"Huh? Yours?"
"Yeah, I'll send it to you."
He nodded readily.
Okay, say cheese.
"Taking it? One, two, three!"
Click.
The phone camera's signature shutter sound rang out. Almost simultaneously, Lee Jae-yoon checked his phone.
"Hyung, hold on."
He answered with an annoyed look. The cafe's noise forced him to raise the volume, so I overheard everything.
"What?"
- Trainer says get back quick.
"Tell him I'm coming soon."
- He says now. The executive director...
"I said I'm coming."
No reply came, but he hung up stone-faced. Was that okay?
I glanced worriedly, but Kim Min-jae looked unfazed, used to it. Feeling more awkward, I spoke up.
"Go on."
"I can stay a bit."
"I heard it all. They're waiting. Go."
"Ugh, seriously."
Irritation crept onto Lee Jae-yoon's face. Kim Min-jae whispered with a grin.
"Smile, Lee Jae-yoon. Fans around."
His face lit up instantly. Kid was a full idol now.
"I don't have to go yet."
His smile didn't match his cool tone.
As he dug in, Kim Min-jae shot me a pleading look.
"We got the photo. Go already."
"Nah, still good, hyung."
"What's good? You look swamped."
"No, really fine. Hmm, five minutes?"
"Enough. You're busy—go."
"Even busy, I got five minutes."
"I don't, man. You think I've got all day?"
I said it jokingly, but truthfully, I didn't want to drag this out with him.
The emotions I'd shoved down amid my absurd situation were creeping back up.
The accident during the music video shoot was weird enough, but trading lifespan for 'likes'? Whole different level.
"C'mon, don't joke, hyung."
"Not joking."
His phone rang again right then.
"See? Another call."
"Lee Jae-yoon!"
Outnumbered, he sighed deeply.
"Fine, I'm going. This is ridiculous."
He stood with a reluctant look.
"See you at the company later, hyung!"
"Yeah. Hurry."
"I'll drop him off first."
I nodded at Kim Min-jae's words. Couldn't let him go alone with fans swarming like that.
"Excuse me. Coming through. Excuse me."
They finally pushed through the crowd and exited.
With the fans following Lee Jae-yoon out, the cafe quieted dramatically.
A few curious glances lingered on me briefly, but that was it.
Lee Jae-yoon
Everyone's jealous I got to see you.
Here's the pic we just took!
Let's hang out properly soon!
Sounds good to me. Posting with Flame members would rack up plenty of likes.
For the first time since waking up from death, I smiled easily as I replied.
See you every day at the company.
This should net likes quick, right?
❤
Flame's leader, Lee Jae-yoon, crossed the company lobby with a cold expression.
The bright smile from moments ago vanished the instant he entered the building.
His face was set so rigidly, anyone might think he was furious.
Kim Min-jae, gauging the stares around them, nudged his shoulder.
"Loosen up your face."
"……."
No response. Kim Min-jae shook his head. Here we go again.
"Ah! Hyung!"
As soon as he opened the practice room door, one of the waiting Flame members jumped up.
Lee Jae-yoon's expression remained stiff.
"Why'd you hang up like that?"
"I told you not to make me say it twice."
"Huh?"
"I said I was coming soon. Why push? Where's the trainer?"
"Stepped out for a bit..."
"Not urgent then? So why rush me?"
"Well, that's..."
The member hemmed and hawed, furrowing Lee Jae-yoon's brow. As he opened his mouth to speak, a tsk came from behind.
"I called him. Why hassle the kid? Think that's why I made you leader?"
"Executive Director?"
Moon Dae-chan, GH Entertainment's executive director, entered with the trainer. Lee Jae-yoon scowled deeper.
Why was the executive here?
"Why'd you call?"
"Heard you went to the cafe."
"Can't even go to a cafe now?"
"Don't waste your image on pointless stuff. Fans love you when you give occasionally after holding back, but hate you when you stop after giving."
"Then today counts as my occasional give, right? You called for that?"
"More or less."
His perfunctory reply darkened Lee Jae-yoon's eyes.
But the executive ignored it, turning to Kim Min-jae.
"Section Chief Kim."
"Yes, Executive Director."
"Why haven't you checked the work email?"
"Pardon?"
"No 'pardons.' Check it now."
"Sorry. I'll check right away."
"Sorry. I'll check right away."
The executive eyed Kim Min-jae disapprovingly.
"The injured kid was at the cafe?"
"Yes. Needed to discuss next steps and check his condition."
"Bring him up. Got something to say."
"Got it."
Before Kim Min-jae finished, the executive turned and left the practice room.
Only after his footsteps faded did Lee Jae-yoon relax a bit.
"Hyung, so Do-jun hyung's going acting?"
"Has to. Age and all, can't form another group with you guys there."
"True. Damn, I wanted to share the stage with Do-jun hyung."
"Think about that later. I'm heading to Do-jun now, so practice hard."
"Sure, sure."
Kim Min-jae gave a quick nod to the still-awkward trainer and hurried back to the cafe where Do-jun waited.