Chapter 230
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 230
“PD-nim, are you feeling alright?”
“No… I’m fine.”
Fiddling with my phone, I answered hastily.
Pushing the lingering unease to the back of my mind, I changed my wallpaper back to the default setting.
The assistant director gave me a worried look, but I ignored him and turned on my computer to check the situation once more.
The files I had been working on were perfectly preserved.
And the date was still January 14, 20XX.
“…This is really strange. Is something going on?”
“Hold on.”
Next, I opened a portal site and searched for my name.
Next to the three characters of my name, ‘Seo Ho-yun,’ a familiar profile appeared.
A photo of me holding a microphone at a production press conference and the description: PD at QBS.
“…Wow.”
Feeling my heart thumping like crazy, I typed in the name ‘The Dawn.’
Only titles of books or songs I’d never heard of appeared.
I entered the members' names into the search bar one by one, but similarly, only people with the same names popped up.
The idol group ‘The Dawn’ that I knew was nowhere to be found.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
I brushed my hair back roughly, tousling it into a mess, and stood up from my seat.
“Wh-where are you going? To see the Bureau Chief?”
“No. Mind your own business and get back to work.”
“…Yes, sir.”
I grabbed only my phone and walked out of the office.
Everything was exactly as I remembered.
As I strode quickly through the crowd of exhausted broadcasting station employees, a few familiar faces greeted me.
‘…Did I really come back?’
But the memories of coughing up blood and rolling around on the floor of Min Ji-heon’s house were too vivid for me to truly believe that.
Even looking at the reflection in the black screen of my phone, it wasn't the face of a twenty-four-year-old idol.
Deep dark circles from consecutive all-nighters reached down to my cheekbones, my skin was rough and devoid of life, and my lips were cracked and bloodied.
Rather than being polished, it was a face with sharp, jagged edges—it was definitely me from my PD days.
“Seo PD-nim, hello!”
“…Ah, yes, hello.”
I gave a half-hearted bow, but my eyes remained glued to my phone.
I found Seo Ho-jin’s contact information but hesitated, unable to bring myself to call. After a moment, I cautiously pressed the call button.
The dial tone rang for a long time, but the call didn't connect.
I bit at the dry skin on my lip, lost in thought.
This was likely the world of my unconscious and memories that Min Ji-heon had mentioned.
He said that if I found what was tangled inside me and figured out what it was, I could leave this world…
As I paced around the same spot with an anxious expression, Writer Lee Ji-seok, whom I had worked with on a previous program, walked into the station chatting loudly with some staff, a coffee in one hand. He spotted me and struck up a conversation with a bright smile.
“Seo PD, let’s go for a smoke break.”
“Ooh, PD-nim. You in?”
“…….”
The people around him chimed in, egging me on.
“I quit smok—”
As I said that, I felt my chest, and my hand brushed against a hard, rectangular pack. I opened my jacket, reached into the inner pocket, and pulled it out. There was even a lighter.
Was this showing me what I wanted because it was my unconscious, or did it just manifest what I had at the time because it was a memory?
I kept my mouth shut and assessed the situation, while Writer Lee looked at me with squinted eyes.
“Aigo, ‘quit,’ my foot.”
“…….”
I clicked my tongue inwardly but didn't add anything else, following the group as they headed toward the smoking room.
Stepping outside, the biting, dry scent of winter hit me full force.
Contrasting with the chilly air, I stared up at the clear sky for a moment.
‘How do I get out of here?’
Min Ji-heon’s words had been a bit cryptic, but the gist of it seemed to be: don't get attached, finish what needs to be done quickly, and get out.
There was no way there was anything in this broadcasting station that could tempt me.
I had always, always wanted to leave work early and get as far away from this place as possible.
I didn't know how much time had passed in reality, but all I had told Seong Ji-won was that I was going to see the manager. Since I was currently unconscious and lying in Min Ji-heon’s house, I needed to handle things and get out before the situation became irreparable.
“…Whoa!”
I held a cigarette, but instead of lighting it, I twirled it between my fingers while organizing my thoughts. Gradually, the chatter of the people around me died down, and their gazes converged on me.
“…PD-nim, have a good talk.”
“We’ll head in first!”
I raised an eyebrow as I watched them scramble away, but seeing the person who appeared behind them, I understood why.
A sharp bob cut that hit right at the chin, and a small, thin frame. Despite that, she exuded an aura that warned she was no pushover.
“You chain smoker.”
It was Kim Hee-yeong.
“…….”
I really hoped this was just a memory.
If this was a manifestation of my unconscious, it was pathetic.
I suppressed the urge to let my lips twitch.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
The friendly tone from Kim Hee-yeong, whom I hadn't seen since we broke up, felt awkward.
“…What are you doing here?”
“I used to work here too, so why wouldn't I be able to come? I came because I have something to say. And why aren't you answering your phone?”
If the date I saw was correct, it had been a long time since Kim Hee-yeong and I broke up.
But she suddenly came looking for me? All the way to another broadcasting station?
Kim Hee-yeong sighed and naturally pulled a cigarette from her back pocket, putting it to her lips. She looked somewhat troubled.
“…PD-nim.”
“Ugh, what’s with that tone? What?”
Sensing a strange vibe, I asked a question, just in case.
“What’s our relationship right now?”
Since all sorts of things were happening, I asked just to be sure.
However, as soon as the words left my mouth, Kim Hee-yeong kicked me in the shin. It definitely wasn't reality, but it hurt like hell.
“You bastard! Don't be sarcastic! Are you annoyed that your ex showed up?”
“No, I wasn't being sarcastic…”
“Do you have any idea how mean you are?!”
Ah, so we were broken up.
It was the same.
I gently rubbed the spot where she kicked me.
Kim Hee-yeong seemed truly livid, her face flushed red as she huffed for a long moment.
“Ha, you son of a bitch. I came here out of worry as an acquaintance. You really have a remarkable talent for ignoring people’s feelings and making them suffer. You cut everything off so coldly.”
“…Anyone listening would think I was the one who broke up with you.”
“What’s the difference? If you look at the facts, you basically dumped me. Was it really me who dumped you?!”
Her logic was severely flawed.
She was the one who said the words, and I was the one who almost got slapped.
But there was no reason to stir up trouble for nothing, so I kept my mouth shut.
She let out a long sigh and waved her hand as if she didn't even want to think about it anymore.
“Whatever, I didn't come here to talk about that. You had a program that ended recently, right?”
“Yeah.”
I did.
An idol debut survival program for trainees.
The show where I had tried to eliminate Seong Ji-won but failed.
As I nodded, Kim Hee-yeong continued.
“Our station is planning to make a very similar program soon. …I saw a bit of it, and it’s almost a carbon copy of your show.”
“Ah.”
I had heard rumors about that back then.
Copying a hit program was a common occurrence in this industry.
I shrugged at the trivial news.
“I already heard.”
“You knew? Did you see the proposal?”
“A little?”
“And you’re not pissed?!”
It was a bit annoying, but well.
“It won't be as popular as mine anyway.”
When I answered indifferently, Kim Hee-yeong became even more indignant on my behalf and snapped the cigarette she had just pulled out.
“Hey, you… do you really not care what people say?”
“About what?”
“People calling you out for ‘Devil’s Editing’ and all that shit. Don't you feel it’s unfair?”
I thought back for a moment.
It was true that I used Devil’s Editing.
It was a means to boost the show’s popularity.
I didn't think there was anything particularly unfair about it.
“…Not really? Ack!”
This time, Kim Hee-yeong smacked me on the back.
“You! Seriously! It’s because you never explain anything that people get so frustrated! Everyone thinks you’re the bad guy!!”
“So what? It’s not like I had some grand malicious intent. I just did it for the ratings.”
“Don't give me that bullshit! And it’s not like you do it to just anyone! Do you know how well those bastards, who would have been buried if it weren't for your editing, are doing now—!”
Suddenly, Kim Hee-yeong stopped talking and brushed back her bangs that were slightly covering her eyes.
“……Forget it. Yeah. I’m not one to talk.”
She really had too much lingering affection for her own good.
“Noona.”
I uttered the title out loud—one that I would have only said in my head if I were ‘Seo Ho-yun’ of The Dawn.
Kim Hee-yeong didn't react much, only lifting her gaze to look at me.
“Don't worry. I’m eating well and living well.”
I looked away from her, and suddenly, past Kim Hee-yeong, I saw someone in the distance staring intently at me.
“What? What is it?”
She asked, seeing me frozen with wide eyes.
But her voice didn't register at all.
I brushed past Kim Hee-yeong and took a step or two forward. At that, the figure flinched and vanished behind the building.
“……!”
“Hey, hey! Where are you going?!”
“Wait!”
I shook off Kim Hee-yeong’s hand as she grabbed my shoulder and sprinted toward where the figure had disappeared.
Creeeeeak—!
Then, something bizarre happened.
The brown paving blocks that had been flat just a moment ago began to crack and undulate.
“…What the?!”
“……!”
I steadied myself after nearly tripping and looked up. I saw a small figure watching me from afar before ducking into an emergency exit.
“Hey!!”
Rumble…
Grind, grind, grind!
I called out to the kid and rushed toward the emergency door.
At that moment, with a loud roar, the building next to me folded in half.
No, not just the building—the entire ground rose to cover the sky, folding into a square.
“Crazy….”
I stopped in my tracks at the abnormal situation and stared blankly, but the people around me continued their conversations and drank their beverages as if nothing were wrong.
Only then did I realize for certain.
This couldn't be reality.
‘Back, my ass!’
After a moment of hesitation, I caught sight of my reflection in a building window, snapped out of it, opened the emergency door, and ran down the hallway.
Familiar faces looked at me with wide eyes and called my name, but I didn't have the energy to care.
“Hey! You’re dead if I catch you!”
I vowed to catch that brat who was teasing me by keeping a certain distance as he ran.
When I shouted, the figure flinched in surprise. Seeing him turn the corner at the very end of the hallway to the right, I pivoted. I wanted to arrive at his destination before him.
I knew the layout of the broadcasting station like the back of my hand.
Bang! I threw open the door connected to the emergency stairs, strode down, and opened the third door.
Crash…!
At the same time, boxes filled with documents came tumbling down. Some floated in the air as if unaffected by gravity or bounced around, making it difficult to pass.
It was as if the world were trying to stop me from reaching him.
Papers grazed me sharply, and boxes collided with my body.
Ignoring the pain, I sped up, chasing the figure as he climbed the stairs.
Even though I had only seen his silhouette and the back of his head, I was certain.
“Seo Ho-jin!”
At my call, he seemed to panic and his foot slipped, causing him to stumble. I didn't miss the opportunity, closing the distance and catching him before he fell.
He was impossibly light.
“Are you okay?!”
“……That,”
I grabbed his shoulders, turned him around, and cupped his face with both hands to lift it.
I had already guessed, but facing it made my heart drop.
Plump cheeks with soft fuzz, a round head, a small frame for his age….
“I-I’m okay….”
“……!”
It was a ten-year-old Seo Ho-jin.
In an instant, Min Ji-heon’s words flashed through my mind.
“Don't be bewitched by whatever appears.”
‘Fuck….’
A groan escaped me.
His thin eyelashes trembled as they slowly lifted, and his moist, teary eyes met mine.
“……I’m okay, Hyung.”
How could I not be bewitched by something like this?