Chapter 413
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 413
Time flowed quickly, regardless of how shitty I felt.
Two weeks after the Korea Music Awards, the Seoul Popular Music Awards were held. As expected, no miracle occurred; an idol group did not win "Album of the Year."
Still, we didn't return entirely empty-handed. The Dawn was awarded "Best Song."
However, this series of events seemed quite absurd to the fans.
[Total corrupt bastards]
[What the hell is WH doing? Their stock price is soaring, yet they can't even take care of their own artists?]
[ㅠㅠ Our Daesang singers worked so hard ㅠㅠ!! It breaks my heart to see the High Five kids crying.]
[Third round of evidence for the Korea Music Awards rigging has been added. The more you dig, the more comes out lol.
└ Rigging? If your bias won, you would’ve called it a fair ceremony, lmao.
└└ It’s a fact that the award officials crossed the line this time.
└└ Sales were pretty much the same anyway.
└└ Don't post this shit on public accounts; keep it to your private ones.]
[I’m so pissed I’m just turning off the internet for a while... Ah, fuck off. I’ve lost all faith in humanity. The evidence is so clear, yet these bastards don't even know how to look at money.]
[High Five deserved it ^^ Congratulations~]
When we didn't receive the expected Daesang at the Korea Music Awards, a backlash ensued, and all sorts of hashtags dominated social media.
Of course, WH Entertainment remained silent, as did the award officials. As always.
But this situation wasn't necessarily bad for The Dawn.
[The Dawn is #1 in brand reputation anyway, lol.
└ For real, we need to re-evaluate them... lol. Honestly, this whole ceremony needs to be investigated.]
[They entered the music charts again ㅠㅠ They’re flooded with ad offers. I’m so proud of our singers.]
The fans rallied together, causing the title track and B-sides from our last album to pop up all over various music charts.
Seeing that, my faint conscience pricked at me, but I tried my best to act as usual. Taking advantage of the slightly more relaxed schedule after the year-end season, I pushed the group through even more grueling dance and vocal practices.
"Oh! Seo Ho-yun, you're at the office again?"
"Ahaha."
I brushed off such comments with a laugh instead of an answer.
The more idle I was, the more useless thoughts kept surfacing. It was easier to meet people and work my body to the bone instead.
But that only lasted for a short while.
The company gave us a four-day break for the Lunar New Year holiday, saying we had worked hard for the past year.
"Hey guys, I'm locking the practice room door, so don't even think about coming in!"
The manager, who had been with The Dawn since the beginning, pretended to be stern.
It wasn't a long vacation, but since none of the members had seen their families in a while, Kim Seong-hyeon, Seong Ji-won, and Jeong Da-jun decided to head to their hometowns early this morning, on the day of the holiday itself.
"I'm sorry... I thought about staying with you guys, but my parents have been abroad, and it's been almost half a year since I've seen them, so I have to stop by!!"
"Yeah, it's fine. I should go see my grandmother too."
"Mmm, my younger siblings are making a fuss for me to come home... though I think they want your autographs more than they want to see me."
Kim Seong-hyeon, who was muttering bitterly, turned his gaze toward me and Kang Yi-chae, who hadn't reacted.
"So, what are you two going to do?"
It wasn't like there was money on the floor, but Kang Yi-chae kept his eyes down and didn't answer.
I didn't want to face Seo Ho-jin while feeling this on edge, but I figured I should at least show my face since it was a holiday.
"I'm going to stop by the house for a bit. Let's head out together."
It's not like we do anything special when we meet, but my damn little brother might want to spend time with his only family.
"Then only Yi-chae hyung isn't going. Hyung, are you really not coming with me?"
"Yeah, Kang Yi-chae. Or just come to my place. My mom likes you more than me anyway."
"Oh, then should I introduce you to my grandmother?"
Kang Yi-chae had been extremely quiet lately. The members, who couldn't help but notice, tried to look after him.
Kang Yi-chae, who had both hands shoved into the front pocket of his hoodie, gave a faint smile and shook his head.
"I'm fine."
"You won't regret it? My family would really welcome you."
"I appreciate the offer."
The maknae, who always invited Kang Yi-chae to his home whenever there was a break—likely because it bothered him that Yi-chae was always left alone—seemed dissatisfied with the situation and repeatedly urged him with puffed-out cheeks. Kang Yi-chae just laughed.
Listening quietly, I grabbed both of Jeong Da-jun's cheeks with one hand and clicked my tongue.
"Why are you being so clingy with Kang Yi-chae, Jeong Da-jun?"
"Ack! I'm not being clingy! Ugh..."
When I let go, Jeong Da-jun clutched his slightly reddened cheeks and looked at me petulantly.
"Hmph, fine! I'm leaving! ...But Yi-chae hyung, if you're bored, make sure to watch that movie I recommended. I've been pushing it for years and you still haven't watched it... When I saw it, I thought of our group and cried buckets!!"
"Alright, alright."
Kang Yi-chae ruffled Jeong Da-jun's messy platinum blonde hair. Even as Da-jun grumbled and swatted his hand away, Yi-chae just chuckled.
Watching them, I stood up and tossed a word to Kang Yi-chae.
"Kang Yi-chae, watch the house well."
"Am I a dog?"
Leaving behind his grumpy retort, I stepped out of the dorm with the other members.
At the older members' urging, Jeong Da-jun, who was the first to get into a taxi while dragging a carrier twice his size, shouted energetically.
"Hyung!! Tell Ho-jin hyung I said hi!!"
"Oh, right! Tell Ho-jin to call me!"
"Should I send some fruit over?"
"Hey, forget it."
After cutting them off and sending them on their way, only the sound of the wind remained. I stared at the sky for a moment before calling a taxi to head home. I walked the familiar path, passed through the entrance, took the elevator, and stood before the door to punch in the passcode. As I opened it, warm air and bright light greeted me.
"Oh, whoa!"
I thought my brother would still be sleeping since it was early morning, but he was sitting on the living room floor with photos scattered everywhere, holding an album.
"...W-what? Why so suddenly?"
"What are you doing?"
"...Uh..."
Seo Ho-jin hurriedly gathered the photos. When a few photos he hadn't managed to put back into the album fluttered away, he scrambled to pick them up, stuffed them into the front, tossed the album into a corner, and stood up awkwardly.
"Hyung, uh. What brings you here?"
"It's Lunar New Year."
"...Aha!"
Scratching his head, Seo Ho-jin asked a cliché question.
"D-did you eat tteokguk?"
"I ate it on January 1st. Why would I eat it again?"
"You could just say you haven't had it yet. Man, you're something else."
Muttering under his breath, Seo Ho-jin immediately walked to the kitchen and started preparing a meal.
It was a familiar sight.
Whenever I came home exhausted from work, no matter how late it was, he would prepare a meal for me as long as he was awake.
It's almost an obsession.
Because that's what I had done for Seo Ho-jin.
I made sure he never missed a meal, forced him to eat whenever something happened, made him pick up his spoon even more when he seemed low on energy, and took him to expensive restaurants to celebrate.
It was a sort of compulsive habit born from the time I had left my young brother with relatives and he had gone hungry.
Seo Ho-jin had picked that up from me.
Under Seo Ho-jin's watchful eye as he quickly set the table, I had no choice but to sit down. I picked up a spoon and took a sip of the milky beef bone soup.
"It's salty."
"I went through all the trouble to make it, and you're so spiteful..."
Grumbling that it was because he had reheated what he'd seasoned the day before, Seo Ho-jin took it upon himself to add more water to the bowl and told me to just eat.
"So, what were you so busy with since this morning?"
I asked, setting the spoon down after stirring the now-diluted soup a few times.
"No... well, I thought I'd organize the albums. I checked before, but all the photos you took were gone. So I was putting in some new ones."
"New ones? Like what?"
"There are plenty of photos of you on the internet."
When I just stared at him in disbelief, the damn little brother started coughing awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
"A-anyway! And... I heard the news."
"What. That I totally failed?"
"Look at that attitude."
After chewing on side dishes for a while, Seo Ho-jin continued quietly.
"......You'll be able to get it next time. Don't be too disappointed."
"Of course I have to get it next time, no matter what."
When I spoke with certainty as if it were already decided, Seo Ho-jin burst into a cheerful laugh.
I had already sorted out my feelings.
I hadn't even found a clue for Kang Yi-chae's scenario quest yet anyway. Adding another year or so was no big deal compared to the time I'd already spent here.
At the next award ceremonies, I would make it happen, no matter what.
"I'm sorry... but I'll have to stay for another year."
"...Huh?"
"It won't affect you at all. I promise."
There was no answer from Seo Ho-jin.
His curved eyes straightened, and his upturned lips slowly sank.
He looked conflicted.
I should have just brushed it off casually, comforting him as if it were no big deal, like always.
But facing Seo Ho-jin's expression made my heart tighten and my breath hitch, and before I knew it, I blurted out a pressuring question.
"......Why aren't you answering? Are you worried I won't be able to do it?"
"...No, it's not that. It's just..."
Seo Ho-jin looked down, bit his lower lip slightly, and muttered.
"...I was wondering if you really have to go back."
I reflexively furrowed my brows.
Seo Ho-jin added, hesitantly watching my reaction.
"I know you're attached to being a PD, and I know you want to go back to your original life, but I..."
"You, what."
"...I like it here too."
Setting down his chopsticks, Seo Ho-jin looked me straight in the eye.
"Before, you used to get criticized so much, more than you deserved. The harder you worked, the tougher things got. I even had to hide the fact that I was your brother."
"And?"
"Even here, you don't want it to be revealed that I'm your brother, but everything is here. From fans who love you unconditionally, to wealth that means you don't have to worry about making a living, and even members you can trust."
Seo Ho-jin poured out his thoughts without a moment's hesitation.
"More than anything, you look happier here. So, I wish you wouldn't go back."
I wiped my mouth with my hand, composed my expression for a moment, and forced a hollow laugh.
"Hey, Seo Ho-jin. You're young, so you don't know yet. A person can be happy anywhere as long as they have money."
"......"
I tried to dismiss it lightly, but Seo Ho-jin wasn't having it.
"...You don't really think that."
When I didn't react to his unexpected words, Seo Ho-jin let out a long breath as if swallowing a sigh and picked up his chopsticks again.
"Forget it. Just eat, Hyung. You're skin and bones lately."
"...Watch your mouth when talking to your brother."
When I glared at him, Seo Ho-jin slid his chair back slightly, then bolted outside, saying the side dishes were lacking and he'd go buy some eggs.
I stared at the closed door, picked up my spoon, and took a few sips of the now-bland soup before stopping. I had no appetite at all.
"...Should I not have come?"
I just wanted to see my brother's face. Now I was just annoyed.
I rubbed the space between my eyebrows with my index finger, eventually stood up, and paced around the living room. At that moment, my toe hit something. Looking down, I saw the album Seo Ho-jin had set aside had tipped over, spilling photos everywhere.
I crouched down and picked up the one on top. It was a photo taken with Seo Ho-jin during the S University festival. In it was me, wearing flashy stage outfits and makeup with jewels and glitter scattered over red eyeshadow, and Seo Ho-jin, laughing innocently with his rabbit mask off.
I slowly looked through the other photos and turned the page.
As expected, they were all hollowed out, as if only my image had been deleted.
I flipped a few more pages and found a photo from Seo Ho-jin's high school graduation.
I wasn't in that one either.
The memory of putting my arm around my awkward brother, who was holding a bunch of bouquets, was still so vivid.
...I really should have just stayed at the dorm.
I closed the album and tilted my head back.
The conversation I just had with Seo Ho-jin was stuck in my mind, refusing to leave.
"More than anything, you look happier here."
I know.
I had guessed that maybe the "you" here felt that way. Every time I brought up this subject, he would hesitate with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.
"So, I wish you wouldn't go back."
But would the "you" over there want that too?
That was what I wanted to know.