Chapter 436
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 436
“I’m going to rewrite the song.”
The moment we arrived at the dorm that day, Kang Yi-chae dropped that bombshell.
Before we could even protest, he retreated into his studio alone. From then on, he vanished the second our schedules ended.
Even when I lingered nearby, offering to help just to strike up a conversation, Yi-chae would only give a thin smile and put up a wall, saying he was fine. Knowing his usual personality, the rest of us felt a profound sense of unease, but his behavior seemed so precarious that we couldn't easily bring ourselves to interfere.
I also decided it wasn't right to push him without a clear reason, so I simply checked his progress occasionally and left him be for the time being.
Instead, I decided to use a brief gap in my schedule to check on something that had been bothering me.
I have a bad feeling.
Strangely, every time we filmed a survival program, bad things seemed to come crashing down all at once, as if they had been waiting for the moment. In particular, the incident where Seo Ho-jin collapsed during the filming of Shining Star Season 2 still made my teeth grind every time I thought about it.
It would be nice if all the problems that had occurred so far were just coincidences, but…
There’s no way.
Just as I arrived at the entrance of the apartment complex where Seo Ho-jin was staying via KakaO Taxi, I spotted him crouching by a flower bed. I got out of the car and approached, but my younger brother didn't notice me at all, his head buried low.
“Hey.”
“…Huh?”
Ho-jin’s eyes went wide. In his hands was a notebook crammed with dense handwriting.
“W-what are you doing here all of a sudden? Is there something you need to take from the house?”
I silently reached out, grabbed both of his cheeks, and turned his face side to side to check his condition.
“Gah! My neck! My neck, my neck!!”
Ho-jin flailed, swatting at my arms. He looked perfectly healthy.
I let go of him as if tossing him aside. Ho-jin scrambled backward nimbly and rubbed his neck. I let out a short laugh at his face—he looked wary, unable to get truly angry but clearly on edge.
“Seriously, what is it?!”
“I haven't seen you in a while and thought you’d gotten even uglier, so I came to take a look.”
“I’m not that eyesore-ish, okay?!”
“Most people would disagree.”
Ho-jin pouted and glared at me but didn't offer any further retort.
Satisfied that he seemed fine, I was about to ruffle his hair and ask if he was eating well when a voice called out from behind him.
“Seo Ho-jin!”
I turned my head to see a man trudging toward us, struggling with a massive shopping bag in each hand.
“I brought all the books you told me to get from the library!! But seriously, can’t you just leave me alone on the weekends?! You might not know this, but I’m actually a human being with weekend plans of my—…”
His friendly features looked strangely familiar. Then I remembered—he was the young man who had contacted me when Seo Ho-jin was taken to the emergency room.
“Huh? Seo Ho… Yu-yun hyung-nim?!”
Woo Gyeong-un dropped the shopping bags. He almost shouted my name in surprise before quickly lowering his voice.
“It’s been a while.”
“Whoa! I can’t believe I’m seeing you here! It’s an honor!”
Gyeong-un rushed over and bowed deeply, his body twisting awkwardly as if he were shy. Ho-jin watched his friend with an expression like he’d just swallowed a toad.
“…You make your friend do stuff like this?”
“O-oh, no, hyung-nim! Since I’m retaking the LEET, I agreed to get some last-minute tutoring from Seo Ho-jin in exchange for taking care of his errands.”
He called it "taking care of errands," but he looked like a total slave.
I turned to look at Ho-jin. He sheepishly avoided my gaze and mumbled.
“He’s the one who suggested it first…”
I really didn't want to feel our biological connection in moments like this.
As I let out a small sigh, Woo Gyeong-un, sensing the atmosphere, swallowed hard and gave a goofy grin to defend Ho-jin.
“Hyung-nim, really, Seo Ho-jin didn't do anything wrong! He was just trying to… to help me… Anyway, I’m learning a lot. Seo Ho-jin is really good at studying, after all!”
Well, at least the kid has a decent friend.
Since Ho-jin had never brought a single friend home since we were young, I had worried that his social circle was too narrow.
I nodded along, feeling somewhat gratified while half-listening to the waterfall of chatter coming from Gyeong-un. Suddenly, he stopped talking, looked back and forth between Ho-jin and me, and let out an exclamation.
“Oh… but hyung-nim.”
“Yes?”
“I didn't realize it before because things were so hectic, but you and Seo Ho-jin look exactly alike.”
“I’m not particularly happy to hear that.”
I let out a dry laugh, and Ho-jin scowled, nudging me with his elbow.
At that, Woo Gyeong-un got even more excited.
“It’s true! You’re like a mature, calm version of Seo Ho-jin! Though, of course, hyung-nim seems much kinder and gentler!!”
“……”
“……”
A subtle tension drifted through the air.
I fell silent, feeling like I’d just encountered a fan who had been completely fooled by my "nice guy" facade, and Ho-jin seemed too dumbfounded to say anything.
Perhaps finding it difficult to endure the two pairs of eyes staring silently at him, Woo Gyeong-un scratched his head with an awkward smile and tried to make a quick exit, saying he was finished with his business.
“Wait, Gyeong-un-ssi. Just a moment.”
“Yes?”
“You worked hard on such a hot day. I can’t just let you go like this.”
Did I have any cash?
As I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my wallet, Gyeong-un’s shoulders flinched.
“Study hard and—”
“Hyung!”
Ho-jin quickly blocked my path, his face twisted in a deep frown as he jerked his chin toward Woo Gyeong-un.
“Hey, Woo Gyeong-un. Thanks for the books. Get lost.”
“Ah, uh, yeah!! See you later!”
I was about to scold him for being so cold to his friend, but Gyeong-un bowed ninety degrees to me first and then scrambled away as fast as his legs could carry him.
Ho-jin didn't move an inch until his friend had completely vanished. Then, he whipped his head around to face me and started snapping.
“Seriously, just, please! Is he a kid? Hyung, you’re the same age as me right now! Who in the world gives an allowance to someone their own age?”
“If they’re polite and cute, I might.”
“…I suddenly feel so nauseous.”
“Watch it.”
I pressed down on the back of the head of the prickly, sensitive brat and checked the time on my phone. It looked like I had to leave soon to avoid being late for the next schedule.
“Whatever. I have to go. Make sure you eat properly, and be nice to your friend.”
As I added more nagging and headed away from the apartment complex, Ho-jin hurriedly gathered the shopping bags from the ground and chased after me.
“You’re leaving already? Are you so busy you can’t even stop by the house for a bit?”
“Yeah.”
“I guess… you would be. People are only talking about Song Camp lately. All I hear on the streets is ‘Flight.’”
Of course. That’s exactly why I poured so much effort into it.
I walked on, listening calmly, while Ho-jin glanced at me and asked cautiously.
“You’re not overdoing it, are you?”
“Not really. Ah… Kang Yi-chae might be having a bit of a hard time, though.”
“Huh? Yi-chae? Why?”
“Because things are crazy both inside and outside the group, obviously.”
“…Is he the type to get stressed over things like that?”
He mumbled in a low voice, hoisting his bags and tilting his head as if something didn't sit right with him.
“It won't affect you, so mind your own business and just study.”
At my firm words, Ho-jin let out a groan. He avoided my eyes and spoke up again.
“……I’m curious about something. Do the members know about your situation?”
I stopped in my tracks without realizing it.
That alone seemed to be answer enough. Ho-jin took a deep breath, set the shopping bags down, and pressed a hand to his forehead.
“Does Yi-chae know, too?”
“Ho-jin.”
“Yeah…”
“Did I teach you to fish for information like that?”
Ho-jin flinched. With a troubled expression, he bit his lower lip slightly before releasing it, then ran his hand through his hair, making a mess of it.
“I don't want to meddle in your business one way or the other. But if he knows everything and is still choosing to suffer like this…”
He leaned back down to grab the shopping bags and whispered softly.
“Hyung, aren't you being too much to him?”
* * *
“I’m here.”
“Ho-yun hyung is here~!”
I got out of the taxi and headed toward the parking lot as instructed by the members' messages. I immediately found the van with its headlights on. As I stepped inside, the maknae was the first to greet me. However, Kang Yi-chae, who should have been acting up alongside him, was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Kang Yi-chae?”
“Ah.”
At my question, Kim Seong-hyeon hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, and let out a low sigh.
“…He didn't seem to be in good shape, so I told him to sit out this schedule.”
“What? Is he sick?”
“Yeah. I wondered why he wasn't going to the studio for once, but his whole body was burning up. He must have a cold; his voice is completely gone, too.”
In the three years of being an idol, Kang Yi-chae had never missed a schedule due to his physical condition.
“He submitted the song for the 2nd Competition this morning, but even then, he didn't rest. He was struggling with his laptop for a long time, and I think he finally hit his limit.”
“Exactly! And… I got scolded by Yi-chae hyung.”
“Why?”
Jeong Da-jun’s lips pouted like a duck as he recalled the scolding.
“I told him the urgent fire was out, so we should play some games and rest! He got so serious and lectured me…. Even though he was the one who tempted me to play games when I was studying for the CSAT….”
At that, a crease formed between Kim Seong-hyeon’s brows as if he remembered something as well.
“Mmm, he has been a bit strange lately. He asked me if being the leader was hard and encouraged me in a seriously sincere tone, which isn't like him at all……”
“…Wasn't he just teasing you?”
“I’d rather he was. Then at least I wouldn't have gotten goosebumps….”
It seemed not just me, but all the members were aware of Yi-chae’s odd behavior.
Jeong Da-jun, looking dissatisfied with his cheeks puffed out, raised both arms and shouted.
“I… I am worried about Yi-chae hyung! I can’t stand this situation!!”
“Um, you see, Da-jun-ah.”
“I will take the lead so that Yi-chae hyung can return to normal as soon as possible!”
“Da-jun-ah?”
“I’m going to contact him right now—,”
“Jeong Da-jun.”
“Eek!”
Da-jun, who had been squawking away, jumped out of his skin at the sound of his full name.
Seong Ji-won placed a gentle hand on the maknae’s shoulder and spoke.
“I understand you’re anxious, but you shouldn't rush him. Let’s wait a bit longer until Yi-chae reaches out first. It won't be too late to help him then.”
Jeong Da-jun shriveled up instantly and just nodded vigorously with his mouth shut. Kim Seong-hyeon also hunched his shoulders slightly and agreed with Ji-won.
“Y-yeah. For now, we need to focus on finishing the radio show well. The fans will be uneasy enough once the announcement goes out.”
I considered sending a text but put the phone I had been fiddling with back into my pocket.
I figured it was better to talk to him after the schedule rather than pushing an unstable Kang Yi-chae with a message.
The road manager, who had been listening to our conversation, started the car and added an explanation to soothe us, saying he had asked another manager to look after Yi-chae, so we shouldn't worry too much.
After that, silence drifted through the car. As we drove along the road with the atmosphere heavily weighed down, Kim Seong-hyeon suddenly shouted as if trying to change the mood.
“Guys, look! There’s a Song Camp ad!”
“Whoa, you’re right.”
A large billboard attached to a high-rise building along the main road was showing an advertisement for Song Camp.
Various cast members flashed by, followed by a large inverted triangle logo of The Dawn. Then, Kang Yi-chae’s confident, grinning face appeared.
“Can I… Can I take a picture of that and send it to Yi-chae hyung?”
“Yi-chae would like that.”
“…Right?!”
With Ji-won’s encouragement, Da-jun’s spirits lifted again, and he excitedly opened his camera app. Soon, the sound of the shutter clicking filled the van.
I watched the scene quietly before eventually closing my eyes.
However, even behind my closed eyelids, the image of Yi-chae looking as if he were on the verge of crumbling flickered. The words Ho-jin had said to me echoed in my ears.
As the scenes only grew clearer, I leaned my head against the window as if burying it there.
Ho-jin, of course I know.
That I’m being too much to that kid.