Chapter 70
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70
[Oh! Player Jeong Da-jun has fallen!]
Though Jeong Da-jun was far off, the members all turned pale and began sprinting toward him. Jeong Da-jun, swaying as he lifted his head, locked eyes with me.
“Jeong Da-jun, stay right there!”
“…….”
It would be a disaster if he was seriously injured.
Of course, there were our future activities to consider… but more importantly, if he ended up with permanent complications, who was going to take responsibility for his life?
“……!”
But he was Jeong Da-jun through and through.
He clearly heard me, yet his eyes wavered as he looked back and forth between the finish line and us before scrambling to his feet. He’s always so quick to answer politely, but he doesn't listen for the life of him.
[Player Jeong Da-jun! The player is back up!]
He snatched the baton off the ground and immediately started sprinting.
[Ah! Jeong Da-jun isn't stopping! He’s up and running again!]
[Is this what they call true professionalism?]
Professionalism, my foot!
He had been briefly overtaken because of the fall, but he fought tooth and nail to reclaim first place. As he crossed the finish line, Jeong Da-jun flashed a bright smile.
“Hyungs!”
[The Dawn takes 1st place! Despite the fall, The Dawn didn't give up and ran to the end to claim victory!]
“Jeong Da-jun!!!”
But I was furious.
I ended up shouting at the top of my lungs amidst the noisy stadium. Almost everyone there must have heard me. I didn't care.
I strode over and grabbed Jeong Da-jun, who had collapsed past the finish line, gasping for air. Still unable to stand, he looked up with a flushed face.
“Hyung! We got first…!”
“I told you to stay put!”
I’d had a bad feeling about this. I looked away from his wide, startled eyes and pulled off the sneaker from his twisted leg.
“Ugh….”
As expected, it was swollen red. Seeing it already turning bruised and blue, there was no doubt it was an injury.
Dammit…!
His form had looked off for a reason; he must have ignored the pain and just kept running. The other members, who had caught up, looked at Jeong Da-jun and pressed their hands to their foreheads.
“Where did the medical team go?”
“I called them. They’re coming.”
“Then why aren't they here yet?”
I couldn't hide my irritation toward the broadcasting station. Jeong Da-jun urgently grabbed my arm.
“Ho-yun hyung! What medical team? I’m fine.”
“…….”
“I’m really okay, hyung. You said you wanted to win first place.”
Hearing that made a surge of resentment boil up inside me.
There were so many things I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him to run slowly if it was slippery, that he didn't have to get first place, so he should have just taken it easy.
“Uh, that….”
I forced myself to swallow the words rising to my throat. Despite the pain, Jeong Da-jun gave a sheepish smile, sensing my mood.
“Haha, really, I’m seriously fine.”
“…….”
“It’s not enough to worry about….”
Jeong Da-jun’s shoulders slumped dejectedly. The medical team was still dawdling, and it wasn't until we supported him and walked over to them that they gave him a half-hearted glance and tossed over a canister of cooling spray.
“Looks like just some light swelling. Just use the spray and you’re good to go.”
…Unbelievable.
“Excuse me?”
I wasn't the only one dumbfounded; Seong Ji-won and Kim Seong-hyeon’s faces hardened instantly. Kang Yi-chae spoke sharply.
“You’re saying spray is enough? The kid can’t even walk properly.”
“He’s fine. His muscles are just shocked.”
“Ha.”
Kim Seong-hyeon let out a scoffing sigh.
“If someone is hurt, you should come immediately. Is the treatment over after you just stand there staring and say that? Why are you even here then?”
“Whoa, Seong-hyeon hyung.”
Jeong Da-jun hurriedly tried to stop Kim Seong-hyeon. He pulled him back and said, “I’m to~tally fine. I’m okay, so please stop….”
“…….”
The veins were bulging in Kim Seong-hyeon’s neck, but after looking at Jeong Da-jun, he just turned his head away and fell silent.
Was he really fine? Truly?
I crouched down and met Jeong Da-jun’s eyes.
“Jeong Da-jun.”
“…Yes.”
“Let’s go to the hospital.”
“Hyung, if we do that, we won’t be able to film the ending of the competition….”
He was worried about potential backlash, so he wanted to endure it. If even the usually oblivious Jeong Da-jun was saying such things, it was clear we were all currently agitated. I knew that, but still.
“If we leave without filming the ending, we’ll get cursed out… for not finishing what we started.”
“…….”
The floor that remained slippery every year despite constant injuries and news reports.
The mindset that praised a person for 'professionalism' just because they scrambled back up after a nasty fall.
The emergency medical team that just stood by watching, then treated us like a nuisance and told us to leave because it was 'nothing.'
And Jeong Da-jun, who felt he had to endure all of this.
Everything… made my anger soar to the top of my head.
“You…….”
“…….”
“Don’t have to worry about things like that.”
I turned my back to Jeong Da-jun and bent down.
“Get on. Now.”
“Hyung, ah, I’m really fine…!”
“Enough.”
“…….”
“I’ll take responsibility for everything, so just come.”
I signaled to Seong Ji-won, and he helped support Jeong Da-jun onto my back. Being careful not to touch his ankle, I stood up with him.
“Tell the manager to get the car ready.”
“Already did, hyung.”
“Good. Where’s the nearest hospital?”
“I’m looking it up right now, hold on.”
As the situation escalated, the stadium grew noisy. People only realized it wasn't a normal situation once someone was being carried out and voices were raised. Jeong Da-jun whispered to me, sounding a bit scared.
“Ho-yun hyung, we’re leaving so loudly… what if it’s actually nothing?”
“Then that’s a relief.”
“…….”
Jeong Da-jun fell silent after that. At the very least, I was glad he wasn't chattering away anymore.
“Ho-yun, I’ll go talk to the fans for a moment and come back.”
“Yeah, please do.”
I was glad everyone knew what they had to do. Just as I was about to head out, hoisting Jeong Da-jun up, Kim Hee-yeong caught up to us.
“Seo Ho-yun-ssi!”
“…Ah, PD-nim.”
“Not that way, the nearest exit is over there. Follow me.”
“……Yes.”
“Go quickly. I’ll handle the aftermath here.”
Kim Hee-yeong PD guided the way with a face full of worry. Even though she was just a temporary hire brought in to help, she looked as apologetic as if it were her own fault. I bowed my head and expressed my gratitude.
As we left the stadium and headed toward the parked van, the system automatically popped up a quest completion window.
[Quest ‘Victory is Mine’ Completed.
You have taken 1st place in three events for ‘Victory is Mine.’
(1st place finishes by group members are also recognized.)
Success! You are awarded 3,000 points.]
Normally, the system window would have set off fanfares, but perhaps it was reading the room, as it remained quiet aside from the notification.
“…….”
It started with a light heart, but it was ending… with me being absolutely pissed off.
* * *
“In conclusion!”
Jeong Da-jun was smiling far too brightly.
“I am to~tally fine.”
I reflexively almost flicked his forehead for acting tough, but I held back.
Patience. He’s a patient.
“The bones are fine, but they said it’s ligament damage.”
“Ayy, it’s just a slight sprain, what’s the big deal?”
Seong Ji-won quietly stuffed a piece of apple into Jeong Da-jun’s mouth.
“Da-jun, just stay quiet.”
“……Yes, sir.”
The doctor said there were no fractures, but he had to wear a cast for about two weeks. Jeong Da-jun complained about needing a cast for this, but it was much better than having complications later.
“Hyung, you’re getting a ton of calls.”
“I’ll take them later.”
Calls were flooding in from everywhere. The CEO, the manager, Ju Woo-seong, and so on…. Jeong Da-jun, who had been walking on eggshells since he got hurt, asked, “Is the CEO saying anything?”
“He told us to rest.”
That was a lie. As I tried to stay by Jeong Da-jun’s side, Seong Ji-won signaled to me.
“Ho-yun. Go take the calls.”
“Yeah, hyung. The constant ringing is distracting.”
“…Alright.”
Since Seong Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae were there, it seemed okay to step away for a moment. Especially since I knew it wasn't a major injury.
I took a breath, stood up, and went out into the hallway to make a call. Not to the CEO… but to Kim Hee-yeong PD, who would still be at the scene.
[Hello?]
“PD-nim, it’s me.”
[Ah, Seo Ho-yun-ssi. Just a second, just a second. Things aren't quite settled here yet.]
“…I’ll call back later. Sorry.”
[I’m the one who’s sorry. It feels like all I do is apologize to you. I’ll call you back.]
It wasn't Kim Hee-yeong’s fault, but her voice was thick with apology. I hung up, feeling hollow, and checked the text from Ju Woo-seong.
[Ju Woo-seong: Is Da-jun okay?]
[Ju Woo-seong: Things ended well here, the atmosphere is fine fine~]
Ju Woo-seong was probably sending that to reassure me, but there was a 100% chance people were talking behind our backs.
‘If we leave without filming the ending, we’ll get cursed out… for not finishing what we started.’
I knew it would turn out like this, and perhaps enduring it would have been the 'correct' thing to do, but seeing Jeong Da-jun with his swollen ankle, dejectedly walking on eggshells… I just got irritated without realizing it….
Whatever, the milk is already spilled.
Thinking about it more wouldn't change the outcome.
I ruffled my hair and was about to head back into the hospital room when I heard whispering from inside.
“Doesn't Ho-yun hyung seem a bit different?”
“……?”
What? Why are they talking about me all of a sudden?
Leaning my back against the wall next to the sliding door, I raised an eyebrow. Seong Ji-won and Jeong Da-jun were chiming in on what Kang Yi-chae had brought up.
“…Yeah, right. It’s a bit strange.”
“Mm. I think so too.”
Deciding I didn't need to hear any more, I marched in and crossed my arms.
“I’m what?”
“Gah!”
“Ack!”
The backs of the three in the room visibly flinched. Seong Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae turned to look at me and gave awkward smiles.
“We’ll go buy some more vitamin drinks!”
“Hyung! Hyungs! What, are you just gonna leave me here?”
“Be right back~!”
Seong Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae bolted without looking back. It was the classic look of people running away after getting caught talking behind someone's back. Only Jeong Da-jun, stuck in bed with his cast, looked miserable.
“Hyung….”
I sighed and pulled up a chair to sit down.
“Now you’re talking behind my back too?”
“Hyung, we’ve been doing that from the start!”
Jeong Da-jun shouted brightly. When I raised my hand, he hurriedly waved his hands in dismissal.
“Joke, it’s a joke!”
What could I even expect from these guys? I picked up the paring knife Seong Ji-won had abandoned and started peeling an apple. I was going to let it slide this time, but Jeong Da-jun was giving me this strangely pleased look that was annoying.
“What’s with that look in your eyes?”
“Wahaha. We really weren't talking behind your back. …We were just saying that you’ve changed.”
“How have I changed?”
“Just… it feels like you’re starting to put the members before the work. That’s the feeling I got.”
As he said it, he scratched his red cheek, looking embarrassed and sheepish.
“So I was a bit happy. That you were thinking of me.”
“…….”
Just how much of a piece of trash had I been acting like?
To be honest, if Jeong Da-jun had been a complete stranger, I might have just let it go.
But he was a member I’d promoted and suffered with for the past few months.
No. That’s not it.
More than anything, Jeong Da-jun was just too young, and he reminded me of someone.
“…….”
Since I had nothing to say, I just kept my mouth shut. Suddenly, Jeong Da-jun cleared his throat and began imitating me from earlier.
“‘Don’t make me worry and just get on. Even if the whole world talks, I’ll take responsibility for everything.’ Kyaa~, I was seriously moved at that moment.”
“When did I ever say that?”
No matter how much I searched my memory, I never acted that cool. Besides, that was a massive exaggeration.
When did Jeong Da-jun ever worry me? But then again, Jeong Da-jun never knew when to stop.
“Isn't that a line from a drama? ‘I’m worried about you, Jeong Da-jun.’”
“Jeong Da-jun, you’re just making up a script at this point….”
“Hehehe!”
“Just eat your apple. Huh? Eat.”
“Whoa, is it a bunny apple??”
I stuffed an apple into his chattering mouth, just as Seong Ji-won had done. When is the food coming? The kid must be hungry.
Even as he threw out those silly jokes, I could see a slight flicker of anxiety in him.
Sure enough, the words he tossed out lightly, pretending they were no big deal, were these:
“We’re gonna get cursed out a lot, right?”
“…….”
He was bracing himself for the backlash.
I let out a deep sigh and stroked Jeong Da-jun’s hair. We couldn't just sit back and take it unfairly.
“Food will be here soon. Make sure you eat well.”
“Instead of the insults?”
Jeong Da-jun asked with a grin.
Idiot.
The insults Jeong Da-jun would face… were real. There would be many.
I couldn't stop everything, including Jeong Da-jun getting blamed for this mess.
However, the ones who actually did wrong were someone else. We couldn't just take the fall and be the only ones getting cursed out, could we?
I tapped the armrest of the hospital bed and looked down.
“Yeah.”
Shall we see how this goes….
“Instead of the insults.”
I’m actually an expert at rolling in the mud.