Chapter 60

With a casual attitude, we gathered at the dormitory under the pretense of monitoring the broadcast day. We hadn't had the chance to do anything at the dormitory until now. We would leave in the morning and only return when it was time to sleep.

Fortunately for Oran, he wouldn't have been able to endure his maximalist roommate Jion if he had spent more time at the dormitory. Contrary to initial concerns, Oran and Jion were getting along reasonably well.

"There can't be a night without snacks!"

Bakha made a fuss and clung to Jion. Although she had never seen Jion cook before, the other members said they had tasted the bento Jion made a few times.

"Jion, what are you going to make?"

"Pick a menu. bro."

"Wow! I can order anything? You're so confident!"

Jion looked at the refrigerator and changed his mind, saying he would cook if we bought the ingredients. The state of the refrigerator was probably deplorable.

The only cooking we had done at the dormitory was instant noodles, so...

At least Jion asked the manager to buy a few ingredients, so we could at least pretend to cook.

"Since it's late, make something simple."

Jion, wearing an apron and a headband, looked like a professional chef. Bakha, who was hovering nearby, took photos with a phone she got from Chorok. Despite this, Jion continued cooking without being bothered.

Watching Jion move around the kitchen, it didn't seem like he had only cooked for a day or two. His smooth handling of ingredients and efficient cooking movements were evident.

"Want to help?"

"I want to enjoy cooking alone. If you want to help, do the dishes later."

Cooking must be a hobby, and the process itself must be fun. Except for the dishes.

Jion soon brought out the food from the kitchen.

On the living room table, there were slices of pork belly stir-fried with bean sprouts, Cajun chicken salad with ricotta cheese, and a seafood pancake.

"Simple...?"

"It's simple. It was cooked faster than delivery food."

Jion's cooking skills were clearly not ordinary. If this is what he considers simple, then a more complex dish might be a twelve-course meal?

"Sit down quickly. It's about to start."

We sat at the long table and poured carbonated water and beer into our glasses. By age, only Seohon and Chorok were old enough to drink.

Chorok, who hadn't had a drop of alcohol since the New Year due to our debut, was drinking for the first time.

This gathering was both for monitoring and to gauge our alcohol tolerance.

"Drink slowly. You might get drunk quickly. Start with beer, and if it feels good, switch to soju."

Seohon, the only one with experience in drinking, taught Chorok the etiquette of a drinking session. It was nice to see Seohon acting like the eldest again.

"Let's start!"

The opening of the show was playing on TV after the commercial.

With a glass in one hand and chopsticks in the other, we were captivated by the screen.

- The idol sent from heaven, Ham Iwon.

- The adorable and charming one! Oran!

- The pride of Theora, the visual queen, Bakha!

"Even thinking about it again..."

I couldn't continue and closed my eyes tightly. A finger poked my side. I reflexively dodged and opened my eyes to see Chorok's mischievous face in front of me.

"What if you can't handle this? Being an idol means enduring humiliation! Ham Iwon, try it. Being an idol sometimes means enduring a crisis! For the fans, you can do even more!"

"Being an idol...? Chorok?"

Chorok's face was bright red. Was he drunk? When did he drink?

Looking at the beer glass on the table, it seemed untouched.

"Is Chorok drunk? Did he drink?"

The members, who had been focused on the TV, checked Chorok's glass.

Chorok was mumbling in a foreign language and swaying. He seemed to be in a daze.

"I saw him drink. Maybe a sip?"

"Seohon, can you become incoherent from one sip of beer?"

"I've never seen this before... Chorok must have a very low tolerance for alcohol."

Luckily, it's not an alcohol allergy. But it's clear that his body doesn't handle alcohol well.

This level of intolerance is more accurately described as alcohol trash. Chorok couldn't even eat a snack and had to drop out of the viewing party early.

"I'll lay Chorok down. You guys keep watching."

Seohon picked up Chorok and carried him to his room. Despite his diet, Seohon's strength was impressive.

What if I have a low tolerance for alcohol? But my parents are heavy drinkers, so I probably won't be like Chorok. I sighed in relief and turned back to the TV.

On the screen, we were on the roof, listening to the precautions for painting the apartment building. We were about to decide the order for the painting experience. Watching it on TV, it felt completely different from the actual scene.

I didn't realize the members' expressions were like that. Their close-up shots showed their fear clearly. I was no different.

- ...It was just my survival instinct. I wasn't really scared.

"Iwon, you were really scared, weren't you?"

Seohon patted my shoulder from the side.

"...No."

I wasn't really scared, but the camera captured my trembling legs. I must have been shaking unconsciously.

"You were cute, so it's fine."

"...Cute? Are you crazy?"

"Ham Iwon. Your perspective doesn't matter. What matters is the viewers' and fans' perspective. If they think you're cute, it's all good."

Oran's praise for cuteness made me question my image.

They think that's cute? That?

While watching the TV, I wanted to study the unique tastes of the viewers.

But Seohon's insane skills immediately took over my thoughts. His proficiency in painting the building's exterior, which he was experiencing for the first time, shocked Bakha and Jion.

"I didn't know you were doing that while I was floating above. Are you Spider-Man?"

- Do you want to be my business partner?

The subtle offer from the boss left Bakha and Jion speechless.

"If something like this happens, you should tell us! Seohon, were you tempted?"

"The boss is serious?"

Seohon just laughed. I had a feeling we would receive more scouting offers in the future.

In the next scene, Oran was talking to the boss.

- ...Am I clumsy and causing trouble? I'm sorry. I'll try my best.

"..."

We didn't comment. Watching a friend in a business setting was like being forced to look at the distant sky.

Oran, with a vibranium alloy plate on his face, was watching TV and eating the pork belly stir-fried with bean sprouts that Jion cooked.

Oran's cute appearance while eating quietly was irresistible.

This dissonance was a problem the members, except for Oran, had to overcome. Even Bakha and Seohon, who had been together for years, felt a bit of dissonance, making it seem like a distant goal.

Somehow, it felt different from the usual style. When we reviewed the previous episodes before filming, the editing wasn't like this. This time, it focused on each member's character.

The camera angles were also strange. Why the slow motion? Why the sweeping shot from below? Why the close-ups of every gesture?

Is this the desperate attempt to save the show?

- ...They say that a handsome face purifies the eyes and is a legacy of humanity...

It was my turn again. The boss of the exterior painting company was revealing his wife's comments to the public.

"Is the boss okay?"

If his wife is watching this, his back will be in trouble.

As the other members prepared for the painting experience, the screen showed the next episode's preview, filled with scenes of screaming. The preview made it look like a horror experience.

"Really split into two episodes. I didn't notice the time. How about you guys?"

In response to Seohon's question, I said it was fun. The other members also gave positive answers.

It was embarrassing at times because we were the stars, but it was interesting, and I was curious about the next part.

"It wasn't boring. Some scenes might become hot topics."

Our goal during filming was to be at the center of attention. If the scenes we created were talked about, as Jion said, it would be a success.

"I hope the ratings are good."

Bakha's eyes were filled with hope. It wasn't just me hoping for a rise in ratings to bring about change.

This filming could be a turning point for us and the production team.

We enjoyed the late-night snacks, imagining a rosy future. It was a bit disappointing that Chorok passed out after one sip of beer, but these small moments of chatting were precious.

"Sometimes, it would be nice to have a time like this to talk openly. We've been running non-stop since our debut."

A delicate comment from Seohon. It fit the emotional atmosphere.

Of course, we would have agreed even if it wasn't this time. Healing moments are important for running towards our goals.

Seohon, feeling embarrassed by his sentimental comment, quickly cleaned up and prepared for the next day.

The members, understanding the reason, helped clean the living room table.

* * *

The morning came as usual. The special thing today was that Chorok woke me up.

Usually, I would wake up on my own or the manager would come in to wake me up.

Seohon's bed was empty, and his neatly folded blanket suggested he had gone to exercise. I followed Chorok to the living room.

Jion, the cook, was already preparing bean sprout soup.

"...What happened yesterday? Why can't I remember anything?"

The memory was completely gone after one sip of beer.

"Yesterday, you drank. Remember that?"

"I remember. We prepared everything for monitoring. But why am I in bed?"

"After one sip, you got drunk and became hyper. Then you started mumbling and fell asleep."

Chorok froze, his mouth agape.

Did he never imagine he would be this weak against alcohol? I could understand his shock. Even though I haven't drunk much, I would be surprised too.

"I... I..."

Chorok, in a state of error, kept repeating "I...?"

I pulled him to a dining chair. Jion placed a bowl of bean sprout soup in front of him.

"Bean sprout soup is good for hangovers. Try it, Chorok."

"...Is Iwon lying?"

"Should I show you the video?"

At the bombshell, Chorok panicked and searched for his phone. Finding the video, he was greatly disappointed.

"...Am I really that bad?"

"Yep. Absolutely."

Hearing Jion's calm answer, Chorok collapsed again. He had to accept the fact that he was an alcohol trash.

Chorok, a foodie, wanted to deny his weak constitution.

According to Bakha, he had confidently claimed he would be a heavy drinker and even studied about alcohol and snacks.

"Just a one-time thing..."

The disappointment was as great as the expectation, so he decided to be stubborn.

"I won't drink again. As a leader, I need to set a good example... That's it."

He was determined to be stubborn.