Chapter 93 of 100
Chapter 93
9 min read2,229 words
93
"What?"
Even though I asked, Kang Icha played a few rounds of a rhythm game, then soon seemed to wilt and threw his phone to the side, muttering,
"I'm hungry…."
It feels like he's deliberately avoiding my words… Feeling uneasy as I looked at him, a sudden intuition hit me.
'Is this maybe the start of a plot to get closer to Kang Icha?'
Ding!
[Not sure what you're thinking, but it doesn't seem like that.]
Ignoring the system window's comment, I cleared my throat and asked kindly,
"Icha, do you know that hyung is always by your side?"
"What nonsense are you talking?"
"I'm always here to listen if you have any troubles."
"I don't need that."
"…."
Today, he's not matching my tone at all. As I stared at his face, which was turning sour, Kang Icha smiled slightly.
"Hyung is ready to listen, but… you don't know what people want to hear."
"…!"
He mocked me.
"Anyway, if you're going to do what you want anyway, you might as well take credit for it."
"…Hyung, it hurts."
"It hurts because it's true. And stop calling me 'hyung' all the time. It's annoying when you only do it when it's to your advantage."
"…."
Ding!
[LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL (omitted)]
…Even the system window, which had been watching me for a few days, mocked me. This is the first time it's spamming 'LOL' like this, so I was a bit, no, very annoyed.
Realizing that such persuasion no longer works on Kang Icha, I sat there dejectedly… but Kang Icha picked up his phone again.
"Ah… I'm really hungry."
Kang Icha rolled over and then suddenly got up.
Damn… Today, Kang Icha is really being prickly. As I watched him, who seemed to be going through a mid-20s puberty, his expression gradually returned to normal.
Is he feeling better now?
"Let's go eat with the members."
"What do you want to eat? I'll pay… not hyung, I mean me."
"Rapstar, Almas caviar, wagyu sirloin steak. For dessert, Hawaiian Kona coffee."
"…."
No,
He's still upset….
***
"Cough! Cough!"
"Why is he doing that again?"
"He wants to give a toast."
Clearly, his expression has returned, but he keeps being sarcastic. After calming him down with some beef, we finally reached an agreement.
Jeong Dajun, who seemed to be too immersed in a drama he watched recently, stood up and tapped the glass of soda with his fork.
"To all of you who came today, I sincerely thank you. As the youngest, I offer my greetings."
The seniors clapped roughly while cooking the meat.
"After all that hard work!! We finally received a meaningful settlement. Sniff, how moving…!"
He wiped away fake tears with a thin napkin from the table, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Isn't he getting more shameless over time?"
"Ho Yun, that's not for you to say."
"You're becoming like him. They say you should be careful even when drinking water in front of kids…."
"…."
Seong Jiwon launched an attack, and Kim Sung-hyun backed him up.
After getting hit with a right hook, left hook, and jabs from Kang Icha, Seong Jiwon, and Kim Sung-hyun, I was in pain and stuffed my mouth with beef to comfort myself.
"I dedicate this honor to all the seniors… the manager, the gentle Seong Jiwon, the Lasik-inducing Sung-hyun, the most handsome and the most charming Ho Yun…!"
"…."
"Let's just do the first verse."
I stuffed a beef wrap into Jeong Dajun's mouth as he was giving the toast.
"Anyway, cheers!! (Cheers)"
We clinked our sodas and went along with it.
It was still the settlement day, so everyone was a bit excited.
Jeong Dajun, with a mouth full of beef, asked,
"Seniors! Is there anything you want to buy?"
"I don't have anything specific."
"Ugh, boring~."
"Being boring is the best, isn't it?"
It means there's nothing to worry about.
Jeong Dajun, who booed at my answer, held a spoon like a microphone and extended it towards Kim Sung-hyun.
"I want to pay off some of our family's debts."
"Huh?! Does Sung-hyun have a lot of debts?"
"Not really, but we have a large family, so there are small debts here and there."
"…You're not planning to pay them all off, are you?"
Seong Jiwon asked worriedly, and Kim Sung-hyun waved his hand.
"No, no. It's not that much, so I can pay it off. I've borrowed a lot from my parents since I was a trainee… so I'll pay that back."
"Okay. What about Jiwon?"
Seong Jiwon thought hard. After a moment, he smiled gently.
"…I want to have dinner with my grandmother."
"Ooh! Filial piety, filial piety!"
"Haha."
Naturally, the last one, Kang Icha, was next. Kang Icha, who seemed to be stuffing his mouth with beef, looked up at the gathered gazes and tilted his head.
"I don't have anything specific. Dajun, what do you want to buy?"
"Huh?"
Surprised by the question, Jeong Dajun was taken aback. Kang Icha, flipping the beef, continued casually.
"…Is there anything you want? Shoes or clothes."
"Hyung, I also received a settlement. It's fine!"
"Ah, okay, okay~."
Jeong Dajun politely declined the offer.
I glanced at Kang Icha while putting pickled kimchi in my wrap.
He's been… a bit strange since last time.
His financial sense is a bit off the normal person's standard. As our eyes met, I naturally turned my head and asked Jeong Dajun,
"Jeong Dajun, what are you going to do with it?"
"Me?"
Jeong Dajun's cheeks turned slightly red.
"I'm going to put it in my savings account!"
"…."
"I've had a savings account since elementary school. I'll put it there!"
"…."
Everyone remained silent and placed meat and side dishes on Jeong Dajun's rice. While Jeong Dajun was confused, we moved on to the next topic.
"So, when does filming start?"
"In four days."
"What? That's really soon."
"We'll film for two months and then start activities right after. What are you guys going to do during that time?"
"…."
The members exchanged glances and then shared opinions with their eyes before putting down their chopsticks.
"Actually, actually."
"What?"
"Thaaat~."
"What is it?"
Why are you speaking so hesitantly.
"What should we do?"
"You can say it now."
Seong Jiwon looked at Kim Sung-hyun, who decided it was the right time to speak.
"Jeong Dajun and I are going to appear on a dance variety show."
"Huh?"
"It's a dance program… the concept is quite fresh. PD Kim Hee-young recommended it, and… senior Joo Sung might also appear."
"Ooh~."
Just as I was about to clap, Seong Jiwon interjected.
"I'm actually singing the OST for Ho Yun's drama."
"Ooh~?"
"Is Icha composing it?"
"Wow, that was a big deal. Icha, when PD Cheong Bum offered the OST, you went crazy in the middle of the night, making beats, and then brought a bunch of samples to pitch."
But why didn't I know about this?
"Ultimately, I succeeded, the genius Kang Icha. It's a real puzzle where this talent comes from…."
"Don't give me a wrong beat and make a rhyme."
Jeong Dajun was disgusted, but Kang Icha shamelessly added a couple of rhymes, chewed the beef, and swallowed it.
"And I'm working on the title track and B-sides for the regular album with composer Im Hyun-soo. That alone is keeping me busy."
"Ooh~?"
All good. All good, but…
Why are all these news suddenly pouring in?
I dipped a pickled radish with my chopsticks and asked,
"What's going on with you guys?"
"…."
The members were startled.
"Are you excluding me? Why didn't I know?"
"…Haha!"
The members awkwardly laughed and scratched their heads. After a bit of pushing and shoving, the team's Buddha-like figure, Seong Jiwon, got the speaking rights.
"Actually, we've talked a lot about it."
"About what?"
"We thought you might be uncomfortable with personal activities and acting."
"…."
That makes sense.
"But we want you to try everything you want to do and can do."
"Right! Hyung! You should try everything!"
"To do that, it's better for each of us to do personal activities and then come together for the regular album."
The members gradually revealed their thoughts and burst into laughter. Jeong Dajun, who had been hiding this news, sighed in relief and laughed.
"Phew! Finally said it. I was planning to say it earlier, but I missed the timing."
"So, that's it."
I finally understood the situation. I met Kang Icha's eyes, and I understood why he was talking and acting that way.
I took a sip of water and sighed deeply.
"…Thanks."
"…!"
"You've thought a lot about it… I'll do it comfortably."
Everyone's eyes widened, and suddenly they started piling side dishes on my rice, just like they did for Jeong Dajun.
"Does Ho Yun like this?"
"Hyung! The mushrooms cooked in beef fat are the best, you know?"
"Let's balance the nutrition. Hey, wrap. Eat some vegetables."
"Everyone, get lost."
"Okay, okay~, today's prickly is okay~."
It was a new experience. I thought I was carrying everything alone, but in fact, I relied on them a lot. The choreography was always carefully done by Kim Sung-hyun and Jeong Dajun, the songs were composed by Kang Icha, and the team management was handled by Seong Jiwon.
I was just more prominent in the visible parts.
Even so, if they want me to comfortably ride on their efforts… sometimes it's good to rest and blend in.
'Come to think of it, I also… talked at length about wanting to ride the bus.'
I shrugged and ate my rice calmly.
Kim Sung-hyun, who put more meat in my bowl, smiled.
"Eat a lot, and I'll look forward to your drama, PD Seo."
I couldn't help but laugh at that.
I never thought I would hear "PD" from Kim Sung-hyun.
*** [Ho Yun's first shoot today, so nervous]
[Damn, more nervous than preparing for my master's thesis presentation. What to do? What to do? Throw the thesis and go all in on Seo Ho Yun └ Ah, such a procrastinator lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol