Episode 104. 50-Minute Self-Introduction (3)
“Huh?”
The MC’s puzzlement came through even in that short syllable.
“Iwol, do you like potato chips?”
The MC asked, looking at the torn bag of potato chips sitting on the table.
“Yes, it’s a drinking snack I eat often.”
In truth, I had eaten gim the most.
There wasn’t any special reason for it; I simply found it bothersome to separately buy or prepare drinking snacks.
But having nothing but a single tube of gim appear on a broadcast would look too insincere, and I was worried about the mishap of getting it stuck somewhere, so I gave up on it.
Instead, I brought potato chips, which I ate the second most as a regular patron of buy-two-get-one-free deals. Though I hadn’t expected him to be flustered even by potato chips.
Well, the guest who appeared recently had eaten canapés topped with truffles, so the gap probably felt quite large.
“Oh, do you drink often, Iwol?”
“Only a little. Today is my first time drinking since I started dorm life!”
“Really? So you haven’t had a sip since your trainee days?”
“Yes. Most of the members are minors, so I thought it was best to avoid drinking as much as possible.”
“You’re considerate, Iwol. Don’t worry about the younger ones today and let’s blow off some steam. How about it?”
“That sounds good. Ah, and there was something else I wanted to mention about the drinking snacks….”
“Right? So the potato chips weren’t everything after all?”
As I broached the subject, the next drinking snack was brought out. The MC’s face brightened as well.
After all, it wouldn’t look right if there were only potato chips for a filming, especially for a program that films drinking sessions.
Thanks to that, I held a “favorite food World Cup” that was completely out of character for me and found the drinking snacks that suited my palate best.
Namely, convenience store fish cakes and small-sized cup noodles.
“…Your taste is almost the same as our middle-aged regulars, Iwol?”
“Ahaha, is that so? I just find these delicious!”
The fish cakes I had eaten alone at a convenience store, opening another bottle of soju after delivering the drunk Manager Nam home.
And the cup noodles I had eaten alone with a pack of soju on the day Manager Nam had scolded me terribly.
I couldn’t eat them often because they reminded me of Manager Nam every time, but both were delicious enough to make me forget all the sorrow of those days.
Seeing me smile for no reason, steeped in memories, the MC placed a hand on my shoulder.
“I know fish cake soup and ramen are delicious too. But ha… This won’t do. Iwol, as your senior, let me buy you some truly delicious drinking snacks next time.”
“Really?”
I was grateful, but why all of a sudden?
I was bewildered. No matter how humble this was, it was quite expensive in its own way. The fish cakes were a store-brand product, for crying out loud.
But it probably wasn’t about the price. There had been cast members who brought roasted ginkgo nuts or spicy peppers as nostalgic foods.
I thought it must be the usual empty words people say on broadcast, but then I understood.
“Of course! Let’s start with a toast! Cheers!”
“Yes, yes!”
Following the MC’s lead, we amicably filled each other’s glasses and downed our soju. The atmosphere was warm beyond compare.
Until the System appeared.
* * *
Today, I had two goals.
One, to maintain an attitude that appeared more honest than usual, as much as viewers expected from a drinking talk show.
Two, nevertheless, to not lose my self-control.
“No, but Iwol.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Why do you drink so well?”
But everything was ruined. Because of that damned System.
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from ‘Supervisor’ has arrived.
▶ Deputy Kim, come here and have a drink! Don’t make my arm tired!
[SYSTEM] A ‘Short-term Task’ has been assigned.
▷ Put away five or more bottles of soju
▷ Reward: 1 Self-PR Score granted
▷ If failed: Increased probability of ‘Attitude Controversy’ event occurring
+
An Attitude Controversy event.
That kind of event would blow up soon enough even without drinking. Because I throw punches at the air.
More importantly, is being good at drinking one of an idol’s virtues? Haven’t you been helping me work hard as an idol all this time?
Wouldn’t it cause more controversy to drink until I’m wasted and show an unsightly sight? My head was a mess.
But there was no time to hesitate. The cameras were still rolling.
Drinking five bottles itself wasn’t that difficult.
Even when I worked overtime to death at Hanpyeong Industries and arrived late to company dinners, I drank all the alcohol Manager Nam gave me. Let alone now that I was in my twenties—I should be even more resilient.
The problem was that since I was drinking with just the MC, I couldn’t gauge how much I was drinking alone.
If it was the System, it would declare failure if I was even a single drop short of five bottles, so I had to be strict about this.
Couldn’t do the math?
Then there was only one answer.
I had to drink overwhelmingly. To secure a decision victory.
After that, I drank gulp after gulp without letting my glass empty.
I didn’t shout pathetically, “Senior, my glass is empty!”
Instead, I deliberately placed my glass at the edge of the table so the empty glass would be caught on camera, or downed it in one shot the moment I received it.
Then the production staff would see the empty glass and mention it, or the MC would immediately fill it.
“Are you okay? Aren’t you drinking too much?”
“I’m still fine!”
It was a situation where I had to say I was fine even if I wasn’t, but I was genuinely fine. For this moment alone, I was grateful for my alcohol tolerance.
When I sneakily glanced at the production staff, they were all muttering, “Look at how Iwol’s complexion hasn’t changed at all….”
As a result of drinking like a beast.
+
[SYSTEM] The ‘Short-term Task’ has been completed.
▷ Reward: 1 Self-PR Score granted
+
I had recovered some of the Self-PR scores I had unknowingly let slip away.
Thank you, my liver.
* * *
It hadn’t been long since I had gotten used to group practice. To be exact, I was still in the adjustment phase.
So if one person was missing and the headcount decreased, I should have felt somewhat more at ease.
“Jeho Hyung, please look to the front!”
Choi Jeho couldn’t focus on practice. To the point of receiving feedback from the leader, Jeong Seongbin.
What had scattered his concentration?
Choi Jeho threw his gaze toward the empty spot in the formation.
It was where Kim Iwol, the member away on an external schedule, should have been standing.
Even during a brief break, Choi Jeho glanced at the spot where Kim Iwol usually stood to drink water.
He was aware it was unlike him. But he couldn’t help being concerned.
Because of *that very* schedule that had made Kim Iwol absent.
“We received an offer to appear on a Mitube broadcast called *People Who Drink*. Have you both heard of it?”
Not long ago, the manager had called in Choi Jeho and Kim Iwol to explain the plan for a solo variety show appearance.
He had never heard of it, but honestly, he wasn’t interested. He was sick and tired of alcohol.
Drinking to the point where you couldn’t even take care of your own body was a pathetic sight. It was the biggest reason he hated his father.
Whenever he thought of his father, he couldn’t control his emotions. Choi Jeho found himself pathetic for that. At the same time, he didn’t want to show such a side.
So, if at all possible, he had tried to avoid anything that reminded him of his father.
But one cannot live doing only what one wants.
Choi Jeho already had a record of scrapping a plan once.
He hadn’t thought it was his responsibility, but no one would feel comfortable watching others clean up after him.
Among the many reasons he hated his father was that he could clearly see the man didn’t want to take responsibility.
He must not live like that. Because he had decided so.
Choi Jeho steeled his resolve. And just as he was about to volunteer for the filming.
“Could I take that on instead? If Choi Jeho is okay with it.”
Kim Iwol, sitting beside him, said with a smile.
Some might look at Kim Iwol’s behavior and say that anyone would covet a solo activity.
But that was something only someone who didn’t know Kim Iwol could say.
Kim Iwol was extremely averse to stepping forward. When told to do something, he didn’t avoid it, but when a good opportunity arose, he didn’t hesitate to pass it to others.
It was something even Choi Jeho, who had grown up hearing “Why are you so oblivious to your surroundings?” since childhood, could recognize.
Yet such a Kim Iwol had volunteered. Deliberately.
Saying, “If only Choi Jeho is fine with it,” as if asking him to understand his actions.
It was an obvious act of consideration.
Looking back, Kim Iwol had always been like that.
When problems arose, he would come, resolve the situation alone without asking questions, then calmly return to his own work. With his characteristic expressionless face.
A few days later, Choi Jeho stopped Kim Iwol, who was putting on his shoes to go to the shop.
“Hey.”
“What?”
Lifeless black eyes turned toward Choi Jeho.
That guy, with a face like that, acted like a completely different person in front of others or cameras.
Then was Kim Iwol a human fundamentally different from himself, or a human with the same essence but different behavior?
He didn’t want to think deeply about it. Such sentiments didn’t suit him anyway.
Instead, Choi Jeho asked Kim Iwol.
“Don’t you need anything?”
He should have asked if there was anything he could do. This guy’s words always came out without passing through his head.
But if it was this guy, he would roughly understand, wouldn’t he?
Kim Iwol turned his head and spoke while fixing his shoelaces.
“Just make sure the kids don’t do anything stupid.”
With a word that he’d be back, Kim Iwol left the practice room.
He was a man who listened carefully to the younger members, but when conversing with him, there were many times when he didn’t even wait to hear the response.
Whether that was resignation or trust, he didn’t know.
Choi Jeho didn’t dislike that.
* * *
Spark’s members were generally well-behaved.
There were occasionally rowdy moments, but everyone had sense and took good care of themselves.
So Choi Jeho believed he could easily grant Kim Iwol’s trivial request.
“Um, Hyung.”
Rarely, Jeong Seongbin came all the way to his room and…
“Sorry, but could you search this up for me instead?!”
…That was before he showed the phone screen requiring adult verification.