The Evil Member Has Returned! Chapter 109
* * *
Late night, after all the schedules were over.
"Hoo…."
I dragged my exhausted body onto the bed and let out a very deep sigh.
It's tough…
Incredibly so!
To sum it up, the concept photo shoot disguised as a camera test wrapped up more or less okay.
I heard that the pairs that didn't go well today will have one more shoot the day after tomorrow, and the better results will be uploaded to the site, or something like that.
Director Moon Yun-ha screamed at the sight of my faded hair midway, so my shoot got pushed to the very back, but well.
"No, I think Chun-yong's hair could go full pink…."
"Ah, can't it just be red? I'm not really into, you know, pink."
"Ah, you don't like pink? Well, we had something else in mind. Look at this. How about this? Since the length is a bit long now, we trim it a little and go for an ombre feel."
"I like it, I like it. I totally like it!"
It wasn't that I particularly disliked pink.
I just didn't like taking the advice that Yeon-woo hyung gave me.
And given our current concept, this color was definitely the right choice, not pink.
Besides, what's important right now isn't my hair color.
"……."
As I fiddled with my now somewhat strange hair mixed with red and black, I replayed the day's events in my head.
There were multiple issues at the shoot, but a few things got stuck in my mind. The fact that the 'bad pair' was none other than Jaeha hyung and Hwaseong.
And then, while closely observing Jaeha hyung, I noticed…
A pill, caught in the gap of his wrist scarf.
I could only roughly see its shape, so I couldn't be sure what kind of medication it was, but it definitely looked like he had accidentally dropped one while taking them.
The ever-busy leader hyung, who always wakes earlier than anyone and sleeps later than anyone, is taking pills.
What this meant—if others didn't know, I absolutely had to know.
Since when has he been taking them?
Why?
Was he already taking them back in Arrows days?
If so, why didn't I know? No, it's natural I didn't. Back then, I was a crazy bastard who thought I was the most pitiful in the world!
"Khuuu…."
Because the cameras for the reality show were still rolling, I had to cover myself with the blanket to hide my inner turmoil.
Anyway, because of all that, what I needed to sort out was simple.
First, Jaeha hyung seems to be taking pills… something.
Second, the defensive attitude he's taking might be partly influenced by that.
Third, knowing that fact, there's nothing I can do right now.
"Pfft…."
A hollow laugh escaped me. If that's the case, why even bother sorting it out, seriously.
"……."
I stared at the empty bed next to mine and pressed my lips into a straight line.
The moment the shoot ended, Jaeha hyung had gently told the members, 'Go in and get some rest first,' but he himself still hadn't returned to the dorm.
Things seem to be going smoothly, yet something keeps nagging at me, something slightly bothersome.
And I can't get a proper clue.
"Euhyu, let's just sleep. Sleep. Tomorrow's piled with work too…."
Just as I was holding my throbbing head and trying to force myself to sleep.
The phone screen flickered.
As always, it was my worst counselor, X.
- X: You really think too much about useless crap ㅡㅡ
- X: No, things are flowing smoothly like water right now? Why are you looking for things to worry about?
- X: Son Jaeha and Ji Hwaseong's huge fight > somehow resolved
- X: Album prep > going well
- X: Kim Chun-yong > racking his brain over useless things again
- X: Don't you get the feeling something's off here??
- X: If you keep nitpicking like that, you won't win the Rookie Award
Normally I'd think, 'Here he goes again, sending weird messages to get on my nerves,' but.
- X: Well, Son Jaeha secretly taking some unknown pills? Could be weird…
- X: But is he causing any harm to the debut preparation right now?
- X: Trying to resolve Ji Hwaseong and Son Jaeha's fight < This I understand, because knowing Hwaseong, if it wasn't resolved, the team atmosphere would've been ruined
- X: But Son Jaeha is different, isn't he?? He doesn't get swayed by emotions and does his work diligently??
- X: You acting like this is because you're sorry for past mistakes and keep worrying
- X: Hey, sorry to tell you, but everyone has secrets they don't want to tell. You can't know them all.
- X: Just! Accept it a bit! And go to sleep!
For some reason, this time X hit the nail on the head. As I lightly rubbed the part that said 'everyone has secrets they don't want to tell,' I slowly pulled the blanket up over my head.
It was right. Not a single thing wrong.
But still…
You bastard, even when I lived as the evil member, I stubbornly insisted 'I don't want to talk about it,' and that's how I ended up in that state.
"Eohoo, I'm thirsty. Water, water…."
That was the moment I, unable to overcome my troubled mind, yanked the door open.
"Huh, huh?"
"Ugh, Yong-yong hyung."
I had to face Ji Hwaseong, who was about to knock on the door.
"What's up? Because of Jaeha hyung? He hasn't come back yet…."
"Shh, shh!"
Hwaseong, slightly dramatically covering my mouth, rolled his eyes toward the camera fixed in the living room and said.
"Yong-yong hyung, you know. Would you… like to go for a walk?"
"Haha. Just the two of us, secretly? Let's just take one lap around the apartment complex. It's dawn, so there'll be no one, it'll be nice! You said you felt stuffy going back and forth from the studio too, hyung."
From the fact that he didn't bother lowering his voice, I could tell something.
That our reckless Hwaseong was finally, professionally, being conscious of the cameras.
I had never told Hwaseong that the studio felt stuffy.
But the reason he's deliberately suggesting, 'Let's both have a small escape,' is…
He has something to tell me privately, that's what it means.
"…Alright, let's go for a run together, then. I'll grab my hat."
"Great, hyung. Come out quickly."
As I looked for a hat among the casually tossed clothes, I tried to figure out why this kid called me out.
Highly likely it's because of Jaeha hyung.
Earlier, Hwaseong was also the one who joined the retake noticing Jaeha hyung's hand looked unnatural, and when you're close by, you sometimes notice things you don't normally see.
Well. And while Hwaseong is aiming to become a 'trustworthy younger brother' to Jaeha hyung, it would be weird for him to call me out for something else.
Anyway.
Amidst my troubled state, talking to someone about the same topic would definitely help.
Of course, X had just said that worrying about that stuff 'doesn't help achieve your goal at all,' but…
"……."
I pulled my hat down low and looked at the mirror between the beds.
That reflection looked quite similar to the wreck-trash I saw in my dreams.
Someone falling apart only needs a very small trigger.
And if you spot the signs, it's the duty of those beside them to hurry and stop it.
"Eo, Hwaseong-ah. Let's go out now…."
Right then, when I had steeled myself and tried to lead Hwaseong out.
"Ehehe. If you're going for a run, we should go together, kids. Planning to leave your hyung behind?"
"Huh…."
My mouth fell open seeing the person standing with his arm draped around Hwaseong's neck.
Hwaseong, that kid.
"I don't really like being left out of stuff like this. It's not for nothing that I skipped school but joined every club!"
Roommate Yuchan hyung wasn't asleep and you just snuck out?…
If it's like this, it's hard to exchange info discreetly!
I gave a fist whack to the head of the guy avoiding my sharp gaze and then placed my hands heavily on both their shoulders, declaring solemnly.
"…I don't want to increase the number of members sneaking out, so let's go out quickly."
For other matters, we could just wake Logan and Si-woo to discuss…
But this involved Jaeha hyung's personal circumstances.
First, keeping the number of people who know to a minimum was the priority.
* * *
And so, the place we headed to was a playground next to the dorm apartment.
The sight of huge men, way too big, sitting on children's swings.
It was funny, and suddenly a bit absurd too.
But that wasn't what was important right now, so I cautiously spoke to Yuchan hyung, who was swinging on the swing with an expression that said, 'You said we were going running, so why of all places here?'
"Um, Yuchan hyung."
"Yeah, are you going to explain why we came here now?"
"…Yes. I have to, can't just keep swinging forever."
How should I start?
I blinked a few times, trying to piece together how this whole situation had come about.
From the reason Hwaseong and Jaeha hyung fought on my first day at the dorm?
Aside from that, well. That Jaeha hyung is hiding something difficult without telling us?
Subtract one more, should I say Jaeha hyung seems to be taking some kind of pills?
While I was pondering, it was Hwaseong who cut in.
"Yuchan hyung. Do you remember when I fought with Jaeha hyung? Ah, well. 'Fought' isn't really the right word… I was just the one who yelled."
"…Ah."
So he's planning to start from there.
"Yeah. I remember. Hard to forget something like that."
Perhaps because it was so recent, Yuchan hyung nodded readily.
The streetlamp light fell between the three of us, and at the same time, Hwaseong's voice began to tremble little by little.
"That, um. The reason I did that back then was because I was a little upset with Jaeha hyung. And I thought since Yong-yong hyung resolved it somehow, it would be all settled, but."
Hwaseong, his head hanging low by now, squeezed out each word in a barely audible voice.
"Uh… looks like the way it was resolved wasn't good."
Or, maybe I just ruined everything completely…
And from then on, what came out of Hwaseong's mouth drew sighs from both me and Yuchan hyung.
And it was also the answer to what I had been predicting all along.
* * *
Over the past few days, Hwaseong had been in a pretty good mood.
Clearly, ever since he'd listened to Kim Chun-yong's suggestion, his ears to hear and eyes to see had broadened considerably. 'Ah, that staff member is going for a smoke. If they're going that way, I can overhear the talk of the other smokers.' 'Wow, they're casually talking about something so important right out in the open? Our album is getting one more track? But why aren't they giving us any hint of it?' By just picking up bits of conversation, Hwaseong learned a lot. Even without Kim Chun-yong telling him things one by one.
Especially the news he'd just picked up.
That T.O.J's first mini album would be getting one more track.
This also meant more recording schedules, and that the members' future schedules would need adjusting.
"Wait, wait. This is…" …
I don't think even Jaeha hyung knows yet?
Nobody knew just how radiantly Hwaseong smiled when he realized that. 'Since I know the other members' recording schedules and other plans, I should suggest we discuss it together.' Ah, finally, with this, I could show the hyung I follow that I'm a helpful younger brother.
I could be someone he relies on and talks to during tough times!
Narrowed personal relationships due to trainee life tend to make a person slightly blind in their attachments.
Like how a chick recognizes the first thing it sees as its parent.
For Hwaseong, who came up from Daegu and was somewhat distanced from AG trainees because they said his 'speech was rough and scary,' Son Jaeha was that kind of figure.
So, Hwaseong headed to the waiting room where Son Jaeha was resting, much faster than usual.
Pretending he had momentarily forgotten that Son Jaeha, a Christian, always asked for a brief moment alone to 'pray before the shoot.'
To tell him what he'd just heard.
So that this time, he could finally be properly acknowledged!
"Jaeha hyung, guess who's here!"
And inside the waiting room that Hwaseong burst into.
"……."
Son Jaeha was standing there with a stiff expression, having just torn open a medicine packet.