The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 111
* * *
A moment later.
"Ah, I'll sit beside you for a moment. Sorry."
Son Jaeha, having neatly straightened his clothes, did not take long to compose his expression again.
"Uh… and thanks for worrying about me, Chunyong. Haha, you look after your hyung too. You're a really good dongsaeng."
It took no time at all for his ever-kind, composed voice to return as well.
The face that had so clearly shown flustered bewilderment right after waking now felt like nothing more than a dream.
'Just how tense must a person live their daily life to be able to do this?'
Only now able to properly see past a layer of Son Jaeha's inner thoughts, Kim Chunyong unconsciously clicked his tongue and gripped the card in his hand tightly.
It wasn't even something difficult to notice….
If only I hadn't been wallowing in self-pity, I would have realized what Hyung was thinking much sooner.
Whether Kim Chunyong was thinking that or not, Son Jaeha was busy offering considerate words with a brightly sparkling face.
"Still, from now on, I'll make sure to wake up properly and talk to you regularly. You're exhausted from working on the choreography with Dasol-ssaem too."
"…What do you mean."
Kim Chunyong shrugged his shoulders at his hyung, putting on an expression that said it was really no big deal.
Though sharp, those gently curved eyes held not a grain of falsehood.
Well, it was also because Kim Chunyong truly thought it was no big deal.
…Because this is only the beginning.
Kim Chunyong leisurely leaned his body toward the sofa and looked at the people he had spoken with yesterday.
Bang Yuchan, and Ji Hwaseong.
Last night, when they had been chatting noisily at the dawn playground before hurrying up the stairs after seeing a van slowly heading toward the underground parking lot.
"Let's make things go very subtly, just a little off-course in everyday life?"
"Yes. Like, waking up earlier than the time Hyung usually wakes you, or taking your eyes off for just a moment only to find something has changed in a more positive direction, things like that."
"Hmm, that's good, but. Won't the impact… be a bit lacking? No, it's just. This is, you know, normal. Right?"
"Ah, that's what I'm saying, Yongyong Hyung. If we're going to do this, shouldn't there be sudden, drastic changes for it to register strongly? I saw on TV counseling programs that they usually do it like that!"
"Sigh, Hwaseong. You can't rush anything. You felt it yourself earlier too, you punk."
Admittedly, if Ji Hwaseong were to use the recording schedule change he had learned about through this opportunity to make a move.
Or if Kim Chunyong were to use the information he possessed thanks to his return, it would undoubtedly remain far more impressively in Son Jaeha's mind.
You could call it shock therapy?
However, according to the opinion of Kim Chunyong—who had taken his medication before coming back like this (albeit abusing it by mixing it with alcohol), and who had listened to this and that (though ultimately hadn't listened to a single word the therapist said)….
'Too sudden a change has the opposite effect on a sensitive person like Hyung.'
"Hwaseong, you know Logan really treasures his guitar."
"Logan, suddenly? Uh, um… I don't know why you're asking, but. Yes. I know."
"But what do you think would happen if you bought him a new guitar to be nice and then smashed it?"
"Gasp, that would be… a bit. I think I'd get cut off!?"
"To some people, having their daily routine thrown off feels exactly like that."
"…I understand what Yongyong Hyung is saying."
"Right. I also know why you want to resolve this quickly."
Today, which would directly clash with Son Jaeha, would pass, and the concept photo shoot coming again tomorrow.
Ji Hwaseong wanted to resolve this before then if at all possible.
'Since he messed up like that yesterday, it must be weighing on his mind a lot. He must be thinking he absolutely has to do better tomorrow.'
And further beyond that, the remaining debut preparations, and even after debut.
Fundamentally, a person could not return to before they knew. After learning something, they had to live forever holding it in their heart.
Just as Kim Chunyong still felt guilt toward the members and family even after returning.
Just as Ji Hwaseong had accidentally learned the truth Son Jaeha wanted to hide.
However, if one remained stopped there forever, nothing would change.
"Ah, now everyone's folded! Shall we reveal our hands?"
At Logan's cheerful voice, Son Jaeha carefully placed the cards in his hand down and smiled.
"Flush. At this rate, I think all the snacks are mine."
"Ah, no way… I had a straight. Hyung, that's mean…."
"Haha, then I guess I should give at least one snack to Siu."
The way Son Jaeha laughed was the same, both before Kim Chunyong returned and after.
Covering his face slightly with his hand, hiding the shape of his smiling mouth.
Yet, the sound that leaked out was soft.
Having once directed his gaze at that sight, Kim Chunyong threw his own hand down beside the cards Son Jaeha had placed.
"—Full house. I win."
"Huh?"
Kim Chunyong and Son Jaeha's eyes met once.
Kim Chunyong stared straight into those eyes and gave Son Jaeha's shoulder a light pat.
A gesture and tone he hadn't used before. And even a changed approach.
"Haha, we should stop the card game now! Only the choreography practice time has changed; we have a lot to do today, don't we?"
Kim Chunyong was certain.
'If even a wreck like me changed, there's no way Jaeha Hyung can't change.'
Change only needed a trigger.
For Kim Chunyong, who had been rolling on the ground out of his mind, it had been X's voice that came like a lie; but for Son Jaeha, it was different.
"…Mhm, that's right. We have a lot to do."
"Let's go, Jaeha Hyung."
For Son Jaeha, a gentle and warm arrangement befitting him was being prepared.
* * *
None of it showed.
"'Each of you buy an item you think will suit the members well, and explain why you thought so…' Oh, I've been thinking about this one for a while. This is perfect!"
"Yuchan Hyung, if you look at me, you'll know what to buy. You know, I mentioned it a few times while we were rooming together, right?"
"What? Logan, honestly, isn't that guitar too shameless? We haven't even debuted yet!"
Everyone reacted very naturally to the mission the reality show production crew had assigned, thinking 'Now's our chance!' in the free time created by the postponed dance lesson, among other things.
"Ah, Jaeha Hyung! Over here. This way."
"Huh? Everyone's already here. I was going to call on my way."
"Yes… You looked busy, Hyung."
"Haha… No, I wasn't very busy. And it's something we all have to do, anyway."
"Still. And if the manager is coming… you should come out early to wait."
Even though Son Jaeha, returning from the company, hadn't said anything first, the other members headed to the van in advance to wait, among other things.
"…Someone already brought water?"
"Huh? Ah, that. It was here before we arrived. Maybe someone else left it?"
"Mhm, I suppose so. Still, just in case, I'll go out and get some drinks…."
Gulp—
"Hey, T.O.J members? These drinks are on Hwaseong!"
"…Wahaha! No need to buy any, Jaeha. Hwaseong's treating? Where'd that kid get money to spend like that when he hasn't even gotten his settlement yet?"
The trivial details that Son Jaeha, by nature, habitually paid close attention to.
Or even things so naturally present that one wouldn't have thought someone's hand had touched them.
Because they had changed so very gradually, a dull person would find it difficult to notice.
"Let's… rest a bit, then do… more. Chunyong-ssi… just a moment…."
"Yes!"
"Yuchan Hyung. Want to go down to the convenience store for a moment?"
"Oh, you're treating again this time?"
"Come on, shouldn't you buy something for your cute little brother?!"
Then, what about a sensitive person?
Aside from Son Jaeha, T.O.J definitely had one more sensitive person.
Though of a different sort, perhaps even more so than him.
"Holy. Siu, doesn't our choreography seem way too hard? It looked easy when Chunyong Hyung and Dasol-ssaem showed us! Is my body the problem?"
During the dance lesson pushed to the afternoon.
When break time came and the T.O.J members moved to their respective tasks.
"Ah, Logan… Hyung."
Jang Siu, who had been sitting in front of the mirror, shifted slightly away from Logan, who was approaching his side, and tilted his head.
"It is hard… but still, since the dance is cool, I think it's okay… maybe."
"I agree. It definitely is cool! Besides, this is our original song, so thinking about standing on stage with it… Hm? What were you looking at?"
"Uh, I was looking at something… yeah."
"Sorry, I won't disturb you."
"Ah, no. You weren't disturbing me."
Jang Siu shut off the SNS window he had been looking at and glanced sideways at Logan, who sat down beside him.
'…Does Logan Hyung not feel it yet?'
If there was one thing Jang Siu had felt from Logan while rooming with him—it was that he was more indifferent to others than expected.
Respecting the other person's personal space and not approaching further if unwanted.
It wasn't a negative meaning. Jang Siu was rather grateful for that indifference.
'…A good… person.'
Jang Siu, who had been slowly building a favorable impression of Logan—a type of person completely different from anyone he had met so far—carefully opened his mouth to Logan.
"Um, Logan Hyung."
"Huh? Why, why? What's the matter?"
"Uh… you know."
Today,
"Everyone seems a bit kinder and gentler."
"What? The world is kind and gentle? That's… a good thing!"
"Ugh, that's not what I mean…."
Though he hadn't participated in last night's conversation at the playground, Jang Siu definitely felt something.
Everyone had been incredibly busy with debut preparations.
So usually, when dealing with sudden unexpected situations, there had been more than a little stiffness.
"But today, it feels more flexible… and more systematically organized."
"Is… is that so? Sigh, I just think good is good!"
"That may be true, but."
Just as the sensitive, ever-sensitive Jang Siu nodded his head so vigorously at Logan's words that his bangs swayed.
"Right, I think I felt the same way."
A soft voice pierced the ears of the seated pair.
"Ah… Jaeha Hyung."
"I thought I was the only one who felt that way; I didn't know Siu felt it too."
"Mhm, but Logan Hyung said he doesn't really know… so it could be a misunderstanding."
"Is that so?"
Son Jaeha leaned the back of his head against the mirror behind him and muttered softly.
"…It isn't a delusion."
* * *
"For now, up to… where we've practiced in the song. Everyone's following well… so. Let's not… make changes."
"Ah, by not making changes…?"
"The dance break… stays as is."
"Ah, yes! Understood. Thank you!"
I, who had bowed 90 degrees to Jin Dasol, moved my steps outside his private office and fell into thought.
So far, so good.
The situation isn't too contrived, there aren't many elements that would fluster Jaeha Hyung, and rather, team synergy has improved.
I never thought Hyung wouldn't notice at all. I know Jaeha Hyung's personality; as if he wouldn't notice.
But more important than that was showing Jaeha Hyung that this method 'works.'
That it's okay to loosen up a little on his own.
That doing so doesn't mean the team will completely disintegrate or collapse.
That's what I thought.
"Hey, Chunyong."
…Until Jaeha Hyung, who had been waiting in the hallway with arms crossed, waiting only for me to come out of the office, called out to me.
"Uh, uh. Yes?"
Hyung's expression was no different from before. No, whether we did missions, rode in the van, or practiced. Whatever we did, always.
However.
"You don't have to do this."
"…Huh?"
Ah, so not even this was any different!
When I let out a bewildered voice without realizing it, Jaeha Hyung slowly uncrossed his arms and approached me.
One step, two steps.
He's clearly getting closer, so why does it feel like his heart is growing distant?
"I know what you found out, and why you thought of this. Yeah, honestly, I think it's a good thing. But…."
"……."
"If you really mean this for me, I'd rather you didn't."
Ah.
Even after doing all this, this is the reaction?
I pressed my forehead in silence, looking at Jaeha Hyung's slightly trembling hand.
Right. Yesterday's concept photo shoot was around this time, so it must be time for Hyung's medication now.
And that's why this thought occurred to him even more.
Despite having carefully adjusted things so they would seem almost noticeable yet unnoticeable to Hyung, at the gentle refusal that came back, I shifted my eyes briefly and opened my mouth.
Then.
"Just for today."
"Huh?"
"Hyung, just try getting through today like this until tonight, and talk with me tonight."
'Don't invite change if it's for yourself.' 'Even if not, storms will keep coming.'
To change Hyung's thinking, which thinks that way,
"…I have something I want to say."
As Ji Hwaseong and Yuchan Hyung said.
It seemed a somewhat more direct method was needed.