The Villainous Member Has Returned! Episode 159
After that, there wasn't even a moment to catch their breath.
- “Ugh, even if you take ours, it's no use, Chunyong! Your medals are with us!”
- “Why on earth are you taking those?! No, this is really…!”
- “Seonho Hyung, we need to go now!”
The Team 2 survivors, including Son Jaeha, closely chased after Gim Chunyong, who had grabbed their medals and run.
- “I'm taking them because there's a place to use them all, Jaeha Hyung! Please trust me!”
- “We're on different teams right now. Even if you ask me to trust you, there's no way that makes sense.”
- “Huff, Chunyong. So where are you going to use them? You didn't tell me properly, so I don't know…!”
Gim Chunyong, Jeong Yeonu, and An Taei, who were running ahead, chattered away with brazen nonchalance even while running, securing their screen time.
Naturally, the ones watching that and reacting one by one were the ill-fated members who had been bickering in the eliminated contestants' room.
Particularly, it was the T.O.J members who were watching Gim Chunyong's current performance—or whatever this behavior was.
“No, why is Yongyong Hyung doing that? Yuchan Hyung, Siu. Didn't either of you hear anything before getting eliminated?”
“I was going around somewhere else the whole time… I, I don't really know….”
“The moment Chunyong was about to say something, you pounced on me and got me eliminated, Hwaseong?”
“Ahem. No, but still. Shouldn't you naturally know if you're on the same team? If I had been on Team 1 with Yongyong Hyung, I'd already know!”
“…….”
At their conversation, Han Danu slowly blinked both eyes and looked back at the monitor.
He had wondered if something might have changed, but what was coming out of it still hadn't changed.
- “What is there not to know, really? Taei. I'll give you the medal, so try opening the back!”
- “Open it? The medal? What… huh.”
- “Haha… You were so good at snatching other people's things all this time, so why didn't it occur to you to check that?”
Gim Chunyong, who was holding An Taei in a strangely tight grip, and An Taei, who was flustered by such a guy and obeying his words docilely.
To think that a (former) problematic trainee peer and (current) problematic team member would show such a combination.
He tried to understand, but it wasn't easy to understand.
“Was he always like that…?”
Perhaps because it was hard to accept even from the perspective of a fellow team member, Han Danu unknowingly let the words slip.
Surely, if it were the usual An Taei, he would have annoyed Gim Chunyong to no end.
He would have worn a gentle smile in front of Gim Chunyong while inwardly scratching away at his insides, unnoticed.
- “Since you're the fastest, run quickly and change that first. Hurry.”
- “Do I really have to go separately… W-whoa, they're almost here! Ah, got it!”
- “If you can't do it properly, what I told you earlier is off the table!”
But, he solved it in such a short time like that?
“…….”
Han Danu clenched both fists tightly and naturally turned his gaze away from the screen.
It was because he didn't want to openly reveal his emotional agitation while the eliminated contestants' room cameras were rolling.
He thought he had been doing just fine all this time, yet such feelings arose.
So….
“…Danu-ya. Are you really not going to go say hi?”
“If you're going to go, I told you to go yourself. I'm glad I don't have to see that bastard's face anymore.”
“You guys really… Fine. Then I'll go by myself.”
Perhaps, wondering if he could resolve the matters buried in the past.
Everyone pretends otherwise, but they inevitably live harboring regret in one corner of their hearts.
Just as Rekseuregi had lived in guilt toward his family and members while continuously destroying himself.
And just as young Han Danu would occasionally look up articles about Gim Chunyong and let out a low sigh.
The best method is to not create things to regret in the first place, but how could that ever be easy.
Immature youths who only thought they were right all did that.
Therefore, being able to seize the opportunity to correct that when it came was also a capability.
As if….
- “…Jaeha Hyung, we can't go any further here. Yeonu Sunbae and Taei will replace all our medals now. And if you wrestle with me, there's no way you can win…!”
- “Hmm… Chunyong. See, even if you replace our medals, it's a loss for you guys.”
- “No, if you open the back of the medal and change it to our symbol before replacing it, it's not a loss.”
- “…What?”
- “Haha! If it were you normally, you would have checked that first. You're too late, Jaeha Hyung!”
Like someone who was focused on winning this mission while holding onto his leader hyung, bursting into a cheerful laugh.
A composure unbefitting a twenty-year-old was subtly etched on that face, but there was no one who could recognize it for certain.
They could only let out impressions like, 'He must have some kind of plan.'
- “…Huff, I changed them all! Wait, Chunyong, you still have one left! Hurry! Ack! I'm going to get eliminated!”
- “…Got it. Then, Jaeha Hyung. When this filming ends, we have to go back to being friendly members… Right? Now let me go.”
- “…What if I eliminate you before that?”
- “Not a chance!”
Gim Chunyong, who had been scuffling with Son Jaeha, pulled Son Jaeha toward him when An Taei shouted, then withdrew his body backward.
In that brief moment when Son Jaeha, having lost his balance, staggered, Gim Chunyong launched his body toward the nearest Team 1 area.—Bam!
He kicked the door open, avoiding the hands of the other Wiz members and Son Jaeha who were chasing after him.
- “Stop right there!”
- “An Taei just got eliminated, so if we just snatch back that medal, we win…!”
- “I told you it's impossible. I have a plan for everything too.”
As Han Danu fixed his gaze on the screen again, one contact lens slid slightly to the side of his pupil.
“…….”
It could be interpreted as simply being tired from the long filming schedule and the current location being dry, but still.
For some reason, Han Danu briefly thought it felt like someone's arrangement telling him to properly check the scene visible on the monitor.
'Actually, take a good look at what you really wanted to do.'
'After seeing this, you'll realize what you want to do when this filming ends.'
- “The final medal replacement is complete! Team 1 and Team 2, please gather in the lobby!”
And so, the moment Gim Chunyong changed what had been Team 2's medal to a Team 1 mark and stuck it on the wall.
- “…Ta-da.”
Watching Gim Chunyong make a gun shape with his hand and shoot—pow—at the camera on the wall, Han Danu slowly opened his mouth.
“…That's funny.”
Words that were still somewhat unpleasant slipped from his mouth, but his heart was more at ease than before.
Meaning, he was ready to face the previous issues again.
* * *
Regardless of what had happened beneath the surface or what conversations had flowed, the filmed footage itself came out extremely well.
“Ah, I didn't think to open the medal! Yeonu Hyung, did you know? Since when?”
“Well… roughly about 10 minutes after filming started?”
“Then you knew from the beginning! Ugh, if only I had found out before getting eliminated…!”
The cast had made dramatic use of the fact the production crew had hidden for a surprise: 'If you open the opposing team's medal, your own team's symbol comes out.'
“God, we knew from the very beginning. Right, Jayden?”
“Yeah. If I hadn't been eliminated because of Logan, I definitely could have used it beneficially.”
“No, no. I'll correct you. I think it would have been the same in the end. It's annoying when you keep saying that!”
“Tsk, Logan. It can't be helped. The world of competition is merciless. I think it's fine since I at least survived to a degree where I wouldn't be ashamed before my parents….”
“Hwaseong Hyung, earlier you were apparently… c-crying….”
“…Please edit that out, PD-nim. What? Just that part!”
“Hwaseong-ssi, that's the main part, so it'll be trouble if we edit it out!”
And so, while the PD who made a surprise appearance again to give prizes to the winning team and the cast members mingled, proceeding lightly with the closing.
“…….”
“…An Taei, what are you doing.”
“And you, Danu, where the hell are you looking?”
“…Tsk.”
The gazes of An Taei and Han Danu, the two Wiz members, were fixed on one spot.
“Haha. Good work, Sunbaenim. Thank you so much for helping today. I don't know what to say about this….”
“Hmm. I didn't really do much compared to what you'd think. Well, it'd be funny to say I didn't do anything at all, though.”
“Haha… I'll contact you separately about what I mentioned before filming.”
It was directed at Gim Chunyong, who was hugging the portable massager prize to his chest and chatting pleasantly with Jeong Yeonu.
They couldn't bring themselves to approach and say anything first, yet they couldn't just let the moment of filming's end, which had come right up to their noses, pass by.
“Alright, then! 'Catch Me Catch You' Idol Special Forces episode filming is concluded! Dropping the slate!”
However, regardless of their feelings, the production crew, who had suffered throughout filming due to staff shortages, promptly dropped the slate.
“Yes, please return your mics. Thank you!”
“Great work everyone!”
From this moment on, it was completely off the record.
Now, they didn't have to hold the mics and talk in secret, nor did they need to pick their words carefully while watching the other person's mood.
“…….”
“…….”
The two, who had quickly exchanged glances, moved their feet swiftly without either being first.
“Move aside, An Taei. I have something to say to him right now.”
“No, I'm saying I have things I'm curious about too. Danu-ya, you're always so overbearing. Can't you yield to me first on something like this?”
“What could you possibly be curious about? When all you've been doing is scratching away at him all this time.”
“I was trying to apologize for that, but you're the one who stopped me…!”
“Ah, go away!”
One was going to ask, 'So what was it you were going to do after pushing me like that earlier?'
And the other was going to bring up the topic, 'Let's talk about what happened in the past.'
Ablaze to have their respective yet important conversations, they bickered, pushing and pulling at each other's arms to gain the first chance to talk with Gim Chunyong.
To anyone watching, it was no different from children fighting.
“…As expected, it looks like they're trying to say something to Chunyong.”
“Right. I think so too.”
“Tsk, I did feel like I was watching with some prejudice throughout filming… but honestly, I don't know about those two. They weren't even on the same team.”
“Me too… I couldn't see from up close, so….”
And the T.O.J members watching that scene from a slight distance whispered in low voices, sharing their individual opinions.
Well, filming ended well too.
As boys that age tend to be, some said he didn't seem that bad watching from the side.
Still, there was a somewhat dubious feeling because of what he had done to their member.
“…….”
Having heard all his members' words, Son Jaeha carefully opened his mouth toward Gim Chunyong, who was looking that way with a thoughtful face.
“…Chunyong.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Um, I can't quite tell what you're thinking. I was just thinking maybe we should head home like this. Since this filming ended well, it doesn't seem like we need to clash any further.”
There wasn't a single wrong point in Son Jaeha's words.
Wasn't it fine since they had wrapped this up well?
The things they had worried about hadn't happened, and the other side roughly didn't seem to show ill feelings toward them anymore, so that was enough.
“You're right, that's right, Hyung.”
Correctly grasping Son Jaeha's intention, Gim Chunyong lightly nodded and smiled.
He could just leave the set like this.
Since he had broken An Taei's spirit, he wouldn't pick fights with him and his members again, and Han Danu seemed to be thinking about something too.
But.
“…I'm just going to go for a very short moment, Hyung.”
A definitive knot, a closure, was needed.
Some relationships were fine just being left alone to flow.
Time was medicine, and wounds eventually healed.
If Gim Chunyong had never recalled An Taei's circumstances, and if he had buried what happened with Han Danu beneath other painful matters, it would have been fine.
But once you know something, it becomes irreversible.
While filming apart for a while from the members who had been his top priority, Gim Chunyong had felt something.
And so, well.
In the end, good is good.
“It's not even a conversation. Just a word or so? Really, nothing will happen.”
“Hm… alright, I understand.”
Waving his hand with a smile at the worried Son Jaeha, Gim Chunyong now stood before An Taei and Han Danu, who were more focused on fighting each other than talking to him.
“…You guys get along really well, huh.”
“Urk, Chunyong….”
“…….”
Looking quietly at the guys who had flinched and stopped in their tracks, Gim Chunyong put his hand in his pocket, nodded slightly, and slowly opened his mouth.
And.
“…….”
“…What? Really?”
It went without saying that the eyes of the two who heard those words had widened enormously.