The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 219
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For fans and the public sitting in front of the TV every year, year-end stages and year-end award ceremonies were annual events, but to rookie idols, they were another world entirely.
Ah, they had watched their seniors go out and perform every time.
But they had to do it themselves?
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…
That?
Because year-end stages drew people's attention more than any other time, singers prepared increasingly diverse and colorful stage configurations, and the determination to pull them off without a hitch naturally intensified the pressure.
Therefore, a subtle panic spread through the waiting room of T.O.J, who were preparing for their first year-end stage of the year.
"U-uh, what do I do? I think there's extra fabric in the back of this outfit…!"
"God, mine is small. What is this? Is this even okay?"
"…Hey, you guys swapped shirts! Hurry up and change back. How did you even end up wearing each other's?"
"Oh my, I think it happened when we were comparing our outfits earlier. Hwaseong, take it off, take it off."
"Ugh, this is all because of Logan!"
They had mistakenly worn each other's outfits.
"J-Jaeha hyung… my, my in-ear, u-uh, it's tangled…."
"Ah, give it here, I'll untangle it."
"Jaeha. Uh… can hyung ask you for a favor too?"
"Yuchan hyung too? Hmm, neither of you are the type to make these kinds of mistakes. I wonder why…."
They were making trivial mistakes that would never happen normally.
On top of that….
"…*cough*."
"Chunyong, you're coughing. Did you take your medicine? You didn't forget, right?"
"Ah, yes. I took it before we left the shop earlier."
"Mhm, good. Just in case, I'll remind you again about an hour before we go on stage. Take a painkiller then…."
"Ah, hyung. I'm fine…."
"Chunyong. You've been stuck with this cold for a month now. Saying you're fine doesn't work anymore."
The main dancer had been laid up for a month.
"…Yes. I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologize. You must be having the hardest time."
"Haha…."
In the end, Gim Chunyong, who had failed to recover from his head cold even right before the year-end stage, could only laugh awkwardly and scratch his head.
'What the hell kind of mess is this.'
Truthfully, since that day he had suffered from a high fever, Gim Chunyong had done everything he could to shake his cold, but that damn persistent virus simply wouldn't go away easily.
Because of that, unlike himself, he had worn padding and a scarf every time he went out, dried his hair thoroughly before bed, and slept with the blanket pulled over his head, yet here he was.
"Haha, Chunyong… you just got annoyed because your cold hasn't healed, didn't you? You wouldn't normally do that. You really must be hurting."
Reading the utter frustration on Gim Chunyong's face, Son Jaeha smiled with his usual gentleness and pressed painkillers and headache medicine into Gim Chunyong's hand.
"I think it's because our practice schedule is so tight. I wish we could have adjusted it…."
"……."
Hearing Son Jaeha's worried words, Gim Chunyong simply replied by lightly shrugging his shoulders.
It would have been nice if they could adjust it as Son Jaeha said, but that wasn't an easy thing to do.
"Guys. Doing the collab stage with Wiz is one thing, but we also have to prepare for our own solo stage. You know that, right?"
"Urk, that's right. When do we start? I roughly saw the proposal that Director Mun passed along, but…."
"Starting tonight."
"…That's so sudden! Ah, I knew it was coming, but still!"
"Mhm… quite a bit of the performance has changed, and there will be rearrangements too… so Chunyong's role will be pretty big. Same for Logan, who enters as a pair with you."
Year-end stages mostly consisted of performances that were difficult to pull off on regular music shows, so it was only natural for the dance-focused members to be pulling double duty.
Right. No matter how things turned out, Gim Chunyong was the one who would have it rough.
'Preparing for the collab stage with Wiz, preparing for our own solo stage. Not to mention Yuchan hyung and Siu's situation… I've really been busy.'
Looking back on his chaotic past month, Gim Chunyong naturally realized why his cold hadn't fully healed.
Recovering from all that would make him a superhuman, huh?
"…Let's rest a bit until we go on stage. Got it?"
"Yes, hyung. You rest too, hyung."
With the time of infinite waiting until they went on stage beginning, a brief peace finally settled over the waiting room now that the panic had subsided.
On the surface, at least.
"…Phew."
Letting out a feverish sigh brought on by his cold symptoms, Gim Chunyong stretched out on the sofa in the corner of the waiting room and surveyed the members.
"Logan, hasn't your makeup worn off? Look, look."
"I'm fine. Hwaseong, under your chin here… ugh! You got foundation on your shirt?"
"Ugh, seriously, Logan. This is all because of Logan. The outfit coordinator noona is going to scold me."
"Stop blaming me! We both made a mistake, didn't we?"
"Ah, I know. But I'm nervous…."
"…Oh, um. Actually, me too. It feels like the final stage of
The two tall same-aged peers were lightly bickering, enduring the pressure well.
"Mhm…."
The ever-reliable leader was checking the cue sheet, gauging when the opening would begin.
And the other two members were….
"……."
The hyung from a 2nd generation top idol group was fiddling with the drink glass that had been passed around the entire waiting room.
"Ah, Jaeha. Can you pass that to me when you're done? We perform on the stage opposite that one after Wiz's stage ends, right?"
"Ah, yes. Let me just check this, hyung."
He was even conversing casually with another member.
"……."
At this sight, Gim Chunyong lightly nodded and took out his phone under the pretense of checking his daily game attendance, entering his chat with X.
To be exact, the conversation window where he had enthusiastically exchanged messages with X yesterday.
- X: LOL tomorrow is your first year-end stage, huh?
- X: Ah~ this damn preparation period was so long
- X: Well, you were doing side stuff too, so it must've felt even longer ㅜ
- X: Still, it's a relief that after tomorrow, that damn bomb bastard will stop hovering around you ㄱㅡ
Today, the year-end stage T.O.J would be on was BNS's Sound Stage the Final.
It was the stage where they would present the collaboration performance they had prepared with Wiz for over a month.
Whether it was deeply moving or simply regretful.
So many things had happened in the meantime that Gim Chunyong couldn't help but shudder at the subtle chills creeping up his spine.
He felt really strange, indeed.
Of course, this didn't mean it was the final chapter of some grand epic.
- X: But you know tomorrow's award ceremony doesn't count for our contract, right?
- X: You have to win Rookie of the Year, Rookie of the Year
- X: That's around… next week? That's when things will start in earnest, right?
- X: We'll have to watch carefully whether our Kim Chunyongyongguri goes back to prison or not haha
Today was merely the end of the long collab stage journey with Wiz; the contract between Gim Chunyong and X was still ongoing.
'Still, once today's work is done, one worry will be lifted. …Provided that those two finish their conversation safely.'
Gim Chunyong's gaze turned back toward Bang Yuchan and Jang Siu.
Busy keeping the contract with X and searching for 'the other guys,' just how much effort had Gim Chunyong put in for those two.
It was only natural considering he had caused them trouble before, but that didn't mean the suffering he had endured, even catching a cold in the process, was for nothing.
So please.
'I really hope they talk things out well today….'
Had Gim Chunyong's earnest prayer been answered?
"Ah, Siu. Hyung is going to the vending machine. Want to come with?"
"M-me?"
"Yeah. You haven't been drinking your green tea frappe since earlier. Let's go get an ion drink or something. Haha, hyung's treat."
"S-sure."
Bang Yuchan and Jang Siu, who had fidgeted just enough that no one besides Gim Chunyong would notice, soon rolled their eyes around before heading out of the waiting room side by side.
To have the 'talk' that Bang Yuchan had mentioned in Gim Chunyong's room before.
'I want to follow them….'
Gim Chunyong's body, sprawled on the waiting room sofa, twitched as if about to move immediately.
Naturally.
Coming to his senses and thinking carefully, what Bang Yuchan had said when Gim Chunyong was in the most pain had been suspicious.
Jang Siu, whom he had spoken to before, was rather better off.
The world Jang Siu had experienced was small, and the kid was pure despite being sensitive, having simply wandered because he didn't know how to settle his own heart.
But what about Bang Yuchan?
'Yuchan hyung is… cheerful. Sociable, refreshing. But back then, of all times….'
There had been something unsettling about Bang Yuchan's voice when he told him to 'rest.'
'Something tells me he's going to talk in a different direction than what I hoped for. This won't do. I really should follow them….'
The body of Gim Chunyong, who had judged that this was a matter between the two of them and should be left to them alone, slowly rose.
Worry and nosiness.
And being plastered with guilt toward the two members who had suffered because of him before.
'I'll just listen to what they're saying from behind. They said the vending machine, so it'll just be a moment….'
However, Gim Chunyong's footsteps could not reach that far.
Because the moment he opened the waiting room door, he ran into their manager, Yu Hobin.
"Ah, Chunyong-ssi. Are you going to the restroom?"
"Hobin hyung. I'm not going to the restroom…."
"Then do you have a moment? A schedule came down from above. It's for you, Jaeha-ssi, and Logan-ssi… I thought I should tell you in advance."
"Huh? Just the three of us? What kind of schedule is it… is it urgent?"
"Yes. It's a survival program that will follow
"What!?"
Ah, just when he wondered if one thing would end properly, another bolt from the blue had arrived.
Whether he knew Gim Chunyong's feelings or not, Yu Hobin made a bewildered expression at his reaction and grabbed his arm.
As if to say, let's talk properly now.
"Is there some problem? Is it burdensome? The timing to tell you simply never came up until now…."
"No, it's not that. It's just, survival programs are a bit… for me…."
"…Let's talk about it first. I prioritize the artist's opinion above all, so even if it came from above, I don't want to force you into something you hate. Once we decide how to coordinate our response…."
"Hobin hyung…."
When had things ever been this awkward.
He had to chase after those two right now and listen to what they were talking about.
And the matter holding him back was none other than the follow-up survival program that Jeong Yeonu had proposed before.
Given Yu Hobin's personality, he would clearly listen carefully to why Gim Chunyong wanted to avoid that program, organize it into a file, and express the refusal in a roundabout way.
Though the other two members might not know, Gim Chunyong had his reasons for wanting to refuse.
And to do that, the conversation in this waiting room would definitely be lengthy.
"Ugh…."
Cold sweat trickled down Gim Chunyong's spine.
He didn't want to put Yu Hobin in a difficult position.
But at the same time, he wanted to see how those two members resolved their issue and went on stage.
…But he also didn't want to get entangled with Jeong Yeonu again and get raked over the coals, especially since X had warned him to avoid that.
"……."
Gim Chunyong squeezed his eyes shut and wracked his poor brain, struggling to find the best choice he could make right now.
'Atonement is so damn difficult, really….'
Right now, it was a situation where he couldn't even ask X for advice.
"…Ah."
At that moment, someone flashed through Gim Chunyong's mind.
Honestly, if asked whether this person was reliable, it would have been hard to answer.
But in this situation, aside from Son Jaeha who was listening to the schedule explanation with him, there was only one person he could ask this favor of.
"…Can I just send one message for a moment, hyung?"
"Huh? Mhm, go ahead. Logan-ssi and Jaeha-ssi, come this way too…."
"Huh, what? Are the three of you going somewhere separately? What about me! What about me!"
"Ah, Hwaseong-ssi, as I mentioned before, you'll be with another group for…."
Against the backdrop of Ji Hwaseong grumbling, 'Why can't I be with the members,' and Yu Hobin pacifying him, Gim Chunyong quickly took out his phone and began typing a message.
[Kim Chunyong: Did your team's rehearsal end?]
[Kim Chunyong: Are you waiting?]
[Kim Chunyong: If so, can you go to the vending machine for a moment?]
[Kim Chunyong: Yuchan hyung and Siu went to talk alone just now, but I can't go…]
'Please reply quickly, please…!'
Today of all days, Gim Chunyong's desperation worked strangely well.
From someone who had clearly been rehearsing until just now, a razor-sharp reply arrived.
[Bomb (Defused): Hm?]
[Bomb (Defused): Oh, our rehearsal ended]
[Bomb (Defused): I heard your rehearsal is after our collab stage rehearsal in 30 minutes]
[Bomb (Defused): I'll head over there for now \( ˆoˆ )/]
[Bomb (Defused): But in exchange, after the schedule ends, you're hanging out with my friend ♬]
What that bastard would end up doing, Gim Chunyong couldn't know, with his feet tied to the T.O.J waiting room at Sound Stage the Final.
Just how chaotic was the prelude to this year-end stage? It was enough to make him laugh hollowly.
Nevertheless, the curtain was rising magnificently on all of it.