Chapter 13
He was running, but it felt strange that he hadn’t been hit and had made it through, while also wondering why he was running at all—it was complicated. Do I really need to keep running? No, it’s not like I’m aiming for wealth and glory with this. As his motivation dropped, his feet naturally slowed down. Eventually, his timing was off and he hit the rope.
Following the surprised “Huh?” from another trainee who was trying to enter after him, Jaekyung awkwardly walked out. Returning to where he’d first stood, Jaekyung belatedly realized his own foolishness.
“Well done.”
Why did he come here knowing Jungwoo was around? Jaekyung half-gave up and sat leaning against the wall. Why did he have to do this anyway? The thought of singing and practicing dance seemed increasingly distant. Where was he? Who was he?
‘Ah… this is entertainment too.’
Although it was an audition program, it clearly belonged to the entertainment category. So that’s why they gave these missions—this rationalization eventually turned into a weak, “haha” as he brushed it off.
“First place has been decided.”
Though Jaekyung wasn’t curious, out of courtesy, he poked his head out between people to see who had become first place.
“Trainee Lee Jungwoo.”
“Ah…”
Jaekyung nodded. He had vaguely thought Jungwoo was good, able to get the timing right to enter the jump rope in one go, even though it was his first time.
“Is it over then?”
Jaekyung stood up, tapping his sore shoulders.
“Once the uniform is decided, today’s schedule is over. From tomorrow, we’ll divide you into temporary groups and follow a schedule of lessons. We’ll also take profile pictures in between. Trainee Lee Jungwoo, please come up here.”
Jungwoo, who had been moving all day, rubbed his flushed eyes once before standing up. As he climbed onto the platform, cheers erupted. He had been captured by the cameras the most today and had earned an additional minute of PR time. Though envy was stronger, everyone applauded to congratulate Jungwoo, conscious of the cameras.
Among them, Jaekyung also clapped a few times silently, matching the atmosphere. Jungwoo stood close by and looked at the screen more carefully than before.
“Do you have an outfit in mind?”
“I’m going to think about it now.”
Jungwoo responded to PD Choi with his characteristically deep, resonant voice. Murmurs could be heard at his voice.
‘His voice is so good that he was the first choice for radio appearances.’
Jaekyung pretended not to care, even though he’d also thought his voice was nice earlier.
‘What’s the use of a good voice? You have to speak for people to hear it…’
Jungwoo wasn’t the talkative type. Jaekyung casually dismissed Jungwoo’s voice and watched to see which outfit he would choose.
Jungwoo reached for the mechanic outfit. The funny thing was that while his hand was reaching, his gaze was elsewhere. It was as if he was looking at others to see if this was okay. Jaekyung unconsciously shook his head.
It might be inconvenient when using the bathroom and also…
‘You need to wear a shirt underneath.’
He felt anxious since they hadn’t been told they could wear a shirt underneath if they wanted.
“As expected, Trainee Jungwoo has good sense. Wouldn’t it be nice to pose with a wrench when taking profile pictures?”
At PD Choi’s inflammatory words, Jaekyung turned away from the mechanic outfit. Jungwoo’s hand moved past the mechanic outfit toward the panda costume.
‘Are you crazy?’
Unless he was crazy enough to want white face paint. Jaekyung narrowed his brows, clearly showing his disapproval. Jungwoo’s hand halted momentarily before moving past the panda costume.
When his hand lingered near the pajamas, Jaekyung looked on somewhat comfortably.
‘Pajamas would be okay.’
PD Choi seemed to have similar thoughts as he casually commented:
“It would be nice to prepare beds. Ah, some might need to be photographed outdoors, so…”
Jaekyung immediately changed his expression. He’d thought it would be fine because it was ordinary, but strange options kept being attached.
“Ugh. That’s pervy.”
Jaekyung had never agreed more deeply with Park Geonhu’s words. Meanwhile, Jungwoo’s hand steadily moved to the side. PD Choi clapped his hands as if he’d been waiting, startling Jaekyung.
“The fairy outfit would be better, right?”
PD Choi sent a look urging him to choose quickly, saying that even other programs couldn’t dream of such an outfit. Jungwoo looked past PD Choi to Jaekyung. As he alternately looked at the fairy outfit and then at Jaekyung, other trainees followed his gaze, also looking back and forth between the fairy outfit and Jaekyung.
“It might actually suit him…”
Jaekyung pretended not to hear Geonhu’s mutter and fixed his gaze on Jungwoo.
‘I hate it.’
He sent a serious message of dislike to Jungwoo, who was staring intently at him, making his previous request not to acknowledge each other in front of cameras seem meaningless.
Jungwoo gave a slight smile and then took a photo of one outfit. People who were surprised by his smile, having seen him expressionless until now, belatedly raised their eyes to check which outfit he had chosen.
“Phew.”
“Ah.”
Jaekyung returned to his usual indifferent expression after seeing the outfit Jungwoo’s hand had captured. He had chosen a modest look: a white shirt with a navy cardigan, beige pants, and a twilly.
“I’ll go with number 3.”
“I see.”
PD Choi quickly agreed. The screen already showed only the selected outfit, with the others having disappeared.
“It’s a shame, but it’s not like there won’t be other opportunities.”
PD Choi’s lingering regret strangely stuck in Jaekyung’s mind. Jaekyung shuddered with the feeling that the next mission wouldn’t be easy. He wanted to return quickly and rest. While halfheartedly fanning his sweaty front, someone approached Jaekyung’s side.
“Look who we meet again.”
“…Jeon Sanguk.”
“Our fate is quite persistent, isn’t it?”
Sanguk walked ahead while humming.
“I wonder whose ass you’re after this time.”
A low whisper only Jaekyung could hear. Jaekyung clenched his fist and glared at Sanguk.
* * *
From early morning, staff went around the rooms waking trainees for filming. Jaekyung had woken up but lingered in bed, not getting up.
“Hyung, I’ll shower first.”
Instead of answering, Jaekyung pulled the blanket over his head. His body ached even though he hadn’t moved much yesterday. Wanting to rest even for a moment before getting up, Jaekyung said he would shower last.
It seemed the stress from yesterday was the main problem. His stomach felt tight and he had no appetite. He felt like he might throw up if he ate right away.
“We’ll go ahead. Please shower and come.”
Han Chanhyung gently tapped the blanket covering Jaekyung before leaving. Perhaps because he had sat elsewhere yesterday, his words were cautious. Jaekyung didn’t respond, pretending to be asleep. And he remained steadfast even when others asked if they should wake him.
Chanhyung seemed to say something more as he led the others out, but focused on his own physical condition, Jaekyung didn’t hear properly. Only when the door closed and silence settled did Jaekyung pull down the blanket. After showering, he changed into the training clothes distributed yesterday, moving feebly.
‘Only one day has passed.’
Feeling the month ahead was impossibly distant, he finally finished getting ready much later.
“I wonder whose ass you’re after this time.”
Sanguk’s voice echoed painfully in his head.
“Bastard.”
His relationship with Sanguk was the worst of the worst. Sanguk, who had considerable influence among the trainees, would size up new trainees. And he was a vicious person who would subtly bully someone who seemed weak and powerless.
Jaekyung was taller than Sanguk and didn’t need trainee life seeking someone’s help, so he escaped Sanguk’s radar. However, a young boy who had just joined got caught. Though not openly bullying him, Sanguk would exclude him when forming groups and say bad things about him to the teachers.
So Jaekyung’s relationship with Sanguk completely soured after he protected that boy. Along with the absurd misunderstanding that Jaekyung was desperate to get on top of that boy.
Jaekyung forcibly calmed his desire to leave immediately. If he left now, nothing would work out.
What’s the bigger problem: 2 billion won in debt or Jeon Sanguk? Thinking like that made the decision easier.
As soon as he left the room, Jaekyung straightened his back as if he’d never been weak. He could be as relaxed as he wanted when alone, but not outside. No one gave Jaekyung any attention, and even if he said he was sick, it was only taken as an excuse.
Jaekyung had lived such a life. There was no point in showing weakness when no one would worry about him anyway, and it would just seem pathetic for neglecting self-care. That’s why, when alone, Jaekyung’s form of self-comfort was to act as if he was dying even for minor pains, without caring about anyone’s judgment.
Just as he was leaving the room, he came face to face with someone’s chest in his slightly lowered line of sight.
“Are you sick?”
“…What?”
“You don’t look well.”
Jaekyung raised his head, following the chest. He met eyes with Jungwoo, who had become somewhat familiar after facing him all day yesterday. What did he just say?
“Is your condition bad? Or muscle pain?”
Both his condition was poor and he had muscle pain. It was surprising that he’d correctly guessed both conditions at once.
Until now, people hadn’t noticed when Jaekyung brazenly hid his emotions when he was in pain, so how did Jungwoo know? Regardless of his curiosity, he didn’t want to admit anything to him.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Jaekyung shook his head and circled around Jungwoo.
“The dining hall is the other way.”
“Ha, thank you.”
Jaekyung openly sighed.
His mood was already bad. Thinking he didn’t want to worry about Jungwoo too, Jaekyung changed direction and walked, but he heard footsteps following him. Since there was only one hallway, they might be going the same way, but Jaekyung was certain there was more to it. Yesterday, he had stuck by his side all day.
He was already worried about being caught on camera too much, and now this man kept following him.
‘Is he a dog or what?’
Besides, Jaekyung wasn’t even his owner.
“Excuse me.”
Jaekyung turned around and faced him confrontationally.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
