Chapter 54
“Hey, look at the fancam view counts. You’re going to be in trouble this time. Fucking amateur.”
Jeon Sanguk glared at Joo Dowon, who was comparing fancam view counts beside him. They were from the same agency and had applied for this audition together, so they often hung out, but there were no good feelings between them. Strictly speaking, they were competitors.
However, they were forced to meet due to their manager’s order to take friendly photos and post them on SNS before entering the training camp again tomorrow.
While Jeon Sanguk was fiddling with his phone, planning to post quickly and part ways, Joo Dowon was just searching around. He watched each fancam one by one and threw sarcastic remarks disguised as concern at Jeon Sanguk.
“Shouldn’t you be struggling at least?”
“Bullshit. Why would I struggle?”
“Your view count isn’t even ten thousand.”
Joo Dowon thrust his phone toward Jeon Sanguk so he could see clearly. And he pointed at the number below the fancam. Though Jeon Sanguk didn’t want to look, knowing that would only give Joo Dowon more ammunition, he put on a calm expression. He saw the number 8,807 and the 90,000 on Joo Dowon’s fancam below it, but pretended not to see and turned his head.
“Is there only the fancam?”
“There’s also the fancam.”
Joo Dowon giggled and mocked Jeon Sanguk.
“Since you’re going to drop out anyway, why don’t you support me instead? You know that if I debut, a spot opens up for you, right?”
The agency had said so. They were considering Jeon Sanguk and Joo Dowon for the last spot in the debut group. To determine this, they proposed that both participate in the audition. If both debuted through the audition, that would be good in its own way, and if at least one debuted, the other would join the agency’s debut group.
For now, it seemed unlikely that Jeon Sanguk would debut through the audition. Even without Joo Dowon saying it, he knew well that his reaction wasn’t that good.
“Wow, Seo Jaekyung and Lee Jungwoo are really insane. These guys are in a different league.”
At the names Joo Dowon mentioned while clicking through various fancams, Jeon Sanguk’s brow furrowed sharply. He was already in a bad mood, and hearing Seo Jaekyung’s name made him even more irritated. Whether knowing Jeon Sanguk’s feelings or not, Joo Dowon played Seo Jaekyung’s video and said.
“Do you know how many views Seo Jaekyung’s fancam has?”
When Joo Dowon playfully tapped the screen and asked, Jeon Sanguk replied in a somewhat raised voice.
“What do I care about that bastard’s view count?”
“So prickly. You really hate this guy.”
Joo Dowon, who had joined after Seo Jaekyung left, found it amusing whenever Jeon Sanguk got so worked up like this.
“200,000. This fancam was just uploaded and isn’t that fucking high?”
“Maybe bastards like you clicked on it.”
As Jeon Sanguk said, Joo Dowon, who had been repeatedly replaying Seo Jaekyung’s fancam, shrugged his shoulders.
“There’s definitely something worth watching. This guy is just like an idol.”
“Talking like an idol. Are you stupid?”
“Hey, don’t get excited. Why do you act like this whenever Seo Jaekyung’s name comes up?”
When Joo Dowon asked as if he couldn’t understand, Jeon Sanguk turned his head irritably.
Jeon Sanguk didn’t like Seo Jaekyung, who had suddenly rolled in like a stone one day. He had established his position at the agency and completed the invisible hierarchy among trainees, and Seo Jaekyung had squeezed into his territory.
At first, he wondered how to suppress Seo Jaekyung, but since he seemed to have no intention of getting close to anyone and went around alone, Jeon Sanguk left him alone.
He seemed to have rolled around somewhere, as his skills were quite good, so instead of bothering Seo Jaekyung, Jeon Sanguk chose coexistence. However, it was Seo Jaekyung who first picked a fight with Jeon Sanguk.
“Because he’s an annoying bastard.”
When trainee life became tedious and he was trying to find some vitality by picking on a kid, Seo Jaekyung stopped him. Not only did he disrupt the hierarchy Jeon Sanguk had created, but because of the manager who was keeping an eye on that bastard for the next debut, Jeon Sanguk couldn’t see straight.
He didn’t know when he would debut, and he felt anxious that it might be taken away by that bastard Seo Jaekyung. So he tempted the kid Seo Jaekyung had been protecting. With a promise never to bully him again, he got Seo Jaekyung kicked out of the agency, and now he met him in this audition.
“Still, it’s fortunate. You two will part ways soon. You’ll drop out and Seo Jaekyung will remain.”
“Hey, you bastard.”
“Why? Are you annoyed because you’re hearing the truth?”
Joo Dowon giggled and replayed Seo Jaekyung’s fancam again. Muttering playfully that he should increase the view count.
Jeon Sanguk, who had told Seo Jaekyung to bow down low, felt disgusted that he seemed to be the one who would end up bowing. What should he do?
“But fuck. JT is bringing their debut group and will eat up your spot completely. Ah… can I even debut?”
Joo Dowon put down his phone as if throwing it and slumped over the table. At his groaning, Jeon Sanguk looked at him dismissively, then suddenly had a thought.
“Hey, Joo Dowon.”
“What.”
“You really debut through this audition.”
“What?”
“But promise me. Instead of you debuting, the agency debut group spot is mine.”
“That’s only if I can get into the top 9… but what are you thinking?”
Jeon Sanguk, who had seemed to have no composure until just now, was looking at Joo Dowon and smiling.
“Let’s make Seo Jaekyung drop out. You take his spot.”
If they removed one strong competitor, it would be good for both Joo Dowon and himself.
“How?”
“We have to use the rumors attached to Seo Jaekyung.”
Jeon Sanguk smiled slyly while thinking about after this second announcement ceremony ended.
“That bastard’s eyes are crazy.”
Joo Dowon muttered while looking at Jeon Sanguk’s expression, but didn’t particularly try to stop him.
* * *
The third training camp began before the announcement ceremony. They would receive songs in advance and practice, then after the announcement ceremony, those who remained after eliminating the dropouts would continue practicing.
As soon as Jaekyung entered the hotel, he drew one ball from a large container held out by staff. He wasn’t even curious anymore about why they drew lots for things like this. Whatever came out, they would guide him accordingly.
“You got a double room.”
So this lottery was for rooms. Jaekyung received the card the staff handed him and headed straight to his room. He had heard they would change clothes and start with missions right away, so there was no need to stay longer.
The camera following him was familiar, the elevator was familiar, and Lee Jungwoo’s face visible when he opened the door was also familiar…
“Don’t tell me we’re sharing the same room?”
When Jaekyung spoke with a tiresome expression, Jungwoo twisted his lips and turned his head away.
“They do the lottery so destined people won’t keep meeting, but somehow I meet you again.”
At Jaekyung’s displeased tone asking how he met him again, Jungwoo let out a hollow laugh.
“You don’t like sharing a room with me?”
“No, I don’t like being stuck with you.”
“You got along fine when we were actually living together, and now you’re saying this?”
“I was always like that, but I can also be like this now.”
As Jaekyung trudged inside while speaking, Jungwoo watched him with crossed arms. He was really annoyed, but since Jaekyung would counter anything he said, he just glared.
“Ah, shit, I thought I was going to die.”
Then the bathroom door opened and someone came out. When Jaekyung turned around, Geonhu, who was pulling out a shirt that had gotten tucked into his pants, pointed his index finger at him.
“Seo Jaekyung? Are you in this room?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh. Awesome. I’m in this room too. So you’re my roommate this time.”
At Geonhu’s words, Jaekyung looked at Jungwoo. At the look wondering why he was here, Geonhu explained on his own.
“Jungwoo just came to visit.”
“Ah…”
Not knowing this, Jaekyung had clearly shown his displeasure to Jungwoo, asking if they met again. Jungwoo passed by Jaekyung without even uncrossing his arms.
“Just wait and see, Seo Jaekyung.”
Jungwoo seemed thoroughly sulky at Jaekyung’s attitude and left after throwing out a warning.
“Why is he acting like that?”
“I don’t know.”
Jaekyung shook his head and approached the bed. Seeing one bed that was clearly messier at a glance, he put down his bag next to the other bed.
“Let’s get along well.”
Geonhu reached out his hand toward Jaekyung. It meant to shake hands, but Jaekyung ignored Geonhu’s hand and pointed at his bed.
“You better keep things clean while we live together.”
Knowing Geonhu’s habit of not cleaning up terribly, not just the bed, Jaekyung nagged in advance.
“Otherwise, I’ll draw a line.”
“Oh. If you draw a line and I cross it, do you get to take it?”
At Geonhu’s laughter, who loved drawing lines on desks like that, Jaekyung lost the energy to respond. While organizing his luggage and going out, Jaekyung forgot Jungwoo’s warning.
* * *
As soon as he entered the hall, Taeyeon, who had been talking with Sowoon, spotted Jaekyung and raised his hand. Happy to see him after a long time, he waved his arms enthusiastically, so Sowoon also gestured for him to come over quickly.
Jaekyung couldn’t ignore that signal and went to sit behind Taeyeon.
“How have you been?”
Taeyeon leaned his arm on the chair and showed his happiness to see Jaekyung. Since there were many close trainees around him starting with Sowoon, he didn’t neglect greeting Jaekyung. Rather, Sowoon was also very happy since he had been separated from Jaekyung for a long time.
“I’ve been well.”
“Hyung, let’s eat together later.”
“Yeah.”
When Jaekyung answered indifferently, Taeyeon continued the conversation that had been cut off with Sowoon.
“This time, how many people will be in groups…”
Taeyeon, who had been talking, suddenly turned around at the warmth touching the top of his head. He wondered who had put their hand on his head, but it was an unexpected person reaching out.
“Jaekyung hyung?”
It was Jaekyung, who had never once patted Taeyeon’s head. Especially since there had been no physical contact, instead of tilting his head in confusion, Taeyeon just looked at him.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yes? For what…”
Though Taeyeon looked as if he couldn’t understand, Jaekyung just patted his head a couple of times and removed his hand.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
