Chapter 90
When they returned to the dormitory, Na Junho’s team and Andrew Son’s team had already arrived. While waiting for Kim Namhong’s team, who had gone to a military base on the outskirts of Seoul, the other trainees got their phones back and chatted while waiting.
The good-natured participants cheerfully went to other teams to spy on them, but none of them would easily reveal their team’s stage reactions.
After about an hour, Kim Namhong’s team, who had gone to the military base, arrived. It was the team everyone had been worried about, but their expressions were brighter than expected.
After the roll call was completed, the production team’s announcement followed.
After three days of rest, there would be the next filming, and the gathering place would be the same Gnet annex hall as last time. The content was ordinary except for the addition of swimwear to the list of things to prepare.
After all the announcements were finished, the participants returned to their respective rooms. Juha and Youngin awkwardly packed their belongings in the same room.
The atmosphere had been pretty good until yesterday, but when it came time to part ways, it suddenly felt like they had returned to their initial relationship.
Even on the first day when he shared a room with Youngin, he had genuinely worried a lot, but now that it was over, unnecessary emotions came first. Thinking about parting made him feel regretful.
“Hyung, so did you do well today?”
Juha mustered up courage and asked first.
“Well, just. I didn’t mess up.”
“That’s a relief.”
“It’ll get better.”
Youngin muttered while standing up his suitcase that had been lying down. Juha was inwardly worried because it seemed like Youngin still hadn’t overcome his camera phobia. It wasn’t a symptom that could be fixed in a day or two, so he needed more time, but the third round of competition would start in just three days. It would probably be a difficult journey for Yoo Youngin. Then Juha was surprised at himself for worrying about Yoo Youngin and quickly came to his senses. Until just a few days ago, bickering was familiar, but suddenly having this kind of sympathy was awkward for both of them.
“Hey, Lee Juha.”
As if Youngin felt the same thing, his voice calling Juha became much rougher.
“What?”
Juha also answered coldly. Regardless, Youngin idly tapped his suitcase handle.
“Just, take care.”
“You take care too, hyung.”
“You little bastard, if you could just fix that attitude of yours, I could do something about it, really……”
Youngin seemed to be trying hard to hold back from saying something more affectionate.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Ah, just, don’t get hated by other trainees.”
The curses with double consonants had decreased now, but Youngin spoke loudly on purpose, perhaps feeling embarrassed himself. That sight was so cute that Juha smiled without realizing it.
“Hyung.”
“What?”
“You worry about yourself. I’m leaving.”
“This guy, shit.”
Leaving Youngin behind, Juha came out of the room. It was good that they had become close, but Youngin’s face clearly showed that he was trying to pretend he didn’t like it, which made Juha keep laughing.
He could see Taeri and Junho who had just come out of the next room.
The hallway was bustling with participants saying their farewells. Juha also exchanged greetings with his mission teammates and Eunwon, Chaemyeong, and others in the hotel corridor. Nam Suchang ended his final greeting with “Hyung’s leaving” like a parrot, and Jo Munseok, who had exchanged rather awkward greetings with Nam Suchang, greeted Juha with a much brighter face. Choi Musin had an unusually long farewell with Juha. With words like “Thank you,” “If it wasn’t for hyung,” “I want to work with hyung again,” etc., it looked like they had developed deep brotherhood, which was puzzling even to Juha himself.
One by one, they left the hallway, leaving Juha and Taeri.
“Let’s go out too.”
“Yeah.”
As soon as they stepped out of the main entrance with Taeri, Juha’s phone rang.
[Traffic is fucking crazy. Arriving in 15 minutes.]
It was a text from Yunha.
[OK]
“Who’s coming to pick you up?”
Juha asked Taeri while tapping out his reply.
“The company manager will come, I guess. I don’t know, whoever. You? Is your mother coming?”
“Mom and Yunha always come together. But you.”
Juha stopped walking while talking.
“So after the group stays ended, you’ve been going home in the manager’s car and staying alone the whole time?”
“Yeah. Why?”
Taeri answered as if it was no big deal. At Juha’s staring gaze, Taeri blinked as if he didn’t understand.
‘He’s been alone the whole time.’
Suddenly, Juha remembered the day Taeri first confessed his love. After receiving the tremendous confession of “I love you,” Juha fell asleep as he was because his body was tired. As soon as he woke up, he was so busy watching the My Idol broadcast that he forgot about the confession, so Taeri came to see Juha after midnight.
That day, Juha had slept and woken up as usual and watched TV with his family, but after his confession of “I love you,” Taeri must have been left alone in that empty house all day, lonely with all sorts of thoughts.
Until now, Juha hadn’t questioned much about Taeri living alone or not having much contact with his family, but now that he knew all the background, he couldn’t bear to send Taeri to that lonely place.
Moreover, today he had performed at a place that held painful memories for him. No matter how mentally strong Taeri was, today alone would be too much for him to endure by himself.
“Choi Taeri.”
“Yeah?”
“You come with me.”
“Uh, where?”
Taeri stammered as if he had no idea what Juha was thinking.
“To my house.”
Juha said firmly.
“Your house?”
Taeri asked back in disbelief.
“Yeah. Let’s sleep at my house today.”
Juha forcefully grabbed Taeri’s arm, completely regardless of Taeri’s opinion.
“Uh, how? If we suddenly go, won’t your parents be uncomfortable?”
Taeri was bewildered even while being dragged along.
“My mom is originally the type who just goes along with everything.”
When the light changed, Juha took the hesitating Taeri’s hand and crossed the crosswalk.
It was Lee Juha’s unexpected sudden acceleration, but an uncontrollable smile spread across Taeri’s lips.
* * *
After loading two pieces of luggage in the trunk, Juha pushed Taeri into the back seat.
“Ah, hello, ma’am, hello, Yunha.”
Taeri greeted the front seats awkwardly.
“Mom, Taeri is sleeping at our house today. That’s okay, right?”
“Of course.”
The thoughtless Yunha answered instead of Juha’s mother.
“Yeah. I made tteokbokki at home, but I’m not sure if there’ll be enough.”
His mother started the car without even asking “why?” Her reaction was so nonchalant, as if they had already made plans, that Taeri was the only one feeling awkward.
“Wasn’t I right?”
When Juha mouthed the words, Taeri smiled sheepishly and nodded.
As soon as they arrived home, his mother bustled back and forth in the kitchen, saying there wouldn’t be enough, then brought out the tteokbokki with ramen noodles added and fish cake soup.
“Wow, this is really delicious. Thank you, ma’am.”
Taeri ate with sparkling eyes and a good appetite. His mother’s tteokbokki, who was particularly skilled at cooking, was spicy and sweet but had a clean aftertaste. The taste kept drawing you in, and Taeri wielded his chopsticks, forgetting his awkwardness.
“Eat a lot. Our kids have small appetites and don’t know how to eat much of anything, but seeing Taeri eat makes me feel so refreshed.”
“I’ll eat well.”
Taeri answered and kept moving his mouth. Lee Yunha couldn’t believe the Choi Taeri mukbang unfolding before her eyes and stared at him blankly, not even noticing that the tteokbokki sauce from her hand was dripping onto her clothes.
Even Juha, who was used to Choi Taeri’s mukbangs, found the sight heartwarming.
“Hey, your clothes.”
“Ah, I spilled on my clothes.”
When Juha tapped her, Yunha finally wiped off the red sauce on her clothes and put the tteokbokki she was holding into her mouth.
After cleanly emptying the plate, Taeri went into the bathroom to wash up first. As soon as the sound of water came from the bathroom, his mother’s and Yunha’s gazes focused on Juha all at once.
“What, what? Why are you doing that?”
Juha startled and leaned back.
“Is it okay for Taeri not to go home today?”
His mother asked carefully, matching the sound of water from the bathroom.
“Well, um…… it seems a bit uncomfortable because of his family’s opposition. I didn’t ask for details either.”
Juha explained Taeri’s situation as euphemistically as possible. Even though they were family, you could find out where Taeri’s family was just by searching online, so he couldn’t carelessly leak information.
“Sigh. What parent would be happy about their child jumping into a gambling den.”
His mother sighed deeply and cleared the table. Juha quietly listened to his mother’s words. The word “gambling den” really suited the idol world. Many idols start practicing in their early to mid-teens and debut in their late teens. However, even after pouring in that much time and effort, you can’t be sure of debuting, and even if you debut, success isn’t guaranteed. Then comes the early to mid-twenties. While it’s a young age in terms of a long life, for those who have already tasted great despair, the tunnel of hell without even hope begins from then. Since Juha was the biggest victim and living witness of that, he could understand his mother’s words.
“Still, it would be a shame if he didn’t become a singer with that face.”
Seeing Juha suddenly deep in thought, his mother seemed to realize something and added a comment.
“Mom, if Taeri oppa doesn’t become an idol, it would be a national loss.”
“He really is handsome.”
When Yunha, who had been listening quietly, made a comment, his mother glanced at Juha and agreed. She looked embarrassed about praising someone else in front of her son who was also preparing to be an idol.
“Your oppa also has looks that won’t be outdone anywhere. Right?”
His mother looked at Juha again and awkwardly praised him.
“Mom! Honestly, Lee Juha should also be an idol. If that face gets mixed in with ordinary people at university, it’ll cause trouble. You think Choi Taeri is any different?”
“Lee Yunha, watch your mouth.”
Juha slightly frowned and reprimanded Lee Yunha.
“What? What did I do? What did I say?”
“Just try saying useless things in front of Taeri or gossiping about Taeri.”
Juha threatened Yunha with a serious face. While he was usually an indifferent oppa, he was worried that Yunha, who was sometimes so willful that even their parents would be amazed, might say something wrong in front of Taeri.
“Ah, come on! Do you think I’m stupid?”
Lee Yunha kicked at her oppa while sitting, but it didn’t reach Juha. Despite appearances, Yunha was more afraid of her oppa than her parents. When Yunha was in middle school, she had acted rudely in front of her parents without knowing better, and Juha had silently gotten up, grabbed Yunha by the collar, dragged her outside, and shut the door. It was the middle of winter.
Since then, Yunha was careful not to provoke her oppa’s temper even when she was being rude.
The unruly Yunha sat quietly with her arms and legs together as soon as Taeri came out of the bathroom, as if nothing had happened. Juha burst into absurd laughter at that sight, which was completely different from Yunha who had been kicking at her oppa just moments before.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
I like how Juha mother just go along with it and Yunha spirit is so admirable haha