Again, Idol 19

Chapter 19

He didn’t have much money on hand, and he didn’t know when his disappointed mother would come. As he worried about whether he could pull in some income with short-term part-time work, he arrived at the restaurant. The restaurant inside the hotel. Sometimes buffets were served, sometimes food from different countries – new cuisine was provided every day.

At least when it came to meals, PD Choi was lovable to that extent.

“Even if I went back to the past, I would definitely apply for this audition again.”

Jaekyung flinched and glanced at Lee Sowoon sideways.

“Why?”

“Because it’s hotel food for a whole month.”

“Ah.”

Unlike Jaekyung who had often eaten hotel food during his celebrity life, it seemed to be one reason why other trainees were enthusiastic about this program. Of course, Jaekyung quite liked it too. Being able to eat three warm meals a day for free made his heart feel generous. Since his stomach was full right now, he hadn’t thought about when he’d leave the dormitory.

‘I feel like I’ve become a well-fed pig.’

For Jaekyung, who had lived as a hungry person, the hotel was a space that endlessly relaxed his sharp mind and then narrowed it in a short time. As Jaekyung headed toward where Korean food was served, Lee Sowoon headed in the opposite direction, seemingly wanting to eat something else.

After each getting their food and sitting across from each other at a corner table, an awkward atmosphere flowed. With just the two of them and no one else, neither the naturally quiet Jaekyung nor Lee Sowoon, who found Jaekyung difficult, could easily start talking. Still, it was fortunate that they had something to focus on. As they awkwardly picked up their chopsticks and began eating their respective meals, the awkwardness was gradually melting away.

“You eat well.”

Jaekyung, who had just put spinach in his mouth, looked up at Lee Sowoon at the words he heard from across the table. He had gotten pilaf but hadn’t eaten even half of it and was holding his water glass. Jaekyung pondered how to respond to his words, then just spoke honestly.

“Because I might get hungry.”

Having often gone hungry, when it came to eating, he never skipped meals and ate everything given. Since he had skipped breakfast too, he was even more determined to eat lunch completely. As Jaekyung resumed using his chopsticks, Lee Sowoon held his water glass and chose his words.

“Actually, I’ve been watching hyung very closely even before we became roommates.”

‘Hyung?’

At the unwelcome relationship designation, like how Lee Jungwoo had spoken informally to him, Jaekyung frowned as he finished chewing his spinach.

“Should I say you’re the type that’s hard to approach? Ah, I don’t mean it in a bad way – you’re handsome and sing well and you’re tall, but you don’t smile much… You even have an elegant air like some rich family’s young master, so I wondered if everyone opposed you becoming a singer at home, so you came to audition here out of spite?”

No, it’s the opposite. I’m not from a rich family and I don’t want to be a singer, but they’re telling me to be one, so I came here. And I really don’t have anything. Jaekyung turned his head away from Lee Sowoon, pretending to choose other side dishes.

It had been a while since he heard what he was like from someone else’s mouth. People sometimes think that the person they’re talking about can’t hear them. They act like they know everything based on fragmentary parts like appearance, attire, and simple conversations.

– That bastard who looks like he’d only look for Evian water was drinking tap water?

– He acted so haughty that I thought he was some chaebol family’s youngest son.

– Look at his clothes. He comes wearing the same one every day, what’s with that.

– Then what talent did he use to get into the debut group?

Whether it was because of his appearance or because he didn’t talk much, Jaekyung was always followed by comments that he was different from what people thought. Lee Sowoon was saying things no different from them. Though Jaekyung hadn’t finished eating yet, his appetite disappeared and he quietly put down his chopsticks.

Why talk in front of me instead of gossiping behind my back? Just because you speak carefully, is there any guarantee I won’t feel hurt? If I say I’m not a rich family’s son, would you apologize?

“But the more we talk, the more I realize my thoughts were wrong.”

Jaekyung, who couldn’t immediately accept Lee Sowoon’s words, frowned. Was his way of eating gluttonous? Was he going to say he looked poor after all?

“You seem like a good-natured hyung who’s just shy. Sometimes you’re quirky too, and seeing how you eat well without being picky, I think my mom would like you too.”

What is this.

Jaekyung lowered his head to hide his confused gaze.

“Hyung, you must also hear a lot that you’re different from your first impression, right? I’m really timid, but everyone says I look that way.”

While Lee Sowoon finished drinking his water, Jaekyung picked up his chopsticks instead of his water glass. He felt like he needed to focus on something, so he grabbed the most manageable thing. Thinking his ears felt warm because heating was turned on somewhere, he continued eating.

‘What. In the end, it’s saying I look poor.’

Saying he thought I was a rich family’s son but I wasn’t… it was no different from what others said.

“Seeing hyung eat makes me want to eat too.”

“…It’s delicious.”

Even though Jaekyung was full, he thought the reason food kept going down was because it tasted good. It wasn’t because Lee Sowoon’s words sounded sweet.

“But…”

Lee Sowoon hesitated about whether to speak or not, thinking they had gotten somewhat close, then lowered his voice.

“You did it on purpose, right?”

“What?”

“No, no, I absolutely didn’t think anything strange. Just…”

Jaekyung looked at Lee Sowoon while scooping soup and putting it in his mouth.

“Dancing with your expression deliberately stiff. If you had just danced normally, you might have been edited out as boring, so you could catch attention that way, I was impressed…”

Clang.

The spoon fell from Jaekyung’s hand and hit the food tray, cutting off Lee Sowoon’s words.

Only one thing came to Jaekyung’s mind right now.

Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.

* * *

They said they’d give more time depending on the mission, but it was up to the production team to decide what would be broadcast. If Jaekyung got even one more minute, the dance he did earlier could be aired. He could have just been shown as a trainee with decent basics, but he had twisted his facial muscles to change that.

He didn’t do it to deliberately stand out, but because he wanted to look awkward somewhere. He hoped people would dismiss it thinking ‘that guy can’t do it well,’ but he didn’t think it would make him stand out more.

‘Am I an idiot?’

Just because he got 6 years younger doesn’t mean his brain got smaller, so why couldn’t he think of something so simple? As soon as he realized this, he also understood why Yoon Hajun had said he used his head well.

‘I could have just shown myself as I am.’

Even when he was an idol, there were many comments that the new member didn’t stand out enough. Since he wasn’t the type to stand out anyway when he stayed still, it would be better not to do anything extra now.

Jaekyung lifted his head with a much more comfortable feeling. They were taking turns singing one by one in the vocal room, so it would soon be Jaekyung’s turn.

“Hmm…”

When Yoon Hajun finished his song, the trainer seriously pondered.

“It’s strangely sensual?”

Jaekyung quickly covered his mouth. While he had stopped himself from bursting into laughter, others hadn’t.

“Teacher.”

When Yoon Hajun looked with a hurt expression, the trainer laughed out loud, saying it was like a joke but sincere.

“Sing with moderate emotion removed. Don’t wiggle your eyebrows so much, don’t look subtly seductive. It feels like you ate a chunk of butter.”

When Yoon Hajun covered his face with both hands and crouched down, the watching trainee grabbed his stomach and fell backward.

“Next, trainee Lee Jungwoo.”

The order was up to the trainer, but he was just going in seating order. It seemed like he hadn’t memorized all their names, but the effect was good. Since Lee Jungwoo had persistently come to sit next to him again, Jaekyung could tell his own turn was next. Jaekyung propped his chin and watched with an indifferent expression. It felt like watching a movie where the ending was obvious.

‘There’s not even 1% of a plot twist.’

Lee Jungwoo standing next to the piano looked fittingly perfect. His small face and clear skin with handsome features made you think of a gentle personality that could accept everything, but his thick eyebrows and high nose bridge revealed an unyielding stubbornness. Having those contrasting feelings in one face made his appearance even more eye-catching.

It wasn’t a pretty face but a handsome face. The face that’s popular these days had the feel of an 80s actor. Though he hadn’t looked around at all the trainees, it felt natural that Lee Jungwoo would become the final winner. When he sang in a heavy, low voice like whispering, the same song seemed like different songs depending on each person’s characteristics.

‘He’s not just good-looking, his skills are good too.’

He’s an overpowered character you can’t not pick.

He knew his voice well since he heard it almost daily, but knowing he sang well even as a trainee made him feel strangely jealous. That’s why he didn’t want to be next to him and didn’t want to be caught in the same camera frame. As Jaekyung folded his arms and tried to look elsewhere, he made eye contact with Yoo Minhyuk.

The trainee who said Group A was strong while asking him how he had posed. He looked envious, but Jaekyung noticed the envy hidden beneath. So Jaekyung didn’t want to talk with him if possible, but he was inevitably caught.

Yoo Minhyuk immediately seized the opportunity and whispered in his ear.

“He sings really quietly. I wonder if he’ll keep singing like that.”

Jaekyung briefly pondered, then nodded slightly.

Author: Hyacinthus B

Hyacinthus