Chapter 59
‘Did he lose a bet?’
That was the only way to think about Choi Taeri’s outfit.
A few strands of orange fringe, an orange Hawaiian shirt with chunky chain necklaces, cream-colored shorts… up to that point, it was understandable.
But the problem was.
‘White socks with sports sandals.’
It was an outfit that could only cause shock, but what was even more shocking was that Choi Taeri’s appearance had overcome that hideous fashion.
This clearly wasn’t because Juha had fallen for Taeri.
Everyone here acknowledged that Choi Taeri was the only person in this world who could look handsome wearing those clothes.
[Choco choco mint
Between us choco choco mint]
Choi Taeri, wearing that ridiculous outfit, grabbed the microphone and muttered in a low voice.
Using such trashy rap as an intro. And then smiling proudly at the camera with a satisfied expression was quite a sight.
Well, with those song lyrics, there was no way to pull off anything impressive-looking.
“Kyaaa!”
The audience was absolutely in chaos at the appearance of Choi Taeri and the kids. Choi Taeri’s shamelessness, declaring with his whole body ‘I’m handsome even in these clothes,’ excited everyone present.
[You looked at me and said, we don’t suit each other.
How can I seduce proud you?]
Kim Jinhyeon appeared wearing an outdated bucket hat, shrugging his shoulders like a Joseon Dynasty scholar. It was bouncing choreography not in the original song. It was such unbearable dancing that you’d want to beg him not to seduce you with those moves.
Moreover, he was wearing baggy jeans that looked like they came from a hip-hop club twenty years ago and a t-shirt that seemed three sizes too big.
“Why are they acting like that?”
Na Junho casually threw out the comment. Next to him, Chaemyeong and Eunwon, with large ribbons tied around their necks, tilted their heads in unison.
“R-right.”
Juha was curious about that too. Even Andrew Son, the Korean-American who was next after Kim Jinhyeon, was in denim-on-denim fashion. Not sophisticated denim-on-denim, but the kind that looked like it was painfully retrieved from dad’s closet, so ridiculous it made you burst out laughing, with his hair slicked completely back.
[I’m handsome, I’m cool.
I’m a man good enough to stand next to you]
Andrew had severe problems with Korean communication and pronunciation when singing. However, showing how much effort he’d put in, there was no awkward pronunciation at all when he sang.
Andrew’s voice after his pronunciation was corrected overflowed with soul. His overly excellent skills mixing with this nonsensical song was enough to make you laugh helplessly.
If Juha’s team had good character composition among team members, Taeri’s team had the charm of making you follow the stage while wondering ‘what is this?’
After the sequence passed, Choi Taeri appeared in the center of the stage wearing that amazing outfit.
[Will you fall for me if I seduce you? Hm? Yeah, will you fall for me if I seduce you?]
‘……’
The lyrics were really damn childish, but when Choi Taeri recited those lyrics, you wanted to beg him to please seduce you.
After his turn ended, Taeri disappeared while mercilessly blowing hand kisses with both hands.
Lee Juha’s atmosphere transformation on the previous stage had been tremendous too, but right now Taeri was at the peak of aegyo, making you wonder if this was the same person who had been a beast on the first stage.
[You’re cold but refreshing, you’re like peppermint.
Then I, I, I want to be chocolate.]
When the well-built Yeom Sangyeop who appeared next rolled up his short sleeves to his shoulders, his forearms revealed with bicep lines drawn like in a cartoon with magic marker. It seemed to express that his muscles were as sweet as chocolate.
‘Oh really…’
Watching that stage kept making him burst into laughter.
Yeom Sangyeop was usually a good-natured hyung who liked socializing with other trainees without much ambition for debut, but on stage he was quite idol-like.
[We two are mint chocolate. Don’t call it toothpaste, mint chocolate
Choco choco mint, mint mint choco,
We two are in a mint chocolate relationship
Who’s between us? In a mint chocolate relationship]
After the first verse chorus ended, Juha nodded satisfactorily.
‘As expected of Choi Taeri.’
This was something everyone acknowledged.
Team Choi Taeri’s stage concept was ‘comedy.’ And all six team members excellently pulled off that concept.
There’s no one who dislikes funny things. Especially when six handsome men take turns being cute to make you laugh and make courting gestures, there’s no way not to fall for it.
The audience also burst into laughter while clapping rather than just cheering. After the first verse passed and each member’s character was grasped, the comedy continued into the second verse.
Among them, Choi Taeri’s courtship was absolutely the highlight. Specializing in modern dance, every movement he made showcased slapstick comedy. He even pretended to fall during the choreography, suddenly lying flat on the floor and propping his chin up as if nothing happened while singing. The audience laughed saying ‘wow’ watching him.
If you ranked them by excellence, Choi Taeri was definitely the top in that team. And he was also the most broken down. Only someone confident in how amazing they are would have the courage to break themselves down.
Juha watched Team 2’s stage while smiling throughout. When Taeri came to center, he focused on center, and when Taeri retreated to the back of the stage, he craned his neck to follow him. Wherever he was positioned, Taeri was shamelessly confident throughout.
Just before entering the second verse chorus, thanks to the choreography lined up in a row, Taeri was completely hidden. When Taeri disappeared from the screen, Juha glanced around.
‘Huh?’
Juha’s expression darkened as he realized something. When Taeri’s face couldn’t be seen, the corners of the mouths of people watching the screen with him simultaneously went down. Then when Taeri stuck his face out brightly, they smiled again and focused on the screen.
‘I’m not the only one looking at Taeri.’
Of course Juha could only see Taeri, but the problem was that everyone was only following Taeri’s movements. Whether in the audience seats or waiting room, it was the same—almost no one was paying attention to the other five team members.
Come to think of it, from the second verse on, the other team members’ energy seemed to have unknowingly dropped. Instead, Choi Taeri with his good stamina gained more energy as the stage progressed.
Only Taeri receiving attention was definitely not a good sign for Team 2 as a whole. Not only would they be reduced to Choi Taeri’s supporting cast, but if handled poorly, even Taeri could be viewed negatively for not showing consideration for other members.
Before they knew it, Taeri’s team’s stage had ended. Standing while catching their breath, tension returned to the faces of the six team members. The ease they’d shown on stage was nowhere to be found, and they were all frozen like students waiting for test scores.
The masters’ faces were all full of laughter. It was real laughter from finding it funny, not satisfaction. Since the masters were also people, they must have found their witty choreography and costumes entertaining.
This time, dance master Niki grabbed the microphone first.
“Trainee Choi Taeri, is your foot okay?”
When Niki asked, Taeri’s eyes sparkled as if remembering something he’d forgotten.
“Ah! Yes. It’s completely healed!”
When Taeri answered energetically, a pleased smile spread across Niki’s lips.
“That’s a relief. You could really see how much positive influence one talented person can have on other team members. Since it was a team with trainee Choi Taeri, I honestly worried it might be a bit of a one-man show. But trainee Choi Taeri raised the team’s level across the board.”
“Thank you.”
Taeri bowed to express his gratitude.
Juha shook his head inwardly.
No. While Taeri didn’t need to lower his skills to match their level, their skills definitely fell far short of Taeri’s.
“Those clothes, whose idea was that?”
This time composer Blue Eo asked. Blue Eo was also a celebrity famous for good fashion sense.
“We decided on retro, but each person set their own props and costumes and just shared to avoid overlap.”
“Really good idea. Everyone suits it well. Especially wearing socks inside those sports sandals was a stroke of genius.”
At Blue Eo’s words, everyone burst into laughter. Only then did Taeri scratch his head sheepishly.
“Still, he’s handsome though. Choi Taeri’s probably the only one who could pull that off, right?”
“That’s true.”
Niki and Blue Eo exchanged comments.
“First, I want to applaud you for boldly attempting a ‘comedy’ concept that even active idols don’t easily do, and I want to give big points for executing it well. It was really refreshing. Especially trainee Yeom Sangyeop, it’s really nice to see you steadily improving bit by bit.”
“Thank you.”
“In trainee Andrew Son’s case, I heard you almost considered dropping out because of the Korean language issue, but you seem to have overcome it well.”
Andrew, who had been listening with blank, blinking eyes, heard Taeri’s whispered translation and suddenly brightened up, then grabbed the microphone.
“Yes. Good friends… Um… Thank you.”
Andrew answered doing his best.
“Everyone worked hard. It was really a fun and good stage.”
With Lee Cheong’s final comment, the overall stage review ended.
The Team 2 members finished their greetings and came rushing into the waiting room. Juha avoided his gaze toward Taeri to not show it.
Taeri smiled knowingly as expected and briefly touched Juha’s shoulder in passing.
‘You did well, honey.’
When Taeri whispered in his ear, Juha’s face heated up hotly.
‘Honey.’ It seemed Choi Taeri’s shamelessness from on stage still hadn’t subsided. At the embarrassing endearment he was hearing for the first time, Juha’s heart fluttered like beating wings. Still, it was nice to hear.
Juha looked around unnecessarily, worried others might have heard. Fortunately, everyone was busy with other things. Then Taeri, whose eyes met his, winked at Juha with a grin.
‘Geez…’
Anyway, Choi Taeri had quite a talent for melting people.
* * *
It took 4 hours just to film the stages of 8 teams. Perhaps because everyone was filled with determination, not a single team had a lacking stage.
Especially Team Kim Namhong, who came in 2nd place, overwhelmed with their intensity.
Team 1 members, who finished their stage first, gradually lost confidence, but soon comforted each other saying it was okay, we did well enough.
“Take care, good work.”
“Rest well, hyung.”
“Bye, hyung!”
Today only the stages and evaluations proceeded, with results coming out after broadcast. Team 1 members exchanged farewells reluctantly, unable to take their steps away.
This competition, befitting the ‘one body’ challenge, had a special mission given during break time. They had to film a Vlog of team members gathering to hang out together before episode 6 aired. Since they kept greeting and trying not to separate, Na Junho broke up the gathering saying they’d see each other tomorrow anyway so they should part quickly.
During that time, Juha made eye contact with Choi Taeri, who was exchanging greetings with his team members in the distance.
‘I’ll call you.’
Taeri brought his hand to his ear showing a phone gesture. Juha smiled and nodded. Since the aftermath of the team mission was so intense, it seemed wrong to greet each other.
Just as he thought he’d have to go home and listen to that voice to his heart’s content, ‘buzz’ Juha’s phone rang.
[Too many cars, so I parked at London Tart across the street.]
It was Lee Yunha. Even though they bickered every day, it was quite admirable that she faithfully came along with mother to pick up her oppa.
In the distance, a familiar white SUV was blinking its hazard lights in front of London Tart with the yellow sign.
‘She parked quite far.’
It was visible but since it was in front of the main road, he’d have to walk quite a while. However, with so many waiting cars, parking far seemed more convenient.
Being surrounded by team members meant leaving the dorms wasn’t lonely. Setting aside Yoo Youngin and Jo Munseok, he even felt regret when greeting Jang Chaemyeong and Na Junho, with whom he’d suffered physically and mentally together.
Wouldn’t this be the feeling of forming a team and debuting together? The sense of achievement of ultimately succeeding together despite fighting and bickering, the elation felt together on stage was close to comradeship.
For Na Junho who lived in Busan, they decided to film the team Vlog tomorrow right before he went down. Only after taking care of that would there be time to go to Taeri.
‘Where will Taeri get in a car?’
All thoughts circled back to his head being full of thoughts of Taeri.
Thinking various thoughts, Juha stood in front of the crosswalk to go to London Tart. He had just confirmed the red light that had just changed and stopped walking, when it happened.
‘…Huh?’
It seemed like something had passed by.
Juha doubted his eyes and hurriedly turned around.
“Gasp!”
Juha’s mouth fell wide open.
Before his eyes, a bus wrapped entirely in pink with Lee Juha’s face mercilessly plastered on it was passing by.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
