#18. Between Friends (4)
“What the hell.”
At first, I thought my taste buds had gone temporarily crazy from practicing too much. But even after smacking my lips again and rolling the candy around with my tongue tip several more times, the taste didn’t change. The candy surface was even slightly rough.
Eventually, I fumbled to sit up. Na Jihan was grinning as if he’d been waiting for my reaction.
“Why is the candy salty?”
The rough sensation on my tongue tip turned out to be salt grains.
“It’s tomato candy. I heard it’s popular as a souvenir from Japan trips? Hyeonjun hyung bought it along with some patches.”
“Ugh, that hyung’s taste…”
Well. Hyeonjun had peculiar taste buds since birth.
“I could tell from when he liked mint chocolate lattes.”
“Don’t say things like that anywhere. The mint chocolate lovers across the nation won’t forgive you in the name of herbs.”
“I don’t know…”
At first it seemed sweet, but the aftertaste was a bit salty, then it tasted like tomato again, then the salty taste made me furrow my brow. It wasn’t entirely bad, but the taste was really strange.
Na Jihan, who had been laughing while watching my expression, extended his hand. More precisely, he showed his palm.
“Want to spit it out if you don’t like it?”
“It’s not that bad.”
But thanks to it, I didn’t fall asleep. I quickly crunched and ate the candy.
After resting and stretching for a bit, I crawled on my knees toward my bag a few minutes later. While I was getting spare clothes, Na Jihan went to a corner of the practice room. When I sneakily glanced to see what he was doing, he was operating something that had been set up in the corner with familiar movements.
Only then did I realize there was a camera there, and that camera had been recording us for the reality documentary filming mentioned earlier.
If there hadn’t been a problem with the camera battery, several hours of footage would have been captured intact. Which means, my appearance of being worked to death by Na Jihan…
“Is this okay?”
“What is?”
When Na Jihan stepped aside, the camera mounted on the tripod revealed itself. There was no red light on. It meant filming had ended.
“What if they edit it wrong and it looks like you were bullying me?”
“Seeing you worry about unnecessary things, your energy’s back.”
He said as he strode toward me.
“They’ll review everything that’s edited internally anyway. There’s no reason to go through all this trouble filming just to do that.”
“I guess…”
“Get up. Twenty minutes have passed.”
“Already?”
I thought he was just saying that, but when I checked the clock, exactly twenty minutes had passed.
“…Are you a human alarm clock?”
“I’m Yoon Seowoo’s exclusive alarm clock. Would I ring for just anyone?”
“Shouldn’t you say things like that with the camera on…”
When I added that we agreed to do roleplay, he burst out laughing.
“There was some battery left, should I turn it back on? While we’re at it, maybe embrace each other affectionately?”
Knowing he was someone who would actually do it if I said yes, I quickly backed away. Not because I didn’t want to be hugged, but because I was sweaty from practice.
“I want to wash up.”
Instead of answering, Na Jihan grabbed my arm and lifted me up.
“You have no energy at all.”
“Of course not. Someone who lives somewhere worked me like a dog.”
“I don’t know who that is, but they sound really mean. Poor Yoon Seowoo. Should I take responsibility and scrub you clean?”
“Ah, really! You crazy bastard!”
When I shouted and threw a towel at him, Na Jihan laughed and caught the towel, then switched it for a new one and threw it to me.
Whether it was from his bag, the fluffy towel carried Na Jihan’s distinctive scent. The light and cozy cypress fragrance.
‘…Nice.’
I buried my nose in the towel as I left the practice room. Somehow I felt reluctant to use it.
After washing up, Na Jihan started pouring out nagging again. When I got annoyed and scurried away, he followed me all the way outside the company building without taking a break.
“You’re not going to dry your hair properly? Huh? If you go out like this, your hair will freeze into five hundred icicles.”
“What are you saying. It’s not that cold today. It was raining this morning, not snowing.”
“But you’re sensitive to cold. You didn’t put on lotion either, did you?”
“I’ll put it on in the car.”
“Your skin gets tight. No matter how naturally blessed you are, you need to take care of it, I’ve told you how many times. If it’s bothersome, just stay in front of me.”
“Your fussing around is more bothersome.”
Precisely, it wasn’t bothersome but heart-fluttering. With that handsome face right there in front of me, and him looking at me intently with a concentrated expression while touching me here and there, even I would find it hard to maintain composure.
“That’s not true, you seemed to like it… Other people might not know, but you’re weak to my touch.”
Na Jihan, who was only perceptive at unnecessary times like this.
“Good thing I brought an extra towel just in case. I’ll finish drying it for you when we get in the car.”
Na Jihan, who was only affectionate every day without getting tired of it.
“Your nose is already red. I’ll give you the car keys, want to go ahead and wait? I’ll buy the Greek yogurt and come.”
“They said the opening gift is one per person. It’s better if two people go together. I want to try Greek yogurt too.”
“Then at least put on your hood. Wait a moment.”
The yogurt shop that Hapil had practically begged us to buy from on our way was across from the company building. It wasn’t that far, just about a 5-minute walk along the main road and then cross the street.
The problem was that the main road was what they called the ‘Midnight Entertainment commute spot.’ Sometimes fans would camp out on that route to try to talk to the affiliated singers or actors, even for the brief moment they got in and out of cars.
Just like right now.
“What was happening today?”
There seemed to be three times more people than usual. When I asked in a puzzled voice, Na Jihan searched his memory.
“Ah, today is Days sunbaenims’ comeback first music show.”
“Right.”
Days. A senior group from the same agency, also a five-member group like us. A group that had never lost their top-tier position since debut, called the standard and model of K-pop idols.
It was amazing that they maintained their five-member formation for about 8 years without a single discord rumor, but what was even more surprising was that all members willingly renewed their contracts with Midnight.
‘Usually when they gain seniority, they transfer to places with better conditions and only do group activities together.’
Especially in Bae Dojin’s case, when other members enlisted as active duty, he was the only one who went as public service and did solo activities. Since his solo performance was also amazing in addition to the group, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had focused on that direction.
“Hwijeong, look over here!”
“You’re handsome, Lee Yuwon!”
“Please step back for safety.”
“You can’t come over to this side.”
“Dojin oppa! You worked hard today too!”
A van must have arrived as noisy sounds reached here. Definitely, top-tier is top-tier. Even though it was just a commute, the cheers were extraordinary.
I gazed with admiring eyes at the Days members greeting fans with bright faces.
Could I become like that someday? Successfully debut, build up my career, gain fans, and be surrounded by such affection while smiling brightly and returning that love…
“Hey, isn’t that Arcus over there?”
“You’re right. That’s Na Jihan, right?”
“Jihan, hello!”
Some of the fans holding cameras looked this way and waved. Since Na Jihan had been famous since his trainee days and even had interviews released, it seemed Days fans recognized us too.
Na Jihan bowed his head.
“Hello.”
“The kid in the hat next to him… Ah! That’s him, right? The new main vocal? Seowoo?”
Even though I wore a hat, I didn’t have a mask so my face was visible. Since they didn’t seem to plan on coming closer to greet Days anyway, I quickly pulled back my hood and bowed.
“Hello. Please take care of us.”
“Wow, he’s even prettier in person. Look how fair his face is.”
“Where are you two going?”
“Ah, we’re going to buy something…”
As I was about to answer, I gasped “ah” and held my breath. The wind had blown and my long bangs poked my eye.
When I lowered my head deeply, Na Jihan urgently grabbed my shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“No… my eye.”
“Did something get in? Lift your head so I can check.”
“Just got poked by my hair… Hey, why are you grabbing my face?”
“Try opening your eye properly. This side?”
“I said I’m fine. Everyone’s staring at us right now…”
“Isn’t it okay if they stare? Your eye looks a bit red. Doesn’t it sting?”
“It stings a little. Did something really get in? Do you have artificial tears?”
“They’re in the car. Don’t rub it, Yoon Seowoo. You’ll hurt your eye.”
“Ah, it’s fine. It’s okay now.”
More than ten pairs of eyes were silently watching us.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
