#20. Between Friends (6)
Regardless of how unsettling an unrequited love that failed to secure a safe distance could be, time flowed well.
‘They said it was jacket shooting for the debut single and location shooting for a special video.’
There was a full meeting that members could attend, but I couldn’t participate because it awkwardly overlapped with personal training time. Fortunately, it wasn’t a seat I absolutely had to be in, and the members and manager took care of me by listening well to the detailed content.
Although they said it wasn’t a trip for fun, everyone seemed to secretly anticipate the Jeju Island trip. For us who had been spinning around the dorm, company building, studio, and shops, it was truly a long-awaited deviation from our orbit.
Moreover, when the manager said he’d give us about a day of free time since it was practically the only rest before debut, Hapil drew a big circle on the calendar hanging on the wall with an extremely excited expression.
On the morning of that day.
My first impression of Jeju Island, which I was visiting for the first time in my life, was…
“Cold!”
It was cold.
“Is the wind crazy? I’m freezing to death.”
Just as Hapil roared. Being an island surrounded by sea on all sides, even the wind’s momentum was extraordinary. Sometimes when gusts of wind blew, my eyes would automatically squeeze shut.
“Then why did you dress so thin? When you’re sensitive to cold.”
Actually, the reason Hapil was shivering had more to do with his outfit than Jeju Island’s fierce wind. He was wearing a thin rider jacket that you’d only wear in spring or fall.
Hapil gave a thumbs up and said to Lee Seon.
“Well, it’s ‘gan-jook-gan-sal.’ Living and dying for style.”
“Ugh.”
While Lee Seon was shaking his head, road manager Na Hyeonjun, who was gathering the suitcases in one place, said with a sigh.
“I clearly told you Jeju Island was cold. I’m sure I packed the thin clothes well in the corner, but you managed to dig them out and wear them.”
“Ah! No wonder it took me so long to find them!”
“I wonder if you’re going to catch a cold…”
To such Hyeonjun, Lee Seon said calmly.
“He’ll be fine, manager-nim. They say fools don’t catch colds.”
“Lee Seon hyung is also wearing a coat in this weather!”
“I’m not cold.”
“…Wow.”
I thought Lee Seon, who was acting nonchalant while wearing a coat as thin as Hapil’s outerwear, was really amazing. Even though I was armed with thick padding and a scarf that Na Jihan had prepared for me, I was still this cold.
“It feels a bit different from the mainland, right?”
Haesol, who had quietly approached my side, pressed a hot pack into my hand. He must have opened it beforehand because it was warm without needing to shake it.
“Jeju Island is kind of like that.”
“I didn’t know since it’s my first time. The air is really clean though.”
“Didn’t you come in high school? Many people come for school trips.”
“I couldn’t go. I caught the flu the day before the trip.”
“That must have been disappointing.”
Instead of answering, I just smiled slightly. I remembered that the disappointment wasn’t as big as expected.
Although I couldn’t go on the school trip, Na Jihan, who cancelled his schedule as if it were natural, stayed right by my side for several days, so it was okay.
“What about Jihan? It’s not Jihan’s first time in Jeju Island either, right?”
Na Jihan, who came out a bit late, answered in a calm voice.
“It’s my first time.”
“You couldn’t go on the school trip either?”
“I couldn’t go. I caught the flu the day before the trip.”
“You too?”
“Not me, Yoon Seowoo did.”
Haesol looked back at me. I smiled small and nodded.
“Jihan took care of me. I said it was okay because aunt would take care of me, but…”
“You’re my friend, not our mom’s friend. How could I go anywhere leaving a sick kid behind?”
“That’s what he said.”
Na Jihan said while tying my scarf tightly.
“Cold?”
“Of course I’m cold. It’s winter.”
“Should I give you my coat?”
“What are you saying. Hyung will bring the car soon.”
I gestured toward where Hyeonjun had disappeared. He went to get the rented van, so it was about time for him to return.
“There’s still time until evening, so Haesol hyung can go for a bit. Hyeonjun hyung would allow it, right?”
“No. I’m going to take a whole block of time on the last day anyway. Right now I want to go around with you guys. I need to prepare meals too.”
“It’s an afternoon flight, so there’s still a long time until arrival. And they don’t seem like people who would boss around juniors, so is there really a need to prepare?”
Listening to their conversation, I asked.
“Where are you going?”
“To my maternal family’s house. I was born in Jeju Island.”
“Ah.”
So that’s why he seemed so familiar with it. I looked back at Na Jihan and asked.
“But what do you mean by juniors? Who else is coming?”
“Ah, didn’t I tell you about this?”
Na Jihan said casually.
“Days sunbaenims are coming. We’ll use the same accommodation.”
“…Why?”
“Well, same agency, same shooting?”
“Same shooting?”
This was the first time I was hearing about this. When I opened my eyes wide and looked back and forth between Haesol and Na Jihan, Haesol narrowed his eyes and gently scolded Na Jihan.
“You should properly inform about meeting contents, Jihan. We’re going to film our single teaser video together with Days sunbaenims. The company has a private pension house in Jeju Island, so we’re staying there.”
Na Jihan scratched his cheek and made an excuse.
“If I said we’d not only be filming together with 8-year senior sunbaenims but also using the same accommodation, it was obvious you’d lose sleep from nervousness, so I just didn’t mention it.”
“Na Jihan!”
I was about to say there was no need to be so considerate, but unfortunately, Na Jihan was right again this time. The reason was that tension suddenly rushed over me when I heard that the senior group was also joining.
‘I need to get used to things like this too.’
A cool hand quickly approached and pinched my nose without hurting.
“Don’t be scared. Even if a hundred seniors come, no one can bully you. I’ll protect you.”
“Who’s worried about that… And am I a kid? You protecting me. I don’t need it.”
I hit his side with my elbow. Na Jihan burst out laughing and retorted.
“If you’re going to say you don’t need it, don’t show that you’re happy.”
“I didn’t!”
Of course, he didn’t look like he believed me.
“The van’s here. Hapil, come here quickly too. Don’t dress thin next time.”
“Yes yes, next time I’ll try to reach an amicable agreement with my ‘gan-jook-gan-sal’ personality.”
“As if you could.”
Haesol, who was gently patting my back and pushing me toward where the van was, asked carefully.
“Are you very nervous, Seowoo?”
“Um…”
After hesitating for a moment, I smiled brightly.
“I’m nervous, but I’m okay.”
I decided not to mention that I was okay because the hot pack clutched in my hand was still warm, since it would be embarrassing.
* * *
‘Cancel that. I’m not okay at all.’
I haven’t even taken a bite of the prepared food yet, but I already feel like I’m going to get indigestion…
That’s because there were five distant seniors right in front of me. One of them even chose to sit directly across from me.
Why on earth.
“Don’t be too nervous.”
While I was sipping water innocently to moisten my throat, the person sitting across from me smiled with crescent eyes.
“I asked them to turn off the cameras during meals. You should be comfortable when eating.”
Knowing that, did you specifically want to sit facing a junior group that hasn’t even debuted yet, and moreover a joining member…
“Nice to meet you, junior. You’re Yoon Seowoo-ssi, right?”
“…Please take care of me, Bae Dojin sunbaenim.”
Bae Dojin. Days’ leader and main vocal, and undoubtedly the visual center. He served as the team’s pivot while also being the source of their popularity.
Since it was a group I admired, I listened to their songs earnestly and watched their stages without fail.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
Bae Dojin, who was drinking a few sips after receiving alcohol from Hwijeong, the rapper from the same group, asked me.
“It’s a highball, want some? Hwijeong. One more can of this.”
“Okay, hyung.”
I wasn’t trying to ask for alcohol, but I couldn’t refuse something he took care to offer. I received the can that was cool enough to have water droplets beading on it and quietly thanked him.
“Actually, I wasn’t staring because of the alcohol. Just… you’re much more handsome in person than on screen, so I unconsciously kept looking. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”
“Seowoo-ssi knows how to handle social situations.”
“…I was being sincere though.”
“Really?”
Maybe because his smiling appearance was too picture-perfect, I couldn’t tell if he believed my words or not. Thinking it didn’t matter either way, I carefully opened the can.
The highball I tried for the first time was a bit sweet, sour, and fizzy. Fortunately, it was surprisingly drinkable. It was also convenient that I could pretend to focus on drinking and turn my gaze away.
“Seowoo-ssi looks better in person too.”
It was a strange thing to say. I’ve hardly ever been captured on screen. I slightly raised my head.
“Did you watch the interview?”
“No. But I heard rumors.”
“Rumors…”
Bae Dojin lowered his head and smiled with his arms crossed.
“Maybe that’s why. I wanted to meet Seowoo-ssi the most.”
He wanted to meet me? Me?
…Why?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
