#25. Guiding Star (3)
Before dinner, we all gathered together to write letters.
It was a kind of debut event—”a letter to my future self” or something. I accepted it since it was said to be a Midnight Entertainment tradition, but honestly, I was a bit troubled not knowing what to write.
What would future Yoon Seowoo be like? Would he have taken a step closer to his desired dream? Would he still feel life and enjoy happiness in those moments of singing? Would he have fewer nightmares than before, and would he still like Na Jihan?
Since my contemplation was long, the speed of filling the letter inevitably fell behind. By the time I had written about half, the other members had almost finished their letters and were hovering around me.
“Seowoo hyung’s is really packed? He’s diligent even in things like this. Can’t you just show me a little peek first?”
“No. It’s going into a time capsule. You can see it later too.”
“Stingy.”
“Na Jihan, you can’t either. Go away.”
“What kind of content is it that you’re so desperately hiding it? Is it a secret?”
“Yeah. It’s a secret.”
“Calling it a secret makes me want to see it more……”
Fortunately, before I became more flustered, Ahn Haesol skillfully drew the two away.
“Come on, Jihan and Hapil, come here. Our schedule isn’t over yet. Can you help prepare dinner?”
Only after the surroundings became a bit quieter did my writing pick up speed.
When I handed over the letter I had safely finished writing to the manager, another envelope was added on top.
“Please take care of this too.”
It was Joo Lee Seon. If he had finished similarly to me, it meant he had also agonized over choosing words to write in his letter.
“It wasn’t that I had many stories to write.”
Joo Lee Seon, who noticed my gaze, said in a calm voice.
“It took time to organize things more clearly. I’m used to speaking, but writing is a bit awkward.”
“You could have written in English, right? It’s a letter that your future self will receive anyway.”
We went out to the pension yard upon hearing that we would eat dinner while watching a campfire.
“That’s exactly why I had to write only in Korean.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not trying to deny the time I lived in England, or the language I used there. But it was my choice to come to Korea, and Korea is where I’m starting my activities.”
I honestly had to admire the sincerity of wanting to use the most fundamental language that forms himself and his world.
“How detailed……”
“It’s an important matter.”
When we went out to the garden, a campfire that had just been lit was burning to about my size. The warm heat, the brightly blazing light, and the occasional crackling sounds of the firewood were all very romantic.
And Hapil Jae and Na Jihan, who were standing beside it wearing gloves to move firewood……
“Ten thousand won per round, deal?”
“Hey. Why is a rich young master like you so stingy? It should be at least fifty thousand won.”
“I’m being considerate of you. It would be unfair if I win and take too much from you anyway.”
“Wow. What’s with this confidence? What are you going to do if you get your money and pride completely stripped by me? Hapil’s intuition is ghostly accurate, you know?”
“It’s more about knowledge than intuition. Inference rather than imagination.”
“Ugh, annoying.”
Their expressions looked quite serious, so I wondered what they were sparking over.
“Then ten thousand won per round, starting with me. When roasting marshmallows over the campfire, will he burn them or not?”
The content was really trivial.
“Won’t burn them. He’s timid so he’ll be careful. If you tell him it catches fire easily, he’ll be super cautious.”
“I vote for burns them. He seems like he’ll get distracted here and there. He’ll look away for a moment and then burn it completely while making a pitiful expression.”
“You don’t know anything. You’re way off.”
“Hey, you have to try long and short things to know, right? Ah. Excuse me…… Could you give us just one marshmallow from the fondue set first? Yes, that one. Thank you.”
Hapil Jae, who had run over cheerfully, got a skewer from the staff who were moving food. Then he quickly held it out to me.
“Here. Time to reveal the answer.”
“Me?”
Na Jihan answered.
“Yeah. We made a bet. To see who knows more about the new member. Since I’m at an advantage, we focused on things you haven’t tried before. You don’t like marshmallows so you’ve never roasted them yourself.”
Taking the skewer, I replied with a dumbfounded expression.
“Why are you betting over a person? You wagered ten thousand won per round to do this?”
Hapil Jae puffed out his chest and said proudly.
“Yes. I’m going to buy Seowoo hyung fish-shaped pastries with that money.”
“I don’t like fish-shaped pastries.”
While Hapil Jae, who had lost a round before even starting, became a bit dejected, I brought the skewer I had received close to the fire.
Na Jihan stuck close beside me and said.
“That burns in an instant. It becomes a fireball in the blink of an eye, so be careful.”
I was a bit scared that even the skewer, being made of wood, might burn like those logs. Even though I didn’t want to worry about it, I didn’t want to mess around with food……
“Wow, you’re telling him that from the side? Can someone become this petty over ten thousand won?”
“But who’s going to eat this when it’s roasted? I don’t like marshmallows.”
At my words, Hapil Jae raised his hand high.
“Give it to me. I like them.”
Since I was going to feed him anyway, I should roast it properly. I carefully turned the skewer slowly so as not to burn the outside.
Though it was my first time, this was successful enough. The white marshmallow had become golden brown and looked quite appetizing. Hapil Jae also seemed to have completely forgotten about the bet and was looking at my hand with an enthusiastic expression, asking me to roast the top part too.
It was just when I was about to change direction.
“What are you three working so hard on?”
“Hyeonjun hyung.”
“Here, the blanket you requested. I left it in the van when getting out, so I couldn’t get it for you at the site earlier. Sorry.”
Na Hyeonjun, who had approached with big strides, covered my shoulders with a blanket. It was a large and soft microfiber blanket that was big enough to cover my whole body and more. When he grabbed both ends and clipped them with clips, it didn’t fall even when I raised my arms.
Looking at the familiar pattern, it seemed like something brought from Na Jihan’s family home. Judging by the slightly worn tag part, it was unmistakable.
The pleasant feeling was brief before I found something puzzling and asked.
“Thanks. But I didn’t ask for this……”
Na Jihan said innocently.
“I asked for it. I asked him to bring a blanket.”
“Don’t even mention it.”
Na Hyeonjun grumbled.
“Before departing for Jeju Island, he gave me a list of things he needed, and it was so packed. I almost had my salary docked. This is necessary for you, that’s necessary for you……”
Na Hyeonjun, who rolled his eyes at Na Jihan as if it was ridiculous, complained to me.
“He’s getting more nagging by the day. Isn’t he?”
“That’s honestly true.”
When I replied with a slight smile, Na Jihan immediately complained.
“Hey, who am I following around and being annoying for?”
“I said you were right, not that I disliked it…… Huh.”
Feeling something was amiss, I looked down at what I was holding. At the end of the long skewer, something was blazing……
“Oh no.”
It was the moment Hapil Jae earned ten thousand won.
* * *
The first floor of the pension, which we entered immediately after touching up our makeup after dinner, was neatly decorated just like a set.
“So that’s why the first-floor living room was so spacious……”
“It was originally used for drama filming. When renovating, we did put bedrooms upstairs, but since cameras often come into the first floor, we left it as is. We filmed our first self-content here too.”
“Wow, what a surprise!”
A stranger who had naturally blended in as if he were one of our members smiled slyly.
“Shall we go in?”
Bae Dojin, who had appeared without any sign, gently pushed our backs and herded us into the living room.
When the five Arcus members entered the living room, where lighting and cameras were completely prepared, hesitantly, the other Days members except Bae Dojin also arrived one after another.
“Days members sit here, and Arcus members here.”
On one side of the large table sat Days members Bae Dojin, Hyeon Hwijeong, Lee Yuwon, Kang Soran, and Jeong Minwook.
Since it seemed like a casual atmosphere without assigned seats, we also tried to sit while subtly reading the room.
But the moment Na Jihan pulled back his chair, a staff member stopped him.
“Jihan’s seat isn’t there but one space to the left. You’re paired with Yuwon.”
“Paired?”
“Yes, paired.”
The answer came not from beside but from across the table. Bae Dojin was smiling with his eyes gently curved.
“For convenience, we divided by similar positions. Since Jihan is the main dancer, you’ll sit facing our main dancer Yuwon.”
I didn’t even listen to what came next, but I already felt like I knew.
And Bae Dojin said exactly what I expected.
“Since you’re the main vocal, Yoon Seowoo, you’re my pair.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
