By Zephyria “Ah, no! Tae-kyung Hyung, that’s not what I meant…”
“Tae-kyung Hyung! That’s not it at all! What I meant was…”
“Tae-kyung Hyungnim…!”
I felt fortunate that I had a cold impression when I didn’t smile. I didn’t want to smile kindly at anyone in this practice room.
“Why. Because Perfect Puzzle and Sung Se-han are selling 1.3 million and 900,000 copies, you thought we could easily sell hundreds of thousands of copies too?”
It was about me. When Perfect Puzzle’s debut album surpassed pre-orders and eventually reached 1 million copies, I was greatly frustrated and also expected it.
I can do as well as Sung Se-han. My song is no worse than Sung Se-han’s. I will definitely succeed enough to make Sung Se-han regret leaving our team.
“Haa…!”
I thought I could stand side by side with Sung Se-han if I just debuted. I must have been firmly possessed by something, obsessed with jealousy and revenge.
The cruel reality that deviated from hope was that our debut album didn’t even sell 1,000 copies.
“Tae-kyung Hyung, that’s really not what we meant… we didn’t have such childish dreams. Really…”
“Tae-kyung Hyung! That’s not it, Jumping Boys’ first week sales exceeded 50,000 last year, right? So we were thinking that we would reach that level too…”
Whether they were scared or not, my younger brothers couldn’t come closer and were just hesitating.
“Tae-kyung, calm down.”
Gun-woo Hyung patted my back as if he was flustered.
“The kids don’t know well… they don’t know how difficult album sales are, so they must have had high expectations. It’s understandable, so don’t scold them too much.”
I swept my face with one hand. I wasn’t in a position to scold anyone. So, this was nothing more than a kind of self-loathing and venting.
“I’m sorry, Gun-woo Hyung. I’m going to go get some fresh air for a bit.”
“Tae, Tae-kyung Hyung…”
While crossing the practice room and coming out, my younger brothers only made groaning sounds and no one followed me out.
I regretted it even before I opened the practice room door and left.
I couldn’t even control my own heart, so I poured out the dregs of my emotions on my kind younger brothers who didn’t know anything.
Not being able to embrace my young younger brothers who are going down a rough path, and doing such a bad thing, I didn’t even have the qualifications to be a Hyung who leads the group.
“Tae-kyung Hyungnim!”
The guy who was running while making a loud noise that echoed throughout the hallway was Soo-in. I organized my rough breathing before turning around.
“Soo-in, Hyung…”
“Tae-kyung Hyungnim! I’m sorry!”
Soo-in, who had run up to me, knelt down with a thud.
“Huh? Hey! Soo-in, what are you doing…”
“I was wrong! I’m sorry for saying such childish things. Please forgive me!”
“Ugh! Hey, hey! Get up. What are you doing…”
The guy who hadn’t said a word while standing still, what nonsense was he spouting… It was so absurd I laughed.
“Alright, alright, just get up.”
I grabbed Soo-in’s arm and pulled him up, and he immediately stood up straight and bowed again.
“We were wrong, so I hope you’ll feel better. We’ll keep our wits about us from now on.”
“Okay, okay, Soo-in. Hyung was stressed and overreacted. I’m really sorry.”
“No, it’s not.”
Soo-in shook his head hastily, his face reddening.
“I’m glad… you’re feeling better.”
“Let’s grab something sweet while we’re out.”
I wanted to treat my younger brothers to some ice cream they usually couldn’t have, so I got on the elevator.
“Wasn’t there a Best Berry store near the company? What flavor do you like?”
“I like anything…”
Soo-in, who had been silent until the elevator reached the first floor, finally spoke.
“Tae-kyung Hyung might think I’m immature, but I… I thought Tae-kyung Hyung could beat Sung Se-han Sunbae. So… I guess I thought the album would sell a lot too.”
“Hmm, I see.”
He might lack a sense of reality, but I was grateful for his concern.
“In my eyes… Tae-kyung Hyung is way cooler than Sung Se-han Sunbae…”
“Aww! You wonderful guy.”
I reached out and ruffled Soo-in’s hair. His face reddened again, but I couldn’t help but praise him.
“You really have an eye for talent! You’re qualified to be my number two fan.”
To think he saw me as this cool, I was strangely touched.
But the ringing of my phone in my training pants pocket shattered my sentimentality. As soon as I saw the screen, the article I had seen earlier flashed into my mind.
Ha…! He’s really something. The bastard, giving a song to Breeze… to Hanna Sunbae.
I held the phone to my ear with a disgruntled expression.
“What’s up?”
—What’s wrong? Why do you sound like that?
Judging by the sound on the other end of the phone, he seemed to be on the move again. As Soo-in and I left the company, a cold wind hit us.
“Ah, it’s cold! Just tell me what you need. I’m busy too.”
—Cold? Where are you right now?
“I came out of the company with Soo-in for a bit. We’re going somewhere.”
Sung Se-han, who had been silent for a moment, asked stiffly.
—Where are you going?
“We’re going to Best Berry, where Sung Se-han-ssi is the advertising model!”
Hahaha… He seems to be in a good mood. His laughter was very refreshing. Well, he would be. Breeze’s fairy revealed she was a fan.
—What I wanted to say was.
I stopped at the crosswalk and waited for Se-han’s next words.
—Can you make some time today? I want to see Lee Tae-kyung’s face.
I hunched my shoulders against the cold, my body stiffening. I couldn’t answer right away, my lips just moving, and I noticed Soo-in walking ahead. The light must have changed.
I quickly followed Soo-in, trying to come up with an answer.
“There’s a stage concept meeting tonight… and if I finish practice, it’ll be past 2 AM…”
—I think I’ll have time around then too. I’ll go to your dorm around 2.
Even after the call ended, I stared blankly at my phone, and Soo-in approached.
“Is Sung Se-han Sunbae coming today?”
“Huh? Oh, he’s going to stop by for a bit in the early morning, it seems.”
I put my phone in my pocket and opened the glass door of Best Berry. In a week, on the day my solo album comes out, Se-han’s poster will be up here. I scanned the store with anticipation, then stopped abruptly.
“Tae-kyung Hyung?”
Soo-in, who was following behind, looked surprised.
“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”
“No. It’s nothing.”
I smiled and patted Soo-in’s back, but my mind was a mess. The fact that I was still stuck at 21 points when D-Day for my zero inferiority complex was only a week away bothered me.
Ah, whatever. It’ll work out somehow.
*
The concept meeting was postponed, so the schedule ended earlier than expected.
I returned to the dorm at 1 AM and hurriedly took a shower to prepare to meet Sung Se-han.
“Ah… I only have training clothes.”
While I was agonizing in front of the closet, I heard Jeong-min’s voice from behind.
“Aren’t you going to meet Se-han Hyung? You can’t just wear anything, can you?”
Jeong-min wasn’t wrong, but I was somehow bothered by the fact that I only wore training clothes whenever I saw him.
“He always comes perfectly styled, it’s too much of a comparison.”
“Hyung… Se-han Hyung was always perfect even before his debut… But we haven’t even debuted yet… Ah! Should I borrow Gun-woo Hyung’s clothes?”
Jeong-min, who would usually have scolded me for comparing myself to Sung Se-han, carefully chose his words.
“If Tae-kyung Hyung wears them, Gun-woo Hyung will pick out some nice clothes for you, you know?”
It seemed that my outburst today had taken a toll on the younger members.
“Hmm… Should I?”
Gun-woo Hyung had a hobby of shopping, so he usually bought a lot of clothes. I closed the closet and headed to Gun-woo Hyung’s room.
Sung Se-han arrived at the dorm apartment’s playground close to 2:30 AM.
I had been sitting on a bench waiting, and I stood up when I saw him running towards me.
“Did you wait long?”
Sung Se-han, who had run up to me, bent over and caught his breath. I felt strangely uneasy and frowned.
“No… If you’re busy, we can meet next time, there’s no need to push yourself.”
“Even if I have to push myself.”
Sung Se-han straightened up and smiled down at me. A clear light settled in his brown eyes, illuminated by the playground lights.
“I have to see Lee Tae-kyung’s face.”
Thump. Something sharp pierced my heart. I pressed down hard on my chest with one hand, but I couldn’t figure out the reason for the pain.
“Hey, why are you being so cheesy?”
The words that came out were so off-putting, even to my own ears. I couldn’t take back what I had said and was busy trying to hide my awkward expression.
“I like whatever you say.”
Regardless of my reaction, Sung Se-han smoothed his disheveled hair.
“Now I can see you whenever I want. When you wouldn’t even answer my calls, I…”
“Ah, why are you bringing up those old stories!”
My face flushed even though I hadn’t done anything wrong, and I rubbed my cheeks. Se-han sat down on the bench first and patted the spot next to him.
“Okay. Let’s talk about it when you’re feeling better.”
I slowly turned to face Se-han.
When I’m feeling better….
“Sung Se-han, do you think I’m putting up with you just to keep in touch?”
“Lee Tae-kyung.”
Se-han, who was scanning my body with one leg crossed, pointed at me with his finger.
“By any chance, are those Gun-woo Hyung’s clothes?”