By Zephyria I wanted to avoid a lawsuit at all costs. But since the General Manager brought up the worst-case scenario first, I had to burn my bridges.
“Tae-kyung!”
Gun-woo Hyung was speechless, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Tae-kyung…! How could you….”
Seeing Hyung’s face, which looked like he might collapse at any moment, I steeled my resolve.
“I know a lawsuit could take years, and I might have to pay a penalty. I calculated the investment costs, and it’s about twenty million won per month….”
“Lee Tae-kyung!”
Gun-woo Hyung shot up and shouted loud enough to shake the meeting room.
“How can you do this! I thought of you like a brother…!”
“Gun-woo Hyung, I’m really sorry, but this issue….”
I tried to open my mouth to finish what I had to say, but I was completely taken aback. Tears were streaming from Gun-woo Hyung’s eyes.
“Hy, Hyung…!”
“Tae-kyung, was I really that insignificant to you…? I really thought of you like a younger brother… Hic! Sob!”
Gun-woo Hyung burst into loud sobs, and all the prepared words in my head completely evaporated.
“Ge, Gun-woo Hyung…!”
“Tae-kyung, if you’re not here… I’ve never even imagined a team without you… Sob…!”
I couldn’t say anything more because Gun-woo Hyung was biting his lip and trying to hold back his tears.
It’s been over three years since I’ve known Gun-woo Hyung, and this was the first time I’d seen him like this. I knew that even though he’s stubborn and picky on the outside, he’s soft-hearted on the inside, but….
Ding-dong!
The sharp alarm of the Status Window pierced through the chaos and lodged in my ear.
[How to prevent the death of genius idol Sung Se-han.]
[Ah, ah! Mic test! Let me inform you!]
All noise vanished at once, and all my senses focused on the Status Window.
[We inform you that the event non-fulfillment penalty has just been implemented!]
It felt like I had fallen into a pitch-black pit, and my body crumbled.
[Look forward to more diverse events in the future!]
I had to grab the table with all my strength to keep from collapsing.
“What on earth is going on. Gun-woo, sit down for now.”
I faintly heard Team Leader Jang Joo-mi’s voice.
“Tae-kyung, you sit down too. Don’t let emotions take over; we need to have a proper conversation. For today, at least….”
The moment I could put strength in my legs, I kicked off the seat and bolted out.
“Huh? Tae-kyung…!”
After leaving the meeting room, I turned the corner and ran to the elevator. Unfortunately, both elevators were going down to the basement.
I turned my body and ran toward the emergency exit. Then, I took my phone out of my padded jacket pocket and pressed a speed dial number.
Beep― Beep― Beep―
I desperately wanted to stop hearing the unanswered tone.
“Why aren’t you answering the phone!”
I put my phone in my pocket and ran down the four flights of stairs like a madman. Just as I reached the first floor, my phone rang from my pocket.
Holding onto the stair railing, I answered the phone in a daze.
“Se-han!”
―Hyung! It’s Jeong-min….
My legs felt like they were giving way, so I gripped the railing tightly.
“Haa! Uh, maknae. Hyung is a bit busy right now….”
―Hyung, did you see the article about Se-han Hyung? They say he had an accident while filming and was taken to the hospital. It didn’t say how badly he was hurt, though….
I squeezed my eyes shut and then snapped them open. My vision was dizzy.
“Which hospital.”
―Uh, huh?
“I said which hospital.”
―That wasn’t in the article… Hyung, wait a bit. I’ll look around the fancafe and contact you.
“Okay. Please do.”
After leaving the company building, I walked slowly along the road. I didn’t have the courage to read the article. For now, I’ll wait for Jeong-min’s call….
Fuck, this damn Status Window…!
“Talking about events! Fuck, if you’re going to give a penalty, just give it to me!”
A student passing by flinched and stared at me. Embarrassed, I bowed my head but gritted my teeth.
I made Se-han get hurt because I couldn’t control my emotions like an idiot.
I swore I’d never lose Sung Se-han again, and yet I couldn’t overcome these trivial emotions….
The phone in my hand rang, and I answered it at the same time.
―Hyung, based on the compiled photos, it seems to be Kangseong Hospital. And although it’s not confirmed, there have been eyewitness accounts from Kangseong Hospital too.
I immediately hailed a taxi. Then, as if praying, I closed my eyes and bowed my head.
If anything happens to Se-han, I won’t just stand by, Status Window or whatever!
So please… help Se-han be okay. I’ll listen to you from now on. Please….
Whether my prayer was answered or not, the name I had been waiting for appeared on my phone screen.
“Se-han…!”
―Lee Tae-kyung, what’s wrong with your voice? Did you see the article and get worried?
Even though I heard Sung Se-han’s perfectly fine voice, I still didn’t feel okay.
“Sung Se-han, are you alright.”
―I’m fine. Ouch, ouch! It hurts so much I could die.
He seemed to be trying to be funny, but I couldn’t laugh at all.
“Se-han, I want to see your face. Where should I go?”
―Huh? You’re coming to the hospital?
After saying it, I thought that not just anyone could enter Sung Se-han’s hospital room.
“Would it be inconvenient if I came…?”
Sung Se-han was silent for a moment, then let out a low laugh.
―Wow. If you want to come, then you should come.
*
I had the taxi drop me off a short distance from the hospital.
I sent a message saying I had arrived at the entrance and walked slowly. As expected, there were groups of people who appeared to be fans loitering here and there near the hospital.
They seemed to want to hide that they were fans, pretending not to be interested and not even looking toward the hospital entrance, but honestly, even a quick glance made it obvious.
They must have come because they were worried about Sung Se-han. I could see they were trying not to cause trouble…
Ah, why does it seem cute?
“Mr. Lee Tae-kyung.”
The Vice Manager, who was waiting at the entrance, gestured for me to come. I bowed my head and approached.
“Hello.”
“Follow me.”
The Vice Manager Hyung, who had been looking at me with displeasure since yesterday, still had a dissatisfied expression today. Even before entering the lobby, I started hearing shutter sounds from all around. The groups that looked like ordinary people must have been reporters.
“Let’s go quickly. Se-han can’t hold out against the medication right now.”
“Huh? Medication? What medication?”
The Vice Manager didn’t answer and led me to the elevator. He didn’t say a single word until we got off on the 5th floor. Feeling unnecessarily self-conscious, I quietly followed behind.
After getting off the dedicated elevator, I had to scan an access card to enter the private room. As I opened another door inside the room and entered, the Vice Manager suddenly turned to look at me.
“Looks like he fell asleep. Come in quietly.”
I nodded at Vice Manager Hyung’s words and quickly scanned the room. In the middle of the spacious room was a sofa, and on the bed by the left window, Sung Se-han was lying down.
I approached the bed without thinking, and the person sitting beside the bed bowed their head.
“Hello.”
Since the leader of Perfect Puzzle, who is three years older than me, bowed first, I was flustered and bent my waist deeply.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Tae-kyung.”
The word “Sunbae” almost slipped out but went back in. Since I haven’t debuted yet, I wasn’t sure if it was okay to call him Sunbae.
“Se-han fell asleep a little while ago.”
Before Song Woo-shin could speak, I was already looking at Se-han’s sleeping face.
“He said he’d wait until you came, but he couldn’t hold on and fell asleep.”
“Ah… The traffic was bad….”
Se-han’s sleeping face was so pale that I momentarily lost my senses. Moreover, his left arm was tightly wrapped in bandages….
“Here, this part was torn badly, so it took seven stitches. The doctor said a scar might remain.”
My world crumbled. I forced back a groan, and my throat tightened.
“If a scar forms, we can remove it.”
Vice Manager Hyung spoke gruffly and brought a chair for me.
“Sit here.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you….”
I should have moved politely, whether it was the chair or anything else, but for some reason, I felt dazed and couldn’t think straight.
Then the door opened, and someone rushed in. I turned my head absentmindedly and shot up from the chair.
“What happened? Is Se-han okay?”
“Robin Hyung, you’re here?”
The person catching his breath with a pale face was the genius producer Kang Robin. Kang Robin was an artist who had made a name for himself as a genius rapper since his teens, rising to an unrivaled position, and even now at 37, he writes multiple hit songs every year and is called a living legend in the industry.
And he was also the one who recruited Sung Se-han to ‘Baeknyeon Enter’ and brought him into Perfect Puzzle.
“What’s this? How badly is his arm hurt!”
“Well… It took seven stitches….”
“What? Seven stitches!”
Startled, Kang Robin lifted Sung Se-han’s blanket and checked here and there, and I automatically stepped back.
“How did he get hurt like this?”