Rather than feeling bad, it was fascinating.
He had heard about this kind of thing before. What was it called, AlphaSe? That thing where they ship members together?
He didn’t understand why they shipped members together instead of shipping with themselves, but he learned that there was a different term for that called NaPeSe.
Anyway, it was an unfamiliar culture. What’s so fun about pairing idols together and making them gay?
Looking at the photos decorated here and there like playing house, he was strangely drawn in.
Yunbeom and Haram are major too. Beomlam. The CP is pretty nice too.
Before he knew it, Doha was rapidly adapting to their culture.
CP meant coupling. In Yunbeom and Haram’s case, taking the ‘beom’ and ‘ram’ from their names made it Beomlam.
After looking at the pics for a while…
“Are these guys really dating?”
He even became suspicious. He got goosebumps at the fabrication that made even fellow members mistake it.
As if the algorithm had branded him as a human who likes AlphaSe, it threw him another prey.
This time, short novels started appearing. When he clicked on them, the continued content appeared in a stream.
But what are these animal-shaped emojis?
After roughly looking at a few posts, he realized that this fox emoji meant Baek Doha, and the rabbit meant Lim Sehyun.
In the post he saw earlier, they were both students, but this time it’s a detective and a gangster.
Is this side the gangster? No, but why is this side the gangster? Hmm, what’s the content?
It was both absurd and cute, so he read smoothly, and when he came to his senses, a membership registration window had appeared.
PosX entry…
What kind of love did a detective and gangster have to make an age 19 verification pop up?
It stimulated his primal curiosity.
Doha glanced around once. Recording was still in full swing, and no one was interested in him in the corner of the sofa.
I’m just looking for research purposes. Research.
Verification messages were exchanged, and he made a big decision and even paid. And…
A long time passed.
“Hyung, what are you doing?”
“Huh, what?”
He shouldn’t have looked at that. He’d opened Pandora’s box.
That’s the rabbit…?
“Hyung needs to go in for his part.”
“Uh, yeah.”
Provocative lines keep coming to mind. With that face… if he spits out such vulgar words…
“Hyung?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Unnecessary curiosity ignited useless delusions.
“You’ve been looking at your phone all day, is something wrong?”
“No. Do I go in now?”
It was difficult to face Lim Sehyun’s face. But the more he thought about it, there was one infuriating point.
Why was this side the rn?
What won and rn mean—you can think of won as top and rn as bottom. In the novel, Baek Doha had to cry beneath all day long.
Poor thing. How can a person be like that? If you’re going to make them do that kind of thing anyway, shouldn’t they at least take turns?
Honestly, comparing a rabbit and a fox, the fox is the superior predator, so it’s incomprehensible.
Is it because he’s a bit taller? Or is it because his features are more striking? Or if not that, is it because of his usually energetic image?
“Let’s go.”
“Haah…”
A sigh came out. Then Lim Sehyun tilted his head.
“Why the sudden sigh?”
“It’s a false world. I’m sick of a world that only consumes hypocritically packaged appearances.”
“What are you talking about?”
Doha clicked his tongue and blamed the world where he was consumed as rn.
For reference, in that novel with the detective and gangster, the gangster died. Shouldn’t they at least put a sad ending warning?
* * *
“Um… Sunbae-nim?”
Doha was at a loss for words at the scene unfolding before his eyes.
“Welcome, Doha-ssi.”
Yungyeom smiled brightly and greeted Doha. The problem was that the place wasn’t a restaurant, but Yungyeom’s house.
A top-class residential-commercial complex apartment with a clear view of the Han River. From the entrance, the overwhelming size made Doha even cautious about taking off his shoes.
He thought they were going to a restaurant, but following the address Yungyeom sent without thinking, he ended up coming to his house.
“No, I… weren’t we eating outside?”
When Doha stood awkwardly and asked, Yungyeom casually took out slippers and answered.
“Ah, outside seemed like it would be a bit noisy. And there was something I really wanted you to taste.”
“Something you want me to taste?”
“Yes. Come in.”
Doha inadvertently entered the living room. The inside of the house was clean like a model house. Sleek modern interior without clutter and tasteful props placed here and there. As expected, a 15-year veteran top star’s house is different, he thought.
“Sit for a moment. I’ll prepare it right away.”
Yungyeom seated Doha at the dining table and headed to the kitchen. Since it was an open kitchen, he could clearly see him cooking. His back view skillfully turning the frying pan while wearing an apron was quite plausible.
‘Cooking? He’s doing it himself?’
Doha blinked his eyes. He said he’d take him to a restaurant, but he’s cooking himself. This is too burdensome. Moreover, if he had coffee last time and gets fed a meal like this this time, when on earth is he supposed to repay this?
“Um, sunbae-nim. I said I’d buy you a meal.”
“Ah, that? Buy it next time. Today I wanted to treat you.”
Yungyeom answered without even turning around. Along with clattering sounds, a delicious smell wafted over.
“I’ve been learning to cook lately. But it’s a bit of a waste to eat alone. I didn’t have anyone to show off to, but I happened to think of Doha-ssi.”
“Ah… I see.”
“And actually, there’s another reason too.”
Yungyeom smiled. What is it, making me anxious?
Could he be facing the bare face of the jungle-like entertainment industry where there’s no kindness without a reason?
“Another reason?”
“Let’s talk while eating. You said you like pasta, right?”
Yungyeom put the finished dish on a plate and brought it to the table. It was steaming aglio olio pasta. The garlic and olive oil scent stimulated his appetite.
“Wow…”
Doha unconsciously let out an exclamation. The visuals rivaled any Italian restaurant.
“It looks delicious.”
“I hope it suits your taste. Here, dig in.”
Yungyeom handed him a fork. Doha gave his thanks and took a bite of pasta. The properly cooked noodles, salty seasoning, and flavor-filled garlic scent spread throughout his mouth.
“It’s delicious! It really seems like something you’d sell.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried Doha-ssi’s taste might be picky.”
Yungyeom breathed a sigh of relief and sat across from him. He barely touched his own portion and contentedly watched Doha eating.
“But, what was that other reason you mentioned earlier?”
Doha asked while wiping the sauce on his lips. Yungyeom’s expression became slightly serious. He fiddled with the edge of his plate and opened his mouth.
“Doha-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“Could I possibly ask you to feature on my song?”
“…What?”
At the unexpected proposal, Doha stopped the hand holding his fork. Featuring? Me?
“Me? Singing?”
“Yes.”
“Sunbae-nim. As you know, I’m not particularly outstanding at singing at all… Rather, Sehyun or Eden…”
Doha waved his hands in panic. In terms of vocal ability, Sehyun was much better, and in terms of tone, Eden overwhelmed. There was no reason to use him specifically.
“No. I need Doha-ssi’s voice.”
Yungyeom answered immediately as if it was an expected reaction.
“I kept thinking only of Doha-ssi. It really fits perfectly.”
Suddenly all the puzzles fit together. No wonder he was so nice.
Buying coffee, making food, I really wondered why he was being so nice, and in the end it was because of business.
‘I knew it. I thought there must be a reason.’
But that reason was a bit absurd. Featuring. Thinking about it, it was common for singers to help each other out.
Sehyun and Eden seemed to have participated in many places too.
“I already sent a proposal to the company, but I wanted to tell you directly before that.”
“Hmm…”
Honestly, this was an uncomfortable request. If it were members, it would be one thing, but if he worked with an outsider, his beginner-like appearance—he really is a beginner though—might be completely exposed.
“What about the other members?”
“There are many vocalists who sing well technically. But I think Doha-ssi fits this song well.”
Yungyeom took out his phone. When he tapped the screen, a song sound flowed out.
Doha quietly listened to that song. It was somehow a desolate and lonely emotional song.
“How is it? Don’t you think it would fit well with Doha-ssi’s voice?”
They say praise makes even whales dance, but this was too heavy a proposal to dance to.
Featuring on a 15-year veteran senior’s album. Normally, it would be an honorable opportunity that couldn’t be refused, no, that should be accepted prostrating immediately.
“Um, sunbae-nim. I really appreciate the offer, but… I’m still lacking in skill, so I think I need to focus more on team activities.”
Doha carefully indicated his refusal once more. But Yungyeom smiled leisurely as if he had expected it.
Won (왼) – top (in BL relationships)
Rn (른) – bottom (in BL relationships)
