It was a look that would have immediately hurled profanity if not for the camera.
Does that mean I don’t have to hear curses from Kwon Isoo while filming? Just as he was having the stray thought that maybe it was fortunate the camera was on, the PD took his side.
“That’s right. We can’t force you to tell us a secret when you’ve been caught… Ah, but Isoo-ssi seems so curious.”
…She tried to take his side but sharply changed direction.
Do Yeonjae smiled wordlessly and hesitated slightly. If the PD was saying that much, should he reveal it? It’s really not that big a deal though.
He’d pretended not to have watched many NEOS stages in front of Kwon Isoo, but he was going to say he’d actually watched quite a lot. Should I just say it… He was about to open his mouth when Kwon Isoo suddenly spoke in a crooked voice.
“Of course I’m curious. Do Yeonjae said he’s a huge fan of mine.”
“What? Really?”
You’re suddenly saying that here? Strength filled Do Yeonjae’s flustered eyes. He hurriedly tried to cover his mouth with the Choco Heim in front of him, but it was useless.
Kwon Isoo lightly snatched Do Yeonjae’s arm as he was about to put the snack in his mouth and dropped a bomb in a gentle tone.
“Yes. Do Yeonjae personally told me he’s my fan. That he likes me so much.”
“Hey, when did I say I like you?”
He was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak. And why is he emphasizing it so insistently like that?
He seemed upset that he wouldn’t tell him the secret, and what’s more, after saying everything he wanted to say, he arbitrarily took his arm, crunched on the snack, and played innocent.
That nimble movement was like a thieving cat stealing fish. Do Yeonjae stared helplessly at the chocolate snack that was only half left in his hand, then put it in his mouth with a bitter face.
The PD watching the two brightened her eyes as if interested. She keenly caught the truth from Do Yeonjae’s reaction.
“Then either way, it’s true you said you’re a fan?”
“…I just said it because I like NEOS’s songs.”
“Those NEOS songs were also made by Isoo-ssi. A relationship of both friends and fan… Your chemistry is already so good. Then since Isoo-ssi has joined, shall we move right to the two-person interview?”
“Yes. It must be an honor for my family for my fan Do Yeonjae-ssi.”
“……”
For a moment he almost told him to cut it out…
Kwon Isoo said he didn’t want to become close with him again. He had no intention of objecting to that decision, but surely he wasn’t planning to pick fights like this throughout the entire filming?
First, he needed to get through the interview well. It seemed like they’d almost exhausted all the answers he’d matched with Kwon Isoo beforehand during the 1:1 interview. If worst comes to worst, I’ll have to secretly step on his foot… Just as he was glancing under the table with that thought.
The PD who’d been flipping through papers suddenly raised her head.
“Ah, before the interview first. Do you both drive well?”
“…What?”
He opened his eyes wide at the sudden question. Kwon Isoo’s reaction next to him wasn’t much different either.
* * *
“Then we’ll see you next week!”
After the pre-interview and guidance about the first filming ended, Kwon Isoo left first saying he had a schedule. Right up until he left, he persistently asked what the secret was, and Do Yeonjae was completely drained from not answering until the end.
Do Yeonjae trudged out of the production company office.
His manager hyung said he needed to stop by the company briefly, so after handling some minor schedules, he returned to the dorm. It was already two o’clock. I’m a bit hungry… What should I eat for lunch?
He opened the front door while thinking of delivery menu candidates in his head.
“I’m back.”
“You’re just coming now?”
But Kang Ihyun hyung was at the downstairs dorm. Even Hayun hyung and Baek Sian hyung… Seeing the members sitting around the living room, it seemed they were planning to eat lunch together.
Do Yeonjae asked while taking off his shoes.
“Where’s Minsung hyung?”
“On a date. Hurry and sit down. We ordered yours too since you said you were coming.”
“What did you order?”
“Jajangmyeon. A large serving for you and Ihyun hyung.”
Baek Sian, who’d been playing a phone game, answered instead. Jajangmyeon is good. After washing his hands and changing into comfortable clothes, the doorbell rang with perfect timing.
“I’ll get it.”
He opened the door and received the food from the delivery driver. Thank you. Seeing the back of the departing delivery driver reminded him again of Kwon Isoo who’d disguised himself as a driver earlier.
Hayun looked at Do Yeonjae who was smiling alone, thinking about something, then asked.
“Yeonjae, how was the interview?”
“Mm. The atmosphere was pretty good. But…”
Yeonjae answered while neatly setting up three bowls of jajangmyeon, one bowl of jjamppong, large sweet and sour pork, and kung pao shrimp on the table. His face recalling the interview was quite crumpled.
“At the end, we did like a best friend exam with Kwon Isoo and it was a disaster.”
“Best friend exam? Why?”
“How would I know what his phone wallpaper is…”
That wasn’t all. Kwon Isoo’s recent catchphrase? Only profanity came to mind so he couldn’t answer. The song he listens to most these days… His biggest concern… How would he know any of that?
When the question ‘What’s the first thing my best friend does in the morning?’ came up, he thought what do I know about that… but barely answered by recalling their trainee dorm days.
‘Burying his face in the pillow because he doesn’t want to get up?’
Looking at Kwon Isoo’s expression, it didn’t seem to be the right answer though.
Kwon Isoo’s side couldn’t answer properly either. He didn’t expect they’d ask things like this, but even if he’d known, it would’ve been hard to prepare. The consoling point was that the questions were so detailed that even real friends might not know them.
Well… Even if they’re not, what can you do about something that’s already happened?
“Won’t they edit it appropriately?”
He shrugged and thoroughly stirred his jajangmyeon, but the gazes fixed on his face were strange. What are those subtle looks… Do Yeonjae rolled his eyes and asked.
“Hyungs, why are you looking like that?”
Then Baek Sian frowned as if frustrated.
“When exactly are you going to tell us? I’m dying from waiting.”
“…Tell you what?”
“About Kwon Isoo. We roughly knew you two were close during trainee days, but you never talked about it once after debut. You never met separately either. Did you recently become close again?”
But didn’t you have a bad expression all day when you filmed the challenge? Looking at that, you don’t seem close, but then you’re saying you’ll film a best friend reality program. The members’ curiosity amplifying at the youngest’s subtle attitude was natural in a way.
“It’s not that I’m trying to interfere with your relationships, I’m just curious. What is it, between you two?”
“Ah…”
Do Yeonjae let out a groan. Right, that’s true. The hyungs probably only know that he naturally grew distant from Kwon Isoo after debuting with RAYEON.
At first he was too busy blending into the group to have a chance to talk about this, but it should be fine to say it now. Enough time has passed that it’s okay to casually mention the bullying member’s withdrawal.
“Before… He heard the news that I was joining RAYEON and we fought.”
“You fought? Why?”
“He told me not to join. Saying didn’t we promise to debut together.”
The RAYEON members’ faces colored with shock.
“…That’s so ridiculous.”
“It is ridiculous. So I spoke to him pretty coldly. We cut contact then and met again after a long time when filming the challenge.”
“I see. He must have been hurt… You must have been really close.”
“We were.”
It felt quite odd to bring out something he’d kept buried alone. Hayun hyung, who’d been lost in thought listening to his story, spoke in a calm voice.
“Mm, I understand… I would’ve wanted to debut with Yeonjae too if I were him.”
“There are some things that can’t be helped.”
“It must have been hard adapting when you first joined after fighting with your friend. We should have looked after you better.”
“Hyung, you really took care of me more than enough.”
“Still, I think Minsung was a bit prickly too.”
“Minsung hyung was really close with that hyung, right? They were the same age too. It’s okay.”
It wasn’t okay just because it was in the past—it was really okay. Even at the time he didn’t think much of it, but he’s been hearing apologies for years now so it’s rather awkward.
Hayun smiled softly watching Do Yeonjae wave his hand a couple times and inhale his jajangmyeon nonchalantly.
“Yeonjae seems really solid. Honestly, if I were in Yeonjae’s position, I think it would’ve been hard because I’d be watching others’ reactions.”
“Don’t worry, Yuna. This hyung took good care of him.”
Kang Ihyun, who’d already emptied more than half his jajangmyeon bowl, belatedly chimed in. Accepting Hayun’s ignoring as familiar, he picked up pickled radish and said to Yeonjae.
“Then you saying you’d do that program, is it because you want to go back to how things were before?”
“…Yes.”
When Do Yeonjae answered honestly, Kang Ihyun went “Hmm” and crossed his arms. Then he stretched out his neck long and examined Yeonjae’s face this way and that. …His face was too close so Do Yeonjae became slightly burdened.
“Why?”
“You eat so neatly. Someone else eats messily getting it all over.”
Kang Ihyun grinned and pulled out a tissue, grabbing Hayun’s chin. Then he wiped the jajang sauce on the corner of his mouth. Hayun instantly scrunched his face. Mmph, mmph! Whether the one with his mouth blocked expressed his irritation through his expression or not, Kang Ihyun moved his hands naturally.
“Shh, stay still. I’m taking care of you like you wanted… But Yeonjae, from hyung’s perspective, I think Kwon Isoo was waiting for your contact too?”
