“Ah, welcome.”
As soon as Do Yeonjae entered the interview room, PD Woo Jiyeon greeted him warmly. Hello, hello. After politely greeting each staff member one by one, Do Yeonjae sat down in the chair across from them. Water bottles and various snacks were placed on the table.
The interview room staff were mostly young women. The PD sitting in the center among them spoke with a troubled expression.
“I heard you drink coffee well. We ordered delivery, but it’s a bit later than expected. Even if it arrives during the interview, don’t worry about it and just continue answering.”
“Ah, yes. I understand. Thank you for the coffee. I should have bought some and brought it.”
“No, no. This is our first time seeing each other in person, right? Actually, I’ve seen Do Yeonjae-ssi a lot in the media. I’m a fan.”
“Thank you. I actually feel somewhat familiar too. I enjoyed watching all the programs you’ve done, PD-nim. I heard your voice a lot there.”
There were cases where the natural chemistry between cast members and staff became a topic of discussion. PD Woo Jiyeon’s content tended to draw good reactions in that direction as well.
“Haha, I appeared too much like a celebrity all this time, didn’t I? This time it won’t be like that. We’re going to go completely cast-centered. Because bringing out you two’s chemistry is more important than anything.”
Before the full-fledged interview, PD Woo gave a light explanation about how the program would proceed.
“You must have seen the proposal, but to explain briefly again, the concept is to raise the ‘Chemistry Gauge’ through the process of you two creating music that can showcase your chemistry well.”
Do Yeonjae nodded. They said the goal was to max out the gauge by the end of the program.
“Actually, I personally was really impressed watching the singing competition show Yeonjae-ssi was on. I thought, ‘There’s an idol who sings this well.’ But then when I heard that someone like that had a connection with Kwon Isoo-ssi, my eyes lit up. I thought, ‘Oh, this could make a good picture,’ so I pushed through from planning to casting at super speed.”
“Thank you for viewing it favorably. I’m honored to be able to work with you, PD-nim.”
“Oh my, I’m the one who’s grateful. Then, may I ask a few questions about you two now? You can answer simply as things come to mind.”
“Yes. Please feel free to ask.”
“Mm, first of all… when did you become close with Kwon Isoo-ssi?”
“Ah, I first met Isoo when we were trainees…”
The preliminary interview flowed quite smoothly. Unlike what he’d worried about, there were many questions about the trainee period, so he could answer without hesitation.
“…So after we got scolded by the trainer together for our dawn escape route, Isoo said that. That next time we go out, you have to eat ramen without broth.”
“Ahahaha. Either way, it means let’s sneak out again, right? Ah, so fresh and cute. But you were that close, yet when you debuted before Isoo-ssi, you must have felt very disappointed.”
“Ah… Yes.”
He flinched when this topic came up.
At the question that hit right at the mark of a memory he didn’t want to dig up, Do Yeonjae put on a habitual smile. What should I answer? Countless words circled between his flapping lips… but what came out in the end was a single heartfelt statement.
“At the time, I really was very disappointed.”
Did I say it too indifferently? But this level seemed just right. Since Do Yeonjae treasured his current connections too, he didn’t want to give an answer that would make RayIt or the members feel hurt.
He also didn’t want to dampen the atmosphere.
“But thanks to that, now Isoo and I get to do PD-nim’s program together like this. I think this is good too.”
At the clean and sensible answer, the PD also smiled along.
The interview continued. Like a professional idol, Do Yeonjae created a calm yet pleasant atmosphere. Conveying memories with a friend in front of the camera brought up… how should he put it… somewhat unfamiliar emotions. Because remembering alone and putting it into words were very different things.
“Unlike during trainee days, you must be very busy now, so what do you two mainly do when you meet?”
Questions related to the present were similar to what he’d expected too, so he could answer within the responses he’d coordinated with Kwon Isoo.
“Now, this next question is a bit intimate.”
Just as the PD, who had glanced at her wristwatch, brought up the next question, there was suddenly a knock-knock sound. One of the staff members sitting together stood up and went toward the door. After talking about something with the person outside, they made way.
Must be the coffee delivery they said was coming. Do Yeonjae shifted his gaze back toward the PD. Since a question was just about to come out, he needed to focus on the interview now.
“If there’s a top-secret that only Yeonjae-ssi knows that even your best friend Kwon Isoo-ssi doesn’t know?”
“Ah, a secret…”
Do Yeonjae’s fingers lightly tapped the table. Even though Kwon Isoo wasn’t in this place, asking him to tell a secret when they clearly knew it would be broadcast…
In times like this, he usually had to tell a secret that was indeed a secret, but one that wouldn’t matter if revealed to the whole world while also being appropriately entertaining for broadcast.
…What would that be? Actually, there’s probably far more that Kwon Isoo doesn’t know about me than what he does know… As he quickly racked his brain, a delivery driver wearing a cap pulled low approached. With a mask on too, not a bit of their face was visible.
After glancing at their sturdy build, watching the hands that set down two 4-cup coffee carriers on the table, he thought absently. Their hands are really long and big… He lightly bowed his head toward the driver in greeting.
“Thank you.”
Ah, I thought of one. A secret that would be okay to tell.
It wasn’t much, but if he said it like it really wasn’t much, he’d be disqualified as a broadcaster. Do Yeonjae clicked his tongue unnecessarily as if troubled, then hardened his expression and set the mood.
“This is a real secret, PD-nim.”
After confirming that the PD nodded solemnly, he lowered his voice.
“Actually, I pretended I wasn’t like this to him, but…”
Just as he was about to speak, this thought suddenly occurred to him.
But isn’t the delivery driver too handsome?
Do Yeonjae, while pretending to drag out his answer, recalled the appearance of the driver he’d just glimpsed. Though they thoroughly covered their face, originally handsome people showed their aura no matter how much they hid it.
Moreover, it seemed like they were settling payment in one corner of the interview room right now… The movements of the staff dealing with the delivery driver looked awkward somehow.
“…”
Do Yeonjae looked at the PD who was waiting for his answer with an odd expression, then lowered his gaze. Looking at the carrier filled only with iced americanos, he opened his mouth.
“I think the delivery came to the wrong place.”
“What?”
PD Woo Jiyeon’s eyes widened. He continued in a calm tone.
“Kwon Isoo, you don’t drink coffee.”
Toward the delivery driver.
The meeting room fell into silence. When he turned his head, he could see the driver’s body stiffen with a jolt.
After standing in silence for a moment, the person raised their hand with a low sigh.
“…Why did you stop talking mid-sentence.”
Soon the mask came off and the revealed face was, just as Do Yeonjae had guessed, Kwon Isoo. There seemed to be utterly no sincerity in the gesture of removing his cap and tousling his flattened blonde hair.
To be precise, what seemed important to him right now wasn’t his flattened hair. Kwon Isoo, who had approached with large strides, narrowed his eyes and demanded.
“What did you pretend you weren’t?”
“Huh…”
He thought maybe, but it really was Kwon Isoo. While Do Yeonjae was at a loss for words, PD Woo’s cheerful voice was heard.
“Ta-da! It’s a surprise camera. You were surprised, right?”
A surprise camera. Then from the beginning, saying the coffee delivery would be late too… As he narrowed his eyes and grasped the situation, her explanation continued.
“It was a mission to disguise as a delivery driver. We were curious how quickly you’d recognize your friend, and honestly, it’s faster than expected? As expected, you two must be really, really close.”
No… When someone suspiciously covers their entire face like that and is that tall, wouldn’t it be stranger not to recognize them? However, since there was no need to correct the misunderstanding that he and Kwon Isoo were close, he laughed it off with a haha.
And he confronted Kwon Isoo, who was nonchalantly sitting down in the seat next to him.
“You said the interview was at 2 o’clock, Kwon Isoo.”
“The person who naively believed it is at fault.”
His shrugging shoulders were utterly shameless. The PD watching their conversation pointed out playfully.
“In reality, you call him Kwon Isoo. You kept saying Isoo throughout the interview?”
“…”
Kwon Isoo raised his eyebrows as if to say, ‘Did I?’ Do Yeonjae gradually avoided that obvious gaze and made an excuse.
“Well, when guys call each other, dropping the surname is a bit…”
During trainee days, he used to call him Isoo-ya, Isoo-ya just fine though. By the way, I didn’t just reveal we’re not close, did I? When he sneakily checked the staff’s expressions, they didn’t seem to have noticed anything particularly strange.
However, he couldn’t feel relieved yet. It seemed like the interview with Kwon Isoo was only starting now. He’d been relieved that it was going well, but they gave him a surprise like this…
As he took out the coffee from the carrier and distributed it to the staff, Kwon Isoo persistently asked from the seat next to him.
“So, what is it.”
“What.”
“The secret.”
“…Would it be a secret for no reason?”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a big deal even if it was revealed, but he had no intention of obediently telling Kwon Isoo.
“If you wanted to know, you shouldn’t have been caught.”
“…”
Seeing his face scrunch up sharply as if annoyed, he felt somehow refreshed inside. Because he thought he must have cursed a lot inwardly just now.
