Do Yeonjae, who had been silently watching the two, answered.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, it’s been years since it ended badly, but you filmed a challenge together and okayed the program. You two should talk it out. You know too, it’s hard to find a friend whose heart aligns in the entertainment industry, right?”
“Mm… Yes, I understand.”
Do Yeonjae hesitated for a moment before nodding. There’s no need to mention that he’s hated, right? Because it seems like the hyungs would be upset.
When Kang Ihyun lowered his hand, Hayun smacked his back asking who told him to wipe it. Kang Ihyun took it as it was and laughed ha-ha-ha, saying that Yeonjae worrying about friend relationships seemed like his real younger brother and was cute. Does that hyung think of his real younger brother whenever he sees me… But the expression on Baek Sian hyung across from him was strange somehow. After thinking deeply about something, he muttered in a small voice.
“…Is that why?”
“Hyung, why what?”
When Do Yeonjae asked, Baek Sian hesitated uncharacteristically before speaking.
“Ah… This is something I heard, but there’s talk that the NEOS guys don’t get along well with each other. They say it’s brutal to a degree.”
Do Yeonjae made a quite surprised expression. They don’t get along?
He did occasionally have the passing thought that those members’ relationship felt more like business rather than family.
But brutal to a degree. Even when he briefly saw Choi Taeon and Kwon Isoo together last time, they didn’t seem particularly on bad terms… Though Kwon Isoo never answered even once.
“Did something happen?”
“I don’t know that either.”
Then Kang Ihyun frowned slightly and looked at Baek Sian.
“That’s a separate issue, Sian. What does Yeonjae have to do with the NEOS members not getting along? They’re even 3 years apart in debut.”
“No, I just thought maybe it’s because Kwon Isoo wanted to debut with Yeonjae so he doesn’t like his current members… It’s too much speculation. Sorry.”
“Yeah, I like that clean apology. Let’s talk about something else now. Yeonjae, is next week your first filming?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, what… They said you’d make a song. What do you do first?”
“Ah, manager experience.”
“Huh? Why a manager out of nowhere?”
“I heard it for the first time today too. They said it’s to more closely examine each other’s daily lives having lived as different groups… It’s kind of like a prologue feel so it’ll go up as episode 0.”
“Then one day Kwon Isoo will be your manager, and another day it’s the opposite?”
“I think so. Not on days with group schedules… Ah, Hayun hyung. We have that day next week when we’re filling in for radio. They said it’s that day.”
“Huh? Oh… I see. Got it.”
Hayun nodded with an odd expression. Baek Sian raised the corners of his mouth to the breaking point as if he’d heard something very interesting.
“Then on the day you’re the manager, you trembling while driving will be the first time it’s broadcast?”
At that, Do Yeonjae’s expression darkened at once.
“That’s what I’m worried about right now…”
He got his license as soon as he turned twenty, but he couldn’t say he drove well. Rather, he was closer to being scared of it. The PD-nim said he didn’t necessarily have to drive, but still, it was a manager experience, so it would be disappointing if driving was left out.
“I’m going to practice when I have time.”
“Yeah, hyung will help you. Still, we’re a senior group compared to NEOS, so we need to maintain our pride. Right?”
“Hey, do you think it’s some survival show? If you say it like that, Yeonjae will feel pressured.”
When Hayun scolded him, Kang Ihyun grumbled that he only gets told off. The hyungs are bickering harmoniously again… Yeonjae, who had been looking at the two meaningfully, quietly turned his head away.
Right now, just matters concerning Kwon Isoo were enough to exceed his brain capacity limit.
* * *
Do Yeonjae spent the day digesting schedules as usual.
He thought there was nothing special to prepare before the first filming of <My Favorite! Chemistry> except for driving practice, but one day PD-nim suddenly contacted him separately.
Yeonjae-ssi, hello ^^ It’s PD Woo Jiyeon. If you have time, could we talk for a moment?
What could it be? He’d already received notification about filming through his manager hyung. Do Yeonjae straightened his back and quickly typed.
Hello PD-nim. Please go ahead.
Yes! It’s nothing else, but Isoo-ssi did a surprise mission on the day of the preliminary interview, right? But it would be disappointing to have only one person do something this fun… so we’re going to give Yeonjae-ssi a secret mission too, hehe
A secret mission?
Yep. The mission content is to get Isoo-ssi to say “thank you” to you via text, and then pass that screenshot to us! The deadline is before the first filming, and of course, directly leading words are prohibited ^^
“…’Thank you’?”
He has to get Kwon Isoo to say thank you?
I think it’ll be too difficult..
LOL Originally close friends don’t really say embarrassing words like that. But that’s what makes it an interesting mission hehe Isoo-ssi failed, so if Yeonjae-ssi succeeds, we’ll give you a reward. So fighting!!
Do Yeonjae looked emptily at the PD-nim’s irresponsible encouragement before sending a reply saying he understood. And he thought.
Since it’s a mission, he should do his best but… how on earth can he get Kwon Isoo to say thank you? He’s the kind of guy who tells you to get lost saying he doesn’t need it even if you give him a water bottle.
Moreover, he has to pass the screenshot to the production team… To summarize, within a few days he has to make Kwon Isoo express gratitude without cursing even once. He also can’t get caught being on a mission.
“…”
With his path ahead seeming bleak, Do Yeonjae tried to gather as much information about Kwon Isoo in his head as possible. What does Kwon Isoo like?
Cigarettes? Come to think of it, when he saw him recently, he didn’t really smell like cigarettes.
Well, that was filming, so he probably sprayed deodorizer or something beforehand. Thinking of the cigarette buffet in Kwon Isoo’s living room… But he couldn’t volunteer to be someone’s cigarette errand boy just to hear one “thank you.”
Should I send a chocolate chip frappuccino gift card?
No. Do Yeonjae shook his head. He must have already made a lot of money, so material things probably wouldn’t be very useful. Mm… Then what is there.
“Ah.”
He remembered. Something Kwon Isoo likes.
During trainee days, it was a certain day before the weekly evaluation after he’d gotten somewhat close with Kwon Isoo.
Do Yeonjae was quite nervous that day. No matter how indifferent his temperament, even he hadn’t gotten used to being evaluated by others in this jungle-like practice room, and strangely his throat condition wasn’t like usual either.
Did I push too hard yesterday? Since this evaluation song was a bit difficult to sing while dancing, it seemed he’d practiced excessively. As he was dejectedly fiddling with his throat, he saw Kwon Isoo coming into the practice room.
Come to think of it, Kwon Isoo had never once shown an embarrassed color even when the trainers gave somewhat harsh evaluations. Do Yeonjae was also on the side of having good resilience, but that didn’t mean he didn’t get hurt. He couldn’t help but be sensitive about music, which was the only thing he showed greed for.
But Kwon Isoo possessed a unique composure in any situation. That didn’t mean he completely let all the trainer’s feedback flow away either. From Do Yeonjae’s perspective, it seemed like he absorbed only what he needed without getting hurt.
He recalled the image of Kwon Isoo standing with dignity even when other trainees were being territorial and not clapping for him in the early days of joining. How interesting. Does he not get nervous at all?
He asked right away out of curiosity.
‘Kwon Isoo, don’t you get nervous when you perform?’
At Do Yeonjae’s question, Kwon Isoo snorted with an indifferent expression.
‘What is there to be nervous about. You just do it.’
‘Ooh…’
Do Yeonjae was genuinely impressed. I see. Don’t think about other things and just do it as you practiced. I should learn from that kind of thing…
But right before the evaluation started, Do Yeonjae, who had briefly gone to the bathroom, ended up seeing it.
Kwon Isoo staring intently at something in a corner of the hallway.
What’s he looking at so intently? Instinctively reducing his footsteps out of curiosity, he approached. When he stood on his heels and peeked over Kwon Isoo’s shoulder, he saw a tablet. Maybe because the screen was large, he could see it at a glance, and Do Yeonjae, confirming the content, opened his eyes wide and…
‘…Puhup.’
He couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
‘You…!’
Kwon Isoo’s shoulders flinched at the sudden laughter and he quickly turned around, but Do Yeonjae was already clutching his stomach and shaking with laughter. Ahaha, haha!
‘Why, why are you peeking and acting crazy?’
Flustered, Kwon Isoo, who stuttered for the first time, started getting angry wildly. But Do Yeonjae had reason to hold his belly button and laugh. Because on the tablet screen he saw… a horoscope site was open.
🌟20XX January 23 Lucky Horoscope🌟
5th place Gemini
You can do well in important presentations. Try to maintain a confident attitude.
🍀Drink ion beverages
‘Acting like you’re not nervous at all…’
You were looking at something like that?
He laughed for a long time at Kwon Isoo, who couldn’t say anything. Do Yeonjae’s eyes folded wide like crescent moons and clear laughter echoed in the hallway. It seemed like it had been really long since he’d laughed this much.
So… it felt like glimpsing the secret side of Kwon Isoo, who was always like thin ice, and because it happened to be a horoscope… it was too funny.
Then he felt a little sorry about Kwon Isoo’s reaction, which had become sharply quiet. Did I laugh too much? He wiped the tears hanging on the corners of his eyes and raised his head.
‘…’
Kwon Isoo was looking at him with his whole face flushed reddish. Do Yeonjae belatedly felt a pang.
