A few hours earlier, after finishing the private meeting with Executive Director Choi.
Nam Jungho stayed at the company a bit longer, then headed to Division 5’s A&R team office with the problematic card key at a late hour when everyone had left work.
Up until departure, he worried about the situation where Executive Director Choi would ask ‘Did you go as I told you?’ However, when he actually arrived in front of the empty office, a different worry gripped his throat with a thud.
‘Should I really do this?’
That worry doubled when the card key touched to the pad actually opened the door.
Nam Jungho stepped inside with trembling feet.
‘I’m not trying to do something bad.’
Just, Executive Director Choi is only trying to establish dominance over him… it’s like a kind of courage test, and it won’t harm Go Won at all.
Since we’re from the same company family anyway, what’s the problem with listening first?
‘…That’s what should be…’
No matter how much he rationalized, his heartbeat wouldn’t stop.
Nam Jungho anxiously looked around inside the office, then found one computer left defensively on, relying only on the door lock.
And in the cloud folder, he discovered a certain file.
[Go Won] New song_demo ver
At least for that moment, curiosity defeated fear.
Music flowed from the speaker with the volume turned down considerably.
“……”
The song that started quietly rippling like waves near his ankles quickly swept through while he was spaced out.
Nam Jungho’s lips automatically clamped shut tight, and his eyes grew hot.
‘The song is too good.’
It was a song so good he thought it was too much, excessively so.
Moreover, this wasn’t at the level of saying he coveted the song like in <DRIFT>’s case.
From hearing the first verse, Go Won’s face came to mind. The dark blue image established in the debut song rippled throughout the entire song.
This was a song solely for Go Won. Something the genius called Baek Hanje produced only for that one thing…
Nam Jungho listened to the music as if entranced on the spot, then eventually turned off the song right before the bridge and fled the place as if escaping.
‘…Can I beat Go Won who’ll be active with that song?’
No, I have to win. What am I saying?
But both Go Won’s talent and the opportunities given to him seemed like massive walls. Walls gradually pushing him toward a cliff.
Far from igniting motivation, his mind became complicated instead. Thinking about coaxing and cajoling the kids to practice from tomorrow made his insides burn more.
Still, cooling his head in the quiet room seemed to help a bit.
Creak—
The door finally opened.
Nam Jungho thought this timing was the worst among recent events.
Nam Jungho was roommates with Jeong Yusang. The process of deciding roommates was filmed as self-content, and fans cheered for the combination of the immature, noisy maknae and the leader who always took care of his younger sibling while holding his forehead at such behavior. Knowing that, he even deliberately lost games.
“Hyung, are you okay?!”
If you know I’m not okay, don’t come in, or just leave me alone.
Yusang finally came to Jungho’s bed and clung to him.
“What, did Executive Director-nim go on about Go Won again?”
“…Yusang-ah.”
“I went on a variety show with that bastard last time. He fucking sucks at comments. If I take the conversation a few times, he can’t even do tickytacky and just shuts his mouth? He just had a moment because of Debut Chart, only withering away remains.”
“……”
“Hyung, just trust me. Next time I’ll go on a variety show and really shine.”
Jeong Yusang appeared solo on a terrestrial variety show together with Go Won last time without other members.
The reason was simple. The slot given to Newton was only one, and Jeong Yusang was Newton’s center.
It’s not common for a minor maknae to be the most popular member in a group, but Yusang was exactly that.
Go Won was 1st place on <Debut Chart> so he was center, and even now debuting solo he’s still center.
And Yusang is also eternally center.
What would it feel like to be born naturally as center? A state of mind where you don’t need to worry about how much airtime you’ll get today, and don’t know the disappointment of standing at the very side when lining up?
“Next time I go on a variety show, I’ll really dominate and come back.”
It was a statement overflowing with confidence that if one person goes out ‘next time’ too, it would be himself.
Nam Jungho desperately suppressed the base emotions rising toward his younger sibling three years younger.
“Yeah, got it.”
“Then let’s go out and eat something. Together with the other hyungs.”
“It’s activity period, what are you eating at this hour? If you’re swollen tomorrow, manager-nim will scold you.”
Even in this situation, such words come out…
‘Right, they’re kids I have to take care of.’
It was when he was trying to settle his mind that way.
“Manager-nim? It’s fine. I’ll cover it. Manager-nim doesn’t get angry at me about eating. Since he says to work hard on growing taller during growth period to try acting, if he says anything, I’ll throw a fit saying I can’t become an actor because I’m not tall enough.”
At those words, what had only been piling up inside burst out.
“Yeah, good for you. You bastard.”
“…Huh?”
“Right now, we’re about to be called K-dum’s first failed idol, but even in the midst of that, good for you that you’ll survive.”
“Jungho hyung…? Failed idol, why are you talking like that…”
“Jeong Yusang. You’re the only one popular, so you can’t see the situation, right? You don’t care at all what worries the other members and I have?”
Bewilderment spread across Jeong Yusang’s face. His brown eyes blinked several times.
“Then I’ll… work harder and lead all the hyungs. What’s there to worry about?”
Yusang didn’t know that was the very thing he shouldn’t say.
“Get out.”
“Hyung…”
“I said get out!”
Hearing the loud voice, members hurriedly opened the door and entered.
“Hey, Jeong Yusang, you bastard. I told you not to go in.”
“Hurry and come out, come out.”
The members dragged out Yusang who still had a shocked face. Yusang didn’t resist the hyungs and stepped his feet outside the bed. However, his gaze remained on Nam Jungho until he left the room.
“…Hyung, Sorry, be alone.”
Foreign member Liam left clumsy Korean words and closed the door.
“Ha…”
Nam Jungho curled up his body as if embracing depression in the dark blanket.
* * *
K-dum Entertainment’s company cafeteria.
This place gained fame early on through vlogs and self-content of affiliated celebrities. It was thanks to the menu being splendid and delicious enough to become a topic.
Office workers who had been waiting only for lunch time gathered in groups and headed to the basement 1st floor.
“Wow, looks delicious.”
Deputy Manager Kim of K-dum Entertainment Division 5’s marketing team was very satisfied with the company benefits and picked up a tray. Today’s main menu was cheese pork cutlet. A thick chunk landed on his food tray in front of the pork cutlets prepared like a mountain.
“Could I have one more?”
“Sure. There’s plenty.”
“Then… three?”
The serving staff looked at Deputy Manager Kim’s build and willingly gave three pieces, seemingly judging him a big eater. Since they’d give even four or five pieces when external security personnel or well-built managers came, this much was no problem.
“Gee, can you eat all that?”
“Totally possible.”
Deputy Manager Shin from the same marketing team smiled as if impressed and searched for a place to sit together. Just as they moved their steps after finding an empty seat.
“Wow, eating it all alone. Seriously no business ethics.”
Hm?
When the two looked back, they pretended ignorance as if asking when that happened, but it was undeniable it was directed this way.
“Ah, no, they should just ask for a lot too…!”
“Just leave it.”
“…Yes.”
The two tried hard to ignore it and passed by. But they ate with a bit of a lump inside. As Division 5 employees sat next to them in turn, Deputy Manager Kim vented about the upsetting incident that just happened.
“Who was it?”
“There, the person in the blue shirt and people around them.”
“They’re Division 4 people. Using energy really efficiently on such a hot day…”
“Ah, it was Division 4? Then it makes sense they’re angry.”
One person lowered their voice as if comforting Deputy Manager Kim.
“Happiness is in order of grades.”
Puhaha! At those words, laughter spread among those gathered.
In the first half of this year, the fact that Go Won’s performance was vastly better than Newton’s performance was something no one could deny.
When they looked that way with suppressed laughter hanging, the other side couldn’t help but notice the gaze.
The unpleasant discomfort thrown this way earlier spread to the other side too.
Trying to continue the meal with a slightly refreshed feeling.
“Ah, why eat so noisily? Using the cafeteria alone? Really no business ethics.”
“It’s that place. I understand. When you watch them eat, you can see their usual behavior too.”
Another voice of criticism was heard.
“Excuse me.”
Eventually, Section Chief Yun from Division 5’s group, who couldn’t stand it, twisted his neck crookedly and raised his voice.
“That was directed at us just now, right? Why are you picking a fight?”
“What? I said I understand even if Division 5 is noisy, why are you taking that as picking a fight?”
“What do you mean you understand because it’s Division 5?”
“It’s characteristic of Division 5. Why? Does saying it’s Division 5-like sting?”
“Would you not feel bad if I said you guys are also characteristically Division 4, crawling and grumbling in the back seats?”
“What, you son of a…”
