“What about Yuho?”
“His phone is turned off?”
“What about Inhan?”
“He’s not answering or the line’s busy. He’s not answering your calls either, hyung?”
“Yeah.”
Taylor and manager Suhyung were sitting side by side on the living room sofa, sharing the troubles of being in charge.
Suhyung hadn’t expected that kids who’d been active for the past 5 years without missing a single schedule would act so impulsively. He thought if anyone would cause trouble, it would be Raulie or Taylor. Suhyung looked at the two members sitting on the living room sofa and gained the realization that indeed, you shouldn’t make hasty judgments about people.
“I’m not worried about Yuho……”
“It’s Inhan I’m worried about.”
“Really, what do we do about Jung Inhan, hyung?”
At Taylor’s worried question, Suhyung grabbed his head. Haa. A sigh came out automatically. What about tomorrow’s filming schedule? Should I call the assistant director even now? The stress was no joke.
Yuho – [I’m at my parents’ house. I’ll definitely answer tomorrow. I’m sorry]
Yuho kindly even sent a text informing them of his destination before disappearing, so there was less worry, but Inhan was different.
Whether members, managers, or company directors, he’d ignored every single call and vanished without anyone knowing.
“Team leader. Where are you going?”
When Suhyung got up from the sofa, manager Juseung, who’d been persistently trying to call Inhan, asked the question.
Suhyung answered with an expression like he was being dragged to the afterlife.
“To call the assistant director.”
Because it seems like tomorrow’s filming is ruined anyway. Suhyung disappeared into his room with a deep sigh.
* * *
Yuho caught a taxi and headed straight to his parents’ house in Jamsil. Even though he knew he shouldn’t do this, he didn’t have the confidence to face the members.
He’d turned off his constantly ringing phone long ago.
“Yuho. What brings you here without any notice?”
His parents seemed surprised at Yuho’s sudden appearance.
They seemed to have many questions about Yuho’s swollen face after crying his heart out, but they didn’t try to force open Yuho’s firmly shut mouth.
Yuho refused dinner and holed up in his room to sleep. After repeatedly sleeping and waking, the morning sunlight he faced was excessively dazzling unlike usual. Ah. Blackout curtains. He regretted only now what he’d kept putting off, saying he’d install them someday.
“A call came from your manager hyung.”
When he went outside his room, his mom handed him a glass of lukewarm water and spoke to him.
When Yuho emptied the glass of water, breakfast was set on the table. Yuho obediently sat in a chair at the table.
“What did he say?”
“Just. Asked if you arrived home safely. Yuho, you didn’t cause any trouble, did you?”
“No. Nothing like that. I just came because I don’t have a schedule.”
“Okay. But why did Inhan suddenly get sick?”
“Huh?”
“Inhan, I mean. They said he was sick and got taken to the hospital?”
Surprised at his mom’s words, Yuho hurriedly turned on his phone.
With a loud vibration sound, notifications for missed calls and messages appeared in succession.
Yuho ignored all the notifications and went straight to the entertainment news page.
‘7SPOT says “Inhan diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis early this morning, resting” [Official]’
‘Jung Inhan misses ‘Let’s Walk Together’ recording due to acute gastroenteritis… Schedule adjustments in progress’
”Phantom House’ Jung Inhan to emergency room due to acute gastroenteritis… All filming schedules canceled’
Yuho calmed his surprised heart for a moment. He first thought it was fortunate it wasn’t a major accident or dangerous illness.
Yuho first checked the messages from Inhan. They were all messages sent the day before.
Inhan – [Hyung, where are you now?] 3:07 PM
Inhan – [Did you go home? Please answer the phone] 3:15 PM
Inhan – [Hyung. Are you really going to do this? Even if you’re leaving, leaving like this really isn’t right] 3:37 PM
Inhan – [Contact me as soon as you see this message] 4:24 PM
Inhan – [Do whatever you want, hyung. I’ll do whatever I want too] 8:48 PM
At Inhan’s messages that ended with extreme words, Yuho’s heart became anxious again.
“Mom. I need to make a call.”
“Okay.”
Yuho got up from his seat and headed back to his room while calling Suhyung.
As soon as the ringtone sounded, the call connected immediately.
“Yuho. What is this really……”
“Suhyung hyung. What happened to Inhan?”
“He vanished.”
“What?”
“I said he vanished. He suddenly disappeared in the evening and we haven’t been able to contact him until now.”
“You don’t even know where he is?”
“Yeah. They said he’s not at his hyung’s house either. We contacted his close actor friends too, but everyone said they don’t know. The company is in chaos right now.”
At Suhyung’s answer, Yuho felt dizzy. This wasn’t why he steeled his heart and pushed Inhan away. At the situation worsening contrary to his intentions, guilt came flooding in.
“You just keep your phone on and wait for now. I’ll contact you again as soon as the situation is sorted out.”
“Yes.”
Suhyung seemed busy and tried to hurriedly end the call.
Yuho obediently answered and waited for the call to end.
“Don’t go anywhere and stay home quietly. If you turn off your phone again, I really won’t let it slide. I’ll come get you at home right away.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
The call ended with Suhyung’s small threat.
‘The phone is turned off, so after the beep, you will be connected to voicemail and charges will apply.’
He tried calling Inhan, but it was a useless action. In the end, he was getting what he did.
The situation had reversed in just one day.
Yuho – [Where are you? Contact me when you see this message]
Yuho sent a message to Inhan.
At the same time, his phone rang loudly. Thinking it was Inhan, he urgently checked, but the caller was Taylor. Ah. This is serious. Having finished assessing the situation, Yuho belatedly realized how big a mistake he’d made. Yuho pressed the call button with a worried heart.
– You want to die?
“I’m sorry.”
– If you’re going to cause trouble, do it small-scale like Raulie. Don’t do it this big and scare us.
Taylor’s voice was calmer than expected. Rather than his anger subsiding, it felt like enlightenment. Yuho spat out excuses first with a guilty heart.
“I didn’t plan it, but the situation suddenly became like that……”
– That’s scarier. Like a time bomb that you don’t know when it’ll explode.
“I’m really sorry. I have no excuse.”
– Let’s give advance notice from now on. If you have worries, please open up. We’re not that distant, are we?
“Of course not. I didn’t know things would blow up this big, I’m really sorry.”
At Yuho’s repeated apologies, Taylor’s nagging also ended at verse 1. What was urgent now wasn’t Yuho but Inhan.
– You heard Inhan vanished, right?
“Yes.”
– We need to bring him back, right?
“Yes. We should.”
– You naturally have to come too.
At Taylor’s words, Yuho couldn’t answer easily. With what kind of heart should he return to the company?
Perhaps gauging Yuho’s feelings, Taylor called Yuho’s name in an even gentler voice.
– Yuho.
“Yes.”
– It’s not that it’s absolutely impossible, but let’s consult together and decide. Ending it like this isn’t respectful to the fans either.
“Yes. I know.”
– I’m sorry hyung didn’t notice you were having a hard time. I’m also greatly at fault for how this turned out. I should have paid attention sooner.
“No, hyung. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just me, I’m lacking……”
– Whatever decision you make, hyung supports you. So first, come back and let’s all see each other’s faces and talk. Okay?
“……Yes. Okay.”
At Taylor’s repeated persuasion, Yuho eventually had to raise the white flag. In fact, he couldn’t deny it was an impulsive decision. Ending it like this was too irresponsible, as Taylor said.
– Okay. Pull yourself together and come back.
“Yes. Hyung. I will.”
– Okay.
The call with Taylor ended simply. Afterward, he also finished calls one by one with the other three members. Far from scolding him, they were all busy comforting him. Yuho felt even more guilt.
A reply from Inhan ultimately didn’t come.
* * *
Yuho – [Still no contact?]
Yuho sent a message to Yeomin.
He’d already contacted him with the same content two hours ago, but he wasn’t in a mental state to consider that.
Suhyung, who said he’d contact him when the situation was sorted out, had no news whatsoever even as night fell.
Yeomin – [ㅇㅇ still missing]
Yeomin’s reply came back immediately. However, it wasn’t the news Yuho wanted.
Yeomin – [When are you coming, hyung?]
Yuho – [Suhyung hyung told me to wait for now]
Yeomin – [Huh just come] [If Inhan comes and you’re not here, it seems like there’ll be chaos again]
But Yuho still didn’t have the confidence to face Inhan.
Then suddenly the phone rang. The caller was Suhyung. Yuho hurriedly answered.
– Yuho.
“Yes. Hyung. What happened?”
– We found Inhan. I’ll come pick you up now, so be ready. I’ll arrive in about 30 minutes.
“What? I’m going too?”
– You have to come too. Would Inhan obediently come if I went to pick him up? At least he listens well to you.
“Inhan listens well to the other hyungs too. Taylor hyung could go.”
– Taylor said to bring you. He said it’ll be useless otherwise.
Suhyung wasn’t in a state to consider Yuho’s feelings right now. Knowing that urgent heart, Yuho obediently agreed to accompany Suhyung.
In fact, Yuho’s heart was as urgent as Suhyung’s.
* * *
“Hello.”
Yuho politely greeted the stranger standing before him.
The person who directly opened the front door and guided Suhyung and Yuho inside the house was top actor Seo Domyeong, referred to as a celebrity’s celebrity.
He’d become close with Inhan after working on a drama together 2 years ago, forming a group and hanging out together to the point of being best friends.
He was naturally the number one person they should have contacted when Inhan disappeared, but they’d been in trouble after being coldly cut off by his manager when they reached him.
But fortunately, Domyeong himself had first contacted them through Taylor, with whom he had an acquaintance.
“He seems determined not to go. I can’t kick him out either.”
“Thank you so much. You don’t know how worried we were.”
Suhyung bowed his head and gave his thanks to Domyeong.
