Why the Kind Idol Member is Guilty 31

“What?”

“If I get caught up in something like that for no reason, I’m the only one who loses out. Unlike you, once I get on the company’s bad side, it’s over for me. Who knows? Maybe if I deliver you back safely, the CEO might put in a good word for me?”

Yuho thought there was no point in trying to prove feelings that would only be denied anyway. He was already the boy who cried wolf, and the other person wouldn’t believe him even if a real wolf appeared. Or perhaps they were deliberately looking away because they didn’t want to believe.

“Is that… really how you truly feel, hyung?”

“Yes. So let’s stop this nonsense already.”

“Hyung.”

“Do you want me to be more specific?”

“Yuho-hyung.”

“Let’s break up.”

If getting together had been that easy, how hard could breaking up be? Having already confessed, Yuho had nowhere left to retreat. They say even a cornered mouse will bite a cat—he figured he could bite Inhan too.

“I don’t have as much patience as you, so I can’t keep taking this anymore. So let’s break up.”

Giving back what he received was something Yuho could do too. After all, he was Seon Yuho, renowned for his exceptional ability to learn quickly.

“This isn’t a request or a plea—it’s a threat.”

Application was a bonus.

“Fine.”

Inhan roughly wiped away his flowing tears with his palm and pulled his body back, getting off the bed. Then, without looking at Yuho, he spoke as if making a promise to himself alone.

“Let’s end everything. I’m tired of playing the good dongsaeng too.”

With those final words, Inhan headed out the door. Even after Inhan left and Yeomin came back into the room moments later, Yuho’s tears wouldn’t stop.

Even with the blanket pulled over him, Yuho’s sobs leaked out, and Yeomin lingered anxiously by the door.

“I thought I shouldn’t come in, so I waited outside, but would it have been better if I’d come in earlier?”

To Yeomin’s hesitantly asked question, no answer came from Yuho. Feeling awkward, Yeomin decided to choose the option of pretending not to notice and going to sleep.

“Then I’ll turn off the lights.”

Yeomin turned off the lights and, just in case, left Yuho’s night light on before heading to the bunk bed. Then he offered words of comfort that required no response from Yuho.

“Don’t worry, hyung. Jung Inhan may act like that, but he’s still Jung Inhan. He can never beat you.”

As Yeomin predicted, no answer came from Yuho. Yeomin tried to fall asleep using Yuho’s intermittent sobs as a lullaby. Then he suddenly felt the need to correct what he’d said.

“But if you were fighting about disbandment, then I’ll take Inhan’s side just this once. We still can’t do anything without you hyungs. So please just lose this one time, hyung.”

Yuho was aware of it too. The fact that the younger members had been watching him nervously lately. The fact that they were watching Yuho with anxious hearts, as if looking at a time bomb that could go off at any moment. Yuho couldn’t easily stop his tears, thinking that his wrongful feelings had ruined everything.

“Sorry for adding unnecessary comments without reading the room.”

Yeomin apologized when he noticed Yuho’s crying had gotten louder, but Yuho’s tears showed no sign of stopping.

It was a night where no one could sleep.

* * *

‘Kim Seokjae ♥ Yoo Jua, Dating Confirmed… Have Been Meeting Since Early This Year’

Seeing the dating article prominently occupying the main entertainment news section, Yuho couldn’t shake off his gloomy mood. When he clicked the title to check the article’s contents, an even more absurd story poured out.

‘At the time of the dating rumors with Jung Inhan, the two were already in a relationship, and it has been revealed that Kim Seokjae also accompanied them to the Hongdae drinking session.

Kim Seokjae and Jung Inhan are members of the social group “Doran,” which also includes Seo Domyeong and Kim Unseong, and are known to be close enough to travel together.

Regarding the previous dating rumors, Kim Seokjae expressed that he felt sorry for putting his dear dongsaeng Jung Inhan in a difficult situation and promised to make it up to him by buying expensive, good alcohol for life.’

Even after the follow-up reports denying the dating rumors between Inhan and Jua, the angered fans’ sentiments didn’t easily subside, and ultimately the incident was concluded with Yoo Jua and Kim Seokjae declaring their relationship publicly.

What does any of this matter now?

Yuho lamented as he closed the internet window. At the same time, Yuho’s phone rang. The caller was Suhyung.

“Oh. Yuho. Why did you call?”

Suhyung had called back after seeing the missed call Yuho had left 20 minutes ago. Even knowing he shouldn’t, Yuho’s hand had already reached for his phone. His only concern was whether Inhan was okay.

“I was just wondering when you’d be back, hyung.”

“Me? In two days. Why? Did something happen?”

“No. Just curious.”

Yuho hesitated for a moment. Then he finally brought Inhan’s name out of his mouth.

“Hyung. Is Inhan doing okay?”

“Inhan? Yeah. Nothing’s wrong. Why? Want me to put him on?”

“No. Later. I’ll talk to him later.”

Yuho let out a sigh of relief. Inhan, who he’d expected to cause a scene at being told to break up, was maintaining a calm state like the calm before a storm. Even in the group chat where he used to dominate much of the conversation, he wasn’t responding at all, only removing the unread notification. Yuho forcefully ignored the unsettling feeling and spoke to Suhyung.

“Hyung. Please don’t tell Inhan that I called.”

“Why? Did something happen again?”

“It’s not that, but… can you just not mention it?”

“Yuho.”

Instead of answering, Suhyung let out a deep sigh. Then he asked Yuho.

“Do you just want to move out of the dorm? Should hyung talk to the company about it?”

At Suhyung’s concerned words, Yuho felt like he could finally breathe. At the same time, a surge of emotion welled up inside him.

“Would that be okay?”

“I was planning to bring it up soon anyway. With team activities being uncertain, I didn’t think there was a need to keep living in the dorm.”

“Hyung. Then, I want to do that. I… want to move out.”

Yuho finally burst into tears and spoke to Suhyung as if pleading.

“Hyung. I’m… so exhausted. I really can’t do this anymore. …I want to quit everything. Please help me.”

“Alright. Yuho. Don’t cry. Hyung will talk to the company properly. Okay? Everything will work out. You trust hyung, right?”

“Hyung…”

Listening to Suhyung’s voice desperately trying to comfort him somehow, Yuho cried like a child for a long time.

Right behind Suhyung, Inhan was sitting with his head leaning against the window, taking a short nap.

To be precise, he had only closed his eyes and was listening to Suhyung’s entire phone conversation.

* * *

It had been two days since Yuho had declared a breakup that was almost embarrassing to even call a breakup.

The time was 2 AM, and when Yuho woke up, two messages from Inhan had arrived.

Inhan – [Are you sleeping?] [If you’re awake, let’s talk for a bit. I’ll wait in the living room] 12:34 AM

It had already been an hour and a half since the messages were received.

He’s probably not there anymore. Even thinking that, Yuho was already getting out of bed. And he headed out the door, muffling his footsteps.

Yuho stood in front of his door and looked toward the living room. From afar, there seemed to be no sign of anyone on the sofa. Yuho thought he’d made a wasted trip and was about to go back to his room.

*Cough.* That’s when he heard someone’s light cough. Yuho cautiously approached the sofa.

On the sofa, Inhan had fallen asleep with only his upper body lying sideways. Even though the weather was quite cold, he was in a deep sleep in an uncomfortable position with his legs dangling off, with nothing to cover himself.

After watching Inhan for a moment, Yuho headed back to his room.

All the spare blankets were in the master bedroom’s dressing room, so it was hard to find anything suitable to cover him with. Yuho hurriedly pulled out a long padding coat from the wardrobe. Then, after a moment’s thought, he put the padding coat on the bed and struggled to carry his blanket out to the living room.

Yuho carefully covered Inhan’s body with the blanket. His position looked uncomfortable, but worried that Inhan might wake up, Yuho hurried back to his room.

Maybe I should have brought him a pillow too. Yuho thought unnecessarily as he spread out the padding coat to cover himself and fell asleep.

When Yuho opened his eyes again, the blanket had returned to him.

And Inhan had already left the dorm.

Inhan returned to the dorm only late at night.

When Raulie suggested they all order late-night snacks together, Inhan said nothing, so they thought he might stay out overnight, but he suddenly opened the dorm door and came in right when all the members were gathered.

“What? If I’d known you were coming, I would’ve ordered one more portion.”

“Oh. I’m fine. I already ate dinner.”

Inhan answered Raulie’s complaint briefly. Then he passed through the living room and headed toward his room.

“At least have a beer with us.”

“Then let me just change clothes and I’ll come out.”

Inhan obediently answered Jueon’s suggestion and headed to his room.

Shortly after, Inhan returned to the living room in comfortable clothes, sat next to Jueon, and received a can of beer.

Then, after taking a sip or two of beer, he surprised everyone with an unexpected announcement.

“Hyungs, I’m planning to move out of the dorm.”

The most surprised among the members was Yuho. He had been wondering how to bring up the topic of moving out of the dorm, but Inhan beat him to it. Thanks to that, all the members’ criticism was directed at Inhan.

“Hey. Jung Inhan. What’s this about?”

The first to express displeasure at Inhan was Yeomin. And then Raulie scolded Inhan.

“What’s with this sudden change of attitude? Did you change your mind already?”

“I’m just saying I’ll move out of the dorm. I’ll find a place near here too.”

“Why? You hate being alone.”

It was Jueon who asked in a worried voice. Inhan answered calmly, as if he’d anticipated the reaction.

“I’m not a kid anymore, so I can’t live with you hyungs forever. Taeyoon-hyung was really uncomfortable too.”

“Don’t use me as an excuse, you punk.”

“Yes. I’m just uncomfortable myself.”

After Inhan’s words, a brief silence fell.