Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 63

63.

A room as silent as a tomb.

Ji Dong-hwa was buried deep in his blankets, sound asleep for the first time since the survival show.

And into that room, the lightest sleeper of the group, Lee Hyun-jae, tiptoed in, opening the door with the utmost care.

He carefully placed the cool, wet towel on Dong-hwa’s forehead and then retreated.

Every twenty minutes or so, another member would come in, replacing the towel and adjusting the blanket, just as Lee Hyun-jae had done.

Then, as Seok-joon came in to adjust the towel, Ji Dong-hwa suddenly opened his eyes, startling Seok-joon so much that he fell backward.

With an almost obsessive thought of, ‘I—can’t—make—a sound!’ Seok-joon reached his hands over his head, arching his body like a gymnast.

Ji Dong-hwa, who had half risen, stared blankly at him before finally speaking after a long silence.

“…What are you doing, Joon?”

‘I’m—sorry—but—I—can’t—make—a sound!’

And so, Seok-joon moved his hands and feet in bizarre motions, leaving the room in that state.

And Ji Dong-hwa, left alone, mumbled as he lay back down in his blanket.

“…Let’s just say it was a nightmare.”

A nightmare he absolutely didn’t want to believe, that a member of his team was a descendant of cockroaches.

* * *

Pain is familiar, but care is not.

Thinking that, I picked up the still-cold towel from my forehead and moved it aside.

…I’m used to suffering to the point of collapsing, but this towel is hard to get used to.

When I was young, I endured the pain with my mental strength while taking care of Mok-hwa, and after that, I always lived alone, so when I collapsed, I just stayed still and soon got better.

“…Ahem.”

I tried to clear my hoarse throat with a cough.

“…You can come in instead of just watching from there.”

I don’t know what’s gotten into them, but those guys, who would normally be making a fuss and showering me with all sorts of words, are lingering outside the door, catching my eye.

The sight of the members peeking in, heads lowered from above, was bizarre.

“…It won’t affect tomorrow’s practice.”

As I said quietly, Ryu Iden burst in and shouted quietly.

“No! It’s not about practice! Your health comes first. It’s a hundred times better for you to rest than to collapse during practice!”

Ha, that damn puppy. Does he think I’m a fool who can’t even check my own condition…….

Hmm…….

I was a fool.

Since there’s no basis to argue, I’ll have to quietly follow Ryu Iden and the other members’ decisions this time.

* * *

Thus began my period of rest, which was also a confinement. As a reward for being sick yesterday, I was lying alone in the empty dorm, as the members had left for practice.

…Ha, my head hurts.

I quietly got up and sat down, then took out the stun gun I had put on the shelf.

‘…Good thing I bought one.’

Listening to the sounds from outside the door, I quietly approached the front door and latched it.

“Are you sure no one’s here right now?”

“The kids all went to the practice room.”

Hmm, this is really annoying.

I sent a text message to the manager, ‘Request support for stalker intrusion,’ and hid behind the door.

‘If they have something like a wire, which would clearly indicate intent to intrude, I can zap them with the stun gun.’

I don’t know how they figured out the password, but they’re confidently pressing the buttons as if they were the owners of the house.

‘Hmm, did they install a CCTV [closed-circuit television] or something?’

Thunk. The door opened, and they seemed flustered by the latch, which shouldn’t be there, and shouted.

“Hey, who’s inside!”

Even so, still.

Hmm, impressive. Wouldn’t most people be flustered in this situation?

Then someone reached an arm inside, and I casually took a picture with my phone camera.

‘According to precedent, the crime of residential intrusion is now confirmed.’

Looking at the scar on their hand, it’s the same person who confessed to Chae Ha-min.

“I said, who is it! This prank isn’t funny!”

They must have really thought no one was inside because they didn’t even have something like a wire cutter.

‘…Looks like I won’t even need to use the stun gun.’

I checked the durability of the latch and roughly counted the number of people by the sound of their voices, then came to a conclusion.

‘…They definitely can’t break it.’

The double latch I bought in preparation for this day. They won’t be able to get in unless they break the wall with their bodies. Unless they bring a battering ram or something.

And the moment I was sure of that, the tension eased and I felt stable. There’s no point in being afraid when there’s no need to be afraid, it’s a waste of time.

…However, I’m still a bit hazy.

I went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, listening to the loud noises from outside.

Should I read that Homi Bhabha book I was reading yesterday again?

I took out a book from my bookshelf in the corner of the dorm and sat on the sofa.

And after reading a few pages, I heard the manager arrive with the police.

I took a sip of coffee and went to the door to unlock the latch.

Kang Seung-won quickly checked my body and asked with a worried voice.

“…Are you alright?”

“Well, I’m fine except for the lingering headache from yesterday.”

At that moment, those caught by the police made their voices heard.

“Dong-hwa! Just look at us once!”

“Wow! Aren’t you being too harsh on your fans?”

I didn’t give them a glance and showed the stun gun to Manager Kang Seung-won.

“Hmm, I should have just zapped them. Seeing how lively their mouths are, they don’t seem to care how their lives are ruined, so I hope the proceedings go ahead without a settlement.”

I took another sip of the coffee I was still holding because my throat was sore and continued.

“According to precedent, since a part of their body entered the house, residential intrusion is established. I took pictures to help with the prosecution process. You’ll be able to confirm their identity with the scar.”

Manager Kang Seung-won panicked again and looked speechless.

“And as I was coming out, I noticed a camera installed up there that I hadn’t seen before. It seems like they installed it, but in case you say there’s no evidence… I got permission from the landlord and the neighbors…….”

I detached the small ball-shaped object attached to the top of the door.

“I had a security camera installed. The scene of them installing it should be recorded, so I’ll give you the video on a USB later.”

Having said everything I needed to say, I felt the haziness rising again as the aftereffects of the illness hadn’t completely worn off, so I greeted them and returned to the dorm.

Sitting on the sofa, I drank the already cold coffee and organized my thoughts.

‘…Ha, it finally paid off.’

The security camera, the stun gun, even the anti-opening device installed on the window.

Things I had bought one by one after talking with Jun-sung finally shone today.

Unless they’re crazy, would they even think about infiltrating a house with such thorough preparations again?

…Ha, then I’ll have to prepare again.

* * *

The members all rushed in before practice was even over.

…Well.

“You’re early.”

I greeted them with an overly calm face, reading a book as usual, which made them doubt whether what they had heard from the agency was true.

“Practice?”

“Oh, it ended a little early today, but Dong-hwa, are you, are you okay?”

Chae Ha-min jumped up and approached me.

“I heard strange people came!”

“Well… they certainly weren’t normal.”

“S, should you get psychological counseling or something?”

Chae Ha-min is the type to comfort people directly, not the type to tell someone else to get counseling. In other words, it’s highly likely that Team Leader Jang Hae-jin instructed him to say that.

To set up a counseling session if the situation seems really bad.

But while the concern is appreciated, I’m not mentally shocked by something like this, unfortunately.

The only times my mind has been shaken in my life were when I sent Mok-hwa to another house and when I was consumed by those related memories.

“Well… to be honest, I think it’s a relief.”

I slowly told the worried members my thoughts.

First, if no one was here, they would have been blocked by the double lock, but they could have gotten a wire cutter or something to cut it.

Second, if someone had to be here, it was better for it to be me or Ryu Iden.

Third, and from the start, I’m not the type to be very afraid even if those things come, as long as I’m thoroughly prepared.

So, in conclusion, it’s rational for me to stay.

“…Rational, my foot.”

Chae Ha-min muttered quietly as he listened to me. Looking at his face, there was anger in it.

“You collapsed yesterday because you were sick, what’s rational about that, Dong-hwa!”

I was momentarily flustered and began to seriously analyze why Chae Ha-min was reacting like this.

“…Why do you always try to suffer alone.”

…Well, I’m twenty-nine years old, so I can’t hide behind you guys, that’s why.

As I was muttering the unspeakable secret in my heart, Chae Ha-min, who was the type to cry when angry, teared up and turned around, going into the room.

Thus, in the chilly atmosphere caused by Chae Ha-min’s probably first-ever anger, Ryu Iden awkwardly smiled and said.

“Well, what Ha-min said isn’t entirely wrong. We’re partners, not protectors.”

…That’s true, but.

“And you picked a leader to handle this kind of mental breakdown! You’re just trying to do everything yourself. You can rely on me for that kind of thing!”

Ryu Iden tried to lighten the mood cheerfully. Seok-joon and Lee Hyun-jae, overwhelmed by the spirit emanating from Chae Ha-min’s inner anger, were finally breathing comfortably.

Therefore, the question that comes to mind at this point: describe how to resolve Chae Ha-min’s anger.

* * *

And after sitting on the sofa for ten minutes, racking my brain, I was surprisingly unable to answer even a single line.

I was born with a narrow circle of relationships, and I intentionally distanced myself from others, so how would I know the dynamic process of resolving anger?

In times like these, I need a puppy in charge of social skills.

I stared at Ryu Iden, who was eating a salad at the table, for a long time.

Then Ryu Iden grinned slyly and mouthed, ‘Fighting!’ [A Korean expression of encouragement, like “You can do it!”]

He has no intention of helping, the bastard.

Of course, he’ll help if this lasts for a long time, but basically, he’s telling me to try without help. If you intervene carelessly in a dispute between people, things can get twisted.

I first got up from the sofa, opened the door, and went inside.

Chae Ha-min was sitting on the bed, looking at me with a stiff expression, as if he had been waiting for me. Then he lowered his head.

Damn it, this is awkward.

“Um, Ha-min.”

“…Dong-hwa.”

I sat on my bed and looked at Chae Ha-min.

“To be honest… I knew that you saw us as people you had to protect, Dong-hwa.”

You’re unnecessarily perceptive, Ha-min.

“I don’t know why, but I thought it was a good thing that you were trying to protect us, so I just let it go.”

Chae Ha-min continued in a deeply sunken voice.

“What happened today… was a bit much. You’re not a bullet shield.”

Chae Ha-min sighed deeply again. Then he continued with another long mumble.

“It’s the same with work. Even if we tell you to rest a little, you always ignore us. It’s obvious to anyone that you’re pushing yourself, but you keep trying to sacrifice yourself. You don’t even share your hardships with us. You always try to solve everything on your own. Even if we say we’ll help, you just say it’s okay…….”

“…That’s.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again, realizing I had nothing to say in response.

“It’s the same today. What do you mean it’s natural! How can you talk like it’s your duty to sacrifice yourself for our team.”

After finishing speaking, he caught his breath, which had become rapid from speaking quickly. Then Chae Ha-min spat out a word in a weak voice.

“Sometimes, Dong-hwa… I feel like you don’t trust me or the other members.”

…That’s not true.

It’s true that I distrust them in certain areas, but if I were to pick five people in the world besides myself that I could trust, they would be among them.

However, the aftereffects of me overlapping the members with Mok-hwa since the survival show must be showing now.

So Chae Ha-min is asking. Why are you trying to bear all the problems alone?

‘…Damn it, I almost made the same mistake as with Mok-hwa.’

“Just suffer with us a little. Don’t do it alone. I’m so grateful that you prepared for today without us knowing… but I feel like I’m going crazy because I’m so sorry.”