Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 113

113.

It had been a while since I’d been home. I was waiting for Mok-hwa to arrive. Originally, I wanted to spend New Year’s together at home, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible due to scheduling.

My New Year as a 21-year-old, Mok-hwa’s New Year as a 19-year-old.

My parents always ordered pizza on New Year’s Day, saying we should all rest together. So, even after it was just the two of us, we continued to order pizza every New Year’s Day with the money we had saved up.

Even though we didn’t have much money, it was a desire to preserve the memories we had with our parents.

I used to earn money, but Mok-hwa wasn’t around to buy it for… So, the first day of the New Year, which I faced alone, was spent just focusing on books without any thoughts. To avoid thinking about anything.

Now, I have money, and I have Mok-hwa too. Just as I’m about to get used to it, I’m suddenly afraid of whether I deserve to enjoy this.

And then, the sound of the door lock being unlocked.

“Hyung, your younger sibling is here!”

At Mok-hwa’s voice, I put down the book I was reading and went to greet him at the entrance.

“Hyung, it’s been so long. I’ve only been calling, and now I finally see your face!”

I took Mok-hwa’s coat and bag and went inside.

“We’re ordering pizza today, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, Hyung, I feel like I’m dreaming. It’s been years.”

“……Me too.”

I said that and sat on the sofa. He sat next to me and took out a small box from his bag.

“Hyung, this is a gift!”

“Suddenly?”

“No, I wanted to be with you on your birthday… but it didn’t work out.”

My birthday is January 1st. I only received congratulations from Mok-hwa over the phone.

“It’s really selfish, but I feel like if you hadn’t become a celebrity, you wouldn’t have reconciled with me. But since you became a celebrity, it’s hard to be with you on January 1st, so I feel a bit… But it can’t be helped. It’ll probably be like this every year, right?”

He’s a younger brother who doesn’t know that as long as you can recognize that you’re being selfish, there’s no big problem.

“So, I’m sorry, Hyung, but let’s just pretend today is January 1st. Let’s make the first day we meet every year January 1st!”

I listened quietly and then burst out laughing. This damn younger brother. How can he be so thoughtful?

“Okay, let’s make it January 1st.”

As soon as I said that, Mok-hwa jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“Hyung, happy birthday!”

Then, he turned on the birthday song on his phone and took out a small piece of cake that he had brought from somewhere, and put a candle on it. Looking at the packaging box, it was from the cake shop that he liked and recommended to me.

After receiving the entire birthday song in Mok-hwa’s beautiful voice, Mok-hwa held out the cake and box to me. As if telling me to blow out the candle and accept it quickly.

“Hyung, I’m buying this with the money I earned from my part-time job, so don’t feel pressured.”

That’s even more of a burden, younger brother.

I carefully took the cake and blew it out with a short puff.

“Can I open the gift now?”

“You can, but you have to read the letter when I’m not here.”

I carefully opened the blue box, and there was a wallet inside.

“Hyung is still using the wallet… I gave you as a gift when I was in middle school.”

He smiled awkwardly, as if he was embarrassed.

“Well, if a relatively successful idol is using a character wallet, people will say something, Hyung.”

“…I guess no one can say anything now.”

Of course, I don’t know anything about the maker [brand], but for now, it’s the most expensive wallet for me, so I’m willing to argue if anyone says anything.

I took out the wallet and quietly stroked it. If I said the texture was warm, it would be a delusion.

“…I bought a gift too, Mok-hwa.”

“Oh, really?”

“But……”

I brought the box that I had placed in one part of the house. On the box.

“Red ginseng?”

Red ginseng and honey are drawn on it. Anyone can see that it’s a visual that suits the elderly rather than the energetic Mok-hwa.

“…To your adoptive parents.”

Mok-hwa, who heard that story, was rather pleased and clapped.

“Wow! I was feeling a bit guilty anyway! I spent all the money I saved up to buy Hyung a gift.”

Mok-hwa, who told you to spend impulsively like that.

“…Please tell them, thank you.”

Thank you for protecting the smile that I tried to protect.

After some time passed, when two pizzas arrived and we sat at the table, we exchanged various stories.

“…So, the debut date is confirmed as what you told me last time?”

“Yeah. Debut in March this time.”

I refilled Mok-hwa’s cola as he took a bite of pizza and mumbled.

“…Then let’s work together this month.”

Mok-hwa tilted his head.

“Work?”

“Yeah.”

A long time ago, when I first worked on a debut song, I wrote a song for myself, not for us.

“There’s a song I wrote for you.”

To be exact, there’s a song I wanted to sing with you.

“…A song?”

Mok-hwa tilted his head to the other side once more. He’s the most lovable being I know.

“Yeah.”

“Hyung, for me?”

“So, I think it would be good to check your tone. You said you have a 3-day holiday, so would that be okay?”

‘Isn’t this my birthday instead of Hyung’s birthday?’ Mok-hwa muttered quietly with a serious expression.

“…Anyway, now is the best birthday, so don’t think like that.”

“I’m happy, of course. But, if you’re going to release this, shouldn’t you discuss it with your agency?”

“It’s okay to make it. It’s enough just to make it with you and me when we’re resting.”

Even if it doesn’t make money, that’s enough.

* * *

1 PM, at this time when everyone’s day is in full swing, I’m still lying in bed.

‘……I’m happy.’

On the 3rd day of the holiday, after meeting Mok-hwa and doing various work, I became truly idle.

Even so, I’m not an active person, so I’m lying in bed reading a book.

Chae Ha-min should be in the bed next to me, but he went out saying he had something to do.

Considering his personality, he would have chattered about what kind of business it was, so it seems like it’s not a good business.

Instead, Lee Hyun-jae was sitting in that seat, reading a book with an e-book reader. He’s a guy who’s different yet similar to me.

After reading the book for a while.

“…Hyung.”

“…Why, Hyun-jae?”

“I’m going to apply to college.”

I closed the book and looked to the side. Lee Hyun-jae is still reading the book. Hmm, is this career counseling? I’ve never done it before.

Since it’s the new year and Hyun-jae, Lee Hyun-jae is 19 years old, it’s not bad to finalize the college issue.

I quietly wait for the rest of the story to continue. Lee Hyun-jae puts down the e-book reader and looks at me, then continues.

“I’m going to go to college with Hyung.”

I pondered over what he said and was a little surprised.

“…What major?”

Korean University doesn’t have a department of the kind commonly called practical music. I can go to Korean University, but I was curious about what major he was thinking of graduating from.

“Korean Literature. It’s because of what happened from tutoring with Hyung, so please take responsibility.”

I was surprised by the word Korean Literature, and then I smiled at the word responsibility that followed.

“Hyung, for reference, I’ve already memorized the definition of responsibility. I was kidding.”

I closed my mouth.

I try to organize my thoughts again. Was that really what Lee Hyun-jae decided on his own, or was it the result of Lee Hyun-jae’s parents forcing him?

“Did you decide on your own?”

“Yes. After tutoring with Hyung, I started reading a lot of literature-related books… and I liked the writing of a Korean University professor so much.”

It’s one of the common routes to deciding on a university. Usually, they discover the gap between the professor’s image imagined in the book and the actual professor’s appearance and regret it.

“If I have to learn… I wanted to learn literature.”

I nod. It’s a great declaration and courage to support.

“Tell me if there’s anything I can help with. I remember everything up to the high school course.”

Lee Hyun-jae bursts into laughter as if he had expected it.

“…Aren’t you going to say something like, ‘It won’t work, how can you do that when you’re busy, what kind of delusion is that’?”

Did he tell his friend and hear something like that? It’s not something to worry about, but it seems like it bothered him.

“I won’t, don’t ask when you already know.”

A question that already knows the answer is a useless question.

“Hyun-jae, just ignore those people who say that. If you want to do a legal job and believe you can, you have to ignore other people’s voices.”

“I used to care a lot about other people’s opinions, but I think I’ve changed because of Hyung. I don’t know if it’s good to resemble this.”

I think back to Lee Hyun-jae during the survival show. He was restless even in the practice room, and he couldn’t sing properly because of the pressure to do well. Then, he regained his self-esteem slowly by talking to me.

…I wonder if I was a good adult. I don’t know why I always doubt whether I’m an upright Hyung [older brother/male friend] from the past to now.

“Anyway, if there’s anything I can help with,”

“Hyung, it’s not a matter of what you can help with, I’m going to suck your blood?”

Socrates. A guy like the horsefly of Athens.

Just as we were about to concentrate on reading books again, Ryu Iden came in and ran to Lee Hyun-jae.

“No! Our Hyun-jae! You’re going to Korean University! Oh, great! Really!”

Ryu Iden grabbed Lee Hyun-jae’s head with his hand and messed it up. He must have been eavesdropping on the story outside. As if he’s not crazy, he’s really enthusiastic about crazy things.

“Ah, Hyung! Please! Please! Go away, you’re like an old man!”

That’s a very agreeable argument.

Lee Hyun-jae tried his best to shake off Ryu Iden, but he only realized the difference in strength. I wonder how I can fix that old man-like personality.

I picked up the book, ignoring that side. To be exact, I was about to pick it up.

“Hyung-nim!”

If Seok-joon hadn’t come in. Unlike Ryu Iden, Seok-joon ran towards me.

“Why don’t you give me college counseling?!”

I was so dumbfounded that I laughed. He must have been eavesdropping on the story outside too. This damn dorm, there’s no such thing as a secret.

“…You’re not planning to go, Joon.”

“That’s right, but I’m sad!”

If that’s right, there’s no reason to be sad, Joon.

“I’m a cute younger brother too!”

Stop, Joon. The only being that can be defined as a cute younger brother in my life is Mok-hwa.

“I’m a cute older brother too!”

Iden, you’re… ha.

Get lost, both of you are disgusting.

I felt like I was going to be disgusted, so I got up from my seat. All of them are noisy, I should go to the kitchen and drink water until I calm down.

And when I opened the door and went outside.

Squeak, I saw Chae Ha-min coming in from the entrance.

“Ha-min, you’re here.”

After saying that, I walked back towards the kitchen, but there was no answer from Chae Ha-min, who was taking off his shoes.

Chae Ha-min, who was coming in with his hand on one cheek and a gloomy expression that didn’t suit him. It seems like it was a negative business as I expected.

“Ha-min.”

When I called him, he widened his eyes like a rabbit and ran into the bathroom as if he had met a wild wolf.

…Oh my god. I never thought that the event of being ignored by Chae Ha-min would be recorded in my life.

The sound of the bathroom door slamming shut made the three heads in the room pop out.

“What’s wrong?”

That’s right. It seems like something big happened.