Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 190

What kind of hardships have they overcome?

“The kids, all of them, are stronger than us.”

“…Stronger?”

I was puzzled. Did they perhaps lose a fight? Even so, to be strong enough to overcome physical shortcomings, it would be impossible unless they were specially trained at Hwa-yang’s house.

“Yes. Everyone has better stamina than us. There were a total of 10 kids. Eden *hyung* [older brother or male friend] faced six of them, and the two of us faced four, but we couldn’t stand against them.”

“The kids were clinging to Eden *hyung* like ants, but *hyung* endured it all! He was like the World Tree from the Wizney universe!”

“No, I’m a jungle gym, Joon-ah. Fixed in the playground, not moving, giving everything for the kids……”

Ryu Eden hugged his knees and buried his face. But it felt too tight because of his muscles, to the point where the disharmony of his posture and physique was distracting.

“I, I! Using the playground as a child without any gratitude! I’m trash! Dong-hwa, torment me! I can’t stand how trashy I am!”

Recording complete. Since you said it yourself, I’ll make good use of it. Let’s stay up all night for about a week on our day off, Eden.

“But I survived thanks to Jooni *hyung*. He improvised a Wizney storyline like a fairy tale for the kids.”

“And I was a chair.”

Seriously, what’s with these kids? Are preschoolers these days that wicked? Why is Ryu Eden always treated like equipment or an object? Treat him like a proper puppy.

“Anyway, save me, guys. Puppy Class is hell. Let’s draw lots! Let’s draw lots!”

“Oh dear. I promised Bong-joo that I would come to this class and sit with him tomorrow. What a shame.”

“Sorry, *hyung*. Dong-hwa and I are a set.”

“That’s right. Ha-min is in charge of everyone except Bong-joo. It would be a disaster without her.”

“I, I’ll take care of everything! I’ll be the chair for everything! Please!”

I ignored Ryu Eden grabbing my pant leg and left with Chae Ha-min to clean up the classroom. It was amazing that all this farce was being filmed. This needs to be edited out.

“Are, are the kids all gone now?”

“Probably.”

Although the after-school care classroom is supposed to be open until the parents come to pick them up, it’s already 8 o’clock, so they should have left already.

“Let’s clean up before the teachers come. I made a big mess.”

No, that’s just the aftermath of the war. A proud battle scar.

As I slid the door open and entered, a child was burying their face in their knees like Ryu Eden and sleeping in the corner of the empty classroom.

…Bong-joo.

“Oh, he hasn’t left yet.”

“His parents must be finishing work late.”

Come to think of it, it doesn’t seem that uncommon. In this day and age, there are many jobs that require working late, and you can’t always leave on time. I guess the reason why these after-school care centers are thriving is because there are many parents like that.

Chae Ha-min quietly walked over and tidied up so as not to wake Bong-joo. I also picked up the sheet music that was evidence of my rampage on the piano. Seriously, he endured it.

“Oh my, teachers, not even taking a break……. You’re so diligent.”

“Ah, Teacher!”

“Oh my, teachers are always surrounded by cameras like this. I don’t think even most celebrities could handle this job.”

“You get used to it after a while. We even went on a survival program at first, and they filmed everything, even when we were changing clothes. It was a little awkward back then.”

Don’t lie. You haven’t changed since the first time I met you, Ha-min. You’re the best at being the same in front and behind the camera out of all the celebrities I’ve seen.

“But Dong-hwa is so incredibly the same in front and behind the camera, it was amazing!”

“Now that you mention it, it seems so.”

The teacher looked around the classroom and let out a short sigh, looking sadly at Bong-joo sleeping in the corner.

“Hmm, Bong-joo’s father must be working late again today.”

“Ah, I thought so too. We thought he was finishing work late.”

“Still, he’s in the second grade, so it doesn’t feel good to see him alone.”

I hope Bong-joo is in a deep sleep. It’s not a pleasant thing to hear.

Just then, the classroom door opened, and a teacher peeked her face in.

“Lee Teacher, to the office for a moment!”

“Ah, yes!”

The teacher was flustered and soon conveyed the message to us with a nuance of being extremely sorry.

“Um, could you watch over Bong-joo here for a moment? I’ll run over and come back quickly.”

So, I was cleaning up the toys next to Bong-joo and sat down a short distance away from Bong-joo for a moment. Chae Ha-min also sat down next to me.

“He’s sleeping soundly.”

“Just like you.”

Innocent. It’s a compliment to a child, but it’s no different from an insult to an adult.

“You must be watching me sleep.”

Don’t say harsh things in front of a child, Ha-min. If it were Ryu Eden, I would have grabbed him by the collar and gone outside to say something.

“…It’s a hobby.”

“Well, my mom often says you’re like an angel.”

Even if it’s true, it feels dirty when you say that yourself, Ha-min.

“…Why does Bong-joo hate me?”

He’s probably not used to you yet. You approached him so suddenly. If you recklessly enter a child’s established personal space, they can’t help but feel distant. Bong-joo is that kind of child.

“He doesn’t hate you, he just needs time to get used to you.”

“So, you’re… transcending time……”

Maybe it’s because he sees you as a similar human being. It’s amazing how you point out the truth so casually. That guy, he’s usually clueless, but sometimes he has a good sense.

“Ah, still, I liked the kids.”

“Yeah.”

“They’re so cute, and they say what they want so honestly, and it’s nice to see them whine to play, um……”

That’s what you like about them? Your heart is as wide as the Pacific Ocean; psychologists would be shocked and want to study you. I’m as petty as a small-minded person; Confucius would hit me on the head.

“Umm……”

Bong-joo, who was a little startled by our loud voices, soon woke up. Chae Ha-min inhaled sharply, probably nervous, and froze in place.

“…Did I sleep?”

“Yeah.”

“Where’s my dad?”

“He doesn’t seem to be here yet.”

“I see.”

Bong-joo nodded a few times. He accepts it without the slightest disappointment. It’s the expression he shows when he encounters something very natural.

What would Nietzsche say if he saw this? Would he describe it as a spirit trying to endure a heavy burden? Or would he be so saddened that he would put aside philosophy and just sigh?

Childhood deprivation is said to affect the rest of one’s life. But we don’t remember the memories of childhood, which are said to be so important, very well.

I don’t know in detail what I did when I was three years old, and many people cite the age of six or seven as their first memory. If we take the average human lifespan to be about seventy years, we live without knowing about one-tenth of our lives. And that’s without knowing the time in childhood that greatly influences personality formation.

That’s why humans probably never fully understand what they are throughout their lives.

What kind of mark will childhood leave on Bong-joo? This time, when he doesn’t expect anything from others and pushes himself away first for fear that expectations of others will hurt him, what kind of mark will it leave and follow Bong-joo throughout his life?

In fact, when you think about it, it would seem like nothing on camera. Just a child who is often alone and whose father finishes work late.

“Hey, Bong-joo! Shall we play with Teacher?”

Bong-joo seemed to realize that Chae Ha-min was there, startled and curled up, then slowly relaxed his body.

Yes, he’s a little lacking, but he’s a good kid, Bong-joo. When he approaches someone he wants to be friends with, he has no skill, so all he can do is charge. Can you understand?

“…What time is it?”

“It’s about 8:30 now!”

Bong-joo was shocked and didn’t say anything.

“Oh, I, I see.”

Oh dear, he must be later than usual. Still, it’s a relief that there’s at least one of these facilities. Otherwise, he would have been alone at home for longer, and it would be a big problem if something happened.

“What shall we play? Should Dong-hwa play the piano?”

Yeah. Anything. As long as it’s not an overly difficult piece.

“That’s right. Teacher, you’re really good at playing the piano!”

Bong-joo’s expression sparkled. That expression was so childlike that it contrasted with his unchildlike appearance earlier. Curiosity and a desire to know shone in his eyes.

Ah, I think I know why he spoke to me first.

“Shall we play together?”

“Yes? Ah, I don’t know how to play the piano.”

“I’ll teach you.”

“…Can I?”

“Everyone doesn’t know at first.”

When I first read a book, my father said that too. I gently took Bong-joo’s hand and approached the piano.

“Do you want to open it?”

“Can I?!”

“Yeah.”

If it breaks, I’ll buy a new one. This is what I earn money for.

When I opened the keyboard lid with Bong-joo, an exclamation burst out.

“It’s so… wide.”

“Press it.”

Ding—

“Good job.”

“Wow……. Amazing.”

“Is this your first time touching a piano?”

Chae Ha-min asked with a pleased smile.

“Yes. The other kids are usually using it……”

And he probably wondered if he could play it alone. Without saying anything, I moved Bong-joo’s hand and pressed the key one octave lower.

Ding—

“Shall we try playing these two together?”

“…Yes.”

As if possessed, Bong-joo naturally spread his hands and pressed two keys simultaneously with both hands.

“How is it?”

“…It’s pretty. It’s like, one sound.”

“Right?”

I have no intention of teaching difficult musical terms, and I have no intention of muttering about harmony or anything. It would be fun if it was just regarded as a good toy. If I teach him how to read sheet music, he’ll be able to play easy sheet music.

* * *

“Is this, *do* [musical note]?”

“Yeah.”

“Is this also *do*?”

“Yeah.”

“This and this are in different places, why do they have the same name?”

Without answering, I first played a short melody. Then I played the original melody and the melody raised by one octave together.

“Does it sound like a different song? Does it feel like something different is mixed in?”