Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 195

“…then I can’t say anything.”

“Dong-hwa, I don’t really know what responsibility is, but…”

Chae Ha-min fidgeted with his knees. He was clearly nervous.

“Regardless of whose responsibility it is, I just don’t like seeing you suffer.”

Seriously? He’s saying that?

“I’m not as smart as you when it comes to figuring out responsibility, or who’s responsible for what. I probably think everything you say is right. You’re smart, aren’t you? Of course, you would be.”

There was no sarcasm in his words. I don’t know how he can be so transparent.

“But, I just feel a little bad. You always work so hard. You sleep in the studio every day. You even bought a sofa that can be laid out like a bed. Well, it’s okay now because you rest a little when I tell you to, but I heard from Iden *hyung* [older brother or male friend] that you’re going to go through a lot of hardship this time.”

That was a secret, you idiot. Unbelievable. I didn’t point it out for now.

“I… I’d rather our drama not flop and become as irrelevant as air.”

Chae Ha-min hung his head. This time, the emotion seemed closer to embarrassment than nervousness.

“I just like playing with you and the members more. Let’s come home early and play board games.”

There was too little logic to be persuaded. I would have accepted it without a word if he had said it wasn’t something I should be involved in, that it was his own business, and that he didn’t want my help.

Even though I suggested it, it was his career, his decision, and if he had said he didn’t want success achieved with the help of others, I would have deeply apologized.

He’s just like a child. Just like a child. Really.

The intense affection crashing into me prevents my brain from functioning properly. I just want to listen to what Chae Ha-min has to say. It’s definitely a tantrum, but I don’t know if this is right.

“Honestly, I’d be happy if it became a hot topic and successful, but I’d be happier playing with you. Dong-hwa, you never play with me when you’re deep in thought.”

Is he the Little Prince? Damn rabbit. Is that why there’s a fox in our group? Who is going to be the rose?

“Okay.”

“So, like… Huh?”

“I understand.”

Damn it, what is this? I’ve already sent all the texts, I don’t know what to say to cancel it.

“You’re lying. Dong-hwa, you’re not an easy man to be persuaded by my words.”

Chae Ha-min glared at me with an uncharacteristic suspicious expression.

“You’ve worked on days you were supposed to rest before.”

“…That’s, that’s true.”

“I’m going to keep an eye on this drama until it airs.”

“Trust me, you damn bastard.”

“No, Iden *hyung*, ah, it’s a secret.”

Chae Ha-min blurted out another secret and then was startled.

“That, um, the person Iden *hyung* introduced me to.”

If you’re going to try to gloss over it, you shouldn’t have said ‘secret,’ Ha-min. You’re really stupid sometimes.

“He told me never to trust you.”

“Trust me.”

“Huh? But…”

“I’m more honest than Ryu Iden.”

Of course, this is also a lie.

“…Ah, I got caught, sorry, Iden *hyung*.”

* * *

“Haha, Ji Dong-hwa’s personal suppressor. The only leash. The sun in ‘The Sun and the Clouds’ was our Ha-min!”

Ryu Iden, who had been eavesdropping on the entire conversation outside the door, nodded at the roughly settled story.

“As expected, Mok-hwa or Ha-min are the best at handling Dong-hwa.”

Then Ryu Iden continued to smile, unable to stop himself.

“…*Hyung*, you’re a pervert.”

Lee Hyun-jae, who had just finished showering and was watching Ryu Iden’s behavior with a towel on his head, glared at him with contempt.

“Hehe, I don’t mind being a pervert.”

“…I hate it.”

Bang. The door opened while he still had his ear to it. Ji Dong-hwa came out smiling and grabbed Ryu Iden by the collar.

“Hahaha, I won?”

“Did you?”

“Haha, yeah, I won! Hahaha, ha, hahaha.”

Ji Dong-hwa was expressionless. A very cold expression.

“Thank you.”

“Haha, ha, ha, …Huh?”

“For caring.”

“…Huh?”

Unexpected. I didn’t think Ji Dong-hwa was someone who would ever be grateful when a plan went wrong. Rather, he would say that he would somehow make a new plan if it went wrong, so he had to be watched. But, instead, like this… Ryu Iden felt a growing sense of guilt, feeling breathless.

“And, let’s go to work.”

“…Huh?! No! We just did that!”

“Let’s stay up for two nights.”

“No way!”

“*Hyung*, you’re trash, so you said you wanted to be tormented.”

Ji Dong-hwa slowly smiled. The fans often said that they liked Ji Dong-hwa’s smile so much, that it made their hearts flutter. Especially when he smiled brightly, it wasn’t a frequent occurrence, so they liked it even more.

But, the human in front of him was too scary to like.

“Give me back my *gandong* [emotional touching]! I was really touched.”

“That’s right! Dong-hwa! Give back the *gando* [feeling]! You said you’d play with me, why are you going to work!”

“Everyone be quiet. I’m going to redo the entire OST in two days.”

“…Why? It’s almost done and I sent it to the PD [Production Director], didn’t I? The A&R [Artists and Repertoire] team said they were done too!”

“Because even if the drama flops, the OST has to remain.”

Ryu Iden felt that something was wrong. He just didn’t want him to overdo it and do dangerous things, so he asked Ha-min to stop him.

“No, it’s already good!”

“That’s why we have to make it so it can’t be any better.”

Ji Dong-hwa wordlessly stood Ryu Iden up.

“You’re coming with me, right, *hyung*?”

“…Ah, really, I don’t know why I’m so weak to your requests.”

Ryu Iden realized his position at the bottom of the food chain and nodded. The two-day all-nighter began.

[Our leader is sending a rescue request]

(A post with a photo proving that Ji Dong-hwa is tied up in the studio and the phrase ‘SOS, there isn’t much time left, everyone’)

lololololololol I seriously don’t know what’s going on, so I was dumbfounded, but it turns out Dong-hwa is possessed by a work ghost and is giving endless feedback comments—lololololololol what’s with the obsession lololololololol

└ Sometimes Dong-hwa seems like the craziest of our kids… because of that subtly crazy mind…

└He has the madness of an old man building a pot.

└??? : That’s not the sound I want.

└??? : This isn’t it either! (throwing the MIDI)

—Our Hyun-jae… I think he’s slowly being consumed by madness, growing up watching those *hyungs* [older brothers or male friends] └Quietly showing the *maknae* [youngest member] on top

└His unique sensitivity is so delicious, *maknae* [youngest member]

Community activities enjoyed for a while before attending university lectures are like the only salvation in a drought-like university life. Of course, seeing your favorite photos during breaks is also a must.

However, sometimes humans have to endure the sandy desert without water, even with an oasis nearby.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

“I know.”

It’s even more so when there’s a human presumed to be Wish next to you. Even though they’re in the same department, they’re awkward with each other. They’ve only recently become close, so she’s just testing the waters for now.

Originally, the beginning is trivial and insignificant, but disputes on the internet continue to the end with that trivial and insignificant matter.

“Soo-bin.”

“What, Eo-jin.”

“Did you know our kids’ comeback teaser came out yesterday?”

“Hopin’s comeback cycle is super fast.”

“It feels like Diony is finally getting popular a little late, so he’s rowing when the tide comes in [working hard to capitalize on their success].”

It’s the opposite, you stupid human. Ji Dong-hwa’s fan muttered inwardly and sighed deeply.

“Take a look at this. Our Mok-hwa is amazing.”

Yeah, who do you think he shares genes with? How could he not be amazing? It’s the mystery of biology, you idiot. She took one of the earphones that her friend handed her without much thought.

‘…Oh, shit. Why is this so good.’

If you’ve been into K-pop for a while, you can tell. There are lines that make your heart beat. Beyond just being good to listen to, it’s a line that makes you concentrate on the stage with a murmur of, ‘Ah, what is this…’

When I think about it, the lines that Ji Dong-hwa makes relying on statistics and senses are also in that category, and there’s no reason to be jealous, but I feel resentful for no reason.

“…It’s good?”

It’s frustrating, but you have to be someone who knows how to admit what you have to admit.

“Right? It seems like Diony really got a good composer this time.”

“Oh, did someone new come in? I remember there was a lot of talk when that person left.”

“You’re really watching the idol scene properly. I didn’t think you were that interested in idols.”

Damn it, this is the kind of mistake that only Ha-min would make.

“Hey, that was famous. I watch entertainment news.”

Saying that, she concentrated on the sound in her ear. But for some reason, why does it sound so familiar the more she listens to it? She’s been into idol *deokjil* [fandom activities] for a long time, so she’s reached the point where she can feel the unique colors.

“…Dong-hwa?”

“…Huh?”

Silence returns again. An awkward atmosphere swirled between them. She felt like she had to explain something, but she also wanted to make a friend who was interested in the idol scene in college, so her mind felt a little blank.

“Okay, everyone, it’s time, shall we start? As I said before, the key element in creating a tragedy is a decisive mistake, right?”

That’s right. When creating a tragedy, there must always be a decisive mistake. Just like the story of her making a mistake that only Chae Ha-min would make as if it were nothing.

But unfortunately, it may be closer to a comedy in the eyes of others.

* * *

Spring. The key seasonal background in this drama is spring.

Because the purpose is to depict the romance between those who are entering university for the first time and those who are already residing at the university.

Of course, our Ha-min is a role that dies heroically with a confession after suffering from unrequited love.

Therefore, this OST also had to bring out that atmosphere to the fullest, and to borrow the words of the music director, it had to sound like ‘a song that translates a fluttering and heart-pounding feeling into a song.’

And the problem is, I’ve never felt romantic feelings, so I’ve never felt a pounding heart unless it’s a situation of fear and terror.

They say love is also the action of hormones, so is there anything I can do with hormone injections?

[Would that work.]

‘No *taegeul* [no objections].’

[Haha, I’m pathetic to be hearing those words from a brat who doesn’t even know what love is!]

‘We’re in the same boat.’

[I’m better at explaining it academically than you are.]