Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 123

123.

The sound of gulping echoed repeatedly. I carefully gripped the baby bottle in my hand. Simba was lying on my lap, drinking milk.

“Wow, Simba really likes Dong-hwa, doesn’t he? He often refuses to eat even when we offer him food.”

“…Even if you slander him, my impression of Simba will not change, zookeeper.”

“No! He was a real troublemaker who didn’t listen! The production team wanted to film some of the hardships, so they carefully selected the problem children.”

…Those damn broadcasting station bastards. How could they do such a petty thing?

My heart grew cold rapidly, and I looked at the zookeeper, deploring the broadcasting station bastards. As if reading my mind, Simba, who was drinking milk, turned to the zookeeper who spoke to me and,

“Grrr.”

He growled. Simba, you’re facing the wrong way. Please attack the PD [Production Director] over there. It’s okay to scare him a little, as long as you don’t hurt him.

“Look at this! He gets angry just because I talk to him. Simba, you really shouldn’t do that. I’m the one who raised you!”

“Grrr!”

Despite the zookeeper’s desperate appeal, Simba got angry once and then put his mouth back on the baby bottle. I adjusted the angle as I had learned, so Simba could eat comfortably.

Only then did the baby tiger Simba calm down a little and lie down with a languid feeling, continuing to drink his milk.

“So, were the other members assigned animals that are somewhat troublesome like me?”

I asked, keeping my eyes fixed on Simba’s face because Simba wouldn’t drink milk and kept whining if I turned my head away.

“Yes. Originally, Dong-hwa would have had to tire Simba out with that toy over there before feeding him.”

I quickly raised only my eyes to check the direction the zookeeper’s finger was pointing. I could see something with ropes tied in a strange shape.

“…Is it like a tug-of-war for puppies?”

“Yes, he doesn’t need that much activity since he’s still a cub, but he’s still a predator at heart, right? Our research center has received a lot of land from the government, so we’re allocating the widest possible range for the tigers’ activities.”

I learned from the zookeeper this morning that a tiger’s activity range is 500 to 4,000 square kilometers.

“So, even when they’re cubs, we usually just leave them with their parents, but Simba was born too weak, so he’s living here. But he has to go back to the tiger area someday. That’s why we have to take care of his activity level instead of his parents.”

Just in time, Simba seemed to have finished his meal, burped softly, and went to the toys as if it were natural. He grabbed a bundle of ropes and shook his head from side to side.

Then he stared at me intently, and the pressure was considerable.

‘Cutness and dignity are compatible concepts.’

Even though he’s still young, the blood of a predator flows through him. He came up to me and placed the rope in my hand.

Well, I’ve never played tug-of-war before.

I slowly and carefully pulled the rope that Simba was holding.

Thud.

Simba pulled the rope with more force than expected. Today was the first time I realized that just pulling a rope could make a ‘thud’ sound. He’s still a baby, so it’s bearable.

“Oh, Dong-hwa, that’s good! If you play with him like that for about 20 minutes, that should be enough.”

…20 minutes?

I don’t know if I can do it, but let’s do our best. After about 5 minutes of tug-of-war with Simba, my muscles slowly started to ache.

“…Could you, please, be a little gentler, Simba.”

My arm feels like it’s going to fall off.

At that, Simba stopped abruptly and looked at my face. Well, for a moment, I had the bizarre thought that he could understand human words, but I stopped.

“…Grrr.”

Simba turned away with a sulky expression. My goodness, have I discovered the possibility of communication beyond species?

Of course, apart from that, his listless steps caught my eye. It’s not right to interfere with a child’s playtime just because I’m tired. Taking care of Cotton [previous animal he took care of] was more difficult than this.

I crawled a little towards Simba and carefully grabbed the rope.

“I’ll play with you… until you’re satisfied.”

“Sniff!”

Simba pulled the rope right away. Unlike my wrist, which felt like it was going to be crushed, I could smile inside.

* * *

After playing several sets of games with Simba, it was finally time to go back.

In the process, my arm hurt a little and my back was a little sore, but I was satisfied just seeing Simba enjoying himself.

“Dong-hwa, go change your clothes and meet the members for dinner!”

“Ah, okay.”

I carefully squatted down in front of Simba again. I met the eyes of a sparkling tiger. Well, he’s cute as always. It’s worth saving as a thesis.

“I’ll go back now. See you tomorrow, and I hope you sleep well.”

Simba tilted his head at my words, and when he saw me getting up and turning around, he bit my pants and pulled them in a little.

Damn it, Simba, are you planning to assassinate me?

I had no choice but to turn around and sit down, slowly reaching out and stroking Simba’s neck.

“…By any chance, are you the type to get lonely easily?”

I asked the zookeeper, but no answer came back. Puzzled, I turned to the side and saw the zookeeper standing there blankly with his mouth open as if he had seen something scary.

“…Zookeeper?”

“No, this, what, Simba. Did you see your face? What are you! You used to go to sleep as if you weren’t interested after playing, you little thug!”

I smiled softly at the sight of the zookeeper complaining in a subdued voice so as not to startle Simba. Why is it that affection received for no reason is so warm?

“Simba, would you like to be with me a little longer?”

When I asked quietly, Simba rubbed his head against my hand and moved as if to say, let’s go inside quickly.

“I’m sorry, Simba.”

But you’re not a cat, you’re a tiger. We’re only together for this filming period, so it’s right to only fulfill my duties as a zookeeper rather than getting you used to having me by your side.

“I’ll be back early tomorrow.”

When I carefully stroked his head, Simba rubbed his head against mine, but he seemed disappointed and listless. …No matter how I look at it, I have a strange feeling that some kind of communication is taking place.

I was finally trying to escape from the clutches of cuteness, but it was a little difficult. Cuteness that defies rational commands exists.

* * *

I stopped by the dorm to change into comfortable clothes and arrived in front of the restaurant where the other members were waiting.

But, why do they all look like this…? The members were generally standing there with expressions that seemed troubled, tired, and thoughtful. In particular, Chae Ha-min even had marks on his face as if he had been stepped on.

Those damn broadcasting station bastards, daring to do that to all of us…

“Hyung-nim [term for older brother/male friend]! Come quickly! I’m hungry!”

No, only Seok-jun looks normal.

I couldn’t help but wonder again. I thought Lee Hyun-jae and Seok-jun were assigned to one animal, but why is it that only Lee Hyun-jae has all the life sucked out of him? The answer is obvious and simple.

“…Hyun-jae, it must have been hard taking care of Jun-ie.”

“Judging by the fact that you know right away, does my face look a little like that?”

Yeah, very much.

Just this morning, he had a face full of excitement like an adventurer before entering an unknown world, but in just a few hours, he had become someone who had given up all hope in life.

“I… I thought I had cultivated affection for humans while studying with hyung [older brother/male friend].”

If you take literature classes, you can cultivate both affection and hatred for humans. Because it dramatizes the various moments of human life.

“…But?”

“Jun-ie hyung [older brother/male friend] must not be human. I really, really wanted to flick him on the forehead just once. There was only hatred there.”

…Hyun-jae, why like this.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], I know my words are harsh, but just for today, just for today… please understand.”

“…Okay.”

Suddenly, Seok-jun approached us and smiled.

“Hyung-nim [term for older brother/male friend], I saw Hayden today.”

“…Turtle?”

Lee Hyun-jae took a deep breath next to him. I don’t know if he was surprised by something, but it must be some kind of PTSD.

“Yes! I traveled the world with Hayden!”

“…The breeding room is not the world, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

I understood a little why Lee Hyun-jae was so tired. In that gap, Chae Ha-min smiled wearily, and Ryu I-deun left a word each with a tired smile.

“Dong-hwa, rabbits… are dangerous creatures.”

“Elephants, their intelligence seems to be similar to yours.”

What on earth did they all go through? Why am I the only one who experienced the moment of encountering an angel?

When we entered the dining area, food was being distributed, and people wearing research uniforms or casual clothes were eating here and there.

“Dong-hwa hyung [older brother/male friend], how was it? It was a tiger, right?”

How can Simba be defined? Cuteness overwhelms reason, making it difficult to make normal judgments, and when he bit my pants at the end, it was difficult to leave. An effective language that can define such an existence has not yet been developed. Something close to the primordial language in Heidegger’s theory of language is needed…

“Dong-hwa, stop it and eat!”

Chae Ha-min quickly cut me off, noticing that I was thinking strange things. Damn it, I’m used to it.

I nodded and simply answered.

“He was cute.”

“Cough, cough.”

As soon as I answered, Ryu I-deun coughed as if he was about to spit out the food he was eating and stared at me blankly.

What, puppy. He’s a different species from you.

“Why, why are you the only one having a healing experience.”

Ryu I-deun is usually the type to laugh off even when he has a hard time. How hard must he have had it to end up like that?

“Why, why am I the only one dying from Gil-soo, from Gil-soo.”

“Dong-hwa hyung [older brother/male friend] is from the same department, so I guess that’s why.”

Hyun-jae, I’m a creature classified as human. Unlike rabbits, dinosaurs, dogs, and that half-human, half-tiger guy.

“Then I’m a little upset too. I was rejected by my own kind!”

I nodded. That’s how herd life is for rabbits.

The dorm we arrived at after eating. There were two bunk beds and one bed. Come to think of it, it seems like it’s the first time we’ve all slept in the same room.

“…Tomorrow, I’ll probably be played around with by Gil-soo again. I’m a human failure.”

Ryu I-deun’s grumbling could be heard. What kind of creature is Gil-soo that Ryu I-deun, who has tireless stamina, is having such a hard time?

In that question, my eyes slowly closed. I need to sleep quickly so I can see Simba tomorrow morning.

That night, I hardly ever dream, but I dreamed that Simba was sitting on my lap and sleeping.

* * *

The next morning, I arrived at the breeding room earlier than the time the zookeeper told me to come in order to keep the promise I made to Simba.

When I opened the door and went inside, Simba, who was sleeping lazily, turned his head sharply in this direction and growled, but after confirming that it was me, he quickly ran over.

“Kyaa-oong!”

“…Did you sleep well, Simba.”

I bent down to stroke the head of Simba, who was rubbing his face against my feet. My goodness, why only to me.

Unlike my thoughts, which are obsessed with areas that cannot be explained rationally, my hands and face have already softened gently. On that lazy morning, like a dream, Simba fell asleep on my lap, and I sat still on the dirt floor, patting Simba.

When it was time, the zookeeper, who opened the door and came in, came in with cautious steps.

“Ah, Dong-hwa, you came very early.”

“…Hello.”

“Oh, Simba is so docile. Anyway, today is Simba’s health checkup day! He’s still a cub, so unexpected diseases can occur.”

I nodded. I remembered the zookeeper’s explanation that he was born with a weak body, so I was a little nervous.

I hope he’s healthy. It’s too bad to be sick when you’re young. Thinking that, I carefully stroked Simba’s soft fur.

“Gyarung.”

“With the strength he used to bite my pants yesterday, I think he’s healthy enough.”

However, because life has dog-like aspects, I realize just three hours later that it doesn’t easily let go of hope.