Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 134

134.

A high school senior, already in his final year at art high school, took out his phone with a flutter in his heart.

When he was stuck in an existential crisis, he found comfort listening to ‘Cliff and Boy’ sung by Ryu Yi-deun. He bought an album instead of food for the first time and even went to a live performance, where he even got lucky.

However, being a senior in high school and dealing with the hellish schedule of art college entrance exams, he’d been resolving everything by being a room-bound fan these days.

Today, they were said to be appearing on the variety show ‘I’m Working Right Now?’, which hadn’t been on the air for long. Even though there’s no shortage of content to consume, he still felt a sense of longing for their performances on stage.

‘……Hyungs, please make a comeback soon! The concept film was amazing!’

Lee Hyun-jae is the same age as him, but it’s customary for idols to lie about being a year or two younger when they’re the same age as you.

At that moment, his phone vibrated briefly, notifying him of the pre-set broadcast time. He tapped his phone, entered the on-air broadcast of ‘I’m Working Right Now?’, and started watching. The sharply designed title in pastel tones was impressive.

With the caption ‘Today’s Worker Blossence,’ the Blossence members appeared and stared blankly at the animal ecology research center. The screen gradually zoomed in, filling the screen with Ji Dong-hwa’s face, who seemed to be looking at the other side of a completely distant world.

―Dong-hwa/21 years old/In charge of today’s father

“I was very embarrassed. Suddenly seeing giraffes, gorillas, and elephants in front of me.”

―Ha-min/21 years old/Rabbit

“Wow! I really like animals. At first, I was a little excited thinking I could heal.”

―Dong-hwa/21 years old/Claiming not to be an animal lover

“I don’t usually like animals very much because I can’t communicate with them.”

After Ji Dong-hwa and Chae Ha-min’s interview screen, a scene of Chae Ha-min being trampled by a group of rabbits with the caption ‘Even so? Will your heart not change?’ and Ji Dong-hwa carefully stroking Simba’s chin, making a more relaxed expression than ever before, appeared in succession.

The broadcast was consistently positive, bright, and filled with a happy atmosphere. Of course, that didn’t mean the cast members were also like that.

Ryu Yi-deun was being teased by an elephant, his eyes burning with competitive spirit. It was a simple game of predicting which way an elephant of similar height to him would shake his hat and snatching it, but Ryu Yi-deun never succeeded even once.

Afterward, Ji Dong-hwa and Ryu Yi-deun’s interviews about this situation were cross-edited.

―Dong-hwa/21 years old/The leader of all things

(There’s talk that Yi-deun lost to the elephant in psychological warfare, what do you think about that?)

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know who that is. Blossence is a quartet. There’s also the saying ‘the leader of all things,’ but if I lost to an elephant…….”

And Ji Dong-hwa just smiles.

―Yi-deun/22 years old/Uh… the leader of… all things…?

(What are your thoughts on the defeat?)

“I’m not that worried because I’m going to win tomorrow. The winner is Ryu Yi-deun anyway!”

(Dong-hwa said he doesn’t know humans who lose to elephants, and that Blossence is a quartet?)

“…Oh, that’s a little hurtful! I wasn’t that dumb. Right? No, I’m really the leader of all things itself!”

Edited into the interview was Ryu Yi-deun’s foolish moment of moving his body back and forth following the trunk of an elephant doing a pendulum motion. The caption reads, ‘…We don’t have the confidence to answer.’ And then back to Ryu Yi-deun’s interview.

(Then, how about a video message to Dong-hwa with an apology and gratitude?)

“…Dong-hwa hyung [older brother/male friend], you’ll still love me even if I’m dumb, right?”

The screen switches back to Ji Dong-hwa’s face.

―Dong-hwa/”21 years old-“/Head shaking is quite firm

(Shakes his head expressionlessly.)

Next, Lee Hyun-jae and Seok-joon’s side is cross-edited with Lee Hyun-jae’s blank expression and Seok-joon’s bright expression two or three times, and then Lee Hyun-jae sighs in the interview room. Overlapping that screen is Seok-joon running towards a turtle (real name Seok-sang) while shouting ‘Hayden!’

―Hyun-jae/19 years old/Contemplating what life might be

(If you were to define Joon in one word?)

“…Is it okay if I mix in a little bit of profanity?”

(Try saying it first?)

And the cut is edited the moment Lee Hyun-jae opens his mouth, stimulating viewers’ imaginations. What words came out of that young child’s mouth that were all edited out?

―Seok-joon/20 years old/Hayden obsessed man

(How was your first day with Seok-sang?)

“I’m so happy to be reunited with Hayden!”

(……Reunited?)

“Yes!”

(……Have you ever met before?)

“It’s the giant turtle that comes out in Ploo(Bleep-)!”

And again, Lee Hyun-jae and Seok-joon are working hard while Seok-joon is looking for Hayden, and Lee Hyun-jae, while sighing at him, subtly accommodates Seok-joon.

―Yi-deun/22 years old/Losing streak against Gil-soo

“Joon and Hyun-jae are actually best friends since they were trainees, but no one knows.”

And the screen switches and Seok-joon playfully splashes water on Lee Hyun-jae, who grabs the watering can with a stiff expression. ‘Watering flowers’ is a ridiculous excuse.

―Yi-deun/22 years old/Honest

“Joon doesn’t think much, and Hyun-jae thinks a lot, so they help each other?”

Again, the screen switches.

“Hyun-jae, wait a minute!”

Lee Hyun-jae stirred the watering can, making Seok-joon fully feel the breath of the water stream.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], I’ll send you to Hayden’s side today.”

“Hayden is right here!”

“Stop it! That’s Seok-sang!”

“Hayden is still in my arms!”

“Then Hayden is dead! You said he was alive at one point!”

“Yi-deun hyung is alive too!”

“Stop with the irrelevant nonsense!”

Strangely continuing conversation, a screen full of pouring water. And under that screen, only two letters, madness, were written in firm handwriting.

But, perhaps the real madness was somewhere else. Chae Ha-min was smiling brightly while being constantly body-checked by rabbits, saying, ‘Thank you for coming this close!’

“I will definitely be recognized as one of your kind, cough.”

Even while speaking, Chae Ha-min staggers from the aggressive rabbit kicking his legs but never gives in. Like… the protagonist of a cartoon never giving in for the sake of his comrades.

“Here! Here’s the gnawing grass you guys like! Don’t eat too much, uh, Lucy! Don’t take too much, cough.”

Even if he accurately called out the names that even the zookeeper sometimes gets confused about, the rabbits never tolerated being bothered.

And the interview scene of Chae Ha-min that started. He’s smiling brightly, but the unavoidable fatigue is evident everywhere.

―Ha-min/21 years old/Rabbit tribe leader

“Today, more friends came close to me. Lucy too, and Caddy too. If this goes on, I think I’ll be recognized as one family someday.”

(Is that a good thing?)

“I think I’ll be happy if we become a family. These little kids are opening their hearts to me, who is much bigger than them, right?”

(……Are you aware that you’re human?)

Chae Ha-min smiles again at the interviewer’s question.

“That’s not important!”

Ji Dong-hwa’s interview scene appeared without fail.

―Dong-hwa/21 years old/Tiger tribe leader

(Ha-min seems to have given up on being human.)

“…Pardon?”

Ji Dong-hwa pondered for a short if long time, then nodded.

“I can respect that.”

That calm expression somehow evoked laughter.

The art high school student who was watching the broadcast up to this point tried to hold back his laughter by tightly covering his mouth. The walls of this *goshiwon* [small, inexpensive room often used by students] were a bit too thin, so if he laughed loudly, feedback would come back immediately.

Despite being a concept shoot that could have easily become a boring documentary, the editing and the members’ expressions and comments were appropriately combined to make it a pretty funny broadcast.

And today’s broadcast highlight, and the most healing atmosphere, was Ji Dong-hwa’s part. The chemistry between the stoic human who didn’t know what to do with how cute Simba was, and Simba, who somehow regarded Ji Dong-hwa as closer than even the zookeeper, made the viewers’ hearts ache.

‘Wow……. That’s exactly the kind of look my parents give me.’

Sitting cross-legged, Ji Dong-hwa is feeding Simba, who is rubbing his head on him, with honey dripping from his eyes, checking to see if there is anything uncomfortable.

Moreover, when Ji Dong-hwa, who appeared in the latter part of the broadcast, stayed up all night, reading books, and looking at Simba in between, he was reminded of the nights his parents stayed up all night for him when he was sick as a child.

Living alone in Seoul and squatting in a *goshiwon*, he somehow becomes sad and heartwarming. Why are my parents coming to mind when I see him taking care of a tiger?

He watched it clearly with such a sad heart until the end of the broadcast, and then got up from his seat to do his night work. Today, he plans to draw Ji Dong-hwa holding Simba.

‘Originally, fandom is the source of creation…….’

He had clearly come to understand the theses of fans that he had once failed to understand.

* * *

After the broadcast of ‘I’m Working Right Now?’, broadcast clips are said to be uploaded to video sites. Lee Hyun-jae hasn’t been able to summarize much information because he’s been studying frequently during his breaks or free time lately, but the fact that he’s constantly informing our members of the trends is a commendable attitude in itself.

“Ah, is Dong-hwa a cat or a tiger.”

Ryu Yi-deun suddenly unleashed his curiosity about my biological origins while dancing in the practice room. He must have been deeply impressed after watching yesterday’s program. Crazy puppy.

The members are sticking to him and are all worried about whether to define me as a cat or a tiger. Unfortunately, I am human.

Anyway, the comeback is coming soon, and concept films and public concept photos, and individual member teasers will be released sequentially, leading up to the comeback soon.

“Let’s do well this comeback too, guys.”

Ryu Yi-deun throws out a serious word as if his emotions have sprung up. It’s hard to believe that he was the human who was strongly arguing that I was a cat just a moment ago.

“Somehow, we keep having lucky things happen to us. Let’s hit the jackpot, hit the jackpot.”

Yes, in order to hit at least a mid-hit rather than a jackpot, it would be necessary to recall the list of celebrities to avoid that the prophecy told me one more time.

“Ah, I heard that Hoppin’s follow-up song period overlaps with ours this time.”

Chae Ha-min clapped his hands loudly as if he had just remembered.

“Finally, Mok-hwa and Dong-hwa will appear on the same screen together.”

“…We can only appear together if someone calls us.”

“Hey, how common is it for both brothers to be idols?”

Ryu Yi-deun waves his hand, telling me not to worry because they’ll definitely call us. It’s not that I’m worried, it’s just that I think I’ll be nervous if I go out with Mok-hwa.

And, if you look into it, there are many cases where families are celebrities because genetics have a big impact on becoming a celebrity like an idol, so there may not be many, but there won’t be none. So I guess I won’t be called on purpose.

Tomorrow is the last rest before the debut imminent week. I haven’t scheduled anything, so I’m going to rest in the dorm all day, so today’s energy consumption won’t be a big problem.

At that time, a phone melody composed of exciting tones rings loudly. Hmm, it’s Chae Ha-min’s. Unlike me, who keeps my phone on silent in all cases, it was naturally memorized thanks to Chae Ha-min, who always keeps the sound on unless it’s a special situation like broadcasting or sleeping.

Chae Ha-min, who checked the screen of his phone, quickly hardened his expression, quickly got up, and went outside.

“…Ooh, it doesn’t seem like good news?”

I nodded at Ryu Yi-deun’s words. I thought things were going too smoothly for some reason. It’s probably Chae Ha-min’s father. If the father-son conflict is resolved just by appearing in a drama, there wouldn’t be so many children severing ties with their parents.

And after a brief awkward time, Chae Ha-min opened the practice room door and came in, looking at me with a dark expression.

“Practice ends here today! Dong-hwa and Ha-min, please clean the practice room and come in!”

Ryu Yi-deun, like a human with an extremely high level of sociability, quickly provides an opportunity for conversation. I don’t know whether to be grateful for this or to question him for naturally entrusting us with cleaning.

Seok-joon, who was the only one who didn’t notice the atmosphere, stepped up to help, but Lee Hyun-jae naturally took care of it, and after only the two of us were left in the practice room, Chae Ha-min carefully sat next to me.

“What’s wrong.”

“My father…….”

As expected.

“He wants to see you.”

……That’s really unexpected.