Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 161

161.

‘Romance.’

There’s a saying that you can’t create romance without some extravagance. Perhaps all the spaces unfolding before my eyes now are spaces that have tried to create romance through such extravagance.

One scholar who studied the meaning of space explained that fantastical places like amusement parks are devices to flaunt human dominance over nature, bragging that we can control monsters or dragons, which were terrifying figures in stories of the past.

‘But no one can control that dinosaur.’

If possible, it would be nice to create a ‘Seokjun Park’ and realize a real-life Jurassic Park.

“Haa, haa, haa, wait, Hayden!”

I nodded as I watched Seokjun, his face flushed, running madly after a staff member in a turtle costume who was fleeing with impressive speed. What a madman.

That’s the third time the staff member has fled. Um, how do you say ‘Sorry, our kid did it again…’ in Japanese?

“Amazing. Really… how…”

Lee Hyunjae muttered blankly. In his hand was the ‘Fruit World Special Apple Candied Skewer’ I bought him. Lee Hyunjae, after taking a bite of the honey-glazed baked apple, looked at Seokjun again.

“The stamina to run around like that… that madness…”

“You said it felt like that when we went to the animal research center.”

“It’s more serious than then. Back then, it felt like a kid getting a cell phone for the first time, but now…”

Lee Hyunjae stopped talking. Eventually, Hayden was caught, trembling, his face flushed red, and Seokjun was forcibly grabbing his arm, taking several pictures. What a madman.

“Ha… I guess I need to study literature more. I can’t find a word to express that.”

“It’s okay. Even if Park Wanseo [a famous Korean novelist] were here, she’d just stare blankly at the sight.”

So for now, let’s just be satisfied with ‘madman,’ Hyunjae.

More than that.

“Donghwa! You have to write about this!”

Chae Hamin, who had been tugging at my wrist the whole time we were talking, shouted.

“Quiet. I can’t write about it as a human.”

The cat headband in Chae Hamin’s hand. I’ve worn ordinary headbands before, but this one even had a ribbon. It far exceeded my acceptable range. I wouldn’t even think of wearing a headband unless the fans gave it to me.

“I! I wore it too, am I not human?”

Yeah, you’re a rabbit.

“That’s right, that’s too harsh! I wore it too.”

You’re a dog. Stop pretending to be human, you beasts.

Chae Hamin could break free with strength even if I held him with both hands, but he stubbornly pretended to struggle to get out. If you’re going to be so considerate, please understand my desire to remain human.

“It’s all! Because my father told me to make unforgettable memories with you!”

You really use your father as an excuse endlessly, you giant rabbit.

“That’s right! Hamin’s father asked our Japanese partner company to send a lot of gifts, can’t you even wear a headband!”

No, what does that have to do with it, ha.

“I’ll wear it.”

“Wohoo!”

“Ji Donghwa! Taste the shame!”

Mad dog.

I put on the shameful white cat ears and blue ribbon headband and went to Lee Hyunjae’s side. As if it were natural, Lee Hyunjae had fox ears on his head.

“…What do you think?”

To my short question.

“…Crazy people?”

Lee Hyunjae also replied briefly.

“It’s wrong in my eyes, Hyunjae.”

“In hyung’s [older brother or male friend] eyes, crazy animals.”

“Yeah.”

I sighed softly as I looked at Seokjun, who was running around in front, and Ryu Ideun and Chae Hamin, who were whispering as if plotting something. What kind of nonsense are they going to do again?

* * *

Lately, as I’ve been knitting, I’ve developed a habit of concentrating my mind to stay calm in any situation. It’s thanks to emptying my mind as if I’m half-asleep whenever I knit.

Then a question arises.

Why didn’t I meet my mother and father’s friends in my past life? That’s right. I know the people who came to the funeral after hearing the obituary, but it felt more like they came out of courtesy or formality.

My mother was the type who had few friends to begin with, like me. My father is the type who wouldn’t even tell his friends about an obituary. He’s the type who doesn’t even have a cell phone. In fact, the funeral wasn’t even held properly. Because no one could manage it.

…Come to think of it, both of them were a little strange,

“Ugh!”

My thoughts were cut off and a voice escaped my throat.

Damn it, roller coaster. The barrier of meditation collapsed and I see a monster sculpture in front of me. A growling sound, I’m not afraid because I know it’s an illusion. But.

“Damn it!”

It was the biggest mistake of my life to reluctantly get on because of Seokjun’s gloomy face, even though I insisted I would never ride it. This centrifuge of body and soul. The most sure way to escape the shackles of the body that bind the soul, Plato, you will love this!

Ding―!

[You actually threw up and it was a mess when you rode it!]

Shut up! Why are there so many philosophers in that world.

[There are many scientists too! And many things that aren’t human!]

I don’t want to know.

[You’ve changed! How can a person change! You used to look at me whenever I spoke!]

I neatly ignored the nonsense of the baseborn and tightly grabbed the wrist of Lee Hyunjae sitting next to me.

After the falling section ends, there is a short break. Lee Hyunjae made a sound of trying to find a smile next to me but failing. If possible, please bear with it. I feel like I’m going to die of shame as your older brother.

“Hyung, are you scared of this?”

“…You could die physically forever.”

“Hey, the probability of getting hit by a car while walking down the street is higher than that.”

I should believe what the Blossoms official statistics office says.

“So I don’t even plan to get a license…”

Before I could finish speaking, the uphill started again. I slowly took a breath. Okay, let’s prepare for the upcoming fall.

* * *

Getting off the roller coaster, I carefully moved my steps with the support of Lee Hyunjae. My strength is gone, damn it. And I’m embarrassed.

“Donghwa, it’s been a while since your ears turned red.”

First, I tried to grab Ryu Ideun by the collar but stopped. Because if I get caught on camera again, our tutoring student’s mental care won’t work.

“But, Jun was the one who said to ride, so why are you grabbing my collar…?”

“Originally, it’s okay for a younger sibling to do anything.”

It’s a pity you don’t know such a truth.

“…Ha, I should have been born two years later.”

I sat on the bench, listening to Ryu Ideun’s sigh.

“Um, does anyone have some water?”

“Hyungnim [term of respect for an older male]! You can’t just drink water after coming all the way here! You have to eat our Fruit World special non-alcoholic cocktail!”

If you make a cocktail with fruit at Fruit World, it’s a massacre, Jun. If you compare it to people… no.

“…Then, shall we go together?”

“Great! I’ll guide you!”

Seokjun’s tension is so high that he’s about to build the Tower of Babel. If there’s a god, he’ll tear it down. He’ll divide the language too. All disputes will begin.

I followed Seokjun and looked around.

“Jun, what’s that?”

“Ah! That’s a Parfaitdian from ‘Fruit World: The Heart-Fluttering Parfait World’.”

I don’t understand even more when you say that.

“That one?”

“Ah, that one!”

As I walked down the street, spouting such useless nonsense, I noticed a camera filming someone.

Well, I guess they often film daily life in Japan too.

As my gaze was about to pass by without much thought, my gaze became fixed on his face.

‘…Park Woojin?’

The human who appeared with me on the survival show. And ordinary humans are worse than beasts. Just like I have more personality problems than our members. Although it ended in possibility, human nature doesn’t change easily, so I couldn’t help but have a strong sense of vigilance in my eyes.

Unconsciously, I pulled Seokjun closer to my side. Perhaps it was easy to think that the two of them hadn’t been on good terms since the survival show.

“…Hyung-nim?”

Seokjun was about to continue speaking as if he had remembered something, but he tried to follow my eyes. No, I can’t let that happen. This is Wizny Land. Seokjun’s dream space. There shouldn’t be any room for bad thoughts to come.

I put my arm around Seokjun’s neck as if grabbing it and walked down the street again. Surprisingly, since I’m shorter, the shape is a bit… funny.

“So, what’s the name of the beast over there?”

“Ah, that’s not Fruit World. It’s a cosplay of a character from a slightly sad movie called Lilac.”

I’m glad you’re simple, Jun. But more than that,

“What’s cosplay?”

These days, kids really like to make new words. Wittgenstein will have a lot to study.

* * *

“(Here’s your order, customer!)”

“(Thank you.)”

The moment I received the cocktail and took a sip, the scent of countless fruits struck the tip of my nose. That’s right, a massacre. This is a drink made by cutting off the heads of the fruit tribe.

I was about to turn around and leave, but there was no reaction from the side, so I wondered what was going on and turned my head towards Seokjun.

“…Jun, are you crying?”

“Hyu, hyungnim! A taste of emotion! Hwaaa!”

Crazy dinosaur, please. Stop if you don’t want to go extinct. It’s embarrassing.

“I, I really wanted to taste this!”

I want to hit you, is that okay?

Without saying a word, I grabbed Jun’s wrist and pulled him. At that time, I suddenly ran into a human. Ha, why now of all times.

“Oh?!”

At Park Woojin’s exclamation, the person holding the camera habitually filmed our side. In it, there would be a crazy dinosaur trembling with its lips on the cocktail straw, absorbed in the taste, and me standing next to it with a blank expression.

“Oh, wow, wow! Long time no see, Donghwa!”

What are you doing, you crazy human. When were we ever so close? We never dropped honorifics [formal speech].

Thinking thoughts that would be news material if I said them out loud, I took a step forward and hid Seokjun behind me. …Well, I can’t hide everything, but anyway.

“Long time no see, Woojin.”

I smiled and replied. In name, we’re the same age, and it would be natural to drop honorifics in front of the camera.

‘Are you watching, puppy [referring to someone who taught him social skills].’

I’ve proven the performance of your social skills lecture.

“Wow, we contacted each other often…”

What is this guy. What is this. I suspect his intentions. I don’t even know your number. Judging by the way he’s trailing off, I wonder if he even knows what he’s talking about.

“…By the way, are you filming?”

“Yeah.”

“You debuted. Congratulations.”

Ah, Ryu Ideun, I’m sorry. Social skills lecture or whatever, I didn’t want to show that I was in contact with this human. I don’t want to be friends with a ticking time bomb.

“…I debuted.”

Oh dear, you need Ryu Ideun’s social skills lecture too. Your expression is a bit awkward.

Park Woojin’s gaze moved to behind me. Perhaps if Seokjun were human, he wouldn’t still be absorbed in the taste of the cocktail.

“Hyungnim! This is really delicious!”

Yeah, I knew you weren’t human to begin with. Beasts are better than humans. I can prove it with my friend Simba too.

And then Seokjun flinches. He finally opened his eyes and realized the situation. Amazing. Awesome.

“Ah, hyu, hyung-nim.”

“Y, yeah, Jun! Long time no see!”

Don’t pretend to be cheerful, you damn human. What kind of concept did you catch to be like that?