Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 81

81.

Tomorrow is Ryu Iden’s birthday. To be exact, it was 30 minutes away. We secretly started the W app [a live broadcasting application] to coincide with that time.

“Luminous [name of their fandom], everyone! Nice to see you. Do you know what day it is tomorrow?”

―The title is answering, Hamina [Chae Ha-min’s nickname] ㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋ

―Oh, here comes the genius composer~

―It’s Leader-nim’s birthday~~~~~

Well, a loach [troublemaker] wanting to stir things up has joined in. Unfortunately, the Luminous fish market [fandom] is not clouded by one loach.

“…Hyung.”

Seeing Lee Hyun-jae grabbing my collar with a very small voice and his pupils shaking at the same time, it seems like the members are more of a problem than the Luminous. So first, I smile nonchalantly.

If I had the mental strength to be shaken by such words, I would have collapsed when I became an orphan. There was a time when I passed over that level of slander and criticism like breathing, so it doesn’t really matter.

“Today is exactly 20 minutes before Iden hyung’s birthday! Actually, I asked the people at the company to let only us come back first!”

Ryu Iden usually hosts the W app, but since Ryu Iden is not here, Chae Ha-min takes over the microphone.

“So! Today, we are planning to surprise Iden hyung! I’ll have a brief interview with Hyun-jae, who came up with this plan!”

“Hyung! I didn’t come up with it, I just provided the idea, and Dong-hwa hyung specifically planned it!”

I couldn’t help it. There aren’t many legitimate opportunities to tease that puppy.

“…Anyway, what we’re going to do this time is.”

Lee Hyun-jae starts explaining the plan step by step with a wronged look.

* * *

Ryu Iden was sweating from the consultation that ended later than expected. All the members had already left work, but it was strangely strange that only he was leaving work late.

‘Ah… I have a feeling.’

Coincidentally, his birthday is in a few minutes. And Seok-joon, who took his cell phone in advance before leaving. All circumstances point to one fact.

‘Cute guys! They’re trying to come up with a trick to harass this hyung again.’

If Ji Dong-hwa saw it, he would neatly evaluate it as being like an old man.

‘Ah, it was my debut dream.’

When you open the door and go in, the dorm members greet you with a birthday cake. In this case, it’s polite to pretend even if you notice.

Ryu Iden smiles brightly while thinking about that. This kind of everyday, light, and therefore enjoyable joy… is really rare.

His steps naturally become lighter.

Arriving in front of the dorm, he takes a deep breath. I have to react well, so I have to trust my acting skills.

The reason why Seok-joon took his cell phone is probably because he is broadcasting a live birthday party like the W app. Since the W app is being broadcast, I shouldn’t say harsh things.

But even though he is not the type to swear, I think it is a little dangerous to do this hidden camera live. I have to point it out while eating the cake.

When I opened the door and went inside, all the lights were off. Pretending to be embarrassed, pretending not to expect it.

“…Guys? Are you all asleep?”

And then silence follows. A strange atmosphere continues.

‘…Shouldn’t the cake come out around this time?’

Anxiety begins to sprout in Ryu Iden’s heart at the unexpected development. What is it, it’s definitely a birthday party, or is it not, am I being presumptuous?

Countless thoughts begin to flood. When he feels a sense of disappointment that he wouldn’t normally feel, he gives up and moves his feet inside.

‘When morning comes… I’ll hear congratulations, anyway.’

As he thought so and walked, Ryu Iden’s eyes had not yet adjusted to the darkness.

Thud.

Something fell. Ryu Iden, who was embarrassed, picks it up. I can’t see it well, so I grope around, and it’s like a hand…

Like a hand?

A sensation as if the air had stopped moving follows. The strength in his hand loosens slightly, and the unidentified object in his hand falls again.

“…Guys?”

And then, I feel someone poking me in the back. When I turn around, there is no one there.

“…What, don’t play tricks. You know I’m scared of this kind of thing.”

Ryu Iden, who has the largest physique in the Blossoms team, but the fact that he can’t watch scary things as much as Chae Ha-min is a clear fact that the Luminous also know.

If this were a horror movie, there would be a ghost the moment I turned my head again, but when I looked back, there was no one there.

Thinking that I should turn on the living room lights quickly, Ryu Iden gropes for the switch.

And the moment I put my hand on the location where I thought the switch was, I felt a ‘squishy’ sensation.

Ryu Iden screams. It was a strange feeling that I never wanted to touch again.

“Guys, I’m sorry! I don’t know what it is! Dong-hwa hyung! I’m sorry! I’ll do really well! I’ll buy you a Wiener Schnitzel!”

But still, the living room is silent. Ryu Iden puts his hand on the squishy thing again and turns on the light.

And the moment he opens his eyes that were closed to the bright light, Ryu Iden makes eye contact with a man with a ghostly face shedding tears of blood.

Is it because no scream comes out when you are too surprised? Ryu Iden expands his mouth and pupils and is shocked without saying a word.

And slowly, the man opens his mouth.

“Hyung-nim, hap-py birth-day.”

The moment he heard Seok-joon’s familiar voice, Ryu Iden’s legs gave way and he collapsed along the wall.

And the cake that came into view when he fell. The candles were not lit, but it was a sweet potato cake, as if he was considerate of his terrible health.

“Wow… Ji Dong-hwa, you.”

As he muttered and let out a hollow laugh, Ji Dong-hwa came out of the room and answered.

“I’m looking forward to the Wiener Schnitzel.”

And after lighting the candles, he lights them with an elegant gesture and smiles.

“And… Hyun-jae came up with this plan.”

It was Ji Dong-hwa’s bright smile that I hadn’t seen in a long time. Of course, it was a secret that Lee Hyun-jae, who appeared next, pressed Ji Dong-hwa’s side with a book.

* * *

I took the sweet potato cake out of the box and told them the whole story of the plan. The story was that he was expected to have a birthday party, made him careless in the dark, predicted the movement, installed the device, and Seok-joon was originally hiding in a dark cloth.

“What about the W app…?”

“I told you the plan and turned it off. I can’t do a hidden camera live.”

Ryu Iden, who heard those words, lifts up a piece of the sweet potato cake with a gloomy expression. I decided not to think about it because I couldn’t guess the reason.

“…But Dong-hwa, how do you predict people’s movements?”

“Humans unconsciously reveal habits more than expected.”

From my point of view, who has a habit of observing silently at home, it was easy to predict how the members who came home would move.

“Does that make sense?”

Lee Hyun-jae laughs at Ryu Iden’s dazed question.

“Hyung, what can’t Dong-hwa hyung do?”

“…It’s embarrassing because I’m still flustered even though I know it.”

It’s embarrassing to say it like it’s a folk religion. I want to explain that this is something that most humans can do, but I don’t think they’ll believe it.

“More than that, Joon, are you satisfied with that role?”

“Yes! I asked to do it first! It’s like a villain in Wizney [parody of Disney]! How cool is that!”

So, unless he has a mentally strange taste, he is an existence that must be given up to be explained in the category of humans.

I savored a glass of apple juice, which was unrestricted because it was my birthday. Hmm, the sweet taste of victory.

Ryu Iden, who was watching me, makes a bitter expression. It seems like he is chewing on the ugly taste of defeat.

Therefore, Ryu Iden changes the subject.

“By the way… Dong-hwa, the song came out really well this time.”

“The members wrote the lyrics well.”

I nonchalantly state the facts.

Recently, Lee Hyun-jae, who is showing talent in using sentences, and Seok-joon, who is making rap, have finished writing the lyrics together. Personally, I think the song is not bad.

However… I’m a little worried about the concept. It’s an album with a snake concept, so I don’t know if it will work well.

“Hey, Dong-hwa, don’t think strange things and eat cake.”

Chae Ha-min puts a piece of cake in front of me. I wonder if he knows that there is no cake on his plate.

“…You too.”

I took a bite of the cake. Still the sweet taste of victory.

* * *

The title of the 2nd mini album was decided as ‘2nd, Snakes in Me’. Although it is unrelated to the title song name, it is a title that can clearly show the album concept.

Therefore… the set for filming the concept film to connect the MV [music video] and the stories in between became literally a snake den.

“…Fantastic, my babies.”

Chae Ha-min mutters while looking at such a scene. The end of a human crazy about snakes.

“Ha-min, why do you like snakes so much?”

Ryu Iden mutters in a very stiff manner. Physique may not be the basis of courage, but it is generally proportional, but he is the most afraid after Seok-joon in our team.

“The scales… the molting… are all so beautiful. Awesome…….”

“Ha-min, I think your character has become strange.”

…That’s right, why is this member hiding behind me and saying that, my shoulder hurts.

“…Iden hyung, get lost.”

“Dong-hwa hyung, aren’t you scared of that?”

I looked at the precious bodies who will appear as our nightmares today.

“There are no poisonous species, and if you get bitten by a snake, the medical team next to you will save you.”

“That’s not the problem! Look at that guy! What a size!”

I look at today’s actor, the snake, at the end of Ryu Iden’s rude finger and answer.

“Ah, if it’s that big, it can break an arm.”

I pointed to a large snake. I had read an article about snakes with Chae Ha-min, and if it was that big, I don’t know about the waist, but it would be possible to break an arm.

“…Dong-hwa, are you kidding? Will you tell me it’s a joke? Or I think I’m going to run away while filming.”

“Whatever you want to believe.”

Of course, there are two snake experts here, so what could be the problem?

“Wow… then is it okay to use this wood for the breeding facility?”

“Yes, it may not be stylish, but it will be practical. This baby has a unique habitat…….”

And those experts are playing the role of Chae Ha-min’s private tutor. I should cut an apple later and give it to them.

The set is an artificially created ruin. There are gaps between the remains of the building, and snakes are expected to appear there.

In the last music video, I entered Lee Hyun-jae’s inner self… or so it is presumed. And the scenery in that inner self was this ruin, and the five people living in the ruin relying on each other.

Perhaps the snake symbolizes the pain and suffering that Lee Hyun-jae has.

Lee Hyun-jae came to my side, who was quietly looking around the set, and quietly asked.

“…Hyung, do you think the snake is my inner wound?”

“…Reason?”

“My inner self is a ruin, and snakes come out of that gap.”

Lee Hyun-jae thinks carefully and spits out one word at a time.

“If the ruin is a symbol of a futile inner self, wouldn’t it be right to see the snake coming out of it in a negative sense? So, like a negative psychology arising from my futile, empty inner self.”

It’s a great growth. It’s desirable and commendable. I nod expressionlessly. But…….

“Symbols are important not only for their relationship with the periphery, but also for their conventional meaning itself, Hyun-jae.”

Lee Hyun-jae closes his eyes tightly and chews on my words.

“…Do those snakes become an opportunity for me to overcome my wounds?”

I lose my words for a moment. …At least, I think I have achieved the cultivation of intelligence that I promised Lee Hyun-jae’s parents.

“…Excellent. It’s one of the most reasonable interpretations with the information given now.”