Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 85

< 85. Got a Call.>

“It’s makeup. My friend is performing, and they said stage makeup can completely cover scars.”

“Isn’t it photoshopped out?”

“I don’t think it’s photoshop. It’s a recording of a CF [commercial film] shoot. Ah, I’m getting tongue-tied. Anyway, it’s the footage before the CF is edited, right?”

“Makeup, makeup, 100% makeup.”

“I’m the original poster. It’s makeup, phew.”

“How did you know Woo Yeon-woo had a scar?”

“I’m the original poster. I recently became a fan of Woo Yeon-woo and have been digging up everything from his debut days… The scar was visible in his debut album teaser photos. He even mentioned in an interview that it was from a car accident.”

The original post was a short conversation, and neither the person asking nor the person answering seemed to take it seriously.

When a CF filming staff member said that Woo Yeon-woo’s skin was the most amazing, without a single blemish, it didn’t immediately become a hot topic.

However, a small number of people began to pay attention to it.

Rembrary received a call from a stranger two days after the CF first aired.

The internet was turned upside down when the competition concept between the two idols and the discontinuation penalty were revealed, and Oh Jung-shin’s fans were completely fired up.

On the other hand, Rembrary, who had no schedule today, was comfortably sitting and reading a dictionary. Jongwoo had taken Keshi to the filming set, and only Sajangjae, who had returned from a business trip, and the remaining members were huddled together in the living room watching a horror movie.

It was a horror movie about a grim reaper, which Sajangjae had bought online in advance.

No tact, no shame, no embarrassment. Rembrary, who knew Sajangjae’s true identity, was dumbfounded, but Sajangjae himself seemed to like the fact that their story was being used as material, and stubbornly made sure the movie he bought was playing on TV.

As soon as the movie started, the bored members naturally gathered one by one. That’s when it turned into an impromptu DVD room atmosphere.

“Why do you call my name three times before taking me, Gamjae?”

“In case you get confused.”

“The caller? Or the listener?”

“Both.”

“What happens if I say it’s not my name after you call it three times, Gamjae?”

“I’ll go back once to confirm. And when I come back after realizing I’ve been scammed, the charge of fraud will be added.”

“What happens if I get rid of the grim reaper before you call my name three times, Gamjae?”

“Are you threatening me right now?”

As Rembrary and Sajangjae were exchanging pointless words, Rembrary’s cell phone, which he had placed next to him, vibrated and rang.

“I was just curious. Just curious.”

Rembrary grinned and answered, casually picking up the phone and putting it to his ear.

“I answered. Who is this?”

– …

But there was no sound coming from the other end of the phone. There were faint voices of people passing by, but the person holding the phone wasn’t saying anything.

“Who is this?”

When Rembrary asked again, a quiet and calm voice finally came out.

– Is this Woo Yeon-woo’s phone?

“Yeah, it’s me.”

Rembrary answered casually, glancing back and forth between the grim reaper in black robes on the screen and Sajangjae in a black suit.

Rembrary pointed to Sajangjae’s outfit with his finger and mouthed, ‘Uniform? Work clothes?’

Meanwhile, the person on the other end of the phone said slowly.

– It’s me, Yeon-woo.

His voice sounded somewhat happy and worried.

– It’s your brother.

There were so many people here who called him ‘hyung’ [older brother], so Rembrary didn’t immediately recognize which brother it was.

To confirm which brother it was, he moved the phone slightly away and checked the name saved on the screen.

Surprisingly, the screen only showed ‘Hyung’.

‘Is it his real brother?’

Rembrary was flustered and poked Jungseo next to him, and Jungseo told him, “Real brother, your real brother.”

Rembrary put the phone back to his ear and left the living room, which was noisy with the movie sounds.

“Brother?”

Come to think of it, when Woo Yeon-woo’s mother visited from America before, she had mentioned his brother.

It wasn’t a long story, just something like, ‘Do you remember your father and brother?’ but he had forgotten about that brother within a day.

The day Woo Yeon-woo lost his memory and gave his body to Rembrary, Woo Yeon-woo’s father was shot and collapsed. On the other hand, the brother didn’t have any particularly memorable characteristics.

At the time, he was busy trying to find the blackmailer, so Rembrary didn’t have the leisure to check on the unremarkable brother.

“Brother, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’ve lost my memory.”

Knowing that the situation had been explained to his family, Rembrary made sure to clarify this fact first.

– Yeah. I heard it from your mother. Are you okay?

“My body is fine. I just don’t have any memories.”

– I should have contacted you sooner, but I’m sorry. I had some urgent business, so I was in a place where cell phones don’t work.

“There’s such a place?”

– Yeah. A faraway country.

The brother answered calmly.

Rembrary held the phone and awkwardly rolled his eyes. He had taken the phone without thinking, but now that it had come to this, he didn’t know what to say to this brother.

The uncomfortable feeling he had felt when he saw Woo Yeon-woo’s mother before resurfaced.

Rembrary, who had Woo Yeon-woo’s soul hanging on the edge of his shadow and occupied his body, felt a faint sense of guilt towards Woo Yeon-woo’s family. It wasn’t his fault, but because of him, their precious son was stuck with an evil spirit.

Was that why? He felt awkward when the conversation with Woo Yeon-woo’s family got longer.

But if they came to see him, he would have to meet them. If they called, he would have to answer. Rembrary, weighed down by his debt to Woo Yeon-woo, sighed and asked his brother.

“But why did you call?”

– Ah. Actually, I watched all the shows you were on.

“Are you going to praise me?”

– Huh? Ah, no. No, it’s not that I’m not, uh. You were unique. That thing. You imitated a bear well too.

Rembrary, who had never had siblings, rolled his eyes again. What should he say in this situation?

If it were someone else, it would be natural for them to worship him, so he would say, “Yes.” But it was ambiguous what he should say when the other person was his real brother.

Should he point out that he never imitated a bear, should he say thank you, or should he say he was embarrassed because he was stating the obvious?

Fortunately, the other person continued to speak.

– I also saw the CF you recently filmed. The one where you’re under the waterfall… wearing only pants and catching the water with your head.

“Ah. That product. It’s good. You should buy it too, brother. I was under a waterfall, but the stuff I put on my face didn’t wash off.”

– Um. Okay…

The other person trailed off ambiguously. Rembrary had nothing more to say and stared blankly into the air. Perhaps sensing that the call was getting long, Jungseo opened the door slightly and peeked inside.

He mouthed, ‘Are you okay?’

Rembrary answered that he was okay, and Jungseo closed the door again and left.

During that time, the other person was silent.

Eventually, Rembrary, unable to bear it any longer, was about to tell him to call later if he had nothing to say.

The brother, who had been hesitating for a long time, spoke in a troubled voice.

– I might be going to Korea soon. Should we meet up?

“Why are you hesitating so much about something like this? Of course, it’s fine.”

Rembrary answered readily. He had already expected this kind of suggestion since the other person had revealed that he was his real brother.

“When the date is set, give me a call or text. Let’s set a date.”

Rembrary said with a much more relaxed mind. He wanted to end this uncomfortable call quickly and continue watching the movie with Sajangjae. In the movie earlier, there were three people with the same name in the scene where the grim reaper called the name three times. He was curious which of the three followed the grim reaper.

– I’ll go the day after tomorrow. Is that okay?

The relaxed mind darkened again when the date was set specifically. It was awkward even talking on the phone without seeing each other. How much more awkward would it be to see each other in person? That’s what he suddenly thought. Besides, the day after tomorrow was too soon.

But unable to refuse, he forced himself to answer, “It’s fine,” and his brother asked again.

– Would it be okay to meet at the swimming pool?

“Huh?”

***

“You’re not just running into each other at the swimming pool, you made an appointment to meet at the swimming pool?”

Jongwoo, who had finished filming Sing Survival and was taking care of Keshi and Rola, was dumbfounded and repeatedly confirmed when Rembrary told him about the call with his real brother.

“Are you sure it was really your real brother who called?”

When Rembrary showed him the phone call history, Jongwoo clicked his tongue.

“It’s real. Wow, your brother is really unique.”

“Did I like swimming pools?”

“Well, I don’t know because I didn’t ask.”

“Jungseo, did I like swimming pools?”

“As I said before, we weren’t very close back then.”

Rembrary repeatedly asked the other members as well, but they all only answered that they didn’t know.

They said they didn’t know because they had never seen him go to the swimming pool.

Well, he probably couldn’t leisurely go to the swimming pool in a situation where he was desperately trying to escape anonymity.

Except for the occasional free time given, most of his daytime activities were under the control of his manager, Jongwoo.

“It’s a bit strange as a place for a touching reunion. But your brothers, your family, must have something special.”

“Is that so?”

Rembrary tilted his head and sighed.

Still, a swimming pool…

There was also a swimming pool in the place where he originally lived.

Most of the customers were nobles, and the water there was filled with all kinds of bath salts, bath salts, and decorative flowers, and there were dozens of types.

In some unique places, there was also a space where you could read a book while soaking your feet in the water, and employees with all kinds of food plates on silver carts walked around, serving the food that the guests wanted.

The nobles entered the water wearing thin clothes, and a pair of beautiful male and female slaves on either side attended to the nobles who were playing in the water, dressed in gorgeous attire.

When the nobles got tired of playing in the water, they lay down on wooden armchairs and rested, watching how the slaves of others were dressed.

They looked at how the slaves were dressed and figured out how wealthy and powerful the person was, as if they were fighting a battle of wits.

What should I say… It was a rather blatant and snobbish place for socializing.

And he wants to meet there?

“Woo Yeon-woo’s family was unique. They didn’t go often with family.”

Jongwoo nodded without thinking.

“I guess so. But Yeon-woo, are you good at swimming?”

“I can even breathe underwater.”

“Does that mean you’re good?”

“I have no difficulty walking and running, but I don’t know about ordinary people’s swimming.”

Rembrary sighed.

“The problem isn’t swimming.”

“Then what is it?”

“There are no slaves here. Then who should I take as an attendant?”

“An attendant?”

“I mean someone who will bring and set up food when I get tired of playing in the water, and fan me with a large feather fan.”

Jongwoo’s face crumpled.

“Is this some kind of Roman emperor swimming pool? You watched a movie, what did you even watch?”

Rembrary blinked blankly and sighed, “Ah.”

He realized that the swimming pool here might be different from his world.

Still, playing in the water would be similar.

Rembrary quickly picked up his phone and searched for swimming pools here.

Surprisingly, the atmosphere was very different. There weren’t many different kinds of water, but there were many interesting rides, and although it didn’t seem quiet, it looked cheerful and bright.

And…

“Why, why are they all half-naked?”

“It’s a swimsuit.”

“What that man is wearing looks exactly like the underwear I’m wearing now. Jongwoo! But this is a swimsuit?”

“The material is different.”

“The shape is the same!”

Rembrary’s face turned pale.

“Do I have to wear this too?”

The pale face then crumpled.

Compared to his original world, where he swam in a thin gown that came down to his toes, the swimsuits here were too revealing for both men and women.

But the revealing appearance of the swimsuits was revealing, but it was also strange that Woo Yeon-woo’s real brother specifically asked to meet in this revealing outfit.

< 85. Got a Call > End