As expected, the encore itself went smoothly.
[See ya!!]
Cha Eugene ran across the stage looking for the camera and the audience as if he hadn't screamed before.
And he maintained that tension until the moment we went down to the back of the stage.
'Good.'
I calmed my head, still reminiscent of the concert.
I'd go down like this and talk to Cha Eugene, and then I'd use that as a base and talk to the production team again.
I knew they were trying to draw a picture, so let's do it.
However, before we had time to do so, the guys with cameras from backstage caught up with us as we came down the stage.
'These bastards really don't know how to give up.'
I had a strong hunch that if I got angry, they would actually like it because the boundaries of real life would be broken.
"… …"
Cha Eugene glanced at the documentary crew, but took the water and drank it without saying anything else.
'It seems genuine.'
I think he relaxed a little while on stage. I cleared the situation by wiping my neck with a towel.
It was then.
The crew quickly approached him. The camera followed closely.
"Eugene is very quick to find his composure… Did you happen to have an accident in the past-"
"Stop it."
"… !"
Cha Eugene suddenly interrupted and covered the camera with his hand.
It was a sudden action.
"Uh, uh!"
"I told you already. Why are you not listening?"
"Wait a minute."
What was this kid doing all of a sudden?
'If we do this, we will cross the line first.'
The members, who had lost their breath at the sudden action, were frightened and clung to each other.
However, Cha Eugene did not take his hand off the camera for quite some time and looked at the production crew.
"Eugene, let go of the camera."
"What are you doing!"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute. Director, I'm sorry, but we'll have a talk. Wait a minute."
Keun Sejin managed to cut off the situation, and after beating the production team in a good way, went straight to the waiting room.
Tak.
"Let's sit down."
"… …"
Cha Eugene sat on the sofa without saying a word. Ryu Chungwoo began to speak.
"Eugene-ah, the production crew may make you feel uncomfortable, but… we're still working, so we should talk."
"They didn't listen to me."
"Wait a minute, hyung. Cha Eugene, listen."
Keun Sejin intervened.
"During
Perhaps because of the urgency and seriousness of the situation, it wasn't as easy as usual.
"So if you do this now, do you think people will think that you're in the right or wrong? They'll just think you've changed."
"That is different."
"It could be different. But if the viewers can't see it, what's the use?"
"… …"
"Eugene, while working, everything can't be reasonable and right in your eyes. If that's possible, would you be a god or a human? First of all, you should apologize for touching the camera…"
However, as soon as he finished his words, a backlash came in.
"… No, this is what those people did wrong in the first place. They were rude."
"… !"
It was Bae Sejin.
"I think it must be made clear. We were patient when we debuted, so it'd be strange if we were being patient now."
"Se-Sejin hyung."
Seon Ahyeon restlessly called, but Bae Sejin did not withdraw his words.
Instead, a brief expression of annoyance passed across Keun Sein's face.
"Hyung. What I'm talking about right now… No, I'm not asking him to apologize for those people's work."
"Yeah, I guess you're trying to get over it quickly. But is it really necessary?"
"… Wow, so… Hoo."
"Stop."
I raised my hand. And pressed my temples.
"We don't have to talk for a long time about this. We can just talk to the production team and get rid of the film."
It was true that the opinions differed, but there was no need to put an end to it. We'd just have to be careful at this moment.
I summarized the whole situation briefly.
"Things like this can happen when you work."
"… …"
The two of them kept their mouths shut. They tried so hard not to bump into each other because they didn't get along well.
'It almost became a mess.'
I held back a sigh. And I threw my words at Cha Eugene, who was still lowering his head.
"… Cool your head."
"… …"
There was no answer.
After confirming that Kim Raebin was left in the room after hesitating, I left the two of them to deal with it and came out of the room.
I was going to have a conversation with the production team with Ryu Chungwoo, but the camera was stuck to us again… Fuck, they had to stop doing this.
I moderately helped Ryu Chungwoo, who was worried about the condition of the camera that Cha Eugene had touched, and the camera director, and then brought up the main topic.
"I think the members should take a break today, but how about meeting tomorrow and talking again?"
"Yes, yes. I'm really sorry, but is it possible to have a short interview right now? I know you are taking a break tomorrow, so it's just for a short while."
"… Wait a moment."
Oh, he didn't understand.
'Is this why Cha Eugene was mad?'
It was not an unmanned camera, so it was visibly sticking to people. From the point of view of an American who lived in a paparazzi lair, it might be more annoying because it was similar.
'And from the point of view of the production team, this opportunity cannot be missed.'
It was easier to lead to sincere answers if we talked while we were tired and emotionally shaken.
Seeing how we dealt with Cha Eugene, they probably guessed that we weren't the type to say, 'Hey, this is just a fucking documentary, so stop it!'
Fortunately, the company staff who jumped like bullets immediately intervened and appeased the production crew, and sent them back.
"We can't do it right now, we're in trouble! We ask for your understanding."
And asked us with an anxious face.
"By any chance, Eugene-ssi, with the documentary crew… Was there conflict?"
"There seems to be a bit of a problem."
Ryu Chungwoo looked around the room, and when our eyes met, he sighed briefly.
"Let's leave him alone for today. So he can cool down."
"Okay. That would be right."
Anyway, we really didn't have a schedule for tomorrow. After the concert, the exhausted guys confined themselves to a hotel room and all they did was get some documentary comments.
The staff looked nervous, but eventually agreed and decided to wait for Cha Eugene to come out of the room.
"I think it would be better not to touch him too much right now."
"Yes, yes. We will be sure to pay attention."
Since they worked with people who took care of themselves in the group or passed it on without hesitation, the staff seemed quite unfamiliar and embarrassed by this situation.
Still, they did quite a bit of work.
"Everyone, hurry up and get some rest. We'll wait for the other two to come out."
"… …"
Okay. I'd see them tomorrow morning anyway, so let's just go for now. It would be a loss if the guys with different opinions stuck together and it turned into a useless fight like before.
'It'll be okay since Kim Raebin is with him.'
In this case, it would be more comfortable to be with someone of the same age rather than someone older.
"Let's go."
"… Okay."
The members looked a bit embarrassed, but eventually agreed and moved to the car.
"Sh-should we send a text… ? In English."
"Well, wouldn't it be nice to have a slow face-to-face conversation while eating tomorrow morning?"
"Yes…"
Consolation was good, but he would also need time to think about his actions.
I returned to my hotel room extremely tired. Then I washed up and went to bed right away.
"… Hoo."
Tomorrow morning, I'd have to adjust to Cha Eugene's taste.
And I was going to hear the details of what happened with the production team.
But the next morning…
While the others showed up until the usual breakfast gathering time, Cha Eugene did not appear.
"… …"
"Is it past 9:30 now?"
"Yes."
I opened my mouth.
"Raebin."
"Yes!"
"How was Cha Eugene yesterday?"
"He was silent and looked a bit lethargic, but he wasn't particularly angry!"
"… Is that so?"
"Yes. Perhaps the current situation is from oversleeping or some kind of protest!"
That's right.
I fixed my hat.
"I will bring you too. Let's go."
"Me… ? No, okay!"
With Kim Raebin behind me, I headed to Cha Eugene's room, leaving behind those who waved with mysterious expressions.
And immediately rang the doorbell.
Ding dong.
"… …"
There was no response.
"Cha Eugene. Open the door."
Still, there was no response. We didn't scream more.
I was sure he would have heard this much.
'A real protest.
He was going too far. I sighed, took out my smartphone, and called Cha Eugene.
But the phone… it didn't go through.
[This person's phone is off…]
"… …"
This… It was cheap.
"Hyung?"
After making another phone call, I acknowledged the situation.
"Raebin."
"Yes?"
"Call the manager hyung."
I looked at Cha Eugene's door.
"It seems that Cha Eugene isn't in the room."
"… !!"
After a while…
"Really."
Cha Eugene's room was opened by the hotel staff… It was empty.
'Damn it.'
It was an unimaginable situation.
'Was it a mistake?'
Rather than letting this guy cool down until morning, should I have sat down and calmed him down right away?
'He isn't a ninja, but he's still trying to run away.'
I almost bit my tongue, but I managed to ask the manager a question.
"Did you get a call from him last night?"
"No! I haven't been contacted by Eugene…!?"
People at the company were in a state of panic. It was a reasonable response. It was the first time any of us had run away since our promotions.
However, he did not evaporate without a trace.
-I'm leaving
Fortunately, this note was left behind. It is also written in large Korean.
"Eu-Eugene must have been very hurt…"
"But it's strange to go into hiding like this… … Wait, isn't it like kidnapping?"
"Then, I think this room would have been in a worse shape than this. This idiot went out voluntarily!"
"Yes."
That was right.
The condition of the room was too good to be called a kidnapping, and it was not a hotel where anyone could easily break into.
Just looking at it calmly, I guessed what the situation was.
"… … Hmm."
I looked around the room once and nodded.
"He didn't go far."
"Is that so…?"
"Yes. He left all his luggage. He took only his wallet and cell phone and went out… Was it impulsive?"
It was very likely that he left because he was pissed off even after waking up, I guess…
At that moment, Kim Raebin raised his hand.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry for interrupting, but would it be okay if I shared my opinion?"
"…? Okay."
He swallowed, then spoke with some hesitation.
"Just… It seems like he went out to play because he doesn't have a schedule."
"… …"
"… …"
Wait a minute.
"It could be… It could be."
"Yes!"
Bae Sejin hurriedly intervened.
"But! His smartphone is off… !"
"I think he turned it off so he wouldn't be disturbed while playing."
"… …"
Yes. Since it was our day off anyway, there was a chance that he didn't have to ask for permission from the company…
The members were perplexed.
"Th-that's right. That could be it."
"… I can't believe you guys came up with an idea like that…"
Ryu Chungwoo refreshed the atmosphere.
"Um, but that might not be it either, so let's look at the situation a bit more and prepare."
"Yes. Okay~ Shall we turn on the CCTV then?"
"I'll check right away, so everyone, please wait. Someone else is coming!"
The manager immediately ran with the hotel staff. It was good to work hard, and I understood the feeling of the bomb dropping.
However, the search itself did not seem to be too much of a concern.
"I can find him with this."
I took out my smartphone.
• * *
Cha Eugene walked on the sandy beach with his bare feet, feeling the sea breeze.
It was quite leisurely to go out on a bright morning on a long-awaited holiday.
'The weather is nice.'
But he didn't feel very refreshed. He put his arms around the back of his neck to shake off his gloom.
He came out here to change his mood and 'cool down', but he didn't know if he did anything wrong… That was the conclusion he came to.
'Well, I won't apologize.'
Instead, he concluded that he should talk to his teammates about why he wouldn't apologize to the stupid people with cameras.
But he was a bit shaken up.
'No one cares about my condition.'
He grumbled, saying, 'Still, it doesn't make sense for them to not send a single text message all night in this situation.'
There really was no one who could understand and acknowledge his thoughts…
"Cha Eugene."
"… !"
"Hyung??"
"Yes. It's me."
It was Park Moondae.
'Oh my gosh.'
His teammate ran across the sand and jumped at him.
It was a welcome sight, but it was also a surprise. What kind of magic did he do?
"How did you find me? How'd you know where I was?"
"Is that important?"
Park Moondae was lightly dressed. And his pink hair fluttered in the sea breeze as if he had been searching for him quite diligently.
But instead of getting angry, he smiled and held out a paper bag.
Inside was ice cream from a nearby shop.
"It's obvious where you were going. When I searched for places near the beach that sold sweets, this café was close to the hotel."
"… …"
"I thought you would definitely be around here."
It was an accurate guess. Cha Eugene was a little impressed before feeling embarrassed with goosebumps.
"Hyung is amazing."
"Yes. I know, so eat some ice cream first. Can I bring outside food here?"
[If you have enough tips. This isn't even Disneyland, is it?]
It was a very good joke, but Park Moondae didn't seem to understand it very much. Cha Eugene, who was used to this kind of situation just let it go.
In the first place, in terms of culture alone, the sight of a man of his age sitting around with his dyed hair was not very American.
However, Park Moondae's main argument started when Cha Eugene ate more than half of the ice cream.
"Them, let's talk while you eat. Why did you do that to the producers?"
[Sounds like an interrogation, right?]
"It's not an accusation. I'm asking because it must have been for a reason."
Park Moondae crossed his arms.
"You are a smart guy."
Cha Eugene was slightly moved.
So, he shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth right away.