To be honest, dating within the industry was just something that needed to be done quietly.
However, this was slightly different.
A bastard who hadn't even debuted at an audition yet wanted to collect the phone numbers of female idols.
'The taste of winning first place twice must have been amazing.'
It seemed that he couldn't come to his senses.
"Did he ask for your numbers out of self-interest?"
-That is… … Um, our members said it was okay to ask if he had any more questions about the feedback given on the stage.
The voice over the phone was trembling.
-Then, he asked me to follow his InHeart account, saying 'Could you check my interpretation of the song one more time?'
I chuckled. I understood it roughly.
"By the way, according to company policy, we can't have personal accounts."
-Yes. Since we don't have personal accounts… As the story unfolded like that, it seemed that even exchanging numbers became a topic.
His proficiency was okay.
"So, did you exchange numbers?"
-No! I cut in and gave him the manager's number!
There was a slight hint of pride in Park Minha's voice. I thought about whether or not to compliment her, but I gave up because it seemed odd.
-But now that I think about it, it seems that he deliberately induced a conversation in this way after he knew that I couldn't create an InHeart account.
"Hmm. Okay."
It was a sharp decision even here.
'That's why she reported it to me right away because she felt embarrassed.'
It was annoying to get involved with a bratty bastard who was on the rise and hadn't even debuted.
But this… … I didn't think Chae Seodam was particularly interested in any member of Mirynay.
'He didn't try to take any pictures, but he just randomly asked for their contact information.'
This wasn't a real relationship, it was for showing off.
He must have been wanting proof that 'I'm high enough to be involved with female idols of this level'.
There was a strange smell of disrespect in this sentence.
About idol groups.
'Is this a job that doesn't mean much to a guy like him?'
Trying to create a romantic relationship like this to show off. It was an idea that people who had been working as trainees for several years would think of and give up.
But this guy seemed to have thought 'I can do this'.
'He's obviously a guy who knows how to calculate realistically.'
Chae Seodam created a social media account more than half a year ago. And judging from the actions he was taking and his editing considerations, he was definitely a brainy guy.
Nevertheless, doing this… … It was the same as belittling his fans and potential idols.
'He thinks that everything is going to work out.'
And that trend seemed to have intensified with recent events.
'It seemed like everything was in his hands after winning first place, but Seon Ahyeon managed to stop him there. But since he won first place again…'
Nervousness and arrogance seemed to have created a wonderful collaboration.
'Hmm.'
I thought of some images, then shrugged and opened my mouth.
"Leave it."
-Yes?
I laughed.
"Just let it go. Don't worry, I think you'll be fine."
Looking on the internet, I saw that other guys were terrifyingly coming up, so I was really looking forward to what kind of reality checks the guy who was distracted by getting first place twice would get.
I decided to imitate Seon Ahyeon and move on without touching this bastard.
'Let's see how he falls alone.'
And after a few days, an article was posted on an internet bulletin board.
[Chae Seodam's InHeart Private Account (713)]
The article was a post carefully organized by capturing a private account similar to the account name of Chae Seodam, who disappeared last fall.
------------=
(Screenshot)
Chae Seodam's previous InHeart account. It seems to have been mainly for the purpose of his daily life
The account name is 'ChatiD1130'
But look at this.
(Screenshot)
'ChatiU0417'
This account was created a while ago.
A similar pattern is that the number at the end is the opening date.
And there is only one follower on this account. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
A model's account.
(Screenshot)
No matter who looks at it, they seem to be dating. ㅋ
------------=
It was written that a suspicious private account linked only to a popular model's account belonged to Chae Seodam.
"Did they find it or did they make it?"
According to the explanation, the model's account recently showed that she was in a relationship with an
- Another delusion came out.
-Isn't it just your own work?
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Chae Seodam, look at the denial of reality.
- What kind of evidence is this… Anyway, aren't you too immersed in Idol Co?
The Internet was noisy, but not many people believed it.
Most of the fans were cracked down, and this speculation without evidence quickly lost public confidence and disappeared.
Just as the controversy was about to subside, an additional post came up as if it was planned.
[That's right, it's Chae Seodam's account (1415)]
A person who hacked into the private account came out.
There was no direct face picture in the account. However, there were quite a few pictures of hands or shadows that could be identified as Chae Seodam.
"Oh."
To open such a private account in the middle of an audition program?
This was the expected direction of action.
"He was careless."
And it was fun to confirm that my guess that it was 'for show off' was correct given that the other person was a model.
But the timing was more interesting.
'Did they start moving?'
Looking at the speed at which it exploded, it seemed that they had dug everything up to this point in advance, and then framed and exploded it one by one.
'Hmm… Gold 2's fans?'
He had emerged as a leader in the previous team fight and was already at the top level, so he was on the rise.
1st place was imminent.
If Gold 2 fans showed signs of destroying the existing Rank 1, it was obvious what they would do.
'No matter who did it or whether it was a coincidence… The timing is amazing.'
-Oh my gosh.
- ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He created a private account because he couldn't lose his relationship. The truth is really ugly
- Dating while being an idol is a god-ban.
-It's not a sin to be in a relationship, and it's really scary to curse like this. It's not like Chae Seodam cheated.
└Yes, it's deceptive that he came out of the idol audition and hid it, and fell in love~
In the comments, because of the stimulating element of hacking and the photos, everyone was running wild as if the dating rumor was confirmed.
The word 'wait and see' didn't work as well as it always did. It was the same with things like 'How can he lie about dating?'
And the fans were in a confused mood. It would have been a mess internally.
'They're losing energy.'
After spending money and time to raise stocks on the show, real-time love rumors broke out.
Rather, if it was a case of 'careless words and actions', it would have been okay to gather, but this was because the atmosphere cooled down.
-Wow
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Finally, I could already see the fans leaving behind this and disappearing.
'With just this much, he won't win Rank 1 anymore.'
People who were cold-hearted would leave no matter what because of dating rumors.
It meant that the momentum was broken.
I flicked down my smartphone screen.
It was easy to guess Chae Seodam's current feelings.
'It must feel like he was struck by lightning.'
The best thing to do was to delete the account right now and announce that the hacking was a fabrication…
Would the man with the wind in his head be able to reach that cold conclusion as quickly as before?
'It must be difficult.'
As expected, Chae Seodam's side only announced a statement of 'groundless' after about a day.
However, no specific comments were made on the photos.
'He must have failed to convince the other party properly.'
If he explained that it was a misunderstanding and manipulation, there were enough shots to take back, but it seemed that the timing was missed because of nervousness.
"Aigoo, I feel sorry for that friend~"
Keun Sejin laughed and looked at my smartphone screen while passing by.
Rebounding would be difficult. I shrugged.
He was probably going to make up for it by receiving cuts that would shake people's hearts in the second half of the broadcast…
'Seeing how his head would be spinning, he might try to wake up right now.'
But it didn't end there.
A few days later, an article popped up.
[(Exclusive) "We were scapegoats." The screams of the dropouts in the brutal audition program]
It was an interview conducted anonymously by those who were eliminated from this season of
It was mainly a story about the cruel treatment of the production team and the conflict between the participants, but among them, there was 'that incident'.
------------=
B: It's like the high-ranking contestant deliberately framed other contestants to get them to drop out… … (I even dropped out.)
B: Because our positions overlapped, he made use of the fact that he had a large voice and painted people to seem mean with his lies. (Crying)
------------=
Originally, this article, which would have been suppressed as a 'rumor' due to the offensive of the fans, spread like a flame that had already been devastated by dating rumors.
-Isn't this totally a retelling of that one incident? (Screenshot)
-ㅋㅋ From the time he revealed it, I recognized him. He's probably talking about the Rank 1 in Idol Co!
The moment this speculation went around an anonymous site and went out to the sun, Chae Seodam suffered a huge blow.
Still, there were quite a few people who thought rationally that Chae Seodam was the victim after his account was stolen.
However, this was clearly a sniping of the perpetrator, and the other fandoms who kept Chae Seodam in check never missed this opportunity.
-Honestly, it's true that I have doubts because the circumstances align so perfectly.
- I think we need to calmly think about it. I thought it would be too unfair for those who were eliminated, so I blindly shielded them.
-Ah, I knew it was cheap for some reason… Fuck ㅠㅠㅠ
"Hmm."
He also dug his own grave.
Soon, Chae Seodam's side released an entrance statement with 'First time in a while' and 'Sue', but now his debut….. Hmm, even if he tried hard, I wondered if it would be unsteady.
As long as the controversy had erupted in the fields of passion and character, the blow would be irreversible.
'It's over.'
I shrugged my shoulders and tried to turn off my smartphone screen, but hesitated for a moment.
'But wait, this…'
"Aigoo, it's too bad this time, it's too bad~"
I looked at my smartphone again and caught Keun Sejin trying to pass by.
"Hey."
"Huh?"
"Didn't this turn out just the way we expected it to?"
"… …"
Keun Sejin looked at me and changed his expression as if he realized what I meant.
"No way."
Ken Sejin sent a personal message to Gold 2.
[Heeseung, by any chance…?]
He checked the underpinnings he had laid.
It wasn't long before a reply came.
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋWhat? You just gave me courage]
"… …"
I could feel the determination that he couldn't debut with such a crazy person. As we warned, it seemed that he felt at least a proper personality while filming this time.
"Awesome."
Keun Sejin and I laughed in vain. Apparently, Gold 2 seemed to sneak up on it as soon as the opportunity arose, such as consulting someone who dropped out of the audition.
"Wow… How did he manage to do that?"
"It must be because he is excited, anxious, and conceited."
"Hmm, that's an accurate judgment~"
I gladly gave a high-five to Keun Sejin.
"Oh, Ahyeon is here too!"
"G-guys?"
Keun Sejin opened the door and walked out and bumped into Seon Ahyeon, who was confused.
"Ahyeon-ah, big news~ Did you know that the bad guy who won Rank 1 is done for?"
"What?"
Seon Ahyeon checked the text on the screen I was proposing, then nodded with a bewildered face.
"Y-you're right. But I thought he was a cautious person…"
"This is the type of person he was originally like."
"That's right. And looking at it, it doesn't seem like he really had any intentions of becoming an idol?"
"Re-really… …?"
Seon Ahyeon seemed to be a little nervous at Keun Sejin's carefree addition, but then swallowed as if he had made up his mind and spoke.
"Well, you know… …"
"Yes?"
"A-actually, as a matter of fact… … I was like that as well. Rather than just wanting to become an idol… … I just wanted to continue dancing, so I auditioned."
"… …?"
The conversation suddenly jumped out due to close circumstances.
I answered.
"Idol Co?"
"Yes."
"You've been dancing since before."
Seon Ahyeon lowered his head.
"I couldn't be there anymore… …"
"… …"
"I-if I continue dancing, I was afraid I'd keep meeting the people I was afraid of… … I couldn't stand it… … So, I quit."
Maybe that side was narrower than I thought. It seemed that people of a similar age would keep bumping into each other as they built their careers.
"Even so, I really want to dance… … I-I came out thinking that I should try this one last time."
I suddenly remembered that at the beginning of our debut, when we were talking about the reason for participating in
… … Was it because he judged that his motives were impure, so he couldn't speak properly?
"Everyone participated seriously, but I don't think I did… …B-but now… … I just wanted to tell you how precious and enjoyable it is."
"… …"
I looked at Seon Ahyeon for a moment, then shook my head.
"No."
"I came out just because I was cast and did it for fun. You don't have to think about it too much."
It was a field that I wouldn't have chosen if it had not been for my status abnormality in the first place. I rubbed the back of my neck.
"You were serious enough. You've worked hard."
"… …"
Seon Ahyeon lowered his head, closed his mouth, and nodded. He grinned widely.
"Right, if a person like Ahyeon works hard, then should all the other people who became idols when they originally worked in other jobs have to quit?"
"… … What?"
"I'm talking to Ahyeon~"
Surprisingly, Bae Sejin, who felt that he was the subject of the conversation, called from the other side of the living room. Keun Sejin passed the situation naturally.
And he hit Seon Ahyeon on the back.
"We're just happy to become a better group thanks to Ahyeon's courage to participate. You think so, don't you?"
"Yes."
"… … Yes."
Seon Ahyeon nodded in succession.
He sniffled a few times, but never cried.
"Good job."
That was how the guy was completely relieved of the burden on his heart that he didn't even need to have.
Even though we had schedules the next day, we talked about the days of
And after that, I decided to stop paying attention to what happened to Chae Seodam.
Everything had worked out the way I wanted it to anyway.
'It won't matter anymore.'
Seon Ahyeon would no longer be affected by him.
• * *
In early May, when the weather was getting quite hot after a bout of incidents had passed…
"Whew."
I was jogging along the promenade in the apartment complex at dawn, avoiding people and sunlight.
It was a bit foggy, but it was okay to move around. No, on the contrary, it was nice to block other people's views.
'Hearing the barking of a dog in the distance, it looks like there's someone else out for a walk.'
Originally, I mainly did indoor exercise using equipment, but I thought I would change the pattern once in a while.
'I should do some bulking up when I have some spare time.'
Because when the next album came out…
- Woof!
"… …?"
Suddenly, the dog barking in the distance came closer.
The dog with a leash jumped out through the fog at my feet.
"… …!"
Hold on.
I knew this dog's face.
"Kongi, wait a minute."
It was raised by Cheongryeo.