"Come in."
"… …"
Park Moondae, wearing a black hoodie, staggered a little as he entered the front door. Kongi groaned and hovered around him.
Only the dog's cry echoed in the spacious and quiet dorm.
"Kongi, paw."
Cheongryeo was already trying to lift his dog, which meant that he was preparing to 'finish the walk'…
'Hmm.'
He deliberately asked his guest.
"Can you help me?"
"…"
Park Moondae silently wiped Kongi's feet, prepared the meals, and eventually accepted the dog rubbing his head on his leg.
'He can't come to his senses.'
There was no reaction that Cheongryeo usually saw whenever Park Moondae thought that he had crossed the line.
Cheongryeo put the hot drink on the other side and spoke casually.
"Have you failed?"
"… …"
The person in the hood raised his head. There was no particular backlash.
'Right.'
It would depend on what kind of failure it was, but it didn't seem to be work-related.
'Then there's no way I wouldn't know.'
He didn't miss his competitor's trends.
Maybe it was faster for him to get information out of Park Moondae rather than asking the poor company…
Cheongryeo looked at the competitor who was still wearing a mask and then continued.
"I heard you had something to say. Say it. I will listen."
"… …"
Park Moondae looked down at the dog and spoke in a low voice.
"You said you explained the situation to someone else."
"Yes."
Oh, did he fail in that way?
Apparently, Park Moondae told someone else about the situation.
Park Moondae confided in one person, who was apparently the same age, so it was highly likely that the remaining one he told was also the same age as him. Relationship pressure usually worked that way.
He could have said something like 'I told you not to do it,' but… Cheongryeo held back.
Even if he didn't say that out loud, it seemed like he knew it well.
"An excuse… I heard you had an excuse to use."
"Yes."
He looked at him wondering if he was just asking for information, not a deal or threat, but his hoobaenim didn't seem to be in a state to make such calculations.
It was really out of the ordinary.
Cheongryeo confirmed that the reason Park Moondae didn't hold the cup in front of him was because his hands were shaking.
The sleeve fabric fluttered.
"… …"
He was in a state of crisis as if his body was an empty shell. It seemed like he was barely enduring the tremendous shock of incontinence.
Cheongryeo found unfamiliar traces of his very old self.
Just like it happened several times in the past with Park Moondae.
So, he quietly opened his mouth.
"First, I created a storyline similar to mine. I found references in best-selling novels or movies with a decent reputation."
Cheongryeo found suitable examples by year and organized them.
It wasn't a good idea to tell them what would be released in the future, even by mistake.
"I talked about it in an interview first. Keyword-oriented."
"… …"
"I acted as if I felt the charm from a conceptual point of view. Like I was foreshadowing something."
Then, the member who heard his secret just passed it by as a prank or excessive immersion when they later talked about it.
It was a way to take to the public side and throw away the relationship.
"It's a way to neutralize the opponent's mouth. It's effective. Should I say it's like a vaccination?"
However, no words came out of the masked mouth.
Cheongryeo made a guess rather quickly.
'He doesn't like it.'
Park Moondae was too emotional to the point of being soft at times. Well, he had only been back once, so it was only natural.
Cheongryeo offered another alternative even though he did not like it internally.
"You don't like it? Then, just tell the other person directly that you made a mistake because your activities were too hard."
"… !"
"At first, it was just a daydream, but you really believed it yourself before you knew it… Is that enough?"
Park Moondae raised his head.
Since this method was entirely focused on making the other person feel at ease, in fact, Cheongryeo himself had rarely used it except for a few times in the beginning.
'Because there is a variable or efficiency problem.'
It was because he was annoyed with sudden actions even if he was slightly insincere.
However, it seemed like the right way for Park Moondae.
Well, if he cared that much, he didn't think he would say anything insincere. Cheongryeo kindly added an explanation.
"Then your friend will believe it even if he sees a gap. It's not terribly different from the expected answer, but it's positive."
Even though he didn't reply, Cheongryeo finished his words slowly as he watched Kongi give its paw to Park Moondae.
"That type of person won't change their thoughts once they've already reached a conclusion."
And he laughed.
"He doesn't like being in the wrong, right?"
"… …"
"Give him the answer he wants to hear. Then it will be fixed."
In front of Cheongryeo, steam was still rising from the drink that Park Moondae had not touched.
And Park Moondae, who finally met his eyes…
He was convinced.
"No."
Like this.
• * *
My mind was like mud.
Thanks to this, at dawn, I sat down at someone else's dorm, which had the same structure as TeStar's dorm. It wasn't a fun situation.
But I didn't know what to do, and even though my head was like a crazy complicated worm's burrow, I knew the one thing that I could do.
Denial.
"No."
Cheongryeo, who was sitting across from me, tilted his head to the side.
It felt like cold water had been poured into the muddy water in my head.
"Hmm?"
"He… He's not that kind of guy."
That one could definitely be refuted.
'Seon Ahyeon is a person who admits that he is wrong.'
That was harsh enough.
He has lived that way for a long time. He continued to be conscious of his own trauma and flaws.
[! Status Abnormality: Lack of self-esteem]
With that status abnormality, he continued to find and admit flaws and points to fix in himself.
To the point that he did it excessively.
And he would try to overcome it all.
[Characteristic: Resilience]
His traits seemed to reflect that.
An attitude to overcome. And he was trying to do his best… That was the correct judgment.
'He's not the kind of guy I can easily convince if I tell him what he wants to hear.'
So, on the contrary, a problem arose.
I heard what Seon Ahyeon shouted… I remembered it.
-I-I'm sorry… I-it's hard to believe you… I-I can't help…
"… He wanted to believe it."
"I guess so."
"But he thought it was right not to believe it."
"… …"
"I didn't get to the conclusion in a proper way, so things ended up like this while he was trying to reach an uncomfortable answer."
I… Because I couldn't explain it properly, he misunderstood that mental illness was the correct answer.
'… In fact, the battles were also splendid.'
I smiled bitterly as I recalled everything from seizures to alcoholism.
… I didn't know why I thought Seon Ahyeon would believe it.
"Therefore… I have no intention of using him that way. It won't work. Because he's the exact opposite."
If it were Seon Ahyeon, he might think about it again and realize that it was an appropriate excuse that I made.
Then there was really no turning back.
"Is that so? Alright."
Cheongryeo nodded as if he had nothing to regret.
"However… Don't you think that's a very presumptuous judgment?"
What?
"I…"
"No, not hoobaenim… that person."
"… !"
"Wasn't it that hoobaenim got into trouble because he was sure that the wrong answer was the right answer? I don't know why you're so concerned…"
"… …"
"Isn't it unfair?"
I clenched my fist.
But I soon let go of my strength with a sigh.
"It's me who said it, and in the end, it's me who has to accept the reaction."
The words came out softer than expected.
"It's not like someone tortured the answer out of me, so if I was the one who poured it all out, I should be able to handle it."
"Hmm."
The guy on the other side didn't seem to agree very much, but he didn't dispute it this time either.
"Really? Cheer up. You can give up anytime if you don't like it."
"Even if hoobaenim leaves TeStar, your life won't end. Yes?"
This bastard seemed to have a healthier idea than before, but…
'Why does he sound so disrespectful?'
It was pretty upsetting.
Besides, it wasn't the time to think about my own situation right now.
'Someone other than me would die and return to the status window.'
I gritted my teeth.
However, if I told Cheongryeo that, he would probably reply with, 'Anyway, hoobaenim isn't the one that's going to die… Hm, yes.'
I just kept my mouth shut.
And then I looked at him again.
'This guy with poor empathy is good at consulting.'
I was sitting on a bench to cool off just in case, but I didn't know that I would come all the way to the dorm and be treated to tea.
'… In a way, it's a bit comparable to that time.'
I was silent for a while, remembering that I had closed the door when Cheongryeo came to see me after the news of his dog being hospitalized.
No, there was a difference between coming to my dorm informally and being invited to his dorm. Let's just say what I had to say.
"Anyway, thanks for the advice."
"Are you not going to do it? Haha."
It was my own choice, you bastard.
Anyway, I started thinking again with a clearer mind than the night before.
'First of all, TeStar's activities are restricted…'
… I would never let this bastard know about it. I was sure he would fucking love it.
"Kongi, do you want a treat?"
"Woof!"
I looked at the guy who was adept at handling his dog and kept quiet.
In the end, there was only one way to come back.
'Seon Ahyeon's special characteristic must be reactivated.'
Resilience.
Re-activating it to offset the status abnormality was the surest move.
But… Looking back, I didn't think my words would work.
'… I wonder if he'll even try to talk.'
I didn't know. Maybe he even listed recommended hospitals.
'Stop.'
I cut off the thought that was going in a useless direction.
It was better to think productively.
'That's why someone else should do it, not me.'
It meant that the members should carry out what I did during Idol Inc in a similar way.
"… …"
Mobilize helpers.
I came up with a few ideas and got up.
No, I was about to get up.
"Woof."
Even if only the dog didn't catch me.
Cheongryeo's eyes narrowed.
"Kongi's disappointed. It's okay to stay here for a while."
At his dorm?
"What about your members?"
I heard that they would release an album before they enlisted, so what was he talking about?
"Personal schedules. Or because it's a vacation period."
Really?
I looked around again.
Well, I didn't want to closely observe where other people lived, but… There were some things that caught my eye.
Photo frames and souvenirs that they received at the beginning of their debut were still arranged in the living room.
"… …"
Wait, I think I took pictures of them during that period and sold them… No way.
I turned my eyes and looked at the guy and the dog on the other side.
And I impulsively asked him.
"Did your members still listen to your thoughts after that?"
"Yes."
There was no sign of concern.
"I wonder why hoobaenim just asked me that. You probably don't want to tell me the reason, right?"
"… …"
That was a question for me, too.
Fuck, I didn't know why I did that…
"I don't know. Just… I just wanted to ask."
"… …"
Whether he laughed or not, I answered while half-giving up.
However, Cheongryeo just replied like this after petting the dog's head.
"It's possible."
"… … !"
"It will be frustrating."
Surprisingly, a faint understanding emerged from the tone.
"Were you frustrated?"
"Not really. Hmm… No, it was like that before, but I got used to it."
Cheongryeo took his hand away from the dog and smiled a little.
"They say humans are adaptable animals, right? Hoobaenim will be fine soon."
"…"
My head thought that it was bullshit. But it was weird… It was funny that it was emotionally comforting.
I finally answered with a sigh.
"… Thanks."
"Yes."
He was holding his own dog, so I'd have to take advantage of this gap and get up soon.
I poured the cooled tea into my mouth and stood up.
'I didn't even suspect what was in it.'
It seemed I was still not sane.
Just when I was about to leave the table while shaking my head…
Ding dong.
The doorbell rang.
I inadvertently looked at the intercom. I was thinking that if it was a member of this company, I would have to hide.
However, the tall guy wearing a mask and was lightly dressed in the camera…
It was Seon Ahyeon.
"… !!"
I reflexively backed away. Why… was he here?
'He came to see me…'
Nevermind that. How did he know I was here?
And there was no reason for him to come.
'I haven't received any contact from the company or the members.'
My phone was even set to silent, and there hadn't been any vibrations…
"… …"
Wait a minute.
I checked my pockets, then raised my eyes and looked at the intercom screen again.
One of the two smartphones in Seon Ahyeon's hand.
'That apple case.'
It was my smartphone.
"Ah."
And I figured out the situation. I… I left the door open last night and crawled out at dawn with no contact…
"There's a visitor here in the early morning."
… It had been about 3 hours.
Fuck