Chapter 415
Kwon Heeseung had a rather creepy dream.
It was a strange configuration where some kind of alien created itself in virtual reality and was like an AI housekeeper.
In addition, there was a bizarre development in which all kinds of idol seniors appeared!
In the end, he woke up screaming in a place where the world collapsed in a spectacular way.
"Ahhhh!!"
However, he had no idea it would be this loud.
Kwon Heeseung opened his eyes in a cold sweat so much so that the airplane seat was soaked.
"Huh, huh… …"
"Are you okay?"
A hand holding a drink appeared in front of him. Without even having time to think, Kwon Heeseung grabbed it and brought it to his mouth.
Gulp, gulp.
As the cool, smooth, sweet drink went down his throat, a rush surged all the way to his head.
He felt like he was fully hydrated for the first time in hundreds of days.
'Wow.'
He shook his head and finally came to his senses after emptying the entire liter of drink.
The person who handed him the energy drink was Park Moondae of TeStar, who was sitting across from him. Kwon Heeseung stuck out his tongue.
"Wow, really… Oh, maybe it's because I had a strange dream, but it feels like it's been a while since I've had a drink?"
"… … Is that so?"
"Yes! I guess I had a nightmare. Well, it looks like there's something to do… …"
Wait a minute. Now that he thought about it, why was he on a plane?
And the moment he made eye contact with VTIC's leader, the owner of the chartered plane, he remembered everything that had happened right before he fell asleep, as if seeing a flash.
The status window crashed.
Moondae hyung was vomiting.
And…
"… … Um, excuse me."
Kwon Heeseung asked while sweating profusely.
"It… It was a dream, right?"
"… …"
Park Moondae made a strange expression while avoiding his gaze, which was rare, but soon answered with an expressionless expression.
"I think it's better to think of it as a dream."
"That means it was real…!?"
Kwon Heeseung held his face and screamed, but Park Moondae just kept his mouth shut.
This was because he roughly understood the situation.
'He chose not to remember the specifics.'
This was the choice Keundal gave him.
-Do you want to remember what happened here, or will you just forget it or vaguely remember it like a dream?
Kwon Heeseung must have chosen to treat it as a dream there. Park Moondae frowned inwardly, guessing clearly.
'… It must have been quite difficult.'
If so, compensation would be needed for Gold 2… who was Kwon Heeseung.
So, the moment he was about to open his mouth, Kwon Heeseung, who had finished thinking, was shocked and screamed first.
"… ! Wait, if that's all real… Are we in a situation where Korea just collapsed and we escaped by plane?!"
"… There is nothing like that, and this is the LA Airport, which was our original destination."
"Phew."
He guessed it was something similar to a dream!
Kwon Heeseung let out a long sigh of relief. And Park Moondae held back a sigh and continued speaking in a different way.
"Anyway, since you got caught up in this and went through a hard time… Please at least get some compensation."
"What?"
"… !"
"One wish."
Park Moondae continued speaking without any agitation.
"I will grant whatever you request to the best of my ability. How about that?"
Oooh.
Kwon Heeseung instantly thought back on Park Moondae's performance so far.
〈Idol Inc.〉. From the chicken feet and driving the company crazy to creating his own label.
And he came to a conclusion.
"I will use it well."
"Okay."
Oh, yes.
The words 'A genie usually grants three wishes, so can you change it to three wishes?' came up in his throat, but he held it back.
He was a person who knew how to get around.
Kwon Heeseung, who had achieved the one-size-fits-all wish, finally relaxed by looking outside and checking out LA Airport.
'Wow.'
The day was clear. Even though the sunset sky was from a foreign country, it felt familiar and so beautiful that it brought tears to his eyes.
"…"
"You've worked hard."
"Hey, I was just dreaming."
Park Moondae did not reply, but he smiled slightly bitterly and looked at the setting sun.
It was quiet.
Kwon Heeseung was soaking in the quiet rest and inadvertently asked a question.
"Then, hyung… The system… ?"
"I got rid of it."
"Okay."
No wonder it felt so cool. Even though it was a dream, it looked like he had a hard time.
'Ah, it's so satisfying.'
He sat down again, putting cheese, salt biscuits, and chocolate from the cart into his mouth.
"Huh? When did you eat this?"
"While you were sleeping."
"Wow, is it expensive?"
"I don't know."
Kwon Heeseung opened some new champagne and drank it while enjoying his leisure time.
The charter plane owner, who was reading a book, did not bother to comment or even look at them.
'Then, I can eat anything.'
Just when he was feeling optimistic, the sound began to return to the charter plane.
The sound of doors opening and people moving.
"The preparations are done."
Cheongryeo opened his mouth for the first time. When Kwon Heeseung turned his head, he actually saw the workers returning to their seats.
'Huh?'
Kwon Heeseung cautiously opened his mouth.
"Hyung, can we get off now?"
"No."
"… ?"
"We also refueled at the airport."
Park Moondae laughed.
"We have to go back now."
"… !!"
No, they came all the way to LA just to leave like this? They should only return after playing for a bit!
Kwon Heeseung immediately thought of a thousand things to say in response, but he unconsciously kept his mouth shut.
Somehow… This was because he realized that he couldn't bear it anymore and wanted to go back.
To everyday life. To his home.
"Let's depart."
The three idols fastened their seat belts. The plane began to return to its departure point.
• * *
It was already dawn when I arrived at Incheon International Airport.
It took quite some time to go back to Seoul, but I wasn't too nervous. Before that, my smartphone was constantly ringing.
-Kim Raebin: As soon as I arrived, I suddenly told my grandmother that I was going back to the dorm, so my grandmother was very worried and it took quite a while for us to talk. I'm sorry!
-Seon Ahyeon: No, be careful, Raebin. I also told my parents and left and am now back at the dorm.
-Cha Eugene: I was at the dorm from the beginning. I am in first place (sunglasses emoticon)
It seemed like all kinds of incidents occurred when the people who dispersed on vacation came back.
'At this rate, I think it would have been okay to just stay home for a few nights.'
Actually, I brought up that idea before… …
-For those who have already gone home, wouldn't it be okay to take a rest?
-Seon Ahyeon: No, I'll definitely go back!!
The answer came immediately and at breakneck speed.
And after a moment of silence in the group chat room.
-Seon Ahyeon: I didn't mean that the members shouldn't stay at home longer and then come back. My house is close and I go there often, so I just meant that I would go back to the dorm right away. There is absolutely no pressure!
The message was still long.
-Ryu Chungwoo Hyung: We know, Ahyeon. Come in peace (brightly smiling emoticon)
-Kim Raebin: I completely understand! But I'm okay with it too. Isn't there a chance to visit again within 15 days?
Anyway, news of the members arriving at their dorms kept coming through KakaoTalk.
-Keun Sejin: Dear members, guess what? Haha, I even went grocery shopping by myself… On days like this, we have to make a toast (Emoji of a bear holding a wine glass)
-Ryu Chungwoo Hyung: Haha, that's cool. Oh, the other Sejin has arrived now too.
-Bae Sejin Hyung: (Hamster emoticon waving his hand)
And finally, as if everyone else had arrived, this was what came before.
-Cha Eugene: I want to eat chicken. Why isn't Moondae hyung here? (glaring eyes emoticon)
-Keun Sejin: Only Park Moondae remains~~~
-Bae Sejin: Come right away. It's late.
-My departure point was the Pacific Ocean, so isn't it natural for me to be late?
I went from the Pacific Ocean to LA and these guys really didn't care about the situation.
I got into the taxi and looked at the time. 30 minutes left.
When I flipped through the smartphone screen, I went to a private conversation, not the group messaging area.
This was the message history that I checked immediately while Gold 2 was sleeping.
- Keundal: Hyung, I arrived safely! Are you okay, hyung?
It was said that Keudal came to his senses safely in Ryu Gunwoo's body.
There was no pain anywhere. He was healthy and had no discomfort.
'Is it a success?'
However, something a little unusual remained.
[Messages are still sent through the status window…? No way?]
It didn't really feel like he was being swallowed up by the system, but this add-on seemed to still work. The status window was still visible to me.
'Is it because of the permanent status window compensation?'
I assumed it was because of the reward I received after clearing the status abnormality. That system seemed strangely tied to contracts and promises.
'Is it also mental energy?'
Anyway, it was probably a good thing since it was already gone.
I casually put down my smartphone.
And after a while…
"We've arrived. The front door of the apartment!"
"Thank you."
I quickly paid the taxi fare and got off.
Past the almost unfamiliar flower beds, past the constructed playground, past the first-floor entrance, past the elevator.
I saw a familiar front door.
Di dididi dik.
I pressed the button and opened the door.
Click.
"No way!"
"Wow, Park Moondae is here now!"
"Isn't there a chicken restaurant that opens at 4 in the morning?"
The cool air from the air conditioner blew in.
Beyond the familiar design of the entrance, I could hear familiar people talking and running footsteps.
'Why aren't they sleeping?'
I smiled and went inside the front door. Knowing that it was early in the morning, quiet compliments and hands poured out.
The members hadn't changed, and neither had the dorm itself.
However, surprisingly, it wasn't just people who were in the dorm.
"Moondae, look at this!"
"Woof!"
There was something that looked like a white fur ball in the dorm. It was a clump of fur that I knew.
Bae Sejin did not return to the dorm alone.
"I brought Mungae too. Great, I think it would be a good idea for him to go with us when we go on a trip. It's been a while… so I was glad to see him too."
"…"
Beyond Cha Eugene, who was desperately looking for a 24-hour chicken restaurant to order, Bae Sejin held out the small dog in his hand to me.
I caught the guy who was wagging his tail.
It was soft and warm.
"Then let's get some sleep first… Let's wake up tomorrow, get ready right away, and go play."
"Absolutely."
"Let's eat chicken first."
"I'm really curious about how our Eugene doesn't gain weight."
While petting the dog, I quietly opened my mouth.
"There is something I want to do before that."
"… !"
"What?"
"It won't take long. I'll be back while you're sleeping."
I called a place that was still open during this time.
"Moondae-ssi, what's going on? It's nice to see you."
"Yes, me too. I'm looking forward to it."
I sat down on the chair. The hairstylist smiled and grabbed my hair.
Yes.
I came to the shop first thing in the morning.
"The members aren't doing anything?"
"Yes."
And I wasn't the only one who came.
While I was getting my hair done, these guys came along and sat in the waiting area, making a fuss about choosing a travel destination.
"Here. Let's go here!"
"Don't make a hasty decision just by looking at the production photos, Cha Eugene!"
'I told them to sleep.'
They didn't listen.
Since it was a shop where dogs were allowed, everyone went out.
"The TeStar members are always getting along well~ Do you guys take selfies like this?"
"It's not like that."
I answered the director's words and looked in the mirror.
Beyond the mirror, I saw Keun Sejin lightly holding Mungae's front paw and shaking it.
'Indeed.'
"Then, I'll use this color~?"
"Yes."
My hair was covered in chemicals.
And a few hours later…
"It's the same as the picture before, right? It came out well."
"That's right. Thank you."
I sat on the chair in the shop and took the photo myself, feeling a little awkward.
It wasn't that I couldn't take photos of myself now that I had some free time, but it had been a while since I'd taken a photo with this face, so it took a lot of trial and error.
"…"
And after a very long time, I accessed TeStar's official SNS… I pressed the upload button.
Hello, Loviewers.
It's Moondae. (dog emoticon)
I got my hair color back. Actually, I kind of missed it.
(picture)
In the attached photo, I had golden brown hair.
Like the first color I did during Idol Inc.
And as if waiting, a notification rang.
-Oh my gosh. Idol Inc Moondae.
-I love you. First of all, I love you.
-Is this a spoiler for the next album?? Moondae? Moondae??
-♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
-Moon Puppy will win forever, Tibetan fox, give up now (fist emoticon)
Familiar reactions and profile pictures filled the screen. 'It doesn't feel the same', 'What are you planning?' There was even the same verbal abuse as usual.
I was TeStar's Park Moondae.
"…"
"Hmm? Did you post something Moondaemoondae? Oh my gosh, our members are left alone in the waiting area…"
"Show them your face."
"Oh?"
He took a group photo of the guys sitting in the shop's waiting room, furiously tapping away at their laptops and smartphones.
We came to see Moondae (eye-rolling emoticon)
Since that morning, fans received notifications from TeStar's official SNS account several times.
• * *
And a few hours ago at dawn…
There was silence in an apartment in Seoul, a spacious and clean house.
The large puppy lying on a soft beige blanket in front of the large entrance was half asleep.
Because he had been waiting for a long time.
But he didn't forget the happy sound.
Tirik!
The sound of a door opening.
Footsteps.
A sign of seeing a loving family member.
"… !"
In an instant, the puppy raised his head, wagged his tail, and looked at the huge gray door.
Soon, the door opened… As always, the tall family member walked in with two feet.
"Kongi."
"Woof!"
The puppy jumped up and enthusiastically welcomed his family.
Although he had learned to wait politely whenever his family was away for a few days at a time, he still couldn't bear waiting.
Kongi stomped his hind feet and stuck out his front paws and snout, welcoming the family warmly and enthusiastically.
"Ah… …"
So, Kongi's family member Shin Jaehyun hugged and lifted the yellow dog that was running around him.
And without moving, he quietly listened to the unfamiliar sound.
Every time he moved on to the next beginning, he always threw away and cut off what had disappeared before he knew it.
Affection for what remained.
"Kongi, I'm back."
These were the first words of return spoken since becoming Cheongryeo again.
He held the dog at the front door and quietly enjoyed the unfamiliar afterglow.
For a while, no, for quite a long time.
And after some time…
"Keueuung."
"I'll only give you one."
After giving his dog an early morning snack before exercise that he had never given before, Cheongryeo's smartphone rang in his back pocket.
'Hmm?'
No one in their right mind would contact him this early in the morning for non-emergency purposes.
So he checked his smartphone right away…
And saw something unexpected.
-Park Moondae: (photo)
What he sent without saying a word was a picture of a white dog. As if he was mocking someone.
"Haha!"
Cheongryeo patted the dog on his lap and laughed for quite a while.
He savored his first return.