"Sure, Hyeong!" With a dazzling smile that could light up the room, Yeong Su left, leaving Ji Hoon momentarily stunned with joy. He stood frozen for a few seconds, basking in the warmth of the surprise, until he became acutely aware of the curious and puzzled gazes surrounding him.
With a grin stretching from ear to ear, he finally settled back into his seat, a sense of elation bubbling within him.
Just then, the door swung open again, and the nurse in charge stepped into the room. She appeared somewhat hesitant, her hands clasped before her as her head bowed slightly in shyness.
"It might seem arrogant and foolish coming from me," she began, her voice tinged with embarrassment. After a brief pause to gather her thoughts, she continued earnestly, "In the week that has passed, Yeong Su has made remarkable progress. He hasn't eaten entirely as he should, but he has managed to enjoy his meals today, finding a balance despite the fear that gripped him. Remarkably, he adhered to his medication regimen and diligently participated in his therapy sessions. He is truly one of the kindest individuals I have ever encountered. I sincerely hope you will give serious consideration to his request."
Without glancing back, she spun around, only to collide with Min Hyuk's solid chest, his imposing figure standing resolutely at a distance behind her, a silent command urging her to exit the room immediately. A wave of embarrassment washed over her cheeks as she hastily departed, her heart racing.
"Then I shall resume with the investigation," Hae Ra announced, drawing Ji Hoon's distracted gaze back to the pressing matter at hand.
"Oh, um... yes... sure," Ji Hoon stammered, momentarily lost in thought.
As the tension in the room began to dissipate, it left behind only Jae Hyuk, grappling with his tumultuous thoughts. He felt a protective instinct surge for Yeong Su, cherishing the bond that allowed her to lean on him. Yet, amidst that warmth, he was acutely aware of the need to navigate his own life, maintaining the facade of Ji Hoon, if only for a fleeting moment.
Jae Hyuk found himself lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, wrestling with the weight of a profound dilemma. Should he pursue the fervent desires of a devoted fan, or resign himself to the confines of a new body that felt foreign and alien in its existence? The conflict tugged at his heart, drawing him into the depths of his longing while simultaneously anchoring him in the reality of a world that was not his own.
"How could you do this to us?" the voice demanded, his voice rising with frustration. "You know how crucial it is for us to be with Yeong Su!" The burden of their relentless schedules weighed heavily on him, amplifying the urgency of the situation.
Jacob, one of the group members, stepped forward, a fire ignited in his eyes. "And this is completely different from what we agreed upon! It's absurd and utterly unprofessional!" He gestured wildly, his disappointment palpable.
Just two days before Yeong Su's therapy session, ECHOES had been eagerly anticipating the schedule they had painstakingly crafted together. But when they finally laid eyes on the document, a thick silence enveloped the room. Their faces fell as they recognized it for what it was: a jarring deviation from their carefully planned agenda. Anger bubbled to the surface among the three members present, and they began to voice their grievances, frustration echoing off the walls as they fought against the unfairness of it all.
"And on the 26th, Yeong Su will have his therapy session. You understand how crucial it is for at least one of us to be there, right?" Hyun Min exclaimed, frustration radiating from his tone.
Seong Ji, the beleaguered manager of ECHOES for nearly five years, felt trapped by the swirling allegations and grievances that enveloped him. Despite the weight of the situation pressing down on him, he struggled to confront the issues at hand, feeling powerless in the face of the mounting complaints.
"I know, I know all too well. I've done everything within my power, but it's all been in vain," Seong Ji defended himself, his voice tinged with an air of desperation.
"No... we are not letting this slide. I don't care how you plan to approach this, but we will not allow it to happen, not now and not ever," Ha Joon, the leader of the group, interjected with a firm and resolute tone, as if he was delivering a final decree.
"It's astonishing that Eclipse Entertainment would allow someone like you to speak so freely," he added sharply, underscoring the gravity of the moment.
Jung Sung stormed into the room, his eyes blazing with fury. "What? You're not going to appear on the 'Idol Test' show?" he spat with utter disbelief. "Do you even comprehend who's producing it? It's Joohee, Lee Joohee!" He exaggerated the name as if talking to complete idiots.
"Have you all lost your minds? I always knew you were just a bunch of brainless idiots with a streak of luck, but this—this is a new low!" he mocked, his words dripping with contempt.
"Listen up, morons. You're going to appear on that show, no questions asked. Got it?" His voice sliced through the silence like a razor, leaving no room for protest.
"Fine, we will," Ha Joon conceded, "but one of us will visit Yeong Su and that's the final deal." This left the others baffled and confused.
"Ha..." Jung Sung sighed in mock exhaustion. "Ha Joon-ah, you clearly don't grasp the situation," he said, stepping towards Ha Joon with a menacing presence. His eyes burned with anger as he stared down at Ha Joon's sly, downcast eyes. "You think you're in any position to negotiate with me? Or do you want me to revoke even the little security I provided for Ryo as a FAVOR in that foreign country?"
The atmosphere was thick with the oppressive dominance of Jung Sung, leaving everyone speechless.
"You lot are nothing but idols. Your job is to sing, dance, and act all cutesy for your audience. Don't you dare cross that line and attempt to use your brains," he mocked. "We've already given you far more privilege than you deserve. No one gets their own show without EE's involvement, but you did. So, just be grateful for that." He concluded, reveling in the so-called 'privileges' he believed he'd granted ECHOES.
Ha Joon clenched his fist in anger, his knuckles turning white. Every fiber of his being wanted to launch a punch at the sorry excuse of a human standing before him. But he knew he was helpless. His loyalty to his group, his members, kept him rooted in place. They were more important to him than his anger, and that included Ryo, the Japanese member of their group.
Ryo had recently been offered a significant role in a Japanese drama, an opportunity that had filled him with excitement. He was on the brink of flying back to Korea when he heard about Yeong Su. The news had hit him hard, and despite his eagerness to start his new role, his concern for Yeong Su took precedence. It was only through the combined efforts of his fellow members that they managed to convince him to wait, to hold off on returning to Korea immediately.
Ha Joon's mind raced with conflicting emotions—rage at Jung Sung's cruel dominance, and a deep-seated sense of responsibility for his group. The silence in the room was deafening, filled with the weight of Jung Sung's oppressive presence and the unspoken fear that hung in the air.
Ha Joon's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—rage at Jung Sung's tyrannical dominance and an overpowering sense of responsibility for his group. The silence in the room was suffocating, laden with the weight of Jung Sung's oppressive presence and the unspoken fear that filled the air.
Ha Joon could feel the sting of his own helplessness. The oppressive dominance of Jung Sung hung like a dark cloud, making the air heavy and the silence even more deafening. Every fiber of his being screamed to stand up to Jung Sung, to defend his members, but the fear of jeopardizing their safety held him back. The room was filled with the unspoken tension, each member standing still, left speechless by the unsettling power play of Jung Sung.
As the leader, Ha Joon bore the burden of their collective hopes and fears. He was more than just a leader to them; he was a big brother, a pillar of strength they all leaned on. Yet, in this moment, that very role gnawed at him, casting shadows of doubt over his capabilities. The realization that he might not be as capable as he believed was a heavy, depressing thought.