Chapter 3: 2

Sugyeom heard the faint sound of music. It was a song he had heard many times, but perhaps because of his throbbing headache, he couldn’t immediately recall the name. Regardless, he hummed along without realizing it.

His body had reacted before he did, and when he realized this, the name of the song came to mind unexpectedly.

< Not Bad >

It was U-PITE’s debut song. Just as he was about to inadvertently smile from not having heard the song in a long time, there came a voice.

“Sugyeom-hyung is awake!”

A familiar voice. No, the voice was so familiar that it even made him tear up.

How could he forget the voice of Jeong Hansol, his closest friend in U-PITE who had followed him like a real brother.

It was then that he thought this was heaven.

After drinking heavily, an ex-idol fell down the stairs to his death.

He believed he was being shown the memory of his most brilliant past right after death as comfort for his tragic life.

“Sugyeom, open your eyes.”

Then came the voice of the group leader, Seon Taewon. The low-pitched voice was deep enough for fans to call it a rock-band voice. Having immediately recognized it, Sugyeom smiled with joy.

“Uh, I think he’s hurt? He must have hit his head. Smiling like an idiot.”

Taewon said hurriedly.

Even then, Sugyeom didn’t open his eyes. No, he didn’t want to.

He was afraid that all the pleasant and precious voices would disappear when he opened them.

To be taken by death and thrown into the world of nothingness.

“Minseong-hyung, I think we should take Sugyeom-hyung to the hospital.”

This time, it was the voice of the youngest, Do Yuchan.

Yuchan had caught his eyes in particular because he didn’t open his heart to the rest of the members. And in the end, it left countless scars on Sugyeom’s chest like a pained parent who wasn’t able to look after their child.

Sugyeom’s expression quickly turned gloomy when he remembered him. He became sad and thought tears would pour out at any moment. As such, clear tears formed between his closed eyes.

“He’s crying…?”

The last voice came from Cha Igyeom. Since he was the same age as Sugyeom, the agency had officially pushed them as the ‘Gyeom-Gyeom couple.’

Sugyeom had heard the voices of all the members of U-PITE.

""

Although he was afraid that there would be no one there when he opened his eyes, it had become unbearable to keep them close. A chance, just in case, he might be able to see them again.

If it was the last gift from heaven to console himself who had died miserably, he thought he would at least be able to see their faces.

After a long agonizing moment, he slowly opened his eyes. At that moment, tears that had formed flowed down the curves of his face.

“Ah, he’s awake! Hyung, are you okay?”

Sugyeom’s chest sank when Hansol, smiling with relief, came into view. He could see him clearly. He hadn’t disappeared when he opened his eyes. It was so vivid as if it was reality.

“Uh, Sugyeom-hyung…?”

Sugyeom slowly reached out his trembling hand to him.

With a look of surprise, Hansol widened his eyes. The bright brown eyes were filled with bewilderment.

Hansol’s fair cheeks were wet with sweat. Sugyeom was startled by the body temperature and dampness that touched his fingertips. It was because not only hearing and sight but also touch felt real.

“Sugyeom, let’s go to the hospital. I’m worried you might have hit your head when you fell.”

“Taewon-hyung…”

When Sugyeom turned his head to the worried voice, Taewon was looking at him with concern. He was looking at every inch of Sugyeom’s body.

“Are you hurt?”

Even Yuchan, who rarely showed his feelings, seemed worried. When Sugyeom turned his eyes slightly and saw Yuchan, tears unknowingly fell again.

As he hurriedly wiped away his tears, a towel was suddenly shoved in front of him.

“Man, you fell, so don’t be stubborn, okay? Wipe yourself.”

Instead of receiving the towel, Sugyeom looked at Igyeom.

No, it wasn’t just Igyeom. Taewon, Igyeom, Hansol, and Yuchan. He looked at everyone’s faces in earnest as if to engrave them in his eyes.

Was it a dream? He guessed it was a dream. Or an illusion. But maybe…Really, maybe…Maybe it was real.

He knew all this would soon disappear like a bubble, but his heart ached, hoping it wouldn’t.

“Sugyeom, are you okay? Are you hurt? How many fingers do you see?”

Even their manager Minseong had appeared.

Only then, sensing that it was strange, Sugyeom looked around.

Everything should be a dream, an illusion, but even where he was now felt too familiar and realistic. A somewhat musty smell, and one wall covered by mirrors. It was the choreography practice room in the agency’s basement.

“It’s so vivid…”

Everything seemed too real to be a last gift before his departure into the afterlife.

He tried to hold back his rising tears.

It was all fake, so he didn’t need to cry. It was just an illusion that would soon disappear.

“Hyung, let’s go to the hospital first. Can you get up? Do you want me to help you?”

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At Hansol’s kind words, Sugyeom shook his head. He wanted to savor this moment a little bit more, afraid everything would disappear as soon as he left here.

“Haa~ Don’t cry. Go to the hospital if you’re hurt, so stop crying.”

Igyeom wiped Sugyeom’s face with the towel while scolding him. The touch was unexpectedly so tender that one part of his heart throbbed.

In fact, Sugyeom wasn’t very fond of Igyeom in the past. They were often together at the beginning of his debut because the agency had pushed them as an official couple, but he had always felt uncomfortable with his feisty way of talking.

Sugyeom was later paired with the other members among the fans and was well received, so he naturally became involved with them and was less attached to Igyeom.

Looking back, Igyeom had always been kind to him. He regretted his past actions when he would try to avoid him just because he blindly felt uncomfortable around him.

“Uh…?”

Sugyeom, who was wiping his face with the towel he had received from Igyeom, was surprised to see the stitching on the towel.

< Congratulations on your U-PITE debut – October 6th 2021 >

It was a commemorative present given by Sugyeom’s fan who had supported him since his days as a trainee.

All along, Sugyeom had thought this moment was only an illusion or dream, but now there was an overwhelming expectation that all of this might be real.

Maybe, just as he had wished for at the last moment, another chance might have really come.

“Hansol, what is today’s date?”

“Eh…? Today is December 29th. Hyung, are you sure you’re okay?”

“So you’re saying it’s December 29th 2021? Right?”

Despite Hansol being taken aback by his question, Sugyeom didn’t care.

Not only Hansol but also the rest of the members were looking at him with perplexed expressions. However, he couldn’t afford to care.

“Hansol, please answer me, quickly.”

“Uh, that’s right, but…”

Sugyeom, who had eventually received an answer from Hansol, quickly wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes with the back of his hand.

He had really been given another chance. He had returned to his early debut days, five years ago.

“Uh, Sugyeom, why are you acting strange??”

Sugyeom pinched his right cheek with all his might. Taewon was startled when he saw that, but he didn’t stop. Rather, he pinched his left cheek.

Soon, his white cheeks had turned red and it hurt to the point where he felt they would fall off.

Indeed, it hurt. So he thought at least this situation wasn’t a dream.

Now he understood why people in movies and novels would pinch their cheeks when they go through unbelievable situations.

Although he was overwhelmed with happiness, he was afraid everything would scatter into nothingness like a dream.

He didn’t know how this was possible, and he still couldn’t believe it, but he had returned to the past.

To five years ago, back in the early days of U-PITE’s debut.

Having accepted such a reality, Sugyeom quickly racked his head.

What he was doing in the choreography practice room on December 29th 2021.

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It was around the end of the first mini album promotion, and there was still a little more time until the second mini album was to be released. The timing was near the end of the year.

In that case, there was only one answer.

“Yuchan, today is December 29th, so we’re practicing for the Gayo Daejeon? Is that right?”

“Uh, uh… yeah, that’s right.”

Yuchan seemed surprised, but Sugyeom had gotten the answer he needed.

His guess was right. They were practicing for the year-end Gayo Daejeon that was just around the corner.

Before returning to the past, he had made a promise.

If he was given another chance, whether it was being a pretty member or a ‘bottom,’ he would do it in earnest.

And now that it had come true, it was time to carry out that commitment.

If the public and fans want him to play the bottom, he would accept such roles with open arms.

“Hey, Igyeom.”

Sugyeom, who had made up his mind, called out to Igyeom.

“Uh, what? Are you hurt?”

Although it was a distant tone, it showed concern. Sugyeom smiled.

“We should do that.”

“What? What do you mean…Ah, no way.”

“Ah, yes. Let’s do it.”

At Sugyeom’s words, Igyeom widened his eyes in surprise.

It was understandable. Five years ago, Sugyeom didn’t want to do it and had avoided it even if it killed him.

But now it was different. He was going to do it.

Not only their own fans but also other idols’ fandom must watch it on stage at the year-end Gayo Daejeon.

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