Chapter 8: 8

“What did you say?”

 

Haeun was worried because he unconsciously spoke in his usual rude way, but when he thought of what he said, it didn’t sound very disrespectful. Instead, it felt as if he was sorry for not hearing what he’d said.

 

What kind of body was this to assert its kindness so strongly while having Haeun’s mind?

 

“Never mind. Well, you weren’t completely out of your mind.”

 

He didn’t misunderstand. He definitely said, ‘Did you improve?’ He was dumbfounded at Sungjae’s cold expression pretending he’d never said something, but there was no time to think about it.

 

“Haeun-ah.”

 

The person who lightly tapped his shoulder was the leader, Ilhyun. As Park Haeun turned around, he said gently, “Let’s go down.”

 

“Uh… Ah, yeah.”

 

Haeun was unaware that he’d shown a dumb reaction. Haeun completely forgot what he’d done because of his adrenaline high. 

 

After he got off the stage, he felt his senses coming back.

 

Ilhyun quickly got further from Haeun because he was taking care of his surroundings. Haeun, who experienced performing for the first time, desperately looked around to not show his confusion. Then, he made eye contact with Junwoo. It would be harder to not notice him because he stood out with his brightly bleached blonde hair and was also staring this way. 

 

‘What’s he glaring at like that?’

 

Junwoo didn’t turn his gaze away, although they’d made eye contact. If he’d shown negative emotions, Haeun would’ve gladly participated in a staring contest, but he had a blank expression. Haeun, who needed to manage his reputation, had no choice but to hold back.

 

But then, he heard a low voice from behind his back.

 

“Hey.”

 

It was Sungjae. He must’ve not wanted the people around them to hear because his voice was low. Haeun got goosebumps up his ears because he heard him so closely.

 

His hands almost went out unconsciously. Haeun barely suppressed his reflexes with a flinch of his shoulders and replied, “What?”

 

“Today, you’re a little…”

 

As soon as the conversation started, Junwoo’s gaze landed somewhere else. Haeun slightly frowned with discomfort, turned his head, and made eye contact with Sungjae.

 

“Today, I what?”

 

“Parkha, you!”

 

However, before he continued speaking, the manager interrupted with an angry expression. Parkha recalled what he’d done after seeing the manager’s serious expression. 

 

 

 

“What were you thinking when you did that?” the CEO said with a serious expression.

 

Haeun was immediately called to the agency and summoned to the CEO’s office. The CEO wasn’t the only person in the office; Director Kim Miji was also there.

 

Director Kim Miji was the MVP1 of this comeback’s album. The company of Stone Cherry, Park Haeun’s group, originally only put effort into the actor entertainment industry; Stone Cherry was their first idol plan. There was nowhere as good as this to raise actors, but they had no sense in the idol section.

 

They brought four members who weren’t lacking in the skill, visual, or celebrity section but couldn’t make them shine as a celebrity. So Stone Cherry was heroically failing while wearing fishnet clothes that were in trend ten years ago and releasing songs criticizing society with beast concepts. 

 

In that situation, Kim Miji appeared like a ray of light. She already had a reputation for her abilities in the idol industry. The CEO, who genuinely wanted to raise Stone Cherry well, spent a large amount of money to recruit Director Kim Miji, and at the news, the small number of Stone Cherry fans were happy.

 

The first words that Kim Miji said after joining the company were, ‘We can make him the center and go refreshing.’

 

All the members were in their early 20s, so a refreshing concept would still work. Above all, this group’s cheat key for being refreshing was ‘Parkha,’ the main character, with huge eyes, a physique you wanted to protect, and a baby face that looked younger than he was.

 

That’s right. The center that Director Kim Miji chose was Parkha, and the members, who treated Parkha like a stone that had rolled in2 were more on edge because of this. 

 

But they’d picked a great title track this time. The concept fit all the members but especially Parkha like a sleeve. The result was something even the picky Director Kim Mija approved of, saying they’d succeed this time. 

 

However.

 

“Say something. What were you thinking?”

 

 However, a scandal happened in their first performance.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

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With his head bowed, Haeun apologized first. He already realized through 20-something years of getting in trouble that excuses were useless. 

 

While his head was lowered, he slightly raised his eyes and took a looked to his side. Next to him was Ilhyun, who was also summoned because he was the leader. Haeun felt sorry for him; he must’ve been dumbfounded and was getting scolded by the CEO for no reason. 

 

“I thought you weren’t a kid who’d do that or make a mistake like that. Were you trying to noise market?” the CEO continued to question him with a serious tone. 

 

Park Haeun repeated the same words like a parrot. “I’m sorry.”

 

“I understand you’re desperate, but at times like this, you have to judge better. Did I not say you would do really well this time?”

 

Haeun’s head increasingly went lower at the calmly continuing reprimands.

 

‘What do you want me to do? I heard you said those kinds of words even when they released shitty songs.’

 

Of course, his apologetic expression was very different from his inner thoughts.

 

“Ilhyun, were you aware?

 

The CEO, who was looking down at a discouraged Haeun, changed targets. Ilhyun heard the question and briefly hesitated to reply. If Haeun was in his situation, he would’ve said, ‘I don’t know what happened. That bastard started doing shit by himself. It’s fucking annoying,’ without hesitation. 

 

However, like the only capturable character with a good personality, Ilhyun replied calmly, “No, it was sudden… but Haeun would’ve done it because he had a plan. The performance ended well too.”

 

How could he defend a member that had an accident like that? In the game, Haeun wondered how such a kind guy could exist; he wasn’t different from his game self. Was it not? Was it because a game was a game? Anyway, Haeun was touched.

 

“Ha… You should’ve mediated better as the leader.”

 

It must be incredibly unfair to Ilhyun since it was basically an unexpected natural disaster. However, Ilhyun didn’t make excuses and replied again.

 

“Yes, I’m sorry. I’ll pay more attention from now on.”

 

‘Wow, what kind of guy is this?’

 

He didn’t dislike this guy. He was glancing at Ilhyun with admiration when the CEO turned his gaze to Haeun again.

 

“Haeun, you too. Did you do it by yourself without telling the leader? It’s not like you’re Sungjae. Why’d you do something not even he would do?”

 

“I’msorry3…”

 

Haeun went with a consistent attitude. He lowered his head deeply like he was the world’s biggest sinner and apologized.

 

Truthfully, the normal Haeun would’ve apologized like this once or twice but would’ve gotten angry and got hit with a cane or had his motorcycle keys taken away.

 

‘This isn’t Dad… Since I feel bad if he gets scolded because of me.’

 

Since he had a pitiful face, he decided to use it the best he could. As if ‘Parkha’’s young and kind face was pitiful, the CEO no longer got seriously angry. It seemed that everyone thought that Haeun wanted to become popular and tried noise marketing, not that he suddenly forgot where he started and went crazy.

 

When the atmosphere had slightly softened, Director Kim Miji, who had been quietly looking at her phone, spoke, “Well, thankfully the reactions aren’t that bad.”

""

 

For a moment, Haeun’s shoulders stiffened with nervousness.

 

“There are a lot of posts on SNS. A few attitude controversies are going around as expected. But…”

 

‘How much was a ‘few?’ Nervous, Haeun waited for Director Kim Miji to speak. She scrolled through her phone and reported with an official voice.’

 

“Thankfully, there’s a lot of people saying it’s noise marketing that the agency ordered.”

 

Earlier, the members had questioned if the CEO had ordered it too. The CEO could’ve been angry about being cursed at for something he didn’t do, but he was smoothing down his chest as if the group’s stability was more important. 

 

“The fandom especially is thinking it must be that because the company has done so many funny tricks so far. Of course, some people are purposefully making ripples in the water and some fans are disappointed. At least everyone is satisfied with the title song’s performance.” 

 

Truthfully, Park Haeun thought he’d immediately be buried with attitude controversies. So the situation unfolding was unexpected.

 

“Overall, I think it’s at the level of fixing.”

 

The CEO sighed with relief and said, “Since Haeun was usually especially kind.”

 

Normally, when a kind person caused trouble, they’d get cursed more. Haeun didn’t know if there was a guarantee for the main character in this world or if he was lucky. It was a relief that the situation was better than expected. He almost saw the flop idol ending as soon as he started. 

 

Footnotes

The original idiom used is 일등공신, meaning a person who made the final action to achieve a goal.  There is an idiom ‘a stone that rolls in removes the embedded stone.’ It means that someone new arrives and chases out someone who was already there.  Intentional no space! He slurs ‘I’m sorry’ together 

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