LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 37
Chapter 37
“You really did something while you were away.”
Those were the first words from Kang Ji-woo after he watched Ban Yo-han and me perform the TOXIC choreography from start to finish.
It seemed more directed at Ban Yo-han than at me.
“You’re annoyingly good considering your short practice period, but when Sae-bom hyung comes later, it’d be best to properly learn the basics.”
“Ah, why?”
“Because you don’t have the basics.”
A simple and straightforward fact delivered in a kind tone.
Why does it feel like I’m subtly reminded of Teacher Muk, whom I miss so much, by our homely Teacher Kang?
However, no matter how right someone’s words are, they are only taken seriously if they come from a senior. When they come from a close friend of ten years, they only become annoying.
Ban Yo-han’s face contorted in irritation.
Before he could react more aggressively, Kang Ji-woo added,
“Still, you’re smart, so you’ll learn quickly.”
At these clearly patronizing words, Ban Yo-han scoffed childishly, turned his back, and lay down as if sulking.
‘That guy is sometimes so easy to understand and sometimes so twisted.’
A person I can’t fully grasp.
Not that I particularly want to understand him.
At that moment, Kang Ji-woo seemed to notice me quietly sitting by myself, worn out, and spoke to me warmly.
“What do you think of our practice room? Nice, right?”
Before answering, I took a good look around the practice room.
As expected, the spacious practice room with its wooden finish had an entire wall covered with a spotless, full-length mirror.
On the opposite wall, I saw three doors spaced apart.
“What’s that?”
“A practice room within a practice room. Go and see.”
Out of curiosity, I opened one and found it to be a vocal practice room equipped with an expensive-looking keyboard.
“Nice.”
“Wouldn’t it be good to practice here?”
“Sure.”
“Right?”
Suddenly, Kang Ji-woo jumped up from the chair he had been sitting on. His legs seemed fully recovered, given how he moved.
Then, just like when Ban Yo-han dragged me out of the dormitory, he started showing me around the company with great enthusiasm. They say friends resemble each other.
Before I could say anything, I was dragged out of the practice room and had to go through the pantry, lounge, office, gym, and even the bathroom, constantly hearing the same question.
“Nice, right?”
“Nice.”
Only after I used every possible variation of the word ‘nice’ twice did the unannounced tour of the company end.
Till the end, Kang Ji-woo remained consistent.
“Our company is nice.”
“Yeah. It’s nice…”
What kind of question is this?
He kept repeating how nice it was, making him seem a bit like the village idiot, and somehow, I felt like an idiot too…
From a young man who was good at cooking and lived a righteous life, Kang Ji-woo’s image had downgraded to that of a village idiot in my eyes.
After being mentally exhausted from touring someone else’s company, I returned to the practice room, and the other three looked at me with understanding and pity.
Kang Ji-woo, were you always like this?
But since the food is really delicious to the point of tears, I’ll overlook it.
* * *
Kang Ji-woo, who had a cast on his leg, practiced vocals, while the rest of us practiced choreography independently for about an hour until dinner time.
We turned off the lights in the practice room and went out for dinner.
By then, only the five of us were in the practice room.
No one seemed to be expecting anyone else, so I didn’t bother asking if there were more trainees.
We went to the designated company cafeteria, signed our names on the roster, and received our meals.
The cafeteria lady, seeing my unfamiliar face, asked Kang Ji-woo,
“This is a new face. Did he just join?”
“Just for about a month. Please let him eat alone later too.”
“No need to go that far.”
I do have some money.
It’s the money I earned from completing minor quests like
It’s not much, but I saved enough to buy my own meals.
“Just accept when someone offers to treat you.”
Since it wasn’t a loss for me to accept the treat, I nodded, but it felt odd to keep doing so every time. Moreover, even a tree that gives unconditionally wouldn’t be this generous.
Is this company really okay?
* * *
We ate just enough to stave off our hunger and returned to the company’s practice room.
It was just after 6 PM.
“It’s almost time for Sae-bom hyung to arrive.”
Sae-bom hyung? Another trainee I don’t know?
However, shortly after, a man who looked to be just under thirty opened the practice room door and walked in.
“Guys, what are you sitting around for instead of practicing?”
Jung Sae-bom looked far more unwholesome and harmful than his gentle and fresh name suggested.
To put it more bluntly, he had a Seoul gangster style.
Of course, this was just the first impression based on his appearance; it didn’t mean his personality was like that.
You could tell just by how the trainees casually talked to him despite his appearance.
“Hyung, Ban Yo-han really learned the dance.”
“What?”
“Really. The guy you said had the face of an idol and begged to try our practice at least once, who used to ignore us and do his own assignments in the practice room.”
“Wow… They say no one can decide someone’s career for them.”
“Moreover, he’s good at it. Annoyingly good. If we had started him earlier, he would have debuted by now.”
“I’ve been telling him he had the talent for this and should try being an idol until my mouth went dry. But Ban Yo-han here thought he was the greatest and ignored every word.”
Jung Sae-bom looked at Ban Yo-han, who was standing shamelessly, with a gaze full of betrayal.
I admired for a different reason.
‘Wow, the CEO’s nephew is something else.’
He must be able to get away with things because he’s the CEO’s nephew, right?
If not, and if his personality is naturally like that, then he’s truly something.
“But why is Seong-ha so quiet today? Usually, he’d be the most talkative one.”
“He’s just shy around new people.”
Kang Ji-woo smiled and glanced at me standing awkwardly next to Seo Moon-gyeol.
Jung Sae-bom exaggeratedly pretended to be surprised as if seeing me for the first time.
“Hello. What’s your name?”
“Hello. I’m On Raon. If I’m disturbing your lesson, I can go to the vocal practice room over there…”
I was about to say I would just sing there when Jung Sae-bom, who briefly glanced at Seo Moon-gyeol standing like a statue next to me, marveled.
“Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a name that suits an entertainer as much as Moon-gyeol’s.”
…Does that mean it’s okay for me to stay here?
After staring at my face for a moment, Jung Sae-bom spoke.
“Actually, I’ve been told you’ll be staying here for a while, and that you can join the lessons if you want.”
“Lessons?”
I was starting to get scared.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
People who are too nice are often the most cunning scammers.
What if I wake up one day on a shrimp fishing boat?
“But if I spend time on you, it means the other trainees lose out on that time, so I can’t give you individual attention. I hope you understand. Don’t feel like you’re being left out.”
Just as I was about to say I understood, Kang Ji-woo interrupted.
“Hyung.”
“I think I know what you’re going to say, but go ahead.”
Kang Ji-woo smiled.
“I’m injured and can’t take lessons today, so can you spend that time with Raon? He has a competition in a few days.”
“Wow, I knew you’d say that. You’re hopeless. Take care of yourself first.”
After a bit of back-and-forth between Jung Sae-bom and Kang Ji-woo, it was decided that I would join the lesson.
In the meantime, Gyun Seong-ha glared at me as if he wanted to kill me.
I hope he understands that my opinion wasn’t really considered in this decision and doesn’t come strangling me in my sleep tonight.
Then, Seo Moon-gyeol, who hadn’t said a word today, quietly spoke to Gyun Seong-ha.
“Seong-ha, don’t glare at people like that.”
“…”
“Gyun Seong-ha.”
“…Yes, hyung.”
‘The rolling stone displaces the settled stone… Gyun Seong-ha’s favorability -10, current favorability -10.’
Ah, sorry.
* * *
Jung Sae-bom was a skilled choreographer and dance trainer.
Though it wasn’t quite his caliber to teach debutless trainees in such a small company, he came regularly to see a female celebrity from Seed he had a one-sided crush on. This unwanted background information was something I learned from a frustrated Ban Yo-han as we repeatedly practiced the same basic moves under Jung Sae-bom’s guidance.
“Ban Yo-han, do you want to die?”
“Hyung,
you know I love you!”
“Shut that mouth.”
…He got caught and was dragged away by Jung Sae-bom.
Seo Moon-gyeol was always exceptional, but what surprised me was Gyun Seong-ha. Despite being over 180 cm tall, his dance was art.
Usually, tall people’s dance moves can look clumsy, no matter how cool they are.
But perhaps because of his good proportions, his limbs moved with such controlled intensity that even my untrained eyes found it impressive.
It felt like he was embodying the concept of talent.
They could debut right now as a group of four. Of course, these days, it’s more common to debut groups with at least seven members.
Then, I received a compliment from Jung Sae-bom for my flawless basics.
I hadn’t done anything extraordinary; I just performed the TOXIC dance when he told me to show any dance I knew.
“Your moves are so precise. It’s been a while since I’ve seen someone this accurate. With the right physique, you could be really successful.”
I suddenly recalled the physical stats I checked during the day and felt sad.
“I hate exercising, but I want a good body. Isn’t there a way?”
“That’s like saying you hate studying but want a perfect score on the college entrance exam. Stop whining and exercise.”
“Boo.”
“How old are you to be going ‘boo’?”
The reality of my age, forgotten due to being treated like a kid, suddenly came back to me, but I didn’t give in.
“Hee-ing.”
“You’re good at pushing people’s buttons. I see why you get along with Ban Yo-han.”
Infuriated by his shocking words, I slammed my palm on the floor and stood up.
“What? How can you say such insulting things?”
“I don’t like hearing that either. I choose my friends carefully.”
“Hyung, are you saying I’m picky?”
“Right?”
That guy?
In a way, Jung Sae-bom, the instigator, sneakily moved toward the practice room door, watching us.
“Guys, good job today. I’m leaving. Handle this on your own.”
As soon as Jung Sae-bom left, I pounced on Ban Yo-han.
Unfortunately, after a brief scuffle, I ended up pinned.
Damn it! Damn physical stats!
I’ll start working out from today!
“Ugh! Get off!”
As soon as I shouted, a profanity filter kicked in. I ignored it.
While I struggled to escape, Ban Yo-han, comfortably pinning me with his weight, spoke calmly.
“Get off? What kind of language is that to use with your hyung? Apologize politely, and I’ll let you go.”
This is infuriating.
I’m older!
“No way?”
Kang Ji-woo, unable to watch any longer, stepped in.
“Aren’t you guys going to True for practice tomorrow? Do you want to fight there too?”
“…”
Right. We’re going to True tomorrow.
“On Raon, you started it. And saying ‘get off’ to someone, what’s that about?”
“Sorry…”
“Ban Yo-han, you need to stop too. And what’s with the ‘choosing friends carefully’ comment?”
“I didn’t mean it about him, but I do think people should choose their friends wisely…”
“Sigh.”
“Sorry…”