IKC C16

Chapter 16

I had no excuse, so I bowed my head deeply.

“I hope this doesn’t happen again, Taegyeong.”

My chest tightened so hard I couldn’t breathe. The status window didn’t care about my circumstances when it appeared—so what kind of promise could I possibly make?

“Why aren’t you answering? If Sehan calls again, would you just run straight to him?”

“Hyung, it’s not that I go because Sehan calls…”

“That jacket—did he give it to you?”

Geonwoo-hyung pointed at the leather jacket I was wearing.

“Ah, yes. I was only in a t-shirt, so Sehan…”

“Lucky you, Taegyeong. I wanted that jacket too, but I couldn’t get it.”

Hearing him grumble with his fingers laced together made me think his anger was softening a bit.

“No, it’s just borrowed. I’ll return it later.”

Hyung lowered his eyes, hesitating before mumbling timidly.

“Taegyeong. Once we debut safely, I’ll buy you one even more expensive than that.”

Wow… he’s burning competitive spirit in the strangest places again.

“Hyung, if we debut successfully, there’s no greater gift to me than that. Stop thinking about useless things, okay?”

“…Sigh. All right.”

Geonwoo tidied his desk and stood up.

“You haven’t eaten either, right? Let’s get dinner first, then go over today’s meeting together.”

“Yes. You’re hungry too, aren’t you.”

Still guilty, I kept my head down, but hyung gently patted my shoulder. Then, as we both left the studio, someone appeared at the doorway.

“Oh?”

“Hello! I was called to the debut lineup today—no, I mean, chosen! I’m Choi Suin!”

“Hello, hyungs! I’ve officially been confirmed for the debut team! Please congratulate me!”

It was the same Suin and Im Hosu who had debuted with us last time.

I immediately straightened Suin, who was bowing so deeply his face nearly touched the floor.

“Suin! I’m so glad to see you. Hosu! Wow!”

Seeing the same members I had once suffered alongside brought tears to my eyes. When I hugged them and patted their backs, Suin’s face flushed red, not knowing what to do.

“T-thank you! Sunbaenim, hyung… I’ll do my best! I won’t drag the team down—”

He was so shy, always awkward at expressing feelings. But maybe because it was his first day, he wanted to make a good impression. He really pledged earnestly.

“We’ll all work hard together. Hyung, let’s eat something nice today!”

I was so grateful for another chance to start again.

Even if we failed a second time, I was ready to give everything I had with no regret.

January passed in a blur—so busy I barely registered the days.

For me, it was repeating debut prep for the second time, which made it easier. And because of that, Geonwoo-hyung seemed to rely on me more.

“Taegyeong, what kind of cover song would fit me? You recommend.”

Our team’s official YouTube channel had just been set up. For debut promotions, we decided to start safe—with cover videos. I had strongly opposed going with the drama-style pre-debut videos we failed with last time.

“Hyung, your voice is clear and pure. How about a song by senior Kim Seokju?”

“Yeah… that probably works best.”

The video content format was to release covers by all five members in turn, each time revealing a new member. As I had suggested, the group’s new name would be decided afterwards via comments.

This time, I wanted to bury everything about the failed name VOB.

Then—February 1st.

News went out across the media: after 3 years, Global Entertainment would debut a new boy group in March.

But that promotion was instantly buried under a bombshell.

“What the hell! What is this?!”

Articles exploded all at once: Perfect Puzzle’s Seong Sehan would release a solo album on March 15.

Every entertainment community and SNS went up in flames.

Title: Fuck. Called it. Sehan’s going solo—talk about the ultimate betrayal

Content: Not even a year since debut and he’s already dropping a solo? Insane. Is that even right??? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Comments (18):

• Why debut in a group at all then? Just go soloㅋㅋ

• Heard he’s got hundreds of songs stacked upㅋㅋ Might as well release someㅋ

• ⌎ Anti-fans, get lostㅋㅋㅋ

• Didn’t he produce two group albums last year? Thanks to him, Perfect swept Daesangs. Let him be greedy a little.

• ⌎ Is this Onlyhan talking? Go check SNS, there’s already a petition for Sehan to quit Perfect.

• ⌎ Lol Sehan was never needed in Perfect. If he hadn’t butted in, we’d have soared with Kang Robin’s producingㅋㅋ

• ⌎ And Kang Robin himself picked Sehan as his No.1. Cry harderㅋㅋ

• ⌎ Go whine to Kang Robin thenㅋㅋ

• ⌎ Sehan himself said Perfect didn’t need himㅋㅋ

• Sehan’s crazy stan-fans ruin everything. They act cocky just because they’re the biggest in numbersㅋㅋ

• ⌎ Conscience? Where?ㅋㅋ Everyone knows the group fandom is the one who spread all those dirty rumors—calling him orphan, illegitimate, cursing. They filled whole hard drives with hate postsㅋㅋ

• ⌎ Real fans shouldn’t spread rumors in the first place

• Look at Sehan!! (photo) (photo)

• ⌎ His visuals… this is heavenㅠ

• ⌎ Those shoulders at perfect anglesㅋㅋ

• ⌎ His body is next-level, I’d follow him aloneㅋㅋ

“…Sigh.”

I dropped my phone, leaning back against the sofa. My head throbbed—it felt like a migraine’s start.

In my original memory, I knew Sehan would release a solo track in February. It was the legendary PB R&B hit ‘I’ll Wait Until 2 AM’.

But that had only been a digital single, not a full album.

So fans weren’t nearly so upset back then.

But now—a physical album? Why had it shifted to March, and to something bigger?

“…This is a mess.”

Did no one at his company predict fan backlash? This only risked another wave of anti-Sehan sentiment.

“Dammit, why am I worrying about him anyway?”

Our team was in an all-out war for survival with debut prep. Why should I worry about a top idol?

“That bastard. No wonder he wasn’t contacting me.”

While I stressed myself half-dead with dwindling days and stubborn inferiority points, that guy must’ve been grinning—busy preparing his solo album.

“So the real betrayal wasn’t fans, it was me he blindsided.”

I dialed without thinking. After a long hold, his damn irritating voice dropped in my ear.

―“Oh? Taegyeong.”

“Hey, Seong Sehan.”

I had meant not to lose my temper, but my voice betrayed me.

“I told you we had our promotion article going out today. Why the hell release your news the same day and bury ours? Did you do this on purpose?”

―“Why are you mad? You don’t like our names side by side?”

His voice was jerky, like he was in transit.

“That’s not the point! Because of you, our article is overshadowed!”

―“And why do I have to care about a rival’s promotion?”

…Rival? Was that supposed to be a joke? Lip service?

“…Whatever. Forget it. Why do I even bother—”

I kept muttering, but couldn’t voice what I really wanted.

Truth was—I wanted to ask if he was okay.

Since debut, he’d always been showered with cruel words. Was he truly fine enduring it? I wanted to tell him he didn’t need to care, that those weren’t real fans. I wanted to tell him I knew how much his aunt adored him, how much he was loved.

―“Anyway, Taegyeong.”

I heard the faint slam of a car door.

―“You should focus on preparing your album. I’ve got a good track ready for it.”

Oh, Sehan. I’ll Wait Until 2 AM hitting like wildfire—I already knew that.

“Just… don’t overdo it, okay?”

Since this time it was a physical album too, it might even break his old records. Maybe become the year’s best-seller.

“You’re not trying to bury us rookies completely, are you?”

He chuckled darkly.

―“Me? Who could possibly bury your song, Taegyeong?”

“…Fuck…”

The words knocked all power from me, collapsing back into a practice room chair.

No one had ever said that. No one had listened to my songs. But he… he still did.

My palm pressed against my heated cheek.

“Sehan… singing well doesn’t mean you succeed.”

When our album had failed miserably last time—what had hurt worst?

All the excuses, all the dodges, didn’t matter. The truth was obvious.

I was ashamed. Ashamed that Sehan had been watching, and I had only faltered, humiliated.

Those dark feelings—those were what crushed me down to despair, made me unable to rise.