IKC C12

Chapter 12

Title: What the hell is up with those two? (Yes, I mean Seong Sehan and that friend)

Content: Has Sehan ever gone around hugging members like that? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

I thought he hated skinship, turns out maybe notㅋㅋ

Comments (5):

• What are you talking about? He’s always hanging arms over Siyun’s shoulderㅋㅋ Stop pushing that “Sehan isn’t close with members” frameㅋㅋ

• ⌎ (photo)(photo) Siyun was just casual shoulder-to-shoulder. This friend, though, is full-on hugging—totally different.

• ⌎ Looking at this, you can really feel a different vibeㅋㅋ

• ⌎ Makes sense though, since they were both trainees in GRB (Global) longer.

• ⌎ ㅅㅂ (“fuck”) lol @ saying ‘makes sense’ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Title: Today’s narrative: Sehan and his old GRB trainee friend

Content: (photo)

White hoodie Kim Taegyeong wore under his padding when going into the hospital.

(photo)

In the parking garage, Sehan is wearing it.

(photo)

When Taegyeong pulled the hood on him, Sehan bent down, smiling.

(photo)

Opened the car door for him, even escorted him.

Comments (5):

• ㅋㅋㅋ am I allowed to feel betrayed? He never even swapped clothes with his members, always kept distanceㅋㅋㅋ

• Yesterday I didn’t care, but today feels differentㅠ We accepted him as ours, but looks like he has someone else in mindㅠ

• ⌎ “Still accepting him blah blah”ㅋㅋ He could’ve gone solo, why would he need usㅋㅋ

• ⌎ This is not an ONLYHAN opinion. ONLYHAN supports Sehan as Perfect Puzzle’s member. (ONLYHAN = Sehan’s personal fandom name.)

• ⌎ ㅋㅋㅋ shamelessly promoting the individual fandom in the commentsㅋㅋㅋ

Title: Gathered all Sehan’s friend photos (more updates incoming)

Gasp!

Scrolling frantically through posts, I nearly jumped out of my skin. They had collected ALL of my photos. How many the hell is this…?

“Taegyeong-hyung.”

Jeongmin, quietly waiting, came and sat on my bed.

“You should’ve gone for burgers with Sehan. Even Geonwoo-hyung would’ve understood.”

“I wanted to, but he was too loopy on pain meds. So Kang Robin drove us straight to the dorm.”

“Hyung, I’m so jealous…!”

He threw himself onto the bed theatrically.

“Riding in Kang Robin’s car?! I’m literally sick with envy!”

“Don’t be. We just exchanged pleasantries… sigh.”

I couldn’t stop sighing.

Sehan, fighting sleep—his face kept surfacing in my mind.

In the end, he collapsed and slept on my lap, and stayed unconscious long past when I got out of the car.

God, it’s driving me insane.

The memory made me want to spit out a lament. No matter how I resisted it, I couldn’t stop seeing that too-pale sleeping face overlapping with his funeral portrait.

Right then, Jeongmin snatched away my phone, snapping me out of it.

“Hyung, seriously, make an account on the fan community. Stop mooching off my phone.”

“No thanks. I was just nervous, waiting for Geonwoo-hyung, so I checked a bit.”

Flustered, I slapped the bed pointlessly as Jeongmin picked up my phone.

“I’ll create some accounts for you. We’re about to debut—you’ve gotta know how fans and communities respond.”

“Well… maybe.”

Of course I was curious about fan reactions.

When we first debuted last time, I used to search obsessively, as much as Jeongmin. All I found was Perfect Puzzle dominating social media and online entertainment boards.

Once in a while, my stage name “Taegyeong” showed up—it made my heart nearly burst with anticipation. But when I realized those hits were only from a few posts in our tiny official fan café, the disappointment and bitterness had no equal.

Eventually, within two months of debut, I deleted every community account, cut the internet, and clenched my teeth just to endure the months. And then came the news of Sehan’s accident…

“Whoa, Hyung, what’s wrong?”

I realized belatedly—I’d pressed and clutched at my chest. Jeongmin gripped my shoulders, frightened.

“Hyung! Can’t breathe? Look at the sweat—shit, I’m calling an ambulance—”

“I’m fine. Calm down, Maknae.”

I pushed away his panicked face, forcing a smile.

“Must be from all the stress at the meeting this morning.”

“Hyung…”

I patted his tense shoulder, but inside, my insides roiled still.

I must really have trauma. Every time I picture Sehan’s funeral, breath chokes out of my lungs. What the hell do I do with this?

At that moment, the door clicked open.

Startled, I spun to see Geonwoo-hyung entering.

“Oh? Hyung, when did you get back?”

“Hyung, you’re here?”

He didn’t answer, only nodded, eyes red, like he’d been crying.

“Let’s talk, just us.”

Jeongmin immediately bolted to his own bed at the far end, perching quietly.

“Taegyeong.”

Geonwoo sat at my side, meeting my eyes. The hurt in his face made my chest tighten.

“Geonwoo-hyung…”

“I just spoke with uncle². We’re dropping our debut album this March.”

Jeongmin nearly burst in cheers, but clamped his hand over his mouth—the mood too heavy despite the good news.

“Hyung…”

I clamped his hand.

“I know I hurt you. I’m really sorry. I can’t tell you everything yet, but…”

“Don’t apologize to me.”

His sharp tone surprised me. He chewed his lip, then turned back to me.

“Taegyeong. Back then. When Sehan came to see you—I overheard.”

My brows furrowed, trying to recall. Yes—it must’ve been the day news hit that he’d signed to Baeknyeon Entertainment.

“Sehan asked you to come with him to Baeknyeon. I heard everything.”

I bit my lip hard. Yes.

Back then, I’d been seething, betrayed—he’d quit without a word to us, refused all contact. Then he suddenly appeared, asking me to abandon everything and join him.

‘Get lost! I’m not like you, betraying your team just for a good offer! You backstabber!’

I couldn’t believe he’d signed without even one word to me. Convinced there had to be some reason, some hidden twist that would calm me—I trusted him. Wanted to. But Sehan was firm, beginning to end. As if my feelings didn’t matter at all.

‘Maybe it’s better if Lee Taegyeong stays separate—so he can live freely, apart from me.’

No second plea. No time to think. He just turned and walked away. Never looked back.

“I thought you might follow him… but when you stayed here, I can’t tell you how relieved I felt. How grateful.”

Hyung’s confession made me shake my head.

“You shouldn’t thank me. I didn’t stay for loyalty.”

The truth: he left, leaving nothing behind. Leaving me. My most trusted friend, disappearing alone.

I didn’t want to admit it out loud. The shame of acknowledging it crushed my chest.

“Taegyeong.”

His gaze hit the floor again.

“That’s why… I wanted to write songs better than Sehan. To prove we could succeed, even greater, with music stronger than the traitor’s.”

“Hyung…”

“I know it’s selfish. Even Team Leader Jang said we should swap out my songs.”

I swallowed shock. Team Leader Jang—against his songs? I had never once guessed.

“Taegyeong, answer me one thing honestly.”

He straightened, studying me dead serious.

I nodded firmly.

“The song you said you liked—Under the Sky, Us—did you mean that?”

After everything, for once, I felt real joy slip through, like a reward.

“Of course! Do you think I was lying? I really love it, Hyung. Sure, an outside composer’s piece could work—but yours? Your song fits us perfectly. It’s the best choice we have.”

“…Thanks.”

Some relief colored his drawn face as he smiled.

“Let’s do this, properly.”

Jeongmin, who’d kept tight-lipped, finally leapt and yelled.

“Yesss! We’re debuting!”

Ring-ring. Ring-ring.

A ringtone buzzed at the edges of my fogged consciousness—I couldn’t wake. Not after staying up all night in talks with Hyung and Jeongmin. If only they’d let me sleep. Pulling the blanket up, someone shook me violently.

“Hyung, pick up. It’s Sehan.”

“…Ah. Okay.”

Face buried in the pillow, I pressed the phone to my ear.

“Seong Sehan… what time even is it…”

―“Taegyeong, it’s past 10 a.m.”

“…What?”

My eyes shot wide. Ten o’clock?! Already past morning training hours?! I couldn’t even believe it.