IKC C2

by berry

Chapter 2

It was a shocking event that shook my life, but I didn’t resent Seong Sehan and managed to overcome it with composure.

When the two of them began dating, I even ostentatiously bought ice cream to congratulate them, showing the magnanimous side of myself.

Still, that incident made me realize one undeniable truth—when I stood next to Seong Sehan, I was always overshadowed.

Though it made me feel absolutely rotten, I still didn’t dislike Sehan. He was such a precious friend that I could even give up my first love for him.

But here’s the thing.

When that same situation keeps happening—not once, not twice, but three, four, five times—how could even someone who valued friendship as much as I did not begin to accumulate grudges?

How was it possible that every girl I fell for ended up liking Seong Sehan instead?

Could it be… we were fated enemies?

Even after I entered high school, things didn’t change much.

Despite my height and masculine build, I was still just a worthless figure overshadowed by the blinding light of Seong Sehan.

“Sorry, Taegyeong. The truth is, I decided to go out with Sehan.”

“Taegyeong, I’d rather stay good friends with you.”

One after another, the girls I thought I might soon start dating all ended up running into Sehan’s arms, as though they had some kind of pact.

After that happened so many times, I came to accept it as natural, inevitable. Once I realized that, I simply stopped paying attention to girls altogether.

If I never liked anyone, then I’d never have reason to resent him, right?

But even if I didn’t resent him, it wasn’t easy to stop myself from feeling jealous.

Because once we both became trainees at the same entertainment company, I discovered just how terrifyingly boundless his musical genius was.

Sehan wasn’t just good at piano. He excelled at writing lyrics, composing, arranging. Whatever it was, he stood out. It was as if he had memories of a previous life creating albums—he produced them with almost frightening ease.

But what made it hardest for me was his voice.

That unrestrained, powerful voice. I had taken pride in believing that when it came to singing, I outshone anyone—but Sehan’s vocals reduced me to nothing in an instant.

And still.

Still, I resolved not to resent him, not to envy him.

Because he was my most precious friend.

But in the end, there was one event that turned all of that determination into nothing.

Sehan walked away from the fixed debut team and left the company.

And then, in the blink of an eye, he joined a massive agency I hadn’t even dared to dream about. Within mere months he’d debuted in an idol group.

He even earned the title of genius idol—writing the lyrics, composing, and producing their debut album himself—rising to the pinnacle in no time.

Meanwhile, for the group I belonged to, VOB, our debut album ended up with humiliating sales figures not even worth charting. Unknown, unnoticed—we fell headlong into the forgotten “failed idol” route.

And yet, how could I possibly not feel inferior? How could I not resent Sehan?

Fuck, I’m no saint. That damned “status window” dragging out every last bit of darkness in me and assigning it numbers—it’s nothing but a cruel joke. Clearly, it was never meant to let me save Sehan in the first place.

Ding-dong.

I sat cross-legged, sighing heavily, when suddenly the status window chimed again.

[Do you wish to give up on ‘How to Prevent the Death of Genius Idol Seong Sehan’?]

I froze stiff.

[Choose. YES / NO]

Cold sweat trickled down my rigid back as the memory of his funeral came vividly alive again.

His aunt in mourning black collapsing in sobs. The black diagonal ribbon across Sehan’s framed portrait.

I had staggered toward that portrait of him, smiling with those trademark crescent-moon eyes. I think I must have passed out then.

When I opened my eyes, I was in my bed at the dorm.

[How to Prevent the Death of Genius Idol Seong Sehan.]

[Days left until Seong Sehan’s fatal accident: 365. Reduce Lee Taegyeong’s inferiority to 0 (zero) to remove the risk of death.]

That was when the “status window” appeared, informing me that I had returned to one year before Sehan’s death.

[Do you wish to give up on ‘How to Prevent the Death of Genius Idol Seong Sehan’?]

[Choose. YES / NO]

With my tense fingers trembling, I couldn’t breathe for fear of accidentally brushing YES. Only after safely pressing NO did I finally let out a sigh.

“Ha…! All right, I admit everything’s my fault, but please don’t ever ask me that again.”

All the strength drained from my body, but I still respectfully knelt down and bowed my head.

“I swear, I’ll never go to Sehan’s funeral again. I’ll save him, no matter what!”

Heat surged to my head, my eyes grew hot. Never again. I would never lose Seong Sehan again.

Ding-dong.

[Kneeling is bad for blood circulation. lol]

Fuck.

Restart.

I had undoubtedly lost consciousness at Sehan’s funeral.

But when I awoke, I was in my bed.

Had it all just been a nightmare? His accident, his funeral—had it all been just a dream?

[How to Prevent the Death of Genius Idol Seong Sehan.]

No. That wasn’t possible.

Never blinking, I glared at the glowing red screen before me.

[Will you begin? YES / NO]

With the status window so vivid and real, there was no way it could be a dream. It mustn’t be.

My hesitant fingers trembled as they pressed YES without hesitation.

[Days left until Seong Sehan’s fatal accident: 365. Reduce Lee Taegyeong’s inferiority to 0 (zero) to remove the risk of death.]

As the status window vanished, I leapt out of bed.

I had to verify immediately whether this was reality or still just an extension of a dream.

Rushing from the room, something on the wall caught my eye. The electronic calendar.

January 8th, 20XX.

A gasp escaped me. That clearly visible date confirmed it—it was *exactly* one year ago today.

Just then, a door suddenly opened, startling me so much my shoulders jolted.

“Ah, shit—!”

“Hyung, what’s got you so jumpy?”

I looked at Jeongmin as he entered the room, and instinctively stepped back. Our team’s youngest member, Jeongmin, had always kept his hair dyed red ever since our concept photos for debut. The only time I’d ever seen his natural black hair was during trainee days.

“Taegyeong-hyung, we’re making ramen to cure our hangover, you’ll have some too, right?”

“Maknae!”

I grabbed his shoulders and peered into his youthful face.

“Maknae, we haven’t debuted yet, right? We’re… still trainees, aren’t we?”

“Sigh… Hyung, seriously. Stop drinking so much from now on.”

Muttering that I should just go wash up, he left the room.

There was no time to space out. I hurled myself onto the bed, rolled across it, and grabbed my phone off the nightstand.

“Sehan…!”

Frantic fingers opened the search bar. Typing his name brought up title after title, all consistent.

<‘Perfect Puzzle’ Snags Both Rookie and Daesang Titles>

Article after article about year-end award ceremonies. Not a single ominous word about accidents.

I immediately dialed the speed number that went straight to Sehan.

Beep—beep—beep—only the sound of unanswered rings. My heart pounded.

Why? Why wasn’t he answering?

Unable to stand the anxiety, I rushed out of the room—only to charge back in. Snatching my padded jacket off the hanger, I hurried into it and dashed to the front door.

“Taegyeong, where are you going?”

But I was forced to halt when I came face to face with Geonwoo-hyung, who had just come out of the kitchen.

“Hyung…!”

One year ago, Geonwoo-hyung—the way he looked before he became worn down and gaunt. A mess of emotions surged up, but there was no time to dwell.

“Hyung, I’ve got something urgent, I need to step out for a bit.”

“What for?”

Unaware of the turmoil boiling inside me, Hyung grabbed my arm and held me back.

“Taegyeong, if you had plans to go out, you should’ve told us ahead of time. You can’t just suddenly—”

“Hyung.”

Holding in a sigh, I spoke honestly.

“I’m going to see Sehan.”

“What?”

His eyes widened.

“You’re going to see Sehan? Did you two reconcile? No way, Lee Taegyeong…! How could you? That traitor—”

“Hyung.”

To calm him, I clasped his hands and gave them a shake. Of course he’d be flustered by my sudden declaration. But I didn’t have time to explain to him right now.

“I’ll explain when I get back, okay? Please?”

“What? Wait—hold on! Taegyeong!”

I shook off Geonwoo-hyung and stepped out of the dorm, catching a lucky break with a passing taxi right away.

Sehan’s dorm was about an hour away. Please—just don’t let there be traffic.