IKC C7

Chapter 7

This was exactly the kind of song Geonwoo-hyung wanted to write. A song stronger and more intense than anyone else’s, to mark his overwhelming presence.

There’d be no issue if his desire could match reality. But…

Suddenly, a hand landed firmly on my shoulder.

“Watching the music video?”

“Uwaaaagh!”

Startled out of my trance, I screamed. Seeing me jump out of my skin, Seong Sehan smiled with pure satisfaction.

“What’s got you so focused? Am I that good-looking?”

“Ah, fuck…!”

Clutching my pounding chest, I grumbled.

“Can’t you at least make a sound when you walk around? You scared the shit out of me!”

Already rattled, my heart hammered even harder at the sight of him—like he had come straight from a photoshoot, flawless styling and all.

Wait. Did he literally come here straight from the shoot? He looked too perfectly put together…

“Why so jumpy? You guilty of something?”

I wanted to bark back, but nothing came. The way he casually pushed his hair back looked like a scene from a movie. Like a celebrity I’d only catch on TV—standing here in front of me—so much so I could hardly meet his eyes.

“…Ha.”

Damn it. I should’ve changed out of this stretched-out t-shirt before coming out.

“Guess I really startled you. Should I buy you something to drink?”

“No, it’s fine…”

As he stepped closer, without thinking, I stumbled back. He froze mid-step, hesitating.

“This morning you were clinging to me like crazy, and now you’re acting all awkward.”

Those insane words raised the hair on my neck.

“Hey! When did I—”

Ah. Right. I did hug him, didn’t I. But that wasn’t my intent—it had been forced on me. And even though it was unfair, who could I even explain it to? Who’d understand this frustration?

“You already saw me in the morning. Why come all the way here at night? Whatever you had to say, you could’ve found time during the day.”

It wasn’t that I had nothing to say and wanted to pick a fight. The day had simply felt endlessly long and had left me utterly drained.

“I wanted to… but I wouldn’t have been able to sleep unless I confirmed it first.”

“Confirmed what?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I took in his bomber jacket and slim black jeans. Right, he was an ambassador for that brand, wasn’t he…?

“That you won’t ignore me again starting tomorrow. Better to get certainty before that happens.”

“!”

Again, he left me at a loss for words. Chewing my lip, I dropped onto a bench.

I couldn’t deny the situation. But honestly, reconciling so sloppily with him left a cloying taste in my mouth.

He hit me from behind, then still insisted our friendship was unchanged. Selfish, shameless bastard—was there anyone else this selfish?

Though resentment piled up endlessly, I found I couldn’t hate him anymore.

“Don’t worry about that. I can’t ignore you anymore.”

Honestly, it was more accurate to say I didn’t want to hate him anymore.

As soon as he sat beside me, a familiar cologne wrapped itself around me.

“Taegyeong.”

I glanced at him, swallowing quietly. Odd—his energy seemed suddenly muted.

See, even when he was smiling with his eyes like that, I still felt inexplicably tense.

“So? How was my debut song? Did you like it?”

His arm slung casually around my shoulder as he asked.

“….”

My lips moved but no sound came. I averted my eyes. His arm on my shoulder felt unbearably heavy.

Did he really think I could just say I liked it—so simply?

“You’ve really got it easy.”

“And why’s that? Why would you think that about me?”

My head snapped toward him. His brown eyes pierced into mine, unflinching. It was like we were locked in a staring contest—both of us holding back words neither would say.

“Taegyeong, if you’re still mad, then why did you come to me?”

My mind went blank at the question. I broke his arm off and stood, staring down at him.

“What the hell do you want me to say? That if I reached out my hand, we could just keep in casual contact? Or would it satisfy you if I acted like a fool, grinning like nothing ever happened? Should I?”

“See? You’re still pissed off.”

He looked up at me at an angle, innocent expression plastered across his face in that infuriating way.

“You said some shit about just ‘staying in touch casually,’ and that’s how pissed you are. So why fake being close?”

I gnashed my teeth. My clenched fists trembled violently.

Why fake being close?

Because you’re going to die in an accident!

Seong Sehan’s funeral portrait flashed before me again. Crushing fear slammed into me, suffocating my chest.

“Because you’re too successful. I just wanted to look like I was still close to you. That’s it, satisfied?”

Resentment, hatred, fear—all tangled, burning my skull hot. And like an idiot, I’d chosen the stupidest move: wounding the person dearest to me, and wounding myself as well.

And yet under the dim streetlight, he only smiled brighter than anyone alive. As if my words hadn’t harmed him at all.

“You bastard. How can you smile right now?”

You promised we’d stand on stage together, singing your song. But you left for another stage! I’d wanted to sing one of your songs on stage, to stand beside you!

Anger smothered fear.

“You fucking traitor!”

The word burst out. I’d sworn I’d never say it.

“Ha… fuck.”

I bit my trembling lips but couldn’t calm down. Before I could cover my eyes, I caught his face—smiling gently, damn him.

Why the hell did he have to look like the one who’d been hurt?

“Lee Taegyeong. No take-backs.”

“…What?”

The nonsense flew over my head until he broke out laughing, showing teeth.

“Whether you’re still mad or not, we’ve still made up. No takesies-backsies from here on.”

“You son of a—!”

Was he joking? Steam hissed out my ears. And I was doing all this—for him?

Ding-dong!

The status window popped up from nowhere. By now, I wasn’t even surprised. I glanced at it—then froze.

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

[Sudden Event!]

Sudden event…?

[You can immediately reduce Inferiority Score to 80!]

What—the full 10 points?!

[Be honest to Seong Sehan! Say: ‘I wanted to stand on stage with the song you wrote!’ Ease his heart.]

Are you shitting me…? Whose heart do I need to ease? His or mine?

Fuck off. Even if this would take me directly to zero points, prying my lips open with pliers couldn’t force me to say that.

[This event doesn’t come every day!]

[Time Limit: 5 minutes!]

Go eat shit!

“Taegyeong.”

Watching me tremble, Seong Sehan stood from the bench. His height instantly loomed, forcing me back two steps. This bastard looked taller than ever. Growth plates supposedly closed—so how long was he going to keep growing?

“Do that thing again. I want to hear it once more.”

“Hear what again?”

I glared. He held up his phone. The lock screen wallpaper—me hugging him.

“This. Same pose, same line.”

“…Fuck’s sake!”

Ding-dong!

[Sudden Event! Time has expired!]

I snapped my mouth shut. Whatever. This event was a wash. I’d wait for the next one.

[Failure to complete event. A Penalty will be given!]

Penalty?! What the— That was never mentioned!

[Choose! Seong Sehan’s Leg / Seong Sehan’s Arm]

…What. The words clogged my brain like static. What the hell did that even mean?

“Taegyeong! What’s wrong?”

Apparently, I’d been staggering. Startled, Seong grabbed my arm in a firm grip.

“I knew it—you’re sick, aren’t you? Tell me. What hurts?”

“N-No! No, it’s not that!”

I shook my head hard, trying to collect myself. No way to calm down. “Choose Seong’s leg or arm”? What kind of deranged bullshit was this? And what happened if I picked?

[If choosing is too difficult, we’ll make the random choice for you! Drumroll—!]

Shut the hell up!

[Congratulations! Seong Sehan’s Arm!]