Chapter 66 |
After roughly wrapping up the preparations for the 3rd mission, we were on our way to film our reactions to the hidden camera footage that we had shot after the 2nd mission.
To be honest, I couldn’t even remember how I’d reacted back then.
And the production team was probably counting on that. That way, they could capture a genuine reaction.
“All trainees, please make sure to wear your outfits properly so we can start filming right away! Take your seats in order on the prepared chairs. Please sit close together without leaving any gaps.”
“Yes!”
However, Lee Hwayoung, who always sat next to me during these types of filming, was nowhere to be seen. After looking around for a while, I asked Woo Kangwon, who was on the same team as him.
“Where’s Lee Hwayoung?”
“He went to the hospital for back treatment. He said he’s using this spare time to go so he can participate in practice as much as possible.”
After our conversation, Lee Hwayoung started regularly going to the hospital for intensive lower back treatment. From what the doctor said, it seemed like it was a huge relief that he came to the hospital early without overexerting himself.
After that, I didn’t bother asking about what kind of treatment he was receiving or how he was doing. I wasn’t Lee Hwayoung’s parent.
The furthest my kindness to Lee Hwayoung extended was sending him to the hospital.
…..Maybe.
“It seems like the news has already spread. It can’t have leaked from our room, so it must’ve been our team members talking, right?”
“….I guess so.”
The news that Lee Hwayoung would be excluded from the third mission’s performance spread rapidly among all the trainees. Do Yuda talked a lot, but he was never the type to gossip about someone’s personal matters. And Woo Kangwon? That went without saying.
That meant there was only one possible source of the rumor. I cast a glance toward Lee Hwayoung’s team members.
‘The atmosphere among Lee Hwayoung’s teammates isn’t good.’
The faces of the people who were gathered together in the distance were filled with discontent.
“How are your team members reacting?”
“It’s not good. If you think about it realistically, it makes sense for him to be excluded from the dance performance, but everyone let their emotions take over. As you know, Nicholas isn’t the kind of person to say something like ‘I’m sorry for causing trouble to the team’, right?”
“…….”
After lowering his head so his team members couldn’t see, Woo Kangwon carefully responded. Even from that brief explanation, I was able to get a rough idea of the situation.
‘I can’t dance anymore because I injured my back, keep that in mind. So, it would be best to revise the choreography as soon as possible.’
He’d probably give a short explanation like this, and then continue on with the practice without a single word of apology.
“Everyone has complaints about Nicholas. There’s this boiling negativity, like it’s about to explode at any moment. Nicholas is aware of it, but he doesn’t seem to care.”
“…….”
‘What a load of crap.’
I didn’t think there was any need for Lee Hwayoung to apologize in this situation. It wouldn’t change the fact that he was injured and had to be removed from the dance performance.
What could he do? He was injured. And it wasn’t from doing something stupid, it was from practicing.
Saying something like ‘Self-management is part of skill‘ was basically the same as poisoning the well for everyone. Nobody gets sick or injured because they want to.
They were expecting that little ritual of ‘I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.’, ‘No, it’s not your fault, so don’t feel guilty. Let’s focus on your recovery.’, but he didn’t said those things, not even once, and maybe that’s why they’re acting like this.
I had no idea what the point of that whole process was, but apparently most people did.
‘Am I being biased right now?’
In that short moment, a suspicion suddenly arose: was I unconsciously taking Lee Hwayoung’s side because I had developed some affection for him? Goosebumps ran down my spine, and I quickly rubbed my arms with the palm of my hand to erase that thought.
“Fortunately, we’d already learned all the choreography, and Hwayoung suggested a solution first, so I think we’ll be able to make it in time somehow.”
“….I see.”
As I was finishing my short conversation with Woo Kangwon, a video appeared on the screen.
[<Surprise Camera First Runner Appears>]
The actual filming had begun. I grabbed Do Yuda’s nape, who was leaning on my arm and sleeping, and sat him up straight.
“Uuh? What is it? Has it started?”
“Stop sleeping and look at the screen. You’re on it.”
[“SU Entertainment has informed us that they want to terminate the contract with Trainee Do Yuda. Did you already receive the notice?”]
The production staff’s voice came over the solemn BGM. Do Yuda, who had been drowsy, heard the voice from the screen and immediately snapped to attention, as if his heart had dropped.
“Wow … I was really surprised that time. I thought it was real. But why am I the first one?”
“Isn’t it because your reaction was the most entertaining?”
“That’s impossible. I handled it like an adult. I was a little surprised and cried, though.”
‘…Yeah, whatever.’
As soon as Do Yuda next to me tried to act tough, the Do Yuda on the screen asked with a look on his face as if the world had collapsed.
[“.…Really?”]
[“This is our first time dealing with something like this, so we’re really shocked. So, it seems like we can’t continue filming anymore.”]
[“Are you saying I should leave the program?”]
[“I’m afraid that’s inevitable.”]
The script seemed no different from the one they gave me. I heard that the trainees who filmed afterward were easily deceived, but I couldn’t understand how they could fall for it with that level of acting.
[…….]
[<crying crying>]</crying>
[“Trainee Do Yuda? Are you okay?”]
Unlike me, who was making fun of the production team, Do Yuda’s face was crumpled dramatically, looking like a crushed steamed bun. The guy, who had been trying hard to hold back his tears, immediately burst into sobs as soon as the production staff asked if he was okay.
[“I’m not okay! Ugh, huhu! Do you even know how many years I’ve contributed to SU Entertainment! Hu, huheuk! They can’t just abandon me like this!”]
[<at last su entertainment devoted contributor makes his appearance>]</at>
Do Yuda filled the screen, wailing and and venting his complaint towards the company. At that, the trainees burst into laughter at his pitiful face and the words dripping with resentment.
[“What about Seungbeom-hyung? Heuk, he didn’t get cut too, right?”]
[“There was no mention of Trainee Han Seungbeom.”]
[“Thank goodness, heuk, I’m glad. Huhu.”]
[<meanwhile he worrying about his hyung>]</meanwhile>
When the staff replied that there had been no mention of me, Do Yuda ended up sobbing so hard he even started hiccupping. That soft hearted guy was still thinking of me even in that situation.
The mix of “I’m glad you’re okay, hyung” and “But why me?” on his face made my conscience prick with guilt.
[<surprise camera ends because he crying too much>]</surprise>
[“This is a surprise camera.”]
[“…….”]
There was silence after the production team’s words.
[“What is this!”]
[<too long edited out></too>]
With a shout that seemed to be cut off, the screen turned black. It seemed like they edited it because Do Yuda’s whining scene was too long.
Then, Do Yuda, with the caption “Clocking Out” on his head, walked out of the room where the surprise camera had taken place. Beneath his footsteps, the caption “Stomp, Stomp” appeared as he walked while sniffling.
When he opened the door to our room, he saw my face.
[<his hyung appears></his>]
I couldn’t hold back my laughter as I watched Do Yuda on the screen.
[<lolololol></lolololol>]
Looking back on that memory, I think I laughed because Do Yuda’s face was funny. As I silently laughed, shaking my shoulders, the subtitles with the same consonants flashed above my head.
[“Did you cry?”]
[“Of course!”]
Do Yuda, seeing my smiling face, rushed over to me and poured out his complaints.
[“Hyung, you knew all along and kept quiet! Are you laughing? How can you laugh!”]
[“What am I supposed to do? They asked me not to say anything.”]
[<lolololol></lolololol>]
[<His Brightest Smile Since the Program Started>]
‘Was I smiling like that?’
I felt a sense of discomfort as I looked at my smiling face. I didn’t think I’d ever laughed like that ever since the early days of my Prism activities. It felt so strange.
[“I thought nothing would really happen because hyung was so fine.”]
[<He was fine!?>]
[<How was his hyung?>]
With the words “He was fine“, a scene of me sitting in front of the production team appeared. And, as expected, the surprise camera began.
[“SU Entertainment has informed us that they want to terminate the contract with Trainee Han Seungbeom. Did you receive the notice?”]
[“…….”]
[<lol></lol>]
[“This is our first time dealing with something like this, so we’re really shocked … I mean, how can they act so irresponsibly?”]
[“…….”]
[<lol></lol>]
[“We initially accepted Trainee Han Seungbeom’s filming based on an agreement with your agency, but if this happens, we can no longer continue the filming.”]
[“…….”]
[<lol></lol>]
My expressionless face and the production team’s body, shaking wildly as if there was an earthquake, alternated on the screen. As the production team continued their explanation, my expression gradually turned into a mocking sneer.
[<Seung, Seungbeom-ah, please say something. ㅠㅠ…..>]
[“This is a lie, isn’t it?”]
[<…….!>]
[<Got Caught>]
With a despairing BGM, exclamation marks slammed down above the production team’s head.
[“Trainee Han Seungbeom, why would we lie about something like this?”]
[<Last Struggle>]
[“I know this is a surprise camera.”]
[<surprise camera forced shutdown>]</surprise>
[<production team defeat> <han seungbeom always wins>]</han></production>
[<that what happened yuda-ya>]</that>
“You’re really vicious, Han Seungbeom…..”
“Please get broken at least once! Why are you so perceptive!”
“Stop being so handsome!”
As the surprise camera ended with my dry reaction, boos erupted from the surrounding area.
‘What do you mean by stop being so handsome?’
I snorted and ignored their boos.
As I kept my gaze fixed on the screen, the tearful reactions of the other trainees passed by, and soon it was Woo Kangwon’s turn. It seemed like Lee Hwayoung and Zen had been edited out.
[“Hush Entertainment has notified us that they want to terminate the contract with Trainee Woo Kangwon. By any chance, did you receive the notice first?”]
Woo Kangwon held his breath for a moment, then closed his eyes tightly and spoke calmly.
‘Did he notice that it was a surprise camera?’
He was too calm. I doubted my eyes as I watched Woo Kangwon’s reaction.
Woo Kangwon was a very slow person, especially when it came to such malicious pranks. He must not have realized that the situation was staged, but he was too unfazed.
[“No. I’m hearing it for the first time now.”]
[<calm>]</calm>
[<did we get caught>]</did>
[“…….”]
[“Since Trainee Woo Kangwon did not appear as an individual trainee, you will no longer be able to appear on our program after your contract with the agency was terminated.”]
Woo Kangwon remained silent for a short time, as if organizing his thoughts. Then, as if he had come to his own conclusion, he exhaled deeply and spoke in a soft tone.
[“I see. I understand.”]
[“Yes?”]
[“How long do I have to pack my belongings?”]
[“Trainee Woo Kangwon, wait. Are you okay?”]
[“Yes, I’m fine. I’ll quietly leave so that it won’t affect the filming.”]
While the flustered production crew faltered, Woo Kangwon mechanically uttered words that feigned calmness. Then, as if he was about to go pack his bags, he stood up and bowed to the production team. I frowned as I watched him.
[<the big brother who doesn get easily flustered>]</the>
[<the production team getting pranked>]</the>
[<surprise camera ends>]</surprise>
Looking at the subtitles, it seemed like the production team thought that Woo Kangwon realized that it was a surprise camera and playfully taking things a step further.
But it didn’t seem that way to me.
Woo Kangwon wasn’t that sly or clever.
‘Maybe he was really planning to leave the program.’
I turned my head to look at Woo Kangwon next to me. He then met my gaze and gave me a small smile.
“I guess I was too serious. I should’ve reacted more playfully, like Yuda.”
‘That’s…….’
He was smiling, but I could tell that complicated thoughts were racing through his mind.
As soon as I saw his face, I understood Woo Kangwon’s reaction on the screen.
“Haha! Seungbeom-ah, what kind of expression is that?”
Woo Kangwon had already mentally prepared himself. Like someone who had thought dozens or hundreds of times that he would be abandoned by his company one day, and had resigned himself to that fate.
“…….”
Something was going wrong.
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Translator’s Corner:
- From the idiom “As precious as gold or jade” (금이야 옥이야): A metaphor for treating something with great and cherising it like it was a gold or a jade. Used a lot to describe how parents treat their children. ↩︎