Chapter 192
No one in the waiting room could have imagined it would turn out this way.
After all, they’d just wanted to have an honest conversation about everything that had happened so far, before the live show.
“Yuchan hyung first! What was the hardest part for you while doing Targeting Star? Don’t just say ‘every day was hard’!”
“Hmm… I guess… probably when I had to cover for Min Si Young seonbaenim? Well… uh, I should stop talking! If Chunyong was here, he’d totally get it. I’ll have to bring it up with him later.”
“Ugh. I half-expected that, but really? Okay, next up….”
“Me. I have one too. For me, it was the first time I had to do the ‘Aiming’ stage with you, Ji Hwa Sung. When you lost your temper at the team, it was just… gosh how much—”
“Kim Joo An hyung. You know I have a lot to say about that, right? Choose your words carefully.”
“Uh, guys? Let’s not fight, okay? No fighting….”
“Ah, Chae Hyuk hyung! Of course it’s just a joke, haha!”
Really, no one had any other thoughts in mind.
“Well, it’s… I guess you were just really desperate back then. I was too.”
“…Hmph. Good to know you realize it.”
“Phew, I have a lot I could say, but you’re a good guy, Hwa Sung. So I’ll let it slide.”
“What the…? Don’t talk to me like that!”
“Haha, he’s all riled up now!”
There was a bit of a spark between Kim Joo An and Ji Hwa Sung, but that was all.
Because today marked the end of the strange, cutthroat survival where they had to step on each other to climb higher.
After this, it was either a debut, or going back to train, or finding another path altogether.
So in a moment like this, when they didn’t even know when they’d see each other again… What good would it do to pick at each other’s wounds?
That was how they all felt.
“…Huh? Liu Wei, did you come today to be on stage?”
“…….”
“Whoa, he’s here! I mean, uh… well, we saw the notice. But it’d be nice to have you with us for the last stage. We didn’t really get to talk much before, but—”
“Take your hand off me.”
That shouldn’t be the end.
Except for one person who thought this shouldn’t end.
“…Ah, come on. Let’s just keep it friendly today. I actually… hope you can sort everything out and do well moving forward, Liu Wei….”
“…You’re good at saying things you don’t mean.”
“What?”
“I know you don’t actually feel that way.”
“Uh, Liu Wei. Don’t be like this. Today of all days, there’s no need to.”
“…I said let’s just keep it chill. I don’t plan on picking a fight with you, Liu Wei. I just want to go on stage for the last show without any drama.”
“Y-yeah, you’re right. No fighting….”
“…..”
When Liu Wei suddenly walked into the waiting room, the team members tried to welcome him with smiles as best they could.
‘He’s already decided to withdraw, so there’s no way he’d still act up now,’ they thought.
They were still young, and none of them had ever seen what someone truly arrogant and unyielding could do when pushed into a corner.
“It’s because you always act so wishy-washy that Son Jae Ha doesn’t tell you everything.”
“…What did you say?”
“You heard me. You have no idea what’s happening at the agency, why it’s come to this. He didn’t tell you because of that pathetic attitude of yours. Idiot.”
“…….”
No one in Targeting Star wasn’t aware of how close Ji Hwa Sung was to Son Jae Ha.
He’d said it himself in a personal interview, how Son Jae Ha looked out for him so much when he first came up to Seoul from Daegu, how he was like an older brother.
So for Liu Wei to say ‘Son Jae Ha doesn’t tell you everything’ to Ji Hwa Sung’s face now, of all people….
“…Are you serious? Hey, what did you say? Say that again.”
“Hwa Sung! No, don’t! Hold it in. Joo An hyung, stop him! Chae Hyuk, go tell the staff—”
“Y-yeah!”
“Ah, dammit… Hwa Sung, please. Calm down.”
It was as if Liu Wei had decided to push things to the worst possible place.
Ji Hwa Sung had been trying so hard to meet Liu Wei’s cold attitude with his usual cheerful, open spirit, repressing his discomfort. But in that moment, he just couldn’t take it anymore.
And if anyone was going to say what no one else dared to, it was always going to be Ji Hwa Sung.
“Wow, how can he even act like that? If it were me, I’d be so embarrassed to even walk in here. I’d be bowing with my head on the floor.”
“Hey, Hwa Sung….”
“No, Yuchan hyung, tell me I’m wrong. Doesn’t he even realize we had to learn both the six-person and five-person choreography because of him? Has he ever once thought that was unfair? If not, that’s a real problem.”
It was Ji Hwa Sung’s trademark: the mouth of hell that said what everyone else only dared to think.
Whether Hwa Sung was finally saying what needed to be said or just losing it, Liu Wei’s face stayed the same as always.
And that calm look only made Ji Hwa Sung angrier. So he let out the words that would push everything over the edge.
“…Are you saying it’s our fault you’re dropping out?”
“――.”
And just like that, it all exploded.
Liu Wei threw the body of the lapel mic at Ji Hwa Sung, and as Ji Hwa Sung dodged it, the mic cracked the mirror.
Before the team could fully grasp what had happened, Liu Wei stormed out of the waiting room.
“…He’s lost it.”
The first thing Kim Chunyong said after hearing it all from the dumbfounded Bang Yu Chan.
“Yeah. Even Gao Yan thinks this is crazy.”
Right before the live show? Out of nowhere?
Clearly, Bang Yu Chan himself was still trying to process it, his expression a mix of disbelief as he gently put a hand on Kim Chunyong’s shoulder.
“Anyway, Chae Hyuk went and told the writer that something happened in the waiting room. But aside from that… well.”
When Bang Yu Chan’s gaze flickered to where Ji Hwa Sung was sitting in the middle of the room, hand on his forehead in the green room with the mess of broken glass, Kim Chunyong lowered his voice cautiously.
“It’s because of Liu Wei, right, hyung?”
“…Yeah. It might sound weird, but when you corner someone, they’re capable of anything. Just look at this.”
“That’s… true.”
You never know what choices someone on the edge will make.
Just like Trash Rex. He’d once run out of a fan meeting, consumed by the loss of his family and the belief that he didn’t deserve anyone’s cheers.
Thinking of that old story, Kim Chunyong pressed his lips together, letting out a quiet sigh.
For now, at least….
“Hey, Hwa Sung.”
“…What.”
“Don’t act tough. Go to the infirmary first.”
“No, why infirmary? I’m not even—”
“Your hand’s cut. You’re too worked up to feel it now.”
“M-my hand? Oh, ouch.”
“Yeah, you idiot. Hurry up and go to the infirmary.”
The first order of business was to get the injured treated.
Ji Hwa Sung’s face was still clouded, probably with everything Liu Wei had said ringing in his head. But slowly, he nodded and walked away.
‘Dammit, Liu Wei never should’ve touched the relationship between Jae Ha hyung and Hwa Sung… useless jerk.’
Watching that heavy-hearted retreat, Kim Chunyong clicked his tongue and ran a hand over his forehead.
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