Chapter 208
Some memories stay vivid in your mind without you ever trying to recall them.
For instance, the moment you step out as a singer for the first time.
The moment you see a waiting room with your name and your group’s name on the door.
Or, the hand of your leader touching your cheek as you sobbed after winning a rookie award.
Or perhaps…
The day a choreography practice was scheduled with members who were already stressed all because my dating scandal had just broken?
“—Are you seriously not going to focus?!”
“…Huh?”
I let out a dazed sound at the scene suddenly unfolding before my eyes.
A pristine mirror spanning the entire front wall.
Music equipment tucked away in the corner. A floor that squeaked whenever sweat dripped on it.
This was unmistakably the underground practice room at AG, our agency.
From the looks of it, the other members had all gathered for a choreography lesson.
While I scraped my sneakers against the floor to get my bearings, the choreography instructor’s furious voice erupted again.
“Rex! We’re going again because of you. I really don’t want to be yelling like this either!”
At the same time, the eyes of the other four people in the room who’d been practicing choreography with me turned toward me.
The gazes of people I already knew — people I couldn’t possibly not know.
Yu Chan hyung, Jae Ha hyung, Si Woo, and Hwa Sung.
“…We just do it again. It’s fine.”
“……”
“Rex.”
“Whew….”
A mix of cold detachment and complicated emotions on every face.
Ah, so in other words….
I was currently delaying today’s choreography practice — which had to be finished within the day — because I kept making mistakes?
If that was the case, well…
“…I’m sorry!”
I bowed my head deep and delivered a loud, clear apology.
It was only natural.
I’d made a mistake and caused the delay, so I should apologize properly. Not just bumble through it halfheartedly.
But then.
“…Did you eat something weird today?”
The instructor’s reaction was strange.
Eyes darting everywhere as if thoroughly taken aback. Hands on hips, letting out a bewildered scoff.
“Sorry?”
“No, it’s just… you’re apologizing. Normally. You usually just clamp your mouth shut and say nothing.”
Was that how it was? Had I really acted like someone with zero social skills?
Like every glance from others felt like a criticism, so I’d keep my mouth shut. Like one word directed at me would make me duck my head and stare at my shoes.
…That’s strange.
“Oh, well, this happened because of me, so… of course I should apologize. I’m sorry. To you, and to my members too.”
“Oh, um. Right… well, good attitude today. Let’s take it from the top.”
After the exchange with the instructor, my eyes met my members’ again.
Not completely at ease, but their expressions were considerably softer compared to right after my mistake.
Right. My members were inherently kind. As long as you acted like a decent human being, they treated you well.
I recalled the choreography I needed to have down, scraped my shoes against the floor, and thought it over.
‘I need to nail this practice.’
That way, the mini album coming out could be a success—
…Wait.
What was I actually doing before I came to the practice room?
“Positions. Seven, eight….”
Before I could even furrow my brow at the hazy memory, everything that was supposed to happen proceeded smoothly, like water flowing.
What we were practicing was the title track of Arrows’ third mini album.
Since I already knew exactly how the choreography went and how to angle the details for clean lines, there was nothing particularly difficult about it.
When I followed the choreography without a hitch, the instructor — who’d seemed like scolding me was the sole purpose of the lesson — gradually brightened up.
“Rex, what’s going on? You nail it after getting chewed out once? Did you practice beforehand? Was it just the hangover messing you up earlier?”
“No, it’s just… because you teach so well.”
“Oh my….”
I was responding casually, but a thought kept nagging at me.
Right, how was I nailing this right now?
No… More importantly.
What was I doing before this lesson?
“Let’s stop here for today. We made good progress, so we ended a little early. Everyone, make sure to hydrate, and if you’ve got schedules, get moving.”
“Yes!”
After about another hour of practice, the instructor left first. The practice room fell silent.
Only the sounds of us catching our breath and final cool-down stretches to avoid injury filled the space.
I grabbed a few water bottles from in front of the mirror and casually handed them out to the members.
I wanted to ask what I’d been doing before coming to practice, but we’d all just worked up a sweat.
Take it slow. Slowly.
“Hwa Sung, Si Woo. Water. Here, Yu Chan hyung, you too.”
“…What.”
Hwa Sung, who was closest to me, looked me up and down, then snatched the bottle with a baffled expression.
Instead of his usual bleach blonde, Hwa Sung had hair so light it was nearly white. He downed the water in one go and spoke.
“Rex, I’m asking seriously… did you eat something weird?”
Deep suspicion lurked in his skeptical gaze.
“Or did you sleep well for once? This is weird. This isn’t how you normally act.”
The nerve on this kid, honestly.
I threw my arm around Ji Hwa Sung’s neck and vigorously scrubbed his head.
Exaggerated actions and a playful tone came as a bonus.
“Hey, man. Is that how you talk to someone older than you? You ungrateful little punk. After I helped practice end early and everything.”
But the reaction was off.
“R-Rex?! What the — seriously!”
Hwa Sung flailed until his hair whipped around, wriggled free from my arm, and rapid-fired:
“Wait, I think this is the first time in ages Rex has said this many words to me? Has there been some major change of heart? I guess no matter what, when a person starts dating, it really does change them? Either way, this version is way bett—”
“Hey, Hwa Sung!”
Yu Chan hyung, who’d been approaching from behind, yelped in surprise, but I was too confused to process it.
Dating?
What does he mean, dating?
“…Am I dating someone?”
“……”
The moment that loaded word came out, every member in the room froze.
Everyone except Ji Hwa Sung, who was staring at me with a sheepish expression that said ‘ah, I slipped up’.
“Rex, you… yesterday, the dating scandal articles came out. We found out from the articles too.”
The one doing damage control was, as always, our leader: Jae Ha hyung.
“We heard that you went to meet the manager and the president and came back without saying a word.”
Well, calling it ‘damage control’ might be generous.
Because my face flooded with sheer disbelief the moment I heard it.
“Me… dating? No way. That can’t be right.”
And the instant those words tangled with indignation and incredulity left my mouth, a memory crept up along my spine, slithering all the way to my brain.
“Hey, hi. Rex.”
“Oh…? Hello, Billie Seonbae.”
“Yeah, so you come to this club too? I had no idea. I heard you go to places far from the company.”
“I don’t really pick and choose spots. I just came here because the guy I was supposed to drink with asked me to. And then he completely bailed on me.”
“Oh, really? If it’s okay, could you maybe give me a ride just to the company? My manager, who’s supposed to be driving, passed out drunk. Tch. Now I’ve got no way back.”
“Sure… I can do that. My manager’s car is still out front.”
I gave Billie Seonbae, whom I’d run into by chance in front of the club, a ride back.
[Arrows’ Rex, Sweet Rendezvous with LilyJ’s Billie? “Alone Together in a Car.”]
[<EXCLUSIVE> Billie’s New Man Is None Other Than Arrows’ Rex? “I Like Sharp-Looking Men.”]
[SLEDIX’s Joo Young’s Outgram Post Goes Viral… “They Looked Good Together.”]
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