IWUC 08

Chapter 08

“This reminds me of how you were at the audition.”

What is he even talking about?

“I see.”

Are you talking to yourself or to me? Pick one, Kang Min-jae.

“You’ve changed.”

What? Weren’t you just saying you don’t believe people change? Make up your mind. I smiled innocently and asked,

“In a good way?”

Min-jae let out a short laugh and shook his head.

“Hmm. Not sure. Actually… I came to stop you.”

“Me? Why?”

“To tell you not to become a trainee. I mean, I am a trainee, so I know—it’s really tough. And the hardest thing in this field… is half-baked talent.”

I clenched my fist.

Who are you to stop me?

And half-baked talent? Damn it.

“Am I that half-baked?”

“No.”

Hey! Then why are you stopping me?

“I’m stopping you because you’re not. If you enter this industry, I feel like you’ll run without ever looking back. And… I think I’d end up using you.”

Min-jae grabbed my shoulder.

“I use people roughly.”

That hurt. I stared at the hand gripping me.

So what?

Is this a threat? A declaration of war?

I had no idea how to react.

“Whenever I use people, it never ends well.”

I see.

“If it were a stranger, I wouldn’t care. But you, Dowon… hmm. You’re someone who knows a past of mine I’d rather not think about.”

“So we’re close, then?”

“Is that how it works? Are we close?”

Hey! Don’t ask me! You’re asking a middle schooler that?

“Well, I guess it depends on how you see it, hyung.”

Of course, no matter what you think, we’re enemies.

“Really? Hmm… I’d like to get closer. I think that’d be nice.”

“Then we can just get closer.”

“Right?”

The more we talked, the more it felt like I was the one being persuaded. I let out a deep sigh.

Seriously, what is wrong with you, Kang Min-jae?

“Dowon.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Can I use you?”

I frowned. I couldn’t even fake a reaction.

He says he uses people roughly and things end badly… and still wants to use me?

Yeah. Definitely a declaration of war.

A laugh slipped out. I covered my mouth, then looked up and met his eyes.

Fine. Kang Min-jae.

“Go ahead.”

His eyes wavered.

What are you scheming, bastard? Do you even realize I’m a middle schooler right now?

“I won’t break.”

I already broke once before.

“But you have to give something too.”

I grabbed his hand tightly. Warm. So he’s human after all.

“What I want.”

You’re good at composing, right? If I’m on your team, success will follow, won’t it? Even if it’s dirty, I’ll follow you. So give me success.

Raise me until then.

I’ll be your perfect tool. I’ll dance to whatever tune you play.

“Hmm, what do you want?”

I smiled like an innocent kid.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

“It’s hard. Who actually lives life knowing exactly what they want? So… hyung, I’ll tell you later.”

Min-jae laughed awkwardly.

“I-Is that so?”

“For now.”

I lightly shook his hand.

“Let’s start by getting closer. Like before, hyung!”

Honestly, it was ridiculous. The Kang Min-jae in front of me wasn’t the kid next door who got beaten by his mom every day.

And I wasn’t the same either.

The naive kid who followed him around calling “hyung, hyung”—

He’d already crossed into the afterlife long ago.

So what’s left?

Nothing but revenge and desire, burning like hellfire.

Good. Let it burn. I’ll keep feeding it wood.

Let’s see how this plays out, Kang Min-jae.

I smiled brightly, putting my whole heart into it.

He lowered his head, scratching it awkwardly.

“Ah, right. Dowon.”

I let go of his hand.

“Want to grab a meal? Have you eaten?”

For a moment, I was startled. A memory surfaced.

The last time we met, I said that to him.

—Hyung, have you eaten? Want to eat together?

Different situation, same words.

Feels off…

Could I even eat looking at that face?

“I have dinner plans. My aunt’s coming over—there’s something about inheritance to sort out.”

Ah, no. That’s not what I should say.

I should say something he hates.

“My aunt, uncle, and my sister will be there. Want to join us?”

“My sister… you mean Cha Sora?”

His face twisted instantly.

Right. Those two are natural enemies.

“Yes.”

“…Can’t I just eat with you?”

“Does it have to be today? I’m joining Friends Entertainment. If I go there, we’ll probably eat together a lot anyway.”

Of course, I’ll avoid it.

“Ah, right. We’ll see each other often.”

“Well, you seem like a high-ranking guy. Not sure we’ll even cross paths.”

“We’ll probably be in different groups.”

He thought for a moment, then looked at me.

“Then I’ll head off for today.”

“That’s too bad. Take care, hyung.”

He ruffled my hair, then suddenly leaned in. I tried to step back, but he was faster.

“Why are you bleeding?”

Damn it. Of course he wouldn’t let that slide.

“It’s not an illness. Not pneumonia.”

“It’s not contagious, right?”

“No. They said it’ll heal soon.”

A year is “soon,” right?

“Don’t let the company find out. They’ll send you home.”

“As long as I don’t cough, I’ll be fine. Ah…”

I looked him straight in the eyes.

“You won’t tell, right?”

Min-jae smiled.

“Do you trust me?”

As if.

“You said you’d use me.”

“Hmm, I did, didn’t I?”

He stepped back.

I clenched and unclenched my fist.

Still strong. Can’t let my guard down.

“See you later, Dowon.”

“Yes, hyung.”

He slowly walked away.

Only then did I notice—there was a foreign car parked at the end of the bus stop.

Hope you get fined, bastard.

No buses honked. Maybe because it was a fancy car—everyone just avoided it.

Disgusting.

He disappeared stylishly.

I sighed.

“My brain feels contaminated.”

Wait—wasn’t he the same age as my sister? Barely twenty?

Since when could Kang Min-jae afford a foreign car?

No way.

I shook my head.

“Feels like I shoved my brain into a demon’s head.”

But that’s only if I don’t have information.

I grinned.

“Too bad I’m not who I used to be.”

I stood up and stretched.

No matter what weird stunt Min-jae pulls, I still have things to do.

Let’s run, Cha Dowon.

No cheat for stamina.

Then I’ll build it the proper way.

I started running again.

But one question lingered.

How did he know I was here?

That part really bothered me.

*

Time flew by in an instant.

I sat in the back seat of a car, staring out the window. The fog made everything hazy.

“Are you worried?”

My aunt, who was driving, asked.

I shook my head.

“No.”

“I am. What’s this about idols and agencies?”

I smiled.

“Well, it’s sudden. Your nephew loses his mom and suddenly transfers schools for an agency… of course you’d worry.”

“And renting out your house too…”

“Good thing we found a tenant quickly.”

“I don’t understand anything!”

Honestly, things were going well. The house was rented quickly, and we stored most belongings except clothes.

My sister would stay with my aunt for now.

“Aunt, please take care of my sister.”

“And she’ll be moving into a dorm soon anyway.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really okay, Dowon?”

I shrugged.

“It’s good to decide your path early. I chose this.”

“But you’re risking too much.”

I shook my head.

“No. I haven’t risked anything yet.”

The car stopped.

I got out and pulled my luggage.

“Don’t worry, aunt.”

“I’m very worried! Your life is at stake! Are you okay giving up on school?”

I wasn’t cut out for academic success anyway.

Even if I tried, my real goal was being an idol.

So I used my strongest shield.

“Aunt. If I fail as a celebrity, I’ll become a shaman.”

“Oh my! Your mother said that?”

“Yes. It’s a professional job too—but I prefer having a big audience.”

She nodded, understanding.

Of course. Mom—the ultimate master key.

A chubby man ran out of the entrance.

“Are you his mother?”

I was about to say she was my aunt—

“Yes, I’m his mother.”

…Huh?

“I’m Heo Yong-dam, a manager and trainee supervisor.”

What a unique name.

“Hello!”

“So you’re Dowon. Come in. Don’t worry, ma’am.”

I greeted my aunt and followed him.

Then—

“Dowon!”

She yanked my hood.

Before I could react, she pulled out a pen.

Then whispered into my ear—

“It’s a recorder.”

…Why?

“Group living requires recordings. Oh! I almost forgot—batteries.”

She handed me fifty tiny batteries.

Why do you even have that many?!

She clipped the recorder to my shirt.

“Now I feel better.”

Better about what?

“Collect evidence thoroughly.”

“I’m going to be a trainee…”

“In group living, crap happens everywhere. Law and money come from evidence.”

She patted my shoulder.

“Be strong!”

“…Yes. Take care.”

“Son! I believe in you!”

Believe in what?! Recording?!

“And if someone hits you, endure it first, then call me. You know my job.”

…I had no words.

I dragged my suitcase forward.

The manager looked at me awkwardly.

“So… what does your mother do?”

I almost said “shaman,” then corrected myself.

“She’s a criminal defense lawyer.”

He stumbled.

I glanced at the recorder.

The women in my family are really… something.

“Are you… actually going to use that?”

I smiled.

“I use everything I have.”

He stumbled again.

“Are you okay?”

“D-Dowon…”

“Yes, hyung.”

“This is still a place where people live… I don’t think you’ll need to record anything…”

I chuckled.

“Well, since people live here…”

I looked at the building entrance and smiled.

“Doesn’t that mean there will be things worth recording?”

I want to live peacefully—but conflicts are inevitable.

He whispered,

“Crazy…”

I tilted my head.

“Me?”

“You heard that? Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

I smiled sweetly.

“You’re right. I am.”

That’s how I passed, after all.

He looked at me like I was some unknown creature.

I didn’t care.