Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 65: We’re Not Fighting.

In the training room of TwoBear Entertainment, Song Johan’s class continued with Yeoreum, who had recently started participating.

“No, no, no. Gyeoul, your vocals are too dandified right now. That’s not a satisfactory idol vocal.”

When vocal trainer Song Johan criticized Gyeoul’s vocals, Gyeoul, not understanding his words, asked Yeoreum.

“Yeoreum, what did Teacher Johan say?”

“He said you’re adding too much flair to your vocals. Sing more plainly?”

“Ah!”

Yeoreum translated the words but still wondered if this was the right approach.

“Gaeul, your vocals are almost semi-finished. However, as a trainer, I would like to add one peradventure: please keep in mind that you are part of a group, not a solo artist. An overly unique color can erode the group’s proportion.”

“Yeoreum, what did Teacher Johan say?”

“He said you did well, but remember that you’re part of a group, not a solo artist?”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll keep that in mind, Teacher Johan!”

Johan nodded in satisfaction at Gaeul’s response.

Yeoreum, watching Johan’s reaction, cautiously asked Gaeul,

“Um, is it okay to chat like this during class? Won’t Trainer Johan be upset?”

Gaeul smiled at Yeoreum as if to reassure her.

“It’s fine! This is all communication to understand what Teacher Johan is saying. If we don’t understand and get confused, he gets upset.”

“….”

Yeoreum thought that speaking plainly might solve everything, but she kept quiet out of caution.

Even after that, Song Johan’s intensive vocal class continued with Yeoreum as the interpreter.

After two hours, Johan pointed out each of their shortcomings and assigned tasks to address them, wrapping up the class.

Yu Gaeul, drinking an electrolyte beverage to manage her dried vocal cords, asked Yeoreum,

“How was the class, Yeoreum?”

Yeoreum, who was also drinking an electrolyte beverage, carefully put it down and answered,

“Well, it wasn’t easy keeping up because I have a lot of shortcomings compared to you two, but it was a great learning opportunity because of that.”

“No way, Yeoreum! Maybe compared to Gaeul Unnie, but there’s no way you have more shortcomings than me… Your voice is really beautiful!”

“…Thank you, Gyeoul.”

Gyeoul smiled bashfully at Yeoreum’s sincere gratitude.

She thought that Yeoreum was really pure and cute.

“That’s right, Yeoreum. Your voice is plain yet elegant and has a charming tremor.”

The two of them from TwoBear were really good people.

Yeoreum worried if she might be ruining the paths of such good people.

“Is it really okay for you two to be in a group with me?”

“Huh? What do you mean by that? I think it’s great.”

“I like it too, Yeoreum!”

Feeling a slight flutter in her chest at their natural responses, Yeoreum spoke again.

“As you know, I’m stigmatized as unlikeable by people. Being with me increases the chances of failure, even for things that could succeed. Just being beside me might get you treated like a criminal. I was asking if that’s okay.”

The more she spoke, the more Yeoreum regretted it.

What was the use of bringing this up now?

This was closer to shifting her burden of guilt onto them.

Yeoreum resolved that if they expressed even the slightest discomfort, she would leave the group to consider them.

“Yeoreum, please don’t say things that hurt yourself like that.”

The one who stepped in front of such Yeoreum was Han Gyeoul.

Unlike her usual timid and reserved demeanor, she spoke firmly.

“Honestly, I burden the group with my presence. Compared to you and Gaeul Unnie, who shine brightly, I think I’m ugly and cheap.”

“…Gyeoul.”

Han Gyeoul forced a smile to reassure Yu Gaeul, who was worried about her, and said,

“Still, I won’t let myself be confined by such negative thoughts anymore. That would be betraying the expectations that Taeyang Ssam has for me.”

“….”

“When we feel weak and inadequate, let’s trust Taeyang Ssam. I believe he brought us together because he saw something in us.”

Jin Yeoreum thought of Seon Taeyang.

A man who gave her too much trust when she was nothing.

“…Okay, I’ll trust.”

But that wasn’t enough.

“And I’ll prove that trust wasn’t wrong.”

Yu Gaeul, watching Jin Yeoreum’s resolute declaration with satisfaction, smiled warmly and said,

“But using honorifics like that feels too distant. I’m fine with it, so can you speak comfortably with me? We’re only a year apart. If you consider our birthdays, it’s not even a year. Unlike Gyeoul, it feels like there’s a distance only with me, and it’s a little sad.”

Yeoreum, who valued etiquette, was slightly surprised by Yu Gaeul’s easygoing approach and made an excuse.

“Isn’t it okay to just use honorifics like this? Gyeoul is also using honorifics with you right now.”

“I’ve been asking Gyeoul to speak comfortably with me every time, but she doesn’t listen.”

Gyeoul, watching the two of them, fidgeted with her hands and spoke cautiously.

“…I’m comfortable with this.”

“No.”

“…Ah.”

Looking at Yeoreum, who was hesitant to cross the line, and Gyeoul, who found human relationships difficult, Gaeul spoke firmly.

“As a team, we have to live together in the dormitory and work together. So, until the contract ends, we will be living almost 24 hours a day together. In such a situation, if we don’t make an effort to be united, we might unknowingly create controversies. And as we engage in idol activities, there will surely be external conflicts. I hope at least we can stick together tightly then.”

Gaeul looked at the two with her characteristic warm and gentle smile and said,

“We could remain just business partners, but I don’t want us to stay that distant during the long contract period.”

“…I think I wouldn’t like that either.”

Gaeul smiled brightly at Gyeoul’s agreement and said,

“So, from now on, let’s speak comfortably with each other! This is the start of breaking down our walls. Of course, you can oppose my opinion, but the opposition must be in informal speech!”

“…Isn’t that the same thing in the end?”

“Huh, what did you say, Gyeoul?”

“No! I didn’t say anything special… oh, it wasn’t a big deal, Gaeul Unnie.”

“Good job, Gyeoul.”

It was a farce.

“Think about when we might have a conflict among ourselves in the future. If there’s a hierarchy, like using honorifics, can we openly discuss our feelings? Of course, we could, but building a comfortable relationship from now on will help more in such situations.”

Han Gyeoul tilted her head and said to Yu Gaeul’s words,

“But, Gaeul Unnie, will we ever have a fight?”

“Will we?”

“…Will we?”

Seeing Han Gyeoul like that, Jin Yeoreum decided to stop using honorifics immediately.

“Well… I also don’t think it will happen. Gyeoul and Yeoreum, you’re both really rare, good kids. I’m embarrassed to say this, but even though I worked a lot of part-time jobs and met many people, I’ve never had a fight with anyone. So I think we’ll be okay.”

Yeoreum shared the same thought. Not only Gyeoul and Gaeul but everyone at TwoBear seemed to be an unusually good group of people.

She had a vague feeling that it would be okay because of such people.

Yeoreum shared that thought and agreed.

“That’s right. In TwoBear, I don’t think that will happen.”

“It won’t?”

“…I think so.”

From being an audience to the main character of this farce, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Gyeoul and Gaeul laughed along.

After laughing heartily while looking at each other’s faces, Gaeul spoke,

“But I heard that when only one person does diet control, makes a mistake on a broadcast, or only one person is popular and earns money alone but shares the same settlement, it can hurt feelings and lead to fights.”

“It’ll be fine, Gaeul Unnie. I don’t think that will happen with us.”

“That’s right… Oh, yes. We won’t have fights. Besides, if such situations arise, won’t Taeyang Ssam handle it somehow? Hehe.”

At that moment, the same person appeared in their minds.

“That’s right. It’ll be okay because Team Leader Seon is here.”

They felt assured that everything would be fine if he stayed by their side.

“Oh, did you finish your practice well?”

At that moment, the training room door swung open, and Seon Taeyang entered.

He was holding drinks that seemed to be from a famous cafe.

“Taeyang Oppa!”

“Taeyang Ssam!”

Gyeoul and Gaeul, who were delighted to see Taeyang suddenly appear, chattered like kindergarten children rushing toward their teacher.

Taeyang, seeing them, smiled slightly instead of responding and approached Jin Yeoreum.

“Yeoreum, was today’s class okay?”

“…Ah, yes! It was good.”

Nodding in satisfaction, Taeyang glanced at the two and then whispered in Yeoreum’s ear,

“But you know that seeing the future is a secret from others, right?”

He was too close.

Because of that, Yeoreum couldn’t answer and blushed.

Then it felt like a cold wind was blowing.

The source of the ominous aura was the gaze watching Taeyang approach Yeoreum with only a finger’s width gap.

Seeing that, Yeoreum was convinced.

‘There will definitely be a big fight someday.’