CH 7

Truthfully, even Park Haeun, who had no conscience, felt sorry. He knew the members worked to the bone to prepare this album because he’d diligently played the game.

‘The kids have screwed over so many songs because of their shitty beast idol concepts.’

However, saying he’d die if they told him to wasn’t appealing. The problem was that he hadn’t been thinking of anything, so he couldn’t insist that it was the second option either.

There was no other choice. With his head bowed, Haeun read the words written on the first choice.

“S-sorry. I really wasn’t thinking that.”

“What were you thinking then?”

As expected, it didn’t have much of an effect. As soon as Haeun finished speaking, Sungjae questioned him, and Junwoo didn’t speak but had an annoyed expression and stood with his arms crossed.

Ilhyun spoke with a sigh, “Kim Sungjae. Park Haeun. Our stage is right around the corner. Both of you, stop it.”

Should he have jumped out of the van on the way here instead?

“Do you think we’ll properly perform like this? Hyung, stop letting him off the hook. He’s getting increasingly weirder because you defend him!”

Sungjae raised his temper towards Ilhyun. But it didn’t feel like Ilhyun was defending Parkha. It clearly felt like he was suppressing his anger because they would perform soon.

“Honestly, no matter how I think about it, I don’t understand. Hyung, did the CEO order you to do it?”

“Let’s say he ordered him. Did you do it just because he ordered you? Without discussing it?”

“Hyung’s the center.”

“Who’d we choose the concept for? Our states must be a sight. Right?”

“Ha…”

Sungjae and Junwoo’s questioning continued. After going through the stages of fluster, feeling sorry, and embarrassment in Haeun’s head, he was now going through avoidance and rage. 

It would be nice if he had a personality that could suppress his impulses, but eventually, Haeun couldn’t hold back.

“Ugh, I’ll just perform properly!”

As Haeun, who had been bowing his head, got angry, the voices of the other three members paused instantly

Unlike his original body, he couldn’t feel the power of his voice because this body’s usual way of speaking was soft. However, it seemed that they were dumbfounded and shocked at ‘Parkha’ shamelessly getting angry.

“I’ll handle it, so…”

Haeun’s voice was like a rebellious son going through puberty speaking to his parents but gradually softened.

『No! A great idol doesn’t say such horrible things to their members~~ First warning!』

『If you accumulate warnings, a slight penalty can be imposed to become an idol that’s loved!』

As if it had been waiting for Park Haeun to soften, the system’s adorable voice returned.

Although he didn’t know what the penalty was, he was afraid. It was because he’d already gotten a taste of the fear when the system forced him to do something. He couldn’t do awful aegyo as he had on stage again. Haeun hurriedly lowered his eyes and tried to speak in a docile voice again. 

“Stop… please.”

Speaking timidly wasn’t enough, he even added a clumsy end to the sentence.

‘I’m swallowing my fucking pride.’

However, he was in the wrong, so what else could he do? It seemed that Sungjae was astonished at seeing Haeun’s timid attitude again. Haeun heard a snort with a ‘Ha!’

“Fuck, is this a concept…”

Oh, look at this. Haeun was a little surprised. Although it was probably because of censorship, in the game, although Sungjae got angry and treated him roughly, he didn’t curse. And unexpectedly, the person to hold Sungjae back was Junwoo. Not Ilhyun.

“Hyung, just leave him be for now.”

“What?”

“I don’t know if it’s bait 1 or something, but it’s funny.”

“…” 

Sungjae frowned like he didn’t understand, but he became quiet for a moment. 

Junwoo looked at Haeun’s face with interest and slowly continued speaking. “Did the CEO really order you to do it? For noise marketing?”

“…”

“Whatever it is, it’s absurd to us, so imagine how strangers feel. If it was bait, you properly baited it.”

The three people’s complicated gazes landed on Haeun. If the person receiving those gazes had not been Park Haeun but the original owner of the body, idol ‘Parkha,’ he might have been crying tears under pressure since he was a timid character.

“Ha, alright.”

Sungjae nodded with an expression of not understanding at all. It meant that he’d move on because they currently had something urgent. He approached the mirror as if to prepare but then turned to look at Haeun again. 

“You’re the one who said you’d perform properly,” Sungjae said in an unkind tone.

It felt like Sungjae’s face was saying, ‘Let’s see how far you can go.’ Haeun purposefully did something else as he internally cursed this damn game with all kinds of swears. 

Eventually, the performance started.

Park Haeun’s feet moved like a creaking robot. His hands and feet were stepping onto the stage in the same direction.

Ilhyun and Sungjae looked at Haeun’s awkward gait with a distrusting gaze. After Junwoo’s words, which were either to take Haeun’s side or to fuck him over in the long run, he didn’t even look toward Haeun. Did that mean he didn’t care whether or not he ruined their performance?

Feeling like he was walking to a guillotine, Haeun, who’d gotten on stage, couldn’t possibly look towards the audience and squinted his eyes.

‘Ha fuck… What do I do?’

He should’ve pretended to faint instead of getting angry. 

‘I already made as much of a fuss as I could.’

Park Haeun glanced around his surroundings. As if he could take the dance skills of the people on both sides of him.

He saw the choreography video during the time given to him yesterday. He couldn’t practice openly, so he slowly copied along with the mirror in his room.

However, Haeun wasn’t a professional dancer, and there was no way he could copy a pro idol’s choreography in one day. He looked even clumsier in the mirror because the song was bright and refreshing, but the choreography wasn’t easy. He was so embarrassed that he couldn’t practice. Eventually, he couldn’t memorize the main movements, much less the formation.

Even if he copied the movements of the person next to him, he would still look ridiculous. It would be better if Haeun being half a beat late by himself stood out. Eventually, Haeun let out a sigh as if to say so be it.

‘Ah, I don’t know. So what if I get a little embarrassed? It’s not even my face…’

The stage darkened, and just before the song played… 

Unlike Haeun’s serious mood, he heard the system’s refreshing notification ringtone.

『Checking the synced information… φ(-ω-。`)』

Park Haeun pricked up his ears.

『Your dance stats are at the maximum! Σd(ゝ∀･)♪』

Before he could realize what that meant, the song began. And Park Haeun’s stiff body began moving on its own like someone was pulling him. 

Although it felt like his hands were waving around in any way, when Haeun looked closely, they were angled. His body, which was moving on its own, did a perfect body roll and danced neatly. He could even easily go between the members and melt into the dance. 

The first stage was lip sync, so during his part, he only needed to lip sync diligently. As he focused on dancing passionately, he could feel the members glancing at him.

Soon, Sungjae and Junwoo approached him with odd expressions and performed a choreography where they grabbed Haeun and raised him slightly. When Haeun watched the video, he wasn’t confident that he’d land safely, but his body, which didn’t feel like it was his, did the landing perfectly. 

Then, Haeun made eye contact with Sungjae, who had a much more relaxed expression. Haeun unconsciously smiled. Sungjae turned his head as if he’d never had that expression.

Anyway, the performance was perfect.

A performance without one mistake. He purposefully breathed harder and made an ending pose. He heard claps and cheers and didn’t know who they were for, but at this moment, Haeun felt like it was all towards himself.

Park Haeun couldn’t move for a while. He had definitely moved his body and danced, but he couldn’t explain what had just happened. He thought that if he had to do it again, he wouldn’t be able to. 

As he became less dazed, Haeun recalled the voice he’d heard after he entered the game. He’d carelessly nodded his head when it’d asked if he wanted to sync, but it must’ve meant that it’d sync the stats he’d earned from the ‘Eu-idol’ mobile game.

If he didn’t have that, he would’ve been disgraced. After this situation, he felt thankful for the first time towards the annoying voice. 

As Park Haeun breathed heavily, he tried to look upwards at the lights. It was because he was touched and exhausted for the first time. However, because the lights were too bright and burned his eyes, he quickly lowered his head.

Right next to Haeun was Sungjae. At a volume that no one else could hear, Sungjae mumbled, “You…”

Haeun was amazed that he could understand him. Haeun turned his head slightly and looked up at Sungjae’s face. At this moment, Haeun didn’t care that he, who’d never been underestimated by other people, had to look upwards or about Sungjae’s reluctant expression.

“Why?”

As he asked in a whisper, it was a while before there was a reply.

“…Did you improve?”