There was nothing in my head.
“So you lied to me and spread rumors, just for that pathetic reason?”
Just because I didn’t pay you much attention.
“Yeah. Sounds pretty ridiculous, right?”
The first part was true, but the rest sounded off.
It doesn’t make sense, so how could it be justified?
Worried the bastard might try to run, I tightened my grip on his arm even more.
“…That hurts.”
“Who was it.”
Whether your arm hurts or not is none of my concern.
“Who did you tell?”
I glanced at the mirror that had been following me from the Practice Room. The number of people displayed still showed 3. One was Park Minkwon, one was Seo Chanul. Seo Chanul said he hadn’t told anyone yet…
The last one is…
“Who is it? The one person you spread the rumor to.”
It was obvious that Park Minkwon was the first person to talk about the rumor.
“…Can you really figure that out by intuition? Impressive.”
“This isn’t the time for jokes.”
I had to find that guy as soon as possible to stop the rumor from spreading any further.
“What difference does it make if you stop that one person?”
“What do you mean, what difference? I have to hurry and stop them before they spread any more nonsense—”
“Exactly.”
Still pinned down with both arms, Park Minkwon gave another sly smile.
“Do you really think stopping that one person will change anything dramatically?”
I couldn’t make sense of what he was saying.
Then what, just let the rumor spread…?
Wait.
“Don’t tell me…”
“Oh, you catch on quick.”
Park Minkwon shrugged off my hand from his shoulder.
“Ah, wrinkles… I’ll have to get this dry-cleaned…”
Maybe it was because he was free now, but Park Minkwon spoke with a completely relaxed expression.
“Even if you stop that one person right now, I’m just going to keep talking.”
Park Minkwon strode right into the camera’s view as if he had nothing left to hide.
“I have no lingering attachment to Be The Doll.”
Thud. Park Minkwon flopped down on the sofa set up in one corner of the Practice Room.
“No matter how badly my image gets ruined, I don’t care anymore.”
He propped one arm on the sofa back and leaned in, grinning leisurely.
“I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’m going to do whatever I want.”
“…You’re crazier than I thought.”
Park Minkwon shrugged and muttered quietly, “Whatever.”
“Would’ve been nice if you’d remembered my name right away, you know? It’s not that hard.”
“How long do you think the other contestants are going to listen to you?”
If they had any sense, there’s no way they’d believe that story.
“You know it’s not about whether they believe it or not.”
“…Ha, you’re right.”
It’s true. Whether they believe it or not isn’t the real problem. The real problem is who has more to lose. I had a lot to lose, and he had nothing. He was already prepared for elimination, so he wouldn’t regret anything.
“My goal is to do as much harm to Haram as possible.”
A chilling air settled in his smile. That relaxed attitude is seriously pissing me off.
“Fine. Let’s do this.”
You spread the rumors, I’ll stop them.
“…You’re taking this surprisingly well?”
“What choice do I have?”
Sigh
I let out a breath and twisted my waist from side to side. Might as well loosen up before I go.
“You keep spreading rumors all you want. I’ll stop them.”
With that, I’d better get out of here soon. I realized there’s no point in talking to you any longer.
And for some reason, “Honestly, I don’t really feel like I’m going to lose.”
I couldn’t help but think that.
“What…?”
A strange glint flashed in Park Minkwon’s eyes.
“…I didn’t think this at first, but now I kind of feel sorry for you.”
I don’t know if it’s right to feel this way, but I did feel sorry for him. What exactly do you gain by going this far? Park Minkwon frowned deeply and opened his mouth.
“…I think you’re misunderstanding something. This is absolutely disadvantageous for Haram—”
“Ah. I really have to go.”
The number in the mirror just changed from 3 to 4.
“Looks like you picked your first target very efficiently.”
Didn’t expect them to spread the rumor so quickly.
“I’m leaving.”
I turned my back on Park Minkwon and left the Practice Room, giving him a wave as I went. I’m off, good luck! Spread those rumors well!
“Now then…”
I stepped out of the Practice Room and looked around. I could see a few contestants wandering here and there.
“How should I even start looking?”
*****
After Haram left, Park Minkwon sat on the sofa for a long time, looking blank.
“Sorry for me…?”
Me? When I’m trying to do you this much harm? To Park Minkwon, it felt like arrogance that went beyond confidence. I told you. This is a fight that puts you at a disadvantage.
“Haha…”
This is a fight between logic and illogic. To cover up a handful of illogic, you need a truckload of logic. Besides, even if it wasn’t said out loud, the lower-ranked contestants didn’t have a very good image of Haram.
Admiration and jealousy, and resentment toward someone doing well—Park Minkwon wasn’t the only one who felt that way. For him, all he had to do was poke a tiny hole with a needle. The hole would keep growing, become two, then three.
It wouldn’t take long for the water leaking from those holes to completely drench Haram. And yet, “Beyond relaxed… You feel sorry for me?”
Unbelievable.
“Am I just… nothing at all, then?”
Park Minkwon sank deep into the sofa. He raised his arm to cover his eyes. He’d expected Haram to explode with anger after hearing the truth. He was ready to get grabbed by the collar and cursed out with every insult in the world.
“Shit…”
Somehow, for some reason—
“This is messed up…”
He just… couldn’t find the motivation.
*****
At that time, Jo Seha was in a bit of a good mood. And for good reason, ‘Haram apologized to me! Said sorry…!’
Honestly, I don’t even know what Haram was sorry for or what exactly he was apologizing about, but anyway, an ‘apology’ is always a step toward a better relationship! Jo Seha wasn’t the type to worry about little things like that.
‘If he really hated me, he wouldn’t have said anything like that!’
The cold look Haram had given when he dropped his phone on the floor was almost forgotten. Whatever, people get angry sometimes. You can always buy a new phone!
‘And honestly, I was kind of at fault too.’
When the staff called, saying it was a call from his Father, Jo Seha had been pretty surprised himself. Jo Seha recalled that moment with an awkward look.
[Son. Where are you right now?]
“Uh… I’m here… in Paju…!”
[What are you doing there right now?]
“Uh… well…”
Jo Seha hesitated for a long time at Jo Jungjae’s angry voice, but he had his own things to say.
“I told you I wanted to come here!”
[…When did you tell your dad that?]
Right, Jo Seha definitely told him.
“I said on the phone that there was somewhere I wanted to go, and you told me to do whatever I wanted because you were busy! I even recorded it!”
[…]
Jo Jungjae on the other end of the line tried to recall. The last call with his son was… probably… Kim Haram, that brat, and Geo Jeong…
Oh, right, that really did happen.
[Ah.]
“You remember, right?! You remember?!”
Sensing the change, Jo Seha immediately became triumphant. Yeah… I definitely told him to do as he liked… Yeah…
[But still, how could you burn the contract in the CEO’s office?]
“Huh?! Dad, you saw that?!”
It was left half-burned in the ashtray, and now he was asking about it… A long string of thoughts flashed through Jo Jungjae’s mind, but he didn’t bother to say them out loud. He knew better than anyone that pointing out every little thing to his son would only make him tired.
As long as the office didn’t actually catch fire, it was fine. How did I end up with a kid like this… His mom, who ran off and left me with only a son, had exactly this kind of personality.
He snorted. That kind of woman—Jo Seha turned out just fine without her.
“Dad! Anyway, don’t worry so much! And don’t do anything weird! I’ll be fine on my own!”
Jo Seha always found Jo Jungjae overbearing. He’d put together a debut team without asking and wouldn’t set up any events for him. And even now,
[I’ll contact the PD there and ask them to look after you.]
Jo Jungjae was as overbearing as ever. Jo Seha hated this side of him to death.
Always doing whatever he wanted ‘for his son’ and ignoring anything resembling ‘justice.’
“Dad! No…! I said I’ll be fine on my own! Please stop doing that!”
And around the time they were having that conversation—
‘That’s when Haram suddenly showed up from behind.’
Snap. Finishing his recollection, Jo Seha shivered. Just thinking about it gave him chills.
‘Ugh. Better not think about it.’
It was way too creepy, so he decided to drop the thought.
“But where was he rushing off to?”
Before he knew it, Jo Seha had walked all the way to the area with the team Practice Rooms. Since he was here, should he check out the Practice Room? As he was thinking that,
“Huh? Hello?”
Two contestants from the same team came into view. They seemed to be close—one F and one D rank.
“Ah… Hello…”
The two looked uncomfortable and avoided Seha.
‘What’s up with that?’
He didn’t have the nerve to ask more, so he just tried to walk past, but then their voices caught his ear.
“Kim Haram did that…?”
Spark. Just out of curiosity, Jo Seha’s ears perked up. He focused all his attention on their voices as they walked away.
“I mean… Kim Haram, apparently…”
There. I didn’t mishear. Jo Seha never missed an interesting incident. He quietly turned and followed them. He tailed them down the empty hallway for a bit, until he heard them whispering around a corner.
“…Is it true?”
What the heck is true? My heart’s pounding. I love hearing these kinds of rumors.
He pressed right up to the corner and listened closely. The F-rank contestant spoke.
“So. Kim Haram’s debut is already confirmed, apparently.”
‘Huh?’
That was a bit different from what I was expecting.
“That’s so messed up… If this whole thing was just to promote Kim Haram, why are we even here?”
Sounded like they were bad-mouthing Haram…
“Bet he bribed someone like crazy, right? Is that why he became an idol? Seriously… What a jerk…”
This—I couldn’t just stand by and listen.
“Hey!!!”
Turning the corner, Jo Seha didn’t care if it would get him in trouble.
“Haram’s not that kind of person!!!!”
Once again, Jo Seha wasn’t the type to care about trivial things. Especially not when it came to someone he liked.