Chapter 5: Business Proposal

“Now then, shall we reveal the winner of this year’s first Music Center No.1?”

With the MCs sounding more excited than ever, the two finalist songs appeared side by side on the screen.

“Haram hyung…!”

Choi Woojin clutched the mic tightly beside me, eyes glued to the screen as he called out to me.

So tense, honestly.

“First, we have the pre-vote scores.”

“Next up, the broadcast scores.”

Relax already.

“Hyung…!!”

There was a hint of hope in Woojin’s voice now.

Didn’t I tell you not to worry?

As long as we have my trait, no matter what anyone says—
We are the greatest idol group of this generation.

“And finally, combining the live vote scores…
The first Music Center No.1 of the year is—Haram and Friends! Congratulations~!”

“Hyung!! We did it!!”

Woojin started bouncing in place before throwing himself into my arms.

Haha, look at this guy. That happy, huh?

And in that moment—

“Wait. Haram and Friends?”

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me.

Hold on. Was our group name… always this lame?

Feeling a sudden wave of unfamiliarity, I turned to look at Woojin, who was now sobbing and sniffling with joy.

Choi Woojin was mouthing something passionately, but I couldn’t hear a word.

“What are you saying?! Speak louder!!”

“…I…”

“What?!”

I practically yelled as I leaned in, bringing my ear close to him.

“Wake up.”

…What? Why the sudden informal speech, Woojin?

I stared at his face in disbelief. He was still smiling so innocently.

“I said, wake up, Kim Haram.”

Seriously, what’s with the casual tone?

“Why are you talking down to me all of a sudden?!”

Just as I shouted—

Good morning—

Bba-bba-bba bam~ bba-bba-bbam♪

A much louder, more obnoxious sound roared through the world.

And with that, my eyes snapped open as I was yanked back into reality.

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes—

“…Ah. Good morning, Director Woo.”

Was a middle-aged man glaring at me with a terrifying expression.

“…Right, Haram.”

He turned off the phone alarm that had been blaring this whole time and continued in a grave tone:

“Defy me, eunuch!”

I gulped under the heavy pressure in his voice.

“Y-yes, of course.”

Please, be my guest.

Paat—

[I tried waking you up multiple times.]

You be quiet.

*****

A little while later, after suffering a brief low blood pressure episode the moment I got up, I finally sat down at the living room table.

‘Ugh… He’s even worse than me.’

Was it fine yesterday because it wasn’t morning? I’d better be more careful waking up next time.

“Here, drink some water, hyung.”

Woojin placed a glass in front of me. Naturally, my gaze shifted to his face.

“…What a waste.”

We actually won first place. But man, we really need to rethink our group name.

“Huh?”

“Mm, nothing.”

Yeah, not the time to talk about that with you.

As Woojin and I continued our silly little exchange—

Ding.

Director Woo, who had quietly waited for me to recover, cleared his throat and finally spoke.

“Looks like you’re feeling better now. Let’s talk.”

“Ah… before that.”

I glanced sideways at Choi Woojin, who was still standing nearby with worried eyes.

This wasn’t a conversation to have in front of the kid.

Sensing my intent, Director Woo shifted his gaze toward Woojin.

“Woojin-ah. Aren’t you going to visit your family?”

Since we had more than two days off for once, it seemed most of the team had gone back home.

“Oh—no, I’m not planning to.”

Director Woo let out a big snort through his nose.

“Nowhere else to go?”

Hey. What’s with the passive-aggressive tone? That’s kinda hurtful.

…Well, not wrong, though.

“Uh… I was going to grab lunch and then head to the practice room…”

Director Woo’s eyes sparkled.

“What were you planning to eat for lunch?”

“Probably… ramyeon. That’s all we have at the dorm.”

“Here.”

Director Woo quickly flicked his hand and pulled out a 10,000 won bill from his wallet.

“Take this and eat a proper meal today. Then go straight to the practice room.”

…Is that really something to be that happy about?

Still, Woojin looked pretty pleased as he held the bill—until his expression suddenly turned a bit awkward.

“Ah, but… Hyunjae-hyung was supposed to eat with me…”

Director Woo’s eyebrow twitched.

“Hyunjae didn’t go home either?”

“No… He’s been at the practice room since early this morning.”

Crossing his arms with a deep sigh, Director Woo made a show of agonizing over it.

After a brief pause, he reached back into his already thin wallet and pulled out a 5,000 won bill.

Wait. Hold on. Five thousand?

“Here… This should be enough for both of you, right?”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”?! What do you mean yes?

Where in the middle of Seoul can two people eat lunch for 7,500 won each and still call it a meal?

[The nearby workers’ diner charges 6,500 won per person. That leaves 1,000 won left over per person…]

Quiet.

As I whispered inwardly, the system window shrank away like it had just been scolded.

…Sometimes I swear this thing feels too human.

Getting kicked out like this…

Not that I dislike workers’ diners or anything. I actually like them…

But before I could linger in that disappointment, Woojin had already finished getting ready and was standing at the front door.

“I’ll be back!”

“Wait a second, Woojin!”

Ugh. I felt like I needed to do just a little more for him to feel at ease.

“Um… around what time do you think you’ll be back?”

“Hmm? I don’t really have a plan yet.”

“Just shoot me a text before you head back, okay?”

Woojin tilted his head, a bit confused by the request.

“Let’s have something good for dinner.”

His face lit up at the unexpected second round of blessings—then suddenly darkened.

“Uh… that sounds really nice, but… Hyunjae-hyung and I…”

“I’ll treat you.”

Let me treat you. Please.

“O-oh, still…”

I pushed the reluctant Woojin out the door.

“Be careful out there. If there’s anything you feel like eating, text me, alright?”

Finally, Woojin smiled again.

“Okay! Thank you!”

Once Woojin was out, only me and Manager Woo were left in the dorm.

I turned to face him again. He looked much more serious now, lost deep in thought.

“Um… Manager Woo?”

He snapped out of it and slowly looked at me.

“Right. Let’s finally talk.”

His expression grew even more grave.

Whoa. Now I’m getting a little scared, sir.

“Why do you want to quit being an idol?”

There it is.

The reason Manager Woo had come looking for me first thing in the morning.

His peaceful day off had been shattered by a single text message.

[Sender: Kim Haram
Hello, Manager Woo. I’m really sorry to contact you like this.
I’ve decided to quit being an idol.
There’s something important I need to talk to you about,
so please let me know when you’re available for a call.]

He’d been lying in bed, casually deciding what to eat for lunch, when he received that thunderbolt of a message.

Kim Haram wants to quit being an idol? Out of nowhere?

Of course, it’s not like there weren’t any warning signs. Just yesterday alone…

“Son of a bitch.”

He leapt out of bed and dialed Haram’s number.

No answer.

“What the hell. He’s the one who said to call him.”

He texted and immediately followed up with a call—so why wasn’t I answering? His stomach churned with anxiety.

He quickly started getting ready to head out. Since most of the kids had probably gone home for the holidays, Haram, whose family lived in the U.S., was always the one who stayed at the dorm. This time too, he was likely alone.

He got into his old sedan and stepped hard on the accelerator.

“Come on… come on…”

The traffic congestion on a holiday afternoon was pushing his patience to the limit.

Kim Haram isn’t the kind of person who would just quit being an idol. He shouldn’t.

Among all the raw talents Woo had discovered while bouncing between agencies, Haram shone the brightest.

He was, quite literally, born to be an idol. Especially the way he radiated on stage—utterly unrivaled.

It was precisely because of that overwhelming talent that he made it to the final debut group in that audition show, even without any backing or preparation.

The car arrived at the dorm much later than expected.

Woo hurried down to the semi-basement floor, punched in the door lock code, and opened the door.

“Oh?! Manager Woo!”

What? Why are you still here? Didn’t you go home?

Choi Woojin had heard the door lock sound and came trotting over to the entrance.

This kid… he just needs a bit more polishing…

“Hey, Woojin. Sorry to drop in like this. Is Haram inside?”

“Yeah, he’s in his room…”

Without another word, he strode toward Haram’s room.

He’d been calling nonstop on the way over, but Haram had stubbornly refused to answer.

That little punk…

He threw open the door.

“Snnn… ssssnnn…”

There was Haram, fast asleep, wearing the most peaceful expression imaginable.

…Sleeping?

After sending me that kind of message? Sleeping?

Woo stepped up to the side of the bed.

“…Get up.”

“Umm…”

Haram didn’t open his eyes.

“I said get up, Kim Haram.”

Haram frowned as if annoyed by the noise.

“Why… manager… sssh…”

This little brat really is asleep, huh?

Boiling with frustration, Woo grabbed Haram’s phone. There was a single alarm set to go off in five minutes.

So you were planning to wake up in five minutes, huh? Sorry, but I’m not in the mood to wait.

He manually played the alarm tone and held it right up to Haram’s ear. That finally got his eyes to open.

“…Oh. Hello, Manager Woo.”

Yeah. Hello, all right.

A short while later, Woo finally managed to get Woojin out of the dorm, and was left alone with Kim Haram.

There had been a slight “cost” to getting Woojin out.

‘I was planning to use that money to cover both lunch and dinner today…’

Damn it. Who can I blame for how broke I am.

Despite having successfully debuted idol groups at multiple mid-sized companies and consistently producing results, Woo had never been treated well.

He’d debut a company’s first idol group—then quit. Debut another group—then quit again.

If he claimed he felt nothing for the trainees he’d gathered, that would be a lie. But still, none of them had ever quite satisfied him.

They were all talented. Undeniably so. But there was always this lingering feeling—there’s someone out there with even more brilliance.

And then he found Haram. Discovered thanks to a school senior’s recommendation, after yet another agency switch.

‘I should’ve never brought him in.’

Thinking back on how Haram was being treated lately, Woo couldn’t help but feel that he never should’ve brought him in to begin with.

Woo knew the truth: the meager salary he received every month came at the cost of Kim Haram’s sacrifices.

This company had no other artist generating income besides Kim Haram.

Even that so-called “son” of the CEO…

Debuting alongside some thugs dragged in from who-knows-where, burning through what little money the company had left.

Not only Haram, but also Choi Woojin and Lee Hyunjae—both of whom Woo had scouted—weren’t being treated properly either.

…I never should’ve brought any of them.

That regret had become the shackle that kept Woo tied to this agency, despite how easily he used to switch companies before.

Whether I debut them or take them with me when I leave, I have to do something…

But the problem was—he had no solid plan.

Just as he was sinking into that familiar inertia, Haram, seated across from him, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Um… Manager Woo?”

Ah—right. Woo snapped back to his senses. Yeah. This wasn’t the time to be spiraling.

“Yeah. Let’s finally talk, shall we?”

This was the priority.

“Why did you say you’re quitting being an idol?”

He’d only just begun asking, when Haram let out a soft chuckle.

Woo frowned.

“You think this is funny?”

He was being dead serious right now.

“No, it’s not that. I was just surprised you showed up at the dorm so fast, Manager Woo.”

“And you thought I’d sit still after reading that message?”

That text was basically a bombshell—an emergency flare saying ‘come immediately.’

“Actually… I’m not really planning to quit being an idol. I just said that so you’d give me feedback faster. Uh… bait?”

“…Huh?”

Bait?

Woo blinked, dumbfounded. The tension drained right out of him.

What the hell?

Haram was usually overly gentle, but he wasn’t the type to pull reckless stunts like this.

Still… that’s better.

He’d been genuinely worried Haram might seriously quit. Even if it was bait, the fact he’d said it at all meant the thought had crossed his mind.

“And actually, Manager Woo…”

That snapped him back to reality. He really needed to come up with a plan soon—either debut them or take them and leave.

“…Could you maybe help me and the others start our own agency and debut through that?”

“…Huh?”

What?

Not just taking them out—but starting a whole company?

What was he even saying? More importantly… had he just read my mind?

Woo stared at Haram with an involuntarily twisted expression.

Startled, Haram flinched. Then…

“Is that a no?”

He gave a sheepish grin.