abcnovels
Chapter 175
Chapter 175:
Chapter 175
Jo Tae-woong is back
Ian finally finished ‘Z-Day’ after a large-scale set shooting, a few studio shootings, and post-synchronization.
“No, hyung! Don’t throw the water balloon there, I can’t get in.”
“Ah, you were behind me? You should have come in first!”
Ian was relaxing in the living room with the members, playing games on his phone.
“Who wants ramen?”
“Me, me, me!”
Everyone raised their hands while lying on the living room floor. Kim Joo-young narrowed his eyes at them.
“Pigs…”
“Oink, oink.”
The members made pig noises in unison. Kim Joo-young went to the kitchen to cook ramen without a word.
The kitchen was Kim Joo-young’s territory. He knew that the food would taste bad if he left it to the members, so he decided to do it himself.
“Joo-young, didn’t you get a cooking certificate?”
“He said he only focuses on his main job.”
“Isn’t that part of his main job?”
“Right. He has so many talents as an entertainer. He would be flying around if he went on an observational variety show.”
The members added their comments while listening to the sound of Kim Joo-young chopping green onions. Lee Joo-hyuk, who was lying next to Ian, spoke while looking at Ian’s clean arm.
“Ian, your bruise is gone now?”
“Really? I didn’t notice.”
Ian was surprised and touched his arm. He had so many bruises that he didn’t care much about the pain.
“How can you not know? The shooting ended a long time ago, but it lasted for a long time.”
“It’s still on my body.”
“Really?”
Even after the shooting was completely over and a long time had passed, the blue bruises that decorated Ian’s body did not show any signs of fading.
“No, I told the director not to torture our kid.”
“When did you say that?”
“In my imagination?”
Ian looked at Lee Joo-hyuk with a dull eye. Lee Joo-hyuk smiled shamelessly.
In the end, Lee Joo-hyuk was also a member of the group of traitors. He thought he had really delivered the message to the director when he spoke seriously.
“But did you have that much action? More than when we went to see?”
“You’ll see for yourself when it comes out on Emflix.”
“Ah, hyung, give me a spoiler!”
Park Seo-dam sat on Ian’s back, who was lying face down, and harassed him.
“Ah! Get off, you’re heavy!”
“No way.”
While Ian was screaming under Park Seo-dam’s weight, Kim Hyun and Park Jin-hyuk had a conversation.
“Hyung Myung-jin said Ian should die naturally.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he shouldn’t die in an accident while acting.”
“Crazy.”
The one who saved Ian from Park Seo-dam was Kim Joo-young.
“Ramen is ready!”
“Yeah!”
“King Joo-young! King Joo-young!”
When Kim Joo-young put the pot of ramen on the table, the members sat down with their chopsticks and bowls.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of the door lock being pressed.
“Who’s here?”
“Maybe Dong-su hyung or Myung-jin hyung.”
“But the managers always call us before they come, don’t they?”
“Anyone has a schedule?”
The members shook their heads silently at Lee Joo-hyuk’s question. They didn’t have to worry about fans because the dorm was in a secure apartment.
“Who is it? Dong-su hyung? Because of the wedding?”
“Why would he come to us because of the wedding?”
“What, you’re not eating? I’ll eat it all.”
“No way!”
The members didn’t care much about who it was, thinking it was a manager. They were distracted by the ramen and didn’t even check who came.
“What, I’m here. No one welcomes me?”
At the familiar voice, all the members lifted their heads like meerkats and looked at the entrance.
Park Jin-hyuk spat out the ramen he was about to put in his mouth. Normally, they would have teased him for being dirty, but they didn’t have time for that.
“Wow.”
“Taewoong hyung!”
Jotaewoong was back.
***
When Ian finished shooting a season of drama and took a break, Jotaewoong was still lazing around at his grandmother’s house.
“I need to spread some fertilizer on the field…”
“I’ll do it, grandma!”
Jotaewoong, who was doing some productive work by helping his grandmother, hardly did any web surfing that he used to do habitually, thanks to the poor data connection in the area.
The only thing he did was occasionally chatting with his friends in the group chat.
Thanks to that, his insomnia that used to torment his nights was almost gone.
(Bak Jinhyuk3) Ian’s drama teaser is out – 15:22
(Hyunhyun3) Really? – 15:22
Bak Jinhyuk posted a MyTube link in the group chat. Jotaewoong hesitated over the link with his thumb.
“A teaser already?”
It hadn’t been long since they finished shooting, but they already had a teaser. Maybe they were going to keep showing this kind of teaser and tease the viewers.
“What should I do? I might get anxious again if I watch this.”
But his curiosity was stronger than his anxiety. Jotaewoong finally clicked on the link and played the video.
“Mr. Woo, close your eyes.”
“Wh, why? Why my eyes…”
“And don’t scream either.”
Kim Junhee lifted Na Woo-shin up with one hand. And he threw him out of the window, holding his waist.
“Hey, you…”
Na Woo-shin, who fell from the seventh floor with his bare body in an instant, shouted loudly.
“You bastard!”
The scene changed and Ian’s figure walking leisurely with a building exploding behind him was captured in the center of the screen. And then, short clips appeared and disappeared repeatedly with a majestic OST.
Scenes of high-difficulty action moves, the chemistry between Ian and Kim Minjae, and finally a grand explosion scene.
“Wow, awesome. This is no joke.”
Jotaewoong hurriedly entered the group chat. The members were spamming the chat with emoticons.
(Seodami2) Amazing – 15:31
(Lee Juhyuk3) So cool, seriously – 15:32
(Jotan4) Hot – 15:32
(Jotan4) So stylish – 15:32
Jotaewoong didn’t forget to leave a message.
‘Wait, come to think of it.’
He stopped typing as he realized something important.
‘I used to get impatient and my heart would race when I saw something like this, but I don’t feel that way anymore.’
He used to feel like a burden when he heard about the activities of his members, because he was the only one who didn’t do anything.
But now he didn’t have that feeling, and he just thought that Ian was cool. He wanted to do that kind of drama too. It was a pure admiration and desire.
‘Have I gotten better?’
Jotaewoong sparkled his eyes as he felt his change.
“Taewoong, we ran out of ingredients. Can you go to the market and buy some?”
“I’ll be right back!”
Jotaewoong, who suddenly felt good, volunteered to go outside despite the crowded market day.
“Mrs. Shin’s grandson is here?”
“Give me that, that. But…”
“Yes?”
“Can you give me more?”
When Jotaewoong stuttered, the shop owner chuckled.
“You used to wear a hat and look gloomy, but you’re pretty today?”
“You’re so handsome when you smile!”
“Thank you.”
Jotaewoong bowed his head with a smile.
Jotaewoong, who gained confidence, was able to win the favor of the villagers with his unique sociability.
Before he knew it, he had a lot of stuff in his hands thanks to the service they gave him.
‘I’m fine now.’
He didn’t mind having people around him anymore. He was confident that he could go on a stage with more people without any problem.
“When are you going to pay me back? Mrs. Park, give me some money!”
“I’ll pay you later, give me that.”
“Ugh, what if I never get this money back?”
“I said I’ll pay you later! Do you think I’m a thief?”
Jotaewoong, who had a lot of stuff in his hands but a light step, witnessed a scene of a loud argument in front of a shop.
‘That person is…’
Park, a woman who shamelessly walked away with goods on credit. She was the old woman who had grabbed the young Jo Tae-woong and cursed his grandmother and his family.
Jo Tae-woong followed the old woman as if he was possessed. When they crossed the market and went up a steep hill, Jo Tae-woong spoke to the old woman.
“Excuse me, do you remember me?”
“Aren’t you Mrs. Shin’s grandson? Why are you following me?”
“I have something to ask you.”
“What is it?”
Park answered rudely. Jo Tae-woong stopped and asked the old woman.
“Why did you curse my grandmother in the past?”
“What do you mean? I never cursed your grandmother.”
“When I was young, you called my grandmother a widow who couldn’t raise a child. You also said bad things about her appearance and her hometown.”
“That’s a lie! I never did that!”
The old woman, who felt guilty, shouted.
“You must have heard it wrong! I’m a person who never cursed anyone in my life!”
But Jo Tae-woong didn’t hear it wrong. Bad memories last a lifetime, and it was one of the memories that he had kept until now.
He regretted the days when he couldn’t say anything to defend his family and his precious grandmother.
“Ugh, kids these days have no manners…”
The old woman muttered and quickened her pace as if to escape. Jo Tae-woong stood blankly and stared at the old woman’s back.
“Haha.”
Jo Tae-woong laughed bitterly.
The perpetrators don’t remember. Or maybe they pretend not to remember as an excuse.
They inflict lifelong trauma on the victims, but the perpetrators say they don’t remember and accuse the victims of being delusional. It was a world where the perpetrators could get away with it.
‘How long do I have to be a victim?’
Jo Tae-woong thought of himself and his grandmother.
Park, who got groceries on credit and was avoided by the villagers. Her family never visited her. Her life was more miserable than when she had criticized his grandmother.
He suddenly felt ashamed of himself for being swayed by the malicious comments of people like her.
What if I made a mistake today, what if my family gets hurt because of this, he hated the nights when he couldn’t sleep while censoring himself.
‘I’m tired of being dragged around by these things…’
Jo Tae-woong stood up.
‘Isn’t my existence, my time too precious?’
I’m a valuable person just by being myself. I don’t want to suffer from the rumors and hateful comments that people write out of jealousy.
‘I have a lot of fans, too.’
And the more people hate me, the more people love me and make me shine.
Of course, the people who put him in this situation deserved to be punished. But unless he healed his wounded heart himself, he would always be a hurt victim.
‘I don’t want to stay here anymore.’
Jo Tae-woong made up his mind.
He felt a little stronger than before, but he might get hurt by someone’s hateful comment again while living. He might fall into low self-esteem and wonder if he had to live like this.
But he decided not to run away anymore.
Jo Tae-woong finished his thoughts and called Park Dong-soo.
(Hey, Tae-woong. Do you need anything?)
“Hyung, I want to go back to the dorm.”
(What? Wait, wait a minute.)
“Can you pick me up?”
He heard a thud from the other side of the phone. Park Dong-soo was surprised by Jo Tae-woong’s request and tripped over the furniture. Park Dong-soo got up quickly, forgetting the pain, and shouted.
(Of course! I’ll be right there!)
Jo Tae-woong laughed.
He felt sorry to ask him to come right away, so he told him to come the next day at noon. He packed his bags secretly from his grandmother.
“Hey, Tae-woong.”
The next day, Mrs. Shin saw a huge celebrity van coming along the ridge and called Jo Tae-woong.
“Are your friends coming again?”
“No.”
Jo Tae-woong, who had packed everything, sat at the entrance and tied his shoelaces tightly.
“Grandma, I’m going back to Seoul now.”
Mrs. Shin’s eyes widened as she saw the bag in his hand and his bright face. Then she smiled kindly.
“Are you feeling better now?”josei
“It doesn’t matter if I’m not, that’s life. Right?”
“…Yes.”
Mrs. Shin’s eyes welled up with tears.
It’s okay to not be okay. That’s life. It was what she had told her young grandson once.
“Thank you for everything, grandma.”
“Come and visit often, my grandson. You can bring your friends, too.”
“Okay, grandma. I’ll be back soon.”
Jo Tae-woong hugged Mrs. Shin and smiled brightly. It was the first bright smile he had since the beginning of the year.