“Thank you for your hard work, everyone~. We will wrap up the shooting for week 2 here! So, applause!”
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
The set was empty as the audience left.
At the same time, the main PD, Shin PD, declared the end of the week 2 filming.
“Next week’s filming for Na Ah Ah will be held the same day as the broadcast, on Saturday. Please watch the broadcast closely~. Enjoy your week off!”
“Good job….”
Just as they were wrapping up the collective thanks, Shin PD suddenly remembered something and grabbed the mic again, smiling.
“Week 3 filming will start with the ranking announcement, and everyone knows that those confirmed for elimination must leave immediately, right?”
“…….”
“Haha, if you feel that your elimination is almost certain, don’t bother bringing your luggage!”
…Is this guy really a psycho?
If he’s trying to ruin the atmosphere, I’ll give him that.
“…….”
“…….”
In reality, many participants became pale at his words.
Thud.
Some bowed their heads, perhaps already anticipating their elimination.
“Oh dear~ Did I say something unnecessary? Of course, you shouldn’t pull a stunt like skipping out on the broadcast if you think you’re getting eliminated~ Otherwise, we’d have to follow legal procedures according to the contract!”
“…….”
“I’ve gone on long enough! This is really the end! Please, go safely!”
Once he finished speaking, Shin PD’s mouth was finally shut, and we could leave the set.
I first said my goodbyes to the Mackerel Sandwich Team, who had worked hard alongside me for the past week.
Since our team ranked first, there were no eliminations.
Thanks to that, we could part ways on a warm note.
“Sisters-! You all worked so hard this week!”
“Sisters, I was so honored to be on a team with you all!”
“Let’s be on the same team again next time!”
Park Yoo-jung and the other team members cheerfully said their farewells and left the set.
“…You all did well. Now I…”
Lee Hye-jeong also tried to say goodbye but….
Tap.
“……?”
I caught her for a moment to chat.
“Sister.”
“…Hmm.”
“You know what I’m about to say, right?”
Fidget.
I touched her wrist, where her bones were clearly visible as if hinting at something.
“…….”
“You need to eat well…. If this keeps up, it could cause trouble.”
Ever since she fainted, I had been monitoring her meals, forcing her to eat more bit by bit.
But since I couldn’t keep an eye on her even outside the set, I had no choice but to warn her like this.
“Sister, remember what I said back then?”
The night before the team competition.
After Na Ah Ah Episode 2 wrapped, I had told her in the bathroom.
“Let’s debut together…, as the same idol group…, in Na Ah Ah.”
That promise to definitely debut together.
“What I said back then wasn’t a lie. But…, to debut, you need to be healthy first.”
“…….”
“You have to return to the old you, okay?”
Chuckle.
As if recalling her former bountiful self, Lee Hye-jeong smiled softly and nodded.
“Okay, I understand.”
“…You worked really hard this week, sister.”
“Ye-rin, you too.”
Once she finished those words, Lee Hye-jeong hugged me gently and left to gather her things.
“Ye-rin, I’ll head out too. See you next week.”
“Yes, goodbye, sister!”
After waving until her back disappeared, I turned on my phone.
“Wonder if the boss came again today….”
I was trying to contact Kang Hyung-man, who might have come to pick me up.
But….
Whoosh-.
“……?”
Someone was tugging at my sleeve.
“…Yoo-jin? Didn’t you leave?”
“…….”
It was Seo Yoo-jin.
She was gripping my sleeve tightly, staring intently at something.
“…?”
I followed her gaze and saw….
‘……Park Yoo-jung?’
In the distance, I saw Park Yoo-jung loading a suitcase into a car.
It seemed like the man and woman in front of her were her parents, chatting happily before they got in and drove away.
Vroom-.
“Phew….”
As soon as Park Yoo-jung left completely, Seo Yoo-jin let out a sigh of relief and….
Glimpse.
…Just like before, she began to glare at me.
“Hmph! This time it was unavoidable that we were on the same team, but next time, I’ll crush you without mercy! I’ll destroy you utterly!”
“…….”
…What is she, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
After a few days of being nice, why the sudden change….
‘…Is it just me, or did she turn back to her fierce self the moment Yoo-jung left?’
I wondered, and cautiously asked Seo Yoo-jin.
“…Yoo-jin, did something happen with Yoo-jung?”
“……Why, why, why, why…?! Did, did, did Yoo-jung say something? Am, am I rude?”
…And just like that, the fierce cat turned into a timid mouse.
“No, just felt like you turned back to your original self right after Yoo-jung left.”
“Hmph! I don’t need to explain!”
Hmph.
Seeing her turn her head away cutely made me laugh.
I could smile at Seo Yoo-jin like this because I knew she wasn’t a bad kid.
“Why are you laughing! It’s annoying!”
…No, scratch that.
Seo Yoo-jin is indeed a little rascal.
But still….
She might be reckless and lacking in manners, but she’s not cunning.
Maybe that’s why talking to her feels less stressful.
As a trainee idol, her skills were pretty high too, so looking back, being on a team with her was quite lucky.
I then….
Whoosh-.
“What, what is it!”
“Just…. Thank you for your hard work, Yoo-jin.”
Before we parted, I gave her a hug.
“Ugh…, sister! Does what I just said sound like a lie? I’m going to beat you next week! I’m going to utterly crush you, you hear?!”
“Sure, that’s that. But we were on the same team this week. Good job.”
“Ugh!”
Thinking I wasn’t getting through to her, Yoo-jin broke from the hug and left with a villain’s line.
“I’ll make you regret today! Next time we meet, you won’t get away with it!”
“Alright, see you.”
I waved goodbye to the departing Seo Yoo-jin as well.
Even though the ranking announcement was still ahead, I could say that among the Na Ah Ah participants, the top two in popularity were certainly me and Yoo Seol.
And if I had to name a third place, it would definitely be Yoo-jin.
As long as no controversy breaks out, Yoo-jin also has a high chance of debuting.
‘She may be a brat, but she’s cute.’
The thought of debuting alongside her didn’t seem so bad after all.
After waving to Yoo-jin and before calling Kang Hyung-man, I took one last look around.
I was wondering if Yoo Seol might be around to greet.
But no matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find her.
‘Did she leave already? Ah…, well, even if she’s here, it’s not exactly the atmosphere for greetings.’
Her team was in second place. My team was first.
Approaching her for a greeting could easily come off as annoying or petty.
So, I decided to skip greeting her and head home.
But….
Beep-.
[The customer’s phone is turned off….]
“……?”
Even trying to call Kang Hyung-man, he wouldn’t pick up.
‘Is it possible he didn’t come today?’
Well, it must be quite a hassle to drive all the way to pick me up every time filming ends.
Just as I thought Kang Hyung-man wasn’t coming and was looking for the bus home….
“…Ye-rin.”
“…Huh? Older Brother Sang-gu.”
In the parking lot near the set exit stood a familiar black sedan.
Always taking the role of the driver, Sang-gu waved at me with a smile from in front of the car.
But….
“Huh? Older Brother Sang-gu. Where’s the boss?”
“…….”
Usually, Kang Hyung-man and Sang-gu were like a set, always together, but today Sang-gu was all alone.
When I tilted my head in confusion and asked, he replied.
“Ah…, um, the boss has work to do….”
“……?”
“Um, get in quickly. I’ll give you a ride.”
Sang-gu seemed to be avoiding my gaze as if hiding something.
‘……What’s going on?’
I tilted my head in confusion but got in the passenger seat.
“…….”
“…….”
Since Sang-gu was originally a man of few words, the ride home was pretty quiet.
However.
“Um, Ye-rin.”
“…?”
“…Is there anywhere you’d like to go? I can take you there.”
“……?”
Sang-gu, who had never said such a thing, was suddenly asking me if I wanted to go anywhere.
“…No, it’s too late to go anywhere.”
“…Then how about the Han River? I can treat you to some ramen?”
“…….”
Seeing as how he was usually so quiet, I started to feel suspicious of him offering to take me somewhere.
‘Why does he want to take me somewhere? Why didn’t the boss come? Don’t tell me…?’
With that feeling, I asked Sang-gu.
“…Is there something going on at home? Did my mom or dad have an accident…?”
“……!”
Sang-gu can’t lie. It was probably the right guess.
“Um, well….”
“…What’s going on? No, it’s fine. I’ll check for myself, so let’s go home quickly.”
“My brother said to stretch it out for an hour….”
“Quickly!”
“Ugh….”
Under my relentless questioning, Sang-gu succumbed and took me home as planned.
As soon as the car arrived, I jumped out and rushed to the front door.
And….
“Are you all out of your minds right now-!!”
“…!”
I couldn’t help but flinch at Kang Hyung-man’s yell echoing through the neighborhood before I entered the house.
‘…What is this.’
Even though he is a loan shark, Kang Hyung-man has never been harsh with my family before.
He had never yelled or even hit anyone, hardly ever expressing his emotions.
‘Him being angry…?’
Without waiting any longer, I dashed to open the door, and what I saw was….
“Are you really trying to throw your life away…! …Oh, Ye-rin.”
With eyes fierce like a demon, Kang Hyung-man was standing there along with….
“Ye, Ye-rin! Hwaaa-!”
“He, heeek! Ye-rin-!”
My parents, kneeling in front of him, were crying.
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