I Still Believe in You

“These days, Danyeong has been putting even more effort into it, to the point where Hanbyeol himself noticed.”
It was similar to how he used to shine his eyes when he tried to make him an idol before, so Hanbyeol worked hard to keep his distance.

Whether it was his belief that you need to eat a lot to recover, Yunsoo, who kept putting food on Hanbyeol’s plate while he sat there awkwardly, was also burdensome.

“Um, I can’t eat all of this.”

“It’s okay, you can leave it.”

No, then why not just put a little on in the first place?

Hanbyeol swallowed hard.
He could feel that rustic generosity, always adding more, coming from him.

“I feel bad. He said Yuseong asked for help.”

At Sehyun’s sudden words, Hanbyeol broke out in a cold sweat.
……Help with what.
Help with what?
Did they already find out?
That he’s an Omega?
That they’re hiding it?
What, what.
What is it?

Sehyun hadn’t even hinted at the word ‘Omega,’ but for Hanbyeol, who wasn’t good at acting, feeling guilty about it was only natural.

Actually, it would be fine if he just didn’t think about it at all.
But the moment he realized he was facing someone he had to deceive, he reacted excessively without meaning to.

As always, it was Yuseong who covered for Hanbyeol’s condition.

“Hanbyeol is having a really hard time right now. Refusing the company’s offer.”
“The other day, he even sent a gift certificate to my brother’s phone.”
“Ugh……”
“It’s driving me crazy, really.”
“We can’t even prepare because we don’t know what they’ll blow up next.”
“Hanbyeol-ah, we really bought a lot of time thanks to you.”
“It’s nothing.”

If you’re grateful, please maintain your top-tier idol name value until I debut as a composer.
If possible, please use my song.

Even though he couldn’t act, he didn’t reveal his inner thoughts.
He may not be good at acting, but he knew to keep his mouth shut about things he shouldn’t say in front of others.

“Hanbyeol needs to compose, right.”

Danyeong’s eyes sparkled.

‘Ah, right. That.’

It’s that look aimed at me, to the point where it’s truly burdensome.

Hanbyeol subtly moved away from Danyeong.
Thinking he absolutely had to take some digestive medicine after the meal, he put the food on his plate into his mouth.

“Hanbyeol-ah, I have something I’m curious about.”

Could you please stop being interested in me?

As Hanbyeol brought a cup and gulped down water, Danyeong just stared blankly at Hanbyeol, as if not wanting to ask while he was eating.

“That, I’m talking about that friend who became a topic with you.”

Past tense.
Hanbyeol had the filming staff contract, and the company didn’t seem willing to give up, so it was still ongoing.
But Taeha had drawn a line with the company’s proposal a little earlier.

At first, the company proposed the same thing to Taeha, promising a quick debut.
But later, when they confirmed that Taeha was from the same agency as the current debut lineup members, and that he almost became a member with them, they lost interest in casting him.

Furthermore, recently, there was even a defection within the debut lineup.
One trainee who couldn’t hold out when the talk of Hanbyeol and Taeha joining surfaced voluntarily left the company.
It was the trainee who had first approached Taeha and spoken to him.

Of course, Taeha hadn’t done anything.
He had only acted like he was contemplating for a few days.
In fact, it was Hanbyeol who took action.

He made sure to appear together when his photo was subtly taken, and let photos of them sharing earrings circulate without responding.

By then, the agency was about to give up on casting Taeha.
Then, just at that moment, a member of the debut lineup left.

They had ambitiously planned for 6 members, then tried to adjust to 7 or 8, but ended up with 5.
Because of this, the company wanted Hanbyeol even more.

The company was busy changing the worldview they had been planning and promotional phrases, which benefited Cha.N.

“Yes.”

Now Taeha just needed to find a company he wanted to join.
Preferably, somewhere with real substance.

“By any chance, does he still want to be an idol?”

You haven’t given up on your dream of producing, have you, this guy.
Since he can’t bring me in, he’s clearly aiming for Taeha, who has potential.

Hanbyeol slowly nodded.
Anyway, the people who would join as label staff would be those who suited the members’ tastes.

They had to do everything themselves, from planning to projects, ever since the audition program, so they were veterans at teamwork.
They would definitely take only capable people with them when they left.

Even just looking at company substance, there would be no drop in quality since they received support from the parent company.

‘Taeha debuting at a company like that…?’

Hanbyeol thought it was pretty good.
The previous company was too small, even in Hanbyeol’s eyes.
Agency that didn’t receive proper investment couldn’t recruit many trainees.

Unlike other agencies that selected debut lineup through skill competition among multiple trainees, Taeha’s former agency just grouped incoming trainees into one team.

That’s why Taeha was left alone and his debut fell through.
With no trainees left, they couldn’t maintain it anymore.

“Good. Then is it okay if I ask that friend sometime?”

“Why are you asking my permission…?”
“You don’t need to ask me.”
“……?”
“It’s only natural. It’s Taeha’s business, so why would I…?”
“Weren’t you lovers?”
“……Excuse me?”
“Ah, is the word ‘lover’ a bit much for students? …Are you two dating?”
“…….”

Absolutely not!

Now he was receiving all kinds of misunderstandings.

* * * *

“Hmm… Was it understandable to misunderstand?”

Hanbyeol, whose soul had left his body, relayed what he heard from Danyeong to Taeha.

At first, Taeha had answered the call with a laugh.
But after Hanbyeol finished speaking, his voice, for some reason, was no longer heard.

As far as Hanbyeol knew, Taeha had never dated anyone.
In elementary school, they were young.
Hanbyeol too preferred hanging out with friends and going to PC rooms over dating.
They were far from romance.

During adolescence, when romantic feelings start to blossom, Taeha was already a trainee at an agency.

To avoid being caught up in past issues after debut, he naturally had to focus on practice.
Hanbyeol was at the same school, so he could strongly guarantee that Taeha had nothing to do with romance at all.

‘–I guess they could think that.’

At Taeha’s low voice, Hanbyeol nodded.

Right.
Why would someone whose future is in the entertainment industry be attached to someone like me?

Hanbyeol shook his head.

“Sorry. For making you get misunderstood because of me.”

‘–Why?’

“What do you mean why. If you got linked with the wrong person because of this, you’d really be in big trouble.”

‘–But I’m not an idol yet…?’

“Even if you’re not one yet, it’s big scandal material, Taeha-ya.”

‘–…….’

“People who are going to succeed need to prepare from now, you know? Especially those who want to stand in front of people.”

This was also Hanbyeol’s belief.

‘–Still, I’m not an idol yet. I haven’t even debuted. You don’t need to feel sorry for me, Hanbyeol.’

“What if something happens to you?”

‘–It’s okay. I don’t think it’s something you need to worry about.’
‘If something blows up, it would mean there was a problem with my behavior.’
‘And, there’s no guarantee I’ll become an idol.’

“Why isn’t there a guarantee!”

You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever seen.
As if it made no sense, Hanbyeol urgently corrected Taeha’s words.

Everyone who stands on stage has their own light.
It could be strong, or it could be dimmer than others.
But only those who can shine their own light towards people can be confident on stage.

“You can do it. If it’s you, Taeha, you can do it better than anyone. I guarantee it.”

So, I hope you don’t give up.
Taeha, among everyone Hanbyeol had ever seen, he could confidently say he was the most amazing.

Taeha’s song, which he carefully sang in the small auditorium, pushed up by his friends, was still vivid in his memory.

Back then, Taeha had never received lessons, never learned facial expressions to captivate people.
But in Hanbyeol’s eyes, he shone brighter than anyone on television.

‘–Do you think I can do it?’

“Of course.”

‘–You still believe? That I’ll do well?’

At Taeha’s question, Hanbyeol smiled.

“Yeah. I believe. You’ll definitely be amazing.”

You will succeed.

I hope you succeed that much.
And I hope I do too.

So I want to make you a song that suits you better than anyone.
That’s still my dream, Taeha-ya.

* * * *

“No, it’s okay. My stomach feels full, so I think it’ll be hard to eat right now. Thanks for thinking of me, hyung.”

“Yeah? Okay.”

Danyeong awkwardly lowered the hand that had been holding out the drink.
Hanbyeol was still keeping a certain distance from him.

“You’re still the same, Hanbyeol.”

“In what way?”

“No, just……”

You know, it’s already been two months since you started moving around with our schedule.

Two months since Hanbyeol started moving around under the pretext of being a ‘manager assistant’ for Cha.N, due to the agency’s incomprehensible purposes.

Before he knew it, Hanbyeol had turned twenty.
Thanks to him declaring he wouldn’t extend the contract, it had become his last day at work.

At first, Hanbyeol seemed to move around cautiously.

‘Choi Hanbyeol is a peculiar person too.’

Watching Hanbyeol, who didn’t even glance back even in the broadcast station hallways full of celebrities, Danyeong decided to define him that way.