Unresolved Tension

Thinking that idols are only busy during their promotion periods on music shows is a mistake.

In terms of actual profit, other schedules are often better than short promotion windows. Top-tier idols generate massive revenue through commercial shoots, while those who haven’t reached that level yet rely primarily on performance income from events.

Furthermore, autumn is the season of college festivals. Even singers who haven’t released an album in a long time will secure schedules to tour festivals and generate income.

‘But why is he here? He wasn’t just talking when he said he’d come back.’

Ji-ho blinked as he watched a flashy-looking young man talking to a manager in front of his childhood home. The person with pink hair—he must have dyed it again—was Jae-in, who should have been touring the country for events.

“Ah, I get it! I’m not staying long like last time, it’s just for one day. I have to stay overnight near here anyway, so it’s better to stop by now. I’m telling you, today is really it! This place is so remote that there’s no one here to post on the internet that I’ve separated from the members.”

Ji-ho could grasp the situation just by listening to the conversation between the stern manager and the nonchalant Jae-in. An Enheim performance schedule must have been set in the region near Ji-ho’s village, and Jae-in had seized the opportunity to visit.

‘There’s only one university in this area; it must be their festival. That’s why Mi-rin said she didn’t want to go to school the other day—she wanted to go to the festival Enheim is performing at.’

Ji-ho scratched his cheek, thinking of Mi-rin, who likely didn’t mention it because she assumed he already knew. Though Jae-in had taken the village hall’s phone number, he had never contacted Ji-ho beforehand, fearing another resident might pick up, so it would have been hard to give him advance notice anyway.

“You were totally surprised, weren’t you, Hyung! You’re super glad to see me, right?”

It seemed Jae-in had hidden his arrival intentionally.

“I was surprised, yes. Uh… yes, goodbye. I’ll look after Jae-in. Phew, weren’t you just being scolded by your manager? Did you come here even though the company opposed it?”

“Ayy, don’t worry about it. Other members sneak out at night when we’re staying at a dorm for a schedule. I’m much better for telling the truth and then leaving.”

It was a statement unbecoming of an idol who should value group activities—especially one only in his second year—but Jae-in was so shameless that Ji-ho found himself thinking, ‘I guess so?’

“Anyway, come in. What would you have done if I’d returned to Seoul and wasn’t here? It’s a long way from the city. You’ve got guts.”

“If you were going back to Seoul, you would have told me first. You kept hesitating even when I told you to come up to Seoul first.”

“I heard Pentagram’s comeback was last week. You kept telling me about it even though I said I wasn’t curious.”

“Hmm, you say that like you’re talking about another group.”

“…It just means I don’t want to go up and be a burden while they’re busy with promotions. I told you before. I definitely intend to return. Once this promotion cycle ends, I’ll be the one to ask Yong-ha Hyung first, so stop pestering me.”

Jae-in’s eyes narrowed with dissatisfaction toward Star Ent and Pentagram for still leaving Ji-ho abandoned here. The beauty mark under his right eye stood out, making him look like a mischievous troublemaker. Ji-ho worried that Jae-in might cause some sort of accident.

‘I did strictly tell him not to pick a fight with Pentagram even if he runs into them.’

Thinking back to how Jae-in used to charge at him every time they met over a single misunderstanding, Ji-ho didn’t have much faith.

“Wow, I missed this porch so much. I got bitten by bugs a lot, but lying down and watching the stars was really great. And with music playing, the vibes were truly—can we do that again today?”

As soon as he entered Ji-ho’s house, Jae-in threw himself onto the porch, looking as comfortable as if it were his own home. He seemed to have already forgotten how much he had whined about the uncomfortable environment when he stayed here last time.

“If you want to freeze to death, go ahead. It’s fine now during the day, but you won’t want to be outside once the sun goes down.”

“But this is the south; surely it’s not colder than Seoul? Right, speaking of cold, let’s roast some sweet potatoes!”

“Why sweet potatoes all of a sudden?”

“Hyung, are you really going to keep living cut off from everything? That Webflix variety show I told you to watch! The scene where they put corn and cheese on roasted sweet potatoes is a huge trend right now.”

“Jae-in, you didn’t come here to see me; you came to make that, didn’t you?”

Jae-in had already filmed his own version of a rural “mukbang” several times during his last stay, so Ji-ho’s suspicion was reasonable. Whether he still had illusions about rural life or was just looking for a way to rebel against his agency’s weight management, Ji-ho looked down at the lounging Jae-in like a clueless younger brother.

“Ugh, I came because I knew you wouldn’t know anything like this. I figured you wouldn’t know a thing about Pentagram, either.”

“Yoon Jae-in, I told you I don’t want to worry about it until my return. I don’t know what news you came to deliver… but not yet.”

When Jae-in left last time, Ji-ho had asked him not to spread word of his whereabouts and, in return, asked not to be told news from Seoul.

Even though he had realized he hadn’t done anything wrong, acknowledged his desire for an apology from those who turned their backs on him, and revived his wish to return, he still hadn’t fully sorted through all the confusion.

Moreover, he wanted to avoid hearing about the group’s activities, knowing they would surely succeed even without him. Hearing that would make him feel like there really was no place for him to return to.

Perhaps frustrated by Ji-ho’s stance, Jae-in sat up and wore a serious expression that didn’t quite suit him.

“Are you really not going to listen?”

“If it were a major problem, Yong-ha Hyung would have told me. It’s not like there’s another controversy involving me, right?”

“You’re living so quietly, what could they possibly find to nitpick? Still, it seems like it might affect you… fine. I promised to listen to you. But in exchange, if Star Ent tells you to come back, you have to tell me immediately.”

“Why bother me when you’re so busy? Fine. You want to roast sweet potatoes? But I don’t have corn. Or cheese. You’ll have to go grocery shopping to make that recipe.”

“Yes! There was something else I wanted to try making, too. I should buy those ingredients while I’m at it.”

“You’d better wear a hat when you go out with that hair color. But you have a stage tomorrow; aren’t you going to maintain your appearance?”

Jae-in shuddered, saying Ji-ho was stricter than his own manager.

In truth, the reason Jae-in had carved time out of his busy schedule to come all the way here was solely to deliver news about Pentagram.

However, seeing the peaceful atmosphere again and Ji-ho’s face, which looked much more stable than before, Jae-in decided to push the delivery of the news back a little further.

‘The reaction to Pentagram lately has been really strange, so I was worried. But well, what could possibly happen?’

Given that both of them were victims of small incidents blowing up into massive suffering, this thought of Jae-in’s was undoubtedly a foolish judgment.

But since Jae-in’s true wish was for the people who had hurt the now-closer Ji-ho to be punished instead, it wasn’t strange that he held back his words.

*************************************************

To turn back time a bit, it was two weeks before Pentagram’s comeback.

The news of the major clash between Se-han and Noah at the dorm reached the ears of the Management Team via the housekeeper. Until then, Yong-ha had tried his best to control things without notifying the company internally, but once it reached this point, he could no longer hide it.

Star Ent was informed that there was a rift among the members and that even the leader, Se-han, could no longer handle his younger teammates. This was why Kwon-ho, the A&R Team Leader and General Director for Pentagram, called Se-han to the office.

Se-han looked around the drastically changed A&R department. Originally, the office had shown its age as the building itself was old, but thanks to the investment funds, the 4th floor had finished remodeling a few days ago and looked much cleaner.

Se-han entered a meeting room decorated with modern interior design. The opaque glass door closed with a click, signaling that Kwon-ho and Se-han were alone.

“Have a seat. I know you’re busy with album preparations, but I heard the recording is finished, so I called you, thinking you might have a moment.”

Kwon-ho, who had been waiting for his guest, looked up at Se-han with his hands folded under his chin. A mechanical watch stood out beneath the sleeve of his sophisticated suit, further highlighting Kwon-ho’s urban vibe.

Perhaps it was because Se-han knew Kwon-ho well that such an image came naturally to mind.

“The music video shoot is tomorrow; is there a problem?”

“I thought we were already on speaking terms? Let’s not pretend you don’t know why I called you, Se-han.”

His tone was undoubtedly kind and soft, but listening to Kwon-ho’s voice made it feel as though a sharp dagger was hidden within his words. This was why Se-han—who had gone through all sorts of ups and downs for his age and rarely felt intimidated by anyone—shrank in his presence.

When exactly had Se-han become entangled with Kwon-ho?

Of course, it was true that Se-han had a lot of interaction with Star Ent staff due to his “old-fashioned” position as a leader, which many idols debuting these days don’t have. Since the CEO, Hyeong-jun, had left for overseas and Kwon-ho had essentially taken full authority, it wasn’t strange at all for the two to interact.

However, the nuance in Kwon-ho’s words suggested a much more murky relationship. Like criminals conspiring together.

“Why would I try to deceive you, Team Leader? I know well enough that turning against you would only lead to a loss. You’re the one who made me realize that, aren’t you?”

Memories of the past naturally surfaced in Se-han’s mind. It was the day Kwon-ho had openly revealed his true intentions to Se-han.