The Unforeseen Opportunity

‘I won’t let Jio down.’

Yes, that’s what I said.

I watched Son Yoonjae’s scene until the very end, utterly captivated, before practically bolting into my room. The thought of the others in the living room finding my reaction strange was completely secondary.

“Son Yoonjae, you’re driving me crazy.”

Even to my own ears, my voice was filled with excitement.

The sequence of events I hastily looked up went something like this: Son Yoonjae, after auditioning at various agencies, swiftly landed a contract with a company that, despite its recent establishment, boasted ample capital.

This was a deliberate choice by the company, which had previously scouted only high-value artists to expand its influence, aiming to shed the perception that it exclusively recruited ‘already established talents.’

The reason an unexpected opportunity presented itself to Son Yoonjae, who was steadily building his recognition in a manner befitting his position, was quite unforeseen.

It was because the agency’s flagship artist, originally slated to record the OST for , had their activities suspended due to a DUI. With various interests intertwined, replacing the song entirely was not an option, leaving Son Yoonjae to step in as a last-minute replacement.

And then, the jackpot hit.

While industry insiders had anticipated the song’s success, its exceptionally perfect fit for a scene bursting with emotion led to an unforeseen blockbuster hit.

Simultaneously, the behind-the-scenes story of the song quietly spread, and viewers, searching for the singer’s social media, began widely sharing Son Yoonjae’s daily life photos.

Moreover, our Leader possessed quite a handsome appearance. While his features weren’t overly striking, his overall impression was easily likable.

The sudden surge of attention soon turned into disappointment. This was understandable, as Red Moon’s content from his previous era was exceedingly scarce, with very few music show videos worth watching or enjoying.

The reaction, initially asking ‘Why was our *oppa* trapped in such a place?’, quickly morphed into ‘Then, we hope he’ll promote properly now!’ Seizing on this rapidly rising tide, a drama production company offered him a cameo role.

As a man who had lost his lover overnight.

Despite having no prior acting experience, Son Yoonjae delivered a performance far exceeding expectations. Whether he was a prodigy of unknown talent or simply had a wealth of pent-up emotions from life that made it easy to convey, his portrayal was remarkable.

The public’s response was nothing short of fervent.

Reading comments like ‘He looks like a prince of a fallen kingdom’ or ‘I haven’t even married yet, but I want a divorce,’ I couldn’t help but keep smiling.

That such a triumph had been achieved in merely four months was truly unbelievable. What was most absurd was that the period of his ascent to stardom coincided with HEX finishing their regular activities and beginning concert preparations, meaning I was only just now learning of this fact.

Son Yoonjae, why didn’t he contact me after getting famous…?

“Well, Kwon Yohan and I aren’t *that* close.”

Upon realizing that, my excitement dwindled slightly, just a tiny bit.

****

While it was immensely enjoyable to look up the thriving updates on Son Yoonjae, it felt strangely unreal.

It was as if I were peering into a beautifully crafted dream made just for me. This feeling was amplified by the fact that I had long ago abandoned any hope of such a day ever arriving.

Regardless of my complex and fluctuating emotions, HEX’s activities resumed.

Although there was more time than before, the schedule was far from relaxed, as we had to prepare for both the tour and the third single simultaneously.

However, an unexpected opportunity arose to experience this dreamlike reality firsthand.

“A Healing Day? With Son Yoonjae?”

“Yes.”

Lee Seon’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

was an entertainment show whose format perfectly mirrored the feeling its title evoked. It focused on enjoying relaxation, featuring casual conversations and chemistry without any provocative elements.

The company likely valued the fact that there was no room for malicious editing. That must be why they chose this show for HEX’s long-awaited full-group appearance.

After hearing the general explanation, Yoon Jihyuk tilted his head and asked.

“A pension? You said it was camping originally, didn’t you?”

“Ah, about that. They said if it were camping, it might overlap with the ‘Good Taste’ broadcast. Apparently, they don’t want it to look like we’re copying a competitor.”

“Aha. And what about Son Yoonjae?”

“He’s been called everywhere lately, you know. We needed to capitalize on that, and since he seemed overwhelmed by solo variety appearances, we paired him with you guys, who are his peers. It’ll be a win-win since your existing fanbases don’t overlap much.”

‘Peers’… not quite, are we? He’s already twenty-eight.

In any case, there was no downside. We wouldn’t have to worry about uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, which would have been an issue with camping.

Even the shy Lee Seon seemed more excited than usual, likely because he’d enjoyed the drama so much.

I’ll see him after a long time. I clenched my fists tightly. It was to prevent myself from appearing odd by showing too much joy.

However, my judgment that ‘there was no downside’ was shattered in short order.

****

The beginning was good. The beginning, at least.

“Hello, I’m Son Yoonjae. I look forward to spending the next three days with you all.”

Upon arriving at the pension, Son Yoonjae, perhaps conscious that the HEX members were considerably younger than him, greeted us with a demeanor far more mature and proper than I remembered.

After the round of introductions, Lee Seon, who had been hesitating, squeezed his eyes shut and extended his hand.

“I-I really enjoyed *Glass Flower*!”

“Ahaha…”

Son Yoonjae blushed shyly as he accepted the handshake.

His gaze then fell directly upon me.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“So-so. I think you’ve been doing much better than me, *hyung*.”

“Your advice, Yohan, was truly invaluable.”

‘I wouldn’t even be here without it,’ he seemed to imply. There was a pointed truth in his seemingly appreciative words.

Indeed, had the timing been even slightly off, he wouldn’t have seized this opportunity, just as he said.

Lee Seon’s eyes widened as he asked.

“What? You two know each other?”

“A little.”

I had intended to cut the conversation short. Yet, perhaps I had only given Lee Seon more room for speculation, as his head moved busily, though he couldn’t extract any information from Son Yoonjae, who merely chuckled good-naturedly.

To ensure the most natural and relaxed scenes, the production crew on set was minimal, and their interference was virtually nonexistent.

The approach was simple: use the provided amenities to spend time as desired, and if there was nothing left to do, simply ask the production team for assistance.

“I can’t tell if this accommodation is genuinely good, or if it just feels good because I’ve been in places that felt like three seconds before a training camp.”

Han Doyoung muttered as he surveyed the spacious and comfortable interior of the pension.

Lee Seon, seemingly tireless, ran around energetically. The floor was slippery, and I suspected he’d trip soon enough.

“Hyung! Hyung! There’s a swimming pool on the rooftop!”

“Oh.”

“B-but I don’t have a swimsuit.”

“…”

The two fools instantly grew serious.

Choi Seung-beom, observing the situation, sighed as he spoke.

“We’re going to the mart later, aren’t we? Just buy one there.”

“Wow, they even have a mart here. Feels civilized, right?”

Even Yoon Jihyuk, caught up in the mood, started spouting nonsense.

There were enough rooms to be used as bedrooms for all six of us to have one each, but at the production team’s request, only three could be used.

They wanted us to switch pairings and share rooms in twos to create a more intimate atmosphere. After roughly touring the accommodation, we gathered on the first floor.

An awkward atmosphere still lingered between Son Yoonjae and HEX.

Meanwhile, perhaps feeling a sense of responsibility as the eldest, Son Yoonjae, his face tense, made a suggestion.

“S-shall we unpack our bags together, then?”

‘Surely, no one would have brought anything strange in their luggage for a shoot.’

No one seemed to have any strong objections, so everyone agreed and began to unpack their belongings and show them.

My luggage, along with Yoon Jihyuk’s and Choi Seung-beom’s, felt rather unremarkable, containing only the absolute necessities.

Instead, Yoon Jihyuk’s bag contained a small first-aid kit.

When I subtly nudged his side and asked what it was, he whispered into my ear.

“I’ve developed a distrust of the production team, you know.”

…And he had every right to.

Han Doyoung’s luggage was so crammed with clothes that it was impossible to tell if it belonged to someone on a trip or someone preparing for a studio shoot.

It seemed he had enough clothes to wear a different outfit every day for a week, not just three days. This was especially true since it was early autumn, so thick clothing wasn’t even necessary.

Lee Seon rummaged through his bag, reaching all the way to the bottom, before frowning intensely.

“This guy didn’t even pack lotion. He must be crazy.”

“You can just borrow some, can’t you? Aren’t you going to lend it?”

Lee Seon pouted exaggeratedly. As unsolicited sharing of items was a frequent occurrence, his reluctance was palpable.

But he couldn’t outright refuse, fearing he’d seem petty.

Yoon Jihyuk, who had been watching the two, pointed out a fact.

“Doyoung, you don’t have a toothbrush either?”

“Oh, right.”

Han Doyoung’s response was nonchalant.

“We can just buy that when we go to the mart. This isn’t a deserted island, after all.”

That was also true.

Son Yoonjae’s luggage revealed homemade snacks. He’d made them to share with everyone, he said. He must have been incredibly busy with his rising popularity, yet he was so diligent.

The walnut brittle, which he often used to make, particularly caught my eye.

“Can I have some of this?”

“Of course.”

He smiled, handing me the glass jar.

“You and Jio have similar tastes.”

‘I suppose so. Since I *am* him.’ I simply nodded, pushing the nuts into my mouth. The perfectly balanced sweetness, not too overwhelming, was just right.

For some reason, Yoon Jihyuk was staring at me, so I offered some to him as well. After watching him crunch them down, I tried to offer another, but he refused, saying he’d had enough. His expression was a little awkward.

Finally, Lee Seon’s bag contained a fireworks set and large marshmallows.

“You brought these even though it’s not camping.”

“The plan included a bonfire! We can roast them!”

Lee Seon retorted, shaking his fist.

“Right… That’s nice, I guess.”

A bonfire would be nice. As long as we weren’t the ones starting it, that is.