The Unveiling Truth

Yoon Jihyuk ran a hand over his face, then asked, “You were already with the company then, weren’t you? Why didn’t you say anything? If we’d known in advance, we could have mounted a swifter defense.”

“…I did tell you?”

“What?”

“They even applauded, declaring how refreshing it was.”

As I listened further, it became clear: the employee then responsible for managing Group A had handled the situation precisely in that manner. They had simply dismissed it, assuming it would be fine, as they judged the kid hadn’t truly done anything wrong.

Adding to the complications, that employee had long since left the company, making it difficult to pinpoint accountability.

What could a young person understand? When the adults deemed it acceptable, they simply moved on and forgot all about it.

“So, would it still be better to explain?”

A brief silence fell.

If the truth were revealed, the repercussions would be significant. The details of the incident would open the floodgates to a full-blown debate.

Some would feel a sense of catharsis, declaring Han Doyoung justified for punishing the malicious individuals. Others, however, would argue that responding to violence with violence is never desirable. They would contend that Han Doyoung’s actions were wrong, especially since he wasn’t even the direct victim of the bullying.

Inevitably, this would prolong the period during which the topic circulated among the public. It would be tantamount to offering them fresh fodder to tear apart.

Conversely, if the company proceeded as originally planned, by offering a payout and ensuring silence, the situation would appear relatively clean. However, it would leave an unsettling feeling for those observing, and Han Doyoung himself would still harbor a deep sense of injustice.

Frankly, I too wished we could reveal everything, if only it were possible. Yet, Han Doyoung would be the one to bear the brunt of the attacks directed at the team. He would also find it difficult to escape accusations that it was all his fault.

This is not something an individual should have to handle.

“Such a major issue requires consultation with the company.”

Yoon Jihyuk, who had been studying me intently as I voiced my thoughts, soon nodded in agreement.

“Yohan is right. Let’s talk to the company first.”

For once, he seemed inclined to lean on the company’s support.

****

The CEO, true to expectation, laid out a plan.

“It was a personal conflict that arose from drifting apart with a close friend in high school. Through dialogue, we realized there were misunderstandings, and we will now support each other’s future endeavors… This is far too different from the truth, isn’t it?”

“Han Doyoung, are you in a position to complain about something like that right now?”

“…No.”

The additional accusers and those who spread rumors of him being involved with a biker gang were all Min Young-jun’s friends. They were probably the kids who were with him that day.

Since their impact was less significant than the initial exposé, the plan was to resolve it by concluding the claims were baseless after communicating with the posters.

Just as a statement, roughly ninety-five percent falsehood, was being meticulously polished by the hands of experts, a new post appeared on the community forum.

[HEX Han Doyoung School Violence: Exposing the Accuser.]

It was a post from the ‘real victim’ of that very incident. The neatly arranged sentences bore the clear mark of careful deliberation behind every single word.

Within it, the full story of the incident, just as Han Doyoung had recounted to us, was laid out with even greater clarity.

Furthermore, it contained detailed accounts of the bullying that Han Doyoung himself had been unaware of. It also revealed how the author had suffered for a long time due to those wounds, undergoing extensive counseling.

Finally, concluding her post, she stated:

“Sometimes, I felt despair not so much from the bullying itself, but from the fact that no one offered a helping hand. While it’s difficult to say Han Doyoung’s actions were unconditionally right, for me, it was a valuable experience. It instilled in me the hope that it was okay to keep living.

I sincerely hope that indiscriminate criticism will not be directed at him.”

“Wow…”

The manipulation thus dissolved into thin air.

And then, unexpected fortune followed. It was unlikely that those who enjoyed ganging up to target and torment others had created only a single victim.

Once the floodgates opened, posts exposing the original accusers began to surface continuously. Thanks to this, Han Doyoung received far less criticism than had been feared.

The torrent of attacks vanished as if by magic, leaving behind only a mere handful. The void was then filled by those who smugly declared, ‘I knew it all along.’

However, that handful of people comprised those who would rather die than admit their misjudgment. They were idle, with nothing better to do, finding perverse joy in disparaging others. Thus, negative public opinion about HEX had not entirely dissipated.

These individuals would stubbornly persist, meticulously analyzing every small, meaningless action, pointing fingers and enjoying it like a sport. In doing so, they would undoubtedly believe their actions to be righteous and just.

“Alright, let’s toast! Cheers!”

Anyway, we would toast to commemorate the lifting of a burden. “Kwon Yohan! Lift your glass quickly!”

My only complaint, perhaps, was that the liquid in the glass I held was merely barley tea.

Han Doyoung’s ordeal was significant, but the other members had also endured considerable hardship. With the main dancer, who also somewhat doubled as choreographer, utterly worn out, their tasks hadn’t been running smoothly.

Moreover, his pride was so immense that offering comfort proved a delicate and difficult endeavor.

“But, uh… aren’t you drinking a bit too much?”

The generously laid out alcohol was already running dry.

“Ah, it’s a good day, so what’s the harm?”

Right. It’s fine. They’re the ones who will suffer tomorrow, not I.

****

Yoon Jihyuk’s drinking habits, it turned out, were remarkably consistent. “Yohaaaan.”

His propensity for barging into someone else’s room unannounced and burrowing under their blankets was a prime example. Judging by his languid, unfocused gaze and slurred speech, he was thoroughly drunk. Yet, the meticulousness of brushing his teeth before seeking me out was truly something else.

Yoon Jihyuk stared at the shark plushie standing on one side of the bed, then placed it on the floor. What on earth didn’t he like about it, I wondered.

“So, what is it?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you in a bad mood today? On a day when you should be happy.”

Yoon Jihyuk, sweeping his large palm over his face, mumbled, “I’m usually good at hiding it. Why do you always know?”

Anyway, I had guessed correctly. Yoon Jihyuk, however, couldn’t bring himself to speak freely, hesitating and dawdling. He looked as if he was about to burrow even deeper into the bed.

“You might be disappointed if you hear it.”

“I’m not letting you stay by my side because I think you’re some paragon of virtue, Hyung.”

“…Really?”

His tone was utterly doubtful.

“It’s about this incident.”

He continued, having finally found the courage to begin. “I know it with both my head and my heart. What could Doyoung have done so wrong? Setting aside that I don’t prefer resolving things in that manner… he was just a kid. And it happened five years ago.”

He didn’t sound as if he were simply wandering, as if he had already processed these thoughts extensively on his own. The heavy, subdued tone clearly conveyed his meaning. He was utterly fed up with himself.

“But when I consider the potential damage to our future activities, I find myself feeling resentful, almost against my will. And then I start to wonder, ‘Was I always such a petty person?’”

“…Hm.”

These were feelings Yoon Jihyuk, with his strong attachment to the team, would naturally experience.

“Anyone can entertain such thoughts, of course. What truly reveals one’s character, I believe, is how those feelings are processed and how they are ultimately expressed.”

Consequently, I found it difficult to fully grasp. How lofty were his ideals for himself, that he felt compelled to engage in such profound self-scrutiny?

“Hyung, do you want to become a flawless person?”

“Hmm, I haven’t really thought about it to that extent. But, how should I put it… I do want to be someone others wouldn’t dislike. And I certainly don’t want to leave behind any elements that I dislike about myself.”

“But that ultimately means you want to be a flawless person.”

In my judgment, he was someone who had always been somewhat strict with himself. Now, seated in a position where he couldn’t help but be conscious of others’ gazes, he had simply overloaded.

Forcibly refining oneself inevitably leads to a sense of profound dissonance.

“Angels belong in heaven, they don’t descend to the human world.”

“What?”

“That was a joke, though.”

Perhaps my silly remark, delivered with almost childlike simplicity, resonated more than I expected. Yoon Jihyuk’s eyes crinkled as he laughed.

“First of all, I fundamentally believe it’s impossible to become a flawless person. Even if someone I deemed perfect were standing right before me, I wonder. From another person’s perspective, there would always be aspects they could pick apart and dwell on, wouldn’t there?”

Having had someone by my side who struggled with similar issues, thoughts that had become ingrained in me naturally formed into words. How fortunate it would be, I mused, if the years I had accumulated could somehow be of help to him.

“How can you be a celebrity if you worry about every single one of those things? There are so many people who just love to see famous people fail.”

I hoped he wouldn’t crumble under the world’s malice.

“In my opinion, Hyung, you need to learn to adequately ignore the words of dislike.”

“…Is that so?”

“Absolutely. With people who adore you as numerous as the stars, what is there to be so afraid of?”

Yoon Jihyuk fell silent for a moment, appearing to chew on my words. It wasn’t a long pause, yet enough vitality returned to him for me to notice, even through the haze of alcohol. He had been so listless when he arrived. Truly, his recovery power was something to behold.

With a more relaxed expression, he said playfully, “Yohan, you’re like an angel.”

“I suppose I do look the part.”

“Ah, but not the personality?”

“Well, that’s why I’m living with my feet on the ground, isn’t it?”

Yoon Jihyuk burst into laughter and pulled me into his embrace. The tremor of his body reached me through our contact. It was the perfect distance for cheerfulness to be contagious.