LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 256
Chapter 256
“Ha Jae?”
Gyun Seong-ha looked at me.
‘Did he send that message knowing I’m ‘Ha Jae’?’
…His eyes seemed to be saying that.
For a few seconds, a silence fell in the narrow space.
It was quiet until the elevator door, which had stopped midway, slid open.
It seemed the person who pressed the button didn’t wait for the elevator and took the stairs instead, as the door closed again without anyone getting in.
“No way.”
“I didn’t see it.”
“The chats go up so quickly, it’s easy to miss something.”
“Yeah, compared to the radio show after our debut, it’s gotten a lot faster.”
Judging by the reactions, it seemed that only Kang Ji-woo and I had noticed that strange chat among the members.
Well, during the radio broadcast, there were many things to pay attention to besides the rapidly mixed chats in various languages.
Like the DJ’s questions or the signals from the PD outside the booth.
So it made sense that Kang Ji-woo had managed to catch it.
Out of curiosity, Gyun Seong-ha asked,
“What did the chat say?”
“I didn’t catch everything…”
I joined in because I felt that if we just let it go, Kang Ji-woo would keep worrying about it.
“I saw that chat too, but it wasn’t anything special.”
“Really?”
“It was just something like wanting to meet me. Someone mentioned my name even though I told them not to, so some fans speculated that I might be Ha Jae. Maybe someone who really believes that sent it.”
In truth, besides the ‘Zero’ thing, I had been considering this possibility as well.
Since I hadn’t paid attention to the nickname, I couldn’t be sure if the previous and this chat were from the same person.
From a realistic perspective, the chat could have been sent by a fan hoping for a special relationship with their favorite idol.
I wasn’t being egotistical. I had seen several comments of a similar nature on our YouTube channel or official SNS accounts.
“No one actually mentioned it, right?”
“Honestly.”
Honestly?
“I want to grab people on the street ten times a day to brag about how amazing our youngest is, but I refrain because I don’t want to be cut off by him.”
Feeling the sincerity in his answer, I gave a light pass, which made Kang Ji-woo very happy.
The other members, not wanting to be left out, nodded vigorously as if asserting their innocence.
“What do you brag about and what do you say?”
The fact that I was the composer of ‘Again’ was still a secret known only to me, the members, Ban Ga-eul, and Go Kyung-yoon who did the guide recording, so Gwak Sang-hyun, who knew nothing, showed curiosity.
“Is it true that the composer Ha Jae is someone in your family?”
“What? Where did that come from?”
“There’s been a lot of talk among the staff about the ‘Again’ composer. They think there’s something fishy.”
Gwak Sang-hyun added jokingly that the most popular theory among them was that Ha Jae was Seo Moon-gyeol’s alter ego.
“Seeing your expressions, I guess it’s not Gyeol.”
“It’s a secret.”
“We’ll tell you in a year.”
“Now you have secrets among yourselves?”
“We have… many.”
We nostalgically recalled a few incidents we had kept from Gwak Sang-hyun.
Like the time the dorm washing machine broke, and we spent the night mopping up the overflowing water, or the time we secretly replaced a torn curtain after catching mosquitoes and installed a new one ourselves.
“When did I become Orca? I feel left out, guys.”
Seeing our guilty expressions, Gwak Sang-hyun seemed to have decided to get to the bottom of our secrets someday.
With a ‘ding’, the elevator door opened.
Entering the parking lot with its musty smell, I saw a man in a neat suit standing near our car.
‘He looks familiar….’
When I was debating whether or not to greet the man looking at his phone, thinking I might regret it, he suddenly started striding towards us.
Maybe he was just passing by…
‘That doesn’t seem likely.’
As expected, the man stopped right in front of us.
The bodyguard with us reacted first.
“Who are you?”
“It’s been a while.”
As soon as I heard the unpleasant voice, I knew who he was.
This guy, Gil Jun-yong from True Entertainment.
* * *
Gil Jun-yong’s purpose in finding On Raon was to restore True Entertainment’s image and persuade On Raon to drop the charges against Oh Hyun-jin by apologizing for past events.
He had tried to approach On Raon several times through the company for the same purpose, but since Seed Entertainment had ignored True Entertainment, saying they’d see them in court, he had no choice but to come directly.
On Raon had no expectation of a sincere apology, but he agreed to the meeting to hear what they had to say for the first and last time.
Gil Jun-yong smiled triumphantly.
‘See, I knew he wouldn’t ignore this.’
His misconception was shattered by On Raon’s first words after sending the members away and sitting with only his manager and an urgently called lawyer in a private setting with the True Entertainment group.
“In case you’re mistaken, let me say upfront, I have no intention of accepting your apology.”
“What?”
“I won’t take any compensation from you for atonement, and of course, I won’t forgive you.”
It was a straightforward rejection.
Everyone present was at a loss for words.
Then why did he even come?
Even Hunt Red member Lee Eun-kyu, who frowned without realizing it, flinched at On Raon’s frosty gaze.
“I’m here as a matter of courtesy.”
Of course, On Raon’s courtesy was not for the likes of True Entertainment.
‘If it had been him, he would have come out to settle things directly, whether he liked it or not.’
“And if it’s an apology you’re not really making because I won’t forgive you, it would be better not to do it at all for both our sakes.”
At the merciless words, the Hunt Red members, who were already uncomfortable, hung their heads even lower.
From what On Raon could see, there seemed to be a couple of members who were genuinely remorseful.
“…Sorry.”
“[Really sorry.]”
Amidst the heavy atmosphere, a Korean member and a foreign member, who were more bystanders than perpetrators in the past bullying, quietly apologized.
“…”
While their apologies didn’t erase their wrongdoings, it was still better than those who showed no remorse.
On Raon, who had no intention of granting forgiveness through acknowledgment of their apologies, merely gave them a dry glance.
The rest looked uneasy, like Oh Hyun-jin, worried about their futures, or seemed to have been dragged there by Gil Jun-yong.
But what difference did that make?
“No matter how much you regret and apologize, I will never accept it.”
Unless On Raon and On Hae-jae’s souls switched again, On Raon, who wasn’t the direct victim, felt he had no right to forgive True.
“So just deal with it on your own.”
After all, it wasn’t something someone else made them do; it was their own karma.
‘It’s karma, you bastards.’
“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll be leaving now. I hope we don’t meet again for something like this.”
On Raon stood up and turned, followed by Gwak Sang-hyun and the lawyer as they left the room.
“…Is there anything else you’d like to say?”
Seeing Gil Jun-yong follow them out, Gwak Sang-hyun blocked his way in front of On Raon.
“Do you think you can survive in this industry after messing with us?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re still rookies, so you might not know, but I can stop you from appearing on any show with just one call!”
At Gil Jun-yong’s crude threat, the Hunt Red members inside the room flinched.
However, On Raon, who had faced life-threatening situations far worse, responded calmly without a hint of surprise.
“I’m recording right now.”
“What…”
“Just kidding.”
“Are you messing with me?”
“Shall I start now?”
As On Raon really took out his phone and started tapping on it, Gil Jun-yong’s mouth twitched.
‘This brat.’
“And I heard True Entertainment is in trouble these days, struggling with contract renewals. You should worry about your own company first.”
At Gwak Sang-hyun’s taunt, Gil Jun-yong’s face turned red with anger.
True’s decline was a fact.
“You little…”
“Well, anyway, I get your situation. Good luck with your trial preparations.”
Feeling the chilly air on his cheek as he stepped outside, On Raon pressed the stop button on the recording.
Seeing this, Gwak Sang-hyun asked,
“Did you record it?”
“Yes. Just in case they claim later that I accepted their apology.”
Then Gwak Sang-hyun showed his phone with the recording app on as well.
“Actually, I did too.”
“So did I.”
“Wow.”
On Raon smiled lightly and gave a thumbs up to the manager and lawyer who had stood firmly by his side.
Gwak Sang-hyun, matching his thumbs up, soon asked,
“…Are you okay?”
He had arranged the meeting at On Raon’s request, but considering the rude attitude of the people who came to apologize, it didn’t seem like a good decision.
However, On Raon wasn’t particularly upset.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Gwak Sang-hyun and the lawyer found this quite amazing.
How could someone be like that?
“Really, they can’t do anything to my life now.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“Don’t worry. I’m just going to be happy from now on.”
At On Raon’s determined mumble, Gwak Sang-hyun silently patted his shoulder.