By coincidence, the TV was playing the “Lunar New Year Special – HALO Edition.”
It was a terrestrial talk show, the most recent filming they had all done together.
On the TV screen, the host was laughing exaggeratedly, trying to liven up the atmosphere.
It had been difficult to coordinate the schedules of all five members, so they had to squeeze an hour’s worth of content into a short window, which left everyone feeling completely frazzled throughout the shoot.
‘Feels like we just sat there talking nonsense.’
Too lazy to even monitor the broadcast, I glanced at Chiyoon, who was also barely paying attention to the TV.
Joo Seunghyun was a guy who didn’t open his heart to people easily.
It would have been fortunate if it was just because his temperament was cold and firm, but…
‘This guy is way too soft inside.’
For such a person, Park Chiyoon was almost the only one he let into his inner circle.
He didn’t show it on the surface, but Chiyoon must have known.
That’s probably why Chiyoon treated Seunghyun like a child left near a dangerous waterfront, constantly acting like he couldn’t take his eyes off him.
“So, I asked if you visited safely. Use your words. You have a mouth, don’t you?”
Chiyoon asked again.
Perhaps sensing that my mood had subtly dimmed, his voice was laced with a hint of playfulness.
“I visited just fine.”
“Seems like it.”
“Then why’d you ask?”
“Just because.”
It was a trivial conversation.
In the meantime, we had already finished one bottle of soju and a can of beer each.
The intoxication was beginning to set in.
Since I hadn’t drunk any alcohol since manifesting as an Omega, I had been slightly worried about my tolerance, but thankfully, it didn’t seem to have dropped significantly from before.
Since Chiyoon was also a heavy drinker, it felt like the drinking session was only just beginning.
“You look good these days.”
“What do you mean?”
“You look more at ease. You seem a bit more honest, and a bit more willing to let go.”
“Maybe because I’ve been to death and back.”
“Seems so.”
As we exchanged jokes, the atmosphere grew a little lighter.
“But is this your real personality? You’ve had a hard time hiding it all this time.”
Chiyoon giggled.
“You didn’t need to put on an act for us, you know.”
“You’re right. I was being a bit extra.”
Seunghyun’s lips curled into a smirk.
This was the honest impression of someone who had gotten a peek at Joo Seunghyun’s life.
“If I had your personality—the type that knows how to let things slide—I would have felt at ease much sooner.”
“……Don’t go that far.”
“No. Really. Being overly cautious and careful was actually poison.”
It was a slightly random time to bring it up, but I had to thank this guy, too.
“Thanks. Because of you, there was a balance.”
Chiyoon’s expression turned strange, as if he hadn’t expected to hear something like that.
He pulled his lips down, raised his eyes—a look of awkwardness, embarrassment, and bashfulness.
“Hem, hem. No, well…….”
It was just as an awkward air began to flow.
Beep, beep-beep. Beep.
Along with the sound of the front door password being pressed, a noisy, clamorous chatter followed.
It seemed the other three members had all returned as well.
“Ah, Do Eunwoo, hurry inside!”
“Eunwoo hyung, watch out for the pot.”
“Hey, Chiyoon hyung was already here. Why didn’t you guys check the group chat?”
With three men standing there, the large foyer looked cramped.
Meanwhile, Yijeong was holding large shopping bags in both hands.
As I stood up, I stumbled and lost my balance. It seemed the intoxication was hitting me now.
“Careful!”
Chiyoon, who had rushed to follow me up, hugged me to keep me from falling. Eunwoo, who had arrived in an instant, also wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
“Sit, sit.”
Led by their hands, I sat back down, and while I was at it, Yijeong and Yooju placed the shopping bags on the sofa table.
“Did everyone have some rice cake soup?”
Yijeong asked, taking steaming food out of the bags.
Come to think of it, today was the Lunar New Year.
Realizing this fact belatedly, I shook my head. At that, everyone except me exchanged glances.
‘Hmm, looking at the atmosphere, I guess I was the only one who didn’t eat.’
They all seemed to have eaten with their beloved families.
Feeling both embarrassed and grateful, I changed the subject.
“Why is everyone here? Did you guys plan this?”
“Not really…… but it would have been faster if you’d checked the chat room.”
Yooju pulled up the group chat on his phone and handed it to me.
[Do Eunwoo] Where is everyone? Did you have a happy new year?
[Cheon Yijeong] I just arrived in Seoul.
[Do Eunwoo] Oh.
[Do Eunwoo] Already heading back???
[Cheon Yijeong] Yes, I wanted to head to the dorm early.
I’m heading to the dorm too.
[Do Eunwoo] What is with you guys?
[Do Eunwoo] But actually, me too lol.
Seunghyun hyung, are you at the dorm?
[Do Eunwoo] Yijeong-ah, call the hyungs.
[Cheon Yijeong] Both of them aren’t picking up.
And as luck would have it, they had met in front of the building and come in together.
Sitting huddled together eating the still-hot soup, my eyes welled up, perhaps due to the alcohol.
I didn’t know what kind of unseemly behavior this was at the dinner table.
Eventually, I put down my spoon, pressed my fingers against my eyes, and tried to hold back the tears.
“Seunghyun hyung, are you crying right now……?”
They were, as always, members who were of no help whatsoever.
At Yijeong’s innocent question, everyone’s attention focused on me in an instant.
I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Thinking, ‘To hell with it’, I covered my face with my hands and my shoulders began to shake.
My palms quickly became damp.
What a great way to start the first day of the New Year.
‘I’m never drinking in front of these guys again.’
Making a promise I wouldn’t be able to keep, I just cried to my heart’s content.
‘I’m dying…….’
Because the rest of the members had joined yesterday evening, the drinking session continued late into the night.
I had been drinking without a care in the world, so I didn’t even know how I’d made it back to my room.
Facing a hangover that felt like my head was splitting in the morning, I let out a groan and sat up.
Zzzing—
The phone vibrated. I checked the notification.
‘Crazy…….’
It was Han Kangwoo.
Unlucky, right from the start of the New Year.
It was just a standard New Year’s greeting, but perhaps because of the deeply ingrained bad blood I had toward Han Kangwoo, I didn’t like any of it.
After replying perfunctorily, I went into the “Clean Mail” (fan message board) where notifications were piled up.
‘OMG Seunghyun’s first live broadcast of the new year ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m looking forward to it ㅠㅠㅠ’
“……Live broadcast?”
I knew that “live broadcast” meant a real-time streaming show.
But why would they say they were looking forward to it?
A chill washed over me. It was a familiar feeling.
It felt exactly like…… when you realize you’ve caused an accident while drunk.
Come to think of it, there were missed calls, too.
Two last night on the day of the Lunar New Year, and one this morning.
“…….”
It seemed I hadn’t just caused an accident; I had caused a massive one.
I must have felt too at ease being at the dorm.
Even trying to recall what happened, my head just throbbed and I couldn’t remember anything properly.
‘Just how much did I drink?’
Half-instinctively, I went on social media.
HALO operated two official SNS accounts.
When I logged into the one they used more freely, I saw a post uploaded last night.
It wasn’t just one, but several.
There were even photos.
‘I messed up.’
Overcome with a sense of crisis, I hurriedly scrolled down.
My heart pounded and my hands trembled.
Celebrities rise by their words and fall by their words.
Worried I might get entangled in unnecessary gossip, I felt my mouth go dry, thinking the effort Joo Seunghyun had made to live rigidly, building walls to protect himself, might have gone down the drain in an instant.
And the moment I confirmed the post, I froze.
“What…… is this?”
@halo_official · Just now
H@loH@ppY nEw YeaR evEryOne
[Photo]
