Chapter 22

Since Yoon Yeomin left, Chunmong Pavilion felt strangely peaceful. Yoo Doohyun, who lost his first ally, seemed to be keeping a low profile, likely wary of the backlash from his “failed idol” comment.

“Hey, Dansol! Haven’t you moved rooms yet? It’s empty.”

“Uh… not yet…”

After Yeomin left, PD Choi repeatedly suggested that Dansol move rooms, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had packed, but his belongings kept mysteriously returning to their original place, like something out of a horror movie.

Dansol was trembling when he saw his suitcase back in its spot again. A chilling voice spoke from behind him.

“Sol… are you really moving rooms?”

“Ah! You scared me!”

Terrified, Dansol collapsed to the floor. Jisoo, ignoring his fear, helped him up. Practically carrying Dansol, who had lost all strength in his legs, to the bed, Jisoo continued.

“Sol, did I do something to upset you?”

Sitting on the bed, Jisoo rested his head on Dansol’s knees, looking like he was begging for forgiveness.

Jisoo, who always brought Dansol ginger tea, honey water, and even cold medicine and supplements, seemed to care for him more than his manager. There was no reason for Dansol to be upset with him.

But…

“Being with you… I feel like my hands and feet stop working.”

“Your hands and feet are perfectly fine, Sol. How can they be so beautiful?”

At first, he just thought Jisoo was a kind person.

Opening doors, carrying heavy bags, using his arm as a pillow, carrying his to the bathroom when he couldn’t wake up in the morning, brushing his teeth, even bringing breakfast to his room and feeding him…

Does Taeoh, who has a housekeeper, live this comfortably too?

Dansol knew that such luxuries weren’t meant for him. He was used to feeding and clothing a large group with his own hands. He knew that if he got used to this lifestyle, he wouldn’t be able to return to his moldy basement apartment.

“Sol, do you hate me? If you do, you can leave.”

Jisoo rested his face on the back of Dansol’s hand. His smooth, cool skin, which seemed never to have had a single blemish, didn’t feel unpleasant.

There was another problem.

The physical affection that had become so natural while living together was starting to go too far. Sharing a bed because he said he left his comfort toy behind had led to more than one awkward moment.

One morning, he woke up to find himself using Jisoo’s bare chest as a pillow. The sight was so shocking that the usually sleepy Dansol woke up immediately.

But the real problem was… he didn’t dislike it. To be honest, he somewhat enjoyed it. The affectionate touches and warmth directed towards him.

Feeling confused by emotions he’d never experienced even from his parents, Dansol abruptly got up and removed Jisoo’s hand from hers.

“It’s not that!”

“Sol, where are you going? Stay with me. What if Jung Daesoo suddenly comes to kill me? I’m scared.”

Since the elimination announcement, Jisoo had developed separation anxiety. He was convinced that Daesoo was after his life and wouldn’t let Dansol out of his sight.

Why did he nominate Daesoo for elimination if he was so scared?

Initially, the idea that there might be something between them seemed embarrassing given how terrified Jisoo was of Daesoo.

“But… it doesn’t seem like Senior Jung Daesoo is that kind of person…”

“What are you talking about, Sol? Are you taking that bear’s side? Ah… you saw his biceps. Sol, bears can rip people apart…! Are you okay with your brother being torn to pieces?”

Jisoo clung to his with a face that looked like he was about to cry. Dansol had a weakness for handsome faces.

“Ah… I’m not going. I’m not leaving. It’s not that I hate you… I’m just worried I’ll get too comfortable.”

“Is it bad to be comfortable?”

“Yes…? It is.”

“Why is it bad?”

“Well… because…”

Indeed, Dansol didn’t care much about how the program turned out. he just wanted to return to a normal life.

He never planned to make it big as a celebrity, but unconsciously, he was thinking about the other members.

“If you succeed, the team succeeds. If you fail, the team fails.”

The traces of gaslighting he had endured for so many years didn’t fade easily.

The members that came to Dansol’s mind weren’t the cruel ones who had ignored him, but the younger members who bore the marks of their struggles.

“Because I have a lot of people to support…?”

“You’re an only child, aren’t you?”

“That’s… the members. If I do well, the members do well. I’m older than the kids, so I felt I shouldn’t be too comfortable.”

“And now?”

“What? Ah… to be honest, it feels nice to be comfortable. When I’m with you, I don’t even lift a finger. I told you earlier. The thought of going back is already overwhelming…?”

“Then don’t go back.”

“How can I do that? Ah… the sunlight is warm.”

Without realizing it, Dansol, who had been held by Jisoo, lay down flat on the bed. The rustling blanket was dried and warmed by the sunlight.

“I really hate the basement… I want to keep living in a place like this.”

Hearing Dansol’s murmur, Jisoo smiled meaningfully. Dansol, with his eyes closed, didn’t notice. Jisoo soon returned to his gentle demeanor and gently patted Dansol’s head as he lay on the blanket.

***

Dansol woke up in the late afternoon. A couple of hours had passed since he had dozed off.

Jisoo, who had tied his to the room saying Daesoo was coming to kill him, was nowhere to be seen.

“Where did everyone go…?”

Rubbing his eyes, Dansol walked into the living room to find Chunmong Pavilion eerily quiet.

Looking outside, he didn’t see anyone on the beach eithim, so he headed towards the hiking trail. There was a stream next to the trail where Minhyuk often took naps.

As expected, Minhyuk was lying on a flat rock, wearing only swim trunks, as if he were in his own home. His guitar, his inseparable companion, was next to him.

“Hey, Minhyuk.”

Dansol nudged Minhyuk.

“Dansol, you’re here?”

“Where did everyone go? The house was completely empty.”

“They went shopping for the camping mission tomorrow.”

“Huh…! But why didn’t they wake me? Why didn’t you go?”

“Jisoo lied and said you were sick and sleeping, and I was up in a tree. Since they didn’t call me down, I didn’t come.”

Somehow, the longer Minhyuk stayed at Chunmong Island, the more he seemed to become one with nature.

Would Minhyuk grow roots by the time the program ended?

Dansol sincerely worried about it, he plopped down next to Minhyuk.

“Why were you up there anyway…? What’s this spot on your foot? Did you get a skin disease?”

“Oh… that’s from the slippers.”

Minhyuk stood up and showed his the slippers neatly placed beside him. They were shoes with holes all over, shaped like his feet.

Is there any other celebrity like him, he wondered. But looking at his face, he understood. Even holding slippers, he looked like he was posing for a famous luxury brand ad, which was frustrating.

It wasn’t just the top of his feet. His arms were tanned in the shape of short sleeves, and his legs were tanned in the shape of shorts, looking like a tattoo.

“Please use some sunscreen, seriously.”

Dansol, without thinking, playfully slapped Minhyuk’s arm, which was marked by a distinct tan line from his short sleeves.

He wondered why he used his body and face in such a way. Despite the sharp sound that echoed from his slap on his firm, tofu-like arm, Minhyuk merely smiled.

“Dansol, do you know? Today is the last day we can lie on this rock and sleep. Come on, lie down.”

Minhyuk, who had given Dansol the pillow, lay down with his arm under his head instead. Dansol also lay down beside him.

“Why is today the last day?”

“It’s going to rain.”

“But we can come back after the rain stops…”

“It gets cold after the rain. It’s warm now.”

As he said, the rock, which had soaked up the midday sun, was warm but not hot. The breeze from the valley and mountains brushed past Dansol’s face.

The sound of leaves rustling and clouds passing swiftly before their eyes could be heard.

“I’ll think of this moment lying here with you whenever I see my feet in winter. It’s my way of cherishing this season.”

Minhyuk’s calm voice carried over the clouds to Dansol. It was a lazy afternoon.

“Hyung.”

“Yes?”

“Applying sunscreen is a hassle, right?”

“Yes…”

***

Preview: Daesoo and Jisoo’s Grocery Shopping Vlog

Han Jisoo: We came downtown to shop for our camping trip tomorrow… But I don’t really like camping, so I’m not sure what to buy. What do you think we need? Have you been camping before, Daesoo?

Jung Daesoo: I’m not much into camping, but we probably need a shovel, an axe, some rope… stuff like that.

Han Jisoo: …Let’s go.