Kapitel 53: Fake Love (5)

The group stood over a hand-written list of songs that they had just created. The list sat in Ryeo Hyun's hands as he watched it with a hand rubbing at his chin. It read:

LIMBO! – NURTURE

Shine – HEXAGON

I GOT YOU – ONCE

"Hey… Why are two of the songs girl group songs?" Song Chunghee asked in an accusatory tone.

Ryeo Hyun waved the younger off, "Because male keys exist." He snappily replied.

Joon-woo overviewed the list with a hand on his chin. Over him Reggie stood, easily overviewing the list with his height. Joon-woo tried to ignore how Reggie's shadow cast over him made his skin crawl.

"I think…" Baek Du-Ho began to say, all attention turned to him and a bit flustered he closed his mouth. "Nevermind–"

Reggie playfully pushed at Baek Du-Ho's shoulder, "C'mon, don't hold out on us!"

Baek Du-Ho crossed his arms and said, "I think the NURTURE song will show our concept well…"

The group began to think, and began to imagine such a song on stage. After a few moments, Song Chunghee spoke up.

"But that's a girl group song…" He spoke.

Joon-woo facepalmed, "Sunbae, do you have something against girl groups?" He asked, the group snickering at Joon-woo's words.

Song Chunghee rapidly shook his head, "No, no!" He pressed imaginary glasses up his nose. "I am the biggest male Rabbit out there! It's just– I'm not sure someone like me could actually do a song made for girl group dance well..?" He tried to explain.

Joon-woo pressed his lips together. He had thought he was the once with crippling self-worth, but clearly Song Chunghee topped Joon-woo's low self-esteem by a mile.

"I mean, I think we can do it…" Reggie said, scratching at his cheek. "Especially in the beginning of the song, we don't have to change the choreography much…"

"Are you okay with it Joon-woo? You're our center after all…" Ryeo Hyun asked, a genuine consideration in his voice.

Really, wasn't this team refreshing? No getting cursed at or bullied… Joon-woo sighed, why did all good things have to happen with a catch? He internally cursed Producer Jang-Soo.

"I think it'll take a lot of work, but as long as I don't have to be in the center during harder choreography I can do well…" He replied after a beat of silence.

"And you Du-Ho-ssi?" Ryeo Hyun asked.

Baek Du-Ho looked surprised, "I like it, yeah. I think the rap parts are sufficient." He replied.

"And Song Chunghee?"

Song Chunghee sucked at his teeth, "I mean, if everyone else wants to do it…"

Ryeo Hyun nodded, "Then it's decided." He spoke with a small smile escaping his lips.

–+–

"Joon-woo! Du-Ho! Did I not just tell you to watch your footwork in this part?" The dance teacher scolded, calling the two to the front of the group. They hung their heads low and kept their hands in front of them with a regretful expression. "Run it… again…"

The two hustled into a formation with the others' of their group. For this specific part, Reggie stood in the center. To his left was Joon-woo and to his right was Ryeo Hyun. Song Chunghee and Baek Du-Ho had spots at the very end.

Previously-paused music began to play from the speakers.

"Limbo, limbo, lim-bo, limbo, limbo, lim—

Limbo, limbo, lim-bo, limbo, limbo, lim—"

Compared to the original, they moved faster. Their jumping was more urgent, their movements more aggressive. Reggie imparticular, looked by flying on solid ground. His movements were weightless and even more so compared to the left wing of Baek Du-Ho and Joon-woo behind him.

"The way you look at me as if you fall in love tonight (Oh, oh, oh, oh)"

Then, Joon-woo to the front, they formed a slightly inconsistent single-file line. All arms sticking out but Joon-woo's, as he did movements that came off as slightly seductive. His expressions brought a smile to the dance teacher's face.

"You won't get whatever you want easily (Oh, oh, oh)"

The line backed up to reveal a still Reggie. He took center with his arm out and reached away from the direction that the line of the rest of his group had stepped away in. Noticeably, Baek Du-Ho fell slightly behind the line of others' he was supposed to follow with perfect precision.

The dance teacher facepalmed and Baek Du-Ho slightly grimaced.

"Baek Du-Ho!" She lectured, pausing the music with narrowed eyes.

Baek Du-Ho with his head towards the floor stepped forward and interlocked his hands just as he had done just a minute before.

"Why can't you get this right? Joon-woo fixed his mistake after being scolded once, why can't you? You usually dance so well too…" Her sputtle smacked at Baek Du-Ho as she lectured him. "Huh, why?"

The group exchanged tense glances. Joon-woo had thought Baek Du-Ho to be quite the dancer, of course nothing to Reggie or Ryeo Hyun, but a dancer all the same. Really, was all that talk back then nothing? This Baek Du-Ho could barely do better than Joon-woo…

Baek Du-Ho stayed silent, never looking up.

"Hah… Forget it." The dance teacher said, "Everyone take a water break!"

After a beat of unmoving bodies, Baek Du-Ho lifted his head and began towards a small gathering of water bottles. The others' followed suit.

Song Chunghee caught up with Baek Du-Ho with a concerned expression. "Hyung, is everything okay?"

Du-Ho, pursed his lips, face dark as he turned away from Song Chunghee's invasive gaze. Joon-woo found the gesture rude. Really, could this guy get any worse?

At Baek Du-Ho's refusal, Reggie stepped up with his usual too-kind smile, "Hyung, would you like to stay after to practice more?" He looked around him and his gaze landed on Joon-woo confidently. Suddenly, after a day and a half of avoidant physical contact, Reggie pulled Joon-woo close by wrapping his arm around his shoulder. "Joon-woo and I have plans to!"

Joon-woo looked up at Reggie, uncomfortable and surprised. Because not only had they never planned or discussed such a thing, but the cameras had caught it. They caught every interaction and Joon-woo could practically predict the editing of such things when the episode came out.

Reggie looked nervously at Joon-woo, as if asking him to pay along. "You sure love your practice, Joon-woo…" He added and Joon-woo felt it was absolutely unnecessary.

Really, Joon-woo had no plans to overwork his body this time around. Not because he didn't want to, he would if he could. But he knew his body couldn't handle it. He was stressed and stretched beyond his limit as being pushed to center and by Producer Jang-Soo. Really, if he tried to do anything like he had during the 'Fire' dance challenge, he would've passed out.

Joon-woo sent Reggie a threatening glare and discreetly pushed Reggie's hand off of his shoulder. He avoided looking at Baek Du-Ho. "Yes… After all, I need to work hard as the center…" He spoke, desperately trying to hide the displeasure in his voice.

Baek Du-Ho narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Joon-woo and Joon-woo returned the glare happily. Really, who did this two-faced, arrogant, fake he was? Suggesting Joon-woo as center and selecting a song was probably only a camera ploy anyway.

Noticing the rise in tension, Ryeo Hyun, who had stayed silent throughout the whole interaction, stepped up. "Actually, why don't we all stay a little longer to practice? I, too, have to work on my footwork during the chorus…"

'As expected as a leader.' Joon-woo thought, his anger towards Baek Du-Ho dissipating at Ryeo Hyun's words.

Baek Du-Ho looked to Joon-woo, then to Ryeo Hyun, then to the floor. "Fine, okay…"

Joon-woo wasn't sure if it was only him that could tell. But from his shorter height, he swore he saw swabs of red engulfing Baek Du-Ho's face. 'Pathetic' Joon-woo scoffed with a petty face.

–+–

Joon-woo entered Producer Jang-Soo's office. His steps were short and tense and his face was as hard as he could make it.

Producer Jang-Soo sat behind a desk cluttered with pens, papers, and a laptop open to a screen Joon-woo couldn't see. In front of the desk was a chair pre-pulled out. Joon-woo eyed it.

"Take a seat, Joon-woo." Producer Jang-Soo instructed, "I just want to go further in debt about our conversation yesterday. Nothing too heavy." He smiled a small smile. Like Jung Hyun-Ok's smiles but much more sinister. It sent a shiver down Joon-woo's spine.

Joon-woo took a cautious seat. His hands were folded carefully on his lap as his legs pressed together as much as they could. He stayed silent.

"I thought I was quite clear of what I wanted yesterday, y'know." Producer Jang-Soo began. "But when I checked with the editors last night, I think you know that I found anything but what I asked. Do I need to repeat my demands to you as your superior?" His voice was low and threatening and empty.

Joon-woo looked at his hands in his lap. "No, senior…" He replied.

Producer Jang-Soo sighed, taking his laptop and facing it towards Joon-woo. Joon-woo held a gasp.

A video. A paused video sat on screen. It was security camera footage just outside the dormitory. It was late and the only light came from the street lights. Producer Jang-Soo pressed play.

The from empty scene, a slight whisper then a hush was heard from the distance. Joon-woo recognized the figure that first entered the scene, Jung Hyun-Ok. Then there was Bo Jaesang, then Ryeo Hyun.

It was the night they snuck out to buy snacks.

Joon-woo made slight eye contact with Producer Jang-Soo.

"Judging by your reaction, I think you know very well what this video is." Producer Jang-Soo hummed. "Jung Hyun-Ok was in first, last time I checked. Ryeo Hyun and Bo Jaesang not far behind…"

Joon-woo gulped.

"The only reason these three haven't been lectured and penalized for this, is because– well, I think you know." Producer Jang-Soo tapped at the desk, taking his laptop back and shutting it. "So choose wisely, yeah? All I want from you to play into a nice and close-knit friendship."

Joon-woo clenched his fists. 'F*ck, you f*cking bastard.' He thought. "Senior, with all due respect, what do you gain out of this?" Joon-woo asked.

Producer Jang-Soo huffed, "Viewership. Fangirls always love this stuff, no?"

Yeah, Joon-woo should've expected that answer. He pursed his lips. "How long?"

Producer Jang-Soo smiled, this time a little bigger.

"Joon-woo?" Ryeo Hyun asked, squatting down to Joon-woo's level, as Joon-woo was sitting against the practice room walls.

Joon-woo's eyes widened as he realized that he had gotten lost in his own thoughts again and the water he had sat to drink had spilled over his shirt. "Oh– Oh, oh my god…" He muttered in embarrassment.

Joon-woo quickly placed the water down, twisting the cap on as his skin shivered against the cold water seeping through his sweat-stained t-shirt.

Ryeo Hyun quickly handed Joon-woo a clean sweat towel. Gaze shifted from Baek Du-Ho and Reggie, who were going over the chorus's choreo in slow steps, to Joon-woo. "Got a bit lost in your thoughts, huh?" He asked.

Joon-woo ashamedly nodded in reply. Was his habit of such really so apparent or was Ryeo Hyun just monstrously observant?

"I feel ya'. Let's go clean up in the bathroom?" Ryeo Hyun said, standing and offering a hand to Joon-woo.

Hesitantly, Joon-woo took it. His body shivered as the not-yet dried water ran down his chest. Ryeo Hyun waved to the worried group, "Be right back, guys." Joon-woo didn't want to see their faces as Ryeo Hyun dragged him by the wrist out the practice room.

Joon-woo pulled away as soon as the door closed. "Hyung– I can clean myself up, thank you." He tried to excuse, but a fiery gaze in Ryeo Hyun's eyes shut him up.

"Joon-woo," Ryeo Hyun began to speak but stopped himself. He gestured to the camera-less bathroom a few rooms down. "That's not all I want to say to you."

Joon-woo gulped. Would he be interrogated, caught by Ryeo Hyun and his ever-observing eyes again? His thoughts ran as he let Ryeo Hyun drag him into the bathroom.

And as the bathroom door closed behind him, Ryeo Hyun got a handful or two of paper towels and practically shoved them into Joon-woo's hands. Joon-woo muttered a quick thanks and cleaned his shirt. He approached the sink and dried at the more soaked spots along is shirt.

"You're avoiding us, Reggie, Du-Ho-ssi, and I. Reggie the most." Ryeo Hyun suddenly spoke, a step behind Joon-woo.

Joon-woo watched Ryeo Hyun through the sink counter's mirror, as Ryeo Hyun watched Joon-woo's reflection.

"I've refrained from pressing for a while now, Joon-woo. From that day in the practice room during 'Fire', to your panic attacks on multiple occasions. But I'm gonna press now, because I can't just watch you self-destruct from a distance anymore." Ryeo Hyun spoke low, not angry, but stern. "What's going on?"