Kapitel 82: Sponsors (2)
Kite sat both protectively and fearfully on Joon-woo's shoulder. In front of Joon-woo, who sat crisscrossed on the dorm floor, was Carre. The two sponsors stared each other down with death glares.
Joon-woo rubbed at his temples. The whole confusion of everything today was getting to him and these supposed supernatural sponsors were being anything but helpful.
"Sitting on his shoulder so protectively, but aren't you a weakling?" Carre teased Kite.
Kite shook it's head frantically, "Shut up! You don't even have a person to sponsor!"
Joon-woo flicked Kite in the forehead and went to pick up Carre by her nape. The siamese protested for a moment, but her body fell limp in Joon-woo's control after a moment.
"Stop it, both of you." Joon-woo scolded in a low whisper, not wanting to wake Reggie who slept soundly in his bed.
Kite flinched, knowing the harsh tone well. Carre just started licking her paw, pretending to be uncaring about Joon-woo's annoyance.
"I just want an explanation. I just wanna know what the f*ck is going on and why no one remembers Producer Jang-Soo." Joon-woo bluntly stated. He knew being vague would get his point nowhere with these buffoons.
Carre paused, stopping herself mid-cleaning and sighing. "I told you, he's passed on." She explained like the words would even help.
Joon-woo shook his head, "But why? How?"
Kite stayed silent.
Carre sighed in annoyance like Joon-woo was a thorn in her side. "You were put into the body of that kid for a purpose, weren't you? Once you fulfill that purpose, you've finished your job and you can pass on." She explained.
"And passing on… It means to forget?" Joon-woo questioned, his brain was still stuck on the fact this was a common thing, successful people of a career being put into the bodies of those who've failed in the same career.
"...Yeah, it does." Kite revealed quietly.
Joon-woo looked at the ground as he tried to piece together the bizarre words he was hearing. His work of getting Producer Jang-Soo to fall was worth nothing? Would he even have a chance at debut? Or was the final line-up in its pre-decided form still valid? What did that mean for him?
"So when I finish my job… if I even do… will they forget me too?" Joon-woo asked, wanting to be sure. A part of him didn't want to leave the group of friends he had made.
Carre scoffed, "Duh."
Kite tightened his grip on Joon-woo's shoulder, "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier…"
Joon-woo sank into himself. Really, this was too much. He was doing all this hard work just to be forgotten? "But I'm not debuting. Not now, that you've gone and erased Producer Jang-Soo to whatever Hell or Heaven there is. Really, why would I, bust my *ss in a career that quite literally made me take my own life, just so my hours and days of work will be forgotten? What's the point?"
Neither Kite nor Carre replied.
"Tell me? What punishment would I face if I killed myself right now?" Joon-woo asked, trying to keep his yells to a whisper. "How could it ever be worse than being forced to relive a career that– killed you!"
"Joon-woo…" Kite muttered, trying to calm Joon-woo.
Carre sighed, "It's just protocol, kid. We don't have a say, we just listen to orders."
Joon-woo looked up at the ceiling trying to conceal his rage. "I don't care about your stupid protocols! Really, why would anyone complete these 'missions' if it's all for nothing?!"
"Don't you want to die?" Carre asked, snappy as if offended.
"Huh?" Joon-woo asked.
"You killed yourself for a reason. All of you people I sponsor at least thought of suicide." Carre huffed.
Joon-woo paused. Did he want to die? Did he want to be forgotten? Recently he had been… happier. He enjoyed talking to Reggie and the others, social media didn't scare him shitless, he was having fun singing and dancing.
He knew an idol career could only be fun for so long before everything came to a bore. But he liked this feeling, he liked that he had a second chance to debut in a way without constant fear.
"What if I want to live..?" Joon-woo asked. "I don't… I don't want to be forgotten. I want to debut and–"
Carre laughed. She laughed hard. "Kid, don't mess around. You're dead. You chose to kill yourself and you're dead. Think of this as you borrowing the body of someone else. You don't own it. Jung Ha-rin, Park Joon-woo was his own person."
Joon-woo took the truth like a blow. Yeah. He probably needed that reminder. All his friendships he had bloomed here were in the body not his. He wasn't Park Joon-woo. He wasn't anything but dead.
He stayed silent. He waited for Carre to disappear as she did earlier.
"Well? Haven't you said enough?" Kite asked, trying to shoo Carre away.
Carre didn't reply for a moment, and to Joon-woo's surprise, suddenly curled up against him.
"Hmm, no… I think I'll sponsor you, Jung Ha-rin." Carre cooed, purring against Joon-woo's arm.
–+–
"Oh, let me tell you a story
When I was very small
Believing on unsuspecting story
You'll definitely get sick someday if you lie
You taught me to be young–"
Mi Yong sung and his voice was soft yet curt as the song demanded. He was clearly experienced, as his tone remained stable and consistent. It was admirable for a person his age, Joon-woo thought.
"Listen carefully, look at this
You lock me up in a wonderful fantasy
Spit out your true intentions
Tie a child's pure day with a string
Like a puppet
Click-clack, click-clack–"
Sa Jung-Soo and Cha Ji-Hyuk split the verse in two. While they both relied on their above-average dance, their vocals sat average for a contestant, which meant a bit shaky. Cha Ji-Hyuk sung in a key lower than the original and Sa Jung-Soo a bit higher.
"Strawberry cake
Sweet together is fake
Your words make me slowly
It rots me badly
Sweet candy liar–"
Mi Yong couldn't help but crack a smile when Joon-woo sang his part of the chorus. The vocal trainer scolded Mi Yong soon after, yapping about some need to be serious on stage to match the vibe of the song. However, on the face of the trainer, was a smile all the same.
"Run to the fire pit
I'm a hater now
Do it whatever happens…"
Ryeo Hyun followed after and his voice was husky in all the ways Joon-woo's still deepening voice was.
The music paused, then.
"And here is where you want the guitar segment to be?" The vocal trainer asked.
Joon-woo nodded. "Yes. It should be finished by tonight."
The vocal trainer smiled bright, patting Joon-woo on the head. She showed obvious favoritism towards Joon-woo that made the other team members roll their eyes.
"Perfect." The vocal trainer nodded. "Then let's continue from the pre-chorus…"
Across the room, Carre and Kite sat at an awkward distance to each other. They watched the scene of singing boys in silence.
They listened to the blend of voices, cringing at a failed high note of Sa Jung-Soo or Cha Ji-Hyuk and growing addicted to the blend of Mi Yong and Joon-woo's voices.
"Aren't they quite talented?" Carre asked, in a prolonged moment of awkward silence.
Kite ignored the siamese, its face was plastered in annoyance.
Carre exaggeratedly huffed at Kite's ignorance. She playfully rubbed up against Kite as the other tried to pry away.
"C'mon, don't be a prude with me now… We'll be working together for the next few years after all." Carre sighed, taking a disappointed tone.
"..Get off of me before I hit you." Kite grumbled.
–+–
Ryeo Hyun and Joon-woo shared earphones while listening to the original guitar segment Joon-woo had written. They were on their way back to the dorm and satisfied with the day's practice.
Joon-woo's mind was a little less heavy with truths cleared up. And he knew how crazy that sounded, being so calm after getting told that he would be forgotten by everything he was building and had yet to build. It was oddly calming. He wondered if Producer Jang-Soo felt more at peace now.
One thing that slightly concerned him was if that predetermined debut line was still in play. He really wanted to debut with them. Ryeo Hyun, Bark Du-Ho, Mi Yong, Jung Hyun-Ok, and Reggie, especially Reggie.
He imagined how fun it would be to have genuine friendships with your bandmates. He could do what Ha-rin never got to do.
As they approached the dorm door, expecting the joyful Reggie to welcome them, ask about their days, and smile like he did on the usual.
But instead, when they opened the door, they were met with a teary faced Reggie Lee.
Seeing Joon-woo, Reggie ran into the other's arms despite their height difference.
"R-Reggie?" Joon-woo asked, shocked to see his usually joyful friend in tears.
Reggie sobbed into Joon-woo's soldier, unresponsive. Joon-woo exchanged a long worried glance with Ryeo Hyun.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Ella_Is_Annoying
Ella_Is_Annoying I LOVE XDINARY HEROES GUYSSSSSSSSSSS :DDDDDD
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