章 55: Fake Love (7)

The next day is where it all fell to shit. The next day, on top of a million stresses and more, Joon-woo opened Witter to a mess he expected never to see.

He awoke to an unnamed clatter. He awoke to Bo Jaesang's fist hitting against the wall as he read something on his phone. And as he groggily rubbed at his eyes and ruffled at his bedhead, he watched Bo Jaesang curiously.

"Sorry, sorry for waking you Joon-woo-ssi…" Bo Jaesang weakly spoke, rubbing at his temples with a pace.

Joon-woo narrowed his gaze, concerned. He found Ryeo Hyun's bed empty and the clock still at 7:31 A.M.. He looked back to Bo Jaesang after his analysis.

"Did something happen?" Joon-woo quietly questioned.

Bo Jaesang paused and cautiously held his phone out for Joon-woo to see. "Look, read. I— I don't think I can actually explain it well." His voice stressed with a certain urgency.

Joon-woo nodded, reading at the screen below. His eyes widened.

@Anonymous3432423

Ryeo Hyun, a popular participant in the new Producer10

season, was mine and many others' bully in highschool.

Under the post were yearbook photos of various students, but most importantly Ryeo Hyun's. And under those photos were varios group photos. In each group photo some variation of Ryeo Hyun was standing in the middle of a group of some hard-faced and some smile-y kids. They all resembled popular kids. From their expressions to their cigarettes a few had in hand, Joon-woo could tell.

Ryeo Hyun in the photos was the same height and just a little less muscly. Ryeo Hyun in the photo… smiled and it looked fitting. Really, was it the same person? Bo Jaesang pulled the phone away from Joon-woo's face after he looked for a moment. The photos… looked real and the young Ryeo Hyun in the photos too.

"Is… is that really Hyun Hyung?" Joon-woo asked cautiously.

Bo Jaesang shook his head, "It's not– there's no way he would do any of this." He spoke with confidence. Joon-woo practically heard the trust coming out of his voice.

He thought to himself, a little unsure. Really, would the Ryeo Hyun who's been looking out for Joon-woo so much do something like this? Ryeo Hyun had quite literally been watching Baek Du-Ho and Joon-woo as if they were hawks about to swing at each other. He had separated them, and Joon-woo had even caught him scolding Baek Du-Ho in the recording room!

So really, would a man so against bullying do such a thing? Joon-woo clenched his fists.

He thought back to that day in the practice room during the first challenge. Where Joon-woo had yelled and Ryeo Hyun had taken his phone and Ryeo Hyun vaguely admitted to being held up from debuting. Joon-woo recalled the memory and pursed his lips.

Joon-woo knew how easily this stuff could be fabricated, how badly it could hurt an idol let alone an aspiring one. But he just couldn't shake the thought. What if Ryeo Hyun was really a bully? What if he was just trying to redeem himself by 'helping' Joon-woo? The thought felt too much like a fact in Joon-woo's mind.

"Where- where is he?" Joon-woo asked, his mind still groggy from his recent waking.

Bo Jaesang anxiously fidgeted with his hands, "The staff, they took him somewhere to talk or something." He explained, nerves clear in his tone.

Joon-woo sighed, Producer Jang-Soo's blackmail now coming to mind. Really, wasn't this enough reason to boot someone from a show? The thought scared Joon-woo and he knew it would scare Bo Jaesang ten times more, so he kept it to himself. But it still lingered. SN=neaking out and a bullying scandal?

"Oh…" Joon-woo replied, "And Jung Hyun-Ok?" He asked, just not noticing that the other was missing.

Bo Jaesang hummed, "I- I think he went over to Yong Hyung and Reggie's room..? I forgot what he said…"

Joon-woo nodded, "Are you– are you okay?" He asked, because clearly Bo Jaseang, the usually cherry teammate, had shaky hands.

Bo Jaesang looked up after staring at his shaky hands for a moment and to Joon-woo. Joon-woo's eyes widened as looked to see the smiley man he knew akin with panic.

–+–

In the practice room, it was quiet. Baek Du-Ho and Reggie had arrived before Joon-woo, and they stood in the corner conversering with slight frowns. And when Joon-woo entered the room, their frowns seemed to deepen.

"Joon-woo…" Reggie spoke, "Have you– have you seen him?"

Joon-woo shook his head, he caught a glimpse of Baek Du-Ho and looked away. Really, wouldn't he irreversibly hate Joon-woo now? The man Joon-woo had 'confided' in him about the bullying he faced in the last challenge, was now getting pressed for bullying rumors.

"I can't believe this, you know. Hyun Hyung would never do something like this…" Reggie muttered and Joon-woo nodded along despite not being too sure himself.

Joon-woo watched Baek Du-Ho for a reaction at Reggie's words, but instead found the other with his usual dead expression. He raised an eyebrow, why wasn't Baek Du-Ho actually angry? Would he have to test the waters more? Joon-woo sighed.

"I know… I bet those photos are edited, Hyun Hyung is way too kind to do something like that." Joon-woo replied to Reggie just loud enough for Baek Du-Ho to hear.

Baek Du-Ho still didn't faltar.

Joon-woo clenched at his fists. If he were Baek Du-Ho, he would be seething to hear such a thing. Someone who scolded him for 'bullying' getting exposed for it?

Reggie, who luckily hadn't caught Joon-woo's testing, turned to Baek Du-Ho with a frown. "Really, he was even helping Du-Ho Hyung with his dance yesterday when I couldn't…"

Baek Du-Ho nodded, "He did help me a lot, I hope he's okay…"

And to Joon-woo's surprise, the words didn't seem like a lie. Baek Du-Ho seemed… genuine. Had Joon-woo perhaps misread their previous interactions? He hadn't recalled actually hearing any words. Hadn't he overread it all? Joon-woo thought with a frown.

Joon-woo narrowed his eyes at Baek Du-Ho. And as he did, the door to the practice room opened. The group looked the doors' way, hoping to see Ryeo Hyun walk through the doors.

But to their, both surprise and disappointment, it was Song Chunghee. He wore his usual clueless expression as he watched the grim expressions of his teammates.

That practice session Ryeo Hyun was nowhere to be found, and the team functioned without.

–+–

Joon-woo wiped his sweaty forehead with a towel while he took a swig at his water. He was exhausted and even that was an understatement. Maybe it was the stress of the last few days mixed with Joon-woo's still-weak body. Maybe it was the fact that his dancing still needed work to be recognized in a crowd of trainees. Joon-woo figured it was his lack of diet in the last few days.

He undid the ponytail of his hair, not paying attention behind him for a moment as the hair tie caught a knot along his hair. He winced and shut his eyes for just a moment, so when Baek Du-Ho appeared behind him, even more sweaty, Joon-woo flinched.

"Hey, Joon-woo– uh–" Baek Du-Ho scratched at his neck, avoiding eye contact with Joon-woo who glared at the other man heavily. "Can we talk? The cameras are off now, I just– I want to actually apologize."

Joon-woo pursed his lips. Baek Du-Ho, who had tried to apologize through a few 10,000 won bills and vague compliments, was not in front of Joon-woo and talking? Was this another ploy to absolutely beat his confidence down again?

Joon-woo stood in silence for a moment, before looking up at the other and nodding, "I suppose…" He replied.

Baek Du-Ho's expression never changed, but instead he turned and gestured to Joon-woo to sit down on the practice room floor as he did. Hesitant, Joon-woo followed. He was curious, what would Baek Du-Ho say? After weeks of avoidance, what was there to say?

"Hyun Hyung– he told me that I should talk to you…" Baek Du-Ho revealed, almost as aloof as Joon-woo.

Joon-woo sighed, hadn't he been spot on?

"Umm– I'm sorry… Y'know for…" Baek DU-Ho tried to speak, but his words trailed off. "Being a dickhead…"

Joon-woo wanted to scoff, but held it, "It's o–" He went to say, just to have some temporary peace between them, but he was interrupted.

"No, don't say that." Baek Du-Ho interrupted, and Joon-woo couldn't hide the offense he took to that in his expression. "I was avoidant– I quite literally gave money instead of talking to you… I just watched you get ridiculed by them…"

Joon-woo stayed silent. Was this real? He thought of pinching himself to check.

"I just– don't want us to hate each other or anything…" Baek Du-Ho admitted.

Joon-woo sighed, "I don't hate you." He lied.

Baek Du-Ho seemed surprised, "Really?"

"I tolerate you." Joon-woo continued, Baek Du-Ho's expression visibly darkening.

Baek Du-Ho nodded, "So, no hate?" He asked, as if in need of validation.

Joon-woo looked at his hands, "No hate. Thank you for apologizing." He spoke, standing and exiting the practice room as calm as he could.

Really, he needed a moment or two to gather his thoughts. About Ryeo Hyun, about Reggie, about Baek Du-Ho, about Producer Jang-Soo, and about being the center. If he didn't he felt he might pass out before he even got the chance to perform.

And as he and his shook expression traversed the hallways, a figure passed by.

A figure of muscle and black hair, a figure intimidating and stoic. Ryeo Hyun. Joon-woo turned, eyes widened. "Hey!" He cried.

But instead, the figure turned, and a simple staff member looked back at Joon-woo. Not Ryeo Hyun. Joon-woo wanted to shrink from embarrassment.

"Oh– Sorry…" He quickly spoke. Really, how tired was he?