Chương 32: Roomies (8)

Joon-woo could hear the banter from outside the small bathroom.

"–was just in the hallway?" Jung Hyun-Ok asked, voice low.

"Yeah– he was shaking just against the wall." Ryeo Hyun replied.

"Oh no– and there was no one, no staff, no team nearby?"

Ryeo Hyun sighed, "I mean– he was muttering something. But he was half delusional."

Joon-woo overheard his roommates with his ear pressed against the bathroom door. He hadn't cried, thank god. But still, concern would attack him full force. He had splashed his face with cold water, and had sat for a few minutes in the small camera-less cramped bathroom. He had avoided the mirror like a hawk, he had learned his lesson already.

And his wrist. Now that he was levelheaded, he had actually gotten a good look at it. And damn, how hard did Rank want to restrain him? His wrist was already purple and noticeably so.

"Do all your teammates have the urge to physically assault you?" Kite, who Joon-woo had kinda forgotten about, spoke up.

Joon-woo chuckled, "I guess so."

"You'd probably make more money through a settlement than this show at this point." Kite continued, as if satisfied with his accomplishment of making Joon-woo laugh.

"Mm, maybe." Joon-woo listlessly replied, feeling a bit numb.

He turned his focus to his roommate's words. He was faced with the continuation of words from Ryeo Hyun, " I think that his wrist–" He began, a bit cautious to reveal.

Joon-woo quickly turned the knob his hand had been listlessly placed against . He didn't want them to know that and Ryeo Hyun was already enough, always catching Joon-woo when he was at his very worst.

He pushed open the door, ultimately stopping Ryeo Hyun from finishing his sentence. Joon-woo stuffed his hands and ultimately his wrists in his hoodie pocket. He looked at his group of roommates, his expression knowingly hardened.

Bo Jaesang immediately opened his mouth upon seeing Joon-woo, "What– happened?" He asked, cautiously tilting his head as if curious.

Joon-woo hadn't thought that part out. What he was gonna say, how he was gonna explain himself. He looked to the ground and gulped.

"I don't– I don't– Um…" Joon-woo began, confused, confused and being pierced by concerned gazes.

"Was it your trainer? A staff?" Bo Jaesang began to list, being shut up by Ryeo Hyun.

Joon-woo didn't reply. If he said it was his team, he knew that his roommates wouldn't take it lightly. And more tension, more violence would build. And Joon-woo would be in the middle of it all.

After a few moments of silence, Ryeo Hyun sighed, placing a hand light upon Joon-woo's shoulder, but not grabbing it. Not grabbing it and Joon-woo didn't feel trapped, not stuck and in control of himself.

"You don't have to say it." Ryeo Hyun said, "Just– just rest for a little." He instructed, but his words were soft, as if a choice.

"Yes, we have to record again soon anyway." Jung Hyun-Ok agreed, finally opening his mouth after listlessly staring.

Joon-woo nodded, his mouth forced shut by his lack of words. "Yes." He said, voice small.

Jung Hyun-Ok , who stood in front of their shared bunk bed, made way for Joon-woo. Joon-woo sat on his bed, still avoiding any looks. He lied, finally slipping his wrist out of his pockets once under a thin blanket. He lightly rubbed at it, sleep overtaking him before he could even care to register its stinging.

–+–

@jkookarchives

-Producer10 Ryeo Hyun is actually my boyfriend ya'll

47 reposts 12 quotes 1,021 likes

@misas_left_toe

-that's actually so funny because he's actually mine

@singerwake23

-that's fine as long as Hyun-Ok is mine

@brizeegirly

-help Joon-woo and Reggie are so cute 😭

*insert photo of Joon-woo standing next to Reggie*

140 reposts 25 quotes 2,433 likes

@05liners_

-omg how tall is the shorter one?????

@smkoala

-Joon-woo is either 5'6' or 5'5' I'm pretty sure but Reggie is like

six feet so he looks shorter here…

@sungz4life

-the long hair?? hello??? 🫢🫢🫢🫢

@jkookarchives

-ikkkkkkk Joon-woo's such a cutie patootie

@jiwonsolos1

-there's no way you guys r actually watching Producer10

they are ALREADY showing Mi Yong so much bias…

@miyongs_leftball

-girl don't even play 💀💀💀💀💀

Joon-woo chuckled at his Witter discoveries. Banter left and right, usernames as out of pocket as could be. He had taken a nap as per Ryeo Hyun's advice, but had woken up with half an hour to spare.

He decided to waste it on Witter. It seemed that Mi Yong had the most hatred coming this way, perhaps the amount of screentime Mi Yong had gotten, hadn't actually benefited him. In fact, it was Jung Hyun-Ok and Ryeo Hyun who had the most love.

Joon-woo almost smiled, as even Reggie was getting some recognition.

@coraskpopvault

-if Reggie Lee doesn't debut I'm actually gonna kill myself!! 😀

26 reposts 4 quotes 257 likes

@busanwings

-oh that's not…

It was a bit… aggressive, but the love was there. Joon-woo screenshotted in the hopes of catching Reggie at some point today or tomorrow.

"Are you looking at social media reactions already?" Jung Hyun-Ok asked from the bunk above, perhaps recognizing the quiet buzzes that came from Joon-woo's phone.

Joon-woo paused, "Mm…"

"They won't be accurate as of now… since only the first episode is out." Jung Hyun-Ok reasoned.

"I know. I'm just curious." Joon-woo replied, a 20% warning coming up on his screen. He groaned. "My phones gonna die, shit…" He quietly cursed.

"Already? How old is your phone model…" Jung Hyun-Ok judged, the bed above creaking as if he was sitting up.

Joon-woo shrugged, "I'm pretty sure it's the 7? I don't remember…"

Jung Hyun-Ok hissed, "Really? That's a worse one than Yong-ssi. I think he had an–"

The two exchanged dialogue, before a too eager Bo Jaesang suddenly appeared at the door. He opened it, slamming it against the wall. Joon-woo was scared it had broken.

"Guys– guys! Come quick!" Bo Jaesang hurried, juxtaposed with Jung Hyun-Ok and Joon-woo's calm figures. "They want all the contestants to gather a few minutes early!"

Joon-woo groaned, sitting up and reading the clock above. It was 5:15 P.M.. It was 15 minutes too early in Joon-woo's book. But still, he stood and lightly stretched at his legs that had grown tight with rest.

He still made sure to hide his bruised wrist in the pocket of his almost-oversized hoodie. It was then Jung Hyun-Ok had made his way down from the top bunk, also adjusting himself in a more presentable way.

It was then Bo Jaesang waved them out of the dorm room, quickly and urgently despite the cameras not yet rolling.

"I think we're gonna pre-record something about our PR videos… At least that's what Ryeo Hyun said, but I have no idea where he went…" Bo Jaesang rambled, "Hyun-Ok Hyung, doesn't that stuff go on after the third episode airs though? Only the first is aired… I don't even know when the second episode airs–"

Jung Hyun-OK sighed, a fond smile growing on his face as he listened to the rambles of Bo Jaesang. "We're probably gonna do those lives after the third episode airs, yes." He confirmed.

"Which one are you hoping for Hyung?" Bo Jaesang asked, head tilted as if genuinely interested.

Joon-woo found Bo Jaesang as refreshing as loud. But he filled the silence well, Joon-woo thought.

"Hmm… Something that would catch the attention of viewers." Jung Hyun-Ok replied after careful consideration.

"Ehh– that's vague. I would choose mukbang or something… Something that's silly but also a bit normal?" Bo Jaesang replied, suddenly turning to Joon-woo. "What would you want Joon-woo?"

Joon-woo flinched up, not expecting to be included in the conversation, "Oh, uh. I think I would like guitar…" He replied.

Hyun-Ok and Bo Jaesang turned to Joon-woo, a bit surprised by his answer. "You can play guitar?"

Joon-woo looked away and shyly nodded, "Yeah, I've played for a while." He confirmed, the fondness of a guitar filling his mind. He loved playing it for fans, friends, and whoever else cared to listen. His guitar playing skills as Ha-rin, were the only talent or his that wasn't completely capitalized on. He felt as if he owned it, and it wasn't just a part of his leader persona as Ha-rin.

Bo Jaesang nodded, "Geez, you're really an all-rounder…"

Jung Hyun-Ok smiled at the words, nodding along.

It was then they made it to the stage and ranking room. They found it full. Full of almost 40 contestants and plenty of camera-equipped staff. As if they were some of the last. Joon-woo felt a bit ashamed as eyes fell on their little trio.

His eyes trailed around the room and landed on the familiar group of Mi Yong, Reggie, and Ryeo Hyun. And Joon-woo, felt his stomach bubble with warmth. He'd missed having people that he genuinely got along with. It was a breath of fresh air from before.

Before being his lonely doodling days of Ha-rin. Before being stuck in the recording room with the rest of Team Ten, trapped under the title of PD Pick. Before being the quiet strumming of a guitar in the empty Cheerleader dorm during holidays.

He approached, using his height to hide between Jung Hyun-Ok and Bo Jaesang as stares followed them. Reggie was the first to notice, his face lighting up when he saw them. When he saw Joon-woo.

"You guys are finally here…" Mi Yong scolded, looking at Hyun-Ok and Joon-woo shamefully.

"Sorry Hyung–" Joon-woo went to apologize, but Hyun-Ok had covered his mouth.

"No– don't apologize to him, we were told 5:30…" Jung Hyun-Ok said, nodding his head playfully at Mi Yong.

Reggie smiled at the interaction, waving to Joon-woo as they approached.

"Joon-woo-ssi, we haven't seen each other all day…" Reggie complained, moaning about time management in hurried English.

Joon-woo shrugged, "We're on different teams."

"Yes but I wish we weren't…" He pouted, making Joon-woo laugh.

Suddenly, the lights dimming shut them up. The lights dimming shut every contestant up. Producer Jang-soo entered the stage, red megaphone in hand and with a less serious expression on his face.