17. Position (2)

17. Position (2)

"We're here, guys."

"...Thank you for your hard work."

Hwang Bo-kyun, Ryu Hyun-seung, and Seol Yi-soo appeared with Ji Young-heon. They said they were going to take profile pictures, but they were definitely gorgeous when they were dressed up.

Hwang Bo-kyun found the camera and ran over to wave.

"How's the recording going?"

Ji Young-heon asked while placing various drinks on the table. Seol Yi-soo also looked around the recording booth curiously.

"Aram-hyung finished the first recording, and now we're going to start recording Jung-woo. He just got in."

Hwang Bo-kyun and Ryu Hyun-seung stopped at the same time. They looked like they heard something unbelievable.

"Didn't you start recording 7 hours ago?"

"Um... We started when the hyungs went to shoot, so that's about it, right?"

"I guess the recording took longer than I thought."

I waved my hand lightly and motioned for them to sit, and they both sat on the sofa. Ryu Hyun-seung's arm was grabbed by Baek Han-gyul as soon as he sat down.

"Hyungnim, hyungnim. How was the profile photoshoot? Did you get your face and hair done? You're so handsome. Please tell me what you think."

Ryu Hyunseung blinked his eyes, dumbfounded by the rapid-fire questions. Soon, he was shaken here and there by Baek Han-gyul's power.

Hwang Bo-kyun, who was watching him, burst out laughing.

"Ahahaha! Hyunseung, you're like that. A deflated balloon?"

"...You're going to film tomorrow too. Stop laughing, hyung, please..."

"Still! I'm worried that I'll make a mistake if I go without knowing anything."

"I don't know either."

"Hahahaha!"

We don't have to worry about the behind-the-scenes audio being empty. I looked at Ahn Jung-woo, who had entered the recording booth, leaving behind the commotion that had suddenly become loud. Ahn Jung-woo was wearing a headset and checking the lyrics.

"Are you ready?"

- Yeah, I'm ready.

"Okay, then let's start with the chorus."

Seol Yi-soo was looking at the lyrics, Hwang Bo-kyun was laughing heartily, Lee A-ram was quenching his thirst with water, and Ryu Hyun-seung and Baek Han-gyul were arguing.

'I have to finish this quickly and send the kids home.'

After looking through everything, I gave the okay sign with my finger. The recording studio started to play a song again.

***

"...It's over."

I stretched my neck to the sides. I felt proud because the work turned out better than I expected. It was time to leave work.

"Thank you for your hard work."

I leaned back on my chair and felt tired. But there was no answer.

I turned my head in confusion.....

"....."

I saw the members lying on the sofa. All of them except for Seol Yi-soo.

'Lee Aram and Ahn Jungwoo, who recorded today, are okay, but why are the other guys acting like that?'

What's more, Ahn Jungwoo finished recording quickly. He was so good and absorbed advice like a sponge, so there was nothing to criticize.

But they were all tired that day.

"Well, are you all alive?"

When I poked Baek Han-gyul, his head snapped up. His half-opened eyes were swollen.

"...Hyung, can you see the clock?"

"Clock?"

I checked my clock belatedly. It was 8:42 AM.

I remember sending the engineer off work halfway, but I must have stayed up all night without realizing it.

'But why are these guys here instead of going to the dorms?'

Lee A-ram, who noticed my question, shook Ahn Jung-woo, who was sleeping. Hwang Bo-kyun, who was next to Ahn Jung-woo, also shook.

"We decided to stay today because we thought you'd stay up all night alone. We didn't talk to you because you seemed focused. The manager went out for a bit."

You stayed only for me...? Lee A-ram nodded and yawned. I was grateful for the unexpected reason but also bewildered. When you're tired, it's hard to take care of yourself, but it's not uncommon for people to take care of others.

"...Thank you."

Seol Yi-soo pats me on the shoulder, saying no big deal.

An Jung-woo, who had woken up, pressed his eyes shut. He felt his throat dry as he groped the table, drank the damp Americano, and coughed.

"Cough, cough....... Cough... Ah, it's coffee."

"...Drink this."

Lee A-ram sighed and handed An Jung-woo water. I felt sorry for no reason. What should I say at a time like this? As I was choosing my words, Lee A-ram shook his head.

"Let's just get off work."

Hwang Bo-kyun opened his eyes after sensing the presence. The guy who had been rolling his eyes in a half-asleep state searched through his pockets for his cell phone.

"Ugh... Is it over now? Should I call the manager? Hyun-seung, wake up. Let's go to the dorm."

"Oh, you're not awake. Gyeol-ah, let's go."

"Okay. Hyunseung hyung, wake up."

Ryu Hyunseung, who had collapsed as if dead, climbed onto the sofa and rolled up. Has this guy been sleeping on the floor all this time?

Baek Han-gyul, who was trying to wake Ryu Hyunseung, jumped up. He was completely out of his mind.

"Can't you do something about that expression?"

"What's wrong with my expression?"

I touched my face at Aram's words. It's no different than usual.

"You're smiling happily as if you're looking at a young nephew."

"....."

I scratched my cheek while trying to keep my expression straight. Meanwhile, Ji Young-heon, who had received a call from Hwang Bo-kyun, opened the door to the recording studio and appeared. He came over with coffee and a sweet smell like candy.

Ji Young-heon, who was holding his cell phone, said with a face full of excitement.

"Our group name is out...!"

....Did I leave the group name to the company? I blink slowly and search my memory. The members looked at Ji Young-heon with faces full of anticipation. Even Ryu Hyun-seung looked at him with a face that had woken up.

"The group name is...... "

Ji Young-heon hesitated and heightened the tension. I wondered why he would do such a thing for just a group name, but since all the members seemed to be enjoying it, I left it alone.

"...It's Intro (INT'LO)...!"

It sucks.

I almost frowned unconsciously but held it back. Why are all the names of the groups I've been a part of, from Planet to Intro, all the same?

'I'm an idiot for trusting the company.......'

This time, it was a mistake thinking that since it wasn't Pyo Seung-soo who would name it, I let it slide. If you're going to give a name, it'd be better if you gave a decent name.

The members didn't seem to care much, but I didn't like it.

"It's not bad, since it's an intro."

"I think it's a bit strange. It's a word that originally has a meaning."

"This is a nobleman!"

Ji Young-heon looked at the members' reactions and relayed the words of CEO Son Dong-young, who named the group. The atmosphere changed positively after learning the meaning of the name.

I still didn't like it. Anyway, Ji Young-heon continued his business.

"And I heard the company is about to decide on a group leader. Do you think the members have any other opinions?"

The atmosphere froze in an instant. At first glance, it seemed like they were thinking, 'Wasn't the company supposed to decide the leader?'

'The reason the company doesn't decide it directly and asks us for our opinions...is it because of the cameras?'

The team atmosphere changes depending on who the leader is.

Planet's members, including the leader, were thoroughly self-managed, and in the case of the junior group Ter, the leader Nine seemed to take care of the members affectionately and meticulously and discipline them.

So if possible, someone with good leadership skills would be good. The problem is that all the members seem reluctant to be leaders.

'This is going crazy.'

A strange silence flowed through the recording studio.

***

Surprisingly, the first one to speak was Ryu Hyunseung. Ryu Hyunseung, who was completely awake, rubbed his eyes and said.

"...I recommend Kyun-i hyung."

"Me?"

When Hwang Bo-kyun pointed at himself with his finger, Ryu Hyunseung nodded vigorously. He showed tremendous trust in him, perhaps because he had received a lot of help from living together at the label.

Hwang Bo-kyun seemed flustered, but thanks to his quick-changing personality, he quickly regained his composure.

"Haha, thank you for recommending me, but let's hear what the other guys think."

"I've only been here for a short time, so I'll follow other people's opinions."

"I'll follow."

Ahn Jung-woo pulled his upper body back and declared neutrality, and Baek Han-gyul followed suit and shook his hand.

While they were exchanging awkward glances, Lee A-ram intervened with an indifferent expression. It seemed like he didn't like this frustrating situation.

"Since the leader is usually the oldest, I think it would be better to have Yi-soo hyung or Hwang Bo-kyun as the leader."

"What about you?"

"I'm not the type to be a leader, am I?"

That's right, Lee A-ram isn't the type to lead the members as a leader.

When Lee A-ram frowned and shuddered, Hwang Bo-kyun, who received that gaze, stared at me intently.

Why are you so anxious?

"Young-ah, you'll try being the leader..."

"I won't."

If there's a fight between the members, I'll have to mediate between the kids, and just thinking about it is horrible.

'... I'll never do it.'

Moreover, Yoo Young is the second youngest in terms of physical age. Since appearances are also important, I think the leader should be someone who is physically older.

I glanced at Seol Yi-soo and saw that he was also looking at Hwang Bo-kyun with gentle eyes.

After a brief silence, Lee Aram stared at Hwang Bo-kyun and offered his opinion.

"I want you to do it, Hwang Bo-kyun. Aren't you the one who contacts the manager the most?"

"......Well, Young-i communicates more with the company than I do, and isn't it ambiguous for me to be the leader?"

Is that so? I think that's different from this. Hwang Bo-kyun rubbed the back of his neck with an unconfident tone, unlike usual. When I felt strange, Lee Aram frowned.

"What are you talking about? Who else is the leader here besides you? Yi-soo hyung? Me? Even if there's a fight between the members, that hyung is usually positive, so he'll let the kids figure it out on their own, and I'll try to stop the fight and then fight along?"

Should I say that he's very objective, or should I say that he's pessimistic? Lee Aram hit his chest with his fist, feeling frustrated.

"Or what, Ryu Hyun-seung? Does he look like someone who would express his opinion between us?"

"......Uh, A-ram hyung...?"

Baek Han-gyul tried to grab Lee A-ram's arm, but was pushed back by his momentum and fled to my side. It was quite heartbreaking to see him flutter and fall like a deflated air doll.

"An Jung-woo hasn't been here long since he joined Lime, so he probably doesn't know our company's style yet, and Yoo Young is the general producer. Are we going to work him to death? If we take everyone else out, there's only one youngest member left. Do you want to leave the youngest as the leader?"

That's all true, but... is it okay to say it so directly? This isn't the picture the company wanted. All the members, including me, couldn't continue speaking and looked at A-ram. He gulped down water with a look on his face that made him chew on something.

"Why would the kids all recommend you? You're the most responsible and have the strongest leadership here. Do you really need me to say this?"

"Well...... Calm down for now, A-ram."

Hwang Bo-kyun, who had been quietly listening, calmed A-ram down while sweating profusely. A-ram sighed deeply and ran his hands over his hair. His face was slightly red, as if he wasn't used to receiving compliments.

"Don't act annoying and act like you normally do."

"Uh... uh? Yeah."

When Aram seemed to have calmed down a bit, I didn't miss the opportunity to lighten the mood. If I do this wrong, he might rebel, so I have to calm him down gently.

'I should ask them to edit out the conversation from earlier.'

After glancing at the camera, I chose my words.

"Hyung, Aram hyung recommended you because everyone trusted you, so I don't think you need to think so badly about it."

"That's right, right now you're the one who's in charge of contacting the manager."

Hwang Bo-kyun stroked his chin as if recalling the past at Ahn Jung-woo and I's words. It seemed like he realized that what we said wasn't wrong.

'As Aram said, Hwang Bo-kyun is the most suitable leader.'

He seems to be used to mixing with people, seems to be somewhat perceptive, and has a cheerful personality.

I don't know why he's so insecure.

"Is there a reason you're hesitant? Or is the position of leader burdensome?"

He smiled sheepishly at Ahn Jung-woo's cautious question.

"It must be burdensome.... But I can take responsibility for that level of burden."

"Then why are you like that...?"

At this point, I started to wonder why. Hwang Bo-kyun looked around and then slowly avoided our eyes.

'Huh?'

The reaction was strange.......

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Hwang Bo-kyun, and he eventually confessed the truth.

-