100 – A Short Break. (2) "Oh, right. It's already school trip season."
Jin Sohyang lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, as she spoke to the person on the phone. A school trip… I'm jealous. When was the last time I went on one?
Was it when I was in elementary school?
After that, Jin Sohyang had no memories of school trips. Trainee days, debut lineup, then debut. After that, whenever school trip season came around, she had to promote every day.
-So you can't go this year either?
"Looks like it. We're in the middle of second-title-track promotions."
-That's a shame.
"Yeah. Oh—Mr. Hajun, are you going to perform during the school trip again this time?"
-No. Taeyoung keeps trying to rope me into it, but I don't have time to prepare, so I'm passing this time.
At Yoon Hajun's drowsy voice coming through the phone, Jin Sohyang smiled.
Passing this time…
"That's a relief."
-What is?
"Just… it means there's one less stage of yours I won't get to see. I missed your festival stage, and I missed your sister's event stage too. Honestly, I was really curious."
If you go on the school trip, does that mean the first semester is basically over?
In the end, I didn't even make it to school for a full week this entire semester.
Of course, that just means promotions were that busy, but…
Still, it's a shame.
Not being able to go to school,
and not being able to go on the school trip.
"Ahhh… I want to go on a school trip and have fun too."
-Well, it can't be helped.
"Right. It can't be helped."
Jin Sohyang spoke like she was muttering to herself. A deep regret was baked into her voice. Through the phone, Yoon Hajun made a small "hmm," like he was thinking.
Then he spoke in a light tone.
-If you're that disappointed, want to go hang out together later? It's not a school trip, and we can't exactly do a one-night-two-day trip, but… maybe we can at least clear our heads a bit.
"Really?!"
At Yoon Hajun's casual suggestion, Jin Sohyang sat up and answered in a shocked voice. Wait—so he really just asked me to go hang out with him, right?
-If you don't want to, then forget it.
"No, I do. I'm not against it. I'm fine. I…"
-Then after the Hamu Concert ends, should we go?
"Yes. Yes—yes. I can adjust my schedule."
-Then we'll set the date later. I should sleep now.
"Yes! Good night!"
-You too.
With that, the call ended. Staring at the phone after it went quiet, Jin Sohyang's lips twitched. What's wrong with me? I can't manage my expression.
"Hehe."
She couldn't hold it in and let out an idiot grin.
Her heart was pounding like it might burst. Heat rushed up to her face, her cheeks warm.
What is this?
Is it because I'm excited at the thought of hanging out with a friend for the first time in a while?
Yeah… that's probably it.
Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she'd gone out to have fun with a friend.
Ah… what do I even wear then? Do I have anything to wear? Should I order new clothes?
Jin Sohyang got out of bed and rummaged through her wardrobe, then frowned like nothing satisfied her.
Before, when she ate alone with Mr. Hajun, she could ask the unnies and they'd style her.
But she didn't want that.
If she did, they'd follow her, or they'd definitely tease her.
That couldn't happen.
So this time, she had to do everything herself, starting with styling.
After thinking for a moment, Jin Sohyang picked up her phone and opened a select shop's website.
Right. Money is for times like this.
With a more serious expression than ever, Jin Sohyang started online shopping.
§ § §
"What kind of school trip goes to Neverland?"
"So you don't like it?"
At my question, Kim Taeyoung frowned, then immediately broke into a bright smile and gave me a thumbs-up.
"I'm all for it. Water park on day one, Neverland on day two—how is that not the best?"
"But can you even go on a school trip? Won't your company say something?"
"They told me to practice, and I said no. This could be my last school trip—how could I give that up?"
"You're something else."
Seriously, Kim Taeyoung… A guy who hadn't even been a trainee for half a year, and he could ignore his company like that?
If it were anyone else, they'd get kicked out as a trainee immediately.
I can't tell if that's guts, or just a lack of thought.
"So we're moving together again this time, right?"
"Yeah. And with Goyo too—the three of us."
"Hm. That's fine. But it's a water park. Would Goyo even join?"
"Huh?"
"Her image isn't really… that kind of image."
"There are rash guards and stuff. What's the problem?"
At my words, Kim Taeyoung let out a short, exasperated sigh. Seriously, what a hot-blooded brat.
And honestly, setting him aside, I'm not that into splashing around either.
I like looking at water or watching aquatic life, but playing in the water isn't my thing.
"So you're really not going on stage this time?"
"Yeah. I'm not."
"Why? You could get another festival stage slot again."
"If I might not even be able to participate in the festival, what am I going to do with a stage slot?"
The school festival is in October. By then, we'll be filming Singer Star full swing.
Not just the festival—whether I can even show up at school is questionable.
"And this time, I want to rest a bit too."
"Rest? You?"
Kim Taeyoung looked shocked at my words. What's with that face? Is it that surprising that I'm resting?
Well… now that I think about it, I really haven't properly rested since entering Seolwon Arts High.
"Once Singer Star starts, there won't be any time to breathe."
It's not like I never rest when I should. Sometimes I take breaks to clear my head.
But it's true I haven't taken a long one like this.
"That's true. After Singer Star, we'll probably get really busy. You, me, your sister, Goyo."
"Yeah."
Of course, if we get eliminated in prelims or don't make the main round, we won't get busy—we'll be as free as we are now.
But Kim Taeyoung isn't even considering that possibility.
Neither am I.
I know how good the Singer Star contestants are. Among them, it's hard to imagine Suyeon, Goyo, or Taeyoung getting buried.
Unless they mess up, or completely freeze on stage.
And saying those three might do that wouldn't be exaggerating.
So it's "almost."
It's not like Singer Star contestants are weak. Especially the winner, Lim Haein, and the runner-up, Oh Sujeong—their skill is no joke.
Even compared to those three, they don't fall short.
No, they might even be better.
"So yeah. This time, I'm planning to rest properly."
"Good call. Don't think too hard—on the school trip, let's enjoy it as much as we can. Youth only comes once. Yeah. And maybe do some 'hunting' for noona—"
"Ah, get lost."
Seriously. I can't even talk nicely with this bastard.
§ § §
"Yes, understood."
Han Goyo said that as she looked down at the contract in her hands. Her signature was there, and her aunt's signature beside it.
Yeah. In the end, her aunt had allowed it.
Looking at it, her chest stung for some reason, like a sharp jolt.
"Congratulations on becoming a member of the company."
Seo Hoon, the CEO of MM Entertainment, wore a warm, friendly smile. At that, Goyo nodded again.
Her aunt still didn't say a word.
"Now that you've signed, would you like to look around the company?"
"Ah, no. It's okay. I'll go home today."
Normally, she would've said yes, but with her aunt beside her, it was hard.
At Han Goyo's answer, Seo Hoon nodded.
"Yes. Then you can come anytime afterward."
"Yes."
…Still, she had a new place to belong.
Just that alone made Han Goyo feel strangely relieved.
School, and this company—MM Entertainment.
Places where it was okay for her to exist even if she wasn't at home.
And in both places, that person was there.
The person who made her feel the most at ease.
"Then I'll be going."
Han Goyo's aunt, Jeon Subin, stood up. Goyo hurriedly stood as well and followed behind her aunt on the way home.
Jeon Subin didn't say anything.
She just wore an expression that plainly showed her complicated feelings.
Han Goyo. Her older sister's daughter. And the child who stole her own daughter's dream.
Jeon Subin knew it wasn't Goyo's fault. Yes, she knew.
But she couldn't bring herself to cherish Goyo the way she used to.
Because the thought kept coming back.
If she hadn't brought Goyo in, would her own daughter not have gone off the rails?
That thought.
Soon, Jeon Subin and Han Goyo arrived home. Watching Goyo as she headed for her room, Jeon Subin carefully opened her mouth.
"…Work hard as a trainee."
At her aunt's unexpected words, Goyo stopped mid-step.
Work hard.
A phrase her aunt used to say out of habit.
When was the last time she heard it?
"…Yes. I will."
At those words she missed so much, Goyo nodded without turning back.
Yes. She would work hard.
Just like she always had, she would keep working hard.
Because singing was all she had.
After answering, Goyo went into her room.
Then she closed the door.
Staring at that firmly shut door, Jeon Subin let out a sigh.
A person's heart is difficult.
You can't control even your own feelings, and you end up hurting others.
And that hurt stays as a scar, haunting them.
If only she could leave this house and live freely on her own…
Would Goyo be okay then? Without watching her step around her and her husband, without hearing those words from her daughter…
Could she live happily?
But as long as her older sister existed, it wouldn't be easy.
Her sister—Goyo's biological mother.
As long as she was entangled with that woman, it would be hard for Goyo to live freely.
Because that woman used even her own family like possessions.
Using her younger sister like a prop.
Even naming the daughter she had because she wanted one "Goyo," telling her to be quiet because her crying was noisy.
If someone could support Goyo.
If someone could stay by her side so she wouldn't collapse.
That would be wonderful.
Jeon Subin knew herself that this was hypocrisy.
Because it was she and her family who broke Goyo, who isolated her in this house.
But even if it was hypocrisy, that was Jeon Subin's honest feeling.
Meanwhile, behind the tightly shut door—
Han Goyo was staring at the contract.
It still didn't feel real.
The fact that she'd signed with an entertainment company and could debut.
And the fact that she'd soon go on an audition program too.
None of it felt real.
Back then—no, even just a year ago—she couldn't have imagined it.
At the time, she wasn't even thinking about debut.
Just keeping her grades at the very top so she could stay in school was already overwhelming.
She used to be too busy just surviving each day, with no time to worry about the future.
Now she was preparing for the future.
And more than anything, in that future—
Goyo smiled.
She was happy. She was truly happy.
She wanted to tell someone how she felt.
But at the same time, she felt afraid—would it be okay to say it, would they find it annoying?
Just then, her phone buzzed.
A short vibration.
Who is it? Chaerim unni? Or the company?
Thinking that, she checked the message.
[Yoon Hajun]
[Heard you skipped school today because you went to the company? You know this school trip is Neverland, right? I'm moving with Taeyoung—three of us. Any rides you want to go on?]
"Ah."
A short sound escaped Goyo's mouth as she read it.
Seriously. This man is cruel.
Whenever she starts thinking like this, he shows up like a ghost.
"A school trip…"
She remembered last year's school trip.
The emerald sea stretching endlessly.
The stinging nose like she might cry.
And the chocolate milk that ended up in her hand.
It had already been a year since then.
-Anything is fine.
[Yoon Hajun]
[OK. Then let's start with the free drop.]
-Anything but that.
[Yoon Hajun]
[You said anything was fine.]
Looking at the bear emoticon that looked like it was angrily pounding the floor, Han Goyo let out a small laugh.
Ever since she got that chocolate milk, she couldn't help becoming honest in front of him.
After staring at the screen and thinking for a moment, Goyo carefully sent a reply.
-If you buy me chocolate milk, I'll ride it.
After sending it, Goyo lowered her head.
He won't think I'm childish, right?
She thought that, then sighed.
Was I always this clingy?
Until now, Han Goyo had never asked for anything first.
But when she talked with Yoon Hajun, she started wanting things.
[Yoon Hajun]
[No backing out]
At the reply that came right away, Goyo hesitated, then sent another message.
After that, she kept talking with Yoon Hajun.
[Yoon Hajun]
[So you signed in the end. Congrats.]
[Yoon Hajun]
[No plans to go easy on you at Singer Star.]
[Yoon Hajun]
[Next year, who knows. Around then, maybe I'll work with you too. You'll need a debut album. I should make that.]
Some of it was genuinely important.
Some of it was really nothing at all.
But somehow, those trivial exchanges felt good.
Like her chest was filling up.
[Yoon Hajun]
[We'll talk about the rest tomorrow when we meet.]
At that final message, Goyo replied quickly.
-Yeah. See you tomorrow.
Yeah.
She would see him tomorrow.
Not just tomorrow, but from now on.
The moment she realized that, Goyo's heart started beating faster than usual.
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