Joo Woosung and Seo Hoyun being close was already widespread knowledge among their respective fandoms. The real issue for fans was why the two of them were being sent abroad together despite belonging to different groups.
[What the hell is this]
The fact that it had even been made into an official article meant, in other words, that it was a schedule formally arranged by WH Entertainment.
Before Noeul and Bloy could even grasp what was going on, eyewitness accounts began to pop up everywhere.
[I saw Joo Woosung and Seo Hoyun at Incheon Airport the day before yesterday!!]
[Title: OMG I saw Joo Woosung and Seo Hoyun at Honolulu Airport
Were they barefaced? Damn, they’re seriously handsome.
JooWoosung_SeoHoyun_HawaiiAirportShot.jpg
└Fucking sasaengs haha following them all the way to Hawaii
└└What sasaeng, I live here. How am I supposed to stop Joo Woosung from walking by? I’m originally a girl group fan]
[Title: Just now Joo Woosung and Seo Hoyun came into a surf shop
I’m a student in Hawaii working part-time at a surf shop, and Joo Woosung and Seo Hoyun came in.
They wore straw hats, completely relaxed and enjoying themselves.
Since staff were there too, it looked like they were filming?
└No way, really?
└Wow, does Hoyun like surfing? That’s unexpected.
└└Nah, Joo Woosung was surfing and Seo Hoyun was just watching.]
Even people with no interest in idols at all naturally knew Black Call’s Joo Woosung. Seo Hoyun also had a degree of recognition thanks to occasional variety show appearances.
The trickle of reactions quickly spread like wildfire, dominating SNS and online communities.
[What is this... they’re pretty popular together]
And so, naturally, people began paying attention to why they had headed for Hawaii in the first place.
[But what reason would they have to go to Hawaii together??]
[Are they filming a travel program? But if so, shouldn’t they be paired with their own members? Why mix different groups....LOOOOOLLLLLL.....]
[Could it be a CF shoot?]
[As if Black Call would film with another group.
└Why not hahaha just looking at the buzz, the combination’s public recognition doesn’t seem bad.
└└True, they’re one of the more famous friendships in the industry hahaha
└└Huh? From where?
└└https://www.neotube.com/watch?v=KStar1net_wor&k
Here LOOOOOL]
The link in the comments was a clipped Neotube video of a broadcast that ranked celebrities in categories like education and wealth. That episode was about celebrity friendships.
【...—Second place iiiiiis!! None other than, Joo Woosung and Seo Hoyun!
Black Call’s Joo Woosung and The Dawn’s Seo Hoyun, who have long been close as neighborhood hyung and dongsaeng, later became senior and junior colleagues in the same industry, and to this day they continue to be spotted together at various Korean restaurants, showing consistent friendship!
May that friendship never change, and last forever~!】
One panelist even added a comment like, “They say they’re often spotted at kimchi fried rice joints and gukbap shops, I guess their friendship is as hearty and genuine as those meals.”
[What the hell does kimchi fried rice and gukbap have to do with genuine friendship...]
But in truth, no one knew exactly when Seo Hoyun and Joo Woosung had become close, how they met, or why they still maintained such good terms.
[But seriously there’s zero info, people say Juseong and HoGyung were neighborhood friends—was it kindergarten? Elementary? Middle school? High school? Shouldn’t they be telling us every last second??
└That’s 100% bullshit.
└└Why?
└└They’ve never even lived in the same place haha plus during Yoo Jia’s YuJaYuJa segment reading from TreeWiki, Seo Hoyun couldn’t name a single anecdote about being neighborhood friends with Juseong.]
Seo Hoyun, who normally answered any question about Joo Woosung like an auto-responder in 0.1 seconds, always stayed silent and just smiled about childhood matters, which only deepened suspicion for some.
[Well.. if Woosung likes him, I’m fine with it]
[It’s not like they met in clubs or messed around with women hahaha they looked ridiculously wholesome playing together]
[He seems to be getting along with his own members too.. and Seo Hoyun himself seems to manage his image well, so it’s not that bad....Lolol.... just that he’s from another group...]
In the end, without finding out why they went to Hawaii or why Joo Woosung was close with Seo Hoyun, only Bloys were left bewildered amidst scattered information, when suddenly—
【WH Workshop Reveal! - Joo Woosung & Seo Hoyun ‘Eye Color’ Cover Stage】
A video was uploaded to WH Entertainment’s official Neotube channel.
[What the fuck is this]
The link spread instantly across SNS, and curious onlookers, along with Bloy and Noeul, clicked through to Neotube.
【Wherever you go, people only stare at your body Hoo
Sorry, but I can’t remember your eye color】
The shaky, screaming-filled footage looked like it had been shot on-site by someone participating in the workshop.
[These crazy bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
[Fuck~~~~fuck... fuck.. fuck~~~~~~!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
[Oh Lord...]
It wasn’t even a full performance—cut down to about a ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) minute, mostly full-body, hands randomly blocking the view.
Still, the views skyrocketed instantly.
[Holy shit Joo Woosung dances like a god LOOOOOOOOOLLLLL]
[I zoomed in to see if Woosung was doing the backup dancer part and look at him clenching his jaw, veins popping LOOOOOOLLLL how the fuck did you even walk off that stage LOOOOOLLLL]
[I never really understood why people called Seo Hoyun a stiff dancer, but standing next to Joo Woosung he really does look stiff...]
[Ah these guys are having fun with the workshop haha]
It was the first time people had seen the two matching steps in a dance together, aside from brief chemistry on variety shows.
[Going on a pilgrimage to the original post]
[Seo Hoyun’s vibe in the first half was insane, but at the end when he looked at Joo Woosung and smiled, I almost ascended...]
[WoosungWoosungWoosung you’re too cute I’m dying, you hate doing this stuff but why are you so good on stage]
[I used to joke Woosung would split the floor if he ever went on stage with Seo Hoyun but it’s real hahaha going to warm myself by the fire of happiness hahahaha]
[Please please please please WH, now that you released this year’s workshop, release the first-year stage too TT_TT I know you’re hiding it in your hard drives TT_TT]
On Chirper’s real-time trends appeared phrases like ‘Joo Woosung crazy bastard’ and ‘1st-year workshop.’
Perhaps because of this, WH Entertainment—normally known for ignoring fan reactions—took an unusual step.
Hours later, the video title was changed.
【WH Workshop 1st Release! - Joo Woosung & Seo Hoyun ‘Eye Color’ Cover Stage】
The timing of replacing the title with “1st Release” was perfect.
Bloys’ hearts soared with the hope that the legendary performance, long whispered about, might finally be revealed.
[Looks like WH is finally catching on, doing good hahaha]
[Hurryhurryhurryhurry hurry hurry nextnextnextnext!!!!]
[No way Woosung would’ve suggested a talent show performance, it must’ve been Seo Hoyun?? How the hell did this happen??!!??!?!?? Crazy!!!!!!!! Fuck!!!!
└I was like, “Seo Hoyun? Meh.. hehe” just a week ago, and now my brain is shattered.
Seo... he is our god....
└└The Dawn... we support you
└└He is our bunny..
└└That reply’s obviously from a Noeul hahaha
└└What infiltration LOOOOOL]
[At this point, I just hope they have a good time^^ Seeing young handsome guys hang out is great
└Bloys doing a complete turnaround LMAOOO
└Woosung and Hoyun, have a great time in Hawaii^^]
[WH you crazy bastards!
But!
Juseong and Seo Hoyun’s ‘Eye Color’ is fucking delicious
However!
I’d prefer if they played with their own members
Yet!
There’s something captivating about them
But!
Cross-group trips are crossing the line
However!
I’m curious what they’ll do in Hawaii
Nevertheless!
What about my 4 other Black Call babies...
What is my heart even saying...?]
Though negative opinions still existed, fortunately, much of the attention had shifted to wondering when WH Entertainment would upload the next video.
.
.
.
“We just got instructions to do additional filming.”
Tilting my straw hat toward the setting sun, I lifted my head to look at Lee Jihyun.
“Additional filming?”
Unexpectedly, Joo Woosung only slurped at his mango slushie like he’d seen it coming.
“Yes. Since demand is high, they want us to shoot a little more.”
‘Why the hell?’
There was no way both fandoms were loving this.
I’d already been dragged half against my will to Hawaii. I forced myself to play along, ate poke with Joo Woosung, strolled on the beach. When he started fiddling with a sandcastle to get footage, I wanted to kick it apart dozens of times.
Sensing my expression, Lee Jihyun quickly explained.
“Basically, the public sees your relationship with Joo Woosung in a really positive light. Even with your rare appearances together, your chemistry on variety shows was good.”
“...And?”
“Yes, exactly. A PD I know even regrets not being the one to pitch a travel show for you two.”
“And the fans?”
“This is my first time seeing this kind of case, so it’s fascinating, but even among fans it’s not too bad right now. As I said, after WH released the workshop clip, there was initial discomfort but it seems fine. You know, for fans, endless topics are important... though I am a little worried about Hi-Five......”
Trailing off, Lee Jihyun shrugged and glanced between me and Joo Woosung.
“Anyway, the additional filming’s okay, right?”
Clearly displeased at his embarrassing workshop performance being made public, Joo Woosung scowled but nodded. I shifted my gaze from him back to Lee Jihyun.
“Doesn’t The Dawn also have a Hawaii self-content schedule? We should check.”
“Oh, I’ll confirm with the manager! I believe you have a day or two free, so it should be fine.”
After a few more reminders, Lee Jihyun left.
“WH is finished, done for. They even released the workshop footage.”
“I heard they might even release the 1st-year clip.”
“Never! Not until dirt is in my eyes!”
“......”
I kindly scooped up sand and sprinkled it into his eyes. It was going to be released anyway.
Joo Woosung jumped up, brushing off the sand, swearing.
‘Damn, sensitive brat....’
I adjusted my straw hat and stood up. Shooting was done for today, and I figured we needed time apart.
“I’ll head back to the hotel first. Rest well.”
“What are you talking about, we’re drinking tonight.”
“Do it alone.”
“I don’t want to drink alone.”
“Then go with the staff.”
“I’m shy.”
Since coming to Hawaii—no, more accurately, since the workshop ended—he’d been especially clingy and sharp-edged. I crossed my arms, leaning slightly on one leg.
“Why are you clinging like this?”
“What?”
“You know desperate guys aren’t popular, right? Let’s keep it professional.”
Joo Woosung’s lips curled into a crooked smile.
“Fuck off.”
Taking a step closer, he jabbed a finger at my chest.
“Hey, you only act nice, act close, act considerate in front of the cameras.”
Another step closer.
“Honestly, I only even performed at the workshop because of you.”
‘Yeah right.’
More like you wanted to make my black history.
But I didn’t say it aloud.
He poured out pent-up frustration.
“You even switched parts without permission! Next thing I know, I’m stuck in fucking Hawaii shooting a vlog I never wanted to do?!”
“Ah, I said I’m sorry.”
I halfheartedly apologized, patting his shoulder. He shoved my hand away with a bitter look.
“You’re so fake! Normally you drop casual speech nonstop, but only when others are around or the camera’s rolling do you start going ‘sunbae, hyung’ and acting all kind! The viewers are being fooled! Who’s supposed to find emotion or fun in our vlog like this?!”
Do our vlogs even need to give people emotion or fun?
But remembering his own advice from recently, I stayed quiet.
Fine, considering his humiliating history already went public and more was about to be, everything must’ve felt sensitive.
I stretched my patience thin, letting him vent his nonsense, when—
“...—Seo Hoyun, you really don’t know a damn thing about broadcasting!”
The words of a lifetime blunder left Joo Woosung’s mouth.
“...What did you just say...?”
“......”
“...I don’t know broadcasting?”
I’m Seo Hoyun...?
Locking my gaze on him, I stayed silent until Joo Woosung faltered.
“...What? What? Why?! Again what?!!”
“......”
“When I called you stiff, you swore at me but never gave me that look. Now you’re staring at me like you’re about to stab me.”
He fidgeted nervously, watching my eyes.
“...Did I just mess up?”
You did. Badly.
“No.”
I deliberately answered a beat late.
“On second thought, I guess you could feel that way.”
Hearing my gentle voice, Joo Woosung stiffened.
“...Why are you talking like that?”
“What? Like what?”
I smiled pleasantly.
“I’ve always talked like this, Woosung-hyung.”
Since he so desperately wished for it, I would show him.
What real broadcasting is.
