Kang Ichae’s pupils dilated, his gaze cutting cold.
“Never thought Hoyun-hyung would move without us knowing.”
...How are you even here?
Min Jiheon’s apartment was infamous for its strict security. Even outside visitors couldn’t get past the entrance without explicit approval from the resident.
That was exactly why I had chosen this place.
My thoughts lagged like a buffering program. I could only stare as Kang Ichae walked past me, sat on the sofa, and crossed his legs.
“Why are you just standing there? Want me to get you up myself?”
His voice twisted in a peculiar way. I shut my eyes tightly, then forced them open again.
‘...Fuck. I’m screwed. Why the hell is he here.’
Fighting against my spinning vision, I forced myself to look calm as I got up and walked to the kitchen. My hands trembled pulling a water bottle from the fridge, so I tightened my grip and flicked a glance at Ichae.
He tilted his head and tapped the sofa armrest with his index finger like he was counting seconds.
‘How did he find me? Did he follow me?’
But no—at the company, I’d made sure to see the members leave first. His outfit wasn’t the same either.
Taking a sip, I set the bottle on the table and asked flatly,
“...How do you know the passcode?”
His finger stopped. Pretending innocence, he tilted his head.
“Min Jiheon-sunbaenim kindly told me.”
Of course. Who else but that useless bastard.
I bit back the boiling anger and prepared my next question.
“Funny. And how’s your contact with Min Jiheon—”
“Is that important?”
Ichae cut me off, deliberately twisting his neck as he scanned the apartment.
“Nice place. Must’ve been comfortable living here a few weeks, huh?”
I decided to bluff it out.
“Ichae, I think you misunderstood. I just dropped by for something.”
“Min Jiheon-sunbaenim told me everything. Said you’ve been staying here for weeks.”
“......”
That son of a bitch!
Now I understood the real meaning behind Jiheon’s earlier messages. He even mentioned taking the dog away.
‘Shit. One problem at a time.’
I went over Ichae’s record in my head, checking whether I’d triggered him with anything I’d said today.
“Ichae, listen...”
While I was still thinking how to handle it, his head tilted slightly, strands of long red hair falling across his cheek.
“Just tell me the truth. I already know anyway.”
Like this was the first time he’d tried baiting me.
I stayed silent, lips pressed shut. He shrugged.
“When I first heard Hojin-hyung collapsed, it didn’t seem strange that you went home.”
“......”
“But if you were going to make up a story, you should’ve done it properly. Hojin-hyung said you were so busy you haven’t even seen him since the hospital.”
His eyes, fixed obsessively on me, grew colder.
“Why lie about something you’d get caught in?”
Of course I couldn’t go to Hojin. I couldn’t show him myself like this.
I mostly kept in touch by text, sometimes checking his voice over the phone when he was well enough.
I let out a quiet sigh.
‘I let my guard down.’
I knew Ichae and Hojin played games and messaged sometimes. A flimsy lie like that was bound to collapse.
But in front of Hojin, lying was the only choice I had. Even if I went back, I’d choose the same.
‘...Later. The real problem right now is...’
That Ichae might explode and force our promotions to halt.
If he went on SNS or live and exposed that one of us—or himself—was sick, it’d all be over. Faking evidence wouldn’t even be hard.
Normally, nobody would even think of doing such a thing. But Kang Ichae wasn’t normal. He’d long surpassed that line.
‘Calm him down, send him away.’
I shoved aside the pounding headache and forced another sip of water.
“...Were you really that worried?”
Capping the bottle, I stepped cautiously toward him.
“Ichae, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
I sat in the single chair diagonal from him. His eyes followed naturally.
“But this wasn’t easy for me either. I’ve already worried the members so many times. I didn’t want to make them anxious again over something small.”
It was partly the truth.
He narrowed his eyes, waiting for me to continue.
“You know how important this album is for us. So—”
And it really was desperate for me. This was the turning point. Whether we survived or broke.
Suddenly, heat rushed through my nose. I felt the hot liquid trickling. When I raised my hand, blood dripped into my palm.
‘Fuck.’
Perfect timing for a goddamn nosebleed.
I grabbed tissues, then cursed and pressed my shirt to it instead.
“—...So nothing can get in the way. That’s what matters to me.”
I met his eyes, voice weighted with urgency.
“You understand, right?”
“......”
Ichae rubbed his chin once, then stood. He brought over a box of tissues and handed it to me.
“Hyung, I think you’re misunderstanding something.”
His suddenly gentle tone made me snap my head up. His curved eyes gave me a bad feeling.
“I didn’t come here to scold you.”
“...What?”
“Well, not that I’m not hurt.”
He sat back down, ripped a tissue °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° free, and shoved it into my hand himself.
“I’m not going to tell Hojin-hyung or the others that you lied and you’re rotting away sick here alone.”
What the hell was his angle?
Frowning, I dabbed clumsily at my nose. He grinned and added,
“I just came to help you.”
“......”
“See what a good dongsaeng I am?”
What the hell is with this guy?
He could see clearly how I looked. Why was he talking like this? It wasn’t just strange—it was disturbing.
I stared without answering, and he smiled faintly.
“Hyung asked me for a favor before, remember?”
“......”
“I’ll do it. I’ll handle the cleanup.”
I stiffened, trying not to lose track of his slippery words.
As if he could read my state, he casually propped his feet on the table.
“But I’m not the type to just volunteer out of goodwill.”
“...You want me to vouch for you?”
“Hyung, do you have more money than me?”
Not even worth calculating.
I stayed silent, biting back irritation. He made it sound simple.
“Nothing big. Just promise you’ll do me a favor later.”
A chill spread down my spine, sweat dripping. Was it from pain, or his words just now? I couldn’t tell.
“...That...”
“Mm.”
“....”
After a few seconds of hesitation, only a question slipped out.
“...What kind of favor?”
“Nervous? It’s fine, hyung. If it feels wrong when the time comes, you can refuse.”
Then why not refuse now? Why attach that condition?
Just as I thought it strange,
“Why?”
His eyes gleamed.
“You don’t like even that?”
He was pretending calm, but he was not sane.
I’d seen Ichae lose his reason before. I knew those eyes.
‘Damn it.’
If I refused outright, he’d really go wild.
Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I pushed up my bangs and forced an answer.
“...Fine. I’ll hear it out when the time comes.”
“Good.”
His face lit up instantly, smug as a cat with cream. My unease only grew.
Apparently satisfied, he changed the subject.
“By the way, hyung, are you sure you’ll be fine for promotions? Think you’ll still be sick then?”
Normal people can’t just control their health on cue.
Was he fishing for something?
“...Don’t know. Even if I’m sick, I’ll be on stage.”
“How long until you’re better?”
“How should I know that.”
I kept my voice steady, careful not to get swept up in his nonsense.
“Then when are you coming back to the dorm?”
“...Before the comeback show.”
By then, I’d be fine.
“Ah, is that so?”
Lowering his feet from the table, he straightened with a mischievous smile.
“Then I’ll come here every day starting tomorrow.”
“What?!”
“You’d just run if I told you to go to the hospital. But if you’re sick, you need someone here to look after you.”
“...What...”
“Eat properly, take your medicine on time. Let’s get strong and make a great comeback together.”
“...No...”
“Wow, this place has an amazing view. Min Jiheon-sunbaenim must be rich.”
He rattled on, glancing out at the balcony with a sly grin.
“Why are you even...”
My head throbbed like a hammer was pounding it. I couldn’t keep up with the way things were spinning.
‘Run from the hospital, huh?’
Was he really saying he wouldn’t drag me there? Kang Ichae, of all people?
I wanted to grab him by the collar, shake him, demand why.
But in reality, all I did was twitch my lips. If he flipped and wrecked everything now, it’d only cost me more.
“Anyway, I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“...Uh...”
“No goodbye?”
“......”
He smirked when I didn’t answer.
“Bye, hyung.”
Then, humming, he waved lazily and walked out.
The door lock clicked shut. Instantly, all strength drained from me.
I slumped against the sofa, staring at the ceiling.
“Ah, fuck....”
Even with my clouded brain, I could tell.
That bastard Ichae wasn’t letting this go.
“Fuck, what is this...”
He was setting a trap, no doubt about it.
Ding!
[So scared I could barely breathe....]
From something without even a body, talking about breathing?
“All because of you.”
I muttered and sagged to the side. A bloody tissue slipped from my hand and rolled away.
“Ah, damn it, Min Jiheon, you bastard....”
