Chapter 181. The Earth is Round (5)
Mom remained silent for a long time.
I thought she might be crying.
– Son.
In a voice that trembled ever so slightly, Mom spoke to me.
– Thank you for telling me.
“…….”
– And thank you for holding on.
“…….”
– I’m sorry I didn’t know, son.
“…What do you have to be sorry for, Mom? There’s no need to apologize.”
The moment I heard my mom apologize, I snapped back to my senses.
The ones who ostracized me are living their lives without even a shred of guilt, let alone an apology. So why are the people around me and I the only ones apologizing, comforting each other, and feeling upset?
‘What am I doing right now?’
What am I doing? Just digging myself deeper into a hole.
Even though I’ve been through the military twice, it was shocking to realize I still had the mindset to keep digging.
Yeah, it’s definitely disheartening, empty, and shocking to realize that the trauma that plagued me for over ten years was for nothing more than “just because.”
Just a moment ago, I was so bitter and lonely that I was almost desperate to escape through sleep.
‘But so what? What does that matter?’
I thought about what I still had left.
A warm and harmonious family,
Members who believed in me until the end,
Friends and people who contacted me, worried, as soon as the articles came out.
Even the fans who are waiting for my statement at this very moment.
I know better than anyone how foolish and wasteful it is to let go of what I currently have while grieving over what I’ve already lost.
‘What was I hesitating for?’
The sun slowly started to shine in my mind, which had been clouded with dark, rain-filled clouds. Once I was clear on what I needed to do, I acted quickly.
I spoke to my mom over the phone.
“Mom. I’m okay now.”
Even though it was just a voice over the phone, I hoped my current emotions would be conveyed clearly.
“I’m really okay now. …Really.”
– …I see. That’s my awesome son.
“Yeah, who raised me so well?”
I’ve grown up well.
I overcame the world’s malice and the traumas of my turbulent adolescence, and I think I’ve grown up pretty well.
And now, I was planning to let the world know about that. Loud and clear.
“Mom. I think I need to head to the company urgently. I’ll call you later.”
– Okay, I understand. Take care of your work. Make sure you eat well.
“Don’t worry, I’ll eat all the braised short ribs in the dorm.”
After ending the call with my mom, who was still only concerned about me, I immediately called Lee Doha. I thought he might not pick up since he was probably in practice, but fortunately, he answered quickly.
– Hello?
“Hey, Lee Doha. Can I borrow your laptop?”
– …Daonbyeol6173.
“What?”
– The laptop password. It’s Daonbyeol6173.
“Oh. Okay, thanks.”
Even though I got straight to the point without any introduction, Doha didn’t question it and readily gave me his laptop password. I wondered what he would do if I had bad intentions since all his work files were probably stored on that laptop.
But that wasn’t important right now, so as soon as I hung up, I went into the room to find Doha’s laptop. Then I opened the notepad and started typing with a solemn heart.
“…….”
Writing down my thoughts wasn’t difficult.
Especially when my intentions and purpose were clear. At least it wasn’t for me. After all, I used to make a living with my way with words, both spoken and written, and my editing skills.
“…Is this good enough?”
After revising it multiple times, I finally completed a lengthy statement and read it over and over again.
Once I’d read it five times in a row without finding anything awkward, I picked up my phone again and called Ji Suho.
I thought he’d answer soon, just like Mom or Doha, but the phone kept ringing without him picking up. It seemed like he really had gotten busier since becoming the director.
‘But there’s always a way.’
Without hesitation, I accessed the system window. I found Suho in the colleague tab and used 10 cash, a small amount from the cash I had saved up, to summon him.
Not long after, Suho, who hadn’t answered my calls, called me first. There was no reason to keep him waiting, so I pressed the receive button as soon as his name appeared on my phone.
– Hello? Is that you, Hajin?
“Yes, it’s me. And yeah, it’s that feeling you had that you really needed to contact me. That was me too.”
As soon as he heard my voice, Suho seemed to sense that I was back to my usual self. Hearing his faint laughter through the phone, I sent him the memo file with my statement via email.
“I just sent you my statement.”
– Okay, I’ll check it right now.
“Please review it at the company, and if there are no major issues, I’d like to handwrite it and upload it to the fan cafe. And….”
– Yeah. Go on.
“I also found out who posted the exposé, so I’m thinking of taking proper action. I don’t think just posting a statement will be enough.”
As long as there were things in Shinwook’s exposé that I actually said and did, even if I wrote a detailed statement and published it, people would just say, ‘So, it was true after all? I’m so disappointed.’
The Earth is round, but people only see the hard, flat ground.
But that doesn’t change the fact that the Earth is round.
“Can we publish an article?”
Some people in the past were beaten to death for proclaiming that ‘the Earth is round,’ but I’m living in the cutting-edge era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“Might as well go with a tabloid that’s good at writing provocative stuff.”
Can’t see that the Earth is round?
Then I’ll show you.
* * *
One noon when the sun was high in the sky.
Kwagam, one of Kang Hajin’s named home masters, was still lying in bed.
‘Wow. This hangover is killer.’
Last night, she had an offline gathering with some Kang fans. Among them were Kang Daejang, whom she met for the first time at the final, Kang Hadi, and the sister of her friend ‘Soda,’ ‘Jerry.’
They had gathered to console each other after the distressing news about Hajin’s exposé, but seeing each other in person only made them more distressed, so they ended up going for three rounds before returning home at dawn.
– But what if, what if Hajin’s exposé turns out to be true? What would you all do?
When someone asked that question, everyone stayed silent, filling their glasses instead. In fact, even Kwagam hadn’t decided how to handle it yet, so she just kept sipping her drink. After a few drinks, the group moved to a quieter place with fewer people, and only then did they start to reveal their honest feelings.
– But honestly, if Miro stays silent on this? I’d be even more disappointed. With all the evidence and how big this has become, they have to release a statement, no matter what.
– I just want them to say something, anything, whether it’s true or not. The silence is so frustrating. If they make an official statement, at least we won’t get bashed so much on the communities…. These days, every time I log onto the forums, it’s all just people mocking and slandering Hajin.
– The worst-case scenario in my mind is getting a notification from the fan cafe one day, only to see Hajin’s post saying, ‘I’m sorry. I’ll take responsibility for everything and leave.’ …Ugh, I’m already getting PTSD.
They had gathered to vent, but ironically, they left with even heavier hearts. Kwagam’s last memory was of them parting ways with a vague promise that they hoped to see each other again with happy faces next time.
Holding her aching stomach, Kwagam reluctantly got out of bed, recalling the intense meetup from the previous day.
“Where did I put my phone….”
Kwagam picked up her phone, which had been tossed in a corner of the bed. She had forgotten to charge it last night, so it was completely dead and powered off.
“Ah, what should I eat for the hangover? I’m really dying here. …Huh? What, what’s this?”
After plugging in the charger and waiting for the phone to power on, Kwagam quickly washed up in the bathroom. She was about to check her phone to decide on a hangover remedy when she was startled.
As soon as her phone turned on, a flood of KakaoTalk messages and notifications began pouring in!
<Daejang Unnie ∥ Ah f*ck I’m seriously so mad right now I can only swear>
<Daejang Unnie ∥ Guys, what the hell is this>
<Daejang Unnie ∥ (Crying dog emoji)>
<Hadi Unnie ∥ Just, seriously can’t live right now>
What? Did something happen with Hajin?
Kwagam’s heart suddenly sank. She wanted to check the messages immediately, but at the same time, she was afraid to look. She felt her hand holding the phone grow cold, as if all the blood had drained from it.
‘Please. Please, don’t let it be a confession and withdrawal. Please.’
Honestly, Kwagam had
already suspected that the exposé might have some truth to it, given how detailed it was and how Miro hadn’t immediately dismissed it as baseless. She had even mentally prepared herself to continue supporting him as a fan, even if it meant turning a blind eye and playing dumb, as long as there were some mitigating circumstances.
Desperately hoping that her worst fears wouldn’t come true, Kwagam quickly scrolled up the KakaoTalk chat to find the start of the conversation.
After scrolling for a while, she found a link to an article that Jerry, Soda’s sister, had sent around 10 a.m. that morning.
**[Exclusive by E-Spec] “The Switched Victim”… The Truth Behind ‘Kairos Kang Hajin’s’ Character Exposé**
E-Spec got involved?
Kwagam clicked on the article thumbnail as if entranced, seeing the headline from a media outlet notorious for doggedly pursuing celebrity gossip. The first screen of the article featured a split image: one half showing the messenger conversation between Hajin and the exposer that Kwagam had seen in the exposé, and the other half a picture of Hajin.
**In July 20XX, Miro Entertainment witnessed the birth of a new star, destined to follow in the footsteps of Utopia and Enderway. That star is none other than Kairos, who debuted through Ntv’s ‘Miro Maze.’**
**Seven boys smiled brightly as they held their dreams in their hands. And among them, one boy smiled the brightest, expressing his gratitude to the fans. He is ‘Kang Hajin,’ who dominated all the communities as ‘the guy with the red hair’ just a day after the final broadcast and debuted as the second-place finalist.**
The article briefly introduced the screenshot of Hajin crying during the final and his debut speech, which had moved everyone to tears. Then, with a predictable phrase like “But that joy didn’t last long,” the article summarized the exposé.
Kwagam skimmed through the parts she already knew and continued reading.
**…During the airing of Miro Maze, Kang Hajin gained popularity for his outstanding leadership and sociability. However, the controversy dealt him a significant blow.**
**Was he really the ‘tyrant’ of KD Entertainment?**
**E-Spec pursued the truth behind Kang Hajin’s ‘real face.’**
**In doing so, we uncovered an unexpected fact.**
The article included a conversation between the ‘former KD Entertainment trainee S’ and the exposer.
**-Hajin?**
**-As far as I remember**
**-I think he was the one who was bullied**
There is a ‘flip side’ to this exposé that we haven’t been told.
Are you the only one who can expose?
I can expose too.
This was what you’d call a ‘counter-exposé operation.’