Idol of the Heavenly One - Chapter 79.1
As soon as we got into the car after the sports festival, Baek Jae-heon started staring at my face again. Is your nose okay? Are your eyes hurting? Does anything ache? I kept telling him I was fine, but he would tilt his head and ask again. His persistent concern was touching, but it was also a bit embarrassing. The more he looked at my face, the more awkward I felt.
“Hey, are you trying to wear out my face?”
Joo I-rip from the passenger seat told him to stop, and the car instantly filled with laughter. Even I, who had been feeling embarrassed, and Jae-heon couldn’t help but laugh. Amidst the laughter, I noticed Lee Soon-bok staring blankly out the window. In the faint glow of the streetlights, his face looked sad despite his smile. He seemed a bit detached from the joyful atmosphere.
“Soon-bok, let’s go get some ice cream.”
“Ice cream?”
“Yeah.”
When we arrived at the accommodation parking lot, I suggested to Lee Soon-bok that we go get some ice cream.
The members told us to bring some back for them and discreetly headed up to the accommodation. Even Baek Jae-heon, whom I thought would follow us, left after telling us to be careful and went with the members.
Lee Soon-bok and I walked side by side, leaving the accommodation apartment, and entered a nearby ice cream specialty store. Looking at the vibrantly colored ice creams lined up, I exaggeratedly said,
“Pick eight different flavors. I’ll treat you.”
Lee Soon-bok smiled, creasing his eyes, and waved his hand. Then he pointed to two ice creams in the tubs.
“I’ll have these two.”
“Pick eight different ones.”
“No, two is enough.”
His simple response made me chuckle. He never shows greed. In the end, I took the cup with the two flavors of ice cream he chose and headed towards a nearby park.
The night in the park was tranquil. There was no one around, and only the long, flickering light from the streetlights reflected on the lake. We sat on a bench and silently ate our ice cream. The only sound breaking the silence was the clinking of spoons against the cups.
After eating for a while, I was the first to speak.
“I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“You always help us, but we never help you. I’m sorry.”
“Ah…”
“My apologies, always.”
My voice trembled as I spoke, but it came out calmer than I expected. Actually, I had been thinking about this since we bought the ice cream and left. Should I say this to Soon-bok? At that time, I thought my comfort would be hypocritical, so I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Of course, even now, after saying it, I wondered if it might sound hypocritical to Soon-bok.
“So, if you’re ever in trouble, feel free to say so.”
But still, I wanted to tell him. Are you okay now? If not, I’m here for you. Buying ice cream and coming out with Soon-bok was something he rarely did. He must be going through a tough time.
Lee Soon-bok looked at my face for a moment, then quietly smiled again.
“I… won’t say it.”
“…Why? Don’t you trust me?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“…Okay.”
“Well… you already know, right?”
“……”
“You guys are good people…”
Lee Soon-bok’s response was surprisingly simple and kind, which made me emotional. And suddenly, I remembered something Soon-bok had told me before—how Baek Jae-heon had comforted him during his trainee days.
‘You’re always okay, right?’
‘…What?’
‘You’re always strong.’
That’s right. Lee Soon-bok was always strong. Always cool.
“Does that include Baek Jae-heon too?”
“Of course!”
“Really?”
I added a joke, feeling a surge of emotion. And truthfully, it was surprising. On that day, when Joo I-rip said something harsh, Baek Jae-heon had been indifferent, just watching TV. Seeing that, I had wondered if Soon-bok’s affection for him had faded.
Noticing my internal thoughts, Lee Soon-bok laughed a bit louder.
“…For Jae-heon, that’s comfort.”
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