Idol of the Heavenly One - Chapter 86.1
After finishing a short activity in Japan, we returned to Korea. And right upon our return, good news arrived.
“After tomorrow’s fan signing event, you’ll get a one-month vacation.”
A one-month vacation. The members looked excited and asked if it really meant a full month without any practice. The manager nodded with a smile, and everyone bounced with joy. Kwon Ji-hak even yelled while jumping around. At first, he opposed a long vacation, but a month wasn’t too long, and taking a break was pleasant.
“You’ve worked hard nonstop all this time. Let’s rest properly.”
Right. We had been running continuously without a single day off. Considering we were late teens, our bodies could handle it. If we were in our late twenties, the constant schedules would have been exhausting enough to collapse. Every day was filled with practice, recordings, and shoots, leaving no room for rest.
It wasn’t all hard, though. It strengthened our bonds as a team, and having Baek Jae-heon around made it enjoyable. Behind the scenes, the manager, the senior staff, and the crew also worked hard, and I was grateful. They would get their own one-month break too, and I hoped they could rest as much as they deserved.
Fans might feel sad not seeing us for a month, but I thought they would understand that this time is necessary for recharging and working even harder.
“What’s this?”
“Settlement.”
“Huh? Is the settlement really this much?”
Then the payment arrived. According to Baek Jae-heon, it usually comes later, but due to the Arena Station incident and the YouTuber challenge with Lee Soonbok, the public recognized us faster, so the settlement came sooner. Still, even excluding what I got when I first signed, this amount was astonishing.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For your face.”
Baek Jae-heon’s face truly is remarkable. Trusting that face and debuting as an idol was not wasted. In my past life, I would never have touched money of this size. Seeing it in the first settlement, I had to rub my eyes in disbelief.
I first sent pocket money to my parents. I wanted to give half, but considering future savings for a house, a car, and living expenses, I sent the maximum allowed per transfer per parent. My surprised parents called, and after I explained with a laugh, they were moved and thankful.
“I should be the one thanking you more.”
[So when is your holiday? When can you come?]
“Ah, after tomorrow’s fan signing event, I’ll take a month off.”
[Really? So you’re coming tomorrow?]
As I was about to answer yes to my mother’s hopeful voice, Baek Jae-heon came into view. I hesitated for a moment and then said,
“I’ll hang out for a bit before I go.”
[Okay. Take your time. Rest well and have fun.]
Though there was a hint of disappointment in my mother’s voice, she ended the call with words encouraging me to rest and enjoy myself.
“Are you going to hang out with me?”
“……Yes.”
After hanging up, I felt a little embarrassed. Baek Jae-heon probably understood the meaning behind my words. He smiled shyly in response.
“Shall we travel?”
“Travel?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Right after tomorrow’s schedule.”
Surprised, I asked, “Right tomorrow?” Baek Jae-heon avoided eye contact awkwardly and nodded. I felt a sense, like a man’s intuition. He meant not to stay at the dorm but to go somewhere together, alone. To finish what we couldn’t in Japan.
“Alright.”
I nodded shyly with a small smile.
“But where are we going?”
“Abroad would be best. Fewer people will recognize us there.”
“Shall we look for flights now?”
“No, it’s better to book just before leaving, even if it’s expensive.”
“Ah, because people follow us?”
“Yes.”
Being a celebrity has many perks, but this is uncomfortable. In Japan, wherever we went, people followed us. The manager said that at the airport, some people zoom in with cameras to capture our passports and track us overseas. I wondered if this was really love or just obsessive behavior. It felt sad. Of course, the annoyance outweighed the sympathy.
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