Free Web NovelNew Year 2015.
I was happy that the year had changed, but what made us happiest was the officially granted holiday.
A full week off—until January 7th.
We cheered at that incredible stretch of free time.
“Woaaah—!”
“Vacation! Vacation!”
“Yay, vacation man!”
My brothers and I hugged each other so excitedly in the car that the idling engine rattled.
Everyone balled their fists and shouted:
“I’m sleeping! Today I’m definitely sleeping a lot!”
“Hyung, I’m going to sleep for twenty-four hours!”
“Me too, me too—I’m aiming for eight hours.”
As soon as we got back to the dorm, we quickly washed up and flopped onto our beds.
For a moment, I thought I’d linger over the cozy blanket Mrs. Kim Deok-soon sent, savoring its scent—but I was asleep in an instant.
When I came to, it was nearly eleven in the morning.
“No way.”
I muttered, checking the clock.
“I actually slept eight hours.”
People really do need sleep. After cutting down on rest for almost three months, my body felt soaked in fatigue—and now, it was completely gone. Some lingering tiredness remained, but I was in peak condition.
I felt truly happy. I loved waking to sunlight streaming onto the balcony, and the luxury of a leisurely shower...
Bang bang!
“When are you coming out, Hyung? Did you rent the bathroom? You’ve been in there for almost an hour.”
“Yeah, I rented it.”
“Don’t act cocky. I might turn off the light and bolt.”
“If you turn off the light, I’ll use your shampoo and toothbrush.”
“...Hurry up already.”
Victorious from that small battle, I finished my shower with a satisfied grin. Towel wrapped around my head, I stepped out to find Biju, apron on, smiling at me.
“Hyung, you’re up? Happy New Year.”
“Ah, as expected, only our Biju. Happy New Year to you too.”
“Just wait a bit, Hyung. I’ll make you a tasty brunch and bring it over. Could you set the table in advance?”
While Biju set the table, I went to help prepare brunch. As I laid out bacon and sausages, Biju melted butter in a pan and grilled slices of bread.
“This is our last time staying here,” Biju said.
“Yeah.”
“Moving out...”
Our dorm move was imminent. We’d soon escape this cell for a new apartment—not far away, newly built. The move had been planned after our first album succeeded, then upgraded when the second album was a hit. It was a good problem to have.
The move was scheduled for the last day of our break—in other words, only one week left here.
Biju looked around the cramped living room and sighed.
“I’m glad we’re moving, but I’ll miss this place a bit...”
“...”
Seeing my neutral expression, Biju asked:
“You won’t miss it?”
“Miss it?”
“But it’s memories—us cramped together like this.”
“No. There are a few things I won’t miss.”
Every night, Jung-hyun’s snoring.
Ji-ho’s phone game flashing like a stun grenade on the first-floor bed.
Whenever Ri-hyeok had a nightmare, his curses to the dream monsters—“Hey! Don’t come near me, you piece of trash!”—or his pleas of “Let me out.”
Biju tilted their head.
“Wasn’t that you, Hyung?”
“...”
“Ri-hyeok told me his nightmare today. He said you chased him holding red and blue earphones in both hands, even got into a car, then turned into an ostrich to catch him.”
“What a strange dream,” I said. “Ri-hyeok driving—he’s rule-abiding even in his dreams.”
“They said the dream’s setting was America, so it was fine.”
“Then it makes sense.”
I nodded and carried our finished breakfast to the table. Ri-hyeok drying his hair and my still-drowsy brothers, heads leaning together, took their seats.
Then:
“You’re up?”
“Yes. I should head home too.”
It was our manager, Do Won-seok, who’d dropped us off here early yesterday and slept in the dorm with us.
“Have some food before you go. I made six servings on purpose.”
He tried to leave, saying it was a bother, so I sent Jung-hyun to stop him. And so, six of us—six soy sauce–cup-sized seats around a small table—began our breakfast.
It was a simple brunch, but happiness shone on everyone’s faces. After real sleep, our skin looked fresh. While Ri-hyeok scrolled through his phone to report the world’s overnight news, I picked up mine.
“Let’s see... I’ll check the fan café...”
When I opened it, notification banners piled up across the screen. Every chat room in Messenger was full of messages.
Han Tae-hyeon [ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
So-won sunbae [Can I use that meme? You... got money? (shy)]
Joo Se-han C Team chat [Aww, I laughed so hard on New Year’s Day]
Seo Ji-hyung [Come eat gopchang. You need gopchang at times like this]
SERI sunbae-nim [Tomorrow’s first broadcast, I’m so excited. Seems the ratings fairy is blessing you]
A bad feeling rose in me. I frantically tapped through chat rooms to see what was happening, then went to the fan café, saw page one, and fought the urge to quit. On MiTube, I finally grabbed the back of my neck.
“TBC Year-end Song Festival Behind #3 – Dangerous Secondhand Deals by Rookies”
“(Behind) NewBlack and Street Boys United! – Seriously, unless you’re a corrupt official, every ordinary person loves our Mincho squad.”
...Even though I made a wish!
From New Year’s Day on, that behind-the-scenes TBC capture meme spread across idol communities, humor sites, and forums.
‘How idols trade secondhand these days.swf’
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ What is this?
-What is this??? Some weird web drama?
└It says TBC Year-end Song Festival at the top right
└Top right: TBC
-So who’s this guy?
-Perfection ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Outta nowhere, for realㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
One site in particular went viral:
‘[For Sale] GAMING MOUSE’
On a secondhand marketplace, posts used the “You... got money?” and “How far did you look into me?” memes. Meme collectors saved them to their phones and used them instantly:
– Brother: (You... got money?)
– Brother: Sis... this unfilial child needs allowance
– Sis: (How far did you look into me?)
– Brother: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
As those two leaders’ lines circulated on phones nationwide, Mincho squad behind-the-scenes memes had everyone in stitches:
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Literally cracked up New Year’s Day
-Seeing them flustered is funnierㅋㅋㅋㅋ They don’t even know they’re funny
-Suddenly so serious
-The “100% ad-lib” caption makes it funnierㅋㅋㅋㅋ Imagining that deadpan
-The writer and cameraman laughing in the back—pricelessㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Gotta save this for when I’m feeling downㅎ
-I wonder how they feel about it??
Meanwhile, the two leaders were fleeing my giggling brothers in the dorm living room, red-faced, agonizing “I made a wish! A wish!” and “Ah, follow-heh... Müllerg Gamnamu!” Fans of both groups, from New Year’s Day on, wore delighted smiles:
– Concrete troops here. I support this combo
– If anyone leaves hate comments, let me know... we’ll set them straight (shy)
– Am I the only one laughing like a pervert?
– Me too
– Our Hawaiian pizza supports Mincho squad friendship
– Hawaiian’s too... they’re mint-choco so we’re corrupt officials
– Corrupt officials? Let’s stage a peasant revolution at the fan meeting?
Fans sent friendly messages, satisfied by the clear synergy of the ten-minute behind-the-scenes video—from forming Mincho squad in a video call to the end of the stage.
Of course, NewBlack’s fans went further, finding joy in odd moments:
-Woo-joo-yaaaahhh
-Right! I thought he’d improved since nothing happened at that timing
-He didn’t... improve at all... freёwebnoѵel.com
-Almost felt hurt
-Let’s get on “Pro’s Choice” once, Woo-joo...☆ I’ll bet 500 won you’ll get humiliated
-At this point it’s not humiliation but a blessing of humiliation..?
-If Woo-joo levels me up, that’s black history
-National treasure–level Black History Temple #1
-So is Woo-joo the head monk there?
-No, bald Woo-joo won’t do. The head monk’s gotta be Gyu-ho, 1Pick
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Responding to the buzz, a short post from Woo-joo appeared on the fan café:
‘I love you all♡’
Just those words. Everyone’s calling it “black history,” but I’m not someone who goes around creating black history. I swear it’s not me.
ps. I used ♡ instead of ♥ to show my sincere heart toward you all.
Someone most pleased by the behind-the-scenes reaction was a man looking at his laptop—the PD of Idol Show:
– But aren’t they on Idol Show? Didn’t they say they’d be guests?
– Yeah, looks like first-episode special guests
–ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Gotta watch
–Secretly excitedㅋㅋㅋ
Reading the hype around Idol Show’s premiere, the PD let out a happy scream:
‘These guys must be blessed by the Variety Gods!’
Blessing of humiliation and the Variety Gods—NewBlack was already under two deities’ protection.
Eventually, our manager scolded quietly:
– Making work on New Year’s Day.
Suk-hwan hyung paused, then burst ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ into laughter:
– Ha ha ha! Our Woo-joo is the best! The best! Commercial offers are already coming in. Really, our Woo-joo must be accompanied by the God of Wealth!
“I’m hanging up.”
– Woo-joo, are you seriously considering a workbook ad...
“No. I’m not.”
– Then how about a study guide? The pay’s decent...
He hung up.
“Aaaah...”
My brothers were tiresome enough, and now the manager’s call with his “heh-heh-heh!” had me fed up.
Ri-hyeok, grabbing milk from a nearby display, asked:
“Pfft, they want you to shoot a workbook ad?”
“I don’t know. Don’t ask me.”
“Hyung, take off your sunglasses now. No one will recognize you here anyway.”
“I just don’t want to be recognized.”
Jung-hyun blinked:
“Would wearing sunglasses in a supermarket draw more attention, Hyung?”
“They’ll think I got LASIK. So what.”
My track pants, padded jacket, and sunglasses drew laughter from my brothers. Passersby stared too, curious why someone wore sunglasses indoors.
“What do we need?”
“Just pork belly.”
We were at the large supermarket K-Mart. Since other stores were closed on January 1st, this was the only place open.
We asked the person with us:
“But manager-nim, shouldn’t you go home and rest?”
“Ah, no schedule today. I had a good breakfast, so I came along to help digest.”
We were touched, watching him scratch the back of his head.
‘He’s an angel.’
‘This guy’s an angel.’
Though I said we’d come alone, Won-seok drove us here. He said he became a manager for our safety—if anything happened, he’d feel too guilty. I vowed:
“In return, we’ll grill pork belly so well you’ll eat like an emperor without lifting a finger.”
“Yeah. Sit with us and let us serve you, Hyung.”
He smiled. Ri-hyeok wrote the shopping list, Biju checked dirt from lettuce, Ji-ho sampled snacks while quietly munching, then snuck items into the cart before giggling and scattering them back at Biju’s gentle smile.
Finally, pushing our heavy cart to the register, a couple in front had their daughter—around seven—holding her father’s hand. The child stared at me.
“...?”
I averted my gaze. But she looked at my profile and exclaimed, tapping her mother’s hand:
“Mommy! It’s Internet-oppa!”
“Internet-oppa? What do you mean?”
The girl approached, “Internet-oppa!” and my brothers burst into laughter. The cashier sneaked a glance at me. I crouched and removed my sunglasses.
“Oh.”
I heard the husband say. Suddenly everyone stared so intently I flinched, then calmed. I greeted the child:
“Hello.”
“Internet-oppa!”
“I’m sorry, little one. My name’s Woo-joo.”
“I’m not a baby.”
The girl, fascinated, kept staring. Then she hid behind her mother, peeking, scrutinizing me. The mother smiled:
“Are you a celebrity?”
“Yes, I’m a singer. It seems your daughter recognizes me.”
“Really? How did Soo-yeon know you?”
“She saw me.”
The girl shyly pulled out her smartphone and showed me.
...What.
Kids these days already use phones?
I assumed she’d seen a music video, smiling as I wondered, but it was something else.
She showed me the meme: “You... got money?”
“Pfft!”
My brothers fell over laughing; I trembled with laughter, then said to her:
“Little one, watching these is unhealthy. They give off electromagnetic waves.”
Nearby people laughed. After chatting briefly, we decided to take a photo—our faces looked good after proper sleep.
Just then, I felt a chill.
“...?”
As we walked out of the register, Jung-hyun froze, looking around.
“What’s wrong?”
“...Nothing. Just felt weird.”
“Huh?”
“I felt like someone was staring at us...”
“They’re all staring at us right now. Let’s go.”
I gripped Jung-hyun’s arm, and we left the supermarket.
Back at the dorm, we began preparing a fun lunch.
“You really leaving?”
“Yes. I want to go home and rest a bit too.”
“You should stay for pork belly...”
Like a cat in boots, the five of us urged him with shining eyes, but the manager eventually left.
“It would’ve been nice if you stayed.”
“I think he felt awkward playing with us.”
We marveled at how precious he was to visit our shabby place. Ri-hyeok looked toward the kitchen:
“Huh? He left the dorm key.”
“Should we return it to him?”
“He won’t be back for a few days anyway. He should rest.”
So we started cooking. We cracked a window for ventilation. I called to Jung-hyun:
“Hey, Jung-hyun.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll handle the portable stove.”
If I’d left it to him, we might’ve become stars in the night sky.
Ri-hyeok laid newspaper in a tight grid, Biju washed lettuce, Ji-ho sat quietly, dipping chopsticks in sauce and nibbling.
Then a sudden chill ran through us.
Clack—
A strange sound made us all turn.
...The door?
Clatter—
The lock’s keys were turning, one by one.
Jung-hyun whispered:
“Could it be the manager?”
“Jung-hyun... He left his keys here. That can’t be him.”
“Then...”
Unspoken, goosebumps rose on our arms. In the eerie silence, the jingle of keys made clear one thing:
Someone was trying to break into our dorm.
