Chapter 168: Making Film, The Sky Was Raining With Bait 5 (1/2)
Like an exposed person, Im Seoyoung shrunk away from our gazes. She ran away, unable to meet the other members' gazes. Her eyes, desperately looking for a place to hide, landed on me.
She painfully bit her lip.
The words that left her mouth clearly rang in my ears.
'Our company sent Sunwoo oppa to us, and I was fortunate enough to be in that team.' 'I tried all sorts of things, but nothing never happened to me.' 'Then I'm the dregs of my team right now.'
I knew. I was aware of it. There was no way I wasn't.
Since I could tell she was trying hard.
The foresight that let me glance at Lee Songha and Lee Taehee's success. The same one that told me of Pretty Girls' success, who I was only slightly acquainted to, was heartlessly quiet when it came to Im Seoyoung and LJ. As though it didn't notice them.
And it wasn't like I was hung up on them like Nam Joyoon either.
However, even if there wasn't anything like that, I wanted to make them successful.
LJ's situation was a bit better. She was famous for her talent since she was an underground rapper and was one of the top female rappers in the country. There were even plans of giving her a solo track on the alb.u.m and making a separate single alb.u.m if that went well.
On the other hand, things were difficult for Im Seoyoung.
Although she was good at singing and dancing, this industry was overflowing with people like her. That was why I put her on any entertainment programs I could get. The person I know as Im Seoyoung was lovely. She was someone who people would like.
But the camera didn't really pick up those aspects of her.
'I need to do better.' 'I need to try harder.'
Because of those thoughts.
She tried her all in changing, but it was naught.
That was why I set up this playing field.
A playing field that could be the turning point for Neptune and Im Seoyoung.
“Th-that was because I was caught up in their crying.”
Im Seoyoung said in a bright voice.
As if she was trying to change the mood.
“There are times when you find little things big and when negative emotions explode! Thinking back, I think I might have been on a period that day!”
The living room became even quieter. The moment Im Seoyoung, who couldn't even breathe properly and didn't know what to do, stood up, a pale hand held her ankle. It was LJ. LJ said to Im Seoyoung, who was flailing to escape,
“Sorry.”
It wasn't just anyone. LJ apologized.
Im Seoyoung instantly froze.
“Calling you dummy and idiot all this time, I went too far.”
“Hey, why are you acting like this? I know it was a joke! What I'm-!”
“If I knew words came true, then I would have been more careful.”
Im Seoyoung, who was shaking her head and hands side-to-side, stopped. It seemed she understood the odd meaning behind LJ's words as her eyes widened. LJ pulled and sat her back down and said,
“Dregs? If you're dregs, then am I crumbs?”
“What?”
Surprised, Im Seoyoung jolted in her seat.
“Why are you crumbs! You-!”
“They are the ones who get schedules on their own. Do I have anything going for me?”
LJ gestured to the two on the sofa with her eyes before continuing,
“All I did was get featured on a couple tracks. I'm on entertainment and radio shows because I'm a set with you. If you are the dregs of Neptune, then I'm its crumbs. No, not just normal crumbs, I must be dust.”
She placed her elbow on her raised knee. Her chin rested on her hand.
The corner of LJ's slanted lips was covered by her fingers.
“I look confident all the time? That's because I don't want to look embarra.s.sed or shallow. I'm better than you when you try to keep your expression under control. I'm a master at acting like nothing's wrong and like I'm fine. I'm a mixed-race.”
LJ shrugged.
“Well, I'm just saying.”
Her hand covered half her face.
This time, Lee Taehee spoke to Im Seoyoung, who stiff like a tree struck by lightning.
“Seoyoung, I always think that I am an incompetent leader.”
“Unni!”
Im Seoyoung's complexion was turning closer to black.
Lee Taehee calmly looked at Im Seoyoung. Like always, her eyes were like a placid lake with no wind. However, they were dark inside. They were so dark if there was something lurking underneath.
“It's because we have you that our team is can continue without problems. You do what other team leaders should be doing.”
“S-stop it, unni! I'm really fine. You don't have to comfort me!”
“I'm not saying this to just comfort you.”
Lee Taehee smiled faintly.
“Without you, we wouldn't have been able to last without any troubles when we were unknown. Without you, we wouldn't as close as a family right now. I have no confidence in making a team like this. So why are you the dregs?”
Tears pooled in Im Seoyoung's teary eyes.
Still holding onto her ankle like it was some sort of lifeline, LJ joined in,
“Hey, do you know what our residence is like when you're gone?”
“Huh?”
“It's an area of solitude.”
Im Seoyoung stopped crying and tilted her head.
“area of solitude?”
“I bet we don't say a word to each other when you're not here. Taehee unni is cooped up in her room, drinking beer and making songs, like some senior citizen. Songha reads the same scripts repeatedly like some social outcast. If they are moving around, it's only to the washroom or fridge.”
She said, gesturing to Lee Taehee and Lee Songha. This time, she pointed at herself.
“I'm the same.”
When Im Seoyoung's expression became serious, LJ let out a short sigh.
“It's not that our relations.h.i.+p is bad. It's just how we are. That's why the cameras in our home are usually off when you're not here. The producer said that there wasn't a rat's p.o.o.p worth of airtime to get from us.”
She said before adding,
“Well, I'm just saying.”
LJ flatly turned her gaze.
Lee Taehee's gaze momentarily fell on me. She spoke,
“I went to Sunwoo oppa before playing my songs to you. I probably wouldn't have told you that they were done if he didn't have a good reaction.”
“What?”
“Why? The songs were great!”
LJ and Im Seoyoung asked simultaneously.
Im Seoyoung stretched her neck out, her previous crouching appearance gone without a trace. She continued by saying how she felt like lightning struck when she heard Lee Taehee's songs and how she felt they should be their t.i.tle tracks.
Lee Taehee rubbed the back of her neck.
“I'm not confident in my songs. I was scared I would fail.”
Then she added while looking at Im Seoyoung,
“Stuff like that happened.”
A strange silence hung in the air. Having expressed their inner thoughts, the members exchanged glances. Although it was as silent as before, it wasn't a splitting silence. This time, it was a bit moist.
Like the ground after rain.
Im Seoyoung took a deep breath and was about to say something.