Chapter 227: Do Seohan in the Sleeping Forest
“Maybe it’s better to wake him up by force.”
That was Kang Siwoo’s conclusion after about an hour.
We needed to check if he was okay before deciding whether to take him to the hospital or just let him rest.
“Yeah, I think so too.”
In the end, we decided to wake him.
His roommate, Seo Ian, nodded and pushed open the door.
“Seohan, are you asleep?”
Do Seohan seemed to be in a deep sleep, not even noticing someone entering the room.
“Do Seohan, wake up.”
Kang Siwoo clicked his tongue and sat down next to the bed. He placed his hand on Seohan’s forehead, but it didn’t feel particularly hot.
“Doesn’t seem like he has a fever.”
“Then let’s wake him.”
Jin Sehyun, who had followed in, tapped Seohan’s shoulder. When there was no reaction, he shook him, and a sleepy voice answered.
“…Ugh. Just 10 more minutes.”
“He’s totally out of it.”
It didn’t seem like he was sick.
Once we confirmed that, a helpless laugh slipped out.
Unbelievable.
Kang Siwoo shook his head and called Seohan in a low voice.
“Seohan, get up, time for school~.”
“Didn’t Seohan drop out?”
“Oh.”
While Kang Siwoo laughed awkwardly and hesitated, Seohan mumbled again.
“…Make it 15 minutes.”
“The time’s increasing?”
“Hey, seriously get up. You’ve slept way too long.”
Shake shake—
Unable to watch any longer, Jin Sehyun grabbed Seohan’s body and lifted him up. Only then did he slowly raise himself with a dazed look.
“……”
His mind still seemed to be off in dreamland. Jin Sehyun let out a dumbfounded laugh.
“I’m the one who drank, so why do you look drunk?”
“Seohan, are you tired?”
“…Yeah.”
Plop.
And then he lay back down again.
He’d done this before, and we just left him be back then. But today, it felt right to wake him properly.
Kang Siwoo shook his head and spoke.
“Let’s just force him up.”
“Okay.”
With that, Jin Sehyun and Seo Ian each grabbed one of Seohan’s arms and pulled him up.
“Come on, wake up!”
“Ughm…”
We managed to sit him up, but his face still looked half-asleep.
He still hasn’t come to.
Kang Siwoo spoke with a worried expression.
“This is bad. We’ve got a radio schedule tonight.”
“…What?”
“Huh?”
With that one word, the guy who had been so drowsy moments ago opened his eyes wide. His gaze instantly sharpened like he’d never been asleep.
“…You’re awake?”
“Hearing about the schedule woke me right up.”
Do Seohan rubbed his face with dry hands and sprang to his feet.
What kind of mental strength is this?
At the mention of a schedule, the guy who was just nodding off snapped into focus.
He was even stumbling out the door, insisting he’d still go.
Stumble.
“Hey!”
“Is it… 1 a.m. now…?”
“It’s 1 in the afternoon.”
“Oh.”
Kang Siwoo clicked his tongue and added,
“Seohan, at least eat before you go…”
Seriously, what an enigma.
We almost missed the radio schedule. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl.
Good thing I woke up when I did. If I’d kept dozing off, I probably would’ve been half-asleep even on-site.
To be honest, even while getting my makeup done, I struggled hard not to doze off.
Anyway, we finished the radio schedule safely, and now we were on the way back to the dorm.
I stared out the car window, lost in thought.
“Seohan, are you okay?”
“Oh, yes.”
I nodded at Manager Lee Jaeyoon’s question. I answered confidently, but something still weighed on my mind.
It was true that the schedule right after the comeback had been exhausting, but a sleep like that—nearly passing out—was almost unprecedented in my life.
No, anyone could tell it wasn’t a normal situation.
I think I was bedridden for two days last time too.
“Hmm…”
I retraced my memories.
That was right after our first solo concert.
“Seohan seems to crash really hard after a big event,” Seo Ian had said.
He wasn’t wrong. I smiled faintly at the valid point, but I didn’t think that was the reason.
How should I put it—
It feels like external forces are involved.
It’s not just an “ah, I’m tired” kind of feeling.
It’s like my body literally shuts down.
I think it happens whenever there’s a big milestone, and naturally, I recalled something Kim Woochan had said.
“A great achievement.”
Could it be that every time I hit a major milestone, I go into a sort of temporary shutdown as the price?
Especially since the Billboard entry was an ‘achievement’ Woochan had clearly pointed out.
I couldn’t be sure, but for now, I’d go with that assumption.
“Hoo…”
My health didn’t seem to be declining or anything, so there wasn’t really a problem. Still, I’d have to be more mindful of my schedule moving forward.
What if I collapse on the day of a fan signing?
If <A zombie-eyed idol asleep at a fan signing> went viral, I’d have no defense.
Gotta be careful.
“Manager.”
“Hm?”
I leaned forward and asked Manager Lee Jaeyoon,
“I don’t have any schedules tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Then I’m going to sleep all day.”
“…Yeah. Get some rest.”
—And the moment I finished saying that, drowsiness swept over me again.
That radio schedule must’ve been won with pure willpower.
“Sigh…”
I wanted to find Kim Woochan and get a clear answer, but for now… I was just too sleepy.
Let’s sleep first, and think later.
“I’m going to sleep.”
And with that, my consciousness cut off.
And I regretted it.
* * *
“Sleeping Beauty in the Forest.”
“Huh?”
The next day, when I woke up, I had a weird new nickname. Seo Haim smiled as she continued.
“Sehyun made it up while you were sleeping.”
“Uh…”
But.
Why a princess, of all things?
When I furrowed my brows, Seo Haim burst out laughing.
“Then how about ‘Hamster in the Sleeping Forest’?”
“Both are the worst.”
“Well, yeah… a hamster in the forest sounds like it’s about to get eaten.”
“You can’t say that—Do Seohan’s at the bottom of the food chain~.”
Cha Seongbin closed his composition book and stood up. His sly expression gleamed like he’d just found a new toy.
“You’ve awoken, Princess?”
“Don’t.”
“Princess, did you sleep well last night~?”
“…I said don’t.”
They were definitely going to tease me about this for at least a week.
The hyungs approached like hyenas.
Cha Seongbin hummed cheerfully.
“Hey, Do Seohan’s reactions are great.”
“Yeah. He’s totally falling for it.”
“Y-You… evil people…!”
It’s been two years together, and we know each other way too well.
They know exactly which jokes hit me the hardest!
“See? I told you it’d land hard.”
Jin Sehyun added with a satisfied look. That hyung is the root of all evil.
I glared at him, my body trembling slightly with frustration.
Then Ha Junseo opened his mouth.
“That’s what you get for sleeping like you’re seriously ill.”
“Well…”
I had nothing to say.
Even I thought it was weird how I collapsed so helplessly.
Ha Junseo clicked his tongue briefly, then spoke in a calm voice.
He seemed to be acting nonchalant so I wouldn’t worry.
“We came to a sort of conclusion last night. Seohan’s the type who crashes and sleeps all at once.”
“That makes sense. You were out cold—like someone could’ve carried you off and you wouldn’t know…”
At that moment, Kang Siwoo chimed in, chewing on his toast.
“But just in case it’s narcolepsy or something, the company said to go to the hospital.”
“…I’ll go.”
I didn’t really think it was anything pathological, but I couldn’t exactly refuse outright.
A hospital check-up wouldn’t hurt.
Just as I nodded at the hyungs’ advice—
“Oh, and.”
Kang Siwoo added, like he just remembered something.
“While you were asleep, we climbed to Billboard No. 50.”
…What?
“You should’ve woken me up!”
“You weren’t waking up.”
“…Insane.”
I slept through that?!
“Next time, just splash water on me.”
“Don’t worry. If we ever hit No. 1, I’ll dunk you in a tub.”
“Please…”
If I miss it again, I’ll die from regret…
[Stardust Exploding in Popularity ㄷㄷ]
Billboard No. 47—what a crazy record.
They’ve even charted for 2 weeks straight, lol. Can you believe these are rookie boy group numbers? I’m just overwhelmed.
-Do I look like a fan of the god-tier Universe Dust who hit No. 1 on domestic charts, swept the Big 3 public broadcasts, and entered Billboard in year two?
ㄴDusties’ shoulders are going up up lolololol
ㄴAn idol that boosts fan pride
ㄴThey boost our pride with their achievements ㅠㅠ I freaking love them
-I watched Seohan’s fancam yesterday and all I saw was light. That’s our boys’ future ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
ㄴAgreed. I watched Do Seohan’s fancam and all I saw was a hamster
ㄴWhat even is that
ㄴYou crazy bastard
ㄴI just wanna slip sunflower seeds into his sleeves
ㄴAh ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Reasons Dusties are so proud: the boys prove themselves with numbers, kill it in their main job, give perfect fan service, and keep making comebacks nonstop. How could you not stan Universe Dust ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
ㄴSo true… They’re clearly busy, but they still message us on Private Message every day. So cute.
ㄴAll that chatter… Is that our little chick?
ㄴNonstop chattering Choco Haim ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Doubles is gonna tour abroad like crazy again. Please come to Korea too ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
ㄴThere’s interest overseas right now, so they might hit up Happy Together soon…
ㄴI love that our boys are getting famous, but I only wanna see Seo Ian’s abs in Korea
ㄴㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Stop showing them overseas lol
ㄴIan, hide them;;
ㄴProtect Tofu Ian at all costs
.
.
.
There were no concerns.
The only thing that even resembled an incident was the Sleeping Forest Do Seohan situation.
We were worried because the maknae slept so much, but after a hospital visit, they said nothing was wrong.
It’s not like he can’t function day to day. In fact, when nothing’s going on, he barely sleeps at all.
So it was just passed off as a minor incident.
‘I’m happy.’
That’s why we were enjoying each day.
Sure, our bodies were tired, but being this busy was honestly a blessing.
Jin Sehyun felt that way as he savored the peaceful days.
Vrrr—
The constant vibration of his phone made Jin Sehyun furrow his brows slightly.
“Ah.”
There are things in life you want to ignore but just can’t.
Blocking the number would be easy, but the anxiety of not knowing how the other party might react unsettled Jin Sehyun, who always sought ultimate stability.
In the end, he reluctantly answered the call.
The long vibration finally stopped.
“……”
The first thing he heard was simple.
–Hey, you’re doing pretty well, huh?
It was Choi Hosung from REVEL.
A familiar voice he hadn’t heard in a long time spoke quietly.
–Congrats on making Billboard.
At that, Jin Sehyun let out a faint, bitter smile.
“Yes.”
It didn’t sound like congratulations at all.