Chapter 38: It Seems I’ve Been Caught
A week after the well-received position evaluation,
In the meantime, a year had passed, and the result of the vocal position evaluation ended with the victory of Vocal A Team.
The result was 56 to 44. In the midst of what was thought to be a neck-and-neck performance, the live audience chose the side they were more drawn to, just like Yubin had said.
A performance that left a strong impression with its impactful beginning and solid vocals.
With such praise, we managed to survive safely.
“Everyone… survived safely.”
Seo Haim tapped her phone screen and fast-forwarded through the teaser video.
I nodded and let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, without even needing the viewer vote, I secured advancement to the next round through the position evaluation.
To be honest, I was incredibly nervous.
Even though I secured third place during the first ranking ceremony, I couldn’t afford to relax.
This position evaluation, being a fate-sharing mission, was a competition full of variables.
The team that caused an upset and became the first elimination candidate was Performance C Team—Kevin’s team.
‘Will they survive through the viewer vote?’
I felt a little guilty thinking it, but part of me hoped this would be the timing for his elimination.
It’d be a blessing if someone else handled it for me. Of course, life doesn’t always work out that conveniently.
If the viewer vote kicks in, there’s a high chance he’ll survive.
Just when I was deep in thought about Kevin’s chances of survival, a cheerful voice snapped me out of it.
“Hi—.”
Jin Sehyun, Seo Haim, Ha Junseo.
The usual trio I always saw—familiar members—but among them was a slightly unfamiliar face.
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Huh? Ah.”
It was Cha Seongbin.
I didn’t know who brought him in, but before I knew it, this insanely sociable person was in the same room.
Cha Seongbin smiled as he acknowledged me.
“Is it a pleasant thought? Congratulations to Master Vocalist Do Seohan on advancing safely.”
Unlike the others here, not many had expected Vocal A Team to win.
I even knew that fans were gritting their teeth and voting for me, worried I might be eliminated.
So when we beat Vocal B Team by a full 12 points, I was just as surprised.
I was so shocked that I forgot about the camera and failed to control my expression.
Yup, and of all things, that made it into this teaser.
That shot is already being spread around as the “Surprised Hamji GIF.”
“Surprised!”
Seo Haim, clearly enjoying teasing me, mimicked the face I made back then right next to me.
Thud—
She even delicately reenacted the moment I dropped my water bottle without realizing it.
“Cut it out!”
Enough already, seriously!
Seo Haim trembled exaggeratedly and added cheekily,
“You’ve grown louder now that you’re a year older. Ack!”
“You’re only satisfied once I hit you, huh.”
Jin Sehyun clicked his tongue and shook his head as if used to this.
Ha Junseo laughed out loud watching the scene, then opened his eyes wide.
“Oh, right. I heard the billboard went up… Shouldn’t we go take a photo with it?”
Ah, the billboard.
Seo Haim nodded vigorously and responded immediately.
“Sounds good.”
“We should all go together.”
“I’m in too!”
I knew the billboard had gone up, but I’d been so distracted by the evaluations lately that I hadn’t had time to think about it.
Ha Junseo’s always been good at taking care of these details.
We needed to go take a thank-you photo, and it seemed best to do it before the next ranking ceremony.
Once the next evaluation begins, we’ll be busy again.
Ha Junseo nodded and started counting on his fingers.
“So that’s Haim, Sehyun, Seohan—all going, right?”
“Yes!”
“Do you all have time after dinner tomorrow…?”
At that moment, I felt a certain pair of eyes staring.
That burdensome gaze—I couldn’t just ignore it.
Ha Junseo flinched and turned his head with a startled face.
“You… wanna come too?”
Wait, when did we ever do anything together?
Why is he even in my room to begin with?
Meeting my clear gaze, Cha Seongbin laughed awkwardly and shook his head.
“Oh, no need for me to go.”
“Oh… really?”
“Yeah, even though I don’t have anyone to go with.”
Huh?
“I guess I’ll have to go alone, feeling lonely and desolate….”
“Maybe I won’t even go….”
You have tons of friends!
“Maybe it’s because it’s winter, but my heart feels… cold.”
Rustle, rustle.
Seeing Cha Seongbin bundling up his clothes in a perfectly heated room, Jin Sehyun quickly made a decision.
“Let’s just go together.”
Wearing a black beanie, black sunglasses, and a mask that covered half his face, Ha Junseo turned to the mirror with satisfaction.
He had covered himself so desperately it was questionable whether he could even see ahead.
Seo Haim looked at Ha Junseo and let out a quiet exclamation.
“Wow, fashion daebak!”
“Do I look that good?”
“You look super suspicious!”
Ha Junseo couldn’t respond after getting hit with Seo Haim’s blunt honesty.
Yeah, even I think he looks way too suspicious.
“Feels like he’ll be on a wanted poster soon, hyung.”
Sure, celebrities cover up when going out, but… at this level, wouldn’t it attract even more attention?
This one’s overkill, and then there’s…
“Seohan!”
Seo Haim turned toward me, wiping his bare face.
“Honestly, do you think people would even recognize me like this?”
“I don’t think so.”
Ha Junseo’s a bit dramatic, but you’re way too casual!
Having already experienced this once in my previous life, I shook my head firmly.
“If you go to Hongdae like that, you won’t even make it to the billboard—people will swarm you. Absolutely not.”
“Aww.”
“I’m serious… Cover up, now.”
Was it about half a year after the Stardust Project ended?
At least until around then, whenever I went anywhere, I’d draw crowds like the Pied Piper.
And now, when I’m at the peak of popularity?
Unless I want to run and hide everywhere, it’s impossible.
“Do Seohan caught the celeb disease… ack!”
I ignored Seo Haim’s muttering and placed a black mask over her bare face.
I didn’t expect her to go full Himalayan explorer like Ha Junseo.
But still, as a trainee who’s appeared on TV, he should at least hide himself a bit.
Though let’s be honest—we’re gonna get caught anyway.
Grumbling, Seo Haim covered his face as instructed, and seeing him, Ha Junseo wrapped up even tighter.
He ended up looking like he might roll away.
While those two got fully prepared, Cha Seongbin subtly stepped up beside me.
Since ending up in the same group as Ha Junseo, he’d been sticking around more, but things were still awkward between us.
Honestly, I had no idea why someone with so many friends even joined this group.
In any case, Cha Seongbin had been actively trying to talk to me.
Even now, he was doing just that.
“I’m so nervous.”
His face didn’t look nervous at all.
“So very anxious…”
He muttered soullessly as he sipped on his Americano.
Just like a second Lee Dokyung, this sly guy—how he ends up a fragile sunfish later still baffled me.
Life is really unpredictable.
Anyway, I was just as nervous about the billboard tour.
My memories from the tour seven years ago had gone blurry, like a past life…
And the thought of possibly encountering fans made me all the more anxious.
Plus, we weren’t even bringing a manager along, so I could only hope nothing would go wrong.
I had a mountain of worries, but the departure time was nearing.
Glancing at the clock, Ha Junseo unwrapped the scarf tightly around his neck and said,
“Let’s head out now.”
On a weekday morning at Hongdae Station.
At that odd hour when office workers had already gone to work, five shadowy figures carefully stepped out near the station.
No matter how bold they were, none dared to recklessly ride the subway like it was no big deal.
Like a scene from a secret 007 mission, the five of us arrived in Ha Junseo’s car and scanned the surroundings with guarded eyes.
“Why… are there so many people?”
“Yeah. I feel like we’ll get spotted immediately.”
“We should’ve covered up more.”
Even at this weird hour, Hongdae Station was still a bustling hotspot.
Seohan perked up his ears and headed down into the station.
Ha Junseo might’ve had flashy fashion, but no one was looking our way yet.
Seo Haim skipped down the stairs and glanced around.
“Let’s move quickly.”
We had to hit Hongdae Station, then Hapjeong Station too.
There were a lot of stops to cover in one day.
If we wanted to see everything, we had to start picking up the pace.
Come to think of it, I’d heard there was a Do Seohan billboard nearby…
The five of us darted our eyes around, scanning the billboards near Gangnam Station.
“Oh!”
At that moment, something familiar popped into Seo Haim’s radar as she actively scouted the station.
[Cheering for Hamji Do Seohan’s debut at 18]
Please vote for trainee Do Seohan from the Stardust Project!
“There’s a billboard over there.”
“Oh, really?”
At Seo Haim’s whispered remark, Do Seohan’s eyes grew wide.
A huge billboard large enough to cover an entire subway station wall.
On the massive screen were his face and supportive messages written for him.
And above that, countless post-its left by fans.
It wasn’t the first time.
I’d seen billboards like this in my past life… but this one—
The number of post-its was incomparable.
That spot alone looked expensive, even at a glance.
Eighteen-year-old Do Seohan wouldn’t have done the math, but now I did—and that realization made the emotion hit me all at once.
Is this even real?
That billboard… it’s bigger than I imagined?
“…Wow.”
Seohan slowly took in the colorful post-its with his wide eyes, then turned his head.
It was a beautiful sight—one I wanted to carry with me for the rest of my life.
A photo of himself from the first evaluation.
Seohan in the billboard photo was beaming so brightly, it was dazzling.
Seohan approached the billboard as if possessed.
It wasn’t to take a proof shot—it was purely instinct.
The desire to get closer and see it for himself.
“What… is all this…”
[Seohan, I hope you debut in an even more shining place, just like your radiant stage]
[Our cute baby Hamji ㅠㅠ no sexy concept allowed]
[Do Seohan, please debut]
[I hope Seohan comes here and sees this! So many people are cheering for you like this]
[Mam-Seohan, I love you, let’s make sure you debut]
[Seohan’s fancam is my favorite video. I watch it dozens of times a day. You’re truly a beautiful star.]
“Haa…”
Seohan took a deep breath and exhaled.
His vision flickered for a moment. Unknowingly, his eyes had welled up.
Honestly, I think supporting someone like this isn’t an easy thing.
The fact that someone came all the way here, writing supportive messages not even knowing if he’d see them—it was already amazing.
But the fact that there were even more billboards like this at other stations—that was even more astounding.
More than the countless messages that adorned this billboard, it was realizing that even more people were cheering for him—it suddenly hit home.
An unfamiliar wave of emotion surged up from deep inside.
“Thank you…”
While Seohan murmured like that, Cha Seongbin poked his head out and asked.
“Eh? Are you crying?”
“What? No, I’m not.”
Sniff.
It would be a lie to say a tear didn’t slip out.
Seohan raised his chin high, forcing a calm face.
“It’s just a mood.”
Seo Haim, not missing the opportunity, sparkled her eyes.
“Huh, I think you are. Your eyes are a little red.”
“It’s dry eye syndrome.”
“Suspicious. I smell something fishy…”
“Out of the way.”
Seohan desperately pushed away Seo Haim, who tried to tease him, and peeled off a few post-its.
He thought they’d give him strength if he read them when times got tough.
“I’ll take a few of these with me.”
“Wow, there are so many… Seohan, you must be so happy?”
Peeling them all off wouldn’t feel right.
After carefully selecting a few, Seohan slipped them into his pocket and stepped back.
The highlight of the billboard tour. It was time to take the proof photo.
The movements of the suspicious-looking group suddenly grew hectic.
Jin Sehyun, half-covered in a black beanie, hastily posed and held up his phone.
The ones who said they’d take the photos quietly were now making a fuss.
“Should we step back a bit?”
“Hey, Seohan. Try shedding a tear like that.”
“…?”
“Ooh, good pose right there!”
Click.
Seohan smiled softly while holding post-its in both hands, and his face appeared on the phone screen.
Click again—
Just as the cheerful shutter sounds echoed through the subway station,
From a distance came the sound of murmuring voices.
I had felt subtle glances earlier…
Then someone shouted loudly.
“Hey, it’s Do Seohan!”
Hold on.
“That’s Cha Seongbin!”
“Holy—yo—it’s Jin Sehyun!”
“Seo Haim… oh my god…”
“Aaaah! Junseo!”
It seems… we’ve been caught.