Childhood Friend Who Sees the Future Utters Nonsense

113 – The Scenery I Saw in My Dream

Flashes of light bursting from all over the place surround me.

I had already experienced this scene through the press conference after the showcase, but even taking that into account, the reason why this place felt so familiar must be because it was a scene I had seen in a dream.

Even though I had calmed down, I stared straight ahead, trying to calm my heart that was about to race again. At that moment, I saw a reporter behind me grabbing the microphone.

It should be the first time I’m seeing your face, but it’s only the second time I’m seeing you. Maybe that’s why I feel a strange sense of joy.

“This is reporter Kim Da-young from Daesung Ilbo. You were spotted visiting Golden Wedding Tower on the 7th. I would like to ask why you went there.”

Since it’s the beginning, it’s a pretty safe question. But at the same time, it’s also a core question.

I took a sip of water while reconsidering the prepared comment in my head. Then, as if he thought I was ready to answer, the president sitting next to me handed me the microphone.

“Yes, I came here to celebrate the wedding of an acquaintance of mine.”

Since the place where I took the photo was the wedding hall parking lot, the reason for my visit has not been publicly disclosed, so I answered the basic questions.

Even so, since the reporters’ information network is so wide, they would have quickly figured out the reason for my visit. As if to prove this, the questions continued.

“I heard that the person you know is Remi, a famous internet broadcaster. Is that true?”

“That’s right. We’re close enough to be like aunt and nephew in private.”

As I nodded without hesitation, I saw the reporters gathered there each taking notes in their own way. Some were writing in notebooks, some on laptops, and some on tablet PCs.

As the chaos that had come with the sound of keyboards being tapped out echoed from all over the place, and soon died down, once again a male reporter with a stylish beard raised his hand in one corner.

“This is reporter Oh Min-seok from the Hankyoreh. This may be a personal question, but can I ask how you became friends with the broadcaster?”

“Oh, yes.”

From the reporter’s perspective, it may have been a question intended to lighten the mood that could have easily become heavy, but to me, it was a fatal question. That’s understandable, because the one who made me close with Aunt Mirae was none other than Si-yoon.

Unless I mention that point, I end up just giving the reporters the gossip they want. It was such a dangerous topic that if I didn’t know what would happen next, I would have hesitated to answer.

“Actually, my future aunt… no, the person who became the editor of YouTuber Remi is my childhood friend. Thanks to that, I had the opportunity to meet her a few times.”

“If they are childhood friends, is the man in the photo with them…?”

“… Yes, that’s right.”

Just as I had seen in my dream, I paused for a moment, then nodded while politely holding the microphone with both hands. Then, once again, there was a loud popping sound and flashes went off everywhere.

It was harder to keep my eyes from being blinded by the flash than it was to recall the answers I had memorized. Ugh, it was blinding.

“It looks like you’ll just say we’re childhood friends and brush it off?”

“Okay, it’ll just flow like that.”

As the flash sound died down, I could hear the reporters whispering among themselves somewhere. It was so quiet that the president probably couldn’t hear it, but I could hear it clearly. I guess he thought my answer was a video even without watching it.

If you’re going to guess like that, then you’re in for a shame. You’ll get answers that are hard to imagine, so just wait and see.

As I continued to brag inwardly and focused my attention back on the front, a thin man on the left side of the front row raised his hand. At that moment, I swallowed without realizing it.

Because I already knew what question that person was going to ask.

“This is Jae-yoon Ahn from Star Magazine. I would like to ask you in detail about your relationship with the childhood friend who was in the photo with you at the wedding hall, which you mentioned earlier.”

Perhaps the real question that led to this press conference. The moment it came out of someone’s mouth, the gazes of the reporters standing in front of me seemed to become even sharper.

Until a little while ago, he had been taking notes of what I said out of a sense of duty, but this time he started looking at me with eyes burning with enthusiasm, as if he wasn’t going to miss even a single slip of the tongue. To be honest, it was quite burdensome.

Sigh.

As I was organizing the answers I had memorized in my head, I felt something tapping my back and turned my head. There was the president’s broad hand.

The boss gave me a warm look and patted me on the back, as if telling me not to be afraid and to talk quickly. He probably misunderstood me because I was nervous after he saw me pause for a moment.

Nod.

From noble mtl dot com

As if to show that he would do well in front of such a boss, he smiled and turned his head again.

At that moment, strangely enough, the dreamscape began to appear as if it were blurring over what I was seeing now.

“My childhood friend and I in the photo… are lovers.”

‘My childhood friend and I in the photo are… lovers.’

Even the voices I spat out in my dreams overlapped, and I felt like someone was pulling me. I don’t know if it was me or Siyoon waiting in the future.

However, an unfounded belief arose that for now, all I had to do was follow where that person led.

“…yes?”

“What? A romantic relationship?”

“Did I mishear that?”

As the bombshell statement came out of my mouth, the reporters forgot to write their reports for a moment and just mumbled amongst themselves. Even the reporter who asked me a question put down the pen he was holding tightly as if he was about to move at any moment and looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.

I guess everyone didn’t really believe what I said. I feel a little relieved because I feel like I got a kick out of it.

“Oh, this is reporter Yoo So-min from Idol 21. You said you were in a relationship, so I’d like to ask again if that’s true.”

“Yes, that is absolutely true.”

“Then, could you please tell me why you decided to reveal this fact?”

The questions continued like a machine gun. The agitated tone of voice seemed to indicate a desire to extract at least one more thing, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I think I now understand why the CEO told me to be careful with my words.

“Actually, there is no particular reason. It’s just that I didn’t want to deceive my fans, and furthermore, I didn’t want to treat my precious person as if he or she didn’t exist.

The murmurs continued for a long time, as if no one had ever thought that a rookie idol who debuted only one month ago would so confidently reveal news of a relationship and his aspirations.

The key question came up again when I had half-emptied the bottle of water in front of me.

“This is Jeong Seung-woo from A-Teen Magazine. Announcing a public relationship at this important time, just over a month after debut, may not be good news for the company and the group, so I would like to ask for CEO Cho Jae-young’s opinion on this matter.”

That’s right, this time it was the boss’s turn.

When I handed over the microphone, the president stared intently at the reporter who asked the question and smiled mysteriously.

“I would like to ask what you mean by it is not good news. It almost feels like our artist’s relationship is wrong.”

“Oh, no. Rather than saying it was a mistake, I think it was a choice that could have interfered with group activities…”

The reporter who asked the question stuttered and added an explanation in response to the sharp remark. The smile on the CEO’s face deepened even more.

“In the case of Yuna’s love life, it was something that the members and I all knew about. As for Yuna’s boyfriend that I just mentioned, I even called him over and talked to him.”

“Are you talking directly…?”

“Yes, but shouldn’t we at least check to make sure our daughter isn’t dating a bad guy?”

The president’s joking remark caused laughter in the room. This must have been a reaction because the president often mentions publicly that he treats the company’s artists, especially the trainees and idols, like his children.

“I also had a serious conversation with Yuna and the members, and everyone had the same opinion. Since she is such a dedicated friend, I don’t think she will interfere with her main job just because she has a boyfriend, so I’m going to support her.”

When the CEO finished speaking and said, “Can you believe me?” and passed the microphone to me, I smiled and nodded. Of course, that couldn’t happen. After all, that was what Siyoon had asked me to do.

“Was there any conflict or difference of opinion during that process?”

“Well, I don’t think you’ll believe me even if I say there was none… . There was none. Does that answer your question?”

Another mischievous question followed, but the boss smiled and handled the situation with his characteristically sly tone.

The reporters who heard this must have been quite shocked, and were busy gossiping among themselves. Most of them probably assumed that I had hidden my relationship from the company and that I had a lot of internal troubles.

He must have been trying to dig into that point and find fault with me, but instead, the boss blocked it all, so he was left with nothing to say.

In a way, who would dare to open their mouths when the CEO of the company who has been most affected by the dating rumors is shielding them like this? It would be fortunate if they don’t get criticized by other reporters for nitpicking just to make a story.

“This is reporter Do Kyung-rae from TV24. How long have you two been dating?”

“The period of time is… about 4 months now.”

“Then I guess that means you started dating right before your debut. I’d like to ask why you decided to date at such an important time.”

Here it comes. That’s the thought that came to my mind the moment I heard that question.

This answer may be more important than the public announcement of our relationship today. In a sense, it is safe to say that I came here to say this.

“… Yuna, tell me.”

“yes.”

After exchanging glances with the CEO for a moment, I picked up the microphone again. I could feel my hands, which had not been shaking until just a moment ago, shaking a little.

I was just writing down exactly what I had said in my dream, but I was so nervous. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the thought that I was secretly a newbie.

“Actually, I was a victim of the Eunho-dong stalker incident that happened a while ago.”

“… … !”

“also….”

Soon after, I could see the eyes of several reporters widening as I revealed the truth with my own mouth. Among them, reporters with a wide network of information showed that they already knew.

Of course. An idol from a major agency who was about to debut was stalked by a stalker, so there’s no way they could completely hide the details of something like that. Up to this point, even the CEO had expected it.

“I was walking back after practice like any other day, when a part-time worker at a flower shop I often went to spoke to me. All the streetlights around were off, and there was no one passing by at night.”

Although the general information is already known through articles and news, I continued the story to convey the scenery of that day clearly again.

“The perpetrator took a weapon out of his bag and threatened me. I couldn’t speak, and I didn’t even think about asking for help. I thought this was the end.”

The vivid story of a nineteen-year-old girl who almost lost her life left everyone breathless. Before anyone knew it, the press conference room was plunged into a heavy silence.

“But as usual, the friend who came to pick me up ran towards the criminal who was threatening me with a weapon and saved me even though he was bleeding himself.”

I continued speaking calmly, very calmly, recalling the time when Siyoon saved my life.

In fact, it must have been a nightmare-like moment for me, but I didn’t feel much resistance to recalling it. Maybe it was because I thought, in a corner of my head, that moment was the fateful turning point that allowed me to realize my feelings for Siyoon.

“Actually, it was that friend who made me dream of becoming an idol. When I was in middle school, I saw that friend playing the guitar and thought that I also wanted to sing the songs that he made someday, and that was the reason I started becoming a trainee.”

I spoke as if this were not a press conference, but simply a place to brag and let my fans, friends, and acquaintances know how much Park Si-yoon meant to me and how precious he was to me.

“As the reporter asked, I also had a lot of concerns at the time. At such an important time, I wondered if it was right to make a decision that might cause trouble to both the members and the company.”

A self-deprecating smile spread across my face. Even when I think about it, I think it was a really hasty choice, but I don’t regret it. Because of that choice back then, I was able to come this far.

“But at the same time, I thought to myself, if I can’t express my gratitude and love to someone so precious just because I’m an idol, I might end up resenting this in the future.”

If I hadn’t been able to convey my feelings as they were and had seen Shiyoon fall in love with someone else, I think I would have resented my status as an idol from that day on.

In other words, the reason I told Siyoon my feelings was not because I looked down on the idol profession and my position. It was simply an action I chose to take in order to walk the path I had decided to walk more properly.

It means that it is a choice made to catch two rabbits: love and work.

“That means it wasn’t a decision I made lightly. So I hope the fans will see us in the best light of ways. That’s all I ask for.”

As he bowed his head with sincerity towards his fans, small applause could be heard from around him.

I think it’s the applause from the reporters who are happy to see a rookie idol who hasn’t even become an adult yet express such a bold ambition.

“I listened to the story carefully. So in the end, it was that boyfriend who allowed Yuna to be here.”

“yes that’s right.”

“Then how about saying something to him? He might be watching this press conference right now.”

The initial hearing-like atmosphere soon became more relaxed, and one reporter gestured to me as if he were telling me to leave a video message like in a variety show. The surroundings were filled with laughter at that action.

The images of the dream in my head had long ago stopped, and from here on out, I had to walk on my own strength alone. But I wasn’t afraid. I had already thought about what I was going to say to Siyoon.

“Park Si-yoon, if you cheat, do it yourself!”

There was no need to say things like “I love you” or “Let’s be together for the rest of our lives.”

I smiled brightly at the camera and gave a cute warning as a girlfriend, then nodded to the reporters.

The press conference room was filled with applause that was even louder than before, and I could see the CEO next to me smiling happily and applauding.

Now we’ve done everything we can. All that’s left is for the fans to decide.