Chapter 11: A Straw to Grasp

“I need to work hard. Either way, I have to work hard.”

Han Hoseong repeated those words like a creed.

At times like this, if he kept his head straight and kept putting in desperate effort, something would come of it.

‘But what if I fail again?’

A familiar worry surged up.

It had calmed down since the start of this year, but with the comeback approaching, his heart had apparently weakened.

As he let out another sigh, HIGH-5’s past song played.

A call was coming in.

[OVER THE LIMIT] Nowon.

Han Hoseong checked the caller and pressed the answer button.

“Hello.”

• Oh, you picked up. Can you talk now?

A cheerful voice rang out.

Nowon couldn’t see him, but Hoseong nodded instinctively.

“Yeah. Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Were you not in America?”

• That’s right, LA.

“What time is it there? It is 9:30 in Korea.”

• It is 4:30 here. Apparently, there is a 17-hour difference.

He had guessed as much, but right, 4:30 must have been AM, not PM.

Han Hoseong asked with concern.

“Are you okay not sleeping? Your schedule must be cramped.”

• I am fine, I am used to pulling all-nighters. And if it is not this time, it is hard to call you.

“Next time, just tell me when you are free. It would be better to match our schedules and call.”

• That works too. Oh, Hoseong.

“Yeah?”

• I have been watching your activities. Your vocals have improved a lot, you know. I got goosebumps listening.

“……Thanks.”

Even though it was not an in-person conversation, it was embarrassing.

He cleared his throat unnecessarily and added.

“I have been watching yours too.”

That was not just being polite, it was the truth.

Nowon was Han Hoseong’s closest friend, and even aside from that, there was no way he would not know about OVER THE LIMIT.

OVER THE LIMIT was the greatest idol of this era, acknowledged by everyone.

The kind of idol that even people with no interest in celebrities couldn’t avoid knowing.

Just like their group name, OVER THE LIMIT kept breaking boundaries and setting records.

“You are amazing, truly.”

• Aw, I am not worth calling amazing.

It was probably just modesty, but coming from that person, it felt almost like mockery.

Han Hoseong forced his restless mind to settle.

There was no need to feel inferior to a precious friend.

It would not be a good feeling for either Nowon or himself.

• ……So, is something going on?

“What? Why?”

• Your voice sounds a little gloomy.

“Oh…… does it?”

Even over a call that mixed in some static, he could sense something that subtle.

Moon Haeil, Seol Itae, and Lee Jujin, who had spoken with him in person, had not even pointed it out.

“That cannot be…… I am fine. Nothing is wrong.”

It was not exactly a white lie, but it was not a malicious one either.

He couldn’t exactly tell Nowon, “One of our members regained consciousness after a suicide attempt and then claims he is a different person.”

• Then show me your face.

“Huh?”

• Let us video call. I need to see if your face is okay.

“What is that supposed to be?”

He thought it was a joke, but the video call transition alert went off.

Han Hoseong looked at the handsome face filling the phone screen and smiled.

“See, I am fine.”

• I am not sure. Go somewhere brighter.

“Geez…… why go this far.”

Still, he moved to the living room, bright under the fluorescent lights.

He plopped down on the sofa and held his face up to the front camera.

Nowon muttered.

• Hmm…… Are you really okay?

“I told you. You can trust me.”

• If you say so. But if anything happens, tell me whenever. Even if it is just me, I will listen.

“……Yeah.”

Han Hoseong looked at Nowon with fresh eyes.

He seemed to be in a hotel, lying on his stomach on a white bed.

A flawless face that made you admire it.

He instinctively understood why Nowon was the most popular member of OVER THE LIMIT, and beyond that, his personality was kind too.

Having such a friend by his side was a huge fortune.

Even if he couldn’t pour out his worries, that presence alone put his mind at ease a little.

• You know Hojae from our group, right?

“Yeah.”

• Apparently, when he has worries, he goes to a fortune teller. He says pouring out his troubles to a shaman makes him feel lighter. In a way, the shaman serves as a counselor.

“That could be true.”

Even as he agreed, Han Hoseong wondered whether top idols had worries too.

If he were in that position, he felt like he wouldn’t have a single concern.

“Honestly, I am the one who should get a reading……”

As he muttered to himself, Nowon asked.

• Why? Are you interested? You never used to believe in fortunes or saju.

“It is not that I did not believe. I do not really believe it either.”

He just had not been interested in divination.

But these days, he felt he understood why people went to fortune tellers when they were desperate.

It was surely the mindset of grabbing at straws.

• If you are interested, I will recommend you a place. Hojae went to one recently and said it was surprisingly accurate. It is probably close to your dorm.

“Really? Where?”

• Hang on. Let me ask Hojae for the exact place.

Before he could answer, Nowon got up from the bed.

The background blurred, apparently as he left the room.

After a while, his voice murmured in conversation with Hojae.

‘Where was that fortune teller you went to recently? The place you also got a recommendation for.’

‘Ah, there? Want me to send you the number?’

‘Yeah. But was it really good?’

‘It was amazing. I went there half-doubtful because of all the recommendations, but it was the most impressive place I have been to. I guess word-of-mouth places in this business have their reasons.’

While unintentionally overhearing the conversation, Han Hoseong’s ears perked up.

With the entertainment industry being such a dynamic market, many people liked getting their fortunes read.

If it was this well-known even among them, it must truly be mystical.

• Hey, Hoseong.

Nowon returned to the call after finishing with Hojae.

Han Hoseong swallowed dryly and spoke.

“Nowon, if it is okay, could you share that fortune teller’s place with me too?”

• Of course. I will send it to you now.

“Thanks.”

• But what are you going to ask about?

“Well, just various things……”

• What? Is it a secret? I will feel hurt.

It was a tone that was half-serious, half-whiny.

If he was going to act cute like that, he would be better off showing it to the Challengers, OVER THE LIMIT’s fandom.

Why did he do it to himself?

Han Hoseong smiled as he answered.

“No, it is not that I am trying to keep it secret. I just have too much to ask. About the future, about relationships…… things like that.”

• I do not know about the rest, but the future is bright.

“I hope so.”

Saying he hoped so meant it was not so now.

Han Hoseong once again pushed down the bubbles rising in his chest.

Since he had received a good word, there was no need to bring up negative thoughts.

• Oh, by the way. I am getting another tattoo soon.

“Where?”

• On my waist.

Without warning, Nowon lifted his shirt.

More than his waist, his firm abs caught the eye.

• Can you see well?

“Oh…… I see it too well, that is the problem.”

The guy had gone to America and gotten more open-minded, showing skin without hesitation.

Nowon giggled and pulled his shirt back down.

Then he talked about his recent life, including why he wanted a new tattoo.

Most of it was already known through the news, but some stories could only be heard from a friend.

Only after the phone had become hot did the video call end.

A message from Nowon arrived right afterward.

It was a phone number for the fortune teller.

Saving the number, Han Hoseong thought.

He really should go get his fortune told, even if it meant being scammed.

It was 11 AM, when the sunlight stretched long.

Lee Jujin scratched his head and came out to the living room.

Moon Haeil, lying on the sofa and absorbed in a phone game, greeted him.

“You are up now?”

“Yeah. Is Tae hyung in?”

“He went to his parents’ house. Said he was going to visit them.”

“Maybe I should have gone to see my mom and dad too…… Ugh, but I do not even have enough time to catch up on sleep.”

Today was HIGH-5’s first proper holiday of the year.

Starting tomorrow, they planned to focus on comeback preparations.

And after the comeback, whether it did well or not, they would have plenty of work.

In other words, today was the last day off before things got insane.

Each member had his own way of enjoying this golden holiday.

Moon Haeil intended to loaf around and meet friends at sunset, Lee Jujin planned to sleep as much as he could, and Seol Itae decided to visit his family.

“By the way, what is Zenon doing?”

“Who knows?”

“Just wondering if something’s going on again……”

Lee Jujin muttered that when it was quiet, it was also worrying.

Moon Haeil grew anxious too and turned his eyes toward the small room.

At that moment, the door swung open.

“Ah.”

“What is wrong?”

The one who opened the door was Han Hoseong.

He was taken aback by the two pairs of eyes on him.

“No, we were just wondering what Zenon was doing.”

“He is probably asleep. He has been lying still for ages.”

“As long as he does not cause any accidents.”

“By the way, where are you going?”

Moon Haeil got up from the sofa and asked.

Han Hoseong was in his going-out clothes, wearing a mask that covered half his face.

It was the unmistakable look of a celebrity stepping out.

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