Chapter 32: Sparks in the Rehearsal Room

“I was going to submit it anyway!”

“Hey. Beom Euigeon, you disrespectful brat.”

“What kind of way is that to speak to a senior?”

“In my day, you couldn’t even keep your head up that high in front of a senior, do you even know that?”

Gye Gondae’s sudden intrusion made the atmosphere sink even further.

Unable to watch any longer, Jeong Taehyun stepped in between Chaewoo and Euigeon.

“Now, now. Let’s not do this here…”

“Based on this valuable advice, shouldn’t the person participating be the one to deliberate and make the decision?”

“That’s right…”

Only then did the students who were just watching approach and try to stop the two.

Seeing the atmosphere in the department office turn as cold as ice, Chaewoo belatedly realized he had overreacted.

He hadn’t cursed or gotten into a physical fight like a child, but he was embarrassed that he’d had a pointless argument with Euigeon in front of the other students.

What was a mere competition, anyway?

Unlike Chaewoo, whose expression was completely stiff, Euigeon’s face was as calm as if nothing had happened.

As expected, he had gone overboard.

Euigeon was always thoroughly prepared for his lessons, and his parents were famous perfectionists.

In a way, it was only natural for such advice to come from his mouth.

“I got a bit worked up while talking. I’m sorry if I startled you.”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you for the advice, Senior. I’m just going to try for the experience. Hehe.”

“…Right.”

Leaving the cluttered atmosphere behind, Chaewoo hurriedly left the department office.

He wanted to attend school as if he were invisible until graduation, but look at this.

His face was still hot from the anger he felt because of Beom Euigeon.

Heading straight for the restroom, Chaewoo lightly splashed his face with cold water.

To think he was suddenly participating in a competition.

Swayed by his surging, intense emotions, he had foolishly written his name on the application.

“The entry fee is expensive, too. Sigh.”

It was a whopping one hundred thousand won.

On top of that, renting a costume, getting extra lessons, renting a practice room, and adding in transportation costs…

Just how much money would that be?

‘You’re insane, Seol Chaewoo.’

After finishing washing his face, Chaewoo stared down the hallway connected to the department office with eyes full of lingering regret.

‘Should I go back and take my name off now?’

But he had come too far.

To withdraw his name now would severely bruise his pride.

It was certain that ridicule and gossip would follow.

He couldn’t possibly cancel it, especially because of that arrogant jerk who spoke as if there was no point in even participating unless you were going to win.

‘I will definitely win an award and crush you.’

Chaewoo made a secret vow.

“Chaewoo-saurus. I heard you had a showdown with Beom Euigeon?”

Before he could even move a few steps, Kim Yunso popped out from somewhere.

“How did you even find out about that?”

“Everyone is talking about it.”

“Ah. I don’t know. I don’t know why I stepped forward.”

Kim Yunso patted his shoulder as if she roughly knew the whole story.

“You did well. Everyone will sympathize with what you said more. What that guy said is only possible because he’s that successful. Is that even feasible for ordinary people?”

Just how fast do rumors spread in this department?

To think they could get ahead of him despite him having two legs.

He had lived quietly because he hated dramatic atmospheres.

He already felt exhausted, feeling as though he could clearly see how much he would suffer from gossip in the future.

“Sigh.”

“Can’t a senior give a junior some advice? Shoulders back, Chaewoo-saurus!”

“Thanks for saying that, Yunso-saurus.”

“Us Cretaceous types on the verge of extinction have to stick together. That Beom Euigeon sure has a personality. Why did he have to talk back so stubbornly to a senior?”

“Our opinions just didn’t align, that’s all.”

“You’ve been disliking him secretly. I guess any chance of making up before graduation is gone.”

“When did I ever say I disliked him…”

“It was so obvious. Anyway, I thought Beom Euigeon had a quiet personality. Instead of clashing with a guy like that, just avoid him well until graduation. You can ignore him if you set your mind to it, right?”

‘But I don’t think I can…’

Chaewoo screamed inwardly.

He was in a position where he was not only s*x partners meeting every Friday, but also had to bear that guy’s child.

Even he thought his situation was ridiculous.

It was so unrealistic that he didn’t think anyone would believe him if he told them.

How did things get so tangled up?

How wonderful it would be if he could ignore him as easily as Yunso said.

Chaewoo let out a deep sigh.

He felt terrible.

As if his busy daily life weren’t enough, he now had the added worry of choosing a song for the competition.

Chaewoo, having stepped off the bus, stood in front of the crosswalk.

He had to cross the street here to enter the rehearsal building for the opera team.

Perhaps because the time was approaching, he saw several familiar singers running into the building in a hurry.

The lead and supporting actors seemed to gather earlier than the original time due to their packed schedules, but minor roles didn’t need to do that.

Since arriving on time would be enough, he leisurely crossed his arms and waited for the light to change.

Before long, the pedestrian signal turned green, and the cars running along the road came to a halt.

Chaewoo crossed the street with light steps and headed toward the building that had now become familiar.

However, a familiar car caught Chaewoo’s eye just as he was about to head down to the rehearsal room.

It was Euigeon’s foreign car entering the building’s parking lot.

The owner had the window open, and their eyes met perfectly.

“…….”

‘Well, there’s no need to say hello.’

Chaewoo turned away and entered the building.

As he got closer to the rehearsal room, the sounds of singers warming up their voices leaked out into the hallway.

Among them, Jeong Taehyun’s booming voice was mixed in like a discordance.

“No, I mean! I’m telling you, the atmosphere was no joke.”

“Hoo, my goodness. I guess senior-junior conflicts are still the same for college students these days.”

Chaewoo’s hand, which was gripping the doorknob, faltered.

“Don’t even get me started. Their respective philosophies on competitions were so blood-chilling.”

“They didn’t seem to be on such bad terms, though…”

“Well, they both have quiet personalities, but once they clash, the sparks fly, ugh, I was so nervous watching them… oh, wait. Hello, Senior Chaewoo!”

Jeong Taehyun, who had been broadcasting yesterday’s argument to his heart’s content, was the first to spot Chaewoo entering the room.

Startled, he quickly stood up and bowed ninety degrees.

Then, the other singers gathered around him naturally looked toward Chaewoo.

“안녕하세요.”

Before Chaewoo could even open his mouth, a deep bass voice rang out from behind him.

Euigeon, who had finished parking, followed him into the rehearsal room.

Even though he must have sensed the atmosphere was strange, Euigeon didn’t care and went to his spot to settle in.

Chaewoo also pretended not to hear Jeong Taehyun’s words, gave a quick nod, and set his bag down on the floor.

What was so special about what happened yesterday that even the singers were looking at Euigeon and Chaewoo so awkwardly?

“I heard you and Euigeon had a fight?”

“Pardon?”

Before he knew it, Jin Kwang-gi had drawn close and whispered.

“Taehyun mentioned it.”

‘…I’m going to kill him.’

He had been advertising it with a megaphone again.

He couldn’t understand why the guy had to gossip about every little thing that happened at school to the opera team.

“It wasn’t really a fight; our opinions didn’t align, so the conversation just got long.”

“Aha.”

“We’re not even close enough to fight.”

“Well, that’s a relief then. Taehyun spoke as if it were such a big deal.”

“You only need to believe exactly half of what that guy says. There’s a limit to exaggeration.”

‘I just let it be because it was a hassle.’

Chaewoo clicked his tongue, vowing to pick a day when Gye Gondae was in the department office to have a proper talk with him.

“Ahahaha. Don’t be too hard on him. Actually, Paolo and Tinto are a couple, right? Everyone is worried that if you two had a serious fight, it might affect the opera.”

“What? Surely not.”

“It happens often. Cast members falling out due to personal feelings and creating a hole in the production. That’s why everyone was surprised.”

“Ah…”

He hadn’t expected them to think that way.

No matter what, he had no intention of causing a nuisance to the team by quitting his role.

Chaewoo felt flustered, thinking he had provided unnecessary cause for worry.

“I’ll definitely make sure that doesn’t happen. Beom Euigeon isn’t the type to be unable to separate his public and private life…”

Moreover, the guy was a damn perfectionist.

If Chaewoo ever said he wouldn’t do it, Euigeon was the type of person who would chase him to his front door and drag him onto the stage, telling him to fulfill his duty.

“Anyway, I heard the Tinto costume arrived today. Go check it out.”

“Already? For a minor role?”

Chaewoo went to the rack where the costumes were piled and looked for the hanger labeled ‘Tinto.’

Inside the plastic was a cream-colored shirt and dark brown pants.

“Ah, Mr. Chaewoo. That’s the Tinto costume. We’re doing fittings today, so check for any parts that need tailoring in advance.”

An assistant director passing by handed him pins and a measuring tape.

“Can I try it on now?”

“Yeah, yeah. There’s a dressing room shielded by a curtain inside the storage room.”

“네.”

Taking only the clothes and removing the plastic, Chaewoo headed for the storage room.

In contrast to Paolo, who wore a uniform as a soldier, the clothes of his lover and Omega, Tinto, were simple.

A shirt with the top three buttons undone and plain pants.

It was the most basic form of 19th-century men’s clothing.

As soon as he opened the storage room door, he saw a face he wasn’t happy to see.

Euigeon was standing right there in front of the prop boxes.

Whether he sensed a presence or not, he turned his head.

Since the dressing room was at the very end of the storage room, he had to pass by Euigeon.

Not wanting to show that he was conscious of him, Chaewoo entered while pretending not to see Euigeon.

Pushing aside the curtain hanging from the ceiling, he found a narrow space to change.

A full-length mirror and a simple shelf for his belongings were all that was there.

As Chaewoo was about to close the curtain and put on the clothes, he discovered something unusual.

Perhaps because it was a stage costume, the shirt and pants were a one-piece jumpsuit rather than a two-piece set.

In other words, the zipper for the combined outfit was on the back, requiring it to be put on like a dress.

‘Can I put this on by myself?’

Chaewoo examined the costume with concern.

“Ah, Euigeon, you were here. I’m trying to use the dressing room; is anyone inside?”

While he was trying on the clothes, someone entered the storage room.

Chaewoo pricked up his ears.

“I don’t think so.”

‘Wow, look at this guy?’

“Someone’s in here.”

Before Chaewoo could even finish his answer, the curtain was opened.

“Kya! You startled me!”

“I’m fitting my costume…”

“Whoa, sorry, sorry! Mr. Seol… Chaewoo from the minor team, right? Ah, you scared me. I thought no one was there.”

“It’s fine. I’m almost done dressing anyway.”

It wasn’t like he was undressed, so there was no problem.

It was just that Beom Euigeon, who clearly knew he was there but lied, was petty and detestable.

‘So this is how you’re going to act.’

“Fit it comfortably. I’ll come back later.”

As soon as the woman left, Chaewoo poked his head out from the curtain and glared at Euigeon.