Chapter 9: The Delayed Debut

[Bbaksae, Going to F-A Fansign: You think the agency doesn’t know that?]

[Bbaksae, Going to F-A Fansign: It’s all just a marketing ploy to sell more albums.]

“A marketing ploy?”

Upon hearing that it was a tactic to boost album sales, Dohoon found himself surprisingly understanding. Perhaps if he bought a lot of albums, they wouldn’t resort to such methods. A small, knowing chuckle escaped Dohoon as he entertained the naive thought.

[TSdaddy: But how many albums do people usually buy?]

[Bbaksae, Going to F-A Fansign: Everyone buys according to their means.]

[Bbaksae, Going to F-A Fansign: Some people buy hundreds of copies if a fansign slot is on the line.]

“Hundreds of copies?”

Dohoon was inwardly taken aback by the unexpectedly large scale. Of course, he had no intention of attending a fansign — or rather, he couldn’t — so he wouldn’t need to buy quite so many.

[TSdaddy: By the way, Bbaksae, are you going to the fansign?]

[Bbaksae, Going to F-A Fansign: Huh? Oh, you can just think of that nickname as a wish.]

[TSdaddy: Ah…]

[Bbaksae, Going to F-A Fansign: I’m definitely going this time.]

[TSdaddy: Yes, fighting!]

The only fansigns Dohoon had ever attended were events where he himself was the main attraction. He wondered what it would be like if he were to go to a FACE A fansign.

Even if he were to go completely disguised, there was no guarantee that not a single person would recognize him. Imagining his identity being exposed, Dohoon immediately shook his head.

****

With only a few hours remaining until the music video release for FACE A’s fourth full-length album, ‘D-Day’, Dohoon was holed up in a dark recording studio for an advertisement voice-over session.

The sheer volume of videos to record meant the schedule kept extending. While he had been idle for so long, this perfectly timed schedule felt ironically cruel, but there was nothing for it. As time wore on, Dohoon’s anxiety reached its peak.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

It was four-thirty in the afternoon when the recording finally wrapped up. Only an hour and a half remained until six PM, the scheduled time for the music video’s release. As soon as the recording finished, Dohoon swiftly exited the booth and greeted the staff.

“Dohoon, do you have plans?”

“Pardon?”

He did, in a way, have a one-sided appointment with FACE A. Dohoon flinched for a moment, then offered an awkward smile.

“No, not exactly plans. I just need to go home and walk my dog.”

“Ah, Taeshik.”

“You know Taeshik?”

“Of course. Taeshik is a celebrity too, you know.”

Taeshik, known as ‘Han Dohoon’s dog’ online, had quite the following. Born from two mixed breeds, his unique charm, stemming from a blend of various ancestries, made him all the more popular.

Worried that the conversation might drag on, Dohoon subtly checked his watch. The director, sensing Dohoon’s unspoken urgency, bid him a discreet farewell. Dohoon quickly escaped the recording studio, which felt even more stifling due to its basement location, and immediately got into his car.

“Hyung, don’t you have something really urgent going on?”

Manager Myeongun asked, puzzled, watching Dohoon’s every hurried step and action.

“No, nothing like that. Let’s go.”

“The traffic might be bad.”

Though it wasn’t yet rush hour, Gangbyeonbuk-ro was notorious for its congestion, making it impossible to predict how long it would take to reach Dohoon’s home.

“Hyung, aren’t you hungry? You barely ate lunch.”

Even if he watched it later, the music video wouldn’t disappear, but Dohoon was eager to see the freshly released video with his own eyes. As a latecomer to the fandom, he was determined not to miss a single thing.

“I’ll eat dinner when I get home. Oh, tell me what you want to eat. I’ll order it for your place.”

“Me? Oh, it’s fine.”

“No, really, think about it on the way.”

By the time Myeongun dropped Dohoon off and returned to his own home, it would be dinnertime. Dohoon, always mindful of his manager’s erratic work hours, often ordered takeout for him.

“Wow… it’s already starting to get backed up, isn’t it?”

Even before they entered Gangbyeonbuk-ro, the city traffic began to thicken. The traffic lights seemed endlessly long and numerous, stopping them constantly, turning Dohoon’s stomach in knots. ‘Perhaps I should have just taken the subway home,’ he thought, a notion that had never once crossed his mind before.

It was nearly five-thirty by the time they finally reached Dohoon’s neighborhood.

“Myeongun, thanks for your hard work. I just ordered jokbal; it should arrive around the same time you do.”

“Thank you, Hyung. Please go on in.”

“Alright, get some rest.”

After a brief exchange, Dohoon quickly got out of the car. Again, he didn’t look back, heading straight for the elevator. He still thought he had some time to spare, but as soon as he entered the house, Taeshik appeared from somewhere, dropping his leash at Dohoon’s feet. It was a clear demand to go out.

Normally, he would have left immediately, but time was tight until six o’clock.

“Taeshik, do you really have to go right now…?”

“Woof!”

“…Do you need to poop?”

Taeshik’s requests for a walk usually meant he urgently needed to relieve himself. As an outdoor-potty-trained dog, Taeshik typically took care of business during his evening walks, but he occasionally pestered Dohoon at other times. Judging by his face, it seemed he had a pressing need for a big one.

Blinded by his own fandom, Dohoon couldn’t possibly tell his dog to hold it, so he quickly grabbed the leash and went outside.

“Taeshik, just poop quickly, and then we’ll go right back in. Daddy will take you out again later, okay?”

“……”

“You’re saying ‘okay’ right now, aren’t you?”

Dohoon freely interpreted Taeshik’s silence. Seemingly in a great hurry, Taeshik lowered his rear as soon as they entered the walking path. Dohoon, accustomed to this, casually pulled out a plastic bag.

“Are you done?”

He expected it to be quick, but Taeshik suddenly changed his mind, lifting his rear. There was no sign of anything having been deposited.

“Why aren’t you going? Is the spot not good?”

Taeshik glanced up at Dohoon, then trotted ahead without a second thought. Dohoon had no choice but to follow. Taeshik’s walk continued, but there was no sign of him relieving himself. He would inspect a spot, then abruptly turn away, leaving Dohoon frustrated.

“What’s wrong with my princess today? Why is she having such trouble pooping?”

With little time left until six o’clock, Dohoon’s anxiety grew with each passing moment. He couldn’t force Taeshik to go, so he deliberately led them to a secluded spot he knew Taeshik liked. Fortunately, as if Dohoon’s earnest wish had reached him, Taeshik lowered himself again.

“That’s it! Good girl! My princess is doing great!”

Encouraged by Dohoon’s cheers, Taeshik strained his back.

“Poop! Poo-poo!”

Unaware of his surroundings, Dohoon chanted his ‘poop’ mantra, only to feel the gaze of a passing resident. Sensing the stare, Dohoon quickly bowed his head. Even as a celebrity, he feared an online post might appear, recounting how he was shouting ‘poop’ on the street.

Finally, Taeshik relieved himself and rose, feeling lighter. Dohoon swiftly cleaned up the remnants on the ground and led Taeshik back home. His steps grew increasingly hurried.

After returning home and washing Taeshik’s paws, only two minutes remained until six o’clock. As this was FACE A’s first comeback since his ‘stan initiation’, Dohoon was as tense as if his own work were about to be released. Feeling that watching on his phone screen would be too cramped, Dohoon even turned on his rarely used laptop and settled in the living room, nervously biting his nails as he checked the time.

As soon as it struck the hour, Dohoon immediately accessed FACE A’s channel, then paused. Only a teaser video was uploaded; the music video was nowhere to be seen. Wondering if it was being released elsewhere that he didn’t know about, he even searched for it, but the music video was nowhere to be found.

Just in case, Dohoon logged into Twitter and was taken aback by the furious atmosphere on his timeline. A stream of angry mentions was pouring in.

[Choi In-sam @**

I thought those shitty small agency bastards were finally doing something right lately.]

[aEiwThewj @**

The music video was there, then it wasn’t #BaesungEnt_Apologize]

[Danggeuri @**

They should’ve posted an announcement beforehand, not wait until six to say ‘it’s out tomorrow’ like, ugh;;;;]

[Bbaksae, Going to Burn Down Baesung Ent @djWjfkrhdy

Bae Jong-ryeol, you son of a b*tch.]

Even the usually quiet Bbaksae seemed enraged. The fans’ fury stemmed from one reason: FACE A’s music video release had been postponed until six PM the following day. To make matters worse, the announcement was only made at six PM on the original release day. Dohoon, belatedly understanding the situation, also felt a surge of irritation. Recalling every anxious moment he had spent waiting to watch it, he suddenly felt hollow. He instantly understood why the fans were so upset.

****

The music video, delayed by a full day, was finally released on the official channel the following evening. Fortunately, Dohoon had no other schedules, so he indulged himself a little more than yesterday, playing the music video on his TV instead of his laptop. The FACE A logo filled the massive screen, causing Dohoon’s heart to suddenly pound.

He still couldn’t quite adjust to how excited he got over a male idol group’s music video, which wasn’t even his own work, but he had no time to dwell on that unfamiliar feeling. Dohoon leaned closer to the TV, then flinched, stepping back as Sejin’s face suddenly filled the screen. He hadn’t expected such a close-up shot.