There was still no word from Park Tae Hyung.

Do Wook tried contacting him, but it was no use for him either.

Also, after talking it over, the members told Manager Oh Baek Ho the truth because they couldn’t postpone it any longer after the US TV filming schedule was set.

Manager Oh Baek Ho had to be aware of the situation so that if problems arose later, he would be able to take care of it.

As expected, Manager Oh Baek Ho was furious and said he’d go find Park Tae Hyung right away.

Since Park Tae Hyung had a quiet and calm personality, Manager Oh Baek Ho also was cautious when dealing with him initially.

As time passed, he got the impression that he wasn’t just a quiet person, he was also good at doing what he needed to do.

Therefore, the member whom Manager Oh Baek Ho knew he didn’t have to worry about, besides Do Wook, was Park Tae Hyung.

That same Park Tae Hyung went radio silent after leaving the dormitory at his own discretion to go down to his hometown, so Manager Oh Baek Ho was even more concerned.

“What are you going to do if something happens? Are you guys going to take responsibility?”

It was even more concerning because Park Tae Hyung normally didn’t cause any problems.

Manager Oh Baek Ho was thinking that when the quiet ones finally caused trouble, they caused big trouble.

He insisted that he should go to Park Tae Hyung’s hometown right now and hear him out face to face on what was wrong.

Manager Oh Baek Ho’s perspective was definitely different from the members’. Of course he was worried about Park Tae Hyung as a cherished younger brother, but for him, making sure there were no issues with Park tae Hyung’s personal affairs was his job, not just his wish.

However, everyone could see that with Park Tae Hyung’s currently unstable mental state, they couldn’t just force him to come back.

“He said he’ll come back, so give Tae Hyung, if we give him a little more time…”

When Jung Yoon Ki said that, Manager Oh Baek Ho glared at him.

“I’ve been letting you guys do whatever you want because you guys have been doing a good job, and this is what I get?!”

Manager Oh Baek Ho raised his voice out of concern and anxiety.

“Baek Ho…”

Ahn Hyung Seo, who gets scolded by Manager Oh Baek Ho all the time but at the same time is the one who is most comfortable around him, warily said his name.

“Do Wook is still filming his drama anyways. And we’re going to the U.S. after he’s done…If we wait until then…Baek Ho…This is the first time he’s done this, so let him off easy…”

“I’m more concerned *because* it’s the first time! Do Wook is almost done filming too. You’re done 3 days from now, right? We already applied for a U.S. visa too. Anyways, I’ll go, calm him down, and bring him back. I’m not saying I’m going to drag him back by the collar either.”

Manager Oh Baek Ho replied, a little calmer. Do Wook, who noticed Manager Oh Baek Ho had calmed down a bit, said,

“I’ll go.”

Manager Oh Baek Ho’s eyes grew big when Do Wook said that.

Before they had told Manager Oh Baek Ho, the members were contending against each other for going down to bring Park Tae Hyung back. However, the other members were in a position where taking time off would be difficult.

Since the U.S. TV broadcast was suddenly added, the other scheduled events were moved up.

Suk Ji Hoon had a series of recordings for a restaurant tour program that he was doing regularly in addition to doing ‘Camping 48 Hours’. Ahn Hyung Seo was knee deep in a feature project for Monster’s Kwon Ji Hyung’s solo album, so his schedule was tight.

Additionally, for Jung Yoon Ki and Kim Won, the release date for OKAY’s digital single was moved up.

They moved up the release date by one week, timing it with the U.S. TV appearance to enjoy the promotional benefits. As a result, they were staying up all night working on songs and recording.

Shooting the drama was keeping him incredibly busy, but once the drama filming ended Do Wook would have about 2-3 days free before the U.S. activities.

His schedule was demanding, but, as a ‘friend’*, Do Wook wanted to go visit Park Tae Hyung personally.
(TL Note: I’m not sure why it was written as ‘friend’ but that’s how it was in the original)

“You will, Do Wook? What about filming for your drama?”

“I’ll go as soon as I finish with it. I have about 2 days free.”

“Then what about until then?! You want us to just sit back and wait?”

“Tae Hyung said he’d come back…and you’re well aware, Baek Ho. That Tae Hyung isn’t one to do something that will hurt us…I know that you’re just concerned about him too, but…as you said, I’m done filming in a few days, so I’ll go talk to him and bring him back.”

Manager Oh Baek Ho frowned at what Do Wook said.

He knew that Do Wook going to visit Park Tae Hyung was much better than him going. Even if he tried to calm him down, it wouldn’t be as good as when Do Wook, his friend, were to do it.

“What if something happens…?!”

“I’ll take responsibility.”

Seeing Do Wook’s deep trust in Park Tae Hyung and his firm resolve, Manager Oh Baek Ho sighed. It would be a different story if it were another member, but this was Do Wook.

Manager Oh Baek Ho was about to ask how he’d take responsibility, but he closed his mouth. When Do Wook got like this, it was hard for even Manager Oh Baek Ho to stop him.

“Also, Baek Ho…I was hoping you wouldn’t report this to the higher-ups…”

“I understand what you’re saying, but I can’t do that.”

This was the top reason that the members were reluctant to tell Manager Oh Baek Ho what was going on with Park Tae Hyung.

They could persuade Manager Oh Baek Ho one way or another so that he’d understand, The affection and trust they’d built so far should not be taken lightly.

However, Manager Oh Baek Ho was also an employee of the company. He had to report to his superiors, and once they’d hear about it, Park Tae Hyung might be disciplined even though KK was the company’s top earner and artist.

Everyone knew that Park Tae Hyung had given his all to the team activities until now, but product re-evaluations are always happening.

There would be more individual activities moving forward, nothing good would come out of the higher-ups seeing Park Tae Hyung as fickle.

Park Tae Hyung was already evaluated as having no other talent than being good on stage because of his quiet personality. It was also the reason that, unlike the other members, he didn’t particularly have individual activities.

Manager Oh Baek Ho didn’t want that either. He had to make a decision. The trust he had with the KK members was incomparable to the trust he had had with any other singer.

“Huuuu.”

After letting out a deep sigh, Manager Oh Baek Ho said,

“Two days. If there’s still no response from Tae Hyung by 2 days after your last day of filming, I’m going to let the company know and I’ll go down there.”

“Ok.”

Do Wook nodded his head. The members were concerned that they might be making Do Wook bear the responsibility alone, but they had faith in Park Tae Hyung and Do Wook.

It also couldn’t be helped, because Do Wook strongly appealed for it as Park Tae Hyung’s friend when the members were talking amongst themselves.

Of course the members thought that the best case scenario would be if Park Tae Hyung made up his mind and came back as soon as possible. In the heavy atmosphere, Do Wook added,

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll make sure to bring him back.”

Park Tae Hyung did not return, and Do Wook headed to the bus terminal. Manager Oh Baek Ho, who personally dropped Do Wook off in front of the terminal, looked at Do Wook with a concerned gaze, but Do Wook said he’d come back safely.

Manager Oh Baek Ho nodded his head.

It suddenly crossed his mind that Do Wook might also need some time to himself, just as Park Tae Hyung did.

Most of the people on the bus to Uljin were middle-aged, so there was nobody who recognized Do Wook with his cap worn low.

The bus sped down the cold winter roads.

***

It was around 10 pm when Do Wook arrived at Uljin.

He knew that it would be very disrespectful to go to a person’s house unannounced at such a later hour, but they couldn’t reach Park Tae Hyung, so there was no other choice.

Fortunately, they’ve been gathering personal information so he knew the exact home address. It would have been nice if he had Tae Hyung’s parents’ contact information as well, but they changed it when they moved back to Uljin, so there was no way of finding out.

Park Tae Hyung lived in an area where old apartments were remodeled.

Ding dong. He rang the doorbell and soon could hear someone at the door.

Thankfully, it was Park Tae Hyung’s voice.

“Who…”

Park Tae Hyung was asking through the intercom, but his voice hardened. He had definitely recognized Do Wook’s face under the cap.

“Who is it?”

The voice of someone, most likely Park Tae Hyung’s mother, could be heard.

He could hear them having a lengthy conversation behind the door, but it was difficult to properly hear the content of the conversation.

He didn’t hear a reply even after a lot of time had passed, so Do Wook mulled over whether he should ring the doorbell again.

The iron front door squeaked as it opened a little. Park Tae Hyung looked very flustered.

For someone who most likely had been home in a comfortable atmosphere and eating home-cooked meals, Park Tae Hyung’s face looked a little thin.

“Do…Do Wook…how…here…”

“Have I come somewhere I shouldn’t have?”

“N…No….”

“Let’s go. We need to go to the U.S.”

“Huhh?”

Park Tae Hyung asked back, stunned.

Park Tae Hyung and Do Wook went to the beach near Park Tae Hyung’s parents’ home. The winter beach wind was strong, but it made them feel more alert.

“What if we had gotten scheduled for something while your cellphone was off?”

“Sorry…”

First, Do Wook told Park Tae Hyung about getting contacted by an American company and pointed out what Park Tae Hyung did wrong. Park Tae Hyung couldn’t even be happy about the news and repeatedly apologized with his head down.

“I had planned on just a quick visit, but…”

Park Tae Hyung mumbled.

Do Wook didn’t rush him and calmly waited for him to continue. Even without Park Tae Hyung saying anything, there was something Do Wook was suspecting. The other members probably did too. That’s why they waited for Park Tae Hyung, were understanding of him, and tried not to give him a hard time.

Park Tae Hyung stammered on with his story with difficulty.

“…So…I’m no help at all and…”

It was as Do Wook thought.

The group KK already made it to the top. They still had big global stages left, such as the U.S., but they had already achieved the things they had set out to achieve when they first hoped to become idols.

It meant that it was time for them to find their own ways outside of the group as an individual.

The other members had been doing that little by little. Do Wook, needless to say, had actively shown his outstanding skills in all fields, such as composing or acting. He even did activities as a solo singer and planned to do more activities in the future.

Jung Yoon Ki and Kim Won were also paving their own paths as rappers. Suk Ji Hoon was actively doing entertainment shows as a unique person with a smart way with words.

With his outstanding singing, Ahn Hyung Seo was doing OSTs and being featured on other singers’ songs, but he could release a solo album at any time.

In comparison, Park Tae Hyung had nothing outside of the group KK. It was understandable that he was feeling crummy about himself.

Within the team, he was the person ‘in charge of dancing’, but he couldn’t show his special talent unless he was on stage so he felt even more incompetent.

Meanwhile, KK’s song made it onto the Billboard and the members’ individual activities accelerated, making Park Tae Hyung feel like he was being pushed to the edge of a cliff. He felt they would do just fine even if he weren’t there.

“I was thinking if there’s anything that I could do, then…”

He didn’t realize time had passed by while he was lost in those thoughts.

They had been running forward so hard without a moment to rest that Park Tae Hyung was only now experiencing the ‘aimlessness’ other singers feel during their activities.

The salty smell of the beach cut through the wind.

“Still, if you go out of contact like this, everyone will worry and…as fellow members, as friends, it makes us really sad.”

Do Wook’s words made Park Tae Hyung hang his head even lower.

Do Wook had his reasons why he was certain he would be able to bring Park Tae Hung back and why there was no way that the reason Park Tae Hyung went radio silent was because he was feeling skeptical about KK’s activities or his career as a singer.

He also felt that he’d be able to solve Park Tae Hyung’s concern.

“This is…you, right?”

Do Wook asked as he placed his hand on Park Tae Hyung’s shoulder.

—

Next chapter: Do Wook reveals that he knows a secret about Tae Hyung

<< Previous Chapter | Index | Next Chapter >>

7