Ban Jeon and Joo Sung hurried to the Friends dorm.
And the moment they opened the door and stepped inside.
Joo Sung naturally assumed Gung-hwa and another member would be fighting.
But what unfolded before them was nothing like what he expected.
The ones fighting were Jinri and Somang.
Both their hair was a complete mess, and Jinri even had a scratch on her cheek that looked like it had been made by fingernails.
The managers and stylists nearby could only sigh with exhausted faces.
Ban Jeon stared at the scene for a while.
Then, after drawing in a deep breath, he spoke in a low, subdued voice Joo Sung had never heard from him before.
“Jinri. Explain what happened.”
Jinri didn’t answer.
“Jinri.”
Ban Jeon spoke in a slightly gentler voice.
“I know how overwhelming it is for you as the leader. I’m not trying to blame you. You’re usually more levelheaded than anyone, so there has to be a reason you exploded this badly.”
The moment she heard those words.
A tear dropped from Jinri’s eye.
One drop.
Then another.
Jinri pressed her lips together, but in the end, she couldn’t hold back and began sobbing hard.
“Ugh…”
Unable to get a single proper word out, Jinri was supported by a stylist and taken to her room.
This time, Ban Jeon looked at Somang.
“Somang.”
Somang couldn’t even lift her head.
“You’re the youngest. I understand how hard everything happening right now must be for you. But that still doesn’t make it worth getting physical over.”
“And Jinri was the older sister you were closest to.”
That was when Sarang could no longer hold herself back.
“Somang said some really awful things to Gung-hwa, so Jinri unnie scolded her pretty badly. But Somang grabbed her hair first—”
“Sarang unnie!”
Somang shouted sharply.
Sarang shot right back.
“What! It’s the truth!”
“You’re not on my side either!”
“What does being on your side have to do with anything!”
Sarang’s voice began to tremble.
“Every time you acted out like that, I held it in because I figured it must be even harder for you since you’re the youngest. But Jinri unnie is only three years older than you! Are you the only one who’s having a hard time?”
Tears had formed in Sarang’s eyes as well.
“Do you have any idea how much Jinri unnie is rotting away inside from carrying our whole team on her back?!”
With that, Sarang finally burst into tears and ran into her room.
Joo Sung stared blankly at the scene.
This was a catastrophe.
A perfectly complete catastrophe.
It felt like he’d been dragged against his will to the set of a trashy daytime drama first thing in the morning.
That was when it happened.
Gung-hwa, who had been sitting quietly, stood up.
“Somang.”
Somang raised her head.
“If you have something to say to me, just say it to my face.”
Gung-hwa’s voice was calm.
“Say it right in front of me.”
Somang’s face twisted.
“Who says I can’t?”
And then she finally unleashed all the emotions she had been holding in.
“I said I hope you disappear completely in front of us after marrying some rich guy because you’re so popular. Why? Flirting is your specialty, isn’t it?”
The living room froze.
The smile vanished from Gung-hwa’s face.
“Haa.”
Gung-hwa slowly exhaled.
“You seem to be seriously mistaken about something.”
She stared straight at Somang.
“The person who needs to disappear most from here is you.”
“What?”
“You’re the least talented one here. Other than the title of youngest member, what do you have going for you?”
“Unnie!”
“What?”
Gung-hwa smiled coldly.
“Did I say something wrong?”
The distance between them shrank.
For a moment, Joo Sung thought the second round was about to begin.
But before that could happen—
“Enough, you crazy idiots!!”
Ban Jeon’s shout shook the entire living room.
Everyone froze.
Even Jinri and Sarang, who had been crying in their rooms, opened the doors and came out with startled faces.
Ban Jeon breathed heavily and looked at the members one by one.
“Are you the only ones having a hard time?”
No one answered.
“Can’t you see those managers and stylists who can’t even take a proper vacation or get any sleep because they’re constantly cleaning up after you?”
Ban Jeon’s voice began to tremble.
“And what about the fans who genuinely care about you, cutting back on their own spending to buy your albums and merchandise?”
He clenched his fists.
“What gives you the right to become this pathetic?”
Silence.
Ban Jeon stared at the members for a long while before finally lowering his head.
“I don’t know anymore.”
That was somehow even heavier.
“Cancel today’s schedule or don’t, do whatever you want. I can’t cover for you anymore either.”
Ban Jeon opened the front door and walked out.
Jeon Banjeon and the other managers hurried after him.
Joo Sung stood there frozen, unable to say a word.
But as Somang was heading into her room, she snorted and tossed out one last comment.
“Why is Ban Jeon oppa making such a huge deal out of this? He’s being so ridiculous it’s hilarious.”
That was the moment.
Something inside Joo Sung snapped.
Until then, this had been someone else’s problem.
Friends’ conflict.
The discord between the members.
The malicious things they said to Gung-hwa.
Joo Sung had held himself back as much as he could.
But seeing his best friend fall apart like that and still having someone laugh it off was something he absolutely couldn’t tolerate.
“Hey.”
Somang turned around.
“What did you just say?”
“What?”
“I asked what you just said to Ban Jeon.”
“I called him Ban Jeon. Why?”
Somang sneered.
“Did you come here to help us just so you could act out of some inferiority complex?”
“Who did I come here to help?”
Joo Sung’s voice sank into a cold calm.
“I came to see Ban Jeon.”
He paused briefly.
“I never came here to help someone like you.”
“What did you say?”
“Someone like you.”
Somang’s expression hardened.
“Who do you think you are?”
For the first time, Joo Sung didn’t smile.
“An idol?”
Somang’s eyebrow twitched.
“How long do you think that’s going to last?”
“What are you doing right now?”
“Besides, in Friends, whether you’re talking skill or anything else, you’re the least worth looking at.”
“Are you done?”
“No. I’m just getting started.”
Joo Sung pulled out his phone.
“I looked up your videos.”
Somang couldn’t say a word.
“You’re terrible at everything. Singing, dancing—your performances are a complete mess.”
“Don’t you read the YouTube comments?”
Joo Sung continued.
“Everyone laughs and says you got into Friends through sheer luck.”
Somang’s face stiffened.
“And you think that gives you the right to treat Gung-hwa like this?”
“Oppa…”
Gung-hwa spoke quietly, but Joo Sung didn’t stop.
“There are countless videos of Gung-hwa covering for you whenever another controversy about your skills blew up.”
Silence.
“Why?”
Joo Sung stepped closer.
“Because Gung-hwa has a lot of anti-fans these days, so you think she’s an easy target?”
The corners of Somang’s eyes reddened.
“You think people love you because you’re so great?”
Joo Sung’s voice was cold.
“The managers and stylists here are just kind enough to put up with all your attitude.”
“Stop…”
“From where I’m standing, if you don’t break this habit, the moment you retire as an idol, you’re finished.”
Joo Sung’s voice dropped even lower.
“Skill. Character. Charm.”
He looked at Somang for a moment.
“Start by thinking about whether you have anything worth keeping in any of those areas.”
Somang’s eyes brimmed with tears.
But Joo Sung added one final word.
“What? Does the truth hurt?”
“You throw hurtful words at everyone else nonstop, but if you want your feelings respected, you need to understand that other people’s feelings matter too.”
Joo Sung looked around at everyone in the living room.
“Not a single person here is obligated to put up with all your tantrums.”
Somang’s lips trembled, and she finally burst into tears.
Then she ran into her room and slammed the door shut.
Jinri, Sarang, and Mideum followed her into the room with flustered expressions.
Only Joo Sung and Gung-hwa remained in the living room.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Gung-hwa spoke first.
“Joo Sung oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Ban Jeon oppa was right.”
Gung-hwa smiled bitterly.
“He said you’re not someone who just smiles all the time.”
After looking at Joo Sung for a moment, she said cautiously,
“You’re really scary.”
“I can laugh off anything people do to me.”
Joo Sung spoke calmly.
“But I never let it go when someone messes with the people I care about.”
“The people you care about…”
Gung-hwa repeated the words.
“Am I someone you care about too?”
“Of course.”
Joo Sung answered without hesitation.
“You’re Ban Jeon’s most cherished little sister.”
Then, after thinking for a moment, he added,
“And you’re also someone I want to achieve a dream with.”
Gung-hwa’s eyes wavered slightly.
She looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
After saying nothing for a while, Gung-hwa forced a smile.
“But after coming on that strong, will you really be able to work face-to-face with Somang from now on?”
“I came here to help her in the first place.”
Joo Sung shrugged.
“I can just avoid looking at her.”
“I told you, you’re really scary…”
Gung-hwa gave a small laugh.
“More importantly, are you okay?”
“Excuse me?”
“What Somang said earlier.”
Joo Sung looked at Gung-hwa.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But…”
“You hear things much worse than that all the time.”
Joo Sung chuckled.
“That was me putting it extremely mildly.”
“Pfft.”
Gung-hwa finally burst out laughing.
Only then did the tension in the living room begin to ease.
Not everyone in the world can like everyone else.
It was inevitable that there would be people who disliked one another.
But at the very least.
There was absolutely no reason for Mugunghwa to be treated unfairly like this.
“Gung-hwa.”
“Yes?”
“You’re a good person.”
Joo Sung spoke with complete conviction.
“I know that for sure now that I’ve come here.”
Gung-hwa looked at him without saying anything.
“I may not have much power, but I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
Gung-hwa’s eyes reddened again.
But this time, she seemed unwilling to let him see her tears.
“I’m going to wash my face!”
Gung-hwa hurried into the bathroom.
Joo Sung watched her go and chuckled.
‘What a strange girl.’
The schedule Joo Sung accompanied them to that day was [Star Panda], a program where stars and fans gathered in one place to communicate through stories submitted by viewers.
Joo Sung had never watched it in person, but he had been secretly looking forward to it because it was hosted by Dong Young-shin, the national MC he usually liked.
But the moment he entered the waiting room, all those expectations vanished.
The atmosphere was so frozen that he could hear a pin drop.
Ban Jeon awkwardly cleared his throat, trying to break the tension.
“Ahem. Ahem.”
Everyone’s eyes turned toward Ban Jeon.
“I was too harsh this morning because everyone was on edge. I’m sorry.”
The kids’ expressions eased ever so slightly.
“Today’s schedule is a gathering of fans who genuinely love you, so I’ll trust all of you to do your best.”
That was when it happened.
“Yeah, yeah!”
Jeonsa suddenly clapped his hands.
“That’s how people grow—by fighting! Come on, all our kids, smile, smile!”
Joo Sung thought to himself,
‘Is this guy really still that clueless?’
The temperature in the waiting room dropped again.
And as if things weren’t bad enough, one of the stylists cautiously spoke up.
“Ban Jeon oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Have you seen the script?”
“Huh? I skimmed it.”
“Well…”
The stylist held out the script.
“Almost seventy percent of the questions are focused on Gung-hwa.”
Ban Jeon’s expression hardened.
“There are barely any questions or airtime for Jinri and Somang.”
“What?”
Ban Jeon checked the script again.
“Hey, Jeonsa.”
“Yes.”
“It wasn’t like this when we first got the script.”
“That’s right.”
Jeonsa abruptly stood up.
“I’ll go check with the writer and the producer-director.”
Jeonsa immediately ran out of the waiting room.
And much later.
He returned looking pale.
“Hyung…”
“What is it?”
“Well…”
Jeonsa swallowed.
“The agency president, Simbo, contacted them separately.”
“What did he say?”
“He pressured them to ‘push Gung-hwa as the center no matter what, since there’s no need to be fair.’”
Ban Jeon’s expression twisted.
“Is he insane?”
“Apparently the writers were already worried because Jinri and Somang, especially Somang, have been involved in a lot of controversies lately, and there weren’t enough fan stories about them.”
Jeonsa sighed.
“But when the president went that far, they made massive changes to the script.”
“Haa…”
Ban Jeon slammed his fist hard against his thigh in frustration.
“Damn it.”
Then he muttered,
“What the hell is that man thinking?”
That was when Jinri quietly approached and stopped in front of Ban Jeon.
“Ban Jeon oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“I…”
Jinri hesitated before speaking.
“It’s okay if I don’t get much airtime.”
“What?”
Ban Jeon’s face hardened.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Oppa, I know better than anyone that I was lucky to join Friends because of my skills, and that my popularity is at rock bottom.”
Jinri smiled bitterly.
“So please don’t be too upset.”
Hearing that, Joo Sung felt strange.
She was only twenty-two.
It hurt him in a strange way to hear someone so young already speak of her own worth so dismissively.
“Jinri.”
Jinri looked at Joo Sung.
“I see it a little differently.”
“Really?”
“Oh, and you told me to call you comfortably instead of Jinri-ssi, right?”
“Oh…”
Jinri smiled faintly.
“That’s right.”
“Then I’ll speak casually too.”
Joo Sung looked at Jinri.
“I see it differently.”
Jinri looked puzzled.
“It’s true that Gung-hwa is the reason Friends has drawn the public’s attention.”
Gung-hwa’s expression stiffened slightly.
“But I’ve listened to all of Friends’ songs.”
Joo Sung looked at Jinri.
“Jinri, you’re always the one quietly holding the center of those songs together.”
Jinri’s eyes widened little by little.
“When you sing your parts, you put so much emotion into them that the entire song becomes richer.”
Joo Sung continued.
“Especially when you perform live.”
“Your parts are overwhelmingly numerous, so it must be exhausting, but whenever the members’ pitch wavers or they sound uncertain, you support them perfectly from behind with your harmonies.”
Jinri couldn’t say anything.
“That’s when I realized it.”
Joo Sung smiled.
“Friends is ultimately a group that Jinri keeps centered.”
Jinri’s eyes reddened.
“Everyone has their own role, but from what I can see, you’re Friends’ emotional anchor.”
That moment.
A tear fell from Jinri’s eye.
Plop.
Then another.
“Huh?”
Joo Sung panicked.
“Wait, what?”
Jinri finally lowered her head and began sobbing.
“No, why are you crying?”
Ban Jeon and Jeonsa hurried to sit Jinri down.
“Your makeup will be ruined!”
The stylists rushed over and chaos broke out as they wiped away her tears.
Much later.
Jinri, who had finally composed herself, approached Joo Sung while he was drinking a beverage in a corner of the hallway.
“Joo Sung oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. Really.”
Jinri smiled quietly.
“I guess those were the words I wanted to hear most.”
“Come on.”
Joo Sung laughed.
“I wasn’t making that up to comfort you. I was telling you what I genuinely felt.”
“I know.”
Jinri nodded.
“That sincerity came through, which made me even more emotional.”
Joo Sung studied her for a moment before speaking.
“Being the leader must weigh heavily on you, huh?”
“…Yes.”
“Jinri.”
Joo Sung spoke quietly.
“You’re only twenty-two.”
Jinri lifted her head.
“If something’s hard, tell Ban Jeon or anyone else everything you’re feeling.”
“But I’m the leader…”
“If you keep bottling everything up by yourself, you’ll eventually explode.”
Jinri stared at Joo Sung without speaking for a while.
Then she gave a small laugh.
“You’re really, how should I put it…”
“Yeah?”
“You’re like a professional counselor who can see straight through people’s hearts.”
“What? Pfft, hahaha!”
Joo Sung laughed.
“A counselor?”
“Since we’re already talking, I’ll tell you a little more.”
Jinri’s expression grew more serious.
“Do you know who I became close to first when I joined this group?”
“Hmm.”
Joo Sung tilted his head.
“Who was it?”
“Gung-hwa.”
“Gung-hwa?”
“Yes.”
Jinri smiled faintly.
“Now, Gung-hwa and I are the most awkward with each other in Friends.”
Joo Sung looked surprised.
“How did things fall apart that badly?”
Jinri pressed her lips together for a moment.
Then she spoke carefully.
“Well…”
“But I’m worried that if I only tell you my side, you might misunderstand Gung-hwa.”
Joo Sung couldn’t say anything for a moment.
She hadn’t even been talking about someone she was fighting with.
Even while discussing the person she was most distant from now, she was worried about that person first.
‘Is this why Jinri is the leader?’
Jinri took a breath before continuing.
“The truth is, I wasn’t originally even a debut member of Friends.”
“What?”
Joo Sung’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Of course, there was no way the agency president, Simbo, would like someone like me.”
Jinri smiled bitterly.
“I could sing well, but my dancing was average, I had no variety-show sense, and I wasn’t especially prettier than the other members.”
“Then how did you debut?”
“Ban Jeon oppa went all the way to the president’s office.”
A faint smile appeared at the corners of Jinri’s mouth.
“When the president tried to cut me, Ban Jeon apparently fought him like he was ready to grab him by the hair.”
“That’s so like him.”
“In the end, Ban Jeon pushed relentlessly until I was able to debut.”
Jinri paused.
“It was the same with the leadership position.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“Yes.”
Jinri nodded.
“Ban Jeon strongly insisted that I should become the leader.”
Joo Sung looked at Jinri without saying anything.
And suddenly, he understood.
Why Ban Jeon trusted Jinri so much.
Why Jinri followed Ban Jeon so faithfully.
And why Friends was falling apart this badly.
Maybe the conflict in this team wasn’t simply a matter of the members no longer getting along.
Too much greed and too many competing interests had forced their way into a team that was supposed to come together around one person.
And at the center of it all, as always, was the agency president, Simbo.