After hearing Joo Sung's words, Jinri flashed a grin and began telling a long story.
“When I first heard that a new trainee was coming, I didn't pay much attention. This place has trainees coming and going all the time, after all. And I'd never once been part of the debut lineup. I thought it would be better to spend that time practicing singing or dancing one more time instead of worrying about things like that.”
Jinri fell into thought for a moment before continuing.
“But the moment I first saw Gung-hwa, I had this exact thought.
This girl was born to be an idol.”
“There were so many pretty girls among the trainees, but Gung-hwa stood out even among them.”
“That's right. I thought the same thing when I first saw Gung-hwa. No, actually, I thought the screen couldn't capture how she looked in person.”
“Exactly. But I didn't approach Gung-hwa first. I wanted to make the debut lineup even once, and there were always so many people around Gung-hwa.”
Jinri smiled briefly.
“One day, I was practicing singing and dancing alone in the practice room when I noticed Gung-hwa kept looking at me.”
“I thought she'd watch for a moment and leave, but she didn't go even after an hour.”
“Then, while I was taking a short break, she carefully came over and asked me…”
Jinri imitated Gung-hwa from back then.
“‘Can I call you Sis?’”
“Huh? Gung-hwa said that?”
“Yes. That Gung-hwa.”
Jinri smiled faintly, as if remembering that moment.
“Even as a woman, I thought she was unbelievably adorable. That's how we became close.”
“Gung-hwa was the guardian of my self-esteem.”
“When I sang, she'd say I was the best singer in the world. When I danced, she'd say I had the best expressiveness in the world.”
Jinri's voice began to tremble little by little.
“She told me things like that every day.”
“Sniff.”
Here we go again.
Joo Sung watched Jinri stream tears down her face, then blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Jinri, are you some kind of tear faucet? Your tears are pouring out like crazy.”
“What did you say?”
Jinri wiped her tears and snorted with laughter.
“Pfft—hahaha! Oppa, you really are Ban Jeon's friend. You know you're unbelievably childish, right?”
“You're the one telling the story so entertainingly. I'm getting dizzy because I want to know what happens next, so don't cry and hurry up.”
Jinri gave a faint, bashful smile and continued her story.
“To be honest, it's true that Ban Jeon worked that hard to get me into the debut lineup.”
“But Gung-hwa was the one who pleaded even more insistently.”
“You've met our agency president, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you think he listened to Ban Jeon?”
“Of course not.”
“Gung-hwa kept going to him and saying that she couldn't succeed on her own if she wasn't in the same group as Jinri.”
“She kept pestering him until I was finally able to debut.”
Joo Sung laughed as if he couldn't believe it.
“No way. You two were this close, so how did you end up unable to even look each other in the eye?”
Jinri's expression darkened again.
“That…”
After choosing her words for a moment, Jinri carefully began to speak.
“It started after our group gained a certain amount of popularity, especially once Gung-hwa began attracting so many malicious fans.”
“Whenever photos or videos of Gung-hwa and me together were posted, people started leaving comments comparing us.”
“It happened at live audience broadcasts too.”
Jinri forced a smile.
“I don't have the kind of pretty face you'd expect from an idol, but I still think I'm attractive enough in my own way.”
“But compared to Gung-hwa, I'm nothing.”
“So I was okay with it.”
“No.”
Jinri lowered her head.
“I tried to be okay.”
Joo Sung said nothing.
“Whenever Gung-hwa realized I was hearing and seeing those things, she'd go into her room and cry nonstop.”
“No matter how many times I told her I was okay, it didn't help.”
“Gung-hwa knew that whenever a photo or video of us together was posted, the anti-fans would viciously attack me, so…”
“I think she decided that keeping her distance from me would be better for both of us.”
Jinri wiped her tears.
“I still love Friends.”
“And I love all our members, too.”
“But now I don't know where to even begin fixing things.”
In the end, her tears started flowing again.
Joo Sung let Jinri cry without saying a word.
Only after quite some time did Jinri open her mouth again.
“To be honest, whenever I saw those appearance-comparison videos or read comments like that, it hurt.”
“It does hurt.”
“But Gung-hwa is so pitiful. She hears vicious things every day, every hour, and I can't bring myself to say anything because what right do I have to complain?”
More tears spilled down her face.
This time, Joo Sung waited a little before speaking carefully.
“Jinri, you're really deep.”
“Huh?”
“If you were a manager at the place where I work, I think I'd really respect you.”
“Hmm.”
Joo Sung thought for a moment before continuing.
“This is just my opinion.”
“But maybe Gung-hwa started avoiding you because she could see you holding everything in and enduring it every day.”
“You were hurting and having a hard time too, but you kept putting up with it.”
“From Gung-hwa's perspective, that might have made her feel terribly guilty and miserable.”
“So how about becoming the kind of leader who says she's upset when something hurts her, and scolds the kids when they don't listen, instead of putting up with everything from now on?”
Jinri lowered her head.
“But they're all prettier than me, and they're stars.”
“Huh?”
Joo Sung stared at Jinri as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
“What are you talking about?”
“Jinri, you know, I honestly laughed when Ban Jeon told me how he'd come up with all your names.”
That made Jinri burst out laughing.
“Right? The names are so—ugh.”
“But now I think he chose them really well.”
Joo Sung looked Jinri straight in the eye.
“Especially yours.”
“You're the truth of this group.”
“I think this group can last a long time only if you stand strong and steady like a tree.”
“A tree stays where it is even when a typhoon blows or rain comes pouring down.”
“But Jinri.”
“Always holding everything in and enduring it isn't necessarily what's best for the group.”
“You're allowed to say what you want to say, too.”
Sniffling, Jinri asked,
“Ugh.”
“I actually wanted to beat Somang up earlier. Is that okay too?”
“Sure.”
Joo Sung nodded seriously.
“I'll always be on your side, Jinri.”
“Honestly, that guy kind of deserves to get hit.”
“Pfft—hahaha!”
Jinri burst out laughing.
Joo Sung laughed along with her.
And so, giggling together, we returned to the waiting room.
The recording began.
As expected, Dong Young-shin was a master MC.
He naturally kept the fans, who were buzzing with excitement, laughing, while politely delivering the things they needed to be careful about in a joking tone.
The recording atmosphere was much better than expected.
No matter what, they were pros who had spent years living the idol life.
They performed perfectly, to the point that it was hard to believe they had grabbed each other by the hair and fought that morning.
Ban Jeon came over beside Joo Sung.
“Pretty amazing, huh?”
“What is?”
“Them.”
Ban Jeon gave a small laugh as he watched the stage.
“Do you think the fans here would believe that this is the group that fought like that this morning?”
“What, do you want them to tell the fans, ‘We grabbed each other by the hair today. Hee-hee. Cute, right?’”
“Hahaha. Well, you've got a point.”
Ban Jeon suddenly gave Joo Sung a light tap on the chest.
“But did you talk to Jinri earlier?”
“Oh.”
Joo Sung answered casually.
“We just made some small talk.”
“Just from that little small talk, Jinri told me she'd love to be a real manager instead of just helping you out?”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah.”
Ban Jeon looked toward Jinri and smiled with satisfaction.
“Look at Jinri today. She's really different.”
“She used to be uncomfortable appearing on variety shows and things like that, but even her expression is different today.”
“Our Jinri.”
“What?”
Joo Sung snorted.
“I thought you only played favorites with Gung-hwa, but I guess not?”
“Get lost.”
Ban Jeon scoffed.
“Gung-hwa and I have a special bond because I've known her so long, but all our kids are precious to me, and I care about them.”
“Even if the day comes when I have to part ways with them someday, I want us to say goodbye wishing each other success…”
The corners of Ban Jeon's eyes reddened slightly.
“Sniff.”
“Does your company only hire crybabies?”
“Don't you cry. You're way too ugly.”
“You don't even look human, you idiot!”
The two of them snickered.
Joo Sung looked back at the stage.
“Jinri really acts like a leader.”
“She'd be a rare kind of leader even at our company.”
“Right?” Ban Jeon said proudly.
“That was why I thought of the name Jinri the moment I decided the group would debut.”
“Jinri, meaning she'd become the truth of Friends.”
“This is just a feeling.”
“What is?”
“I think once Jinri gets through this crisis, she'll become a sturdy old tree that protects Friends.”
“She really seems like the member who best embodies the word Friends.”
“It's amazing. Things have been tense and difficult every single day lately, yet somehow there are days when a loser like you actually helps my life.”
“Get lost, idiot. Come on, let's keep watching.”
The recording continued smoothly.
But then it happened.
Dong Young-shin said with a smile,
“Okay, now let's take some questions spontaneously instead of sticking to the script.”
“Any question is fine. If you're curious about something, raise your hand and ask.”
A young boy shot his hand into the air.
“Me! Me!”
Dong Young-shin smiled and gestured toward him.
“Okay, okay. I'll pick you.”
“All right, what's your question?”
“I have a question for Jinri.”
“Oh, for our Jinri?”
Dong Young-shin smiled at Jinri.
“Jinri hasn't said much, so her lips must be pretty dry by now. What is it?”
The boy took the microphone.
“Jinri.”
“Do you know that a lot of videos comparing your face to Gung-hwa's pop up on YouTube?”
“I was wondering what you think whenever you see those videos.”
That crazy little brat!
The producer-director hurriedly tried to cut him off.
But Dong Young-shin raised a hand to stop him.
“Let's hear her answer.”
Dong Young-shin looked straight at Jinri.
“Jinri seems like she'll give a good answer.”
“And if it seems strange, we can just edit it out.”
Then he looked at the boy who had asked the question and grinned mischievously.
“You, the kid who asked the question?”
“Yes, you.”
“You can go home now.”
“My show doesn't need kids like you.”
Laughter erupted throughout the studio.
But Gung-hwa couldn't laugh.
For the first time during the recording, her face had turned red.
Small voices came from the audience.
“Who is that kid? Is he an anti-fan?”
“Hey, get a picture of him. Something's off.”
That was when Jinri stood up.
She glanced briefly at Joo Sung, then said with a smile,
“Don't go.”
“I'll answer you.”
The studio fell silent.
“I didn't say anything because I was worried the fans would be hurt hearing this.”
Jinri paused to catch her breath.
“But yes.”
“I've seen those videos.”
“I tried not to, but I ended up reading the comments too.”
The studio grew even quieter.
“I think this is the first time I've said this to Gung-hwa, too.”
Jinri looked at Gung-hwa.
“It hurt me so much.”
“I don't have a particularly pretty face, but I thought I had plenty of charm in my own way.”
“But I've seen things I couldn't bring myself to say out loud, and I've cried alone many times.”
Gung-hwa's expression wavered.
Jinri smiled faintly.
“But there are plenty of things I'm better at than Gung-hwa, and plenty of ways I'm more charming.”
“So I can get through this too.”
“And Gung-hwa is getting through those things even now.”
“If those videos are being made to drive a wedge between Gung-hwa and me, I want to say this.”
“It's pointless, because Gung-hwa and I genuinely understand each other.”
Jinri smiled playfully.
“Of course, if things like that keep getting posted, it'll still hurt.”
At that moment, Gung-hwa lowered her head.
Her shoulders began to shake.
Then the tears she'd been holding back finally spilled over.
It was the first time Jinri had ever talked at such length about herself on a variety show.
People say idol fans can tell what their favorite star is feeling from nothing more than a single expression or the way they speak.
As soon as Jinri finished speaking, the studio instantly became a sea of tears.
The fans were crying.
The staff's eyes grew red.
The writers lowered their heads and wiped away their tears.
Even the great MC Dong Young-shin bit down hard on his lip to hold back his tears.
But the person who held back the least was Gung-hwa.
Gung-hwa no longer cared that she was an idol or that there were cameras present.
She didn't care that her tears were pouring down, her makeup was running, or her hair was getting mussed.
Seeing her like that, Jinri sprang to her feet.
Then she ran to Gung-hwa.
The two of them hugged each other and cried for a long time.
Joo Sung didn't bother wiping away the tears pooled in his eyes either.
And that day's broadcast recorded the highest ratings in the program's history.
After the recording ended, Dong Young-shin came to the waiting room.
Ban Jeon greeted him first.
“Sunbae! Thank you so much for today.”
“Oh, it's you.”
Dong Young-shin smiled at Ban Jeon.
“So you're Friends' manager.”
“Yes, Sunbae.”
“No, no.”
Dong Young-shin waved his hands.
“I was just so moved today, for the first time in a while. It was great.”
Then he looked around.
“But where's Jinri?”
Jinri hurried forward.
“Sunbae, I'm Jinri.”
Dong Young-shin beamed.
“Jinri.”
“Yes.”
“And I'm not joking.”
“Would you be interested in doing a show with me?”
“What?”
Jinri's eyes widened.
“With you, Sunbae?”
“Yeah.”
“I'm thinking of doing a talk show where I have honest conversations over drinks with guests.”
“And after hearing you talk today, you were the first person who came to mind.”
“If you're okay with it, I'm planning to push hard with the producer-director.”
Jinri immediately looked at Ban Jeon.
Ban Jeon nodded as if he'd been waiting for this.
“If you're saying that, Sunbae, then we're an immediate yes.”
“Hahaha!”
Dong Young-shin laughed.
“I thought you'd find it strange since it's a drinking show.”
“But don't get your hopes up too much.”
“The final decision is still up to the producer-director.”
“You know that better than anyone, Ban Jeon.”
“Yes, Sunbae!”
Jinri bowed politely.
“Thank you so much for everything today. Please get home safely.”
“All right. Everyone worked hard today.”
Dong Young-shin was about to leave the waiting room when he grabbed Ban Jeon's arm.
“And you.”
“Yes?”
“You know me, and you're going to leave without having a drink with me?”
“Oh.”
Ban Jeon smiled.
“Of course we have to have a drink.”
“The rest of you did a great job today.”
Dong Young-shin and Ban Jeon left the waiting room together.
That day, Ban Jeon returned to the dorm at five in the morning.