68 - Upki Girl

< Enjoying the Hostel Life > "I don't mind, but it seems like Lia isn't quite ready yet. We managed a hug, at least..." I was just about to suggest a handshake with a 'Let's get along well from now on' when, to my surprise, Lia—who barely got out a 'What the'—stepped up and hugged me, muttering something in English under her breath. ―I think it was ‘I can’t help it.’ "Uh..." At first, I flinched, thinking she was going to punch me, but then my chest swelled with a warm feeling. Even if her movement was robot-like, mechanically brief, I felt the tender warmth of a chick that she held within seep through, touching my heart. Then, having turned to address the people with a cool remark, Lia added, "All right? Let's eat now. I'm hungry." Well, what do you know? In that moment, my preconceived notion of Aliya as a stubborn, selfish person shattered. Even if Yona had persuaded her, I could tell she put her best effort into it from her perspective. "We're going to eat now! Set the table for us!" "Yes, miss, right away!" When Aliya called out toward the kitchen, the helpers, who had been resting in the storage room, hurried out and quickly heated up and served the prepared dishes. Humming, the family and kids, whining about their hunger, eagerly took their seats at the table. Watching them gather around with such joy, I moved in their direction. Sure, with the information I'd received, there was no way conflicts would arise between the five of us. Aliya’s comments about resigning and cancelling sponsorship ended up as just a small happening... "Oh shoot, you scared me." I turned around, sensing a presence almost too close for comfort, and there was Seowon following closely behind, just short of pressing against my back. With her pouty lips, she glared up at me from below, her eyes moist from a flood of tears, giving off an unsettling vibe. No, it’s actually quite unnerving. "Why do you look so startled? Like a guilty person or something." "Well, if someone sneaks up on you this close, even Ma Dong-seok would be startled. What’s up with you?" "I’ll kill you..." "Kill who? What?" "Never mind. Just a typical mutter of a loner." "You're openly threatening murder, how can I not mind? And it's not coming from just anyone, it's from you." "That's why I didn't specify a target." "Well... Even without a subject, the verb itself might still land you in trouble, so don't do that." "For some reason, you're especially annoying today. Get out of my way. Before I really lose it." Saying so, she shoved me with her shoulder. ―Swish! On instinct, I sidestepped. I do have good reflexes, after all. Seowon stumbled to the side, flailing like a butterfly, but fortunately didn't fall. "Watch it." Though a bit delayed, I reached out to steady her arm... "What the...?" ―Crunch! “Ow!” She bit me! This little fox Han Seowon grabbed my arm with both hands like she was wringing laundry and bit it! She’s still biting too! “Ow, ow, ow! That really hurts!” “Mmgle... if you...” “It’s going to break the skin!” I held back from snatching my arm away—afraid she'd tear my flesh—and gently pushed her forehead, waiting. Realizing her mistake, her grip slowly weakened. “What’s going on with them? This house never has a quiet moment.” “Leave them be.” “Sis, please stop. Don’t do it!” “Yikes, the manager really looks hurt.” “Just let them be. It’s just Yunho being melodramatic.” “Kim Hyundong, are you friggin’ kidding me! I’m really hurting here! Can someone pull her off?” Just as I said that... ―Thud, thud, thud, thud! Hong approached us with heavy steps and grabbed Seowon’s arm. Pressing her cheeks with the other hand. “Ah—!” Seowon’s mouth released my arm almost instinctively. The discomfort on her face seemed to show the pain from Hong’s firm grip. “Ow, ow...” “Oh, sorry...!” Without being asked, Hong started stammering an explanation, pulling his hands away from her arm and cheeks. "When the younger ones bite, this usually makes them let go..." "Man, that hurts." "Sorry..." "Han Seowon, if you’re upset, imagine how I feel." I held out my forearm, marked with a perfect set of teeth, like a horseshoe, to Hong, who was getting the blame from Seowon. “Geez, look how it left a mark.” “Well, who told you to mess with me?” “What did I even do?” Though she asked like she didn’t know, I was well aware of why she was acting out. Undoubtedly, it was because Aliya hugged me. So, what was I supposed to do in that situation? “You’re all just annoying.” Perhaps she found Aliya hitting more aggravating or easy to vent at. With eyes filled with anger, Seowon stormed straight to her room without eating. ―Bang! With Han Seowon's frequent tantrums, the others were unfazed by this kind of drama anymore. Hyundong, skewering a piece of salmon salad with his fork, made a prediction about the future. “At this rate, it won’t be long before those doors give in.” “Never mind. We can always buy a new one.” When Aliya sided with Seowon with a nonchalant answer, Hyundong immediately set his fork down, straightening up. “Did you just speak informally to me? I’m your vocal instructor, you know?” “...I won’t anymore. I can replace the door if it breaks.” “Right. I’m not exactly patient. And speak consistently, don’t mix English and Korean. Stick to one.” “Yes. I’ll speak in Korean.” <Tensions Emerge, Alliances Form> As dinner drew to a close and non-members left the hostel, the hierarchy battles reached a nascent stage, while some disputes were already settled. Throughout the evening, Seowon never emerged from her room. "Goodnight, everyone. See you at the company tomorrow." "Yes, have a safe trip home." The members came out to the parking lot to see me off. Before leaving the entrance, I glanced at the window of the room Seowon had entered. The light was off. Still worried, I left a request with Eunbit. "Make sure Seowon eats. It's important she doesn't skip meals since she's at a growth stage." "I-I’ll take care of it for you." Eunbit nodded, but surprisingly, Hong offered to take charge. "Will you?" "Yes... I need to apologize too..." "Alright, smooth things over. Seowon can be impulsive but doesn’t hold grudges." "Yes..." The farewell exchanges seemed endless. Since it was the first night for everyone, parting even in the parking lot took over five minutes. Just as I was about to get into the car, Eunbit made a peculiar remark. "Ugh, I feel so weird." "What now?" "It's just... we've been living together, and now we're separating..." "Geez, anyone hearing this would think we shared a bed." "It still feels weird." "It's time for independence now. You're all grown up, Eunbit! Aren’t you actually twenty?" "I’d rather just be nineteen." "Ha, go inside. You'll get bitten by mosquitoes." "Can't you hug me goodbye just once?" "Whoa, don't say that... You startled me." "Why not?" I swallowed the words I felt; it’s like a death flag when you ask for a hug. My heart’s pounding, you little rascal. With outstretched arms, I beckoned, "Come here." "Hehe..." "Gosh... that garlic smell..." "Is it that bad...?" "Of course, chewing raw garlic like that. Never seen a girl who eats garlic like you do." "As if you've met many women..." "Make sure to call Grandma." "I did after dinner. Also called Grandpa Kim too." "Good job." After hugging Eunbit, I noticed Yonah standing beyond the car, glanced over after parting. He returned with the same confidence, like retrieving a belonging. "Me too." "What, you want a hug?" "Yes." "My chest isn’t a—fine, come here." Embracing Yonah, I caught sight of Urihong's eyes. He finished a conversation with Beacon sitting in the back of Elmka and approached, eyes full of camaraderie. "Hong, let’s work out hard starting tomorrow." "Yes..." "And put some strength in your voice. It’s so different from when you rap." "Yes." Then, beyond Hong, stood the confirmed fifth member, Aliyah. She surveyed the scene like a deity on the hostel’s porch, a pleased look on her face. "Aliya, do you want a hug too?" I teased as I let go of Urihong, and she replied with gritted teeth. "I... respectfully... decline." "Alright then, see you tomorrow." I was grateful she didn’t flip me off. "Everyone, go inside! I'm leaving!" "Yes, goodbye!" "Drive safely!" Following Elmka out of the parking lot, I took a final glance at Seowon’s window. Oh? Through a slightly open curtain, Seowon’s face peeked out. Chuckling, I waved, causing the curtain to snap shut. When I arrived home, I found my phone bombarded with texts from the ever-anxious Han Seowon. Second member [What’s the meaning of life?] Second member [Everything feels so empty.] Second member [Why do I even sing? What’s the point...] Second member [Maybe I should just go home...] Second member [Just talked to mom and cried.] Second member [Why aren’t you reading this?] Second member [Drive safely and message when you arrive.] Second member [I thought long and hard but... nevermind...] Second member [I messed up earlier.] Second member [Does your arm hurt from the bite?] Second member [I told myself not to, but I just got angry.] Second member [Should’ve arrived by now. Why aren’t you checking?] Second member [Hope it leaves a scar.] Second member [De...] Second member [lete] Me [Just got home. Traffic was bad.] Second member [Figured as much.] Second member [Sorry for being harsh.] Second member [Don’t die.] Me [Jeez, kill me and revive me as you please. What am I, a fly?] Second member [Hahahahaha!] Second member [How amusing.] Second member [Feeling better now.] Second member [Manager, Aliyah wants to sleep in the same room. What do I do?] Me [Just let her; it’s her wish.] Second member [In such a big house?] Me [Just for one night.] Second member [Wow.] Second member [Okay.] Hopefully, things will stay quiet for a while. Though, it's like running a household with these one-on-one goodnight chats from Eunbit, Yonah, and Urihong, each taking almost an hour to reply to. I sent Aliyah a message as well. Gotta build bonds slowly. Me [Goodnight princess, see you tomorrow] Accompanied by a sticker I don’t usually use, and yet... Fifth member [K] Not "Okay," just "K"... Still, getting any reply at all feels like progress. With plans already made, I texted our road manager, Lee Jangwoo, who couldn’t join us today. Me [Jangwoo, pick up the kids for their first practice tomorrow, on time.] Around 5 a.m., waking up to use the bathroom, I checked my phone, which was on silent. What’s this? Eunbit, Seowon, and Yonah had all sent me messages, each at different times. Eunbit [We're all sleeping in the basement] Eunbit [Hong snores so loudly, it's insane] Eunbit [Couldn't sleep at all] Eunbit [I want to go up to the room on the first floor to sleep alone, but I'm too scared to go up haha] Seowon [Are you awake?] Seowon [Someone's snoring so loudly] Seowon [Couldn't sleep a wink] Seowon [Left my earplugs in my first-floor room; too scared to go get them] Seowon [Aliyah's acting weird] Seowon [She was upstairs but came down to Yonah and started hugging and feeling around herㅡㅡ;] Seowon [What's up with her?] Yonah [Manager, Aliyah has some wild sleep habitsㅠㅠ] Yonah [I was sleeping on the first floor, and Aliyah was on the upper bed above me] Yonah [I woke up feeling strange, and she somehow ended up beside meㅠㅠ] Yonah [So I climbed up to the second floor bed to sleep] Yonah [But then again, I woke up feeling weird, and she had her hands inside my shirt while sleepingㅠㅠ] Yonah [I think she's sleepwalking] Yonah [Hong's snoring really loudly...] Yonah [I want to sleep alone, but with everyone downstairs, I'm too scared to leave the group] Great, only the offenders slept soundly in this uncomfortable reality. *** The next morning at the practice studio. The kids start at 9 a.m., and I arrive thirty minutes later. "Hey, strong and good morning." As I greeted them and entered, the kids gathered in the dance practice room immediately began to complain, teary-eyed. "Manager, what do we do? There must be a ghost at the hostel." "All three of us—Eunbit, Seowon, and I—saw it." "A ghost?" Thinking Eunbit and Seowon were playing a prank, I looked at Yonah, but even she was terrified as she replied. "I was heading to the bathroom, and there was this old man in a hat and robe wandering around the basement living room... It’s chilling..." It seems Hong and Aliyah must have slept well since they said nothing. "What do we do?" "I was too scared to sleep at all." "Can't you stay at the hostel with us, Manager?" "What kind of nonsense is that?" "No, I'm serious..." Looking at their faces, it didn't seem like they were joking. It seems they had been discussing this all morning. Even Aliyah pleaded with me, "When Cash comes, I'll ask for a new house, but until then, please stay with us, Mr. Kim." And so began life in the hostel with the five lovely young ladies (one soon to be confirmed). < Enjoying the Hostel Life > The End