The Second Chance of A Suicidal Idol

Ryeo Hyun (2)

The next day is where it all fell to shit. The next day, on top of a million stresses and more, Joon-woo opened Witter to a mess he expected never to see.

He awoke to an unnamed clatter. He awoke to Bo Jaesang's fist hitting against the wall as he read something on his phone. And as he groggily rubbed at his eyes and ruffled at his bedhead, he watched Bo Jaesang curiously.

"Sorry, sorry for waking you Joon-woo-ssi..." Bo Jaesang weakly spoke, rubbing at his temples with a pace.

Joon-woo narrowed his gaze, concerned. He found Ryeo Hyun's bed empty and the clock still at 7:31 A.M.. He looked back to Bo Jaesang after his analysis.

"Did something happen?" Joon-woo quietly questioned.

Bo Jaesang paused and cautiously held his phone out for Joon-woo to see. "Look, read. I— I don't think I can actually explain it well." His voice stressed with a certain urgency.

Joon-woo nodded, reading at the screen below. His eyes widened.

@Anonymous3432423
Ryeo Hyun, a popular participant in the new Producer10
season, was mine and many others' bully in highschool.

Under the post were yearbook photos of various students, but most importantly Ryeo Hyun's. And under those photos were varios group photos. In each group photo some variation of Ryeo Hyun was standing in the middle of a group of some hard-faced and some smile-y kids. They all resembled popular kids. From their expressions to their cigarettes a few had in hand, Joon-woo could tell.

Ryeo Hyun in the photos was the same height and just a little less muscly. Ryeo Hyun in the photo... smiled and it looked fitting. Really, was it the same person? Bo Jaesang pulled the phone away from Joon-woo's face after he looked for a moment. The photos... looked real and the young Ryeo Hyun in the photos too.

"Is... is that really Hyun Hyung?" Joon-woo asked cautiously.

Bo Jaesang shook his head, "It's not– there's no way he would do any of this." He spoke with confidence. Joon-woo practically heard the trust coming out of his voice.

He thought to himself, a little unsure. Really, would the Ryeo Hyun who's been looking out for Joon-woo so much do something like this? Ryeo Hyun had quite literally been watching Baek Du-Ho and Joon-woo as if they were hawks about to swing at each other. He had separated them, and Joon-woo had even caught him scolding Baek Du-Ho in the recording room!

So really, would a man so against bullying do such a thing? Joon-woo clenched his fists.

He thought back to that day in the practice room during the first challenge. Where Joon-woo had yelled and Ryeo Hyun had taken his phone and Ryeo Hyun vaguely admitted to being held up from debuting.  Joon-woo recalled the memory and pursed his lips.

Joon-woo knew how easily this stuff could be fabricated, how badly it could hurt an idol let alone an aspiring one. But he just couldn't shake the thought. What if Ryeo Hyun was really a bully? What if he was just trying to redeem himself by 'helping' Joon-woo? The thought felt too much like a fact in Joon-woo's mind.

"Where- where is he?" Joon-woo asked, his mind still groggy from his recent waking.

Bo Jaesang anxiously fidgeted with his hands, "The staff, they took him somewhere to talk or something." He explained, nerves clear in his tone.

Joon-woo sighed, Producer Jang-Soo's blackmail now coming to mind. Really, wasn't this enough reason to boot someone from a show? The thought scared Joon-woo and he knew it would scare Bo Jaesang ten times more, so he kept it to himself. But it still lingered. Sneaking out and a bullying scandal?