The Second Chance of A Suicidal Idol

Baek Du-Ho (2)

The doctor looked Mr. Jeong dead in the eye.

"Activities should be limited for the next few weeks." She explained, "He's deficient in many of his necessary vitamins and it appears he's just simply exhausted." She was serious, with concern plastered all over her face.

Mr. Jeong huffed. "Weeks? For simple exhaustion?"

A passing nurse glanced over to the manager at his harsh words. The nurse exchanged a long tired glance with the doctor, clearly annoyed.

"It's not 'simple' exhaustion, his body has been severely damaged and his ability to retain energy is severely strained. It's a miracle he's been able to even perform over the last couple days." She explained with urgency. "Seriously, I don't recommend any physical activity for at least three weeks. Photo and ad shoots are... fine, but strain on his body is very dangerous."

Mr. Jeong grimaced, he sighed and placed his hands on his hip in thought. "Please understand that he's an idol with contractual demands. Is there any medicine that can keep him active?"

The doctor looked Mr. Jeong up and down like he was crazy.

"No..." The doctor cleared her throat, "There's a low chance he'll even be up by tonight."

Mr Jeong clicked his tongue.

"I'm just not understanding. His group members are completely fine, so why is he so weak?" He questioned. Dead serious.

If the doctor was able to snap at someone, it would be at this ignorant manager. She recalled catching a glimpse at the eye candy ASCEND members, worried and waiting for their bandmate. Maybe it was just their anxiety, but they looked anything but fine, let alone completely. But Baek Du-Ho's state was a milestone of poor health. It was surprising that he wasn't taken sooner. The idol industry, she sighed, was it always going to be so toxic?

"He's not weak. Everyone's bodies are different, Sir. And a malnourished body like his is bound to be more vulnerable to these types of episodes." She explained patiently, but it was running thin by each minute.

"Malnourished." Mr Jeong chuckled, "Him?"

The doctor nodded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, because it was. Baek Du-Ho was too pale and too bony. While most idols were, some bodies had grown accustomed to such malnutrition, Du-Ho hadn't.

The doctor nodded, just wanting this goddamn conversation to end. She turned to the door, "If the members want to come visit him, they can now."

Mr Jeong shook his head, "It's better if they don't. They'll be too shaken for their schedules if they see him now."

The doctor tried to recall the company name that ASCEND was from. She had heard of them from her daughters, though she really only knew Joon-woo and Reggie's face. Seeing them in real life, the doctor wasn't sure if she could ever boast this to her daughter. She knew she wouldn't for the better of her job and her daughter's fantasy of the group. Did she have to report this to the labor union?

"...okay then." She replied, "We'll notify you when he wakes up."

Mr. Jeong made a humming sound and strolled away a calm man.

The doctor recalled the ASCEND posters, her daughter's collection Joon-woo and Reggie photocards. She also recalled just how tired they seemed in the waiting room just minutes before. She made a note to talk to her higher up about the manager...

–+–

"Carre, is that how idols usually end up?" Kite questioned the other, as they both stared down at Baek Du-Ho's unconscious body.