novelraw Chapter 176: Meeting (5)
Chapter 176: Meeting (5)
At the unexpected question about the dorm’s shared laptop password, the members’ gazes turned to Kim Iwol.
Kim Iwol, the center of attention, remained unfazed.
“So, what’s the password?”
At Kim Iwol’s nonchalant attitude, Lee Cheonghyeon and Kang Kiyeon immediately pounced on him.
“Did you post this, hyung?”
“When?”
“I posted it so I could expose you to the Sparklers. You guys didn’t tell me the laptop password.”
“Sorry, but if you try to take the conversation in that direction, we won’t lose.”
Lee Cheonghyeon crossed his arms and faced Kim Iwol, standing in direct opposition. The contrast was striking—Kim Iwol standing tall with perfect posture, and Lee Cheonghyeon leaning slightly with a cocky stance.
“I’m the only one who can’t see the meeting minutes right now.”“And what exactly would you do with them, hyung? Just rest.”
“Are you trying to make me a slacker?”
From the audience, shouts of ‘Iwol, be a slacker! Work less, earn more!’ could be heard.
“Let’s divide the room right now. Those who think Iwol hyung should be told the password, go to Iwol hyung’s side, the others to my side!”
“You’re going to split the team like this?”
Kim Iwol said incredulously. He was even more dumbfounded when the majority of the members moved to Lee Cheonghyeon’s side.
“Seongbin, after everything I’ve done for you, how could you do this to me?”
Kim Iwol said with a despairing expression. However, Jeong Seongbin was firm.
“Please think of this as our way of caring for you, hyung.”
“You should see your own face right now.”
It certainly wasn’t a face that expressed care. If anything, it was the face of someone about to lock a person in an underground dungeon.
At least Choi Jeho remained by Kim Iwol’s side, supposedly out of loyalty.
Kim Iwol looked back at Choi Jeho standing behind him.
“Why are you…”
He didn’t seem particularly reassured.
Choi Jeho didn’t seem to have any deep reason for his choice either.
“If they keep refusing to tell you the password, you’re just going to borrow another laptop from the office, aren’t you?”
“…You heard that?”
“Yeah.”
Choi Jeho replied, as if he was tired of it. He seemed to have heard Kim Iwol asking to borrow another laptop from a company employee.
She’d heard that Kim Iwol was relentless, but she hadn’t known it was to this extent. Did he have the ghost of an overworked employee possessing him or something?
Only after the members and fans alike scolded the crazy hyung did Kim Iwol abandon his resolve to borrow a new laptop.
She wished her team leader would work half as hard as Kim Iwol. Although her heart ached, Won Chaehee decided to simply enjoy her current happiness.
* * *
“Oh, right, did you see our latest self-produced content?”
“Yes!”
Won Chaehee had seen it too. It was the episode where Spark went to a daycare.
She couldn’t resist watching the short video of the cute children running around. The tall men awkwardly following them and flailing were a bonus.
However, the Spark members themselves seemed surprised.
“Really? You really saw the daycare video?”
“Yes!”
“How?”
How? On MeTube, of course…
Both the members and the fans were puzzled. Then, Jeong Seongbin pointed to the beam projector.
“This behind-the-scenes footage—you really saw this?”
It was a thumbnail she’d never seen before. ‘Spark’s Hilarious Daycare Adjustment Period – Behind the Scenes’.
“No, I haven’t seen it!”
“It’s my first time!”
“Play it now!”
Were they messing with their fans? They had to be punished—with an over-the-top reaction. The Sparklers made up their minds.
The video that played was pure chaos.
『Which pin would you like, customer?』
『Do I even have space left on my head…?』
Park Joowoo, looking like a cactus, stood out from the beginning. His reason for choosing a pin was oddly meticulous.
『Since it’s almost autumn, how about a chestnut…?』
『No. I’ll go with a watermelon!』
…Of course, all his choices were rejected by Park, the 5-year-old hair stylist. But at least he had the experience of choosing.
The person next to Won Chaehee clutched a chinchilla plushie and bit their lip. It seemed Park Joowoo was their bias. Soon, that chinchilla plushie would have a watermelon hairpin on its head.
Still, it was nice to see him trying his best to play with the children, despite his introverted personality. Especially the scene where Park Joowoo tied back a child’s loose hair elicited sighs from all around.
And what about Jeong Seongbin? Fans, who had only ever seen his gentle leader-like demeanor, were now witnessing a strict Seongbin dealing with children who, unlike the Spark members, completely ignored him and refused to listen.
『I don’t like you, teacher, you keep scolding me!』
『But you have to brush your teeth to prevent cavities…』
『I don’t like brushing my teeth either!』
Jeong Seongbin, sending out silent cries for help with his eyes, looked quite pitiful. Watching him slowly transform into a childcare expert was fascinating.
He had a kind nature. The children quickly realized that. When one of the children said they wanted to be like the teacher when they grew up, both Jeong Seongbin on screen and the Sparklers off screen held back tears.
But the highlight of the daycare video was undoubtedly Choi Jeho.
At least, Won Chaehee thought so. No one could have expected Choi Jeho—who barely spoke more than a few words even to his own members—to communicate so well with the children.
『Teacher’s legs are so long~ and his hands are so big~!』
The child was talking about Choi Jeho’s hands and legs, but the camera focused on his face. It was as if someone had given strict orders: ‘Focus on the face… The face…!’
Meanwhile, a voice, 90% breath and 10% real sound, pierced through the air.
“He’s so f*cking handsome…”
Even though it was just someone muttering to themselves, Won Chaehee almost nodded in agreement. When Choi Jeho brought a tail comb and hairpins to style the children’s hair to match his, all she could see were his forearms. She started to wonder if this was a fan meeting or an eye candy clinic.
Kang Kiyeon, the superstar of the Flower Bud Class, and Lee Cheonghyeon, the maestro of the Flower Bud Class, were also spectacular. Why weren’t companies casting Spark and children in commercials…?
『The kids are so small.』
The last one to appear was Kim Iwol.
He proceeded to showcase the amazing feat of staggering and dodging the running children without taking a proper step.
Lee Cheonghyeon, watching the video with him, burst into laughter.
“Hyung, why were you walking around like that?”
“I was afraid I’d bump into them.”
“Well, the kids were really small.”
Hearing those words from a 183cm tall man was incredibly endearing.
Kim Iwol continued to express his admiration for the small beings from the corner of the camera, using all sorts of expressions.
『Wait a moment, I’ll wipe your face. …Oh dear, your cheeks are so soft. That surprised me.』
『I saw earlier, you were holding such a tiny cup with both hands. Your hands are like baby hands.』
『Why are you wearing a handkerchief around your neck? Is it to keep you from drooling? …Oh, to prevent catching a cold? You’re all babies.』
『Is this the snack tray? Oh my, it’s so cute.』
It wasn’t unusual for Kim Iwol to gush.
However, it was usually directed at grown men, so his main expressions were ‘handsome’ or ‘godly’.
But Kim Iwol saying ‘cute’? This was a rare sight.
Since they could feel Kim Iwol’s genuine affection for the children, the fans were delighted, watching his ‘Aren’t our babies just the cutest?’ talk show.
‘Ah… I wish he’d just go to the daycare every day…’
Leaning back in her comfortable chair, Won Chaehee thought seriously. She was incredibly happy.
* * *
After the games and various activities, it was almost time for the fan meeting to end.
“Sparklers, what are you doing after the fan meeting? Do you have to go somewhere right away?”
“We booked this venue for a really long time…”
Kang Kiyeon and Park Joowoo casually mentioned overtime with straight faces. They didn’t look tired at all. Spark’s pride in their practice hours at the IDC wasn’t for nothing.
Only the fans, who had planned a post-fan meeting gathering at a Gopchang restaurant, waving their group-purchased plush dolls, shed tears of both joy and sorrow.
“How long does it take you to get home? We shouldn’t keep you too long, right?”
“This noona has a car, so you can stay as long as you want!”
Was that the regime person? Now, everyone was starting to look like the regime person to Won Chaehee.
‘It’s almost time…’
Won Chaehee checked the time.
It was time for ‘that’ to happen.
“Then let’s talk and hang out a little longer. Is that okay?”
Just as Jeong Seongbin was about to pull his chair to the edge of the stage, all the lights in the hall went out. It was part of a pre-planned event prepared by the fans.
“Huh?”
The surprised voices of the members echoed through the microphones.
They were startled, huh? Well, anyone would be startled if the lights suddenly went out.
Then, Kim Iwol’s voice was heard.
“Everyone, it seems there’s been a slight problem. It’s dangerous to move around together in the dark, so please stay seated for a moment. Staff, please check the situation outside.”
Kim Iwol’s voice was calm and composed.
“We’ll guide you out if anything happens, so could you please wait a little while? We’ll take care of it as quickly as possible. We’re sorry for startling you.”
Although he seemed to have moved the microphone away from his mouth, Won Chaehee clearly heard him tell the members, ‘Don’t panic’.
And the issue was resolved very quickly. The reverse VCR prepared by the fans started playing.
『Congratulations on Spark’s First Fan Meeting VCR
(Special note: Might be rougher than what Iwol planned)』
“What is this?”
Choi Jeho asked in a bewildered voice.
“It’s a present!”
At the fans’ answer, the members gathered in front of the beam projector one by one.
Numerous photos and supportive messages flashed by along with the instrumental version of Spark’s debut song.
『Iwol, the best oldest hyung, thank you for always being Spark’s roof ♡』
『Jeho, you are Spark’s identity! Spark shines because of you!』
『Thank you for being a leader the fans can trust and rely on, we love you, Seongbin.』
『We start and end our day with your voice, Joowoo! Let’s sing together forever!』
『Cheonghyeon, the most dazzling person in the world, may your future shine even brighter than you!』
『Kiyeon, our final treasure who is indispensable to the team, don’t forget that everyone cherishes you.』
When the video ended, the lights in the hall came back on.
“We love you, guys!”
Cheers erupted from the audience.
The expressions on the members’ faces as they turned around said more than words ever could.
―
Profile
Name: Kang Kiyeon
Birthday: December 29th
Birthplace: Incheon, South Korea
Height: 176cm
MBTI: ISTJ
Nicknames: King of Cuteness Kang Kiyeon, Definitely a Northern Grand Duke, Frozen Tanghulu, Model Delinquent
Likes: Manga, delicious food, running
Dislikes: Sad movies, injuries, people who are difficult to communicate with
Motto: Today’s effort creates a better tomorrow
Favorite Food: Bunsik
Preferred Scent: The scent of commercially available fabric softener
Favorite Music Genre: Hip-hop
Favorite Sport: American Football
Most Confident Body Part: Abs
Unique Habit: Secretly watching the members practice from behind sometimes