Chapter 18.2
But before I could reveal my true colors, an unexpected voice suddenly joined the conversation.
Even without looking back, I knew who stood behind me, just from the faint shadow falling over me.
âRight? Seems ironic coming from someone who causes more trouble than anyone here.â
Only one person I knew had this combination of towering height and explosive personality.
My fellow regressor, Cheon Tae Rim.
Cheon Tae Rim briefly faced school bully rumors after debuting, simply due to his shockingly gangster-like looksâeven after taking out all his piercings, neatly styling his hair, and properly wearing his school uniform.
Being handsome and looking like a thug were separate issues. Cheon Tae Rim simply radiated an aura of delinquency. Even though his parents were professors, his older brother was a doctor, and he himself was always a model student ranking top of his class.
People sensitive to visual impressions often asked questions like: âWas he a school bully?â âDid he really behave himself at school?â
In our past life, thereâd even been a talk-show story about an R&M director anxiously combing through Tae Rimâs student records, just to be sure.
But in reality, Cheon Tae Rim was surprisingly mellow. Until a member caused trouble affecting the groupâs image, he never once lost his temper. Heâd give Go Ha Ram anything he wanted, lend money to managers who complained about their finances, and generally acted like some kind of enlightened monkâminus the shaved head.
You could call it a typical case of âtough outside, soft inside.â Tae Rim was incredibly weak against people in need. Despite looking like a thug, deep down he was a pushover. There was nothing to fear about him.
I confirmed just how big a pushover he was when, in our past life, he took a knife for me. He really was soft-hearted, completely different from his tough exterior.
However, he had one glaring flawâan explosive personality. Meaning, depending on who he faced, Cheon Tae Rim sometimes turned even nastier than me.
âWhat did you just say?â
âI said maybe you should worry about yourself first.â
âWow, is this asshole crazy?â
âYouâre the crazy one.â
âGuys, whatâs going on? Can we not fight right now, please?â
Look at him now. Tae Rim was impressive at mouthing off to Shin Ji Oh without backing down a single inch.
Ha Ram and Hye Joon, having grasped the seriousness of the situation, lowered their eyes and shut their mouths. Only Kim Sung Hoon was frantically trying to separate the two older trainees.
I was tempted to pretend to be scared and quietly back away, but seeing Tae Rim putting his thug face to good use for the first time in a while was honestly pretty entertaining.
âHa, fuck⊠Cheon Tae Rim, just because youâre doing well lately doesnât mean you can talk shitââ
âStop talking and get out.â
âWhat?!â
âOr should I drag you out myself?â
As expected from someone with gangster looksâTae Rim had barely cursed once, but Ji Oh was already losing ground.
When Tae Rim, who towered over him, stepped forward, Shin Ji Oh instinctively flinched back. From that moment, the fight was effectively over.
Kim Sung Hoon, looking close to tears, hastily grabbed Tae Rimâs arm. Tae Rim wouldnât actually hit anyone, but given his appearance, Sung Hoon probably reacted out of pure reflex, assuming Tae Rim might dunk someone into the sea off Incheon.
âYou fucker, donât underestimate meââ
When Shin Ji Oh saw Sung Hoon holding Tae Rim back, he suddenly found courage he didnât have before. True to the saying that those who canât fight start by opening their mouths and pulling hair, Shin Ji Oh reached out aggressively towards Tae Rim.
Honestly, Shin Ji Ohâs punch was painfully slow. Just by watching from afar, anyone could tell he wasnât half as tough as his big talk suggested.
If Iâd done nothing, Tae Rim wouldâve easily dodged Ji Ohâs weak punch. But instead, I deliberately stepped between them and took the swing for him. I threw myself in, fully aware it wouldnât hurt much.
And no matter how I looked at it, it was better for me to take the hit. Shin Ji Oh had shamelessly tried grabbing Cheon Tae Rim by the hair. Maybe he didnât yet realize how precious hair is for an idol.
With the 12-centimeter height difference between me and Cheon Tae Rim, stepping in meant Ji Oh’s hand would hit my chest first. I’d already calculated this calmly.
Shin Ji Ohâs hand slammed into my chest. More accurately, the back of his hand hit me first as he tried to grab Tae Rimâs hair. As expected, it didnât really hurt. Guys who talk big usually have fists like cotton candy anyway.
Still, I let out a groan, pretending to be in pain. This way, Ji Oh wouldnât dare try it again. And later, I’d have an excuse to tell the adults that Ji Oh was causing trouble.
With this, Tae Rim would owe me too. Maybe then heâd finally talk to me, and I could use that as leverage to convince him to stop pushing me away.
Ji Oh froze in shock, realizing heâd actually hit someone. Kim Sung Hoon looked just as panicked, clearly worried about how he’d fix this mess as the trainee leader.
But Cheon Tae Rim glared at me with a completely unexpected expression.
caffeinecat
Hahahaha his mental maths