Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols
SS Chapter 64: An Introduction to Alcohol (1)
Day/Night Mode:
Change Font Size:
TL: FoodieMonster007
Jeong Seongbin always knew one of spArk's greatest strengths. If any member showed a negative reaction to something, the group uncompromisingly excluded it unless it was absolutely necessary.
Another of spArk's strengths was that they never took this consideration for granted. No member would stretch their legs out in a group so considerate and declare, "This is just how I am, so you guys figure out how to deal with it!"
With six people, if each person mentioned just two dislikes, there would be twelve things to avoid. spArk was always wary of this. Knowing they all looked out for each other, they willingly compromised on things that were only slightly uncomfortable. This culture was maintained for a long time because there were no overly greedy or selfish members.
As they spent more time together, a list of prohibited things slowly took shape in the dorm. For instance, spArk never made sudden loud noises or filmed provocative prank videos out of consideration for Kim Iwol.
They once avoided all caffeinated foods, but after Kim Iwol said he would check what he ate himself and that they didn't need to worry, items like Coke Zero started appearing in the refrigerator.
They used no diffusers for Park Joowoo, whose five senses were sensitive. The use of air fresheners was also minimized. Although they used a cleaning service, everyone immediately cleaned up what they ate and any new trash to prevent odors.
Some members were fine with anything. Jeong Seongbin, Lee Cheonghyeon, and Kang Kiyeon were like that. Whether it was Jeong Seongbin, happy if the members were happy, Lee Cheonghyeon, generous to his colleagues, or Kang Kiyeon, who lived more placidly than his personality suggested, they all adapted well to the dorm's peaceful temperature.
Then there was Choi Jeho, who has not been mentioned yet. The most stoic on the team and a free spirit who could live without a home, he didn't care if his roommate rolled on the living room floor or if the leader glared, monitoring the members for mischief.
He thought nothing of it when the new younger member trailed a housemate to return a cushion to its original state. He showed no reaction even when the youngest members squawked over a useless iEuro.
There was just one thing this man was reluctant about, though he never directly forbade it.
"Hey, guys. You don't really drink at the dorm, right?"
It was drinking. Jeong Seongbin replied to Lim Chanyoung's question that they didn't. Park Joowoo also nodded.
Not "really," it was just "once."
That was how Jeong Seongbin remembered it. The older members had been adults since his trainee days, but they never brought in so much as a can of beer. On days they came home after drinking for work, they would sleep on the sofa so as not to bother their roommates.
At first, he thought it was because they were conscious of the younger, underage members. In reality, that reason accounted for seventy percent of it.
The remaining thirty percent stemmed from Choi Jeho. He later heard that Choi Jeho disliked alcohol because of his father's influence.
Even without someone who disliked alcohol, drinking indoors would have been difficult while living with Kim Iwol, who had dedicated his soul to management. Thus, spArk lived a life far from alcohol. Before he tried drinking with his dad, Jeong Seongbin thought it would always be that way.
"Seongbin, have you ever had a drink with your hyungs?"
Jeong Seongbin explained that his hyungs didn't drink much either. He also relayed that Kim Iwol had told him to learn from his parents if he was really curious. However, his father had a different idea.
"You guys go to company dinners and stuff, right? Can all six of you refuse to drink every single time?"
The adult's point was valid. From the time the younger members were students until they became adults, handling spArk's drinks was Kim Iwol's role. Occasionally, Choi Jeho would reach for a glass with a deep scowl, but it was useless. Snatching the glass after drawing attention with a bright smile was Kim Iwol's specialty.
At gatherings where everyone was offered at least one drink, Kim Iwol always chased away the glares that seemed to ask, "Are you only drinking because you have to?" Even industry insiders who claimed the eldest hyung could hold his liquor would quickly become blackout drunk if Kim Iwol became their shield.
"I don't want you to force yourself to drink what you can't handle, but it's good to know basic etiquette and your own limit. There are still a lot of people out there who consider it a matter of courtesy and take it seriously."
The company staff said the same thing. They taught him a few basic things, saying that while he could choose not to drink, he shouldn't act in a way that went against etiquette.
"You said Iwol told you to learn about drinking from an elder in your family, right? He's telling you that as an older brother who has experienced society first. You should be grateful, but don't take it for granted. You're a team."
For a moment, the image of Kim Iwol's back with its large scar came to mind. He had no guardian to teach him drinking etiquette. How did Kim Iwol, who had just graduated high school, learn to survive under Yoo Hansoo or Jang Junhoo? When did he have his first drink? Since he became a trainee in his early twenties, was it in January of that year?
With a heavy heart, Jeong Seongbin picked up his glass. He sighed deeply and grimly extended his arm. A few hours later, Gyeongseon, who had returned home, was horrified to see the father and son passed out at the table.
Even after learning drinking etiquette from his dad, Jeong Seongbin never initiated a drinking session. spArk was so busy they didn't have time to blink and had to manage their physical condition daily. They had no leisure for a party, let alone a simple dinner get-together. Since they weren't in the habit of drinking, they didn't crave it either.
Then, for the first time, a day came when he 'deliberately' wanted to try drinking. It was the day he heard Park Joowoo's 『To My Drowned Family』. Among the words Jeong Seongbin knew, none could describe the shock he received in the waiting room that day.
The emotion conveyed through the microphone was complex. It was a song difficult to define simply as 'sad' or 'relieved'. A voice that contained a person's life was just that deep.
Was his own life too shallow to understand Park Joowoo? He wondered if the difference in their life trajectories had built a high wall between them, despite being the same age, doing the same work, and belonging to the same team.
Could he get closer to that emotion if he at least pretended to be an adult? Kim Iwol, who seemed much more of an adult than him, had become candid over two small bottles of whiskey. Choi Jeho, who supposedly never touched alcohol because of his father, drank with his friend because his friend was drinking. Seeing that made him wonder what it would feel like to have a serious conversation with a friend over a drink.
His own friend was as shrouded in mystery as Kim Iwol. Because of the long time they had spent together, he knew more than when he first met Park Joowoo, but compared to the length of that period, he knew very little.
There were things he wanted to ask but held back, afraid it would feel like crossing a line.
Park Joowoo had a mysterious side, just as fans and others said. He was Jeong Seongbin's precious friend, but he had a different aura from Jeong Seongbin's other friends. While far from serious, he was by no means a shallow person.
Thinking that maybe, just maybe, this would work on Park Joowoo, Jeong Seongbin casually suggested it. He did it in passing, in case Park Joowoo might refuse. Including this aspect, a very fine, almost imperceptible opening existed between Jeong Seongbin and Park Joowoo.
"Ummm…"
Park Joowoo thought for a moment. It didn't take long to get an answer.
"So you're saying you really want to try drinking today?"
Lim Chanyoung asked again. Park Joowoo nodded, just as he had on the day Jeong Seongbin proposed the drinking session. The friend he thought would refuse had readily agreed to the plan.
"I want to be able to drink with my uncle… so I'll practice."
His expression was as grim as it was before going on stage, and so, Jeong Seongbin and Park Joowoo made a secret pact, hidden from all the other members.
The problem was the location. Getting into a controversy by going to a strange bar was out of the question. While searching for places to be wary of, Jeong Seongbin ended up hitting the 'Search restricted for users under 19' keyword, just like the day he was looking for hangover cures.
He had no choice but to ask Lim Chanyoung for help. He asked for an ordinary bar where they could quietly sip their drinks without causing a public disturbance, which led to their current conversation.
Lim Chanyoung, the manager of idols who had never once caused trouble, was extremely anxious. It wasn't because he didn't trust his boys. On the contrary, it was surprising that he'd never had to worry about alcohol or cigarettes until now. That was why he was even more hesitant about dropping these two blank slates off at a bar.
The fact that they had bothered to ask their manager about something they could have just done themselves meant there was a relationship of trust. If he cluelessly insisted on going with them here, he would likely not even get a heads-up in the future.
Lim Chanyoung swallowed his tears internally. The best he could do was have the two, who said they would take a taxi, sit in his car. Instead, he sent an SOS to Min Jukyung, who would be more knowledgeable in this area.
Jukyung [I can tell you, but] [Wouldn't Iwol flip out if he found out…?]
Min Jukyung was the person at the company who best knew how particular Kim Iwol was. At her reasonable concern, Lim Chanyoung was at a loss for words.
A long list arrived shortly after. It was neatly organized with addresses and information on whether they had private spaces, making it easy to enter into a navigation system. Places frequented by their agency's celebrities were not included. It was a thoughtful gesture to keep them away from as many cameras as possible. The message that followed contained a short, firm warning.
Jukyung [To the kids] [Warn them firmly not to go for a second round or drink at a convenience store just because they feel like it's not enough] [People are most likely to get into controversies when they're defenseless]
It was advice worth its weight in gold. Lim Chanyoung opened the chat window and searched for a suitable emoji for a long time. The one he chose was a Kim Iwol emoji bowing so low his head touched the ground, shouting 'Understood!'.
"Guys. Once the first round is over, you're going straight back to the dorm. Got it?"
"Okay!" Jeong Seongbin answered energetically, in a voice that truly sounded like he wouldn't cause any trouble elsewhere.
Park Joowoo also nodded so hard his head looked like it would fall off.
Lim Chanyoung, with his idols who were practically his nephews, headed towards the downtown area.