Fake Love (6)

 Ryeo Hyun was actually as the camera painted him as. He was quiet and observant, yet vocal when need be. Joon-woo knew this, he knew it well. So why was he so careless around someone so observant? He noted to be more guarded toward the older. 

"Hyung..." Joon-woo began, thinking back to that moment in Producer Jang-Soo's office. 

Joon-woo knew he had to say something to get Ryeo Hyun off his ass, but what could he say? He was being blackmailed with something involving Ryeo Hyun and he would seem insane if he even uttered a thing about his bodily change or Kite. 

And Baek Du-Ho– what could he say about that, that wouldn't completely ruin the team atmosphere? Really, the group was quite united. Reggie had taken a liking to Baek Du-Ho, Ryeo Hyun, probably Song Chunghee too. 

"I'm the team leader, Joon-woo, so I just can't sit back." Ryeo Hyun continued. 

Joon-woo sighed. Kite and Ha-rin and everything related to that had and always had been off the table. Producer Jang-Soo had the power of Joon-woo, over all contestants that could never be tested. But Baek Du-Ho, was that enough to satisfy Ryeo Hyun of his worries? He pursed his lips. 

"It's Du-Ho Sunbae…" Joon-woo revealed. "On our last team, we didn't get along… well." He vaguely spoke. 

Ryeo Hyun hummed, as if to say 'I knew it'. "Did he– ever y'know– say anything?"

Joon-woo controlled his expression, keeping it blank. "No." He lied, "It was the other team members."

Ryeo Hyun nodded, " I see. Is that why…?" He trailed off, but Joon-woo recognized what he was referencing. It was his panic attack in which he had been caught having. His panic attack in the middle of the hallway, after the singing challenge's first team practices. After Rank 26 had threatened Joon-woo with violence. 

Joon-woo paused. Perhaps if he confirmed such it would be one less weight on Ryeo Hyun's chest. "Yes." He spoke quietly. 

Ryeo Hyun sighed, "And that's… all?" 

"Yes." Joon-woo lied, "That's all Hyung." 

"'Kay. Thank you for telling me."

Joon-woo held his sigh of relief. "No, thank you for your concern." He replied with yet another lie. Really, he hated the worry with a passion more than Baek Du-Ho and Rank 26 and even Producer Jang-Soo. 

"We should… return to the practice room now…" Joon-woo spoke after an awkward beat of silence. 

And back, to practice a few more hours, they went.

–+–

Joon-woo brushed at his wet hair as he exited the bathroom after a short shower. It was late and everyone was back in their respective dorm rooms. And finally, Jung Hyun-Ok, Bo Jaesang, Ryeo Hyun, and Joon-woo could rest after a long day of practice. 

"The bathroom is open." Joon-woo spoke, Bo Jaesang shooting up and practically running in after. Joon-woo stood, whiplashed by Bo Jaesang's speed. He placed his hair brush down and took a seat on his bottom bunk. 

He found Ryeo Hyun eyeing him wordlessly. It was just them in the immediate space of the dorm now. Bo Jaesang in the bathroom and Jung Hyun-Ok went to visit Mi Yong and Reggie in their dorm room. 

Nothing else had happened, much to Joon-woo's surprise. After they returned from the bathroom, Joon-woo was hit with a wave of worries from the team. Even Baek Du-Ho eyed him with concern. Really, was it such a big deal to spill water on yourself? Joon-woo recalled the moment with regret. 

The team had simply practiced and gave each other tips in spots that were lacking. And the atmosphere was… nice. Compared to the past two teams Joon-woo was on, a certain anxiety or tension was missing and it felt damn great. No fights, no insults, no violence, really wasn't this the team to be on? 

Joon-woo shifted uncomfortably on his bed and Ryeo Hyun continued to eye him. 

"Baek Du-Ho, are you scared of him?" Ryeo Hyun asked out of the blue. 

Joon-woo winced. Was Ryeo Hyun still on about this? "No." Joon-woo replied bluntly.

"Do you want me to do something about him?" Ryeo Hyun continued, his voice stoic despite the nature of the question. "I can talk to the producers…" 

Joon-woo shot up, "No!" He panickedly replied, catching himself too late. 

Ryeo Hyun raised his hands in self-defense, "No..?"

Joon-woo paused, "No– no, I meant it like– Um–" Goddamnit it face was really f*cking red. "I don't want the producers to press Du-Ho Sunbae with this matter." He lied. 

Even if Ryeo Hyun went to the producers about this, all they would do is try to make a plot point out of it. And also Producer Jang-Soo was with that bunch. If Ryeo Hyun went to them, nothing good would come out of it. 

Ryeo Hyun raised a brow at Joon-woo's reaction. "If that's what you say…"

–+–

It was the morning and Joon-woo was up too early. With that fact, he found that Ryeo Hyun also tended to get up quite early. In his hands was a pre-made protein shake. He too, seemed to be surprised Joon-woo was up so early. 

As Joon-woo tied his hair into a short ponytail, he watched Ryeo Hyun chug the drink like he had been starving previously. 

"Good morning Hyung." Joon-woo said. 

"You're up early…" Ryeo Hyun admired, "Did something keep you up?"

Joon-woo hummed, he knew where this was going. "No, I think I just went to bed earlier last night." 

Ryeo Hyun narrowed his eyes, "...Are you sure?" 

Joon-woo really regretted telling Ryeo Hyun just the vague details of what happened on his last team with Baek Du-Ho. Joon-woo solemnly swore to never tell Ryeo Hyun anything else if this was the result. 

"Yes I'm sure, Hyung, you don't need to worry." Joon-woo reassured as calm as he could, but truthfully, he was beginning to get annoyed. 

–+–

The group, after getting the dance basics done, were now in the recording studio. In the booth currently, was Reggie, who was getting scolded by the vocal instructor for probably the tenth time that day. 

Joon-woo watched the sight with short hums as he sat comfortably on the small couch waiting for his turn. 

Next to him sat Ryeo Hyun and next to Ryeo Hyun was Baek Du-Ho. They sat in silence, SOng Chunghee watching him with a confused expression. He looked to Joon-woo for a visual explanation, but all Joon-woo replied with a small 'don't worry' wave. 

Wasn't Ryeo Hyun making his separation of Baek Du-Ho and Joon-woo too obvious?

Reggie, after many moments and retries, exited the booth and signaled for Joon-woo to go in. Joon-woo sighed, a wave of tension escaping him. Singing always calmed him.

"Make him happier with your voice please…" Reggie begged, face dead with the amount of times he had to sing. "He's going really hard on us today…" 

Joon-woo nodded along with a forced smile. The cameras were still running. 

He set himself up at the mic, gaining a smile and thumbs up from the vocal trainer. And as he slipped on the headphones, he swore he saw Ryeo Hyun lean into Baek Du-Ho's ear and mutter something with his stoic face still.

–+–

"Chunghee Hyung, save me– please…" Joon-woo begged. 

Ryeo Hyun was being quite the pain, Baek Du-Ho was being as Baek Du-Ho as he could be, and Reggie would probably be worse than Rye Hyun if Joon-woo told him what he had told Ryeo Hyun. 

Song Chunghee looked to Joon-woo confused. "Ehh, is everything okay?"

Just as he asked that, Reggie approached after doing the routine for the performance again. Joon-woo stiffened. 

"Joon-woo-ssi, you should rehearse this part with me…" Reggie spoke. 

Joon-woo looked to Song Chunghee, expecting him to say something. But the older just smiled and lightly pushed Joon-woo towards Reggie with a smirk on his face. Joon-woo clawed at air as he looked betrayed at Song Chunghee. 

"Joon-woo? Is everything okay?" Reggie asked, wrapping his arm around Joon-woo's shoulder. 

Ever since Joon-woo had been blackmailed into being more touchy for the camera, Reggie had taken it upon himself to follow up, despite not being tuned in into why. It made Joon-woo more than uncomfortable, the idea that Reggie thought they were getting to be better friends when in reality it was because he was being blackmailed by some producing prick. 

He sighed, how many times had he answered this question? "Yeah, I'm just tired…" He groaned. 

Reggie nodded, "Ah, is the center role too heavy on you?" he asked. 

Joon-woo nodded, "No, no– I'm just a bit tired." 

Reggie took his arm off Joon-woo and narrowed his eyes on him. Really, why did Joon-woo's first good team come at a cost?