Chapter 243: Enemy (2)

Humans always make the same mistakes.

“Even though we know we’ll regret it, we repeat the wrong actions, and we ruin everything by clinging to meaningless pride over something that could have ended with a simple apology. By the time we realize it, is it already too late?”

Kim Woochan recited the radio script in a low voice.

It was his first time hosting as a temporary MC on the radio, but perhaps thanks to his many prior appearances, his delivery was quite smooth.

While the red ONAIR light was on, he naturally continued to the next line.

“One day, you might come to regret it deeply. There must’ve been a better choice. Things that could’ve ended with a smile… had gone too far, past the point of no return.”

That’s always how choices work.

When they’re right in front of us, we can never seem to find the right answer.

And so, we repeat the same mistakes again.

Kim Woochan smiled softly and spoke.

“This message is for all of us who are in a fight with someone.”

Please make sure to seize the opportunity while you still have the chance.

“Because that chance never comes back.”

The youngest writer signaled with a hand gesture. The radio show was almost over.

Kim Woochan nodded and looked toward the camera. His closing line came out effortlessly.

“This has been Kim Woochan on <Afternoon Radio>, Chan-D. Have a great day—.”

At the same time, the ONAIR light turned off.

With that, the live radio broadcast ended safely, despite the tension.

The youngest writer gave a thumbs up and said,

“Great job!”

“Wow, you were amazing for a first-timer!”

“No, no, thank you.”

Among the members, he was known for being a little off-kilter, but those who worked with The Way’s Kim Woochan professionally remembered him as incredibly professional and quick-witted.

He always greeted the staff warmly, rarely made mistakes, and wrapped up everything cleanly.

On stage and off, he was fairly well-regarded among the staff.

This radio stint had also been a first for Kim Woochan, but it had wrapped without any major hiccups.

“Well then, I’ll be heading out now!”

“Thank you, Woochan. Hope to see you again next time.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Kim Woochan bowed and rose from his seat.

Since his next schedule was already waiting, he had to move quickly and hop in the van.

His manager was waiting outside the radio booth.

“Oh, Woochan. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The manager patted him on the back and smiled proudly.

Kim Woochan was about to return the smile—but suddenly froze in place.

His expression quickly turned icy.

“……”

The guy who had been about to step out of the booth stood still, staring into space. As if he’d seen something. Kim Woochan froze on the spot.

His manager looked confused and asked,

“Woochan, what’s wrong?”

“Just a moment.”

His eyes were cold as ice. Urgency shot from his lips.

“I think I need to go somewhere.”

“Huh? You’ve got a schedule.”

“That’s not what matters right now.”

“…What?”

The manager, who had been by Kim Woochan’s side for a long time, knew this much:

He might be a bit unusual, but he wasn’t the type to act out like this.

The manager blinked wide-eyed at the unexpected words, but Kim Woochan had no time to worry about that.

His mouth was dry from the urgency.

“I’ll go check it out.”

“Hey! Woochan!”

Someone’s life is in danger right now.

Bang!

Bang!

Someone kicked the door so violently it seemed like it might break. The inner door shuddered from the impact.

Hyukwon winced, his face full of fear.

“Who is it…?”

Seo Ian spoke up, voice shrinking.

The answer came from beyond the door.

“Hey, you Hyukwon! You bastard, open the door!”

“It’s… the senior. Hah.”

“Huh? Is it that guy we saw back then?”

Composer THE-H.

Hyukwon sighed and grabbed his throbbing head.

When he got completely drunk, he would lose all sense of judgment and send messages that clearly crossed the line.

No one knew how he even figured out the location of the new studio to come all the way here.

Hyukwon clicked his tongue and spoke.

“I’ll go out and check first.”

Causing a scene at someone else’s studio was bad enough, but with two guests present, Hyukwon found himself in a truly awkward position.

The two had been about to head home when they got completely blindsided.

“I’ll try to calm him down and send him off. I’m sorry you had to see this while you came here to work.”

“Oh, we’re fine.”

Seohan nodded with a concerned expression.

“But I’m not sure if he’s in any state to talk…”

Just from his voice, it was impossible to be sure, but judging by the sound of it, this was way beyond just a couple of bottles of soju.

His pronunciation was all over the place and his tone was completely gone.

It seemed like it would be better not to provoke him… but it wasn’t really their place to step in.

In the end, Hyukwon went to the door to face THE-H.

Clack.

“Sunbae, why did you even come all the way—”

“You bastard!”

“Whoa, shit.”

A hand lunged straight toward him.

Hyukwon flinched and took a quick step back in shock.

It looked like he was trying to grab his collar the moment he saw him, but thanks to Hyukwon pulling away, he avoided being caught.

“Wow, you’re really drunk.”

What the hell was he trying to start in a state where he couldn’t even stand properly?

Hyukwon grabbed his throbbing head and glared at THE-H.

“This won’t do. Let’s talk outside.”

Hyukwon suggested taking the conversation outside. THE-H stared at him with slightly unfocused, chilling eyes.

This wasn’t going to work.

Seohan quickly assessed the situation and waved his hands at Hyukwon.

“It’d be better to just send him back.”

“Ah… yeah.”

The stench of alcohol was overpowering.

Whether he’d been drinking at the convenience store nearby or not, he was still holding a half-empty soju bottle in his hand.

He was the very definition of a drunk mess.

If he wandered around like that, he’d be headed straight for the police station.

Seo Ian must’ve felt the same, because he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“Hold on. I’m going to call the manager…!”

He figured they needed to bring Manager Lee Jaeyoon over to drag that man out of here.

Seohan nodded and said,

“Tell him to come up. We can’t go out right now.”

“Yeah, good idea. Ah, yes! Manager, we’re at the studio right now…”

Seo Ian stepped aside as he spoke on the phone with Manager Lee Jaeyoon.

“There’s someone making a scene in front of the studio… Yes, yes. It’s the composer we met before. He’s very drunk.”

Even while Seo Ian explained the situation, the confrontation continued.

Hyukwon warned THE-H in a cold voice.

“Get out. I’m really going to call the cops.”

“…Damn it.”

One man was trying to get the drunk out of the studio, and the other was throwing a tantrum, refusing to take a single step away from the door.

Seohan swallowed dryly at the sight that made him sigh.

First, they had to get rid of that guy.

Seohan turned to Hyukwon and spoke.

“Let’s drag him out together.”

“Yes. Ha… I’m really sorry.”

“You punk, do you think I’m easy to push around?!”

Unbelievable.

What the hell kind of chaos was this in someone else’s studio?

Seohan lowered his voice and tried to calm the drunk.

“You seem pretty drunk right now, so let’s talk later.”

“You… stay out of this. I… I’ve got things to say to this bastard!”

God, please. You lunatic.

Even while everyone around him sighed, THE-H kept babbling with a hazy look in his eyes.

“Hey, you son of a bitch… feel good selling out your senior like that? A damn song… what’s the big deal about lending my name once? I raised you, man… fed you, gave you a place to stay, raised you. You ungrateful bastard. Ha…”

“Sunbae, please calm down.”

Normally, Hyukwon would’ve snapped back at THE-H’s nonsense, but in his current state, the guy was in no condition to have a conversation. Saying more would be a waste of breath.

“You! Are you really going to keep living like that?!”

He kept spouting nonsense while swinging his soju bottle wildly through the air—an utterly ridiculous sight.

‘We need to take that away from him.’

If he kept swinging it around, someone nearby was bound to get hit.

Hyukwon sighed and grabbed one of THE-H’s hands.

“No, seriously. Put that down.”

“Hey!”

“Ugh, for real! Let’s just call the police.”

But Hyukwon, who was already weaker than THE-H when sober, stood no chance against a fully drunk man in terms of strength.

Seohan frowned and came up beside him to help.

He decided they had no choice but to drag him out by force.

Hyukwon used all his strength to push THE-H out. The staggering drunk cursed as he was pulled along.

At the time, they let their guard down.

They thought a drunk guy would be easy to handle.

Hyukwon shoved him hard and let go of his grip.

That’s when it happened.

“Damn it, I said let go!”

THE-H snapped and swung the soju bottle in his hand.

“……!”

Hyukwon saw where the bottle was headed and shouted out in panic.

In an instant, the heavy soju bottle flew straight toward Han’s face.

“Watch out!”

And then—

Crash—.

A shattering sound tore through the air like it was splitting apart.

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