Chapter 78

My aunt received my call.

Hello.

I took a deep breath while clutching my phone. My aunt probably didnt know who was calling since after I left home, I immediately changed my number and didnt tell her my new number. She was the only person I could call family among the people who were left; of course, it was not a family out of love and affection but merely by blood. My heart beat in a frenzy as this was something that I had never done even before I regressed. I had never contacted my aunt after I left home, but it was now a necessity.

Who is this?

I heard my aunts voice from across the line. It was only natural she asked as I said nothing for a while. Seeing how her voice softened slightly, she sounded like she was scared. I supposed she got frightened that she received a phone call from a number she didnt know, and the caller wasn't saying anything.

I took my time to say, Its Bong Tae-Yoon.

Was it because she heard my name? Her breathing immediately relaxedno, rather than relaxed, it sounded like she was even a bit excited. I could predict what she would say next. It was probably

Ah, this **ing bastard, youre finally calling me.

As expected, she swore at me. I held the phone a little tighter.

You called at just the right time cause I was about to go and find you anyway. You should know your place. Do you think youre a celebrity now or something?

My aunt had always been like this and showed the same reaction whenever I told her I wanted to be an idol. She said an idiot like me had no chance, and I should live quietly inside the house and do as I was told. After that, she would always tell me

How can a bastard like you, who killed your parents, wander outside so shamelessly like that?RAd latSt chapters at n(v)e(l)bin/.c/o/m Only

Without fail, she always told me that I was the reason my parents died. Was it because I hadnt heard it in a while? I made a hollow laugh, not because I felt insulted, but because of how ridiculous her words were. I had heard these kinds of words from my aunt ever since I was young. Every single word had burned me to the core back then, but now

Aunt, be careful. Rather than hurting me, it didnt even faze me in the least.

What? Are you crazy?

I told you to be quiet.

Youre the one who should shut up! How dare you talk to me like that! I can rip that trainee contract or whatever into shreds whenever I want!

Just because I told her to be quiet, my aunt was furiously going overboard to threaten me. Since I was still a minor, I couldnt make a contract without the consent of a legal guardian, my aunt. Thus, when I was signing a trainee contract with WD Entertainment, my aunt had to be present.

However, she was now threatening that she would tear up this contract. Although she had said all kinds of swear words and insults at me, she was now spitting out anything she could to break me down just because I talked back to her once.

This was how ugly and pathetic her true nature was, and she had been like this since I was a child. She had made me do all kinds of strenuous and laborious work and cursed me to the heavens when I didnt want to follow her every order. At that time, I didnt know much. I thought everything my aunt said was right.

Since she gave me food and provided a place for me to sleep, I thought I had to do everything my aunt told me to do in return for her favor. Starting from completing housework, I received corporal punishment that was closer to torture, which was done only to vent out her anger. Now that I reflected on it, it seemed apparent that she had some mental problems and wanted to play a power game with me beneath her. But now I had no need to listen to her.

Whether you destroy the contract or not, do as you please. Ill be an adult in a few months anyway. I can sign the contract again then. To be honest, if my aunt canceled the trainee contract now, things could get quite messy as The Showcase 2 competition ended in early April.

If we won first place then, a joint venture would be established between Jaeil Group and WD Entertainment. Our present contract had to be transferred to the joint contract, but I wouldnt have a contract to transfer to. However, if I explained my circumstances, I could probably go through it. Jaeil Group would do anything to resolve my contract issue and debut our group as we were a group who had already garnered fame in a popular TV show.

But its safest to have a contract left. I thought having a contract would be the best scenario.

Rip the contract. Ill sign it again later. But of course, it was better for me to act strong in front of my aunt.

You think I cant do it if you tell me?

I told you to rip it.

How dare you act so cheeky! How dare you act so ungrateful when I gave you food, clothes, and a place to sleep!

Since I didnt budge at the words that she was going to tear up the contract, she began yelling in a different direction. Food, clothes, and a place to sleep

Did you forget what you fed me, what clothes you gave me, and where you forced me to go to sleep? I found her words ridiculous.

Do you not know how hard it is to raise another person?

Yes, its hard to raise a person, but you never raised me.

What?

What you did was abuse. Its more than enough for me to sue.

What? Abuse? Hey!

I moved a bit away from my phone for a bit as she yelled at the top of her lungs to the point that my ears hurt. Even after many years, she remained the same. I hadnt called her to fight like this, but it was thrilling to clap back at her ridiculous remarks after years passed. However, I needed to get to the main point.

Why dont we meet up soon?

What? Meet up? Just think about coming home right now! Im going to tear apart the contract and tell everyone your parents died because of you!

When I asked her to meet up, she threatened me with the same repertoire.

Sigh.

Do as you please. Then Ill sue you too.

Ha. Sue? Who the hell is going to believe what a little ** like you says?

Well, even if they dont believe me, theyll believe the evidence.

Evidence?

You want me to show you?

I sent an image file to my aunts number. They were bruise marks from being hit by her. I have more. Do you want me to show you more?

You dont have proof that I did that. How dare you threaten me with just pictures!

I also have evidence that you were the one who hit me. Want me to show you that too?

What?

When I called you in the past, you cursed at me for running away from home just for a few beatings, and you threatened me, saying that Ill get hit more if I ever come back home.

I recorded all of that too. Phones these days were great as they allowed me to record calls, and the first phone I used also had a call-recording function.

By the way, Im recording this call too. Of course, my current phone also had a recording function. I continued, So lets meet and talk face to face. Ill let you know the place and time.

Ill **ing kill you if we meet again.

Ha, seriously. My aunt was going to kill me. How scary. Haha. How could threats sound so unintimidating? Now that I saw it, my aunt was not just a vicious person but a pathetic and cowardly human. I couldnt believe Id been stepped on and bullied by such a pathetic person for so long; this very fact felt like a disgrace to me.

Then goodnight, aunt.

You **ing ba

Tap.

I hung up before my aunt cursed me more. Then I blocked her number right away in case I got a call again. My ears felt sore from hearing her shout so much.

Sighhh.

I sighed deeply and rubbed my ears. I wondered if this might lead to hearing loss

Tae-Yoon. I heard someone call out my name from the corner of the living room; I didnt realize that there was someone there. It was Woon.

Woon. I had no idea how long he had been there and wondered if he heard my call with my aunt.

He probablyheard it. There was no way he didn't since my aunts angry voice must have rang out in this quiet, living room.

Um, did you hear

Ah, um, I didnt mean to eavesdrop, but I came out to drink water and ended up hearing a very little bit

A very little bit. Even if he heard a little bit, she cursed from start to finish. It would be enough for Woon to realize that the person I was talking to was not a sane person with a normal thought process. But the problem was

Did you just talk to your aunt on the phone? It seemed that Woon heard that the person who poured out curses was my aunt. I wondered what I should do. I hadnt planned to tell the members about my family history as there was nothing good to say about it.

Ahyes. However, I couldnt stay silent in this situation either. If I didnt say anything, Woon would think that considering my personality, he must have asked something he shouldnt have and returned despondently to his room.

I was talking to my aunt. My mouth moved on its own, and Woons expression darkened.

Are you okay, Tae-Yoon? He slowly walked towards me.

Yes, its all right. Im used to it. Really

But before I could finish, Woon came up to the sofa and hugged my head. Its okay. You dont have to tell me.

It was a pretty surprising development. He calmly patted me on the back with his palm. I had been fine until the end of the call. Since my aunt had always cursed at me, I had no intention of lamenting about my circumstances after all this time. But I didnt know why I suddenly felt so emotional. I clenched my fist.

Its all right. I dont know what happened, but youre with us now.

I bit my lips in his arms. I had no intention to cry, and I thought this was nothing to cry about. But

I dont know. I must have actually wanted to be comforted from the bottom of my heart. The warmth that touched my skin, the hand that patted my back with a rhythmic beat, and his gentle voice that told me it was okayall of these touched my heart as if I had been waiting for them for a very long time. Considering my usual personality, I would have pulled myself out when he hugged me, but today

Squeeze.

I hugged him back a little harder today. Only the sound of the second hand of the clock rang out in the silence. Perhaps deep inside my heart, I had been a bit frazzled as no matter how many times a person listened to insults, they seemed to have the power to chip away a persons heart every time one heard them. My startled heart was finally calming down again. For a long time, I sat on the sofa in the living room and hugged Woon.

Shall we go and sleep now? When my breathing seemed to have calmed, Woon asked carefully.

Yes, I calmly replied.

Woon and I went into the room and lay down.

Good night. Sleep peacefully and cover yourself with a blanket up to your neck.

Yes, thank you.

No, its nothing. See you tomorrow, Tae-Yoon.

I thought I wouldnt be able to sleep until late today. I had a lot of things to think about, so I thought I should organize my thoughts all night. However, a strong sleepiness wafted over me.

My hands that were holding the edges of the blanket gently spread out, and without my intention, I fell deep asleep.

* * *

The next morning arrived.

Ah, damn it. For the first time since I regressed, I overslept.

Aghhhhhhh!

No, were in trouble!

Ughhhh!

Noooooo!

Why did all of us wake up late?

However, the problem was that it wasn't just me, but everyone overslept, and today was the first day of training camp.

RedBird's Thoughts

Andie: Not me just realising that there's actually a Korean boy group IRL called OnlyOneOf. They debuted in 2019 D:

Chapter end