Debut or Die-Chapter 342
“No one ever gave you the address or made an appointment, yet here you are at our dorm door.
You haven’t even rung the bell, but you’ve placed a ton of missed calls.
But what if this guy already has a history of insane stunts?
‘Fuck.’
Through the chain I caught Challyeo’s face—still expressionless, shockingly so.
“Why are you here?”
“I didn’t come on purpose. I stopped by on my way back.”
“I never gave you the address.”
“You did say.”
I hadn’t.
“You told me which floor you live on.”
“......”
Right, one night when we ran into the dog walker, before mentioning ‘Ryu Geon-woo,’ he’d casually asked what floor this line of rooms was, as a conversation-starter. Knowing that, you’d deduce the building address...
‘You just gathered that info and worked it into your plan, asshole.’
That’s exactly how someone with zero shame would behave. Surely he wasn’t that brain-dead that he couldn’t make basic social judgments.
But Challyeo wasn’t done.
“I have news for you.”
“What is it...?”
And then came the unexpected answer:
“Kongi is sick.”
“...!”
What?
“I’ve just dropped him at the vet and I’m on my way back.”
Only then did I realize the reason for his bizarre behavior: he’d been in a panic.
‘Fuck.’
I sighed again—this time in a different way.
“Wait.”
click
I unlocked the chain and opened the door fully, stepping outside. It mattered little—this floor only had our dorm.
“...What’s wrong?”
“Acute renal failure.”
Challyeo’s eyes twisted slightly.
“He was at the brink. The part-timer... brought grapes and didn’t clean up properly.”
“......”
His voice was so calm I could’ve believed he’d smashed that person’s skull with a hammer.
I pressed my brow.
“Did they apologize?”
“Does that matter? Words don’t heal kidneys.”
Classic judgment from someone who’s already made a fortune.
‘He rushed out to look after the dog, that’s it.’
Once he’d taken action, his thoughts must’ve flooded back.
‘That’s why he called so many times.’
I guessed the reason behind the missed calls. Challyeo continued quietly.
“I thought you’d want to know since you love Kongi.”
“......”
“You could’ve texted.”
“Ah.”
He only just realized that?
He quickly corrected himself.
“Seeing you face-to-face felt better.”
“I could’ve told you over the phone.”
“That was just a heads-up. Showing up unannounced would be rude. There might be others in the dorm.”
“......How did you know I’d be here?”
“If I guessed wrong, I’d leave.”
He rattled off rationalizations like this, so calm it was absurd. He really was out of his mind.
I rubbed my eyes. He was so desperate to talk to someone, yet oblivious to his own state.
“Your dog’s going to be fine.”
Challyeo tilted his head.
“Really? I don’t know how you’re so sure.”
“You left him at a specialist clinic. If they’d been worried about a guardian, they wouldn’t have sent you away. They’ll update you on his progress.”
“......”
He stared into space for a long moment, then spoke again.
“That’s right. Quick treatment must’ve prevented lasting damage. They set up his IV properly. They said they’d call if anything worsened, but it’s unlikely.”
“Good.”
“I have a schedule starting tomorrow, so I can’t stay.”
“Right.”
I nodded.
“Good call.”
“Maybe... accidents happen when you least expect them?”
“...Hmm.”
His eyes darkened. I hoped he meant only the dog. He wouldn’t be plotting revenge on the grape culprit, right?
‘Either way, it’s not a great omen.’
That dog clearly meant a lot to him. This breakdown was unlike anything since the VTIC lead-vocal debacle.
‘Similar situation—when something crucial threatens to fall apart.’
Could this trigger another reset syndrome? He might say, “Let’s let Gold 2 die and observe the outcome”—it wouldn’t even surprise me.
‘That can’t happen.’
After a moment’s silence, I spoke. He needed some reassurance.
“Accidents happen no matter how you live. No one can anticipate everything.”
“......”
“So handling them well is what matters. Today, you did well.”
“...!”
“You acted fast, so he didn’t suffer much. It’s lucky he’ll recover.”
I offered a concise conclusion.
“You did good.”
“......”
Challyeo stood stunned, then slowly nodded.
“...Yes.”
“So once he’s discharged...”
“Right. If Kongi recovers with no aftereffects, we’re all good.”
He still didn’t quite get it, as expected. But at least his tone softened, and his expression returned to normal.
“Come visit after he’s out.”
“I’ll see.”
I nodded. Challyeo let a hint of a smile slip across his face.
‘That’s settled.’
I have no idea why I’m doing aftercare for someone who once tried to kill me, but there I was, working unpaid—during what should be my camp rest break.
‘Composing camp break time...’
I glanced at my phone. The time between the missed calls and that final one was nearly thirty minutes.
‘He’s been standing out here all that time?’
For him, that was irrational time-wasting. Probably frustrated only I understood the details of what happened with the dog.
I hesitated, then asked,
“Does anyone in your group know?”
Challyeo answered readily,
“No. They’re all at the company because of... that.”
“...?”
‘That what?’
“Ah.”
He tilted his head.
“You haven’t checked the internet today.”
“......”
“If you hadn’t avoided my calls, you’d know. You’re not on your phone—busy with the album or resting.”
Why did he keep trying to deduce my status?
“Something happened?”
‘Please not another scandal.’
None of the other VTIC members seemed the type, but you never know.
Yet Challyeo was unfazed.
“Not something happening—something coming.”
“Coming?”
“Yep. Everyone’s enlisting.”
“...!!”
It hit me like a lightning bolt. The date already... Actually, good for us, but not for him.
“Is there still time? Didn’t you get an extension?”
“Ah... we agreed to schedule it properly.”
Challyeo smiled faintly, leaning on the wall.
“To prolong the group’s lifespan, we decided simultaneous enlistment.”
“...I see.”
Simultaneous enlistment and discharge—an unprecedented group action. The fastest path back to complete lineup, yet it suspends all solo activities. I couldn’t believe they’d actually do it.
“See? I told you winning this year would be easier.”
“......”
I nodded slowly, finally understanding.
“So you’re enlisting too.”
His pre-enlistment jitters explained his meltdown.
“Oh? No.”
“Hey.”
“I’m only going six months. Ha—next year.”
He always knew just what to say to needle me.
“So I’ll be the only one at the year-end awards show.”
“You will.”
“No surprise to you?”
“Nope.”
Challyeo spoke matter-of-factly. No big emotional reaction about his comrades leaving.
“Huh...”
“That’s a first—for me to use the dorm alone.”
He froze mid-sentence as the door startled ajar—Big Sejin’s head popped in.
“Mundae Mundae, why are you outside—”
He’d come looking for me as the break ended, but stopped cold at seeing Challyeo. Damn.
“Lee Se-jin.”
“Hold on.”
Instantly switching gears, he greeted,
“Oh! Senior, hello!”
“Hello.”
“I’ve heard a lot. What brings you here...?”
“A lot?”
Sejin paused, then repeated in the same tone,
“Yeah—lots.”
From behind the door came Rae-bin’s voice:
“Hyung, who’s here?”
“Um—”
“Wait.”
This wasn’t good. I grabbed Sejin and pulled him inside.
thud
The door closed and Sejin’s face soured.
“Park Mun-dae, why is he here?”
“His dog collapsed. Anyway, not related to us—VTIC is enlisting.”
“What??”
“Hyuck, VTIC seniors are already enlisting?”
“......”
“Oh my god. You came to tell us that?” 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Seeing Rae-bin still at the door, I realized things were bigger than I thought. Everyone in the living room must have heard him.
“Enlisting?”
“...He’s out there?”
“Hey, Mundae called a senior in?”
“...Are you consulting him for advice on our work...?”
“Hold on.”
I cut the conversation. Sweat was pouring down my back.
“I didn’t call him.”
“Then—?”
I blended his story into a half-truth: “His dog was in an accident, no one else could talk to him, so he stopped by.”
‘Actually, that’s not even an excuse—it’s true.’
“Poor dog...”
“I see.”
Those who only knew I’d clashed with Challyeo accepted that. Se-jin looked ready to kick him out, but Ryu Cheong-woo was holding him back.
I fired a closing line:
“I’ll send him off first.”
“Oh, I’ll see the senior out too~”
“.......”
Fine, do as you like. I didn’t pull Sejin away again, just reopened the door.
Challyeo was still leaning against the wall. Guy really wouldn’t leave.
“Looks like everyone’s home. Sorry if I caused trouble.”
“It’s okay.”
My head throbbed.
“As an apology, I thought of something you’d appreciate.”
“Huh?”
Challyeo shrugged, then opened his phone and sent me a file.
“...?”
“...It’s an audio file.”
Se-jin was right—but it wasn’t a song.
[Cut from Future Afternoon Radio – Spacer Kwon Hee-seung]
It was a clip from the radio show featuring Gold 2.
