In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe

“Thank you. Happy New Year!”

“Yeah. You too, Wooju.”

After the vehicle roared off—

Carrying my suitcase and bags, I stepped into the yard, and the main gate slid shut with a long rrrrr.

“Wow...”

Is this a house or a palace?

Trees lined the tall outer wall, and fresh green lawn lay here and there. The path from the gate was paved with stone.

“...There’s even a pond?”

There weren’t any fish, but the elegant pond looked like golden carp could live there.

If the yard was like this, no need to even describe the house.

The two-story place was big enough to call a mansion. I could see a glass greenhouse behind the yard too.

It felt like the home of the richest person in Gunsan.

Clack.

The door opened and Grandma walked out in a silk gown with a shawl.

“You’re here.”

“...”

“You said you were coming, so I prettied up a bit. How is it? Not bad?”

“You look like someone else. Not Kim Deoksun—more like Ms. Kim Sunduk, richest woman in Gunsan.”

I was teasing, but she cackled, so I guess she liked it.

“If your lips are bobbing around fine even midwinter, you’re healthy. Get in already. Your mouth’ll freeze crooked.”

“Grandmaaa!”

“Uff. Uff. You rascal.”

I ran to her and sank into a hug. I felt her wrinkled hand patting my back, warmth flowing in.

My one and only family.

Holding her for a moment, I felt the worries and tension of the past days ebb away like the tide.

“But Grandma.”

“Mm.”

“When did you wash your hair?”

“Yesterday, you brat.”

“Ow!”

She smacked my back and we stepped inside. The cat, Nabi, shook her head with a look of utter pity.

“Nabi. Oh you, you, you!”

I kicked off my shoes and moved to scoop her up—

[pop!]

“Ow!”

I took a kitty-paw punch to the face.

The cheese cat went trotting off with a look like “Ptui!” and perched on the sofa, eyeing me warily.

“What’s her problem?”

“She’s sulking because you just up and left last time. Cats hate that kind of thing.”

“Really?”

I figured she’d forgotten me, but it looks like she remembered.

“How’s she supposed to forget your face when you’re on TV all the time. Every time you’re on, she stares blankly and watches.”

“Heeey!”

“And don’t make loud noises.”

They say cats hate people with big gestures, fussing, or sudden shouts.

“It’ll be wild when she meets Jiho.”

“I won’t let him within arm’s reach of Nabi.”

Grumbling, Grandma started untying the bundles I’d brought.

While I tapped the living-room floor and coaxed, “Nabi, come on,” Grandma said:

“Goodness, why so much again...”

“Biju’s mom said to make sure I pass it to you.”

“Yeah? Ahh, she really packed it tight.”

She muttered that it was burdensome or whatever, but the corners of her mouth were creeping up, so she seemed pleased.

“Nabi. Come to Grandma.”

The cheese cat in her striped jeogori slipped into Grandma’s arms.

“She understands speech?”

“She’s a little fiend. She understands everything. She just brushes it off with a lazy ear rub when she can’t be bothered.”

“Exactly like Jiho.”

With Grandma cradling the cat, we toured the house.

We first looked out at the inner courtyard through the glass, then walked through the first floor and second.

“Nice place.”

“Yeah?”

“You became a chaebol off bulgogi plates. My grandma the tycoon.”

We finished the tour of my room on the second floor, then sat together on the sofa and enjoyed a quiet rest. The sunlit yard outside made me chuckle with contentment.

“When did you move?”

“A few weeks ago, maybe.”

“What about moving and unpacking the stuff?”

“Sukja helped and such.”

“Mom and Dad’s things?”

“I moved those separately.”

I nodded, smiled, and looked at the house.

“It’s nice.”

“I thought about waiting at the old place just in case...”

“No. I like the new house too.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

We met eyes, smiled, and I flopped down flat.

A rest at last.

After running for months, the terminal we pulled into was sweet indeed.

No—more like a transfer station. Catching my breath until the next train...

Grandma asked:

“How’s work?”

“Going well.”

“You look shabby...”

“There’s a lot to do. And we’re starting a new album.”

“Again? What about that goblin one?”

“That was a special; this one’s the full album. If the special was like surprising folks with spaghetti at a lunch place, now we’re selling the main menu—bulgogi plates.”

“Hmmm.”

She tilted her head, but I don’t think she got it.

Even with calm explanations every time, the Korean music system still seemed foreign to her.

“This time I’m going to play around with you and have fun. Cool my head a bit and sketch the next project.”

“That why you brought that over?”

“Ah. That’s for practice. I’ve been taking lessons from a major recently.”

She looked at the violin case and shook her head like it was hopeless.

“I’ll practice and compose something like the Kim Deoksun Symphony.”

“Is movement one ‘You brat’?”

“Oh, so you know what a movement is, Grandma?”

We bantered pointlessly for a bit.

Then Grandma set Nabi down and pulled me into a soft hug.

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Okay.”

“Grandma’s always on your side. Whatever you do.”

I’d missed this the whole time we were promoting.

“...”

While my eyes were closed—

Nabi hopped and settled between us. The fluffy puffball purred.

Even after we broke the hug, Nabi stayed on my lap.

Just like I’d seen on MeTube, I made a fist to reduce surface area and brought my hand near her face.

“...Oh.”

Then I slowly moved my hand to gently stroke her back.

Watching the cat close her eyes and purr, I smiled at Grandma.

“See?”

Since I was little, the neighborhood strays and the Chinese restaurant’s dog would come running with happy grins the moment they saw me.

“I told you I get along with animals. Animals like pretty people, you know.”

“Honestly, that mouth of yours...”

“That’s why Nabi likes you, Grandma. Because you’re pretty.”

“Oh my.”

She burst into a laugh like she couldn’t believe me; I grinned too, watching her cheeks and lips twitch.

It wasn’t a joke—I meant it.

You’re really pretty, Grandma.

I spent a few full days with Grandma.

We went shopping. We lit a fire in the yard and grilled meat. I played her a violin piece I’m practicing.

— Oh my, you’re good. What’s it called?

— “I Want to Live in a World Without Practice.”

— You named it after yourself.

— I wrote it with that feeling—don’t want to practice, but I have to...

After time that felt like it cleaned body and mind—

A truly unexpected guest arrived.

“...”

“...”

Beyond the sliding gate, there stood our main vocalist with the face of a wild cat.

Black sweater and coat, sunglasses on.

Under a teal beanie, his dry, Malfoy-blond hair fluttered in the wind.

“...”

“...”

Ri Hyuk took off the sunglasses. His eyes were blank, like, “What am I looking at right now?”

He looked back and forth between the mansion and me, then asked:

“Do you remember ‘Night Sea’?”

“Yeah...”

“Is this the house from those lyrics? The one about the old roof and the old yard...?”

“No. That was the previous house.”

Seeing a big misunderstanding brewing in his eyes, I explained fast.

“This is the house Grandma bought selling bulgogi plates.”

“Ah. That makes sense.”

Once he had that, I waved him in.

Sniffling, he stepped in, trembling.

“The house is so grand I got a shock.”

“I was shocked too.”

“Right, well... ah-choo!”

“Cold? You took a taxi.”

“If you stay out in the cold, you adjust, but going from warm to suddenly cold makes it feel even colder.”

“True.”

I answered and took his suitcase.

“How was the flight?”

“Fine. I had some fun this time too.”

He’d spent a little time with his family in LA, then returned quickly.

Apparently his mother’s business was busy.

“...It didn’t feel like rest in the States. This time the point of the break is rest.”

“Korea’s the best. How’s Yein?”

“He’s doing well. He got picked as best student last semester.”

I laughed, watching him puff up with pride that his younger brother might get into a top university.

Anyway, he’d come back early, and he chose being with members over staying alone at the dorm.

The competition to recruit Ri Hyuk was fierce.

Junhyun: [We’ve got tons of meat at my place]

Junhyun: [Lots of rice and lots of meat]

Junhyun: [Wanna try farm work?]

Biju: [Apple farm experience,]

Jiho: [lololol you all don’t get it]

Jiho: [Become my slave and I’ll let you stay at the villa]

I stayed quiet and said nothing, so Ri Hyuk picked me.

“I stayed quiet to avoid it...”

“You don’t get it.”

He rolled his eyes at me.

“I’m such a mood maker. When I’m there, the house fills with happiness. I clean, and I # Nоvеlight # sing well.”

“Ah, okay.”

I deployed the exact face I’d learned from Teen Spirit, and he breathed fire like a dragon.

Taking a few selfies in the yard, he hesitated and asked:

“But...”

“Yeah.”

“Am I really okay to come in? What if your grandma hates it?”

“Not at all. She likes it.”

The moment I checked, Ms. Kim Deoksun said yes right away.

I calmed our main vocalist, who fidgeted over whether she’d resent him for showing up on a holiday.

“So what if she hates you. You read that book about the courage to be disliked.”

“I read it, but I didn’t get the courage.”

“All right! No dithering—inside we go!”

I dragged him in by degrees.

Clutching the bouquet he’d brought, he entered with a tense face, and Ms. Kim Deoksun greeted him with a demure smile.

“Ri Hyuk!”

“Hello, ma’am...”

“Why are you fidgeting and dawdling? The weather’s cold enough to freeze you to death.”

I spoke by his side as he smiled awkwardly.

“He was scared to come in in case you didn’t like it.”

“What a thing to worry about. Come here.”

She came over, gave him a solid back pat, and hugged him. Our main vocalist’s eyes went red in a flash.

“Ma’am...”

“Right, Ri Hyuk.”

“I’m not a big fan of hugging...”

“My Ri Hyuk wouldn’t need to swim. Toss you in water and that mouth will bob on the surface going, ‘I’m here.’”

“...I’m sorry.”

I burst out laughing that he couldn’t even muster a comeback against Grandma’s wordplay.

I patted his shoulder and told him, “Welcome home,” and while he widened his eyes and looked around—

Soft little paw steps came pattering.

Plip.

Plip-plip...

Plip-plip.

“What’s that sound... huh?”

Glancing around, he saw the fluffball at his feet and jumped out of his skin.

“Hyaaaa!”

He was startled by the cheese cat bounding over.

He shivered and ducked behind me.

“C-cat...”

“First time seeing a cat?”

“I like pictures, but in person they’re scary.”

“Don’t worry. Our Nabi isn’t shy. You can get friendly in half a day.”

I looked at the cat, as if to say, Right? But our cheese cat only stared up at him with round, bright eyes.

Sparkling.

Glued to my back like a hermit crab to its shell, he inched around, and Nabi’s pupils tracked him in a line.

Tail flicking up, she trotted closer.

Then—

“Eek...”

She pressed herself against his leg and started rubbing her body there, while he hunched his shoulders and shook.

“Hm...?”

He slit his eyes and peeked down. “Huh?”

“Uh...”

Then he looked at me.

“Is this normal? You said it takes half a day.”

“...”

Joy of unknown origin began to flood his eyes.

“Did I win? Did I beat Sun Wooju?”

“...”

“I won?”

“...”

“I have to record this moment. January 29, 2017... the day I took my first win over Sun Wooju.”

I shot our main vocalist a glare as he started smirking, then looked at Nabi.

Sparkling.

With those big marble eyes like a kitten staring at a transforming robot cat, I felt an inexplicable sense of defeat.

I leaned against Grandma as she cooked in the kitchen and said:

“I really can’t tell.”

“What?”

“A cat’s heart.”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, go upstairs and lick your pillow.”

“...”

“Eyy! Move! I need to make what Ri Hyuk likes. You—go play somewhere else!”

I have no allies. None.

He asked if it was okay to join us, but honestly, having Ri Hyuk come over made both Grandma and me happy.

Since I was seven, our holidays were just the two of us.

Just adding one more person to the house made warmth overflow.

“Oh my! Nabi’s dancing too!”

“So cute...”

Of course, it was a pity that inside that warmth I was the one excluded.

The cheese cat, basking in attention from the good-singing cat and the wrinkled cat, was bouncing with one hundred percent happiness.

Then my phone chimed with a reply.

[Do cats treat someone they’ve just met kindly?]

He’s obviously an annoying friend, but our cat loves him.

Is this possible?

What should I do?

[Answer] Reply from the Sun God:

It doesn’t look like a problem.

If there’s any problem, it’s the turmoil in the writer’s heart. In that sense, I recommend a temple stay.

Ugh.

I tried to sidle into the midst of cats having fun without me, but they drifted away every time.

A rosy flush had bloomed on Ri Hyuk’s cheeks.

“So cute. I didn’t know I was this much of a cat person.”

“Nabi is cute.”

“Can you take some pictures of me?”

Our main vocalist, hand on the cat’s back and giggling, got photographed looking like a doting fool.

I’d never seen him smile this purely.

“They say even legendary villains are kind to animals...”

“What?”

“Smile for the camera! One, two, three!”

Anyway, with Ri Hyuk here, not just me but Ms. Kim Deoksun was in high spirits.

There are so many more games three people can play than two. I was happy too.

Every holiday I’d wish for a younger sibling, and the wish finally came true.

“But isn’t it time for that now?”

“Ah. Let’s watch.”

While the cat received royal treatment, we turned our eyes to the TV.

We speared rice cake and popped it into our mouths one by one; Nabi licked a tube treat from Ri Hyuk’s hand; and at last the logo appeared on screen.

Roll the Dice Around the World.

It was time for the surprise challenge segment we’d filmed to promote “Dokkaebi.”

[Da-dun! Dun! Dun-dun!]

With the Terminator BGM, the New Year’s special teaser for Jusehan rolled.

The members trekked far and wide for the holiday mission. In the middle was even a snowstorm-swept plain.

“They went far.”

“Yeah. I figured when they splurged those gold coins.”

To make up for squandering gold coins in our head-to-head, it looked like the cast had gone a long way.

Then a quick silhouette flashed mid-teaser.

[Even formidable foes appear to steal the gold coins!]

With that caption, the cast reactions played: “Oh no,” “Whaaat?” “Aaugh!”

Our faces were covered by black circles with question marks, but anyone could tell it was us.

Live reactions were already buzzing.

— NewBlack lolololololol

— I’m already laughing lolololol

— Heart pounding

— Perfect night if I go straight from Jusehan to People Are Going

— Now the silhouette alone is funny lol

— You are now watching the folks ranked #7 in 2016’s Variety Entertainers of the Year

It did feel like we were... vetted variety talent, but as long as everyone had fun, fine.

Jusehan kept rolling, and about the latter half—

To tally mission points, the members gathered in front of TBC headquarters, and four goblins came jigging in.

“Where are you?”

“I’m there.”

“...Thought so.”

In the instant the goblin mask that had been dancing early among the cast bowed and cheers erupted—

[!!]

There came a shot of me pulling my pants off, and the cast recoiled.

Ye Huiyeon screamed “Argh!” and poked his own eyes; Ms. Yang Okbun stared into space; and a costume popped out from under my pants.

“...”

“...”

Ri Hyuk, Ms. Kim Deoksun, and Nabi all turned their heads, smooth and in sync.

They looked at me with that ts-ts vibe.

“T-that’s the edit doing that.”

“Eyy. Now you’re just going around on TV taking your pants off...”

“It sounds weird when you put it like that, Grandma.”

After the “Gabi Gabi Dokkaebi” stage ended—

A shot played of us facing off against the Jusehan cast.

The first game—Charades—with our prompt popping up: [A crane inviting a fox and offering a long-necked bottle], and Grandma bristled.

“What the hell. Those TV punks. How do they expect anyone to guess that. If they guess that, they’re Variety Grandpa—”

On screen, Junhyun shouted:

[A crane inviting a fox and offering a long-necked bottle!]

[Correct!]

Ms. Kim Deoksun blinked, then rubbed her eyes.

Then I acted out a red blood cell, and while Grandma sat up straight to watch—

Ri Hyuk held out his phone.

“See this?”

The live comments were exploding.