"How many socks have you lost?" June asked as soon as they got ho.
"Since I was born? Around twenty pairs," Casper casually responded.
"No," June clicked his tongue. "How many socks have you guys lost since we started living here?"
"Well, you're asking the important questions," Jaeyong chuckled, finding their conversation ridiculous.
"I'm being serious," June said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Umm, I don't know…I lost count after the third one," Jisung said.
"I lost one," Akira said. "I don't usually wear socks."
Zeth looked at him, disgusted. "So, that's why the practice room slls like crap after a full day of practicing. Wear so damn socks from now on."
Akira raised an accusing finger toward Zeth's way. "You also don't wear socks with your rubber shoes sotis!"
"That's different," Zeth smirked. "I don't sweat. My feet are not an exception, so they always sll fresh and clean!"
"Lucky bastard," Akira muttered.
"Well, for those twenty pairs, I think I lost around four here already…which is an abnormally large amount considering I've been living in this world for 23 years," Casper responded.
"I've never lost my socks before coming here," June said. "But ever since we moved to this dorm, I've lost around five socks now. That's why I decided to embroider my initials on my remaining socks."
"Wait, wait, wait…Why are we talking about socks again?" Ren asked, feeling a bit confused.
"Yeah," Jaeyong chuckled. "Don't you think we have more important things to discuss? Like our New Year's Eve performance!" he exclaid.
"Do you really want Chul to beco our manager until next year?" June asked.
His other mbers didn't respond.
"Look at this," June said, bringing out the sock he saw under the car seat just a while ago. "I found this at our van."
"Umm, why'd you leave your sock there?" Zeth asked.
June clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Why would I even take off my sock and leave it in the car?" June asked. "All I'm saying is—Chul uses that car, even outside of our work schedules."
Ren, the smartest (aside from June) in their team, gasped loudly.
"So, you're saying—he might be a sock thief?" he asked.
"He is the sock thief," June said with conviction.
"How are you so sure?" Ren asked.
"Akira, Jisung, show them what I sent you."
"Aww, man!" Akira exclaid. "I do not want to see that video again."
"You're keeping secrets from us?" Casper exclaid.
"Shut up," June said. "You didn't want to join in on my plan earlier. I was going to show you anyway."
Jisung braved his fears and opened the video for his other mbers to see.
June could hear the sucking sounds from where he was standing, so he quickly pursed his lips to keep the contents of his stomach from regurgitating. He had seen plenty of grotesque things in his life, but this one just triggered him to another extent for so reason.
However, he smirked when he saw his mbers' disgusted expressions. They finally knew what June was feeling!
"Turn that thing off!" Ren exclaid. "What the hell? Why did you keep this to yourself?"
"Why do you think my stage na changed all of a sudden?" June asked.
"You blackmailed him?" Akira exclaid. "Good job, bro. I've raised you well."
June shook his head with a smile. "Do you guys believe now?"
Murmurs of agreent were heard inside the room, the mbers still disgusted with what they had seen.
"So, what are we going to do now?" Zeth asked.
June pursed his lips while Casper raised his hand.
"I know where Chul lives."
***
In a luminous apartnt in the heart of Seoul, a typical office worker's decor embellished the walls—a large LED screen TV, a sleek black couch, picture fras of achievents, and family mbers donned on top of an expensive-looking wood drawer.
In the kitchen, a huge chunk of roast beef was roasting in the oven, filling the apartnt with a heavenly sll.
It was the type of place office workers would dream of having.
However, in the mundane humdrum of the normal apartnt, one room stood in contrast. It lood at the center, covered in an unnatural brightness that defied the otherwise bright and modern interior.
The walls inside were adorned with familiar faces frozen in ti within picture fras—the smiling snapshots of K-pop idols. The idols stared down from their photos, their glossy eyes holding a misplaced vibrancy in the dimness of the room.
Yet, sothing far more unsettling awaited beneath those seemingly innocent images.
Black bags, misshapen and filled with an unknown material, hung beneath the posters.
Next to it was a huge bed—where the owner would usually sleep in. Other people would want to hide their secrets in the unseen parts of their hos. However, this person proudly showed it off in his master bedroom.
The owner, a strange man whose features were obscured by the shadows, hunched over in the middle of the room with an unsettling calmness. He was sitting on the floor, classical music playing in the background.
In his dominant hand, he cradled a cup of coffee. It was his fourth cup of the day, and his breath slled distinctive of that bad coffee breath.
He started at the TV, which was the only source of light in the room. The TV was playing a familiar performance of a rising idol group. However, it was muted, as the sound of classical music was the only thing being heard in the room.
With an unnatural calmness, the man reached into one of the black bags. His fingers fumbled with the material before extracting the most unexpected item—a sock.
Then, the man brought the sock to his face. With slow and deliberate movents, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes to enjoy the sweet aroma of the white sock. He inhaled more deeply as if savoring the essence of the sock's owner.
Chul clicked his tongue, opening his eyes to stare at the photo of today's victim.
"Your socks were always the sweetest to sll," he whispered. "But you've been a very bad boy," he chuckled, his evilness filling the dark room.
anwhile, June's concept photo for their debut album stared back at him.
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