EPISODE 24: New Loyalties
**SCENE START]
INT. ACADEMY CAFETERIA - DAY
The cafeteria is loud and crowded. JISOO and TAE-HYUN are sitting at a table, eating lunch. Jisoo is scrolling through her phone, a look of deep concentration on her face.
TAE-HYUN Did he say anything else?
JISOO (Without looking up from her phone) No. He just told me to stay away from Min-jun and not sign with a company called Nexus Entertainment. It's so weird.
TAE-HYUN Hyun-woo has been acting strange ever since he started working on his music. I mean, he's always been quiet, but now he's like... on high alert all the time.
JISOO I know. I've been trying to find out more about Nexus, but there's barely any information online. They seem like a small, unknown company.
She looks up at Tae-hyun, her brow furrowed.
JISOO What if he's in some kind of trouble? Like, real trouble? The look in his eyes... it wasn't a joke.
TAE-HYUN I don't know, Jisoo. Maybe we should just trust him.
Jisoo sighs, putting her phone down.
JISOO I want to. But I'm his friend. I can't just ignore it. Something is going on, and he's not telling us.
[SCENE END]
INT. NEXUS ENTERTAINMENT - DIRECTOR'S OFFICE - DAY
The office is small and cramped, filled with stacks of papers and half-empty coffee cups. JUNG MIN-JUN is sitting in a chair across from DIRECTOR LEE. Min-jun's arrogance from the day before is gone, replaced by a nervous, twitchy energy.
JUNG MIN-JUN Hyun-woo said he knows who you are. He said you'll ruin me. He said you ruined him. What does he mean?
Director Lee leans back in his chair, a subtle, cold smile on his face. He's calm and composed, the master of this game.
DIRECTOR LEE (His voice is smooth and reassuring) Hyun-woo is a threat, Jung Min-jun. He's trying to get under your skin. He's a talented kid, but he's weak. He's jealous.
JUNG MIN-JUN Jealous? He just won the music academy's songwriting competition.
DIRECTOR LEE (He chuckles softly) The prize was a certificate and some pocket change. I'm offering you the entire industry. He sees that, and it terrifies him. He's projecting his own fears onto you. You see, he had a chance, once. With a big company. He choked. Couldn't handle the pressure. He's just trying to pull you down with him.
Min-jun listens intently, his nervous energy slowly turning into a renewed sense of confidence.
JUNG MIN-JUN He said you ruined him.
DIRECTOR LEE That's what they all say when they fail. They blame everyone but themselves. You are not like him, Min-jun. You're a fighter. You have ambition. I see your talent. We'll be a team. He's alone.
Min-jun nods slowly, a new resolve setting in. The flicker of doubt is gone. He stands up straighter.
JUNG MIN-JUN You're right. He's just scared.
DIRECTOR LEE (Standing and placing a hand on Min-jun's shoulder) We'll show him what real success looks like. The kind that doesn't disappear overnight.
[SCENE END]
INT. HYUN-WOO'S ROOM - NIGHT
Hyun-woo is in his room. The floor is covered with sheets of music and lyrics he's scribbled on. He has a small keyboard set up in a corner. He sits on the floor, picking out a melody on the keyboard, but his mind is elsewhere. He's trying to write, to create, but he's overwhelmed with paranoia. Every passing car outside sounds like a threat.
He pulls out his phone and looks at an old photo of his group, A-Star, from his past life. They were all smiling, laughing. The image is a painful reminder of what he lost. He's doing this for them, to save them from a tragic future.
He puts his phone away and closes his eyes, trying to focus on the music. He has to be better. Stronger. He can't let them ruin him again.
[SCENE END]
EXT. SCHOOL GATE - AFTERNOON
The school bell rings, and students pour out of the building. Hyun-woo is walking toward the street when a voice stops him.
JUNG MIN-JUN (From behind him) Hey. Got your new track ready yet?
Hyun-woo turns to face him. Min-jun's cockiness is back, stronger than before.
JUNG MIN-JUN (A smug smile on his face) I just had a meeting with the man you're so scared of. He told me all about you.
HYUN-WOO (His jaw clenches) You shouldn't have done that.
JUNG MIN-JUN (He scoffs) He said you were just projecting. That you're scared of me and what I'm going to become. He said you'll never be able to handle real success.
Min-jun leans in close, his voice dropping to a condescending whisper.
JUNG MIN-JUN He told me about your old company. A-Star, wasn't it? He said your scandal was so big they had to disband. Pathetic.
Hyun-woo's eyes widen. He didn't tell him the name of his group. Only Director Lee could have known that. Min-jun's smile grows wider, seeing the fear in Hyun-woo's eyes.
JUNG MIN-JUN So, a word of advice from one idol to another: stay out of my way. This time, there's no one to save you.
He turns and walks away, a victorious swagger in his step. Hyun-woo is left standing alone, his heart pounding in his chest. Min-jun knows.