Laputa's Dreams and Harsh Reality

Two days had passed since Suhyeon received the first revised script from Park Sil-jang. In the meantime, he'd stuck to his basic schedule—action training for the movie shoot and such—while holing up at home, completely immersed in the script.

Heading into the company for the first time in those two days, Suhyeon grabbed a quick lunch at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cafeteria and then met with the rookie planning team. After discussing the details for Muran's debut, he gathered the Muran members, who were practicing in the rehearsal room, into Studio 1 for recording.

Suhyeon looked around at the Muran members huddled together in the cramped Studio 1 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and spoke up.

"I've heard from your teachers that you've all been training hard. The reason I called you here today is that my schedule's about to get crazy busy, so I won't have time to guide you personally anymore. I'm going to play your debut track for you and do the first guide recording, so everyone, stay sharp. Got it?"

"Yes, oppa."

"Once you do this first guide recording, I'll discuss it with the rookie planning team teachers, and they'll keep drilling your weak spots until debut—singing, choreography, expressions, interview skills, you name it. You can't debut until they all give the green light that you're ready. You trainees know that better than I do..."

Suhyeon paused, making eye contact with each member one by one before continuing.

"Once you get the pass from the rookie planning team teachers, that's when I'll meet you again for the final recording. Understand?"

"Yes, oppa."

"Alright, then. First things first, let's check the homework I assigned last time."

After finishing the homework review for all the Muran members, Suhyeon spoke.

"There are some parts that didn't match what I expected... but I don't want to force my views on you. Everyone interprets the same situation differently. You all worked hard on the homework, so we'll skip to the main point. Now, before I play the song, what do you think the title of your debut track is?"

At Suhyeon's question, the Muran members shouted in unison, as if they'd been waiting.

"Laputa!"

"Right. Laputa. So, in Gulliver's Travels, what can't the people living in Laputa see?"

"Feet or the ground."

"The scenery around them."

"The earth."

"Their own bodies."

"People nearby."

Suhyeon grinned at the varied answers from the Muran members.

"Wow, the homework was worth assigning. Everything you said applies. We generally call all that 'reality.' The people of Laputa live with one eye turned inward to their bodies and the other fixed on the sky, ignoring reality altogether. It's the author's metaphorical way of depicting people who dream of some ideal paradise. Got it?"

As the Muran members nodded, Suhyeon continued.

"People call this ideal paradise a utopia, or a Peach Blossom Land, or the Garden of Eden, or even the Pure Land. The ultimate happy life humans dream of. But unfortunately... even if humans aim for that life, they can never escape reality."

Suhyeon looked at the Muran members and asked again.

"Have your teachers told you what Muran's concept is?"

In response, all the members recited their answer flawlessly, like they'd memorized it inside out.

"Strong, wise modern women who endure hardships and trials in tough contemporary society without yielding."

"Hoo, looks like you all studied hard..."

Jiyeong replied to Suhyeon's words.

"Oppa, our lives are on the line with this debut. Memorizing this much is nothing. We're desperate too."

"Hm. Good attitude. Back to the track, then... You're girls who face hardships and trials in reality but keep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dreaming undeterred. Dreaming of going to Laputa... Think of Laputa as your goals or wishes. That's the explanation for the song. Now, let's all listen to it together."

Suhyeon placed his hand on the console box and flipped the switch. Music began to flow into the recording studio.

The Muran members in the studio held their breath, focusing intently on the music.

When it ended, Suhyeon said, "First time hearing it, so you all probably have a ton of questions or things you want to say. Hold off for now... Let's break it down by section, starting with the intro."

Suhyeon manipulated the console, and the music played again.

A clear, flute-like sound—fresh yet mysteriously ethereal—emerged with a beep-beep-beep~ vibe, followed soon by a deep thump-thump~ drum overlay. Then, intermittent whoosh-whoosh~ sounds, like whistling, blended in midway.

Once the intro ended, Suhyeon stopped the music and looked at the members.

"Anyone know what that first sound in the intro is?"

Erika raised her hand.

"I've heard it before. Not sure of the instrument name, though..."

"Yeah? Where?"

"Titanic. It's from the main theme. In My Heart Will Go On."

"Spot on. It's the Irish whistle. Sounds super pastoral and dreamy, right? In this track, think of it as representing the ideal paradise—Laputa. Now, anyone know what those whistle-like sounds in between are?"

Miyeong raised her hand.

"I know."

"Miyeong knows? Hm, I figured no one would. Hey... where's your hometown?"

"Jeju Island."

"Ah, that makes sense. What is that sound?"

"Haenyeo. When they dive into the sea and come back up to the surface. It's their breathing."

"Correct. And what do they call it?"

"I can't remember. I think it has a specific name..."

"That's okay. It's called sumbisori. The haenyeo themselves describe their finning as 'going in to die and coming out alive.' It shows how grueling their work is. They hold their breath to the point of death underwater, then exhale that breath when they surface—that's sumbisori. Sounds like a whistle at first, huh? So, Miyeong, why do you think those women, the haenyeo, keep doing this deadly, exhausting work without stopping?"

"...To make money?"

"Exactly. A totally realistic reason. To sustain their lives and support their families. Just like haenyeo bravely facing the rough seas with their bodies, it's a sound symbolizing modern women who live boldly without bowing to harsh reality. The Irish whistle represents ideals; sumbisori reveals reality. Stark contrast between the two. Everyone get the intro concept now?"

"Yes!"

"Next part, then. This is where we need Jiyeong's clear, pure voice."

......

"Now the final chorus. The key here is momentum. As your group name Muran implies—'fierce heart'—sing it with the ferocity of slaying a lion. Make listeners open their hearts, get convinced by your words, or obey your commands... Jiyeong's the main vocal in the middle parts, but Sohee leads here. It's pretty high notes. Everyone, read the lyrics again."

At Suhyeon's words, the Muran members bowed their heads to read the chorus lyrics on the papers they held.

"Starts with 'geuchyeo,' right? Geuchyeo. Even now, stop the tears from your eyes. Sohee leads that high note powerfully. Then the back half harmonizes Sohee's high with the members' mids in chorus... Same pattern for the rest of the choruses. Let's practice it all together once."

"Geuchyeo. Even now, stop the tears from your eyes."

"Dakchyeo. From now on, shut up with the quitting talk."

"Michyeo. From now on, go crazy for the dream you chase."

"Good. Last line is Sohee's solo. Give it a shot."

"Sorichyeo. Shout it loud to the world. Shout that I'm here, alive and breathing."

"OK. Sohee, your high notes are stabilizing nicely now. Then everyone joins for one more chorus. 'I'm here, alive and breathing...' Got it?"

"Yes, oppa."

"Alright, now we'll start recording part by part, nailing the pitches precisely... Obviously won't be perfect in one day. But we need to set the framework now, so the teachers can target your weak spots in practice. Everyone focus. Got it?"

Once recording began, the studio alternated between Suhyeon's angry shouts and his soft, coaxing murmurs.

As quitting time approached, Suhyeon flipped on the mic switch and said, "Good work on the recording, everyone. Come out of the booth."

At Suhyeon's announcement that recording was done, the Muran members chattered excitedly as they exited the booth.

"Finally over!"

"Crazy? We've still got the final recording."

"I'm gonna die of exhaustion."

"Oppa gets really scary when he's mad."

"I'm so hungry I might collapse."

"Quiet! I'll deliver today's recording straight to the teachers. Remember what oppa pointed out during? Ponder it yourselves and practice hard until the final recording."

"Yes, oppa."

After wrapping up, Suhyeon hurried to deliver the USB with the recording files to the rookie planning team before they clocked out.

Having safely handed it over, Suhyeon headed to Park Sil-jang's office. The light was still blazing inside—he hadn't left yet.

Suhyeon knocked and entered.

"Oh, Suhyeon. Come in. What brings you?"

"About the revised first script you gave me. I've reviewed it."

"Already? It's only been two days."

"Yeah, I went over it pretty intensely those two days."

"As expected of a genius. So, why tell me?"

"Huh?"

"You said the review's done. So why report to me?"

"Who else would I tell?"

"I told you back then—contact the BJ rep directly. No need to loop me in. I just handle your contracts, shoot schedules, media plays. Scripts and acting? No need to consult me anymore. Who am ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I to coach you on that..."

"...You mean?"

"No BJ rep contact in the files? It was definitely included."

"It was."

"Then reach out to them directly, Suhyeon. I'm out of it now..."

"...Got it."

Suhyeon left the room with a slightly flustered expression. The moment he was gone, Park Sil-jang picked up the phone.

"Yes, Chairwoman. Park Sil-jang here."

Meanwhile, Suhyeon stepped out, pulled out his phone, and dialed.