Chapter 58
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Eve of the Comprehensive Evaluation
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A month had already passed since I'd been practicing alone every dawn, followed by team practices during every class and evening session.
Time flew by, and before I knew it, the comprehensive evaluation—the final practical exam of the first semester—was now just one day away.
The evening before the comprehensive evaluation, at the dormitory.
There was a room with music flowing out.
“Ugh. I'm dead.”
It was right before dinner time, the moment when our team's practice—checked even more thoroughly since it was the last day—had finally wrapped up.
Woo-sik, who had come back from his own practice, immediately flopped onto his bed.
The comprehensive evaluation practice must be really tough.
I turned around at the thud from my desk.
“Practice over now?”
“Nah. We're eating dinner, then one last run-through at 8 to sync up.”
Doubtful if it'd really end after just one more.
Before my regression, plenty of teams had pulled all-nighters the night before the comprehensive evaluation.
Some even ruined their entire semester from the resulting poor condition.
It couldn't be helped.
No such thing as a perfect stage existed, and every run-through brought new regrets.
“You guys done?”
“Yeah. Wrapped up after today's rehearsal.”
The school had been giving each team rehearsal slots since yesterday, ahead of the performances starting tomorrow afternoon.
On performance day itself, each team got just one hour for final checks.
Which meant today was essentially the final dress rehearsal.
Woo-sik sounded envious at the news we'd finished, mumbling into his pillow with his face buried.
“No surprise from the genius squad. So laid-back.”
Couldn't deny the genius squad label.
Starting with director Yoon Jong-hoon, the acting lineup included Moon Woo-hyuk and Song Ha-na.
Thinking back to before my regression, this team composition was like a pipe dream.
And having worked with them firsthand, the more we practiced, the clearer their insane talent became.
But it wasn't just their talent that let us wrap up early today.
Every team member had given more effort than anyone.
The only difference was how seriously they took condition management the day before a show.
“But... what are you doing...?”
Woo-sik peeked his head up from the bed, looking my way.
My laptop on the desk was on, paused on a musical video.
His eyes widened in horror, like he'd seen a ghost.
“You're not seriously doing the ongoing assessments now...?”
“Yep.”
Ongoing assessments were ongoing assessments.
They excused us from major classes for the comprehensive evaluation, but didn't waive the assignments.
Knowing how hard it got to review videos meticulously once you fell behind, I couldn't let go.
“Damn... I'm scared of you now. Scared.”
Woo-sik, probably fearing I'd drag him into doing them too, rolled over completely.
He even scooted toward the wall.
As if that bulk could hide.
I chuckled at the sight.
“Not dragging you in. Don't worry.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Lie back easy.”
I'd never planned to ask him today anyway.
He'd be swamped with the comprehensive evaluation.
There'd be a week after it ended to catch up on the backlog.
Most people crammed them then.
But watching musicals was fun, and educational too, so I wanted to keep at it.
Cramming a week's worth later meant I couldn't scrutinize like now.
“What's up with you. Uncle.”
Woo-sik finally sat up, grabbing his 2L water jug from beside the bed.
Glug glug glug—
I gave him a puzzled look.
Is he planning to enter some water-drinking contest? Why the sudden habit?
“Why are you chugging water like that?”
He turned to me, zombie-faced.
“It's good for the throat.”
Huh? Still believing that superstition?
Drinking tons of water doesn't make you sing better. Myth.
Sure, it doesn't hurt you either.
But his next words made me grimace.
“I've been downing 3 liters a day lately, and I wake up dying to pee at night.”
That's straight-up poison now.
Can't sleep at night tanks your condition, weakens your throat obviously.
Couldn't let this slide.
No ongoing assessments, but this meddling was necessary.
I stood, snatched his water bottle.
“Uncle! What the hell?”
“Idiot. Turn on a humidifier instead.”
“Why!”
“Ever seen me drink 3 liters?”
He thought for a sec, then shook his head vigorously.
“Nope.”
“Exactly.”
Woo-sik nodded right away, springing up convinced.
“Right. No need for me to do what Lee Do-hyun skips. Makes sense.”
Weird rationalization, but whatever.
Freed from his water obsession, he beamed as I spoke.
“Quit the water. Come on. Skipping cafeteria food today—got something good for your throat.”
***
I dragged Woo-sik to the dormitory basement self-serve cafeteria and sat him down.
“Wait here,” I said, then boiled something up and brought it over.
He paled at the savory aroma, yelling.
“Oh my god. No way—seaweed soup?”
Spot on: miyeokguk.
Seaweed was great for the vocal cords, throat, and bronchial tubes.
I'd asked Mom specially to make it; I just reheated it here.
“Why eat this?!”
He freaked out, like it made no sense.
Expected that.
Koreans avoid seaweed soup before exams.
Superstitions like it'll make you slip up or flop.
But I thought different.
“What'd the seaweed soup ever do to you?”
Nothing better for the throat.
Ignoring his disgust, I silently mixed rice into my bowl.
“Mixing rice in... means you're gonna devour the stage?”
Better than deep explanations for Woo-sik.
He reacted.
“Hmm. Alright?”
Yup.
His face wavered.
His leaned-back body inched toward our table.
Mom's cooking was killer.
Plus that nutty aroma wafting; he'd have caved even without me.
“Want some?”
I slid him an extra spoon.
“Sure, why not?”
He snatched it like he'd been waiting.
Knew it.
I smirked, scooping him a bowl.
I'd asked for plenty to share with friends; no need to ration.
“Coming through, coming through, miyeokguk's here~”
Woo-sik hummed nonsense at his heaping bowl.
Where'd that song even come from?
“Whoa. What is this? Why so good? Oh Mom. Where's this flavor from?”
One bite, and he went full theatrics.
Wasn't he just whining about flopping the exam?
I gave an exasperated laugh.
If you're gonna cave, why the drama earlier?
“Yeah. Eat up. Lots.”
I told him that, then shoveled a big spoonful.
Before regression, I'd always eaten miyeokguk alone.
Sharing with Woo-sik made it taste even better.
***
Comprehensive evaluation day. Our team gathered in the mid-sized theater from morning, pushing hard on final prep.
We had one hour today.
No time to waste; we obsessed over every check.
“Put that there!”
Six teams performing in the mid-sized theater today, 15-minute intermissions between shows.
We had to preset props in assigned spots during those.
Setting up perfectly meant mapping movements to fit the time.
Staff hustled sharp-eyed, handling the minutiae.
“Background's crooked there! Who touched it! Sound—last check ready?”
Everyone yelled across the space.
Even upbeat Yoon Jong-hoon got edgy now.
Actors, saving their voices, sipped lukewarm water silently pre-rehearsal.
“Last: our leads' first meeting scene—movement check!”
Stage set, per Yoon Jong-hoon's call, Song Ha-na and I took the stage for final blocking.
Practice scene: [Pestinasion Hotel]'s Damious and Elpodi first encounter.
Key scene kicking off the real action, so last to confirm.
“Alright, Team 6. Rehearsal ends here. Strike it.”
“Yes, got it.”
And with that, performance day final rehearsal done.
Felt like we did nothing, yet an hour vanished.
I scanned the dazed shuffling staff.
“20-minute break, then practice room. Quick final notes, then makeup.”
As we exited the theater, kids nodded blankly at me.
Seventeen-year-olds, first school show regardless of skill—chaos normal.
Overwhelmed just handling their parts; a show was collaborative, more to mind.
As the oldest, I stepped up.
Leading them unavoidably.
Yoon Jong-hoon didn't mind, often seeking my input.
Moon Woo-hyuk and Song Ha-na just focused on acting, fine either way.
“Whoa. Total chaos.”
After break call, I sat alone on a bench.
Better than the kids, but I was fried too.
Chasing inexperienced ones left me more scattered than theater days.
Needed air to regroup; relaxed my body.
Eyes closed, breeze hitting—
“Do-hyun?”
Lee Cheong-ha's voice.
Opened eyes: her and Kim Sun-woo heading to the theater.
Kim Sun-woo waved hi.
“Hey, hi.”
I waved lightly back.
Her tense face caught my eye.
Wouldn't notice if I hadn't seen, but now it nagged.
“Prepped a lot?”
Stood, approached them.
“Y-yeah!”
She clutched the bracelet I'd given, answering.
Good.
Talisman's still working.
“You'll help for sure today.”
Sorry, Grandma.
Just till today.
Important stage for her.
“Heh. Of course. I'm good. Confident.”
Tension eased; she looked truly assured.
Time check: 20 minutes gone.
“Fight the power. Meeting in practice room.”
“Yeah!”
“You too. Looking forward.”
Quick cheer to Kim Sun-woo, then left.
‘Hmm. That bracelet...’
Even after Do-hyun left, Kim Sun-woo eyed the one Lee Cheong-ha cherished.
Finally, all the puzzle pieces clicked.