Chapter 93
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Wellside Premiere
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With musical selections wrapped up, it was time to clear out the nursing home waiting room.
"Everyone grab your stuff and board the bus."
At Chae Si-hyun's words, the volunteer club members sprang into action.
Under the second-years' direction, the first-years each picked up a bag.
"Lee Do-hyun, help me out. Finish cleaning the waiting room."
"Got it."
Beyond packing, they had to tidy up the waiting room too.
For some reason, Chae Si-hyun singled me out to help.
Soon, everyone else had left, leaving just Chae Si-hyun and me in the waiting room.
"Have you seen this musical called 'Wellside'?"
If I had, I wouldn't have picked it, right?
Of course, before my return, I had.
It was famous enough that you couldn't chat in the industry without seeing it.
I swallowed that answer and replied meekly.
"No."
"Then why'd you choose this one?"
Chae Si-hyun had planned to see 'The Last Show' like everyone else.
She'd assumed all the members would.
It was already sold out everywhere.
So why had the top first-year pick some obscure musical alone? The curiosity wouldn't fade.
"Well, I've already watched 'The Last Show' on video a bunch of times..."
Even so, most kids would want to see it live.
Especially with the original UK team coming for a special performance—who'd pass that up?
But how could I say, coming from the future, that show sucks?
"That's not why you picked this one, is it?"
I hadn't expected Chae Si-hyun to probe so relentlessly.
'Wellside' was a Korean original creation that exploded in popularity the year after its premiere.
Before returning, I'd seen it too—a musical loved steadily for over a decade.
I remembered its premiere in August 2015, and now was right around then.
Timing-wise, this run was likely the original cast.
Who wouldn't want to catch the premiere of a future smash live?
Of course, I couldn't say that straight out.
Time to bullshit my way through.
"The title's nice. Feels relatable."
Nothing beats a smile to brush it off.
I flashed the brightest grin I could.
I'm not thirty-three right now.
I'm a fresh seventeen.
"Hmm."
Chae Si-hyun eyed me suspiciously, doubts not fully cleared.
Probably because I'd topped the first-years—she couldn't buy such a simple reason.
The list, including 'The Last Show', had pricey, hard-to-get tickets.
She figured it wasn't just the title.
"It's a Korean musical, right?"
Chae Si-hyun asked, seemingly unaware of any details on Wellside.
The free ticket list just had the title, no frills.
Unlike the flashy lineups with descriptions elsewhere.
She'd probably guessed it was Korean from the name.
"Yeah. I think it's an original Korean creation."
She nodded, then handed me a broom.
"Alright. Let's clean first."
"Yep!"
Phew, finally dropped it.
I started tidying with a light heart when an annoying creak sounded.
Screech—
The waiting room door opened, a head poking in.
"Need any help?"
Kim Sun-woo entered with a beaming smile, asking Chae Si-hyun.
Surprisingly, he wasn't alone.
"Song Ha-na?"
Song Ha-na followed behind.
She looked a bit grumpy...
"What's up? Anything left?"
Whoa.
Moon Woo-hyuk showed up too.
"What?"
Kim Sun-woo aside, were they here to help clean?
Out of pure curiosity, I asked.
They didn't seem the type.
"What."
"No, why'd you come back? Rest on the bus."
"Gotta finish quick to get home sooner."
Song Ha-na snapped back gruffly while pitching in.
She glanced at me and Senior Chae Si-hyun.
You... really wanna get home early, huh.
"Cool if we help?"
Kim Sun-woo asked Chae Si-hyun, who eyed them surprised.
"Yeah. Thanks."
At her okay, the musical club first-year quartet got to work efficiently.
"Hey! Sweep from here in order. Dust everywhere!"
"Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there."
"Where's this go?"
"It was on top of that cabinet when we got here."
"Man, then the tallest one—me—should put it up."
"Move. String bean."
"What'd you say, Song Ha-na?"
"Move. You're annoying."
They bickered but wrapped up fast, clearly used to each other.
Chae Si-hyun smiled faintly, thinking these first-years were something else.
***
The day after volunteering, Sunday.
Weekend, but after the bus dropped us at school, we just stayed in the dorm.
Woo-sik was sprawled on his bed too—probably skipped home for club stuff.
"Thinking of quitting the embroidery club."
Didn't work out, huh.
I laughed without asking why.
I already knew why he was moping.
Busy prepping to head out, staring in the mirror.
Seeing me hustle, Woo-sik asked.
"Where you going?"
I silently pulled out my ticket and showed him.
He bolted up and snatched it.
"What!? A ticket?"
"Our club gave it to me."
I yanked it back and waved it in his face.
Today was the performance for yesterday's pick: 'Wellside'.
Could've chosen next week, but I wanted to see it ASAP, so I rushed the app and prepped quick.
"Free ticket? What's that?"
"Exchange voucher for any show. Got it yesterday."
"Oh, any show? Like 'The Last Show' too?"
Even here, 'The Last Show' hype.
He asked half-joking.
Probably thought not.
What to do. It does.
I just nodded.
"Whoa. Volunteer club class act..."
'The Last Show' included.
Woo-sik gaped, shook his head, and flopped on the bed.
"Why... why embroidery..."
He pounded the bed, all wronged.
"Why! Why's it just full of sweat stink!"
Knew it'd hit him like that.
Burly guys in tight abs— that's embroidery club.
Famous for thick-armed dudes stitching away.
Heard about it on intro day from Woo-sik, remembered the rep.
Their promo vid had girls laughing over hoops—probably one-day hires.
Hoped he'd smell the sweat and snap out of it, so I kept quiet.
"You..."
His sharp tone turned my way; I sighed.
"Why me?"
"You do volunteering with Song Ha-na... living the dream...?"
Why you getting wistful?
"Why skip Woo-hyuk and Sun-woo?"
Moon Woo-hyuk and Kim Sun-woo were in it too, dude.
"Who cares about them? You."
Woo-sik strode up, face grave.
"Don't get delusions that Song Ha-na's even a little into you."
Warning tone, but zero scary.
And what interest? Yesterday's glares were killer.
"Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
I nodded with a light laugh at his repeat plea.
Satisfied, he grinned, then perked up.
"Song Ha-na coming to the musical today?"
"Nah. Nobody's coming."
"Huh? Solo then?"
"Probably."
They all picked 'The Last Show', so yeah, solo today.
Fine by me.
Wellside premiere—better focused alone.
I'd gone solo plenty before.
Heart fluttering for a theater trip in ages, I flung open the dorm door.
"Heading out."
***
I scanned Hyehwa Station after busing in.
Korea's theater and musical hub, where every performer's dreams unfold.
Pre-return, I'd prowled these streets nonstop.
Maybe why it always felt nostalgic.
Time till show, so I wandered.
How long since last time?
Student days plus decades of theatergoing—map's etched in my brain.
Whoa, Hoi Snacks. Still here then. Post-show snack spot.
This bar just opened now? Must've gone 100+ times.
2015 nostalgia hit: shops gone pre-return dotted around.
Feels fresh.
Nostalgia tour done, I looked up at the theater.
Premiere started this small, huh.
Wellside's venue was modest.
Gazing at a standard Hyehwa house anew.
Later, a whole three-story building for Wellside alone.
Memories from there made this feel tiny.
Path here bustled; this spot quiet.
Matinee? Not many people.
Pre-hype, makes sense.
Ten minutes to showtime, sparse crowd.
Glanced around, then strode up.
"This... exchangeable, right?"
At Wellside's box office, I slid the free ticket over.
Club pre-registered; they'd swap at counter.
Heart pounded anyway.
Never seen or used one before.
"Ah! Yep. One sec."
Clerk smiled bright, took it, checked something.
"Quick verification. Name please?"
No ID as a student—should've brought student card?
No club notice though.
As I opened to answer,
"One more."
Whoa.
Someone thrust a hand from behind, beside me.
Handing a free ticket to the clerk.
What? Who?
Turned, stunned at the face.
"Huh...?"
Couldn't help gaping.
Why's she here...?
"Chae Si-hyun. Lee Do-hyun. Swap these two."
Volunteer senior, Cheongyeom Arts High's top celeb: Chae Si-hyun.
Wait, why's she here?
Eyes locked dead-on.
"What? Can't I see it too?"
As if.