Aram Middle School Arts and Culture Festival (2)
Kang Saero's mind was filled with complicated thoughts. It wasn't just because a handsome guy was standing right in front of her.
He says he's doing an original song? At the school festival? It's hard to get a good response, and if it flops, the whole vibe could turn awkward. Plus, the instrument he brought was an acoustic guitar. That meant it had to be a ballad, right?
The mood's gonna tank. This had nothing to do with singing skill. It was just the nature of the genre—teams doing ballads usually got scheduled toward the end for that closer feel. But Kim Seryeon had signed up at the last minute during final prep. There was no spot left for that.
Conclusion. He's definitely out. No question. Well, not outright rejected—they'd probably suggest changing the plan. Unless he was singing at an insane level, something else would be way better.
That's what she definitely thought. Until.
"Alright, let's get started."
The moment Kim Seryeon said that and began playing, she realized.
Huh?
Kang Saero realized her thinking had been completely off.
This isn't a ballad? The genre was totally different from what she'd expected. Nothing sentimental or lyrical about this performance. The image that immediately popped into her head...
That's it. The ion drink ad.
It was a scene from that ion drink commercial. Not summer—clear autumn skies. Wide-open Sky Autumn, super refreshing like facing the wind head-on.
How does it feel like this? On a guitar? Wasn't it supposed to be warm and cozy? Then his voice layered in. A clean, unadorned tenor. A melody that soared bright and free. Kim Seryeon, completely immersed, smiling wide open.
Insane.
Kang Saero forgot to even breathe.
That big smile makes him shine for real. How are his teeth that perfect?
Youth movie? Theater rom-com? The other student council kids next to her were probably thinking the same. Like a painting. Heavy on the sky blues. More watercolor than oil—transparent yet vivid and fresh.
And.
......He's seriously handsome.
Thinking back, the refreshing melody grabbed her first, and only then did his looks register. Huge deal. Meant the melody had that much presence.
He's aiming for comp major at arts high, right? Didn't seem like he went to any academies or anything. At this level, he'd smash through the doors no problem. She even felt a twinge of inferiority without meaning to.
When the song ended, silence fell.
In the midst of it, Kang Saero barely held onto her wits and announced the end of the audition.
"Good job. We'll text you the results tomorrow."
Kim Seryeon gave a light bow, packed up his guitar, left a short greeting, and headed out of the music room.
The second the door closed behind him.
"Pfft."
"Whooo."
"Huuuh."
Like a dam bursting open. The student council execs all exhaled and let out gasps at once.
"Insane."
"Why's the song that good? Isn't it original?"
"He's comp major bound for arts high."
"He nailed the melody."
"Just puts you in a great mood. Super refreshing."
Meanwhile, Kang Saero was thinking differently. I'm student council. I have to make this festival a success. Don't get fooled by his face. She repeated it to herself three times before forcing some cool-headedness.
Finally, she spoke up.
"I have a different take."
Objection.
"Huh? Different opinion, Saero? As expected from arts high hopeful."
"Was it not good?"
Not even polite flattery said no. But they needed a cold evaluation. Audition room and festival stage were worlds apart. You couldn't see performers this close on stage. Pure music. Pure skill. Judging that strictly, there were still concerns.
"Guitar alone doesn't fill the sound. Better add other instruments. Strictly speaking, it's the vibe and mood that shine—not that he's singing that amazingly."
But even Kang Saero knew.
Even so, vibe carries everything.
Melody. Authenticity. Lyrics. Kim Seryeon's immersion singing it. Visuals. Bundle it all up, and that's vibe. That overwhelming vibe crushed every little flaw. Not a speck of dust left.
The morning after auditions. I plugged in my earphones and dove into final tweaks.
Maybe this feel works a bit better. I fiddled with edits on my phone app. Listening back, might be overdoing it.
Then a familiar voice from afar.
"Hey. Move a sec."
Parting the crowded hallway. Pushing through.
"Don't block the hall, yeah?"
The student council girl from yesterday's audition.
"Make some room quick."
Her name was Kang Saero, right? Heard she was vocals-bound—matched her great voice. That's how I recognized it right away. But wasn't she from another class? Now she strode right into my classroom, slammed her palm on my desk.
"Kim Seryeon. Quick talk."
And straight to the point.
"Can't you ditch the original?"
Coming at me like that made me a little uneasy.
"Why? Didn't like it?"
"Liked it. Liked it a ton..."
Phew. Song's good, then.
"But doesn't fit the festival. Got another song?"
About what I expected. Original song, guitar, solo act. Tough sells for school fest. But I had a fix ready.
I set my phone down, handed her one of my earphones.
"Listen."
"Wh-what?"
"Earphones in, I'll play the song."
"I know that much."
Maybe sharing earphones weirded her out? I pulled mine out and just played it from the desk. The track I'd been tweaking. Same one from yesterday—but fully rearranged now.
The second it ended, her eyes went wide.
"What. You did this? Why not use it from the start?"
Jackpot.
"So, melody was good, right?"
"Y-yeah."
"Wanted to go pure melody."
Pure melody pass. Arrangement pass. Perfect.
As I basked in satisfaction, Kang Saero yelled like it was ridiculous.
"What... what was the audition even for?!"
"And honestly, it wasn't fully done then. Finished it up last night at home."
"Oh..."
She nodded blankly, then stuck out her hand like she'd made up her mind.
"Lemme hear it again."
"Sure."
"With earphones."
"Here."
Guess she didn't mind sharing after all. I replayed it.
"Good. This version passes. I get you're laying this as backing track. But what about guitar? You not planning to play that too?"
"Why? Can't I?"
"Sitting on a stool strumming guitar? No one's gonna react. Especially a fresh original."
Made sense hearing it.
"So just vocals then."
Still, standing solo just singing felt kinda lacking. But her answer was firm.
"Just vocals."
"For real?"
"You can pull it off."
"Why?"
"'Cause it's you."
"What?"
I asked thinking maybe arts high prep eyes saw something else... but then I noticed her face flushing red to her ears.
"Ahh, why? Wanna hear me sing direct? 'Cause I'm hot! There!"
She seemed hyper-aware of her own reaction, sputtering nonsense before spinning away like fleeing.
"Anyway, passed on all changes! Got it? Bye!"
......Wasn't what I meant at all.
Past life, over 20 years. This life, just 7 months. Truth was, I still wasn't used to the total looks overhaul.
Time flew, festival day arrived. The auditorium buzzed with student heat.
"Yes, now for the third stage already. Perfect opener for the fest—clear and refreshing, they say. And surprisingly, an original composition. From Class 2-3 senior Kim Seryeon! Big applause!"
With the MC's intro, Kim Seryeon walked onstage. Original guitar plan scrapped. Mic in hand. Advice from vocals expert Kang Saero: solo meant owning the stage.
Lights hit him, and cheers exploded from the crowd like clockwork.
"Waaaaaah!"
Girls screaming.
"He's so hot!!!"
Surprisingly guy voice.
"Date me!!!"
Guy again.
"Oppa!!!"
And so on.
Meanwhile, the bobbed student council girl.
"Hngg."
Total gloom face. Everyone else got prime view of Kim Seryeon singing live. But not her.
Why'd I have to be staff...
Gum in wrapper. Staff backstage. No stage view from back.
Why'd I even join student council!
But regretting the past changed nothing. Overcome it. She frantically texted her non-council friend.
No way she'd bail, right? Quick reply came.
No time to wait for more—piano intro flowed from the speakers. Music she'd heard a million times in rehearsal, but felt fresh now. 'Cause Kim Seryeon was singing it.
The student council girl shut her eyes, trying to focus on the voice. Then, total coincidence.
Eye contact with another exec nearby. At the perfect moment.
"Saero?"
"......!"
Kang Saero had snuck a recorder into her pocket.