Chapter 189: Office Open: Part 2 (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 189: Office Open: Part 2 (2)
For an idol, long waits are just a part of daily life.
It’s common for recordings to be delayed, and often, they are summoned with the explicit premise of waiting indefinitely.
During those pockets of free time, Spark has done a truly wide variety of things.
Studying, coloring, exercising, learning other artists' new choreographies, competing to see who could clean the waiting room better…
Eventually, they reached this point.
『Ju-woo: Neither wine, whiskey, nor vodka can quench my thirst』
『Ju-woo: My throat is parched, pour your soul into my mouth…』
『Cheong-hyeon: Ah, the key is too low. Je-ho hyung! Get me the tablet on my bed!』
『Je-ho: Which tablet?』
『Cheong-hyeon: The gray one with the Pikkachu sticker on the back!』
『Gi-yeon: (Concentrating with all his might to keep the beat)』
And then, there’s me…
『Iwol: Doom, doom, doom, doom, du-doom, doom.』
I provide the bass with my mouth. Doing the air bass with my hands is a bonus.
It had been a while since we’d caused this kind of chaos, so I hadn't realized it, but seeing it on screen, we looked like total lunatics.
As if mocking me, a flashy caption appeared.
『☆ Limited-Time Band Live in Progress ☆』
“I’m so embarrassed right now.”
“I bet you are, Hyung.”
“You should be, too…”
I started to say it but stopped. Right, why would Lee Cheong-hyeon be embarrassed? He didn't play an instrument with his mouth like I did; he just did a bit of headbanging.
I even found out while watching the broadcast that this punk, Jeong Seong-bin, was recording us from the side.
『Seong-bin (19/Leader who loves his members)』
How does that look like a leader who loves his members? He looks like a leader who’s fully intent on holding his members' weaknesses over their heads.
『Ju-woo: …Can I do one more song?』
『Cheong-hyeon: Of course, our band exists only for you!』
In this situation, Lee Cheong-hyeon was even doing a skit with Park Ju-woo.
『Gi-yeon: What are you doing? Hurry up and pick a song.』
Everyone has lost their minds. They’re truly possessed by something.
『Iwol: Alright, let’s go!』
And me too…
Even after the frantic band live, Spark continued to show plenty of unconventional behavior.
Kang Gi-yeon, who went to shower and habitually only brought his bottoms, came out confidently exposing his upper body. Then there was Choi Je-ho, the team’s center, who looked a bit ridiculous when his glasses fogged up while he was trying to drink beef bone soup.
Inevitably, my Pororo spoon and fork set was caught on screen. Seeing the caption ‘Lovely……♡’, I gave up on thinking.
After dinner, the black comedy exploded.
『Cheong-hyeon: Can someone take an exam for me?』
『Iwol: Should I? But you won't be able to go to college.』
『Cheong-hyeon: My bad, Hyung.』
『Iwol: No, I just meant you can't go because cheating on an exam isn't allowed;;;』
『Je-ho: Why is this thing so stiff?』
『Iwol: Me? I didn't do anything?』
『Je-ho: Not you, the power strip.』
『Iwol: Ah, right.』
It was basically my own stand-up comedy show, but anyway. I don't know why I was like that that day.
Was it because they saw a side of their idols that was a bit too real? The fandom was a sea of tears.
≫ I definitely get that these kids don't care about their image at all now lol
└ Idols with sexy faces and pure brains? I actually love it
≫ Our Iwol’s spoon is so cute, did he seriously buy that with his own money?
└ Seriously, so mean lolololololol
└ It’s true that babies are supposed to use spoons like that, yes they are
≫ I need a 5,000-word explanation as to why only the oldest hyung is using such a cutesy spoon set
≫ I somehow endured Lee Cheong-hyeon’s double piano, but I lost it at Kim Iwol’s mouth performance. Is this how you guys play when you’re by yourselves? T_T
└ At first, I was like, "Our oldest hyung is working so hard to play with the kids T_T," but later on, Iwol is wiping his sweat looking all refreshed… I can't tell who’s playing with whom anymore.
≫ I changed my profile pic to this.
(Photo of Choi Je-ho with fogged-up glasses)
I just couldn't resist.
└ I said I liked Je-ho in glasses, but I didn't expect him to show us the A to Z of glasses like this lolololol T_T
≫ F*ck, Kim Iwol, don't lose heart.
You’re the best Ttukttaki.
└ You’re the meanest one here.
Is this what it feels like to burn white and turn into ash? I felt like everything had been incinerated, leaving only debris. My body was fine, but my heart was exhausted.
After the broadcast of shock and horror ended, Jeong Seong-bin asked a question while we were chatting.
“Hyung, filming is almost over, right? We should slowly…”
“Yeah, because of the comeback preparations, right?”
I had been checking the preliminary preparations throughout the filming. And now, it was time to focus on the comeback in earnest.
This meant that Kim Iwol, the "best Ttukttaki" according to the Sparklers, had to dance for the first time in a while.
Since "appearing" on In My Office is the criteria for receiving proficiency points, as long as the release date isn't delayed, I can continue to raise my dance proficiency even during the comeback period. That would be enough.
‘I’m glad dramas use a simultaneous release system these days.’
If things had gone south, I would have been anxiously waiting for proficiency points to trickle in by 0.nn percent. Mm, pre-production is the best.
“How’s the choreography this time? Is it very difficult?”
When I asked, Kang Gi-yeon hesitated.
“It’s… difficult if you think it’s difficult, and easy if you think it’s easy.”
“Who told you to say something like, ‘Buy me a drink that’s sweet but doesn't have much sugar because I need to watch my blood sugar’?”
Seeing my stern face, Kang Gi-yeon desperately made excuses.
“No, it’s a concept we’ve never done before. We won't know if it suits you or not until you try dancing it.”
“How was it for you and Choi Je-ho?”
“I’m not sure about me, but Je-ho hyung is, well…”
Kang Gi-yeon shrugged. It meant there was no need to even say it.
Well, it would be a problem if Choi Je-ho didn't excel in this concept.
Even though the word ‘restraint’ was attached to it, it was Spark’s first ‘adult concept,’ after all.
Conceptual genres are always a hit or miss. If it’s too extreme, it might thrill a small number of fans but be ignored by the general public. If you water it down too much out of fear, nothing remains.
So far, Spark has promoted with the refreshing vibe of a winter night at the forefront. And we’ve been monitoring the fandom’s demand through Idol Dynasty Annals and fan meetings.
As a result, the conclusion the dedicated team and I reached was this:
‘A change in style is needed at least once.’
We would maintain our unique, wholesome, and refreshing sensibility. However, the common opinion was that there should be a noticeable change in style.
‘I know the fans want a sexy concept. But I don't think we should overdo it.’
‘Huh?’
‘Gi-yeon and Cheong-hyeon are still in their second year of high school. Seong-bin and Ju-woo are also minors. I don't want to make them do something too excessive at such a young age.’
So, the concept that came out was ‘Adult Sexy in Suits.’
It’s just that it’s hard for the Spark members to give off a boyish vibe; looking a few years older than their actual age is a piece of cake.
If we keep the kids covered up and Choi Je-ho does his part well, the balance will be just right. I believe in you, Exercise Man.
The Sparklers would love it even if we just threw them into suits, but since it’s our first comeback in a while, we decided to put some effort into the concept.
As secret agents. You know, the kind that hacks buildings, picks locks, and infiltrates using wires.
Since everyone’s bodies are already in shape, the dedicated team just needed to distribute the roles well.
As soon as he heard the concept, Lee Cheong-hyeon immersed himself in work like a madman for several days. He listened to hundreds of samples to include virtual instruments and hammered out the bass line like a woodpecker banging its head against a wall.
‘I’m going to put all the sessions I couldn't put in the OST here.’
Lee Cheong-hyeon had muttered with bloodshot eyes. He looked like he was possessed by a vengeful spirit that had died while making ballads. I didn't touch him because I was scared.
After receiving the first draft of the song from Lee Cheong-hyeon, Choi Je-ho and Kang Gi-yeon devoted themselves to meetings in the practice room day and night.
Sometimes their voices seemed to get loud, but they usually resolved it themselves before coming back to the dorm. My heart ached seeing Jeong Seong-bin, who wore a faint, touched smile.
While the dance line was bickering and debating ‘Where does sexiness come from?’, Lee Cheong-hyeon had intense meetings with the A&R team and churned out the final version.
Park Ju-woo took charge of the guide track. This guy, who had been bored lately because he had less to do than the other members, excitedly recorded everything from doubling to back vocals for the guide. Because of that, each member’s parts increased.
Jeong Seong-bin was in charge of part distribution. I had been fired from the distribution role after the ‘Kim Iwol Screen Time Deletion Incident,’ and Lee Cheong-hyeon had delegated all authority to Jeong Seong-bin, saying he had to write the B-sides. Even though I was fired, I answered kindly whenever Jeong Seong-bin asked for my opinion.
All of this happened while I was filming In My Office. Since everyone had been through a few comebacks, the progress was swift.
Now, all that was left was the final_real final arrangement of the title track, choreography practice, vocal practice and recording, music video filming, album jacket photoshoot, B-side recording… Phew, there’s a lot.
“Hyung, you should start managing your dark circles now.”
“My dark circle management has always been a work in progress.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon didn't believe me. Instead, he handed me a tub of moisturizing cream he had finished using.
I thought as I slathered the cream on my face.
‘I wonder what will be used for the concept photos? It would be good to have close-up shots for the photocards. If everyone has something in their mouths, it would make for a good picture… Ah, this cream is good. It’s moisturizing but not oily.’
Just as I was replenishing my dry skin with moisture while thinking about what to put in the Spark members' mouths to make them look good, the mattress jolted.
Lee Cheong-hyeon had approached me as if he were about to pounce on me.
“What?!”
“Now that I think about it, it’s really strange.”
“What is? I told you not to appear as a surprise like this. Especially your face—I told you that suddenly thrusting it forward could put a strain on someone's heart, didn't I?”
“Sorry about that, but I’m talking about your dark circles, Hyung.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon pressed his thumb against my dark circles. He had a serious face but an inappropriate attitude.
“Why is there no sign of them fading?”
“I was born this way, why?”
“You know how much the cream they apply at the shop costs. More accurately, there’s ‘hardly any sign of improvement.’”
“What?”
“Think back to when you were a trainee. You barely slept then. And when you were hospitalized. It’s natural for dark circles to get worse then because you were in bad condition. But now that you’re resting much more than before, I feel like they don't get better beyond a certain point.”
“…”
“You don't have rhinitis, so why does the tone stay the same regardless of your condition? That’s what I’m saying.”
Now that I heard it, it was strange. No matter how much of a "dark circle person" I was, I didn't always have them.
When I exercised frequently and had relatively little overtime, there were definitely times when I didn't have dark circles.
‘Is this also the influence of the system?’
It was something I hadn't paid much attention to, other than the fact that they were lighter than when I was twenty-nine. But after experiencing all sorts of things, I felt uneasy just letting something like this slide.
I recall there being many explanations regarding cumulative fatigue, so I should read the manual again soon.
Still, if the system is going to force someone to be an idol, it should at least correct things like this. Doesn't it know that the basic requirement for an idol is porcelain skin?
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who didn't get a meaningful answer from me, went back up to his bed.
Then, he poked his head out from above and spoke to me.
“Don't go drinking a lot of alcohol just to test it out when you go to company dinners. You might actually kick the bucket before you can check your dark circles.”
“I’ll handle it as I see fit, so minors shouldn't even mention alcohol.”
“Okay. Goodnight!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon gave a final wave and disappeared beyond the ceiling.
My hand instinctively went to my eyes. I fell asleep while fiddling with the skin under my eyes.