Chapter 273: Year-End (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 273: Year-End (1)
“Guys, stay sharp today. Got it?”
“Yes!”
We climbed out of the van with a thunderous response. From the car parked behind us, Manager Dae-yeon and the stylists began unloading a mountain of suitcases.
Today was the day of the Music Grand Festival, and it would be the largest audience Spark had performed for since our debut.
Just in case, I had packed plenty of Cheongsimwon and even brought the entire first-aid kit from the dorm. I didn't forget to check my cumulative fatigue level, either.
After all that preparation, the waiting room we finally arrived at was incredibly cramped.
Still, I was satisfied just to have a private waiting room. I was helping the staff push the luggage inside when someone waved and ran toward us from a distance.
“I-wol hyung!”
It was Yeo Seong-chan from Berion.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Terrible. Why is the year-end schedule so brutal?”
Perhaps thinking there was no need for restraint between people sharing similar schedules, Yeo Seong-chan gave a brutally honest answer.
“President Moon looks like he’s about to lose his mind any second. How did Spark manage to balance regular promotions with year-end stage rehearsals?”
“We lost our minds a long time ago.”
“I asked a stupid question.”
Yeo Seong-chan greeted the other Spark members and headed back to his own waiting room. After seeing him off, I stepped inside to find the members huddled together.
“What are you doing?”
“We were looking at the setlist.”
Jeong Seong-bin turned the paper toward me. It was packed with the names of the performers and their allotted times. I didn't know who did it, but Spark’s turn had already been highlighted in neon yellow.
Our turn stood out because it was our own, but aside from that, the name that clearly dominated the page was Parte.
“They really are in a league of their own, the seniors.”
Even though I omitted the subject, the guys understood exactly who I was talking about.
From the opening stage and the A.Dan.Un special stage to their own group performance, their airtime was nearly double that of other groups.
Usually, the opening is given to rookies. I guess they decided to slice even that up and hand it to Parte. Since the entire lineup appears for the ending, Parte would be showing their faces at least four times.
They must be busy enough to make their heads spin, too.
It was almost pitiful, in a way. It was annoying, sure, but even if we had taken some of Parte’s time for Spark, we had already squeezed ourselves to the limit—there wasn't much more we could have shown. I decided to leave it at that.
It took a long time to transition from our "commute look" hair and makeup to the special stage styling. The cramped room, overflowing with luggage and people, only made it slower. The waiting room felt like a chaotic marketplace.
“I heard the setlist already leaked. Do you think it’s real?”
Kang Gi-yeon, who was on Bubble Pop while waiting his turn, brought up some surprising news. In the past, I was the one waiting for setlist leaks on social media and communities whenever the end of the year rolled around; now, it was my own setlist being leaked. Station security is as terrible as ever.
If it leaked, the spoilers must be everywhere.
Sure enough, the internet was ablaze.
≫ The Music Grand Festival setlist is out
Spark has two stages!!!
└ Holy crap, that was fast lol
└ I was worried they’d get cut after the first verse, but they get 3 minutes for their solo stage ㅠㅠㅠ What a relief
≫ Spark special stage is coming
Something big is coming
└ I thought I’d have to suffer through the whole boring broadcast, but there’s a big event like this in the middle
└ Ordering chicken now
≫ They’re in the same A.Dan.Un group, but is the difference in screen time for real?
You bastards, don’t you know who carried the ratings for A.Dan.Un?
└ The view counts speak for themselves, but they’re stubbornly pretending not to notice... that’s a talent in itself. I hope Season 2 flops.
≫ Who is P.K.? Seriously, first time hearing of them.
Is it a girl group?
└ Seeing as Sticky and Berion are doing a girl group cover, it must be a girl group. The three of them are grouped together.
└ Calling a girl group cover a "New Arrange Stage"...? That’s so tacky.
└ But where did Spark even find a song from such an obscure group?
The internet was a scary place. The speed of monitoring couldn't keep up with the rate of new posts.
And...
“Am I really going up like this?”
...My face was also quite scary. The makeup was so thick it looked like Peking Opera face paint.
“If we don't go this heavy, your face will literally disappear under the lights, I-wol.”
“...”
“And if your features get washed out again, the company is going to get flooded with faxes.”
“...”
I had nothing to say to that.
Ever since I dyed my hair white, my makeup had always remained intense. The reason was that the stage lights tended to blur my features.
Once, trusting the dim natural light of a winter sky, I had gone with lighter makeup than usual, and social media had practically caught fire.
≫ Being I-wol’s fansite master isn't easy
If I save our boy, the other members die
If I save the other members, our boy becomes a ghost
└ Lmao is the second photo really I-wol? ㅠㅠㅠ
└ He looks less like a person and more like... some kind of spiritual entity.
≫ I’m just sitting here constantly adjusting the brightness like I’m playing a game of Blue Flag, White Flag.
└ It’s one of two things: either I-wol ascends to heaven, or I make eye contact with Je-ho in the darkness.
So, today, my face was plastered in pink. The heart sticker under my right eye was actually quite cute. I hope you don't get washed out by the lights, I worried.
Looking to the side, I saw Jeong Seong-bin also deep into his blush application.
Back during Idol Dynasty Annals, he looked like a young master drunk on herbal wine. Now, a cherry blossom festival was in full swing on his cheeks, four months ahead of schedule.
“Choi Je-ho, did you put on your undershirt?”
“I did,” the troublemaker replied grumpily from across the room.
“Ju-woo? Are your nail tips all on?”
“Yeah, I put them on as soon as I got here...!”
Once I finished checking on all the high-risk members, my makeup was finally done. I went over and sat next to Lee Cheong-hyeon, who was diligently taking selfies on the sofa.
“Did you get anything worth uploading?”
“‘Worth it?’ Don't be ridiculous. Today’s Cheong-hyeon is a hundred for a hundred.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon shoved his screen toward me. Beneath his hydrangea-colored hair, the pink veil of his makeup looked dazzling.
“Approved.”
“Okay!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon cheered. Once everyone was finished dressing, we gathered at Manager Chan-yeong’s call to take a group photo.
Three hours until we repaid our teacher’s kindness. My heart was pounding.
“Eun-ah!”
“You actually came.”
Oh Eun laughed as she hugged her colleague, who leaped into her arms the moment the front door opened. Her friend looked exactly the same as always, standing tall and proud, claiming she never made empty promises.
“How have you been?”
“Great, obviously.”
They had been in touch often, but it had been a while since they met in person. Ha Seo-myeong hugged Oh Eun once more, seemingly genuinely happy to see her.
“We don't see each other enough, do we?”
“We even did a video call after In My Office ended.”
“Video calls and meeting in person are completely different!”
With that, Ha Seo-myeong shook the bag she had brought.
“I’m going to have a drink. You’ll join me, right?”
“If there’s something for me.”
Ha Seo-myeong shouted, “Of course there is!” and pulled out a can of the drink Oh Eun liked. Seeing the familiar brand name, Oh Eun smiled.
After the group disbanded, they had stopped contacting each other as if by some unspoken rule.
It wasn't because they disliked each other. Everyone was just awkward with the situation.
‘I thought we’d be together forever.’
Oh Eun still remembered the words Ha Seo-myeong had sobbed out on their final night.
A few months later, the members started getting back in touch. The group chat with everyone was gone, but they called each other in small groups or met up occasionally to reminisce.
Oh Eun and Ha Seo-myeong were among those who contacted each other less frequently.
Because Oh Eun had left the entertainment industry while Ha Seo-myeong stayed. Because Oh Eun continued with music while Ha Seo-myeong stepped away from the stage.
Naturally, the two drifted apart, never meeting up as a pair or joining gatherings hosted by others.
The feeling of friendship remained the same, but their physical presence and communication faded. Some relationships were just like that.
They had maintained that same distance for a long time. Until Oh Eun contacted Ha Seo-myeong first.
Eun-ie
[Seo-myeong]
[How are you?]
The two met for the first time in ages at a bar with private rooms. They leisurely caught up on their lives, sipping their favorite alcohol and drinks.
By the time the second appetizer arrived, Oh Eun finally broached the subject with some difficulty.
‘I heard you’re starting a drama?’
‘Yeah, an office romance.’
‘An idol from my company got a role in that project, too.’
‘I saw the articles.’
Ha Seo-myeong took a gulp of beer.
‘He’s a polite, hard-working kid. If you see him... and you like him, and if it looks like he’s struggling, please look out for him a little.’
Oh Eun was honest. She didn't know how to beat around the bush.
‘Eun-ah, we meet for the first time in years and the first thing you do is ask a favor for your student?’
‘...Sorry.’
Ha Seo-myeong liked the Oh Eun who sang on stage. Back then, Oh Eun shone even if no one was watching.
Even though she herself had stepped down from the stage, Oh Eun had never put down the microphone.
She couldn't refuse to help Oh Eun, who had endured for so long and was now sending the students she had taught so well out into the world.
‘You know I trust you a lot, right?’
‘Yeah.’
‘If I get to the set and he’s rude or something, I’m telling on him immediately! You have to believe me over that idol kid then!’
‘We’ll see.’
‘What?’
Ha Seo-myeong let out a huff of disbelief at Oh Eun’s instantaneous response.
‘Our I-wol is very well-behaved, you know.’
‘Hah...’
The smile Oh Eun had worn then was on her face now as she watched the TV.
On the screen, the student Oh Eun had entrusted to Ha Seo-myeong was singing his teacher’s part.
“Who wore that cat headband? Was it Sae-hee?”
“Right. I guess I-wol decided to wear it since they’re both vocals.”
Ha Seo-myeong couldn't take her eyes off the screen. A junior who, until recently, had been wearing a suit, bowing politely, and delivering blunt lines was now appearing with glitter sparkling on his face and a refreshing smile.
“Our junior is a genius idol. His talent is no joke.”
“Right? I-wol prepared this stage himself.”
“Tell UA to give him a lot of money and hold onto him tight. Got it?”
“I got it.”
Oh Eun laughed softly. Regardless, Ha Seo-myeong was serious.
“What does our main vocal, Oh Eun, think? Is the main vocal of the 2nd generation Pink Carat excellent?”
“Excellent, indeed.”
As soon as Oh Eun finished speaking, a high note that seemed to pierce the audio system followed in succession. It seemed they had lowered the overall key slightly but kept the ad-libs in the original key, filling the gaps with effects and an additional second guitar.
“Seeing how gentle he looks, he’s definitely Eun-ie’s student.”
“Ju-woo isn't prickly like me.”
“Oh my god. Look at you taking sides.”
Ha Seo-myeong cackled. When the center, who had been her own position, came forward, she even shed a tear.
“Just how tall are the Spark members? Or do they just have good proportions?”
“They’re tall. Including the heels, the center is probably over 190cm.”
“But how can he dance like that? Is that kind of physical control even possible?”
Now that she had entered the world of acting, Ha Seo-myeong could finally see Choi Je-ho’s strengths. Even as a fellow center, she understood what it meant to be perfectly immersed so that the emotions were visible, and what it meant to exert a presence that swept over the entire stage.
She realized how incredible it was to take a style of choreography she wasn't used to and make it so completely his own that it left viewers in awe.
“...A center is a center.”
Ha Seo-myeong wondered if she had been a good center. If she had been a center who could shift the atmosphere so drastically according to the melody and overwhelm people with her expressions.
I was lacking.
Ha Seo-myeong reflected on the answer she had reached years ago. Oh Eun leaned her head on Ha Seo-myeong’s shoulder.
“I liked that you were our team’s center.”
“...”
“The group name was tacky, and the clothes... people call it 'retro' now to be nice, but back then we were mocked for being two steps behind the times. Even if we didn't succeed in the end.”
The eyes of the two women leaning against the sofa caught the glint of pink rhinestones.
On top of Kim I-wol’s turtleneck, a necklace swayed between his collarbones, and Choi Je-ho’s silver bracelet was set with pink gems.
In the center of Kang Gi-yeon’s choker, on Lee Cheong-hyeon’s eight or so rings, on Park Ju-woo’s nail tips and hairpins, and on Jeong Seong-bin’s tie pin.
They were all adorned with sparkling pink rhinestones—the same ones Ha Seo-myeong and Oh Eun used to wear every single day.
“He said it’s a sign of gratitude,” Oh Eun said. Ha Seo-myeong turned her head toward her.
“A gift saying that they were able to create this stage thanks to their seniors.”
Oh Eun’s gaze met Ha Seo-myeong’s.
“Seo-myeong-ah.”
“...”
“We were always proud that you were our center.”
So don't feel sorry.
Oh Eun’s words melted away the old daggers—the ones that said a group had no future if the center didn't succeed—which she had thought were long gone.
“I miss the girls. Don't you?”
At Oh Eun’s words, Ha Seo-myeong clinked her beer can against hers. “I do.”
On top of the phone, a text message lit up: ‘Unnie! Did you see Eun-ie unnie’s group cover our stage?!’