Chapter 71: First Day of Work Anniversary (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 71: First Day of Work Anniversary (2)
I knocked on Parte’s waiting room door and asked from outside, “Seniors, may we come in?” A snide voice drifted back.
“What is it?”
It was Song Min-il’s voice.
The same guy Park Ju-woo and I had the misfortune of nearly running into on Chuseok—the one who had been scolded at MYTH and was taking his frustration out on the Han River.
Only after we were begrudgingly granted permission to enter could we give our group greeting.
Song Min-il stood up from his seat and asked, “What agency did you say you were from?”
“We are from UA, Senior!”
Jeong Seong-bin answered energetically.
Even though the atmosphere had been unwelcoming throughout our rounds of the waiting rooms, Seong-bin didn’t seem discouraged. His bold attitude was certainly commendable.
On the other hand, the guys across from us were so out of line they practically needed a reality check.
As proof, Song Min-il wore an incredulous expression as he spoke.
“They’re putting out idols from there now? That’s a bit… yikes.”
I mean, I agree, but you shouldn’t be the one saying that as a third party.
To put it bluntly, our personalities might be just as trashy as yours for all you know. How can you act so recklessly without knowing where or how we might tattle on you?
Seeing as he didn’t even know our debut articles were out, it seemed they didn’t even bother monitoring groups debuting from small-to-mid-sized agencies.
I guess big corporations only keep an eye on their designated rivals. Not surprising.
While Song Min-il kept us standing there, whispering something to the guys around him, I subtly scanned the waiting room.
Two guys were snickering at Min-il’s comments, while another two couldn’t care less what he was saying.
Then there were a few members who couldn’t bring themselves to stop Min-il and were just fidgeting anxiously in the distance.
It seemed Song Min-il, with his pretty face and large individual fandom, held quite a bit of influence within the team.
The ones in Spark with the most individual fans were…
Choi Je-ho and Lee Cheong-hyeon. I wondered if I should manage those two specifically to make sure they didn’t get cocky.
Just as I was worrying about how to handle our team’s visuals, Song Min-il scanned us with his eyes. He stopped right in front of Lee Cheong-hyeon.
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Lee Cheong-hyeon, Senior!”
“Where did you train before?”
“UA is my first agency!”
“Seriously?”
“Yes!”
Cheong-hyeon answered, stiff with tension.
At that, Song Min-il gave a smirk and tapped Cheong-hyeon on the shoulder.
“Are you scared? How are you going to be an idol with a heart the size of a sparrow’s?”
We’d do just fine if bastards like you didn't exist.
Every word out of his mouth lacked class. He hadn't even been debuted for a year, yet his personality was already something else.
‘To think you’d make me take Spark’s side.’
I fervently prayed for Song Min-il’s turn for makeup to come quickly.
Fortunately, the disaster of having to wait in an "at-ease" position until his turn didn't happen.
One of the other Parte members grumbled loudly, saying they wanted to get some sleep.
Thanks to that sleep-deprived individual, we were able to escape the suffocating waiting room. Those five minutes reminded me of my days at Hanpyeong Industry.
I immediately sharpened my gaze, watching to see if the Spark kids would start complaining the moment we left the room.
I had a nagging lecture loaded and ready: ‘Maintaining a polite attitude when you’re tired is the real challenge. So don’t take etiquette lightly and work on it constantly.’
But that disaster didn't happen either.
The boys exchanged glances, put their index fingers to their lips in a "shhh" gesture, and returned to their own waiting room with a solemn silence. It was an excellent display of discipline.
For some reason, they looked determined. As soon as the door closed, they sat upright on the sofa for about five minutes.
Then, Jeong Seong-bin stood up, his fists clenched with resolve.
“Let’s practice.”
“Huh?”
“It’ll be our turn soon. Can we just sync up a bit more together?”
Those were admirable words.
They must have been stimulated by Parte’s atrocious personality. I guess those guys are the type of seniors who help their juniors in unexpected ways.
“Can we even practice in here?”
Choi Je-ho asked. As soon as I heard that, I grabbed my bag from the floor.
“I think it’ll work if we clear a bit of space. Let’s skip the blocking and just sync the angles of our arms and hand movements. Ju-woo, can you help me?”
“Yes. I’ll clear this side…!”
“Right. But make sure to ask before moving anyone else’s stuff.”
“Got it!”
We moved in perfect unison to clear the space and began our extra practice.
They were already good, so I doubted a few more minutes of practice at the last second would make a massive difference.
Still, a habit like this would only help them, never hurt. For now, that was enough.
And not long after.
“Spark, get ready!”
The time for Spark’s first stage had arrived.
Backstage was a whirlwind of activity.
Numerous staff members were moving busily, and idols in flashy outfits were ascending and descending the stage in perfect timing.
From a distance, the sounds of fans cheering for their respective idols and the director shouting filming cues rose and fell repeatedly.
In the dark backstage area, a single, intense beam of purple light was visible. It was light leaking from the stage.
‘I’m going in there.’ Me, of all people.
If it were giving a presentation in front of a crowd or prostrating myself in a formal apology, that would be one thing, but I never dreamed the day would come when I’d be dancing and singing. In that sense, life really is full of surprises.
However, even amidst the controlled chaos, a few voices stood out clearly in my ears.
“Sigh…”
The sound of Kang Gi-yeon letting out a long sigh.
“Kang Gyeon, if you sigh that much, your luck will run away!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon’s joke, seemingly trying to ease Gi-yeon’s tension.
“Is there any water?”
“Iwol-hyung packed some earlier…!”
And the conversation between the iron-willed duo, Choi Je-ho and Park Ju-woo.
As I did a vocal roll call like that, Jeong Seong-bin was the only one I couldn't hear.
Looking around, I saw Seong-bin fiddling with his lips, eyes closed, muttering something to himself.
I walked up to him and called his name.
“Seong-bin.”
Seong-bin jumped, startled.
“Yes, Hyung! Do you need something?”
“No, just wanted you to relax.”
If he were the type to do mind control on his own, I would have left him be, but it didn't look like that was the case.
As if my hunch was right, Seong-bin scratched his head with an awkward laugh.
“Um… since it’s our actual debut, I’m worried I’ll make a mistake. I guess I’m… nervous.”
Anyone who had watched Seong-bin would know that his fear of making a mistake came from how hard he had truly worked.
But there’s no need for a talented person to feel burdened, is there?
“Don’t worry too much. After all, this is just one of the hundreds of stages you’ll perform on in the future.”
“Hyung, you really have a unique perspective.”
Seong-bin gave a weak laugh.
It seemed he thought I was joking.
He’d probably faint if he knew he’d be an idol for a solid seven years. And working hard right up until the brink of disbandment, at that.
“And this is just an aside.”
I leaned toward Seong-bin and whispered softly in his ear.
“The ancestral spirits said our luck is great today.”
This wouldn't count as "leaking heavenly secrets" or whatever. Because it was a lie.
“Haha, that’s a relief!”
A relief indeed. With just one sentence, I’d boosted the main vocal’s morale without any penalty.
And when a microphone was placed in each member’s hand.
“Spark, please head up!”
From a distance, I heard the call for us.
The stage was hotter than I had expected. Lights poured down from above like multiple suns.
The audience seats were also much clearer than I had imagined.
I could see who was holding which lightstick, what expressions they were wearing, and so on.
Fifty percent of the people here were likely fans of the popular groups who had finished recording before us. Another thirty percent would be fans of yet another group.
The members might be afraid of performing in an environment where no one was looking at them, but I didn't mind. I was used to giving presentations where no one was listening.
I knew everyone had practiced to the point of death, so I didn't think there would be any regrets or blaming others.
But if they really wanted to resent someone, they could blame the CEO for the small budget, and me for taking the showcase budget and dumping it all into the music video and album. Or the skyrocketing cost of living that made holding a showcase impossible.
Anyway, we got to wear much better stage outfits and decided to wear new name tags every time, so it worked out for the better.
As I was looking around while waiting for the staff to finish their adjustments, a few women in the front row caught my eye.
They looked shocked when our eyes met. Then, they hurriedly unfurled small slogans they were holding.
[♥ Spark, Congrats on your Debut ♥]
[Celebrate: Spark Debut +1 Day]
[Let’s only walk the Flame Road]
They were slogans specifically for this group. "Flame Road" sounded a bit scary, but…
I tapped the shoulders of the Spark members—the ones who actually needed to see those slogans—and politely guided them with both hands toward the fans' location.
Since the filming preparations were being delayed, the boys and I were able to huddle together at the side of the stage where the fans were.
Following Seong-bin’s lead, we gave our group greeting. As I waited for each member to introduce themselves, I felt a bit uneasy.
I wondered if it was okay for me to introduce myself as part of the group in front of these people.
Still, I couldn't give a half-hearted greeting to people who had likely been waiting for hours in a harsher environment than ours.
I smiled as kindly as possible and spoke.
“Hello. I’m Spark’s I-wol!”
Then, the person holding the ‘Let’s only walk the Flame Road’ slogan shouted.
“Kim I-wol, you’re so handsome!”
“Me?”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.
I pointed a finger at myself, giving her a chance to correct her statement, but she was firm.
“Yes, you!”
“Tha… thank you.”
People whose spirit of support was strong enough to wait hours on-site to see idols were truly different. They didn't hold back on excessive praise, even for someone like me.
But it would be a problem if they failed to recognize Spark’s true jewels.
I still remembered how countless "idol scene ghosts" (as they often called themselves) used to lament.
≫ F*ck, it’s so unfair… How did I find out about Lee Cheong-hyeon this late…
≫ Choi Je-ho, this crazy guy… How was this face hidden until now? It’s one of the world’s top 8 mysteries.
If they didn't take a good look at the other members' faces right here and now, these people would definitely regret it.
So, I crouched down at the edge of the stage and explained in a small voice.
“The other members are the ones in charge of visuals, not me. It would be better if you focused on their faces.”
“You’re handsome too!”
The fan still refused to back down. Her momentum was like the generals I’d read about in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Still, I felt truly grateful. Thanks to her, I felt like I could perform today’s stage with a little less guilt.