Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Yumi's Jinx
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After spending the whole day, it was already time to head to the stage. I got my makeup done and changed into my outfit ahead of time, then made my way there.
Ponytail looked me up and down in my costume and said,
“There’s a waiting room, but we’ve got a lot of people. Better to do it early.”
I nodded.
“Spray your hair before you go out. So it doesn’t get sticky with sweat.”
So that’s the method they use.
Ponytail had started looking out for me like one of the team the moment he saw my dancing.
‘If he weren’t such a good guy, he wouldn’t have stuck around with Yumi this long.’
I hadn’t gotten much sleep, but my condition was fine. The dancers I’d practiced with for that one-night, two-day stint didn’t look off either.
The problem was something else.
“I wonder if Yumi’s okay, though.”
Was it from pushing too hard in practice? Yumi had looked frail that morning. After rushing through a few schedules, she’d flop over like a fish dragged onto dry land more than once.
“She always like that?”
“This is better lately. At least she’s been sleeping.”
I see.
‘Without the cheat, she would’ve collapsed by early evening. Oh!’
I recalled the past before my return. Come to think of it, Yumi had collapsed on stage once after releasing that song called ‘Sacrifice’.
‘That’s why they cut the promotions short, even though the song was good.’
I tilted my head as I looked at my outfit.
‘So this moment right now... is that a changed future?’
Well, the future had already diverged since I joined Friends Entertainment, but it still felt strangely off.
I pulled my smartphone out of my pocket.
‘It’s a bit late to wonder now.’
A sudden question popped into my head.
‘Am I the only one using this thing?’
I shook my head. Pointless speculation.
‘Well. It’s more effective than I thought, anyway.’
I had no idea what counted as a cheat, but still.
I shook off the thought. Why was I suddenly dwelling on something so irrelevant?
That was when Yumi tottered over to me.
“Dowon, ride with me.”
Huh.
“What’s this, Yumi? Taking care of the junior?”
“Yeah. Love your juniors, love your country, world peace.”
“You’re not trying to hit on me, right?”
“Get real. He’s eight years younger than me.”
Yumi grabbed my sleeve and dragged me along. I gave a quick bow to the dancers and climbed into Yumi’s van.
‘So this is a top star’s ride.’
It was clean, but cluttered too. Stuff was strewn everywhere.
“This is what it’s like during promotions. It’s practically a second home.”
Yumi’s manager, sitting in the front passenger seat, chuckled.
“Eat, sleep, get changed—most of it happens in the car.”
Got it.
“Doesn’t feel real, huh? Bet when you debut, you’ll be sick of hearing me say that.”
I smirked.
“The busier, the better.”
Yumi grinned, fiddling with her outfit. Maybe it was the makeup and clothes, but she looked just like she did on TV.
“Senior, you don’t seem in great shape.”
Yumi’s eyes went wide.
“I figured that might be why you invited me along.”
“Listen to this kid.”
She let out a small sigh.
“How’d you know?”
“I’m pretty quick on the uptake.”
Yumi clasped her hands in her lap and stared out the window. The dark tint let in just a bit of the outside.
“See?”
I glanced out the window.
“It’s snowing.”
“What day is it today?”
“Friday?”
“It’s not just any Friday! It’s the 13th—and a Friday!”
Ah.
“I’m not religious.”
“Me neither! The problem is... big things always happen to me on Friday the 13th.”
Yumi looked dead serious. She hung her head and muttered,
“I fall.”
“Huh?”
“Friday the 13th, when it snows—I fall.”
A jinx, huh.
“You just thought it was no big deal, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. It’s not. If you fall, you just get up.”
“You! You have no idea what I’m wearing.”
Yumi lifted her leg. A tall heel hugged her slender ankle.
“Oh, right.”
Falling in those would mean an injury.
“I’ve dodged it the past few years, but why today of all days?”
Yumi leaned her head against the window and grumbled.
“I’ve got to show off my dazzling stage to all those fancy actors.”
Poor thing. But I got one thing.
“That’s why you called me.”
“Yeah. Talking to you seemed to perk me up last time.”
“Coincidence.”
She was sharper than I thought. She wouldn’t suspect I used a cheat, but she’d noticed that her insomnia had vanished for some reason.
“I know. It was a coincidence.”
Yumi smiled brightly.
“But hey, I’m grasping at straws here.”
Yumi wiggled her ankle.
“It’s held up fine so far, even though I abuse it.”
Her foot, wrapped in that high heel, looked wrecked. She flexed her ankle a few times, then said,
“Truth is, it was a two-for-one deal.”
“What?”
“You make people feel good.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Honored.”
“Man, I wish I had a little brother like you. I’d take good care of him.”
I thought of Cha Sora and smiled faintly.
‘If Noona heard that, she’d probably say she’d hand me over box and all.’
She’s probably buried in studying right now. My sister.
Yumi gazed out the window and closed her eyes.
“Feels depressing. For real. I know the misfortune’s coming, but I can’t dodge it!”
Poor thing.
‘Then I’d better help her avoid this jinx.’
I quietly pulled out my smartphone.
[cheat mode 1/3]
[Singer Yumi will not fall over for the rest of the day.]
[Changed.]
[Side effect: In 3 minutes, your voice will not come out for 30 minutes.]
[cheat mode 2/3]
Huh.
‘The side effect’s pretty harsh?’
Usually these were minor. Why so severe? Was Yumi’s jinx that big a deal?
‘But it changed, so she won’t fall today, right?’
I glanced at the navigation on the driver’s dashboard. ETA: 40 minutes.
‘Good.’
No voice. I quickly switched my phone from the cheat screen to normal.
‘What if Yumi talks to me?’
Yumi had her eyes closed and stayed quiet. Just then, the van hit a speed bump and jostled.
“Ow!”
Yumi clutched her head. I silently handed her the rolling neck pillow.
“Thanks. I’ll nap a bit.”
She closed her eyes again.
‘Glad she’s sleeping.’
I draped the knee blanket over her. She smiled and shifted comfortably.
‘That side effect’s no joke, though.’
What counts as the baseline? Is something huge about to happen?
‘Guess I’ll find out when it hits.’
I pocketed my phone again. The car glided smoothly down the road.
***
Rehearsal wrapped up, leaving a long wait. Amid the bustle, I quietly did core exercises in the corner of the waiting room.
Ponytail sat in a chair, looking down at me and said,
“That guy’s working hard.”
What.
“You got a grudge against your abs or something? Every time I look, you’re doing that.”
“Ah, it’s for vocals.”
I caught my breath.
“My breathing’s weak.”
“Hmm. Speaking of, I heard Friends is putting together a guy group. Members decided?”
“No clue. Not me.”
“The higher-ups are probably just about done talking it over.”
Yeah, probably.
“Not nervous? If you miss this, you’re out years.”
Was he teasing?
I paused my core work for a sec.
“Nah.”
“Why? Still young? Dude, time flies.”
“If it were up to Executive Director Joo or the president, who’d they pick? Skill? Or face? Vocals? Dance?”
I smirked.
“I’ve got all of ’em, so no dropouts here.”
I resumed my cores. I heard Ponytail click his tongue, but none of my business.
Another dancer chimed in.
“Yeah, hyung. Why pick on the kid?”
“When did I!”
“Just now.”
Ah, so it was teasing.
‘Jerk move.’
You’ll have an off day someday. Mark my words.
I grinned just like that, and Ponytail averted his eyes. Knows he’s guilty, huh? Mr. Dancer.
“Main stage! Standby, please.”
I shot to my feet. Stylist and hair rushed over, spritzing my hair.
The hallway was chaos with people. Yumi said,
“Let’s nail this. Show those jerks what we’ve got.”
Everyone high-fived her hand as they passed. Korea’s top female singer spotted me and flashed a dazzling smile.
“Take care of me out there.”
“You too, Senior.”
Backstage was packed with gear. Biggest stage I’d ever done.
‘The audience is actors, huh.’
Fun crowd for an opener.
Yumi asked beside me,
“Nervous?”
I answered honestly.
“Nope.”
“Oh?”
“Excited, actually.”
Look at me, you guys.
‘I’m borrowing your senior’s fame this time...’
But next time? Who knows what spot I’ll be in.
My body heated up. I grinned for real. Like hot food pouring into an empty stomach, fragrant and impossible to resist chugging.
“Go!”
I followed the dancers in.
‘But I’m still hungry.’
Far from full. Honestly, the wait was getting old.
***
Yumi’s stage felt like the ‘Sacrifice’ music video brought to life.
I sat on the sofa with my eyes closed. As the music played, Yumi stroked my hair and sang.
‘Not live, though.’
She said they overlaid the live audio.
‘Makes sense for a performance-focused stage.’
But this was live. Under the blinding lights, I played the unconscious boy.
‘Weird feeling.’
I could hear all the crowd noise, but as an unconscious boy?
The verse ended. A sharp click—lights out. I stood and moved forward. Lights back on. Dressed-up actors filled my view.
I danced with the boyish smile from the video.
Side, back. Forward again, jump.
‘An illusion of the boy moving.’
Stepping toward Yumi. She reached out tenderly, and the black-clad dancers moved.
‘That’s vampire Yumi’s anxiety.’
Dancers mirrored the choreo in sequence. A dance of worry and concern rippling out.
‘Pretty artistic stage.’
I danced smoothly, turning my head to the audience. The folks who hadn’t clapped last year were locked in now.
‘Camera there.’
Cam 5 on me. I followed the marked path. Me, embodying the vampire’s hope, approaching her.
‘This is the only touch with Yumi.’
Mid-stage already. I regulated my breath, extending my hand to her on beat.
That was when.
‘What?’
She staggered in a flash. I saw her lose balance and topple back, clear as day.
Her words echoed.
‘Friday the 13th, snowing—I fall.’
Couldn’t let that happen.
‘Gotta catch her.’
But too far. Fixed choreo and path.
Then.
One second stretched eternal. No clue why. But like a life flashing, each moment dragged.
‘I can do it.’
That’s what hit me.
I spun, snagged her waist. The costume’s fabric pressed vivid against my palm.
‘Caught her!’
Her breath brushed my ear. Yumi, leaning on me, her eyes trembled endlessly.
Come to think of it, she’d said then,
‘Feels depressing. For real. I know the misfortune’s coming, but I can’t dodge it!’
How’s dodging feel, Senior?
‘Just this once, though...’
Time still stretched. Lots to do. I set her upright smoothly, moved on beat.
Simple legwork, but it’d look like a connected move.
Yumi panicked a sec, then snapped into diva mode. Time snapped back right on cue.
Choreo ended, lights out.
I closed my eyes on the sofa as dancers reset it. Her final stroke on my cheek ended as the song wrapped.
Yumi’s ragged breaths. Then, thunderous applause.
‘Wish granted.’
Claps this time, Senior.
“Stage over.” I bolted backstage fast.
In the hallway.
She looked at me.
“Senior?”
Yumi grabbed my outfit, then let go slow. Took a deep breath and yelled,
“Let’s take a pic!”
Dancers laughed, gathering. Yumi yanked me to the very edge.