Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Debut in the Typhoon
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We stepped out onto the outdoor stage. The preparation area had been indoors, but as soon as we emerged, the weather outside looked anything but normal.
We let out wry laughs under the flimsily pitched tent.
“Zenith! Get ready!”
I dashed to my position just like during rehearsal. Then, the few scattered raindrops thickened as if they’d been waiting.
A laugh burst out of me in that moment.
‘Good.’
A debut stage like this? Perfect.
Soon, the music flowed through my in-ear monitor. I stood up from my spot. Rainwater trickled down between the thin fabric of my pants.
Yeah.
‘If I do well, will thunder strike too?’
My body moved lightly. At that moment, the rain poured down as if it had been holding back. Audience members flashed by in front of my eyes. Seeing them in raincoats, I made my movements even bigger.
Rainwater splashed between my gestures.
‘Thanks to these folks.’
It wouldn’t have been easy even watching comfortably from a dry spot, yet here they were.
A school uniform peeked out from under a white raincoat.
‘Ah, of course. They’re probably not here for us.’
I spun around once. My breathing caught and then released.
‘But what does it matter?’
Now it was my cue to step forward. I took two steps as planned. Then, facing the camera, I flashed a grin.
‘This is the proposal starting now.’
Please become fans.
‘I won’t disappoint you.’
Water streamed down between my brows. The other members were in the same state as me. Then the wind blew. Even as a chill crept up my nape, the music didn’t stop.
‘How will this look on screen?’
Pushing the thought aside, I clenched my fist.
‘Don’t think.’
This was the stage. The broadcast slot I’d longed for so desperately.
Yeah. How badly I’d wanted it.
‘To have people see me on TV.’
The thought sent sparks flying in my head. Thrilling. Felt so good. My whole body felt like it was soaring into the sky.
I even forgot to breathe.
‘I might die from happiness.’
I sang, but my voice got swallowed by the wind.
‘Well, it’s not live anyway.’
We’d already provided the on-site audio track in advance. The music broadcast would probably use that. But Kang Minje’s singing voice came through from beside me.
‘Creepy guy.’
Even in this, his vocals didn’t waver.
I glanced at the overall scene. It was right when positions shifted. Ki Jaeyoon slipped on the slick stage.
‘Damn!’
I moved half a beat ahead and caught his body. True to his dancing skills, he quickly regained balance. Glancing at him, his face was a mess of panic.
Our eyes met. While doing the next move, I jerked my chin.
‘Monkey boy. Look at the stage.’
In the rain, the audience waved their hands. I smirked and flowed into the choreography.
We hadn’t even hit the chorus yet, but the world already felt like an ocean with the downpour turning into a flood.
‘So am I swimming right now?’
Rain dripped from the harness. Yoo Hajin, who’d been doing his part up front, matched the beat and retreated back.
‘Well, the leader’s face looks good.’
Smiling, I stepped forward again. The audience came into view once more.
‘Yeah. Good.’
Let’s devour it.
The choreography was angle-specific. Nonstop movement, dizzying formations. But I could feel it. All the members were giving their all.
‘Then I have to do more than that.’
I kicked out on the chorus beat. As my leg moved, pooled water arced through the air. It probably splashed the camera in front, but I didn’t care.
Adjusting angles and stepping forward again—that’s when a flash lit up before my eyes.
‘Good.’
Endorphins surged in an instant. I couldn’t hold back the smile. Soon, what I’d hoped for boomed out.
Rumble-crash—
I heard the staff checking the sound equipment. The audience murmured, but I stuck to the choreography, staring at the camera.
‘Where you looking.’
Look at me.
The sky flashed again. But the music still didn’t stop.
‘Keep looking at me.’
Because.
We entered the main choreography. I jumped on the beat and spun around.
Camera four approached. I faced it and bounced my body.
‘I’m in the middle of proposing.’
Please take care of us. Viewers. Watch us prettily.
The smile wouldn’t stop. This moment felt so good I could die.
‘I wish it could always be like this.’
Except when going to the bathroom, I want countless cameras filming me forever.
‘If I die, let it be on stage.’
I’m going crazy. Or maybe I already am? Didn’t matter. The only thing that drove me mad with regret was the music ending.
Soon the chorus returned. We stood tall, smiling brightly as we did the arm movements. Miraculously, the water traced perfect arcs.
Wet hair didn’t bother me. The sky dumped more rain as if waiting.
Soon it was the final scene.
We gathered in the center. For the closing, we bowed our heads motionless.
Dong—
The song Kang Minje had composed ended. My breaths carried the scent of rainwater. Lights went out, and staff voices rang.
“Zenith, exit!”
Harsh.
I locked eyes with the frontmost audience member and dashed backstage. As the humid, sweltering stage ended, reality crept in.
Ki Jaeyoon said.
“Crazy…….”
Yeah.
‘Mess doesn’t even cover it.’
Waterproof makeup, but not pristine. Costumes too. White shirts turned sheer. Mine was different material, but Lee Seungjun’s clung tight, outlining his body completely.
‘Harness over a wet shirt…….’
Even if parents complain, nothing to be done. The station handles it.
‘It was live broadcast.’
Our debut stage was already airing.
We were just leaving the backstage area.
The director’s bellow echoed.
“Are you insane! Live broadcast in this weather!”
“S-sorry.”
Well, lightning struck too.
‘We’re a mess ourselves.’
Dangerous. Lights swaying in wind and rain, stage slippery. No wonder Ki Jaeyoon nearly fell.
But the shouts heard were a bit different.
“What if the equipment breaks!”
Huh.
‘Not about people?’
Laughter burst out.
“Hahaha!”
Couldn’t hold it in.
Lee Seungjun and Kang Minje had heard too. The two with serious faces stared blankly at my laughter.
Then, all at once, they covered their mouths and laughed.
“Pfft!”
Even Yoo Hajin caught it and laughed. Ki Jaeyoon stood dazed, then joined in.
Members’ laughter echoed in my ears.
Yoo Hajin muttered.
“I’m going crazy.”
Kang Minje wiped his rain-wet eyes and said.
“Just worried about equipment? That?”
I wrung my clothes. Water poured down.
“Of course. Music shows have idols lined up. Even if we catch pneumonia from the rain, who cares.”
Replacements everywhere.
Yoo Hajin shook his head. I smirked.
Soon the manager ran up.
“Y-you okay?”
“Besides being soaked.”
“Change quick!”
Stylist Noona brought new clothes right away. We toweled our heads, but still in the hallway. Behind one partition, we changed down to underwear and piled into the van.
“Next is interview, so shower at dorm. Catch a cold and it’s big trouble.”
“Yes.”
Early summer, so not that cold. I quietly leaned my head against the window.
‘Devoured the stage well, but what’s the reaction?’
I stretched quietly. The world flashed again, thunder rumbling.
***
“Crazy! Crazy!”
Executive Director Joo grabbed her smartphone right away. The bell kept ringing nonstop.
“Director, S Newspaper interview request!”
“Hold on. Talk to T Cable first!”
PR wiped her head and turned back.
“Oh, Director. Of course. You’ll feature Zenith? The kids are handsome and kind. Plus, tons of variety potential. Yes. I’ll call back. Okay!”
Executive Director Joo ended the call and pressed her forehead.
“What have you done!”
She hurriedly checked search terms.
-Zenith
-Soaked idols
-Live broadcast idols
-Debut in downpour
-Zenith GIFs
-Local heavy rain doll
-Wet doll
She let out a hollow laugh.
“I’m going crazy!”
But in a good way!
Articles popped up one after another. Mostly about ‘Zenith’ debuting in the torrential rain.
She searched ‘Zenith GIFs’ among them. SNS was flooded with moving images of Zenith.
“These are GIF-worthy.”
In the storm, water flew off hand gestures. The intense choreo made it splash like an action flick.
‘No wonder local heavy rain doll.’
Rain poured buckets the whole stage. Waterproof makeup saved them, or they’d be horror dolls or Picasso dolls by now.
“And wet doll?”
Searching it brought up soaked Zenith pics. Executive Director Joo sighed at the screen.
“Damn sexy.”
Especially Lee Seungjun. Great body, but maybe the revealing outfit was a mistake. Clinging wet, white fabric faintly showing skin.
‘Harness covers the important upper bits.’
What to call this?
‘Unintended exposure?’
Does that even fit?
All Zenith members drenched to the bone.
“Didn’t plan to promote with bodies?”
What is this?
Pumpkin rolled in on the vine. Bell rang again—different station PD this time.
Executive Director Joo answered with a grin splitting her face. Opportunity knocked. And she was more than ready. Plenty to deploy.
‘The kids’ time has come!’
I’ll make sure no one in Korea doesn’t know your faces.
“Yes, yes. Director! What’s up? Show? Zenith? Red hot right now. No, not planned, kids are just that outstanding.”
All sorts of staff rushed into Executive Director Joo’s room. She welcomed them while taking calls. This kind of success after so long felt insanely good.
***
-Wet doll is the best.
-Wow, look at those bodies.
-That arm, wanna crush me. Oppa, remember? You crushed me into acorn jelly.
-Why so much rain?
-Local heavy rain that day lol so Jene nickname local doll lololol
-Friends Entertainment new group Zenith. Kids from that Yumi MV.
-Oh, MV lolololol saw it?
-Otherworldly MV lol sister-in-law and young master wistful mutual crush lolol
-Taking off uniform hilarious lol barefoot too lol director intent too obvious lol fan service clouds lol
I tilted my head at the SNS comments.
‘What’s that mean.’
Half understandable. Why all the codes?
“How is it?”
Lee Seungjun sat on my bed. I handed him the smartphone.
“Wet doll me?”
“Similar?”
“Good reactions?”
“You get it?”
“Yeah.”
Why can he interpret what I can’t?
“Feels like codes, right?”
“Not that hard? Roughly, we’re good.”
G-good, relief.
“SNS active, but no clue what they mean.”
“Youngest saying that’s funny.”
He laughed and handed back the phone.
“With this reaction, what happens?”
“We’re blowing up, I think?”
I blinked.
“This is blowing up?”
“Company’s probably chaos. Check MV views. Skyrocketing.”
A groan escaped.
‘We’re blowing up now?’
I narrowed my eyes.
“Now we can do stages freely, right?”
“Probably till we’re sick of it?”