Chapter 634
Chapter 634
On the rise. Soaring.
I’m talking about that moment when a celebrity suddenly hits it big. When you’re the one riding that momentum, there’s no way you can’t notice it.
First of all, the messages start pouring in.
[Spacer Kwon Hee-seung: Hyung! My heart started racing while watching the news today, so I had to reach out lol]
[T-Holic Ha Jin-tae: Oh, our TeSTAR friends, congratulations! haha. So this is how a Billboard artist is born.]
[Golden Age Ha Il-jun: Congrats, TeSTAR! I’m so jealous, you guys are awesome. Congrats, Moon-dae!]
[Mirinae Park Min-ha: Senior, thank you for being so considerate of our schedule for variety shows and other appearances during this comeback. We’ll be rooting for you until the end of your promotions! Thank you!]
Even if you aren't actively trying to manage your network, when an industry acquaintance does exceptionally well, people tend to reach out, even if just out of curiosity.
That was exactly the situation.
Even for TeSTAR, who had always been successful, this was a surge that stood out uniquely in our career.
The international career we had been building up finally exploded all at once, and for the past few days, it felt like we were erupting across the internet and music charts.
“I don’t think I’ve received this many calls from relatives since the days of Idol Inc....”
“M-me too.”
“Everyone… do you know who Se-jin got a call from?”
“Who?”
“Don’t be shocked. It was a senior from Zairop, and they’ve already disbanded!”
“Goodness.”
“…That’s impressive in a different way.”
Anyway, anyone with even a distant connection was reaching out to offer congratulations or check in.
While the company staff were buzzing about who received the most calls, our actual performance was…
[Bad Feelings / TeSTAR – No. 4]
Just before the third week of our remix promotions, TeSTAR had finally broken into the Top 5.
“Gosh…”
“Let’s pray.”
Naturally, the number of places scouted us increased. And the more mainstream the programs we appeared on, the more exposure our stage and song received, allowing us to capture a wider audience.
It was also quite fun choosing which remix to perform based on the nature of the broadcast.
“Hmm, we didn’t really have to go on that swimming variety show, though.”
“It’s a sexy concept and it’s summer. Isn’t that why we tried wearing rash guards?”
When Bae Se-jin made that blunt remark—since he wasn't the one wearing it—the two members who actually appeared on the show looked at each other and laughed.
Then, a staff member’s voice called out.
“You have to go now!”
“Oops, right! Coming!”
We finally finished our wait and ran toward the backstage. Of course, we didn't forget to take photos for social media and behind-the-scenes footage before we left.
“Don’t you think having this many piercings might be a bit hit-or-miss abroad?”
“They say it looks cool, like death metal.”
“…….”
I guess this really is the season where everything we do just works.
I checked today’s outfit while touching the fake piercings on my lip and ear helix. It was a bit tight.
“You look great, Hyung! Don’t worry.”
“Sure.”
Whenever we wait below the stage like this, a strange mix of tension, excitement, and anticipation always hangs among the members.
Even if the way we feel or handle the nerves has become lighter, this feeling remains the same.
Perhaps it’s because our hearts are still in the same place.
Ryu Cheong-woo looked back at me.
“It might sound sudden, but…”
A small smile spread across his face.
“Performing is fun.”
“…….”
I gave his shoulder a light tap.
“You look like you’re enjoying it.”
“Haha.”
Since we’ve set things in motion, there’s always the pressure to live up to expectations.
But I suppose the people who can keep going are those who find the fun to be greater than the pressure.
And that’s how we’ve spent the last seven years.
“Whoa, look at Cheong-woo Hyung’s shoulders. Yu-jin, come here~ let’s huddle up.”
“My shoulders are bigger!”
Amidst the bickering voices, the signal came, and we dashed out onto the open stage.
Cheers erupted.
And so, we entered the third week of promotions.
The first Billboard chart predictions for that week came out.
*
Inside the hotel suite, the only sounds were breathing and the movement of hands.
Hiss, hiss.
Silence, white noise.
In the midst of it, Ryu Cheong-woo moved his thumb across his smartphone.
The members, who were sitting on the sofa still in their makeup even though the schedule was over, suddenly froze and waited for him to speak.
A moment later.
“Number one.”
“……!”
“This one says… number two.”
First. Second. First, first. Second, second….
In the silence, the predicted rankings continued to drop.
“…….”
All eyes turned to me.
I took the smartphone Ryu Cheong-woo handed over and reviewed the score prediction methods.
After another piercing silence… I opened my mouth.
“It’s not certain, but yes. The possibility is high enough.”
“…Then?”
I smirked.
“We can hit number one.”
“…!!”
“Yeaaaaah!”
“Holy shit!”
In an instant, the room heated up with excitement and exclamations.
It was an unbelievable feat achieved through a climb back up the charts after releasing the remixes. I smiled as I handed the phone back to Ryu Cheong-woo.
Just then, Keun Se-jin suddenly slumped onto the sofa.
“…!”
“Are you okay??”
“Huh? Yeah.”
Keun Se-jin buried his face in his hands.
“It’s just… for some reason, I can’t quite believe it.”
“…….”
“Why?”
At my question, his voice echoed through the room, murmuring in a somewhat dazed tone.
“I don’t think I… well, I don’t think I ever expected us to do this well. No, maybe I should say I couldn’t expect it….”
The room fell silent again.
Bae Se-jin replied as if tossing the words out.
“…You always said TeSTAR would definitely succeed. You even said we should take on Billboard.”
“Ayy, that was just… the sentiment of the moment, a bit of ‘fighting’ spirit! You have to say the right things at the right time! That’s how it works.”
Keun Se-jin let out a hollow laugh, then cleared his throat and adjusted his tone.
“It’s just… well, I never dared to hope for something like this in my life. Winning the Grand Prize in Korea, and then hitting number one abroad, like this….”
“…….”
“And we… we got caught up in some weird stuff and lived different lives, right? So, looking at it objectively….”
“Objectively?”
After a brief silence.
“Well, regarding Se-jin’s star quality as an idol? Haha.”
He glossed over it with a joke, but I knew what he meant.
‘…Did he think he wasn’t at this level?’
That guy, who had wanted to be an idol for so long, held a brutally cold yardstick against reality even while dreaming.
So, there was a high probability he had already made a judgment for himself.
Something like, ‘Ah, I’m probably someone capable of achieving up to this point.’
It was almost unbelievable that he could push himself to the limit without giving up, despite that.
And now, having seen fruits he couldn't believe in, he spoke in a quiet, slightly trembling voice.
“Thank you, guys. Seriously. For staying in TeSTAR for so long.”
—We’ll keep doing well like this, right?
The seventh year.
Those words he had said since the early days of our debut.
Recalling those words—the ones he used to encourage team activities—they felt distinctly different from his usual jokes.
And it seemed I wasn't the only one who noticed.
“N-no! It’s because you did well, Se-jin…!”
“…!”
“That’s right!”
I added a word as well.
“Don’t make me repeat the obvious.”
“…….”
A thin smile touched Keun Se-jin’s lips. His face was still partially covered by his hands.
He was a fool in the strangest ways.
Just as I thought that.
“But… I think I, uh, understand that feeling of gratitude. I… feel similarly.”
Another fool stepped forward.
I turned my head.
Seon A-hyun, his face flushing, spoke softly as our eyes met.
“I… rather than thinking about becoming a singer, I just, I just wanted to keep dancing.”
Seon A-hyun, who had chosen this path as a place to escape to instead of the dance industry due to various circumstances, slowly continued.
“Because I felt lacking compared to the other members, I thought this position was more than I deserved…. Of course, even now, I think this is a group that’s far too good for me…!”
“That goes double for me. I wanted to act, not be on a music stage.”
Bae Se-jin, who had answered without hesitation, cleared his throat and slightly lowered his gaze.
“Besides… my skills were ridiculously lacking compared to you guys.”
“Hey, it wasn't that bad.”
“And it’s not like that at all now.”
“No, it still is.”
He added in a firm tone.
“But at least I’m not at a point where I’m ashamed of myself anymore.”
This time, no one reacted with teasing exclamations. Instead, a faint smile spread among the members.
Ryu Cheong-woo also spoke up with a smile.
“This is my second challenge, so it wasn't my dream since I was a kid either. Hmm… yeah. If you put it that way, I didn't know I’d make it this far.”
Cha Yu-jin spoke with sparkling eyes.
“I knew.”
“Hey.”
Of course you did.
The members chuckled at the words of Yu-jin Ignacio Cha, who just last week claimed he had no dreams of Billboard. He grumbled innocently.
“I mean I knew our team would do well! I’m not just talking about Billboard. [I just believed that we would be great in whatever field we were in.]”
Yeah, we get it.
“[I don’t believe in frames created by others.]”
Frames.
TeSTAR is only strong domestically.
Throughout our career, ever since our debut, we had always heard that we were weak internationally compared to our domestic standing.
The idea that we could never bridge that gap had somehow become the default assumption among the public and fans.
And flipping that over… yeah, there really is something more to it than just numbers.
“Success in the English-speaking world isn't necessarily more valuable than performance elsewhere, but it is a great joy to have achieved results in such a massive music market.”
Kim Rae-bin added in a slightly choked-up voice.
“I… despite many ups and downs… I want to take this opportunity to thank you all once again for believing in and trusting my producing….”
“Rae-bin sounds like he’s giving an acceptance speech.”
“Yeah. It’s like when we debuted on the survival show.”
Though they teased him, the members put their arms around Kim Rae-bin’s shoulders or looked at him with warm smiles.
I also raised an arm.
“You worked hard.”
After going around and around. We are standing here.
Then, all eyes turned to the one person who hadn't shared his thoughts.
“…….”
Me.
I slowly looked around at them and remembered. My past.
“I used to take photos of guys like you performing on stage.”
“…….”
“I like being among you more. …Thank you.”
“……!”
To think the day would come when I wouldn't just grit my teeth to change a shitty environment to succeed, but actually feel grateful for my surroundings.
If someone had told me this back in my college days, I would have told them to cut the crap.
‘You really never know with life.’
“Then Moon-dae Moon-dae, if you went back to the past and could only take photos of one of us, who would it be?”
“I would’ve taken photos of everyone.”
Because everyone would have had a good market price.
I wasn't a fansite master; I was a data seller.
But before I could add the rest, I was met with a storm of protest telling me not to dodge the question.
“Just pick one!”
These punks.
But it soon turned into laughter.
“It’s a joke. Hmm, just… we’re the ones who are grateful, Hyung.”
“…….”
“For being an idol with us.”
I nodded silently.
“Let’s all say thank you to each other!”
“That sounds good.”
Huddled like penguins, the guys started patting each other on the back.
Doing this in the middle of a hotel room, not on a broadcast or backstage, was incredibly funny, yet some of them started sniffing.
“Ah, are we getting too emotional already? What if we don’t hit number one after all this~”
“It doesn't matter. Even if the numbers say otherwise, the fact that we did well won't change.”
“……That’s true.”
Still huddled like penguins, the conversation shifted back to the current situation.
“What do you think the trend will be like moving forward?”
“It’s still on the rise.”
It was hard to find anyone saying ‘it’s just because of the number of remixes’ anymore.
Beyond both remixes receiving significant reactions, the song itself had become so famous that factions were fighting over which version they preferred.
“I heard even our original version has rebounded a lot.”
“Is that true? That’s amazing!”
As a song rises in the rankings and becomes famous, more people listen to it, and controversies arise.
Because of that, thanks to people wanting to choose a third option out of a contrarian spirit, the number of people listening to the original version increased as well.
“Hmm, this might be a method that’s hard to use again later.”
“Right.”
As Ryu Cheong-woo said, it was a very specific situation that would be difficult to replicate.
“First, the song has to be good, and all three versions have to have recognition. At the same time, people shouldn't get tired of it or lose interest because of too much exposure to the same song.”
“In the end, it means we can’t do it without Rae-bin.”
“…?”
“Exactly.”
“…??”
Kim Rae-bin looked around at his teammates who were patting his head. What a funny guy.
“And Moon-dae timed the promotion period perfectly.”
“We decided on that together after discussing it.”
I had simply tried to extract the maximum value possible from the remix aggregation method and the collaboration with Limestone.
But I ended up receiving a barrage of hands on my shoulders and head, second only to Kim Rae-bin.
“We said you did well.”
“You’re humble in such an uncharacteristic way, Moon-dae Moon-dae.”
…I’ll let it slide this time.
“Let’s promote without regrets. Let’s not get too obsessed with the numbers themselves. But let’s be proud.”
“Let’s do lots of activities the fans will like, too.”
“Of course!”
That night, we spread blankets on the hotel living room floor and slept together as if we were back in a dorm.
“This reminds me of Idol Inc.”
“Yeah.”
Maybe it was because we talked about those days while teasing Kim Rae-bin.
The night before the final.
The memories of sleeping together in the training camp, not knowing who would debut, felt like a distant past from years ago.
A quiet voice came from beside me.
“Moon-dae Moon-dae. I know I said ‘regardless of the result’…”
“…….”
“But I still hope the result is good.”
I answered only with the shape of my lips.
Yeah.
That summer.
TeSTAR hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100.