Level Up (6)
“Sunsol~!!”
“Haha, you’re really gonna call me that from now on?”
“Yeah! You don’t like it?”
“Nah, it’s just... hearing my name turned into a nickname like that feels kinda fresh.”
We’d been chatting over messages when the idea came up about making a cute pet name for me since she’d be calling out to me from outside. My name’s Jin Haesol, so she tweaked “Haesol” by swapping “hae” for “sun”—Sunsol. Ahyun’s adorable little brainstorm. I hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but hearing it for real? Not bad at all.
“Can’t have you being the only one with a nickname, so maybe I should come up with one for you as payback?”
“Eek! Yes, make me one! I wanna be called by a nickname too!”
The second we met up, we were glued together, flirting nonstop. Ahyun seemed determined not to show me her gloomy side, acting even more bubbly than usual. Girlfriend aegyo is always a mood booster, but when it’s just a mask for her real feelings? No way I could let that slide.
We messed around picking a nickname for her, then I gently took both her hands, locked eyes, and asked softly.
“Ahyun-ah, is it something hard to open up about to me?”
She shook her head.
“Then can you tell me what’s been bothering you?”
“It’s really nothing big…”
I kept staring straight at her until she finally spilled. Why she’d been feeling down, what was weighing on her mind lately.
“Actually, my mom suggested maybe quitting the company and trying to study for something.”
“Study?”
“I told her my goals, but I guess it didn’t impress her. She said, working as a company staffer, how amazing can it really be? I’m still young—wouldn’t it be better to dream bigger?”
“Hmm…”
It was exactly the kind of thing her parents might say. But like she’d claimed, it sure as hell wasn’t “nothing big.”
“What do you mean? That’s huge! It’s about your future—how could that not be important?”
“I wasn’t gonna do it anyway…”
“Why? Wouldn’t studying be better?”
“My dream is helping you become a star. Quitting to study doesn’t make sense.”
I knew I should respect her choice, but something about it rubbed me the wrong way. Sticking as a low-level company drone? Her ceiling’s gonna be glass either way.
Is she seriously gonna end up like me back on Earth?
That’d suck. I knew firsthand how soul-crushing corporate life was—rotting away in a cubicle. Better she scrapes her knees chasing freedom in the world than watch her suit up, dark circles under zombie eyes, killing her youth one office day at a time.
“Honestly? I think taking your mom’s advice seriously wouldn’t hurt.”
“…You think I should quit and study?”
Her eyes went wide—she clearly hadn’t seen that coming.
“Sure, I love you helping me at the company. But if you’re only there because of me? Rethink it. There’s more ways to support me than being a staffer.”
“Other ways?”
She tilted her head, like the thought had never crossed her mind. I knew her hobby was composing songs. Even after quitting trainee life, it was the one thing she stuck with. She’d play me her tracks sometimes, but with my tin ear for music, I couldn’t give her useful feedback.
“Music. Like, properly learning to compose. Seems like a good fit for you. And if you make something great, you could give it to me—help out that way.”
“I’ve never even thought of that…”
“Why not? I figured since you love making songs, you’d wanna be a composer someday.”
“I’m not special. My songs aren’t special. It’s just a hobby, scribbling a bit…”
“Says who? The company’s composing lessons aren’t that pro anyway. You’re swamped with dance and vocals—how could you focus? Learn it right, bump up against the world a bit, then decide. Won’t be too late.”
Ahyun’s self-esteem had tanked after failing as an idol. Poured her twenties into dance and song, then bam—nothing left. Tough for a kid just hitting adulthood to handle alone. Becoming a staffer was her stepping back from life, choosing safety over risk. Fine for some, maybe the smart play.
But she’s not hurting for cash. Wasting her vibrant twenties settling? Youth’s too precious.
Not everyone can chase dreams. Ahyun was young enough to leap, not nest. If composing didn’t spark her eyes like it did just now, fine. But her low confidence was holding her back—she just needed a push. I knew she’d crush it.
“Don’t fear failing.”
“…But I already failed once? Wasted years on that. Fail again, everyone’ll think I’m pathetic.”
“Why care what they think? Who are they to judge your wins or losses? Keep pushing without quitting, and you haven’t failed. And if you ever wanna drop composing? Tell me. I’ll take responsibility for the rest of your life.”
If she bombed as a composer again, I’d make her my wife. In this world, being a man’s wife was elite—no one turns that down. She’d get envy from single women everywhere. No finger-pointing at “failure.”
“…W-what’s that supposed to mean?”
Her voice trembled. Playing dumb after catching on?
I pulled her into my arms, nipping her ear with my teeth.
“Eek!”
“Don’t play coy when you know.”
She clutched my collar tight, burying her face in my chest like she was still scared. I held her, soothing until she perked up.
“I’ll give it a shot, like you said.”
“For real? Deciding just like that?”
“Yeah. You said you’d take responsibility, so I’ll try. If it flops, I’ll cling to you for the rest.”
I stroked her smooth forehead and hair.
Too cute—makes you wanna bite. Spot on.
“Cute as hell. Don’t become some big-shot composer later and refuse to give me songs, okay?”
“Hehe! Might happen. So treat me right.”
“Who do you think I am? Haha!!”
I scooped her up by the butt.
Mwah mwah mwah! Mwah mwah mwah!
Peppered her lips. Choosing challenge over comfort? So proud, so lovable.
Blushing shyly from the kisses, she asked,
“…Wanna do it?”
“You’re too pretty—I do. Hate it?”
“No. Love it.”
I stole her beaming smile and headed to bed with her.
Ahyun followed through—quit the company first thing, handing in her resignation. Surprising? They accepted without a fuss. According to Boksun noona, few ex-trainees turned staffers stick it out.
“Reasons vary, but hardly anyone joins thinking it’s a real career. Pay’s meh. Smarter to study for something else. Thought she’d tough it out for you, though. Unexpected.”
“I encouraged her to chase it. With proper training, she’ll kill it.”
Hoping her future shines. Her making hits I sing, fueling my career—that’d be gold. And it wasn’t just on her.
“Let’s start class.”
“You’ve been way more intense lately?”
“Gotta work to sing her songs right.”
To not embarrass my girl, I needed pro-level skills for her tracks. Pre-comeback, I grinded toward higher levels.
Time flew in practice mode—a month vanished. Calendar flipped past June into late July. We’d all leveled up big time.
“You’ve slimmed down tons. Check that sharp jawline.”
“Smell chicken breast, wanna puke.”
“Your skin’s glowing.”
“Slept with a sheet mask. Plus, I’m young.”
“Eighteen-year-old fire, huh.”
Members hyped each other’s looks in the mirror. Haircut time pre-comeback. Faces round and radiant—peak condition. Dye job done, body goals locked. Just maintain.
“Recording, then MV, and boom—comeback. Time flew.”
Mini-album tracks blew debut quality away.
“Mm mm~♪ Mm mm~♪”
“Shh! No singing our songs outside.”
“Oops, right. Sorry! Habit from practicing so much.”
Four tracks total. Title’s flashy dance beat, tough group choreo—sweat city. Hip-hop vibes but balanced, not too far from debut. Company betting it seals our popularity.
◈ 1. (TITLE) Remember
◈ 2. Summer Night's Dream
◈ 3. ONE
◈ 4. Girlfriend
Personally? Love Jeki’s Girlfriend most—title aside. Vocal beast, took forever to nail, but no one’ll question our skills after. Jeki’s ditching the “visual boy group” label with this monster track. Fans’ll have ammo against haters. Even the executive okayed it for stage—real deal.