Level Up (7)
A mini-album usually contains about four to eight tracks. So we figured we'd squeeze in five or six songs. But the company decided on just four, saying there was no point cramming in more. Dumping a ton of tracks to chase trends doesn't guarantee more popularity these days. They picked the best ones we'd already put out, and now it was time to focus on those.
"Kinda random, but do guys like that even exist these days?"
"Guys like what?"
"The kind from Girlfriend."
We were prepping for our comeback stage at the broadcasting station, where we'd perform the title track and show the fans Girlfriend too. So we were sweating the details on both. Bleaching hair takes forever, so to kill time, we chatted about everything under the sun. That's when Nam Eungyu spouted some nonsense.
"Sure they do. It's every girl's fantasy, right?"
"I never imagined Jeki hyung writing lyrics like that. You're such a romantic."
"Shut up."
Jeki brushed off the members' teasing with a cool expression that didn't match the cringey lyrics he'd penned. Girlfriend's lyrics were about a guy's pure love for one woman—bragging to everyone around, just a little obnoxiously, about how pretty and lovable his girlfriend was. And we were singing it like the fans were our girlfriends.
"Practicing felt like confessing a hundred times over. Now for the real deal."
"Ugh, I wanna date someone!"
"Whoa, hyung! That's dangerous talk."
"No one's around but us—what's the harm?"
The members were smack in the middle of puberty, hormones raging with interest in the opposite sex. Pretty girls were everywhere, and everyone knew they'd grab any hand extended their way. But with Manager Noona keeping a tight leash—and us holding back anyway—we stayed in check.
"You rebelling against the pain by whining?"
"I didn't want green hair. I'm not a weed—why green of all colors?"
"Summer vibe?"
"What does summer have to do with grass? And on my face? Would it even work?"
Nam Eungyu eyed Kang Jun's face enviously, knowing it'd look good even with grass hair.
"Why doubt yourself? Your face is fine."
"Honestly, I'm not that handsome. Why not have Haesol hyung do it? He'd rock any style."
Me with grass hair? I pictured my morning mirror self, mentally painting it green.
Not bad.
But I shook my head. "The coordi noona knows your face better than you do. She said it'd suit you, so don't sweat it. It'll look great."
After rounds of bleaching, the real dyeing kicked off. By sunset, our rainbow heads were done: Kang Jun silver, Nam Eungyu green, me blue-black, Jeki brown, Kang Kyungtae gold, Ki Uyeon pink. Staring at each other, we couldn't help snickering.
"Still not used to it."
"I'm seriously not a lawn?"
"Huh... it's not bad. Actually, kinda works."
Eungyu's green, which he'd freaked out over, turned out fine. Still grassy, sure, but okay.
"Isn't my hair too hot pink? It pops way too much."
"Wash it once and it'll fade. Looks pretty to me—suits you better than expected."
"Really?"
Ki Uyeon's fluffy pink, like sheep wool, matched his puppy face surprisingly well. We all gave him thumbs up.
"Hee hee hee!"
Hearing it fit from everyone lit him up; he grinned ear to ear. Then he jolted.
"Hyung hyung hyung!"
"What what what?"
"Look over there!!"
"Where?"
I turned to where Uyeon pointed. Strangers were piling into the shop.
"Why them?"
"Hyung, you don't recognize? It's Jelly Nyang sunbaenim!"
"Jelly what?"
"Jelly Nyang sunbaenim??"
"Whoa, for real?"
"Gasp!"
"We gotta greet them, right?"
"Duh!"
I was clueless, but the members tensed up, bowing 90 degrees. I followed suit.
"Hello!!! We're Airplane!!"
"Oh? Other customers here besides us."
"Whoa~ Our juniors? Rainbow heads give it away."
"Who's that? Stupid handsome."
"Oh! I know—Honey Enter, right?"
In strutted the fresh-faced girl idols: Jelly Nyang. Four members—Lia, Ayoung, Somin, Sujin.
Damn, the idol scene's cutthroat. Their aura's insane.
Just their entrance brightened the room. Compared to Jua noona, they didn't fall short—no...
Honestly, with all that upkeep, they're even prettier.
But seeing them confirmed it: Jua noona's looks were too good to waste in obscurity. Their effortless poise screamed top-tier popularity.
"Yes, Lia sunbaenim! That's us."
"Totally Honey Enter vibe. Comeback soon? Ours is coming up too."
"August."
"Aigoo~ Overlap? Disaster. With hunks like you, will fans even glance our way?"
"No way!! We'll take it as encouragement and work harder!"
"Hee hee... Whoa, mama!"
Lia, chatting casually with Kyungtae, locked eyes with me and startled.
"Is that a person?"
She pointed, asking outright. No dodging it—especially with all eyes on me already.
"...Yes, a person."
"Pfft!"
"Our hyung does look inhumanly handsome."
"Whoa~ Wow~ How~!"
They gushed, then:
"Don't come near me on stage."
"Gotta put in a good word."
"Hate to say it with members here, but why idol? Actor visuals."
"Can't act."
"Fair answer. Accepted."
Giggles erupted. What was this? Felt... purifying!
Suddenly, buried memories stirred. Military days idol stages that fueled my frenzy. Rare joys amid hellish times, now precious in hindsight. Faded with time, but...
They hit me now...
This is pro idols?
I'd seen girl groups plenty—overlapping schedules made avoiding them harder. But fresh debut, surrounded by women already, work-first mindset... Until today, their giggles revived it all.
Pretty. Insanely pretty. Healing? Feel bad for Jua noona. Gotta treat her better.
Jelly Nyang sunbaenim giggled and chatted a bit longer, then coolly headed off when called. Left behind, we clutched our racing hearts.
"First time seeing Jelly Nyang sunbaenim up close. Gorgeous."
"Heart's exploding."
"Voices like rolling jade beads."
"Stars, yet so sweet. Rumors checks out."
Broadcasting world's all rumors—truth twisted with lies. Blind faith or total dismissal? Both dumb. Pure contradiction.
"Treating rookies like us so nicely? Rumors true. Aaaah, should've got autographs. Too late now?"
"Mid-hair? Awkward."
Women hate being seen mid-makeover—hair flipping, foreheads out.
"Ask at the station later."
"Ugh, bummer. No paper or pen anyway."
Members shrugged off regrets. Manager Noona arrived, loading us into the van. I snuck a Jelly Nyang search on my phone—everyone else knew, not me.
Couldn't gossip girls with her there, so members busied themselves.
What? This huge? I've heard their songs on the street.
Number-one machines, solo slays too. Snack-name group, household name.
Good I played dumb. Weirder not to know.
Curiosity spiraled: songs, fandom size, concert fancams, MVs, lives.
Addictive!!!! Nostalgia hits.
Fandom's scary. Army hooked me, discharge freed me. Reality's cold slap!
Stop. Or I'll stan.
Normal life? No peer chats. Fan vs. colleague? Worlds apart.
Idol life... not bad.
Constant praise, attention—can't keep hating it. Not easy; tougher than office jobs sometimes. Entertainers demand more talents, yet survival's brutal.
Both suck, but pick one? Idol.
Why? Not easier.
Talent = big bucks!!
Money first in life. Idol cash cow, smart play = comfy retirement.
Big family coming—gotta grind. Who else cares for my girls? Plus perks like this(?).
Idol fire reignited, salon fiasco faded.