Chapter 143: Youth Never Fades (2)
143. Youth Never Fades (2)
"Actually, while preparing for this song, I had a lot of thoughts."
Dan Ha-ru began speaking softly, carefully unfolding his story.
"It was heartbreaking to think about parting ways with my hyungs, and though it hurt, preparing for the stage also felt overwhelming... Then I came across this song. 'Where am I' was recommended by Seok-i hyung, and when I read the lyrics, I felt an immediate connection."
As Ha-ru naturally gestured toward Gong Seok, the broadcast screen caught Seok fumbling with his violin bow in surprise, his expression flustered as the attention suddenly turned to him.
"That song alone conveyed so many emotions. But when we added this other song left behind by Si-woo hyung's father, I felt the message we wanted to deliver became more... more complete."
Ha-ru spoke with surprising eloquence for someone so young. Everyone present, including the older trainees sitting behind him, listened intently to his words.
As if fully aware of their attention, Ha-ru gripped the microphone steadily, his sunset-colored eyes shining as he addressed the audience.
"My hyungs said they wanted to dedicate this song to all our Desty fans. But I... I want to sing this for myself and my hyungs."
"For your hyungs?"
"Yes. For my team members here, for our friends watching from the waiting room right now, and for all our other hyungs. I learned the lessons in these lyrics through my fellow trainees and hyungs."
Ha-ru's voice carried remarkable conviction.
In that moment, Kang Ha-jin found himself reconsidering his assumption that the boy might be a fellow regressor.
What could possibly have frightened someone so resolute enough to make them flee through time?
Watching Ha-ru's backlit silhouette against the crimson sunset, another question formed in Ha-jin's mind.
Simultaneously, he remembered something obvious - that comfort and encouragement don't always require spoken words.
'...Sipsam.'
[System Alert: Yes?]
'What's Kim Won-ho doing right now?'
[System Alert: Ah... one moment please!]
After a brief static-filled pause, Sipsam returned.
[System Alert: Won-ho is in the waiting room! Thanks to the team comforting him, he seems to have calmed down somewhat.]
[System Alert: Earlier... he said he suddenly felt afraid to sing.]
[System Alert: But he seems much better now.]
[System Alert: What a relief.... (╯︵╰,)]
As Ha-jin listened to Sipsam's report about Won-ho's condition, he fell into quiet contemplation.
Without another word, he carefully placed his long, elegant fingers on the keyboard he hadn't played in so long.
Memories surfaced of his childhood piano lessons, begun after the academy director remarked he had "hands born to play piano."
Waiting for his working parents while holding younger brother Ha-won's hand, young Ha-jin would quietly listen to the director's piano performances.
Some pieces he loved so much he requested the sheet music; others he memorized the titles of to play for his parents later.
When financial difficulties forced him to quit piano lessons before learning those special pieces...
Now, Ha-jin knew how to play them.
Whenever life gave him access to a piano as an adult, he'd practice those songs.
These things exist.
Things understood without words.
Things that comfort just by being heard.
The background music accompanying life's moments.
The small things that transform a gloomy day into something bearable.
"Please enjoy our song."
Ha-jin hoped this song would be that for Won-ho.
And for himself.
For Seok, for Ha-ru, for Si-woo.
For whoever had come here to see them, leaving their complicated realities behind.
Fortunately, the present Kang Ha-jin was someone who could deliver that comfort.
"Yes. Now, let's welcome Youth Never Fades Team's performance."
Ha-jin thought...
That was truly fortunate.
The sound of wind whispered through.
At the end of the pleasantly cool breeze, Si-woo's latte-colored bangs fluttered gently.
Beneath his casually unbuttoned white shirt peeked a white short-sleeve tee with small lettering.
Dressed in light-wash jeans that weren't too tight, Jung Si-woo sat cross-legged on a tall stool, his father's tan acoustic guitar slung across him.
With silver-rimmed glasses slightly larger than his face, Si-woo looked like he'd stepped straight out of a 70s-80s youth drama - though too stylish to seem truly dated, eliciting gasps whenever his face appeared on screen.
But soon, this "70s sculpture" began strumming with peak-holding hands.
♩♩♬― ♪♪♩♬―
The emotionally charged acoustic guitar filled the evening plaza.
As the melody naturally evoked drama scenes for some, Ha-jin's piano accompaniment layered over it.
Like partners in sync, Si-woo and Ha-jin adjusted their tempo and rhythm while watching each other.
Though their in-ear monitors provided metronome clicks and pre-recorded rhythm tracks, this wasn't simply about keeping time.
They modulated emotion, controlled dynamics, and adjusted their playing to complement rather than compete.
♬♬♩♪♪―
Over this foundation, Ha-ru's xylophone joined in.
Like singing of childhood, the pure, crystalline tones formed a melody.
Ha-ru and Ha-jin sometimes played unison, other times responded to each other's phrases.
Audiences fell under the spell of their warm, affectionate performance reminiscent of sunset.
Gong Seok, with neatly parted black hair and a beige knit vest over his crisp white shirt, carefully took the microphone for the first verse.
"I don't know"
This single line had once made Seok cry himself to sleep.
Now, recalling those emotions, he chewed over each word before releasing it.
"Are you doing well?
Whenever someone asks me
These days my answer is
I don't know"
The competition had been too hard for Seok.
Truthfully, he'd never had grand dreams.
Singing was just something he happened to do okay.
He'd joined the company after an accidental casting offer.
Losing confidence among more talented, hardworking trainees,
The reason he couldn't quit was fear.
Without this, he'd become a failure who'd accomplished nothing by this age.
At least as a trainee, he could pretend he was doing something.
"Small hands gathered
Building delicate sandcastles
When white waves come crashing
Do we all just crumble?"
As Si-woo played guitar with closed eyes, taking the next verse, Seok watched him.
Despite being the same age, Si-woo seemed incredible.
The fame and achievements Si-woo had already accumulated as a pre-debut trainee were things Seok couldn't even dream of.
Beyond skill, Si-woo seemed so much more mature inside.
Comparing himself made Seok feel wretched.
Even knowing Si-woo was being considerate, Seok didn't know how to hide his own inadequacy.
—Seok-ah.
—Huh? What?
—Can you check how I sing this part?
—M-me?
—Yeah. Last time I noticed your high notes sound really comfortable and clean. I want to learn.
—But... you're way better at singing than me.
—Everyone has their own style. If you're okay with it, teach me.
Yet Si-woo sought his guidance without hesitation.
So Seok had to admit it.
This wasn't his path.
After admitting that, a new question awaited him.
"I don't know
Where should I go
Where am I going
After the sandcastle crumbles
Have we accomplished nothing?
Now, what remains for me?
Where am I?"
"Just went with the flow
But don't know the destination
Wandering lost"
From beneath a white tee with English print and a sky-blue striped shirt, Ha-jin's voice burst forth. Channeling his signature explosive emotion, he poured into the song the same overwhelming fear he'd once experienced.
That emotional line flowed seamlessly to Ha-ru.
"Where are we, now?
Can't find our way back"
Clutching the mic stand with both hands, Ha-ru sang as if questioning the world, his youthful earnestness tugging heartstrings.
"On nights too dreamless for stars
Do we just stop like this?
If I get eliminated from survival,
What becomes of me?
Do I become a failure?
Does everything just end like this?
What should I do now?"
The worries that kept Seok awake weren't his alone.
Everyone had thought this way at least once.
All of us.
Woo― woowoo―
Si-woo hummed a melody the public had never heard.
'Where am I' represented both Si-woo's struggles and his father's lifelong questions.
And the song he'd sing now was the answer his father found after that lifetime of questioning.
More carefully than ever, Si-woo selected each note.
His father's song - more precious than any other.
"On days I suffered, unable to love myself
One beautiful flower that stubbornly bloomed"
Si-woo, who usually sang prettily and calmly, now poured out every emotion as his voice soared.
He didn't care that his voice cracked differently than usual,
That veins stood out on his neck from the strain,
That his guitar-playing hands gripped too tightly.
He sang freely.
"In times I ached, unable to love myself
That small breath that stubbornly wove happiness"
This was the song he'd so admired -
His father's song.