The Smallest Stage

Before dawn, Cheol-jun snapped his eyes open.

He sat up in bed and looked around. Uncle Hyeong-man and Chan-woo hyung were both snoring away.

Ah, that hyung's name wasn't Rian, but Min Chan-woo.

No wonder he had never heard Aunt Yeon-mi call him Rian.

It seemed like a stage name he planned to use when he became a singer.

After they sang together yesterday, Chan-woo hyung had been immediately cornered by Aunt Yeon-mi and lectured for a long time.

So, in the end, they hadn't been able to talk much.

It was a bit of a shame, as he had so many things he wanted to ask about that song.

Anyway, after enduring the long lecture, Uncle Hyeong-man had handed him some soju, which ended up getting Chan-woo hyung drunk all over again.

But this time, before he could even start crying or anything, he just passed straight out. Uncle Hyeong-man had scooped him up, laid him down in the camper van, and he had been sleeping like that ever since.

Cheol-jun chuckled at the sound of Chan-woo hyung's snoring, then turned his head to look out the window, his brow furrowing slightly.

Now that he was out of the city and by the sea, a routine he had forgotten for a while suddenly came back to him.

Cheol-jun crept out of bed and slipped into his sneakers instead of his Crocs.

Then, as quietly as possible, he opened the camper van door and stepped outside.

"Whoa..."

The color of the sky just above the horizon before dawn was truly beautiful.

For the first time in a while, Cheol-jun focused on stretching his body.

He did several sets of squats, thoroughly waking up his leg muscles.

Having finished a proper warm-up, Cheol-jun began to run along the path running parallel to the beach.

The salty air tasted wonderful.

The sea breeze in Dalian had smelled incredibly fishy, but here, it was wonderfully refreshing.

When he lived in Dalian, he used to run like this every day with his dad, Jaegang.

Looking to his side, he suddenly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠felt a pang of emptiness.

Back then, his legs were much shorter, so his dad had purposely run slowly to match his pace.

Now, he could run much faster than before, but his dad wasn't here.

Cheol-jun sniffled once and picked up his pace.

Running alongside the ocean was truly exhilarating.

However, he found himself out of breath much sooner than expected.

He really hadn't exercised much since coming to Korea.

He had forgotten to do his push-ups and sit-ups.

And it had been ages since he last hit a punching bag.

"Calisthenics must become a habit. Muscles and stamina built up through habit will never betray you."

He felt a prick of guilt.

He recalled his dad's words about how building a good habit takes a long time, but forgetting it happens in an instant.

Back then, the very idea of taking a break from exercising had never crossed his mind.

He resolved to make sure he exercised regularly from now on.

...Huh?

Far off on the horizon, the sun was just beginning to peek its head out.

Cheol-jun stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening as he took in the sight.

His face began to be bathed in a warm, red glow.

His eyes sparkled.

His mouth parted slightly without him realizing.

Watching the crimson energy tear through the ocean right before his eyes was a truly mystical and overwhelming spectacle.

The sun rose above the horizon in what felt like an instant.

The shimmering path of light created where the sunbeams met the sea was breathtakingly beautiful.

So that's what they call sparkling ripples...

Cheol-jun smiled brightly and turned back toward the camper van.

And then, he began to run again.

Running at full speed until his lungs burned made him feel somehow connected to the days he had run with his dad, Jaegang.

The sun that had risen back then.

The ocean that had surged back then.

The breath that had caught in his chest back then.

Oh. This is actually pretty cool.

It was amazing how such beautiful words would just drift into his mind whenever he thought without focusing on numbers.

He loved the sensation he had discovered yesterday, thanks to Chan-woo hyung.

Expressing something purely through emotion rather than patterns was truly magnificent.

Producing sounds freely with his own throat felt entirely different from playing the piano.

I'll have to ask hyung to sing with me again later!

Cheol-jun panted, a bright smile on his face.

The camper van drew closer and closer.

"Hey!"

Yeon-mi shrieked as she bolted upright.

She blinked blankly, looking around her surroundings.

Her back was stiff.

"Ah... damn it. This is why I never sleep on the floor..."

She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Fortunately, it didn't seem like she had cried.

Then again, it wasn't exactly a scene to cry over.

It was more of an infuriating one.

"I am absolutely sleeping in a hotel tonight."

Sigh...

Still, it had been a long time since she had dreamed of those days.

And quite vividly, at that.

A chuckle escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Ah... I wanted to sleep in properly since I came all this way...

She lay back down, but it seemed highly unlikely she would fall back asleep.

From the moment the sun began to rise, the construction of a temporary stage was in full swing at the edge of the beach.

Sitting under a large tent set up next to it, the event's general manager scanned the beach.

Sigh, there's barely going to be anyone here...

The manager was a veteran when it came to local events like this.

As such, he could get a feel for how it would go just by looking at the morning atmosphere.

The plastic chairs set up as spectator seats would likely only be sparsely occupied by families on vacation or local elders.

Well, as long as he got paid, the size of the audience didn't really matter to him, but a loud, bustling crowd was always more exciting and fun.

He had his professional reputation to consider, too.

It seemed unlikely he would get any good photos or videos to post on their blog or Instagram today.

The manager pinched the bridge of his nose and stood up.

He tapped the shoulder of the MC, who was dozing off next to him.

"Hey. Let's go grab a smoke."

The manager placed a cigarette between his lips as he led the MC, whose face was hollow from God knows how much drinking the night before, up to the road overlooking the beach.

He glared at the MC.

"Today's event is three hours long. Get your head in the game."

"Come on, is this my first time? I can already tell there won't be many people. But seriously, are there only four singers? You want me to fill the rest of the time?"

"Hey, what can I do when that's all the budget allowed? At least they all agreed to sing four songs each. Just run some sort of talent show or singing contest during the gaps."

"You need ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an audience for that. It's going to end up like Ayajin Beach last time, where I had to play backing tracks and put on a solo show."

"If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all else fails, play some Pororo songs, drag whatever kids are watching onto the stage, and liven up the mood. Hand out some prizes too."

"That doesn't really work these days..."

"Hey, a pro has to deal with the ups and downs. Tsk."

"The problem is it's always like this. Hyung, the events you've been landing lately are just... depressing. There's no excitement."

"You little..."

"And the singers are all completely nameless..."

"It's the budget! The budget! Oh, and leave a ten-minute slot open at the end. Jo Ha-yang is coming."

"Oh! Really? She's coming?"

"She was performing in Yangyang yesterday, so I asked her to drop by here on her way back."

"How many songs is she singing?"

"Two."

"Oh... I should take some photos with her later."

Jo Ha-yang was at least a B-list trot singer.

She had made a name for herself by reaching the semi-finals of a major trot survival show, and these days, she occasionally appeared on variety shows.

The MC's expression softened slightly at the prospect of seeing an actual celebrity for once.

"Anyway, don't nag me if there are some quiet moments later. I can't work miracles. Ah, damn it. There are barely any clouds today. It's going to be scorching hot. Scorching. I doubt we'll even have any audience members willing to get on stage..."

The manager glared at the MC, clicked his tongue, and took a deep drag of his cigarette.

Even though he grumbled like that, the guy was a seasoned veteran who would get the job done.

Phew. As he exhaled the smoke and turned his head, he finally noticed a child standing nearby.

Startled, he quickly waved his hand to disperse the smoke, then hastily stubbed out the cigarette on the ground.

Then, he nudged the MC.

"Hey! Hey! A kid."

"Ah..."

The MC quickly put out his cigarette as well.

They felt even more guilty because ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the child was staring at them with wide, round eyes.

But the kid was incredibly cute.

The boy offered a bright smile and bowed politely.

"Hello!"

"Ah, oh... Yeah. Hello there."

"Are you having a show over there today?"

"Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Come watch later."

"Whoa! Are singers coming too?"

"Of course!"

Though they were only nameless singers a kid his age wouldn't know.

"Wow! That sounds so fun!"

"Haha..."

"But can people from the audience go up on stage too?"

"Sure! We even give out prizes."

"Whoa!"

"Haha. Come up later. This mister will make sure you get a prize, no matter what."

"Oh, but there's a hyung who's an amazing singer!"

"Really?"

"Yes! I'll bring him later! He can stand on that stage then, right?"

"Sure! Of course!"

"Thank you!"

"Haha."

"Hehe."

The little kid smiled brightly.

How could a kid be so adorable?

He was incredibly sharp and polite, too.

"I'll see you later then!"

He bowed politely once more and pitter-pattered away.

The two men watched his small, retreating back with warm smiles.

Min Chan-woo's eyes widened at the words he heard the moment he tumbled out of the camper van, scratching his messy hair.

"Exactly! See over there? They're having a show there later! You said you wanted to stand on a stage! So I went ahead and talked to them!"

Min Chan-woo stared blankly at the stage in the distance.

A tiny, temporary stage.

Plastic chairs that barely numbered over a hundred, even by a generous estimate.

"They said real singers are coming too!"

"..."

"As long as you don't get nervous and sing just like you did yesterday, everyone will love it! I should tell Aunt Yeon-mi later too! I heard she used to be a singer as well. This is going to be so much fun!"

"..."

"Aw, don't tell me you're nervous already! Should I go up with you?"

Nervous?

The man who had filled Sangam World Cup Stadium with fifty thousand people and sung?

Chan-woo couldn't help but chuckle.

Seeing his reaction, Cheol-jun beamed.

"Hehe. Thank goodness. It sounds great when you think about it, right?"

"Haha. Yeah! It's great!"

"I bet everyone will be super shocked when you sing, hyung! What was that word? Ah! A debut stage! A debut stage!"

Cheol-jun flapped his arms excitedly as he spoke, and for a brief moment, Chan-woo's heart skipped a beat.

Debut stage?

It was a phrase he had completely forgotten at some point.

Chan-woo looked back at the stage.

He had never stood on such a small stage in his entire life.

Nor had he ever sung in front of an audience that didn't know who he was.

And naturally, he had never projected his voice through such humble speakers.

"Haha..."

A debut stage.

And the new song they had made yesterday.

This, too, was a fleeting moment woven together by coincidences that would never happen again.

There was an acoustic guitar resting in the corner of the stage.

If he could just borrow that, he could make it work somehow.

This is going to be amazing.

Chan-woo's eyes flashed with a sudden spark.

"Uh, Cheol-jun?"

"Yes!"

"I'm going to write some lyrics to go with the melody I hummed yesterday. Will you help me look over them?"

Cheol-jun smiled brightly.

"Yes! I'd love to!"

Inside a white Carnival limousine parked in the beach parking lot.

Trot singer Jo Ha-yang let out a soft sigh as she looked out at the beach stretching before her.

Her cousin and manager, who had been carefully reading her expression, spoke up hesitantly.

"Should we... just head back up to Seoul?"

"No. That manager helped me out a lot with gigs in the past. He caught wind that I was down in Yangyang, so it would be rude to just leave."

"Sigh, I still don't know if this is right. Especially with the pay..."

"It's fine. I only have to sing two songs and then we can go."

"Hey, you have a reputation now. The scale of this event is way too small."

Jo Ha-yang chuckled.

"It brings back memories. I like it."

Just three years ago, she had run herself ragged trying to get onto stages exactly like that one.

Well, she still wasn't a household name, but she was recognized by people here and there now.

Naturally, her performance fees had gone up, and these days, she was able to sing on fairly large stages.

Seeing a stage like that after so long made her realize all over again how grateful she should be for her current situation.

"Get some rest. They said Part 1 starts around eleven, so you can start getting ready after one. They're doing some singing contest or whatever, and you're the final act... though I don't know if a singing contest will even work with so few people. I'll go check on things in a bit."

"Okay. Thanks, Oppa."

Jo Ha-yang slipped a thick neck pillow around her neck to avoid messing up her styled hair and reclined her seat.

Choi Yeon-mi, her face completely concealed by large sunglasses and a mask that wrapped all the way up to her neck, stared blankly at the camper van.

"So what? The two of them are writing a song together?"

Hyeong-man chuckled and nodded.

"They said they're going up on that stage later."

Yeon-mi's eyes widened behind her sunglasses.

"Who? Chan-woo?"

"Yeah."

"Chan-woo is going to sing? Over there?"

"That's what he said."

"Why?"

"Who knows? He and Cheol-jun are having the time of their lives."

"..."

"They've gotten really close. Maybe there's some kind of connection that only geniuses share? Anyway, I overheard them humming earlier, and it sounded pretty good to my ears."

"So Chan-woo is going to perform there...? Why?"

"Haha..."

Hyeong-man shook his head.

She seemed completely dumbfounded.

"Cheol-jun said it would be fun if you went up on that stage too..."

"Me?"

Hyeong-man, processing the situation in his head once more, couldn't help but chuckle.

It was an absurdly grand event that only Cheol-jun could have dreamed up and set in motion.

"He said he wants to see you sing too. Since they're giving out... pfft... prizes..."

"...Me, on that stage?"

Though her face was completely hidden by her sunglasses and mask, one could only imagine the sheer disbelief written all over it.

"Pfft..."

For the first time in a long while, Hyeong-man burst into genuine, hearty laughter.