Chapter 183
Chapter 183
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Got Help from Ji-ah Unnie, and Got Betrayed by Ji-ah Unnie!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The day after getting advice from Ji-ah unnie.
I headed to the composer's studio as usual today.
"Hello! Looking forward to working with you again today!"
"Come on in. You seem especially full of energy today, Da-jeong."
"Hehe, do I?"
No sooner had I opened the door than I bowed at a perfect ninety degrees in greeting.
The composer, who had been looking at me with a slightly surprised expression, spoke up.
Even to outsiders, today's me must seem brimming with confidence.
Yeah, and rightfully so.
After all, Ji-ah unnie's advice yesterday had been a huge help.
After getting home, I practiced it over and over before bed, and it felt on a whole different level from before.
"Sh-should we head straight to the recording booth?"
"Nah, sit down and catch your breath first. Good things don't come from rushing. Want some cocoa?"
"Ah, thank you..."
Brimming with enthusiasm, I pointed toward the recording booth door and asked.
But the composer waved me off with his usual laid-back attitude and offered me cocoa instead.
I always notice it, but there's a huge gap between his thorough work mode and his everyday self.
*Slurp-*
Soon, the composer handed me a steaming mug.
As I took a sip of the cocoa inside...
He rested his chin on his hand, stared at me intently, and opened his mouth.
"Anyway, judging by your expression, looks like you made some progress?"
"Hehe, yeah. A little."
Honestly, I wanted to say, "A lot!"
But if I did and the final result ended up bad, I'd feel bad about it.
I nodded awkwardly and fiddled with the rim of the mug.
"Oho, did you get advice from someone?"
"Yes, from one of our members named Ellin unnie."
It was fine in front of the composer.
But no need to drop real names.
I used her stage name, and the composer nodded in admiration.
"Ah, Ellin? I know her well. I've been watching some videos of your other members lately, not just yours."
"Really? Wow...!"
I couldn't help but cheer at the news that even the composer knew Ji-ah unnie.
From what I'd heard before, the composer didn't watch much of our members' content besides mine.
Looks like he's officially become a Pista now.
Hehe, good job casually mentioning the members whenever there was a chance during work.
Last time when I gave him my merch as a gift, I threw in the other members' too.
This counts as successful proselytizing, right?
"I listened to her songs, and yeah, Ellin's vocals are solid."
"Right? Right?! Ellin unnie is the undisputed vocal queen among our members!"
When even the composer—who'd worked with top pro singers—praised her, I got super excited and started gushing about Ji-ah unnie's strengths.
The composer, who had been watching me quietly...
"Pfft. Da-jeong, you seem happier than if you were the one getting praised."
"Eh? R-really?"
"Yeah, it looked like your tail would be wagging if you had one."
He suddenly burst out laughing and said that.
Embarrassed, I turned away and sipped my cocoa.
It wasn't shame from getting hyped over member praise; it was his image of me with a wagging tail.
Come to think of it, Yuna had said something similar not long ago when she visited our house.
She saw me with Tofu and went, "You two look alike?"
Ugh, what if I'm really turning into Tofu?
"Alright, then. Let's see how well you learned it."
"Y-yes! Please take care of me."
After a short break, the composer took off his cardigan and spoke.
Sensing the moment had arrived, I reflexively stood up and entered the recording booth.
"Hoo, ha. Hoo, ha."
I'd had some confidence on the way here.
But facing the mic, I felt a bit intimidated again.
Still, I clenched my fist and tried to shake off the worries.
Yeah, it'll be fine.
The feeling when I did it like Ji-ah unnie taught me yesterday was amazing.
I even added my own interpretation while practicing at home.
It felt way better than yesterday's feedback, so let's go in with confidence.
"Ready, Da-jeong? Let's try a one-take first."
"Yes!"
As always in recordings, first up was a one-take.
Singing straight through without stopping.
Seems like it's the composer's unique style.
I took a light breath and stared at the A4 sheet in front of me.
It had my personal notes scribbled next to each lyric.
Lately, it's become my most precious possession that I carry everywhere.
♪~
"The words you said for me."
"Finally realizing, I run to you."
"The story I wanted to tell you."
"A bit late, but will you listen?"
Matching the bright, hopeful intro accompaniment.
I let out a strong voice for the opening.
My voice came back through the mic into my headphones.
A strangely uplifting emotion swelled in my chest.
This part I'd sung over and over yesterday.
But the emotion from my heart felt on another level.
Probably because I'd come to truly understand the message and feelings I wanted to convey through this song.
I passed the intro without issue, and finally, that part approached.
The part I couldn't get past even after twenty-plus tries yesterday.
But somehow, there was no tension.
I could do it.
Ji-ah unnie's voice echoed in my head from somewhere.
"I've cast aside all weak feelings. No more hesitation..."
Just like Ji-ah unnie said.
Without forcing power, ditching the gruffness, I sang the lyrics with a light heart.
No word from the composer.
Maybe planning to watch the whole one-take.
Or maybe he liked it and was just listening through.
I pushed aside guesses and continued singing.
Right now, the only important thing was focusing on the song and finishing it properly to the end.
"Thank you..."
Pouring emotion into every single letter, without missing any.
To the members, to the Cherries.
To everyone who loves this me, I finished the song with that heartfelt resolve.
As the song ended, my eyes met the composer's through the glass.
He stays expressionless during work as a default.
So it's hard to gauge from his face if it went well.
Wondering how it turned out, I waited nervously for his feedback...
"Yeah, that's good, Da-jeong. You can come out now."
"Yes...?!"
His flat voice came through the booth speakers.
I jumped in surprise.
Work wasn't done yet.
Our positions were fixed like this.
Meaning he said that because there was no point continuing.
Was it that bad?
Was it all just my arrogance?
All sorts of thoughts swirled in my head.
"N-no, wait! I can sing more! It's fine, composer...!"
If I left the booth now, I felt like I couldn't come back.
I shouted desperately, clinging like to his pant leg.
A puzzled voice came back from the composer.
"Huh? Why? Was there a part you didn't like? Which one?"
"Y-yes...?"
I was the one flustered by the question.
Uh, what?
I thought he was saying it was so bad there was no point continuing, so go home for today?
"I want to use that take. It was great."
"Ah...!"
As his words continued amid my doubts.
I finally relaxed and let out a quiet gasp of relief.
Yes.
With just that one one-take, I'd gotten the OK from no less than VN composer himself.
On the way home after finishing work.
I floated on cloud nine the whole time.
I couldn't tell if it was a dream or reality.
Even after leaving the booth, I asked the composer several times to confirm.
It might undermine his pro integrity.
But I worried if he'd given the OK just to be nice because my skill wasn't enough.
But the composer said that in all his career, he'd only given one-take OKs to exactly three singers.
Since I was one of them, hold my head high and don't worry.
Only then did I realize I'd truly impressed him with my singing.
Overjoyed, I lounged on the sofa for a good while before heading home.
On the other hand, I was itching to share the news with Ji-ah unnie right away.
"Hehe..."
I got home right on time, turned on my computer, and opened the internet.
Ji-ah unnie was in the middle of her broadcast.
From the chat, it seemed she was casually talking about our date yesterday.
I wanted to spam the chat with this great news immediately.
But since it was internal company stuff.
I decided to send a sneaky message on Discord or KakaoTalk instead, and was about to type...
"...Huh?"
I hadn't typed in chat yet, so she didn't know I was here.
At unnie's sudden topic, I tilted my head.
Did I do anything special in front of her yesterday? I wondered.
Not to mention calling it a 'cute habit.'
Do I even have one like that?
"......"
Yeah, I do have one.
Well, not sure if it's cute.
Anyway, I did have that habit.
One I absolutely never wanted the Cherries to find out about.
Realizing unnie had spilled it on stream without my permission.
Stung by betrayal, I hammered the keyboard like I was gonna break it.
Now I knew why she stared at me noting and laughed yesterday!
Even after they realized I'd heard everything.
At unnie shamelessly apologizing with coquettish hums and aegyo...
I...
...completely fell for it.
Of course, my fave pulling out the cheat key aegyo like that!
I had no choice but to forgive!
I know it's unfair in my head!
But what can I do? She's too cute not to!