Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Hierarchy of Minibuses
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“So you’re suggesting we naturally cover for each other’s mistakes?”
Thankfully, he seemed interested in what I had to say.
“Yes. This program specifically gathered people who have all debuted at least once. As such, it demands we present a professional image.”
“That’s true.”
He nodded in agreement.
“So, I thought it would be a good idea to show that we can handle unexpected situations on stage with composure.”
I had done all I could.
Now, all I could do was hope he would say something to the Grade B members.
“Thanks for the good advice. I’ll be on my way now.”
“Okay.”
“Keep up the good work.”
After a brief farewell, he returned to where the Grade B members were gathered.
Not long after, Lee Ho-jun appeared.
“Hyung. He asked me to give you this.”
I handed the ointment to Lee Ho-jun.
“Ah. Looks like Eun-woo-hyung was here.”
Eun-woo.
I finally understood why his face had seemed so familiar.
‘So that was Jung Eun-woo.’
Jung Eun-woo.
He was the main rapper of RE-V, a group that had successfully debuted through RED CUBE.
With his tall stature and exotic looks, he was sometimes mistaken for being mixed-race.
He was also the only member from Grade B to survive.
[Eun-woo literally looks like the captain of an American rugby team, but the fact that he's such a gentleman just melts my heart.]
↳That contrast drives me crazy~
↳But seriously, just by his looks, you'd think he's mixed-race. I can't believe he's 100% Korean.
“Yesterday, I noticed his heels were all scraped up, probably because of a problem with his practice shoes, so I lent him some. Let’s get going, too.”
“Okay.”
We were supposed to take a car to the studio, so we headed to the parking lot.
“Wow, this is just cruel.”
“Ah…”
Seeing the vehicles parked in the lot, a mix of awe and strange groans escaped us.
The production team had even differentiated the vehicles by grade.
They were all minibuses, but their exteriors were different.
The Grade A minibus was a cute, sky-blue color, looking like something out of a music video, while the Grade F minibus looked like it wouldn’t be surprising if it suddenly broke down on the road.
“This is too much.”
“I’m just glad I’m not in Grade F.”
“Look at the Grade F kids trying to keep a straight face. I’d be the same. That’s just not right.”
The minibuses for Grade C and D weren’t much better, but they seemed to take comfort in seeing the Grade F bus.
“Please board according to your grade.”
At the staff’s direction, we each boarded our respective vehicles.
Lee Ho-jun sat next to me.
That much was fine.
Until Haru and Kang Ju-hyeok sat in the seats in front of us.
“How long do you think it’ll take to get there?”
As if he wasn’t uncomfortable at all, Kang Ju-hyeok turned around to talk to us.
“It’s not too far from Seoul, so it shouldn’t take long, right? It’s a weekday, not the weekend, and this is kind of an off-hour.”
The filming for RED CUBE was taking place on an entire floor of a broadcast station on the outskirts of Seoul.
So, as Haru said, it probably wouldn’t take very long.
“That’s true, 10 AM is a bit of an awkward time.”
“And if it were a long drive, wouldn’t we have gone without makeup?”
“Makeup aside, you’re right about the hair. It would get ruined quickly if you lean back. I once had to go to a regional event that was a four-hour drive away, and I fell asleep in the car. When I woke up, my hair was a complete disaster. You wouldn't believe how much I got scolded.”
Kang Ju-hyeok laughed playfully.
“Ah, I’ve had that happen too. After that, I got an earful about not sleeping without a neck pillow.”
“Hyung, you even know the phrase ‘got an earful’? That’s amazing.”
Kang Ju-hyeok said, giving a thumbs-up.
Thanks to him, the atmosphere inside the bus was cheerful.
I could already picture how Kang Ju-hyeok would be portrayed on the show.
‘The mood maker.’
Mood makers easily gain a good impression on survival shows.
But it also meant that a single mistake could make it all crumble like a sandcastle. Still, it was a good position to have, worth the risk.
After all, celebrities live and die by their image.
‘I might be overthinking this because of what happened with Su-hyeol-hyung, but…’
“Let’s all do our best and have a great shoot.”
“Sounds good.”
“Let’s all from Grade A meet again in the next mission!”
Kang Ju-hyeok’s voice was so loud it filled the entire bus.
“I love the enthusiasm!”
“Go, Grade A!”
Before the shoot, all of us in Grade A boosted our morale.
* * *
The filming went on for quite a long time.
They shot from every angle—full shots, knee shots, bust shots—and even used a drone. The camera movements were all over the place.
It was a testament to how much the broadcast station was betting on RED CUBE.
“We need a makeup touch-up here.”
At the director’s word, a makeup artist who had been waiting in the corner rushed over, wiped the sweat trickling down my cheek, and fixed the smudged makeup.
As soon as they finished their task, they quickly left the set.
“We’ll take a short break before we continue.”
At those words, all the contestants collapsed where they stood, like melted ice cream.
We were exhausted.
I was no exception.
“Here are your drinks.”
A staff member handed out beverages.
I was just starting to feel thirsty.
[CCC Lemon]
My mouth fell slightly open as I read the label on the drink.
This drink was extremely famous.
Infamously so.
[Why do they keep doing PPL for CCC Lemon? I’ve never seen a celebrity manage to keep a straight face after drinking it. Even actors grimace before they can compose themselves.]
↳But because of that, it makes me curious what it tastes like.
↳I think some people have started buying it out of curiosity.
↳Don’t even buy it out of curiosity. If I say don’t buy it, don’t buy it. I didn’t want to know either. If you don’t want to get hurt, just ignore it even if you see it…
↳The C must stand for citrus. Citrus. Citrus. Citrus. Lemon.
It got to the point where a challenge trend started among people who could handle sour things.
Knowing this, I couldn’t bring myself to open the cap.
“Ugh.”
“Gah.”
All sorts of noises erupted as those who didn't know any better took a sip.
I knew that drinking it without reacting would probably get me a few seconds of screen time, but hearing those sounds, I lost what little courage I had.
‘I’ll just pass.’
I kept the bottle unopened in my hand.
“Resuming filming.”
In the end, I had to continue shooting without properly quenching my thirst.
“Let’s take it again!”
I had lost count of how many times I’d heard those words.
“Hoo…”
I was out of breath.
I was starting to feel my physical limits.
My throat felt raw from the continuous performance.
I glanced around and saw that the others were in the same state.
They were gritting their teeth, pushing through on sheer grit and willpower.
“Alright, last one. We’ll do the drone shot now.”
Even with that announcement, the contestants’ faces didn’t brighten.
Having all dabbled in the entertainment industry, they knew that wasn’t the truth.
The final shot.
It didn’t mean they would shoot just one more time. It meant that everything would be over only when that particular shot was perfected.
Moreover, the final shot was usually the most difficult.
Everyone knew this.
“Let’s just hang in there a little longer.”
“That’s right. Let’s finish strong.”
Despite it all, they encouraged each other and got back on their feet.
The song’s intro began to play again.
* * *
A full hour later, the filming finally ended.
“Good work, everyone!”
After the final greetings, the contestants collapsed to the floor.
It wasn't uncommon to see some just lying flat on their backs.
“Hah…”
I gasped for air, my breathing ragged.
Now that it was over, I couldn't muster any more strength.
Just then, the director walked up to us.
Those who were lying down shot up.
Those who were sitting tried to stand, but the director gestured with his hand as if to say it was okay.
So we sat cross-legged on the stage and looked up at him.
“You all worked very hard today. Thanks to your cooperation, I think we’ll have a great piece of work.”
Cheers erupted from the contestants.
“I hope Grade A takes first place. To be honest, there’s a competition among us directors too. For your information, Grade A gets far more cuts. That’s also different for each grade.”
The director said this with a casual shrug of his shoulders.
But it was not a casual matter at all.
Fewer cuts would inevitably make the video feel monotonous.
That was why directors on music shows often experimented with dynamic camera work.
‘It’s like a caste system. Everything is really based on grades.’
“Now that filming is over, we’ll be returning by car.”
Unlike the ride there, the journey back was silent.
Everyone was fast asleep.
It was as if sleeping gas had been released inside the bus.
Following suit, I gently closed my eyes.
“We’ve arrived!”
A voice that felt like a slap to the ear startled me awake.
“Let’s get off, everyone.”
After exiting the bus, we gathered in front of our respective vehicles.
I subtly turned my head to gauge the atmosphere of the Grade B group.
Although there was one person exuding a gloomy aura in the corner by himself, the others didn’t look too bad.
‘It doesn’t seem like anyone cried. If they had completely messed up, the mood would be like a funeral. This probably means they managed to pull through somehow.’
Since I couldn’t just go up and ask the Grade B members directly, I decided to just wait for the video to be uploaded to YouTube later.
Still, my heart felt a little lighter.
At least everyone’s efforts hadn’t become a laughingstock.
“Everyone, you worked very hard today. Thank you for your efforts in learning the choreography and song in such a short time.”
The director clapped for us.
“Also, thanks to your orderly cooperation, we were able to conclude our first overnight stay without any major incidents. I want to thank you all once again. I hope you will continue to do so in the future.”
It was his closing remark.
“You’ve all worked so hard! Now you can return to your homes for a two-week break, and we will see you again then.”
The production staff also clapped, signaling the end.
Swept up in the atmosphere, I, along with the other contestants, clapped and bowed to the staff.
‘But if this was the plan, couldn’t they have just filmed the ending at the studio and sent us home from there?’