Chapter 62
Chapter 62
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: A Realistic Reaction
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The music video shoot began in the studio, starting with the individual scenes.
My turn was first, so I finished early. While resting in the waiting room, I sneaked a peek from the back to see how the other members were doing.
“You said you weren't feeling well this morning, but you were suddenly on fire out there.”
Jung Eun-woo, who was second, finished his shoot and approached me on his way back to the waiting room.
“I guess I was too nervous, and it’s just now wearing off.”
In truth, my heart felt lighter because I’d thought of a way to help Creatin, but I made up an excuse.
‘They’re all soft-hearted. There’s no telling what would happen if they heard that kind of news.’
“Really? That’s a relief. Oh, did you see M-chive was nominated for first place?”
“Already?”
At my question, Jung Eun-woo took out his phone and showed me an online article announcing that M-chive was a first-place nominee.
“That’s amazing.”
“I know, right? We’ll be like that too, won’t we?”
I nodded.
RE-V will become a top-tier idol group.
That was the future I had seen.
‘As long as nothing unexpected happens, that fact won’t change.’
There were things that had changed as I altered the future, but it didn’t seem like they would affect the outcome of RE-V’s success.
“Honestly, when I first got the offer from RED CUBE, I thought it was a huge opportunity and said yes right away, you know? But during filming, there were times it was so tough I just wanted to run away.”
Jung Eun-woo fell silent for a moment, as if lost in reminiscence.
“But I guess every cloud really does have a silver lining.”
I couldn’t tell if it was because he’d been working since he was young or because he’d endured so much hardship, but I felt Jung Eun-woo was far too mature for his age.
“Eun-woo!”
Just as I was talking with Jung Eun-woo, a stylist called out to him from a distance.
“Looks like they need to fix something. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Once Jung Eun-woo left, I picked up my phone, which I had set on a chair for a moment.
Then, I sent a congratulatory message to Kang Ju-hyeok.
*Bzzzt.*
A reply arrived not long after I sent it.
[Thanks. You guys hurry up and get here. I’m waiting.]
Kang Ju-hyeok probably just had a spare moment, so I didn’t bother replying again.
We would be seeing each other soon enough, anyway.
“Yoon-seul. They said you need to change your outfit.”
“Okay.”
At the manager’s call, I headed to the waiting room.
The outfit I was currently wearing consisted of black leather pants, chunky black combat boots, and a slightly fitted black t-shirt with a small, fluorescent lime-green accent.
The other members’ outfits had a similar feel.
“Please change into this.”
“Okay.”
The new outfit I received had a completely different vibe.
This time, it was a loose-fitting, fluorescent lime-green t-shirt and jeans.
I quickly changed and came out.
“Let’s touch up your makeup.”
“Okay.”
A touch of color was suddenly added to my face, bringing it to life.
“Please be careful when you drink water so you don’t smudge your lipstick.”
“Okay.”
“Are you all ready?”
The music video director asked in a loud voice.
“Yes!”
“Then please gather around.”
We gathered in small groups in front of the director.
“Move as shown in the storyboard, and when you hear a ‘bang,’ just fall to the ground.”
“Yes.”
We stood on the spots the staff had marked out with tape.
“Action!”
On the director’s cue, we slowly started walking forward.
The set was essentially just a green screen, so acting wasn’t exactly easy.
I walked slowly, pretending to look around as I had seen in the storyboard.
*Bang.*
With a loud boom, something came pattering down from the ceiling.
“Agh!”
We hadn’t been told anything about this, so everyone was genuinely startled and collapsed to the floor.
“Sorry about that. I wanted to capture a realistic reaction.”
The director, with a good-natured smile, began to explain what had just happened.
“It wasn’t dangerous, just styrofoam.”
Looking at the floor, I saw something silver.
When I nudged one with my foot, it crumbled easily.
“Ah… I thought a light fixture fell, but it was just styrofoam…”
Everyone wore an awkward smile, embarrassed that they had reacted so strongly to mere styrofoam.
I was no different.
‘It was styrofoam.’
It was just baffling.
“We definitely have to put this in the making-of video.”
The company’s PR team was on-site, filming for the behind-the-scenes video.
For them, it was great footage.
“Something like this won’t happen again.”
In the end, the music video director’s words were a lie.
Similar things happened several more times after that.
*Rumble.*
I was sitting on what looked like a prop rock when it shook with a strange noise.
It would have been fine if it had stopped there, but it didn’t.
All sorts of things happened, like water suddenly falling from somewhere, or a dog rushing at us.
“Let’s take a short break.”
As soon as the break started, everyone collapsed in the waiting room.
“Wow. I’m so drained.”
“Me too.”
“I feel completely wiped out.”
I said, clutching my startled heart.
“Is this a music video or a horror special?”
Park Ji-ham asked the manager.
“A horror special?”
“I mean, come on. There won’t be any more of that, right? At this rate, I’m going to get seriously paranoid.”
“Ji-ham is right. My heart hurts so much I can’t take it. Realistic reactions are great and all, but I’m so worried about it that I can’t focus on anything else.”
I quickly added my own thoughts.
Throughout the shoot, I couldn’t concentrate, worried that something might fall from over there or rush at me from this side.
“It’s really over now.”
The manager, as if to prove his innocence, raised both hands above his head in a gesture of surrender.
“All that’s left is the group choreography scene, and then we’re done for the day. What more could they do there?”
The moment I heard that, I felt a wave of relief.
‘My heart really couldn’t have taken much more.’
Thankfully, this time it wasn’t a lie.
Instead, a different kind of hardship was waiting for us.
“Let’s go one more time.”
“Yes.”
Already drained of energy, we had to reshoot the same part over and over, and everyone quickly grew exhausted.
“Hoo…”
The choreography was by no means easy, and the air was filled with ragged breaths.
“Let’s get a sip of water before we continue.”
The manager brought us some water.
“Thanks.”
My throat was parched, so I gulped it down.
I felt a little more alive after that.
“This is the last thing on the schedule for today, so let’s just hang in there a little longer. Got it?”
The manager said in a gentle, comforting voice.
“Okay.”
“Alright. Let’s do our best.”
The manager took the water and went back to his spot.
“We’ll resume filming now.”
The shoot continued for about another hour after that.
“Great work, everyone.”
At the director’s words, the faces of the staff and members brightened for a moment.
“You all worked hard!”
After a brief exchange of farewells, we returned to the waiting room, changed our clothes, and quickly wiped off our makeup with cleansing wipes.
“You can’t just sleep like this. You have to wash up properly and do your skincare when you get home. Got it? It’ll be a real problem if you break out now.”
The stylist repeated the same words several times, worried we would just collapse the moment we got back to the dorm.
“The van is waiting outside, so let’s get going.”
“Okay.”
The manager led us out of the studio.
It had been morning when we left the dorm, but now the sun had set and it was completely dark.
“Get in.”
The manager opened the van door for us before getting into the driver’s seat.
“All five of you are here. Buckle up. We’re leaving.”
After confirming we were all there, the manager buckled his seatbelt and started the engine.
“I’ll pick you up at eleven tomorrow, so get a good night’s sleep. Alright?”
“Yes.”
Not long after getting in the van, everyone was fast asleep, exhausted.
I quietly took out my phone.
After dimming my phone’s screen to its lowest setting so as not to wake the other members, I sent a message to the PD of RED CUBE.
[Hello, PD. This is Seo Yoon-seul. I hope you’ve been well. I’m messaging you because I have a proposal I’d like to make.]
I clutched the phone tightly in both hands, waiting for a reply.
‘I really need a reply.’
Just as I was waiting anxiously, I felt a vibration in my hand.