Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Our First Trophy
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"RE-V's 'MESS'!"
Fireworks went off, and the instrumental for 'MESS' began to play.
"Did we really win first place?"
"First place."
While we stood there, bewildered, the MC handed us the first-place trophy.
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations!"
We could hear the congratulatory voices of our fellow artists.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
The cheers from BRAVE were endless.
Without a word, we all pulled each other into a group hug.
"Did you hear that? They said we're number one."
"It's real. We're number one. This isn't a dream. We actually won!"
"Guys, we need to thank our fans."
Haru's words brought us back to our senses.
Being happy about winning was one thing, but we had a job to do.
We lined up together and bowed deeply to our fans to show our gratitude.
Tears welled up, blurring my vision.
I wanted to see our fans clearly, so I quickly wiped my eyes with my sleeve.
The colorful Cube lightsticks swayed.
"Let's do a deep bow for our fans."
At Haru's suggestion, we all knelt on the stage and bowed to them.
It seemed the cameras were filming us.
"BRAVE. Thank you."
My throat was tight and my nose was stuffy from the tears, but that didn't mean we could skip the encore live performance.
‘This is our first-ever number-one encore stage. We can't just skip it.’
—woo
You cover my eyes so I can't find the answer
(Woo hoo woo)
The one silver lining was that I wasn't the only one in this state.
All the members were crying, though in slightly different ways.
‘I don't know how many times I've cried since RED CUBE.’
Of course, they were tears of joy, but I still wanted to show them a smiling face if I could.
So, I deliberately held back my tears and forced the corners of my mouth up as high as they would go.
"BRAVE, thank you!"
After the song ended, we gave our fans one last thank you and left the stage.
Overwhelmed with the emotion of winning first place, we all just stared straight ahead without a word.
"Guys. Congratulations on your win."
Our manager, as if he had known all along, handed us bouquets of flowers.
"Thank you."
* * *
[RE-V won first place! I'm so emotional. We all worked so hard.]
↳ I'm so happy, I had a drink tonight.
↳ Weren't you just looking for an excuse to drink? That's a great one.
↳ Let's keep it our little secret. Did you really have to call me out like that? On such a happy day?
↳ lolololol I was so happy today that I kept smiling even when my boss was yelling at me, and my coworker asked if I'd finally lost it. But honestly, I'd probably think the same if I were in their shoes. The company's in crisis mode, so we had to come in on a weekend evening, and here I am just smiling away.
[Our boys honestly don't have a rookie vibe on stage at all. They've all debuted before, lol. But during the first-place nominee interview, didn't they seem like rookies?]
↳ lolol Their awkwardness is so cute.
↳ I saw a side of them I never thought I'd see. RE-V's awkward moments are so rare.
↳ I suddenly wanted to see their debut photos, so I looked them up. Besides looking a bit more polished and their faces having slimmed down, they haven't changed at all. Especially Haru, that was 6 years ago, what's his secret? (Photos of RE-V members from their original debuts)]
[lolololol You guys. Weren't you practically flying on stage? I even remember you being super comfortable with your cute acts, so why did you suddenly malfunction? Can't you function without music? But that can't be it, you did fine in commercials and stuff.]
↳ lolol I guess they were nervous about being nominated for first place.
↳ So cute. This makes them seem like rookies. Oh, wait, they are rookies.
↳ They went through all sorts of things on RED CUBE, but I guess they still don't have immunity to this. Sometimes they're so bold you wonder if they're really rookies, and other times, they're not lololololol. The gap is so adorable.
[I was really tearing up watching them bow. My mom and dad were saying something to me, but I just gave them a hug. I was so euphoric I wasn't in my right mind. (Screenshot of RE-V bowing on stage)]
↳ You were a good daughter/son.
↳ The positive influence of RE-V.
↳ What were your parents' reactions? I'm curious.
↳ They seemed surprised, but they didn't look like they disliked it. So I'm planning to hug them more often from now on. Of course, only on days I'm in a good mood.
[But is it even possible for someone to sing well while crying? Don't you usually get that goat-like vibrato? Why didn't their voices change much even though they were crying?]
↳ lolololol You're right about the goat-like sound. Please don't ask me how I know. It's a terrible memory for me.
↳ For some reason, I feel like I absolutely shouldn't ask.
↳ Maybe their vocalization is different.
↳ Isn't this what they call a difference in talent?
While the fans were sharing their joy on social media, RE-V's official account posted selfies of them holding the bouquets.
[BRAVE! We won first place. Thank you for sharing our first win with us. (Red heart)]
[Guys! RE-V posted selfies!!! Ahhhh! So handsome! They're so handsome. (Collection of bouquet selfies uploaded to the official account)]
↳ Ha. I never knew a man holding flowers could be this beautiful.
↳ Pretty thing + pretty thing = ultra-super-pretty thing.
↳ I guess I like flowers after all. I used to say I didn't care for them, but I was wrong. I love them.
* * *
"It's really first place."
"We're number one."
The waiting room had a festive atmosphere.
"Congratulations, everyone."
"Huge congratulations! How did you win first place right after your debut?"
The stylists also offered their congratulations.
"Thank you."
"We're just going to pack up our things and come back."
Even after the stylists left the waiting room, all the members couldn't take their eyes off the trophy.
I was the same.
"Manager."
Park Ji-ham called out to the manager in a low voice.
"Yeah?"
"Does this trophy have to go to the company too?"
He seemed to be asking because he remembered the display case on the first floor of the company building, where they exhibited the trophies won by their artists.
"I suppose so."
"Can't we just take this one to our dorm? We'll send the others to the company, just this one."
"To the dorm?"
"Yes."
"Why? Is there a reason?"
Park Ji-ham nodded at the manager's question and began to explain.
"It's our first-ever trophy for first place, so I want to keep it close to see it and keep myself grounded."
"Keep yourself grounded?"
"To be honest, there are still times when reality doesn't feel real."
At Park Ji-ham's words, the festive atmosphere in the waiting room instantly quieted.
"I keep thinking about when I was with my old group. Even when I try not to, I keep comparing then and now. I wonder what went wrong back then. I'm still the same person."
"Ah..."
"So I thought if we had it at the dorm, it would feel more real. It would help me pull myself together, thinking that only good things will happen from now on."
The manager seemed to ponder for a moment, pressing his lips together.
"Hold on. I think I need to ask my superiors. This isn't something I can decide on my own."
"Okay."
The manager took his phone and left the waiting room.
It looked like he was going to call someone at the company.
"Ji-ham."
"Yeah?"
"So you felt that way too."
Jung Eun-woo said, putting an arm around Park Ji-ham's shoulder.
"What do you mean, 'you too'?"
"Me too. I still keep thinking about things that happened when I was in M-Seven. If I had stood on a stage like this back then, no one would have welcomed me... I can't help but think such pathetic thoughts. I should just be enjoying the present."
I was surprised to learn that I wasn't the one.
I thought I was the only one.
That I was foolishly trapped in the past, unable to move on.
Knowing that wasn't the case made my heart feel a little lighter.
So, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Hyung. Me too. I've been thinking about the past, too."
"You too, Yoon-seul?"
"Yeah. I tell myself not to, not to, but it's not easy. I just find myself unconsciously thinking about it again, then wondering why I'm doing it. It's been a constant cycle."
"Actually, it's the same for me."
Lee Ho-jun chimed in.
"There were times I felt like the three years I was active were holding me back. I kept comparing, remembering that time... It's like I was clinging to those memories, even though they weren't exactly good."
"Looks like we were all thinking similar things."
At Haru's words, we all turned to look at him.
"We're all such fools."
"I know, right."
"I think Haru is right."
Looking at each other, we couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"In that sense, it would be great if we could keep the trophy at our dorm."
"Yeah."
"And let's make time to talk about things like this."
Haru carefully brought up the topic.
"Honestly, it's not that we don't get along, but since we weren't trainees together and we all have our scars, we're careful with each other."
He was right.
We got along well and were definitely close, but there was a part of us that was overly cautious with one another.
It was inevitable, since none of us had been on particularly good terms with our previous members.
‘Maybe that caution became a habit.’
"Let's try fighting a little, too. Like real brothers."
‘Like real brothers.’
Those words echoed in my head.
"Even if we fight, as long as we make up properly, it's fine."
"That's right. As long as we make up and sort things out quickly, it's not a problem."
"True, and how can people live without ever fighting? I mean, we shouldn't fight every day, but fighting once in a while and making up is a sign of a healthy relationship."
Somehow, I had a feeling that our relationship was about to change.
Not long after, the manager returned to the waiting room.
"The company said it's okay. They said you can take a few if you want."
"Thank you."
"Alright. Then let's head back to the dorm."
"Yes!"