Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Off to America
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There was only one day left before we had to get on a plane for our performance in America.
“I can’t believe we’re leaving the country tomorrow.”
“Me neither.”
We began packing our things into our suitcases, one by one.
The colorful clothes inside my suitcase felt somewhat awkward.
In the past, I would have just thrown a few monochrome outfits and basic toiletries into a bag.
“We’re going all the way to America, so I should probably pack sunglasses, right? It’s California, after all. I heard the sun there is scorching.”
Lee Ho-jun asked, putting on a pair of black sunglasses.
“Pack them. It’s America. People there wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.”
Haru was also packing beside me, humming a tune.
A quick glance revealed his suitcase looked ready to burst.
“It’s technically a three-day, two-night trip. Are you really packing all that?”
“Yoon-seul, it’s America. *America*.”
I remembered he hadn’t packed much when we were filming RED CUBE, but though he wasn’t showing it, he seemed incredibly excited.
‘What on earth is he packing so much of?’
I thought I had packed a decent amount, but it was nothing compared to Haru’s suitcase.
One side of my own suitcase was still completely empty.
“Yoon-seul.”
Lee Ho-jun slung an arm around my shoulder.
“Yeah?”
“Still, it’s great that you got to go to America right after buying new clothes.”
He said, gesturing with his chin toward the colorful clothes nestled in one corner of my suitcase.
“It is.”
“The fans will love it. But Haru, what in the world are you packing so much of?”
“Huh? We’re going abroad. I know what it’s like since I’m living in a foreign country right now. It’s really frustrating when you’re abroad and realize you need something you don’t have.”
The hardships Haru must have faced while living in Korea suddenly hit me.
‘How many difficult moments must he have endured, working toward an uncertain future in a foreign country?’
“So I’m just trying to pack everything I think I might need. I packed some emergency medicine in case someone gets sick, and I need bandages for any scrapes.”
“The manager said he’d bring the basic stuff.”
“It’s better for multiple people to pack things like this. What if we all assume someone else packed it, but then that person loses it or forgets? That would be a huge problem.”
His words made me think I should probably add more to my suitcase as well.
‘What else might I need?’
I was so used to traveling light that no matter how hard I thought, nothing came to mind.
“This is our first official trip abroad. Do you think fans will come to see us off?”
When other idols left the country, they were often surrounded by fans at the airport, heading to their departure gate amidst cheers and support.
“Since the festival is on our official schedule, I think they might come, right?”
“If a lot of fans show up at our departure, how about we buy some snacks in America and give them to the fans when we return? We haven’t gotten paid yet, so we can’t do anything big like other idols, but I think that much should be okay.”
Haru’s voice was extremely cautious as he brought it up.
It was a sensitive topic, since we were all still getting allowances from our parents or slowly using up money we’d saved from part-time jobs.
“That’s a great idea.”
“Should we write little notes too?”
But both Lee Ho-jun and I reacted positively.
A few snacks were a small gesture compared to the gratitude we felt for the fans who would come all the way to the airport just to see us.
“I think the others will like the idea too.”
At my words, Haru gave a gentle smile.
“Okay. Then let’s wrap this up and discuss the details while we’re sightseeing in America. We have to be on a plane for half a day tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
Haru, seemingly finished with his packing, closed his suitcase.
* * *
The sound of my phone alarm woke me. I rubbed my eyes, got up, washed, and got dressed.
If I had my way, I would have worn something comfortable, but our manager said it was our first trip abroad and reporters would be there to take pictures of our airport fashion, so I wore the new clothes I’d bought.
“Everyone got everything? Check your passports first. You can be missing anything else, but you absolutely must have that.”
From the moment we woke up, we had been under Haru’s watch, checking our bags for our passports multiple times.
But just in case, I opened my bag again to confirm its presence.
“Got it?”
The manager asked in an urgent voice.
“Yes.”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
Only after checking our passports and luggage several more times did the manager start the car.
“Let’s go to America.”
We arrived at the airport in the blink of an eye.
I knew time was relative, but it was still amazing how fast it went.
‘Is it because I’m so nervous?’
“Guys, there will be a lot of cameras, so you need to stay sharp. Got it? If you feel like you’re spacing out, grab the member next to you. Losing it here would be a disaster.”
“Yes.”
Only after heeding the manager’s warning were we allowed to get out of the car.
“Guys!”
“Waaaah!”
“Please look this way.”
“Look over here and wave, please.”
It was chaotic, with fans cheering for us and reporters rapidly clicking their shutters.
“Guys, you can line up here.”
The manager calmly organized us.
“Wave to them. So they can take pictures.”
I raised my hand and posed.
“That’s enough. Let’s go.”
We slowly started walking, following the manager.
‘If it weren’t for our manager, we would’ve just fumbled around and missed our flight.’
“Guys!”
“Have a safe trip to America!”
“Do well on stage!”
In an instant, the fans surrounded us.
“Everyone, please don’t push. We don’t want anyone getting hurt. If someone gets hurt here, it will reflect badly on RE-V. If an article comes out about disorder at the airport, RE-V will get all the blame. You know that, right?”
A security guard gently restrained the fans to prevent any accidents in their excitement.
“Yeees!”
The fans replied in unison like kindergarteners.
“Great. Please continue to maintain order like this. Thank you.”
Following the guard’s instructions, the fans kept a safe distance as they followed us.
“We’ll be waiting for you, so you have to do well and come back!”
“Be careful. Don’t get hurt, absolutely not! If you get hurt, we’ll all cry.”
“We’ll be cheering for you from Korea.”
“We’ll do our best and return safe and sound. So, BRAVE, don’t worry about that. Just stay home, eat well, and get plenty of rest.”
“Okay!”
Amidst the fans’ cheers, we headed for our flight.
* * *
[Today’s RE-V airport departure looks (RE-V group photo) Ugh. Seriously, who told them they could be this beautiful.]
↳Seriously, their visuals just keep getting better.
[I used to be a fan of another group before I switched to RE-V, so I have a question. Is JR security always this nice? There was no excessive force at all. No. I was totally prepared to be pushed, but instead of pushing me, a guard caught me when I tripped over my own feet. I went to see RE-V and came back with a crush on a security guard.]
↳Yep. They’re always like that. They’re a JR affiliate. Maybe that’s why they’re so nice. But if you cross the line, they’re merciless. Someone tried to touch Leon once, and they were immediately stopped.
↳Same here. I’m used to getting pushed and yelled at, so I was actually flustered when they so sweetly told me not to get hurt. I just froze like, huh???
↳Plus that magic sentence. “If someone gets hurt here, it will reflect badly on RE-V.” Who would dare break the rules after hearing that? You wouldn’t be a real fan.
↳The moment I heard that, I thought, this guard knows how to handle fans. Is he a former kindergarten teacher? lol
↳A kindergarten teacher lololol That’s hilarious, but he’s just as good at handling kids hahahahaha.
[Yoon-seul was in pink today! A thin pink knit. Ugh. So pretty. (Upper body photo of Seo Yoon-seul)]
↳The company must have prepared this, right? Our Yoon-seul’s personal clothes are all monochrome. No. Seriously, our boy is lucky he’s so handsome. If it weren’t for his face, his mom would’ve scolded him for only wearing black.
↳Definitely the company. Thank you, company. Thanks to you, I got to see Yoon-seul in a pink outfit.
↳lol I was surprised by his bag. I was worried he’d just bring a backpack or something even though he was going abroad. Made me feel like our boy has all grown up.
↳Me too lol I was like, is he really not packing anything? It’s America, though?
↳I was relieved when I saw the suitcase too, but you never know. It might be completely empty inside. You can’t tell just by the size of the suitcase.
[I honestly wanted to just follow them. I can’t believe RE-V isn’t under the same sky. Should I go right now? I hate my job anyway.]
↳I hate myself for not being able to go to America. Why am I not a superhero with powers?
↳Why don’t I have the money or time to see our boys perform on a festival stage?
↳I almost handed in my resignation and followed them. But then I remembered the sad fact that I need this job to buy their albums. I just want to be a rich bum.
[When will the videos of their performance be uploaded? I want to see it so badly. Was I always this clingy and obsessive? Or is my fan self different from my dating self? I’m so excited to see how beautiful the boys will be in America, and I really want to see their stage.]
↳They probably haven’t even arrived in America yet lolololol.
↳Life in Korea without RE-V is so hard.
↳*sobs* I miss the boys so much too.
↳I hope the manager takes lots of pictures for us. He will, right?
↳Probably. He usually takes a lot. There’s no way he’d suddenly stop just because they went to America. Let’s trust and wait. I believe in JR. And honestly, we know what BRAVE are like. At least one person must have followed them to America. There’s no way nobody went, right?
[Our boys must be on the plane by now, right? Are they sleeping? I miss them already, how am I supposed to wait? Or are they too excited about their first trip abroad to sleep, just chatting away?]
↳It’s an 11-hour flight, so they’ll probably fall asleep soon.
↳We have to speculate like this. Otherwise, it’s unbearable.
↳I wish our boys wouldn’t get famous. But I also wish they would. What is this feeling?
↳Let’s try to get used to a Korea without RE-V. If we work hard and rewatch their old videos, they’ll be back before we know it. Yes. They will.