Chapter 26
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Music Show Stage Safely! (6)
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“Huff… huff…”
I sprinted, gasping for breath. Up on stage, the members were waiting anxiously.
By the time I climbed up, there was about a minute left until rehearsal started.
Barely made it.
“Sorry.”
At my apology, the PD rubbed his eyes with a tired look.
“I heard the situation from your manager. Just make sure you arrive with plenty of time next time.”
“Yes, sir!”
I was just catching my breath when Baek Si-woo spoke up from beside me.
“Where’d you find Jae-hyun hyung?”
“Eighth-floor bathroom. I’ll explain later. Anyway, the fans haven’t come in yet?”
“Nope. They’re holding off just in case. They’ll let them in for the pre-recording.”
Right then, the PD’s voice rang out from across the way.
“Stand by!”
We did a final check of our positions, then started the rehearsal.
I sang with a big smile, eyes locked on the camera following me.
My heart felt like it was about to burst from the sprint, but I controlled my breathing and kept the pace.
Before I knew it, rehearsal was over amid the frenzy of dance.
We all headed down to the waiting room for rehearsal monitoring.
“Makeup touch-ups!”
The makeup staff swarmed us the moment we arrived. Standing there as they fixed us up, I watched the monitor.
The members dancing on screen passed by one by one, and then my face appeared, beaming brightly.
Baek Si-woo grinned at it.
“Eun-ho, you’re great at finding the camera. Already looking pro?”
“What’re you talking about.”
That smug jerk.
‘Right, how’s Cha Jae-hyun holding up?’
I turned and saw Cha Jae-hyun staring intently at the screen.
His eyes moved mechanically, checking every inch of the stage.
After going through all that, and he’s still this calm. The more I watched, the more impressive he seemed.
Eun Hae-sol, who’d been gauging our reactions, asked cautiously.
“But seriously, what happened? Why was Jae-hyun hyung in the eighth-floor bathroom…?”
Just as I opened my mouth to explain, Cha Jae-hyun spoke up.
“Oh, that.”
The members’ faces turned to shock as Cha Jae-hyun explained. The staff behind us looked the same.
“So, someone tricked hyung, stole his phone, and locked him in?”
Cha Jae-hyun nodded.
* * *
In the waiting room.
I was mentally rehearsing the choreography while waiting for camera rehearsal.
“Cha Jae-hyun.”
A man’s voice called from outside. I turned.
“Is Cha Jae-hyun here?”
A guy in a black hoodie zipped toward me, beckoning.
He had a staff lanyard around his neck—broadcast station staff.
I stood and approached him.
“What’s up?”
He handed me a note. I unfolded it, and…
Jae-hyun hyung. It’s Eun-ho. Got something urgent to talk about. Can you come?
My heart dropped.
“What happened to Eun-ho?”
“I don’t know the details. He just said to deliver this quick.”
“Where’s Jeong Eun-ho right now?”
“Follow me.”
I went out with him.
My mind raced through every possibility, simulating what could’ve happened.
The elevator chimed.
“Eighth floor.”
We’d already arrived.
Walking the hallway with him, I asked.
“Jeong Eun-ho’s here, right?”
I glanced over, and he pulled his hood lower.
“Yeah. This way.”
How far did we go? We reached the end of the hall. A bathroom door sat in a remote corner.
‘Eun-ho’s in there?’
I was still piecing it together when the guy opened the door.
What I saw was…
“No one’s here?”
An empty bathroom.
Confused, I looked at the guy, who seemed just as thrown.
“Weird. Where’d he go? Let me call Jeong Eun-ho real quick—can I borrow your phone?”
“I’ll call him myself…”
The moment I unlocked it, he snatched the phone.
I wanted to argue, but he was station staff. I held back.
Then.
“Hello?”
He held the phone to his ear and stepped outside.
Why take the call out there? As I stared, he suddenly slammed the door shut.
And the lock clicked. I yanked the handle.
Clunk, clunk—
It wouldn’t open.
“Huh?”
Something dropped outside—heavy, like my phone being tossed.
“Hey!”
What do I do? Rehearsal’s so close…
In a panic, I shouted at the top of my lungs.
“Someone’s trapped in here!”
* * *
“That’s what happened.”
Cha Jae-hyun finished.
The members’ expressions turned grave. Even Baek Si-woo, who always smiled, looked serious now.
Song Yu-bin said darkly.
“If hyung’s story checks out, this isn’t just some prank. Someone impersonated staff, tricked you, and locked you in.”
“Sounds like a job for the cops.”
As everyone murmured, the manager chimed in cautiously.
“Cops over that? Probably just an anti-fan messing around. We’ve had worse back in the day!”
“…….”
“Always making a fuss.”
Does this guy lack empathy?
I narrowed my eyes at him and spoke.
“We should report it to the police. Could happen again, and the method was straight-up malicious.”
“Yeah, that jerk needs to eat some jail time.”
The staff nodded in agreement. The manager cleared his throat awkwardly and turned away, saying nothing more.
Then a staffer shouted.
“Pre-recording time!”
Finally, pre-recording. Nail this stage, and the quest’s as good as done.
“Fans must be waiting.”
“Yeah. Let’s give ’em a killer show after making them wait so long.”
With that, we headed out for pre-recording.
* * *
Before pre-recording started.
Clutching my lightstick, I waited for Manwol’s Boys to take the stage.
We’d waited nearly four hours just to watch. My whole body felt frozen, but thinking of the stage ahead made me happy.
“Just a bit longer till our boys come out.”
“Eek, I’m so nervous…”
I chatted with the fan next to me, huddled close. We’d bonded waiting for pre-recording. Gazing at the gorgeous set while anticipating the stage.
Pastel-toned Western-style buildings, railings overflowing with flowers. A moon hovered above, sparkling beautifully.
Top-tier set, no question.
“The set’s so pretty.”
“DIEN must’ve shelled out big.”
“More like they ground their bones to dust for it.”
“Nah, they ground their souls.”
Lost in the sight, I looked down as my neighbor raised her lightstick.
“Every time I see it, our lightstick’s design is just perfect.”
“Same here.”
I glanced at mine. Flicked the switch, and the moon-shaped bulb inside the orb lit up.
Gorgeous design, no doubt. Even online communities were raving about it.
I loved mine too.
‘Bet it’ll look even better at a concert.’
Fan cheers erupted then.
“The boys are coming!”
I looked up—members ascending the stage.
“Kyaaah!”
“Gasp. Today’s hair, makeup, and outfits are god-tier.”
Black ties, navy jackets.
The simple, pure vibe of the outfits blended perfectly with the members’ striking faces.
Fans nearby were already covering their mouths to muffle screams.
“Uniform fit is insane.”
“Look how handsome they are.”
“Real treasures.”
“Jawlines could cut glass.”
I was soaking in the view, mesmerized, when Jeong Eun-ho caught my eye and waved right at me.
“Gasp!”
“Crazy! Did Eun-ho just greet you? You’re a true fan now!”
“No way. Look!”
Manwol’s Boys were waving to all the fans gathered.
‘Being rookies, their fan service is next-level.’
Jeong Eun-ho circled the stage, waving, then came right up to me.
“Hello.”
Jeong Eun-ho was right in front of me! My heart was exploding.
“Must’ve been tough waiting.”
He smiled warmly.
“We’ll make sure it was worth your time with a great stage.”
I screamed internally as he smiled and turned away.
‘Oh my god. Why does his voice sound so good?’
Seeing him in person after only monitors, his handsomeness hit different.
“What just flew by?”
“Still feels like a dream.”
“Those eyes almost sucked me in.”
“I’m already sucked in.”
Fans were losing it hard when—
“Manwol’s Boys pre-recording, let’s go.”
Excited breaths from fans everywhere. Looking around, everyone craned their necks like meerkats.
Gripping my lightstick tight, heart pounding, I watched the members.
White lights bathed them.
‘Whoa, insane. Totally insane.’
Jeong Eun-ho’s verse kicked in.
That voice always pulls you right in.
Finishing his part, he spun around with a bright smile and threw a wink.
“Kyaaah!”
I nearly collapsed.
But no, not yet.
‘Gotta watch the stage!’
Clinging to my sanity, I counted down inside.
One, two, three. Now!
“Manwol’s Boys!”
Nailed the cheer at the perfect moment, and the follow-ups too.
The stage barreled toward the end. It felt way more polished than the debut showcase.
Then the latter half.
- Blue Sky Below
Always wanna laugh with you under it
Flashy group choreography section.
Their intense moves flowed on. The razor-sharp sync had my soul leaving my body.
- Your blue smile, blue sky
“Sky!”
- Bleu sunshine, blue eyes
“Eyes!”
And the stage ended.
The wait had been brutal, but seeing the performance melted it all away in an instant.
Just three minutes, but the rush felt bigger than that.
Members on stage striking their ending poses. Their all-out effort till the last second was the most beautiful thing.
How much time had these kids poured in for just these three minutes?
Watching them finish, I shouted.
“Good job, boys!”