Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Lady's Closet Interview (3)
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Practice mode? What's that?
I had no idea, but... curiosity got the better of me, so I pressed Y to check it out.
['Ha Jae's' 'Practice Mode' has been activated.]
['Practice Mode' can be activated once per day for 1 hour. While 'Practice Mode' is active, skill proficiency gain doubles.]
[Have a fun practice session.]
Oh, sweet.
I glanced at the mini status window at the top of my vision, where the flame icon had appeared, then dove into practice.
Sure enough, my vocal skill proficiency started rising twice as fast as usual.
Exactly one hour later, my vocal skill leveled up, reaching Intermediate Level 2.
'This is gonna be pretty useful from now on.'
I wasn't sure if I'd have more than an hour a day to practice, but I'd make time whenever I could and grind hard.
An idol's got to have the skills to back it up, after all.
Once Practice Mode's burn time ended, I headed to the choreography practice room where the other two were.
I figured I'd watch them practice and take a breather. But when I opened the door, I was greeted by an unexpected sight.
The two of them, whom I'd assumed were furiously practicing dance, were standing in the middle of the room with their hands extended toward each other.
"What are you two doing?"
I asked, puzzled by the surprise scene.
Teddy waved at me enthusiastically.
"Oh, Jae! Perfect timing! Come join us, Jae!"
"Doing what?"
"Rock-paper-scissors bet. Loser buys drinks."
"Call."
I'm not one to back down from something like this.
As long as it's not me losing, I don't care.
My throat was parched anyway.
Odds are one in three. No way it'll be me.
"No chickening out or you lose—rock-paper-scissors!"
But no way hit me square.
"Ah, I lost."
"Jae, are you bad at rock-paper-scissors or what?"
"It's not on purpose, but Jae always ends up losing at rock-paper-scissors."
Am I just bad at it, or are they pros?
I stared blankly at my right hand, fist with scissors sticking out from the middle, then stood up.
Guess I gotta go buy since I lost.
"What do you two want?"
"Café mocha for me. With whipped cream."
"English Breakfast tea. Steep it strong!"
"Got it."
What rotten luck... No, is it my fault for agreeing to this bet without Lee Jae-oh around?
If it were Lee Jae-oh, he'd have gone without complaint—or even volunteered in the first place.
'But I'm no gentleman like that guy.'
I let out a sigh, grabbed my cap and mask, and left the practice room.
But the moment I climbed the stairs and stepped out onto the ground level, a woman got out of a car parked right across the street.
Black cap, sunglasses, mask—she was covered head to toe, so I couldn't make out her face. But her vividly dyed red hair stood out.
At that moment.
'Hm?'
Was it my imagination? I felt like our eyes met.
Couldn't tell for sure because of the sunglasses, but her head was turned exactly my way.
...Nah, must be my imagination. I tilted my head as she walked straight toward me.
'...What the?'
A fan, maybe?
Clueless, I blinked at her.
Then a soft voice flowed from behind her black mask.
"Jae. Why pretend you don't know me when you saw me?"
"Huh?"
"Long time no see. Six months? You doing okay?"
...What do I do?
I blinked dumbly at her.
I had no clue what to say. Talk about awkward.
Because I had zero idea who she was.
If she's greeting me like this, she must know Ha Jae, but I'm not Ha Jae, so no way I'd know her.
Her voice rang a vague bell, though...
"Um, excuse me... who might you be...?"
"Oh? Right, I'm wearing a mask."
She muttered, "What am I thinking," pulled her mask down to her chin, and lifted her sunglasses onto her cap.
Revealing the face hidden underneath.
"...Huh?"
That haughty face definitely felt familiar.
I know her. Definitely. But I still couldn't pinpoint who.
I know the face, but the name won't come. Frustrating as hell.
"Um... you definitely seem familiar. What was your name again? No, I really do know you. I swear..."
"What?"
The red-haired woman stared at me, looking utterly baffled.
Then she let out a disbelieving chuckle.
Her eyes screamed, "How could you forget me?"
"Jae, I heard about your accident. But you forgot me too?"
"Sorry. Could you tell me your name...?"
"I heard you sang my song at the internal eval. I'm hurt, Jae."
I sang this woman's song? At the internal eval?
That jogged a recent memory.
The debut qualification assessment to join EverPlanet's debut lineup.
And the song Kim Kwang-myeong recommended I sing...
"Jaina sunbae?"
"Finally remember?"
It was Red Bee's main vocal, Jaina.
My chest cleared up like I'd chugged a soda.
No wonder—she looked familiar.
But seeing her out of nowhere, her name just wouldn't come.
"...Sorry, sunbae."
I apologized sincerely, and Jaina smirked, crossing her arms.
"It's fine. Could happen. But what kind of accident makes you forget even me?"
"...That's how it went. Even my members didn't recognize me at first."
"Wow. That bad? I thought it wasn't serious since you debuted safely. Must've been rough. Good job."
"Yeah, well..."
No greater ordeal than waking up in a stranger's body as a member of an unexpected group (one that flops hard years later!).
"But what are you doing here? Aren't you busy hitting music shows?"
"Just interviews today. They said we could spend the rest of the time freely, so I came to practice with the kids. You?"
"Oh, just dropping by the company. Practicing at the open branch instead of resting? Dedicated. Who with?"
"Su-rim hyung and Teddy."
"Yeah. Those two grind hard."
Especially Su-rim. Probably no one works as hard. Jaina added, slipping her sunglasses back on.
"Anyway, fighting, junior. Hope it works out for you guys."
"Thanks. Good luck with your comeback too, sunbae."
"Thanks. Oh, and this."
She rummaged in her pocket and pressed a few green bills into my hand.
"Here. Buy the kids something tasty."
"...Can I accept this?"
Won't I get in trouble for some law or whatever?
"Who cares? We're not civil servants. Just an sunbae giving pocket money to a junior. Buy treats, and pass it on when you have juniors."
"Thanks, sunbae."
Couldn't refuse after that.
I bowed nearly 90 degrees and took the bills.
Jaina grinned broadly and patted my shoulder a few times.
"See you soon, Jae. Next time on official business."
"Yep. Take care."
"Later. Say hi to the kids. And congrats on debut!"
She waved and disappeared into the company building.
What a bold personality.
She always had that powerful image, but talking to her confirmed it.
'We'll cross paths again someday.'
Same agency means lots of entanglements.
Had a feeling I'd run into her again on schedule or company business.
I bought the drinks they ordered with Jaina sunbae's money, plus an iced caramel macchiato for myself, and headed back.
"Bought 'em."
"Good work, Jae."
"Oh, my tea! Thanks, Jae!"
They chugged the drinks I handed them and took a break.
I sipped my macchiato, chatted with them, then brought up Jaina.
"I just ran into Jaina sunbae."
"Really? For real?"
"Jaina sunbae was here?"
Their reactions were instant.
I nodded.
"Yeah. Seemed like she was stopping by the company."
"Man, shoulda gone with. Haven't seen her in months."
"Tell me about it."
"Were you close with sunbae?"
With the company splitting male and female trainees, not many chances to bond.
Park Su-rim nodded at my question.
"She'd give us pocket money sometimes when we were trainees. Ate together a few times too."
"Yeah. She's an awesome sunbae."
"Felt that way. Actually, these drinks? Bought with her money."
"Ooh, Jae. Lucky boy."
Teddy winked mischievously as he sipped his tea.
I averted my eyes from the cheeky wink.
"Anyway, she said congrats on debut for you two."
"Okay. Gotta text her thanks."
"Me too. So, you guys practicing more?"
Park Su-rim tossed his empty takeout cup in the trash and asked. Teddy rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm... Dunno. What about you, hyung?"
"Wanna practice dance more. You guys run through it once more, grab dinner at that shop up front, then head back?"
"I'm in!"
"Dance... okay."
Might as well practice dance while here. Need to pick up more details from Teddy.
A bit later, after finishing dance practice, we headed to our usual snack bar, drenched in sweat.
Meant to do just one run-through, but ended up grinding hard again. Still, it was solid practice.
As we entered, the familiar ajumma greeted us.
"Hey, ajumma!"
"Come on in. Sit. What'll it be?"
"Rabokki!"
"Two pork rice bowls and rabokki, please."
Teddy's going for rabokki as always.
At this rate, should give him an award as rabokki guardian.
While waiting for food, Park Su-rim, checking his phone, spoke up.
"Hey, guys. Got any personal talents?"
"Personal talents?"
"Like what?"
"Your unique skill. Like impressions or something."
"Ah. Hmm... dance?"
Why the sudden question about talents? I tilted my head, staring at him.
He showed me and Teddy the text on his phone.
"Rep just messaged me. Says prep one per member."
"Probably for schedules."
"Guess so. But idols need one anyway."
True. Idols and variety shows are inseparable.
Even if nothing else, a standout talent helps you stick in people's minds on shows.
"What're you doing, hyung?"
"Me? Cooking's my best, but hard to show. So impressions. You know I do bird calls well."
"Ooh, hyung's killer at that. I'll do song title guessing. Intro and guess."
"Song titles? Pop songs?"
Sounds tough. At least K-pop from his home culture might be doable.
But Teddy shook his head like, "What're you saying?"
"Nope. Obviously K-pop, Jae."
"You sure?"
"Of course. Trust me."
"Teddy's got it, Jae. No worries. What about you?"
Felt a bit uneasy, but if Su-rim says so, okay.
Now, what should I do...
'Oh, that.'
A moment's thought brought my old go-to trick.
Everyone always praised it when I did.
"How 'bout this?"
"What?"
"What is it?"
I said it, and both reacted positively.
"Not bad? Could be gold if you nail it. You good?"
"Yeah, decent."
"Do it."
"...Here?"
"Yeah."
Hesitated at Park Su-rim's sudden ask, but shrugged and did it quick.
Their eyes went wide.
"Nice! Good reaction potential."
"Jae, awesome!"
And the ever-present status window approved too.
[Thought up a clever personal talent idea. Intelligence +1]
Did it back in college too—not sure if "clever," but bonus stats are bonus stats.
Right then, our food arrived.
"Eat up, lots!"
"Thanks!"
We thanked ajumma, scarfed it down, and headed to the dorm.
A truly fun half-day off.
Tomorrow it'd be back to packed schedules, though.
* * *
A few days later, we boarded the van for schedule as usual.
But there was a new item in the middle of the vehicle.
A thick magazine with "Lady's Closet" emblazoned on the cover.
Park Su-rim, closest, picked it up.
"Oh, our interview?"
"Yeah. Company got a few copies, so I brought 'em."
"Out already? Let's see..."
Park Su-rim opened it, and Go Eun-young and Han Tae-hee on either side leaned in.
"Whoa, jackpot. Photoshoot looks great."
"Wow, lemme see. ...Oh, really good? Did I pose like that?"
They oohed and aahed over the photoshoot and interview.
I sat shotgun, waiting till they'd all seen it before getting the magazine.
'Let's check it out.'
EverPlanet's first magazine shoot.
I eagerly flipped to our interview page.