Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: After First Album Activities End, Second Album Prep Begins (3)
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[Witnessed the potential for vocal growth. Art +5]
'Art went up by 5?'
Excluding level-ups, this was the first time a stat had jumped by this much.
That must've been why the alert sound was different.
'Witnessing the potential for growth means I was thinking in the right direction.'
That realization lifted my spirits.
Alright. Let's work even harder.
I clenched my fist and silently cheered myself on.
That's when Kim Kwang-myeong, who was scribbling rap lyrics and practicing next to me, asked in a weird tone, like he'd spotted something odd.
"What're you doing? Clenching your fist by yourself?"
"......Mind your own business."
......Somehow, it felt embarrassing.
* * *
The day I gained that insight into singing, we members practically lived in the practice room afterward.
The only ones who could leave were Han Tae-hee for school and Teddy for Korean lessons.
Whenever those two headed out at their scheduled times, envy filled every member's eyes.
"......Why didn't I go to college?"
Kim Kwang-myeong sprawled on the floor like a log mid-dance practice.
Park Su-rim replied while chugging an ion drink.
"Because you dropped out of high school, Kwang-myeong."
"Maybe I shouldn't have dropped out, hyung."
"Now you say that?"
"I could've legally stepped out for fresh air during practice."
"If you spent half the time you do on producing on practice, you could get an hour of fresh air a day."
"Ha...... But that's one thing I can't give up."
I couldn't help but chuckle at Kim Kwang-myeong's words.
What a funny guy.
Those were the days we envied the members who could escape the practice room, even briefly.
Not long after, word came that the title track choreography was complete.
CEO Oh summoned us to his recording studio.
"Everyone knows we record the title track before learning the choreo, right? I hope you've practiced a lot. This isn't the final take, so don't stress too much. Tae-hee, let's start with you."
The second album's title track was <Bloom>.
The first guide version had a house beat layered with sleek synths, giving it a crisp tropical vibe.
I was handling the main vocal parts again alongside Go Eun-young.
Our parts felt a bit longer than the others'.
Kim Kwang-myeong's words came back to me: you have to yield parts for the song's quality.
'Still, it'd be better if they were distributed more evenly.'
But with no say in producing, it felt awkward to bring it up to CEO Oh.
'Guess I have no choice but to go with what's given.'
Unless you could produce like Kim Kwang-myeong with real influence, idols just sang what the producer handed them—that was reality.
"Next, Jae in."
"Yeah."
Heading to the booth, I shook off my worries about parts for the moment.
Unaware that someone's resentment was festering in the meantime.
* * *
Instructor Jung Hyun started teaching us the choreography based on the recorded title track.
Our days grew insanely hectic.
Learning choreo, individual practice, and now finished album tracks arriving one after another that we had to memorize.
Even breaks after training meant自主 practice with the members just to keep up—the grind was relentless.
Then, an incident blew up.
"A landscape so beautiful it's mesmerizing~ Ah."
"Su-rim hit a sour note."
"......Don't tease, Tae-hee hyung."
It happened while five of us—excluding Teddy, off discussing choreo tweaks with Instructor Jung Hyun, and Kim Kwang-myeong practicing rap alone—rehearsed the b-side [Rainbow (Lucky)].
It started when Park Su-rim cracked on his part.
Go Eun-young, practicing her own part nearby, sidled up after hearing it.
"That was a total sour note, Su-rim hyung."
"Yeah. My bad, hyung."
Park Su-rim laughed it off with a shrug, like what can you do.
But Go Eun-young tilted his head, puzzled, and muttered.
"Hmm, but why'd you crack? Weird...... You just need to belt it. Try tensing your abs."
"......"
In that instant, Park Su-rim's face hardened.
He looked down at Go Eun-young's head as the kid pressed on his stomach, and his dark eyes trembled faintly.
'The vibe's gone cold.'
That's exactly how it felt. Like the chill before a storm.
I almost stepped in right away, reading the room.
But then a voice came from the other side.
"Eun-young-ah."
"Yeah, Tae-hee hyung?"
It was Han Tae-hee.
Go Eun-young, oblivious to Park Su-rim's expression as he poked his belly, looked up at Han Tae-hee.
Han Tae-hee grinned warmly and pointed to his sheet music.
"Not Su-rim—help hyung first. I'm stuck here. No rush, right, Su-rim-ah?"
With Han Tae-hee stepping in, Park Su-rim's face softened.
He nodded slowly.
"......Yeah, hyung."
"What? Should've said so sooner. Give it a shot."
As Go Eun-young's focus shifted fully to Han Tae-hee,
I hurried over and grabbed Park Su-rim's arm.
"Su-rim hyung. Let's grab drinks."
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah. Everyone's thirsty right now. Come on."
"Sure, go ahead, Su-rim-ah. Can't send Jae alone. I could use something too."
"......Got it."
With even Lee Jae-oh chiming in, Park Su-rim nodded and followed me out.
I dragged him hastily to a nearby café.
The part-timer said, "What can I get you?"
I asked Park Su-rim,
"What'll it be, hyung?"
"Café mocha."
"Iced?"
"Obviously."
Park Su-rim must be an iced-only guy too.
Sharp taste, as expected.
"One iced café mocha, two iced Americanos, one strawberry shake, one apple yogurt smoothie, one iced café latte, and one English Breakfast—hot, please. Oh, English Breakfast hot."
"Got your order. Any discounts or points?"
"Yeah, stamps on this coupon, please."
"Sure."
My go-to café. Stamps are a must.
I ordered for all seven of us, and soon we carried out the tray of drinks.
"All set. Let's head back."
"Hyung."
I stopped Park Su-rim, who was already turning toward the practice room.
Drinks weren't the real goal anyway.
"Hyung, let's talk for a sec."
"Huh?"
"Just us two."
"Won't the ice melt?"
"Won't take long."
"What about Teddy's? That's hot."
Oh, right.
Teddy's hot-even-if-it-kills-him tea preference was a snag.
I rolled my eyes, thought quick, and bullshitted.
"......Sometimes you gotta drink it lukewarm."
"......For real?"
"......Yeah."
"Alright, then."
We headed to the rooftop of the practice building.
Climbing the stairs and pushing open the door revealed a panoramic view of Seoul.
Countless buildings, cars zipping by endlessly, and a cool breeze brushing our ears.
"......Perfect weather to vent."
"What?"
"Oh, just mumbling. Anyway, hyung. Earlier...... you looked kinda down. You okay now?"
Park Su-rim chuckled and looked down at my question.
"So that's why you suddenly wanted drinks."
"......Yeah. Pretty much."
"I just slipped on expression control for a sec. It's nothing...... Nah, I'm fine."
The phrase "don't worry" always worried me most.
I sipped my café latte and continued.
"That's exactly why it feels like something to worry about."
"Nah, really don't. It's no big deal. I just got a bit upset for a moment. But Eun-young's still a kid. He meant well, innocently trying to help. I was just overly sensitive. Unbefitting of a hyung. Learning has no age limit, right? Just my pride getting in the way."
"......"
"Sorry for making you worry. Really, don't, Jae. I'm good! Who am I? The leader."
Right. The leader. You know it.
The problem is, later you'll have a massive blowout with one of these guys.
Bad enough to involve the cops.
But seeing that puppy-like face smiling brightly at me, he seemed genuinely fine.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Totally. No need to worry."
Pushing this further would backfire, I figured.
"......If you say so. Glad you're good, but...... if anything really gets to you, or you're super upset...... come to me, okay?"
Park Su-rim went quiet at my words.
After a brief silence, he nodded.
"......Got it. Thanks, Jae."
His expression had definitely eased up.
Seeing that, I felt a little relieved.
* * *
Back at the dorm after things settled.
Dinner was the usual.
Lee Jae-oh on cooking duty whipped it up, we all ate together, chatting noisily.
Park Su-rim even bantered with Go Eun-young like nothing happened.
'But letting this slide as a one-off......'
Something still felt off.
Thinking it over, I recalled Han Tae-hee jumping in to defuse the tension.
......Maybe talk to Han Tae-hee?
I approached him right then.
"Tae-hee hyung."
"Yeah, Jae. What's up?"
"Come out with me for a sec."
"Why? Need something?"
"Just...... stuff."
"Hmm......"
"......"
"Okay! Ice cream run."
Han Tae-hee hopped up eagerly and followed me out.
On the way to the convenience store, I broached it casually.
"Tae-hee hyung."
"Yeah, Jae."
"Back in the practice room......"
"Eun-young and Su-rim, huh?"
Han Tae-hee smirked like he'd expected it, pulling a strawberry milk lollipop from his pocket and peeling the wrapper.
As the wrapper crinkled, he went on.
"Jae, your memories still haven't come back? Our trainee days."
"......Yeah."
"But you caught on quick. Those two. Well, not exactly those two. Only Su-rim's stressed."
Only Su-rim's stressed.
What did that mean? I stared silently.
"Eun-young sings really well. You know that, Jae."
"Yeah. It's innate. He was on audition shows as a kid, did great."
"Right. He's a genius, no question. Everyone says so. He knows it too. But sometimes he forgets. That's the issue. ......Damn, why won't this unwrap?"
"Here. Let me."
I took the candy from Han Tae-hee and peeled it for him.
Meanwhile, he picked up where he left off.