Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Title Track is Confirmed
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With the title track confirmed, our practice sessions really picked up speed. Of course, we hadn't been slacking off before either.
Still, there was a world of difference between wandering aimlessly and having a clear goal in sight.
We drilled and drilled and drilled some more, to the point where you could believe we were pre-debut trainees.
Of course, we were busier than ever before debut. We had to squeeze in events whenever they popped up between practices.
I, in particular, had a bunch of personal schedules thanks to Oh, My Cat.
It was a relief that I'd wrapped up filming early, even though I wasn't the lead.
The moment I finished my schedule, I rushed back to the company and dashed into the recording studio. Today was title track recording day.
"Sorry! Am I late?"
"It's fine. It's not like you were out playing. How'd it go?"
Lee Jae-ha, standing outside the booth, answered with a slightly tired face.
Park Tae-hoo, who for some reason was leaning against the wall while standing and looking at the sheet music, nodded too.
"Yeah. Don't sweat it. We need you to shine for the promo."
"Thanks. Has Ha-woon gone in already?"
"Nah, a bit ago."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the producer gave the OK sign. Kim Ha-woon stepped out of the booth with a sigh.
"Huh? When did you get here, hyung?"
"Just now. Recording go well?"
"Nope. Got absolutely reamed."
He replied with a dejected look. Before I could even comfort him, the producer spotted me and called out cheerfully.
"Oh! Do-jun! Come on in. Ha-woon, hang tight. We'll redo yours after Do-jun."
"Isn't Ha-woon done?"
"Nah, I paused 'cause you showed up. Progress was crawling anyway."
No, you didn't have to...
"Just keep going. I need to warm up my throat anyway."
"Nope! We need the main vocal to anchor it. Filling in the guide around it is making it tougher for Ha-woon."
I instinctively glanced at Kim Ha-woon upon hearing that. He was chugging water with a weary expression. Fortunately, he didn't look upset.
The producer's words could come off harsh to Ha-woon. The kid sings plenty well.
"Anyway, Do-jun! Hurry up! You've got a ton of parts, so it'll take a while. If you're late, the others suffer too."
I gave in to the producer's urging and entered the booth. I slipped on the headset and checked my throat.
"Ah, ahh."
A bit husky, but it'd loosen up soon enough.
The producer must've thought the same, signaling me to try a light run-through.
But he cut me off before I finished the first verse.
"Too straightforward right now. Make it a bit more teasing. Like how you'd treat a cat."
"A cat?"
"Saw you nailing it in the drama."
Ah, he knows Lee Jung-woo.
I nodded and sang again. Like gazing at Lee Jung-woo's cat, right?
Even to me, my voice came out affectionately tender—almost embarrassingly so—through the headset.
"Good! Perfect."
The producer flashed a satisfied OK.
"That's the magic of recording. Point it out, and it clicks right away."
He gulped down his iced coffee—now melted to room temp—and continued.
The producer looked pretty worn out from hours of nonstop recording.
"Now we can finally make progress. You have no idea how frustrating it was."
He let out a small sigh and glanced back. Kim Ha-woon was there, drinking water.
"Ha-woon, watch and learn. Compare your tension to Do-jun's."
Ha-woon pursed his lips briefly before mumbling softly.
"......Okay."
His face had darkened even more than when he'd just come out. Seeing the maknae get scolded alone didn't sit right with me.
"Great. Let's go. Go!"
But the next cue left no room for thoughts. Every minute, every second was precious.
In the frenzy of recording, I didn't notice two members had quietly slipped out until later.
"Where you headed?"
"Bathroom."
"Bathroom's the other way."
At Lee Jae-ha's words trailing behind him, Kim Ha-woon gave up descending to the first floor and stopped.
"Let's hit the break room."
Jae-ha strode ahead without waiting for a reply. Ha-woon stared at his back for a moment before following.
Click.
The break room door shut. Jae-ha approached the vending machine and said flatly.
"Gotta record, so drink some water."
"I'm good."
"Drink."
Clunk, thud-thud-thunk.
Despite Ha-woon's refusal, he pulled two bottles of water. He even unscrewed the caps before handing one over.
An awkward silence settled in after that.
Only the sound of gulping water, feet tapping the floor, and their breathing filled the room faintly.
Unable to bear it, Kim Ha-woon spoke first.
"Why'd you follow me?"
"Just did."
"'Just'? What's the reason?"
Even with Ha-woon's irritation slipping through, Jae-ha replied calmly.
"You should know better than me."
Ha-woon's mouth clamped shut again. Jae-ha didn't press, just went quiet too.
"......Honestly, everyone's going too far."
After a few minutes, Ha-woon muttered his grievance softly.
"I get why friends and fans like Do-jun hyung. But treating me like some manager? That pisses me off."
"Obviously."
"And the company favoring only Do-jun hyung? That's not just a little much—it's a lot."
Before Jae-ha could respond, Ha-woon's voice rose, more agitated.
"The drama casting too. None of us skipped acting lessons. Yet Do-jun hyung gets the spot, and now our title track parts could be equalized......"
The break room door rattled as if about to burst open. Ha-woon's heart skipped; he whipped around.
It didn't open, but he clamped his mouth shut, still uneasy. Jae-ha got up, peeked out, and said,
"Nobody there. Just the draft."
Only then did Ha-woon relax.
Jae-ha watched silently, thinking it wasn't serious yet.
If it were unbearable, he wouldn't care who heard.
He sighed softly and spoke gently.
"I get how you feel. But with the buzz around him, the company's pushing Do-jun hyung as the center. Makes sense."
"Maybe the buzz comes from the pushing."
"You know that's not it."
Ha-woon bristled at the reprimanding tone.
"What do you mean 'not it'! Honestly, Do-jun hyung was on radio pre-debut, drama right after. No wonder people know him."
Instead of raising his voice, Jae-ha met Ha-woon's eyes steadily.
Ha-woon flinched under the impassive, firm gaze.
Strangely, Jae-ha—only three years older—felt harder to face than Do-jun, who had a bigger age gap.
They'd trained together longer, so it should've been the opposite, but it wasn't. That unease weighed on him.
"......"
Overpowered by the stare, Ha-woon bit his lip. After a pause, the question came again.
"You really think that?"
He couldn't answer right away. Deep down, he knew it wasn't true.
But admitting it would make his bruised ego feel pathetic.
Instead, Ha-woon changed the subject.
"You really okay, hyung? You were main vocal before Do-jun hyung came."
"I'm fine."
"And you were supposed to be leader too, but......"
"Ha-woon."
The gentle but firm interruption made Ha-woon flinch and glance nervously.
"Why......"
"Do-jun hyung's leader because he fits. I pushed for it. His long parts aren't just popularity—they're earned."
The calm tone sounded genuine. But it felt like Jae-ha was scolding him for jealous incompetence.
It made Ha-woon feel petty and small, surging with resentment.
"Look at Arena too! They pushed Sung Joo-chan, and it all went to hell."
"Kim Ha-woon."
Jae-ha furrowed his brow for the first time at the harsh words.
Only then did Ha-woon think he'd gone too far. Comparing to Arena was over the line, maybe.
But the words were out; no taking them back.
"You really think that?"
The same question returned.
It wasn't quite that extreme. But the company's favoritism? Undeniable.
And apologizing now? Pride wouldn't allow it.
The staring contest dragged on in a heavier atmosphere.
That's when it happened.
"What're you two doing!"
The break room door flew open as Park Tae-hoo yelled.
"Producer says hurry up!"
"Coming."
Ha-woon shot up at the shout.
Left alone in the empty room, Jae-ha watched his back with a serious expression for a moment.
A golf course near Seoul. Under the scorching summer sun, the grass gleamed green.
Thwack!
A dull impact sent a clump of turf flying. Caddies cheered and clapped reflexively.
But then.
Thwack!
"Argh!"
The ball soared in a high arc... and plopped into the lake.
Pida Entertainment's vice president flung his club in fury. The caddies flinched, eyeing him warily.
Only the casting section chief, out on the course with him, approached cautiously to soothe.
"Course conditions are off today."
Watching the caddie gingerly retrieve and bag the club with a scowl, the vice president suddenly spat,
"That bastard Go Moo-seo."
The name dropped out of nowhere, but the section chief nodded knowingly.
"Cocky prick's on a roll lately."
"Must be Park Min-ha and his idol push paying off. Still, he can't touch you, sir."
"Damn right. Who built this company?"
Actually, the president and Executive Director Go Moo-seo. The section chief thought it but kept mum.
The vice president lacked talent but was the president's cousin. Better to stay on his good side. He rubbed his hands busily.
"Exactly, sir. Wise words."
Flattered, the vice president tsked and said,
"And blowing up through acting instead of music? Ridiculous for an idol."
"No. She's basically an actress."
"Right. Look at hot idols now—all artists. But he chases out the ones who fit that image and picks drama?"
The one unfit for that image—probably Lim Joo-won.
The section chief got it instantly. He'd brought Joo-won in himself.
"Wish this album tanks hard. Then next group, I call the shots."
After all the money sunk into our first idol debut?
The section chief was baffled but masked it with a nod.
Well, as long as Lee Do-jun pulls investment back, fine.
"Hm, no. Can't have a failure on my record."
Not his company yet, but the vice president firmly believed Pida Entertainment would be his someday.
His cousin the president was unmarried, childless.
The section chief thought the same—hence his alliance.
"Still bugs me that Go Moo-seo's succeeding......"
As they reached the lake, the section chief ventured carefully.
"How about pushing another kid as a replacement?"
The vice president halted, chin-tilting for more.
"Plenty other members. Slap a 'composer' image on one. Train 'em in composing—it's half-true."
No telling how good they'd get, but faking it sufficed. Experts handle composing, lyrics, producing.
"Ho......"
Intrigued, the vice president smacked his lips. His face relaxed as he swung hard.
Crack!
The ball landed safely on the green. He watched leisurely.
"Look into who fits."