Manager App - Chapter 84: Idol Project
"What if the culprit is nearby?"
Shin Ye-eun suddenly spoke up.
Lee Eunha shuddered slightly and replied, "No way…."
She was clearly showing her unease.
"Don't worry, unnie. It's just a guess, after all."
"Still…. It could really be here, right?"
"Maybe, but it'll be fine. Besides, none of us have been summoned yet."
"True."
Eunha nodded, finally looking relieved as she patted her chest.
In the meantime, Ye-eun turned to me and said, "This time, sunbae and I will sing."
"Me?"
When I asked, she nodded eagerly. "Yes. I want to check a few things. And next… I'll sing with Jihyun unnie."
At Ye-eun's words, Jihyun's face lit up brighter than I'd ever seen.
"Then let's do 'Evo! Revo! Generation!' together!"
Jihyun shouted with excessive enthusiasm, but Ye-eun looked troubled as she replied, "Huh? I don't know that song."
"No problem! I'll teach you!"
"No, even so, singing it on the spot…."
"Come on, just listen to this!"
Without listening, Jihyun yanked Ye-eun closer, plugged earphones into her smartphone, and handed her one.
Ye-eun had no choice but to listen, then said, "It's in Japanese?"
"Bad?"
"It's good, but… singing it right now is kinda tough."
"If you don't know it well, just improvise!"
"…."
I couldn't stand watching Jihyun grab Ye-eun's hand with sparkling eyes any longer, so I stepped in. "Why don't you two sing something you both know? Japanese is too much on the spot."
"Ugh…. This is New Generation's debut song!"
Jihyun looked utterly disappointed, but sadly, no one here was going to back her up. Eunha might have, but since Jihyun was bothering Ye-eun, she stayed out of it.
With Jihyun's plan foiled, Eunha handed me the mic as she approached.
I reserved Aiyoon's "Nagging" like Ye-eun and Jihyun had sung before and said, "Let's sit and sing. No need to stand."
Ye-eun, who also seemed uncomfortable standing, brightened up and sat down.
This is all Jihyun's fault.
If the first singer, Jihyun, had sat on the sofa, everyone else would have too. But since she stood, it became the norm. Human psychology is a scary thing.
Tsk tsk. I skipped the intro and started singing.
When it ended, Ye-eun leaned toward me with an "as expected" look. "Sunbae, do you see it?"
"Hmm…. No. Nothing."
I looked where she pointed, but no notification appeared. It seemed visible only to those summoned to the Training Room.
"My turn now, right?"
Jihyun, who'd been waiting quietly, shot up her hand dramatically.
I chuckled wryly and passed her the mic. She immediately stood, grabbed Ye-eun's hand, and dragged her in front of us.
"Um, wait…."
"This is all practice!"
"Huh?"
"You planning to sit during the idol project? You'll have to dance too."
"W-Well, yeah, but…."
"Song starting! Come on, sing!"
High on endorphins from duetting with Ye-eun, Jihyun grinned ear-to-ear as they sang Aiyoon's "Nagging" together.
They actually go well together.
I'd thought they'd clash, but their duet was surprisingly good.
"Wow!"
Eunha must've thought the same; she clapped and exclaimed as the song ended. Their chemistry was better than expected.
Afterward, Ye-eun pointed at a notification only she and Eunha could see and asked Jihyun, "Jihyun unnie, do you see this?"
"What? Nope."
"Hmm…."
Since Jihyun saw nothing like me, Ye-eun pondered with downcast eyes. Then, as if struck by an idea, she pulled out her smartphone and sent a text.
Soon, it rang. She answered, switched to speaker, and held it so everyone could hear.
"What's up?"
"Unnie, I need a favor."
"What?"
"Sing one song for me."
"What? Now?"
"Yes, now. Can you?"
"Hold on."
Seoyeon noona's heels clicked as she walked somewhere. Then a door creaked; she'd entered a room.
"…Okay. Just sing?"
"No, I'll play it here. What song?"
"Taeyeon's 'Fine' okay?"
"Yes, got it."
With the song chosen, Ye-eun selected Taeyeon's "Fine" on the remote and held the mic close to her phone.
A little pain makes tears flow. My heart screams. When I pass by you, by your side….
You make me linger. You make me cry. Like a fool~ like a child~ might as well just smile it away.
The closer you get~ the more scared I am…. But this love can't be stopped, it seems.
Her usually crisp voice singing like this stirred something in my chest. What was it? Incredibly pleasant. Like discovering a new side to her.
I couldn't help smiling. I miss her.
I wanted to see her sing "Fine" live here. She'd look like a goddess descending.
I chuckled softly, savoring Seoyeon noona's song.
When it ended, Eunha, Jihyun, and I clapped in admiration.
"What? Others there?"
"Yes, Eunha unnie, Jihyun unnie…. And Yuhyun sunbae."
"What? Yuhyun's at karaoke right now?! Put him on NOW!"
Her sudden outburst at hearing my name made my heart skip, but Ye-eun quickly interjected.
"More importantly, unnie."
"What?"
"After singing, did any notification window pop up?"
"What're you talking about?"
Seoyeon noona sounded grumpy; no window for her either. Ye-eun tilted her head in confusion and handed me her phone.
"Here, sunbae."
It looked like a one-way ticket to hell. Do I have to take this?
Steadying my trembling hand, I took it carefully. "Hello?"
"Make your excuses. I'll listen."
Expecting an explosion, I was surprised by her calm tone. I poured out my defense. "Eunha and Ye-eun got into this idol project, and I agreed to help. This is practice, so we're at karaoke. I swear, just singing."
"Really?"
"Really."
I infused every word with sincerity. It worked; her voice softened.
"I'll check tonight."
"Okay, see you tonight."
A small laugh came through. Finally.
"Hanging up. Have fun."
"You too, noona. Good luck at work."
I waited for her to hang up first. When I looked up, Eunha and the others stared at me curiously.
Kim Minseo comes out next chapter!