Gangshik's Graduation Triumph
After the first music show for BloomBell, the group Ryu Jaerin belonged to, I stayed until the end, watching the entire broadcast right up to the number one announcement.
There were two reasons for that. One was that Jaerin would appear one more time during the final ranking reveal. The other was to prepare for any chance my identity might get exposed later.
'If someone says something like 'I only came for one stage,' that could spell trouble.'
After watching every performance like that, I leisurely chatted with Jaerin on KakaoTalk as I left the broadcasting station.
> How was it?
< I thought you were super pretty? It suited you so well. I have a good feeling about this.
> Prettier than Kim Sujin?
Why bring up Sujin here? 'Come to think of it, she asked something similar back in the day.'
I pondered the reason for a moment, then realized it might be the rivalry instinct of those destined for the top.
'Do they sense it on some fateful level? That we'll all meet at the pinnacle?'
Shin Yerim had asked something like that about Sujin and Jaerin before too. It really made you believe in fate.
'Especially since Jaerin blew up right after her debut.'
Dazzling looks, overwhelming talent. An unmatched presence. All that combined, and BloomBell snagged first place on a music show just seven days after debut—an insane record.
Considering the fierce competition from established idols and limited marketing, it was monumental. A full-blown new syndrome.
Anyway, after successfully watching Jaerin's performance, time flew by like an arrow once more.
December. At the MNC year-end awards, she naturally swept the Rookie Award.
"I'll work hard consistently to live up to this honor and won't get complacent. Thank you."
She still hadn't fully broken out of her child actress mold. Her acting roles and screen time hadn't crossed into lead territory yet. Her massive presence was a separate story.
Plus, maybe because Day Eclipse was filmed early in the year, talk about me started fading bit by bit.
It was inevitable in this industry. If you don't shoot new projects, you're pushed out by the next ones. Being forgotten was par for the course.
And just like that, 2013 arrived in the blink of an eye.
'Gotta hit Europe this year.'
It was a trip I should've taken last year, but extremely special circumstances made it impossible.
"Waaahhh!"
Me, Kim Donghu, 17 years old. I'd gained a little sister 16 years younger.
I'll save that story for later.
February 2013. The middle school graduation ceremony arrived—a time packed with memories and events.
'My everyday life is finally wrapping up.'
As I thought that, my gaze unconsciously drifted to the auditorium stage where the graduation speech would happen.
Originally, I should've been the one giving it—thrust into student council president without even running. But no matter how I looked at it, I flat-out refused.
'No way. I barely did school life— what speech?'
If I'd had tons of memories with the kids, maybe. But from retreats to math trips, I had zero shared moments. It made no sense.
So I pushed for either skipping it or having the principal do it.
—I'll do it.
Defying everyone's expectations, Na Gangshik stepped up. Since I'd become student council president, he'd naturally joined as an officer too. No reason he couldn't.
Thud, thud, thud.
If there's no reason not to, then do it. And so Gangshik headed toward the stage for the upcoming speech.
"Uh, hello. I'm Na Gangshik, and I'll be giving the graduation speech."
Trembling eyes, still-stuttering speech. But no one mocked him.
We all watched Gangshik, who would cap off our final moments.
"I, I didn't have many friends because I wasn't good with words."
Gangshik's graduation speech began.
Tense. Regretful. Why did I volunteer for the graduation speech?
Am I really the right one for this? I agonized endlessly.
But the desire to do it outweighed everything because I had words I wanted to leave—for the friends who changed me, and for this school.
Na Gangshik steadied his anxious heart and opened his mouth.
"I, I used to hate myself like this. Because I thought my personality kept me from fitting in with friends."
Sweat beaded with every word. Cold sweat dripped; dizziness hit.
But.
"But now I like myself. Because I met friends who like me as I am."
Unlike his pounding heart, his stutters lessened bit by bit.
"I believe your school lives were like that too. Sometimes tough, exhausting—but looking back, full of great memories."
Those moments must have carved themselves into your memories.
As Gangshik spoke, his mom, Park Oksun, struggled to hold back tears.
Her son, who used to trudge home with slumped shoulders every day. When did he start coming home smiling, sharing school stories? Now here he was, standing tall on the graduation stage, speaking confidently and coolly.
'...Gangshik.'
Park Oksun looked at her son, then shifted to Kim Donghu.
A friend watching her son with unwavering, steady eyes. Donghu, Yerim, Minhyuk. Those three made this possible.
"I don't see this graduation as a goodbye."
Na Gangshik recalled moments playing with friends. So fun, so precious.
But now, they had to become memories—past to cherish.
"We're just taking different paths for a bit. The fact we were together doesn't change. So..."
So.
He should continue here, but the words wouldn't come.
"...No n-need to be sad, th-thinking of it as a f-farewell."
His vision blurred. Why was everything hazy?
He didn't know.
"I hope we end our time together smiling... with laughter."
With that, Gangshik's speech concluded.
From then on, he was in a daze—barely registering the ceremony. Thunderous applause, repeated "cool" compliments, a warm embrace with sobs, holding back tears for group photos.
But he remembered the final moment.
—D-Donghu!
—Yeah?
—Y-You know, like you said. I'll become an a-amazing developer.
A-And! As an amazing developer! I'll h-hire you! As a m-model!
Before heading home. He definitely said that to Donghu.
What did Donghu reply?
—When that time comes, take good care of me.
Yeah, that's what he said. Preparing not for farewell, but for reunion.
"Son, won't you miss your friends now?"
"Yeah! We'll meet again anyway—in even cooler versions of ourselves. I'm good!"
"...Our boy really grew up, huh?"
And so Na Gangshik graduated middle school.
Korea National University of Arts. Or Daejong High for short.
Not content with undisputed top arts high school status, greedy chairman Edward Park's insane scouting talent pulled in and produced countless stars.
One condition for entry: talent.
Personality? Irrelevant. The school could teach that.
But talent doesn't appear on command. So Edward Park obsessed over it.
'And now, reaping the rewards.'
Traces of geniuses he hunted endlessly. Then he met Kim Donghu and was floored.
Perfect yet full of growth potential, demonic gift crushing mortals—Kim Donghu himself enrolling at Daejong High.
Not just him—BloomBell's center Ryu Jaerin, skyrocketing lately, enrolled too.
'Double celebration.'
Heh heh. Humming, Edward Park bustled toward the entrance ceremony.
"Huh?"
The desperately awaited Kim Donghu was nowhere in sight.
Around the time of Daejong High's entrance ceremony, I couldn't attend.
Not due to schedule. An unexpected variable cropped up.
"Hey, I'm Bong Jinu."
"Pardon?"
"Bong Jinu, second-year at Daejong High, president of the Sparking theater club."
About 165cm tall. A senior barely taller peered up at me.
"Kim Donghu, I want you in a play."
"Pardon? Wait, you drag me here out of nowhere—what's—"
"If not now, I couldn't approach you properly. Sorry. But I had no choice."
I was desperate too.
With that, senior Bong Jinu handed me a script.
"Not a school play. I want to stage this at Daehakro."
Prep's mostly done. All I need now is a great actor.
He gripped my still-trembling arm tight.
'What the hell is this?'
Flustered, my actor instincts kicked in—I read the title.
'...Star and Moon Story?'
Sounds familiar. Then it hit me.
'This is that.'
The title from Sims - The Real Life was right there.
With things unfolding like this, curiosity burned. What made Sims recommend it so strongly?
Before checking the rating, I dove right in.
'Immersion.'
I sank into the script.
And the first thing to greet me was.
'...What is this?'
A vast universe.