Chapter 135
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 135
"And... that’s a wrap!"
"Ugh..."
Since this was the final year-end stage and didn't involve any actual awards, all that was left was to enjoy the moment.
Having poured everything into the performance, my entire body was aching. I hadn't been worried about making mistakes, but I’d put so much power into the dance break that my bones felt like they were creaking.
It’s my age...
"...Someone give me some water."
"Here, drink up. Drink."
I took the offered water bottle and emptied it in an instant.
"Can I rest now...?"
"Probably... I think it's okay..."
Everyone had been running on minimal sleep and performing as if there were no tomorrow. The moment the stage ended, the tension snapped, and everyone practically melted into a puddle.
Returning to the waiting room, taking a short break, and gulping down some cold water finally made me feel like I was regaining my senses.
...I think it went well, right?
I hadn't checked the reactions yet, but remembering the raw, vivid heat I felt from the audience, it couldn't have been bad.
Watching the subsequent performances on the monitor in the waiting room, I realized something. The other groups had prepared with just as much passion as we had.
I wonder where we'll be in the lineup next year.
Even though The Dawn had gained some traction, we still lacked seniority and recognition compared to the other groups. Attending an event like this, where all the top-tier idols of the year were gathered, made that gap feel even wider.
Two years if we’re fast... four years at most to reach the goal.
As long as we hit the first-tier mark, even if it was just by the skin of our teeth, the quest would be a success. I had no intention of dragging this out any longer than necessary.
But...
"Whoa, Black Call is coming on."
Seeing something like that made me realize just how absurd my goal was.
"......"
"Wow..."
The members all stared at the screen with their mouths agape, looking as if their souls were being sucked out.
I looked at Ju Woo-seong’s face during his close-up and felt genuinely exhausted.
Ugh.
[You can be my King,
Just say the word
I can make it right]
Black Call had released only one title track this year, and that was "Kings," a concept inspired by classical masterpieces.
Draped in a magnificent black cape embroidered with gold leaf, Ju Woo-seong looked like the definition of an idol at the absolute pinnacle.
Damn, can I even beat that guy with pure skill?
The vibe was completely different from a year ago. The brat who used to brag that you can't beat a genius who enjoys his work had finally, truly proven it.
As I took another swig of water, I heard Jeong Da-jun, who had been watching intently beside me, mumble under his breath.
"When do you think we'll be able to stand at the end of the lineup?"
"Three years."
"Huh?"
"Four years at the most."
"...Why are you so certain?"
Because I don't plan on taking any longer than that.
I spoke without looking at Jeong Da-jun.
"Maknae, just trust me and follow along. I’m not giving you a bus ride; I’m taking you on a roller coaster."
"...Don't make me get my hopes up. I actually believe you when you say things like that."
"You can get your hopes up as much as you damn well please."
As always, I was confident.
Jeong Da-jun looked moved and tried to lung at me for a hug, but I nimbly twisted my body to avoid him. Behind a pouting Da-jun, I heard a staff member’s voice telling us to get ready for the ending.
As was tradition, the December 31st year-end stage ended with a famous veteran singer starting a hopeful song, followed by all the performers joining them on stage one by one, concluding with a countdown.
We slowly climbed the stairs toward the stage.
[Because this isn't our end
It's a new beginning
Let's join our hearts and sing—]
"Whoa~. This year is really ending."
"Ahaha, I'm glad we're all together."
[Let's join our hearts and sing
That we've all survived
So it's okay to love us]
Everyone swayed to the music, clapping or waving their hands to the beat.
"Hyung."
[So it's okay to love us]
The song ended, and thunderous applause erupted.
"Ho-yun hyung!"
Ah, was he calling me?
I was trying to maintain a gentle smile for the cameras, reacting like the other idols, when Jeong Da-jun poked me in the side.
"Um, you know."
"What?"
Jeong Da-jun met my eyes for a moment, then looked down, his lips trembling slightly.
I wanted to tell him to lift his head so the camera could catch him, but just then, Seong Ji-won’s voice made Da-jun snap his head up.
"Oh! The countdown is starting!"
"Aaaah!! 59 seconds until Jeong Da-jun becomes an adult!!"
"Whoa~."
"Wow~."
"Your reactions are so half-hearted!!"
[Everyone! It’s a new beginning! Let’s all count down together!]
The moment the MC finished the announcement, the countdown to the New Year began.
[30! 29! 28!]
White puffs of breath escaped from all the performers as they began the count.
Ju Woo-seong, standing in the front row, looked used to the countdown after doing it for several years. He was laughing and chatting with the other Black Call members.
My field of vision was filled with the colorful lightsticks of various fandoms. The most prominent were Black Call’s, followed by White Cherry, Lia Purple... there were so many.
How many more of them do I have to overtake?
As I was pondering this, I spotted our lightsticks in the distance—the inverted blue triangles.
Maybe they were there with someone special, or they came to make memories, or they were there simply as fans.
Regardless, the fact remained that they had come to see us on this freezing day.
"17! 16! 15!"
Jeong Da-jun was jumping up and down beside me in excitement, and Seong Ji-won joined in.
"2!"
Kim Seong-hyeon counted down in a low voice, and Kang Yi-chae turned back to look at me.
"1!!"
And he smiled.
The moment the final number appeared, spectacular fireworks exploded.
"Happy New Year!!"
The MCs' New Year's greetings followed.
It was the start of a brand new year.
"Another year older!"
My second time being twenty-four.
I concluded my rationalization that it was perfectly legal to claim I was twenty-four even if I was thirty-four on the inside, and then I looked around. First, I gave a bow to the audience.
Friends and colleagues were congratulating each other or hugging as they exchanged greetings.
"Right..."
As long as you guys are happy.
I just wanted to wrap this up and go home.
Just then—
"Seo Ho-yun!!"
Kim Seong-hyeon suddenly grabbed my arm.
"Happy New Year!"
The other members piled on top of us.
"See these fireworks? The lights? The temperature? It was all prepared for us. Don't go crying on us now!"
"Ahaha, will he cry?"
"I don't cry unless 7.1 billion won hits my bank account."
"...Ho-yun’s tears are pretty expensive."
I let out a chuckle amidst the excited members as the song the staff had briefed us on began to play. It was the signal that today’s schedule was officially over.
As we followed everyone off the stage and back to the waiting room corridor, I felt a gaze fixed on me.
Ah.
It was Yun Hee-eon.
There was no way he knew his impotence was my fault.
I gave a small nod and a smile to the guy glaring at me, and his eyebrows twitched. Then, I saw him starting to walk toward me.
Is this a New Year's special?
I shoved my hands into my pockets, ready to give a refreshing response to the first provocation of January 1st, when I felt a tug from behind.
"Crazy bastard."
It was Ju Woo-seong.
"Happy New Year."
He draped his arm boldly over my shoulder and glanced at Yun Hee-eon.
Judging by the look of things, he had stepped in because he thought Yun Hee-eon was going to start something.
This guy...
Yun Hee-eon quickly fixed his expression upon seeing Ju Woo-seong intervene. He greeted only Ju Woo-seong and then walked past us.
Naturally, Ju Woo-seong ignored him.
I watched the scene unfold, then matched my pace with Ju Woo-seong’s and spoke.
"Still a pushover, just like last year?"
"That is the most annoying thing I've heard all year."
The year only started a few minutes ago, though?
The corridor was so noisy that I doubted anyone could hear us, so I exchanged some trivial banter with Ju Woo-seong.
"You attract an incredibly high number of weirdos, you know that?"
"Does that include you, Ju Woo-seong-ssi?"
"...I take back what I said earlier. That is the most annoying thing."
Ju Woo-seong grumbled that he probably wouldn't encounter a more irritating comment for the next three months, just as the rest of Black Call waved to him from a distance.
"I'm off."
As if he really had only come over to cover for me, Ju Woo-seong patted the shoulder he’d been holding and prepared to head toward his members.
I watched his retreating back and called out.
"Woo-seong-ah."
He used to avoid me like the plague back when I was a PD, but now he was actually trying to look out for me.
To be honest, I didn't quite get it, but—
"Happy New Year to you, too."
I could at least give him that much.
Ju Woo-seong turned around with a slightly surprised expression. Then, he burst into a grin, his eyes curving into crescents.
"Yeah."
"......"
"But why are you talking to me informally?"
"To celebrate the New Year."
"You just have to have the last word, don't you..."
Despite his annoyed words, Ju Woo-seong chuckled. He moved away quickly, heading straight for the Black Call members without sparing a single glance for the other idols nearby.
Talent, effort, and now even character.
I watched the first-tier idol who had changed so thoroughly, then I, who remained as lacking in manners as ever, turned my head away.
"Ho-yun-ah! Hurry up."
"Coming."
New Year’s Day, the first start.
Everyone was laughing and chatting as if under a spell that made people giddy.
Passing through the crowd, I headed down to the parking lot to get to the dorm. It was packed with people trying to head home.
Once we climbed into the van and things quieted down a bit, Kim Seong-hyeon poked Jeong Da-jun’s cheek as he sat in the seat next to him.
"Jeong Da-jun, congrats on becoming an adult~."
"Ehehe! Thanks~."
"You got lucky. Starting next year, minors have to leave by 10 PM no matter what."
"...I almost had to do the countdown alone in the waiting room?"
"Yep."
Jeong Da-jun babbled about how he would have been so upset if that happened and how glad he was to have been born a year earlier. Kang Yi-chae, ignoring him, cracked a joke.
"The time has finally come to show you the bitterness of society."
"What? You mean everything I've been through so far wasn't the end?"
"You've still got a long way to go..."
The members, still buzzing with excitement, were noisy.
Jeong Da-jun, who was grinning despite being teased by the older members just because he was happy to be an adult, suddenly turned his head to look at me in the back seat.
"Hyung, here!"
He held out a piece of candy that had been crumpled in his pocket.
"It's a gift to keep your lungs from turning black!!"
"Whoa~, how thoughtful."
"Our Rabbit! Keep up the fierce smoking cessation in the New Year!"
"Thanks for the well-wishes. But seriously, get away from Kang Yi-chae."
Stop with the rhyming.
But Jeong Da-jun still had more to say, his body still turned toward me.
"And hyung, I couldn't finish what I was saying earlier because the timing was off with the countdown."
I saw Jeong Da-jun’s beaming face.
"I don't mind if we don't stand on that final stage within three years."
"Huh?"
"Isn't it okay to take it slow? What does it matter if it takes a long time? We're going to keep doing this anyway."
"......Right."
I stammered slightly.
"Ye-yeah..."
When I hesitated, missing the timing to respond, Jeong Da-jun was the one who got flustered.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
...I unwrapped the candy he gave me, popped it into my mouth, rolled it around a few times, and then completely changed my expression.
"—Take it slow? Are you crazy? Don't you want to make it big before you have to enlist?"
"But Ho-yun hyung, you've already served."
"I'm sorry to break it to you, but unlike you, Seong Ji-won and Kim Seong-hyeon will be ancient by then."
"Seo Ho-yun, are you really going to talk like that on January 1st??"
Kim Seong-hyeon let out a deep sigh.
"You emotionless realist..."
"I have to teach the brand-new twenty-year-old about the bitterness of society."
Jeong Da-jun tilted his head slightly but fortunately didn't notice anything off and went back to joking around with Seong Ji-won.
Just then, the manager, who was organizing the schedule next to the road manager who was driving, spoke up.
"Guys! At least send a text or make a call to your families."
"Ah, yes!"
Jeong Da-jun immediately pulled out his phone. Kim Seong-hyeon just nodded, having likely already sent a text.
Right from the start of the year.
Instead of texting Seo Ho-jin, I just turned my head toward the window.
He really caught me off guard right at the start of the year...
Click!
A flash went off, making me frown and turn my head. Kang Yi-chae, sitting next to me, was lowering a Polaroid camera with a bright smile.
"What are you doing?"
"Ahaha."
While everyone else was texting their families, it seemed he had found the Polaroid camera tucked away in the back seat.
"Taking a 'boyfriend material' shot~. To post on the official account."
"Am I your boyfriend?"
"Eww~, I wouldn't want you as a dating partner~."
Kang Yi-chae chuckled, then waved the photo around as it developed.
"But Seo Ho-yun-ssi, why are you spacing out all by yourself? It's the New Year; you should be spending it happily and joyfully."
"I'm having a 'dawn sentiment' moment, so please don't disturb me."
"Oopsie~."
Kang Yi-chae, who had been playfully responding to my light retorts, checked the photo and held it out to me.
The image was starting to become clear.
"How is it? Pretty, right?"
"You took it well."
"I'll take one for you next year, too."
Kang Yi-chae grinned.
"Don't you think it would be nice to take one of each member every New Year? It would be great to look back on them later."
Considering there were two, maybe four years left until the scenario was complete.
I'll probably take at least three or four more.
"He says that, but then he'll just shove them in a drawer and forget about them."
"That's why I was thinking of putting them in Seong-hyeon hyung's drawer. I'm counting on you~."
"......Right, so I'm the one managing them in the end."
"Oh, I want to see too!"
The Polaroid was handed over to Seong Ji-won.
I rested my chin on my hand as I watched Seong Ji-won chatting happily with Kang Yi-chae.
"It's pretty! I'll take one for you, too."
"Oh, sure~."
"Seriously, it would be so nice to collect them one by one."
Seong Ji-won.
"I did all that—the walking on eggshells, the lying, the hiding—because there was something I wanted to know."
He might fumble sometimes, but there was no denying he was a wise guy.
"Everyone's like that, right? Everyone has something they're desperate for."
And it made sense. I didn't realize it when I was that age, but Seong Ji-won already knew everything.
He's right.
"Anyway, what do you think, hyung? It's a good plan, right?"
I also had something I desperately wanted to know.
"Sure, whatever."
I looked at Kang Yi-chae—someone I wouldn't be able to see once I left this world, or someone who wouldn't remember me at all even if we met in my original world—and I smiled.
He might be disappointed if he knew what I was thinking, but.
"Take one next year, too."
I hadn't made a promise I couldn't keep, so it was fine.
"Hyung, so how does it feel to be twenty-four?"
"I'm damn moved."
"...Huh? I get why I'm happy since I'm an adult now, but why you, hyung?"
"Because I'm young."
"Isn't it usually the opposite??"
What would you guys know?
I’ve been rejuvenated.