Chapter 336
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 336
[It’s like I just started setting the table for a rain ritual, but it’s already pouring.]
As soon as the teaser for their third fan song, "Name This Feeling," was released, the Noeuls, already buzzing with anticipation, instantly erupted into a frenzy.
[Looks like there’s a real otaku at Daepasung. Whose idea was it to release a fan song with a campus concept?]
[Ooh, this is total first love material~ That "handsome senior from the other department everyone talks about" vibe~~ (Of course, those don't exist in reality). Lee Ji-hyeon... you really know your stuff...
└ Is Lee Ji-hyeon still at Daepasung??
└└ Yeah, she needs to stay there forever..]
[I thought they’d stop releasing them since WH acquired Daepasung (they don't usually do fan songs), but they’ve been consistent every year ㅠㅠ
└ It’s because the members are releasing them as unreleased tracks.. This is why having a producing member in the group is so important..]
While "Will you go to Prom with me?" captured a high-teen prom aesthetic and "Orbit" portrayed the beautiful yet anxious days of youth against fresh overseas landscapes, this new release felt different.
When they produced their first fan song, they had filmed it themselves simply because they lacked the budget. However, the response was so positive that self-filming had become a tradition for every fan song since.
[I hope no kids develop fantasies about college after watching this.. Reality is just shit.]
[How does Seo Ho-yun give off "dating reality show" vibes just by standing still? "Your ex-girlfriend did not choose you."]
As the broadcast industry frequently cycled through trends, dating shows were currently the hottest thing. Among them, reality shows where ex-couples reunited in one place to face new connections and find love were particularly popular.
Consequently, Nutube was flooded with "ex-boyfriend vibe" edits of The Dawn members—videos meticulously spliced together with a spoonful of beauty, a dash of nostalgia, and a heavy pour of lingering regret.
<Your X, Seo Ho-yun>
In particular, a video compiled solely of the natural expressions Seo Ho-yun made toward his fans had already easily surpassed one million views.
Moments like his cold face flickering with surprise as he slightly furrowed his brows, the rare instances he smiled brightly at a fan’s camera, or the split second he intentionally curved his lips into a smile when making eye contact were exquisitely cross-edited.
[Wow, did I break up with Seo Ho-yun?]
[....... I’m so conflicted. If we were going to break up like this, he shouldn't have seduced me in the first place.]
To make matters worse, the background music was a song by a famous British singer said to have been composed after a breakup, further triggering the viewers' "over-immersion."
[My head hurts from crying so much... He’s probably eating a bowl of gukbap with Kim Seong-hyeon right now... and yet I still.... (Likes: 5413)]
[Even though I know he’s probably chugging a Sol-ui-nun right now... I feel like the person who stopped eating it in front of me because I teased him for acting like an old man... (Likes: 2144)]
[Get a grip, everyone. He’s my ex-boyfriend. (Likes: 104)]
Soon after, the music video for "Name This Feeling" was released on The Dawn’s Nutube channel.
【THE DAWN - Name This Feeling (Self-cam)】
As the Noeuls clicked on the video after receiving the notification, a disco-funk melody infused with synth-bass began to play. The sophisticated rhythm and fast tempo made the melody feel even more vibrant.
【How do you name this feeling?】
Simultaneously, the screen showed Kim Seong-hyeon from behind, a sports bag slung over his shoulder as he practically sprinted up a hill under a blue sky. He patted a passing friend on the back in greeting before waving and running toward Seong Ji-won, who was waiting on a bench.
【Hey, please tell me / How do you name this feeling?】
The two entered the campus, laughing and chatting.
As if time were fast-forwarding, the camera zoomed in on Kim Seong-hyeon’s face as he dozed off with his arms crossed in a club room. Beside him, Seong Ji-won was diligently working on an assignment.
【We need patience if we want to last long / Why do you sit next to me? / A bit of tension makes me nervous】
The scene shifted to Seo Ho-yun sitting by a window where the sunlight scattered like gold dust. He listened to a lecture with a bored expression, twirling a pen, before brushing back his bangs that completely covered his forehead as if they were bothering him. Jeong Da-jun tried to sneak a photo of him on his phone, only to get caught and have his cheek pinched.
【When you smile, I get butterflies】
Next, the door burst open. Seo Ho-yun, playing around with his arm draped over Jeong Da-jun’s shoulder, and Kang Yi-chae, lost in the music flowing from his headphones, started to enter the club room but stopped. They spotted the deeply asleep Kim Seong-hyeon and shared a mischievous look, the moment captured in a close-up.
The scenery shook as if the person filming was also giggling.
Soon, colorful doodles were etched onto Kim Seong-hyeon’s face.
【I can’t control it, I want to shower you with love】
A steady drum beat kicked in as the bright sky turned a deep, twilight hue.
Gathered at a pub in the college town, the members of The Dawn filled their table with more appetizers than alcohol and clinked their beer mugs together.
A brief shot showed Jeong Da-jun catching a piece of corn snack thrown by Seo Ho-yun in his mouth, followed by Seong Ji-won attempting the same and failing spectacularly.
【Hey, Hey, Hey / Focus on me】
Then, the view overlooked the campus scenery, still glowing colorfully even at a late hour.
【When everything feels distant, I only see you / Swallow the orange light and melt even the pale blue】
It was a beautiful night view, capturing the essence of youth—students staying late at school, honing themselves to bloom even in the face of an uncertain future.
Kang Yi-chae, perched on the edge of the rooftop, looked at the camera and smiled brightly.
【My love, I want to see every sky with you】
The scene shifted again. Having left the pub, Kim Seong-hyeon, Jeong Da-jun, and Kang Yi-chae were lined up at a convenience store eating cup ramen.
【Because you make me anxious】
【I do!】
Jeong Da-jun, with a massive mouthful of noodles, gulped down the broth, threw his hands up in a "manse" gesture, and looked at the camera. Kang Yi-chae then held his fingers under Da-jun’s chin to make a "rice cake skewer" pose, smirking.
【Beyond the dawn, pull the sunset close】
The camera focus seemed to rotate before approaching Seo Ho-yun, who was crouched in a dimly lit corner looking at his phone.
He had something long and white in his mouth, making it look like he was smoking at first glance, but as the camera got closer, it turned out to be a lollipop.
【From dawn to dawn / with my glow every day and night】
At that moment, as the members’ rich vocals harmonized and reached a climax:
【How do you name this feeling / Tell me, you know what this is】
Seo Ho-yun’s gaze met the lens from across the screen.
【How do you name this feeling】
Seo Ho-yun stood up and reached out toward the camera, covering the lens. When the light returned, he was grinning with a face full of mischief.
【Or should I call your name first?】
In that split second, the sound of Jeong Da-jun tackling Seo Ho-yun from behind shook the scene, and the song came to an end.
【Song composed by / Person who got drunk: Kang Yi-chae
Person who dropped the corn snack: Seong Ji-won
Person who ate the ramen: Jeong Da-jun
Person who got doodled on: Kim Seong-hyeon
Video edited by: Seo Ho-yun】
Short credits, styled like a UCC video, followed.
[I feel like I went to the same college......]
The music video maintained the same vibe as their first year, yet it was strangely cleaner and more sophisticated.
[Sorry, I’m actually a high school senior.]
[LOL ah~~~ I also attended Deonging University~~]
[Thinking about assignments makes me want to die... but for a second, I almost said I wanted to go back to college...]
The buzz surrounding "Name This Feeling" even spread actively to other timelines on social media.
[Wow, the stylist really worked hard ㅠㅠㅠㅠ The department names written on the varsity jackets are so cute.]
[Campus Deonging-is are the best ㅠㅠㅠ]
Seo Ho-yun from the Department of Media and Information,
Kim Seong-hyeon from the Department of Physical Education,
Kang Yi-chae from the Department of Composition,
Seong Ji-won from the Department of Applied Music,
And Jeong Da-jun from the Department of Dance.
In the video, the members of The Dawn were portrayed with a diverse array of charms.
[This is so annoying... Seo Ho-yun is even good at video editing.]
[I made that "Ex-boyfriend Seo Ho-yun" video, but I should probably delete it. I mean~~~ how is an idol better at editing than me? I even have a certification in editing software.
└ You sound like you’re smiling ear to ear though.
└└ I should’ve known since the Soondaegukbap vlog ㅠㅠ My man’s "hun-nyeo" (warm girl) aesthetic.]
[Seo Ho-yun is seriously so good to Noeuls.. ㅠㅠ He must have been so busy with promotions, where did he find the time to sit down and click away at an edit? ㅠㅠㅠ]
[How about an idol who consistently releases a fan song once a year solely for the fans....]
[Seo Ho-yun is so sweet it’s cute.. The funny thing is.. he actually has a prickly personality (it shows), but he looks at Noeuls so warmly no matter what they do. Like he’s some distant adult... Oppa probably has no idea what I’m thinking about him.
└ Even if he knew, he’d probably cover for you and give you a gentle talking-to.. because it’s Noeul.
└└ ㅠㅠ I’m gonna shower him with kisses.]
Not long after the music video was uploaded, a live broadcast notification popped up.
【[THE DAWN] How do you name... Debut Anniversary?!】
[A debut anniversary... is called a debut anniversary.
└ LOLOLOLOLOLOL]
As soon as they connected, the fans were greeted by The Dawn, each holding a microphone and smiling radiantly against the backdrop of a lush green Hawaiian beach.
[Wow, look at that budget.]
Singing the fan song was a given.
The lively broadcast continued for a long time, featuring Jeong Da-jun singing "I Hate Assignments" to an impromptu chord progression played by Kang Yi-chae.
.
.
.
"I hate assignments~, Professor... I don't only take your class~, ah-ah~."
"Don't just scrape group projects from the wiki~."
They didn't even go to college, yet they sure knew a lot of rumors.
Even though the live broadcast had ended a while ago, Jeong Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae continued to repeat those peculiar lyrics.
In my opinion, someone must have drugged the poke we ate before the live started.
‘Why did they all come here in the first place?’
I told them I’d just head back in time for the debut anniversary, but they insisted on coming all this way, and for some reason, everyone was hyper.
Jeong Da-jun, who still hadn't let go of his microphone, pointed a finger at Kang Yi-chae.
"Mr. Kang Yi-chae! Congratulations on your debut! And congratulations on being born!"
"Thank you! Thank you! It’s truly an honor to be born so handsome."
"Wow~. I think you were born to be scary, though!!"
Kang Yi-chae, seemingly in a great mood, cackled and ruffled Jeong Da-jun’s hair. Seong Ji-won and Kim Seong-hyeon were sitting on the sofa, seemingly rewatching the fan song.
"The editing in this part is really clean. It’s impressive."
"Right? Didn't he do a great job on our vlog last time, too?"
"Oh, right... that gukbap video...."
Since the Sundae Gukbap vlog was one of the things that played a big part in teasing Kim Seong-hyeon, his face instantly turned pale.
Seong Ji-won, whose lips were curled up more than usual, poked me and asked.
"How are you so good at editing?"
"...I’m just naturally good at everything."
I tried to brush it off and escape under the pretext of eating cake, but Jeong Da-jun stood up before I could and shouted.
"But we’re in Hawaii!! And today is our debut anniversary and Yi-chae hyung’s birthday! Isn't it a crime not to go to the beach even once?!"
"Hey, hey! Wipe the cake off your mouth before you go!"
"Last one there has to dive in!!"
We live in an era where making cast members dive into water is considered tasteless and gets you criticized, you know.
Jeong Da-jun wiped the side of his mouth opposite the cake with the back of his hand and sprinted out of the hotel. Somehow, the scene was no different from the last Christmas live.
"Ugh, seriously... Hey, Seo Ho-yun, let’s go."
"Want to make Jeong Da-jun dive?"
"Deal."
Though grumbling, the members slowly followed after the youngest.
‘Well, it’s better than being alone.’
Being with them was chaotic.
After reaching the beach and throwing the mischievous Jeong Da-jun into the water first, I took a photo of the setting sun and sent it to Pop-Pop.
I was smirking at the flood of congratulatory messages when water suddenly splashed beside me. A soaking wet Kang Yi-chae was approaching, shaking his head to dry his hair.
"What the, why are you so wet?"
"It’s cold... Ugh, they threw me in because it’s my birthday."
Grumbling, he took the towel Kim Seong-hyeon had brought and wiped his face.
"Ho-yun hyung."
"Yeah."
Since Kang Yi-chae had been acting quite mellow since the Me-something—I still don't know the name—CD incident, I kept my eyes fixed on my phone without much thought.
"Can I ask you one thing?"
"No, you can't."
"Aw, come on, let me ask."
I should have been on guard the moment I heard his low, settled voice.
"When did you learn to edit?"
As I slowly raised my eyes, Kang Yi-chae was staring intently at me, his chin resting on his hand.
"Why?"
When I asked back as calmly as possible, his lips curved into a smirk.
"Because I’m curious if what I’m thinking is right."