The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 481

Glorious Tides – Episode 48

# 48 Let’s Do It Now

HBC Broadcasting Station.

The PD [Production Director], who had been stuck in the editing room since the afternoon to edit the second episode of [Today Onward, We], checked the file sent by the music director.

A list of theme songs (OST) [Original Sound Track] for the main characters and key students of Class 2-5 was listed.

“What is this?”

While listening to the completed sound sources in order, the mouse pointer stopped at one place. He couldn’t help but feel annoyed due to accumulated fatigue.

“Hee-tae should only have one theme song.”

Unlike what he knew, two Hee-tae Themes, simply written, had arrived.

A name, Hee-tae Theme (Reprise), was attached, and the running time was increased to 4 minutes.

“Why did he do something I didn’t even ask for?”

The chief director looked displeased.

With the script not fully out yet, a reprise seemed unnecessary.

He was about to call the music director right away to say something, but he put down his phone.

Well, he thought, there must be a reason why he sent it.

It’s not like it’s anyone else, it’s Jung-ho.

Suppressing his annoyance, he put down the drama editing video and clicked on the sound source.

Soon, the song he knew of Hee-tae began to play.

Up to 2 minutes was the song he knew.

Hee-tae’s voice was exceptionally well-captured there. He was satisfied. The chief director nodded as he listened.

And what followed was…

“Wait a minute.”

The PD’s eyes widened.

Hee-tae’s story, which shouldn’t have been completed—.

The finger that was about to stop the sound source hesitated.

The PD ended up listening to the sound source until the end and picked up his phone.

“Jung-ho, what is this?”

“Yes, what is it? PD-nim [PD is an honorific]”

Broadcasting stations have no day or night. Without regard for the time of 3 a.m., when he called, the music director answered with a yawn.

“What’s with the Hee-tae reprise?”

“Ah, that. Did you listen to it? How is it?”

When he asked what it was, he got a question asking how it was.

The chief director muttered inwardly, ‘This bastard.’

The music director had already noticed that he wasn’t angry.

“It’s excessive. It’s like a theme for the main character, not a supporting character.”

“That’s true.”

The music director also honestly agreed.

“Besides, depending on how Hee-tae’s story turns out, there’s a possibility we can’t use it.”

That was also true.

Both of them already knew that.

The music director’s answer wasn’t heard from the other side of the phone. If it were another staff member, they would have immediately bowed their head, saying they would discard it. The music director waited for the words that would follow.

At this moment, the music director and the PD seemed to share the same thought.

If it was a truly meaningless song, the music director wouldn’t have sent the sound source to the PD, and the PD wouldn’t have called the music director.

“So, when did you make this?”

“Ah, that?”

“?”

“I didn’t make it.”

The music director laughed heartily and told the story of what happened in the studio. The PD, who had been listening to the music director’s words, sneered.

“That cheeky bastard.”

If someone were next to him, they might have been scared, thinking the PD was angry.

However, the PD wasn’t angry.

He stared intently at the sound source, tapping the desk with his finger.

It’s too good to throw away, but too intense to use.

He understood why Jung-ho (the music director) sent him two songs: the theme song and the theme variation.

He was giving him a choice.

“What are you going to do?”

Whether to discard it or keep it.

Knowing that he would like it.

The PD tapped the desk.

The conclusion came quickly.

“What else can I do? Go.”

Of course, it’s not something he can decide alone.

He is the chief in charge, but he will have to discuss with the writer how to use this music.

“PD-nim, then I’ll go in now. If you’re going to use it, we need to add a contract. We also need to register the arrangement or co-composition. These days, you can’t just freeload like in the old days.”

“Okay. Take care of it. Ah, wait a minute, Jung-ho.”

The PD, who was about to hang up, added.

“Who is this kid?”

“Yes, YouTuber Wei···.”

“Not that. The name.”

“-”

There was a brief silence on the other side of the phone, and soon the answer he wanted was heard.

“Okay.”

That was enough.

That’s all he wanted to know.

The PD hung up without hesitation.

He doesn’t remember useless people.

Only useful people, people who will rise someday, and people who have already risen.

It’s hard enough to remember just that.

Among them, the adjective ‘cheeky’ is attached next to the name he learned this time. He doesn’t think he’s a docile guy like the kids these days. Then, the PD suddenly tilted his head.

“That name sounds familiar.”

#

“That was fun.”

Immediately after the OST recording, HALO, who had even received parental consent, turned his head at the voice he heard while leaving the studio.

“Are you thirsty? Here, water.”

“Oh, thanks, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

A boy about Jang Jin-soo’s age.

And a male guardian next to him.

The boy made eye contact.

Whether he was a bright kid, he waved his hand when he made eye contact.

HALO smiled faintly and turned his body.

His mother came out after finishing the guardian contract, regretting that she had taken so long to park.

“I wanted to listen, but Mom couldn’t listen to even one song.”

“I only recorded one song.”

“Still.”

His mother counted down the days until the drama aired, feeling sorry.

At the same time, she had a strange stubbornness not to ask him to sing it for her. She said she would listen to it with everyone this time. He wondered who ‘everyone’ was.

“Was the OST recording okay?”

On the way home, his mother played HALO’s sound source and asked.

“Well, it wasn’t bad.”

HALO leaned his elbow on the window frame and thought.

The thought that someone else’s song still didn’t suit him remained the same.

He realized that it was the first time he had made a song for someone else named Hee-tae.

This is different from just polishing up Noh Hae-il’s own song. This time, he voluntarily varied the lyrics and melody and sang it. The melody was simple, so it wasn’t difficult to vary.

‘It wasn’t difficult, it was easy.’

HALO then opened his music notebook.

At the very end, the question ‘Is this also difficult?’ was written.

Since his mother said his song was difficult, the same question was attached to the new songs he made.

He never thought he would have such worries in his life.

He always made songs with his emotions and played for himself. He thought it was enough for other people to just listen to his songs.

However, when he heard that it was difficult, he became a little concerned.

Why didn’t anyone say his songs were difficult in the past? Well, the answer is set.

Who would tell him to his face that his songs were difficult? Most of the people around him were industry people, and fans who loved him. The critics didn’t say it was difficult, but compared it to being terrible or like a diary.

‘A song that isn’t difficult.’

HALO rolled the pen.

He began to worry about songs that weren’t difficult and were easy.

“By the way, Hae-il, should we look for a studio again from tomorrow?”

“Hmm.”

There are more than one or two things to worry about.

Along with his worries about composing, HALO gradually felt the need for people.

He wants to focus only on music, but the work he has started gives birth to other work. He needs someone to take care of everything that interferes with his work.

From real estate to property managers, music video producers and engineers, and lawyers. Above all, someone to manage it when he sets his own record.

His mother and father are not experts, and even if they were, they cannot afford all of this.

“You can rest if you’re tired.”

“No, it’s better to find it quickly.”

Getting out of the car and waiting for his mother to park, HALO rubbed his head.

In the meantime, a text message came, ‘Ziiing-’

It was a message that refreshed his complicated head.

[Shall I introduce you to someone similar to you?]

As always, it wasn’t reliable at all, but it was roughly a suggestion to have a meal together.

:

“It’s getting colder.”

A few days later, HALO came to Hongdae [a district in Seoul known for its street art and indie music scene].

He’s not really curious about the kid who’s similar to him. He had already given up on expectations when Jang Jin-soo called him a ‘kid.’ He thought he would be similar to Jang Jin-soo.

As soon as he came out of Hongdae entrance station, people occasionally glanced at him. HALO moved without paying attention to the gazes, carrying his guitar.

“Did you come?”

In front of the chicken restaurant.

The kid that Jang Jin-soo was introducing was also visible.

HALO raised his hand naturally and turned his gaze to the side.

“Oh, you?”

Neatly styled brown hair and clothes that looked like someone had touched them up.

The honest expression was the type that the broadcasting side would like.

HALO immediately recalled that this kid was the one he had passed by in the studio. The other person seemed to recognize him too.

However, before they could have a conversation, Jang Jin-soo introduced them.

“What, have you two met somewhere? Hey, Noh Hae-il. This is Gil Ra-on, whom I met at Show U, and this is Noh Hae-il from the same class. He’s the one I was talking about.”

“Show U Show co-composer?”

“Uh.”

Gil Ra-on suddenly shone his eyes.

He looked like he had a lot to say.

He seemed more talkative than Jang Jin-soo in a different sense.

HALO already felt like his ears were hurting before he could hear anything.

He was just planning to eat a decent meal and leave.

‘This isn’t what I wanted.’

Clearly, it was a conversation that started with greetings.

Before he knew it, the story flowed to ‘Show Your Show,’ which was a common ground for both of them.

“We could have done better there.”

“I should have done better. Back then-.”

He didn’t know he would become a babysitter.

HALO listened to Gil Ra-on and Jang Jin-soo’s story with a bored face.

When someone started talking about Show U, the events that happened at that time burst out like a dam.

Roughly, it’s a story about being eliminated from Show U.

Gil Ra-on and Jang Jin-soo, who became a team with producer Hwang Je-il. The pair itself was expected to be good because they were the same age, but the sound source was not.

Jang Jin-soo’s skills continued to improve, but he was completely buried by Gil Ra-on, who was the same age, and Gil Ra-on couldn’t control his skills and devoured the song. Producer Hwang Je-il tried a few times and gave up producing. Then he was eliminated in the semi-finals as it was.

Listening to the story roughly, it seemed like a mess.

HALO watched Gil Ra-on and Jang Jin-soo, who started a confession battle, and dipped the chicken in garlic soy sauce.

He thought they would apologize appropriately and end by saying let’s do well, but because they were kids, there was no sign of it ending.

No matter how sorry they were, they didn’t pay attention to the table.

There’s a limit to how much you can watch.

Gradually, HALO was confused as to whether he was a priest.

“If you’re that sorry-.”

HALO opened his mouth when all the chicken was gone. HALO, who had wiped his mouth after eating all the last piece of meat, said.

“-Let’s do it now.”

At his words, Jang Jin-soo and Gil Ra-on closed their mouths at the same time.

The noisy ears on both sides became quiet in an instant.

He should have said it sooner.

“What?”

Jang Jin-soo asked back.

“What you’ve been saying you’re sorry about.”

He thought it was meaningless to just say you’re sorry. It’s close to wasting time.

Rather, you have to choose one of two things: either don’t be sorry, or get rid of your regrets.

“You can show it now.”

If there was something they wanted to show so much, they can show it now. Whatever the result, it will be better than just regretting it.

HALO said to Jang Jin-soo, who was speechless.

“You said you were going to live harder.”

He understood that living hard meant living without regrets.

“How?”

When Gil Ra-on asked, HALO pointed outside the store.

There was a stage everywhere in the world.

It became a stage if he wanted it to.

“Now?”

HALO nodded.

And he looked around at the two children who were acting frustratingly and asked.

“What, you’re not suddenly scared of people, are you?”

“No?”

Jang Jin-soo clenched his fist.

Gil Ra-on shakes his head.

“Then let’s go.”

He was bored, so he thought it was a good thing.

HALO put on his guitar again and went ahead.

“There’s no MR [Music Recorded].”

Gil Ra-on, who was blankly looking at him, muttered.

He didn’t understand what he was trying to do now. He thought it was impossible.

However, strangely, his heart was pounding.

#

[Breaking News! Hwang Je Team from Show U Appeared in Hongdae!!!]

[Lies]

[Wow, this isn’t a fake aggro [online slang for ‘attention grab’], I just made eye contact with Gil Ra-on]

[Didn’t Hwang Je-il come?]

[Oh, who gave up the busking zone? It’s hard to book there]

[Are they really performing? But Jang Jin-soo is so bad]

[Oh]

[Why? Is he good? Gil Ra-on is originally good]

[?]

[Answer]

Since it hasn’t been long since the finals of ‘Show U’ ended, attention was focused on the Hwang Je (Gil Ra-on – Jang Jin-soo – Hwang Je-il) team, who were eliminated early. As the community heated up, people flocked to it.

Gil Ra-on and Jang Jin-soo, who were worried that people would curse at them, showed off their talents to the guitar that HALO was playing. The real stage they wanted to show at Show U.

It’s been a while since they matched up, so it couldn’t be helped that there were parts that didn’t match. He was covering it up appropriately with guitar playing.

No one would feel anything strange.

There were no people who would bite them as scary as they did on the internet. Rather, they cheered and wanted to sing along together.

[How is it]

[They’re pretty good?]

[Gil Ra-on’s high notes are amazing and Jang Jin-soo has improved a lot]

[Why did they give up on that team? They could have made it if they did well in the semi-finals]

[Real]

[And the kid playing guitar in the back is crazy]