Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 133

133.

The filming of ‘Idol Workshop’ was drawing to a close. We’d played a lot of games.

I remember Seok-jun completely failing during the ‘Shout in Silence’ game, and Chae Ha-min dancing with such precise rhythm in the ‘Find the Member Dancing Without Music’ game that no one could detect him.

Of course, in Chae Ha-min’s case, he was eventually caught because his face clearly betrayed that he was lying.

“Wow, Ha-min is truly one of the most skilled dancers I’ve ever seen among idols… It’s been a long time since I’ve been so impressed watching someone dance.”

It was impossible not to be impressed when he danced like that without any music.

“Looking at it, this part also perfectly suits Ha-min’s solo vibe, and it really showcases the advantages of self-production.”

Ye-sung and Hye-sung seemed to be trying to create a warm atmosphere with praise, as if wrapping things up. But I knew better. It was all an act. I vividly remembered their expressions when they tried to make me do aegyo [acting cute].

“By the way, I heard that Blossoms has made another comeback this time.”

The real purpose of today’s broadcast. It was time to promote our new album.

“Yes! Blossoms is planning to show you the essence of Eastern excitement that will make your butts wiggle in your seats. It’s a song that highlights the rhythm of the Korean geomungo [traditional Korean zither].”

“I heard Dong-hwa composed and produced it?”

“Well, the AR [Artist & Repertoire] team members helped a lot, but I also participated.”

“Wow, we’ll see the performance in a bit, but I have to ask about the killing point. Could you show us the key choreography of this song?”

Chae Ha-min immediately stood up, smiled brightly, and showed off steps that made it seem like he couldn’t control his body. His upper body was waving and swaying, full of excitement.

“Oh, right away! It looks so exciting; it would be good to find out when this part appears on stage. Can we see the performance right away?”

“Oh, of course. Guys, grab the equipment! Let’s do the stage!”

Ryu Iden, caught up in the atmosphere of the abandoned factory, made strange noises. I felt relieved at the thought of being able to go home soon. Today was a day I wanted to fall into a deep sleep.

* * *

# ‘Idol Talent Blooming Project, Idol Workshop!’ Stage performance edited version.

“Now, Blossoms will tear up the stage like a mantis!”

“A stage that explodes like a bombardier beetle! Let’s watch it right now!”

Ssang-sung, who was in the center of the factory, split apart, revealing the Blossoms members lined up in the back. And then the intro of ‘Heung’ [Excitement/Joy] began. The geomungo rhythm brought the beat to life.

Ryu Iden stood in the center with a joyful expression, shaking his body.

Have all the playboys gathered?

Ryu Iden made a gesture of checking the members around him. When the members raised their hands, he smiled as if satisfied and looked forward.

Only, here, moment, heung

As the short words were listed, a dull beat dropped, and Ji Dong-hwa came to the center. He walked out cheerfully, riding the rhythm.

Gather around, leave your worries behind (Only)
The playboys stroll through the moonlight (Here)
We who had a messed up day gather (Moment)
Shall we play with a hummed tune (Heung)

As Ji Dong-hwa walked out, the members who were dancing joined the formation one by one, following behind Ji Dong-hwa as if joining the formation, and walked onto the stage. And when the doubling of ‘Heung’ came out, they formed a formation centered on Chae Ha-min and danced with precision.

Is life originally so painful, the ruined exam is now a familiar first failure
Is this how I end my youth, or am I the only one living like this

Ryu Iden popped out from the left side of the formation, sighed, and smiled sadly.

Even on weekends after a busy week, preparing for specs or collapsing (Snoring)
Being compared to the kid next door, whether it’s Cheol-soo or whatever (Aigo [expression of frustration])

The atmosphere calmed down for a moment for the explosive burst of the chorus, and Lee Hyun-jae came to the center and took his place. In a strangely sad atmosphere where the geomungo rhythm and electronic sounds were combined, a clear voice burst out.

Sorry, Mother, I’ll be a playboy for today only
I’ll run hard again from tomorrow, so let me play for just one day

The formation centered on Lee Hyun-jae split to both sides, and Ji Dong-hwa walked out to the middle. From this point on, the strangely sad atmosphere turned cheerful again.

Under the bright moonlight, we stroll through the streets
Only, here, moment.

All sounds rose and then a moment of silence. While the other members were all bowing, Ji Dong-hwa stood alone in the center, staring straight ahead. And from his chic face, a short syllable rang out.

Heung.

The geomungo and electronic sounds exploded. The members all got up from their seats and took staggering steps, while their upper bodies waved gracefully. The choreography, which seemed irregular when viewed individually, created a beautiful picture as if every detail, from the movement to the direction of the waves, was calculated the moment the formation was formed.

In the meantime, Seok-jun came out to the center and politely pointed the camera with one hand.

Now, there, immediately, heung

Ssang-sung, who was watching from the side, was caught on the screen for a moment, bursting out laughing at why he was so polite, unlike the lyrics, and then back to the stage. If the previous choreography was based on imbalance, this time it was a perfectly synchronized group dance with angles as if cut with a knife. It was the result of Chae Ha-min torturing everyone with practice.

And the second verse began. With Seok-jun in the center, the other members danced with much more lively expressions than in the first verse.

I think it’s fierce, fate, wrinkles increase with frowning, that’s also fate
Forget it, forget it, like a playboy, stop complaining today, stop, wait
I can’t always be happy, but it’s okay to pretend to be excited for a day, me.

Seok-jun looked around and asked as he spat out the last line, and the members all smiled and nodded. As if answering that it’s okay, as if it’s okay to act like a playboy for a day.

Ryu Iden and Chae Ha-min then faced each other. They danced as if they were each other’s mirrors, but Chae Ha-min had a bright smile, and Ryu Iden had a sad smile.

24 hours, just this much (Everyday life to start again)
Liberation for us who have suffered (May be boring)
Freely jump this night (Can I endure tomorrow)

The melodies exchanged in the order of Chae Ha-min and Ryu Iden seemed to express the inner self of a person who was worried while playing. Chae Ha-min lightly hit Ryu Iden’s forehead once and then became stern.

Think, only, here, moment.

And Chae Ha-min ran back, and Ryu Iden smiled brightly again at the front and uttered only one syllable.

Heung.

Unlike before, all electronic sounds disappeared and only the cheerful geomungo rhythm remained. Like that, on the stage, with all the other members out to the side, Ryu Iden rode the rhythm in place, waving and sweeping his hand from his chin to his pelvis. It was a gesture and expression that was more excited than sexy.

After that, he smiled brightly and gestured to both sides, and the members formed a formation. Lee Hyun-jae walked out among the members who were cheerfully riding the rhythm following Ryu Iden and raised the microphone.

He screamed a high note in a cheerful atmosphere, unlike the sad atmosphere. It was a voice that seemed to break out of a stuffy egg.

Sorry, Father, I’m going to be a playboy
I’ll forget about tomorrow and hum

The song flowed and flowed to the end. To prepare for the end, Ji Dong-hwa walked out to the right of the formation.

If you sit still with anxiety, only time flows (Tick tock)
It’s okay, so stand up and entrust your body to this melody (What are you doing)

Now all the sounds disappeared, and Ji Dong-hwa, who was standing in the center, took a step forward. And without singing, with a straight face, as if speaking normally.

Dance.

To the rhythm that burst out, Ji Dong-hwa leaned his upper body back and shook his upper body and arms to both sides. It was Ji Dong-hwa’s solo dance that Chae Ha-min insisted on including. The members were standing still, looking straight ahead, but Ji Dong-hwa’s appearance, entrusting his body to the groovy rhythm, was strangely exciting.

After dancing to the beat of the chorus again, the song finally ended. In that state, Seok-jun came out to the center and spat out ‘Only, here, moment, heung’.

Idol Workshop, as always, captured the appearance of each of the five members at the end with a camera and showed them sequentially. Everyone was breathing heavily, more exhausted than ever due to the intense choreography and the non-stop song composition.

* * *

Ha, at the beginning of the last start, I was clearly trying to write a song that would be less difficult to choreograph this time, but damn it.

As soon as the song ended, regret rose along with the rising breath. Next time, I vowed to write a song that would be easier to perform, and stood up with trembling legs.

“Wow! Yesung, I’m a little excited now!”

Hye-sung followed the dance that Ryu Iden danced, not knowing what to do with excitement. Seeing Ryu Iden immediately run over and match the beat from the side, something like respect that had converged to 0 began to bloom a little. Perhaps because of the burden of being a leader, I should learn from his efforts to do anything on broadcasts we go on together.

“Is this how you dance, Iden?”

“Yes, yes. If you make a more exciting expression, oh, right. You dance so well?”

Of course, just because I want to learn from him doesn’t mean I can actually do that.

We, who had climbed back onto the drum can [likely referring to a makeshift stage or platform], were heading towards the ending shoot of Idol Workshop, which felt so long.

“Yes, thank you so much to our Blossoms members who showed us various charms today. I think I laughed the most on Idol Workshop today.”

“Right, hyung [older brother/male friend]? I hope these friends do well. I hope to see them again.”

“Until then, we can pray that we won’t be sued by Wizney.”

“Anyway, I have to ask for your impressions. Starting with our leader, Iden!”

It was time to go around and ask each member for their impressions. Perhaps many parts of this will be edited out, but the members all uttered each word preciously.

“Then, finally, our Dong-hwa. You’ve been through a lot of bizarre things today; I don’t know if you’re okay.”

I’m not okay, and I think I can live with a grateful heart even if everything is edited out.

I can’t say that.

“…Thank you so much for giving me the valuable experience of becoming a mantis.”

The American philosopher Nagel discussed what it means to be a bat and explained that there is an area that cannot be understood only by knowing physical facts. So, wasn’t this time to be a mantis really a grateful time?

“Hahaha, Dong-hwa, you’re so funny when you talk. It’s completely different from your first impression.”

“In the end, a one-line summary of this Idol Workshop would be ‘I was an ice prince, but in fact, I’m a mantis fist master’.”

“Anyway, thank you, our Blossoms. Shall we say hello to the viewers together?”

“Only. Now, this place is! Idol Workshop!”

An ending greeting that wittily borrowed and changed the lyrics of our song. Now, let’s go home.

* * *

Of course, going home didn’t mean we were liberated.

“Dong-hwa! Make a cat sound one more time!”

“Take me with you, meow!”

Because Chae Ha-min and Ryu Iden kept making a fuss from the car to the dorm. There were no schedules today, and only one monitor [watching the broadcast] of the program we appeared on was left, so I could enjoy peace until then after going into the room and chasing out Chae Ha-min. As I was ignoring all the sounds coming from outside and reading a book, an alarm sound set separately to mean important rang on my phone.

— Dong-hwa! I was looking at Dong-hwa’s picture with Simba! I’m going to watch today’s broadcast! (Laugh) (Picture of Simba rubbing his face against the picture)

A text message from zookeeper Hong Heon-min.

Simba, really.

Should I apply for a job experience again sometime?