Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 159

159.

“…Are you going to kill me if I call it work?”

On the plane to Taiwan, Lee Hyunjae next to me had fallen fast asleep, leaving only Ryu Ideun and me awake.

“That *is* work, not a hobby.”

“I thought you were serious because you kept composing even when you were resting.”

What kind of crazy person treats work as a hobby? It’s all preparation for our success. Of course, composing is fun, but humans can’t just live working because they enjoy it. That can also be proven by the labor-leisure curve [a graph showing the optimal balance between work and free time for maximizing happiness or productivity].

Ryu Ideun, who chuckled at my sharp gaze, changed the subject.

“What about reading?”

“That’s more like a habit.”

“You really live a tough life.”

I lightly agreed. Having time to think alone is good, but the more you have, the more random thoughts you get, and eventually, you enter a ‘damned’ state. The ‘damned’ state, a word my father often used, refers to a state where everything in the world is questionable and unclear, so nothing but ‘damned’ comes out of your mouth.

My father would read books and intentionally shift his focus to other problems, and in my case, that’s work.

“But is a hobby really necessary? You haven’t had one until now.”

“…That’s not wrong.”

It’s just that I sometimes need something to clear my head.

I mumbled and closed my eyes. There’s still quite some time left until we reach Taiwan.

* * *

“It’s just that I sometimes need something to clear my head.”

Ji Donghwa said that and closed his eyes, but Ryu Ideun couldn’t.

‘Ah, I’m really worried!’

He didn’t want to show his worry because his younger brother hated it, so he deliberately spoke nonchalantly, but he couldn’t do that with his heart.

‘He’s been looking a bit dazed since he went to cheer for Junie’s recording before.’

Could it be the ‘damned’ state he told me about before? Ryu Ideun once saw Ji Donghwa reading a book titled ‘Damned Life’ and laughed, asking what kind of book title that was, only to experience a complete reversal.

‘This is my father’s book. …He said so casually.’

Ji Donghwa’s voice, firm and determined not to be ignored, without any change in expression, was still vivid. That’s when he learned about the origin of the ‘damned’ tone.

“Ah, what should I do with him?”

Junie is the ultimate BlosSense fanboy, needless to say, he does exercise, and Hamin is into tarot these days. Hyunjae is too busy with studying. He’s the type who easily gets sucked into the internet.

On the other hand, he thought this idiot younger brother liked ‘work’ and ‘reading’.

“Should I find him a hobby?”

No, how can he find it *for* him? It’s not like you can just conjure up a hobby.

‘Should I get him to exercise?’

Ryu Ideun smiled as he looked at the sleeping Ji Donghwa, knowing Ji Donghwa would grab him by the collar if he heard that. It would be nice if he had something to attach himself to besides work. But he hates meeting friends, hates exercising, hates superstitions, studying is not suitable for clearing his head, he finds comics boring, and he reads novels a little, but he closes his eyes and often gets lost in thought while reading. What… is there a suitable hobby?

“…Knitting?”

That’s good, knitting. Isn’t it the essence of clearing your mind?

Ji Donghwa has such a cold face, but he’s a warm person inside, so in a way, it suits him well.

“Okay, I’ll buy a knitting kit when we go to Taiwan.”

Ryu Ideun clenched his fist, determined.

* * *

“What is this?”

“A knitting kit.”

That’s information I can gather if my eyesight is normal and my brain is working properly, you dog.

“…Reason.”

“Your hobby! After much deliberation, I think this is the best.”

Saying something like this… Okay, I accept it. I could see how much he thought of me, so I picked up the knitting kit without much thought.

“…Why did you choose this color?”

“Because hot pink is a man’s color.”

“Discriminatory remark.”

“Ah, you take it that way?”

Knitting a scarf with a hot pink ball of yarn. In a capitalist society, if you don’t get the value for the money you spend, it’s a waste, so I should try it.

‘…I want to give this to Hyunjae when he takes the college entrance exam. I wonder if I can finish it by then.’

I muttered inwardly and put my hand on Lee Hyunjae’s shoulder, who was walking slowly in front of me. It has eased a lot, and he’s receiving counseling, but still.

Then Lee Hyunjae let out a sigh of relief and muttered.

“Ah… I feel stable.”

I feel like I’ve become a human phytoncide [a substance emitted by plants that has health benefits], but it’s okay because Lee Hyunjae’s stability is more important than my dignity as a human being. ……But how did Lee Hyunjae make me, of all people, his phytoncide? The world is wide and there are many excellent people. It’s a pity.

“Is it very hard?”

“No. I think I’ll be okay.”

Who did you learn the habit of pretending to be okay from?

“…Okay.”

“As expected, you’re the only one who understands right away.”

Watching Lee Hyunjae laugh playfully, I let out a faint sigh. Seriously, how did this happen?

* * *

The overseas promotion schedule was not very complicated.

It’s a phenomenon that’s hard to understand, but there are many people in Southeast Asia who like Korean pop music, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, which have long been avenues for Korean idols to advance overseas.

Interviews, some filming, and small stages will be held here.

Considering that going overseas is commonplace, it’s a bit strange that there isn’t anyone who can speak at a native level. Last time I saw a team that mixed people from various backgrounds like Chinese, Japanese, and American Koreans into one group like a melting pot.

Chae Hamin tilted her head once after hearing my words and replied.

“Donghwa, you’re here, aren’t you?”

Don’t talk as if I’m some kind of Papago [a popular translation app]. Do you see me as some crazy person who can speak any language?

“It’s only useful for English.”

Even that only has the benefit of being comfortable in everyday life. If I broadcast in English in China, I can decorate entertainment news with my name in a small way.

“But, these days, there are many people who are fans of Korean idols who study Korean.”

“…That would be nice.”

This is Japan. The first mini-album was released translated into Japanese. Very naturally, Japanese people have a big problem in that they are not fluent in both Korean and English. I don’t know if it’s okay if the conversation, which is the starting point of all relationships, can’t proceed properly.

I took a deep breath before going into the filming soon. I only know everyday conversation in Japanese.

I felt strangely embarrassed to think about singing ‘Cloudy Blue’ again under the brightly shining lights.

Also, in the process of translating it into Japanese, I don’t know Japanese well, so I asked a professional to rewrite the lyrics, so it didn’t stick to my mouth, and I felt like I was singing someone else’s song.

“(Everyone! XX, let’s go in!)”

I don’t know the exact meaning, but it probably means we’re going into recording.

“Okay, let’s gather around, guys!”

Even the members who were nervous at Ryu Ideun’s call gathered and put their hands together.

“It’s our first stage, so let’s tear it up!”

Tear what up, you beast-like dog.

“Oh!”

Seokjun followed Ryu Ideun’s tension and responded. Chae Hamin couldn’t stand being alone because of her personality, so she followed suit.

Only Lee Hyunjae and I were hiding our embarrassment and slowly said, “Wow…….”

* * *

awayoung, who works as a freelance music director, was directing a music program in Japan for a while.

She looked at the children gathering their hands and shouting fighting under the stage and recalled the conversation she had a few days ago.

At the time, a staff member she was close to spoke to her.

“(Ms. Hwa, Korean kids are coming tomorrow, do you know any of them?)”

She was just taking it easy while resting in Japan, just enough to not lose her sense. She was a little excited at the thought of seeing Koreans after a long time.

“(No, I don’t know idols very well.)”

She used to have a colleague who was crazy about idols, so she knew a little bit.

“(BlosSense? Is that how you read it?)”

Hwayoung searched for the four letters BlosSense on her tablet without thinking. When she turned on ‘Luminous’, the video that came up at the top, and listened for a while, she was startled.

“What is this?”

The scales, harmonies, and atmosphere that my old colleague often used.

The person Hwayoung met for the first time in college. The woman who said she came to the musical scene to earn money for baby formula when asked why she came to the musical scene when she thought she was dedicated to classical music. The composer who only wrote her own songs even though she was offered a position with guaranteed economic success. The mother whose eyes dripped with honey when she looked at her son’s picture, even though she never found warmth on her face.

And, a friend who received a death notice when she was in the United States and couldn’t even go to the funeral.

Why does her still clear expression come to mind in this song?

“Hmm, I don’t suppose it’s plagiarism?”

Hwayoung knew. The fact that her friend and her husband were not people who were crazy about money. They were a couple who only earned enough to make a living and were immersed in music and philosophy, and were capitalistically stupid. As a result, there were a lot of songs that they hadn’t released.

The staff in front of her tilted their heads at the Korean that suddenly came out of her mouth, but she ignored it.

“(Ms. Hwa, is something wrong?)”

“(No, it’s okay.)”

Even as she said that, Hwayoung’s hands moved quickly. An idol team with a composer in the team. Wow, did he compose that? She clicked on the picture to check his face. A slightly resentful feeling, and a crazy question.

Looking at his face carefully, she thought that these days, they were all handsome. In her day, there were many guys who were meaningless to decorate even if they were decorated [meaning they were unattractive even with effort].

‘He’s handsome. Like a cat.’

Hwayoung then suddenly realized that this face was familiar. Her friend Park Gaeul’s husband—she didn’t even know his name and had only met him a few times.

She finished reminiscing. Now I have to ask. If that human didn’t plagiarize, then he’s Gaeul’s son. Hwayoung neatly arranged her white hair with a hairpin again and fastened the clothes of her modified hanbok [traditional Korean dress].

Still, just in case, if he’s her son, I have to leave a good first impression. The traces of time were engraved on her face as she turned fifty, but the elegant atmosphere she exuded was unavoidable. Rather, the remnants of time melted into her, giving her a noble impression.

And under the stage that started, she couldn’t help but confirm several times that the song the child composed kept reminding her of Gaeul’s face.

Yes, it’s amazing. Clearly, the fields are different, but why? Is it because the way he sees the world resembles his mother?

In the eternal gray, I’ll only trust you

If there is a miracle, I think of it as you

‘Hmm, I like the Korean lyrics better because he’s Korean.’

After the last verse ended, Hwayoung confirmed that there were no major problems with the sound and sent an okay sign. Watching the members go backstage after the stage, she first greeted the people involved.

“Hello, I’m Hwayoung, the music director here.”

The person involved, who was startled by the clear Korean pronunciation, nodded, making an ‘Ah!’ sound when he heard the name.

‘Ah, it’s so nice to have some experience in the music scene at times like this.’

* * *

“Hello, I’m Hwayoung.”

Wow, she’s a famous person.

I stood up from my seat and showed respect.

A person who works tirelessly on musicals, other performances using music, and even broadcasting stations. I knew she was on hiatus, but I didn’t know she was working here. I referred to her a lot when I was studying music.

I don’t understand why such a person is staring at me, who is politely greeting her, for some reason.

‘…Well, I guess my face might be a bit off-putting at first impression.’

“Yes, you’re Donghwa, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Oh, I don’t know how to ask this.”

Ms. Hwayoung scratched her nose as if she was a little embarrassed, then swept her white hair back once and asked.

“By any chance, is your mother’s name Park Gaeul?”

……That’s quite direct for the result of deliberation.