Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 18

18.

Lee Dong-seok glanced at Ji Dong-hwa and Seok-joon’s costumes and commented, “Wow, those hanboks [traditional Korean clothing] look great on you.”

As he said, the blue jeogori [short jacket of the hanbok], modified to accentuate their figures, suited them perfectly.

“May I ask what concept you’re going for with these outfits?”

Seok-joon practically seized the microphone and proudly announced, “It’s The Little Mermaid!”

Ji Dong-hwa carefully steered Seok-joon away from the microphone, who was about to elaborate immediately, and spoke, “I would appreciate it if you could watch the performance for more details.”

“Yes, I understand. We can’t help but want to hear your impressions beforehand. Let’s start with trainee Seok-joon!”

“I want to start by saying that I love Dong-hwa hyung [older brother/male friend], who made my dream come true.”

Ji Dong-hwa raised his hand as if to say something, but then lowered it again, seemingly resigned.

“I will do my best to make each and every one of you feel like you’ve become the Little Mermaid!”

Next, Ji Dong-hwa took the microphone.

“…Thank you so much for taking the time to watch my inadequate self. I will do my best to ensure you don’t feel like your time is wasted.”

His fan already felt her time was well-spent the moment she saw Ji Dong-hwa in his hanbok, but she remained silent.

* * *

On the dimly lit stage, a video resembling an underwater scene played on the screen. The sound of the gayageum [Korean zither] flowed over it like bursting water droplets. Interspersed with the occasional water droplet sound from the gayageum, a synth subtly entered, adding a melody and accompaniment with an oriental feel.

The music flowed in this way for a while, then subsided as the sound of waves washed in. In the slowly brightening blue light, Ji Dong-hwa stood alone with an eye patch and grabbed the microphone.

“You were swimming in my arms
You never looked at me for a single moment
The moment you finally look at me
I wait for that one moment, and today goes by”

Ji Dong-hwa’s appearance, rapping and singing with an eye patch on, bathed in blue light amidst the sound of waves, created a strangely melancholic atmosphere.

The oriental synth returned as accompaniment, and a cool beat flowed. Then the light next to him turned on, and Seok-joon picked up the microphone and began rapping.

“The day I was endlessly waving today
Shaking, the day I fell for you
Look at me, the day that just flowed by
The day you went to see someone else”

The lyrics, which cleverly used the similar sounds of ‘nal’ (day) and ‘naleul’ (me), rhythmically resonated in the ear.

Seok-joon’s rap, which continued for one verse, conveyed the theme of ‘the sea one-sidedly loving the Little Mermaid,’ although it wasn’t explicitly stated. Then, the sound of water droplets bursting was heard, the gayageum echoed again, and Ji Dong-hwa’s pre-chorus followed.

“If I had lips too
I would whisper love to you
Quietly waiting day and night
Even if I whisper silently, only the sound of waves”

At that moment, the sound of the Daegeum [Korean flute] flowed like waves, and a sensual EDM sound supported the base.

The two, standing on opposite sides of the stage, continued with beautiful dance lines unique to oriental dance, along with intersecting movements. Along with the movements that flowed smoothly as if visualizing flowing water, Ji Dong-hwa held the microphone.

“Even if I whisper silently
Just the sound of waves”

The real sound of waves echoed once, and the tropical house-style EDM sound took center stage.

“Even if I call you silently
You just look elsewhere”

Ji Dong-hwa and Seok-joon repeatedly crossed paths while performing elegant choreography, as if expressing that the sea cannot be connected to the one it loves.

The fluttering hemline of their jeogori every time they reached out stirred the emotions of the viewers.

The beat that flowed again after the chorus part made it seem exciting with the prominent drum sound, but the sad atmosphere persisted with the sound of the gayageum weaving through the EDM accompaniment.

In this, the rap from Seok-joon’s mouth, who was holding the microphone, expressed the feelings of watching the person he loves one-sidedly approach to confess to someone else. If you relate it to the story of the Little Mermaid, wouldn’t it be right before the Little Mermaid, who gained legs, sees the prince meeting another woman at the banquet?

Considering that, the last part of Seok-joon’s rap consisted of the following lyrics.

“The tears flowing in your eyes that returned
Even if I can’t comfort you
Come into my arms as if it never happened
Because I can wash it away cleanly”

And Ji Dong-hwa’s pre-chorus followed, with lyrics different from before.

“Even if you become sea foam
Don’t be afraid, it will be in my arms
Quietly longing day and night
The blue sea where I will flow with you silently, inside it”

The same chorus as before followed, but this time the sound of the Daegeum was more prominent, creating a romantic atmosphere.

The sound of water droplets bursting periodically with the sound of the gayageum imprinted the death of the Little Mermaid in the minds of the audience.

The chorus subsided, and the sound of the waves from the beginning echoed again. Ji Dong-hwa alone received the blue light again and raised the microphone.

“You were swimming in my arms
I have never forgotten for a single moment
The moment I follow you who will not return
I wait for that one moment, and today goes by”

After that, there was a moment of silence, and only the sound of a few waves echoed in the darkness. Only that sound, which sounded like the sea’s cry, spread.

* * *

After finishing the stage, I caught my breath and waited for the lights to come back on, but then a question arose.

‘…Why can’t I hear applause?’

This had never happened before. The stage might not be great, but the fact that it wasn’t even worth applauding was a little disheartening.

Just as I concluded that accepting Seok-joon’s offer was the problem, applause started from one place and soon began to spread.

‘…Maybe the ending was ambiguous, so they couldn’t catch the timing to applaud. That’s a relief.’

I stayed up all night for several days making this song, and if I couldn’t even get applause, even I would be depressed for a while.

“Dong-hwa! I love you! Take my wallet! Release a song!”

A woman’s voice cutting through the applause pierced my ears. Her vocalization… Shouldn’t that person be a singer? I was momentarily embarrassed, but soon the lights came on, and I quickly composed my expression.

Lee Dong-seok walked out from the side, clapped lightly, looked at me, and smiled.

“Trainee Ji Dong-hwa, your ears are very red.”

Did you have to say that?

“…I have a habit of getting red ears when I’m tired after performing on stage.”

“Hey, you didn’t do that in the last performance, did you? Trainee Seok-joon…….”

Lee Dong-seok, who was excited to tease me, stopped talking abruptly when he tried to get Seok-joon’s response.

Why is he doing that? I reflexively looked. But Seok-joon was so…….

“Heoong, heuk-heueoong [crying sounds].”

He was crying sadly.

…He’s definitely not normal either. Today was another informative day where I could confirm that Seok-joon is abnormal.

Half of the audience was embarrassed, and the other half was just laughing because the situation was funny.

“Trainee Seok-joon, um, uh, why are you crying?”

“Dong-hwa hyungnim― the song― heuk, too, heueok [crying sounds].”

…You, what the heck, ha, no, never mind. The audience found it funny that a man over 180 cm tall was crying as if the world had collapsed, and the embarrassed reactions decreased, and more people started laughing little by little.

I stood still between the embarrassed Lee Dong-seok and Seok-joon, who couldn’t say a word properly because he was crying, and raised the microphone.

“…You don’t have to be too embarrassed. In fact, it was common to cry while singing during practice, so now… it’s definitely an improved state.”

“That, trainee Ji Dong-hwa, why is trainee Seok-joon crying?”

“It changed every time I practiced, but he cried for many reasons, such as being sad that the Little Mermaid died, being sad that I said I would follow the Little Mermaid, or just because the song’s atmosphere was sad. I don’t even know why he’s crying now.”

“This time― heueok [crying sound], Dong-hwa hyungnim, sang, too, heueok [crying sound], sadly, sang!”

Shut up, you dinosaur.

Don’t make it sound like this chaotic and stupid situation happened because of me.

“…I guess it’s my fault.”

When I threw out a word as if I had given up, laughter burst out from the audience. The sad atmosphere from before was gone, the lingering feelings we wanted were gone to the dogs, and only I was looking ahead with a blank expression in the overly cheerful atmosphere of the people.

Of course, Seok-joon was maintaining a sad atmosphere, but let’s put this aside because he’s a dinosaur.

As we went down the stage, Yoon Seong-ho and Park Woo-jin, who had ruined the previous stage, and Lee Hyun-jae, who shone alone, welcomed us.

“Hyungs [older brother/male friend]! It was really cool, and I was so impressed!”

Lee Hyun-jae ran up and shouted. Yoon Seong-ho, who was standing next to him, was awkward with me, but he was close with Seok-joon, so he was only stroking Seok-joon’s hair enough not to mess it up. It’s a friendly atmosphere considering they are competing with each other.

On the other hand, Park Woo-jin’s expression looked a little dark. Emotions like anger seemed to be lingering in his eyes. It seemed that ruining the last stage was so heartbreaking.

“Dong-hwa ssi [honorific] was so cool too! Let’s do a stage together later!”

Yoon Seong-ho, who has put all his stats into sociability even though we are awkward, spoke without any problems. I nodded, feeling like my energy was being sucked away.

* * *

Two fans, Chae Ha-min’s and Ji Dong-hwa’s, finished voting and started walking silently as they left.

“Shall we go to a cafe?”

Chae Ha-min’s fan opened her mouth first…….

“…Yes.”

Ji Dong-hwa’s fan replied.

The two entered the cafe and were silent again. Chae Ha-min’s fan had a gloomy face, and Ji Dong-hwa’s fan had a guilty face.

“…Honestly, isn’t this cheating?”

She flinched at the words of Chae Ha-min’s fan, who spoke first.

“…Like the last Genie arrangement.”

Once again, Ji Dong-hwa’s fan flinched.

“If Dong-hwa is there, then that team wins. Doesn’t it seem like this is the formula?”

Of course, it hasn’t been revealed yet which team won the position competition, but even if another team wins due to check votes, it was as good as decided who won in public opinion.

“Why can’t Dong-hwa be on a team with Ha-min… I wish Ha-min would get the spotlight once too…….”

Ji Dong-hwa’s fan nodded silently at her sigh-like words.

Well, Ji Dong-hwa doesn’t lack vocals or dance, and his composing skills are amazing, so he puts out good songs and concepts that otaku [people with obsessive interests, often in anime or manga] like, so definitely,

‘This is cheating…….’

An oriental stage that expresses the sea that one-sidedly loves the Little Mermaid? Oh my god, her heart is still fluttering and not calming down.

‘I wish he could perform on stage with Ha-min once.’

She pointed out the killing points of Chae Ha-min’s stage to Chae Ha-min’s fan and thought to herself.

* * *

Chae Ha-min’s team won the voting results, and our team finished in second place, ending the third competition. Since our team only had two people, it was structurally disadvantageous, so the second-place result is also satisfactory. At least it will help Seok-joon achieve his dream.

“Now, let me introduce the next competition. The next competition will be held in a 4-on-4 team match, similar to the second competition. The last second competition was a cover competition for female idols, right? This time, you have to cover the songs of idol seniors who dominated the past era! Team assignments will be surveyed to fans for the team combinations they want to see for one day tomorrow and will be revealed two days later.”

Oh, this time the method is a little different.

While I was admiring the changed method, an alarm suddenly rang. Why suddenly? They didn’t even give me a quest this time.

“[Emergency Quest ‘Trust’ has occurred!

You are currently adapting well to the new space-time and are gradually increasing your colleagues around you. It wouldn’t be bad to give unconditional trust to those colleagues.

Quest Completion Condition: Show unconditional trust to Ryu Iden

Reward: ???]”

…What is this again, you bastard? Isn’t it too harsh for me, who has never unconditionally trusted anyone in my life?

And… why does this kind of thing have to use the name ‘Emergency’? Is something going to happen to Ryu Iden?

I was in a good mood after finishing the stage, but this bastard made my mood plummet. You damn bastard.

“[Caution! Please stop the continuous insulting language.]”

You’re such a petty bastard.