Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 222

Chae Hamin sat in the studio, looking anxious as he spoke.

“I didn’t make any mistakes, did I, Donghwa, really!”

Surprisingly, Chae Hamin, who could have been the first beast to know all my secrets, didn’t remember most of our conversation because of the alcohol. The only thing he knew was what I had done to my sibling. So, the next day, there was a scene where he woke up, cried, and grabbed onto me again.

After hearing the story about meeting the PD [Production Director], he’s been like this ever since.

“Yeah.”

Except for when he threw a fit, asking me why I was doing this to him.

“Ah, why am I so weak with alcohol… My dream is to drink with you until the end.”

Reborn then. I don’t know if reincarnation exists, but if it does, that would be faster.

“I’ve been thinking, a duet with you.”

“Yeah.”

“I was wondering if I could prepare the entire song, and you could come up with the video concept and choreography.”

“Oh, division of labor! I’m a little excited.”

Chae Hamin clapped his hands loudly and made a fuss. Come to think of it, the frequency of calling Chae Hamin when working was noticeably low. It was more common to listen to the finished version and participate in creating the choreography. He looked like a child visiting an amusement park for the first time, so I let him run wild for a while.

“Then when are you going to start working, Donghwa?”

“So, I wrote a draft.”

“…Huh?”

Chae Hamin froze in the same excited pose. He pursed his lips, seemingly contemplating what to say with a look of bewilderment.

“So, um, you’re saying you’ve written it all, Donghwa?”

Nod.

“We went out for drinks two days ago, right?”

Nod.

“So, you wrote it in one day?”

I’m so tired of just nodding, Hamin.

Chae Hamin finally nodded and raised his hand to tap my shoulder.

“Please rest! Why aren’t you resting! Why!”

“No, I wrote it while resting.”

“Stop! I’ve heard that too many times! I was wondering where you went yesterday since it was a holiday! I couldn’t find you in the studio, so I thought something was up!”

“I’m used to working in secret.”

One of the things I’ve learned while being with you guys is escaping.

“Is that something to be proud of, Donghwa…?”

Chae Hamin soon sighed deeply with a pitiful look and lay down on the sofa.

“I’m not doing it. I’ll do it in a week! Let’s hang out instead, let’s go play!”

“Busy.”

“Then rest! Rest! I’m really worried, Donghwa…”

Ah, this is a little fun. I’ve rarely been scolded in my life, so I find the situation of being scolded quite enjoyable. Well, I think I’m starting to resemble the members; I must be losing my mind. It seems the saying ‘evil company corrupts good morals’ is true.

“Anyway, listen to it, Hamin.”

The title is ‘Pieces.’ I was inspired by the useless thoughts I had while listening to Chae Hamin’s story. The person who is essential to explaining ‘me’.

We became like marks left on each other, accepting each other as elements that make up ourselves. Just as I am to Chae Hamin, the opposite must be true as well. Of course, from my parents to Mok-hwa, to the other members, they all became elements that make up me.

I silently played the song. Skipping the parts that were only roughly sketched out, I went straight to the chorus with the guide vocals. Along with the Vienna schnitzel sound that I’m not ashamed of anymore.

Chae Hamin still seemed sulky, but he was focused on the sound, his ears open. Personally, I liked the bassline, which was dreamy and reminiscent of the sunset, but I didn’t know what he would think. I tried to express the influence that others have on ‘me’.

“…Ha, why is the song so good!”

Chae Hamin twisted his body as if he was annoyed, writhing on the sofa as if he was going to break it.

“I can’t even say anything.”

“I’ve written the lyrics roughly too, for the chorus.”

I played another version. Instead of the guide vocals, the lyrics I wrote myself flowed out. The lyrics enter briefly, like humming a word or two, between the dreamily flowing bassline.

‘I’, made with pieces of you.

‘I’, getting colored by you.

While I was humming along, Chae Hamin hesitated and asked, twitching his hand.

“…I, I wouldn’t be able to not understand, would I?”

Oh dear, it doesn’t seem like such difficult words, is my pronunciation bad? Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like that, so I should assume that Chae Hamin spent his school days diligently practicing.

“Probably.”

“I should have studied English harder with Jun. It would have been cool if I could understand it at times like this…”

Oh dear, language is always important, and he’s only realizing his mistake now.

“What do you think?”

I took a sip of coffee. It was my first time showing an unfinished draft to someone other than Ryu Ideun or Seok Jun, so I was curious about his reaction.

“I’m seriously wondering if telling you to rest is wrong, Donghwa.”

“Because the song is good?”

“I just wish you weren’t so good at your job.”

Chae Hamin got up from his seat, dusted himself off, and then plopped back down. He stared blankly at the ceiling as if he had given up.

“Still, take it easy, Donghwa. Even though you haven’t collapsed lately, I still have trauma. My heart really dropped when I heard it today.”

Chae Hamin dramatically swept his chest.

I didn’t know that. I’ve been managing my condition well lately, so I didn’t realize he was still thinking about the old days. I feel like a child who’s worrying their parents.

“This time, I wanted to let you hear it early.”

I was really composing in my head from the moment I stepped into the bar, Hamin.

“…Um, sorry.”

Chae Hamin shook his head once and smiled.

“Increase your cross-stitch time! Donghwa! Get some more sleep too!”

You can’t sleep well either. You’re the one showing your face here and there these days because of dramas. Come to think of it, isn’t he as much of a workaholic as I am? He’s always uploading dance cover videos.

I felt unfairly treated for a moment, but Chae Hamin has never collapsed, so I kept my mouth shut.

* * *

[Idol Production Workshop Production Briefing.JPG]

(Photo of the press conference)

(Link to the full article)

Let’s promise to pick based on looks alone. Quickly.

Comments

―ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋ He’s so firm

―Hey, I thought the coaches’ casting was amazing, but how can Ji Donghwa be there…? Me…?

└Special screening for trending composers.

└You have to see it as trending one-trick pony ㅇㅇ

└The fact that HBS called Nietzsche’s member is unbelievable ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋ

└Still, his composing and arranging skills are verified

―Wow, another big survival show is coming. The idol scene is tense enough ㅅㅂ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└When are you going to stop being tense… Thinking about the akgae [obsessive fan] wars suddenly makes me feel like I have ptsd [post-traumatic stress disorder]

└I already know I’m going to have a favorite pick in a few weeks

―A promise that will never be kept… Idol 덕질 [fandom] dna doesn’t just make you look at faces…

└Someone is going to get into dance lines/corners of the mouth/voices/hands/manner of speaking/personality, etc.

―Ah, is another 정병 [mental illness] generator starting again…? I can already see myself eating 처 [being punished] after this ㅅㅂ… [swear word]

―The idol scene is going to get really hot.

Um, sometimes I really don’t know what they’re saying. I’m reading the post that Lee Hyunjae showed me, but why doesn’t it feel like I’m reading the same Korean?

“So, to summarize… these people are saying that the upcoming survival show is going to be terrible, but they can’t help but watch it.”

Um.

“Then it’s meaningless to say they can just not watch it.”

“Right? Isn’t it kind of like that? Like peeling off a scab knowing it’s going to hurt?”

“Well, I’m not even at the level of being a hot topic.”

“It’s a relief if it is.”

As I said that, I moved the piece. I was playing the abstract strategy board game that Lee Hyunjae brought.

“Isn’t this good? It’s perfect for carrying around in your pocket because it only has pieces and no board. We can play it in the waiting room too.”

“I heard a rumor that 80% of what you got paid this time is going into board games, Hyunjae.”

“That’s wrong. It’s about half.”

I moved the piece for the last time and turned my gaze back to the tablet.

“…I lost again. I think I know how Ideun hyung [older brother/male friend] feels.”

“You don’t like it when I let you win on purpose, do you?”

“Um, it ignites my competitive spirit. Wait for me. I’ll win in two months.”

Sorry, but I think you’ll be saying the same thing in two months, Hyunjae. Lee Hyunjae then tapped Ryu Ideun’s shoulder, who was sleeping on the sofa, to wake him up. It was a strange sight, like a child waking up their father on the weekend to ask him to play.

Anyway, I don’t know well, but the Idol Production Workshop seems to be a hot topic and is burning up everywhere. First of all, HBS is deliberately spreading press releases, so it would be strange if it wasn’t.

Looking at it this way, I suddenly think that PD Jung Kyungwoo, who is in charge of such a project, is amazing.

But, that’s that, and shouldn’t I find out what I need to know?

“Hyunjae, take his phone.”

“It’s hyung’s turn.”

“Ah, I’m too scared to do it, Hamin, help me!”

“What are you doing, Donghwa?”

Chae Hamin sat next to me, sipping coffee.

“If Ideun hyung [older brother/male friend] called me, is he thinking something weird again?”

“No way.”

“Right? He’s too worried, that hyung [older brother/male friend].”

I like that he agrees so quickly. I looked at the phone and quickly read the text. A reply from Hwa-yang, ‘I’ll look into it, let’s have tea when you have time.’

Um, no matter how I look at it, I think it’s only right to give up one of my organs this time.

* * *

Hwa-yang was still wearing a neat hanbok [traditional Korean dress] with her snow-white hair neatly pinned up with a hairpin. Unlike that, her face didn’t look old, so there was a strange imbalance.

“So, you’re going to give up one of your organs?”

“To that extent.”

“Are you crazy? No, how could you think I could do that to Gaeul’s son? I haven’t seen you in a while, so there’s nothing I can’t say.”

Hwa-yang laughed heartily and waved her hand, telling me not to say ridiculous things.

“From what I hear, they haven’t done anything yet.”

“Not yet?”

“Yeah. Not yet. They’re just talking about editing well. That’s always the case, so, well.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. The number of people who can be spotlighted out of a hundred isn’t large. If you have a good relationship with the broadcasting station people, the probability is high. Editing well isn’t a crime.”

Um, certainly. Popularity creates content, but it’s hard to say that the opposite doesn’t exist. In the first place, people who aren’t shown on screen more often will have a hard time getting content.

That’s why they try to provide a lot of videos outside of the broadcast, but people who were initially drawn in by the broadcast will have fewer opportunities to see those videos. Is it because the number of people has increased tenfold compared to our survival show?

“Ideally, it would be nice if there was none of that, but realistically it’s difficult, so I can accept that. But what you said is a serious matter. It’s practically an act close to fraud, isn’t it?”

Hwa-yang frowned as if she was annoyed.

“But there’s no definite word on that yet. Just greeting them and having a drink together. It’s like the usual business.”

“If you happen to find out anything.”

“I’ll let you know. Dirty people always have something to dig up, so I’ll do a little preliminary work as you said, well.”

“I don’t know anything.”

“Bullshit. You’re so sly, just like your mother. You secretly mess everything up while pretending you don’t know. You’re so skilled at speaking in a subtle way that you don’t leave any evidence even when recorded, you little rascal. To me, it was clearly ‘I want to screw them over if that’s the case.’ But when I listened to the recording, it sounded like ‘I’m worried.’ You’re cunning, cunning.”

Unfortunately, I was caught. Hwa-yang put down her teacup and playfully clicked her tongue.

“You’re very similar. Even subtly leading people the way you want.”

“…Genetics are amazing.”

Hwa-yang covered her mouth with her hand and laughed loudly before changing the subject.

“Giving up organs is out of the question, how about a game of Korean chess? It was a hobby that your parents had together, do you know how to play? Do you have about 30 minutes to spare?”

The price for the information I heard today is not an organ (臟器) but Korean chess (將棋).

“Yes.”

Ryu Ideun’s social skills lecture: when playing a game with a superior, always lose on purpose. I’m confident that I’ll lose every game I play today.