Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 24

24.

‘Please, let our Hyeonjae kill this stage and debut, amen.’

Her prayer to God was earnest. The online voting, which would be conducted for five days after this performance airs, accounts for a high percentage of 40% of the score. Moreover, 20% is from the 3rd and 4th competition live voting, and 30% is from the 3rd and 4th individual 직캠 [jikcam – focused fancam] views, so its importance is further increased.

‘Please let our Hyeonjae rise. If he gets eliminated with that vocal skill, there’s no future in the idol scene… Amen…….’

She moved towards the audience seats, praying earnestly. This prayer was probably more earnest than the one she made before the college entrance exam.

Next to her, she saw a Ji Donghwa fan holding a panel with the phrase ‘A flower that doesn’t wither even when winter comes, I love you forever’ and Ji Donghwa’s smile drawn on it, which was distributed for cheering.

‘I’m jealous… They probably don’t need to make these kinds of prayers…….’

Of course, some of Ji Donghwa’s fans wake up early every morning to draw water and pray to the heavens, but for her, who entered the idol scene for the first time because of Lee Hyeonjae, everything was unfamiliar.

‘Ha, I got charmed by that fox-like face and mortgaged my life, really.’

If Lee Hyeonjae was just a little less pretty, she could have had a happy campus life, but it’s all Lee Hyeonjae’s fault.

That noble, prince-like atmosphere, and even a fox-like face, how could you not want to bet your life on it?

* * *

‘Please let our Hyeonjin debut. I think I can be happy even if all my grades this semester are F, please, if there is a god, please!’

As explained, this performance is so important to Kim Hyeonjin, she is also praying earnestly like Lee Hyeonjae’s fan.

‘If a delinquent-like but cheerful idiot character can’t debut, the future of K-pop will be dark! Please!’

She becomes more and more earnest. It’s been quite a while since the new semester started, and the first assignment submission date is coming up soon, but she doesn’t care. She just wants that guy who breaks people’s hearts with his 티 나는 [ti na neun – obvious] but smiling and running around to succeed.

‘I bet all my grades on you!’

She shouted quietly and entered the audience seats.

* * *

The audience seats are full of people praying like this. When the promised time comes, the audience entry is closed, and Lee Dongseok comes up and continues with smooth hosting.

The judges’ seats are filled with Nietzsche Entertainment celebrities and trainers, and finally, the stage greetings begin.

First on stage is Ryu Ideun’s team. They arranged ‘Paradise,’ a refreshing song that swept the summer four years ago, into a four-person song.

Ryu Ideun, who has good physicals [stage presence/appeal], wore short sleeves and shorts and stood in the center, singing the killing part [most memorable/catchy part] ‘Let’s leave together,’ which garnered quite a bit of cheers. Also, Seokjun’s rap also brought out the refreshing feeling well, so it flowed smoothly without any discomfort.

However, the overall quality was not good. It can’t be helped since the two vocal position members were not good, so they couldn’t properly bring out the refreshing high notes.

As a 후일담 [hu-il-dam – behind-the-scenes story], Ryu Ideun said that if there was just one of Lee Hyeonjae or Ji Donghwa, their team could have won, which was a disappointing stage.

And Junseong, who is watching this stage, also left a comment saying that he felt the same way.

“I think it’s like starting to cook with good ingredients, but the overall balance is lacking, so a bad dish comes out.”

It’s a metaphorical expression, so if you interpret it…….

‘Team luck is 망했다 [mang-haet-da – ruined/doomed]. On the other hand, that team is…….’

Junseong thought this while thinking about the arranged version he heard during the previous 중간평가 [jung-gan-pyeong-ga – midterm evaluation].

‘…Ji Donghwa, solo album track, successful.’

* * *

This time, Ji Donghwa’s team came on stage. And Lee Hyeonjae’s fan, who was watching it, suddenly suppressed something boiling inside and paused for a moment before 울부짖었다 [ul-bu-jijeot-da – bursting into tears/shouting].

“Lee Hyeonjae’s clothes are awesome―!”

Then Lee Hyeonjae, who was wearing a 해진 [hae-jin – worn out/vintage] oversized red sweater and shorts that showed his knees, heard that and turned slightly red and made a heart with his fingers.

And seeing that, Lee Hyeonjae’s fan started screaming something that could no longer be seen as a language like crazy.

What to call this feeling, she didn’t know because it was her first time 덕질 [deok-jil – stan/fangirling], and it was too much to bear.

And Kim Hyeonjin’s fan, who had been 덕질 [deok-jil – stan/fangirling] K-pop for N years and was feeling the same way after seeing Kim Hyeonjin’s outfit, could clearly define it.

‘덕심 [deok-sim – fangirl heart] is rising― Hyeonjin-ah!’

The VCR that comes out after the stage greetings, a scene where Ji Donghwa is sitting in the studio with Lee Hyeonjae drinking coffee, a scene where Chae Hamin is smiling brightly in Ji Donghwa’s studio, a scene where Kim Hyeonjin buys food and distributes it to Ji Donghwa’s studio, passes by briefly.

And Ji Donghwa is sitting in the interview room.

[Q. How long did it take to work?]

‘It took a total of 5 days.’

And the screen changes and Chae Hamin, Lee Hyeonjae, and Kim Hyeonjin each throw a word in order.

‘Donghwa probably only slept for two hours while working. Because he was doing choreography practice together…….’

‘Sometimes when I see Donghwa 형 [hyung – older brother/male friend], I don’t think he’s human.’

‘He doesn’t come out to eat well, so we always pack it separately…….’

And Ji Donghwa again.

[Q. Why so much?]

‘…I didn’t understand well what a boyish look would be like, so I touched the details while referring to Hyeonjae trainee or Hyeonjin trainee.’

After the interview scene ended with Ji Donghwa smiling awkwardly, a concept meeting scene came out.

There, Ji Donghwa strongly argued that appealing to boyishness was the best way to cover this song.

Looking at it this way, it gives the impression that Ji Donghwa prepared the stage concept to match Kim Hyeonjin and Lee Hyeonjae.

And Kim Hyeonjin and Lee Hyeonjae’s fans, who were watching it, thought quietly to themselves.

“시발 [Shibal – F*ck]… Ji Donghwa is an angel?”

Kim Hyeonjin’s fan accidentally spat it out, so the Ji Donghwa fan next to him laughed. Kim Hyeonjin’s fan didn’t care about that.

And the VCR ended by showing half of the stage practice and half of the chemistry between the members.

‘Certainly… Nietzsche Entertainment knows 덕후 [deok-hu – stan/fangirl]’s heart well.’

It’s not for nothing that it’s a planning company known as a 변태 [byeon-tae – pervert] learned in the idol world. To feed on relationships like this.

* * *

And the stage that will start soon. A full moon rises in the dark lighting.

‘Come to think of it… the stage of the team with Ji Donghwa always has a story…….’

No one knew that Ji Donghwa had a compulsion-like thing to put stories in because of his career as a novelist.

With the full moon background, a slow synth rings out, precariously guarding the boundary between gloom and sadness. It was music that reminded me of someone dancing in the moonlight above a gloomy tomb.

And at that moment, Ji Donghwa, who jumped out of the darkness, opens the song under the dark lighting.

Turbuk turbuk sound, if you lift your head, it’s always you

I wanna say Hi, but I’m afraid, oh

Will my wounded hand make you cry?

Yes, so I always to you today

(Don’t close to me)

After Ji Donghwa’s recorded English narration flows, Chae Hamin walks out with a bitter smile. Then Ji Donghwa turns his head and looks to the side.

You know, but I still want to approach

Yes, I want to endure even if it’s just pain

Maybe you’re not different,

I just want to lean on you believing that

(Please close to me)

As if expressing two minds in one person, if Chae Hamin tries to approach, Ji Donghwa stops in fear.

After confirming the story like that, Kim Hyeonjin and Lee Hyeonjae sing as if they are playing similar roles to Chae Hamin and Ji Donghwa, respectively, and then enter the chorus.

Lee Hyeonjae and Kim Hyeonjin stand in the center, and Ji Donghwa and Chae Hamin stand on the back side and dance to the dull beat that flows out.

Cheers erupt at the choreography of roughly wiping the eyes with one hand, turning the body to the side, putting the opposite hand on the lips, and then taking it off and gently riding a full body wave.

I can’t hold your hand with sharp nails

So Don’t close to me

When Lee Hyeonjae sings sadly and resignedly, Kim Hyeonjin comes out to the center and sings.

Please endure being stabbed by holding my hand

Please close to me

And Lee Hyeonjae turns Kim Hyeonjin, who is walking to the side, and grabs his shoulder.

The gazes of Kim Hyeonjin, who is regretful, and Lee Hyeonjae, who is looking sadly, intersect.

It seemed like one’s inner self was urging himself not to get any closer.

After the second verse, Ji Donghwa comes out to the center again.

While the other members are bending down and riding the rhythm, Ji Donghwa messes up his hair and looks anxiously to the side, then turns around and sings.

The moon that has risen brightly, and the sound of footsteps

I have to run away, I have to run farther

And while walking, he pauses for a moment, then looks back and sings sadly.

The day you come, and the sound of crying

I have to turn away, I shouldn’t see any more

And as if giving up, he turns back and enters the formation, and Chae Hamin comes out to the center. Chae Hamin subtly breaks down the beat and softly shows small movements, drawing the audience’s attention to his sad fingertips.

Don’t cry, come today too

You know, but I still want to approach

Yes, even if I’m a wound, I want to be with you

Don’t cry, but

(Please close to me)

The stage flows like that, and the beat gradually begins to rise. The previous chorus comes out once more, and when Lee Hyeonjae grabs Kim Hyeonjin again, this time Kim Hyeonjin pushes him away and comes to the front of the stage.

And like before a storm, the beat becomes quiet for a moment, and Kim Hyeonjin sings with a solo dance in it.

Unlike Chae Hamin, Kim Hyeonjin’s choreography has a strong rough feeling, like the struggles of a wounded child.

Caress my wounded hand

Please come to me, so

And the beat rises again, and Lee Hyeonjae screams a high note so transparent and clear that it feels like a wolf is howling.

Please, close, to me―

And with Lee Hyeonjae at the center, the other members show the previous choreography of putting their hands on their lips.

And Chae Hamin comes out to the center and starts leading the choreography, raising the quality of the stage as if proving that he is not just a 예비 [ye-bi – prospective/potential] main dancer.

You might hurt me,

Please don’t abandon me

Even if you hurt me, I,

I will never abandon you

And with the other members turning their bodies back, Ji Donghwa comes out to the center and puts his hand forward in the quiet beat. His hand was shaking slightly, which was seen in the camera screen.

Please close to me

The stage ended with Ji Donghwa turning his back.

* * *

‘Please, I hope it was the intended atmosphere.’

Instead of giving up the intensity of the original song, I hoped that the sadness would be highlighted, and I hoped that Kim Hyeonjin and Lee Hyeonjae would fly wearing clothes that fit them perfectly in it.

…Please, I hope so.

After finishing the stage and standing in place, Junseong picks up the microphone.

“I saw it on the internet, they say Ji Donghwa trainee is called a cheat key.”

I pause. What is he trying to say?

“On this stage, I could clearly see what the charms of Lee Hyeonjae trainee and Kim Hyeonjin trainee are. It felt like Ji Donghwa trainee had carefully observed and tried to bring out the strengths of the two trainees since he arranged the song.”

…I don’t know whether to be happy that the intention got through or to refute the excessive praise.

“…My arrangement only shined because the charms of the other trainees were outstanding.”

Then Junseong smiles as if satisfied and answers.

“Then, that light, you’ll shine it on me too, right?”

…He’s quite a sly guy. He’s trying to make me confirm on the stage that the public is watching so that I can’t refuse later.

Ha, if you court me this much, I’d feel sorry if I didn’t accept.

“…It’s an honor.”

When I answered, Junseong started to like it like a puppy jumping up and down, regardless of his age of twenty-six.

Really, Ryu Ideun or him, they’re really like dogs.

‘After the 4th competition… the elimination announcement after a few days of rest.’

…Hmm, will that 망할 [mang-hal – damned] staircase be there this time too? I want to break it someday.

I have a small wish that this stage will help them achieve their dreams, even if it doesn’t prevent them from being eliminated.