Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 284

There was a woman whose graduate school admission was internally confirmed. Nevertheless, she rushed out, wanting to attend the last music show recording.

“…My real life, just for a moment.”

Now that she had decided to go to graduate school, her life was already twisted beyond repair.

Since a life trapped in a paper tomb was laid out before her, she wanted to see the boys’ faces even once more.

Everyone looks so good in suits this promotion. Especially Ryu Iden, it’s quite stimulating.

The entire album is based on a single story, stirring up the fans, and that story is based on Lee Hyunjae’s original work, with Ji Donghwa participating in arranging and composing most of the songs.

Chae Hamin created the choreography, Seokjun made the rap lines, and Seokjun even helped Ji Donghwa produce the songs.

Damn, I’m so hyped. It’s one of the few remaining cottage industries of this era. It’s satisfying to pour my real life into it because it’s a group like this!

Although individual fandom culture has become widespread, she was still used to stanning based on an all-fan base.

The RoomNuts fandom has an atmosphere where anyone who sees an ‘akgae’ [malicious fan] gets beaten to a pulp, making her stanning days even more satisfying.

“I’m going to the fansign today too!”

I couldn’t go last album, how long has it been…? Why is my senior year of university like this… Graduate school, I chose it myself, but…….

How can depression and excitement coexist so harmoniously?

She held tightly in her hand the remade official light stick, so-called ‘Gwanghwabong (光花棒)’—not yet the official name, it’s just a name she’s pushing—[a fan-given nickname for the light stick, combining “light” and “flower”].

The light stick, which reinterprets and reconstructs the lines of a flower into a mysterious shape, has the color of the flower inside the glass determined by the members (one), and the fans (one), through voting.

The flower, made of blue and sky blue chosen by the singer and fans, sparkles and shines.

The concept contained in this Gwanghwabong is very simple and classic, but it makes me feel happy when I look at it.

“…If we had chosen something like light pink, it would have been crazy.”

Deep blue and light pink,이라니 [a Korean expression implying disbelief or absurdity].

Of course, she knew that if that happened, the members would turn on a live broadcast and retract the colors they had chosen. Saying, ‘Our second favorite color is purple!’

How can I be so happy just looking at a light stick? The color reminds me of the debut song even more.

Hearing cheers from one side, she shook off her random thoughts.

The members, who came up on stage for rehearsal, waved enthusiastically at us.

“Thank you so much, everyone, from dawn…….”

Chae Hamin always says things like that. Even with a sincere expression and tone.

When Ji Donghwa, who came out with him, does that, he always nods and scans every corner of the fan seats with his eyes. As if trying to remember every face as much as possible.

She really liked those eyes. Eyes of genuine gratitude. An expression that seemed to say, ‘Do I deserve to enjoy such luxury?’

And then the outfits catch my eye.

A blue three-piece suit with leather gloves, hair dyed black instead of silver, and white skin.

He’s got a surprisingly good physique, even though he’s among them. That’s what a proper idol is.

She was impressed. Seeing them in person always brings emotion.

Forgetting to open her mouth and hold up her picket [fan sign] and Gwanghwabong, she blankly captures every moment in her eyes.

Suddenly, their eyes meet.

Ji Donghwa pauses slightly as soon as their eyes meet, then changes his expression to a smile and turns his gaze to someone else.

‘…What was that?’

She wondered if she had something on her face, but soon dismissed it.

Never mind, it’s more important to shove the faces of those handsome men into my brain right now.

“Today is our last activity for ‘All mine.’”

So she focused on the conversation that Ryu Iden started by holding the microphone.

* * *

In high school, I stanned [supported/was a fan of] as if there was no tomorrow, and in my early years of college, I devoted all my given freedom to stanning.

Attending dawn recordings was basic, and there was no need to worry about whether the first concert was better or the last concert was better, I attended all of them (if I couldn’t get a ticket, I got it somehow).

Although my old bias group [favorite group] blew up due to an unfortunate incident, becoming a bitter memory.

Anyway, now that I’m a graduating senior, it’s hard to pour everything into it even if I want to.

If even pouring everything into stanning is the exclusive property of youth, what joy should I live for when I’m trapped in paper? I even decided to earn my own tuition.

Indulging in lightly skipping all classes like today will be difficult in the future.

So, on the day I won the fansign [fan meeting], I also came to the pre-recording. I also brought a bunch of gifts to give to the members.

Sitting in her seat, filming Ji Donghwa diligently, she followed the staff’s guidance, carrying her album and gift bundle, and finally stood in front of her bias [favorite member].

Ji Donghwa smiled brightly.

“I want to say it’s been a while, but I don’t know if that’s right since I saw you this morning.”

“…Wow.”

I thought he might have forgotten my face since it’s been a while since I’ve been to a fansign, but as expected, Ji Donghwa is. My bias is.

Ah, I see why the head manager of a high-end restaurant is important [referencing their ability to remember customers].

It’s no wonder that Ji Donghwa’s memory is praised in the BLOSSO:NCE fansign reviews. Ji Donghwa, who says he’s glad to see someone for the first time to those he’s seeing for the first time, and says he’s glad to see someone again to those who have come after a year, is crazy.

How can someone like that be in the idol world instead of academia, it’s crazy, a sense of depravity.

She awakened her mind, which was about to go blank. To use the precious time efficiently!

“Didn’t forget me? It’s been a long time.”

She started the conversation leisurely.

“Well, I can’t forget the faces of those I’m grateful for.”

Ji Donghwa skillfully signed while continuing the conversation, and she quickly took out the gift.

“This is a gift.”

A bundle of paper, a stack of A4 paper that looks to be about 40 pages. She even had it spring-bound in advance.

Ji Donghwa accepted the paper with curious eyes. No matter how you look at it, it’s not a letter size.

“May I ask what it is?”

Ji Donghwa holding it tightly in both hands like a precious thing, so cute.

“The first draft of my graduation thesis.”

A gift that can only be given because her bias is Ji Donghwa. Seeing herself committing something she wouldn’t even imagine doing if it were another idol, she must be going crazy following her bias.

Her bias, who has little change in expression, widened his pupils to the fullest. Slightly opening his mouth, unable to say anything. Ah, I chose well, the gift.

Ji Donghwa briefly scanned the cover and replied with resolute, serious eyes.

“I will definitely read it carefully and give you my review.”

“Haha, I’ve been confirmed to go to graduate school this time.”

“I’m ignorant of linguistics, but I respect you.”

He’s not ignorant the moment he knows it’s a linguistics thesis just by reading the title.

“Even if I’m a little busy with my master’s and doctoral studies and can’t come often, I’ll always support you!”

Ji Donghwa quietly pressed the album with both hands. It seems he doesn’t intend to let her go even if they say ‘Next in line’ while he’s contemplating his answer.

After a brief thought, Ji Donghwa gave a subtle smile.

“…Then I’ll have to become more interested in linguistics.”

“Huh?”

“So that I can read your thesis as soon as it comes out.”

“…….”

“And, if there’s a day you come again, I’ll ask you what I don’t know.”

No, is he captivating me with subtle madness?

“Please teach me well then.”

She was momentarily speechless.

N years into stanning, she’s past the level of being nervous at a fansign, but this is the first time she’s heard such a line.

Besides, that’s not a blank check that’s being thrown around recklessly, but a conviction that he really intends to do so.

From Ji Donghwa, she could see the confidence that he could remember her face even after quite a long time, that is, even when she finishes her master’s and doctoral degrees.

She, who knows well that her bias is not the type to say things carelessly, fell into a panic.

Ji Donghwa, you don’t know how scary women are! Are you trying to sell millions of copies of the next album!

“I’ll be waiting, anticipating news of the King Sejong Award [prestigious award for contributions to the Korean language]. I’ll have to get your autograph then.”

Then he even throws in a witty joke. Scary, Ji Donghwa.

Instead of feeling like the album price was a waste, he makes me want to spend more.

Even though he sincerely supports her future without any intention of doing so.

It’s said that the scariest thing is when someone unknowingly captivates people, but her bias has become such a wonderful idol before she knew it.

She was in the mood to tell the story of ‘I went to deliver words of support in advance because I wouldn’t be able to see him often, but I got hooked and already started a savings account in preparation for the next album’.

* * *

As always, it’s a shame when the fansign ends. Because the fans always have anonymity.

Thanks to the development of technology these days, there are more channels to communicate, like Uvers [likely a fictional platform similar to Weverse], but it’s not a face-to-face conversation.

As always beyond anonymity, there are so many stories and lives there, so I want to support them that much, but it’s a shame. I wish they would receive more stories on the radio.

I was thinking that while looking at the janggi [Korean chess] board in front of me.

In fact, it’s a thought that has nothing to do with the janggi board.

“…It’s quite red.”

This is the first time I’ve seen a janggi board made of such red wood, what about you, Hyunjae.

“It is.”

“I wouldn’t even know if blood splattered.”

“That’s right.”

“This is a gift from Mok-hwa.”

Lee Hyunjae tapped the janggi board with his hand and smiled.

“Hyunjin suddenly sent this to me.”

“…Yeah.”

“When I heard about it, Mok-hwa hyung asked me to hide it for a while because it was a gift for Donghwa hyung?”

Good heavens.

“Right now, are they telling us to fight with janggi…….”

“I think so?”

Which brothers fight with that?

“I did a little investigating, and he’s going to apply for a duel with a ‘wish ticket’ on the line.”

As expected, he’s the most capable.

I nodded in satisfaction.

“Hyunjin doesn’t even know what he wants as a wish. But no matter how I look at it, it seems like a lie, so I’m thinking of threatening him.”

“Is it okay to do that?”

“Well, what does it matter. If it’s for hyung, I’ll personally take care of Hyunjin.”

This, I don’t think it can be expressed with the word capable.

“Anyway, from what I heard, he’s planning to decide on three events, and the side that wins two out of three will win the wish ticket.”

…My brother has really gone crazy too. Showing off like this.

Even one of the events is janggi, recklessness is not a virtue. If Aristotle were alive, how much would he have shaken his head while looking at Mok-hwa.

“And, he said he’s going to film it, edit it, and upload it to X-Tube or something [likely a fictional platform similar to YouTube].”

Lee Hyunjae smiled, and I frowned.

“Why go that far…….”

He would answer if I just asked, crazy brother.

I wondered why there was some kind of schedule on the schedule. So this was it.

To even think of boxing the brothers’ fight on X-Tube, where did Mok-hwa go wrong from? Where did my home education go wrong from?

“He must think that hyung would never tell him.”

I took a sip of coffee.

“He’s thinking that since hyung has decided to hide it, he’ll never tell him, so he’s going to make him spit it out no matter what.”

In the end, it’s my karma, damn it.

“…Hmm.”

Then the answer is simple. I have to win in all events and personally let him know that I’m a human who tells him even if he doesn’t do that.