Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 309

Winter Flower @WFINME

Today’s concert review: Save me. Send me away. We were wrong.

(A picture of Ryu Iden politely pointing at a fan who looks exhausted and out of it, shouting, ‘Get hyped right now!’)

└DogOrPuppy @RYD

But no regrets ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅋ

(A video immediately following the previous one. Ji Dong-hwa bumps Ryu Iden’s back as he passes by. Chae Ha-min, jumping around and playing next to him, is a stark contrast.)

IdolFanArtist @ARTISAN234

Knowing that Ji Dong-hwa cried, I have no regrets for the rest of my life. Even if I died on the way back, the only regret I would have is not being able to post this photo.

(A photo of Ji Dong-hwa shedding a single tear. It’s as if the most brilliantly beautiful moment in a person’s life has been captured in a photo.)

└DebatingWhetherLackOfLuckInFandomIsScience @DGMISSCIENCE

I have a lifelong regret today…. What am I, who went to ticket booking with five friends…

TouchAndYouBite @DOGDOG31

Trending ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋ Roommates [fanbase name] in collective shock ㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Dong-hwa,,, cries,,,?

(A screenshot of Ji Dong-hwa’s tears trending.)

└StillSummer @AHDEONEUN

There’s even a rumor that everyone couldn’t believe he cried at the concert, so they came up with strange theories ㅋㅌㅋㅋ

IdenLet’sUseLessThanAThousandBucks @LESSTHANNOTHING

For those who came in because of Ji Dong-hwa’s tears, check out Iden’s abs, Ha-min’s dance lines, Hyun-jae’s vocals, Jun’s innocence… Our flower boys have so much to offer!!!!! Animal farm with Dong-hwa the zookeeper!!!!

(Ryu Iden grabbing his clothes and showing a glimpse of his skin. It’s closer to showing it off than a glimpse, really.)

BiggestGiantRabbitOnEarth @ADJONJAL

A compilation of must-see photos for those who couldn’t come to the concert, including Chae Ha-min’s crying stages, Seok Jun’s brotherly love, Ji Dong-hwa’s tears, Ryu Iden and Ji Dong-hwa’s on-stage revelations, and more.

(Chae Ha-min’s expression changes with every step, and he’s sobbing when he arrives.)

* * *

Even after returning home, I felt like I was going to die.

If it was this hard even in a seat, wouldn’t the people in the standing area have fainted? Judging from the reactions of the numerous Roommates [fandom name] on my small phone, it seemed like it would be okay if they did.

But even though I felt like I was about to die, my body honestly went to the desk.

I have to draw. I prepared the drawing paper, palette, brush, and water container in an instant.

His hands trembled.

It can’t be helped. I shook it off for the last twenty minutes.

Slap, he hit his hand down.

This can’t be the kind of fan activity I’d give up on with this much.

He closed his eyes and recalled the moment when Ji Dong-hwa shed a single tear.

With watercolors, the paper starts to dry from the moment you apply the base color, so you have to roughly decide in advance how dry it is and what the concentration of the paint should be.

…If I mess up, I’ll have to start drawing again in this physical condition. I want to prevent that at all costs.

He carefully sketched with a pencil.

Since the pencil marks are visible as they are in watercolors, even that has to be beautiful enough to settle into the artwork.

It’s good to have no sketch, but I prefer having pencil marks.

Clear and transparent, but sparkling alone in the surrounding darkness.

Ji Dong-hwa’s unique, seemingly fragile atmosphere and cold impression, and the jewel-like tears within it—that moment that was too beautiful to fit on a small piece of drawing paper, let’s capture it.

* * *

As the frenzied party came to an end, I turned my back on the audience and returned to the backstage, where my legs gave way.

“…Hyung [older brother/male friend],” I said, using the honorific.

“Huh?”

“I need support.”

Ryu Iden chuckled and helped me up.

Ah, I’m staggering. Wouldn’t I recover to some extent if I went home and slept right away?

“You looked like you were having a lot of fun.”

“Because I was having fun.”

The company staff put all their efforts into arranging the song with the idea that it would be fun to jump around to, so it’s only natural.

“It’s been a while since Dong-hwa was running around so excitedly.”

Chae Ha-min said, helping up a completely exhausted Lee Hyun-jae from behind.

What, why are only the two of us exhausted? Seok Jun looks tired too, but he hasn’t collapsed. Is this because we’re desk workers (physically sedentary)?

“But about five minutes before the end, he seemed tired and started walking quickly.”

I don’t even have the strength to speak.

“Earlier, a Roommate [fanbase name] shouted, ‘Dong-hwa, get hyped!’ when Dong-hwa seemed a little tired and was taking a deep breath while standing there.”

“I saw him struggling to run right after that.”

You damn guys. Why aren’t you tired? If you were a little tired, you wouldn’t be talking so much nonsense.

The moment I entered the waiting room, I sat down on the sofa.

Will I be okay tomorrow?

No, there’s no way Ryu Iden wouldn’t have calculated that much.

Since Ryu Iden was entirely in charge of signaling the end of the encore stage, he must have pushed us only to the point of being near death.

“…Will I be okay tomorrow?”

Chae Ha-min muttered quietly, placing Lee Hyun-jae next to him.

“Of course.”

Ryu Iden nodded proudly.

That confidence. The confidence that he knows our stamina accurately and even knows the limits of our muscles.

I really hate it. What should I do? I want to take a brick out of my bag, but I don’t have the strength.

The waiting room is quiet after the stage.

It’s a place where the staff used to move busily, but now only we are left.

It should be an empty space, but it doesn’t feel so empty.

“…Ah, I hate it because it feels like I’m waking up from a dream.”

Lee Hyun-jae moved only his mouth with all his might, his body completely melted [exhausted].

“I was confused about whether what’s in front of me is real or a dream.”

“Heu-ha.”

Chae Ha-min made a strange noise and started playing with Lee Hyun-jae’s melted body as if it were fun.

Lee Hyun-jae stayed still, unable to even twitch, and then issued a warning.

“…Hyung [older brother/male friend], I’m different from Dong-hwa hyung, I really bite.”

“No, you’re as gentle as Dong-hwa, Hyun-jae.”

Shouldn’t we seriously send him to the hospital?

Whether it’s to the ophthalmologist or the psychiatrist, there seems to be a problem with one of them.

“Ah, I’m sad. What will happen tomorrow?”

Ryu Iden jumped around randomly and shouted. It was clear that he hadn’t calmed down yet.

He probably wanted to play with the fans more in his heart.

But even if he tried to do an encore until his excitement was completely gone, I would have collapsed on the stage first, and some people in the fan seats would have collapsed before that, so it’s a dream that can never be realized.

I have to improve my stamina, starting with myself.

I’ve never felt that I lacked stamina until now, but today I deeply realized that I can’t just endure with mental strength to do a concert.

I have to at least develop enough stamina to be able to stand next to Ryu Iden in a near-death state while he enjoys his excitement.

…Wait, does that mean the concert time will be extended even more?

It’s a good thing, but will the fans be able to handle it? Are we going to check physical abilities and then receive admission?

Seeing me having such ridiculous imaginations, I guess I’m really tired.

“Hyung-nim [term of respect], are you okay―?”

Seok Jun smiled at me.

Please match your words and expression, Jun. Is it some kind of art expressing irony?

But before I could answer, the door burst open and the manager came in.

“Everyone, all the people in the guest seats have come out. Shall we go see them?”

Ah, Mok-hwa. What will he say this time?

* * *

I stood tall, grateful for my legs that could walk without Ryu Iden’s support.

Showing a pathetic figure collapsing in front of Mok-hwa is something that even I, who has let go of everything, cannot tolerate.

“I’ll offer my congratulations, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

Mok-hwa handed me a bouquet of flowers.

“Can I punch you in the solar plexus once?”

“…Okay.”

I burst into a foolish laugh at the words that reminded me of when we reunited.

“Haa, how did our hyung grow up so much? I’ve raised him well, really.”

“I know.”

I watched Ryu Iden, Chae Ha-min, and Seok Jun talking with their families without saying a word, and even saw Lee Hyun-jae talking intimately with his high school friend.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

Ryu Iden’s younger sister, who still looks strong-willed, a father patting Chae Ha-min’s shoulder with a satisfied expression, Seok Jun’s family gathered with his grandmother and grandfather, applauding. And Lee Hyun-jae, who still looks happy.

Um, I’m satisfied.

“You should have a concert too, and I’ll go.”

“If hyung comes, all the members will follow hyung around.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Jin-han hyung and I are desperately trying to prevent your number from being leaked.”

Um, good job. I’m so touched that you’re considering my nature of being shy around strangers.

“Hyung shouldn’t be more well-known.”

“…Huh?”

“Even if Jin-han hyung or Hyun-jin can’t help it.”

Mok-hwa put his arm around my shoulder.

“We have to minimize the number of people who will ask for songs later.”

“…You’re a free pass, so you’ll be fine.”

“Hyung’s health isn’t okay. Hyung is the type of person who would wear himself out when asked for a favor if he thinks he’s close to them.”

Oh dear. I really need to improve my stamina, damn it.

The company has forbidden exercises that make the body line thicker, so if I run like crazy, it will somehow work out.

At that time, two heads opened the door and quietly examined the atmosphere inside.

Jun-sung & Ye-eun combo are carefully checking with their experienced eyes whether they are disturbing the time with their families.

Just then, Lee Hyun-jae raised his hand and gestured for them to come over, and they rushed over there.

“…They’re TOT sunbaenims [senior artists/mentors].”

“Are you a fan?”

Then I’ll grab their heads and introduce them. They both owe me, so I can boss them around, Mok-hwa.

But Mok-hwa whispered quietly.

“No, I was a Blue Jack fan.”

Oh dear. Too bad.

As far as I know, the Blue Jack and TOT fandoms are not on good terms. They have often been mentioned as rivals in minor ways.

But Jun-sung hyung looked this way and gave me a look that said, ‘Introduce me, introduce me.’

Ye-eun grabbed Jun-sung’s hair, saying, ‘Why are you being so calculating?’ and dragged him this way.

Lee Hyun-jae’s friend, who was behind them, jumped up and said, ‘Wow, there are so many celebrities.’

‘I’m a celebrity too.’, ‘You’re talking nonsense…….’ Ye-eun-ssi suddenly poked her head out from the friendly conversation.

“Long time no see, hubae-nim [junior artist/mentee].”

“Dong-hwa, introduce your younger sibling next to you!”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yeah. Our activity periods never overlapped.”

I looked at Mok-hwa next to me. Mok-hwa bowed his head with a fake smile.

“Hello, sunbaenims [senior artists/mentors]! I’ve always been a fan!”

Um, yeah. That’s what social life is all about.

Ye-eun cheerfully saw through the pretense and giggled.

She’s still sharp. Is it because she’s a human whose own life was an object of observation?

“That’s right, that’s right. I heard Mok-hwa-ssi is close to Eun-gu!”

Jun-sung also noticed, but skillfully threw out a topic.

Ryu Iden’s advanced social skills lecture: when starting a conversation with someone you don’t know well, it’s okay to bring up a story about someone you both know.

“Oh, how did you know?”

“Do you know about the Dong-hwa-less Dong-hwa meeting?”

…Um?

“It’s a meeting of celebrities who know Dong-hwa hubae [junior artist/mentee]. All we do is get together and drink tea at a cafe.”

He’s saying ridiculous things again as if it’s nothing.

“Eun-gu comes there and talks?”

Mok-hwa asked with a look that said, ‘What is he talking about?’

I’m hearing this for the first time too. What a useless meeting.

“Our meeting organizer is Dong-hwa hubae [junior artist/mentee].”

What is that, you crazy people.

“It’s a new celebrity cartel. People who claim to be indebted to Dong-hwa hubae [junior artist/mentee] gather and have a friendly conversation!”

Ye-eun laughed like a madman. It was as if she was telling us who created the meeting.

“And if there are guys who badmouth Dong-hwa hubae [junior artist/mentee], we somehow bury them.”

Jun-sung hurriedly covered Ye-eun’s mouth.

“…Just a pleasant meeting, something like that.”

Heo-heo, Jun-sung smiled awkwardly.

“High Six too.”

Ye-eun tried to say something anyway, but Jun-sung gave her a serious look that said, ‘That’s absolutely not allowed,’ and she closed her mouth with a regretful look.

…Could it be, these crazy people.