Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 6

I Didn’t Plan to Become an Idol – Episode 6

6.

* * *

The bass riff at the song’s start is captivating, the drum sounds filling in the spaces behind it.

Remembering the rhythm from this morning, Chae Hamin begins to move.

He sticks to precise, small movements that break down the beat, avoiding large motions. But as anyone who’s learned to dance knows, making it *feel* right is incredibly difficult.

Basics are basics, but you also have to showcase your dance line [the aesthetic flow and visual appeal of a dancer’s movements].

‘He’s doing that on purpose.’

It’s obvious he’s trying to intimidate by choosing a dance that requires considerable skill to even attempt.

As the synthesizer chimes lightly between the bass riffs, Chae Hamin immediately shifts to larger movements, while still maintaining the detailed breakdown of the beat.

He fully embraces the song’s funky rhythm, even making a face as if he’s enjoying himself.

I glanced at the ‘senior’ from earlier. His face clearly shows his embarrassment at Chae Hamin’s skillful performance.

When all the other sounds fade at the end, leaving only the bass riff, Chae Hamin reduces his movements and finishes with subtle joint rotations.

Silence falls after the song ends. I smiled, confident in our victory, and said,

“How was it, senior? Please let me know if there’s anything to fix about the song or dance.”

*After seeing that skill, please just shut your mouth and stop acting like a senior,* I thought. *I hope you understand.*

Just then, Jang Haejin opened the door and came in. He was probably annoyed that he couldn’t say anything, but I bet he’ll be kicking his blanket all night while dwelling on it at home.

Hopefully, he won’t bother me in the future.

“Wow, Hamin’s dance is always amazing.”

Jang Haejin seems to have been watching from outside, as he came in right as the song ended. Wait a minute, that means…

I quickly glanced behind Jang Haejin. Five people were giving thumbs up while looking at Chae Hamin. *Okay, it doesn’t matter as long as they’re not looking at me.*

“Did Donghwa write the dance song this time too?”

“Yes!”

And all eyes immediately turned to me. *Ha, that unhelpful guy.*

He suddenly came to the practice room and overwhelmed them with his own song and impromptu dance. I just wanted him to look at those three and shut up, damn it.

I felt a sudden urge to run away, so I looked away. *This too shall pass.*

While looking at me, one of the guys who looked like a puppy spoke up.

“That person’s ears are really red.”

*Shut up.*

“Right!”

*Don’t make it so obvious that you’re happy I said what you were thinking, Hamin.*

* * *

To summarize what Jang Haejin said after gathering us together…

1. We will start living together in a week.

2. Episode 1 will consist of each person’s solo performance, evaluated only by the judges, without a live audience.

3. Personal introduction videos will be filmed and uploaded to YouTube as teasers.

4. Filming of the practice process will begin after we start living together.

5. The Episode 1 stage will be filmed in about 2 weeks, and the broadcast will air in 4 weeks.

Just hearing it, the schedule feels incredibly tight.

First, I should go home and analyze the latest popular idol stage videos.

“Anyone have any questions?”

He explained everything in detail, like a lecture, for about 20 minutes, so there shouldn’t be any questions.

“If you don’t have any questions, I’ll end the announcement for today. There are new trainees, so get to know each other, do whatever you want, or you can go home.”

After Jang Haejin left, I tried to quickly say goodbye and get out of there, but someone spoke to me first.

“Hello. I don’t think I’ve formally introduced myself. I’m Ryu Ideun.”

The fact that he’s not using informal speech at our first meeting is a plus.

“Hello. I’m Ji Donghwa.”

At that moment, a ‘ding’ sound came with a notification that the guy in front of me was the quest target.

‘…Yeah, just as I expected.’

The moment I saw that notification, I realized something with a shock, but first, let’s focus on what’s in front of me.

“I’m going to dinner with a few of the others. Would you like to come with us?”

Hmm. Maybe it’s because he looks like the king of dogs [a Korean slang term for someone who is very friendly and approachable], but I feel a little intimidated.

But no way. I’m not intimidated by a bizarre creature that can even move through space and time, let alone a dog king.

I opened my mouth to refuse, but…

“I’m in!”

…Thanks to Chae Hamin shouting loudly, I closed my mouth for now. I hope that guy doesn’t get taken advantage of.

Like when he stood up for me earlier, he has a kind personality. If someone with a bad personality latches onto him, he’ll be endlessly exploited.

Ha… if he was just a little less cheerful, I would have just abandoned him.

“…I’ll go too.”

* * *

The dinner with the other trainees passed peacefully enough.

I should have just gone home. I knew it would be like this.

I just stopped checking the notifications that came when I got home. In fact, I didn’t even check the notifications that came while we were eating.

I need to organize the thoughts I put on hold when I talked to Ryu Ideun earlier.

I expected it, given that there are 4 main quest targets and that the survival debut group I was forced to participate in with a ridiculously large sum of 5 million won [approximately $4,000 USD] is 5 people.

So the bizarre intelligent life form, or Bizlife for short… is pushing me to help the four chosen ones debut together.

I don’t like that they’re trying to guide my actions by watching my every move, but now they’re even deceiving all nine of the other trainees who are dreaming of becoming idols.

Among the 9 people excluding me in the survival show, who *isn’t* serious about their dream of debuting?

But they’re sending notifications and quests that practically scream at me to find out in advance who should debut and help them?

This is nothing more than a deception of other people’s dreams and efforts.

‘…Damn Bizlife. You’re trying to use me like this, using my intellectual curiosity as bait.’

Honestly… I’m still curious about the reason for the space-time travel. But I have no intention of playing around with their dreams. I’m going to drop it all. Damn Bizlife.

Since I’m participating in the survival show, I’ll do my best to avoid causing trouble and to protect my monthly rent, but I can’t participate in trampling on other people’s dreams as Bizlife wants.

Therefore, the best outcome is for me to be eliminated, even if I do my best, and for the rest of the trainees to debut based on their abilities.

If I ignore the broadcast for a while and show my original personality, they’ll eliminate me for being annoying, right?

Ding—!

[Warning! There is a misunderstanding! I cannot explain in detail, but it is different from what you think!]

Ha, nonsense. The words of a transcendent being who ignores human dreams and wills and tries to play with them as they please…

“Eat shit, Bizlife.”

I said that and lay down on the bed.

* * *

The schedule proceeded quite busily.

Until the start of living together, I spent my time watching videos of successful idol stages at home and practicing with trainers at the company.

And two days before the start of living together, I, Chae Hamin, and Ryu Ideun gathered in a practice room at Nietzsche Entertainment to film personal introduction videos.

It’s a guilt-inducing group of members who just happened to gather. *You guys… according to Bizlife, you’re going to debut.*

“Donghwa, you seem to have lost some weight in the meantime?”

Ryu Ideun said, looking at me.

Is that so? Ah, for reference, Ryu Ideun and I decided to speak informally when we were eating. Of course, only Ryu Ideun did.

I made an appropriate excuse and brushed it off.

Then Ryu Ideun glanced at a corner of the practice room for a moment and said quietly.

“By the way… Donghwa, do you know why Hamin is like that?”

That’s what I’m saying. From the fact that he hasn’t said anything special since the greeting, to the gloomy look on his usually bright face, it’s a mess.

‘I’d be less worried if he was shouting loudly about something… I feel bad when he’s like that.’

“Donghwa, why don’t you talk to him? It’s the first introduction video to be uploaded, and if he’s in that state……”

…I don’t want to help if I think about Bizlife, damn it. Why does he have to remind me of that kid just because he dreams of becoming an idol?

There’s about an hour left until the introduction video shoot, so I can talk for 30 minutes.

I quietly sat behind Chae Hamin, who was stretching his legs, and pushed his back. He flinched for a moment and turned his head towards me, probably having stretched enough.

“Donghwa……”

“…Why.”

“Can you let me sleep over today? No, just for two days?”

What is it now?

“…Tell me the reason.”

“Well, I got kicked out of my house for saying I’m going to be an idol.”

Hmm, that’s irrational.

“Um, you’ve been a trainee for over a year, and your uncle knew about it. Why now?”

“Yeah, I was doing it secretly from my father then, but I had to tell my father this time because I had to go live together. But suddenly, he said, ‘Why is there an entertainer in our family?’……”

Ha, it’s difficult for me, who grew up as an orphan after the age of nine, to answer. How should I solve this?

“…Did your father even try to listen to your story?”

“No, as soon as he heard about the idol trainee, he told me to get out today if I was going to live together.”

Hmm, Chae Hamin’s father must have thought that Chae Hamin was a good listener, so he expected Chae Hamin to give in first if he came on strong.

In that case, shock therapy is the best.

“Did you pack your bags?”

“Yeah. But when I came out, I realized that all my cards were suspended. So……”

He’s definitely coming on strong. This is something that will continue to happen unless you rebel properly at least once.

“…Come to my house. That way, your father will know your intentions.”

“Thank you… I really feel like I’m only causing you trouble.”

I snapped at Chae Hamin, who was feeling down, to just practice properly.

The introduction video is a short video of about 3 minutes, showing a talent show-like thing for about 1 minute and showing something like a song or dance for the remaining 2 minutes. The company only does the filming, and all the plans are up to the individual’s choice.

So I have to practice the script I’ve been writing all day yesterday. 5 million won is not small change, and I have to do my best to protect it.

* * *

#Ji Donghwa Self-Introduction Edited Version

‘Hello, this is Ji Donghwa, born in winter, greeting you.’

In Ji Donghwa’s hands, who is greeting calmly, are about three snowdrops.

‘This flower is a snowdrop, my birth flower, born on January 1st. The flower language is hope and comfort.’

Then he lifts the flower slightly and…….

‘I put my hope for my debut in this flower.’

Then he gently holds out the flower, softening the expression that could have felt cold and giving a gentle smile.

‘I hope you will remember this flower and the hope it contains. I will sing so that this flower can be a comfort to you.’

Then he sits down at the keyboard prepared next to him, puts the flower on it, and starts playing the piano softly.

‘The song I’m going to play for you today is Snowdrop, which I made myself.’

And the piano sound that follows in earnest. The sound of peace, as if looking at a snow-falling plain, fills the space.

Ji Donghwa’s voice flows out as if taking small steps on it.

The beginning of a new year, an exciting heart and

I wonder if this year will be different, a fluctuating anxiety

The song, which started by mentioning the excitement and anxiety of the new year, was like a small animal exploring a new world.

Everything is new, um

Now I want to go out too, um

From this narrow world

Ji Donghwa, who heightened the song as if trying to be brave in the pre-chorus, returned to a scale like soft snow falling again in the chorus.

Will you give me hope

I’ll give you comfort

Will you give me hope

I’ll give you comfort

The refrain, made up of lyrics that repeat like falling snow, reminded me of a boy sleeping peacefully in the snow. Peaceful but containing anxiety.

After the song ended, Ji Donghwa got up from the keyboard and bowed 90 degrees.

Then he raised his head sharply and shouted softly towards the side of the camera.

“Hamin, don’t watch! Ryu Ideun, please go over there too!”

The tips of Ji Donghwa’s ears, saying that, were particularly noticeable in the overall white atmosphere.