Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 65

65.

I stood on the bungee jumping platform.

Since the accident rate for bungee jumping approaches zero, I am extremely safe. The probability of dying from a bungee jump is lower than dying from a wild bear. I am safe.

I muttered that to myself, but I inadvertently blurted out,

“Why on earth… did people invent such a death experience that you pay for?”

Ryu Iden, who heard that, said with a laugh.

“Because it’s to make you suffer today!”

‘…Ha, damn it.’

Ryu Iden checked all the safety devices and walked towards the end of the bungee platform, following the staff’s guidance.

“Then I’ll jump first, Dong-hwa!”

Right, this isn’t even a punishment for that guy in the first place. Damn it.

Ryu Iden stood on the bungee platform. I couldn’t see his face, but there’s a high probability he’s smiling.

―Iden hyung! Say something!

Lee Hyun-jae’s voice echoed from below. His unique vocalization shook the entire valley.

“Okay, you’re going to jump on the count of three.”

Ryu Iden nodded at the staff’s words and jumped.

“Blossom forever!”

…How corny. It’s like an old, outdated custom.

After Ryu Iden got off the rope and touched the ground, my turn finally came.

I held the staff member’s hand tightly and stood in front of the bungee platform. I can see that their expression is turning to embarrassment, but I’m not in a good enough situation to care about each and every one of those things.

―Wow! Dong-hwa, you’re so cool!

And Ryu Iden’s voice is heard.

―Dong-hwa hyung, say something before you go!

Lee Hyun-jae’s cannon-like voice falls.

…Right, the probability of dying is low. I just need to jump without fear.

I carefully approached the bungee jumping platform and looked down.

‘…He who looks into the abyss must be wary lest the abyss also look into him,’ Nietzsche.

I raised my gaze, looked at the sky, and closed my eyes.

Nietzsche’s words suddenly come to mind: when you look into your own inner self, that inner self also looks into you, so you don’t know what desires you have.

Likewise, it is difficult to clearly recognize what desire I am feeling now. Perhaps this desire is…….

“Ryu Iden… I curse you.”

It must be something close to murderous intent towards Ryu Iden.

Thinking that, I dropped my body downwards.

* * *

During Luminous’s [Luminous is the name of the fandom] Thanksgiving week, W app and self-produced content were released frequently, resembling a festival.

Among them, the content that received the most attention from Luminous was ‘Blossom’s Play Class EP 1: Blossom, We’re Going to Commit Corruption!’

Starting with the title, which made me want to ask who the agency official was, to the process of good prevailing after Ji Dong-hwa’s scheme succeeded, everything was evaluated as perfect.

Luxmea @luxmea1919

This self-produced content is so funny lol Dong-hwa trying to get first place and the kids’ reactions by type lol

Hamin: Secret alliance! Special!

Seokjun: (Doesn’t think anything) Sounds good!

Iden: (Distrusts first) Why is he doing this to me?

Hyunjae: (Calculating rationally) Hmm… the loss will be small

meine_winter_blume @flow3221

No lol Hamin’s betrayed expression lol

(Rabbit emoticon): How could you do such a cruel thing! I can’t believe it!

(Chae Hamin’s ‘I’ll check it’ reaction meme)

IdenILoveYou @edenily1

Ji Dong-hwa hard carried this, seriously… He figured out the kids’ personalities exactly and made a scheme, it gave me chills. And Hyunjae not completely trusting him and putting in less contraband is real… Blossom’s confirmed brain line…

(Ji Dong-hwa declares he will check it meme)

The last edited version of Ji Dong-hwa’s bungee jump began to be used as a meme in the Room Nutter community.

MyFoxyIdol @fox287

I almost passed out watching this… laugh with me, mutuals…

(Video of Ji Dong-hwa looking down at the ground with a hollow and empty expression at the last moment of the bungee jump, then looking up at the sky again, then gently closing his eyes and saying ‘Ryu Iden… I curse you.’ as he gently drops his body downwards)

―DinoInside @112dinosaur

lol If you only watch this part without seeing the front, it looks like the main character of a sad ending betrayed by the world lol lol lol lol lol

Ji Dong-hwa, a comedian by accident lol

―ToreTore @aweful90

The real killing point is that he grabbed Ryu Iden by the collar and shook him after coming down after being so determined

(Meme of Ji Dong-hwa grabbing Ryu Iden by the collar and shaking him while Ryu Iden is smiling)

Parody videos replacing Ryu Iden with things like final exams or the agency of the idol they stan were frequently uploaded to social media, and as a result, it briefly gained popularity as a meme that expresses a curse for something.

* * *

“Wow… the stage is quite big?”

At an outdoor stage located in Seoul, we muttered while looking out the window from the car parked in the parking lot.

Today is the day of the Thanksgiving performance, which can be said to be the highlight of Luminous’s Thanksgiving week.

Despite the special time slot of 2 PM on a weekday and the stage being far from residential areas, making it difficult for many people to gather, I can already see many people taking their seats.

“There are people who said they took a monthly leave on social media. There were also many who skipped class on their own.”

After hearing Lee Hyun-jae’s words, I began to feel an emotion that was hard to describe.

It was burdensome, yet strangely pleasant.

It was like hearing a reader say that they had a hard time reading the novel I used to write all night.

‘…I have to work hard.’

Ryu Iden clapped his hands to get our attention.

“Just do what we rehearsed yesterday without anyone knowing. The stage company is even sending a filming team today to edit and upload it to the official account, so let’s not make any mistakes!”

…Saying things like that always causes problems.

“Nothing will happen, so just enjoy the stage!”

That’s very ominous.

We went into the temporary waiting room and checked our costumes.

Today’s costumes were hanbok-like [traditional Korean clothing] jeogori [a short jacket worn over the upper part of the hanbok] and jeans made of thin material, seemingly out of consideration for the summer, and overalls that I had never worn even in my childhood.

I’m ignorant of fashion, but just as a three-year-old child would be surprised to touch fire, I couldn’t help but be embarrassed by the bizarre combination.

“…Why on earth this.”

When I asked the stylist who had been in charge of our costumes since the survival show, she just smiled and helped me put on the overalls.

“It’s Thanksgiving, so you have to wear hanbok and be polite.”

…That means don’t resist and accept it.

* * *

Backstage. Chae Hamin secretly peeked under the stage and went to where Lee Hyun-jae, Seokjun, and Kim Hyun-jin were gathered and whispered.

“There are so many people, so many! They’re sitting there completely packed.”

“…I’m nervous. I feel like my self-esteem will be ruined if I make a mistake this time.”

“Flag—, Hyunjae—”

“Hyung, don’t say ominous things…….”

“Uh… Hyunjae, I’m so nervous even though I’m only going on one stage.”

Then the four of them gathered their hands and held them together, as if Lee Hyun-jae’s nervousness had spread to them, and began to mutter that they could do it.

‘…Lee Hyun-jae’s intelligence has dropped.’

Only Ryu Iden and I were standing there, watching this.

Then I heard a ding sound from the side, so I looked over and saw Ryu Iden filming it. After finishing filming, he immediately fiddled with his phone.

“…What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to get permission to upload it to social media.”

…So you’re going to upload that pathetic 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘sight’]?

“…Do the Luminous like that?”

If they like it, I’ll have to agree that I can’t judge the fans’ tastes with my head.

“They like you cursing me, too?”

That’s the treatment you deserve, so it’s not that they like it, but rather that they sympathize with it.

Ryu Iden thought I was persuaded because I was silent, so he looked at me and smiled and continued.

“But aren’t you nervous, hyung? I’m so nervous. This is the first time we’re doing a 30-minute stage.”

“…I’m nervous.”

It’s been two weeks since the last music show.

* * *

# Unedited version of the 1st Blossom Thanksgiving video to be uploaded to the official account

The screen zooms in on a blue wave, filling the screen with the white part of the wave.

After that, when the screen zooms out, the white part is connected to a chrysanthemum.

The chrysanthemum petals fall and connect to form letters.

[Blue, Blooming]

And the moment the screen splits in half, the Blossom members are captured walking up.

And the B-side song ‘Our Hour’ flows out.

The party beat that you would listen to when you gather with friends and have a home party in the evening flows out.

And everyone turns around and happily rides the beat, and when the beat stops for a moment, Seokjun turns his head and leisurely recites.

Oh― Our― Hour

Ji Dong-hwa stands in the center, sweeps up his suspenders, smiles, and opens his mouth. He had the look of an aristocrat drinking coffee on a leisurely night.

The TV is still on even if I open my eyes at 2 AM (Our―)

Like Nobody’s Business, I don’t have tomorrow in my head (Hour)

When Ji Dong-hwa leans to the side, Ryu Iden picks him up and bounces him. And Ryu Iden center.

It’s the end of the week, I need popcorn

Film in the TV screen, I also play music

When Ryu Iden sings and happily steps, the other members shake their heads with a disgusted expression.

But when Ryu Iden steps one more time, they follow along as if they can’t help it, and laughter spreads as they get excited.

The members show off a large and cheerful dance, and the song’s home party atmosphere is heightened.

And pre-chorus, Lee Hyun-jae is carried on Seokjun’s back and stands in the center. The song’s atmosphere calms down as if preparing for the upcoming hook.

I want to stop sleeping now (No way!)

Even if I say it, you won’t listen (That’s Right)

Sleeping is illegal tonight (Because)

Wake up and drink cola here (It’s Our Hour!)

The hook bursts out, and electronic sounds jump around on the stage as if bouncing.

Lee Hyun-jae, who was on Seokjun’s back, jumps out to the left, and Seokjun jumps out to the right, and Chae Hamin jumps out from the middle as if popping out.

Turn your body to the left and clap once, then lean your upper body back and wiggle your body left and right, and the other members soon match the formation and turn their bodies to the opposite side and repeat the motion.

After showing off a dance that induces laughter, they dance locking around Chae Hamin to the escalating beat.

The members are running around cheerfully and smiling brightly as if there is really no tomorrow.

Soon the first song ends and the members stand in a row and bow their heads.

‘To Be Blooming! We are Blossom!’

* * *

I thought to myself.

‘…It’s hard.’

I’m out of breath because it’s a more intense song than other stages.

In front of the stage, many fans gathered despite it being a weekday afternoon and were watching us.

“Everyone! You missed us, right!”

Chae Hamin shouts without any signs of exhaustion.

‘…Instead, he forgot the script.’

Originally, Ryu Iden was supposed to talk about the Thanksgiving first.

He seems to be quite excited by the fact that it is a stage just for the fans.

Ryu Iden just smiles and naturally takes the words.

“We missed you a lot too! So today we have prepared Blossom’s 1st! Thanksgiving.”

Only then does Chae Hamin smile awkwardly, and Ryu Iden smiles at him once to say it’s okay, then looks at me.

“Dong-hwa! But what exactly is Thanksgiving?”

I catch my breath and continue. I received the longest line because of my good memory.

“It is a festival that Blossom prepares for the Luminous. Events such as decorating the stage and uploading videos are held to repay the love you have sent us. We are also planning more creative events.”

And the conversation continues. Various words were used, but the essence boils down to one thing: ‘Luminous, I love you.’

And the first conversation is over.

“Then now, the Thanksgiving for the Luminous, begins in earnest!”

Ryu Iden declared the opening of the Thanksgiving.