Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 79

79.

After finishing all the new filming, I quietly looked for Jun-sung. Jun-sung seemed to have just finished his lunch and was sprawled out on the sofa like a towel.

“…Sunbae-nim [senior colleague/mentor], do you have time to talk for a moment?”

“Oh, what brings our Dong-hwa here?”

Jun-sung smiles pleasantly. It seems he had a very satisfying meal.

I blurt out without much thought.

“Um, could you not promote the fact that I composed the song as much as possible? Keeping it a secret would be even better.”

Of course, there are no eternal secrets, but.

At that, Jun-sung narrows his eyes slightly, as if trying to grasp the meaning of my words. He has a dog-like face, but because he resembles a German Shepherd, there’s an intimidating aura.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it literally. I plan to tell Team Leader Jang as well, but I’m asking you first.”

Then, Jun-sung sits up on the sofa and begins to ponder something. And at the end of that thought, Jun-sung opens his mouth and says…….

“Perhaps… are you embarrassed?” he says with a wounded expression. It’s hard to understand, so I give up for now.

‘…I thought this guy was smart, but is he stupid?’

I haven’t often been wrong about judging people’s intelligence.

“Is the song… perhaps poorly made, so you don’t want your name listed as the composer on my album?”

Jun-sung asks cautiously. Hmm, so he’s digging a tunnel. Does he think he’s a rabbit?

And… poorly made, he really goes too far. How much time did I spend making that song? I want to retort, ‘Does that sound like a poorly made song to you?’ but I hold back for now.

“It’s not that, it’s just obvious that the Timers won’t like it.”

Timer is the fandom name for TOT, taken from TOT’s name, Time of Target. As far as I know, TOT is a military term, which highlights the planning team’s consistent sense.

Jun-sung stares blankly at me, then makes an ‘Ah!’ sound and mutters.

“…Putting a junior on my first solo album?”

…What does the expression ‘putting a junior on’ mean? I slowly analyze that subtle metaphorical expression, then nod. It seems like he’s poetically embellishing the word ‘piggybacking’.

“Well, I’m so proud to have my junior’s name on the album.”

Jun-sung drops his wounded expression and continues with a smile.

“I’m also very proud that I worked with a composer I personally chose, and I’m satisfied that I spent all night in the studio with that composer revising the song… I want to let the fans know that. That’s how much sincerity I put into this album.”

…That’s a very effective persuasion strategy. The logic of wanting to show his efforts to the fans is hard for me to argue with.

‘…Should I talk about the possibility of criticism being directed at the team?’

That’s also the main purpose, so I should talk about it.

“…What’s the possibility of our team becoming the target of the Timers’ anger?”

Hearing those words, Jun-sung suddenly smiles, then bursts into laughter.

“Of course, that could happen… Does the composer not know our fans’ opinions very well yet?”

…Speak plainly, sunbae.

* * *

After Jun-sung’s surprise appearance on W App [social media platform], the Timers began to constantly discuss what the two of them were doing together.

With TOT’s official comeback delayed, it was the result of not missing any potential comeback spoilers from any of the TOT members.

Regarding this, the Timers established various hypotheses.

Turning on happy circuits such as, ‘Ji Dong-hwa is doing Jun-sung’s radio show,’ they even harbored hope of, ‘Perhaps a comeback?’ They heard one piece of news.

[Official announcement. Our leader is scheduled to make a solo debut]

ㄱㅈㄴ (jogeunnae – abbreviation for ‘the title is the content’)

Comments

―Wow… solo is just starting now… I was so looking forward to it, really…

―I’m really experiencing TOT withdrawal symptoms… Please quickly have the members appear on acting, solo, variety shows, anywhere, and make me happy just by turning on the TV…

―I was almost jealous of the Flower Boys, lol.

└Nietzsche… has not forgotten TOT…

└The juniors’ debuts were so explosive that I thought it would take a little longer, so I’m so glad~

└ㄱㄴㄲ~ Taking care of the Flower Boys and taking care of TOT, Nietzsche is really right

TOT’s fandom, Timer, was quite positive about Jun-sung’s solo activities. It would be different if TOT was close to being unknown, but they are a top-tier idol group.

And seeing that, the Timers arrived at one conclusion.

[How do you clocks [Timers] see the possibility that the Flower Boys’ composing member wrote Jun-sung’s solo song]

(Screenshot of Jun-sung entering Ji Dong-hwa’s studio)

I think this is the most likely possibility ㅇㅇ

Comments

―I don’t know when Nietzsche started gambling like that, but it seems like a high-probability gamble

―Honestly, I liked all the songs he composed during the survival show ㅇㅇ

―I think he’ll pick a good song. I don’t care as long as the song is good

―I don’t care as long as there isn’t excessive media play

└Nietzsche has hardly ever done that, so…

Ji Dong-hwa, who has the motto of reading books instead of spending time on the internet, did not expect it at all, but for some reason, public opinion was good. ‘Only if’ the song is good.

* * *

“…There are times when I find it difficult to understand the fans.”

After hearing all the explanations from Jun-sung, I sat down.

“Actually, me too. How easy is it to know people’s minds? Still, it was fortunate that I checked the reaction on W App.”

‘…Um?’

I look at Jun-sung.

“…Was that intentional?”

“Of course! It’s quite a sensitive issue, so I checked in advance. Of course, on my own initiative.”

I frown. The intention is good, but it’s rude. To intentionally enter while communicating with the fans. That must be a very precious time for them.

“…Sorry.”

Jun-sung looks at my expression for a moment, then lowers his head like a dejected puppy.

His expression management must have been lacking because he’s been tired recently.

“There’s no need to be sorry. It was right in the end. However… please tell me next time.”

Jun-sung smiles.

“Of course, I don’t know if there will be a next time.”

And Jun-sung doesn’t smile.

I smile back and leave.

It was something that deserved to be paid for, so I deliberately made it possible to misunderstand, shortening the long sentence ‘predicting how the fans will react when I make a song’ to the two words ‘next time’.

* * *

‘…What did I just hear?’

Jun-sung thought, watching Ji Dong-hwa, who was wearing a nerdy disguise, smile and leave.

‘…Did he just declare that he would never work on a song again?’

Jun-sung was very embarrassed. It’s hard to forget the feeling of a single mistake becoming a knife to the throat.

Of course, Ji Dong-hwa deliberately led him to misunderstand that way, but Jun-sung’s sly brain doesn’t work at times like this.

The countless hours spent in the studio all went down the drain with a single mistake. He thought that if they became close, he could continue to work with Ji Dong-hwa on the next album!

He wanted to continue working together if possible, as the rhythm of working improves as you match it, but Ji Dong-hwa declared with a smile that there would be no next time.

‘…Ah, damn it! He’s so strict! I thought we had become close! What meaning do those countless nights we spent together have!’

Jun-sung recalls what Ji Dong-hwa would say if he heard him, that his way of thinking is bizarre.

“Wait! Dong-hwa! Junior! Wait!”

With that, Jun-sung jumped up from his seat and chased after him.

Given Ji Dong-hwa’s usual personality of not seeing someone again once a connection is broken, he had to catch him first.

* * *

The day of Jun-sung’s showcase arrived. Nevertheless, there was almost no media play about the fact that I participated in the composition.

After I and Lee Hyun-jae did some research together, we requested Team Leader Jang Hae-jin to make sure that only Jun-sung stood out in consideration of the Timers.

‘…Is he doing well?’

The showcase for reporters must be underway by now, but I was sitting in the studio as usual. Lee Hyun-jae, who had his face on the headrest of my studio chair, muttered.

“Wow, Dong-hwa hyung [older brother/male friend], is this the finished version?”

“…First version.”

After completing the composition, I revise it several times. I meticulously adjust the notes, thinking about how I would arrange it.

The same habit as when writing a novel has taken root in composing.

“What are you going to say to the reporters this time? Last time it was a water fight.”

…Shameful memories can be violence, Hyun-jae.

“…I should say I saw a snake.”

“Come to think of it, something strangely coincides by chance. A friend of Ha-min hyung was like that during the composing season. Is this like fate?”

I want to say that I don’t care about such unscientific folk beliefs, but considering Gi Ji-saeng, who is probably confined somewhere now, there is some basis for believing it.

“Now review, Hyun-jae.”

“Hyung, I’m on vacation now…….”

I was tutoring him in the studio because the giant rabbit and emotional dinosaur were watching a movie and crying in the dorm.

“Hmm, Hyun-jae. The development of human intelligence is based on repetitive learning and the accumulation resulting from it.”

“…Are you telling me to prepare to become stupid if I don’t study?”

I nod.

“…Wow, hyung, I didn’t know I would be tied to hyung’s grasp until vacation.”

I smile and push Lee Hyun-jae to sit on the sofa.

It can’t be helped since Lee Hyun-jae follows along well as I teach him, unless he doesn’t have the brains for studying like Mok-hwa.

“Explain about the tenor and vehicle when metaphor is achieved.”

For reference, the tutoring I’m doing now is a humanities class that is not in the curriculum. Lee Hyun-jae seems more interested in literature than philosophy or science, so I’m doing a literature class.

As I read the modern poetry theory book that I chose together and watch Lee Hyun-jae grow intellectually, I felt more proud than expected.

“…But how do you know about this stuff, hyung? You’re on leave from university.”

Um, I can’t say that I already had the experience of taking Professor Kim Yu-jong’s Korean Modern Poetry Theory in another possibility.

So…….

“…Because I read books.”

This is the excuse that always comes out. I’ll only be able to live comfortably after confessing all the secrets to everyone someday.

* * *

After exchanging conversations while reading poetry for a while, the tutoring ended when Lee Hyun-jae no longer had the energy to appreciate it.

As Lee Hyun-jae lies half-reclined on the sofa again, and I sit in the studio chair, a familiar silence returns.

A silence that is difficult to feel when with other members. It’s a unique atmosphere that can only be experienced when with Lee Hyun-jae.

Lee Hyun-jae rummages through the various poetry collections I bought him, takes out his tablet, and looks at the articles as usual.

“…Oh, hyung?”

“Why, Hyun-jae.”

“Jun-sung hyung’s album release time has passed, right……?”

I continue working and just nod. It must have been an hour or two.

“…Hyung, take a look at this.”

‘…Did Jun-sung make a big vocal crack or something?’

I temporarily stop working and take the tablet.

[Jun-sung’s ‘Sorry’ Reaches Top 60 Within 1 Hour of Release… Music Industry Tense]

The way they write the title is quite a sight. ‘Music industry tense.’

I inwardly admire the Timers’ formidable solidarity and hand the tablet back to Lee Hyun-jae.

“…Why is this?”

“Hyung, aren’t you being too calm?”

“Maintaining is something else.”

In the first place, it’s not because I wrote the song well that it turned out like that, but the result of the firepower that Jun-sung has built up, so there’s no need to make a fuss.

I put my hands back on the computer and focus on working on the song.

“…You’re really no fun, hyung.”

“…Study, Hyun-jae.”