Black Label [EN]: Chapter 59

59. D-day

Time passed.

You could feel the seasons slowly changing. The temperature of the air rushing into my lungs had changed.

After *Ipha* (立夏) [Beginning of Summer on the traditional East Asian calendar], I could feel a heat that went beyond mere warmth.

It was a heat that heralded the arrival of summer.

The clock hands diligently moved as they always had, and as they did, the date of the first show drew closer.

Before I knew it, it was June, and July was just around the corner.

More than half the year had been spent in a rush.

Every time I saw the sixth page of the remaining calendar, I felt strangely sentimental.

Because I realized that more than half the year had already passed, and because my first show was only a month away.

Today was no different from any other day.

The May and June heat was in full swing.

Haze shimmered on the road, and my body felt sticky even after taking a few steps.

Jaeseung visited his home after a long time. Unlike the sweltering weather outside, the house was cool.

Thanks to the best invention of modern science: the air conditioner.

To be able to control the weather with just a few buttons… our ancestors would be amazed.

“Son, eat this.”

My mother gave me a lot of snacks: watermelon with a crunchy texture and sweet sugar sprinkled on it, and cold boiled potatoes.

They weren’t much, but they were foods that evoked a feeling of home and affection.

The moment my mother put the tray with the snacks on the table, my father, who was sitting in front of the TV, asked in a low voice:

“Jaeseung-ah.”

“Yes.”

“These days?”

Was he asking about my recent situation? Or my recent income?

Just as Jaeseung was hesitating to answer, his father asked again, a hint of annoyance in his tone:

“I’m asking if you’re working hard these days.”

“Ah, yes. Of course.”

My father replied briefly, then added in a low voice, “Then that’s good.”

Then he immediately turned his gaze back to the TV.

It was a simple sentiment that brought me a sense of peace.

The world values ‘results’ more than ‘process’.

But parents are not the world.

They are just ‘parents’.

The only ones who value my process more than my results.

A lot of small talk went on for a while.

My mother said in a worried tone that Jaeseung’s appearance had become noticeably haggard.

She mainly asked questions full of concern, such as whether he was sleeping well and whether he was eating properly.

As the conversation wound down, Jaeseung took out an envelope from his clutch bag and said:

“Mother, please accept this.”

“Huh?”

What Jaeseung took out was an envelope: a rather luxurious envelope with the Wall Flower logo engraved on it.

Soon, my mother carefully took out the contents.

Inside was an invitation to the 2011 F/W season show.

The invitation to this show, with phrases printed on soft fabric.

[ Wall Flower The 1St Show: Minimalism ]

My mother, who was skimming through the phrase written in neat handwriting at the top of the invitation, smiled deeply.

“A fashion show invitation? Our son is amazing.”

This was the reason Jaeseung visited home today. Invitations had already been sent to other VIPs.

For example, the editor of *Paris Pouge* [Likely a play on ‘Vogue’, a well-known fashion magazine], Ryu Seung-ho, all the staff of the Kuba Kuba webzine and store, the new designers he had met last time, FTV magazine, Professor Kang Hyung-rok, and President Song….

However, since it was impossible to send invitations to family members by mail, he had to deliver them in person.

Was my father curious? He asked in a low voice, “Fashion show…?” and kept glancing at the table.

“I hope everyone can come.”

My mother said quietly, “Yes, I have to go no matter what.”

My mother repeated, as if chanting, “Our son is amazing. Amazing,” in a subtle, emotional voice.

The smile on her face was so pure.

It was a smile that held the freshness of the May and June greenery, making my heart feel at peace.

I felt that she was as moved as Jaeseung himself, or perhaps even more so.

“There’s so much I want to show you.”

In response to Jaeseung’s words, his mother held his hand tightly and replied:

“Okay. I’ll definitely go.”

My mother’s hands were warm and rough.

What should I say? It was a touch that spoke of the passage of time and the hard work of the past.

A touch that made my heart ache.

Jaeseung also held his mother’s hand tightly.

*I will show you through this show.* What changes have occurred in the meantime, and how much more I can change in the future.

What I was immersed in while reducing sleep and skipping meals, and what results your beliefs have produced.

What kind of youth am I spending now, growing up eating the brilliant youth of you all?

I wanted to show you everything.

* * *

As the date approached, I felt like time was passing faster and faster.

Every time I opened and closed my eyes, it felt like a day was passing.

Day after day after day….

In the meantime, another half month had passed.

Now, the show was only two days away.

In the meantime, Jaeseung was able to complete all the preparations for the 2011 F/W season’s first show.

First of all, the initial quantity production of the new products was completed, and the selection of models to walk was also finalized.

It was thanks to the effective division of labor as the date approached.

Jaeseung and Lee Kang-jun focused on the lookbook shooting, and Nam Gwang-min put all his attention on the display (DP) of the shopping mall building where the show would be held.

Choo Ji-hoon was independently in charge of office work.

And today.

The weekly meeting time in the second week of July—that is, the last meeting before this F/W show—dawned.

“This is the pamphlet that will be placed at the show. Would you like to review it?”

At Jaeseung’s words, the employees began to skim through the paper pamphlets placed on the side table.

The photos included in the pamphlet were scheduled to be included in the lookbook as they were, so everyone was busy reviewing them carefully.

Soon:

“The photos turned out well this time, too.”

“Wow….”

“It looks like this season is going to be a hit, too?”

Jaeseung, who said, “It should be,” couldn’t help but feel nervous and took a long breath.

I had taken on a lot of expenses because of the show.

If I were to face a cold response, I was worried that the brand would falter, so I spent a lot of money.

‘The product, the DP, and the expenses were unexpectedly high….’

But I wasn’t looking at the situation pessimistically.

As always, there is no success without challenge.

I believed that the greater the risk, the sweeter the reward would be.

What you need to be wary of for success is not ‘the risk of failure’.

You should be more wary of the complacency and boredom that comes from satisfaction.

Well, anyway, I liked the lookbook photos quite a bit.

The models selected for this season’s model cuts were Lee So-myeong, who was used for the S/S season lookbook shoot, and Jo Ha-min, a professional model from the same Double S team.

I really wanted to use Ryu Seung-ho as a male model this time, but I couldn’t because of his schedule.

Soon, the employees who had finished checking the model cuts began to speak one by one.

The first to speak was Nam Gwang-min, who was in charge of DP.

“I finished the show DP perfectly yesterday. We plan to start the pre-rehearsal this afternoon as scheduled.”

Regardless of the success or failure of the show, Nam Gwang-min’s promotion to Visual Merchandiser (VMD) was virtually confirmed.

Seeing the display, I couldn’t help but be amazed.

“How is the real thing? Are you satisfied with how it turned out?”

In response to Jaeseung’s quiet question, Nam Gwang-min nodded slightly and replied in a confident tone:

“Yes.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Jaeseung, who replied briefly, looked at Lee Kang-jun this time and asked quietly:

“Kang-jun, the *Paris Pouge* editor is arriving in Korea tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. She is scheduled to arrive around 9 a.m. tomorrow, and the translator we hired will pick her up at the airport.”

The editor from *Paris Pouge* and her party were scheduled to arrive one day before the show date. Soon, Jaeseung asked again:

“The accommodation and car are perfectly prepared, right?”

Lee Kang-jun usually handles his work meticulously, but this was a crucial matter.

“Yes. I have reserved a suite room according to the number of people. Also, a limousine is on standby to prevent any disruption to transportation. I checked again today.”

“Okay, good.”

The show is only about two days away. Everything is going smoothly.

All that’s left is to repeat the rehearsals and wait for the show date.

Soon, Jaeseung clapped his hands once and slowly continued:

“Now, there are only two days left until the show.”

At Jaeseung’s words, the employees smiled faintly.

Apart from whether the brand’s survival is at stake, the meaning of this show is quite special.

This is the first show for Jaeseung, the employees, and even the brand Wall Flower.

“I think I’ve felt the trembling that the word ‘first’ gives me several times so far. Among them, I think this is the most intense.”

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

Jaeseung began to continue his words in a very serious tone.

“Wall Flower is just the beginning. The past actions were just a gestation, and this show will be a special moment when we break out of our shells and take our first steps into the world. It’s our beginning. Let’s all work together and make it wonderful.”

As soon as Jaeseung’s words ended, the employees shouted “Yes!” respectively.

* * *

D-day.

The morning of the day of Wall Flower’s fashion show, which I had been waiting for, dawned.

The first floor of ‘Power Center’ in Madu-dong, Ilsan, was crowded with people visiting Wall Flower’s first show.

Geraldine Saglio, the editor of *Paris Pouge*, and her party were also among the attendees.

Geraldine Saglio, who had just entered the building, took off her sunglasses and carefully commented:

“It’s much bigger than I expected.”

Because it was a show hosted by an unknown designer of a new brand, I had roughly guessed that it would be held in a very small venue.

However, the atmosphere at the scene seemed to be quite different from what Geraldine had expected.

“Um, I think I see reporters, too.”

People with large cameras in their hands were often seen.

At first, I guessed that they were ‘fashion bloggers’, but I soon changed my mind.

It was because their appearance seemed quite different from that of typical fashion enthusiasts.

Soon, a female translator in her early 30s began to explain in a soft tone.

“Although it is not a well-known brand yet, the owner-designer who is holding the show today is friends with a famous Korean actor.”

“Then those reporters are here to see the ‘celebrity’ who is friends with the owner-designer?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

Geraldine smiled and said in a very gentle tone:

“I have an interesting idea. Kim, can I ask you one favor?”

“Of course.”

“Can you tell the reporters…?”

“What should I tell them?”

When the translator asked politely, Geraldine hesitated for a moment and replied in an indifferent tone:

“I think it would be good to tell them that *we* came to celebrate Wall Flower’s first show.”

Geraldine was impressed by Wall Flower’s hospitality as soon as she set foot in Korea.

If it was an invitation from a premium brand, it would be understandable, but the skillful reception, which was unlike that of the owner-designer of a new brand, was remarkable.

From the translator waiting at the airport to the luxury hotel, sightseeing during the remaining time, and the limousine…

‘I should give you some kind of reward.’

The translator was about to nod.

Geraldine added a few more words in a very confident tone:

“So, say ‘*Paris Pouge* has come to support’.”

“All right.”

Soon, the elevator she was riding in made a clear notification sound: “Ding-.”

I arrived on the 3rd floor of the shopping mall building, which was the space where the show would begin.

Geraldine looked at herself in the mirror and coughed a few times.

‘Shall we take a look…?’

As the elevator door slowly began to open, the interior view of the 3rd floor of the building began to be revealed through the crack in the door.

“Oh my god.”

Geraldine couldn’t help but exclaim.