The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 158

< Verse 24. 2006 >

Everyone seemed focused on strengthening their relationships during the short break.

Truthfully, though they didn’t say it, ever since the 888 Crew became famous, there were more than a few people contacting the members, pretending to be close. Especially some adults who knew about Sanghyun and Sangmi’s parents passing away approached them with ulterior motives.

Insurance agent Park Yunhee, whom they called Aunt Yunhee because she was very close to their mother, was making her approach again in this life as well.

‘I came back to the past and changed this and that future, but people’s greed doesn’t change.’

Park Yunhee was the one who caused Sanghyun and Sangmi to lose most of their parents’ inheritance and insurance money. Thanks to Park Yunhee, he received a military exemption due to hardship, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel any gratitude towards her.

In fact, when Sanghyun first regressed, he wanted to take thorough revenge, dropping Park Yunhee into the abyss. Knowing the fraudulent methods Park Yunhee would use, he even considered ways to set traps and ruin her.

However, after choosing music, dedicating himself to music, and becoming immersed in music, all those vengeful thoughts felt meaningless. There were too many things to do and things he wanted to do to waste his time and effort on such a person.

‘He’s become a complete musician.’

Sanghyun ended his past bad relationship by ridiculing and humiliating Park Yunhee, who was clumsily trying to ingratiate herself with him.

Sanghyun spent some time completely alone for the first time in a while. It felt like the first time that all the 888 Crew members, including his sister Sangmi, were not in Gwangju.

Even after listening to music, writing lyrics, recording, and watching reruns of Hip Hop the Vibe, the day felt incredibly long.

‘I used to do this often back then.’

Sanghyun smiled bitterly at the sudden rush of old memories.

In the past, he seemed to have spent about 200 days out of 365 sitting alone in the dark president’s office, staring at the monitor all night. His only pleasure was watching DVDs of live performances.

‘I don’t know how I lived like that back then. I’m still so bored now.’

Sanghyun flopped onto the bed. Even the L&S members were all busy, so there was absolutely nothing to do.

‘Should I call Woochul and go to a PC cafe [internet cafe] for the first time in a while?’

Just then, a savior appeared to break Sanghyun’s terrible boredom. It was a welcome person, but someone he hadn’t expected at all.

It was Han Gwangsoo, the cleanup hitter [the fourth batter in the lineup, typically a power hitter] for the Gwangju Tigers.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], how have you been?”

Sanghyun greeted Han Gwangsoo with a bright smile.

The two had become quite close since the performance at the Mudeung Stadium. Whether Han Gwangsoo was the type to maintain relationships well if there was a connection from the start, or whether he just particularly liked him, was unknown. Anyway, the two had kept in touch occasionally since Gwangsoo UP and were now on comfortable terms.

“Wow! A celebrity!”

Han Gwangsoo, who had been talking with a friend, ran over as soon as he heard Sanghyun’s greeting.

Today, Sanghyun was directly invited by Han Gwangsoo to Han Gwangsoo’s engagement party. It was a bit small for a formal engagement ceremony, without both parents present, and too extravagant to be called a simple party, as it was held in a hotel. It seemed to be a party hosted by Han Gwangsoo’s girlfriend, who had lived abroad for a long time, where they would announce their engagement.

‘I’ve come to a place like this.’

There were quite a few baseball players, reporters, and celebrities at the hotel. From Sanghyun’s perspective, who didn’t know baseball players well, he could only guess, ‘Ah, that person must be a baseball player,’ by looking at their build. At least there were some actors among the celebrities that he recognized. There was even a famous actor who had come all the way down to Gwangju, which was surprising.

“I couldn’t watch everything, but I watched the broadcast well. You’re a much more famous celebrity than me now, aren’t you?”

“Hey, a celebrity? Congratulations on finishing the season well, hyung.”

“Yeah, thanks. You know you helped a bit, right?”

“A bit? It was quite a lot.”

Han Gwangsoo burst out laughing at Sanghyun’s joke. Han Gwangsoo seemed quite relaxed, perhaps because it was the off-season.

The KBO [Korean Baseball Organization] had a clause prohibiting team activities from December to mid-January. Even if it wasn’t because of the clause, it was true that professional baseball players didn’t have much time to enjoy leisure other than in December. This was also why more than 20 baseball players’ weddings were scheduled every December.

Sanghyun greeted Han Gwangsoo’s fiancée, whom he had seen once before. She seemed to welcome Sanghyun even more than Han Gwangsoo did.

Seeing the three of them in a friendly atmosphere, one of the reporters close to Han Gwangsoo politely asked if he could take a picture. Unlike Han Gwangsoo and Sanghyun, his girlfriend readily agreed.

“You’ll be twenty in a few days, but you won’t be able to drink alcohol because of the reporters, right? There are non-alcoholic cocktails, so drink those. Anyway, our players don’t drink alcohol either.”

“Hyung, I’m still eighteen. I’ll be nineteen next year.”

“Oh? Was there a ten-year age gap between us? Are you ’88 (born in 1988)?”

“Yes.”

“What, so you’re still a high school student next year? I was going to introduce you to some younger guys who said they liked you, but I almost became a criminal.”

In fact, many people who talked to Sanghyun often didn’t think of him as a high school student. It wasn’t that he was imitating adults or acting old, but that was just how it was.

After talking for a while, Han Gwangsoo left after being called by his friends. He asked Sanghyun to sing the congratulatory song at his wedding next year without fail.

Sanghyun tasted the drinks and food. It tasted good, as if they had hired a high-end catering service.

‘It would have been nice to eat with the crew members.’

He also had various conversations with other guests in between. There were quite a few people who liked Hip Hop the Vibe.

The party atmosphere was heating up, and Han Gwangsoo boasted that he would definitely get married around this time next year and flaunted his affection for his girlfriend.

At that moment, someone spoke to Sanghyun, who was smiling and watching the scene.

“Hello. Has it been about a month?”

Sanghyun couldn’t remember who was talking to him until he received a business card and remembered.

It was Hong Kyungsoo, the team leader of Ohkyung Entertainment.

“Oh, Team Leader Hong, what brings you here…?”

“Gwangsoo and I are high school classmates. I didn’t come specifically for the engagement party, but I ended up coming. I was watching you from afar, and it seems like you’ve been to these kinds of gatherings often? You look very comfortable with it.”

Sanghyun didn’t like the way Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo’s words sounded like he had been observing him. But he smiled and replied appropriately.

“When would I have ever been to a place like this? I guess it’s just because it’s similar to what I’ve seen in dramas.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

A moment of silence passed between them, and it was Hong Kyungsoo who broke the silence.

“I wasn’t planning on talking about this today, but… I found out something interesting while looking into it.”

“What fact are you talking about?”

“Lee Sanghyun, you and Team Leader Oh Yeonjoo told a dangerous lie. That you two became friends when Lee Sanghyun became a trainee at Ohkyung Entertainment.”

Sanghyun stared at Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo for a moment and then shrugged.

“I don’t know why that’s a lie.”

“Really? Are you saying it’s true? Can you take responsibility for what you’re saying now?”

Sanghyun didn’t answer anymore. He didn’t feel the need to be drawn into his game.

When Sanghyun didn’t budge even a little, Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo also held back his words. Sanghyun greeted Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo without saying anything and left the spot. Strangely, Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo, who seemed like he would cling on, didn’t say anything.

‘That’s strange?’

Sanghyun felt puzzled that Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo gave up so easily. Perhaps today wasn’t a prepared meeting, but just an impulsive probe. Because he hadn’t started his full-scale actions.

Sanghyun sent a brief text message to Deputy Manager Oh Yeonjoo saying that he had met Team Leader Hong Kyungsoo and returned to the party.

***

On December 31, the last day of 2005, the 888 Crew members were in Seoul. This was because they were invited as congratulatory performers for the Bosingak bell-ringing ceremony to announce the New Year.

Traditionally, only veteran singers or A-list singers were invited to the Bosingak bell-ringing ceremony, but the 888 Crew was able to proudly put their name on the lineup, even if it was just for the opening.

Despite the extremely cold weather and the early start time, the popularity of the 888 Crew did not wane. Many singers came out after the 888 Crew, but in terms of audience response and overall atmosphere, they seemed to be the most well-received.

The 888 Crew, who had finished their performance early, waited for the New Year in the car, listening to the Bosingak bell ringing.

Sanghyun was teased for being an old man for insisting on listening to the bell ringing, but everyone fell silent when the 33 bell rings were actually heard.

Of course, it wasn’t because the bell sound was incredibly sacred and solemn. It was because they were reminiscing about the past year of 2005, and various thoughts deepened.

Deng- Deng-

The New Year’s Eve bell rang out, cutting through the cold air of dawn and spreading far and wide.

Deng- Deng-

2005 was definitely a meaningful year for everyone, but it couldn’t compare to Sanghyun.

For Sanghyun, 2005 was a miraculous time that allowed him to skip 20 years and run towards his dream. But there were still regrets. How great would it have been if he could have met his parents during that miraculous time?

Sanghyun suddenly looked at Sangmi, who was sitting next to him. Sangmi’s eyes were also red, as if she was thinking about her parents.

There were many fun and happy things while working with the 888 Crew, but that didn’t erase the scars. It had only been 9 months since their parents passed away, and Sangmi was only 16 years old.

“Aigo, it’s cold.”

Sanghyun opened his thick padded jacket and hugged Sangmi tightly. Sangmi slipped into the padding without saying a word and snuggled into her brother’s arms. She would have usually nagged him not to do such cheesy things, but not today.

Because it was a night when they missed their parents, who had given birth to the two siblings, so much.

Deng- Deng-

Perhaps because the faint bell sound heard from afar was louder than expected? The crew members didn’t react as if they hadn’t heard Sangmi’s quiet cry. Perhaps it was because they knew that just being there was more helpful than offering empty comfort at times.

Deng- Deng-

That’s how the 33 bell rings rang, and the New Year of 2006 dawned.

Sangmi, who was in Sanghyun’s arms, peeked her head out of the padding and said with a smile.

“Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year, everyone.”

“Happy New Year!”

“Geunhasinnyeon (Happy New Year).”

“Ah, who said Geunhasinnyeon? Are you an old man?”

“Who else would it be? It’s Sanghyun.”

“Why? What’s wrong with Geunhasinnyeon? Then Songguyoungsin (Welcoming the New Year and Sending off the Old)?”

“Ah, that’s even worse.”

The atmosphere inside the car had changed to a boisterous one. The crew members criticized Sanghyun loudly. After laughing for a while, Junhyung opened his mouth.

“Hyung, Nuna [older sister], and Sanghyun and Sangmi too. Thank you so much for this year. I’m the leader, but I didn’t do anything and only received help.”

“Keu, a long time since Hollywood.”

“Are we going to shout slogans at this rate?”

“Sauna?”

Everyone looked puzzled at Sanghyun’s words.

“What’s sauna?”

“Let’s share love and friendship!”

“Ah, 씨 [an expression of annoyance]! I’m leaving the crew!”

“Me too!”

Sanghyun scratched his head, seeing the crew members reacting sensitively to the toast that had worked even 20 years later. It was a president’s gag that had surpassed the level of a department head’s gag [a joke so corny it’s embarrassing].

There were many words here and there, but in the end, there was only one slogan they would shout.

We Eight that Eight that Eight that Crew.

We are the 888 Crew.

That’s how the eventful year of 2005 passed, and 2006 came.

< Verse 24. 2006 > End

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