The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 91

# 9 Familiar Melody

“What’s going on? Is a celebrity here?”

Hongdae is usually crowded, but a large gathering always piques people’s curiosity, even those who weren’t initially interested.

Someone idly waiting for an appointment, or a college student heading home after a night out—they’d all wander over, drawn to the excitement like moths to a flame.

Time marches on relentlessly.

Those who had to leave for appointments hesitated, glancing back several times with reluctance.

Conversely, others who hadn’t been out in a while felt vindicated in their choice to come, their phones clutched tightly in hands turning white from the early winter chill, cameras poised.

Memories fade.

The boy singing the song is trying to capture a moment, knowing it might not happen again.

Or maybe it will, someday.

The man who had been accompanying him on guitar watched, stunned, as his instrument was commandeered. He couldn’t even think to raise his phone like the other onlookers.

He had no choice but to surrender the guitar.

From the first verse, he was lost.

He couldn’t bring himself to play.

A shiver ran down his spine.

Goosebumps erupted on his arms, and his legs felt like lead. He was completely mesmerized, unable to tear his eyes away.

The worries and 잡념 [japnyum – idle thoughts/雜念] he had simply vanished like dust. He couldn’t even bring himself to praise the boy’s singing; he just listened, dumbstruck.

Who the hell is this kid?

How is that even possible?

It’s not easy to stop people in their tracks with just the first verse,

And hold the attention of those who have places to be.

Even if he were singing a well-known song,

People might easily dismiss it because they already know it.

But the boy sang a famous song that everyone knew, yet he made them feel like they were hearing it for the first time.

The man, who had long realized his own limitations but still loved and diligently practiced music, recognized in this moment the raw talent he lacked.

Could he ever reach that level, even with a hundred years of practice? He doubted it.

He wasn’t jealous. He could see that even if the boy wasn’t famous now, he would be soon. If this kid couldn’t make it, who in this country could?

Instead, he felt a surge of excitement at the thought of discovering a future star early.

‘Wow.’

This wasn’t just a feeling. The widening eyes and increasing number of phones being raised were proof enough.

[Someday, for you

I will become the wind and lift your wings]

The reservation time had long passed.

But the next group with a booking allowed the boy an encore, and everyone sang Hwang Ryong-pil’s ‘Emergency’.

In that moment, the place transformed from snowy London to 1990s Korea.

The song is drawing to a close.

The faces of those who know the ending are filled with regret.

[For me, for this world

Please love everything]

The boy bowed to the crowd, and everyone cheered.

The band that had booked the time slot, lugging their heavy instruments, insisted they had only come to watch, but the boy smiled faintly and declined their offer.

The applause continued.

People had quickly forgotten the man’s performance, still captivated by the boy’s.

They showed no signs of leaving until the boy did.

“Hey, what the heck are you!”

The boy’s friend is astonished, as if he had no idea of the boy’s talent.

When someone dropped money into the guitar case that was carelessly tossed on the floor, others followed suit.

Some people approached the boy for autographs, and others asked to take pictures with him.

The boy accepted it all with a bright smile, as if it were no burden. An ‘H’ is scrawled on the white paper. The female students gathered on one side also clamored for autographs.

Occasionally, his clear eyes and sharp features were visible between his shaggy bangs. The boy, who he thought had an ordinary appearance, would be quite popular if he grew up like this.

“Thank you for lending it to me.”

The boy returns the guitar.

His heart is still pounding, so the man can’t say anything and just stares at the boy.

“I had fun thanks to you.”

“Me too···.”

The man unconsciously used 존댓말 [jondaetmal – honorific/polite language] and bowed his head. He must look like an idiot, but the boy smiles brightly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Anyone would think you’re a top star.”

Watching Halo skillfully sign autographs, Jang Jin-soo felt a bit dumbfounded, seeing Halo in a completely new light.

“Really···.”

Unfinished words hung in the air.

For the first time, Jang Jin-soo felt that Noh Hae-il was very far away. In a place he couldn’t reach.

The analogy is funny, but he really seemed like a star.

#

“Ugh-.”

So regrettable, so regrettable, so regrettable.

Halo sat on the subway, unable to keep his legs still.

Too bad.

There was so much he wanted to show.

He wanted to share his songs, and he wanted to jump around with everyone, but his body was too weak.

His voice is also weak, and even more fragile is his body itself.

If he had sung standing up, his legs wouldn’t have been able to handle it and he would have collapsed.

What can he do, being so fragile?

Halo felt the need for training more than ever.

“Ugh, I’m gonna die!”

Jang Jin-soo, who was exhausted even though he didn’t sing, groaned. When he looked at him pathetically, his eyes sparkled. He looked like he had a lot of questions.

Recognizing that there were people around, he whispered softly.

“Were you always that good at singing?”

“Yeah.”

“Guitar too?”

Halo nodded.

“Where, no, how long have you been learning?”

“Um.”

It’s a difficult question to answer.

Because he had never formally learned to play the guitar.

When he was young, he happened to see someone playing the guitar on the street and went to watch every day.

Then, on the day he happened to get a guitar, he imitated what he had seen. Awkwardly, with the same posture and hand movements.

‘That counts as learning, right.’

“About twenty-five years ago?”

“If you don’t want to talk about it, just say so.”

It’s the truth, but he doesn’t seem to believe it.

Well, twenty-five years is Halo’s story.

Then how long did Noh Hae-il learn to play the guitar?

Judging by the calluses on his fingers, it doesn’t seem like he’s been learning for very long. Or did he play gently so it wouldn’t show? But then his skills wouldn’t improve.

He stared blankly at his hand and said.

“About half a year?”

It definitely didn’t seem like a year.

“Damn it. Forget it.”

“Whatever.”

He doesn’t like this answer, he doesn’t like that answer.

It was tiring to hang out with him.

Fortunately, Jang Jin-soo was a simple guy.

Or maybe he just couldn’t resist his curiosity.

“But what did you get from that 아저씨 [ajusshi – older man] and those 누나 [nuna – older sister (from a male perspective)] earlier? Is it money?”

“Ah, that.”

Halo took out what he had crumpled up in his pocket. Jang Jin-soo’s face, which had been staring blankly, turned to shock. Those crumpled things, like 짜장면 [jjajangmyeon – black bean noodles] coupons, were none other than business cards from entertainment agencies.

He even saw a few familiar names.

“Wow, what is this? SH, GOD, Gauss… Wow, you got all the famous ones. You sang really well, but… Wow, you’re awesome.”

“Are they famous?”

“Huh? You don’t know? Did you say you don’t listen to Korean songs? Still, how can you not know? SH is Hazel! GOD is Caramel! Gauss is that, what was it, a guy… Ah, CB, Cold Brew! You must have heard of it.”

“···”

Hazel? Caramel? Cold Brew?

Halo, who thought they were record labels, said awkwardly.

“Are they coffee shops?”

“…”

Jang Jin-soo became serious. Halo was sincerely confused.

“Anyway, what did they say when they gave you this? That they’ll make you the best singer?”

“So they are record labels.”

“More like agencies than record labels. Management.”

His pronunciation was clumsy, but he could understand it.

Management. So, rather than a record label, it was an agency.

“They’ll manage me even though I haven’t released an album?”

“Usually, they hold auditions and sign with kids who show promise, then the company professionally trains them. Enough to get on stage.”

“Does that work well?”

“Why not? Don’t you know K-pop? How big is the entertainment industry in our country? The trainee system is also famous.”

“Oh, really?”

Halo also knew people who were trying to do such a business. They were trying to develop a system to discover and invest in talented people.

Other singers had negative views, saying that great singers couldn’t be mass-produced like factories, but Halo thought it wasn’t bad.

How great would it be if there were schools or lectures for struggling musicians? If they invited him, he was even thinking of going to give a lecture.

“So, which one are you going to join? I think Gauss would be a good fit for you.”

“Why would I join?”

“Uh, um… Wouldn’t it be good to join?”

Jang Jin-soo was speechless.

These aren’t business cards from big agencies that anyone can get. Besides, Noh Hae-il’s appearance wasn’t that outstanding either. If he played his cards right, it could be the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Weren’t you kind of positive about it?”

“I am positive.”

Discovering musicians buried in the deep sea. It’s a good vision.

But that’s just their story, not his.

“But I don’t need that kind of help.”

“!”

He is already complete.

His body may be a bit weak, but Halo’s soul, talent, and skill were still there.

He doesn’t need anyone’s help.

He knew very well how to move forward on his own.

“I also hate interference.”

How much stress did he get because of the president [of his former agency]?

He dreamed of independence and eventually created a label. He also ended all contracts with the president.

“So you’re not planning to sign with anyone?”

“Not right now.”

He doesn’t need musical guidance, and later he might need an agency for album contracts or legal issues. Later on, that is.

He’s not going to debut right away, so management isn’t important.

He has a task to solve right now.

He needed to fill in his lack of knowledge about the world, and there were many things he needed to adapt to. Also, yes, training. He needs to build up his weak body and strengthen his vocal cords. To his satisfaction.

And above all.

There were many things he wanted to do.

He wanted to enjoy the pleasure of getting to know this unfamiliar world a little longer, and above all, he wanted to enjoy the crazy music of this world.

There are many things he has to do, and even more things he wants to do.

“You’re so spoiled.”

Halo replied bluntly to Jang Jin-soo’s jealous grumbling.

“I’m still hungry.”

#

The subway stopped at Jamsil Station.

Before he knew it, he was dozing off and had to get off in a hurry.

If he had been a little late, he would have gone to the next station.

When he tried to throw away the trash in his pocket because it was bothering him, Jang Jin-soo told him to keep it.

Is he going to ask for it later? He remembers Jang Jin-soo envying him. Halo readily agreed.

“Hey.”

Music is playing from a cell phone store in front of the station.

Halo, who was about to nod and go his own way, stopped.

“Why.”

He keeps looking for something when he can just say it.

“Say it.”

“-Can you 봐주면 안되냐? [bwajumyeon andwaenya – can you take a look?]”

The music from the cell phone store suddenly got louder, and Jang Jin-soo’s words were drowned out. Halo frowned and turned his head.

The part-timer at the cell phone store is frantically touching the computer.

“What did you say?”

“That, my song. You said you’d 봐준다고 했잖아 [bwajundago haetjana – you said you’d take a look], right?”

“Your song?”

“The original song I’m submitting to 쏘유 [Sssoyou – a songwriting competition]···”

“Ah.”

That thing.

Jang Jin-soo, who had changed his mind after saying he wouldn’t show it, seemed a little embarrassed.

“Just tell me what you think. Just tell me if it’s good or bad.”

“Okay.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s not that difficult.”

“Thanks. I’ll send it to you when I get home.”

Halo nodded.

Jang Jin-soo turns around with a bright face.

All the questions he kept asking on the subway, wasn’t that just a build-up for this request?

Everything is good, but it’s too obvious.

His steps back are cheerful for anyone to see.

“Where is that gangster from?”

Halo clicked his tongue and turned his body.

His still weak body trembled, but he still felt refreshed.

He was definitely born for music.

Once again, the song from the cell phone store rang out loudly. People who came out of the subway frowned and passed by quickly.

The part-timer inside the cell phone store is frantically touching the computer again. Judging by the expression on the manager next to him, he’s about to get fired.

‘The song isn’t bad.’

Halo, who was about to go home with a passing thought, suddenly stopped at the melody that flowed in.

“!”

A familiar melody was heard.

The instruments, the rhythm, the atmosphere of the song, and the arrangement were different, but it was definitely a familiar progression.

4/4 time.

“One, two, three.”

Just three bars.

“…This can’t be happening.”

His face completely hardens.

He listened to the music until the end and went straight into the cell phone store.