Chapter 20 |
“Bleh, eugh. Huhueugh.”
“It’s okay. Don’t be nervous. You’re fine. It’s over.”
“Hyuuung, thank you.”
“Yes.”
The trainees who had already finished their performance, or who hadn’t gotten their turn yet, all sat in a large waiting room and watched the screen that projected the stage.
“Heugh. Ugh.”
“…….”
But I was mechanically patting Do Yuda on the back, without even having time to focus on the other team’s performance.
‘Why is it that this kid is always so energetic before the performance, but as soon as it’s over, he’s completely wiped out?’
Do Yuda had already finished his performance flawlessly, without missing a note, but just like last time, he was still feeling nauseous from the tensions.
‘Please don’t throw up.’
Normally, Woo Kangwon would have handled him appropriately, but since he was performing on stage right now, I was the only one who could manage this situation.
[“My heart is Shining shining! Shining brightly Sweet Dreaming dreaming!”]
“Urgh, is Kangwon-hyung doing well?”
In fact, the trainees shared a large practice room, and we had already seen the rehearsal stage, so there was nothing new there. But Do Yuda still poked his head out curiously and asked me.
“Yeah, the performance is great.”
It’s not great at all.
Since there were cameras, I gave a moderately positive answer, but the performance of Heart BOOM! Group B, where Woo Kangwon was, was terrible to watch.
‘Group A will win.’
I felt sorry for Woo Kangwon, but anyone could see that the performance by B Group was odd.
There were no untalented kids. Everyone had worked hard on the choreography, and the pitch and beat were all correct. Even the trainers couldn’t find anything to criticize about Heart Boom Group B because they were not in the wrong.
‘How can you criticize them when you can clearly see how hard they’ve practiced.’
Let’s just say they were unlucky.
[“Push your heart, push push BOOM! I won’t miss it! Chu! chu! BOOM!”]
It was truly unlucky that a muscular 190cm athlete was assigned to a song where he had to wear white knee-high socks and hug a stuffed animal.
“Kangwon-hyung also looks cute hugging that rabbit doll, eugh.”
“At least say those words when the nausea stops. It’s rude to Kangwon-hyung.”
“I’m just not feeling well right now. It’s definitely not because Kangwon-hyung looks disgusting.”
“Shhh.”
“Yes.”
Bam!
As I was covering Do Yuda’s mouth, the door to the waiting room suddenly slammed open. And one by one, the members of Lee Hwayoung’s group entered.
“How could this happen? What’s the point of all our efforts!”
“There’s nothing we can do. The results are already out.”
Some of them were upset, and a few were in tears.
“What’s wrong with them?”
“Did something happen?”
It seemed that Lee Hwayoung was accustomed to commanding people, as he had displayed exceptional ability in producing the stage. Although the performance had focused heavily on one person, there didn’t appear to have been any major issues.
Sitting nervously in a chair in the waiting room, one of Lee Hwayoung’s group members buried his face in his hands.
…….”
“…….”
“Eugh. Ughh.”
In the tense atmosphere, where everyone was carefully watching them closely, only Do Yuda’s retching sounds echoed pitifully.
“Did something happen?”
“Hey, what’s wrong with you guys? You all did well.”
The trainees, who were exceptionally nosy and super curious, quietly approached them and asked. And then, as if waiting for that question, one of them opened their mouth.
“……Nicholas took 100 votes.”
“….…What?”
“Nicholas monopolized 100 out of the total 250 votes from the on-site evaluation audience.”
‘What the hell.’
To make such a big fuss over something like that. Feeling completely drained by the meaninglessness, I immediately slumped onto Do Yuda’s back.
“Hyung, you’re heavy.”
“No way! How is that even possible? He practically took half of it for himself. So, does that mean the remaining 12 members from Group A and B only shared the remaining 150 votes?”
“This was bound to happen. He designed the stage to make only himself stand out! How many times has that guy stepped out of the center?”
‘Hmm.’
It’s true that Lee Hwayoung took on a lot of parts. However, it’s not like it was a wrong choice.
‘Well, if Lee Hwayoung was someone who cared about his image, he would have helped out the other members too.’
Although the performance was heavily centered around Lee Hwayoung, it’s not uncommon in this industry for one member to have such an unrivaled star quality that they overshadowed the others.
Once you stepped into the professional world, there was no room for complaining about unfairness. This industry was not a kindergarten talent show for the sake of friendship.
“He creates such results and doesn’t even care.”
They didn’t hide their hostility toward him, as if to put the blame on Lee Hwayoung. Meanwhile, that guy simply observed, seemingly uninterested, as his teammate was going berserk.
“If you have a mouth, say something!”
“You talk too much.” Lee Hwayoung finally opened his mouth, “Shouldn’t you at least say thank you?”
“What?”
“You, didn’t you get five votes?”
“…….”
At Lee Hwayoung’s question, the trainee, with his fist tightly clenched, couldn’t say anything and just glared at him.
‘Wow, five votes.’
I didn’t show it, but I was really shocked by the number. At that level, it’s understandable if their mental state collapsed.
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have won with your skills alone. Thanks to me, you got those five thousand votes … you should be grateful.”
I completely agreed. But I just didn’t understand why he said such things so recklessly, especially when it could make him look bad on the broadcast.
Unlike Lee Hwayoung, I have a polite and gentle image, so I’ll just stay still……
“What do you think?”
As soon as I thought about it, Lee Hwayoung turned the arrow toward me.
‘Why are you mentioning me here all of a sudden?’
I didn’t understand why he would ask me. It’s not like they were some kind of students who came holding hands to ask me who was at fault after a fight.
“….I’m not sure.” I replied, clearly.
I’m not sure. That was my answer. But Lee Hwayoung and the others kept staring at me, as if they expected me to say something more.
‘What, why?’
They seemed to be waiting for me to add something more. Even the PD, who was probably hoping for a broadcast-worthy moment, rubbed his palms together anxiously.
“…….”
I should speak in a gentler tone.’
The image of the military captain was dead to me.
I tilted my head and stared at the kids who had caused this commotion.
“If you had so many complaints, you should have actively participated in the producing. It’s not fair to blame others now.”
“…….”
“…….”
A silence fell, and the kids who had caused the commotion all returned to their places and quietly sat down.
“Haha, hahaha!” After a brief moment of silence, Lee Hwayoung covered his mouth with the back of his hand and burst out laughing.
I’d never seen him laugh so gleefully before.
“Who would dare say something so stupid in front of this hyung … ugh, that’s scary. I’m scared!”
I could hear Do Yuda mumbling something next to me.
‘What did I do wrong?’
I tilted my head in confusion at the children’s incomprehensible reactions, then the production team staff opened the waiting room door and came in.
“Forest Girl Group A and B, please go up to the stage for your introductions! Group A, please be ready for the stage immediately after the introduction.”
It was our turn.
“Let’s go, boys.”
While I was trying to get the stiff and frozen members to stand up and leave, Lee Hwayoung extended his fist toward me.
“Good luck.”
‘Why is he acting like we’re close?’
“…..Thank you.”
I couldn’t ignore him, so I bumped his fist with his and nodded.
***
“We have animal friends in Group B! Everyone, please introduce yourselves according to the animal you are in charge of!”
As we stood side by side on stage, Yang Hajun suddenly uttered a comment that wasn’t in the script.
‘Aah.’
It wasn’t in the script, so of course I wasn’t prepared for it.
“I am the hopping bunny, Danbi!”
“I’m the woof woof puppy, Jiwon!”
“I’m the chirp chirp chick, Hojun!”
Following Lee Danbi, who started off without any hesitation, the team members each named their assigned animals and posed. My turn was approaching.
‘Zen probably can’t do it. What aegyo, he looks like a gangster.’
At least I had a teammate whom I didn’t think could do aegyo either. It was a godsend that Zen’s turn came before mine.
“…….”
He was supposed to go next, but that guy, who’d been standing still, finally moved forward, a little too slowly. Then, placing his palms together, Zen lifted them up and formed a pointed head, shaking his body dynamically like a snake.
“I am ssssh ssshh snake, Zen.”
You traitorous bastard.
“A snake!”
“Zen! So cute!”
The on-site audience burst into laughter at his slightly fourth-dimensional appearance.
“I’m the rawr rawr lion, Sangjoong!”
It was my turn next.
Do, do, do re mi fa sol. I had to sound cute in the most pleasing note. I can do it. I can do this.
“I-I am me-meow cat, Seungbeom!”
I raised my fist and shouted bravely, but my voice awkwardly faltered.
I covered my face with my hands quietly.
“…….”
“Cover him. Cover our leader.”
“Let’s hide him.”
“Ugh, so embarrassing. So embarrassing. Let’s protect him.”
As the remaining members surrounded me and hugged me, the on-site audience clapped and burst into laughter. I could hear some people saying things like ‘It’s okay‘ and ‘You’re cute’.
There was no concept that idols couldn’t do. I absolutely despised those who refused to try anything other than ‘cool’ concepts just because they were embarrassed. Before I died, I only did strong and wild concepts constantly, but since I had obtained a cute appearance, I was thinking of trying various things. I just made a mistake because I wasn’t used to it. It wasn’t that I was uncertain whether I’d be looked down upon for acting this way at my age. I swore, I wasn’t embarrassed. If they had written it in the script beforehand, I would have practiced in front of the mirror for an hour. This wasn’t my fault. That wasn’t my fault. It was the production team’s fault for not letting me know in advance.
“Aaah, our poor cat has turned bright red. It’s pitiful, but it’s cute.” Yang Hajun commented slyly.
‘Leave me alone.’
Lee Danbi carefully looked at my face before placing his hand on my cheeks. His hand was as cold as ice.
‘This kid must be nervous about going on stage soon. I’ll have to reassure him.’
“Hyung, your face looks like it’s about to burst? Do you have a fever?”
“I don’t.”
It seemed like he was seriously mistaken. I was fine.
***
After the predictably mediocre Group A performance, it was our turn. While the instrumental was playing, I could hear a few fans cheering.
“Waaaaa!”
“Seungbeom-ah!”
“Danbi-ya! You’re the cutest in the world!”
“Zen, fighting!”
I had intentionally requested the production team to make a forest background using foam boards to make it look like a school festival play.
I also passed along the comment that I wanted them to move around cutely.
“…….”
But I didn’t expect this to happen. I had no idea that my request would lead to a scene of human rights violations.
The production staffs, presumed to be the youngest members, wore black full-body spandex suits and glared at me with resentful eyes while sweating profusely.
The on-site audience might not have known at all, but it was all too blatantly clear in our view.
The production staffs, struggling to crawl on the floor while holding onto the giant foam board.
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo!
The drums, which were added to create a circus-like atmosphere, built up the anticipation.
Clang!
The red curtain was pulled open with the sound of cymbals.
“We are animals! Yeah!”
I jumped up and down with a bright smile, leaving the production staffs behind.
‘I am a carefree animal. I don’t know anything about human affairs.’
I absolutely should never make eye contact with them.
..…I’m sorry.
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Translator’s Corner:
Nicholas just say you want Seungbeom’s attention and go …..
anyway I WAS HAVING TOO MUCH WITH THIS i’ll go rest for a bit to update my other neglected kids…..