Chapter 192: Joy (29)

“We will go to grab some coffee, so you guys better keep busy with singing practice or whatever. And if I catch you bickering again, I'm turning on the camera!"

“

Ugh

."

“I will make you two hold hands and fake being best buds if I have to!” exclaimed Supervisor Kim. He then went out with the other managers and left us to it.

This was why first impressions were everything. Just the mere act of Kim Jin-Wook speaking up got me grumbling in response. We might warm up to each other for a bit, but it was like hitting the reset button whenever we met after a while. Well, not that I was keen on changing the dynamics between us.

“Hyung."

“What now?"

I extended my phone toward Kim Jin-Wook and said, “Your number, please."

“And what do you think I'd say to that?"

“You'd say no?"

“Bingo." Despite his protests, Kim Jin-Wook grabbed my phone and keyed in his number.

“You say no, yet here you are doing it. Ever the contrarian."

“Let's just focus on our own stuff, okay?"

“Fine by me."

That marked the start of us diving into our respective tasks. Kim Jin-Wook flipped his laptop open and dove into his music. Meanwhile, I tapped on my phone and tried to string together lyrics for Goh Yoo-Joon’s solo as some inspiration struck me.

The challenge of crafting lyrics on the fly was real. Frustration mounted with every moment that inspiration failed to strike, and I found myself fixating on a single line I had scribbled down, lost myself in a sea of thoughts.

The intermittent sounds of Kim Jin-Wook's music filled the air, its repetitive nature somehow soothing. My attention naturally drifted away from the stifling text to Kim Jin-Wook’s laptop screen beside me.

Even if our personal dynamics were a bit off, Kim Jin-Wook's musical prowess was undeniable, especially evident in what seemed like his next hit. The track had an undeniable attraction despite its choppiness and unfinished state. Composition, lyrics, arrangement… He had it all.

Even in my previous life, Kim Jin-Wook was celebrated as a prodigious rapper with a loyal fanbase.

“Stop looking at my work.”

“Ah.”

My focus snapped back to my own work as I was hastened by Kim Jin-Wook's frosty remark. Then, my fingers resumed their dance across the screen.

‘I will jot down whatever comes to mind for now. Maybe I will tweak things on the way back while listening to the tune.'

I could plug in my earphones and stop listening, but there was something about the rawness of Kim Jin-Wook's work-in-progress that appealed to me. Therefore, I decided to wait.

“...Dude.”

“Hmm?"

Oops. I hadn't even realized my gaze had wandered back to the composition software on his screen. I gave a puzzled tilt of my head before redirecting my attention to my phone.

“Hey, check this out."

“What's up?" I lifted my head and saw Kim Jin-Wook gesturing toward his laptop as if inviting me to take a closer look.

“Click here, and you will be taken straight to a site where you can buy the sounds. Some are free, some you need to purchase, but you can preview them before making a decision."

“...Thanks for the tip, but why bring this up all of a sudden?"

“I caught you looking over here quite a bit. Are you interested in composing, or are you just eyeballing, asshole?"

“...Ah, I'm interested, alright? Can you just lay off the swearing? You are going to be in big trouble if you continue." I turned off my phone screen to allow myself to fully focus on the laptop display.

I knew Joo-Han was pretty savvy with composition software, but his tendency to lock himself away made it tricky to ask for a tutorial.

“This site syncs up so if you buy something, it downloads right away. Then all you gotta do is import it."

“Oh, I see, so that's how it's done."

“And then you just layer the instruments like this." Kim Jin-Wook gave me a quick rundown, pointing out the essentials so I could get a basic handle on the software.

By the time we wrapped up our impromptu composition lesson, Supervisor Kim and the crew returned to the waiting room with their arms laden with coffee. Supervisor Kim asked, “Do you two only play nice when there's no audience? Su-Hwan, looks like they are gearing up for another round. Break it up, will ya?"

“Got it."

We hadn't even exchanged a word, but Supervisor Kim and Su-Hwan wasted no time in splitting us up and handing over the beverages.

“Jin-Wook, we are rolling in five minutes!" Kim Jin-Wook's manager, ever the enthusiast, expressed appreciation and took care of Jin-Wook.

“Let's take a look at Jin-Wook." Kim Jin-Wook’s manager had him stand up to take a good look at him from a distance. Then, he nodded in satisfaction. “Perfect. Handsome as always. Alright, we will be off first! Please take good care of us today, Hyun-Woo."

“Of course! I will do my best."

The manager and Kim Jin-Wook headed backstage for the

Halo's Music Bus

performance. As I was left in the dressing room, I periodically received touch-ups from the stylists while keeping an eye on the ongoing recording.

“Huh? Are Jin-Wook hyung and I wearing matching outfits?"

“Did you just notice? Since you are sharing the stage, we coordinated your outfits."

I hadn't realized it earlier because I was deliberately trying not to look at him, but our outfits did indeed suggest we were part of the same group.

The stylist saw a frown on my forehead. Hence, she let out a sigh and pressed her finger against my forehead, smoothing out the crease. “You can't ruin that handsome face with wrinkles, Hyun-Woo."

“If I get wrinkles, you will just have to fix them for me."

As I playfully furrowed my brow even more, the stylist laughed and firmly held my head in place.

Just then, someone knocked on the waiting room door.

“Come in."

Upon hearing Su-Hwan's warm invitation, someone opened the door gently, and the road manager Hyuk-Soo cautiously peeked inside. “Is it alright to come in?”

“Yeah, come on in."

Encouraged by Su-Hwan's welcoming tone, Hyuk-Soo swung the door wide open. And then…

“Hyung!"

“Hey, welcome!"

Jin-Sung came in with a beaming smile and instantly latched onto me from behind. I reached back and affectionately ruffled Jin-Sung's hair before passing him a cool drink.

“Hyung, you really look like a star. Hold that pose," instructed Jin-Sung. He then stepped back and snapped a photo with his phone, capturing my image with a playful air.

“I'm sending this to the gang. Oh, that's right! We talked about starting a group chat. I will get it set up and send out invites!"

“...Wow, so loud suddenly. Just because of one person..." The stylist softly chuckled.

I found myself nodding in agreement with her observation. Indeed, Jin-Sung was buzzing with energy, reminiscent of a joyful puppy. He roamed around and filled the room with his lively chatter.

He'd been so eager to witness Kim Jin-Wook's rap live, yet now he seemed more interested in everything but the ongoing recording.

I momentarily diverted my attention from Jin-Sung to glance at the broadcast. After that, I called out to him. “Jin-Sung, over here."

“Hmm?"

“Jin-Wook hyung is about to hit the stage."

Jin-Sung scampered over at my cue and sat next to me, his gaze fixed on the screen as if he had never been the noisy one.

“Think I could get his autograph?"

“Uh... I guess? He'd probably give you one."

Given the camaraderie among artists, it was common to exchange signed albums during such interactions.

“..."

Silence fell over Jin-Sung after that. Ever since taking on the unofficial rapper role in Chronos, he had developed a deep admiration for Kim Jin-Wook, especially after "Once Again." Kim Jin-Wook had become a true role model for Jin-Sung, inspiring significant improvement in his own rap skills.

The stage was set for Kim Jin-Wook. Even so, Jin-Sung watched with great intensity, hummed along, and flawlessly matched every beat and lyric. His humming skill was great as if rehearsed, and it drew a look of admiration from me.

As Kim Jin-Wook wrapped up his initial performance, the talk show part started. His typically brusque manner softened on stage, leading to a smoother interaction. As he had a quiet nature, Halo[1] seemed to have quietened down as well, but his fans would love it.

Knock, knock.

“Hyun-Woo, time to head backstage!"

I was prompted by the staff's call and made my way to Su-Hwan. Jin-Sung tagged along and gave my shoulder a reassuring and slightly firm rub. “Hyung, I will be cheering from here. You got this!"

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“I will be back soon." I gave a quick nod to Jin-Sung and proceeded backstage, my steps light and eager.

The nervousness hadn't kicked in, perhaps due to the variety show vibe or the fact it was my song. Instead, I felt an exhilarating anticipation at the prospect of performing "Once Again" after such a long hiatus.

- Now, I'm desperate to hear the next piece.

Halo glanced at the cue card, her expression a mix of surprise and anticipation.

- I didn't expect you to choose this song for today. It's shrouded in mystery, but Jin-Wook, could you shed some light on it without giving too much away?

“Sure, this song represents a pivotal moment for me and offers a chance to explore my potential."

- Ah, a song that unveiled new possibilities. I've had the pleasure of hearing it live before. Think it was on a radio show? I remember Jin-Wook's rendition back then...

“Regrettably, I wasn’t able to sing it personally back then."

Wow, what a lie. We asked a bunch, but he kept refusing. Well, honestly, it didn’t matter. I could always go on live with Jin-Sung!

- Hearing the original live for the first time is thrilling. It's one of my personal favorites.

“Haha."

- The audience might be curious about what we are talking about. Let's dive in. Jin-Wook, would you do the honors of introducing the song? I will step aside for now.

Halo gracefully exited the stage and left Kim Jin-Wook alone in the spotlight. Kim Jin-Wook then stepped to the center of the stage. “This song holds a special place in my heart. It was a beacon of hope during my lonely and challenging days as a trainee as I struggled to seize a debut opportunity. It’s ‘Once Again.’"

I wondered if anyone in the audience recognized this song. As soon as Kim Jin-Wook mentioned the title, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.

“Hyun-Woo, you will join him right after the intro."

“Got it!"

Hearing the intro to “Once Again” after such a long time felt surreal. I gripped the microphone firmly as the music played. And then… “Time to go in, Hyun-Woo!”

I started singing the first part and made my way onto the stage.

1. The host of the show. ?