Chapter 355: Concert (19)

As I made my way up to the center stage from below, it was completely hidden behind white curtains. The side stage where Yoon-Chan was performing, surrounded by enthusiastic Rings, was also obscured from view. The curtains were a strategic choice to focus all attention on Yoon-Chan and left my part of the stage dimmed and surprisingly serene. This made standing there feel quite comforting.

The dancers quietly filed in and took their places. I enjoyed the distant sound of Yoon-Chan's singing while waiting for my cue, which soon came through my in-ear monitor.

The final verse of "Forest" faded, the lights began to softly illuminate the space above me. As if on cue, "Sirens" started up with a surge of cheers from the crowd as the curtains lifted to reveal a sea of faces.

"Hyun-Woo!!!"

"Hyun-Woo, you are so freaking cute!!!"

I couldn’t help but smile at the snippets of cheers I could hear, and I launched into the first verse.

♪ Yeah- How have you been?

"Sirens" had been remixed to suit the concert's atmosphere by transforming its normally bright first verse into something more ethereal. As a result, the very first line was delivered as a soft, almost whispered narration.

After I began singing, the dancers responded with a series of flowing and graceful movements that rippled across the stage like waves. The harp's intermittent plucks and the orchestra-styled accompaniment added a sophisticated touch, while the dancers' movements echoed contemporary dance.

Walking through the dancers, I made my way to the forefront of the stage. The music paused for a moment before the beat picked up again, now more vibrant than before. As the dancers intensified their routine, I joined in and matched their energy and style.

♪ Under the beautiful sunshine,

I pull your hand toward me

What do you want to do today?

Let's quietly whisper and do whatever you desire

The choreography was as demanding as ever. During the last live performance, I learned that you didn’t need to exert much force as the choreography itself is vigorous enough. Performing moves such as grabbing dancers' hands, leaping, and executing almost acrobatic maneuvers required me to focus more on keeping my form sleek and stabilizing my vocals. I tried to follow just as the choreographer had advised.

And yes, that annoying ponytail was getting in the way again.

‘I swear, no more ponytails after this.’

Every turn I made, it slapped against my face. Although momentarily distracting, I quickly regained my focus and immersed myself in the joy of the performance.

The crowd's energy was infectious. "Woooah!!!"

They even had a special chant for "Suh Hyun-Woo!" during "Sirens." There was something special about performing live, especially with the fans' participation. It just made everything more fun.

The support from the crowd not only lifted my spirits but also pushed me to dance harder, despite the increasing difficulty and breathlessness. The sight of fans wildly waving their light sticks made it easy to keep smiling naturally.

As the ethereal first verse transitioned into the second, the stage lighting shifted to a mix of purple and blue. This intensified the mood. The song itself took on a more dramatic tone, and my expressions shifted reflexively to match the heightened drama.

♪ Sirens, Sirens

You will experience so much

I will sing a love songs just for you

For you falling down

The dance became more technical as it incorporated deeper waves and more refined movements. I modulated my voice to a lower register to add more intensity to the performance.

As we reached the climax of the song, black curtains fell from the ceiling and cut through the earlier ambiance with their stark, angular descents. I navigated through the maze of curtains while singing and dancing with increased fervor.

The dancers emerged from beneath the curtains like specters, and the Rings’ screams and cheers melded into a thrilling cacophony.

♪ If you want to escape into the darkness,

I will wake the moon and light up the brightness for you

Play a bit more

Don't get tired and let's dance

As the final part of "Sirens" concluded, the curtains dropped once again. I finished my last note and stood, taking in the audience before the curtains started to gradually hide me from view.

"Go on, get off. Hurry."

Once I was completely obscured, the stage buzzed with activity. We had to quickly make our way down below before the curtains fully revealed the stage again. The lift whisked us dancers down in a rush and sealed the stage floor just in time for the curtains to reveal nothing but an empty stage. The Rings murmured in awe.

The stage was magically empty, as if the previous performance had been nothing but an illusion. The staff purposely made it like a real siren trick, revealing in the end that 'there was nothing there after all.’ The spectacle of the performance gave way to Goh Yoo-Joon and Jin-Sung's stages, seamlessly continuing the show.

The performance was nearing its end after about two hours. The final stage began with tracks from Chronos' brightest and most joyful album, "Joy."

"Everyone, let's enjoy this~"

"Let's have fun!" Jin-Sung’s excitement was palpable.

The members moved around the stage and engaged with the audience by waving and making eye contact. We even talked to them through a microphone instead of singing sometimes.

After one song ended and another began, we made our way down from the stage to get closer to the Rings. It felt like the culmination of a festival, the perfect mix of fatigue and happiness, with the thrilling music and cheering blending into a truly festive atmosphere.

"Oh, are these for me?" I took the dolls that the Ring in the front row was offering me. They were a cat and a parrot.

"I brought it for you, oppa!"

"You knew I would be on this side? How?"

"I sent you telepathic messages~"

"Thank you."

I thanked the fan and hurried over to Joo-Han to give him the parrot doll. Lately, the Rings have been assigning the members animal icons, and the parrot symbolized Joo-Han.

I headed back toward the audience. The Rings were reaching out their hands, and there were so many of them that I ran along while giving high-fives all at once. The Rings along the way called out my name and reached out their hands. It wasn’t anything difficult, and I was about to continue giving high-fives when...

"Ah!"

Someone grabbed my hand and pulled it real hard. This made me stumble backward, and I felt a significant pain in my arm. I turned around in shock, but the grip on my hand only tightened instead of easing.

One of the audience members had grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go. As I stopped in surprise, numerous hands clung to my arm with forceful grips.

I froze for a moment, unable to do anything. The security guards who were following me tried to pull their hands off me, and the tone of the fans started to change.

"Let go!"

"Ah, let him go!"

"Please, release him!"

Their voices were raised and the tone became aggressive.

‘

What’s going on? What is this?’

My mood plummeted in an instant. It was hard to tell if they were addressing me or the fan who wouldn’t let go of my hand. My arm was caught in a tug-of-war between the security guards and some fans, and I felt like I had completely lost control of it. I was terrified and breathless.

Just then, Goh Yoo-Joon came running over. Thanks to him, the hands finally let go.

"This is my area. Suh Hyun-Woo, snap out of it." Goh Yoo-Joon gave high-fives to the fans instead of me and then we both headed to the stage.

It was only when we got on stage that I could assess the situation. Everyone else had finished interacting with the Rings and had already come up to the stage. As we moved to join the members at the center stage, Jin-Sung and Yoon-Chan put their hands on my shoulders.

"Hyung, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry."

"Were you scared?"

"That happened to us, too. We just went ahead and gave high-fives to the back row fans too!"

Jin-Sung and Yoon-Chan spoke as if they knew I had been really startled by the Rings. Jin-Sung smiled brightly then ran off toward Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon while Yoon-Chan stayed with me all the way to the main stage.

As we walked to the main stage, the big screen above caught my eye. Jin-Sung, Joo-Han, and Goh Yoo-Joon were each finding their spots on the main stage.

"Hurry up!"

"Run!"

"The song is almost over~"

They waved us over urgently as Jin-Sung and I walked up. The screen showed the three of them, Yoon-Chan running, and me appearing in the frame.

The band played a soulful interlude in sync with the song. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen as I ran. The members were shining on the stage, not just four, but five of us now. I was with them. I was one of them...! There was no more standing back and envying from the shadows.

The fact that this wasn’t a dream was confirmed by the massive cheers and the lights from the fans' light sticks. I just wanted to feel secure now, to accept this life as my own. I was desperate to overcome everything and shake off the past.

I reached the main stage and stood among the members. I stared at the screen showing all five of us for a long moment before turning to face the audience.

"Everyone, this marks the end of Chronos’ first concert."

At Joo-Han hyung’s words, signs of disappointment resounded from the Rings.

Goh Yoo-Joon playfully said, "Why the long faces, everyone? You know what happens when we leave. Encore, encore, encore, okay?"

"Please!"

"Alright, then let’s leave the encore up to our Rings. How about starting with you, Yoo-Joon. Any thoughts?"

"Yes. Did everyone have fun tonight?"

"Yes!!!"

"I had a great time too. Since before our debut, I’ve watched many seniors’ concerts and wondered if I could be like them one day." Goh Yoo-Joon had been playful, but now he was serious. "But after that incident, which, well... It's not exactly a secret to anyone anymore."

He was referring to the false scandal involving him and his father. Although Goh Yoo-Joon spoke calmly as if he was just clearing the air, the members knew how much it had troubled him.

"Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t be able to stand on this stage anymore. It was a dream stage for me, and it felt both frustrating and sad." His face was etched with distress.

Seeing this, tears began to appear in the Rings’ eyes.

"But thanks to those who believed in me no matter what, defended me, and supported me, I could stand here without having to hide. I was able to rise and be here with you all. My dream coming true is all thanks to you. Thank you." Goh Yoo-Joon bowed deeply, followed by Joo-Han and the younger members next to him.

During those tough times, Goh Yoo-Joon and Chronos were harshly criticized and scrutinized. The only reason we could barely hold on was thanks to our loyal staff and Rings.

"Next up is Yoon-Chan."

Yoon-Chan was teary-eyed with a furrowed brow and an upside-down smile. He picked up the microphone. "Uh... I... I..."

He sounded like he was on the verge of crying. Seeing Yoon-Chan about to cry, the Rings started to smile instead of sobbing.