Chapter 475: What Should We Do From Now On (39)

We quickly headed backstage. Right after the VCR announcing Chronos’ turn finished, the intro to "Blue Room Party" began to play.

"Everyone! It’s finally our time!"

Led by Goh Yoo-Joon, we stormed the stage and kicked off the song immediately.

♪ The lapping of waves from the radio,

Glasses clinking in the blue light glow,

The cool fizz and barbecue,

Blue Room Party

We were wearing sunglasses and breezy Hawaiian shirts, holding tubes and cocktail glasses. Of course, Jin-Sung’s signature towel-twirling dance was included in the show. We belted out the song while walking toward the center of the stage.

♪ As the sun sets outside the window,

Embrace the cool evening air,

Among people basking in the warmth,

Savor a city break, laid-back and fair,

Blue room, blue room party

As I made my way to my designated spot on stage, I caught the eyes of numerous fans with complex expressions. While some were clearly enjoying the show, others couldn't help but burst out laughing at the absurdity of our outfits.

In the distance, I could see Hee-Su and other friends giggling with surprised expressions. I fully understood why my friends and fans were making such faces, and I was sure the other members felt the same way.

♪ Pour memories into the deep glass,

Feel the thrill as the night surpasses

Ignoring the audience's expressions, we kept the energy high and ended up side by side at the center of the stage.

"Wow..." Yoon-Chan let out a half-hearted, mechanical sigh as the song wrapped. His tone was so resigned that it sparked another wave of laughter from the crowd. I grabbed the microphone, feeling the need to share something.

"It’s a bit chilly, isn’t it?"

"...Huh, pfft!" Goh Yoo-Joon burst out laughing and turned away.

Joo-Han checked out his appearance and chimed in, "Yes, it’s mid-December after all."

Yes, this was why everything about our appearance was so absurd. The concert was indoors, but did rocking a Hawaiian shirt in winter cold make any sense? It wasn't particularly cold in the venue, but it just felt off.

I explained why we ended up dressed like this for our first performance with a weary tone. "Actually, this concert’s setlist was completely up to us."

Jin-Sung nodded. "That’s right. They told us to do whatever we wanted."

I played with the absurdly light clothes that were more suited for a beach than a winter performance and continued, "So we thought, ‘Why not kick things off with an upbeat song?’"

"By the time we had everything planned and started our full rehearsal, we were like, ‘Wait, isn’t this a bit weird?’" Goh Yoo-Joon’s remark had everyone nodding in agreement. "Yeah, that’s right."

Even funnier, the next song lined up was "Christmas is Ours ver. 2." Summer tunes followed by winter beats... We seriously debated switching up the setlist last minute, but we ended up sticking to it.

"The staff suggested that, even though Blue Room Party is a summer song, why not just wear winter clothes since it’s December? The song was going to be arranged to match the overall vibe anyway."

"But Joo-Han hyung here said no," Jin-Sung told the fans.

Joo-Han shrugged. "I mean, it’d be fun, right? Showing up in a Hawaiian shirt in the middle of winter just seemed like a Chronos thing to do."

Goh Yoo-Joon shook his head disapprovingly. "Our leader is really something else."

I just sighed, resigned to the bizarre fashion decisions. "Hyung has been stubborn about outfits since ‘Woof Woof Meow Meow.’"

"Anyway!" Joo-Han quickly changed the subject. "Given how we are dressed... Folks, sorry, but we need to change."

Our setup was embarrassingly unpolished compared to the other groups' sleek performances. While it was funny and the audience seemed to enjoy it, it was still pretty embarrassing.

"Ah, sorry, everyone. We can't all leave the stage just yet, so Yoon-Joon and Hyun-Woo will change first."

"Yep!"

"We’ll be right back, everyone!"

We quickly changed clothes backstage. Taking off what we were wearing and getting into several layers for the next stages took a bit of time.

"It’s weirdly embarrassing, right? I’m not usually this shy," Goh Yoo-Joon remarked.

"When I caught the fans’ eyes while in off-season clothes, it felt pretty awkward."

"Right? I felt that way too."

We could have been shameless if just the Rings watched us, but with other fans around, everyone but Joo-Han blushed.

"Alright, get back on stage quickly!"

While we were briefly chatting, our outfits were swiftly changed.

"We’re heading back."

After adjusting our newly donned mics comfortably, we hurried back to the stage.

"We’re back!"

"Wow, that was lightning fast, huh?"

"Seriously, it was instantaneous!"

"We barely stepped backstage and poof, outfits changed!"

When Goh Yoo-Joon and I reappeared, the crowd immediately switched gears, laughing and cheering in a whole new tone.

"Whoa~"

"Wow~"

Their reactions brought out cheeky grins from us. Yoon-Chan coughed the vibe and teased, "It looks like it's Santa Hyun-Woo and Santa Yoo-Joon hyung this time!"

It was the others’ turn to change.

"We’re going to change too. Can you guys keep things rolling here?"

"Yep!"

"Don’t worry, hyung!"

The others vanished behind the curtains. It looked like just the two of us were left to stall for time, but actually, the next part of the show was kicking off right then and there. It began with a quick exchange between me and Goh Yoo-Joon. The festive beats of "Christmas is Ours 2" could be heard from the speakers.

Goh Yoo-Joon chuckled. "Hyun-Woo, this whole setup feels a bit like déjà vu."

"What kind of déjà vu? Are you thinking of the Cutie and Freshie? Or something else?"

"No, no. Not that."

Our banter had gotten sharper with experience, and we managed to pretend we were just casually chatting. The audience was still clueless, and they thought we were just making small talk and didn’t realize the performance had already kicked off.

"Check this out." Goh Yoo-Joon gestured at our outfits. "Santa suits us two. It rings a bell, doesn't it?"

His hint was enough for the Rings in the crowd to start screaming in recognition, figuring out what was coming next. Somewhere in the background, someone even shouted, "That song! Christmas is Ours!"

The tune began to play quietly. It was the intro to "Christmas is Ours 2."

As the Rings roared with excitement, Goh Yoo-Joon grinned widely and played along. "With Christmas just around the corner, we’ve gotta give this one a go!"

"Is it that time already?"

"Heh, indeed!"

The song's volume crept up, and Goh Yoo-Joon casually draped his arm over my shoulder while diving into our scripted act. "Are we going to spend this Christmas together again?"

"This year again? Every year when Christmas comes, we end up together. What a tradition, huh?"

As we exchanged lines and fit the playful mood of the song, a cue buzzed in our in-ears. Other members were ready to join.

"Are you not feeling it?" Goh Yoo-Joon teased.

"Definitely not~"

"I knew it! So, I got you something!"

The voices of the audience swelled with anticipation. Goh Yoo-Joon gestured dramatically toward the backstage. "Come on out, everyone!"

At his call, members streamed onto the stage, each donning Santa outfits in varying colors... Except for one member. Joo-Han was decked out in a reindeer costume.

"Did we make you wait too long?"

"Get over here!"

"Wait, why is Joo-Han hyung a reindeer?"

"Isn’t it adorable?" Joo-Han responded confidently by sparking laughter all around us.

And then, "Christmas is Ours 2" officially began playing.

***

The energy skyrocketed as we launched into another exuberant song. By the time we wrapped up our second performance, members were shedding their Santa and reindeer outfits. Underneath were sleek black suits, the vibe seamlessly shifted for "Red Rouge."

Thanks to the thoughtful arrangement and dramatic transitions, we managed to end our part amid thunderous cheers from start to finish. With Chronos' segment drawing the individual stages to a close, it was time for the grand finale.

A collective performance by the entire cast was next. After we finished our part, Yeong-Yee led the cast onstage because she was the most senior among us. The moment when they came up on stage was accompanied by the strains of a carol sung by the YMM family.

"Everyone, this is the finale! Let’s make it unforgettable!" Kun-Ho ignited the crowd’s enthusiasm with a shout, and with a loud 'Bang!' fireworks exploded.

"Wowwww!!!"

"Can you believe this?" Someone from the cast, likely Da-Win, remarked into the microphone, taken aback when glitter began to rain down, almost blinding us. The amount was clearly overdone, but it only added to the festive atmosphere, making the finale even more spectacular.

♪ Snowflakes pouring down the light-

Can you hear it?

The sound of joyful laughter

The intense singing continued with every passing song. My fellow members and I split up, headed to different sections of the stage, and waved at the audience.

"Suh Hyun-Woo!"

"Hyun-Woo!"

As I moved around, I heard fans calling out my name. I scattered handfuls of glittering confetti over them, high-fiving as we shared smiles.

"Me too! Hyun-Woo!"

"Hi! Are you guys not tired?" I asked, to which the fans shook their heads with bright smiles, saying they weren’t tired at all.

I returned their high-fives and continued walking across the stage, marveling at how much I'd matured. Once, making eye contact or shaking hands had felt daunting, but now interacting with fans felt natural and easy. It was all thanks to the affection of my team members and fans, affirming that I too could be loved.

"Wow!"

"I'd cry if I saw that!"

At the fans' exclamation, I turned to see what had captured their attention and found myself stopping in my tracks. During the carol, the screen was showing a montage of past images of us. Yeong-Yee from her Tenten days, Kun-Ho freshly solo debuted, Allure greeting fans nervously on their first day, and moments of Chronos and Sequence's trainee days, as well as our participation in

Pick We Up

.

Even our first concert was featured on the screen, along with clips from reality shows each of us had starred in, like

Chronos History

and

Graduating,

which featured me, Goh Yoo-Joon, and Kun-Ho.

The compilation seemed to be a special effort for our first joint concert, a reminder of all we had been through. Not just me, but many of the members were watching. We were captivated by the memories flashing before us, feeling as if we were dreaming. Many of us were overwhelmed with joy and nostalgia.

I watched for a long time until I finally began to walk again. Soon, Han Jun approached from the opposite direction.

"Yo." I greeted him and noticed his teary eyes. He must have been moved by the video. Understanding his struggle, I smiled and high-fived him as he passed by.

Right then, the music transitioned perfectly to the final song of the concert, "Joy."

"Let's all enjoy this!" The voices of the Allure members called out.

The performers walked slowly at first, but they soon picked up the pace to match the quick beat of "Joy."

♪ The spring sun has risen

Though the spring breeze is still chilly,

it carries a warm embrace

When you wide open the window and take a deep breath,

the day begins

As the song played, I rushed to the center of the stage and waved to the fans. Then, I turned back and saw not just my members, but glimpses of what we had shared so far, moments not seen before. They filled me with happiness.

"Ah! Da-Win hyung keeps asking to be carried because his joints hurt!"

"Gosh, you will understand me when you get older."

"Be careful. This will happen to you one day."

After a brief soak in the sentiment, the voices of Jin-Sung, Da-Win, and Kun-Ho snapped me back to reality. I waved across the other side of the stage to the fans.

♪ I stop in front of the path and look back

Take the hand you, who followed me

Even if slow, let's get back to the starting line together

"Hyun-Woo! Look at this!" someone shouted from below the stage.

"Sorry? Oh!"

A fan handed me a bunny pin, which I clipped onto my hair before stepping off the central stage to mingle. As I reached the main stage again, I looked out and saw faces I regretted not seeing till the end.

"Mom, Dad," I whispered when I saw my parents watching quietly from the audience. Pride and joy was written all over their faces.

I sat down where they could see me.

"...Wow," I breathed out, overwhelmed by the emotion of yet another concert. Another bang echoed, and a burst of pink confetti fell from above.

I looked up, then back at the crowd. Just a few years before, I'd been a masked spectator in a cap, watching other artists advance while I languished in longing and sadness.

"Hey, Suh Hyun-Woo. You can't just stay in one spot. How many times do I have to tell you? What if you sit down... Oh, mom! Dad!" Goh Yoo-Joon clapped me on the shoulder and waved at my parents.

Jin-Sung sat down beside me, and we all waved back, surrounded by the Chronos members who were also engaging with the crowd.

"Everyone's wearing something special today," I noted, seeing all the items the fans had given us.

"This spot is really something," Joo-Han said.

I looked out again at the crowd, and a wave of cheers washed over us. The once harsh spotlights now felt like gentle, warm gazes. I had changed so much.

‘I hope you guys are happy, too.’

I wanted to tell this to the Elated members, to thank them for introducing me to this new world, to speak to those dear colleagues no longer present in this world.

At last, I felt truly happy.

Second Try Idol

The End