【I was afraid to take a leap
as you are not by my side】
Glossy black hair and clear, boyish eyes reflected the lights and sparkled. Even during inactivity, his face had stood out—now it seemed to glow with a halo.
【I had fear in my heart
as I might not be your love】
Wearing nothing but a simple white shirt that draped softly and dark navy slacks, without even a single ring on his fingers, Chae Jungwoo was radiant on his own.
【But I know that I will be there】
“Wow, Chae Jungwoo sunbaenim is insane.”
“For real....”
Singers from WH Entertainment were famous for their neat, understated singing style. But today, it was as if Chae Jungwoo was determined to break that mold—his voice brimming with passion as he poured the lyrics out.
【So tell me, that this is my christmas present】
Just one voice filled the wide concert hall with rapture.
“His voice... it feels like a warm winter.”
Even after his stage ended, the emotions conveyed through that clear, pure tone lingered in the members’ hearts.
“How can he sing like that?”
“Ugh, unless you torture an alien, that’s impossible!”
“Yeah... Jungwoo sunbaenim feels like an alien himself.”
Even as White Cherry and other idol performances followed, talk of Jungwoo’s special stage kept buzzing among them.
Of course, when Hi-Five came on, silence returned.
They were scheduled just before The Dawn, with around ten minutes allotted according to our manager.
【New Thrill—】
On the monitoring TV, Kang Yeonhoo’s wavy curls bounced with every movement.
【—In front of you I can’t pretend to be calm
I’m wrapped up in even greater excitement】
Hi-Five’s six members moved as one, their choreography flawless. Even while singing through high-intensity moves like they were sprinting, there wasn’t the slightest sign of breathlessness. For a moment, it was enough to make you suspect they’d laid AR tracks underneath.
【Sparks flying in the circuit’s center
Thrilling, razor’s edge
Our own private racing
Make my heart pound more】
With a deep voice echoing like a cave, Hi-Five’s Jung Chaehyeong delivered his rap in rapid fire, brushing his thumb across his lips and flashing a seductive gaze.
Watching with his chin propped on one hand, Kim Sunghyun muttered,
“They’re good.”
Right away, Kang Ichae bumped into him playfully and added,
“And so are we.”
Startled by the unexpected encouragement, Sunghyun’s eyes widened before he broke into a disbelieving laugh.
“What the hell, Kang Ichae? Where did all that eloquence from the perfume interview go?”
“Ichae, do you only know the word ‘good’?”
“Wow, so you all gang up on me the second I say one thing? Even you, Jiwon hyung?”
The tense atmosphere eased, and soon everyone was bantering like usual—until a Gayo Star Battle staffer came to tell us we’d be on stage in two minutes.
As we left the waiting room and stepped into the dark backstage, Sung Jiwon suddenly turned his head to me.
“Hoyun!”
He said it with that gentle smile always lingering on his lips.
“Let’s kill it today!”
From beyond, the MCs’ voices carried through.
【...—Our Dawn that has descended upon the night sky of Korea! Shall we all call them together?!】
Following the stagehand’s signal and the cue in our in-ears, we climbed the steps.
【The Dawn!!】
As the members took their places, the VCR began.
A caravan drifted freely across a clear blue sky. A small plane passed, leaving a long trail of clouds, soon dispersing like mist.
Wooooong—.
Woooooong—.
The screen shifted to show Kim Sunghyun in a white pilot’s uniform, walking with steady strides.
Screams close to shrieks rose from the audience.
【Hello? Are you there?
Are we connected?】
With the mechanical narration, the spotlight lit up Kang Ichae standing alone on the thrust stage.
【Do you wanna be connected?】
Snatching a blazing red mic, Ichae tilted his chin up high and began.
【Finally! The dull time is passing
I like seeing you shine bright
Step into the ring on my terms】
He hurled the lyrics like a relentless assault, then mimed pulling a throttle as if revving a motorcycle.
【Chase me like if you can
Shift the gear and slam the pedal down】
As if that was the cue, dozens of backup dancers split left and right in sharp salutes. From the middle, hands neatly clasped, Jung Dajun stepped forward.
【The first to flinch is the one who loses】
Striding ahead, he tossed aside his cap and blew a kiss at the camera drawing close.
【Don’t be afraid
No need to look back
I can be your guide】
Then Sung Jiwon’s composed voice resounded.
Among the cheers came a ripple of stir.
From the rear, I clasped his hand and spun him roughly.
【Don’t hesitate, just move forward】
At the song’s peak, the dance break erupted with Sunghyun at the center.
【Ah- Yes, I will never leave your side-!】
Sliding sunglasses out of his pocket, biting the tip lightly, Sunghyun winked at the lens before moving in sync with the intensified beat.
【Ready to be connected?】
Pushing himself to the edge, every new burst of light from the VCR seemed to tighten his muscles like drawn strings.
To keep up, the rest of us had to double our energy.
“Fuck, at this rate the vocalists are gonna die. Ease up on the power, will you?”
“Indeed! Indeed! The maknae dancer is collapsing too!”
“This rapper is about to faint!”
During practice, we had protested hard—it was too much, too brutal.
“...Can’t you tone it down?”
“...Fine.”
“...I’ll do it.”
But what could we do?
When our leader, on the verge of tears, begged like he never had before, we had no choice but to match him.
【You’re praying wrong Umm Hmm
You should be begging me Damn! You are my favorite】
As Sunghyun threw his arms up, his shirt rode up, flashing bare skin. Fans’ screams soared higher.
【Handle me like if you can】
Just when the tempo seemed to slow, the song shifted into Dive’s melody and the stage turned blue.
Of the fifteen minutes we’d wrestled out of the New Year variety, only a third had passed, yet my breath was already at its limit.
Feigning composure, I walked to center stage. The members gathered in a circle, and the floor lifted, slowly rising.
【Can you be together? or not?
The careless words I once threw out stuck to me like heat
Like a lotus whose breath has withered】
Beyond the swaying lights, I saw fans singing along, noses red in the cold.
【Let us dive till the end
Until we surface to breathe at the ocean’s edge】
Meeting each gaze was impossible, but I steadied my breathing and waved diligently, determined to return greetings to as many as I could.
【I can’t stay locked away in loneliness forever】
The stage sank back to the ground, and then—
【Let us dive till the end
Until we surface to breathe at the ocean’s edge】
A bright white light shot down, illuminating Jung Dajun with a faint smile as he sang.
‘Wow, our maknae’s grown bold.’
It felt like just yesterday he’d been trembling. When had he grown this much?
【—In no time at all
We’ll meet again】
We gathered slowly in the center, forming the shape of a lotus blossom, and with that, the performance of “Lotus Lantern Festival” came to an end. The lights shut off once more.
Following the staff’s guidance, the other artists for Gayo Star Battle stepped on stage in sequence.
Just then, crossing paths with Chae Jungwoo and Kang Yeonhoo, I met Yeonhoo’s eyes. He gave me a quick nod, which I returned with a bow.
【Hello, we are White Cherry!】
The VCR rolled with pre-recorded Christmas greetings from the lineup.
【Rising Dawn, we are The Dawn!】
Our faces appeared on screen, and with a slightly flushed face, Sunghyun spoke.
【...—May this Christmas be one where we can share love with many, not alone.】
As his voice echoed, the maknae poked him teasingly, and Sunghyun answered with a gentle, downward smile.
【Hello, I’m Chae Jungwoo.】
Then Jungwoo appeared alone, smiling softly.
【By now it must be Christmas Eve. I hope it’s a happy and warm winter for everyone. Have a merry Christmas.】
With his words, the video dissolved and piano notes began.
The project song “Snowflake,” made for Gayo Star Battle.
Multicolored lightsticks swayed in unison.
The opening line went to Kang Yeonhoo, soaring cleanly into high notes.
【Lately, I’ve been struggling
Days when I felt I’d stand alone in the dark forever】
Cheers burst with it.
The camera shifted, revealing Sung Jiwon clutching the mic with both hands.
【There were days I thought I was alone
Days when nothing seemed possible】
As other groups sang, Jung Dajun clapped vigorously, mouthing along.
【But on a snowy day
You reached out and held my hand】
When White Cherry and Ria Purple’s clear tones lifted the song higher—
【Though I can’t bluntly expose
My selfish wish for your happiness
My feelings only keep piling up】
Kang Ichae’s husky, weighty voice cut in.
【I will always be here
Because you came to me like a miracle
On this day of falling snow, with someone as special as you】
Glancing up as if following snowflakes, then grinning, Ichae handed it /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ over to Jung Chaehyeong.
【Leaving behind our footsteps
On this special Christmas】
I thought again—this was all structured to boost WH Entertainment.
Just then, the alert rang.
Ttirring!
A notification only I could hear.
Through the storm of glittering confetti—
[Quest Success!]
A blue window gleamed through the dazzling lights.
[Seo Hoyun-ssi’s donation of his “David and Goliath” appearance fee and prize money has been reported in an article titled, “Seo Hoyun’s Good Deeds... A Meaningful Chain of Donations Since Debut,” released even before the broadcast.
The article’s views have surpassed the required threshold.
Ranked #1 among entertainment articles, 15,000 points awarded.]
I couldn’t hold back a hollow laugh.
I didn’t need to read it to know. Clearly WH Entertainment had jumped the gun for a year-end image boost.
[Current Points: 304,000]
[Congratulations, Seo Hoyun-ssi.]
I stared quietly at the total.
【Though I can’t bluntly expose
My selfish wish for your happiness
My feelings only keep piling up】
[Hap]
[Hap...]
Letters appeared and vanished, until finally they formed a sentence.
[Have a happy year-end.]
Even knowing my turn was coming, I almost missed my cue.
【...—Our precious memories,
the warmth of your hand in mine...】
I steadied myself and closed my eyes.
Then drew out the sound with force.
【...Like snow falling softly,
piling quietly inside my heart】
There was a ripple around me, but I had no space to care.
【...Ah—Ah—Ah!】
As Yeonhoo’s ad-libs soared and the song reached its climax, Chae Jungwoo stepped forward.
【The final moment is approaching us
As we pass through the long tunnel, breathing in the cold air
Snow is falling, and you are suddenly by my side】
His graceful voice layered with harmonious warmth.
Everyone smiled tenderly, swept up in the mood.
Everyone but me—who smiled with lips curved, while inside my chest was burning pitch-black.
【In a fearful future, only one thing is certain】
If this were a scene from a show I’d produced, I would have made the protagonist press the reset button right here for maximum drama.
But in my real world, without cameras or an audience, I couldn’t.
【I will be holding your hand】
Because when it came to Seo Hojin, I always turned into a coward who couldn’t make any decisions easily.
