Chapter 39
Huh?
Seong Jiwon rolled his eyes and smiled awkwardly.
Where did you hear that?
They said you were a promising rookie.
I wouldnt go that far.
I heard they were going to choose between you as the main vocal and center.
Well, among the members of Today, Im the best, right?
Seong Jiwon bragged without sounding obnoxious. He then asked another question.
But why are you suddenly asking me about this?
I felt embarrassed.
Seo Hoyun, you know my position in Today, and its not just out of curiosity that hes asking You heard about that, didnt you?
Seong Jiwon had become very perceptive lately. It seemed like being chewed out like a squid changed him.
Seong Jiwon clicked his tongue.
The world is small, too small. Bad news travels faster.
You dont have to talk about it if you dont want to.
Youre right. What you heard is correct.
Seong Jiwon sighed.
I ran away because I didnt like the sponsorship offer.
Oh.
I knew there was growing pressure. Some members of Today already had some talks about it. They treated me like a fool. They said its almost like being guaranteed, so why not take this opportunity?
Seong Jiwon kicked a small rock on the ground.
I was honestly not sure. I really wondered if I was a fool. And it drove me crazy when my positions were taken away one by one. But then, one day, I dont know why or how, but my mind cleared up.
He couldnt have forgotten.
Is he just beating around the bush because he doesnt want to talk about it?
Seong Jiwons normally smooth forehead wrinkled.
What am I doing? I realized I was going crazy. I chose that path. And after a lot of trials, I finally found my current agency. The CEO and manager are nice people. There is no pressure like that here.
Theyre nice people?
Well theyre good people.
Seong Jiwon shrugged his shoulders.
The CEO and the manager seemed the same, pursuing their ideals and almost neglecting the members when the results didnt come instantly. They had such talented people under them.
After that, just seeing Today would make me feel sick, like I would throw up. But you know what?
What?
Since that receipt incident, its just been funny to me.
Ah, that one. I remembered Yu Hyeoks desperate face trying to get a receipt he thought was a note.
Whenever I think of his expression, it still makes me laugh.
You also told Yu Hyeok to keep his mouth shut.
Haha! I got a bit carried away with that. Todays expressions this time were no joke either. Im definitely going to watch the show when it airs.
No matter how much he thought about it, Seong Jiwon kept chuckling. Well, it was funny.
When his laughter subsided, he hesitated for a moment before standing up.
Anyway, thanks, Hoyun.
Youre thanking me?
I muttered in confusion.
Why?
I deeply suspected Seong Jiwon was a fool.
On the other hand, Seong Jiwon seemed to see right through my thoughts and laughed incredulously.
Theres so much I owe you. I actually came out here to say thank you.
Seong Jiwon stretched out.
I trust you. No matter how many more embarrassing things you do here, Ill trust you.
.
So please, trust us a little too.
Seong Jiwon smiled faintly.
I might have been a little arrogant. The other members might have been right. I could have been pressing the accelerator too hard by myself.
But that was the kind of person Ive always been.
Ive lived like this until now.
I had to take responsibility on my own.
Could I change?
No.
I chugged the lukewarm yuja tea all at once. Then I got up and followed Seong Jiwon.
Jiwon.
Seong Jiwons eyes widened.
Im sorry.
Ill make us number one.
That was the only promise I could make right now.
I didnt make promises I couldnt keep. Seong Jiwon seemed to understand the meaning behind my words, and although his expression was a bit bitter, he soon patted my shoulder and said to me.
Okay.
Lets go inside. Its cold.
***
Hey.
What?
Eat this.
While waiting in tvK broadcasting stations meeting room, Kim Seonghyeon suddenly threw me a red ginseng packet. It seemed like he had taken it from Seong Jiwon.
Uh Thanks.
Eat it quickly. Youre supposed to eat something like this once a day.
Why is he suddenly like this?
He says hes sorry~.
Jeong Dajun chimed in from beside him. Apparently, he had regained his energy as he even managed to eat the tteokbokki that the manager had been dying to buy him for lunch.
Kim Seonghyeon playfully flicked Jeong Dajuns forehead.[1]
Hes regretting it, thats why. Anyway, youre the one who gets all the hate.
Hey, you better watch what you say.
What are you talking about? Hoyun must know about it already.
Kang Ichae snorted. Of course, I knew about it too, but Kim Seonghyeon kept checking on me, worried that I might be feeling down after seeing the publics opinion on the internet.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes. Could he really be upset with me?
Im such a piece of trash.
I felt disgusted with myself, but my first reaction was always to doubt everything.
Oh my, arent you our lucky charms! Congratulations on winning the first round!
Hello~.
Hello! Thank you!
Amidst all this, a staff member opened the waiting room door and entered. They were beaming, looking delighted.
It looks like our viewership has skyrocketed! Our goal was to reach 1% at best, you know? Hahaha, but the first episode got a 2.3% rating! And the second episode is expected to reach 3%!
Wow, that was an impressive rating for a cable show.
Its worth celebrating with a firecracker.
Its all thanks to The Dawn!
Of course, we are the shows sacrificial lambs.
Especially Seo Hoyun, what should we do to show our gratitude? The production team should treat you big time.
Yes, please treat us big time.
Might as well make the most of my sacrificial role.
The staff was excited, but Jeong Dajun tilted his head.
Is the PD not coming today?
Oh, the PD is not feeling well today, so Im here instead. Now, lets check the mission for the second round, shall we?
The staff handed over an envelope containing the mission. Kim Seonghyeon carefully took it and slowly read the content.
Second round mission: Sing a Different Song.
Yes! You have to sing a different song! Isnt that the highlight of an idol competition~?!
They were very excited, indeed.
On the other hand, our expressions soured. Excluding us, there were four other teams, which meant that there was a 1 in 4 chance that Todays song would be chosen. This would only fan the flames of controversy even more.
Now, lets see which groups song The Dawn will be covering!
The staff shook the jar containing the lots with a big grin. Since there had been rumors of manipulation last time, I could have bet my wrist that only Todays songs were inside that jar.
It wouldnt be a bad thing for the production team.
Quick, pick one!
Haha
Just as Kim Seonghyeon was about to pick a lot with his trembling hand, the door to the meeting room suddenly burst open.
PD Kim?
It was Kim Heeyeon, her hair disheveled. Wearing her hoodie backward and gripping her phone like a weapon, she looked like a mad woman.
PD Kim, what is it? Didnt I tell you I could handle it? Why did you come?
Ignoring the staffs words, Kim Heeyeon strode toward the table. A strong smell of alcohol wafted through the air.
Her dark circles looked worse, perhaps from the staffs previous drinking party.
Get out of here.
Kim Heeyeon snatched the jar of lots from Kim Seonghyeon and dumped them all out. The camera director hurriedly stood up.
PD Kim! What are you doing?!
One by one, she picked up the scattered lots on the table. They all had the same content written on them.
[Today Make Love]
[Today Make Love]
[Today Make Love]
[Today Make Love]
All four notes were the same.
Kang Ichae let out a hollow laugh. The staffs face turned pale.
PD, have you lost your mind?
I told you to make the notes different, you bastard.
No, that was when you were drunk last night The Dawn, dont misunderstand. We made a mistake. PD, you cant do this here.
Why not! Im the PD!
It seemed that Todays agency had already started pushing for this outcome. Public opinion had flipped, so they planned to ride the The Dawn vs. Today narrative to higher ratings.
It wasnt actually a bad strategy. Thats why everyone expected Todays to come up.
But to get caught so blatantly was a first.
And by the main PD, no less
PD! Seriously, were going to get fired like this!
Go ahead, fire me, damn it! Id rather be jobless than live like this. Ill report it to the labor office and get some compensation!
You crazy? There are cast members right next to you!
What! Why! What! Dont you know Im crazy?!
It was a total mess. Everyone was watching blankly, and there was only one thought on their minds.
The editing its going to be tough.
PD!
Stop it, dont do that. Ill pick a new one for you.
As the staff tried to stop her, Kim Seonghyeon picked up a dropped straw and asked.
Are we going to sing our song today?
Well
The staff hesitated. They knew the answer from that alone. Kim Seonghyeon glanced at me.
Yes.
Kim Heeyeon, the PD, came out confidently.
So, dont do it. Ill pick something suitable for you. Just do that. Its the most I can do for you. I want to have a clear conscience.
No we want to do this.
Kim Seonghyeon said.
Hmm?
It was unexpected.
A hint of color returned to the staffs faces, and Kim Heeyeons face turned sour.
What, is everyone here crazy? I really dont get it.
Please, let us do this.
Jeong Dajun clung to the idea. I didnt even need to say anything.
Kim Heeyeon slumped down and messed up her hair. Her already messy hair became even more disheveled.
Whats going on? Am I the only one who doesnt understand? Am I the only one feeling anxious right now?
PD.
I called her discreetly and offered her some red ginseng. Kim Heeyeon glared at me, but I shamelessly smiled and tidied up my seat.
Then well go prepare the cover song.
Sigh.
Yes! Were counting on you!
As I was about to leave with the members, Kim Heeyeon suddenly followed me.
Seo Hoyun, can I talk to you for a moment?
Oh, sure.
Following Kim Heeyeon, we walked down the hallway to the vending machine. She scratched her cheek and rummaged through her pockets before pulling out some coins.
Do you like canned coffee?
Yes. Anything is fine.
Alright, its not much, but Ill buy you one.
Kim Heeyeon fumbled several times with her slightly trembling hand before inserting the coins into the vending machine. She looked nervous.
However, the vending machine only took the coins and didnt dispense the drink. At first, she calmly pressed the button.
Huh? Umm its not working?
Its not?
Haha, itll work soon. Just wait a moment.
She pressed the button harder and harder. She pushed it until it almost broke, then banged and even kicked it.
People were startled by the loud noise and looked over, but Kim Heeyeon just yelled.
Damn it, now even the vending machine isnt listening to me! Are they trying to drive me crazy?!
Kim PD?
A passerby was startled. The person was CP, who appeared to be higher in rank than Kim Heeyeon, but she glared at them like a cat.
Chief, what are you looking at? Huh?! You have a problem with me?
Ah, no, I have work to do, PD Kim.
The CP quickly ran away. As expected, she was the crazy one in the broadcasting station.
I just waited quietly beside her without saying a word. Kim Heeyeon spent quite some time in front of the vending machine before finally giving up, flipping her bangs, and turning to me.
Forget it. Ill buy you something more expensive later.
Okay.
Anyway, Seo Hoyun, I didnt call you for this. I wanted to talk about something important.
Kim Heeyeon tried her best to calm down as she spoke.
Just remember that I owe you one. I made a mistake, and it affected you.
Why is it your debt, PD?
Its because I was in charge of this crappy program. Even though there was pressure from above, I was the one who carried it out. So, of course, Im responsible.
Kim Heeyeon roughly brushed her hair back, annoyed by her bangs that kept poking her eyes.
She didnt need to do that. I wouldve been happy to owe them a favor if it were someone else. But because it was Kim Heeyeon, I didnt want to.
I looked at her and realized.
If I refused, I would only scratch her pride even more.
Alright.
Good, you made the right decision. Just let me know anytime. If its within my ability, Ill do it for you. Kim Heeyeon said that, and again, she slammed the vending machine. Strangely enough, a few drinks fell out. Huffing, Kim Heeyeon left the drinks behind and walked away with giant strides.
Hmm.
Kim Heeyeon was starting to feel a backlash.
Everything was going as desired.
***
Whats going on?
I asked only after drawing a lot and returning to the practice room.
Everyones spirits were higher than last time. Even more so after the guerrilla performance. Their eyes were filled with murderous intent as if to say, Ill kill anyone who gets in my way.
This time, well really, really, really do better.
Jeong Dajun stammered.
I talked with Seonghyeon all night yesterday. Truthfully.
What kind of development was this? As I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows, Jeong Dajun clenched his fist.
If we choose a song by Today and perform it better much better we can prove that were better than them.
Right, that too. And its better to think of this as a revenge match.
Hmm?
This wasnt the development I had in mind.
Well, it would be great for me if we continued to have a rivalry with Today.
My team members were so pumped up that my worries from yesterday about one of them losing their mental strength seemed unfounded. What if they didnt win first place? Wouldnt their mental state plummet?
As I stood there hesitating, Seong Jiwon patted my shoulder.
Hoyun, its not about winning first place in this competition. Its about showing people what we can do.
Youre like a mind-reading ghost.
Haha, I learned from the best.
Seong Jiwon smirked.
As Dajun said, lets show everyone were much better than Today. So much that no one can say anything about our skills.
Kang Ichae held up his thumb.
Hyung, you said it too.
What?
That just doing well isnt enough. We have to do extraordinarily well.
Kang Ichae opened his laptop. It had notes on Todays songs and concepts neatly organized in an Excel file. Honestly, I was surprised.
What is this?
I organized it yesterday. All night. Honestly, I thought we would perform with another groups song at least once, so I had been preparing little by little, but not knowing which group it would be with made it difficult. Well, after yesterday, it was obvious that Today was the one, so I organized all the concepts and interpretations of the songs they had. I also decided on the arrangement atmosphere so we can be ready for any song we pick.
What was up with these guys?
As I stared at them in shock, Kang Ichae glanced at Seong Jiwon and continued.
Fortunately, Jiwon-hyung knows a lot about their situation, which made organizing much easier.
Is Make Love within the scope of what we considered?
Yeah. Weve even thought about the direction of the arrangement for that one.
Kang Ichae rattled on.
Look, as you can see from the Make Love teaser video, Todays vocal line is weak in both high and low notes. So, were going to lay the rap with low notes and put Jiwon-hyung and Hoyun-hyung on high notes to fill in the sound density.
No, no.
What? You dont like it?
I raised my hand to stop Kang Ichae.
Its not that I didnt like it or that I was jealous.
When did you guys have time to prepare this?
Kang Ichae tilted his head and replied nonchalantly.
When you were sleeping?
When Jiwon-hyung went to talk to you!
Werent you guys sleeping?
So, you werent gossiping about me behind my back?
Kang Ichae, you didnt come into the room because you went to talk about this?
What, did you think I went out because I didnt want to see your face?
Actually, I did.
Speechless, Kang Ichae burst into laughter.
Wow You were really hurt because we talked without you, huh?
Ha~, how can this hyung be so sensitive~.
Are you crazy?
I was annoyed, but my team was already looking at me with strangely proud faces. Kim Seonghyeon sighed.
We have to do our best too.
.
We cant just take whats given to us.
I clenched my jaw for a while at his words, ruffled my hair, and looked at Kang Ichae.
How are we going to arrange it?
Kang Ichae grinned.
[1] The sentence is actually , which literally translates to Kim Seonghyeon hit Jeong Dajuns honey night. is a Korean slang word that translates to honey night but is used to describe a playful, light slap, or flick to someones forehead, usually among friends or people who are close.
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