Chapter 3

A Fatal Trap

Like a sparrow seeking a mill, I frequently visited Hyun-oh's studio.

Whenever I visited during my free time, Hyun-oh always greeted me with a welcoming smile, never showing any signs of annoyance.

Even though we hadn't known each other for long, it felt as if we had been friends for ten years.

I spent most of my time lounging in the practice room, except for the minimum required classes and practice sessions.

On weekends, I would play with various instruments and ask if I could stay overnight, only to be scolded.

These days, my schedule is relatively free. I don't prepare for practical exams with my nose bleeding, so I won't be extremely busy during the practical evaluation period.

During exam periods, I'll be a bit busier, but I usually study regularly.

Today is the day of the mock exam, so I visited the studio earlier than usual.

Ding-dong—

I pressed the doorbell and waited for the door to open, but there was no sign of movement from inside.

What are you doing that makes you so late? You said you were in the practice room.

I casually asked if he could tell me the door lock password, but he refused, saying he has his own privacy.

I pressed the doorbell again. The sound of him rushing to the door could be heard.

The door lock clicked, and Hyun-oh appeared, his hair wet and a towel draped over his head. He must have been in the middle of a shower when I arrived.

"Sorry, I was just about to take a quick shower before you came. Come in. What do you want to eat?"

Instead of answering, I shook the plastic bag in my hand.

I had brought takeout from a famous braised pork belly restaurant on the way from school. It might have cooled down during the bus ride, but it should still be fine.

"You picked the restaurant, so it must be good, but it feels a bit awkward to eat for free. I have more money, you know."

My parents' money isn't mine, so of course, you have more money. Still, I can afford this with my allowance.

My parents usually buy anything I need for music or clothing before I even ask.

So, I only use my allowance for transportation and food. There's no need to spend money on a life that only involves going back and forth between home and school (a perfect life of solitude).

I would need to meet people to spend money in various ways….

Meeting people means having conversations, which I've always avoided, calling myself a loner.

That's why I started using my allowance a bit more after becoming friends with Hyun-oh. I end up drinking more coffee when we meet.

"Should I just give you my card?"

Hyun-oh, you really are something. I worry if you'll get scammed somewhere. Offering your card so casually… I wouldn't take it, of course.

"How did the mock exam go?"

Of course, it went well. I lifted my chin arrogantly, and Hyun-oh burst into laughter.

"Are all high school students like this? You're as tall as me, but why are you so cute?"

"I'm not cute."

Don't act like an uncle watching his nephew. What's cute about a dark high school student? It's ridiculous.

"Our Yeo-won is so smart? What can't you do?"

I can't sing.

While playing with Hyun-oh, I often envy his precious voice. This complex will probably stay with me for life.

Why is medical progress so slow? If only vocal cord transplants were as simple as that.

Apart from my deformed vocal cords, I have a lot to be grateful for.

Parents who love me.

A stable financial situation.

A certain level of musical talent.

Intelligence that can place me in the top 1% in mock exams.

A face that people find pleasant, thanks to my parents.

Above-average height….

Still, I'm a greedy person who can't let go of envy. People naturally desire what they don't have….

Today, I really feel inadequate. I.

I folded my feelings of depression inside and pretended to be busy.

Taking a bite of the braised pork belly, my mood improved. It's no wonder this place is famous for satisfying my picky taste.

The perfect balance of seasoning and spiciness, and the meat that melts in your mouth, made my mouth water.

Wrapping a piece of braised pork belly in fresh lettuce and perilla leaves, adding a green chili and a clove of garlic, and a bit of rice, then taking a bite.

This is paradise.

The crispy texture wrapped around the savory meat, along with the spicy and refreshing flavors, stimulated my tongue. It was a satisfying taste that didn't get old.

Hyun-oh also silently put a spoonful of rice and a piece of meat in his mouth.

Our meals were usually quiet and quick. We competed to finish the braised pork belly and proudly patted our bellies.

After clearing the takeout containers, Hyun-oh said he needed to clean the practice room and selected a song.

Today's selection was 'Dance' by a well-known group whose members I can name. It's known for its powerful dance moves that seem to break bones.

It's not my taste, but it's a song I've heard so often that it's become tiresome.

Is he planning to dance? Can Hyun-oh resist this song? When I thought the selection was too intense, Hyun-oh got into position.

Of course, he did. He was already hyped up.

It was too late to stop him. The direct lyrics that command you to dance seemed to brainwash people.

Dance! Right now! Dance! Until you're out of breath!

Oh, he was so excited. He sang loudly, moving his hips and making a scene with a broom.

I understand. Someone as enthusiastic as Hyun-oh can't hold back.

The voice coming from the speakers demanded that you dance, reaching high notes with a force that wouldn't let you sit still.

"Yeo-won, let's do it together!"

Dance? Me? Well, I can probably do it. I might be clumsy and awkward, but as a beginner, I hope you'll be lenient.

It feels embarrassing to show off in front of a pro, but I won't become a laughingstock. If Hyun-oh thought poorly of me, he would have kept his distance from the start.

"Watch me first. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and rub your soles. Then, raise and extend your arms, and fold them. Do the same on the other side. Yes, you're following well. How about I show you the whole thing from the beginning? This song has aggressive choreography but isn't difficult. It means 'everyone should dance.'"

Hyun-oh restarted 'Dance' from the beginning and got into position. I mimicked the starting pose beside him.

A large mirror on one wall reflected both of us.

A lonely stage waiting for us

The microphone is off, and the song has stopped

Right now, out of breath

Following Hyun-oh's lead, the movements weren't difficult. I couldn't dance like a moonstone, but I could copy the moves smoothly.

As I followed the movements, Hyun-oh glanced at my reflection in the mirror and continued the choreography.

Artificial respiration on a lifeless stage

Moving instinctively

Providing new nutrients to the microphone

Throwing away the boring song

The next part was the one Hyun-oh did earlier.

Dance right now, dance to the beat

Dance right now, dance until you're out of breath

I followed the beat awkwardly but didn't miss it, and Hyun-oh mouthed 'Oh!' in approval.

Why is he proud when I'm the one dancing?

My mission is to take over the stage

Even if I fall heroically on this stage

Someone has to dance the final dance

Addictive breath rising to the chin

Victory isn't far away

Right now, out of breath

Right now, out of breath

My heart beat in sync with the fast rhythm. A natural excitement welled up inside me.

I see why body language is a form of primitive communication.

Expressing oneself through movement was dramatic and free. It was a different kind of fun from singing.

Dance right now, dance to the beat

Dance right now, dance until you're out of breath

Dance right now, dance to the beat

Dance right now, dance until you're out of breath

Don’t stop dancing

Never stop dancing

By the way, the lyrics are intense. Don't stop dancing, even if you die….

As I loosened my heavy limbs and shook my head, Hyun-oh stopped the music and approached me, not giving me a chance to catch my breath.

"Why are you so good at dancing? Have you ever taken dance lessons? You even remember the choreography well!"

Is this considered good dancing? I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure. Compared to the members of Moonstone and Hyun-oh, I'm far behind.

"You're comparing yourself to pros, right? That's just because you're new to dancing. Once you get used to it, your skills will improve quickly. I have a strong urge to teach you. Do you want to learn to dance? If we sing and dance together, we'll be idols! What if we form a team? People might say it's unfair for a high school student to be in an idol group."

It doesn't matter what others think since no one will see us.

If we can do it just for fun, like we do now, it might be okay. It was fun, and I want to get better. Knowing I have talent, I'm getting interested.

I might get tired quickly due to lack of stamina, but how hard can it be?

As I nodded, Hyun-oh's face lit up.

"If I were a bit younger, it would have been great. Even five years younger. Then we could have been in the same group."

Idols? That's nonsense.

But a different thought crept in.

How could Hyun-oh, who has experienced the dirty side of the entertainment industry, so easily imagine putting me in it?

Someone who has been through the mud would usually try to dissuade others.

A few negative scenarios flashed through my mind.

But to assume the worst, Hyun-oh was too kind. It was better to ask directly rather than stew in my thoughts.

Such complex questions can't be answered with music. I picked up my phone instead of speaking.

I knew better than anyone that the longer I spoke, the more my voice would mix and become hard to understand.

I wrote a long question and passed the phone to Hyun-oh, who fell into thought.

It wasn't a simple issue. After a moment, Hyun-oh sighed and began to speak.

He sat me down on the practice room floor and sat beside me.

"You'll inevitably see the dirty side of the entertainment industry. I've experienced it firsthand. Honestly, it sometimes makes me feel sick. But the entertainment industry is just more overt. Every field has its dark side. People with excessive desires gather in the entertainment industry, causing intense aftershocks."

I wasn't naive enough to believe any place where people gather is clean.

"Everyone has some idea of what it's like. Yet, aspiring entertainers still flood in. To become famous? To make a lot of money? That's true, but fundamentally, it's because they want to be loved."

The desire to be loved….

"Entertainers have the opportunity to be loved by many people. Someone said that the love of the public is like a hard-to-quit drug. Even I, a washed-up idol, can relate to that."

Hyun-oh, with one leg crossed, continued the conversation, reflecting on the past.

"The greater the risk, the greater the reward. If you have overwhelming star power, a strong mentality, or a solid backing, I would recommend it. The decision is ultimately yours, but I think it's worth taking a risk."

Great risks come with great rewards. The logical reasoning was convincing.

"So don't misunderstand. I'm not saying this because I don't value you. It means I highly value your talent. You're a genius. Someone to be revered."

"…Even if I can't sing?"

"Why not? Think of singing as a penalty. If you were perfect at singing, I would recommend you as an idol, but you don't really want that, do you? I'm an idol, but you're different. You have multiple paths ahead of you. Top-tier session musician? You can do that now. You have insane potential in composition and arrangement, so becoming a composer or producer is the most likely. We'll see, but being a dancer isn't bad either."

You don't have to boost my mood so much. I couldn't help but smile, even though I knew it was exaggerated.

"And most importantly! Your idol-center-level appearance that stands out even to me, who has seen countless entertainers. Whatever you do, you'll become famous because you're good-looking. That's my judgment as a former idol."

All my money? I'd win a compliment contest. Even if it's just flattery, it doesn't feel bad, but I'm afraid I might start believing it.

Is the standard set so low?

Moreover, Hyun-oh is generous with compliments, which lacks credibility.

How can he still like people after rolling around in the idol industry? It wouldn't be strange if he had developed a hatred for humanity.

I felt like I would timidly follow anyone who tried to lead me down a bad path.

Clearly, he's older, but why do I end up treating him like a child?

Still, to want to be an idol so much. It must be an overwhelming love.

Why did he choose to be an idol?

In response to my question, Hyun-oh looked into the distance, recalling the past, and spoke seriously.

"The best part was having members to rely on. You have teammates who can make up for your shortcomings. Even if it was tough, I never felt lonely."

The last part might