Chapter 43

It's still early, early.

Hyung Chorok looked at the screen with a serious expression, then glanced at us with only his eyes moving.

"Hmm..."

"Don't be disappointed. We haven't even appeared on a music show yet."

Oran, who was supposed to calmly accept the result, sighed deeply with a complicated look. Hyung Seohoon tried to encourage us while hiding his gloomy face. Parkha had buried her face in the floor.

"I don't get it. If you listen once, you'd think this is the song, right?"

Ji-on questioned the ranking on the music platform, wondering if the ranking was done properly.

It's hard to say that the music chart is evaluated solely based on the quality of the music. There have been various controversies, so the ranking method has been changed several times, and it is also heavily influenced by fandoms.

"The music chart is affected by recognition. Teora is a complete rookie."

"But it's not fair. Ewon..."

With the help of active promotion, we were in a position close to being beneficiaries. Honestly, we weren't in a position to complain.

"We haven't appeared on a music show yet. We've run ads and held a showcase, but how many people know us? Very few people have heard Teora's songs yet."

I said it as if it didn't matter, but it hurt inside. After all, I composed two out of the three songs on this album. This result was also my responsibility.

Honestly, the poor performance can almost be attributed to me. In other aspects, we don't fall behind any other idol group. Considering the members' skills, visuals, the quality of the music videos, and the effort and cost put into promotion...

If I didn't share a dorm with the members, I might have gone to my room and cried alone. Even when my school grades dropped or I didn't win a competition, I didn't care. Why is this time different?

I don't know... My eyes kept getting hot. I didn't want to reveal my weak heart. My nose tingled, and it seemed that tears were about to fall. I quickly turned my head and hid my face in the sofa.

"Guys, I didn't say anything, you know?"

"Your face says it all, Hyung."

Parkha, who had been covering her eyes with her arm, whined. Her voice was tinged with sadness.

"You must have been joking. Sorry."

"…?!"

"…What?"

The members, who had been fooled, froze for a moment before coming to their senses. The members, who had been slouching like defeated soldiers, all jumped up.

You've been joking all this time? You were acting on purpose?

Not only me, but everyone's eyes were wide open. We were so stunned that we couldn't react immediately.

"Joking? Are you crazy? Nam Chorok!"

"Sorry, but you should still call me Hyung. Parkha Jun."

The member who reacted most strongly was Parkha. I was hiding my face and couldn't see Parkha, but her eyes were red and her eyelashes were wet, indicating that she had been crying silently.

Feeling wronged for being fooled, she lunged at Hyung Chorok. Oran and Ji-on helped Parkha punish Hyung Chorok from the side.

Upon reflection, he was just pretending to be serious. We were the ones who overinterpreted it. We needed proof that it was a joke. I took the phone from Hyung Chorok's hand and checked the ranking myself. Hyung Chorok hadn't scrolled all the way down. He couldn't move his hand when he saw our title song.

【new 79. Imprinting – TEORRA】

"...79th? Us?"

My muttering made Oran and Ji-on lean in to look at the phone screen. 79th place on the most influential music platform in the country.

Considering that the real-time chart is updated hourly, it's possible that the streaming numbers increased briefly. It had only been two hours since the showcase ended. Still, it was reassuring. At least it meant our song wasn't bad to listen to.

"79th...?"

Hyung Seohoon asked repeatedly, as if he couldn't believe it. Relief seemed to be the dominant emotion, though it was too early to be happy. Even if we made it into the real-time chart, we could still disappear without a trace.

"We'll have to see how it goes tomorrow, but it's not bad. If this trend continues..."

Hyung Chorok, who had just escaped from Parkha's attack, analyzed the situation. He had more to say but couldn't bring himself to say it. We knew what he was going to say next.

"It would be nice if the other songs were also listened to!"

Parkha, who seemed to have cheered up quickly, stretched her lips into a wide smile. Oran scolded her for expecting too much just because we made it into the chart. It was important that many people listened to our title song, even if it was just the title. Of course, it would be better if the other songs were also listened to.

"Seohoon, your throat must be sore..."

Ji-on, who was still looking at the phone screen, trailed off as he spoke to Hyung Seohoon, who had frozen in place. The members' gazes turned to Hyung Seohoon.

Hyung Seohoon, with his head bowed, was shaking his shoulders. What caught our attention most were the droplets falling from the phone screen.

"Oh! How can you be so soft-hearted? You crybaby Hyung."

Parkha, unable to stop him, shook her head but still hugged Hyung Seohoon's back tightly.

"You're the biggest in size but the most sensitive in heart. If we get first place on a music show, you'll probably cry your heart out."

Oran's imagination was vivid. A scene of Hyung Seohoon, unable to speak due to tears, holding the first-place trophy. Parkha might be in it too. Even Oran, with her sharp tone, looked at Hyung Seohoon with warmth. Does she know her lips are curled up?

"Ji-on, do you understand the ranking now?"

Ji-on, who had been grumbling, was now looking at the screen with a proud smile.

"It's fair! Fair! Equitable! Gerechtigkeit!"

It probably means it's roughly fair. I heard that a song from Show Me The Gold 3 made it to the top of the charts. Did they react like this back then?

"Are you that happy? Your chart position was higher during the Show Me The Gold era."

The song from Show Me The Gold 3 stayed at the top of the charts longer than the runner-up. It wasn't just me who had this question; the other members gathered around. Hyung Seohoon, who had been crying, was now calm except for his red eyes.

"Back then, I just applied without any preparation. I didn't expect anything. I just wanted to gain experience, even if I failed. But it went too well... It wasn't due to my effort, but rather, a fluke?"

A fluke? Where did he learn that word? Hyung Chorok, who had been listening, corrected him.

"Not a fluke, but a stroke of luck. Rather, say fluke. It's a Japanese pronunciation, so try not to use it."

"Fluke? Ah! That's it?"

I understood the meaning. If it means luck obtained without skill. Come to think of it, a famous singer featured on the song?

Now I understand why Ji-on had a dubious expression while speaking. She thought it was due to the famous singer's influence.

The song was well-received because it suited Ji-on's rap. Of course, the famous singer's influence can't be denied, but it was still a commendable achievement. Yet, she didn't consider it her own accomplishment.

"This is the real debut. That's why I'm more nervous."

Ji-on's feelings were laid bare. I felt a psychological closeness because I understood her so well.

I'm not particularly warm, and Ji-on respects personal space more than the other members. So, over the 8 months we've been together, we slowly became closer, like being dyed. This is the first time I felt she had stepped into my comfort zone.

While I was contemplating, Hyung Chorok and Parkha pounced on Ji-on to show affection. To an outsider, it might look like they were bullying her, but it was a sign of intimacy. I don't particularly want to be on the receiving end...

Hyung Seohoon smiled contentedly, as if he had never cried. Oran, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed, laughed but then put on a facade when I looked at her.

"What's wrong with laughing honestly?"

Oran raised an eyebrow at my comment.

"What do you mean?"

"Since it's just among us."

"I don't know. It's a bit embarrassing to be grouped with these crybabies."

"You can cry too. Being unable to be honest with your own emotions is worse, so apologize to Hyung Seohoon and Parkha."

Crybaby? Oran will have her day of crying too. Just wait and see. I'll tease her for a long time!

I didn't notice that Ohan's eyes had formed a crescent from pouting.

"Apologize? Sure. But will it be enough to just apologize to them? There seems to be one more person."

"...What?"

No way. No way!

"Even if you try to deny it, Ewon, we all know you were sniffling while leaning on the sofa earlier."

"Ewon cried?"

"Ewon?"

Ah. I'm doomed. I didn't want to be caught by Oran, of all people.

"You were on the verge of tears before we knew it was a joke."

Several pairs of eyes followed me. I turned my head to avoid their piercing gazes.

"Surprising. I thought Ewon wouldn't be so concerned about the results."

"Me too! 'No one has the right to judge me.' That's what I thought."

Am I that arrogant? Normally, I might have let it slide. Hyung Seohoon and Parkha seemed to agree. Parkha even changed her voice to act it out. Was that my voice?

"This time, since I composed the title song, I felt responsible..."

"What? Ewon, you think it's your fault if it fails? Seriously?"

"Seriously?"

"Is that really what you think?"

It must have been hard to understand, as Oran burst into a hollow laugh.

"Ewon, thinking all results are your fault is strange. We chose the song because it was good, not knowing it was yours. You worked tirelessly to create the best song you could. If so, shouldn't we, who chose it, share the responsibility?"

"Hyung Seohoon is right. And failure isn't always due to mistakes. This is an industry where success can't be guaranteed no matter how hard you try. Don't blame everything on us or on you. Of course, success is due to us."

As I watched Hyung Seohoon gently stroke my head with his large hand and Hyung Chorok smile with his eyes squinted, I thought, "He really is like a hyung." I understand why Hyung Hyun-oh said he wasn't lonely.

"You're the fourth oldest, but you seem like the youngest."

"The youngest agrees!"

Hyung Seohoon, Hyung Chorok, Ji-on, me, Oran, and Parkha, in that order of age. I'm the fourth oldest by birth order, but I understood the context of Hyung Seohoon's words. I've never had to socialize with peers, even in school. In terms of social skills, I'm probably the most awkward.

"Ewon is still young. Young."

Young... Not really, but I decided to let it go. If I don't react, they'll probably stop.

But later, I realized it was a big misunderstanding.