Chapter 50

Not once

It was decided that the last worker's footage would be broadcast over two episodes. The staff, who had heard the news about Theora, rejoiced together.

Perhaps the staff were even more delighted because they knew what POT Entertainment had done. Since we didn't follow the conventional path, they might have sensed something. Rumors in the entertainment industry spread quickly, so they might have heard it from somewhere.

We received hearty congratulations, pretending not to worry. Although it might be slow, we were taking one step forward at a time.

“Mr. Lee, what brings you here? Did you come alone?”

“I have some business with the A&R team.”

“Oh, right! Mr. Lee, you're a composer. I've been enjoying your work.”

After expressing my gratitude, I parted ways with the staff and headed to the A&R team's office. It was a Saturday with no special schedule.

After practice, I went to the studio to jot down some songs and received a message from my manager that they were looking for me, so I came to the company alone. The members were still sweating it out in the practice room.

I quickly found the A&R team's office and opened the door. The staff, busy with work, didn't even turn their eyes to see who had entered. I went to the team leader's side and tapped the table.

The team leader, wearing headphones, finally turned his head and noticed me.

“Oh! I called you, Mr. Lee, but I couldn't greet you. Please come in.”

“Hello, sir.”

“Of course. Not only the title track you composed, but the B-sides also received good reviews. Other composers seemed to be eyeing you with envy.”

“Eyeing me with envy?”

“Since you've been listed as a solo composer, they think that even if the company has been grooming you, you must have some basic skills. They see you as a good candidate to take under their wing and extract your talent.”

I frowned as the team leader tried to interpret his words.

Being groomed by the company. Do they think I just put my name on someone else's work….

Moreover, taking me as a disciple to extract my talent. Is this the real face of the entertainment industry?

“Oh, right! I haven't told you why I called you. I wondered if you'd be interested in composing an OST.”

“An OST?”

“You know actor Naohyeok, right?”

He was one of the pillars of Hanul Entertainment, a male actor in his mid-30s who looked a decade younger, known for his solid acting skills and prolific work.

“I know.”

“The actor is joining a new drama, and there was talk of him singing the OST. He's a good singer, and he readily agreed, but the song to be sung hasn't been decided yet. We got the information early, so we have time to prepare.”

If we can prepare the song leisurely, it would certainly be advantageous.

“I've contacted the company's composers, and I thought of you too, so I called you to discuss it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Although I can't sing with my own voice or Theora's, this is a good opportunity for me as a composer. Whether my song will be adopted as a drama OST is uncertain, but the experience alone will be helpful.

Could I compose a song for Theora's next album with improved skills?

“Here's the script and synopsis of the drama Mr. Naohyeok will be in. The script is only available for the early part, but you can get a sense of the atmosphere. You need to create a theme song for the male lead.”

The prospect of a new challenge made my heart race. How would it feel to hear a song I composed in a drama?

“You can read it here and return it afterward. For security reasons, I hope you understand.”

“Yes, I understand. I'll read it and return it right away.”

I wandered around to find a quiet place to read the script. Since I wasn't familiar with Hanul Entertainment's building except for the trainee areas, I eventually found a suitable place.

It was a lounge. After finding it, I noticed it was near the A&R team's office. I must have been wandering around even though it was close.

The empty lounge had a wide sofa, some snacks, and a coffee machine. I took a seat on the sofa, savoring the subtle aroma of coffee. The first page of the script had the title "Falcon?"

I flipped through the pages, reading carefully. In a nutshell, it was a traditional romance. Two high school students who had a passionate love in their youth were forced to part ways and met again after 10 years.

The male lead, unable to forget his first love, lived a dry life until he met her again. The female lead, who had been searching for the man who disappeared suddenly, developed face blindness due to an accident and passed him by.

The male lead desperately clung to her, but the female lead declared that she would not recognize him as her "first love."

Despite her cold response, the male lead continued to hover around her. In the third episode, he encountered her twin siblings, who didn't exist 10 years ago.

“These twins must have a secret. If they appeared after 10 years….”

Anyone who watches dramas regularly could guess the identity of the twins. It had a hint of melodrama but wasn't over the top. With the actor's acting skills, the ratings would likely be good.

For the male lead's theme song. Should it be a plea to turn around? Should it be filled with deep regret? Perhaps a combination of both.

I organized the story I needed to convey in the song while reading the synopsis.

I had a rough idea of the drama's flow in my head. I decided to start working after giving it more thought.

The love story between the two characters felt distant to me, so I couldn't immediately grasp the feeling. Would fresh ideas come from the members' advice?

Glancing at the clock, I realized quite some time had passed. Just as I was about to leave the lounge with the script, a man entered. He seemed to be a staff member I hadn't met before.

I stepped aside to let him pass, but he approached me closely. I reached out to the closing door, unable to leave.

“Who's this? Ham Lee?”

His tone was confrontational, and his eyes scanned me disapprovingly.

I retracted my arm and looked at him straight. I could see a strap between his collar, but no employee badge.

“Yes, it's me. Who are you?”

“Ha! You don't know who I am? You seem to think you're something because the company is pushing you, don't you?”

The man, who approached threateningly, sneered at me. I had to endure his aggressive gaze without understanding why.

“I don't know who you are, but please avoid using informal language. This is a company, and I am a staff member here.”

“What? Listen to this nonsense. I can understand pushing a member's original song to promote an idol, but if the company has invested money, shouldn't they get a return? But a title track that the company backed, and the person behind it walks around shamelessly without any conscience.”

Blatant criticism.

This staff member thought my song had unfairly secured the album's title track. Was he sincere? There was no need to ask. His eyes were filled with nothing but anger.

“I'm being misunderstood. The company has never pushed my song, and it was chosen as the title track through a fair vote.”

“So? Is that the result? With your supposedly great composing skills, shouldn't your debut song have been a chart-topper?”

“I was about to….”

I tried to counter, but he didn't give me a chance.

“Oh, it's just a matter of time, right? Well, see how it goes. SEED, despite receiving less support, has better performance. Theora will be out of the game soon. Whose fault will it be then? The fault of the inexperienced newcomer with a subpar song, right?”

The criticism stabbed my heart like a dagger. The taunt that my song was inadequate and would harm Theora was painful to hear. I didn't want to just take it.

“…I don't want to believe that. I don't think Theora will fail because of my song. I understand your concerns about my skills, but we will handle it. It's not your place to tell me what to do.”

To me, who wants Theora to succeed more than anyone, this was a deeply painful criticism.

Even though I knew this one-sided criticism was false and was mocking the idea that it wasn't a matter for others to comment on, I couldn't help but wonder.

If a different song had been the title track, would Theora have gained more recognition? This thought flashed through my mind for a moment.

I tried to think positively, encouraged by the members' advice not to worry, but it was a concern I had already had.

The man's criticism had ruthlessly reopened a wound that was starting to heal.

“Arrogant brat. Your true colors are showing, aren't they? You pretended to be well-behaved in front of the adults.”

“I've never been arrogant or pretended to be well-behaved. I—”

The tense atmosphere was broken by a new person entering the lounge. From the employee badge around his neck, he was one of Hanul Entertainment's staff.

“What are you doing at the door?”

The female staff member, entering the lounge, was surprised to see us and asked. The man and I, who had been having a sharp exchange, closed our mouths.

The man scanned me with a displeased look, curled his lip, and left the lounge. He seemed to believe I wouldn't tell anyone.

“Mr. Lee, what happened? Your expression….”

“…Nothing.”

“What happened with that staff member earlier?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

The man with the three-hundred-degree gaze was partly right. I didn't want to tell anyone.

“…But who was that person?”

“You didn't know who he was? He's composer Kiba from the A&R team. Since you're both composers, you probably had something to talk about. The information you get from Theora members is as accurate as any. Although Kiba's song didn't make it into Theora's album this time, the next time might be different….”

A composer? A composer? Everything became clear.

That man, Kiba, had expected his song to be included in Theora's album and was dissatisfied when my song became the title track and secured a spot as a B-side.

Did he rationalize that he would have had a chance if the company hadn't pushed my song?

Why didn't he mention the other B-side composers? Was he afraid to touch that topic? Were the other B-side composers well-known in the industry?

Why did I have to be criticized? Because I was young and easy to bully? Because I was a new artist with no achievements?

Frustration rose at the unfair situation, and I clenched my fists tightly. I would engrave in my mind the proof that his delusions were entirely wrong.

I have never thought of myself as a quitter.

Not once.