Chapter 58

In the midst of a snowstorm on stage,

The members continued to promote enthusiastically, unaware of anything.

Unlike the first team they visited, in other places, they merely greeted the group and flipped through their profiles. Most of the teams were so busy they barely had a moment to breathe.

Moreover, some people were reluctant about the sudden appearance of the idols.

Even if they didn't say it outright, it was noticeable. Slightly furrowed brows, irritable tones.

They finished their greetings with a determined smile, but their mood was far from good. Would it have been different if they were popular idols? Would they have been welcomed if they weren't idols?

I felt guilty towards the other members. After all, I was the one who first suggested the promotion.

"Sorry. I suggested we do this first..."

Even though I had anticipated a cold response, actually experiencing it made my heart sink. The members must have felt the same, but they didn't show it.

"Are you all discouraged? Just by this much?"

In response to Olan's question, the members firmly shook their heads. Green-ssi met my eyes and spoke.

"Yi-won. We all agreed to this. And at least I don't get hurt by such cold treatment."

"I don't care about irrelevant people. I’m damn busy."

"Watch your mouth. This is a broadcasting station."

Ji-on, who apologized quietly, came up to me and patted my shoulder. Without words, the meaning was conveyed.

"Once we become big stars, we'll make them regret it! Green-ssi, remember all their faces?"

Park, who was bad at recognizing faces, couldn't memorize them, so he left the task to Green-ssi, who could remember people like a ghost.

"...Sometimes I think it's a good thing we're many."

Without further explanation, I understood Seohun-ssi's sudden words. The mere presence of the members was a comfort.

How difficult would it have been if I had to face all the trials alone? Even I, who don't easily feel lonely, would have found it hard.

"Yi-won. Don't worry. We're not that weak to be crushed by such treatment."

Maybe it was unnecessary worry. Perhaps the feeling of responsibility for starting this project was overwhelming... Maybe it showed my lack of skill in handling relationships.

The manager, who had been watching quietly, came over and stroked my head. Sometimes the manager treated me like a younger brother, which wasn't wrong by age.

I pondered how to react to the comfort and encouragement conveyed through his touch and ended up staying silent.

"Shall we head to the next target?"

"Sure! We have to conquer this broadcasting station today!"

When Green-ssi initiated, Park responded. Olan put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer. Ji-on placed his arm on Olan's shoulder, and the other members joined in one by one.

We walked shoulder to shoulder. The playful shoulder-to-shoulder made the mood instantly better.

We had to lower our arms after a few meters because we were blocking the corridor, but the warmth that lingered on our shoulders gave us strength.

"Hello! We are the rookie idol group Theora!"

* * *

The broadcasting station promotion tour didn't end in one day. We distributed our profiles to all the production teams of programs we thought we could appear on, not just variety and music shows. That's why it took quite a long time to go through one broadcasting station.

We planned to challenge cable broadcasting stations as well, in addition to public broadcasters. To avoid losing our form, we decided to proceed with the promotion tour slowly and practice.

"...Will it take a day? Ah... It should be fine. Yes. I'll see you there. Yes. Uncle, take care."

Feeling the pressure of setting schedules, Green-ssi had been glued to his phone since yesterday.

This call seemed to have a good outcome, judging by Green-ssi's narrowed eyes.

The members said they could tell Green-ssi's mood by the size of his eyes. If he didn't smile and his eyes were wide open, it was time to prepare to run.

" Cameo confirmed! Two of us, so Seohun-ssi and Yi-won will go. Do the rest want to come and watch? You might catch the director's eye and get a role as a passerby."

"Visit a movie set? Other actors will be there too?"

"Oh, extra. I want to go. I'm curious."

"Maybe we can get a stamp from the director."

With Park, Ji-on, and Olan agreeing, all Theora members decided to visit the movie set.

Six is better than two. We would be less nervous if we went together.

"Let's focus on what we need to do first."

We were in Gapyeong to digest a valuable schedule. We were invited as the opening act for the ice fishing festival.

It was the result of the manager's efforts, but he felt guilty and didn't know what to do while driving us to Gangwon-do Inje.

Because the weather forecast for Inje today was the worst.

It was already cold in winter, and we had to perform outdoors in Gangwon-do, where the temperature was even lower. Plus, there was news that the wind would be strong.

"Insufficient consideration for the artists. I accepted the schedule without much thought due to impatience... I'll apologize again."

"I'll accept the apology. Thank you. For apologizing."

As the leader, Green-ssi accepted the apology on our behalf. I didn't think it was something to apologize for, but hearing it made me feel respected.

"It's okay. Jun-hyun-ssi. We can endure for a while."

Seohun-ssi could probably overcome this cold with determination.

"I would have suggested coming here even if I had asked beforehand."

I was only grateful to the manager for setting the schedule. We weren't in a position to be picky.

"Struggling as rookies will give us stories to tell later!"

"Are you trying to feed that to the manager?"

"What? No! Absolutely not! Jun-hyun-ssi, you know I love you, right?"

The waiting room became noisy as Olan picked up on Park's positive remarks.

The waiting room was just a tent with a stove in the middle, but we were grateful for it.

The Inje Ice Fishing Festival was in full swing. Despite the cold, visitors were packed, all dressed warmly from head to toe.

The invited singer before us was performing a trot song, but they weren't very well-known.

I guessed that famous singers might have declined to participate due to the harsh weather.

When I lifted the tent flap to look outside, the wind had become stronger than when we arrived. The tent was flapping so much that I worried it might fly away.

The song outside was reaching its climax.

The members, who had been huddled around the stove to warm their hands, stood up when the event host called Theora. They quickly checked their costumes and makeup.

It was time for us to go on stage.

"Fortunately, it's not snowing..."

Before Olan's words were even finished, snowflakes started to fall. The members looked at Olan with reproachful eyes.

"Hong. O. Ran."

Was it just a coincidence? Why...? I alone watched the snowflakes grow thicker, not understanding what was happening.

"We have to perform in the snow today. Be careful, it will be slippery."

"Okay!"

"Got it."

"Hong Olan, I'll see you after the performance."

Olan, who would usually respond bluntly, was unusually quiet.

"Shall we do a cheer?"

All Theora members put their hands together. The skin that touched in the cold air was warm. I couldn't tell whose body heat it was, but the sense of being together was strong.

I believed we could do well, even if we were clumsy, as long as we were together.

"Theora, fighting!"

* * *

There was something like a roof, but the small stage, open on all sides, was cold. It was so cold that my skin felt frozen.

The world I faced with my eyes open was so wondrous.

I had to sing and dance, so my stage costume couldn't be too heavy.

The stylist took care to keep us warm while staying true to the nostalgic and refreshing concept of our debut song. We wore thin sweaters or warm wool under navy suits.

Whiiiiii!

But that wasn't enough. It was far from enough to withstand the fierce snowstorm.

I had to endure. I had to pretend I didn't feel the cold. If we, the dancers, showed that we were cold, the audience wouldn't be able to immerse themselves in the song and might feel cold too.

Impress me with your memories

Dye me with your hands, with your colors

I hoped the snowstorm would look magical, like a scene from a movie where an ice queen casts a spell with snow.

But the hope was soon shattered. The snowstorm intensified, and by the end of the song, it was so thick that the stage was barely visible.

As a strong wind blew, screams erupted from all around. They were too instinctive to be cheers for us.

We decided to give it our all despite the snowstorm. It was a matter of respect for the stage and our duty as idols.

Impress me with you

And engrave a tattoo on me that will never fade

Did the audience see us dancing? Could they hear the song properly? I tried to raise my voice, but nature's power was overwhelming.

We finished with a strong bow and returned to the waiting room. The manager quickly wrapped us in blankets as big as quilts. Even by the stove, the chill didn't go away.

The members were silent.

Who could have predicted that a snowstorm would ruin the stage?

"Ha, ha, ha, ha?"

Laughter came out before words. They say you laugh when you're speechless. It was true. I laughed first, and then everyone else joined in, laughing out loud.

"What is this! We went up with all our might! I was worried about slipping!"

"First real blizzard I've seen."

Park was grumbling, and Ji-on was marveling at the incredible snowstorm.

"...Olan."

A lot of emotions were packed into that one name. If even Seohun-ssi pointed to Olan as the cause, there must be a story.

"Why is it Olan's fault? I've been curious about this."

"Yi-won, you don't know yet. Olan has bad luck."

"Bad luck? Even if Olan has bad luck, she can't make it snow when it wasn't supposed to."

"I thought the same at first... But after experiencing this repeatedly, I started to suspect. Just in case. Yi-won, don't you remember? I told you about a kid who always comes in last in games that require luck."

I remembered. It was the day we ran after the monthly evaluation. Seohun-ssi mentioned this when I said rock-paper-scissors was better. That unlucky kid was Olan?

It was strange that the straightforward Olan couldn't defend herself. Very strange.

Does Olan admit it? That the snow fell because of her words? Really?

"Want to play rock-paper-scissors with Olan?"

Olan suddenly extended her hand from under the blanket. Her proactive attitude left me no choice but to play rock-paper-scissors.

But what would happen if I lost here?

Would it mean I was even unluckier than Olan, who always came in last in luck games? I thought it was no big deal, but the tension was building.