Chapter 61

Beyond Expectations

It was the end of a tedious week. The fatigue of the week had overwhelmed the students on their way to school, turning them into zombies. Amidst the similar horde of zombies, I barely spotted my friend and tapped them.

“Hey, are you awake?”

“Are you here? I stayed up all night binge-watching a web drama, I’m so sleepy….”

My friend, with messy hair, was walking mechanically and mumbled as if they were still half-asleep.

“Well, you wouldn’t have seen it then, right?”

Before turning off the TV, I had accidentally come across it while flipping through channels. I thought it was a new variety show because of the unusual guest, but it wasn’t.

I had seen it before in reruns, but I had only used it as white noise while doing other things.

There were occasionally touching scenes, but overall, it was a rather bland documentary. Each episode featured a job seeker pondering the future, which made me feel vicarious stress even though it was about something that would happen later.

“Of course, I didn’t see it. It’s so boring.”

“It was really entertaining yesterday. It wasn’t just a regular person; a K-pop idol appeared. Being a rookie, they seemed so fresh and cute.”

We laughed at how they pretended to be embarrassed by the idol’s greeting while trying to act like they weren’t.

“The guest was an idol? What’s their name?”

“Teura? Theo? Something like that. They were all really interesting, especially their faces.”

“What? You should have emphasized that from the start.”

My friend had lost interest in their favorite idol after they got caught driving under the influence and hit-and-run.

‘I knew you’d react like this.’

My friend said they were drawn to new idols, especially rookies, because their passion is contagious.

“The content itself was also entertaining. The reactions were unique and the ratings went up quite a bit, I think.”

I checked the ratings on my phone, and they had soared from 1-2% to 4% in just one day.

“It’s a variety show, but it’s more like a documentary, so it didn’t even get ads in the previews. A 4% rating is a huge success, isn’t it?”

“Right? The ratings doubled suddenly.”

“They said they’ll split it into two episodes and talk about them next week too. Do you think the ratings will go up?”

“Really? If you, who are so picky, recommend it, it must be really good. I’ll check it out. A rookie idol is appearing, right? I might give it a try.”

My friend started watching it on their phone during lunch break. They were so engrossed that they had a big smile on their face.

Their expression caught everyone’s attention, and one by one, classmates gathered around like ants. When I came back from a quick errand, a circle had formed around my friend.

“So cute~.”

“What’s the name of their group? They’re like comedians!”

“They have distinct characters. A pretentious boy, a genius worker scouted by a pro, and a cute, juicy guy.”

They huddled around the small screen of the phone, sharing their thoughts. The positive feelings towards the rookie idol Theo grew through their chatter.

* * *

The small practice room was warm with the heat from the six members.

“Let’s gather for a moment.”

The Theo members, who were deeply engrossed in practice, gathered at the manager’s call.

“PD called. He wants us to join the call. I’ll put it on speaker, so let’s talk.”

- Hello, Theo, how are you all doing?

The PD’s voice, heard through the phone, was filled with pleasant excitement. The Theo members had checked the ratings after breakfast and knew why he was so happy.

“We’re doing well. It sounds like you have some good news?”

- You caught me! I almost fell out of my chair when I saw the ratings at midnight!

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations!”

The members chimed in with their congratulations. The PD burst into a hearty laugh.

- It’s all thanks to you. I had hoped the ratings might go up a bit, but they far exceeded my expectations! I had suggested putting in a preview, but it got cut by the higher-ups! Hahaha!

If the preview had been shown during commercial breaks or before and after dramas, the impact would have been significant.

I could understand the network’s perspective. They probably thought it would be a waste of time to air a preview for a show that was on the verge of cancellation.

- The ratings for next week’s episode will be even higher! The viewers are praising Theo, saying they’re very entertaining and cute!

The decision to split the episode into two parts will likely have a significant effect. Even though I couldn’t see the PD’s face, I could tell he was excited just by his voice.

“Please do your best with the next episode’s editing.”

When Green, the leader, conveyed the thanks, the PD reassured us not to worry. He said the next episode would be even more successful and that he would put more effort into the editing.

After the call, the members’ cheeks were flushed.

“The music chart rankings went up a bit, and the number of NewTube subscribers and SNS followers skyrocketed.”

Objective indicators that more people were showing interest in Theo. Even though the numbers weren’t huge, they were proof that our efforts weren’t in vain.

We were thirsty for hopeful news. Since our debut, the only tangible sense of popularity we had experienced was the slight applause at music shows and the supportive comments on SNS.

Seohoon, who heard the story, was on the verge of tears. Parkha, unable to contain his joy, ran around the practice room.

“Yes! Yes? Yes!”

Was he thinking of rap lyrics? Jion rummaged through his bag and pulled out a notebook to jot down some notes.

Olan smiled contentedly and then erased it. Green, the leader, looked at each member with satisfaction and met my eyes. He suddenly burst into laughter.

“Were you that proud, Iwon?”

I was puzzled by his sudden comment.

“Proud…?”

“You were smiling. You looked so happy and proud.”

I touched my face. I could feel my cheeks and the corners of my mouth. I was smiling without realizing it.

“It’s good to see. You should enjoy these moments to the fullest. Even if the road ahead is long, there’s no reason not to celebrate small achievements.”

“…Okay.”

Every time I felt happy, I found myself paying attention to the members’ reactions. I couldn’t help it, no matter how hard I tried.

The clear intuition that my share in POT Entertainment’s tyranny was a heavy burden on my heart. Thinking that my innocent members were suffering because of me…

Just as my thoughts were turning negative, Green tapped my lips with his finger.

“Why are you biting your lip all of a sudden?”

He let go of my lips and raised his eyes. Green erased the smile that was etched like a tattoo.

His dark brown eyes, hidden behind his long eyelashes, looked straight at me.

“Is something bothering you? Can’t you tell us?”

“……”

Even if I told them about my worries, nothing would change. We were already doing our best to escape POT Entertainment’s unfair pressure.

Besides, the only answer I would get from the members would be, “It’s not because of you.”

“A secret? Then, Iwon, promise me one thing. If you ever feel like you can’t handle it, come to us for help. Okay?”

“…Okay. I will.”

Green spoke softly. He reminded me not to forget that we were a team.

There was only one way out of this frustrating situation: to free Theo from POT Entertainment’s grip through my efforts.

To do that, Theo needed to take off. We needed to ride the wave of public attention and become untouchable stars.

“I’ll do anything. I won’t be embarrassed. As long as we can succeed.”

We needed to attract more fans more actively. I wouldn’t shy away from shame if it meant getting attention.

“Why the sudden surge…?”

“I think I’ve been too passive so far.”

“Have you?”

“I guess I was intimidated by the unfamiliarity of the entertainment industry.”

“Is that so? You’ve become a bit less eccentric….”

Was it my old habit of being indifferent that came out unconsciously? I found myself observing the members more closely and following their opinions. I showed a more receptive attitude, even though I was stubborn and wouldn’t give in to anyone.

To stand out in a world full of unique individuals, being ordinary wouldn’t cut it.

“I need to be more honest and lively.”

“…I won’t stop you. I’m relieved just to see you in a better mood.”

Green prioritized my feelings. He offered kind support and encouragement, just because we were a team.

Being in a group with compatible members, having a harmonious relationship without conflicts, and being able to unite our efforts towards a clear goal were all fortunate. None of it was easy.

“I’m happy. I’m glad to be a member of Theo.”

Green couldn’t continue speaking and said he was honored to be a part of Theo. He then loudly repeated my words to the members.

The members, who had been lost in their own worlds, looked up with the sharp eyes of predators.

“Iwon! Do you really like us? What do you like about us? When did you start liking us?”

Parkha, who had rushed over like lightning, pushed her large body forward and bombarded me with questions.

“Iwon, real sweety. If I were a fan of Iwon, I would have already fallen for you.”

Isn’t “sweety” more like “baby” or “darling”? Is Jion teasing me?

“I’m amazed. That this isn’t a calculated, high-level strategy. Iwon, if you weren’t an idol, what would you have done?”

Olan joked that a great Casanova would have been born. While being an “idol type” is a genuine compliment to me, it’s a bit exaggerated.

Who is this person who can transform into a pro idol in front of potential fans?

“I’m glad to be in the same group as you, Iwon.”

It meant more coming from Seohoon, who never says things he doesn’t mean. The warmth spread from my fingertips, knowing it wasn’t a one-sided feeling.

We can continue to work well together in the future.

* * *

I had been so busy since our debut that I had lost track of time.

It was winter break, so I had forgotten that it was graduation season.

I needed to pay attention to the graduation event because two of the Theo members were about to graduate.

Jion and Green, who were a year older due to their early birthdates, were graduating today.

Unfortunately, their graduation dates coincided, so we had to attend two ceremonies. The only fortunate thing was that their ceremonies were two hours apart.

The members, excluding the graduates, planned the celebration.

1. Prepare flowers with the manager.

2. Go to Jion’s school, congratulate him, and quickly pick him up.

3. Attend Green’s graduation ceremony together.

Green was disappointed that he couldn’t attend Jion’s ceremony. Jion, however, didn’t place much importance on graduation.

He was more excited about the freedom it would bring. There were no practice schedules or diet plans to worry about during the special event.

Was it because Jion’s school was a regular high school? When they saw us, who couldn’t even be considered celebrities, the families attending the graduation ceremony were in an uproar.

“…Idols!”

“I told you there was an idol from our school!”

“Parkha! Iwon! Look over here!”

When my name was called, I instinctively looked around. A high-pitched cheer spread.

Could it be because of me?

Even with my face mostly covered and disguised with a mask and glasses, how did they recognize me? They had sharp eyes.

Ah, maybe it’s because of our colorful hair? I thought the hats would hide it.

“Yikes! Sorry, just a moment…! We need to get to the auditorium…!”

I had to overcome this chaos to get to the graduation ceremony.

Let’s consider this an indirect experience of a top star’s life.