Chapter 43

43. Meet at Christmas

"The competition for this year's Youth Song Festival was very intense, with a total of 109 teams submitting video auditions. After rigorous preliminary judging, a total of 12 teams have advanced to today's final round."

The host, having briefly introduced the competition, announced the first team with an excited voice.

"Let's introduce the first participant. The first participant is Kim Namhoon, a second-year student at Hansong High School. The song he will perform is…."

The first participant, who had been waiting at the entrance of the waiting room, walked onto the stage with a tense expression.

Watching the participant, Yoon Se-rin whispered to Jin Hyuk.

"Ah— Hyuk, what do I do? I'm so nervous. Ah—."

Hyuk silently comforted Se-rin, patting her shoulder.

***

"Wow—!"

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The audience cheered as the first participant made his entrance.

At the end of the cheers.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a door at the back of the auditorium quietly opened. The person who cautiously entered the auditorium was actor Yoon Sung-hoon.

Sung-hoon slipped into the darkness of the auditorium, where the lights were off, and took a seat at the back, avoiding people's gazes.

'What on earth is this kid thinking?'

When Sung-hoon first heard the students talking, he thought he must have misunderstood something.

'What do you mean? Se-rin is entering a competition?'

'What?! Ah, well…'

The student, rolling his eyes, finally spoke.

'Ah, this is something Se-rin asked me to keep secret. Please pretend you don't know, Director.'

It was too strange. Suddenly entering a singing competition. Se-rin had always detested singing since she was young.

She always said she couldn't sing. She never even stood up for a kindergarten performance.

Even in elementary school, how many times did she burst into tears, begging not to be made to sing, causing the teacher to call her parents in a panic?

'Se-rin, you look happy today? Where are you going, dressed so beautifully?'

'What? Ah? It's Christmas Eve today. I just want to feel good, Dad. Hahaha…'

She was a teenager. It's normal to have secrets you don't want to tell your parents. Sung-hoon decided to pretend he didn't know.

But he was very curious about seeing his daughter sing, something he had never seen before.

Sung-hoon quietly watched the stage.

***

"Don't say such things, you fool. Why don't you understand my heart—."

The participants were giving it their all, singing with all their might.

But Jang Dong-su's ears were no longer picking up the songs of the other participants. In fact, there was no need to listen intently.

As expected, the performances were just like those at a school cultural festival, with nothing more than vocals and dancing.

He impatiently watched the program, hoping the teams would pass quickly.

In his mind, memories long buried were becoming vivid.

His impoverished college days, after losing his father early and his ailing mother.

Thanks to his older brother's support, he managed to attend college, but he had to give up on the music he truly wanted to pursue.

"Brother, I'm sorry. I need to help you quickly."

"Hey, don't say that. What do you have to be sorry for? I'm like a father to you now. Don't worry! I'll take care of everything. I'm Jang Myeong-su! Hahaha!"

His brother, who always boasted loudly to hide his struggles. But Jang Dong-su knew the tears hidden behind his brother's bravado.

From a young age, he took on the role of the eldest, sacrificing his youth for his brother. He couldn't tell his brother that he wanted to pursue the music he loved.

Back then, music was a sure way to go hungry.

He thought the best way to repay his brother was to graduate quickly from a major that would lead to a good job.

He didn't know then how brilliant his talent was.

But no matter how hard he tried to hide it, his musical sensitivity, like a sharp needle, occasionally led him to the university.

A place filled with the scent of music and youth.

For Jang Dong-su, who could barely afford to eat, the university was a place where he could breathe.

On a particularly lucky day, he could even watch a decent free performance. For Jang Dong-su, who could barely afford transportation, it was like a drought-breaking rain.

And that day was a 'lucky day.'

"Come and watch a free performance!"

Jang Dong-su instinctively took the invitation when he heard the word 'free.'

Having visited the university district frequently, he was somewhat familiar with the underground singers active there.

The two singers performing that day were familiar names, but he had never seen them perform. And.

Song Ha?

A name he didn't recognize.

But even the unfamiliarity of a free performance was exciting. Jang Dong-su headed to the underground theater with anticipation.

Even after 20 years, the scent of that day still lingered in Jang Dong-su's nostrils.

The musty smell of dust as he descended the stairs to the theater. But even that was fragrant to him.

There, he met the singer Song Ha.

She was a beautiful singer, one whose mere presence made Jang Dong-su's heart race.

And her genius vocals, which captivated his sensitive ears.

Song Ha, the third singer to perform, sang three songs, and the last one was,

"The last song is about Christmas. I've prepared an original song called 'Meet at Christmas.'"

Jang Dong-su was almost driven mad. Just three songs? He wished they had cut the previous singers!

Compared to the two previous singers, who were skilled but lacked freshness, Song Ha was definitely new.

No, it wasn't just new. From the perspective of a producer, Song Ha was a genius singer-songwriter ahead of her time.

Despite the lack of youthful vibrancy, her songs had a brilliance that could overshadow that.

But being ahead of her time meant that sometimes people didn't recognize her.

Indeed, people might not have known, but Jang Dong-su, whose producer's talent was hidden, instinctively recognized her.

The fact that it was her last performance was disappointing. But the more disappointed he was, the more he focused on her final song.

"I hope everyone here has a wonderful Christmas. Now, I'll sing for you."

As she touched the keyboard, a beautiful melody filled the theater.

It felt like sitting in heaven.

Her angelic voice flowed out.

"Then, let's meet again. We— at Christmas."

Like snow falling, her voice settled in Jang Dong-su's heart.

Her Christmas was definitely a white Christmas.

Jang Dong-su made up his mind. He would come to her performance again, even if he had to go into debt.

"……"

After the performance, he watched her sell her self-produced album. He knew he had no money, but he couldn't leave.

There were almost no buyers, so he met her eyes several times, and each time she smiled warmly.

The shy young Jang Dong-su, blushing, did this several times, and just as he was about to turn away with a sense of loss,

"Excuse me."

Someone called him. He knew whose voice it was as soon as he heard it.

When he turned his head, an angel was approaching.

"Here…"

She handed him the album. He took it instinctively.

"Thank you for coming today."

"Ah…"

The sensitive and timid young Jang Dong-su, who loved music, was so nervous that he couldn't even say thank you to the angel.

Jang Dong-su, you fool. Idiot. Squid. Clumsy.

How much he blamed himself every time he thought about it. It was one of the worst moments of his life, along with the moment he lost the LP she gave him.

But at that time, Jang Dong-su was just overwhelmingly happy. Holding her LP to his chest, he headed home. The wild beating of his heart still echoed in his ears.

That day was a 'lucky day.'

And the next day.

And the day after that.

A week passed, a month passed.

A year passed.

The performance he had been waiting for was no longer to be seen in the university district. No, he could no longer see her.

What he thought was a drought-breaking rain.

Turned out to be a passing shower.

***

"The next team is the mixed duet 'By Chance.' Two people who met by chance became friends. Interestingly, the team name 'By Chance' is derived from their surnames."

Jin Hyuk stood up first. Se-rin followed, looking at Jin Hyuk's back.

Jin Hyuk's back looked broader than ever.

"Jin Hyuk, a first-year student at Myeongseong High School, and Yeon Se-rin, a first-year student at Siwha Girls' High School, will perform Song Ha's 'Meet at Christmas.' Please give them a big round of applause."

Jin Hyuk and Se-rin left the waiting room.

Thump thump.

Jang Dong-su, the director, who could no longer control his heartbeat, swallowed hard.

With a tense expression, Jang Dong-su watched the two as they came out of the waiting room.

His eyes grew wider and wider, until they couldn't get any wider.

"What? That visual is incredible."

Before he even heard them sing, he was already in a daze.

It was unbelievable. Kids like these should only be found in our company's debut group.

Among the three major agencies, NTN, which particularly emphasizes the visual appeal of idols, these two had the kind of looks that could be assigned to the visual role in a team. Both of them.

The cold, calculating eye of a producer kicked in. With such looks, they had to be met, regardless of their singing. This gave Jang Dong-su another reason to meet the students.

"Ah—!"

"Jin Hyuk—!"

"Yeon Se-rin! Yeon Se-rin!"

The students were screaming and causing a commotion. Several students were even holding up signs.

'They seem quite famous among the students. Well, with those looks, it would be strange if they weren't famous in the area.'

As Jang Dong-su focused on the stage, the two participants met each other's gaze.

'Don't be nervous. Just relax and follow me.'

Jin Hyuk gave Se-rin a reassuring look. Se-rin nodded in response.

Ding ding ding~

The prelude began.

Jin Hyuk turned his gaze to the front of the stage and, in sync with his breath, sang the first line, leading the song.

"When Christmas comes— we'll meet."

"Ah—!"

As soon as the first line was sung, a scream like at an idol concert erupted from the girls.

"When it snows, it would be nice, but even if it doesn't, it's okay."

As Jin Hyuk continued singing, Jang Dong-su's mouth opened wider and wider.

Wow.

... Wow.

A first vocal that surpassed the level of a school cultural festival. But Jin Hyuk had surpassed more than just the school cultural festival.

Who among NTN's trainees had that level of skill?

The only ones that came to Jang Dong-su's mind were a couple of top-tier main vocalists from the best debut group, who had trained for years.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind.

Could they be trainees from another agency?

No, a trainee with such looks and vocals wouldn't participate in a local competition like this. They wouldn't be left alone by their agency. No way.

They were definitely undiscovered gems. Jang Dong-su felt a great thrill.

But a hint of unease remained. Considering himself, it wasn't impossible for trainees to participate in such events.

A short interlude played, and it was Se-rin's turn.

"When Christmas comes— we'll meet."

"Wow—."

The audience's gasps. Jang Dong-su's eyes widened even more.

'What is this?'

Is this a dream?

The situation was so unrealistic that Jang Dong-su thought it was unbelievable.

To meet two high school vocalists of this caliber in such a place? And they were performing a duet?

A Christmas Eve miracle.

That was the only explanation he could think of.

The miracle began.

Jang Dong-su, who was already sitting close to the desk, leaned as far forward as he could, trying to get closer to the performance.