Chapter 74: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

As soon as I stepped out into the airport, I hesitated for a moment.

I tried to walk calmly, but my head kept turning at the sound of my name being called.

"Haewon!"

The pronunciation of the overseas fans was surprisingly accurate. There were also an unbelievable number of fans waving fans with our names written on large banners.

I originally intended to greet our fans if any were there, but the atmosphere made it impossible. In the end, we just bowed our heads and moved straight to the car.

Not only me, but the other members also seemed a bit flustered. We had heard that De Rising was popular overseas, but this was the first time we really felt it.

As soon as we got into the car prepared for us locally, I said,

"…We should start preparing for the next album quickly."

The members all nodded in agreement. We were seized with a strong sense of urgency to show our fans something as soon as possible.

Then, stylist Lee Ye-young, who was checking her phone, said,

"You're trending in Indonesia too."

"…Why?"

Hwang Saebiuk asked rudely, but I honestly agreed. Why us…?

"Since you arrived?"

That was all.

It seemed that De Rising was incredibly popular throughout Asia, especially in Indonesia. Despite being physically drained from participating, I felt it was a good decision.

* * *

After finishing all the interview schedules, it was evening when we finally entered the hotel.

We decided that the hotel roommates would be different from the dorm roommates. Before leaving, we did a game of janggi, and I was lucky enough to be paired with An Juwon. He's a quiet member who fits well with me in many ways.

Still, there's one room I'm really worried about.

Looking at the results of our janggi game, I said,

"Hwang Saebiuk, Han Hyoseok. Wow, are you two going to talk to each other at all?"

These two are strangely not close.

In the past, Min Jihoo and Han Hyoseok had a bad relationship, and if we talked about rivals, we would pick them. But after practicing for the Two Villains unit, they became overly close.

Even among the members who are shy, Hwang Saebiuk and Han Hyoseok, who are particularly quiet, felt awkward when together.

As they were about to enter the room, their timing got mixed up, and they both stood there, yielding to each other. Then Han Hyoseok said,

"…You go in first, hyung."

"Ah, thanks."

Hwang Saebiuk then entered the room. I said, feeling awkward,

"I'm going crazy, what do we do with them?"

Min Jihoo and Park Sunjae, who were roommates, ran off excitedly, and Shin Jiwoon, who was whining, followed me and An Juwon.

"Ah, why do I have a single room? I'm lonely. I don't want to be alone."

"You should have done better in the janggi game."

No matter what I said, Shin Jiwoon warned me up to the door.

"If you order room service without me, I'll really cry. Please, contact me and eat together. Definitely."

An Juwon asked the whining Shin Jiwoon,

"How did you grow up as an only child?"

"Of course, there are people in the world who fit the personality of an only child, but it didn't fit me. It's a trauma."

Thinking he wouldn't leave if I didn't, I pushed Shin Jiwoon away.

"I'll call you later, so get lost."

"You, secretly heartless."

"Hey, look around, is there anyone as kind as me?"

After chasing him away, I secured the door so he couldn't come in.

I unpacked all my luggage, and since the clothes I wore today were long and made me hot, I took a quick shower and changed into a T-shirt. As soon as I flopped onto the bed, I called Yang Eui-hyung for a video call to discuss work. He answered immediately.

"Yang Eui-hyung, Yang Eui-hyung, hyung."

-Ah, just call me once.

Yang Eui-hyung said, and An Juwon added from the side,

"Haewon's style is to use affectionate nicknames, hyung."

-I know, but it's too noisy.

I said to An Juwon,

"Even if I say it like this, he secretly likes it."

-I don't like it, brat. Why do you shorten others' names but not mine?

"Because hyung's name ends with 'hyung,' I don't know where to stop."

-What nonsense.

"Why don't you understand? Understand, please."

After whining for a bit, I started discussing work. The concert soundtracks were all done, and what was left were the arrangements for the award shows. Our members, who are crazy and love challenges, wanted to leave a different impression at each award show. Especially for the award show on Christmas Eve, they requested a carol-style arrangement. And I thought it was a good idea…

After the video call meeting, I opened my MacBook and started working while eating the welcome food. During this time, An Juwon was practicing the dance break in front of the mirror.

Watching him alone, he's a pretty good dancer, but there are too many members who are even better. His vocals are also good, but there are too many who are even better…

Honestly, I think his face is enough, but he feels stressed. It's inevitable because people still think of An Juwon as a manipulated member.

Well, it's his problem to handle, so there's nothing I can do.

Then I heard a knock on the door.

"Ah, I'll order room service when I call you."

Thinking it was Shin Jiwoon, I said, but a voice came from outside.

"Juwon!"

It was Park Suhyun, one of the members of The Boys.

"Suhyun hyung?"

An Juwon opened the door, and Park Suhyun said,

"I rented a fitness room, so let's all shoot the behind-the-scenes footage."

"Behind-the-scenes? Ah… okay."

An Juwon nodded and asked me,

"Should I order room service when I get back?"

"Ah, let's do that."

After An Juwon left, I continued working. Then, my eyes hurt, so I leaned back and pressed my eyes with both hands. When I looked at the clock, it was already past eleven.

"What, why isn't An Juwon back yet?"

I checked my phone late and saw a message had come a while ago.

[An Joo: Haewon, sorry, but we have to shoot content even while eating.]

[Shin Jiwoon: Me too :^(]

"Damn, I didn't see it."

It was too late to order room service. Fortunately, they said drinks were still available, so I ordered coffee and fruit juice.

While drinking, I remembered what was said about us being on the Indonesian trending topics and checked Twitter. It turned out Choi Yunsol was trending.

#NotManipulated

#Yunsol, I Missed You

‘The Boys’ being on stage with nine members, Choi Yunsol, who had been away from the entertainment industry for a while, was back in the spotlight. I don't really understand how Twitter works, so I struggled to find the Indonesian trending topics. Unable to resist my damn curiosity, I inadvertently clicked on the trending topic.

#Yunsol, I Missed You

[Originally, Yunsol should have been in Para…]

[Haewon isn't bad, but Para should have been the debut group to make it more meaningful.]

[I want to see The Boys without the manipulated member :((((]

[Wasn't Para The Boys without the manipulated member? That person just didn't know better.]

[Damn, fans are so scary I can't even say the name. I don't like the drama, so why should they be the debut group?]

These were the expected reactions, but seeing them in reality made my stomach churn.

I should only look at the Xbus where our Hae-tal fans are. I opened the Xbus app and healed by looking at the daily lives that the Hae-tal fans shared.

With the rehearsal time really running out, I was considering taking a short nap when the door opened and An Juwon came in with a bag.

"Haewon, you haven't eaten, right?"

"How did you know?"

"There was no response. Do you want to eat this at least?"

"Oh, thank you."

When I opened the bag, it was a sandwich from a convenience store. I happily ate the sandwich and asked,

"Why did it take so long to shoot?"

"They were shooting all sorts of things. Jiwoon is still shooting."

"Why so much for just one stage?"

"Exactly."

Maybe it's because there are so many stages… Ah, even one stage is so damn stressful.

My head was pounding, but since I was really hungry, I put the sandwich in my mouth. An Juwon continued,

"But it was good to see Yunsol smiling. It seems he really struggled for two years."

"Ah, I heard he's suing the agency."

"Yeah, he's had a tough time in many ways."

"Right."

Still, the fact that those members were chosen by the public kept bothering me. I wasn't chosen.

Being active as De Rising is truly happy, but overcoming that fact seems difficult.

Maybe because I was particularly down today, I ended up getting sick.

* * *

After throwing up everything I ate and taking medicine, I finally calmed down a bit after stylist Lee Ye-young used a needle to treat my hands with a folk remedy.

An Juwon said apologetically,

"Maybe I bought the wrong thing."

"What, don't say that. It's uncomfortable."

"Ah, right. Sorry."

"Sleep after the rehearsal, and you'll be fine."

The rehearsal for De Rising and The Boys started at four in the morning.

Because I was sick, I had to manage my facial expressions, so I kept wearing a black mask and a hat.

We have a rehearsal now, and in the afternoon, there's a pre-recording for De Rising's intro. Tomorrow morning at eight, we have another run-through rehearsal and a red carpet.

To endure this schedule, I'll have to go back to the hotel and rest in between, hoping my condition improves.

Just before going on stage, while checking the final choreography details in the waiting room, I said to Hwang Saebiuk,

"Saebiuk, the rhythm here is wrong."

"Ah, you're right."

"What if you mess it up on the day before the show?"

It was probably because there were so many stages…

Hearing my voice, Hwang Saebiuk said,

"But your voice sounds off."

"Damn. I've been throwing up."

"What are you going to do?"

"I won't talk anymore."

I said and put the mask back on.

Meanwhile, the members were busy with the behind-the-scenes footage for ‘The Boys.’ It seems they plan to shoot about ten episodes based on this music award. It's ridiculous, really.

With six out of seven members missing, it was impossible to shoot our behind-the-scenes footage. With nothing to do, I sat on the sofa when the dance team leader, Jang Jiyoung, asked me,

"Haewon, are you okay?"

"Do I look heavy?"

"No, not really."

"Then I'm fine."

Phew, what a nuisance.

Still, fortunately, when we entered the performance venue from the waiting room, my excitement boosted my condition.

"Wow, what is this? The stage is really big."

I was distracted by looking around the stage. I heard it was the main stadium for the Asian Games, and it was the largest stage I've ever been to.

Suddenly, my adrenaline surged, and I was so excited that Jang Jiyoung said in disbelief,

"You really can't survive long without being on stage. How does your expression change so quickly when you see the stage?"

"How can I not be excited when I see this stage? It's so big."

I said and looked back at the audience.

Thinking about how it will be packed with people, my fear and tension disappeared.

The Boys' rehearsal started first, so I sat in the audience to watch. Even though Hwang Saebiuk was criticized for his choreography, his scene playing the electric guitar, which he had cherished more than his own body since Korea, was honestly cool.

After The Boys' stage, more behind-the-scenes footage was shot upstairs. While I was sitting in the audience, waiting endlessly, someone plopped down next to me and greeted me.

"Hello."

"Yes, An… Oh! Oh!"

Thinking it was a staff member, I greeted them, but I stopped mid-sentence and jumped up. Sitting next to me was my role model, who inspired me to become an idol, Big Blue's Lee Junhee.

"Wow, wow, what is this."

I quickly covered my mouth, but it was too late. Lee Junhee said, looking surprised,

"Calling a senior of ten years 'what is this' is a bit much, isn't it?"

Oh, damn, I'm screwed.

Still, I was secretly relieved that I didn't swear at my favorite member.