Chapter 41

Chapter 9: Things Not to Miss

That day, the late-night concert recording was a success.

Perhaps it was due to the joy of our song becoming the title track, but our performance naturally had more energy than usual.

The audience's reaction was also great.

After the recording ended, during the farewell, the PD praised our stage and even mentioned that he would like to invite us again if there was another opportunity.

"You all worked hard, my babies."

At the final farewell, So-won senior hugged us.

Even though we weren't going to see each other for a while, my eyes were moist.

Jang So-won, who had been looking at us like an older sister, suddenly remembered something and said just before we parted.

"Right, I'm going to be a DJ on the HBS evening radio."

Music Cafe wasn't just beneficial for us.

It also provided a good opportunity for the singer-songwriter who had been surviving on drama OSTs after the group's disbandment.

For So-won senior, it was an opportunity that came after a long period of hardship.

The DJ position for the most popular program at HBS Radio.

While the success of Something played a role, the radio station decided she was the right person after seeing how she skillfully managed the rookie New Black and led the talk on Music Cafe.

"I'll make sure to get 'Fireworks' on the playlist when you debut. If there's time, I'll try to invite you as guests too. How does that sound?"

"Of course. I'd go even if you didn't invite us."

Jang So-won's face was full of smiles as she waved goodbye.

That's how we wrapped up the happy times from February to May.

Well, the person who was most disappointed was, of course, our road manager.

Min-ki hyung waved his hand like someone waving a handkerchief to a spouse going off to war.

Everyone bit their lips to hold back their laughter.

* * *

After some time, our debut date was confirmed.

June 19th.

It was as we had heard when signing the trainee contract.

The investors were pushing hard to debut the kids, so they set June 2014 as the target.

We had about a month and a half left.

To lose weight, we adjusted our diet, took Japanese and English lessons, went to the gym for PT, got skin care at the salon, and learned how to handle variety shows. Time was tight.

But no one complained about the schedule.

Even though it was tough, everyone knew that this time would never come again.

Most trainees just want to debut first.

They think that once they appear on TV, everything will fall into place.

We thought the same before our debut.

But after actually going out, we realized something.

The days flew by in music shows, and even with events and schedules, the days passed quickly.

After experiencing this, we understood how foolish it was to think we could practice while active.

It's like a job seeker saying, "Well, I can get a certification after I get a job," which sounds foolish to a working professional.

That's why we were determined not to miss this time and focused on our practice.

And.

I had one more task.

"This is a song created by a composition group called OK Ranch last year. Listen and give me your thoughts. We think this group's style matches 'Fireworks,' so we're considering outsourcing a track for this album."

The A&R team's office was filled with equipment that made my eyes widen.

I was sitting with the staff, working on our debut album.

The play button was pressed, and a refreshing melody tickled my ears. Just like 'Fireworks' starts with Jung-hyun's rap, this song also began with a refreshing rap. It turned out to be a song by Scarlett.

Was this from their second album?

The song, which started with rapper Daisy's voice, ended, and I opened my mouth.

"It's from Scarlett's second album. 'Summer Nights,' right?"

"Oh, you know it?"

"I listen to most idol songs to keep up with trends. Well... I do think this song matches 'Fireworks' in style. It has a refreshing summer vibe, which is good."

"Right?"

I added to the enthusiastic staff.

"But, if I may say so, if we're going to commission a song, I'd like it to be different from 'Summer Nights.' This song matches 'Fireworks' too perfectly. There's a risk that the B-side could be overshadowed by the title track. I'd prefer a song with a different vibe."

I recalled something.

"There's a song called 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' on Teen Spirit's third album. It has a dreamy, future house feel, and it was also composed by OK Ranch. I think a different vibe with a summer night theme would be good."

"A Midsummer Night's Dream? Was there such a song?"

Most of the staff seemed unaware. After a moment, those who found the song on a music site nodded.

"This one's good too. Actually, we were planning to commission a song in a different direction because 'Summer Nights' was too similar."

"You really know a lot of songs. Did you listen to them for your studies?"

"I originally wanted to work in A&R. I was even preparing for the college entrance exam to go to a music university."

The staff burst into laughter.

It was a familiar laugh, similar to the one I heard from the kid at the bus stop during my leave.

He said he wanted to be a soldier when he saw me in my uniform.

One of the staff, wiping away tears from laughter, asked,

"How is it working here?"

"Every day feels new. I like working in music, but it's also made me realize that it's not easy to live off someone else's money."

The staff laughed in agreement.

It was hard to tell if they were laughing or crying.

One thing was certain: if I had to choose a new dream, I wouldn't choose A&R.

Whether it's the PR team, management, or A&R, this entertainment industry grinds people to do the work.

I knew how tough management and PR were from my interactions with managers and PR teams.

So, A&R seemed like a relatively relaxed utopia, but it turned out to be a hell of its own.

First, the workload.

With no clear boundaries in tasks like song selection, planning, composition, and album design, work just keeps piling up.

Moreover, if the album fails, other departments are quick to blame, saying, "They did a bad job!" which adds to the stress.

The staff I saw were more like stressed employees than free-spirited musicians.

"I'm sorry. The schedule is already tight, and now the album concept has changed, adding more work."

"Yeah, you should have made a decent song."

"Right. Instead of bringing a B-side, you should have brought a title track."

I offered to buy them some late-night snacks.

The response was positive.

Sitting in the 4th-floor lounge, one of the staff, after breaking a pair of chopsticks, asked,

"By the way, you said you're off tomorrow. Do you have any plans?"

"No. We decided to do our own things. We thought about doing something together, but Lee-hyuk said, 'Why see each other on our day off when we see each other every day.'"

Everyone laughed, saying it was just like Lee-hyuk.

Tomorrow was Buddha's Birthday.

It was the first official holiday for New Black. A perfect day off with no lessons or work.

Just thinking about it made my heart race.

When I get back to the dorm, I'll just wash my hair and go to bed. Watching a movie before sleeping would make it the best day ever.

While I was thinking this,

"Jae-woo, didn't you say the kids are at the dorm?"

"Ah, yes."

"I just saw Biju."

"What? That's impossible..."

But as I said this, Biju was really walking in the direction the chopsticks pointed.

Through the glass, in the hallway.

Biju was looking down with a serious expression, not noticing us watching from the lounge. He then knocked on the door with a serious look.

"Isn't this the manager's office?"

The staff murmured and asked me,

"Something must be up. Jae-woo, what's going on?"

"I don't know either."

Even if I knew, I would have pretended not to. But in this case, I really didn't know.

What's wrong with Biju?

He started acting strange a month ago. I tried to find out what was wrong but stopped.

He seemed to be back to normal, so I thought, "Whatever it was, it's resolved."

But now, it seems that wasn't the case.

Thinking about it,

He seemed to be back to normal the day after I confronted Jung-hyun about what was wrong with him.

Thinking about it, it all fits.

He must have talked to Jung-hyun and decided not to show it.

Maybe I was too indifferent.

As a group leader, I should have checked on the members' conditions and thoughts every day.

I was too absorbed in composing.

I only heard from Biju that the others were worried about him.

After all, the most important thing is our members, not just practice or composing.

I glanced at the office door through the glass.

The door was closed, and we were also separated by glass, so there was no way to know what was being said.

My mind kept coming up with negative thoughts.

I waited for Biju to come out to talk, but he didn't until I left the lounge that day.

* * *

"What are you thinking so deeply about?"

"About Biju."

"Unbelievable, really. You have such a cute brother right next to you, and you