Second Try Idol

Chapter 190: Joy (27)

The stage was adorned with screens displaying cherry blossoms painted in soft pastels. It was a picturesque backdrop redesigned by the choreographer who had witnessed our performance at a previous school event.

The dance was initially designed for us to rally in the center with hands united as if chanting a rallying cry, but this rendition had us facing each other with hands clasped—what a subtle yet poignant change.

Framed by the fluttering cherry blossoms in the intro, our smiles emerged, natural and contagious. As the intro faded, the powerful drums kicked in, propelling us into a synchronized jump that landed us in a meticulously crafted formation.

Stepping back gracefully, I watched as Jin-Sung burst forward with energy that matched the dynamic beats. The choreography embodied the essence of Chronos's youthful vigor and passion, each move a testament to our collective spirit.

Initially mirroring the formation, the dance evolved to showcase individual flair, diverging at a crescendo in the intro. With Jin-Sung at the center, we subtly shifted, morphing the formation with seamless precision.

Then, the choreography transitioned as I reclaimed the center and picked up the energetic dance where Jin-Sung had left off. Although not visible from the front, Joo-Han was mirroring my steps from my previous position. This part of the choreography highlighted our individual styles and ensured that our unique dance identities shone through clearly.

I led the first verse with a melody that lifted the spirits.

The spring sun has risen

Though the spring breeze is still chilly,

When you wide open the window and take a deep breath,

the day begins♪

As I bent down, Jin-Sung used my back as a launchpad for his leap and smoothly transitioned into his part. Followed by Joo-Han and then Goh Yoo-Joon, we introduced each other's parts like a musical and weaved a tapestry of joy across the stage.

As I caught sight of Goh Yoo-Joon playfully mastering his part, I couldn't resist it. I directly dashed toward him with a grin and leaped to cling onto his back.

Goh Yoo-Joon's muscles tensed instinctively, his posture steady as he supported my weight without a wobble. I then gestured grandly toward the sky and continued my part.

Ah! There go the rolling leaves!♪

In perfect harmony, Jin-Sung spun on his heel and tossed paper leaves into the air.

Hehehe♪

This was a playful twist encouraged by our agency. Thinking of the lyrics, we crafted these paper leaves together in the morning. It was a creative workaround.

As Jin-Sung made way, Yoon-Chan stepped into the spotlight to sing his part, his tender gaze and gentle voice melding perfectly with the song's theme.

Sliding off Goh Yoo-Joon's back, I casually slung my arm around his shoulder. We seamlessly regrouped into a triangular formation with Yoon-Chan at the forefront, and a whistle pierced the air, signaling the start of our synchronized dance. With hands nonchalantly tucked in our pockets, we let our feet carry the rhythm.

‘This part is bound to be a hit with the audience.’

Yoon-Chan beamed with contentment at the center, manifesting the song's essence. At that moment, prideful eyes silently cheered him on as I smoothly transitioned to the center, adding an extra flair to the choreography with my movements.

The music swelled, and electric guitars wove through the melody, leading us into the second verse and building up to the climactic highlight.

As the climax approached, I found myself encircled by my fellow members, the spotlight squarely on me. The high note was always a daunting challenge as it demanded me to belt out everything I had.

Pouring my soul into it, I delivered the note with a perfect blend of power and melody. Navigating this prolonged, unwavering high note was an ordeal in itself, intensified by the relentless pace.

In the middle of the formation, I watched as my fellow members danced in harmony, their movements echoing the band's lively rhythm and my soaring vocals. As we neared the song's finale, the energy of the audience peaked as each face was alight with the thrill of performance. This song was a true anthem of joy, transforming the arduous comeback preparations into a stage brimming with delightful memories.

Pink cherry blossoms flutter in the wind

And you and I are laughing

I capture your smile in a photo,

And you shyly lower your head

The excitement swells,

It's a relief that we are here today♪

A whimsical thought crossed my mind. ‘If only cherry blossoms fluttered down from above, the scene would have been even more dramatic.'

I wrapped up my part and felt a gentle weight on my shoulder. Jin-Sung had come up beside me and rested his elbow there.

Our most brilliant moment,

Becomes a beautiful filter,

Gifting us a lifetime of joy♪

As Jin-Sung's arm lifted from my shoulder, another immediately took its place, grounding itself with a comforting weight. The rest of the members, who had been waiting in the wings, eagerly closed in to link arms with Jin-Sung and me in a powerful display of solidarity.

As the robust melody of the instruments started to ebb away, it gave way to the delicate strains of a piano. This melody, reminiscent of the opening, carried a bittersweet solitude as if marking the day's end.

With the song reaching its conclusion, the lights dimmed momentarily before flooding the stage with brightness once more. We spread out and aligned ourselves side by side. Then we bowed deeply in gratitude.

“Thank you! Thank you so much for watching Chronos’s showcase!"

“Your presence here tonight means the world to us, thank you."

When we arrived backstage, a wave of contentment washed over each of our faces, reflecting that the performance was well-delivered. The time and effort we had poured into preparing it seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye, but we didn’t leave any regrets behind. It was a perfect execution that left us feeling exhilarated.

“Everyone, you truly outdid yourselves today."

“You are saying that already? The journey's just beginning, haha."

Goh Yoo-Joon's playful nudge on Joo-Han's back brought forth a light chuckle and an acknowledging nod from the rest of us.

“We've given our all up until now. I can finally offer my praise wholeheartedly. I'm sincerely thankful to all of you."

Joo-Han certainly felt elated as his composition had led us to this moment. That feeling of pride seemed to radiate from him, touching me deeply. Each member caught their breath and grinned when they looked at him. It was a silent salute to our shared journey.

As the showcase came to an end, exhaustion washed over us like a wave, and we quickly succumbed to sleep as we settled into the car.

We found ourselves back at the dormitory upon waking up. Goh Yoo-Joon was still groggy, but he had begun checking the Rings’ reactions online. Unlike other groups that had a whirlwind of activities post-showcase, Su-Hwan's thoughtful planning afforded us a day to unwind and recuperate.

As we stepped into the dormitory, Su-Hwan called us into the living room. “Fantastic job, everyone. Could you please gather around for a moment?"

“What’s up?"

“Have we got new schedules lined up?"

Su-Hwan set down a white paper bag on the coffee table, his smile tinged with melancholy. “This is a token for your comeback. Regrettably, it will be my last gift to you all."

“A gift?"

“Last?"

“Please, don't say that… That's just... heart-wrenching."

The atmosphere was once buoyant with post-showcase euphoria but now dipped into a somber tone. Noticing our dampened spirit, Su-Hwan quickly unveiled a robust metal case.

“There's also this. It appears that your former manager might have overlooked passing it on."

Joo-Han drew the more opulent-looking case closer and carefully opened it.

“Oh my!"

“Ah, this is..!"

“Oh, right!"

“Goodness, you almost gave me a heart attack."

I grabbed my chest and tried to steady my racing heart. It was the custom microphone we had been awarded during the Chronos History’s episode, a trophy from our victorious clash with Allure. Amidst the chaos of our debut, comebacks, and relentless schedule, we had all forgotten about this extravagant prize from the esteemed Restonmage company.

Yet, Su-Hwan had remembered to retrieve it, even as our former manager, In-Hyun, had nearly let it slip into oblivion. It was both a relief and deeply touching.

“How on earth… did you come to know about this?" asked Joo-Han.

With a sheepish, yet kind-hearted smile, Su-Hwan responded, “I was digging through some pre-debut videos when I stumbled upon it. Given the value of such a prize, I figured you'd have put it to immediate use. I got curious as to why you hadn't and discovered it tucked away in the trunk of In-Hyun's car. Seems like it was forgotten amidst the hustle."

“Wow... Su-Hwan hyung… you really are something else..." Joo-Han looked at Su-Hwan with eyes brimming with gratitude, deeply moved by his thoughtful gesture.

“To think this treasure nearly got lost... Can you imagine? Such a valuable piece..."

There was a brief pause. It was a realization dawning on us that it wasn't just about the item's monetary worth but the joy of rediscovering something so precious.

“And what's this?" Goh Yoo-Joon glanced curiously at the remaining paper bag.

Su-Hwan flashed a sly grin. “This is from me. It seems you all have forgotten something quite important."

“Huh? Forgotten what?"

Su-Hwan pulled out five small boxes from the bag. “I mentioned that you could start using personal phones, but it seems my message got lost midway."

“This is…”

“Congratulations on your comeback.”

They were the newly released smartphones. We then exchanged glances, a wave of guilt washing over us at the sight of Su-Hwan's genuine gift. The old 2G flip phones we had been using since our trainee days were probably still hidden under our pillows.

Su-Hwan's sincere gift weighed heavily on our hearts. He noticed our lackluster reaction and looked puzzled, so he asked, “What's the matter?"

After a brief silent exchange, I spoke up with a mix of embarrassment and guilt.

“We... um, we have something to confess..."

“We are really sorry."

“We messed up, big time!"

Following my lead, the members started to apologize one after the other.

“What's going on?" Su-Hwan asked.

“Hold on a second..."

At Su-Hwan's question, we sheepishly retrieved our personal phones from our rooms one by one.

#Side Story - Concept Photo Shoot (Type B, Park Yoon-Chan)

The director's suggestion seemed a bit too sudden for a newbie idol like Park Yoon-Chan. After all, he was still green in the ways of the industry.

“Please, take your time to think it over and contact Su-Hwan if you are interested. I understand you are busy, so I can wait."

Grateful for the director's understanding, Su-Hwan and Yoon-Chan both nodded appreciatively.

“Thank you, Director. We will be in touch soon."

“It's just a suggestion, so feel free to take your time. Let's take a short break and then resume shooting. You too, Yoon-Chan."

“Yes, Director."

Once the director had left, Yoon-Chan turned to look at Su-Hwan who looked expressionless like usual.

“What would you like to do, Yoon-Chan?"

“I... um..."

The director had spontaneously offered Yoon-Chan a role in his upcoming musical-style short movie. After all, Yoon-Chan's neat appearance could capture attention in an instant. His somewhat shy demeanor and his surprisingly decent acting skills despite his inexperience made him an ideal fit for the project. Being a Chronos member with talents in dancing, singing, and acting, he seemed perfect for the director's vision.

However, despite the flattering offer, Yoon-Chan declined without much hesitation although he was visibly pleased. “I'd rather focus on the group and our performances for now."

Like what Hyun-Woo and the others had done before, Yoon-Chan prioritized the group's stability although he had a keen interest in acting.

“It's a great opportunity though. Aren't you interested in acting, Yoon-Chan? This could be your first step."

Yoon-Chan shook his head while smiling reassuringly at Su-Hwan. His smile was usually tinged with timidity, but it was filled with conviction this time. “If I'm prepared, opportunities will come. For now, I want to progress along with the rest of the members. Just like what Hyun-Woo hyung said, once Chronos’s popularity stabilizes, maybe after our first successful concert, that's when I'd like to give it a try."

At first, Yoon-Chan had found the demands of training, dancing, and singing overwhelming. Despite his rapid rise to an A-grade trainee based on his looks, the cutthroat competition had nearly crushed his spirit.

Even after joining the trainees late and being warmly received for his amiable nature, he lacked close connections with them during his trainee years. Thus, he doubted that debuting would ignite any significant affection or passion within him for the group. At first, he thought that the debut group, which was freshly formed amidst fierce competition, would be all about seizing every opportunity to rise through the ranks between members.

However, Chronos was nothing like that.

“Thank you for the offer, but I'm committed to the group right now. Please tell the director I will come and audition personally next time."

The joy of dancing and singing, the recognition of his own talents, and the confidence his fellow members instilled in him—all of these factors, coupled with the camaraderie and affection they showered upon him, made him believe that opportunities would always come around. Therefore, there was no need to rush.

‘It's not about a competition.’

When Su-Hwan heard Park Yoon-Chan's words that were filled with conviction, his initial surprise quickly turned into a smile. He nodded in understanding. “Understood. Here, take this."

Su-Hwan handed him a pocket watch. “They say it's a prop."

“Thank you so much!"

“Let's get ready to resume shooting!" A staff member's voice echoed from behind the tree-shaded wall.

Yoon-Chan held up the pocket watch and turned around. “Okay! I’m coming!”