The Pyeongchang G 100 concert at Gwanghwamun Square ca to a safe close.
-Thank you!
With a hopeful song sung together by all perforrs, everyone waved at the audience.
-Pyeongchang fighting!
-Please move in an orderly manner on your way back! Watch your step and check that you haven’t dropped anything!
Because such a massive crowd had gathered, announcents continued even after the broadcast ended.
Our resident safety fanatic grabbed the mic.
-Let’s move slowly and calmly. If you have children with you, please hold their hands and take care of them.
Thankfully, people followed instructions well.
In truth, we hardly needed to guide them. The crowd exited in astonishingly orderly fashion.
We gave thumbs up to people who even picked up their trash.
-Thank you all so much for coming!
“Waaaaaaah!”
-We’ll be heading out now as well. Have a happy day! This has been NewBlack!
We waved at the remaining telephoto caras and phone cams before stepping off the now quiet stage.
“The Minister is coming!”
“This is from the IOC......”
We took photos with the Olympic officials who arrived in a bustle.
Said goodbye to fellow singers.
And then were ambushed by the four mber girl group we had been dreading.
“Kyaaaaak!”
Maybe it was because they were wearing fluffy fur coats for warmth on stage.
They looked like flamingos.
Goddesses turned bloodthirsty birds screeched.
“When did I ever make that expression, Sun Wooju?!”
“Oh co on. I know our Nayun doesn’t make that face. I just exaggerated for dramatic effect.”
“When did we ever sing in such an infuriating way—”
“Noona. Exaggeration. Exaggeration.”
To calm the overheated group still fuming about the NewCalet stage, I called for Junhyun.
“Junhyun, maybe teach these ladies so relaxing stretch—”
I turned my head.
The minions had already fled behind a stage structure, staring blankly at from afar.
“.......”
“.......”
I narrowed my eyes and smiled kindly.
“You just abandoned ?”
The maknae answered boldly.
“You won’t die there anyway. The noona will keep the song making machine alive.”
“Right. We’re the ones with fly lives.”
Biju nodded, and the other two followed.
My mouth fell open.
They ran to save themselves while I faced the monsters alone.
Clicking my tongue, I turned back.
“.......”
“.......”
The four monsters surrounded with grim expressions.
I smiled and proposed.
“Let’s sign a B side contract.”
“......!”
Their eyes changed instantly.
Ara transford like a hired assassin.
“Terms?”
“Go capture those guys first.”
“Confird.”
Swish.
The four lted into motion like shadows.
Soon pitiful screams echoed.
“Aaaah!”
“Ngh! I’ll curse you, Sun Wooju! I’ll curse—”
While listening to their screams like classical music, main vocal Bom handed a warm canned drink.
Her smile was pure capitalist kindness.
“Please have this, Composer.”
“Oh my. Thank you. Haha.”
“And a hot pack for your hand.”
“You didn’t have to, haha!”
While sipping warm chocolate, my phone lit up.
Lee Hyeonjo: You really don’t need a styler?
Lee Hyeonjo: After eating out, if you hang your clothes inside it, it removes at sll really well.
Street Boys were offering to buy sothing, perhaps bothered by Teen Spirit’s ten massage chairs.
Scarlet, who had approached like mortal enemies, were suddenly gentle.
And the minions’ beautiful screams echoed.
“Hoo......”
It was a day that made think B side business was quite profitable.
After the Pyeongchang G 100 concert.
We returned to normal life.
Fashion Week, Japan tour, finale concert, breathless schedules passed, and finally peaceful—
-11.16 Mango Chart Awards
-11.20 Arican Music Awards AMA
-12.01 K Net Music Awards
We exchanged warm smiles looking at the schedule.
“Peaceful daily life? What is that. Can you eat it?”
“If all you do is practice, that’s peaceful. At least there’s nothing else.”
“That’s true.”
Ah.
We’re back to daily life. So why am I tearing up.
“Three awards this ti......”
Mango and KMA alone take about a month to prepare.
Now AMA was added.
“At least we’re only performing one song at AMA.”
“Right.”
It would be busy.
But this is what makes it worth it.
Think positive.
If not, my brain might overload.
“Let’s plan one by one.”
It was like three major company wide presentations within a month.
Even planning rehearsals was work.
Biju and Ri Hyuk drafted schedules, and we refined them into a month plan.
“Hyungs.”
The maknae pointed at Saturday.
“Sorry, I’ll be back at dawn that day.”
“Why?”
“.......”
He pressed his lips together.
“Drama filming.”
“Ah.”
“When the schedule was fixed, AMA wasn’t on the calendar yet. It’s hard to cancel......”
“It’s fine.”
“After that, only retakes next month. Don’t worry~”
He apologized sincerely.
“It’s okay. One day won’t set us back.”
“Right.”
Biju agreed.
“We did concerts for over six months. One day doesn’t matter.”
“Yeah......”
Jiho pressed his lips then smiled brightly.
“If hyungs say so, I’m grateful~”
“Good. Then next......”
As we moved on, the maknae scratched the practice room floor and lowered his head.
A faint shadow crossed his face.
Just as his eyes seed about to well up—
“I’ll go wash up.”
“Okay.”
We continued the eting until he left.
Click.
“Isn’t he totally sulking?”
Ri Hyuk giggled.
We nodded.
“Completely.”
“He was seconds away from the faucet bursting.”
“He went to eat tteokbokki again.”
Our code for crying.
“He’s all grown up though.”
He was no longer a child.
After graduation, baby fat gone, he looked early twenties.
Depending on makeup, anywhere from late teens to late twenties.
Tall nose, handso like an actor.
Yet still the maknae.
“He has reason to feel hurt.”
“True.”
We had promised to visit set and never went.
Not on purpose. Just no ti.
Other tis, he had no filming.
“The director said he bragged that we’d visit.”
“Really?”
Biju’s eyes drooped like a puppy.
“Then we must go.”
“We will.”
We had already called the director and production.
They were thrilled to include NewBlack visit in making film.
“So......”
We pretended not to know.
Thinking of his hopeful eyes made my chest twinge.
“But that’s the joy of surprise.”
“Right.”
Click.
The door opened.
The maknae returned, face damp.
“......Hup.”
We suppressed laughter.
He sat quietly, rubbing his eyes.
We smiled softly.
D Day Saturday.
Jiho left for filming at dawn.
Soon after, we headed to Gangwon.
“Why Gangwon?”
Assistant Manager Wonseok answered.
“They need snowy background for a scene. So things can’t be CG.”
“Ah.”
“Security is tight.”
The drama Jiho was filming was Shin I.
A high schooler in appearance but thousands of years old, hunting evil spirits with a secret agency.
Season two involved ti travel to historical Korea.
Birch forest, snow, explosions.
When we arrived, vehicles filled the lot.
“Wow.”
It was huge scale.
“Hello!”
An assistant director greeted us.
“Only the director and writer know?”
“Yes.”
We wore long padding, hats, masks.
Snow crunched underfoot.
“Action!”
Extras rolled in snow.
“Jiho is there.”
In independence fighter costu, script tucked under arm, staring at monitor.
“Should we greet?”
“Later.”
We watched from afar.
He didn’t look around.
When not watching monitor, he studied script.
Murmuring lines.
Then approaching actors and director to brighten mood.
More duty than desire.
“I’ve never seen him like that.”
“He’s not usually that responsible.”
Like seeing a child at kindergarten laughing after crying at ho.
“It feels wrong to interrupt.”
“Then one thod.”
“I’ll go disguised.”
Using Silhouette Masking, I went down.
Everyone treated as staff.
t Jiwoon’s eyes.
He recognized .
“Shh.”
“Okay.”
“Secret.”
I handed Jiho water.
In a slightly hoarse voice.
“Jiho, have so water.”
“.......”
“Jiho.”
“Ah.”
He looked up.
“Thank you.”
Tired voice.
He drank and returned it politely.
“Thank you.”
“.......”
“I was out of it. I haven’t had enough practice ti......”
He apologized vaguely.
I returned quietly.
“He didn’t recognize you?”
“No. He looks unwell.”
We decided to reveal ourselves later.
“My head......”
Jiho twisted the cap of his water bottle.
Took painkiller.
Closed his eyes.
It felt like dwarfs hamring his temples.
He read script but words blurred.
“Should’ve just slept.”
Was he even good?
Director said yes.
“Ah.”
He asked manager.
“The person who gave water and snacks earlier.”
“Yes?”
“Who was that?”
“......”
“Not important. Just checking if I thanked properly.”
“You did.”
“Good.”
He was careful about reputation.
Rembering his hyungs’ faces made him annoyed.
“How could they not co even once.”
He decided to slam dorm door later.
But control it enough not to get scolded.
“Jiho, standby!”
“Yes!”
He smiled brightly and entered the snow.
“Ready! Action!”
He imagined Manchuria, gunfire.
Ran.
“Bang! Bang!”
Director made sound effects.
He ran up a slope.
“Ugh!”
He tripped on a root.
Thud.
“Jiho! Are you okay?”
“Yes! I’m fine!”
His knee stung.
Finger scraped.
One drop of blood.
It didn’t hurt much.
But today everything felt unfair.
He tried not to cry.
Then—
Thud thud thud!
Padded figures ran down slope.
“Hey!”
“Are you okay?!”
“Jiho!”
He tilted his head.
“Uh?”
It was his hyungs.
They pulled off masks.
“Are you okay?”
His mind blanked.
“Uh?”
Why were they here?
Sothing swelled inside.
What he had held back all day broke.
A tear fell.
“Why is he like this?”
“Hey.”
“Where are you hurt? Does it hurt that much?”
Jiho covered his face and burst into tears, and his hyungs panicked.
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