“I thought shooting a fun party scene would be easy. But it turned out to be the hardest.”
“Tell me about it. With the camera right in front of me, I got self-conscious and stiffened up. I think I made the most NGs.”
“No, hyung. The one who made the most NGs was… um.”
Ryu Jaehee, who was chatting excitedly with Kim Dobin after the shoot, glanced at Seo Ye-hyun and trailed off.
Fortunately, Seo Ye-hyun didn’t notice.
Having finished shooting the house party scene at the villa, we gathered to review the final video.
Even though one person, whose face stood out the most, appeared a bit stiff, it wasn’t too noticeable.
The video turned out well enough that comparing it to the “Come to My Universe” music video felt almost criminal.
Editing would probably make it look even more natural.
Now, all that’s left is the Dance Practice Video and recording one remaining song.
On the way back to the dorm, I went over the schedule until the comeback.
Since we’re renting a dance studio for a short shoot for the Dance Practice Video, it won’t take long as long as Seo Ye-hyun doesn’t make many mistakes.
The recording won’t take too much time either, as long as Seo Ye-hyun stays focused.
Damn, everything hinges on Seo Ye-hyun, doesn’t it?
When Seo Ye-hyun feels like a hopeless hole in the team and I get so frustrated I want to pick a fight, I have a coping mechanism.
I search “REVE fan” online.
Reading the posts about people becoming fans of REVE, along with Seo Ye-hyun’s pictures, calms me down. It makes me realize that this hyung also contributes significantly to REVE.
It keeps me grounded, protects my mental health, prevents team conflicts, and completes my weekly search quests—all in one go.
Today, as usual, I regained my composure and sank into the living room sofa at the dorm, closing my eyes.
“Eden, wash up and go to bed.”
“I’m not going to sleep yet…”
Barely conscious, I replied to Gyeon Hajun, but then a loud shout jolted me awake.
“Holy crap, it’s out!”
Who’s the main vocalist? His voice is insanely loud.
Before I could scold him for the volume, Ryu Jaehee beat me to it with a full-throated shout.
“Seoraon’s 10th-anniversary new song is out!”
Oh, was that today?
Blinking my dry eyes, I checked the music chart and saw it ranked first.
[1st-new ‘Seoraon – What Ending (Feat. Yoon Eden of Reve)’ ♥71,234]
“Wow, how do they hit number one right after release? I’m so jealous.”
“Ha, that’s the power of Seoraon.”
Seo Ye-hyun, his nose in the air, scolded the youngest member.
“Is this our song? Why are you so proud?”
“Because I’m a Joyful.”
By the way, Joyful is Seoraon’s fan club name.
“And you guys should be proud too. Our group’s name is prominently featured on a song that hit number one right after release.”
“It’s not even a group project; it’s just Yoon Eden featuring. Why are you so proud?”
“He’s the same Seo as me.”
“Same Seo, my foot. Do you, a so-called Joyful, not know that Seoraon’s real name is On Se Ra?”
“I know, I was just kidding…”
Patting the dejected youngest on the head, I nonchalantly retorted to Seo Ye-hyun’s words.
“Sure, I only featured, but our beloved member’s name is on the song, so why look at the world so cynically?”
“Can you drop the ‘beloved’ crap? Don’t you see my goosebumps?”
“Nope, and I don’t particularly want to see your goosebumps.”
“Damn you.”
At this point, this kind of conversation didn’t even chip away any initial intention and showed how close and friendly we were.
No matter how kindly we spoke on broadcasts, if such everyday conversations were leaked, REVE would be swamped with rumors of discord. Gyeon Ha-jun had emphasized countless times to speak kindly to each other, but unfortunately, this was our best.
Being any kinder would make us vomit while talking.
Thanks to Ryu Jaehee, who played the song without earphones, the familiar melody filled the room.
Seoraon’s smooth tune, which I had heard dozens of times before and after recording the featuring part, and then.
[One secret I couldn’t tell you
I confess it in your absence]
My voice, which I heard in this song for the first time.
For some reason, it felt surreal, so I checked my name and the group name again.
Seeing my name at the top made me feel giddy. After the reverse run of “One Chance” it was another achievement thanks to the butterfly effect.
As soon as my featuring part ended, Ryu Jaehee stuttered with disjointed exclamations of admiration.
“Wow, hyung, wow… Your featuring is perfect. Amazing, just… wow.”
“Speak like a human, will you?”
Despite my scolding, a pleasant smile never left my face.
“The vocals blended well. The featuring part wasn’t awkward at all and was clean.”
“Oh, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”
Grinning at Gyeon Ha-jun’s perfect feedback, I leaned my head comfortably on the sofa.
That guy knows me too well.
“Isn’t genuine admiration like mine better than such cold analysis?”
“No, not at all.”
“Hyung, your MBTI is T, right?”
“Was it?”
Replying nonchalantly, I captured the screen showing the number one chart and sent a message to Lee Ji Won.
[(Photo)]
[Thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve seen my name at number one on the chart for the first time.]
[Though it’s just featuring] 7:01 PM
[G1 Hyung- Featuring also earns royalties.]
[G1 Hyung- Feel free to be happy as if it’s your song.] 7:03 PM
[G1 Hyung- But don’t actually go around saying it’s your song.] 7:04 PM
[I know my place;;] 7:04 PM
[G1 Hyung- I was kidding ㅋㅋ You’re not the type to do that anyway.] 7:05 PM
‘Since when did this hyung know me so well to make such assertions?’
Well, it’s not a bad thing to be seen that way.
[G1 Hyung- By the way, Sera noona said she really liked your featuring.]
[G1 Hyung- She also said Seo Ye-hyun is the best-looking in your group.] 7:07 PM
[What about me?] 7:08 PM
[G1 Hyung- I saw your group shot too, but I can’t say you’re the best-looking.]
[G1 Hyung- I’ll say you’re the second best-looking.] 7:10 PM
[It’s true I’m the second best-looking in the team, to be honest.] 7:11 PM
[G1 Hyung- You’re a funny guy ㅋㅋㅋㅋ] 7:12 PM
It stung a bit that my most sincere comment was taken as a joke, but I diligently passed on the message.
“Hyung, Seoraon sunbae said you’re the best-looking in our group.”
“Eden hyung, what about me? Did Seoraon noona mention me at all? Like saying I’m the best singer, or the cutest, well, I wouldn’t hope for such things…! Or at least the shortest?”
Looking down at the desperate youngest with pity, I responded in a single word.
“Nope.”
Feeling sorry, I’ll at least make sure to get an autograph for you, kid.
***
– “I thought the featuring rapper was an idol ㄷㄷ.”
– “Why is the featuring part so good? It really adds flavor.”
– “Oh, it’s that guy from One Chance. I almost didn’t recognize him with the new rap style.”
– “The song is good. The featuring part isn’t jarring and fits well.”
“The public response isn’t bad.”
I sighed with relief that there weren’t many comments saying the featuring was annoying.
Of course, there’s a version without the featuring uploaded on YouTube, but we should respect the preferences of a few.
Luckily, the view count and likes on that damn video were significantly low, allowing for some generosity.
Naturally, the public was more interested in Seraon’s vocals than the 25-second featuring part by a rookie idol rapper.
– “Did I miss Eden in the ‘What Ending’ MV? I watched it 20 times, but he wasn’t in itㅠ.”
– “Please appear on music shows with Seoraonㅜㅜㅜ.”
– “Favorite artist’s song + favorite artist’s featuring = heavenly combination.”
– “It’s not just because he’s my favorite, but the rap part is really good. Even my friend who’s a Seoraon fan agrees.”
– “I’m so proud that our Yoon is getting recognized for his talent. I hope REVE gets even more successful so everyone knows them by name.”
– “Damn, just because he’s an idol, they really look down on himㅋㅋ I won’t acknowledge it until he leaves the idol scene. Even without your recognition, our Eden is the best in Korean hip-hop.”
The fans seemed to have mixed feelings but were happy about the release.
“Thanks to Eden hyung, we also had another resurgence. We’re in the TOP 100 on the chart right now. It’s 98th place, but still.”
“Considering how much time has passed since our activities ended, 98th place is great.”
Gyeon Ha-jun chuckled.
But hasn’t it only been a month since our activities ended? Some artists stayed in the top 30 even three weeks after their release.
“Manager hyung, aren’t we getting any variety show invitations? I want to experience being on a variety show, even a third-rate one.”
At Kim Dobin’s naive comment, I clicked my tongue in irritation.
He’s being spoiled. Does he know how humiliating it is to be ignored and edited out on a third-rate variety show?
Right now, the CEO cuts those shows out because we’re doing well enough without them, so you’ll never know the pain.
But before the reset, when we were nobodies, we had no choice but to go on those shows, get ignored, and hold back tears, biting our lips in frustration.
Of course, this is now a past that only I remember and a future that will never happen.
“Guys, we’re here.”
At the manager’s words, everyone unbuckled their seatbelts, got up groggily, and got out of the car.
‘Damn…’
I looked up at the disgustingly clear sky and let out a deep sigh.
The air was cool, hinting that winter was approaching.
As I ran my fingers through my temporarily black hair sprayed with hair color spray, the stylist following me nagged not to ruin the set hair.
My hair was roughly trimmed and styled to resemble a permed two-block cut, knowing the front hair would grow back anyway.
Today’s schedule was an event in the countryside, filling in for a group that had canceled.
It wasn’t a festival inviting only unknown, failing groups like REVE used to grind through before the reset, but a reasonably well-lined event.
“Holy crap, it’s Adora!”
Seeing Kim Dobin cover his mouth in fake surprise as if he just learned Adora was in the lineup, despite gushing all day yesterday about her attending, I sighed again.
“If you go crazy trying to get her number, you’re dead. And aren’t you going to add ‘sunbae’ after her name? Do you want to get caught up in a controversy about your manners?”
***
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