Chapter 23: The OST Sung by the Flowers (3)
The current time was 4:00 a.m. An hour before recording, we arrived at the filming location.
I parked the car in the small parking lot and turned off the engine.
“Hey. Wake up. We’re here.”
“…Ugh.”
I shook her shoulder, and Yoo Ah-ra opened her eyes, still groggy. She glanced out the window, then quietly began getting ready.
She adjusted her collar, laced up her shoes tightly, slapped her cheeks a few times to shake off sleep, and opened the door.
“Thank you.”
“Hey, wait a sec.”
Just as she was about to rush off, I handed her two hand warmers I’d secretly picked up at the rest stop. Fortunately, I’d found a ten-thousand-won bill in my pocket, even though I hadn’t brought my wallet.
“Huh?”
“Good luck with the recording. It’s supposed to be cold today.”
“…Right.”
She looked at me, a bit surprised, then stuffed the hand warmers into her pockets and hurried off.
Watching her walk away with the staff who had come to greet her, I closed the van door.
By the time filming ended, another team member would arrive, so my job was done. All I had to do was head home… but,
“Yawn.”
I was exhausted. If I left now, I was bound to get into an accident. A little nap wouldn’t hurt.
“I’m so tired.”
I muttered, reclining my seat.
Maybe it was because I hadn’t slept more than three hours a night recently, but sleep was already drifting over me.
However, even as my consciousness began to fade, my thoughts kept drifting back to the album. The idol track was recorded slowly, but at least it was complete, and the next concept—a sentimental ballad titled ‘Flower Scent’—was almost ready…
…
…
…
Someone shook my shoulder, and I heard a soft, slightly slurred voice through my foggy thoughts.
—Hey. Hey.
The voice stirred me enough to open my eyes a crack.
Yoo Ah-ra was right beside me.
“….”
Instead of being startled, I half-believed I was dreaming and closed my eyes again.
—Hey, wake up. Why are you going back to sleep?
Her voice rang directly in my ear as she shook me even harder, followed by cold raindrops hitting my face. The chill sensation made it clear this wasn’t a dream.
I forced my eyes open wider and looked over. The door was open, rain was pouring down, and Yoo Ah-ra was standing there with an umbrella, still shaking my shoulder.
“Come on out.”
“What? Why?”
“I need some help here.”
She was saying something I couldn’t quite grasp.
“What are you talking about?”
“We’re about to start the performance, I think.”
“…What? And close the door—rain’s getting in.”
“No, just come out first. I brought an umbrella, didn’t I?”
She kept tugging on my arm, but her faint strength wasn’t nearly enough to move a 0.1-ton person like me. Casually, I yawned and asked,
“Yawn. What time is it?”
“One o’clock.”
“What? Wow. I slept eight hours…”
“Forget that. Just get out of the car.”
Though I didn’t understand her sudden urgency, I stepped out of the car. As I stood on the damp ground, wiping sleep from my eyes, a woman suddenly approached and extended her hand toward me.
“Hello! I’m Lee Seung-yeon, one of the writers for ‘Travel Log~’”
“…Excuse me?”
Why was a writer here? And it wasn’t just her—a man who looked like a VJ was smiling as he filmed me with a camera.
I looked over at Yoo Ah-ra, demanding an explanation with my gaze, but she just ignored it.
Seven hours earlier, at 6 a.m.
‘Travel Log’’s team had begun their opening before dawn. With its format changing daily, today’s theme for ‘Travel Log’ was ‘Competition’.
They divided the cast into two teams, each choosing a place to stay where they would spend the day. The goal was to compete.
The winning team would be allowed to seize goods from the opposing team’s place.
First up was the team division game. Yoo Ah-ra led one team, while veteran MC Oh Seok-jae headed the other.
After a quick game lasting about twenty minutes, the results were pretty grim.
Yoo Ah-ra’s team consisted of herself, Cindy, and Hye-yeon—an all-girl lineup. In contrast, Oh Seok-jae’s team was made up of four men. Both teams were less than thrilled with the outcome, but the producer was resolute.
“Oh no, this is a disaster. How did the teams end up like this?”
The rural house assigned to Yoo Ah-ra’s team was modest, and Hye-yeon was already grumbling under her breath, clearly displeased about being on the same team as Yoo Ah-ra.
There had always been bad blood between Hye-yeon’s group, ‘Pluto’, and Yoo Ah-ra’s group, ‘Lilac’, due to tensions between their agencies.
Yoo Ah-ra glared at her and said,
“Stop complaining and get to work.”
“Oh, what’s the point? We’re just going to lose everything anyway.”
“Um, unnie?”
Just then, someone called out to Yoo Ah-ra.
“Hm?”
It was Cindy, today’s guest, standing by the old-fashioned wood stove, struggling to wield the fire poker. Cindy, from a girl group called ‘Cherish’, was a complete newcomer whom Yoo Ah-ra had only met for the first time today.
“This, this thing…”
Cindy was grunting as she clumsily maneuvered the poker in front of the stove.
“Hold on. Wait a second.”
“Is it like this… aah!”
Before Yoo Ah-ra could reach her, Cindy wobbled and fell backward. Yoo Ah-ra quickly rushed over to help her up.
“You’re young, but you’re so weak.”
“Well, she’s still ten centimeters taller than you, Unnie~!”
Hye-yeon interjected with a snide grin.
Yoo Ah-ra shot her a fierce glare.
“Can you shut up?”
“Yes, yes~”
Hye-yeon responded mockingly, bowing her head with an annoyingly smug smile. Yoo Ah-ra clenched her teeth, irritated by Hye-yeon’s rude attitude.
She wanted to smack her on the back of the head, but she let out a deep sigh, held herself back, and focused on helping Cindy light the fire.
“There. See? This is how you do it.”
“Wow, Unnie~ you’re really good at this!”
“Of course. Back in the day, they used to call me ‘Dae Jang-geum’. Now you can handle the cooking on your own, okay?”
Leaving the kitchen, Yoo Ah-ra approached Hye-yeon.
“Hey, come with me.”
“Huh? Why?”
“We’re going to the vegetable garden.”
The PD mentioned there was a vegetable patch nearby.
“Ugh, sounds like a hassle…”
Though grumbling, Hye-yeon got up.
“…Unnie!”
Suddenly, as if aware of the camera, Hye-yeon hugged Yoo Ah-ra from behind. Because of Yoo Ah-ra’s smaller height, Hye-yeon managed to envelop her in a full embrace.
“Ah! What the—hey, let go of me!”
“But unnie~, you’re just too cute. I don’t think I can~”
Hye-yeon tightened her grip. Yoo Ah-ra struggled to free herself, but the difference in strength was evident. Meanwhile, the VJ chuckled, clearly enjoying the scene.
Just as Yoo Ah-ra was fuming in humiliation, Hye-yeon abruptly let go.
“Ah, wait, it’s raining!”
Then she quickly darted back into the kitchen.
“That little… huh?”
Just then, Yoo Ah-ra felt a cool drop land on the top of her head. She looked up, reaching out with her hand as gentle raindrops started to fall on her palm.
“Wait, it’s actually raining.”
A small gasp of surprise escaped her lips.
Drip, drip, drip. The rain quickly grew heavier, pounding against the roof and rustling through the leaves. Yoo Ah-ra dashed back into the kitchen.
“A… sudden downpour?”
She muttered absentmindedly as she watched the downpour. Cindy and Hye-yeon stood beside her, also gazing out at the scene.
The colors of the mountain village, soaked in rain, were vivid and beautiful.
With the unexpected rain, the production team decided, after some deliberation, to cancel all outdoor activities.
Their last-minute solution? An indoor performance. With the guests being singers, they’d play a few indoor games and then end with a ‘concert’ for the local villagers to decide the winner.
At first, Yoo Ah-ra had planned to sing some random song. But then Hye-yeon suddenly spoke up.
“Unnie, aren’t you singing an OST for a drama soon?”
“What? Yeah, but… How’d you know?”
“Oh, it’s been spreading around. People say it’s… not great.”
It was a clearly baiting remark, and Yoo Ah-ra’s temper flared. She fumbled to defend herself, ending with,
“What are you talking about? The composer said I was absolutely amazing and even gave me a ride here himself because he thinks I’m just too charming!”
The writer, who had been watching with amusement, poured fuel on the fire.
“Then let’s ask him directly. He’s still around, isn’t he? I think he might be waiting for you.”
…And that’s how Yoo Ah-ra explained her side of the story.
Sitting in the countryside house with the rain hammering on the roof, I glared at Yoo Ah-ra. She avoided my gaze, mumbling defensively, while the camera focused on her face and my back.
“I had no choice. I haven’t even memorized the lyrics yet, and I don’t have the MR…”
“You filmed it for the drama, didn’t you?”
Three days ago, Yoo Ah-ra sang ‘Mountain Scenery’ on the set of a drama. It was for a ‘performance scene’ that would appear in episode 8.
However, according to lyricist Kim Ji-in, who had been on set, said that the producer didn’t seem all that pleased.
“Well, that’s because I half-heartedly did it back then…”
“You think that’s something you should say in front of the original composer?”
“Oh, well, at that time… we weren’t exactly on good terms.”
“We still aren’t on good terms either.”
“…True, but… anyway, please do it quickly. Who told you to fall asleep there, huh? Do you know how many times I called you? I didn’t have a choice, the writer made me do it…”
Her voice trailed off, her bold tone faltering as she looked down, clearly embarrassed.
I sighed and glanced at the blank sheet music in front of me. I’d just need to jot down the melody and notes for her.
“This is all pre-arranged, right?”
“Yes, it’s the same network. The show airs next Sunday, right after the OST releases. It’s all set up to promote each other.”
“…Fine, fine.”
I began sketching the notes on the staff, quick but steady.
It was strange. In the past, I’d struggled with ear training and harmony theory, but now everything felt natural.
I could sense each note as instinctively as a color. Writing out the song on sheet music felt as simple as any other routine task. Perhaps it was a side effect of the accident.
As the notes flowed onto the page, a thought suddenly struck me.
“Hey, if I write this out, can you play it on guitar?”
Yoo Ah-ra’s theme was acoustic. I wasn’t quite sure why she’d want to go acoustic when we had the MR, but the combination of mountains, rain, and acoustic guitar did seem to fit.
“I could play it decently enough… Or you could just play it yourself.”
“…Fine. I’ll play it for you.”
If she got too focused on the guitar and messed up her singing, it’d only make things harder for both of us.
“Here. All done.”
I handed her the sheet music, then transferred the MR track from my phone to hers.
“Check your phone. I sent over the MR.”
“Okay.”
Yoo Ah-ra put in her earphones, listening to the track while following along with the sheet music, subtly swaying to the rhythm. I crossed my arms and watched her closely.
“Yoo Ah-ra-ssi.”
“…Yes?”
She looked up, puzzled, her gaze lifting from the lyrics she’d been intensely studying.
“What’s the one thing I keep telling you?”
“…To sing it as it is?”
“Exactly.”
The initial recording of ‘Idol’, which was looking to be the lead track, was technically complete, but there were still quite a few things I wasn’t happy about. In other words, a re-recording was always on the table.
Yoo Ah-ra rolled her eyes, her annoyance clear.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’ve told me a million times.”
“Then keep practicing.”
“Sure, sure~”
While we were having this little serious exchange, two other women were watching us.
“Hah. Like she’s singing anything special.”
Hye-yeon, the first to speak, was as dismissive as ever.
On the other hand, Cindy, the other girl beside her, was the complete opposite, her eyes brimming with admiration and curiosity.
“Um, excuse me, Composer-nim? Could I… maybe hear just a tiny bit?”
“…Yes?”
When I glanced at Cindy’s face, I was taken aback. I hadn’t noticed it before, but up close, her looks were striking enough to rival any top idol group’s center.
“Ah, is it not allowed?”
“No, no, it’s fine. Just a second…”
I was just about to hand Cindy my phone, momentarily distracted, when suddenly there was a burst of footsteps and the door flew open.
Yoo Ah-ra, Cindy, Hye-yeon and I all turned to see who it was.
“Oh-ho!”
Three men barged in.
Practically shoving their way through. While Yoo Ah-ra and Cindy stared in confusion, Hye-yeon zipped over to them.
“Sunbaes-nim! Thank goodness you’re here! We’re in so much trouble!”
“Heh, really? Ah, is this Heli-nim?”
Team leader Oh Seok-jae extended a hand to me. It was sudden, but he had such a warm vibe that I found myself smiling as I shook his hand.
“I really enjoyed your song, ‘Singing Through the Time’.”
“…What?”
How did he know about that? I barely even remembered that interview—wasn’t I notoriously rude in it?
“I’m a bit of a music fan.”
“Oh, you’re Heli-nim, the composer? So, are you going to get blurred out again on the broadcast?”
Another guy sat down beside me with a big, cheerful grin.
“Huh? Oh, uh, I’m not sure…”
“But why would they blur you out? I mean, you’re looking great!”
The friendly, short, chubby guy with a baby-faced charm was none other than Kim Pan-ho, a trending comedian lately.
Next to him, Oh Seok-jae chimed in with a chuckle.
“Hahaha! He’s got a handsome face too!”
Both of them seemed genuinely welcoming.
But then there was the last guy—a tall, striking man with the unmistakable look of an idol, whose expression screamed ‘center stage’. He ignored me completely, brushing past and plopping down right in front of Yoo Ah-ra.
“Did you miss me, Noona?”
He asked, his tone dripping with something… unignorable.
Yoo Ah-ra looked uncomfortable, giving a slight nod in response.
And that’s when it hit me—this must be the guy Lee Yeon-ji warned me about, the one constantly pestering Yoo Ah-ra.
So, this is him.
