Chapter 25: The OST Sung by the Flowers (5)
The residents’ enthusiastic cheers signaled the end of the talent show.
After a brief closing speech to the audience, voting for the winner began. However, Yoo Ah-ra was nowhere to be found. As I scanned the area, I noticed someone else looking for her as well.
It was Chan-hyeok. He glanced around before heading inside the village hall. But I didn’t think she’d be there. I decided to check elsewhere.
My guess was a corner of the village hall where the audio team was huddled, surrounded by equipment.
“There she is.”
I found Yoo Ah-ra. She was crouched down among the staff, wearing a headset. She was probably listening to her performance again.
I greeted the staff and took a seat beside her. She was so engrossed in the playback that she didn’t even notice me.
As I crouched down next to her, she happened to take off her headset.
“Could you rewind this for me again— Oh! When did you get here?”
Only then did she realize I was there.
“So, how does it feel hearing your own voice?”
“…Why are you asking something like that?”
Her response was curt, but I could tell everything just by looking at her. Her face gave it all away.
Seeing her so obviously pleased, I couldn’t help but smile.
“That’s all that matters. As soon as we get back to Seoul, we’ll record again right away. Don’t lose the feeling you had today.”
“…Okay.”
After that brief conversation, we sat quietly together, gazing at the sky.
The rural sky was filled with stars. Countless dots of light, each one part of a constellation, perhaps. I thought it would be a beautiful picture if I could capture this scenery in music.
“Excuse me.”
I had my eyes closed, trying to imagine it, when Yoo Ah-ra suddenly spoke up, gazing at the stars.
“Yeah?”
“Um, you know….”
“Go on.”
She kept hesitating, like she was struggling to say something.
“Hurry up and say it.”
“Well… I, uh….”
After making me wait forever, clearly wrestling with her words, she finally blurted out.
“Can I call you Oppa?”
She looked down immediately, clearly embarrassed.
My brain froze for a moment.
The word ‘oppa’ wasn’t exactly a comfortable title for me. It stirred up a dull ache, reminding me of old memories I’d rather not revisit.
But a person can’t live in the past forever.
“Do as you like.”
I placed my hand on the top of her head. Maybe it was because my hand was large, but her whole head fit in my palm.
Yoo Ah-ra beamed, nodding enthusiastically.
In a pleasant silence, we both gazed up at the stars, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
But then, after about five minutes, she suddenly broke the stillness.
“I think… I’ll need to ask to reshoot the drama.”
Her unexpected words hung in the air, said with a determined look as she clenched her fists.
“Don’t.”
I immediately shot her down, and her eyes narrowed in confusion.
“Why not?”
“We can just record over it. There’s no need to travel all the way back to Gangwon Province just to reshoot a scene for you.”
“…Oh.”
Yoo Ah-ra nodded, seeming to accept it, though she still looked a bit disappointed.
“But won’t it feel less authentic if we don’t reshoot?”
“Are you planning to cover all the costs? Extra pay for the crew, actors…?”
“Alright, fine, I won’t do it.”
She muttered, puffing out her cheeks and turning her head away in annoyance.
“Let go of that perfectionism. So, what if it’s not flawless? Putting others through hardship for the sake of perfection isn’t good.”
“And are ‘you’ the one lecturing me about that?”
“…I’m the exception.”
“Why are ‘you’ the exception, Oppa? That’s totally a double standard.”
“I’m right, though.”
“Whatever, that’s ridiculous.”
Just as Yoo Ah-ra was about to launch into a full complaint, the director came over, calling her name.
“Ah-ra-ssi, we’re starting the vote count.”
“Oh, yes!”
At his words, Yoo Ah-ra sprang up, dusting off her dirt-streaked pants. She started heading back toward the stage, but then stopped and looked back at me.
“So, what will you do now?”
“I’m heading home. You’ll come back tomorrow with your manager.”
“…Why don’t you just come with me tomorrow?”
“I have tons of work to do.”
A mountain of things, actually.
“Fine, do what you want, then.”
What a heartless person.
Yoo Ah-ra grumbled as she walked off, but after only a few steps, she stopped again.
She glanced back at me and said to me,
“At least stay for a meal. We’re having Hanwoo 1(Korean Beef) barbecue as a reward for our win.”
Hanwoo barbecue.
Now, that was tempting.
73 to 34. The vote count revealed Yoo Ah-ra’s team’s overwhelming victory.
Despite the loss, Oh Seok-jae and Kim Pan-ho still left praising the song. But Chan-hyeok, unable to let it go, kept on arguing.
“The song was nice, but I’m telling you, Jelly Hyung is the better composer. I’d know—I’ve listened to both, Noona.”
Chan-hyeok kept pestering Yoo Ah-ra until she kicked him in the shin to shut him up.
Later, I returned home feeling good, relaxing while I waited for the Hanwoo barbecue. But not long after, Yoo Ah-ra, still buzzing from the show, came bounding over with something in her hands.
“Let’s play the bop hammer game!”
“What are you talking about? I’m exhausted.”
“Sounds fun!”
Cindy chimed in, while Hye-yeon quietly edged backward.
“Oppa, come here too!”
Yoo Ah-ra called out, so I went over to the area with the bop hammers.
“Alright, let’s give it a try.”
“…Then I’ll join too.”
Hye-yeon said, glancing at me cautiously as she slipped back into the group. It seemed she was genuinely moved by Yoo Ah-ra’s performance; her demeanor was noticeably softer than before.
“Let’s start with a one-on-one. You and me, Oppa.”
“Are you sure about this? I’m not going easy on you.”
“Of course! Actually, it’d be even worse if you held back. We’ll use this pot lid and the bop hammer, and do rock-paper-scissors, you know how it works, right?”
“Okay.”
“Alright, rock-paper-scissors! Paper!”
“Rock.”
I lost.
Boink.
The bop hammer landed lightly on my head.
“Hehehe. Again! Rock, paper, scissors! Rock!”
“Scissors.”
I lost again, and Yoo Ah-ra burst out laughing as the hammer came down once more.
Again, rock-paper-scissors.
Lost.
And again.
I lost four times in a row.
Technically, I should’ve been blocking with the pot lid, but I just kept smiling, ready for the next round.
“Rock-paper-scissors!”
I threw rocks; she threw scissors.
Finally, I won.
Clenching my jaw, I gripped the bop hammer’s handle tightly. Yoo Ah-ra frantically tried to grab the pot lid, but she was already too late. My hammer was faster than her shield. Muscles tense, veins popping, I brought it down with full force.
Bang!
“Ow! What the—ahh! Ow!”
Yoo Ah-ra clutched the top of her head, rolling on the ground in pain.
“I did warn you—I was playing seriously.”
“Ah, geez! But that’s too much! It feels like my head’s about to explode!”
“…I think I’ll sit this one out.”
Hye-yeon said, once again inching backward.
I looked around, searching for the next victim.
“Cindy? Why don’t you come over here?”
“W-what? Oh, um… I suddenly feel a little dizzy.”
“Hurry up, come on.”
I dragged her over, despite her protests, and faced her trembling figure as I chanted the game’s mantra.
“If you don’t play, you lose!”
“Rock-paper-scissors!”
I threw scissors; she threw paper.
I won.
“Eek!”
Cindy’s face turned a pale shade of purple, frozen in place, too scared to even try blocking. Yoo Ah-ra, smirking mischievously, eagerly watched the next blow.
I raised the hammer and…
Boink.
…lightly tapped her on the head.
Cindy’s eyes widened in surprise at the gentleness, while Yoo Ah-ra flared up.
“What?!”
“Why did you hit her so softly?”
“I already used up all my strength in that last blow.”
“What? Are you even listening to yourself? That makes no sense!”
Yoo Ah-ra protested, throwing her hands up in frustration.
As she ranted on, the amused writer, who’d been watching the scene with a grin, finally stepped in.
“Dinner’s ready!”
“Ohhh!”
Everyone rushed outside at once.
Sure enough, there was meat and barbecue all set up in the front yard. Barbecuing in a countryside house might have seemed a little out of place, but who cared? My mouth watered.
“It’s nice having a guy around. Makes things feel more secure. Plus, you’re pretty tall too.”
Hye-yeon said, sneaking a glance my way. Looks like I’d become a full participant in their program. I could only smile wryly.
“Hm? Hey, hey. Ah-ra-ssi, give me that torch. That’s dangerous.”
“No, I got it! I’ve done this plenty of times.”
Yoo Ah-ra insisted, engrossed in lighting the grill with the torch. She looked a little reckless, but since she insisted, I let her be.
I headed to the kitchen to check on the rice, which had been cooking in a large pot.
“Ack! What is this?!”
Suddenly, a piercing scream broke out. I felt a chill down my spine. Flames were flaring up from the torch in Yoo Ah-ra’s hands.
I rushed over.
“Aaaaah!”
“Hey! Put it down! Put it down!”
“What do I do with this?! What do I do!”
“Just set it down! And stop shaking it!”
“Eeeek—!”
Whether she misunderstood or panicked, she kept waving it around. The staff nearby looked just as shocked, helplessly hoping in place.
With no other choice, I grabbed the torch from her and threw it to the ground, quickly covering it with dirt. Thankfully, the flames died down right away.
“Are you alright?!”
“What’s going on?”
Cindy, and even Hye-yeon, came rushing over at the commotion.
“Let me see your hand.”
I said, inspecting Yoo Ah-ra’s hand. Thankfully, the gloves had protected her, so there didn’t seem to be any burns.
“…Sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“Well, I mean… I used to do this all the time… I thought I could handle it…”
“Just be quiet and come with me.”
I took her by the wrist and led her to the kitchen, where I ran her reddened hand under cold water.
“I’ll go back and watch the grill. Just keep rinsing it.”
She glanced at me and replied softly,
“…Okay.”
After that, everything went smoothly.
I got a new torch from the crew, restarted the fire, and we feasted on as much beef as we could eat.
I gave Yoo Ah-ra a lettuce wrap packed with garlic, making her tear up, then handed her another one and made her cry again.
She’s certainly fun to tease.
…Oh, right.
After dinner, we hung out in the room, chatting, and exchanged numbers.
Cindy’s entry was labeled ‘Good Connection’, while Hye-yeon’s entry was marked as ‘Pending’.
The next morning, I took a step back from the main filming.
The rest of the schedule didn’t require my presence, so I could just go back to the office, but for some reason, I felt reluctant to leave.
“So, why did they send you, of all people?”
“Hrm…”
“Where’s Hyeok-pil?”
Today’s temporary manager was Kim Woo-seok, Hyeok-pil’s manager, who had come on short notice.
“Oh, he’s got no schedule today. It starts again tomorrow.”
“Really?”
Just then, I got a Kakao message from Yoo Ah-ra:
[Filming should wrap up around 1 PM. Don’t leave yet! Just wait a little!]
As I started to reply, more messages came in, clearly from the whole group on a break.
[Hi, it’s Hye-yeon~ The song was amazing~ I’d love to get a song like that someday~]
[Producer-nim, it’s Cindy! But I had my phone confiscated, so I’m texting from my manager’s phone… sniff sniff ㅠ_ㅠ I really hope we can meet again sometime. Maybe in the recording studio… Ah! Was that too obvious?]
“They’re cute.”
I muttered, grinning.
Kim Woo-seok gave me a puzzled look.
“Are… you going to leave?”
“No, I think I’ll wait. That’s okay, right?”
“Well, sure… but don’t you have a lot to do? With the album work and all-”
I cut him off before he could finish.
“I’ll just wait.”
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