#63. Size or Direction (3)
“For today’s moonlit live, we’re going to perform ‘Dear my Dorocy,’ a track from our mini 1st album.”
It was already the final segment of Part 3. I calmly continued my explanation.
“This is my favorite song from this album. I was so surprised by how much I loved it from the first listen. Originally, since it’s a song all five members sing together, I never really thought it would be difficult, but when I actually tried singing it alone, it wasn’t as easy as I thought.”
“Group songs are like that. I really felt it a lot when I did solo activities too.”
“Right. I practiced really hard, but I guess being a little nervous is unavoidable.”
Bae Dojin asked with a curious voice.
“There are many good songs on your group’s album, but was there a particular reason why this song stood out to you?”
“Because the lyrics are beautiful.”
“It translates to ‘To my dear Dorothy.’ <The Wizard of Oz>, right?”
“That’s right.”
I nodded and said.
“I think lyrics are the most important thing in pop songs. You can put emotions in them and tell stories. Depending on what words you use, that song can become a breakup song or a confession song.”
“Even with the same lyrics, if the nuance changes, it can feel like completely different emotions.”
“Exactly.”
I believed in the power of words. I had no doubt that the most powerful weapon humans possess is their three-inch tongue.
“When I sing songs with stories, I feel like I’m traveling. That’s probably why I was particularly drawn to this song. I felt like I was traveling like Dorothy in <The Wizard of Oz>. I had a pleasant premonition that after unexpected encounters and countless adventures, I would arrive in a brave, bright, and kind world.”
I had practiced singing this song all day for a while, and seeing that, Joo Lee Seon had recorded guitar accompaniment for me to use during the live performance.
Having heard about this in advance, Bae Dojin naturally brought it up.
“Come to think of it, today’s live will be an arranged version, right? I heard that Arcus’s Joo Lee Seon hubae-nim plays guitar really well.”
“That’s right. Lee Seon seems to be good at any stringed instrument. Guitar, bass, and even piano. For this song, he arranged it with guitar and bass, very simply yet warmly.”
“It would have a retro charm too. It would go well with Seowoo-ssi’s voice. I’m looking forward to it.”
Soon the intro I had heard hundreds of times tickled my ears. With my eyes tightly closed, slowly steadying my breath, I eventually opened my mouth in time with the melody.
– Hello, riding on the wind of amazing coincidence
My little girl who came to the magical land
If you courageously walk the path
Into your sparkling soul
All this journey will be engraved
As pages of memories in a book of recollections
Will you let me into you?
‘Seowoo, don’t cry and listen to auntie. Actually, life is like a journey. So Saebom… your mother just left for the next journey a little earlier than others.’
‘Mom said I was the most important to her, so why did she go somewhere else leaving me behind?’
‘They really need mom somewhere else. You know, your mother is so kind, smart, gentle, and good. So she had no choice but to go away for a while.’
‘But I really need mom too… Then will she come back to me?’
‘…Of course. It will just take a long time. We’ll definitely meet again, Seowoo. Definitely.’
‘Yes…’
‘So until then, let’s stay with auntie, uncle, Jihan, and Jia. Auntie will really take good care of you. I’ll help you not be lonely.’
– Our meeting that coincidence ordained
Is a little different from Kansas’s peace
A precious and wonderful magical connection
‘I promise you, Yoon Seowoo. I will absolutely never die before you.’
‘…’
‘There’s nowhere I want to go leaving you behind. So there will never be a time when I’m not in your life.’
‘…’
‘I won’t go. So you have to come back to me too.’
‘Definitely?’
‘Definitely.’
– Still, reach out your hand and dream with me
If you smile in this adventure
I’ll take you to your garden before it’s too late
If life is a journey, I wanted to use the permitted time as meaningfully as possible. I wanted to go as far as possible, see good things, and feel many emotions.
I wanted to fill my eyes with all the wonderful, magnificent, and beautiful things that exist in the world, and move on to the next journey like that.
So I wanted to tell the person I would meet again someday.
That no matter where I looked in the world, you were only you. The world is full of amazing, wonderful, and good things, but still, you were only you. In my garden, you were just one flower.
So even though time may have passed and I might have forgotten you a little…
I still love you. I love you forever.
Because I wanted you to be a little less sad when I say those words, I decided to live this journey very earnestly.
I sang this song with such thoughts.
– Actually, this place is just sweet on the tongue
A kind fantasy only for today
The real miracle is inside you, yes
A world where only you are truth
When I slightly opened my eyes, I felt a shadow had fallen over my head. When I looked up…
‘Huh?’
Bae Dojin was right in front of me.
I didn’t notice because there was no sound. No, maybe he did make a sound. I had no idea because I was concentrating on the song with my eyes closed.
Since the song wasn’t over yet, I couldn’t say anything and just looked up at Bae Dojin.
– I send my heart on the gentle breeze
Leaning against the desk with his upper body bent, Bae Dojin brought his head close to the microphone I was using and added harmony.
– The memory of today when you and I met
Is a small blessing from a god I never believed in
So please believe it was a good dream
So you can draw me when you close your eyes
It was as natural as if he had practiced this song countless times.
My extremely flustered face was reflected in Bae Dojin’s black eyes. As if I were preserved, I couldn’t escape his gaze.
At that moment, what Na Jihan had said came to mind.
‘From what I can see, that guy likes you.’
That can’t be. We’re not that kind of connection. Where would there be a reason for Bae Dojin to like Yoon Seowoo?
But thinking about it, I couldn’t definitively say no. There aren’t surprisingly many absolutes in the world.
Emotions are different from logic. Just as you can hate someone for no reason, you can easily like someone without a great catalyst. People often fall in love with very trivial triggers.
But if Bae Dojin’s feelings were just affection and goodwill, wouldn’t it be too rude an assumption?
“……”
The song ended safely, but inside me it was noisy. I didn’t want to be caught with a flustered expression, but given the distance, it was impossible to hide.
Fortunately, Bae Dojin just smiled softly with the corners of his eyes curved.
“I was looking forward to it.”
His tone was so refreshing it even felt formal.
“Actually, I also liked this song the most from your group’s album. Especially in this bridge, I liked the phrase ‘a small blessing from a god I never believed in.'”
In the original song, this part is sung by Ahn Haesol. His characteristically unadorned, plain yet strongly resonant voice would sing that part as if offering words of comfort.
“I really wanted to hear Seowoo-ssi sing it.”
“……”
“Your voice has the power to make people dream.”
Bae Dojin moved away and returned to his place as if asking when he had been so close.
Part 4 passed in a somewhat dazed state. Still, I seemed to have done well somehow. I said what I wanted to say and sincerely thanked the listeners.
After the radio ended, I also went to each staff member to bow and greet them. I couldn’t help but know how precious it was for a rookie of this level to be given a regular schedule. The casting opportunity might have been through Bae Dojin, but ultimately everyone on site had helped.
“Good work.”
“You worked hard. Today was good too!”
“You did well. I’ll head in now.”
“Thank you for all this time, Seowoo-ssi. See you next time.”
“Right. Meeting like this is also fate. When you’re free next time, be a surprise guest once, okay? Like when your 1st full album comes out.”
“If you call me, I’ll come running immediately. Thank you for everything.”
I had finished all the greetings and exchanged contact information. Just when I judged it was okay to go back and was about to take a step feeling relieved.
“Hubae-nim.”
Bae Dojin called me to a stop.
“Would you like to go somewhere with me for a moment?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
