Chapter 89
As soon as the staff’s words fell, tension coursed through Taeri’s body so intensely he could barely breathe. Taeri wasn’t originally someone who feared the stage. Even today, if the performance venue hadn’t been his family’s hospital, Taeri would have enjoyed even the pre-performance nerves. But this place was the hill Taeri had to overcome first to achieve his dreams.
‘Something like this is nothing.’
When Taeri stepped forward onto the stage and took center position, the other team members lined up behind him in a row.
“What’s this?”
“Are they young kids?”
Though the stage and audience seating were separated, the distance to the audience was close enough that he could hear their murmurs. Many people passed by without much interest, but some showed curiosity toward the stage in bewilderment.
Cutting through the noisy lobby’s commotion, the prelude began. The seven men who had been standing in a row with their heads bowed on stage suddenly lifted their heads and vigorously threw off the cloaks that had been covering even their heads. The white cloaks spread out magnificently like flying carpets, scattering to both sides. It was a technique the team members had practiced with considerable care, saying they needed to catch attention with the cloak throwing first.
“Wow!”
People exclaimed in amazement at the sudden display of sparkling white fabrics dancing in the air. As much as they had worked for it, the cloak show definitely had the effect of drawing attention.
With Taeri in the lead, those who had been in a single-file formation found their positions one by one to form a star (*) shape. The seven extended their arms, bringing their hands together in the center, then scattered explosively as the song began. At the fantastical movement that embodied a flower bud forming and then blooming wide, cheers of “wow” erupted from the upper floors this time.
[Though I’m only dreaming today,
Tomorrow I’ll soar up with strength.]
They immediately formed a sharp triangular formation like a conical hat, then moved while dancing to find their positions, changing into an 11-formation. They had practiced drawing lines the same size as the stage in the practice room the whole time, but the actual stage felt smaller than expected.
The movements had to be spectacular, but not overly forceful. The vigor of young men in their late teens to early twenties should be felt, but it shouldn’t make the viewers feel burdened.
From the youngest Go Suhyeok to veteran trainee Nam Suchang, they had practiced until they could taste blood in their mouths to dance with the same intensity and unity without anyone standing out.
As each day passed, it felt like their entire bodies were melting away and rotting, but standing on stage and facing the audience suddenly cleared their minds as if they’d been cleaned.
Right now, Taeri’s thoughts were clearer than ever. The audience that had gathered in front was entranced and absorbed in the stage, and Lee Juha was up on stage with him to dream the same dream. It felt like adrenaline was suddenly exploding.
The music’s beat spurred on his pounding heart.
[Look at me, look at me, Look at me
Feel it, feel it, Feel]
The team members standing in the 11-formation paired up in twos to present the stage to the audience. Taeri’s partner was naturally Juha. The moment they looked at each other while singing, both forgot they were even on stage and smiled brightly at each other. Lee Juha, who already had sweat beading on his forehead even though the first verse hadn’t ended yet, smiled as fresh as a newly bloomed flower.
Lee Juha on stage was much more vibrant than when seen off stage.
‘You’re doing well.’
‘You too.’
The two confirmed each other’s thoughts through eye contact alone. As the two disappeared to the back row, Nam Suchang and Jo Munseok came forward. Despite all their bickering, both were professionals on stage.
[The moment you took my hand
I will soar toward you
Only you can make me fly.]
During the interlude, they spun in a whirlwind pattern with each member briefly taking center stage. Though they had shown various formations, the upper floor audience could only see the tops of their heads, so the team members bowed toward the upper floors when they took center.
Sure enough, the upper floor audience sent enthusiastic cheers as if they had been waiting. The stage and audience seating were definitely bright enough that each audience member’s face could be seen clearly. Their gazes were filled with joy. Taeri found himself unconsciously smiling.
The stage had been created with a cheering song as its motif to give strength to people who came to the hospital. But it was Taeri who was gaining strength instead. The terrible feelings that had tormented him until just before completely flew away at the ecstatic expressions of the audience absorbed in the stage.
Whether everyone felt the same as Taeri, when they entered the second verse, the team members actually gained more energy. This time, with Taeri at the center, the team members on the left danced first, then the team members on the right took over and continued the dance. Even Go Suhyeok, who had been afraid of the bright stage, was following Nam Suchang’s advice well and working hard to keep up with his hyungs’ energy on stage.
Even looking at his teammates on stage sent thrills through him as their dance lines matched like a knife’s edge. With the energy given by the audience and teammates, each team member exuded tremendous exhilaration.
Whether they came as patients because they were sick, or as guardians of family members, people forgot time and space and became absorbed in the stage. They went beyond simply enjoying the stage and were completely soaked in the energy that ‘youth’ gave them. Rather than the desperation to achieve dreams, the exhilaration of enjoying this current stage filled this place.
[My job is idol, my job is idol!]
After the final verse ended, all the team members jumped up powerfully together and landed.
“WAAAAAAAH!”
Applause poured out loud enough to echo through the entire 6-floor hospital.
“Ha, ha, ha!”
Taeri’s heart pounded like crazy. It was over. He had forgotten his anxiety about his family and his hatred toward his father and immersed himself completely, successfully finishing the stage.
‘This is why I can’t quit the stage.’
Even while suffering from being out of breath, a bright smile spread across Taeri’s face.
The seven men stood in a long horizontal line on stage and held hands. Just before bowing, Juha looked at Taeri with an even more lively expression.
“You did well.”
“You too.”
After briefly exchanging words, the two looked forward.
“Thank you! This was My Job is Idol!”
The Team 1 members shouted loudly together and bowed. Next, the seven scattered and waved toward the four sides of the upper floors before bowing at the waist. He thought he saw someone who looked like Choi Junghyeok somewhere on the third floor, but that no longer mattered to Taeri.
Finally, the team members faced each other and smiled brightly. Jo Munseok, who had made the atmosphere fierce, Nam Suchang who had been oblivious, Choi Musin who had worked hard coming up with ideas, and Go Suhyeok and Baek Cheonsan who had steadfastly fulfilled their roles despite their hyungs’ nagging—all had faces full of satisfaction.
* * *
As soon as the performance ended, the team members returned straight to the car following the staff’s guidance. Some young patients even chanted “Choi Taeri” and “Lee Juha,” but they couldn’t cause any more confusion at the hospital.
After they left, voting for each team’s MVP member began among the audience at the scene. Since the MVP selected from each team would become the team leader for the third competition and have the right to choose team members, the results were quite anticipated.
On the bus returning to the dormitory, Juha sat in the very back seat and held Taeri’s hand tightly. The team members who had been chattering excitedly after getting off the stage from the less-than-five-minute performance fell asleep as soon as they got in the car, showing how much energy they had poured into it.
However, Juha couldn’t bring himself to sleep. His heart was still pounding from the overwhelming exhilaration he had felt on stage. He couldn’t remember well how he had performed on stage. Usually, lighting separates the stage from the audience seating, allowing focus on the stage, but performing in an open space made each audience member’s face too starkly visible.
To avoid being shaken, Juha had given his best performance as if today were his last. At the thought that he could make eye contact with the audience, he had danced as if his bones would shatter. It was so that he could have confidence in his performance no matter who he suddenly made eye contact with. When the tension on stage was released, he could see his teammates next. Though they were connections made by AI, they were team members who had quite a few incidents and accidents. But once they stood on one stage, camaraderie blazed up as if asking when that had ever happened. Thanks to the confidence of being with teammates and the cheers the public sent, Juha was able to immerse himself in the stage instantly.
After burning themselves up on stage and returning to the car, all the team members relaxed with the thought that a great task had ended. Thanks to that, aftereffects remained as if all their joints had come slightly undone.
Unlike earlier when he had only looked out the window, on the bus returning to the dormitory, Taeri kept staring intently at Juha the whole time.
“What are you looking at like that?”
Unable to stand it, Juha asked Taeri. Regardless, Taeri just kept looking at Juha without answering. Even though the stage was already over, Taeri somehow had eyes that sparkled more than before the stage.
“Stop looking.”
Juha chuckled and covered the side of his face with his palm, blocking Taeri’s gaze. Taeri lightly lowered his hand and looked at Juha again.
“If you don’t like it, you look at me too. Then it works out.”
“…I’m sleeping.”
Juha deliberately avoided his gaze and leaned his head against the window. Then Taeri gently leaned against his shoulder. He seemed desperate to stick close to Juha.
Though he didn’t say it, his feelings could be felt. Thank you, I love you, it’s thanks to you. Even though he hadn’t really helped much, seeing him look like a dog looking at the owner who saved its life made him feel sorry.
‘He’s cute though.’
Juha chuckled and tried to sleep. It was fortunate the stage had ended well. Taeri had soared on stage like a true professional. Seeing him leisurely make eye contact on stage made all the worries he had been holding in his heart disappear. The person who suited the stage better than anyone—watching Taeri on stage, Juha had that thought the entire time.
This stage was also meaningful for Juha. Not just Juha, but the other team members had also worried a lot about the open-format stage until just before. The moment he felt that people who knew nothing about him, who were just part of the hospital users passing by, had become his fans by the time the stage ended—the exhilaration was tremendous. Even though it wasn’t an official competition, somehow this stage seemed like it would remain in his memory for a long, long time.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
