Second Try Idol

Chapter 249: Again After Rainfall (25)

As people approached and called out our names, I found myself taking a step back unconsciously. Su-Hwan and the production team quickly positioned themselves in front of us to prevent the encroaching Rings from getting too close.

The Rings stopped at Su-Hwan's gesture, only calling out our names and waving enthusiastically with their light sticks in hand. We gestured some apologies for not letting them get closer to us and kindly waved back.

The brief commotion drew curious looks from passers-by, who continued to watch us as we moved to prepare for our performance like they were looking at animals at the zoo. Some realized we were about to perform and stopped to watch our show.

It seemed that having so many Rings gathered gave the impression that we were a capable group. With the audience's eyes on us, we quickly finished setting up for the stage. The instruments and mics were ready, and even more people had gathered by the time we were ready.

Goh Yoo-Joon murmured nervously, “It feels like this is the most crowded street show we've done so far"

“Yeah, it seems like it," I said.

“Hyung, I'm really nervous... what should I do?"

“Me too, Jin-Sung..."

None of us, including myself, had imagined performing in front of such a large crowd, at least not since our last performance at Ellen Hall. Though the number of people was smaller compared to our fan club's inauguration, it was almost two to three times the size of the audience we usually had on music shows.

‘What's going on?'

It was clear the Rings' presence had drawn a lot of interest, but honestly, none of us had ever performed on a stage like this in front of mostly strangers. The pressure was immense. Could we deliver a performance that would satisfy this crowd? They were surely expecting a lot from a group that had fans like ours, considering the unique musical sentiments of this country.

The thought of disappointing them made their expectant gazes seem a bit daunting. My hands began to tremble, so I clasped them together tightly.

“...Okay, it's going to be okay," I reassured myself.

Goh Yoo-Joon mistook my self-reassurance for a comment directed at him and said, “Huh? Yeah, it’s fine. I'm not nervous."

To avoid making things awkward, I just nodded and took a deep breath. Worrying wouldn't help. We had practiced enough, and it was time to show what we were capable of. It would be fine. Based on the audience's reactions to our past performances, we could entertain them regardless of cultural differences.

“Hey!" A sudden shout from the audience drew my attention away from my clenched fists. A somewhat familiar yet strange face was waving at us, looking very pleased to see us.

‘Who is that?' I couldn't remember the face, no matter how hard I tried, so I just stared blankly until Joo-Han nudged me.

“That guy stayed till the end during our first show."

“Oh, really?"

“Hyung, you remember him?"

“He was right in front of me, so we made eye contact a lot," Joo-Han explained. He waved his hand back with a smile.

I bowed to greet the man, then remembered we were in the US and switched to waving. The man seemed to say, 'I came to see you guys again!' in English, though I couldn't understand him too well.

Goh Yoo-Joon understood immediately. “Wow, he came to see us?"

Even we didn't know where we would be performing, so he probably didn't come just for us, but was happy to see us on his travels.

“Who is that?" the man’s companion asked him.

“A Korean boy band. Um... Chronos. That was them in the video I showed you. I looked them up and they are famous.”

The man even knew our group's name and told his friend who we were based on a performance video he'd seen of us. I knew that clips from our previous performance had become popular on platforms like UTube, but it seemed like this person went further and looked us up afterward. It was truly rewarding to know that someone was interested enough to not just judge whether we were good or not based on first impressions, but to actually look us up.

Thanks to his conversation with his friend and the Rings' support, the overwhelming nervousness I felt that made it seem as if my heart was about to burst from the sudden influx of people, somewhat subsided.

“Everyone okay?" Joo-Han asked, checking on the members and the band. After we all nodded, he picked up the mic and said, “Hello."

The performance began with his greeting.

***

Today's first stage was a duet between Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon, who would perform a song by a duo called “Alto.” The song had been released after a long period of conflict and eventual reconciliation between the duo, reflecting a mix of love, hate, and honest feelings, rapidly shifting throughout the song.

It was known as a challenging piece to perform due to its emotional complexity. Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon had practiced diligently before coming to the US, and barely received the company’s approval. Now, they were performing it with such ease that it was hard to believe they had ever struggled with it. I’m not saying this just because they were my fellow band members, but they were genuinely good.

Joo-Han perfectly captured the song's unique emotional shifts, and Goh Yoo-Joon's voice drew exclamations of admiration from the audience with every note. Goh Yoo-Joon was indeed the duet partner everyone wanted since he could match perfectly with anyone and bring out the best in a performance, just like now. I felt a sense of pride watching the captivated audience. I then closed my eyes to enjoy the performance until the end.

It was my turn after their performance. Joo-Han had entrusted me with introducing my own song, and I took the microphone with trembling hands. “Um... Hello."

The greeting was met with cheers from the audience, already warmed up by the previous song. I continued with a smile, though my hand holding the mic was shaking nonstop, which was honestly quite embarrassing. “The song I will sing is by Reina, a famous singer in Korea."

I had chosen a Korean song, thinking it would be inappropriate for a group from Korea and appearing on Korean broadcasts, to perform only pop songs other than Chronos’. The song had won numerous awards, and it was of unquestionable quality and suited my voice well.

However, I wasn't sure if it would resonate with the American sentiment. It was a song with a mix of Eastern and medieval Western influences, a somewhat experimental choice. I hadn't imagined performing it in front of such a large crowd, which was why I was so nervous.

I had to go on believing in the image I presented to the viewers and in my own efforts. I told myself that it didn’t matter if the audience would have an unusual reaction. After all, I was good at handling such things.

“The name of the song is ‘Crescent Moon.’”

***

The song had been inspired by a fantasy film set in medieval Europe with Eastern elements, and it was one of Reina's most cherished works as it had won her first grand prize.

In fact, the initial selection of the song by Suh Hyun-Woo had Reina pondering. Its ethereal and delicate essence seemed more fitting for the likes of Park Yoon-Chan, at least in her initial assumption.

However, witnessing Suh Hyun-Woo's dedication during practice sessions had led to an unexpected shift in her perspective.

“Oh my gosh, look at him singing," she found herself whispering under her breath while admiring his rendition, even though her words fell on no ears but her own.

Despite becoming slightly more rugged and solid over time, Suh Hyun-Woo had managed to infuse “Crescent Moon” with his unique flair, all the while ensuring the song's core essence was not lost. This delicate balance made the piece accessible and enjoyable for everyone, from the live audience to the viewers at home. His ability to maintain the song's fragility, alongside his own delicate vocal quality, was a revelation to Reina.

In truth, Suh Hyun-Woo's choice didn't naturally align with the American musical sensibilities. Among Reina's list of songs, “Crescent Moon” had a more tranquil tune than others. It was ideally suited for introspective evenings or nights, perhaps in solitude or with a close companion just before the world gave way to dreams. Such a song resonated deeply within the Korean emotional landscape.

Still, Suh Hyun-Woo managed to captivate the audience with his vocal timbre and unique interpretative skills. He elicited reactions that surpassed even those for Joo-Han and Goh Yoo-Joon’s performance.

To elicit such a warm reception with a piece so divergent from the local sentiment was nothing short of remarkable. If Reina’s instincts were correct, the broadcast of Suh Hyun-Woo's performance would undoubtedly elevate his public stature and popularity to new heights.

A flutter of excitement began to stir within her once more. It was a sensation she hadn't felt in quite some time. ‘This feeling... It's been too long!’

She contemplated the potential resurgence and financial prosperity that lay ahead. Of course, “Crescent Moon” had already garnered the highest accolades and reaped considerable fame and fortune, and had surely earned its rest. However, the thought that it could once again ascend the charts, defying the passage of time, brought a subtle smile to Reina’s lips that she struggled to conceal.

Reina was overwhelmed by this burgeoning excitement and resolved to take decisive action. Tonight would be the moment, after the evening's practice session with Chronos, during their well-deserved break. What was this urgent matter, you might wonder? It involved a plan that had been quietly taking shape in her mind. It was a scheme she had been nurturing since the closing days of last December, centered around Suh Hyun-Woo.

Reina pulled her manager closer, who was standing behind her, as if he was just another member of the audience, and whispered in his ear, “Oppa, after the members are done with their practice tonight, could you arrange a quick meeting between Su-Hwan and me? And also, could you reach out to Supervisor Kim from YMM and have him join us for a brief chat? Skype or whatever works. It's about something important."

She had planned to take things slow after the shoot, but proposing this now and getting straight to the point once they were back in Korea could speed up the process. The proposal was for the ‘All Reina Producing Event.’