Except for Siwoo flipping the table, the last game proceeded normally. The friend team won by a difference of three, and naturally Evan and Siwoo could avoid the penalty outfits.
Whether Sangjun would perform the penalty was decided by a coin toss. If heads came up, penalty exemption; if tails, penalty performance. The heavens weren’t on his side as tails came up, and next they moved on to selecting the penalty outfit.
And naturally, the cute angel wings went to Yechan, the Dracula cape to Chan, and the Superman cape to Sangjun.
* * *
Unlike what he’d worried about at first, there was no difficulty getting along with the members. Yechan and Evan were exactly as Siwoo knew them, and Chan and Sangjun weren’t particularly difficult people either.
He also got used to being in front of cameras that were constantly rolling.
After returning from England, they had to immediately spend hectic time preparing for their second album debut.
The last agenda item was the problem.
“Lucifer.”
Right, Lucifer. The original Lucifer was currently fiercely refusing it. The problem was that Siwoo had to do that Lucifer.
“You just have to do it. What’s the problem?”
“Not me, you have to do it.”
Siwoo and Evan were facing off in Sangjun’s studio.
On top of that, Siwoo, who checked the lyrics, let out a long sigh.
The lyrics had changed.
They didn’t deviate much from the basic framework of Lucifer controlling everyone. If Evan’s Lucifer was intense, the current Lucifer was seductive. A Lucifer leading people one by one down the path of corruption.
This lyric’s Lucifer definitely didn’t suit Evan. But he couldn’t bring up the original lyrics here and now.
No. Couldn’t he bring up the original lyrics? With those lyrics, handing ‘Lucifer’ over to Evan would be nothing.
“Right. Considering voice tone and such, it does seem better for Siwoo to do this part. What happened with the music video storyboard?”
Sangjun, sitting in the middle with Evan and Siwoo on either side, spun his pencil and repeatedly played the problem part.
“Lucifer is trying to lead the members one by one down the path of corruption. We need to get the wings for the stage made too.”
“How about a strong Lucifer who takes control at once?”
All-black Evan. The only thing with color was his pupils. And members dominated by those mysterious pupils. The music video scene of everyone being played by Lucifer like puppets on strings came vividly to mind.
“You two decide. Why did you call me?”
It wasn’t like a shrimp’s back bursting in a whale fight—both Evan and Siwoo were incredibly stubborn. So even before debut, they’d openly fought in power struggles too many times to count.
“Once it’s decided, we need to start revisions right away, and you have to do that, hyung.”
“Two versions?”
Sangjun, who flicked away the pencil he’d been spinning, leaned back in his chair and looked up at Evan, who was standing leaning against the bookshelf. He was wearing a black ball cap pressed down deeply so his face couldn’t be seen properly.
What on earth is he thinking? Evan always wanted a perfect appearance and clearly stated exactly what he wanted to all members. But if a member found it burdensome or disliked it, he didn’t force it.
But this time was different. Why is he so set on Siwoo……
“The whole feel of the song will completely change. That’s how much work you’ll have, hyung.”
“Right. I’m the one who’ll suffer, you bastards. Can’t you just do it? Stop fighting. Honestly, I don’t know which would be better either. We have to see it come out first.”
Siwoo, who had his arms crossed and was chewing his thumb without hurting it, glanced up at Evan across from him. He could feel a familiar scent from him. And right now, Evan was deeply troubled. Two versions would be fine, but he seemed to want to put himself front and center.
He didn’t want to create a structure that looked like competing with the same member by deliberately making two versions.
“If the main song is ‘Lucifer’, what’s the next song?”
If his memory was correct, the next song was an upbeat song. Unlike ‘Lucifer,’ covered in black and white, the rhythm of ‘Dream True,’ full of pastel tones, floated through his mind.
“Dream True.”
“Sangjun hyung, I’ll try doing ‘Lucifer’. But don’t blame me even if this album flops.”
It’s a repeating life anyway. He didn’t know how the starting point would change, but wouldn’t it be okay if he was the protagonist of Lucifer at least once? It’s a bubble that will disappear, so he should enjoy it while he can.
“Good. Then Siwoo stays, and Evan, you can go.”
Sangjun, who snapped his fingers, simply settled the situation. Even during this wrangling, the second album debut date was steadily approaching. Acting immediately rather than hesitating was his personality.
* * *
“Monster.”
Siwoo, lying sprawled on the practice room floor, smiled at Chan, who was looking at him and pouring out rough words. He felt like he’d be the same if he were in Chan’s position. Plus, although it was mixed with outright curses, he could smile knowing that the meaning wasn’t really that meaning.
“Let’s rest a bit and do it. Rest a bit.”
Siwoo, who regulated his breathing while moving his body little by little while standing, opened the refrigerator on one side and took out two cold waters. He handed one to Chan and sat comfortably next to him.
“Am I the problem? Are you the problem?”
“Mm. Both?”
The person who hated moving in the team the most was Sangjun. He liked being alone, working on songs was his hobby, and he used tricks to rest even a little more somehow. Fortunately, God bestowed upon him the physical conditions to move efficiently.
Although he was slower than Evan or Siwoo, it didn’t take very long to learn choreography. That’s why he disappeared as soon as group choreography practice time ended today too.
Yechan liked moving his body, so he enjoyed choreography practice. On the other hand, Chan…… to speak coldly, if he were a member of another group, he’d be top-tier, but unfortunately, he was a member of Ocean where monsters gathered.
There were Evan and Siwoo who learned choreography in as short as half a day or as long as a full day, there was the talented Sangjun, and in a place with Yechan who had persistence and enjoyed dancing, he was unintentionally a poor student.
It was also natural that Siwoo became his choreography helper, of course replacing the always-busy Evan.
Thanks to that, he practiced harshly and was hearing words like this that he couldn’t tell were curses or compliments.
“Why did you suddenly say you’d do ‘Lucifer’?”
When Chan asked in the practice room where only the two remained, Siwoo took a sip of cold water.
“I have to be the protagonist at least once in my life too.”
“Correct answer. Ah…… I’m tired.”
Chan, who had been lying down, slowly raised his upper body to sit and picked up the water bottle Siwoo had placed next to him.
“Want to stop for today and rest?”
It was already past 10 PM. Their schedule these days was the same.
After waking up and group choreography practice, individual practice. Evan was even harder to see.
“You were still here?”
Along with the rustling sound of plastic, Yechan appeared.
“Why are you coming here at this hour?”
“I… came to practice a bit.”
Watching Yechan, who too naturally handed over what he’d bought to Chan, Siwoo got up from his seat. Now it was time for the third party to leave.
Originally, you can’t see ahead in your own romance, but you can see others’ romances well.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going in to rest.”
“What about me?”
“Yechan’s here. Ask Yechan about difficult things. Yechan memorized all the choreography. Honestly, among us, Yechan is the one who performs most by the book. I haven’t gotten all the ballet feel out of my body yet, and Evan’s on the strong side even with the same performance.”
When Chan, who was rummaging through what Yechan bought, grumbled ‘Why is there no cider?’ and Yechan answered ‘It rots your bones’ while handing over apple juice, Siwoo naturally smiled.
“I’m leaving.”
“Huh? Hey, eat before you go.”
“I don’t want to. If I eat at night, I’ll swell up and gain weight.”
“Where do you curse someone like that when you’re leaving! Are you telling me to eat or telling me to lose weight!”
“Hyung is thin so you can eat. And you can eat and practice hard. I’ll check tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to! I won’t! I won’t do it!”
“Hyung. See you.”
Receiving completely different farewells from the two, Siwoo left the practice room. It’s only a 10-minute walk from here to the dorm. Siwoo, who stopped at the window, looked outside. It was entering early autumn when a cool breeze blew morning and evening.
A night like this. The feeling of walking a street lit only by streetlights was quite nice.
Now Siwoo’s favorite time of day would begin. The time past midnight when everyone was asleep.
Should I stop by a convenience store on the way in and buy beer? I’ll swell less if I eat without snacks.
Siwoo, who had been looking outside, pouted his lips. He could see fans gathered in groups of three or five.
They’d all move together in a van in the morning, so there was nothing to ride, so couldn’t he just pull on his hood and go?
Thinking this and that, Siwoo, who pulled on his hood, headed to the elevator.
Pressing the button and watching the elevator numbers change, a small humming flowed from Siwoo’s mouth.
“Leaving now?”
When his shoulder suddenly became heavy and he heard a familiar voice along with warm body temperature, Siwoo raised his hand and took off the hood he was wearing.
“Yechan and Chan hyung said they’re practicing more.”
“Really? How about a beer?”
“Oh. Did you go in and out of my mind? But there’s no beer at the dorm.”
“We can just buy beer. Did you tell Myunghun hyung you’re going?”
“No. I was debating whether to walk or what to do.”
“Then let’s go out in my car. We just have to not get caught.”
When the elevator opened, Evan, without releasing his arm from Siwoo’s shoulder, whispered softly. And Siwoo, who understood the meaning of his words exactly, looked at him with his eyes wide open.
The two of us go out and drink beer right now? You’re saying to break the rules without even telling the agency?
Clearly Siwoo didn’t say anything, but Evan, who knew what his gaze was saying, just shrugged his shoulders.
